Kobold Quarterly 3 PDF

I like the new logo, Wolfgang!

I always knew angels were made of cotton candy.

Got my PDF today! Hooray! Holding off on a review 'til I get tasty wood pulp in my hands.

downloading mine now, almost 19 meg! How do I renew my subscription?

Am i reading this right? Newsstand now available? I'll have to let the Guardtower know.

I like the new logo, Wolfgang!

Thanks! It's a collaboration between my wife's calligraphy and a graphics genius named Scott Okumura. I'm a big fan of their work.

downloading mine now, almost 19 meg! How do I renew my subscription?

Am i reading this right? Newsstand now available? I'll have to let the Guardtower know.

Yes, the print books ship to hobby distributors starting with this issue (and will also be available right here from Paizo). If you do check it out at the FLGS, get your requests in soon, I'm starting to fear I underprinted AGAIN.

As for renewals, I don't really expect anyone to re-up until after issue #4, but if you do want to put in that renewal early I won't say no!

The best option is just to use the Kobold Quarterly site, and note that it is a renewal somewhere in the form. Or send me an email that it's a renewal.

Just a clarification request:

We have to re-up our subscriptions?
This isn't an ongoing subscription?

I don't really mind either way... But I guess I was getting spoiled by Paizo, and just assumed (yes, I know what happens...) it was ongoing.

Wow, that Ecology of the Lich picture is amazing!

Vic Wertz wrote:

I like the new logo, Wolfgang!

Thanks! It's a collaboration between my wife's calligraphy and a graphics genius named Scott Okumura. I'm a big fan of their work.

Scott used to work for Paizo as one of the art directors for Star Wars Insider!

Just a clarification request:

We have to re-up our subscriptions?
This isn't an ongoing subscription?

I don't really mind either way... But I guess I was getting spoiled by Paizo, and just assumed (yes, I know what happens...) it was ongoing.

No, it is an ongoing subscription for most folks. A few of the earliest folks subscribed before I had the ongoing subscription set up; I'll contact those people myself when issue #4 ships to make sure they know the subscription can be set up as an ongoing one.

My real goal, of course, is to live up to Paizo's standards. It's really hard, but I'm trying. :)

Disenchanter wrote:

Just a clarification request:

We have to re-up our subscriptions?
This isn't an ongoing subscription?

I don't really mind either way... But I guess I was getting spoiled by Paizo, and just assumed (yes, I know what happens...) it was ongoing.

No, it is an ongoing subscription for most folks. A few of the earliest folks subscribed before I had the ongoing subscription set up; I'll contact those people myself when issue #4 ships to make sure they know the subscription can be set up as an ongoing one.

My real goal, of course, is to live up to Paizo's standards. It's really hard, but I'm trying. :)

You are doing good so far, Wolfgang.

that cover is almost Dragon/Dungeon like. nice!!

Will have to place a order later on tonight for it

great news!!

RM

New look for the Kobold Mines: http://www.koboldquarterly.com/

downloading mine now, almost 19 meg! How do I renew my subscription?

Am i reading this right? Newsstand now available? I'll have to let the Guardtower know.

The Guardtower?!?!?! Oh my gods it's been years since I thought of that place (I used to live in Columbus in the 90's) nice to know it's still around.

No, it is an ongoing subscription for most folks. A few of the earliest folks subscribed before I had the ongoing subscription set up; I'll contact those people myself when issue #4 ships to make sure they know the subscription can be set up as an ongoing one.

My real goal, of course, is to live up to Paizo's standards. It's really hard, but I'm trying. :)

Oh. Good to hear then. I appreciate the way you are handling it too. (The notice to those that might not know their subscriptions isn't ongoing.)

I didn't mean to suggest you weren't living up to Paizo standards, because frankly - I think you are. You are a smidge behind production quality... But you are still starting up, and that is to be expected. (Besides, you are catching up faster than I thought likely. ;-) )

By the way, do you plan to continue the name "Kobold Quarterly" even after you leave the quarterly model? I expect so. But I am curious.

