SirUrza
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Looking forward to getting my hands on this. I enjoyed both Cities of Golarion and this seems right in line with that book. If it's as good, I hope we'll see both Cities and Towns become an ongoing series to develop other towns and cities.
| Lysle |
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Much of the information about Falcon’s Hollow is new, including a new map. In short, I recommend picking it up if you plan to run a game in Falcon’s Hollow. However, there is a bit of material that appears to contradict prior published materials set in the Vale: Guide to Darkmoon Vale (GtDV), Crown of the Kobold King (CotKK), Carnival of Tears (CoT), and Hungry are the Dead(HatD).
The new map eliminates the “gaps” in the town walls found in prior maps. Most striking to me is the addition of two new features: 1) an enormous, sprawling residence/compound/fortress for Kreed and 2) a stone tower for Vade. While these new features make sense, their size and locations strike me as odd.
Vade’s upgrade to a stone tower makes more sense than the “two-story shack” described in HatD, but the location removed from High Market to the south of town, further away from the town cemetery described as being to the north in HatD also strikes me as unusual.
The more detailed town history is appreciated, but the date given for the Night of Silver Blood and the burning of Elara’s Half-way House raises questions. I suspect it is a typo.
Some of the other changes/additions correct apparent errors in prior products or open up adventuring opportunities.
Laurel has expert levels, not cleric as in GtDV.
Full stats given for Thuldrin Kreed.
Sharvaros Vade is no longer a 10th-level necromancer as in GtDV, but has a CR more in line with that of the average party level for the modules CotKK & HaTD.
Vamros Harg has a more intimate and perhaps more compelling reason to consider standing up to Kreed.
Ulizmila is alive despite the reference to her corpse in GtDV.
However, some of the changes/additions appear to contradict prior publications that could potentially alter the published modules, diminish the player character’s accomplishments, or just seem unnecessary.
Savram Vade is now a dhampir. When found by the player characters in CofKK, Savram’s arm is severely cut. Given a dhampir’s negative energy affinity, the player characters could potentially kill Savram by attempting to heal him during the events of CofKK potentially altering the outcome of the adventure and the other kid’s views of the player characters.
The new priorGavel was Kreed’s father, Thalsin Kreed, instead of Kaxel Thaulrose mentioned in GtDV. I always thought of the Lumber Consortium as a faceless corporate enemy. It seems odd to suggest that the position of gavel may be hereditary.
| HolmesandWatson |
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Actually I really would like to see a book on taverns and bars and inns for golarion...
Seconded. Necromancer Games' 'The Book of Taverns' tried too hard to be unique or bizarre, but it was a cool idea. A book of establishments like Darkmoon Vale's Gold Falls Inn would really have some mileage. The Campaign Setting line would benefit from an inns/tavern tome.
SirUrza
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Taverns and Inns would be wonderful... heck, bring on the Brothels and Feasthalls too!
I would still like to see these books continue as a series with additional volumes.
| atheral |
Okay I wasn't expecting to be too interested in this volume but after sitting down and reading through the PDF I have to say that I found the material in here to be fascinating. I am particularly intrigued by Falcon's Hollow and Diobell. I'm not in the habit of creating adventures myself (not enough hours in the day and so on), but I may have to use both these locations for something in the future.
SirUrza
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SirUrza wrote:Taverns and Inns would be wonderful...From Slugfest Games. :D
Looks cool, I'll check it out, but I was referring to an Inner Sea guide. ;)
| Nicolas Logue Contributor |
Okay I wasn't expecting to be too interested in this volume but after sitting down and reading through the PDF I have to say that I found the material in here to be fascinating. I am particularly intrigued by Falcon's Hollow and Diobell. I'm not in the habit of creating adventures myself (not enough hours in the day and so on), but I may have to use both these locations for something in the future.
Awesome atheral! Glad you enjoyed the Hollow and Diobel stuffs. I had a wonderful time writing them, and the development/editing team just took my stuff and added in more awesome-sauce.
I am enjoying the other towns in there tremendously, I gotta say, and might have to make sure my home game group pays them each a visit sometime soon.
Mikaze
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Just now got a chance to start reading. Went for Trunau first, because of course I would go for Trunau first.
It didn't exactly have what I was hoping for, but admittedly those hopes were pretty high and against the party line for Belkzen. Was really hoping there would be something on an odd tribe(likely Gorumite) that actually had peacable, if uncomfortable relations with the town.
Still, what was there was still good, and it sets the tone for expectations out of the rest of the book. I've always loved detailed village write-ups like the old Sandpoint original, so a whole book of that is really appealing. Trunau's tight-knit community is sold and delivered really well, along with the character and attitude of the populace. Like the notes on the hopeknives, which actually come across here as less defeatist and morbid than in Trunau's debut. And the siegestone both explains a lot and comes across as deeply unappetizing, which seems the point.
There's a very nice cast of characters introduced here, and a lot of drama, entanglements, and conflict primed to happen, compounded by just how well everyone knows everyone and their shared situation. There's quite a bit of possible escalating conflicts between people the PCs like and other people they like, even moreso when those rumors start flying. The Iomedaeans from Lastwall are a really good source for that. Really like how Trunau's fierce independence from everyone even applies to their closest allies, for better or worse. It really completes the mindset.
