Frog God Games 2015 Previews

[Readerbreeder]

silverhair2008 wrote:

I just heard from Chris. They are taking inventory and checking to make sure the Daily Deals are running correctly and they will be back soon. Just don't know how soon, but they will return.

Silverhair (unofficial Tadpole of FGG)

Thanks for going to the trouble of checking on that, Silverhair. I thought I was the only one not getting the Daily Deal emails until I circled back here!

[Matrix Sorcica]

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

The Lost Lands are big enough that there is definitely room. But there's so much politics, history, and canon tied up in the Sword Coast the question is there room to fit all that in, and that will really come down to how closely you're wanting to keep to the FR canon. Obviously we can't use anything resembling that IP, so ours will not be that similar. But if you don't mind some squishy edges in those departments, the physical space does exist.

Probably the best place to fit it would be on the western edge of the kingdoms of Foere where they meet the massive inland sea known as the Crescent Sea. It lies far to the west of any of the maps we've released yet and would be south of the Grand Duchy of Reme in an area occupied by the Kingdom of Bret Heath, the Duchy of (can't remember the name offhand), and the halfling Low Country.

Not very interested in FR Canon, so that won't be much of a problem. It's the geography, placenames and locations relative to eachother I want.

Any chance of a quick look (not detailed, subject to change, etc.) of that part of the map?

And thanks for taking your time to answer.

[Greg A. Vaughan]

Matrix Sorcica wrote:

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

The Lost Lands are big enough that there is definitely room. But there's so much politics, history, and canon tied up in the Sword Coast the question is there room to fit all that in, and that will really come down to how closely you're wanting to keep to the FR canon. Obviously we can't use anything resembling that IP, so ours will not be that similar. But if you don't mind some squishy edges in those departments, the physical space does exist.

Probably the best place to fit it would be on the western edge of the kingdoms of Foere where they meet the massive inland sea known as the Crescent Sea. It lies far to the west of any of the maps we've released yet and would be south of the Grand Duchy of Reme in an area occupied by the Kingdom of Bret Heath, the Duchy of (can't remember the name offhand), and the halfling Low Country.

Not very interested in FR Canon, so that won't be much of a problem. It's the geography, placenames and locations relative to eachother I want.

Any chance of a quick look (not detailed, subject to change, etc.) of that part of the map?

And thanks for taking your time to answer.

The map for that area is only a hand-sketched poster at this point, so I won't be able to reveal it yet. As for size/geography, depending on how you define the Sword Coast you can consider it to be anywhere from around 400 miles to 1,000 miles or more in length.

The eastern shore of the Crescent Sea is a couple thousand miles in length and is composed of a hodge-podge of nation-states. So there would be room within there to include Sword Coast locations, but of course the actual geography won't necessarily match up. We can't duplicate the FR map or anything like that. So if it's relative space and a westward facing shore in an area that is probably culturally similar to the Sword Coast and the North, then you've got it. If you're wanting a 1,000-mile stretch of coastline that matches up geographically, then you don't.

As a bit of preview, I'll list the major nation-state/geographic sites along the east coast of the Crescent Sea as they go from north to south (apologies for butchering it when I was going from memory alone in my earlier post).

They are:
-Grand Duchy of Reme, Bay of Remenos (capital: Reme)
-Rimeth Sound
-Kingdom of the North Heath (capital: Bret Harth)
-Norshore (lonely stretch of desolate coastline)
-The Brine Heath
-Insula Lymossus (large island 100 miles offshore, site of the City-State of Castorhage, aka The Blight)
-The Fetid Sea (waters between Lymossus and the mainland)
-Kingdom of the Vast (opposite Insula Lymossus, comprised of former Duchy of Kear and others. Capital: Eber)
-Worn Tooth Peaks
-The Low Country (capital: Bottomborough)
-Hearth Downs
-Greenreach (large island 50 miles offshore)
-Tranquil Bay (waters between Greenreach and the mainland)
-Falcomere Penisula
-Kingdom of Withy-Strythe (mostly occupies the Falcomere Peninsula. Capital: Bannerhill)
-The Mouth of Akados (strait where the waters of the Crescent Sea enter into the waters of Oceanus between the Falcomere Peninsula and the Talanos Peninsula)
-Strait of Praeis (waters in the Mouth of Akados)
-Mandible Isle and Maxilla Isle (the two islands that define the Mouth of Akados and the Strait of Praeis)
-Mother Ocean of Oceanus

