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We're in the final stretch of the Chronicles of Ramlar kickstarter! For those interested in quickening their combat encounters without sacrificing suspense and role-playing, this game features One-Roll Combat. And here's the gist of how it works:

GM rolls a d20 and add modifier based on the opponent or creature’s CR, players then roll a d20 each, take the highest die roll and adds modifier based on their collective levels (or CR). If the player side wins, whichever player whose die roll was used is the “star” of the battle and may describe how his/her character is essential to their victory. If the PCs have a lower sum, players can take turns “spending” relevant feats, spells, special abilities, and so on to try to increase their total above their opponent’s. For example, a 3rd-level spell like fireball is typically worth +3, but zero if the creature is immune to fire, and -3 if fire heals it! The GM is not obligated to tell players how close they are, but should instead drop hints (like “You’re nowhere near killing it”, “The massive horde has been whittled down to a handful”, etc). Once players decide to stop tossing them out, though, that’s it… so they can still fall short and lose.

Please back this project if you'd like to see this and other interesting additions become a part of your Pathfinder game!

Noble, a free web enhancement for the Sovereign Stone Campaign Setting from Timeout Diversions.

Thanks for backing the project, Geistlinger! We have less than a week to go and it is a shame to let a combination of striking artwork, interesting game mechanics/options, rich world setting, and value for your dollar go unfunded. As an example of the unique additions we're making to the Pathfinder system, here's one of the more popular features of the game, straight from the Kickstarter FAQ, "How Will 'Momentum' Work in Pathfinder?":

"Since Momentum was VERY popular among players of both 1st Ed. and Revised Chronicles of Ramlar, we naturally want to convert it to Pathfinder. And here's how it's going to work:

"Whenever you succeed in a d20 roll in combat, whether it be an attack, combat maneuver roll, ability/skill check, even a saving throw or caster level check, you earn Momentum Points (MP) for every 1 above 10 on your natural die roll. For example, if you land a hit and it's a natural 15 on the die, you get 5 MP; but if the die shows 10 or any number under 10, the success is neither significant nor inspiring enough, so you get nothing.

"You spend MP after each round to gain various bonuses and benefits for the upcoming round however you like. You can even spend it to help your allies! But know that momentum is fickle and worthless to those unwilling to capitalize on it, so MPs do not carry over beyond one round; any MP you do not spend for Momentum effects when a new round starts is forfeited.

"MPs you earned in a round do not stack, so in case of multiple successes (such as hitting an opponent several times), you keep the roll that gives you the most MP. If you threaten a critical, however, you do get additional (stackable) MP if you confirm the crit and the die roll is over 10 as per rule. On the other hand, any time you roll a "1" on the d20, you LOSE all your MP gained thus far and must try to regain them!

"Example: Torrik hits a rocar, a half-ram/half-bat monster, with the d20 showing 12. This gains him 2 Momentum Points. The creature retaliates but misses, so it earns no Momentum for itself. Before the next round begins, Torrik uses the 2 MP for a +1 Dodge bonus to his AC. To properly receive the benefit, he has to roleplay it: “Back to Gabrun and your horrific makers, muck-sucking abomination!” he shouts while leveling the sword at eye-level in a defensive stance. When it's his turn again, Torrik threatens a crit with a 20! He then confirms it with a 14, so he gain a whopping (20 - 10 + 14 - 10 =) 14 MP! The decision for extra AC paid off too, as the rocar just barely misses him this time around. Torrik looks around and sees Dracyn is having a tough time against two other ram-bats. Before the third round begins, Torrik opts to spend 3 of his 14 MP to add a +1 bonus to damage on all attack for himself and Dracyn, another 6 MP to give both of them a +2 attack bonus, and all 5 remaining MP to give himself one extra standard action that he plans to use for attack. For roleplaying, he hollers to Dracyn, “Aim between the ribs where they can't quite reach, like this!” as his swing strikes down the rocar in a vulnerable spot. Torrik then moves and hacks at one of the two ram-bats engaging Dracyn. “It’s all in the wrist, my elven friend, and watch out for the claw coming from the right!” Nodding, Dracyn follows Torrik’s lead and renews his aim at the other creature. . .

"As mentioned, you gain MP from ANY successful d20 roll of over 10 on the die, so that means all you need is some imagination and sensibility to convert almost any successful check into Momentum, and subsequently tangible game benefits: Acrobatics (“I tumble and flip about deftly while waiting for the best chance to strike” for AC); Alchemy (“I throw a batch of my specially prepared flashing powder at them” for Stun effect); Perception (“I look for a break in their formation” for initiative); Arcana, Plane, or Religion Knowledge (“I warn my friends about the Lightbane’s demonic powers and tell them the best way to fight it“ for damage bonus); Disguise (“I don the enemy uniform and blend in”); Intimidate (“I ready my charge and roar my battlecry!”); Perform: Singing (“I rally my allies with a rousing chorus of a famous war song”); Stealth (“I use the commotion to sneak around behind them”); Riding ("I expertly interpose my mount to shield these villagers from the goblins"), Will save ("I grit my teeth and break the trance with a determined yell that astounds the evil wizard and his minions!")... These are just some of the endless clever roleplaying that can be rewarded with Momentum. Even absolute noncombatants may contribute to a battle simply by being creative."

