Richard Pett writes another masterpiece. In particular, this module (issue #138) makes excellent use of imagery and foreshadowing.
The bar gets set higher and higher. Great work Richard, Dungeon staff, and all of the other extremely talented Dungeon contributors.
Non-related note: The Downer Critical Threat rocks. Long live Downer!
Richard Pett writes another masterpiece. In particular, this module (issue #138) makes excellent use of imagery and foreshadowing.
The bar gets set higher and higher. Great work Richard, Dungeon staff, and all of the other extremely talented Dungeon contributors.
Non-related note: The Downer Critical Threat rocks. Long live Downer!
Thanks Reach,
I'm glad you included the dungeon staff in this, they had a great deal of input into this adventure, and pondered quite a few Styes sequels before liking this one. I prefer this one of the two as it was much harder to go back to somewhere a second time, get the same sort of feel but with a totally different type of adventure.
Cheers
Rich
Richard Pett writes another masterpiece. In particular, this module (issue #138) makes excellent use of imagery and foreshadowing.
The bar gets set higher and higher. Great work Richard, Dungeon staff, and all of the other extremely talented Dungeon contributors.
Non-related note: The Downer Critical Threat rocks. Long live Downer!
I 200% agree with you, I've Got Reach. Masterpiece is the word. Since the first opus, we know how dark and gritty the Styes could be. With "the Weavers" it is now alive with the kind of minutiae that make a setting unforgettable. Instead of writing long pages of dull background, in the middle of an exciting adventure full of dangers you learn about "comissures", "professors", puppet theater, even a complete story to frighten and amuse kids (what was your inspiration on that one Richard ? In France we have the puppet character of Guignol who is very similar). It's subtle but you end your reading with images, sounds and smells of this imaginary city that weren't here when you started. And on top of that you have a fast-paced, butt-kicking mystery that could very well make a great Hollywood movie.
I can't wait to DM it. I only hope I am a good enough DM to make my players feel the thing.Bran
More Styes!
Argh. Can't wait. I need my FLGS to get #138 in stock soon!
That's what subscriptions are for! In fact, it was the outstanding adventure writing of Messrs. Pett, Vaughn, and Logue that finally tilted me off the fence.
Richard Pett writes another masterpiece. In particular, this module (issue #138) makes excellent use of imagery and foreshadowing.
The bar gets set higher and higher. Great work Richard, Dungeon staff, and all of the other extremely talented Dungeon contributors.
Non-related note: The Downer Critical Threat rocks. Long live Downer!
I 200% agree with you, I've Got Reach. Masterpiece is the word. Since the first opus, we know how dark and gritty the Styes could be. With "the Weavers" it is now alive with the kind of minutiae that make a setting unforgettable. Instead of writing long pages of dull background, in the middle of an exciting adventure full of dangers you learn about "comissures", "professors", puppet theater, even a complete story to frighten and amuse kids (what was your inspiration on that one Richard ? In France we have the puppet character of Guignol who is very similar). It's subtle but you end your reading with images, sounds and smells of this imaginary city that weren't here when you started. And on top of that you have a fast-paced, b%~*-kicking mystery that could very well make a great Hollywood movie.
I can't wait to DM it. I only hope I am a good enough DM to make my players feel the thing.Bran
Thank you Bran,
the inspiration for Cackle and Gall came from Punch and Judy - a popular puppet show in England, in fact I toyed with the idea of having Punch and Judy in the adventure (as a strong Victoriana feeling gothic link) but ended up feeling that the Styes deserved its own gruesome take on the traditional puppet show - Swozzels and Fitups are genuine accoutrements of professors (the puppeteers) - in fact it was great fun researching this small part of the adventure actually.
