It is ALIVE!
It is HERE .
Borderland Provinces is the book that ties it all together, folks!
Backed!
I'm In too.
Backed at the complete GM level. Also tacked on a couple of the hardcovers that I don't have yet. I do like that you've made that an option on the last couple of your kickstarters, because that's let me fill out the ones I've missed in a convenient way.
Especially in this Kickstarter, since the Borderland Provinces is possibly the key land-area of the world setting (Duchy of Reme is more famous, but Borderlands is actually the central hub of more adventures). So we definitely wanted to make those tied-in adventures available alongside the campaign area.
Plus, we're envisioning this Kickstarter as a kit, where people can buy the stuff they need, and ignore the stuff they don't need. It's a very different approach than we've used before, plus we're treating the Kickstarter kind of like a party, or an event, since we're going to be updating almost every day with topics of interest to those planning a campaign in this area. It ought to be a fun time for the backers, I think.
Definitely keep checking in, or at least checking updates. The first important update (other than the obligatory "Yay, we did well on day one!") will be about the free module, Rogues in Remballo.
Looking at the Kickstarter, there are two hardcover books. Each of those hardcovers comes in three different rules versions. The softcovers seem to be rules neutral.
So if I wanted to get the both hardcovers for just two rules sets, I'd need to either pick an option for four hardcovers, which doesn't seem to exist at this point, or pick an option for two hardcovers and then add on two more, which isn't listed as an option under the addons list.
Am I just misreading and not seeing something that should be obvious to everyone, or is there an option missing from the Kickstarter?
I need to find a way to back this even though I am currently "employment challenged".
Maybe I can get in the low end so I can get a print copy of Remballo?I'll keep my eye on this one...
damn....Alternate Wilderness Encounter tables....(sigh)
On a budget, the LAST thing I'd buy would be the printed copy of Rogues in Remballo. Just download the free copy when it's posted, then print it. No need for the "Limited Edition" copy if your goal is to get the content. Viewed as tiers:
* Cheapest is to get the campaign book as a pdf and nothing else (or even use the Player Gazeteer for that, but you'd miss a lot in exchange for only a couple of extra bucks).
*Next cheapest is either to get the printed campaign book, or to get the campaign book pdf without the player gazeteer, but probably pick up the journey generator as the next priority on the campaign. Or maybe a physical poster map instead of the JG.
The Alternate Wilderness encounter tables will be a free pdf, not a paid product, so as long as you get whatever the minimum pledge level is for that, it won't cost anything extra.
Looking at the Kickstarter, there are two hardcover books. Each of those hardcovers comes in three different rules versions. The softcovers seem to be rules neutral.
So if I wanted to get the both hardcovers for just two rules sets, I'd need to either pick an option for four hardcovers, which doesn't seem to exist at this point, or pick an option for two hardcovers and then add on two more, which isn't listed as an option under the addons list.
Am I just misreading and not seeing something that should be obvious to everyone, or is there an option missing from the Kickstarter?
You're exactly right in your reading of how to get a full set of hardcovers for only 2 rules-editions: there is no pre-programmed option for that. The way to do it is to pledge for 2 hardcovers, then add the cost of 2 more hardcovers to your pledge amount ($70 total extra). What happens is that when the Backer Kit arrives in your email after the Kickstarter, it will ask you to apply your "extra" $70, and you'll be able to select the two hardcovers at that time.
You're exactly right in your reading of how to get a full set of hardcovers for only 2 rules-editions: there is no pre-programmed option for that. The way to do it is to pledge for 2 hardcovers, then add the cost of 2 more hardcovers to your pledge amount ($70 total extra). What happens is that when the Backer Kit arrives in your email after the Kickstarter, it will ask you to apply your "extra" $70, and you'll be able to select the two hardcovers at that time.
Thanks for the info. I've now pledged. It might be a good idea to put the cost of adding additional hardbacks on to the Kickstarter page, to save on answering questions like mine.