[Matrix Sorcica]

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

So if it's relative space and a westward facing shore in an area that is probably culturally similar to the Sword Coast and the North, then you've got it.

That's it. Perfect. Thanks.

And thanks for the preview :-)

[Greg A. Vaughan]

De nada :-)

[Bruce Philipson]

Just got my PDF for Sunderlands, thanks! So the next planned KS is Northlands in early fall?

[Greg A. Vaughan]

There's actually one that should be launching in/around Gen Con, but it's a specifically Swords & Wizardry thing rather than a Lost Lands thing. It should be popping up soon. But yes, the one after that in September is...

The Lost Lands: The Northlands Saga Complete!!! {I added the exclamation points myself; they're not actually a part of the title} ;-)

It includes all 4 of the original Northlands Saga adventures by FGG (NS1-NS4) plus 7+ new adventures for a complete AP from level 1-20, plus a complete campaign guide of the Northlands and how they fit into the Lost Lands overall including: a history and timeline (much like in Sundered Kingdoms), specific player races and ethnicities, languages, etc., a complete gazetteer of the Northlands, a chapter on the Æsir, Vanir, and Ginnvaettir and even some other pantheons, a chapter of new monsters, a chapter of equipment, magic items, archetypes, and new optional rules (rules for holmgangs, epic deaths, dealing with fate, etc.), and an appendix of massive encounter tables for the different areas of the Northlands. It also updates the old Northlands map from the original adventures as a color poster. And the book will be approximately a ST1 (that's the size of a single copy of Slumbering Tsar [i.e. ~800-900 pages] on the Slumbering Tsar Book Size Scale).

So it's the Northlands but, you know, complete. :-)

[silverhair2008]

Well, I would say please save me a copy.

[DSXMachina]

oh my, you guys trying to bankrupt me!

[Steve Geddes]

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

There's actually one that should be launching in/around Gen Con, but it's a specifically Swords & Wizardry thing rather than a Lost Lands thing. It should be popping up soon.

Cool.

I'm really looking to the Northlands Saga also, but this intrigues me. :)

[DaveMage]

With regard to the Northlands Saga (or any giant book), after going through Tsar, it would be really helpful if there was some indication on each page or 2-page spread where the map for the current descriptions could be found (page number).

Ptolus uses a small box in the upper corner and it's really helpful. (It could also go in the header.)

Also, instead of indicating in the text to "See Magic Item Appendix" or "See Monster Appendix", it would be really helpful to provide the exact page number rather than have to flip through the book to not only find the correct section, but to go right to the monster or magic item.

Finally (and I know this would be more expensive - so maybe as a stretch goal?), it would be really nice if we could have maps to show the players that totally remove secret doors as well as locations that could only be accessed by secret door.

For example, trying to describe, show, or draw room 4 of the Hidden Citadel in Tsar when they first walk in (see page 412) was a huge pain. I would have loved to have been able to show them what they would see for the map of room 4 without having to re-draw the thing myself (and screwing it up several times).

[MichaelSandar]

A S&W specific kickstarter.... ooooh!

perhaps...

Spoiler:

a Slumbering Tsar conversion??

Or am I just dreaming ;)

Either way, looking forward to it. Would still love to see a compilation for players and / or Referees that included all the expanded stuff (races / classes / spells / items) from the various FGG titles.

[lastgrasp]

I love OSR D&D. What's the S&W kickstarter going to be about?

[MichaelSandar]

I just realized it said S&W but not necessarily Lost Lands. Still, exciting! When can we expect to hear more about this one?

