Ian A. Thomson

UPDATE: The revised PDF of Vol. 04 (The Good, the Bad & the Rowdy) has just gone up on Drivethru Gratitude once again to the several proofers for the first and second rounds. (Plus all the other volunteers/collaborators). I'll keep on saying this until the project is done: There's no way I could create this series without your help. "Thank you so much!" Here's the change notes: "Updated cover, very many small corrections made, several middling level errors fixed, and three doozie mistakes rewritten." Yes, there were a few big 'Doh!" moments there, including a couple of scenario bits that made no sense I'm glad I included the note in the front of the first version for people to wait until the update. I imagine there's probably still a bunch or minor errors in there, but yes, hopefully not so many and not major

Oh definitely not all offscreen:) I will weave in a few coincidences of the Adventurers being in the right place and time to be a part of a few different elements of all of this :) I will be imagining as if those other two books had been completed, and interweaving the Pavis Grand Plan arc with them (which was the original idea when it was mooted as an official project)

I realised today that I will need to write in some rumors and reports about what the Oasis People are up to at this time. Back in the day I was involved in the fan-project of the Greatlands Campaign arc, which I don't think ever got beyond the basic structure, but there was a timeline and some main key events created which I have the files of Most importantly these two separate campaigns feed into a crucial element of the Grand Plan So rather than having two major events happen out of the blue at the Finale of this campaign, there must be hints & tales of, and at least a handful of encounters with, those two epic groups. Maybe the Adventurers will end up being part of what means they all come together relatively harmoniously at the end. As representatives of Pavis that makes sense They will also know Garrath from their shared time in Pavis before the Cradle episode

Expressing gratitude to a couple of proofers who are pouring over Vol. 04 as we speak, prior to handing it over to Nick Brooke in a couple of weeks for his generous offer once again to do the POD-ification. (At which point we will of course update the pdf as well.) Numerous (extremely numerous) small errors, a handful of middling errors, one small but very significant omission, and a couple of huge gaffs!! Thank Lhankor Mhy for the existence of editors and proofers!!!

Yes, this is the core of the ideas i've already considered. The only disagreement I've had so far is the use of the word 'easily' Imagine how much time you think it takes me to get out these books, then times it by ten and you are probably still way-underestimating :) There are definitely options and I will definitely consider writing them once the rest is done (a few more months to go)

Much of the great plan is still being rediscovered, and only a small group of individuals are privy to the majority of elements and how it fits together. Plus it can no longer be undertaken exactly as originally intended Not sure exactly what you mean. Basic idea sounds very legitimate. I chose the angle of the Pavis Cult leadership employing delaying tactics, while they were very concerned that they might not be able to stop it. In the passage of time Greg dropped the idea of the whole plan, but back then he was fine with this idea (Pavis cult inner circles delaying the wedding), so by and large I'm just sticking with the broad ideas we were working with

That makes sense for the canon and common ideas about Pavis. The background of my campaign (and part of the whole Grand Plan evolution) is that the Pavis Cult have a lot more resources being developed than are commonly known about, and thus are not needing to lean towards 'any port in a storm' as much. Plus there's the new specific ideas on how certain Lunars (including agents of the Seven Mothers) are supporting the semi-hidden Lunar agenda of taking over the Grand Plan and subverting it for their own benefits, to the detriment of the entire purpose of the plan.

That is already exactly my stance in the brief notes I have on such possibilities But I stopped developing the notes as it is still another large article required, plus a lot of revisions and re-readings of old articles to make sure it all matches Several days of work that i do not have time for - potentially maybe when everything else is done

Your own speculations are, but not my responses to them :)

I have various ideas about how it could be adapted, and may include them in the last book, but would also be happy to discuss them with anyone who wanted to take on a larger task of creating a bigger piece The reason why it would be the last book is because of the sheer amount of work still ahead of me. Once that is done I'll consider writing an extra appendix of those ideas

Its written in to the campaign somewhere. I would guess Vol. 01 since its easier to add silliness there before the more epic nature of things begins to unfold :) Not Argrath, but a PC

This helps keep me powering on with this insane task :)

I agree with this in principle, but (as mentioned to someone else a while back) the problem is that it is already written as anti-Lunar, and this is in-built to the core of the story. So to alter it would (a) remove or undermine that huge and intrinsic frame of classic dramatic tension, and (b) take an enormous amount of time in rewriting to add in new options and balance out the removal of the anti-Lunar, and that time is the one thing I don't have :(

PMing is also a valid option :)

Fabian has been able to make the time to do a quick unboxing video for Vol. 03 :) Unfortunately not so great for still images due to glare, but here's a couple to show the beautiful physical form

I am currently laying out the Tomb of Yurmonis for Vol. 05, and may use some of your ideas :)

At a glance/general rule, I'd say Yes, as the entity is looking for relatively easy prey, but the answer depends on the potency of your party. If they are very strong and tooled up then maybe not

Went swimming in the ocean again at last today. It was fun and water was so warm! Plus, always a bonus - still alive :)

Vol. 05 of the Pavis & Big Rubble Companion: Director's Cut is: 'Prax & the Zola Fel Valley: The Land of the Giants', and will include a large background article on newtlings. It won't be out until March, but will need a proofreader for the newtling article within a week or so from this post :)

Here's the updated Page Number Index of Spirit Magic & Rune Spells (and their equivalents) for Vols. 1-4 Thanks a million to Jason Farrell for assisting put this together P&BRCDC_SpellList_Handout.pdf

At the end of my first campaign, all the PCs became Heroes of Old Pavis, but could have continued on as high-level independents on a world-spanning campaign if UNI hadn't finished. In the second, two of them also became pivotal socio-political figures in the arisen Old City's new expression of itself. Hmm, I may offer other options this time around as well. Either way though, the end of the longer campaign (5yrs rather than 3yrs) elevated them to such an extent that they were no longer playable in the old style, Just too powerful. Not demi-gods - though the two of them could have been heading that way!