As I said above I'm much more pleased with the Weavers than the Styes as sequels can tend to be poor immitations of originals (I'm especially thinking of the film Highlander here). It also adds a little more to the area and I feel puts more flesh on the setting's bones, although I feel I may have only dipped my feet into the disgusting, diseased pond of the setting up to now. It's also very important to note the part of your lovely dungeon editors in this as they have been pretty protective of the setting in terms of a return visit and rejected quite a few ideas before settling on the Weavers. I'm sure you'll be fine running it and have some gruesome fun:>
Thanks again
Rich
That's what subscriptions are for! In fact, it was the outstanding adventure writing of Messrs. Pett, AND Vaughn, that finally tilted me off the fence.
Why that's jolly nice of you Darkbard, I'm sure Greg Vaughn will be delighted as well, although of course his considerable talents haven't stretch to a campaign workbook yet:)arfarfarf, and so nice to see no mention of that talentless curr Logue in your post.
Huzzah!
That's what subscriptions are for! In fact, it was the outstanding adventure writing of Messrs. Vaughn and Logue that finally tilted me off the fence.
That's what subscriptions are for! In fact, it was the outstanding adventure writing of Messrs. Vaughn and Logue that finally tilted me off the fence.
That's what subscriptions are for! In fact, it was the outstanding adventure writing of Messrs. Vaughn and Logue that finally tilted me off the fence.
MUHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHA!!!
Don't worry guys...I totally wrote the Styes and the Weavers, which is why they are so good. I just felt bad for Pett...its hard not to...so I put the old dodger's name on them. If you liked these, wait until you read a little doozy called the "Three Faced Raven" I cooked up. ;-)
Still haven't seen this one!!! Can't wait to get to Gencon and buy it from Mr. Jacobs or Mr. Mona themselves. We no longer get Dungeon on the island...no joke. The distributor out there doesn't carry them to us wee tropical state of the Union anymore. sad.
Time for little Nicky to get a subscription!!! I'll take care of that at the con too.
Rich! I have been in restagings (with live actors) of Punch and Judy in Hawai'i, great great stuff! Can't wait to read this adventure!!!...er...the Paizo folk's final draft of my adventure...yeah, that's the ticket!!! ;-)
Isn't it WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY past bedtime in your neck of the woods?
Plus, don't think I dont know about the whole Prett thing you cad...
Isn't it WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY past bedtime in your neck of the woods?
WAAAAAAAAAAH!!!
Just a few more minutes Rich! PLEAAASE!!!
Plus, don't think I dont know about the whole Prett thing you cad...
WHO THE F*+# TOLD YOU THAT!!! GIVE UP THAT NAME PRETT!!! I WANT TO KNOW WHO THE LEAK IN DUNGEON MAGAZINE IS!!!
MUHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAAHHAAHA!!!
If you liked these, wait until you read a little doozy called the "Three Faced Raven" I cooked up. ;-)
Just for the record, in case it ever makes the magazine, Nick Logue had NOTHING to do with the three faced raven (especially not the auction scene), and anyway it's called Three Grotesque Monkeys now...not that it has anything to do with you anyway:)
Plus, don't think I dont know about the whole Prett thing you cad...WHO THE f&&@ TOLD YOU THAT!!! GIVE UP THAT NAME PRETT!!! I WANT TO KNOW WHO THE LEAK IN DUNGEON MAGAZINE IS!!!
I know where you live...
ok, maybe it's a long way to come and give you 3 dutch rubs after school but some day Logue...some day...
Plus, don't think I dont know about the whole Prett thing you cad...WHO THE f%~& TOLD YOU THAT!!! GIVE UP THAT NAME PRETT!!! I WANT TO KNOW WHO THE LEAK IN DUNGEON MAGAZINE IS!!!
Ahem...what I meant to say was...
Any similarities to any real persons in my adventures are purely coincidental...and the views of my NPCs in their interviews and commentaries are not representative of Nick Logue's own.
