First of all, I really like this particular adventure. It is easy to adapt to most settings (which I'm doing) and has an inherent drama to it. Way back when I had bought the Greyhawk books and had wondered what in the world places like the Pomarj and Bone March were actually like. This is an excellent example, and it all makes sense in context, from the different factions to the explanations of how they still have food in the city. Very well done.
I also wanted to ask if you intend to develop this area further, or if you will write further adventures in the area.
Mr.Fish, I'm really happy to hear that you like Gary and I's adventure. Bone March was always a spot on the map that I, too, always wondered about and had all kinds of vague ideas about. Always wanted to run an adventure there and imagined it to be something like Mordor from LotR, without Sauron.
To answer your question, Gary and I intended to write a follow up adventure to it where the PCs get to actually enter Spinekeep in search of the elusive artifacts hidden there. That was, in fact, what I was writing for my home game when I approached Gary Holian about teaming up to write an adventure about Spinecastle.
With all that's going on with WotC's new plans with 4E, I don't know how Greyhawk will fit into it all. I'd like to think that maybe when the dust settles we'll have an opportunity to pursue that original plan, but it's too early to say. Whatever happens, we've both talked about getting it published somewhere, at least. Perhaps the OerthJournal if that seems the most viable way to go.
Keep an eye out for any hints of new Spinecastle stuff, though. It'll happen at some point.
With all that's going on with WotC's new plans with 4E, I don't know how Greyhawk will fit into it all. I'd like to think that maybe when the dust settles we'll have an opportunity to pursue that original plan, but it's too early to say. Whatever happens, we've both talked about getting it published somewhere, at least. Perhaps the OerthJournal if that seems the most viable way to go.
Keep an eye out for any hints of new Spinecastle stuff, though. It'll happen at some point.
I'll be more than happy to speak for my Editor-in-Chief on this one - OerthJournal would be more than happy to use any and all Greyhawk stuff you've got or want to give.
My friends and I LOVED this adventure, but with the transfer to 4th edition happening (which, by the way, we are NOT impressed with), and the demise of Dungeon and Dragon magazines, we are left longing for more. Please tell us we are not waiting eternally. We have been anticipating a journey INTO Spinekeep. Will you ever publish this?
sincerely,
Joe aka akashasmaster666
joebingaman@rock.com
Joe, first off, I'm really happy to hear you and your group enjoyed this adventure. I haven't had the opportunity yet to run it for my own group of players, but hope to some day soon.
I haven't talked to Gary Holian for months and months. I know he wanted to do a sequel and get it and the missing sections from ItSoS published somewhere. I still do as well, but I'm really loaded down with real life stuff right now. Unfortunately, Spinecastle and all its component parts are Wizards of the Coast intellectual property so unless we convince WotC to publish it, the only way to do it is write it up for the OerthJournal (which doesn't pay, unfortunately) or ditch Wizards IP from it for generic names (which really sucks). In that case, Wolfgang Baur's Kobold Quarterly is still evolving and I would like to think that as it continues to grow that Wolf will start including short adventures like the old Dragon magazines used to do. In fact, I'll be lobbying him to do just that as the year progresses.
All I can say is wait and see or get creative and ambitious and write it yourself. Nothing wrong with that!