D&D5 is getting all the attention right now, but Pathfinder fans can still make sure our presence is felt by continuing to support worthwhile Pathfinder products and projects, whether official or third-party!

For those interested in a new deity for your Pathfinder game, we offered Vrang, the God of Fell Beasts, in a previous CoR Kickstarter update. In this latest update, we're featuring the "Divine Boons" mechanic that adds a new dimension to faith and religion to both the game campaign and player characters, using Vrang as an example for what unique divine abilities you can receive (or earn, actually) from one of the 40+ deities in Ramlar pantheon!

Wanna add momentum to your Pathfinder campaign? Or just make skills more useful in combat? Check out free preview of the popular Momentum mechanic adapted from the original A/B System in today's Chronicles of Ramlar kickstarter Update!

John Prescott and I (Tony Lee) will be on the popular #RPGNet Chat hosted by Dan Davenport tonight (July 22) at 7pm CST to discuss all things Ramlar. Join us to talk more about the nifty world and game features being converted to Pathfinder, such as Momentum, Demeanor/Theme, Improvised Spellcasting, Custom Combat Maneuver Creation, etc.

Here are links to some reviews to the original A/B version for the curious:

Revised Edition Player's Guide Review from Tommy Brownell.
Another Revised Edition Player's Guide Buyer's Review on DriveThruRPG.
1st Edition Review from RPGNet.
Another 1st Edition Review from Flames Rising.

Should be a lot of fun. See you there!

A new core class from the Sovereign Stone Campaign Setting Core Rulebook, the Noble, is now a new free web enhancement for Pathfinder! A noble in Sovereign Stone is more than just a courtier, aristocrat, or politician, she can inspire others to greatness in battle and, if necessary, to sacrifice themselves for her...

Most cultures in Loerem institute a clear division between commoners and the noblesse. Wealth, education, power, and privilege are available to those born into noble or royal families. Along with these benefits, though, also come the responsibilities and duties of titles and ranks.

One usually identifies nobles by affluence and its trappings. Early in a noble’s career, he begins acquiring cohorts and followers to do his bidding — more so than other classes. A noble generally dresses in the finest clothes, drinks the finest wines, and surrounds himself with the luxuries only a privileged few can afford. The noble understands the often-dangerous games of intrigue played in the aristocratic and royal courts, and is adept in the subtle arts of information-gathering, blackmail, and character assassination.

Nobles are generally found in cultures ruled by monarchs with a stratified caste system. The noble Houses of the elves of Tromek, the royal courts of the humans of Vinnengael, Nimorea, Nimra, and Dunkarga have all given rise to aristocracy. In contrast, chieftains, shamans, and elders are the closest equivalent to nobles for dwarves, orks, and pecwae.

Much appreciated, Silverhair!

We'll be active with the kickstarter's Update, showing off more art, revealing more details about rules/mechanics, character races, world background, and future plans (including the unpublished Divine Might pantheon sourcebook). Meanwhile, please feel free to ask any question you might have!

As if all the PDFs and books you get for backing the Chronicles of Ramlar, Pathfinder Edition kickstarter aren't enough, we want to throw in MORE! Upon funding, all backers, including at $1 Beta-playtest level, get a PDF compilation of adventures! "The Search for Albino Equion," the infamous "Something Wicked Stirred" Halloween offering, plus other scenarios to jumpstart your CoR campaign. Our way of thanking you for your support!

Also new is our first stretch goal, a CHRISTINA STILES SHORT STORY at $10,000. When funding reaches 10K, every backer gets a short story set in Eranon from Christina Stiles of the "Christina Stiles Presents" (Super Genius Games) fame!

We're off to a decent start but we still could use your help! Please tweet, blog, post, or simply tell every gaming family and friend you know about this project: the gorgeous art, the rich world backdrop, the innovations we're trying to bring to the Pathfinder system, and the copious rewards you get for backing us! Convince them to back us and together we can make it happen. Thank you!

We've been receiving compliments about the stunning artwork in the Chronicles of Ramlar books. Frankly, when it's an all-star lineup featuring the likes of Larry Elmore (World Guide cover, dragon illustrations), Ben Wooten (Rulebook cover), Mark Tedin, Ron Spencer, Jennifer Meyer, Lindsay Archer, and many others, you just can't go wrong!

Whether you're a fan or just appreciate good fantasy art, be sure to drop by the Chronicles of Ramlar Page on Facebook. We're putting up a new illustration a day from the game, starting with the Kasmarkn dwarf with the badass Octmarc axe! It's alongside a small collection of other fine pieces already there, so take a look!