Matthew Morris wrote:

downloading mine now, almost 19 meg! How do I renew my subscription?

Am i reading this right? Newsstand now available? I'll have to let the Guardtower know.

The Guardtower?!?!?! Oh my gods it's been years since I thought of that place (I used to live in Columbus in the 90's) nice to know it's still around.

Yup still there, still doing OK. Still has squig and now another cat. They were lamenting the loss of print magazines, I'll see if I can get them to order KQ.

Here's a concern / question:

(And have mercy, as I am a Paizo PDF patron of the first two issues of KQ, so I'm not trying to be a jerk)

This article on magic seems to relate to Zobeck, which unless I'm misunderstanding is a location that is referred to a couple of the Open Design Projects, like Steam & Brass, and Castle Shadowcrag.

As an aside, I didn't find Open Design until I read both issues of KQ. I stumbled on to it, because I was curious about the Arabian Nights setting. And it's a genuine disappointment that these three previous OD Projects are not available to the public any longer. However, I've read the website and I believe I understand the reasons why, and how that decision came about. Unfortunate, but I appreciate why that has to be the case.

What concerns me about this Issue#3 is that it's a support article for limited edition publications that I won't be ever able to buy.

Granted, I expect that this magic system can be imported into any setting. That's cool, I appreciate that point. Still, it's fluff for a setting that I can't get my hands on for reasons outside of our mutual control.

That takes some of the "cool factor" away for me, and dulls the shiny polish. I still want this issue. I still think KQ is a great magazine... But now I worry that KQ might become a medium to support a setting that is partially exclusive to earlier Open Design patrons.

I dunno.. talk to me... Is this fluff as valuable without being able to see "Steam and Brass", "Castle Shadowcrag", or even "Empire of the Ghouls"?

I don't know. It doesn't bother me any more than when Dragon used to have articles that referenced the Forgotten Realms before it was a published setting, not to mention the probably hundreds of articles over the years that used proper names and implied connections to the article author's home campaign.

In some cases I just think it helps the creative process for someone to know where they are coming from when they start writing something, but that doesn't mean that it won't still be broad enough to appeal to other people.

It kind of reminds me of the China Miéville issue of Dragon. Some people really didn't like all of the content, but a lot of it helped to trigger some creative ideas that I used for my Realms campaign in some form or another.

I understand what you are saying. I was actually pretty interested in Wolfgang's projects after reading some of the tantalizing bits, and someday, I might try to get in on the ground floor of one of them when I have the funds available and I'm not trying to buy up products that will be off the market soon (ahem, WMP Dragonlance books). And from time to time when something doesn't strike the right balance between flavor and broad appeal, it can fall flat for me, and I can imagine that that line is different for everyone.

What concerns me about this Issue#3 is that it's a support article for limited edition publications that I won't be ever able to buy.

Granted, I expect that this magic system can be imported into any setting. That's cool, I appreciate that point. Still, it's fluff for a setting that I can't get my hands on for reasons outside of our mutual control.

Well, I understand your concern, and that's why I plan to spend much of 2008 working on the Zobeck book (adventures and setting material). This will reprint and recast setting material from S&B and Shadowcrag (and less so, from Empire). So, the setting will eventually be available.

That said, I think KnightErrant's comparison the appearance of the Realms in Dragon is on the mark (well, other than that I'm not as wildly prolific as Mr. Greenwood). The setting flavor is just meant to provide a little extra spin to an article that is otherwise entirely compatible with most fantasy campaigns.

I'm not sure how much more generally useful an article can be than a new set of spells, monsters, or items. And those are the article that gave birth to the Realms.

I don't know. It doesn't bother me any more than when Dragon used to have articles that referenced the Forgotten Realms before it was a published setting, not to mention the probably hundreds of articles over the years that used proper names and implied connections to the article author's home campaign.

In some cases I just think it helps the creative process for someone to know where they are coming from when they start writing something, but that doesn't mean that it won't still be broad enough to appeal to other people.