Plus, don't think I dont know about the whole Prett thing you cad...WHO THE f&&@ TOLD YOU THAT!!! GIVE UP THAT NAME PRETT!!! I WANT TO KNOW WHO THE LEAK IN DUNGEON MAGAZINE IS!!!I know where you live...
ok, maybe it's a long way to come and give you 3 dutch rubs after school but some day Logue...some day...
::Nick Logue ponders the horror of the dutch rub...or rather tries to imagine what this horror may entail as it is obviously some archaic form of bullying from the long distant era of Pett's youth...and immediately packs his bags and heads for the hills!::
:-)
Dutch rub?
That sounds like something people pay a lot of money for and don't tell their wives about.
Dutch rub?
That sounds like something people pay a lot of money for and don't tell their wives about.
Oh!
Well in that case Rich, you know where to find me, you sick bastard. Nicki gonna get a special bed time story tonight, eh Uncle Rich?
Okay, I feel dirty now...even for me.
Dutch Rub
A prank done by grasping the victim's forearm firmly in both hands, and then twisting the hands in opposite directions about the victim's arm, causing the tender skin to stretch making it red and sore. Also called a chinese burn.
You people are disturbing...
Dutch Rub
A prank done by grasping the victim's forearm firmly in both hands, and then twisting the hands in opposite directions about the victim's arm, causing the tender skin to stretch making it red and sore. Also called a chinese burn.
You people are disturbing...
Way to burst my bubble Pett. :-(
Dutch Rub
A prank done by grasping the victim's forearm firmly in both hands, and then twisting the hands in opposite directions about the victim's arm, causing the tender skin to stretch making it red and sore. Also called a chinese burn.
You people are disturbing...
I've heard of it as Indian Burn, but I live in NC with a whole lot of rednecks. Who knows?
I've heard of it as Indian Burn, but I live in NC with a whole lot of rednecks. Who knows?Dutch Rub
A prank done by grasping the victim's forearm firmly in both hands, and then twisting the hands in opposite directions about the victim's arm, causing the tender skin to stretch making it red and sore. Also called a chinese burn.
You people are disturbing...
I was born in Durham!!! I love NC!!!
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I've heard of it as Indian Burn, but I live in NC with a whole lot of rednecks. Who knows?Dutch Rub
A prank done by grasping the victim's forearm firmly in both hands, and then twisting the hands in opposite directions about the victim's arm, causing the tender skin to stretch making it red and sore. Also called a chinese burn.
You people are disturbing...
Oh! Yeah, we call it Indian Burn also in my neck of the woods.
I don't need one of them.FH
I've heard of it as Indian Burn, but I live in NC with a whole lot of rednecks. Who knows?Dutch Rub
A prank done by grasping the victim's forearm firmly in both hands, and then twisting the hands in opposite directions about the victim's arm, causing the tender skin to stretch making it red and sore. Also called a chinese burn.
You people are disturbing...
Oh! Yeah, we call it Indian Burn also in my neck of the woods.
I don't need one of them.FH
Ah, but you already said you WANTED one...
Ah, but you already said you WANTED one...I've heard of it as Indian Burn, but I live in NC with a whole lot of rednecks. Who knows?Dutch Rub
A prank done by grasping the victim's forearm firmly in both hands, and then twisting the hands in opposite directions about the victim's arm, causing the tender skin to stretch making it red and sore. Also called a chinese burn.
You people are disturbing...
Oh! Yeah, we call it Indian Burn also in my neck of the woods.
I don't need one of them.FH
Dutch burn eh?
I am Dutch and we would call this procedure "Prikkeldraad", which would translate to "barbwire".
My evil summoning spell is almost complete! I've conjured two of the named fiends ... now ... more power ... and the third! Err, the third? THE THIRD!
My evil summoning spell is almost complete! I've conjured two of the named fiends ... now ... more power ... and the third! Err, the third? THE THIRD!
His silence would seem to indicate that my skybleeder pets have finally reached his home and done my bidding....
At last - I'm free of Vaughn!
Free!
Or he could just be sulking:)
Sulking after praise? That certainly doesn't seem his style. Zing!