Are you looking for:

• Pathfinder combat encounters that can be resolved with one roll without sacrificing suspense, while everybody has an equal chance at the spotlight?
  
• Tried-and-true Momentum mechanics that use successes from previous round to propel successes in the current round, while encouraging creativity and teamwork at the same time?
  
• Experience system tailored to what you do as well as HOW you do it, and lets you accomplish ANYTHING you want?
  
• A world where the most powerful and revered deity may reshape the New Age in your image?

You can find all that and more in the Chronicles of Ramlar, Pathfinder Edition kickstarter! Your pledge gets you not just one game (Pathfinder) but TWO, as the original A/B System versions of the rulebook and sourcebooks are included! The kickstarter, from Whispering Tree Press, is now live and runs until August 11. Check it out!

Chronicles of Ramlar is coming to Pathfinder! First debuted in 2006 from White Silver Publishing using the percentile A/B System, the world of Eranon is one vied for by deities and mortals alike while the omnipotent maker, Ramlar, dreams in a millennial slumber until he reawakens to reshape everything in the images of those he deems worthy. Deeds alone, good or evil, archived in the inscrutable repository known as The Book, will sway Ramlar’s judgment and determine the fate of the new age… Your deeds.

This Pathfinder-compatible edition will retain the original's unique game mechanics such as Momentum (using success from previous round to improve your and/or allies' chances for following round in many different ways), Demeanor/Theme (effort- and goal-oriented advancements customized to your characters' desires), and Improvised Spellcasting (changing the parameters or effects of spells on-the-fly), all ported over to Pathfinder. It also introduces new implementations like One-Roll Combat that aims to resolve combat encounters in one roll, while still provide suspense and spotlights for individual characters.

Click here for a preview of the kickstarter page (before the official launch on July 1), which explains the project and features in greater detail. Questions, comments, feedback are absolutely welcome and appreciated, either here in the thread or on the page itself. You can find more stunning art (by the likes of Larry Elmore, Mark Tedin, Jennifer Meyer, Ron Spencer, Alex Bradley, etc.) and previews on the Pathfinder: Chronicles of Ramlar Facebook page too.

Thanks!

And today, fresh off the press is Taan: Scions of the Void! Don't miss these alien, savage, enigmatic invaders of the Sovereign Stone world. Learn all about their unique stone enchantments and Void-worshipping ways in this 132-page sourcebook here on Paizo!

Taan is the first in a long line of supplements to come for Pathfinder-compatible Sovereign Stone. Dwarves: Marauders of Wolves, detailing the mounted raiders in the Dwarven Territories, is tentatively scheduled for release in July. We intend to support the game with a full line of sourcebooks and supplements, so you can "buy in" with confidence!

Hi Malwing,

1) I would say it's about equal parts regarding balance toward either Loerem and Pathfinder. You can still use nearly all Pathfinder spells as they are, while some, like "Magic Missile", get an "elemental effect" overlay (i.e., Air, Earth, Fire, Water, or Void) corresponding to your Elemental Sorcerer/Wizard class. Others, like "Beast Shape", have restrictions (you don't have access to it if you're a Fire Sorcerer/Wizard, for instance, since there are no "fire" animals). The magic system is based on Pathfinder, but with a distinct Loerem/Sovereign Stone slant. (A good case in point is the removal of "Raise Dead" and "Resurrection" spells, since only the gods can do that in Loerem.)

2) There are templates for both Dominion Lords and Vrykyl that give them both core and elective powers (which will be featured in a future sourcebook). On top of that, they are also Mythic characters using rules from "Mythic Adventures," as shown by the sample characters in the "Champions of Light and Darkness" chapter.

3) Taan are mentioned with stats in the "Bestiary" chapter of the Core Rules, and half-taan is a PC race in the "Races" chapter. "Taan: Scions of the Void" is the first sourcebook tentatively scheduled for July release, and will go into great details about both taan (including character creation) and half-taan.

4) Yes. There are the pecwae, a PC race, in Core Rules. Humans have about four or five cultures/ethnicity to choose from. I believe the "Bestiary of Loerem" book has rules for using certain humanoid creatures as player characters.

5) You know, that would be an interesting project. Sadly, not far as I know. (Maybe I'll suggest that to Margaret & Tracy...)

6) Yes, they're still relevant and racially subjective (probably more so in Pathfinder magic than in previous d20 versions!)

7) I believe so. The new archetypes shouldn't be any more difficult than any existing archetype to adapt, and if you don't like how clerics cannot heal (since that's purely the purview of Earth mages) or they now use spell-like abilities, just drop that and use standard Pathfinder clerics. And since there are two options for magic/spellcasting (one based on conventional PF, one adapted from prior d20 iterations), you can easily pick and choose which one's best for you. Even the new options for Hero Points should be a breeze to port over to any campaign.

