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I've been reading my test copy, (since I'm running it), and found a typo(?) that is causing me confusion:
I'm guessing the later is correct, and that raises another question, where does the second demon start?
It's a great scenario BTW. I love it already.
Developer
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The adventure is currently in layout and will be distributed in final form to all Gen Con GMs after it has had a full and thorough edit pass. If you have questions regarding the final version of the adventure, please address them here at that time. Until then, any answer you would receive would be subject to change, as the adventure isn't done yet.
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Does anyone else feel reluctant to discuss this scenario on the messageboards where any GenCon player can come in and read the spoilers?
The scenario is not available for purchase and is supposed to be tougher than normal. There's a secret discussion board for all the GenCon GM Volunteers. Does anyone else feel it would be more appropriate to discuss the scenario details there, at least until after GenCon is over?
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Does anyone else feel reluctant to discuss this scenario on the messageboards where any GenCon player can come in and read the spoilers?
The scenario is not available for purchase and is supposed to be tougher than normal. There's a secret discussion board for all the GenCon GM Volunteers. Does anyone else feel it would be more appropriate to discuss the scenario details there, at least until after GenCon is over?
As a GenCon GM Volunteer, I would love to know where said board resides.
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Michael, since I still have the special in my downloads, I am certain I will be able to re-download it when the final layout is updated. Paizo does not do multiple download links, they just update the PDF at the same location.
Does anyone else feel reluctant to discuss this scenario on the messageboards where any GenCon player can come in and read the spoilers?
The scenario is not available for purchase and is supposed to be tougher than normal. There's a secret discussion board for all the GenCon GM Volunteers. Does anyone else feel it would be more appropriate to discuss the scenario details there, at least until after GenCon is over?
I don't feel any more reluctant than discussing any other scenario here in the GM discussion. And since I was a PaizoCon volunteer and not a GenCon volunteer, I was not invited to the secret discussion.
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Developer
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Question for Mark:
Can you confirm that the volunteers who ran the Special at PaizoCon will receive a copy of the final lay-out?
The final version should just replace the existing one on your downloads page. When that happens, the system sends out an email alerting you that we've updated one of your digital assets. It should work the same way it does when we release a new printing of one of our hardcovers or when we fix glitches with other products.
Contributor
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Usually these things come out 1-2 weeks before the event, since the staff are likely racing to the last second to make everything as perfect as they can.
Remember, they just pumped out 3 scenarios in July, and at GenCon they're releasing 3 more, plus Bonekeep 2, plus the special which has only recently had a full-sized "run-through" play test.
Hope for the best, plan for the worst (i.e. I'm expecting to get them 1 week before the con, so I'm making sure I'm ready for 110% of everything else well before that point).
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I've been reading my test copy, (since I'm running it), and found a typo(?) that is causing me confusion:
I'm assuming it will be exhaustively proofread and edited prior to final release. I'm only 13 pages into reading it and I've found significant typos, repetitions, omissions, and just flat-out mistakes on virtually every page so far.
Speaking as both a graphic designer and a writer it is virtually impossible to see your own errors after a while. All these errors that jump off the page to a new set of eyes are simply invisible to someone who's been staring at the same text for hours, days, or even weeks.
Until you go to press, that is. As soon as a document comes back from the printers you see every error immediately.
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Developer
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I've been reading my test copy, (since I'm running it), and found a typo(?) that is causing me confusion:I'm assuming it will be exhaustively proofread and edited prior to final release. I'm only 13 pages into reading it and I've found significant typos, repetitions, omissions, and just flat-out mistakes on virtually every page so far.
Speaking as both a graphic designer and a writer it is virtually impossible to see your own errors after a while. All these errors that jump off the page to a new set of eyes are simply invisible to someone who's been staring at the same text for hours, days, or even weeks.
Until you go to press, that is. As soon as a document comes back from the printers you see every error immediately.
The test document was developed for encounter balance, transitions, and special mechanics with a quick look for easy/quick grammatical fixes; for the test runs, the most important features to test were mechanical ones. It has since undergone approximately 1.5 additional development passes from me, and our exceptional team of editors is looking over it this week.
