So...
Dark Markets of Katepesh is a Chronicles product about a Golarion region; while Osiron, Land of the Pharaohs is a Companion product about a Golarion region.
What's the difference? As far as I can tell, the Chronicles are bigger and more in depth, where the Companions only get 32 pages. Does one or the other tend to be more rules-ish? How do you decide whether a region "deserves" one or the other?
I admit, I feel like the Egyptian-esque region deserves more exploration than it got.
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So...
Dark Markets of Katepesh is a Chronicles product about a Golarion region; while Osiron, Land of the Pharaohs is a Companion product about a Golarion region.
What's the difference? As far as I can tell, the Chronicles are bigger and more in depth, where the Companions only get 32 pages. Does one or the other tend to be more rules-ish? How do you decide whether a region "deserves" one or the other?
I admit, I feel like the Egyptian-esque region deserves more exploration than it got.
The main difference is that the companion books are aimed at players and thus lack spoilers. I think the regions you will see developed in companion products are introduction for PCs of an AP, or PFS faction regions.
The main difference is that ....
Yep, that's pretty much how I explained it in this other thread.
Oh, Jeez, sorry about the double-threading (Been a long week-and-weekend,) and thanks for the info.
Oh, Jeez, sorry about the double-threading (Been a long week-and-weekend,) and thanks for the info.
Nothing a painful and embarrassing punishment won't fix. Please stand by while the torturer sets up the open court.
;-P
Creative Director
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Well, the Osirion Companion definitely had spoilers. There is NO WAY I'd want a player reading that book. Taldor was better with no spoilers.
Main difference between Chronicles and Companions... about $10 :)
Osirion was also written before we had all our plans in play. The current goal for the Companions is that they ARE spoiler free and aimed at both GMs and Players alike, and they generally have more player crunch. The Chronicles are more in depth, generally have GM only info and GM-themed crunch.
Late night James ?
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Osirion was also written before we had all our plans in play. The current goal for the Companions is that they ARE spoiler free and aimed at both GMs and Players alike, and they generally have more player crunch. The Chronicles are more in depth, generally have GM only info and GM-themed crunch.Well, the Osirion Companion definitely had spoilers. There is NO WAY I'd want a player reading that book. Taldor was better with no spoilers.
Main difference between Chronicles and Companions... about $10 :)
Good grief dude that was on top of things.
Yeah I figured that was the case for Osirion. But, I think GMs should be aware that Osirion does indeed have some spoilers.
That being said it is a FANTASTIC book.
Osirion was also written before we had all our plans in play. The current goal for the Companions is that they ARE spoiler free and aimed at both GMs and Players alike, and they generally have more player crunch. The Chronicles are more in depth, generally have GM only info and GM-themed crunch.Good grief dude that was on top of things.
Yeah I figured that was the case for Osirion. But, I think GMs should be aware that Osirion does indeed have some spoilers.
That being said it is a FANTASTIC book.
What James said with regards to the planning and outline of the Osirion book versus later books, both Chronicles and Companions. Things were very much in flux, and open to 'cover the topics in the gazetteer, and whatever you feel appropriate that'll fit under the word limit'. Looking back at it, and going by the model established by later books in the same line as the Osirion book, there are a number of things I'd give more coverage to versus others.
That said, I really enjoyed writing my contribution to the book, perhaps especially so because it let me work on a topic outside of my usual extraplanar niche (and virtually everything I've ever gotten published was planar in nature). Whether letting me deviate from that niche was good or bad is up to folks to judge I suppose, but I had a blast explanding on the lore for Osirion that was first set in the campaign setting and J1, etc.
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Osirion was also written before we had all our plans in play. The current goal for the Companions is that they ARE spoiler free and aimed at both GMs and Players alike, and they generally have more player crunch. The Chronicles are more in depth, generally have GM only info and GM-themed crunch.Good grief dude that was on top of things.
Yeah I figured that was the case for Osirion. But, I think GMs should be aware that Osirion does indeed have some spoilers.
That being said it is a FANTASTIC book.
What James said with regards to the planning and outline of the Osirion book versus later books, both Chronicles and Companions. Things were very much in flux, and open to 'cover the topics in the gazetteer, and whatever you feel appropriate that'll fit under the word limit'. Looking back at it, and going by the model established by later books in the same line as the Osirion book, there are a number of things I'd give more coverage to versus others.
