Gear lists would be interesting, but it's not a lot of 'new' info. I'm not really up on my PF, but doesn't the NPC codex have pregens you could grab equipment from? Just my 2cp.
Yes, but NPCs have less gear than PCs.
Player Characters
If you're in a hurry, you can use these characters as PCs instead of NPCs. However, NPCs have much less wealth than PCs of the same level, and if you use these characters as PCs, you should add to or upgrade their gear to make up for this difference. Compare the total gp value for the NPC's heroic level to the amount listed in Table 12–4: Character Wealth by Level.
Any chance we will see S&W conversions of the PF monsters in DoD?
Good question. I only have a very rudimentary familiarity with S&W so far. So I'm still learning even the basics of "that side" of things. Those who will know better will see this, of course, and can give a better answer.
silverhair2008 wrote:
As an aside, when I bring in new players they start one level below the party and have one level lower starting gold. For example, if the party is 8th the new PC is 7th with 6th level starting Gold. As was mentioned the party usually supplements what the PC has from gathered equipment. Also, I limit how they spend it. They can spend no more than 25% on any one item.
I don't want to at all imply "you're doing it wrong" or anything like that. But... why? Do your 7th level PCs typically have 6th level gear? If so, your rule makes some sense. If you generally do a decent job of keeping your PCs properly equiped, then why would the new guy have less stuff?
If it works for your table, that's great. If you and your group have fun, you're doing it right(tm). But I've seen a lot of people in the past who use rules such as this as well as not letting new characters have items that make sense - no stat boosting items at 10th level, for example. Then they wonder why PCs can't survive encounters they should mop the floor with.
I use the rule I do so that a new PC doesn't come in with a +3 Flaming Burst Greatsword when the rest of the PC's have maybe a +2 Flaming Bastard Sword. In game they find better weapons but I want them to be able to contribute to the party but not outshine the party. So far no one in any of my groups has had a problem with the rule and they keep coming back for sessions. So I must be doing something right.
My current group on Friday hasn't had a PC death in 8 levels. HMMM, I must be doing it wrong then. That is liable to change at our next session.
Again I apologize for the thread jack. Zherog send me a PM and we can continue this discussion if you so desire.
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So, I'm interested in talking about gear packages and whether doing them makes any sense as a product line. But just be aware that if we were to do them, they'd follow the rules I quoted - a 10th level PC would get around 62K, with roughly 15.5K spernt on weapons, another 15.5K on armor, 15.5K spent on magic items (stat boosters, ring of protection, etc), 9.3K on disposable items, and 6.2K on gear and money. There'd be some leeway, certainly, as mentioned above. But that would be the estimate.
Is that something people would pay to acquire? Assume 3-5 related classes per product, like the groups I mentioned earlier. Or is that too bland and boring, even if it would be useful? (And I really should go and start a new thread for the shorts, so we can keep this thread about Dunes.)
I could see these as part of a small PDF "player's guide" for those smaller releases that aren't the scope of a Rappan Athuk. Perhaps some pre-gens for a base party, along with some quick gear lists when the party runs out of pre-gens and needs to make some new PCs (if....when you run out of pre-gens).
I am not sure it is a complete thread hijack as we are talking about paying for pdfs of these packages and I would depending on cost. @Zherog Yes most players miss the 25% rule so I put it in my character creation rules. My players have had plenty of deaths but not because they are under equipped. 11 were due to trying to clear levels in RA, others were not running away when they should have and a few due to unlucky die rolls. They also have been killing CRs that are much higher than them often without any loss of life. But my question is if I give them 36,000 and they get the rest from the party treasury of surplus items does it really matter as long as they are close to WBL? Also I understand they will probably pick up stuff from the characters that died that they are replacing. Giving them both would make them way over WBL.
A few quick hit replies, and I'll post more Dunes peeks tonight so we have something actually on topic to discuss, since the list of critters didn't generate a whole lot of talk. ;)
Again I apologize for the thread jack. Zherog send me a PM and we can continue this discussion if you so desire.
Nope, we're all good. Like I said, I wasn't at all saying you were "playing wrong" or anything. Your goal looks to be to prevent a new character from out-gunning an existing character, and I see no problem with that at all.
