Director of Games
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Couple of comments...
- Thanks to everyone on this thread for pointing out how this issue can be used in FR and elsewhere. You have done such a fine job, I will not comment on it further.. instead, on to secondary topics.
- We had no agreement with China's publisher to make these articles happen. We were excited about his work, and contacted him and asked if we could do the pieces. He readily agreed and started sending us never before seen info to include. China was great to work with and very excited to see his world transposed into D&D.
- "As god as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." Best line of that whole show. The only other bit I can remember is the reflex drinking tests on the air with the state trooper, where Dr. Fever kept getting faster the more drunk he got. I have strived to meet that high ideal ever since.
- Sex, drugs, and alcohol will not get you in the magazine. They might make you awesome.. but not in the magazine. Note that Nick in lacey garments does NOT make him cool. Hawaiian chocolates do.
That is all.
Jason Bulmahn
Managing Editor of Dragon
And all this time I thought you loved me for my body, Jason. The chocolate-covered nutty truth hurts...it hurts.
I'm assuming you allow core into your FR campaign?
It's not allowed in.... It's "dumped" in.
Razz is entitled to his opinion like everyone else, though I think dumping anything in a campaign without smoothing over the rough edges is a bit silly even with things as common as orcs.
Sure. If someone would say that the ideas and articles were just plain bad or stupid that would be fair enough. If the articles would detail facts that really really do not fit into the current campaign or any future ones either that would be valid claim too (personally, I don't think I will ever need descriptions of gnomish spaceships...and some of the FR articles have been far too high-magic for my taste).
But declining to use something because it doesn't come with official FR stamp is an opinion I will challenge because it's Your game and You are allowed to do anything in it, WotC and Paizo are only provoding some tools which you might useful...if you want to cross D&D and Candyland you are welcome to do so. Or if you want to ignore some stupid "official" ruling or piece of world, go ahead.In my opinion both FR and GH have in official sources turned already into such messes that any tinkering can pretty much be justified (not to mention Planescape...and in some ways, Ravenloft) there is always another hard-to-reach valley where you can drop whatever strikes your fancy. I doubt when Gygax was first running his Castle Greyhawk he was planning to include King Kong island in the same world, but lo and behold, it is there because "it's cool".
Owner - Johnny Scott Comics and Games
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Dang. With all the hullabaloo about the Bas Lag articles I forgot to mention that I like the scrimshaw double weapon made out of dinosaur bones a lot.
That double weapon is intense! My players are sure to catch on to that one (and take the Exotic Proficiency Feat to use it), since it can do all types of damage based on how it's used.
Brilliant!
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From what little I know of you so far Rone, I feel confident saying you would really really enjoy his writing. I have only read The Scar so far, but I just picked up Perdido Street Station and plan to get all-sortsa-into-it!I didn't know China's work and so this issue was a new world and not easily applicable to the gameplay I've come to know and understand.
That's what I enjoyed about it. It was a challenge and it left me richer for the journey.
I agree, Jade; you'd dig it the most.
It's well written, it's always hitting you with the unexpected; good stuff.It's nice to see Lovecraftian influence mixed with a Gibson type Cyberpunk mentality, then see it in turn influence others' works. And that's happening NOW. Not 10 years ago but now.
I've read about 1/2 of the Scar, but don't judge it's character by that; I always get sidetracked by reallife crap and can't finish books all the time.
I agree, Jade; you'd dig it the most.
It's well written, it's always hitting you with the unexpected; good stuff.
It's nice to see Lovecraftian influence mixed with a Gibson type Cyberpunk mentality, then see it in turn influence others' works. And that's happening NOW. Not 10 years ago but now.
I've read about 1/2 of the Scar, but don't judge it's character by that; I always get sidetracked by reallife crap and can't finish books all the time.
Wow... such praise from people I respect. I wonder if it's dawned on this guy that he's already legion (in fine company)?
Wow... such praise from people I respect. I wonder if it's dawned on this guy that he's already legion (in fine company)?I agree, Jade; you'd dig it the most.
It's well written, it's always hitting you with the unexpected; good stuff.
It's nice to see Lovecraftian influence mixed with a Gibson type Cyberpunk mentality, then see it in turn influence others' works. And that's happening NOW. Not 10 years ago but now.