[Shem]

Michael, that is a great idea.

[Steve Geddes]

I'd love a Slumbering Tsar conversion, but I'm pretty sure they've explicitly ruled that out previously. It'd be great if I was remembering that wrong. :)

[MichaelSandar]

Yea, I'm pretty sure they did, just hoping. My homebrew conversion is pretty thin yet ;)

[MichaelSandar]

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

There's actually one that should be launching in/around Gen Con, but it's a specifically Swords & Wizardry thing rather than a Lost Lands thing. It should be popping up soon.

Any update on this?

[Greg A. Vaughan]

Since it's S&W it's really outside my bailiwick. Bill and Matt were the masterminds behind it and have all the info. Maybe something happened and it got pushed, but if so I am not aware of it. I just dopn't have enough info to give details on it.

P.S. It is not what I was talking about earlier, but just to let you know we will be releasing an S&W conversion of Slumbering Tsar shortly. I don't think it will be a KS, though. Skeeter has been working on it for some time and knows the details on it. I'm working on the foreword for it right now, so it should be popping up very soon. :-)

[Greg A. Vaughan]

Just talked to Bill. The S&W project has been pushed back because not enough of the art is in yet. I don't know the new date for it yet, but it is not at Gen Con as was originally planned apparently. Matt is out this week, so I was unable to get any further details.

Here is the Facebook post that describes what it is about.

[Steve Geddes]

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

P.S. It is not what I was talking about earlier, but just to let you know we will be releasing an S&W conversion of Slumbering Tsar shortly. I don't think it will be a KS, though. Skeeter has been working on it for some time and knows the details on it. I'm working on the foreword for it right now, so it should be popping up very soon. :-)

That is phenomenal news! Awesome. :)

[MichaelSandar]

Steve Geddes wrote:

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

P.S. It is not what I was talking about earlier, but just to let you know we will be releasing an S&W conversion of Slumbering Tsar shortly. I don't think it will be a KS, though. Skeeter has been working on it for some time and knows the details on it. I'm working on the foreword for it right now, so it should be popping up very soon. :-)

That is phenomenal news! Awesome. :)

Best news I've heard all day!

*starts saving pennies*

[Shem]

That is awesome...

[Greg A. Vaughan]

Hey guys, totally unrelated to the above discussion, but for those fans of Paizo and Frog God Games who like to run FGG adventures set in the world of Golarion, I've posted a new blog entry here that you might find very useful.

[brvheart]

As three of my eight games are currently Paizo AP's in a crossover type world, that list is quite useful, thank-you! Since Lybonos is not out yet I have parts of Golarion over there.

[Jeffrey Swank]

And he still forgets to mention my name! lol

[mach1.9pants]

So much coolness!

[Greg A. Vaughan]

Jeffrey Swank wrote:

And he still forgets to mention my name! lol

Corrected!!1!!!

[MichaelSandar]

Thanks for all the info Greg. Is there a timeline on the S&W conversion of ST?

[Greg A. Vaughan]

I don't know for sure, MichaelSandar, but I think it's soon. Skeeter acted like it was imminent. However, he's headed to Gen Con, so it'll probably be next week at the earliest before we hear anything.

[Steve Geddes]

I now officially owe Skeeter another beer.

[Set]

Note to self, when Googling 'Greg Vaughan blog', do not forget the middle initial 'A.' It's the difference between the Frog God Games site, and some shirtless model...

[Greg A. Vaughan]

Set wrote:

Note to self, when Googling 'Greg Vaughan blog', do not forget the middle initial 'A.' It's the difference between the Frog God Games site, and some shirtless model...

I know, right?!?! I get so sick of everybody mistaking me for that underwear model guy! All the film producers, and chicks, and TV executives, and chicks, and agents, and chicks! ;-)

I actually lamented my bad luck in sharing a name with "James" Greg Vaughan in the foreword to PF AP #82.