I could see these as part of a small PDF "player's guide" for those smaller releases that aren't the scope of a Rappan Athuk. Perhaps some pre-gens for a base party, along with some quick gear lists when the party runs out of pre-gens and needs to make some new PCs (if....when you run out of pre-gens).
Thanks for the input.
But my question is if I give them 36,000 and they get the rest from the party treasury of surplus items does it really matter as long as they are close to WBL? Also I understand they will probably pick up stuff from the characters that died that they are replacing. Giving them both would make them way over WBL.
Absolutely! That certainly factors in. You're taking that WBL factor into account. It doesn't matter how the character gets the ring of protection +2; just that he gets it, and it counts toward his net worth.
Again, I'm not saying anybody here is doing it wrong - even if you aren't factoring in WBL and trying to stay within arm's reach of it. If your group is having fun, you're doing it right. It's as simple as that.
@ Zherog, you said in a few words what I was long winded to say.
Bill, I'd be in favor only if the shipping costs don't eat you.
There nasty that way.
Let's talk adventures. Because Tom wrote three fantastic adventures for this book. Spoilers used in case folks don't want to read adventure summaries.
Child’s Play is a 5th level rescue mission set in a cursed dollhouse populated by childhood monsters and constructs as well as the tormented souls condemned to haunt it for all eternity. The fate of a young girl hangs in the balance as an evil creature bent on exacting revenge and the forces set loose by a cruel genie centuries earlier threaten to consign her and her would-be rescuers to eternal imprisonment in an accursed house of horrors.
Part rescue, part mystery, part urban dungeon crawl, this adventure has a fantastic Arabian Nights feel to it, with the PCs being transported inside a doll house, where they must rescue Lakta Jamar - a 10-year-old girl with a mysterious past. The PCs must rescue Lakta from the monsters residing in her doll house, and recover her missing organs - snatched away when Lakta was transported inside the house - lest the child die, all while working out how Lakta came to be entrapped in her own magical doll house in the first place.
I may elude those who seek me even though I cannot hide. I may be in plain sight, but they do not see me. I may be at the tip of their tongue, yet they cannot remember me. What am I?
I am an answer.
King of Beasts is an 8th-level desert adventure that takes the PCs on a whirlwind journey through a small village and its outlying area in the Pesha River Delta and then into the heart of the Maighib Desert. A case of mistaken identity sets a chain of events into motion that transforms the hunters into the hunted, as wild beasts under the direction of a vengeful creature turn the tables on mankind. The lives of the guilty and the innocent are at stake unless someone can solve the true riddle of the sands.
A famous hunting band is paid to take down a sphinx - only they kill the wrong one. The murdered's distraught spouse goes on a rampage, hiring his own killers to hunt the hunters. The heroes must do what they can to prevent the murder of innocent victims, while either soothing - or destroying - the sphinx who was wronged by fateful hunt.
It is far better to rule one oasis than lord over a continent of endless sand. At least that is what a popular proverb says, but what if one could turn that same barren wasteland into a blue paradise? In the desert, water is worth its weight in gold, especially in the eyes of the environment’s most rapacious creature and a wizard obsessed with unlocking the secret of transforming a tiny crystalline rock into a lush desert spring.
My Blue Oasis is a 12th-level adventure that takes the participants across the desert’s burning sands and into the depths of the earth beneath the Oasis of Al-Marak in search of the last remaining fragment from a cosmic impact in the very distant past. Hidden within this minute bit of space debris is a monumental discovery capable of replanting the seeds of life in a desolate landscape or sowing devastation on a mass scale. The birth of new civilizations or the demise of existing ones depends upon who uncovers the find first — the heroes, a greedy beast, or a man consumed by his own obsession.
I love all three of these adventures, but this one might be my favorite. A blue dragon, a haughty human diviner, derros, more derros, weird gravitational effects, morlocks, and then toss on top some fascinating pseudo-science that could save or destroy the desert and everybody in it.
This adventure has some great build up. The tension is high, and ramps up throughout until you reach the conclusion. It's quite possible that if PCs allow certain events to unfold, the desert be changed for miles.