8) We plan to release "Adventure Anthology", a compilation of as many previously published and new adventures we can get our hands on :) They'll likely all take place during the events of the novel, but we'll strive to include post-novel options as well. We've had discussions about a supplement of different post-novel story arcs, so stay tuned!

9) Not from the prior editions. The novels really go into specific detail about the deities, so currently Codex Mysterium has the most information as to their names, worshippers, etc. It is also possible we expand on the gods and religions in a future sourcebook. (Old Man Larry has a LOT of stories to tell!)

10) Yes on domains (for clerics) and bloodlines (for sorcerers). We opted to stick to just the Pathfinder Core Rulebook for the Campaign Setting book (except in the case of Dominion Lords and Vrykyl, which we felt was unavoidable). So there are admittedly no rules or conversions for classes such as the alchemist and witch right now.

The Pathfinder-compatible Sovereign Stone Campaign Setting Core Rulebook is now available in PDF at the Paizo Store! As well, the Bestiary of Loerem and Codex Mysterium. You can also get all three in the Starter Bundle at a great price.

Since game has gone through a few incarnations, from an original game system through d20 3.0 to 3.5, and the last iteration is almost 10 years ago, please indulge me as I stroll down memory lane and elaborate a bit :)

Sovereign Stone is an epic tale of the struggle over a god-granted artifact meant to bring peace but incited a war among brothers instead. The world, Loerem, is created by renowned master fantasy artist, Larry Elmore, and the story has been told in a novel trilogy from HarperCollins by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman. We, Timeout Diversions, decided to resurrect it last year for a Pathfinder adaptation in a kickstarter. It got funded in under 8 hours.

For the Pathfinder edition, it received several new twists. All core classes are now available to characters, with Noble as a new class; Archer, Mounted Warrior, and Sailor as archetypes; Bard, Cleric, Druid, Paladin, and Ranger getting new interpretations for their magic.

The races are rather unconventional as well. Elves are patterned after the Feudal Japanese. Dwarves are akin to the Mongols of the past who marauded much of Asia. Orks are superstitious sailors but also has a gift for technological inventions.

All old editions featured a fan-favorite magic system, one that is decidedly non-"Vancian". Instead of asking new players to learn a new system, however, we decided to keep the conventional Pathfinder spellcasting but also installed a conversion of that Casting Threshold system as an alternative. So if you want your spellcasting flexible and unpredictable, your mages powerful yet still covet grunt protection, this is it!

We plan to release supplements too. "Taan: Scions of the Void" is the first, tentatively in July, followed by "Dwarves: Marauders of the Wolf", "Old Vinnengael: City of Sorrow", "Dunkargans & Karnuans: Kingdoms of the Sword and Stars", "Elves: Winds of Intrigue", and "New Vinnengael: Empire of Might". Future sourcebooks are on the drawing board as well, including "Orks: Tides of Fate" and "Dominion Lords & Vrykyl: Champions of Light and Darkness".

That's a long-enough rambling... Hope I've given a sufficient overview to pique your curiosity and interest. The floor's now open to your comments and questions, so please fire away!-)

Tony Lee
Timeout Diversions

The PDF for the Pathfinder-compatible Sovereign Stone Campaign Setting Core Rulebook will finally be available this Friday (June 6), on Paizo, DriveThruRPG and OBS affiliates. We added several new art and better scans from Larry Elmore himself at last minute so it's going to be 285 pages of goodness for $12.95!

In addition, Bestiary of Loerem and Codex Mysterium PDFs are releasing at the same time, at $12.95 each as well, for you to jump straight into fighting the unique monsters of the world created by Larry Elmore, and explore the new non-Vacian magic system adapted from the original iteration to Pathfinder!

We also offer the entire intro chapter, Setting Primer, here, along with fictions (featuring such authors as Margaret Weis and Matt Forbeck), on the official site. Check it out, and please feel free to ask me questions!

Thanks much, Brandon!

Now we're at 80 minutes and counting... If you know someone who's still on the fence, please let them know there isn't much time left to get it at a good value!

And we're in the final stretch with less than 24 hours to go! With luck, we'll reach $35,000 for every backer to get a new story by Don Perrin of the Theros Ironfeld and The Doom Brigade novel fame as well as being one of the original developers of Sovereign Stone.

The extra swags going to all backers so far include a Sovereign Stone tale by Matt Forbeck, a PDF collection of adventure scenarios, and PDF of the new, never-seen-before New Vinnengael sourcebook. Backers pledging at hard copy levels will also get 8"x10" commemorative art prints.

The reward levels are structured to include all-PDF and PDFs + print books, so you have choices from getting just the PDF of the Core Rulebook at $10, up to both PDF and physical versions of everything (eight books total; nine if New Vinnengael is included as an Add-On) PLUS an autographed three-book novel series. There's even a level to immortalize yourself in the setting as a powerful Dominion Lord (or Vrykyl... your pick) with potential recurring role in future releases.