Thanks for the info. I've now pledged. It might be a good idea to put the cost of adding additional hardbacks on to the Kickstarter page, to save on answering questions like mine.You're exactly right in your reading of how to get a full set of hardcovers for only 2 rules-editions: there is no pre-programmed option for that. The way to do it is to pledge for 2 hardcovers, then add the cost of 2 more hardcovers to your pledge amount ($70 total extra). What happens is that when the Backer Kit arrives in your email after the Kickstarter, it will ask you to apply your "extra" $70, and you'll be able to select the two hardcovers at that time.
We just did that, and thanks for raising the question. It's hard to know when we've worded something ambiguously, or where we forgot to fill in the gaps until a "cold reader" points it out.
We're probably going to add a pledge level for 2 sets, but first we have to clear all the numbers through Bill. I'll try to remind you, and please keep an eye on it, because if we do create a two-set pledge level, and it contains a discount, you might be able to get your desired set for somewhat less money than using "two book pledge plus two add-ons."
Please post the link to the KS at other forums you may have access to.
I cannot wait!
It appears that FGG is about halfway to their goal in just about 12 hours. I will say it for them, Thank you to all the Backers. Keep spreading the word.
Woop woop all aboard!
I hope that the 5E QoD2 can be included as an add on, save me some shipping :D
Very excited about this. A nice, shiny new campaign book.
This next month will be very fun and exciting. I think this could be the best KS yet.
Review of the FREE module of the KS up on my site. Take a look here! :)
I have been accused of being a "shameless shill for FGG". Perhaps that is true, but I cannot deny I like what they produce very much.
I think of you more as an enthusiastic fan, Silverhair.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
"An enthusiastic fan" I like that, Chuck. The person that called me a "shameless Shill for FGG" was saying it in jest, but I decided to use it to advantage.
One way of looking at this subject is if there weren't "enthusiastic fans" of publishers there would be no gaming publishers at all cause there would be no one to buy their product. In this community "word of mouth" carries more weight than a ton of ads. I have bought books that I have ignored their ads strictly on the basis of the comments of another gamer of how great the book was.
If I am wrong please enlighten me.
Thanks for the info. I've now pledged. It might be a good idea to put the cost of adding additional hardbacks on to the Kickstarter page, to save on answering questions like mine.
Paul,
We have added a pledge level for 4 books, and incorporated a discount for it. So your current pledge is too high, please switch to the four-book level and reduce your pledge (or apply the extra money to some extra add-on). Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
I've got one player trying to raise interest in getting more players to get the Players combo.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
This was used during the Northlands Saga Complete KS, but it still is applicable:
I would like to take a few minutes to pass something on. Last time FGG ran a KS I pledged for the Temple Dallas level. It wasn't as high as this one, but I did. While waiting for the day to arrive. I got emails and text from FGG personnel. Also I received a call from Bill Webb himself. He wanted to explain what was going to happen and when. Well time arrived and I drove to Fort Worth and arrived at the hotel. I had sent Bill a few texts. When I was at the front desk I called him, then poof there he was. It turned out that Matt Finch was one of the men who helped me get my luggage to my room. Bill or Greg Vaughn was always around to answer any question I had and to see to it that I had a great time. They invited me to their Thursday evening business meeting. I got to make a couple of comments. Don't know how much influence my comments had but I appreciated the fact that the Publisher was willing to listen to a customer. I played in one of Skeeter's games and a couple of Greg's games. Even got to run the BBEG in Greg's final game. It was great having the opportunity to meet Bob Bledsaw III, Jeff Dee, Wolfgang Bauer, and Larry Elmore. I took pictures from every game I was in and even got most of the FGG crew right before everyone left.
I had so much fun this year that is why I chose to pledge Temple Dallas again. If you have the means and the opportunity to do so I recommend you pledge to Temple Dallas and go to the North Texas RPG Con. It is a wonderful gathering of old school gamers and you could learn a lot and have a lot of fun.