I'm a believer that dragons should be special, not random bags of hit points. Tom did a nice job with Eyegouger, the mature adult blue dragon. He has a great personality, an interesting treasure hoard, and dangerous minions.
These adventures all have their own unique feel, and each tells a great story.
Since delivery times on this book may be coincident with Barakus (or close), we may offer add ons for this, CD and RA subscriptions to the Barakus Kickstarter--I am leaning towards adding them during the survey--thoughts?
My thought is that I want to get better shipping costs for our overseas friends.
Yeah that sounds perfect, really you can just say in the Barakus kickstarter something like "any currently available FGG products can be added to your KS reward, to save shipping. We will give you the option to add any products in your KS Survey, the price of the items and the extra shipping costs (if any) will be required by Paypal (or whatever) prior to shipping your pledge and any extras"
How does that work? Basically it will be a bit of juggling in your pledge orders but will encourage people to pick up extra bits. I know I like to get all my missing FGG stuff with my KS rewards, you might have noticed :D
Those adventure sound cool, although I was sick in my mouth because Child's Play made me think for a moment of the 2E Puppets modules Bleeeergh! ;)
King of the beasts sounds well cool!
This is excatly what I was looking for, as we will start Kingmaker in the desert very soon. Do you have a very rough time for release?
I´ll buy this product the instant it´s out ;)
Tom did a real bang-up job on this book, by the way. I remember while laying it out that the thought "Damn, Tom did his research!" crossed my mind many, many times.
Tom did a real bang-up job on this book, by the way. I remember while laying it out that the thought "Damn, Tom did his research!" crossed my mind many, many times.An acquaintance made the mistake of trying to "school" me on the fact that 100 degree temperature in Vegas and 100 temperature in Florida felt the same. Yes, they're both hot, but there is a big difference in how they feel and why.
100% accurate and almost impossible to convince a lot of people who've never been it.
100% accurate and almost impossible to convince a lot of people who've never been it.Tom did a real bang-up job on this book, by the way. I remember while laying it out that the thought "Damn, Tom did his research!" crossed my mind many, many times.An acquaintance made the mistake of trying to "school" me on the fact that 100 degree temperature in Vegas and 100 temperature in Florida felt the same. Yes, they're both hot, but there is a big difference in how they feel and why.
I visited Fresno once, and I was amazed that 100+ degree weather with about 3% humidity felt awesome! I live in Michigan, and the humidity is usually a LOT higher, so a 80+ degree day with 60%+ humidity is pretty miserable (but much preferred over our winters...). I would expect Florida to have it even worse as for temperature and humidity.
My friend lived in Dubai for two years where the summer temperatures would soar in the 120's. Yes, it was scorching hot, but if that were in an environment with high humidity, it would be inhabitable. You'd literally walk into a sauna as soon as you walked out your door.I visited Fresno once, and I was amazed that 100+ degree weather with about 3% humidity felt awesome! I live in Michigan, and the humidity is usually a LOT higher, so a 80+ degree day with 60%+ humidity is pretty miserable (but much preferred over our winters...). I would expect Florida to have it even worse as for temperature and humidity.100% accurate and almost impossible to convince a lot of people who've never been it.Tom did a real bang-up job on this book, by the way. I remember while laying it out that the thought "Damn, Tom did his research!" crossed my mind many, many times.An acquaintance made the mistake of trying to "school" me on the fact that 100 degree temperature in Vegas and 100 temperature in Florida felt the same. Yes, they're both hot, but there is a big difference in how they feel and why.
Born and raised in NE Ohio, but I lived in Arizona for four years until the Job I moved out there for ceased to exist.
I've been to Florida and I can tell you when I retire, I'm moving back to Arizona, Florida can keep their humidity.
Back on topic, looking forward to this product. :)
It is for the same reason I moved to San Antonio and not Houston. We get just as hot, but no where near the humidity. First trip down here through Houston and yeah it was like a sauna. Felt great here after Chicago's much higher humidity! And yes I am looking forward to the book.