And if you really feel like splurging, you can get a masonite giclee by Larry Elmore to hang in your room too!-)

Thought I'd elaborate a bit on the backstory for Sovereign Stone:

About 200 years ago, the king of Vinnengael, at that time the most powerful empire in the world, got help from the gods to create magic portals that facilitated travel between nations. However, most of them then begin fearing the prospect of invasions through these portals and protested. So, the Vinnengaelean king asked the gods for a way to prevent portal abuse and keep peace between the races. In response, the gods gave him Sovereign Stone, which can grant those chosen by the artifact abilities far beyond mortal man, making them mighty champions called the Dominion Lords.

At first only the humans have Sovereign Stone. But when the dwarves, elves, and orks complained, the pyramid Stone was split into four parts and gifted to those races, with each part corresponding to an element: Air for elves, Fire for dwarves, Water for orks, and the human kept the Earth segment. This enabled them all to create their own Dominion Lords.

One of the Vinnengael king’s sons wanted to be a Dominion Lord himself solely for the power, but after the Sovereign Stone rejected him, he became angry and went straight to learning the forbidden Void magic. He got so dark and good at it, he was able to create evil undead counterparts to the Dominion Lords called the Vrykyls. Eventually, the two sides clashed in a big battle and the human piece of the Sovereign Stone was lost during the war.

The game picks up 200 years after with the antagonist coming back to find the lost piece as well as taking the other pieces from the other races so he can reunite the Sovereign Stone and conquer the world.

A reminder that the Kickstarter ends this Sunday (5/26) at noon. Please feel free to post any questions!

It's on! Tony Lee and Ken Whitman will be guests on the Geeerati podcast next week, hosted by Christian Lindke, to talk about Sovereign Stone and the kickstarter. Tune in Wednesday, May 22nd, at 8:30pm PST to hear us talk about the setting, our plans, working with Larry Elmore, and everything else Sovereign Stone!

You can check out the preliminary info here. Let us know if you have any burning questions about Sovereign Stone and we'll do our best to work the answers into our chat. Please pass it on so no fans of Larry Elmore, Sovereign Stone, Pathfinder, and just plain good gaming will miss it!

My pleasure, GeneticDrift!

And we have just climbed over the 30K hump in funding. That means if everyone who pledges now, at any reward level, will get the PDF of Empire of Might: New Vinnengael for free -- just like all current backers! Coming up next, at $35,000 is an original story by Don Perrin, then the fantastic post-trilogy story arcs after at 40k. We hope to have as many of you with us as possible on this exciting journey!

I'm sad to see the magic is changing. I loved the old system. Can you give more detail on how this is being changed?

Got good news for ya: It is not completely abandoned! What we're planning to do is to present two systems: one which won't stray too far off the conventional Pathfinder magic so PF players can pick up the tweaks quickly, and one "optional" where "spellcasting rolls" and other ideas from the old system you mentioned are still in effect.

To start off, all spells from the PF Core Rulebook will be divided by elements. So "Cure Wounds" are exclusively Earth spells, "Invisibility" is Air, divination is either Fire or Water depending on end effects, necromantic spells are Void, etc. Some spells will get "elemental overlay"; for example, if you pick up "Magic Missile" as a Fire Mage, it's a "Fire Magic Missile"; as a Water Mage, "Water Magic Missile".

If you're using the PF magic system, spellcasters like Wizards and Sorcerers become Elemental Mages and they must choose an element (similar to how clerics choose Domains), with choice of "multi-classing" into another (or more) element later. From there, they get the spell list for their chosen elements, cast spells and progress like in any normal PF game.

The deviation for using the Sovereign Stone magic system from d20 3.0/3.5 comes after that. Each spell will be given a Casting Threshold (CT) and it goes off once you've matched or exceeded the CT. In other words, the general basis for the old system will remain, but is simplified and more streamlined, with expansion provided in the Codex Mysterium (admittedly with a PF slant since that's rather unavoidable). So yes, while the PF side figures to be more prominent, you can pretty much still have the "old way" of doing magic for your campaign if you want--we haven't forgotten our old fans... :)

We've updated and added a couple of things since last week.

First, we found a way to reduce shipping cost to Canada, U.K., and Europe. If you're in those parts of the world, you can now enjoy a saving of $10-30 off the previous rate!

Second, if you pledge at the Scholar of Loerem level or above, you can get a softcover edition of the new Empire of Might: New Vinnengael sourcebook as an Add-On for $20!

EoM:NV is not a supplement on just the city of New Vinnengael; it is a book on the actual empire of Vinnengael itself. The content presents information about this mighty human realm from history to geography, culture, military, political seats, and the Church that is both influential and integral to the daily functions of Vinnengael. Of course, given its importance to not only the empire but Loerem too, there's a chapter devoted to the capital city as well. It's as comprehensive a coverage on the revived Vinnengael as you can get.