That said, I really enjoyed writing my contribution to the book, perhaps especially so because it let me work on a topic outside of my usual extraplanar niche (and virtually everything I've ever gotten published was planar in nature). Whether letting me deviate from that niche was good or bad is up to folks to judge I suppose, but I had a blast explanding on the lore for Osirion that was first set in the campaign setting and J1, etc.
Well Todd, my ONLY complaint is the book is too short! I really think it is a fantastic work. I really do. You get 15 out of 10 stars.
I'm writing a big huge adventure based mostly in Osirion. Check out KromeDragon. First part starts the PCs in Absalom (cause I LIKE adventures where there is a real journey). The last two parts are set in Osirion. Todd, if it is ok, I'd really like to bounce the ideas off of you. I know you are inundated with work and fan stuff all the time, so if you are too busy, no problem. You can reply to me at oclark86@gmail.com so you don't feel pressured by the boards to accept :)
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Krome,
I am curious as to what you felt were "spoilers" in the Osirion book. Spoilers for other products like the J1 and J4 modules? Or something dealing with the AP Legacy of Fire?
I know the Brazzen Hills are a range of mountains that seperate Osirion and Katapesh, but I didnt see any information in the Osirion book that would spoil the AP.
Dark Markets... yes. Osirion, no.
Please explain what you found. I would like to know what I overlooked as I am about to DM the LoF AP.
Spoilers = things that the local people of the area (including native or visiting PCs) wouldn't know. So if the town of X is frequently plagued by ankhegs, that's common knowledge and could go in a Companion book. What ISN'T common knowledge is that they're being controlled by an evil druid living in a secret cave, with a vendetta against the town's mayor; that info would be reserved for a Chronicles book.
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Contributor, RPG Superstar 2008 Top 4, Legendary Games
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Osirion was also written before we had all our plans in play. The current goal for the Companions is that they ARE spoiler free and aimed at both GMs and Players alike, and they generally have more player crunch. The Chronicles are more in depth, generally have GM only info and GM-themed crunch.Good grief dude that was on top of things.
Yeah I figured that was the case for Osirion. But, I think GMs should be aware that Osirion does indeed have some spoilers.
That being said it is a FANTASTIC book.
What James said with regards to the planning and outline of the Osirion book versus later books, both Chronicles and Companions. Things were very much in flux, and open to 'cover the topics in the gazetteer, and whatever you feel appropriate that'll fit under the word limit'. Looking back at it, and going by the model established by later books in the same line as the Osirion book, there are a number of things I'd give more coverage to versus others.
That said, I really enjoyed writing my contribution to the book, perhaps especially so because it let me work on a topic outside of my usual extraplanar niche (and virtually everything I've ever gotten published was planar in nature). Whether letting me deviate from that niche was good or bad is up to folks to judge I suppose, but I had a blast explanding on the lore for Osirion that was first set in the campaign setting and J1, etc.
I remember the hullabaloo when we didn't have traits in the Osirion book, mostly because we hadn't really finalized what "traits" were going to be or whether they would be in all books.
I guess I had the advantage of Todd in my parts of the Osirion book; kind of hard to have spoilers in the crunch! Even the flavor text was really just descriptive framing for the rule elements.
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The biggest spoiler in Osirion is
So really no DM is going to want to set any adventures in Lamashtu's Garden since now all the spoilers are knownst to the adventurers.
The next big spoiler in Osirion is
For example, I would have loved to have added an adventure in Lamashtu's Garden to the adventure I am writing for KromeDragon. However, I have to assume every player has read the Companion and as soon as I say Lamashtu's Garden everyone knows exactly what is going on. So Lamashtu's Garden really can't be used for an adventure at all. Same thing for the Slave Pits.
There are several bits like the last one scattered about to lesser degrees. Players are told about spirits and elementals and artifacts and what guards them. These are things I think most DMs would want to control the knowledge of. Some may want the PCs to know a lot, some might not.
Osirion is a GREAT primer for a GM, but a spoiler for players. It really should be moved to the Chronicles section due to its content, but obviously that would not work since it has Companion printed in BIG letters on the cover lol
But don't get me wrong! I fully understand why it has spoilers as the concept of the Companions and Chronicles was still in flux. Regardless it is a FANTASTIC book.