Hi Folks I've had a few inquiries recently from people interested in the specific details of the Pavis Grand Plan I am presenting in the P&BRC:DC campaign. However, I figure that I will have one chance, and one chance only, to run a build-up to that becoming known, so I'm going to reveal the Plan in pieces through the books in the same way as Adventurers will discover it in gameplay Hints have been in Vols. 1-3 this time, but Vol. 04 was the first to include some of the core Plan elements. (The biggest gap in the original series was the Blind King's Hill material that was fundamental, and never written up previously since Greg asked me to keep some of the more esoteric elements secret. This will ideally fit into Vol. 06, but there's so much old material that it might be in Vol. 07 - which will hopefully be the Grand Finale, but again that depends on space as I want to try to keep the books to about 250 pages each.) Anyway, one day (likely later this year), all the books will be out, and anyone who wants to know will know. Until then I'll stay with the slow reveal Vol. 05 is the final modern day background book - covering Prax and the River of Cradles. The idea is to include - hopefully there will be space - an Old Pavis chapter too, which will have a few more foundational hints and clues. But it won't be until Vol. 06 that finally the Adventurers begin to learn some really clear knowledge [The Rough Guide to Pavis City is also still to be re-released in an expanded version, and that will be the actual final background book] Greg and I discussed options and themes, and one major stream of those I wrote (and we played out) in my second campaign. IE: some major key parts of the Grand Plan are solid and won't change. However, now I have a unique chance to revise and expand all the plan details, history etc. This already means that some parts that were only mentioned in passing in the campaign as we played it, can now become more front and center. Some of those I wanted to reveal more about at the time in the first series, and am already working on doing so this time round. That's quite exciting in fact, as several pieces I really really wanted to put in the fanzines, but agreed not to due to discussing an official release. There are also other elements I am still extrapolating from my old notes and memories, and as I begin writing the Blind King's Hill pieces I am finally starting to put it all together. So as I start to organise all those notes in coherent form, it seemed that now could be the perfect moment also to consult the ideas, expectations and understandings of interested experienced Gloranthaphiles. Basically now seems a good time to write this all up fully. Now that we start to enter deeper territory in the new series, it will help with scattering clues and hints in all of the books from Vol. 05 on to have the Grand Plan version in this Campaign as clarified as possible sooner rather than later. So I'm wondering? What are your suspicions about what the Grand Plan is? What are you hoping/expecting to read as it is revealed in the books? What could it include? What were its goals in the past, and how (if at all) have they changed in modern times? (This was one thing Greg and I discussed - that certain elements of the original plan may no longer be relevant or feasible, and that the Pavis Priests would focus on revitalizing what would be the most valuable elements in current times.) If nobody contributes at all here, fear not. I have a tonne of notes and ideas from the old discussions and my campaign notes, and the Grand Plan is well fleshed out. However, I am also more than delighted to entertain new (or expanded) ideas and perspectives from the fountain of fan wisdom. I just ask that anyone who comments riffs those off a decent knowledge of canon and speculative Pavis ideas already in existence. (Rather than basing ideas just on a more general question about what some random ancient city old plan might have been.) I am already including one major idea that did not stem from Greg or I, but from someone else's speculation over 20 years ago. (Possibly Simon Phipp, but I really can't remember. Once it's out, if Simon wants to throw me a 'Yes, that was my idea', I am happy to credit it in the first revision of whatever book it appears in.) An amazing idea that I am struggling to write in without it giving too much away. But it's just too good not to. (A clue to this one actually might be in Vol. 05.) Anyway, I'm interested in any and all informed speculations on the topic. :) Everyone's larger Pavis Campaigns may well have very different Grand Plans in them of course, and my goal is NOT to match everyone's expectations (some of which are likely contradictory so that would be impossible). My goal is simply to create the most interesting version that I can for this particular campaign, while staying close to the themes and objectives I discussed with Greg back in the day. I likely won't respond to specific ideas in great detail, as my enthusiastic interest in any elements could give away too much. But I will read them ALL, and I may take some ideas into secret discussion of course, but in the meantime I am intrigued to see what others might imagine. Cheers

Thanks. I have it now Exasperating Cadaver came out last year and is one of my best pieces. About to release my final DERPG product, which is the best of the rest: On the High Road to Kaiin. Needed a few of the details from ATTA

RATINGS & CORRECTIONS Thanks for all the great feedback on Vol. 04 :) Those of you who said you think it is brilliant and have a moment, giving it a top star rating on Drivethru would be much appreciated. It makes a big difference when other people look at the book and are considering whether to buy Also, there will be another update at some point in the next few weeks, so don't by shy in letting me know about any errors or other clunks you have spotted That would be much appreciated too, as I am flat out now with Vols 4A (the special edition) and 5, plus as the main author, my eye is not the best for spotting mistakes

RATINGS & CORRECTIONS Thanks for all the great feedback on Vol. 04 :) Those of you who said you think it is brilliant and have a moment, giving it a top star rating on Drivethru would be much appreciated. It makes a big difference when other people look at the book and are considering whether to buy Also, there will be another update at some point in the next few weeks, so don't by shy in letting me know about any errors or other clunks you have spotted That would be much appreciated too, as I am flat out now with Vols 4A (the special edition) and 5, plus as the main author, my eye is not the best for spotting mistakes