Thanks for reading my very long post.
EDIT: BTW if you are a collector of RPG material this is the place to be to pick up some unique and rare items.
I am not pledging Temple Dallas as funds are tight. But the fun aspect is still true.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Woot! Looking forward to this!
Any of the books come with Deity information?
Some. There's a lot more about the temples, organizations, worshippers, and religions than about the deities themselves. This area is right in the center of the best-known gods mentioned in the adventures, like Thyr, Muir, Jamboor, Kamien, Freya, Telophus, Mitra, and Belon the Wise, so it focuses more on the influence of their various temples.
What there is, in terms of new information on religions, is a detailed discussion of how heresy functions.
Someone called Matthan just posted a question on ENworld about "why should I buy from Frog God," looking for basic information. He's a 5e player, but if anyone wants to weigh in generally on that thread about our quality of work, that would be awesome. The question is on this page of the thread.
Paul,
We have added a pledge level for 4 books, and incorporated a discount for it. So your current pledge is too high, please switch to the four-book level and reduce your pledge (or apply the extra money to some extra add-on). Thanks for bringing this to our attention!
Thanks, but I think I'll stick where I am for now. It looks like it's 9 dollars more expensive at the new pledge option than picking two books then adding $70. (Complete GM for $95 + $70 for two more hardcovers totals $165 as opposed to $174 for the new four book package.)
Hi FGG, I want to back this but I'm not sure how I should be doing this.
I would like to get the two hardcovers of the 2 main books Borderland Provinces and Adventures in the Borderland Provinces, and get PDF versions of the Player Guide, the Player Gazeteer, the Journey Generator and Rogues in Remballo.
However, I'm not seeing this as an option.
Am I reading the various pledges and addons correctly?
Hi FGG, I want to back this but I'm not sure how I should be doing this.
I would like to get the two hardcovers of the 2 main books Borderland Provinces and Adventures in the Borderland Provinces, and get PDF versions of the Player Guide, the Player Gazeteer, the Journey Generator and Rogues in Remballo.
However, I'm not seeing this as an option.
Am I reading the various pledges and addons correctly?
Paul, I have finally fixed this. :D
However, the value of the discount of the 4-book set over the 2-book set is precisely one paltry dollar, so it's essentially the same as pledging for the complete set plus the 2 add-on books. When I set up the first version of the 4-book pledge level I checked it for discounts but not against the $95 pledge, which had a fairly deep discount -- I have the retail price listed as $102 there, not the actual $115 it should be showing. The $95 kit is actually at a better discount than what the pledge level suggests.
No one should choose either the four-book option or six book pledge levels which are more expensive by $9 and $4, respectively.
The best discount is at the $95 especially considering the softcovers come to $45 as add-ons.
Recommendation: Choose the $95 Complete GM Book Set and then add the appropriate number of $35 hardcovers in your chosen system.
@Curmudgeonly: You are correct there is no separate PDF price for the softcovers. The best guess is at approximately $6 based on $12 Player's Pledge. It should be easy to add the pdf price in parenthesis to the softcover add-ons on the main KS page. Otherwise, these prices should definitely be there at the BackerKit level.
Hi FGG, I want to back this but I'm not sure how I should be doing this.
I would like to get the two hardcovers of the 2 main books Borderland Provinces and Adventures in the Borderland Provinces, and get PDF versions of the Player Guide, the Player Gazeteer, the Journey Generator and Rogues in Remballo.
However, I'm not seeing this as an option.
Am I reading the various pledges and addons correctly?
Curmudgeonly,
Pledge for the pdfs and add on the books ($140 for 4 books total). I am not sure this wouldn't be less expensive than just getting the 4 book pledge with the physical copies of the softcovers, since they come with free pdfs of all the physical books you buy. This is just a combination that we didn't really anticipate or structure into the pledge levels.[EDIT: whatever Shadowdemon says is probably the best way to do it. He is the man for detail.]
Hi FGG, I want to back this but I'm not sure how I should be doing this.