Tom did a real bang-up job on this book, by the way. I remember while laying it out that the thought "Damn, Tom did his research!" crossed my mind many, many times.An acquaintance made the mistake of trying to "school" me on the fact that 100 degree temperature in Vegas and 100 temperature in Florida felt the same. Yes, they're both hot, but there is a big difference in how they feel and why.
Believe me, I know. I live in Tampa and was stationed El Paso (Ft. Bliss). The real problem with the "feels great" dry heat is that the air sucks the moisture out of you like a vampire. I prefer cooler climates. :)
We do learn to hydrate early and often outdoors in the summer here. That create water spell doesn't go far when characters need at least 3 gallons of water per day!
People think I am crazy when I tell them that while I was in Arizona it was strongly advised against using Armorall on car interiors or tires. Using that stuff in a dry heat causes an accelerated dryrot.
Also Central Air systems were not used. But what we called swamp coolers were. The reason was to put moisture in the air.
Sorry for the thread jack.
We were already off the rails, Silver. ;)
The lovely dry heat of the middle east, often around 50 degrees (in modern measures) was more than bearable, although I kept getting shot at by some of the inhabitants which wasn't as good! Whereas my sojourn to Shaw AFB Sth Carolina, with it's massive afternoon thunderstorms, was even less pleasant. At least I didn't get shot at, though we did get yelled at for walking to the pub (at the side of the road, no 'sidewalk' just grass) which was weird!
But deserts over jungles any day. Being Air Force tho, I prefer hotels :p
We were already off the rails, Silver. ;)
But then again aren't we generally off the rails? I know I resemble that remark!
Yeah, I thought it was clear that Tom is either Cliff Clavin in disguise, or he really did his research on desert stuff - between the weather, geology, how people survive, and so on, his research really came through. I learned stuff, and that's always awesome.
Well as one of the fans of the Dungeoneers and Wilderness Survival Guides for the inspiration more than crunch, can't wait to see this.
I don't think I have crack those open in twenty years, but I was a fan also.
I don't know, but you are welcome to come play with us. Send me a pm and I will send you a link to our Meetup group.
Ah, come on, stop teasing. Right now I would even pay good money for an unfinished script, beta or something :)
My new campaign starts on sunday, June/July is probably too late for me to incorporate new rules :/
It's never too late. ;)
This evening, I'll post up a list of the feat names. And sometime over the weekend I'll post up a list of the new spells.
Also, the proofs are back to Chuck. As I understand it, the printer should have the book next week.
Ok, nice!
Any info if the pdf will be available before print?
I'll be submitting the material over the weekend so they will have everything fresh on Monday morning!
I'll also be setting the PDF up over the weekend. I have to finalize the covers before everything is hunky dory.
I'll be submitting the material over the weekend so they will have everything fresh on Monday morning!
I'll also be setting the PDF up over the weekend. I have to finalize the covers before everything is hunky dory.
Nice, thx for the info, can´t wait :)
So, feats. This book has a few. Thirty-eight of 'em, to be exact.
- Aces Up a Sleeve (Combat)
- Backstab
- Bazaar Merchant
- Bazaar Thief
- Bum's Rush (Teamwork)
- Caravan Merchant
- Charioteer
- Desert Acclimated
- Desert Explorer
- Desert Legs
- Distracting Escape (Combat, Teamwork)
- Do Your Worst (Combat)
- Dune Walker
- Embalmer
- Eyes of the Desert
- Fearsome Reputation (Combat)
- Flying Carpet Pilot
- Genie Sage
- Horticulturalist
- In the Stars
- Instinctive Grappler (Combat)
- Jockey
- Last Chance
- Mental Rehearsal (Combat)
- My Turn (Combat)
- Now You See It (Teamwork)
- Olé (Combat)
- Palace Schemer
- Royal Taster
- Sales Pitch
- Sand in the Eyes
- Sand Rat
- Selective Hearing
- Snake Charmer
- Swarm Expert
- Take the Pain
- Twice-Bitten
- Wind Warrior
And there it is. Some whimsy; some GM fodder; and most definitely, feats PCs will want.
Bum's Rush :D
Wasn´t really intereseted in the crunch for characters, but now I am :)