My copy just arrived today so I've only had time to skim The Weavers...but it appears to be as good if not better than The Styes. Spooky and atmospheric, wretched villains, and an old fashioned race against time. Plus, it even makes kenku cool--and I hate kenku. Very, very well done. When do we get another?
So I finally got issue #138...
All of my worst fears were realized of course, "The Weavers," as much as I wanted it too, does not suck. In fact it pretty much doesn everything to the contrary of sucking. So, you suck Pett! YOU SUCK!!! But your adventure is sexaliciously good! CURSES!!! Damn Punch and Judy rip off, why didn't I think of that...and why did you have to make everything so cool? DAMN YOU PETT!!!
This was a fantastic issue over all. "Urban Decay" is a great low-level romp, and how can you not like an adventure with a garbage scow in it! Nice! I like Mung too!!!
I didn't finish reading Mud Sorcerer's Tomb yet, but it looks pretty wild thus far.
The Savage Tide preview is sexy! I love all of the concept art. I only saw the art pertaining to "Bullywug Gambit" before, and the other stuff is wildly cool too! That "Sea Wyvern's Wake" adventure looks a bit weak though...and I am referring to the byline. Weak!
So I finally got issue #138...
All of my worst fears were realized of course, "The Weavers," as much as I wanted it too, does not suck. In fact it pretty much doesn everything to the contrary of sucking. So, you suck Pett! YOU SUCK!!! But your adventure is sexaliciously good! CURSES!!! Damn Punch and Judy rip off, why didn't I think of that...and why did you have to make everything so cool? DAMN YOU PETT!!!
This was a fantastic issue over all. "Urban Decay" is a great low-level romp, and how can you not like an adventure with a garbage scow in it! Nice! I like Mung too!!!
I didn't finish reading Mud Sorcerer's Tomb yet, but it looks pretty wild thus far.
The Savage Tide preview is sexy! I love all of the concept art. I only saw the art pertaining to "Bullywug Gambit" before, and the other stuff is wildly cool too! That "Sea Wyvern's Wake" adventure looks a bit weak though...and I am referring to the byline. Weak!
I almost enjoy upsetting you as much as that Vaughn (:) - Vaughn Greg - Vaughn...:))character.
I agree that the other adventures are very cool, which makes it, by my reckoning, the only time we've agreed on anything apart from that great idea of mine to have an auction starting an adventure which we both, you will recall, agreed was my idea in the first place having planted the seed of fruitful adventure starts in your small boys brain by means of subtle subliminal activities crossing oceans (or something).
Ah, but in Sea Wyverns Wake they mostly come out at night...mostly...
Huzzah for Diana Dors
The Savage Tide preview is sexy! I love all of the concept art. I only saw the art pertaining to "Bullywug Gambit" before, and the other stuff is wildly cool too! That "Sea Wyvern's Wake" adventure looks a bit weak though...and I am referring to the byline. Weak!
Yarghhh!!! Spoilers!!!! Curses!!!!
I am making the transition from DM to player for Savage Tide, and want to know as little about the next path as possible. Yeah, pirates, undead, and dinosaurs...got it.
But I don't trust myself. I'm thinking about going the extreme in maintaining my subscription, and not even cracking the plastic wrapper for 12 issues starting with installment one. Anyone else this crazy/stupid?!
My copy just arrived today so I've only had time to skim The Weavers...but it appears to be as good if not better than The Styes. Spooky and atmospheric, wretched villains, and an old fashioned race against time. Plus, it even makes kenku cool--and I hate kenku. Very, very well done. When do we get another?
Thanks for that Jebediah, and actually it would have been a total 24 hour race against time if some hack hadn't stolen the idea of having an adventure based against the clock some time before in some crummy, brilliantly written, fabulous adventure.
