RPG Superstar 2015 Top 16, RPG Superstar 2013 Top 16
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If I'd had this book, I might have broken out of the Top 16 :)
Seriously, monster design is Master's level stuff as far as Pathfinder goes. This product provides a more robust system than what we have in the Bestiary, allowing designers to balance a bunch of weird special abilities against the basic attack and defense values in the Monster Statistics by CR table. In other words, it simplifies and quantifies what would otherwise be a difficult and qualitative design process. Indispensable if you want to create or modify monsters, or learn about how to design and balance monsters in Pathfinder.
Tell us more about the templates. Will they be more than you get from the Bestiaries?
That's the idea, yes. We're modifying the modular design Talented Bestiary system to let you create templates, not just base creatures.
You'll be able to create whatever template you can think of with a solid idea of how it'll affect the CR of creatures you apply it to.
I admit, the Templates part really interests me. XD Is there any chance we can get a sample of that before the campaign ends?
GM Rednal,
I did my best to pull together a example (using the death ettin from the Pay What You Want Sample) of what a Talented Template might look like. Then Bj was kind enough to put it through layout really quick. So we added it to the newest update to the Kickstarter! In addition to the Talented Templates preview, we also include a new monster with art, the Advocate Imp!
Muwahahahaha! Many thanks for that - and actually, I'd seen it on Kickstarter even before your comment here. XD I must say, though, the theme you chose for this sample is rather amusing...
I thought so! =) Glad you saw it and you are welcome.
Rainzax, at the $30 backer level, you'll get all the pdf products from stretch goals as well as a pdf of the base Talented Bestiary, including creatures and the system.Wait, I thought the stretch goals were additional content for the final book, not separate products.
Famine was unclear-
The stretch goals are additions to the main book. It is *possible* we might add so much additional content it could make this already huge tome bigger than what we were planning (it is already at the moment approximately as large as the Pathfinder Bestiaries between the rules and monsters). However, would take hitting some major league possibilities. There is certainly enough space for the planned PC options, Talented Templates, Monster PC classes, and daemons.
My fault! I got a little excited. I'm hoping we have so many stretch goals achieved that we have to supplement the base book with others.
I will go back to my old argument with Pestilence over why GMO hysteria is better for us than antivaxxer hysteria.
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Rainzax, at the $30 backer level, you'll get all the pdf products from stretch goals as well as a pdf of the base Talented Bestiary, including creatures and the system. You'll also be able to order a single copy of the book in print-on-demand. At the estimated $19 for print cost, you'll be getting a full color print book and three pdf products for a total of $49, which is pretty great value. Consider that a regular hardback bestiary is $40-50 without the flexible system, player options, monster classes, or templates.
So, the short version is 50 bucks (30+19ish) lands me a print copy?
Or do I have to print it out myself?
New to this kickstarter thing...
Rainzax, at the $30 backer level, you'll get all the pdf products from stretch goals as well as a pdf of the base Talented Bestiary, including creatures and the system. You'll also be able to order a single copy of the book in print-on-demand. At the estimated $19 for print cost, you'll be getting a full color print book and three pdf products for a total of $49, which is pretty great value. Consider that a regular hardback bestiary is $40-50 without the flexible system, player options, monster classes, or templates.So, the short version is 50 bucks (30+19ish) lands me a print copy?
Or do I have to print it out myself?
New to this kickstarter thing...
It lands you a socalled print-on-demand copy of the book.
What this means is that for $19 + shipping the print-on-demand service they've chosen (probably DriveThruRPG) prints you a copy of the book and ships it to you.
So if I pledge $30 now, when do I pay the $19ish. In October?
I don't represent Rogue Genius Games nor am I a member of the Four Hoursemen, so please don't read this as official.
That said, the way it usually works with print-on-demand is that, whenever the behind-the-scenes stuff has been handled and the printer is ready to actually take your order, you'll receive a link to a discounted/at-cost version of the book.
You follow the link and go through the purchase just like you normally would when making an online purchase.
When the printer has received your order, they'll print your book and ship it to you.
So, you pay $30 now and the $19 whenever the print-on-demand service is ready to handle your order.
So if I pledge $30 now, when do I pay the $19ish. In October?I don't represent Rogue Genius Games nor am I a member of the Four Hoursemen, so please don't read this as official.
That said, the way it usually works with print-on-demand is that, whenever the behind-the-scenes stuff has been handled and the printer is ready to actually take your order, you'll receive a link to a discounted/at-cost version of the book.
You follow the link and go through the purchase just like you normally would when making an online purchase.
When the printer has received your order, they'll print your book and ship it to you.