Also, love Agrit Staginsdar and Sara Morninghawk to death. Dwarf wizard X Shoanti half-orc barbarian couple? I want that book, Mr. Sutter! :)
And while Trunau may have not had anything solid to deliver in the way of non-evil orcs, there sure is a hell of a lot to read in-between the lines with all the things going on with Halgra of the Blackened Blades, especially if Hundux turns out to be her child by a an orc lover. Taking that with all her half-orc children, there's something waiting to be told there. :)
edit-Also, Halgra is awesome. We need more badass old ladies in fantasy, period. That description coupled with that portrait along with whatever is going on with her really makes her stand out. :)
Rabus Clarenston, responsible drunk, was a very nice touch too. Even he's dependable(though the city council gave him plenty of motivation).
Well, Solku next it seems. :)
Mikaze
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Kinda in love with Solku now. :)
Went in mainly knowing it for being Seelah's hometwon and a focal point for Sarenrae worship in Katapesh. Came out feeling like it was honestly the nicest place to live in Katapesh, even with all the dangers.
Loved the cultural details that went into this, from the windcatchers to the cupbearer courtesans to the coffee rituals to all of those holidays. The description of the Lambent Citadel's dome makes for a visual that really needs to be tackled someday in art.
Being much larger than Trunau, Solku's NPCs and their hooks aren't quite as intertwined as much, but there's still a lot of conflict brewing, and it's honestly hard to pick a side in the largest. Honestly, it's highly likely most parties will be split on conflicts between the religious leadership and the secular government(we're talking very-light-gray vs very-light-gray at points). And then there's all the smaller conflicts taking place around that, many of them spinning out of the historic siege that gave us Seelah's backstory. I wasn't expecting the Siege of Solku to have as big an impact as it did, and it was neat to see just how big and lasting a footprint that event actually had.
It's interesting that many of the idealists have had that idealism damaged by those events, and though they're still trucking on they seem set up for fresh-faced PCs to come in and remind them of what they were.(particularly Lady Cynore and Semira Brehan).
I get the feeling that careless Andoren/Eagle Knight PCs are going to walk right by Serpentine Blades to get entangled with Condor Company. Liked the nice spectrum of competing guard/mercenary services operating out of Solku.
Fans of the play in Sixfold Trial might want to take a close look at the arts in Solku. Besides the idea of Soaring Illusions(which is really neat), the plot hook about the Chimera Tear's Players and their attempts to find the right time, people, and play to recreate the Battle of Red Hail would make for a great social campaign all on its own or inserted into another campaign. Loved the "too soon" dilemma and that the leader of the troupe wasn't against the idea period but rather focused on doing it right.
Oh man, thinking about it some more, pulling off that play might very well be the climax of a Solku campaign if it can heal many of the various rifts left since the siege. Some might see that as an anticlimactic way to wrap up a campaign, but for the right group the emotional payoff would be fantastic.
I still can't decide if Gamar Deshta is hilariously/dangerously(hilarihazardously?) insane or if there's actually something to his theories after Distant Worlds. ;)
And then there's slavery thing. We all know it's a common thing throughout the Inner Sea and we've all seen the furious debate threads over it, alignment, deliberate values dissonance vs. absolutism, etc. Solku isn't going to put that discussion to rest but it does illustrate how an idealistic and generally goodly town has to get by in Katapesh, particularly in the details about the Pens.
(speaking of values dissonance and those holidays mentioned earlier, there is a lot to play with here concerning the concept of sacred hospitality, from Bastion Day to Dawnflower's Pure Rest to the rules regarding the Pens)
Lord Hazic Kel-Kalaar's portrait reminds me of someone and it's really bugging me that I can't recall exactly who. :)
And man, @#$% Okeno. Seriously.
Mikaze
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Three words: Goblin. Noodle. Cart.
Well that's certainly something to look forward to while reading the book back to front. :)
Mikaze wrote:Samuel the boatman from Dishonored?
Lord Hazic Kel-Kalaar's portrait reminds me of someone and it's really bugging me that I can't recall exactly who. :)
I want to say "no" on a precise level but man, that portait really reminds me of that game's art style now, in a totally good way.
| James Sutter Senior Editor/Fiction Editor |
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Just now got a chance to start reading. Went for Trunau first, because of course I would go for Trunau first.
Really glad you enjoyed Trunau! Mr. Logue and I ended up working together on that one (since I introduced it originally and had some *strong opinions* on where it should go), and I'm really happy with how it turned out.
And folks who like Solku should give mad props to our own Judy Bauer, as that was her first foray into freelance writing, and she totally knocked it out of the park!
Mikaze
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Mikaze wrote:Just now got a chance to start reading. Went for Trunau first, because of course I would go for Trunau first.Really glad you enjoyed Trunau! Mr. Logue and I ended up working together on that one (since I introduced it originally and had some *strong opinions* on where it should go), and I'm really happy with how it turned out.
And folks who like Solku should give mad props to our own Judy Bauer, as that was her first foray into freelance writing, and she totally knocked it out of the park!
Done! :)
And still really hopeful about those implications with Halgra.
| Garrett Guillotte |
I've noticed there's two buildings marked 20 (The Throne Defiant) on the Pezzack city map, one east of the river over a large building, the other next to a tower adjacent to the Academy of Applied Magic on the west side. Is this intentional?