That guy...[shakes fist]

[Greg A. Vaughan]

Steve Geddes wrote:

I now officially owe Skeeter another beer.

Probably everyone does for one reason or other, really. And he will gladly drink them all. :-)

[MichaelSandar]

Any updates on the upcoming kickstarters?

[Greg A. Vaughan]

Hi Michael,

The plan is to launch the Northlands Saga KS at the end of August.

Greg

[Jeffrey Swank]

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

Set wrote:

Note to self, when Googling 'Greg Vaughan blog', do not forget the middle initial 'A.' It's the difference between the Frog God Games site, and some shirtless model...

I know, right?!?! I get so sick of everybody mistaking me for that underwear model guy! All the film producers, and chicks, and TV executives, and chicks, and agents, and chicks! ;-)

I actually lamented my bad luck in sharing a name with "James" Greg Vaughan in the foreword to PF AP #82.

That guy...[shakes fist]

Yeah, it was two months and 13 emails into a project before I realized the advice I was getting from Greg was how to properly pose, style my hair, walk the runway--which just didn't fit in the adventure--that I realized it was the wrong Greg. (I think?)

[Greg A. Vaughan]

However, you probably understand all of the finer points of butter substitutes now I bet.

(He totally stole that shirt from me, btw.)

[Jeffrey Swank]

Greg A. Vaughan wrote:

However, you probably understand all of the finer points of butter substitutes now I bet.

(He totally stole that shirt from me, btw.)

Wait...that's not you with the long hair? lol

[silverhair2008]

Aug 31 is the start of the Kickstarter for the Northlands Saga. I hope you folks are as excited about this as I am. I hope Greg comes in with some more news.

[Steve Geddes]

I'm very excited by that. I was disappointed when the Northlands books ceased - glad it was a hiatus rather than a death.

I'm also really looking forward to a mooted Slumbering Tsar conversion plus a mysterious "Swords and Wizardry related" kickstarter...The next couple of years is going to be a great time to be a Frog God Games fan. :)

[Richard Pett]

...soon...

[Mark Sweetman]

*Gibbers quietly in the corner in anticipation*

[silverhair2008]

HMMMM, I wonder if this makes me a Herald Frog?

Once Greg creates the thread look for me to try to keep it on the front page.

[silverhair2008]

Ten days and counting.

[lastgrasp]

Looking forward to the Nortlands Saga KS!

Couple of Questions..

1. I know you are pre-ordering Quest of Doom 2 for 5E. I've been mainly playing Labyrinth Lord/OSR games. Any chance of a compiled version for S&W?

2. I love Fields of Blood/Deserts of Desolation. Amazing reference books, is Mountains of Madness coming out this year?

3. Whats the status of Slumbering Tsar for S&W?

[Greg A. Vaughan]

Silverhair, you are indeed the Herald Frog (TOHC, pg. 367). ;-)

lastgrasp,
1. Since those adventures all already exist in S&W versions in various products, it would be difficult for us to sell enough of them in a compilation to cover the costs of printing. Maybe someday if the demand for such a compilation becomes large enough we could do so, but for now we don't have any set plans to do so.
2. MoM will release either this year or very early next year. It will accompany one of the upcoming Kickstarters, but its release depends on our capacity to get it through layout and printing. So it'll be whichever one it works best for. I don't know which one that is yet, but never fear, it's coming soon. :-)
3. Not sure on this. Skeeter would know the answer. I'll ping him and try to get an update from him. I would think the answer on it is also "soon".

[LordofMuck]

Hi Greg!

I am curious to know if you have any plans to re-publish Morten Braten's Ancient Kingdoms: Mesopotamia? In a Pathfinder version (and maybe SW), maybe to be included in the Lost Lands setting?

Also, now that I'm here: I LOVE the Slumbering Tsar!! :)

[silverhair2008]

Greg, I sent Skeeter a link to this thread so maybe he can some answer the questions.

[Skeeter Green]

the first 3 chapters will be out this year. Hopefully soon, but Other Things keep pushing to the front of the line.

SG