It kind of reminds me of the China Miéville issue of Dragon. Some people really didn't like all of the content, but a lot of it helped to trigger some creative ideas that I used for my Realms campaign in some form or another.

I understand what you are saying. I was actually pretty interested in Wolfgang's projects after reading some of the tantalizing bits, and someday, I might try to get in on the ground floor of one of them when I have the funds available and I'm not trying to buy up products that will be off the market soon (ahem, WMP Dragonlance books). And from time to time when something doesn't strike the right balance between flavor and broad appeal, it can fall flat for me, and I can imagine that that line is different for everyone.

Hi there KnightErrantJr,

Thanks for the reply. You make a good point, and even Wolfgang agrees. I don't have any counterpoint, and I don't disagree with what you're saying.

Changing the subject, I would like to point out something. It's not a criticism per se, just an observation.

You speak to me as one insider to another. Actually I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm like Buck Rodgers, thawed out of suspended animation from first edition. I do know what Forgotten Realms is (I played Baldur's Gate!), and I know it had some mary jane iconic named Elminster in it, and Ed Greenwood is the author.. but I have no first hand experience with old Dragon issues. The reference to China Miéville is lost on me. (?? Is this a character, a setting, an author, a guide to running an Asian settings?)

Nevertheless, I do take your point, and I'm not trying to detract from what you're saying. I'm not an idiot, I do know what Dragon magazine is, and you provide more than enough context in your post to make complete sense. Even still, if you had asked me who Wolfgang, Erik Mona, or James Jacobs were back in July of this year- I wouldn't have had a clue. All of my players would have known, certainly! But not I.

Your comment relies heavily on a certain amount of familiarity on my part. "They've been doing this for years now and no one ever complained before." Hey buddy, I didn't know! :D

I'm not excited by 4th Edition because I haven't found any problems with 3.5, but in a microcosm, this is an interesting look at WOTC's desire to attract new people to the game.

And again, I get what you're saying, and I take no offense and hope I gave none in return.

Well, I understand your concern, and that's why I plan to spend much of 2008 working on the Zobeck book (adventures and setting material). This will reprint and recast setting material from S&B and Shadowcrag (and less so, from Empire). So, the setting will eventually be available.

Well, how cool is that? Can't ask for much more. Mr. Baur you have completely disarmed me. I hope you didn't think I was just trying to bust your chops, because it was a legitimate concern, but it is no longer.

Wow.. very cool.

That said, I think KnightErrant's comparison the appearance of the Realms in Dragon is on the mark (well, other than that I'm not as wildly prolific as Mr. Greenwood). The setting flavor is just meant to provide a little extra spin to an article that is otherwise entirely compatible with most fantasy campaigns.

And I suspected as much, really. I never thought that it wouldn't be useful to any fantasy campaign. The concern had a definite emotional quality to it. The comparison isn't perfect however. Forgotten Realms materials can be tracked down. Used bookstores can be raided, Ebay can trolled- where there is a will, there is a way, assuming a fairly large print run. Hell, I own a few rare White Wolf books that are allegedly impossible to find. However, I don't think that will be the case with your Open Design projects. Small print runs to folks who paid a premium, and then got vehement about reprinting? It doesn't seem likely that those publications will surface at any price I'll be willing or able to pay. So when I perused your sites and read about the finished projects, there was a sense of disappointment. The only mature way to combat that disappointment, rather than harangue you about it, is to accept that they will never be available and that's just the way it is. So to see an article about this Zobek city seemed just like a tease.

You know the saying that "one beer is just enough to make you mad"? (Or you can subsitute whatever snack food is consumed in more than one unit, like “potato chip") It's the same deal. Just a taste often only serves to point out that you were late to the party and you missed out, and nothing will ever change that. Hell, who wants to be teased?

There's a logical side to it certainly, but people are composed of more than just the rational. Ask any marketing director!

Anyway, this is all moot now! Zobek for everyone!