But that's not all. It also sheds some light on the mysterious order of monks known as the Keepers. Fans of Sovereign Stones will recognize them as the enigmatic harbingers who traveled throughout Loerem with the sole purpose of recording major events -- as mystical, animated tattoos on their bodies! More details will be revealed for the first time regarding this respected, virtually untouchable order, as well as their rumored connection to the dragons (which seemed to be their protective benefactors...)

Plus, all Dominion Lords known and/or active in Vinnengael get complete writeups and stats! If you've ever wondered about Sir Ardencoure, Lord of Freedom or any of his six fellow Dominion Lords and what incredible powers they have harnessed, look no further. And, if you pledge at the new $500 Icon of Loerem level, this is where you become immortalized in Sovereign Stone lore as either a Dominion Lord or their Void counterpart, a Vrykyl!

The PDF version of this supplement is FREE to ALL BACKERS when we cross the 30K threshold--which is just less than $500 away, so let's make it happen!

Thanks, Brandon! Some of us may be at GenCon (Larry definitely is), so look us up at the Elmore Productions booth and maybe we can get in a demo of PF Sovereign Stone or two.

In case you missed it, we've added a new stretch goal for 40K: Sneak Preview PDF of New Potential Post-Novel Story Arcs. This is a compilation of the plotlines discussed in "secret meetings" between Larry and the creative staff. There were some very interesting directions we're looking to take the game after the War with Dagnarus is over. Super-powered PCs, Elemental Oracles, and new continent(s) on the other side of Loerem are among the major developments we want to explore, to which we look forward to having fans old and new aboard!

We've added a new Reward Level. It is called "Icon of Loerem" because it's your chance to become an icon in the world of Sovereign Stone!

Two of the most formidable forces in Loerem are the Dominion Lords, champions of Light with might granted by the gods themselves, and their Void counterparts, the Vrykyls. Now you can be immortalized in the setting as one of these powerful entities by pledging at the new $500 "Icon of Loerem" level. In addition to print and PDF editions of the books and signed novel trilogy, you'll be a revered Dominion Lord or a feared Vrykyl -- your choice -- featured in the New Vinnengael: Empire of Might sourcebook. This Reward is limited to 9 backers since both Dominion Lords and Vrykyls are the extremely rare chosen few, so grab your spot while you can!

We've also switched the two new stretch goals: New Vinnengael is now at $30k, and Don Perrin story/scenario is at $35k. We should have another new, terrific stretch goal ready to announce soon, as well, so look out for that!

Tony Lee
Timeout Diversions

Was their exclusion simply a misprint?

Yes, that was an omission. It has been fixed. Thanks much for catching it!

As for monsters, will you put the 30 pages of monsters from the Campaign Sourcebook into the Bestiary?

As Trampas mentioned, the project is still very much in development, so we don't have anything specific on that yet... It will largely depends on how much room we have left over after all essential campaign information have been included. I do have a hunch the creature description will end up under 30 pages.

And would it be possible to give the monsters an alignment?

If it's in Pathfinder (and monster alignment is), there's a good chance we'll use it :)

Concerning the elven hirglaif and byrglaif, wouldn't it be sufficient to give elves weapon familiarity with katanas and wakizashis?

Good point. We'll check with writer of the Elves book, Stephen Sullivan, about it.

How about using Hero Points instead of Destiny points?

After another review, yes, we'll likely expand Hero Points so they'll do what we envisioned for Destiny Points and more.

How different will it be from the 3.5 editions?

The main approach we're taking with this version is to make it as friendly to the source game system as we can, so Pathfinder players will find the setting more readily accessible than D&D players found with their incarnations. To that end, we're making this a leaner edition by cutting off extraneous stuff like generic equipment description, duplicates of existing spells, plus other things you could find in the PF Core Rulebook. For replacement, we want to include Sovereign Stone-specific materials. So the elven hirglaif and byrglaif, for example, would be featured rather than tucked away in a sidebar, among other unique weapons and gear (some perhaps newly created) from the races and cultures of Loerem.

Old classes are either greatly streamlined to capitalize on PF innovations like Archetypes (for Stalker, Soldier, and Mounted Warrior) or dropped in favor of similar-in-function but more enticing replacements(e.g., swapping out Noble for the more appealing Warlord, courtesy of Adamant Entertainment). The many human cultures undergo rule mods too, as Culture Traits and other options are added. The pecwae has become more interesting and are beyond being slightly-retooled halflings in game mechanics. Other humanoid races should get the same treatment as well.

Destiny Points will be tweaked to be more powerful and have less restriction on how they're used. For one, they'll double as ki/grit/whatever-class-feature points you have, too.