It's theoretically possible to give that team (as well as other upstanding, more behind-the-scenes folks like the art department) enough credit, but from a practical standpoint, it's difficult to tell them "thank you" often enough. I'm certain that by the time GMs receive the file, it will be as clear and exceptional a read for the GMs as it will be a flashy and exciting experience for the players.
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Thanks John for the update. I don't know about everyone else but the sooner you can get the final copy to us the better. I have read through it completely twice but I don't want to prep for combats that are likely to change. This thing is epic even in a pre-release state and I want to do it justice.
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Developer
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Yup yup...we wanted to simulate the despair of the battlefield, and I repeatedly heard from level 1–4 folks that they wanted a chance to go up against some truly epic baddies as a team. That strategy works really well against creatures that don't have potent area-of-effect abilities.
But...
Let it not be said that I don't listen to feedback.
Level 7 characters, though? Bam! Dead before the overseer GM finishes reading the boxed text.
They strip 1d4 boons.
I just enjoyed the mental image of 135 GMs tearing up 6d4 boons each all at the same time. I then imagined getting tarred and feathered by an angry mob while Thursty frantically tries to explain that it was all my idea. This is the same kind of mental roleplaying exercise that keeps my characters from trying to use Intimidate against the venture-captain quest-givers (not to say that stops a handful of players who have been at my table).
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Oh the tears! Thinking of the waking rune boon. "I am sorry but I must destroy your character completely. You never existed."
Speaking of tears, I'm thinking this might work well for drinking them.
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I've been reading my test copy, (since I'm running it), and found a typo(?) that is causing me confusion:I'm assuming it will be exhaustively proofread and edited prior to final release. I'm only 13 pages into reading it and I've found significant typos, repetitions, omissions, and just flat-out mistakes on virtually every page so far.
Speaking as both a graphic designer and a writer it is virtually impossible to see your own errors after a while. All these errors that jump off the page to a new set of eyes are simply invisible to someone who's been staring at the same text for hours, days, or even weeks.
Until you go to press, that is. As soon as a document comes back from the printers you see every error immediately.
The test document was developed for encounter balance, transitions, and special mechanics with a quick look for easy/quick grammatical fixes; for the test runs, the most important features to test were mechanical ones. It has since undergone approximately 1.5 additional development passes from me, and our exceptional team of editors is looking over it this week.
It's theoretically possible to give that team (as well as other upstanding, more behind-the-scenes folks like the art department) enough credit, but from a practical standpoint, it's difficult to tell them "thank you" often enough. I'm certain that by the time GMs receive the file, it will be as clear and exceptional a read for the GMs as it will be a flashy and exciting experience for the players.
Agreed. One cannot thank skilled editors or proofreaders enough.
There is a saying that most creatives know all too well: fools and children should never see a job half-done. I cannot count the number of times I've had to patiently explain to the someone - often for the sixth or seventh time - that a block of text or an image was only a placeholder.
I think this is going to be a truly spectacular scenario when it's done. Every encounter fires my imagination and I cannot wait to run it.
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Associate Publisher
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I just enjoyed the mental image of 135 GMs tearing up 6d4 boons each all at the same time. I then imagined getting tarred and feathered by an angry mob while Thursty frantically tries to explain that it was all my idea.
Ok, seriously... we NEED to include the tearing up of boons in Shax's House of Pain!!!!
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Heh, beat me to it, Netapolis. I'm almost done with a Word doc of monster/NPC stats for subtier 3-4. Need to do 1-2 and 5-6 next, since those are the tiers I might be GMing.
I plan on sharing mine on the GM Shared Prep Site. I'd recommend you do the same.
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There's something to be said for grossly powerful 12-13 tables making running the demons easy, Kyle....
I meant it more along the lines of ~12 different demons, each have their own unique abilities. Going to be a challenge to use them effectively, especially the Epic target at the end for 14-15. Already spent an hour play-testing tactics with it.
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Agreed. The scenario has so many options that it is difficult to prep it all. Even by narrowing it down to Tier 3-7, I have to prep 3 sub-tiers of monsters, encounters, and player choices.
I noticed that player choice influencing what encounters they see is part of 5-02. I wonder if that is going to be a theme in season 5 and we will be prepping encounters that we never actually GM because the players made different choices.