I've read about 1/2 of the Scar, but don't judge it's character by that; I always get sidetracked by reallife crap and can't finish books all the time.
I'm all ready for the love-in!! I love his books; Perdido Street Station and The Scar have gotten me interested in fantasy literature again after reading some really awful novels in the genre. I think Perdido is the best one of them, but I haven't read Iron Council yet. Takes a bit of time to get into it, but definitely worth reading.
Now I just have to figure out how to get a Bas-Lag campaign together.
If you liked the China stuff you'll be happy to know that Dragon has commissioned me to write an entire Garfield issue.
There's an evil church heirarchy devoted to dark lord Nermal.
There are many different magical lasagna buffs which replace potions.
There's a Catbox of Legend too. The CRs on that thing were maybe a bit overcalculated but I'd like to see a band of tenth level characters try and get past it.
Ecology of the obese housecat is perhaps my finest work.
If you liked the China stuff you'll be happy to know that Dragon has commissioned me to write an entire Garfield issue.
There's an evil church heirarchy devoted to dark lord Nermal.
There are many different magical lasagna buffs which replace potions.
There's a Catbox of Legend too. The CRs on that thing were maybe a bit overcalculated but I'd like to see a band of tenth level characters try and get past it.
Ecology of the obese housecat is perhaps my finest work.
Finally, an entire issue one could illustrate with just one image, repeated over and over, in which the only difference is the text balloons. Just like the source material.
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Wow... such praise from people I respect. I wonder if it's dawned on this guy that he's already legion (in fine company)?I agree, Jade; you'd dig it the most.
It's well written, it's always hitting you with the unexpected; good stuff.
It's nice to see Lovecraftian influence mixed with a Gibson type Cyberpunk mentality, then see it in turn influence others' works. And that's happening NOW. Not 10 years ago but now.
I've read about 1/2 of the Scar, but don't judge it's character by that; I always get sidetracked by reallife crap and can't finish books all the time.
Shoot. I woulda told you about CM but I figured you're so hip you would have known about it.
I'm still looking for something...anything...by Michael Chabon; is he scifi? I might have to (gasp) break down and...order from the ...interthingy...
Shoot. I woulda told you about CM but I figured you're so hip you would have known about it.
I'm still looking for something...anything...by Michael Chabon; is he scifi? I might have to (gasp) break down and...order from the ...interthingy...
Chabon started with Mysteries of Pittsburgh.
It reads like a first novel... ya know... young guy and a bit of self discovery. His prose is gorgeous. It'll make you stop writing for a few days.
He also wrote Wonder Boys. Remember that movie with Michael Douglas and Tobe Maguire?
Turns out though that he's a huge comic book geek and he's been excelling in screenplay writing for that genre. Whether it was his idea to focus on Wolverine as the new guy in X-men (they didn't use his script though) or his being the final writer on Spiderman and the only writer on Spiderman II.
I'm not much into these particular superhero movies though I really enjoyed Hellboy (which he had nothing to do with).
Many folks like The Adventures of Kavalier and Klay.
Try this site: http://www.sugarbombs.com/kavalier/works.html
Most of the people who did like this issue keep stating that the material is easily adapted to everyones campaign. I'm sorry but its my campaign to run and I feel that the information in the articles is completely and utterly useless to my homebrew world. I have a specific flavor to it and these articles would drastically alter things in the world. Use the monsters you say? Why should I? They don't fit anywhere in my world and why should I re-write any of it to include them. I guess what I am trying to say is, people who say they can't use the material are not just dimissing it out of hand. Maybe if you stop to consider, they have a very tight and narrow purpose for the games they run. Maybe they can't stomach the thought of yet many more creatures inhabiting the world that seem "useless" to them.
Personally I think some of the information was cool, converted to the system well, and could be very useful if I ever decide to run a gothic steampunk setting. But this info still took up too much room in the magazine.
I can understand the frustration involved when you have a subscription and you receive an entire issue you feel you can't use. I guess then just chalk it up to a rarely conducted literary experiment. Can't fault them for trying to raise the bar and do something new every now and then (well, I guess you could). Luckily most of the stuff Paizo prints can usually be handily integrated. That said, I'm really not happy with their decision to base their entire November issue around Little Orphan Annie. It's not that it wouldn't fit my campaign world, because oddly it would... it's that kids with no pupils scare me and always have.
