Jim Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 Page 113 The description of True Ford and the map seem inconsistent. Should it have a bridge or a Ford? Location 1 on the map should be the building above the market square, it seems to be a residence or other building. The legend says this is the assembly hall, the description states it is the village hall. location 3 on the map should be a little lower. Location 4 on the map. The Barntar shrine is described as being within the Ernalda temple, on the map it is called out separately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumath Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) Just a general point about Runequest scenario formatting - and maybe this deserves a thread all of its own - is that The Smoking Ruin still suffers from walls of text in some areas. It's certainly an improvement on some other Runequest scenarios, with better use of white space, headers and bullet points to break things up. But, for example, the section called 'The Performance' on pages 52-55 contains an awful lot of description of Treya's actions, and if/then statements and skill checks, which would have been better set out as bullets, or in a table, for ease of GM use (this is a suggestion for future scenarios, I'm not suggesting you rewrite this whole section). As a GM I'm already thinking I'll probably need to break down the descriptions into sections in order to run this part of the scenario at the table. I know there are people on the internet who make a very big deal about published scenarios being ready to run straight out of the box, so to speak - I'm not a purist about this, but I do think that it's an area that Chaosium could make improvements in. This is a minor grumble though - it's a great-looking supplement. Edited January 5, 2020 by Sumath 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumath Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Oh, the other suggestion I was going to make is to have all stat blocks at the end of a scenario, rather than at the point of the story in which they appear. This is because it breaks the text up and makes the scenario harder to read through. Runequest stat blocks take up pages and pages so this is quite an interruption to the flow of the document, especially when it happens several times over the course of the scenario. I appreciate that this is a personal preference though, so would be interested to hear other people's thoughts. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 22 minutes ago, Sumath said: Oh, the other suggestion I was going to make is to have all stat blocks at the end of a scenario, rather than at the point of the story in which they appear. This is because it breaks the text up and makes the scenario harder to read through. Runequest stat blocks take up pages and pages so this is quite an interruption to the flow of the document, especially when it happens several times over the course of the scenario. I appreciate that this is a personal preference though, so would be interested to hear other people's thoughts. At the very least, getting a companion pdf with each stat block group for a given opponent might be nice. Some German publishers include a single use coupon code sticker in their supplements so that they can give the pdf in addition to the printed product, because of a German law called Buchpreisbindung (demanding that books cannot be sold to end customers with a discount). But then, this does create an additional step in production, you cannot display a book without shrink-wrap in your shop, and there is additional administrative overhead if you make this a single-use coupon. It is possible to make it a free-to-use coupon if these NPC data sheets don't make up too much of the published scenario or the encounter portion of the book. But as a GM tool, having these encounters ready for a three-ring binder (for the US market) or a 4-ring binder (for continental Europe) would be a nice addition. But then, nobody stops anyone from providing such a collection of encounters as a Jonstown Compendium product. Not exactly the ones in The Smoking Ruins, of course, but in the style of the Borderlands encounters. The interruption of the text for Urvantan's two page spread could have been signalled by a variation of the layout. Telling how it is excessive verbis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumath Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Page 42 "Treya is beautiful, funny, and charismatic, so adventurers may become smitten with her" Correspondingly, she ought to have a Charm skill % listed, but there isn't one provided in her stats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 2 hours ago, Sumath said: Page 42 "Treya is beautiful, funny, and charismatic, so adventurers may become smitten with her" Correspondingly, she ought to have a Charm skill % listed, but there isn't one provided in her stats. It isn't anything Treya is actively pursuing. There are rumored player characters who pursue romanic interests on their own. Even if they might happen to be Varmandi herders in a Dark Season huddle, or an NPC which reeks of trouble. Telling how it is excessive verbis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumath Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 But it would still be useful to have e.g. in the event of the GM having to decide which of two adventurers advances she takes up (using her Charm defensively rather than actively in this case). It also seems an odd omission from a character that is repeatedly referred to as effervescent, graceful etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joerg Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 What runes do worshipers of Arachne Solara use to cast their rune magic? Beast? Ironhoof has 95% each in Air, Movement (for Orlanth), Earth and Beast. Other AS-worshiping centaurs have Beast and Fertility, Koros has Air, Beast, Fertility, Movement. From this I would deduce that they cast their magic using the Beast rune, as that is the only one all of them have. And what is the point in giving Dappled Light zero rune points in Arachne Solara (p.66)? Telling how it is excessive verbis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aprewett Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Hi, not the right thread, but I don’t think it needs another. Is The Rattling Wind part of this? It mentions The Pegasus Plateau, was there a name change or is that another product? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lordabdul Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 33 minutes ago, Aprewett said: Is The Rattling Wind part of this? Nope, it will be part of another adventure collection which is, indeed, called "The Pegasus Plateau & Other Stories". I'm pretty sure it won't be long before we see its PDF surface and another tribal edit thread starts 1 Ludovic aka Lordabdul -- read and listen to The God Learners , the Gloranthan podcast, newsletter, & blog ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trystero Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 p. 66, Dappled Light statblock, Language section: "Tradetalk" should be split between lines as "Trade-talk" rather than as "Tra-detalk". — “Self-discipline isn’t everything; look at Pol Pot.”—Helen Fielding, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason D Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Just a note, we are not removing functionality from the writeups. Many gamemasters have asked for spell costs (magic and Rune points) to be listed in writeups for convenience, requiring less page-flipping when spells are cast. Similarly, it is useful to note which entities know all common Rune spells and which do not, as some entities know only a handful of Rune spells and were not taught those spells as members of cults. You'll also note that armor listings have a new entry describing the Move Quietly penalty. This has not been figured into the default listed skill value, though, as there may be conditions where the adventurers meet the NPC when they are not ready for combat. The way we present content will likely change incrementally as we explore the game line and gain additional feedback from gamemasters and players. Please don't ask us to make needless changes for consistency when it should be obvious a change is being made for greater usability. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill the barbarian Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 4 minutes ago, Jason Durall said: Just a note, we are not removing functionality from the writeups. Many gamemasters have asked for spell costs (magic and Rune points) to be listed in writeups for convenience, requiring less page-flipping when spells are cast. Great, I was al little nervous that you might have been listening to these pleas. 8 minutes ago, Jason Durall said: The way we present content will likely change incrementally as we explore the game line and gain additional feedback from gamemasters and players. Please don't ask us to make needless changes for consistency when it should be obvious a change is being made for greater usability. If so, in this case more, is... well more. Glad to hear it. Cheers ... remember, with a TARDIS, one is never late for breakfast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aprewett Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Chime in on the formatting with stat blokes in the text. The Conan 2d20 suffers badly from this, and you have to constantly page flip and then some of the stat blokes are not even on the same page. Back of the book, all in one would be so much cleaner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongjom Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 (edited) Page 112 Typical Warden of Long Home Rune Spells: All common knowledge Rune spells, plus Dismiss Air Elemental (small or medium) (1 - 2 pts.), Shield (1 pt.), Wind Words (1 pt.). Page 114 Hawarin Moonsister Rune Points: 12 (Seven Mothers) -- Has twelve special Rune magic spells, see below Rune Spells: All common knowledge plus Ban (1 pt.), Command Darkness Elemental (any) (2 pts.), Control Lune (any) (1–3 pts.), Dismiss Darkness Elemental (small) (1 pt.), Dismiss Lune (any) (1–3 pts.), Enchant Silver (1 pt.), Madness (2 pts.), Mindblast (2 pts.), Reflection (1 pt.), Regrow Limb (2 pts.), Summon Darkness Elemental (small) (1 pt.), Summon Lune (any) (1–3 pts.). -- As per page 303 in the rule book Spirit Magic:.. Total 21 points, which is more than her CHA (16). Please change as appropriate Iron Dagger...Pts 12 [above, next to Magic Items, it mentions that this is a special iron dagger with double HP] Edited January 4, 2020 by jongjom Changed back to: Command elemental (any) (2pts ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongjom Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Page 115 Jorendona Earthspeaker …...Bear Fruit (1 pt.), Blast Earth (1 pt.), Bless Pregnancy (2 pts.),Charisma (1 pt.), Comfort Song (1 pt.), Dismiss Earth Elemental (any) (1–3 pts.), Earthpower (3 pts.), Heal Body (3 pts.), Healing Trance (1 pt.), Inviolable (1 pt.),......Restore Health (1 pt.), Shake Earth (1 pt.), Summon Earth Elemental (any) (1–3 pts.). -- Comfort Song is a Chalana Arroy only spell, however she does provide Ernalda with Healing Trance -- Similarly Maran Gor