I would like to get the two hardcovers of the 2 main books Borderland Provinces and Adventures in the Borderland Provinces, and get PDF versions of the Player Guide, the Player Gazeteer, the Journey Generator and Rogues in Remballo.
However, I'm not seeing this as an option.
Am I reading the various pledges and addons correctly?
Let us revisit this for a moment:
Choose $12 Player PDF set then add the 2 hardcovers for $70. This gives a total of $82. However, you still have to add the Journey Generator which will cost about $5 (from the consideration from the Player PDF set that guide is about $5 and the gazetteer is about $7). The total now comes to about $87 plus shipping. The free pdf of Rogues of Remballo is available now for backers.
Consider that you can get everything in print plus all of the pdfs for $95 including the special print of Rogues of Remballo. The shipping difference is going to be neligible between the two options. You will save about $8 with the first option.
$95 is the not only the better deal; it is a great value for what you are getting.
2/3rds of the way and 29 days to go.
Hi FGG, I want to back this but I'm not sure how I should be doing this.
I would like to get the two hardcovers of the 2 main books Borderland Provinces and Adventures in the Borderland Provinces, and get PDF versions of the Player Guide, the Player Gazeteer, the Journey Generator and Rogues in Remballo.
However, I'm not seeing this as an option.
Am I reading the various pledges and addons correctly?
Let us revisit this for a moment:
Choose $12 Player PDF set then add the 2 hardcovers for $70. This gives a total of $82. However, you still have to add the Journey Generator which will cost about $5 (from the consideration from the Player PDF set that guide is about $5 and the gazetteer is about $7). The total now comes to about $87 plus shipping. The free pdf of Rogues of Remballo is available now for backers.
Consider that you can get everything in print plus all of the pdfs for $95 including the special print of Rogues of Remballo. The shipping difference is going to be neligible between the two options. You will save about $8 with the first option.
$95 is the not only the better deal; it is a great value for what you are getting.
Thanks Shadow Demon.
It's a shame there's no addon for PDF versions, but it's not the end of the world. Price really wasn't my concern, space was. I am literally running out of room for all the FGG stuff...
Backed the $95 Complete GM Book set level.
I am trying to work out which pledge level is best if all I'm really after is PDF of the main campaign book, and pdf of the player gazetteer.
Know the feeling about being employment challenged Aux as I am disabled and have been unable to work for the last three years. I might have to skip some of these:(
There was a question about converting some of the other books into 5E. I sent the question on to the Powers-That-Be. I will post their response when they answer. If they don't do it themselves.
I'm interested in the reply to that too, Herald Frog.
I've got Tsar & Stoneheart Valley for Pathfinder but I'd buy them again for 5th ed. Or Sword of Air.
You all do sandbox better than anything I've seen and I'd like the option of that in 5th ed too.
Publication of conversions for our classic "big book" resources to 5e will actually depend heavily on how many 5e players we see in this Kickstarter. The up-front cost of a big book is pretty significant. Although we are building a big fan base from Fifth Edition Foes, the Quests of Doom adventure books, and other 5e resources, it isn't clear yet that we've got the critical mass for a big book conversion. If we get enough people ordering the 5e version of the Borderland Provinces, it might prove that we actually do have the critical mass, and in that case conversions will shift overnight from a hypothetical possibility into a fairly high priority project. It depends on how we do here.
Is the player gazetteer going to have anything that isn't in the campaign book? Will the book have any monsters?
No, the Player Gazeteer is almost entirely from the Campaign Book, although some of the wording is of course changed to direct it toward a reader who is a player rather than a GM. If you're looking for reference material only, avoid the Player Gazeteer. It's designed as a way for the players to pick up basic information ahead of time without needing long expositions from the GM at the gaming table.
The campaign book does have some new monsters, although not tons of them.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
I thought this might be helpful if I posted this for people that haven't seen the KS page yet. This covers the thinking behind much of FGG and Necromancer Games feelings about the Lost Lands.