I'm not sure how much more generally useful an article can be than a new set of spells, monsters, or items.

Point granted.

And those are the article that gave birth to the Realms.

I'll take your word on it! ;)

I wish you as much success!

...and our print copies just arrived!

this has probably allready come up, but is it possible to subscribe to KQ through paizo? Or should I go to mister Baur directly?

One of the smartest things I did in 2007 was becoming a charter subscriber of KQ. Not only do I have a magazine to look forward to, it looks like my #1 issue will be a collector's item to cherish. Kudos again Mr. Baur for giving us back our print magazine fix. Kudos as well to Paizo for supporting him and giving us our adventure magazine fix with Pathfinder! WotC who?

I'm still waiting for my dead tree #3. :'(

Oh, and I did mention the print run to Mike at the Guardtower, we'll see if he runs with the ball.

this has probably allready come up, but is it possible to subscribe to KQ through paizo? Or should I go to mister Baur directly?

To the best of my knowledge, Paizo offers subscriptions to their own products but not others. So, please visit koboldquarterly.com to subscribe!

this has probably allready come up, but is it possible to subscribe to KQ through paizo? Or should I go to mister Baur directly?

Not yet.... for now, head to the man himself.

Star and Shadow Magic, and Prince of Swarms both sound like articles that might interest me. Might Star Magic be something suitable for an arcane follower of Desna?

Also, I don't suppose Kobold have a similar arrangement to Pathfinder, where you get the PDF download included if you order the print version? I'm torn between which format to order - maybe I've just been spoiled by Pathfinder *sigh*.

Might Star Magic be something suitable for an arcane follower of Desna?

Very suitable.

Also, I don't suppose Kobold have a similar arrangement to Pathfinder, where you get the PDF download included if you order the print version? I'm torn between which format to order - maybe I've just been spoiled by Pathfinder *sigh*.

You can get a PDF, Print, or PDF & Print subscription. PDF gets you an email linky, Print gets sent in the mail (*squee* got mine on Friday).

And those who followed the previous discussion should know that I ended up being a subscriber!

KQ#3 is very nice!

With each new issue of KQ I am impressed anew. The first one I read a friend's copy and did a review on it for Renaissance Magazine (As for WHEN it will make it into the magazine I have no idea but when I do find out I'll drop a line to you all). The Second one Mr. Baur sent me a promotional copy and I was again floored with how good it was. I purchased a copy of #3 and am impressed yet again. I'm seriously considering a subscription just to get print copies of a magazine with the heart of the early Dragon Magazine in it. Keep up the good work and I'll be a subscriber.

Oh BTW the Clockwork Crossbow from Issue #1 has become a terror and most desired weapon in my campaign. Players have come to fear the +2 Clockwork Crossbow with Quick Load, Speed and Distance on it. :)

Long Live The Kobold!

I may have missed it, but where are the Shadowsworn from?

Also is it too late to get in on the Open Design Arabian setting?

I may have missed it, but where are the Shadowsworn from?

Also is it too late to get in on the Open Design Arabian setting?

Good question, are they a PrC?

Furtermore, can one specialize in the illumination school? If so, what would be the opposite schools?

Shadowsworn are an arcane caster type from the Book of Rougish Luck by Malhavoc Press.

Shadowsworn are an arcane caster type from the Book of Rougish Luck by Malhavoc Press.

Thank you, IDHMPDFOTROBLIFOM.

I'll have to go over these spells with my Spellstalker player, see if he thinks they fit thematically too. He's already feeling cocky with his Shadow familiar (Book of Familiars) two words will make him less so...

Magic Missile ;-)

Matthew Morris wrote:

I may have missed it, but where are the Shadowsworn from?

Also is it too late to get in on the Open Design Arabian setting?

Good question, are they a PrC?

Furtermore, can one specialize in the illumination school? If so, what would be the opposite schools?

Stylistic wise? I'd say Divination and maybe Abjuration.

Not too late for the Arabian Open Design Project, or it wasn't when I looked last night.