So, you pay $30 now and the $19 whenever the print-on-demand service is ready to handle your order.
Correct.
And the $19 is an estimate (the POD costs could change), and you'll pay it and shipping cost for the book to the POD service (we'll fulfill POD through DriveThruRPG/RPGNow, so you can look at a comparable POD book for an estimate of the shipping cost for you).
That means we don't take the print and shipping money at all, so Kickstarter and the pay processors don't get a bite of it, and you don't have to pay it out until the book is ready.
We are more than half way to our next goal, Monster PC Class Building rules!
Also in case it was missed, all backers (at even the lowest level of buy-in) can see the Full List of all 230 current monsters in the book, complete with CR, size, and summaries!
Also, if you are just a bit curious about the project you can check out the Tome Show interview with Death and I!
I upped my pledge to get a POD copy. Based on the scope of the book so far, I get the feeling that when actually creating monsters, having a physical copy to flip through will be more useful. XD
Probably! I was able to get by pretty well with just unbookmarked word and google docs, but I probably have a slight advantage. =)
I was told by the other designers that once they got some experience with the system it required less flipping. For example, once you learn the basics of spell-like ability point values, you don't really need to reference the section except to double-check.
RPG Superstar 2013
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Glad to have you on board, Rainzax! I think the system is a little less labor intensive once you know it, certainly fast once you have a little practice, and one other thing.
I believe the Talented Bestiary tool is the most fun I've ever had creating creatures, and the Four Horsemen have created a loooooot of creatures, even without playtesting this book.
I can't wait til future stretch goals so we can design daemons and other goodies!
We're only about $600 away from the next stretch goal, and things start to get even more interesting after that! CHeck us out and help boost the signal!
Sooo close to the next stretch goal, PLAYABLE MONSTERS, and a new creature reveal! If you haven't already checked it out you should, this book is going to be awesome!
So I've backed this. Not sure I'll ever get a chance to use it, seeing as how I suck at even the most basic adventure writing, but it's something that Pathfinder really needs so I'd want it at some point.
Good adventure writing is a hard skill to develop. I think back to the first I thought were good enough to be published (just three or four years ago) with a grimace. I look back to the stories I told when I was first starting out GMing in abject horror. It takes a lot of bravery to put yourself out there, even if you are only trying to impress a small group of friends.
I really believe adventure writing is a skill that can be taught. There is practically a formula to what creates memorable monsters and encounters. Once you start at that base with a few really neat ideas, it is a matter of figuring out how they fit together into a coherent whole. A lot of what the Horsemen have done in the last year is to try and provide advice on how to create and weave those pieces together. However, even if you know all the rules and tricks, it still takes practice to learn to use them, which is difficult to gain without mistakes along the way.
If you ever have any specific questions, or need some advice on something, please feel free to message me. =)
Dan Dillon (Death), Steven Helt (Famine), and I are all appearing Live on the MythWits show tonight (at around 9:30 EST) to talk about the Talented Bestiary! As a warning, the show is NSFW, and I can't be really sure what to expect. =)
Over $10,000.00!
New goal unlocked.
Congratulations!
Over $10,000.00!New goal unlocked.
Congratulations!
Thank you! =) This is an amazing project, and I am so excited to see that it is going to become everything I hoped.
Also! Steve Helt and I go live on MythWits here in about 30 minutes to talk about the Talented Bestiary!
The way I understand it, Lorathorn, Kickstarter wants your contribution to be pledged during the campaign. You can certainly pledge $10 and increase it on your last day if that helps you.
Pledging up front helps several things. Helps them keep what they earned from their product straight, helps us with marketing and momentum, and of course helps achieve stretch goals, which benefits everyone.
We're grateful for your interest and if you need anything answered to decide how to back us, please ask away!
The way I understand it, Lorathorn, Kickstarter wants your contribution to be pledged during the campaign. You can certainly pledge $10 and increase it on your last day if that helps you.
Pledging up front helps several things. Helps them keep what they earned from their product straight, helps us with marketing and momentum, and of course helps achieve stretch goals, which benefits everyone.
We're grateful for your interest and if you need anything answered to decide how to back us, please ask away!
Some Kickstarter projects enable pledge adjustments and post-Kickstarter addons through other services such as Backerkit.
This doesn't help increase the total pledge amount during the actual Kickstarter project, of course, but it can help if people are unable to pledge the full amount they want to pledge immediately, or for people who discover the Kickstarter after it's wrapped.
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This is kind of a selfish request but I started writing a blog post for the home stretch of this kickstarter because I'm actually pretty excited about it, and was stealing gathering images for it which leads me to ask if I can have some images/previews for the post.
