After reading other folk’s ideas about having a local Cauldron newspaper, I decided early on that I definitely wanted to have something like this – first as a way of giving the players some information about the city and what’s going on (none of them are locals in my campaign), and later as a fun way for them to see their own exploits earning them a reputation.
I kept it fairly simple, especially since I wanted to have a couple of issues already printed and available for them. Each issue is printed on one large page (11½” x 14” , or A3 paper), so that it can be posted on the many message boards throughout town. I also decided on a monthly publication, with special issues if something really important happens – again to cut down on having to come up with too many extraneous news bits. Also, I’m assuming my group will be taking time to recover from each adventure and interact with the city a bit, so they won’t get through more than a chapter or two before each issue is published – if they do then I may change the scheduling, or just print a special issue.
I figured I also needed to come up with a little something about who actually publishes the paper, since eventually the players would be getting interviewed about their own exploits for future issues. I also figured they might go to the paper’s office for their own reasons, which did in fact happen during their initial investigations of the missing orphans. So, here is what I came up with for the publisher of the Cauldron Herald:
Located in a small shop on Magma Avenue (2nd building to the right of #8 Maavu’s Warehouses on the big map).
Owner is in and out – 50% chance of either at any given time, goes up to 75% to be there the last few days of each month as he works to get the paper ready. Same chances for his apprentice to be there.
Barleycorn “Red” Trumpetfoot – male halfling expert 5, 3’5” 42# 39 yrs old;
Int 12, Wis 13, Cha 15;
Bluff +13, Diplomacy +10, Gather Info +13, Intimidate +10, Sense Motive +9.
Wavy, thick red hair except on top where it’s thinning, piercing gray-blue eyes. Always wears brown pants with red suspenders over a white cotton shirt, and a gray vest; can normally also be seen wearing an ink-stained grayish visor and is usually chomping an oversized cigar. Lives alone above the shop.
Bright, energetic, inquisitive, nosy; always moving around. Always looking for a story, but is actually fairly reserved with what he publishes, and is supportive of the lord mayor and ruling authorities. This is partially because he knows he can be shut down if he’s too critical, but it also gets him in to see those in charge. He’s friends with the mayor and likes him (the red hair is a common bond between them). He will become more critical of the government after Navalant disappears and things continue to deteriorate, and the paper will eventually be shut down. He may go underground after that and continue to publish from hiding.
Initial attitude to PCs is indifferent – interested in a possible story and nothing else. If the PCs start asking him questions, he says “You help me plough my field, and I’ll help you plough yours.” So if PCs come to him with tales of their exploits, grant him interviews and details, etc., he’ll pass on rumors and stories that he picks up. This could become one of the PCs best sources of info in the city if they cultivate it correctly.
(“Red” is obviously an over-the-top caricature who has stepped out of some 1940’s film, which is entirely intentional – I plan to have as much fun with him as possible).
Razjem Yhoyas (apprentice) – male gnome expert 1, 3’3” 38# 38 yrs old
(still young for a gnome);
Int 10, Wis 11, Cha 13;
Bluff +5, Diplomacy +5, Gather Info +8, Intimidate +5, Sense Motive +4.
Thin, smallish, with woody brown skin, light brown hair and dark blue eyes;
Dresses similarly to Red, except his suspenders are blue, wears a gray jacket instead of a vest, no visor or cigar. Sleeps on a cot in back of the shop.
Young and eager, he aspires to be just like his master, but obviously lacks his skills and charisma.
If you haven't already read through them, there are a whole bunch of Cauldron Herald and other newsletters available on theRPGenius.com that are really great. Consider sharing your own newsletters there as well.
Regards,
Koramado
If you haven't already read through them, there are a whole bunch of Cauldron Herald and other newsletters available on theRPGenius.com that are really great. Consider sharing your own newsletters there as well.
Regards,
Koramado
This post just made me realise. The only thing TheRPGenius is missing is deep links. Is there any way you could include those the next time you update the site?
I just finished the inaugural edition of the Cauldron Crier this weekend, here's a link.
Shawn
Nice job, Shawn. I like the treatment on the images and the logo for Cauldron in the top right corner is excellent.
This post just made me realise. The only thing TheRPGenius is missing is deep links. Is there any way you could include those the next time you update the site?
Suggestion noted, Chef. I've been toying with some update ideas lately and am waiting for a work lull to make it happen.
Brilliant, work Shawn. I'll bet your players thoroughly enjoyed their first encounter with the Crier.
Just offhand, what app did you use for layout?
Cheers,
Ully
Brilliant, work Shawn. I'll bet your players thoroughly enjoyed their first encounter with the Crier.
Just offhand, what app did you use for layout?
Cheers,
Ully
Thanks! I used Pages 2.0 (from iWork '06 on the Mac) for the layout, and did the image modifications with GIMPshop, cause there's no way I'm paying $800+ for Photoshop. :)
It took several hours for me to do (inexperience with the software was part of that) but with the magic of templating, the further editions should be much quicker.
Shawn