does not provide Ernalda with Shake Earth but does provide Blast Earth Page 116 Nilusa of the Brook Special Abilities Spirit Powers: Affect Environment, Elemental Form, Rune Magic. -- To avoid multiple terms to describe the same thing, and hopefully avoid confusion Page 118 Captain Terentha Rune Points: 6 (Humakt), 4 (Vinga Adventurous) -- There are at least 4 Non-Humakt spells listed below: Fearless (2 pts.), Leap (1 pt.), Summons of Evil (3 pts.), Wind Words (1 pt.). Spirit Magic: Bladesharp 3, Demoralize (2 pts.), Detect... etc. etc. -- Has many more points in Spirit Magic than allowed by her CHA. Please delete as appropriate, Page 118 Armor modifies Move Quietly by –65% while worn. Skills: Animal Lore 25%, Battle 50%, Cult Lore (Humakt) 65%, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongjom Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 (edited) Page 120-121 Typical Telmori Hunter Armor: Leather tunic (2 pts.), fur.. Page 121 Telmori Hunter Hit Locations Has no armor points on torso or limbs Edited January 4, 2020 by jongjom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongjom Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Page 128 Captain Danbar of the Wardens Rune Spells: All common knowledge skills, plus Dismiss Air Elemental (small or medium) (1-2 pts.), -- Page 301 in the AiG Rulebook has: Special Rune Magic (all subcults): Dismiss Air Elemental (small or medium), Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongjom Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Page 129 Skirmisher Spirit Magic: Firearrow (2 pts.), Heal 2, DEX SR: 2 [DEX is 15] -- Adjust their Weapon SR accordingly, or change their DEX to 12. Page 133 Ahazu, Guardian Spirit Spirit Powers: Elemental Form, Rune Magic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongjom Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Page 134 Namuru, Guardian Spirit Spirit Powers: Elemental Form, Rune.. Page 142 Imbaris, Guardian Spirit Spirit Powers: Elemental Form.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongjom Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Page 42 Treya of Ezel Spirit Magic: Befuddle 2, Demoralize (1 pt.), Heal 2. Page 184 Broo Priest Spirit Magic: ...Detect Spirit (1 pt.), Disruption (1 pt.), Heal 6, Sleep (3 pts.). Maybe add: Spirit combat damage: 1D6+1 Page 185 Allied Spirits: Dancer ... knows Countermagic 4, Dispel Magic 6, Spirit Screen 4; Typical Broo Spirit Magic: Countermagic 2, Demoralize (2 pts.), Heal 3. Page 187 Typical Scorpion Man Spirit Magic: Ironhand (1 pt.), Heal 2, Mobility (1 pt.), Protection 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason D Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 22 hours ago, Aprewett said: Chime in on the formatting with stat blokes in the text. The Conan 2d20 suffers badly from this, and you have to constantly page flip and then some of the stat blokes are not even on the same page. Back of the book, all in one would be so much cleaner. Clearly, we disagree entirely on the utility of this. Most of the feedback we get from layout is that all of the info you need for an encounter/scene should be present in one place, to minimize page flipping, especially for those using tablets. You have just said that page flipping is a problem, and yet you would like stat blocks at the end of the chapter... doesn't that guarantee more page flipping? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sumath Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 @Jason Durall Personally, I'm always going to print stat blocks out separately anyway, as during the game they're easier to handle and I'll scribble over them as HP, RP & MP change - I wouldn't do that in the scenario hardcopy. The size of stat blocks in RQ is huge compared to other games (one individual and their mount takes up more than a page), so page flipping is going to happen anyway in something like Defending Apple Lane where you have stats for eight riders and mounts - unless you print them out as separate sheets from the PDF. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aprewett Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 (edited) No, once I have set the scene and a map is on the table, I generally don’t need to refer to the text. Stat blokes imbedded in text are ok if you are selling a produced that a ref is reading, but not if running a game. They distract and muddle the content. I think the gaming industry should present gaming modules for play not collectors books to read. Stat blokes imbedded in text, just mean I have to cut and paste to get them all in one place. This is not so easy on a iPad, as it does not copy stat blokes without mucking up the layout. So then I have to use a computer. Myself, I don’t have a home computer anymore, just a iPad. Even if I had to flip back to the text, I am going to find what I am looking for a hell of a lot faster without trying to navigate around stats. If this layout can’t be changed, then a separate PDF stat bloke booklet would be awesome. just my 2d. Edited January 5, 2020 by Aprewett 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jongjom Posted January 5, 2020 Share Posted January 5, 2020 11 minutes ago, Aprewett said: If this layout can’t be changed, then a separate PDF stat bloke booklet would be awesome. Good suggestion. A printable PDF version that's functional rather than for its look might be well received? May be worth asking if you haven't already. I recall RQ3 had separate booklet for stats for some supplements, even RGQ has it with the Pre-Gen characters in the box set. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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