...a heap o' coke... and he wasn't thirsty if you know what I'm saying.You getting all this Mr. Sutter. You know what I'm bringing with me next time I come to Seattle...and you won't be thirsty ever again! ;-)
Well good lord, it's about time. Everyone in the office looks so hopeful when you say you're bringing up "a kilo of Hawaii's best," and then it turns out to be mangos and papayas...
::Nick looks at his prepared package of dried fruit, dumps out the mangoes and papayas, and starts packing the Fed Ex box with Maui Wowie and China White::
What James, you don't want me in lacy undergarments either...man the Paizo-rejection I'm feeling today!
I expected better treatment from a fellow cross-dresser.
What James, you don't want me in lacy undergarments either...man the Paizo-rejection I'm feeling today!
I expected better treatment from a fellow cross-dresser.
Lacy underwear, porn, cross-dressing...What sort of sick pervert are you anyway Nick ;)
By the way. The Bas-Lag stuff was absolutely, positively GREAT and FANTASTIC. Torque bombs, railways, political revolutionaries, buzzsaw crossbows, remade. Is this stuff a dream for Eberron DMs or what!? Forget incorporating it into FR, I think this stuff goes hand in hand with WoTC's latest campaign setting!
And another thing. Nick's political and social adventures Like Chimes and Mask fit perfectly into this setting.
Lacy underwear, porn, cross-dressing...What sort of sick pervert are you anyway Nick ;)What James, you don't want me in lacy undergarments either...man the Paizo-rejection I'm feeling today!
I expected better treatment from a fellow cross-dresser.
He the latest model of sick pervert thank you very much. Come look under the hood. See that? That's twelve cyclinders of American muscle machine. What's more he gets 90 MPG on highways. Fast as prune puree through a baby, great for the environment, and he's possesses an extensive knowledge of the best Vietnamese nut porns?! What more could you ask for in a sick pervert?
psst... next model comes with a coffeeholder.
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Creative Director
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Lacy underwear, porn, cross-dressing...What sort of sick pervert are you anyway Nick ;)What James, you don't want me in lacy undergarments either...man the Paizo-rejection I'm feeling today!
I expected better treatment from a fellow cross-dresser.
The kind who needs to send more packages to Paizo
Oops. Probably should have sent that via private email...
Lacy underwear, porn, cross-dressing...What sort of sick pervert are you anyway Nick ;)What James, you don't want me in lacy undergarments either...man the Paizo-rejection I'm feeling today!
I expected better treatment from a fellow cross-dresser.
Back off man...It's a Chinese Opera Thang. ;-)
::Nick launches into another soaring falsetto aria, as he swishes his silken watersleeves coquettishly, furtivley glancing downward to draw any would-be suitor's attentions to his tiny wrapped feet, like twin golden lotuses::
That kind of pervert. :-)
He the latest model of sick pervert thank you very much. Come look under the hood. See that? That's twelve cyclinders of American muscle machine. What's more he gets 90 MPG on highways. Fast as prune puree through a baby, great for the environment, and he's possesses an extensive knowledge of the best Vietnamese nut porns?! What more could you ask for in a sick pervert?
That kind too!
I threw out my collection years ago...it didn't travel well.
What Nick means here, of course, is that it was illegal for him to cross state lines with it.
--Erik
I made an airline employee very very happy that day I'll tell ya.
Lacy underwear, porn, cross-dressing...What sort of sick pervert are you anyway Nick ;)What James, you don't want me in lacy undergarments either...man the Paizo-rejection I'm feeling today!
I expected better treatment from a fellow cross-dresser.
The kind who needs to send more packages to Paizo
Oops. Probably should have sent that via private email...
James,
I keep forgetting - what's the going rate on 15,000 word adventures right now? It's three bags of dried mangoes and two boxes of toffee-chocolate covered mac-nuts right? Or was that for adventure path installments? Dang, I can't keep it all straight, I'll just...
...oh yeah, private email. Sorry.
And another thing. Nick's political and social adventures Like Chimes and Mask fit perfectly into this setting.