Sovereign Stone magic is redesigned to fit with the conventional PF magic system, but with options to retain the flavor of the old "Spellcasting Rolls". It will also be streamlined and simplified to make adaptations quicker, easier.

There are other changes in plan as well, such as new background/setting info wherever, however we can manage to include. It is our intention to make it as distinct from the previous edition as possible so old fans won't feel ripped off, and for Pathfinder fans to enjoy.

Will there be more art?

Yes! One of the shortcoming of the 3.5 edition was not enough art... something we want to rectify for the Pathfinder edition. The bestiary at the end of the Core Book should be fully illustrated once again, for instance.

What sort of page counts are we looking at?

The Sovereign Stone Core, Bestiary, and Codex Mysterium should each be around 196-224 pages; the five sourcebooks about 64-96 pages each given an improved, efficient layout.

Pledged. Strangely I was gifted the 3.0 versions.

Thank you! We look forward to making this edition the best for you to enjoy!

And we hit our first stretch goal of $15,000 in less than 24 hours! All backers, even at $1 level, will now get a PDF collection of adventure scenarios. Coming up next, at $20,000, is an original story set in the Sovereign Stone world by Matt Forbeck!

Hi ShadowcatX!

Thanks for your comment! About Pathfinder, I did have plans to release thru Timeout Diversions a "Heroic Game Options" series that is designed to ramp up any Pathfinder games at the fundamental level. The first in the line would have introduced the "Momentum" mechanic. Basically, you accumulate Momentum Points from a successful die roll and then spend them however you like for a variety of bonuses on your next roll, from to-hit to saving throws to extra move or standard action, for yourself and even all your allies if you scored enough MP! I still want to release it so it will happen... just don't know when yet :)

My Wild World Wrestling, on sale on this site here, is d20-based, but modified to fit the pro-wrestling genre. The Free Fast-Count Demo is available here too, if you want to check out how the rules work. I also designed WWW's predecessor, OGL WWE Know Your Role, which more closely resembled the d20 System.

As for Sovereign Stone, we are currently looking at a departure from the usual spellcasting in term of interpretation. For starter, because classes like the Bard, Paladin, and Ranger are not spellcasters in the setting, we have to come up something else without making up redundant classes, nor do we feel that Pathfinder fans would want them to be "magic-less"... So, we're actually exploring the option to change their spellcasting class abilities into Spell-Like Abilities instead, with proper trade-offs so they're not overpowered.

I'll take the well-wishes, even if we're almost at the pledge goal already as we speak :) Wanna thank you and all the backers for the support, and I hope you'll find the project intriguing enough to pledge. Meanwhile, please let me know if there's anything else I can answer for ya!

Hi,

We at Timeout Diversions just launched a Kickstarter for Larry Elmore's Sovereign Stone RPG, this time as Pathfinder-compatible! Below is the official press release. Please feel free to post your comments and I'll be happy to answer your questions here as well. Thanks!

LARRY ELMORE’S SOVEREIGN STONE RPG COMES TO PATHFINDER®
Now Active on Kickstarter

REDONDO BEACH, CA, April 21, 2013 - Created by iconic artist Larry Elmore (“D&D Red Box”, SnarfQuest), Sovereign Stone is an epic fantasy tale of mortals struggling to cope with the immense power of an artifact given them from the gods. The gripping conflict has been recounted in a novel trilogy by the best-selling author duo of Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (Dragonlance, The Death Gate Cycle), as well as in vivid paintings featuring Mr. Elmore’s distinct, breathtaking style. Since its initial release to this day, the role-playing game continues to attract fans and players worldwide.

Now, Timeout Diversions, makers of the #1 pro-wrestling RPG in the world (Wild World Wrestling), aims to merge the exciting saga of Sovereign Stone with the most popular RPG system in the world—the Pathfinder® Roleplaying Game!

“Any time you can work with someone of Larry’s stature, you do it,” said Tony Lee, chief operator of Timeout Diversions. “Bringing a fantastic creation like Sovereign Stone to the Pathfinder system will invite even more gaming enthusiasts to discover all the unique personalities, races, history, and stories within this setting. I’m so stoked I can’t wait to see the project unfold!”

“I have known Tony forever and I cannot think of anyone else I would rather work with on Sovereign Stone,” said Larry Elmore. “There are many more stories to tell in the Sovereign Stone universe. With the help of Kickstarter, we can hopefully finish what I started!”

The project is now live on Kickstarter here and set to end at 9pm EDT on May 26, 2013. Initial stretch goals include a commemorative art print autographed by Larry Elmore, and a story penned by the prolific fan-favorite, Matt Forbeck. More star-studded offerings are expected and will be announced upon finalization.

Based in Redondo Beach, California, Timeout Diversions is the home of Killer Thriller, the B-Movie RPG, and the undisputed champ of pro-wrestling role-playing games, Wild World Wrestling. For more information on these games and Sovereign Stone, please check out the Timeout Diversions website and/or contact Tony Lee at info@timeoutdiversions.com.

