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Here is the latest news on Sailing the Starlit Sea from Clockwork Gnome Publishing.
Captain Helios stepped onto the deck and surveyed the forces arrayed before his ship, the Emerald Gryphon. Suspended in the void of glittering stars were three juggernauts flying the colors of Nimbus. The crew were running to man the ballista while his trusted first mate, Achenar, strapped on his spring-loaded bracers packed with various wands.
The wizard nodded, though his face was grim. “It looks like the mercane took exception to the plunder of their supply ships. I hope you have a plan!”
“I’m just making this up as I go along.” Helios winked and smiled at Achenar. The captain turned and pointed at the tightly packed mass of asteroids in the distance. “Make for the Shattered Wanderer! We will play a little game of cat and mouse.”
Achenar winced. “The mouse rarely comes out of that game in one piece.”
“It’s a good thing I intend to be the cat.”
As the Emerald Gryphon turned to enter the grinding field of rock, the juggernauts moved to follow. The chase was on.
Sailing the Starlit Sea will be the definitive sourcebook on fantasy space travel. Designed for the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, Sailing the Starlit Sea will provide guidelines for magical star travel set within an easily adapted setting. Explore alien worlds laden with ruins from forgotten civilizations. Bargain in exotic marketplaces at the edge of the solar system. Take on the role of pirate and plunder your way to infamy. Risk your sanity to uncover cosmic knowledge from aeons past. Now is the time to test your mettle. A universe of adventure awaits!
It’s time to take your adventures to the stars. Sailing the Starlit Sea is going to Kickstarter and you now have the opportunity to help shape the design of this landmark sourcebook. Make your mark on this new project and bring the stars to Pathfinder Roleplaying Game fans everywhere.
When will this Kickstarter campaign begin and how long will it last?
The Kickstarter campaign will begin January 23rd and end on February 29th.
Who will be working on the design of Sailing the Starlit Sea?
Developers on the project will include Mike Welham (Open Design, Paizo Publishing, Rite Publishing, Clockwork Gnome Publishing), Allen Taliesin (Owner of Clockwork Gnome Publishing, Along the Faerie Path), and Craig Johnston (RPG Superstar Top 32 2009). Other designers will be joining the project as well. These will be announced soon.
What will the format for Sailing the Starlit Sea be?
The print version of Sailing the Starlit Sea will be a full-color hardcover book with a minimum of 96 pages. The PDF edition will include two versions of the book; a color copy suitable for screen viewing and a bare-bones, art-free copy. Each download will also contain files for use with Lone Wolf Development's fantastic Hero Lab software. A print and PDF package will be also be available.
Are there any previews for the project?
There are currently four previews available to give you a glimpse at what Sailing the Starlit Sea will contain.
Throughout the Kickstarter campaign new previews will be posted to grant an even more in-depth look at the rules and setting of Sailing the Starlit Sea.
What kind of benefits do backers receive?
While there is not space to list all of the benefits, some of the highlights include:
When will Sailing the Starlit Sea be released?
The original release date for Sailing the Starlit Sea was February 2012. Naturally, this date has changed and the expected release date is now August 2012. While we understand this is disappointing for those looking forward to a February release, we also hope those who are excited about the release help support the project by becoming a backer. No matter what your backing level, you will be able to playtest certain rules and view previews not open to the general public.
Are future supplements planned?
Depending on demand, Clockwork Gnome Publishing is interested in producing all sorts of support material. In addition, much of Sailing the Starlit Sea will be open content, meaning other publishers can use the material to produce their own supplements. We are even looking into providing a compatibility license and logo.
So, is Clockwork Gnome Publishing looking to produce other products reminiscent of old favorites?
Most certainly. If Sailing the Starlit Sea reaches its goal and proves popular, we have a particular project in mind. Let's just say we have a fondness for the planes around here.
w00t!
Contributor
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As a fan of the spelljammin' progenitor of this project, I have to say I'm really excited to see what CGP is going to do with this. As a freelance writer and editor for CGP, I've had the opportunity to work closely with Allen. I know that he and his team of writers are going to produce a fantastic book.
More good stuff from Clockwork. An interesting direction you're taking here, Allen. A few familiar names there strike me as singularly unchumpish.
LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will be awaiting this eagerly. I have a space in my homebrew already allocated for StSS adventure.
Thank you to everyone, I am happy to see there are people as excited as I am about the project.
Thanking you for bringing up Hero Lab and reminding me, most CGP products come with Hero Lab support. I know I use Hero Lab all of the time for my own games and I can understand just how much easier it is to use 3pp material if you have it in the program. One of the great things about Hero Lab is just how easy it is to input new options, but it is always nice to have it done for you.
I personally can't get enough of space-fantasy and this will be another one I must pursue.
Now I have to see how much plasma I can sell in a week. :P
Now I have to see how much plasma I can sell in a week. :P
I'd skip the plasma. Just bring a DIY surgical kit down to Vegas, and start harvesting livers and kidneys.
I personally can't get enough of space-fantasy and this will be another one I must pursue.
Now I have to see how much plasma I can sell in a week. :P
I'm looking over at other student's plasma. I live behind frat houses, so I figure they get too drunk, I will just drag them to the blood bank. LOL. Blood might be a little thin, but they will just think they had a GOOD drunk the night before.
Done the plasma thing, glad I'm not in that place anymore. *shudder*
I'm hoping that this Project stays serious in tone. I loved Spelljammer, but I disliked some of its more absurd elements.
You have my pledge when the kickstarter begins :)
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Oh and please no giant space hamsters. :)
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Oh and please no giant space hamsters. :)Yeah. Giant Space Dire Naked Mole Rats are much cooler.
Maybe miniature giant space badgers??
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Sooo...this is more like spelljammer, then? Neat! But we NEED Space Hamsters! Rupert shall rise again!
*chants*
Doughty hamsters! Hamsters bold!
Hamster fearsome to behold!
Horned, wined, ethereal,
Arctic or arboreal.
Fire breathing, armor plated,
Perilously underrated,
We admire, reverently,
Your infinite variety!
Stalwart hamsters! Hamsters fierce!
The belch that quells! The teeth that pierce!
From whiskered snout to stumpy tail,
Your gallantry and grace we hail!
Chartreuse, ochre, mottled, plaid,
Or in golden raiment clad,
Radiant in any hue –
Wondrous Hamsters, we love you!
Noble hamsters! Hamsters free!
Wooly Rupert send to thee
Blessings and felicity –
Hamsters! Hamsters! Praised be!
/chant*
Sooo...this is more like spelljammer, then? Neat! But we NEED Space Hamsters! Rupert shall rise again!
*chants*
Doughty hamsters! Hamsters bold!
Hamster fearsome to behold!
Horned, wined, ethereal,
Arctic or arboreal.Fire breathing, armor plated,
Perilously underrated,
We admire, reverently,
Your infinite variety!Stalwart hamsters! Hamsters fierce!
The belch that quells! The teeth that pierce!
From whiskered snout to stumpy tail,
Your gallantry and grace we hail!Chartreuse, ochre, mottled, plaid,
Or in golden raiment clad,
Radiant in any hue –
Wondrous Hamsters, we love you!Noble hamsters! Hamsters free!
Wooly Rupert send to thee
Blessings and felicity –
Hamsters! Hamsters! Praised be!/chant*
It is hard to resist a request like this. :D
I admit defeat =D
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Hamsters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't wait for this!
Maybe the non-IP-infringing miniature giant space hamsters and other less serious elements could be included in a web enhancement or "optional rules" section? That way more serious players don't have to include it as setting canon.
Maybe the non-IP-infringing miniature giant space hamsters and other less serious elements could be included in a web enhancement or "optional rules" section? That way more serious players don't have to include it as setting canon.
Easy work-around, which I normally don't suggest, is to simply create a space template. Add that & the existing giant template to the normal hamster. You would actually add the giant multiple times to get the required size category.
Maybe the non-IP-infringing miniature giant space hamsters and other less serious elements could be included in a web enhancement or "optional rules" section? That way more serious players don't have to include it as setting canon.Easy work-around, which I normally don't suggest, is to simply create a space template. Add that & the existing giant template to the normal hamster. You would actually add the giant multiple times to get the required size category.
The idea of a giant giant giant space hamster amuses me.