The Savage Tide preview is sexy! I love all of the concept art. I only saw the art pertaining to "Bullywug Gambit" before, and the other stuff is wildly cool too! That "Sea Wyvern's Wake" adventure looks a bit weak though...and I am referring to the byline. Weak!Yarghhh!!! Spoilers!!!! Curses!!!!
I am making the transition from DM to player for Savage Tide, and want to know as little about the next path as possible. Yeah, pirates, undead, and dinosaurs...got it.
But I don't trust myself. I'm thinking about going the extreme in maintaining my subscription, and not even cracking the plastic wrapper for 12 issues starting with installment one. Anyone else this crazy/stupid?!
Episode 2 should be easy to resist Reach old boy.
In California, where I grew up, what Mr. Pett describes as a "dutch rub" is known as an "indian burn" (this must be a fairly universal American adaptation). However, we do give "Dutch Rubs" as well, by putting the victim in a headlock and then rubbing his scalp hard with our knuckles.
I just went through the Styes as a player (my son DM'd for me) and thought it was pretty cool. The sequel is also quite interesting--I like the kenku roost as an interesting tactical environment, and there are several interesting and memorable NPCs.
Incidentally, some Chinese puppeteers around the turn of the century used something similar to this adventure's "fit-ups." IIRC, such puppeteers contributed to the spread of some of the anti-foreign ideas among the common people that helped to spark the Boxer Uprising. Mr. Logue might already be aware of this bit of Chinese theatrical trivia, I suppose, but I thought I'd mention it--puppet theatre has been used for social commentary in a wide variety of settings outside merry olde England.
The scalp-inflicted Dutch Rubs described above are what we refer to as "Noogies".
Yes, now that you mention it, I think "noogie" more or less replaced "dutch rub" in the American lexicon somewhere around the early 1980s. My memory is getting vague in my old age.
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I'm working on it, a few pages a day, to savor it.
Cackle and Gall.
A fly-covered ham.
I could use the same excuse for MY messy house...I'm lucky those to whom I owe money just telephone and write.
I feel like the Styes is a biological being, albeit a severely immunocompromised one. And each adventure is yet another bacterial colonization attempt, drawn by the throes of languishing beast. And the players are the penicillin, but the 'adventures' will never end until the primary diagnosis is treated.
We need at least two more lower level adventures in the Styes -- say, levels 3 or 4 and levels 6 or 7 -- so the city can become a legitimate campaign setting. An inventive DM can make up the rest. In fact, this issue's adventure "Urban Decay" wouldn't make a bad opening to a campaign set in the Styes.
We need at least two more lower level adventures in the Styes -- say, levels 3 or 4 and levels 6 or 7 -- so the city can become a legitimate campaign setting. An inventive DM can make up the rest. In fact, this issue's adventure "Urban Decay" wouldn't make a bad opening to a campaign set in the Styes.
I totally agree, plus maybe a high level adventure against one of the remaining councilmen...I also think "Urban Decay" would fit in perfectly, maybe connect the wererats to Councilman Sliris? There have been a lot of darker adventures in the pages of Dungeon lately that would fit perfectly into a Styes set campaign. Just off the top of my head, "Funeral Procession," "Shut In," "Salvage Operation," and "The Stink" would fit into a campaign I'm mulling over in my mind.
There have been a lot of darker adventures in the pages of Dungeon lately that would fit perfectly into a Styes set campaign. Just off the top of my head, "Funeral Procession," "Shut In," "Salvage Operation," and "The Stink" would fit into a campaign I'm mulling over in my mind.
You've noticed that too? A lot of dark, messy, oozey adventures. I'd lump some of Shackled City and pretty much all of Age of Worms (crimeny, look at the name!). Also the one with the play about the Yellow King. Dungeon is getting very dark these days....
I'm almsot tempted to have a Von Trapp-esque, highland, pretty, clean and neat village threatened by some un-bloated, un-diseased, un-rotted menace. Just for the contrast.
But I admit, the siren call of the dark, messy, oozey evil is so strong... and seductive.....