Finally, Wild World Wrestling has come back to gaming... with a new Main Event Edition! Evolved from the cult hit WWE: Know Your Role RPG, WWW returns with a further-refined d20 variant system to replicate the frantic action, flashy cast, and flamboyant drama of professional wrestling!

Wild World Wrestling: Main Event Edition cranks up the volume while still layeth the smacketh down like this:

• No character classes. Make a wrestler however you want with your choice of Gimmick Enhancements
• More options to customize and tweak your characters; get bonus attribute points and/or Gimmick Enhancements from having a basic character concept; change past Gimmick Enhancements as you progress to reflect character development
• Critically acclaimed easy and versatile maneuver creation system to emulate, customize, and attempt any wrestling move on the go, without having to check pages of tables or be limited to a rigid set of moves
• Head-to-head fighting for furious, nonstop battle without waiting for your opponent to finish a turn
• New submission rules for greater excitement
• Star Power to push a newcomer to the moon, re-push a mainstay over the top, or de-push an old hand to mid-card hell
• Character Flaws that an opponent can activate and swing the tide of a match
• More role playing- and troupe-oriented options to reward good characters and players
• Ring Rust for wrestlers returning from a long layoff
• No hit points, but suffering enough injuries will definitely impair your performance
• Multi-character cooperative yet competitive style of play. Character options include managers, announcers, interviewers, referees, promotion officials, and even ardent fans
• No GM necessary; just grab two characters and have a match alone if you want
• Fully supported with Roster Book (character collection), Contract Conflict (starter tournament), Promotion Books (“campaign settings”), Special PPV Main Events (“match scenarios”), and more to come

Wild World Wrestling will test your ring prowess as well as creative acumen and showmanship. Come walk the aisle as Da Champ of the best promotion in the world — yours!

The WWW: MEE pdf is now available on Paizo for just $5.00, and no support product is more than $3! So get your copy and see why Tommy Brownell of The Most Unread Blog on the Internet called it “Still the best wrestling RPG I have ever seen”!

(If you’re still on the fence or not a wrestling fan, we invite you to check out the free Fast-Count Demo. We promise the innovative maneuver system alone is worth your time!)

As some of you may know, we're going through Print-on-Demand as well for WWW Main Event Edition. Unfortunately, as we're not familiar with the process, we're running into delays we didn't account for.

Because we plan to make both the print and electronic book available at the same time, this is also pushing back the release of the PDF here on Paizo.

So we must apologize again. This is our first foray into POD so we're still learning. We had hoped to make it available in time for Black Friday.

But it's nobody's fault but ours, so sorry for keeping you guys waiting, and thank you all for much for your continual interest and support. All we can say now is if you loved the original (or the Demo), you'll LOVE this edition, so please bear with us and hang in there a bit longer.

Thanks!

Thanks much, Shadowborn!

Now that I found the code for linking, let's try this again for the Timeout Diversions FB Page :)

About the names, my intention is to do them in a way as to make them immediately recognizable for who they "might" be. I believe these can also be considered parodies, just like it is common among the indie promotions to use rip-off characters and gimmicks. I think a good example would be that I deliberately named that one guy Ares (as in the God of War) rather than the astrological sign, so there is enough differentiation yet hint at a possible real-life wrestler :) IIRC, name alone is not sufficient to claim intellectual property infringement; you also need likeness, trademark... the whole package. Since you can't patent ideas but only specific executions of ideas, by changing the name, even slightly, they can be considered "original" creations.

Nevertheless, thank you for the opportunity to publicly clarify this concern that had been expressed to me in private before, and thank you much for your interest and support! Please feel free to ask any questions or give comments and suggestions!

Fast-Count Demo -- http://paizo.com/products/btpy8vib?Wild-World-Wrestling-Free-FastCount-Demo -- is the free quickstart for Wild World Wrestling, the #1 wrestling RPG from Timeout Diversions! Now you can take your first step into the ring and try out your very own mini-show. The Fast-Count Demo introduces you to the revised Main Event Edition but also includes errata for the original edition, as well as all changes and additions made so you do not have to buy the new edition if you don't want to!

This PDF features six characters not available anywhere else: Jindal Mehul, Derrick Young, Ares Austin, Coby Roads, Matthew "The Archetype" Morrigan, Cade Barrick. Grab a wrestler, duke it out in a standard or gimmick match and discover for yourself why Wild World Wrestling is Da Champ of all wrestling RPGs!

Wild World Wrestling, Main Event Edition is scheduled for release in November ($20 print, $5 PDF), along with revisions of Roster Book 1, the RWF Promotion Book, and new additions such as the TCW Promotion Book and the PPV Sourcebook.

Find us at Facebook: WWW.facebook.com/timeoutdiversions