I added a small section to the announcement clarifying a few things about the book.
Here it is:
Sailing the Starlit Sea will consist of two major elements. First of these are the rules for starships, ship-to-ship combat, and everything else you will need to run a fantasy space campaign. These mechanics will be flexible enough to add to any setting and will include options for players and GMs alike. To complement these rules, Sailing the Starlit Sea will also feature a detailed setting. The Seren System will be a collection of planets, moons, planetoids, and other celestial bodies with a robust history and a medley of compelling cultures, both alien and familiar. This backdrop will be apart of a larger framework, broad enough to include your favorite campaign setting, that will allow for quick and easy interstellar travel.
In addition, Sailing the Starlit Sea will be adaptable to a variety of preferences through the use of Campaign Overlays. These will provide advice on how to alter the standard assumptions found in the book to your tastes. Campaign Overlays will address everything from methods of interstellar travel to adjusting the physical laws of the universe. So if Pythagorean inspired spheres are your preference or the concept of a breathable aether appeals to you, Sailing the Starlit Sea will provide a way to accommodate those choices while still preserving the rules and setting presented in the book.
What will the starships use as a propulsion method?
My name is Lord President Moorluck, and I endorse this product.
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Hmmm, ship to ship combat will also be covered by Lou Agresta's Fire as she bears. Will you focus on the 3d-starship aspects? A modular fighting system? It would be awesome if the systems would complement each other/ work together...
What will the starships use as a propulsion method?
Coke and Mentos?
Hmmm, ship to ship combat will also be covered by Lou Agresta's Fire as she bears. Will you focus on the 3d-starship aspects? A modular fighting system? It would be awesome if the systems would complement each other/ work together...
+1
What will the starships use as a propulsion method?
They actually warp space and time around them and ride a "wave" of this twisted space-time. This twisting is fairly subtle, but enough to move the ship to speeds capable of crossing a solar system within a few hours, at most. So its essentially magical propulsion.
Hmmm, ship to ship combat will also be covered by Lou Agresta's Fire as she bears. Will you focus on the 3d-starship aspects? A modular fighting system? It would be awesome if the systems would complement each other/ work together...
There will be some focus on the 3d aspects of space combat. Ship speed is a big concern as well, since ships can engage in long range running battles if the situation is right. Much of the rules will be derived or exist as extensions of the Ultimate Combat rules.
I can poke around with Steve and Lou about Fire As She Bears.
I can poke around with Steve and Lou about Fire As She Bears.
ooooohhhh..... Don't fire at She-Bears. They are awfully mean win pissed off. :P
Excellent news - any kind of synergy between models like this greatly enhances the utility of both products, at least in my opinion. :)
My name is Lord President Moorluck, and I endorse this product.
In the middle of an election pshaw
Shark Cannons!!!!
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My name is Lord President Moorluck, and I endorse this product.
That makes me think of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Still intrigued by this Allen, and glad to see this is coming along. I don't mind this release date being pushed back - if it means a better quality product.
Cheers!
~Dean
Has any thought been given to the fact that most interplanetary drives/FTL drives/power systems have incredible destructive capacity, and how giving the players these capabilities changes the typical power dynamics (or if there are in-game limitations on the drives/power systems that limit their conventional destructive capacity)?
The setting is primarily low-tech and the runic drives operate a great deal like normal magic items. If you are familiar with the Ultimate Combat vehicle rules these ships would be considered magically propelled vehicles.
Still intrigued by this Allen, and glad to see this is coming along. I don't mind this release date being pushed back - if it means a better quality product.
Cheers!
~Dean
Thank you, Dean! I definitely think it will make for a better product. The extensive playtesting with a larger crew will be a big benefit and the KS will allow for the kind art and design this project really deserves.
Thank you, Dean! I definitely think it will make for a better product. The extensive playtesting with a larger crew will be a big benefit and the KS will allow for the kind art and design this project really deserves.Still intrigued by this Allen, and glad to see this is coming along. I don't mind this release date being pushed back - if it means a better quality product.
Cheers!
~Dean
Excellent!
That makes me think of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.My name is Lord President Moorluck, and I endorse this product.
Makes me think of Come Sail Away by Styx.