This is kind of a selfish request but I started writing a blog post for the home stretch of this kickstarter because I'm actually pretty excited about it, and wasstealinggathering images for it which leads me to ask if I can have some images/previews for the post.
Malwing, I'd be happy to get you a preview for your blog! Shoot me an email at bjhensley@playgroundadventures.net.
This is kind of a selfish request but I started writing a blog post for the home stretch of this kickstarter because I'm actually pretty excited about it, and wasMalwing, I'd be happy to get you a preview for your blog! Shoot me an email at bjhensley@playgroundadventures.net.stealinggathering images for it which leads me to ask if I can have some images/previews for the post.
I sent you an email.
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RPG Superstar 2013
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Today I recorded a ROundtable podcast with James Intracaso, where I talked about the next two stretch goals of the Talented Bestiary, among other things. As soon as there's a link to the show Monday I'll post that link here.
We are looking for at least $9000 in the next ten days, so please tell your friends, gaming groups, web sites and everyone else. Let's add the creature abilities from Bestiary 2!
Okay so here is my blog post on The Talented Bestiary and why I think you should be excited.
Only 10 days left to not miss out. I think that this has the ability to revolutionize monsters the way that Spheres of Power revolutionizes magic.
One thing I'm not sure if addressed. Does the Robot creature type make it's way into the product or is it too similar to construct to care.
Also if its not already being done, I really hope there's a creature stat block sheet in the book. Those are kind of handy for making or adjusting monsters without a computer.
Having managed to get my machine back up and running, I'd throw in my comment that he folks running this know their stuff and are well worth backing...but given they're past funding, it sounds like people know it. :D
-Ben.
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Okay so here is my blog post on The Talented Bestiary and why I think you should be excited.
Only 10 days left to not miss out. I think that this has the ability to revolutionize monsters the way that Spheres of Power revolutionizes magic.
One thing I'm not sure if addressed. Does the Robot creature type make it's way into the product or is it too similar to construct to care.
Also if its not already being done, I really hope there's a creature stat block sheet in the book. Those are kind of handy for making or adjusting monsters without a computer.
Thank you for the support!
It does not currently incorporate the robot subtype, but you can easily do stuff like make an intelligent construct with electricity/critical vulnerabilities. So, can probably make something pretty close.
It *didn't* before you said that, but that is a fantastic idea. I certainly want it to at this point, and will try to make it happen. =)
I think that this has the ability to revolutionize monsters the way that Spheres of Power revolutionizes magic.Hopefully implementing Spheres into this system isn't too onerous.
Depending on how slotting in spellcasting works spheres can probably be easily house ruled in. It can be as simple as ruling in a talent that grants X spheres/talents(which gives it an appropriate tradition) and add X spell points to it's spell pool.
Depending on how slotting in spellcasting works spheres can probably be easily house ruled in. It can be as simple as ruling in a talent that grants X spheres/talents(which gives it an appropriate tradition) and add X spell points to it's spell pool.I think that this has the ability to revolutionize monsters the way that Spheres of Power revolutionizes magic.Hopefully implementing Spheres into this system isn't too onerous.
I am not overly familiar with Spheres of Magic so it is tough for me to give a definitive answer. I can explain how spellcasting works for the system- It is only available to a monster with the spellcasting focus (arcane or divine). It then costs AP based on the caster level with a CR-set upper limit (so you can't have a CR 10 creature with level 20 casting).
I am sure what you are saying is doable, which is a fun aspect to the system. With a little experience you can just set an appropriate point cost to anything you come up with by comparing to similar abilities.
Well, monsters usually have SLA's instead of true spells to begin with, so in most cases all you'd really need to do is find an equivalent. XD I can see that working.
(Quick Explanation for Pestilence: Spheres of Magic is basically a Feat/Talent-based casting system. Far fewer powers known once you get up in levels, but they usually scale, and many are all-day powers. Stronger stuff is limited by a class resource pool. It's extremely good at supporting ideas and concepts, and Malwing's right, it probably would mix well with this system.)
Sounds like it, and right you are! SLAs are handled separately from "spellcasting", and a lot more widely available. That might make for a better equivalent. Basically you pay per SLA (with higher level spells costing more), with points added for things like extra uses per day, making it constant, or improving the spell effect. Then you get discounts for things like limiting usage (like 1/week or 1/year), reducing the spell effect, or having special circumstances for use (like hag covens).
One week left!
Our latest surprise update for backers is access to the Talented Bestiary Spreadsheet Tool (v1.0), which calculates monster statistics using the book's system for monsters of any CR, size, and focus! Backers can find the update Here! =)
Also, Steven Helt (Famine) went on the Tome Show to talk more about the Kickstarter!