"Dark Medieval" Fantasy in the Borderland Provinces
We've had some questions about why our books are so often called "Dark Medieval" in style and feel...
This Kickstarter is the first view of the campaign for many people: if you’re a fifth edition player, you may not be particularly familiar with Necromancer Games or Frog God Games, or with our various past publications. In that case, welcome to a vast, rich, world-setting with undreamed-of potential for gaming. In fact, if you’re counting the published words of game resources -- i.e., not including novels or computer games -- the Lost Lands setting is probably comparable in detail to the well-known Realms.
So, what do people mean when they talk about “Dark Medieval” as a way of describing the Lost Lands? At a surface glance, the world looks fairly traditional: there are elves, there are halflings, there are wizards … what’s the big deal? How is that “dark?”
Basically, we’re the “film noir” version of escapist fantasy, in contrast to Tolkien’s epic and folkloric approach to the same genre. Our adventures tend to have lots of horrific elements underlying the apparent reality, which is why you’ll often see us saying, “All is not as it seems” when we’re talking about the Lands. Where the Forgotten Realms have a strong tendency toward high fantasy and heroism, our world is a bit … well … ickier.
One of the strong themes of the campaign is that beneath the civilized veneer of things, there is actually a seething mass of rot, evil, heresy, and supernatural threat. Again, “all is not as it seems.” The Borderland Provinces campaign book, as a supplement, has more focus on the actual veneer than an adventure book. What does the “normal” world look like when I’m not in one of these dungeons? So there is a lot of material about culture, history, trade, and government that would be a bit boring if it weren’t for the fact that it’s written in a way to best drive the game master’s creativity about what kinds of adventures arise from that context. And of course, it also reveals a lot of information about what’s beneath that veneer, a peek into the aforementioned seething mass of rot, evil, heresy, and supernatural threat.
The Adventures in the Borderland Provinces book, of course, is all about the dark underbelly and nothing about the veneer. We’ll definitely have more to say about this book in future updates!
If you’re interested in the sort of fiction driving this “dark medieval” world of ours, we can point to a few influential sources for those who are curious.
The first of these is undoubtedly Clark Ashton Smith. Smith's stories are broken up into five “worlds:” Averoigne, Hyperborea, Mars, Poseidonis, and Zothique. In particular, our adventures are comparable to the stories from the Averoigne cycle. Many of these stories are available online, in particular at the Eldritchdark site, which unfortunately uses white text on a dark background, making it a bit hard to read. However, as an introduction to Averoigne, you may want to take a look at one of the archetypal Averoigne stories, the “Colossus of Ylourgne.”
Another “film noir” fantasy author is Jack Vance. In particular, the Lyonesse books and the Dying Earth books are good examples of noir fantasy. The Lyonesse books are a strong influence on Matt’s Borderlands. Vance takes what appears to be a fairly light-hearted fairy tale world, but spins an extraordinarily dark view of its inhabitants. For Vance, the underlying horror isn’t the supernatural underpinning of the cosmic world, as it is for Clark Ashton Smith. For Vance, the underlying horror of a world is the people who inhabit it. If you haven’t read the Lyonesse books, be warned that many people find the entire first half of the first book to be tedious. After that, the pace picks up to an almost breakneck level, though. The books are Suldrun’s Garden, The Green Pearl, and Madouc. For starters, see the Wikipedia entry for the Lyonesse Trilogy.
There are some great examples of noir fantasy from a later period, and one of the greatest is Glen Cook’s Black Company series of novels. All of these are excellent, although there are rather a lot of them. The first three are generally called The Books of the North: The Black Company, Shadows Linger, and The White Rose. Cook’s fantasy world is very bleak and quite terrifying, seen from the perspective of some people who are seriously out of their league and watching their options dwindle away rapidly. Wikipedia entry on the Black Company series
Just posted the update on Enworld. Spread the word to any other forums or blogs that you know of. Every little bit helps.