I get the feeling that the hour draws really frickan nigh though. On the Open Design LJ Wolfgang said he's going to announce a new project possibly this week.

I think I am going to have to make a decision on Arabian Nights this evening when I get home from work. I hope Wolf does a "last call for alcohol" for the project.

Not too late for the Arabian Open Design Project, or it wasn't when I looked last night.

I get the feeling that the hour draws really frickan nigh though. On the Open Design LJ Wolfgang said he's going to announce a new project possibly this week.

I think I am going to have to make a decision on Arabian Nights this evening when I get home from work. I hope Wolf does a "last call for alcohol" for the project.

Arabian Nights is done with editing, now going to layout. So, if you want a copy (and trust me you do!), sign up now.

Seriously, if you are at all a fan of the genre, or just want something a little different from standard European trope D&D, these short adventures into Dark Arabia are where it's at. Good stuff all around.

Arabian Nights is done with editing, now going to layout. So, if you want a copy (and trust me you do!), sign up now.

Seriously, if you are at all a fan of the genre, or just want something a little different from standard European trope D&D, these short adventures into Dark Arabia are where it's at. Good stuff all around.

Something to do tonight then :D

Something to do tonight then :D

Awesome - you won't be disappointed. Wolfgang's genius binds the project all together, and he designed two of the six fantastic side trek adventures himself. He also had two well known industry authors each write an adventure (I won't ruin the surprise).

Valmiras (from the boards here) co-wrote another of the adventures with Wolfgang, as did I. (So, obviously I'm biased.)

Looks to be a really good set of stand alone adventures, that can be run together into an Arabian campaign if you want.

Matthew Morris wrote:

Something to do tonight then :D

Awesome - you won't be disappointed.

Me too. :)

Done. Could only pony up the $30, sorry.

Done. Could only pony up the $30, sorry.

I think you're going to like it.

So after *coughs* previewing the PDFs of issue 1 and 2, I gave in and subscribed to the magazine. I like it, thumbs up.

However, no Q Workshop dice? That sucks.. ok they'll gave me a code for a free back issue? Awesome... wait... back issues are sold out? What the heck do I do with this code then? :P

Yeah, I keep trying to come up promos and stuff to attract subscribers, but people are showing up pretty quickly. Nice problem to have and all, but ... it does irk me when I run out of freebies.

I think maybe I'll wait a little, and use some of the promo time and effort to make issue #4 even bigger and better.

Arabian Nights is done with editing, now going to layout. So, if you want a copy (and trust me you do!), sign up now.

Seriously, if you are at all a fan of the genre, or just want something a little different from standard European trope D&D, these short adventures into Dark Arabia are where it's at. Good stuff all around.

Argh, why do I have to find out about this now and not yesterday?

EDIT: Ahh, found this on the profile page:
"The Current Project
Six Arabian Nights A set of six linked mini-adventures, each suitable for one night of play in Dark Arabia, a land of scimitars against the darkness. The project is funded and underway; new patrons are welcome on the understanding that some of the work is already ongoing."
But still no mention of how to get in on this (pretty much just interested in buying a copy).

Bravo! Bravo! Keep up the quality work Mr. Baur.

"The Current Project
Six Arabian Nights A set of six linked mini-adventures, each suitable for one night of play in Dark Arabia, a land of scimitars against the darkness. The project is funded and underway; new patrons are welcome on the understanding that some of the work is already ongoing."
But still no mention of how to get in on this (pretty much just interested in buying a copy).

All the details are on the Arabian Nights page, from descriptions to price to authors to... Well, that's about it. The project ships in the next two weeks, so if you don't care about the design discussions, playtest, etc, now's the perfect time to jump in.

Whoohoo!

More people learning about Open Design, more people subscribing, more people becoming last minute Patrons!

I've been trying to figure out what this open design stuff is since yesterday with two or three half hearted attempts... care to explain to those like me that can't find the right webpage to read or just too lazy? :)