Yeah, I can't wait to get my copy of #352, when the postal dingy its on finally floats in to Pearl Harbor, cause I can't wait to read the China stuff! I'll bet it all will find a place in my home games, it's right up me alley!
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James,I keep forgetting - what's the going rate on 15,000 word adventures right now? It's three bags of dried mangoes and two boxes of toffee-chocolate covered mac-nuts right? Or was that for adventure path installments? Dang, I can't keep it all straight, I'll just...
...oh yeah, private email. Sorry.
Come mister tallyman, tally me adventure.
Daylight come an me wan go home.
I haven't read the whole thread, but I cannot confirm the title in any way. Just having read the STAP-content I am convinced that I have put my money on the right horse! The China stuff looks really good and I can't wait to read it, so I have to stop writing.
The monsters and races are incredibly inventive. Unique races are rare, and can form the backbone of a memorable homebrew. And say what you will of a glut of monsters (I disagree, I can never get enough, but that's me), but Mieville's monsters are incredibly inventive. With the strong conversion, they're top quality critters.
Yeah, I'm enjoying the issue. I haven't yet read the "Gazeteer of Bas-Lag", but have read the rest of it, and I'm glad Dragon are covering ground like this. I should point out that while I have read the three novels, my opinions of them varied a great deal - I found "Perdido Street Station" very hard to get into, but well worth the read; "The Scar" was excellent; "Iron Council" I only finished because I hate leaving books half-done.
Personally, I'm glad the issue allowed the material to dominate as it did - better that than to cover the subject poorly, especially when there is unlikely to ever be more Bas-Lag material available.
(One small criticism: when you introduce new weapons, as with the Catacae, and also in "Savage Tidings", they really need illustrations.)
Of course, if the magazine is going to be so strongly themed, and cover something so far outside the 'norm', it's important that the Familiars be very strong in the issue. But, in the case of #352, I have no complaints. I really like the monthly FR and Eberron articles, despite not being a DM for either of these settings.
I do agree that there was to much space used in one magazine for one single topic but with that said this rarely happens. If it went on in ever magazine or even every other I could see good reason to complain but thats just not the case.
So please be careful people when you hit below the belt for it makes it hard to enjoy these movies that are being talked about.
i've posted on another thread about the mieville thread, but i thought i'd post here too cos this thread seems to be more in tune with my thoughts on the issue!
rather than repeat myself, the key points i made in my other post are:
1. i've only just joined the boards, but i'm not a troll
2. i don't like china mieville
3. i'm really disappointed with this issue
The way you repeated that you aren't a troll is priceless. I like you, Jez.
I bought this issue solely for the China Mieville content, after deciding a few years ago that Dragon magazine wasn't my cup of tea. Couldn't use any of the regular material that I often found. The main arguement against this issue seems to be that too much of the magazine was devoted to his material. Fine. Would you feel the same way if the issue was about an author whose work you had enjoyed? I don't think so.
It was an experiment, and I'm glad the Paizo staff tried it out. Judging from the response, it wasn't a complete success. I think it would be a shame if they decided not to continue trying new things in the magazine, but I'm guessing this is the last such issue for a while. 1 issue out of 12 doesn't seem like such a horrible sacrifice to court a (like it or not) popular author's fanbase or to try something new.
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i mean how about if it had been a look at non traditional fantasy, with maybe a nuts and bolts discussion on how to go about incorporating elements of other genres in your d&d game like steampunk and lovecraftian wierdness, with just one article on mieville as one example amoung many.
Congratulations, you have officially suggested a Good Idea, rather than the most likely non-helpful b@@@&ing I've been engaging in.
I think that would have been a great way of focusing on a popular author, but also remaining accessible to non-fans. Kudos! :)
Nope. Mieville ran because Mieville is awesome, and the Dragon folks felt that it brought a lot to the table, game-wise. China's got some fascinating ideas, and his books are bringing a whole new segment of the fantasy genre into the mainstream (and hence into the roleplaying community). That's enough for us.
Bookstore managers agree: China's books are good. I'm ashamed to admit I only read them after my husband did his sad-puppy-face when the new one had come out and we didn't own it four seconds later, but thereafter I devoured them all. Refreshingly different. I'm looking forward to this issue arriving at my door...