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Post by Scott on Feb 21, 2016 11:11:25 GMT -5
Has anybody come up with their own version? I know Allan has. I have my own version as well. Just curious as to what others have done with it. Dimensions, inhabitants, etc.
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Post by grodog on Feb 22, 2016 21:37:57 GMT -5
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Post by Scott on Feb 22, 2016 22:00:45 GMT -5
Ahh, I remember that now. How big did you end up making the Reservoir? I ended up scaling mine down a bit and cut down on the monsters I listed in that other thread.
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Post by grodog on Feb 22, 2016 23:29:08 GMT -5
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Post by Scott on Feb 23, 2016 11:43:09 GMT -5
Here's the map draft I've been working on:
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Post by Scott on Feb 23, 2016 14:06:55 GMT -5
Now that I'm looking at it I might have to go back to the bigger map. It looks too cramped.
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Post by grodog on Feb 23, 2016 17:52:29 GMT -5
It's cool to see the commonalities in our maps, Scott: not just the beach/shore stairs, but the inclusion of the waterfall, the presence of additional waterways and other shore areas. Did you allocate any space for pteranandon caves/nests? Allan.
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Post by Scott on Feb 23, 2016 18:06:04 GMT -5
No set nests. Just vague ledges high on the cavern walls. I'd wing one up if needed.
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Post by geneweigel on Feb 23, 2016 20:14:57 GMT -5
I did something with the black reservoir but I can't find it. It was a directional map following the story's narrative.
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Post by Scott on Feb 24, 2016 6:52:42 GMT -5
Distances in the story are very vague. They push off from the south and pachinko around until they come to the sea serpent's cage. Then they flee and hit the western edge of the reservoir before the monster has time to catch up. They head north and quickly (20') hit a ledge. Head back out in an eastward direction looking for the monster's cage. They find the tower/island. Back to the sea serpent lair, and home. It seems like the sea serpent's cage is pretty close to the western edge. And the island in the pretty close too, but with giant sea monsters and flying dinosaurs it seems like the scale should be huge.
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Post by geneweigel on Feb 24, 2016 7:02:56 GMT -5
It was a map of the directions leading up to it when I first read it then I kind of lost enthusiasm when there was nothing more.
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Post by geneweigel on Feb 24, 2016 7:21:38 GMT -5
Well no continuance from CZ was my feeling as all the extra development seemed to ruin the bearings of that CG story's relatability for me. So I put it aside.
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Post by Scott on Feb 24, 2016 8:46:26 GMT -5
I mapped out the directions from the surface too when I read it. I agree, I said it before, all of that extra development was very frustrating.
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Post by geneweigel on Feb 24, 2016 11:44:50 GMT -5
My computer locked when I tried to reply. Is it just me or is Windows 10 a royal pain? Took a photo before I forgot my train of thought:
As unD&D-like in format the Gord stories are the HEART OF DARKNESS stands out because of the fantasy yarn's proximity to the money (CG as "the game" in its ultimate form.) the black reservoir story as a novel would have been a Tolkien level seller. Its too bad that laws of total bull shit inhibited this man's ability for twenty plus years. The judge that stole D&D from Gary definitely stole something from everyone. Anyway all this piecing together of CG should be encouraged so lets approach this as straight as we can.
What was the purpose of the BR story? Has anyone played that area through or was this a pre-Hommlet "off the radar" type extra to the campaign?
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Post by Scott on Feb 24, 2016 12:24:09 GMT -5
The purpose was to sell D&D to traditional war gamers. Based on the date the article was published, and the character involved, I'd say it was pre-Hommlet, but it was a regular part of the dungeon, so I'm sure other PCs had adventured there.
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Post by geneweigel on Feb 24, 2016 14:56:32 GMT -5
Why choose an off the beaten path area for the story? Was it convenience like the Hommlet and Giant-Drow playtests? Is BR a reflection of the entire dungeon?
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Post by Scott on Feb 24, 2016 15:08:44 GMT -5
I think you're putting too much thought into it. I think it just made a good story.
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Post by Scott on Feb 24, 2016 15:23:39 GMT -5
A realistic account would be: 'And Robilar kicked in the door, but the room was empty, just like the previous eight. The fighter eyed the three doors on the north wall and picked the one on the east. Beyond was a 20' corridor that ended in a door. He listed again, nothing. He pushed through; an empty 10' square room..."
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Post by grodog on Feb 24, 2016 16:46:21 GMT -5
Distances in the story are very vague. They push off from the south and pachinko around until they come to the sea serpent's cage. Then they flee and hit the western edge of the reservoir before the monster has time to catch up. They head north and quickly (20') hit a ledge. Head back out in an eastward direction looking for the monster's cage. They find the tower/island. Back to the sea serpent lair, and home. It seems like the sea serpent's cage is pretty close to the western edge. And the island in the pretty close too, but with giant sea monsters and flying dinosaurs it seems like the scale should be huge. I definitely mapped this out as well, in order to help with the relative positions of the main features in the level (columns, centeral area with sea monster, inital and far shores, giant crabs and pteranadons, island, etc.). I'll see if I can find my original notes to compare our measurements/interpretations of the story descriptions. Allan.
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Post by Scott on Feb 24, 2016 17:50:21 GMT -5
The map I posted is based on my original, which is based on the notes I took from the story. My original is twice as big. I had the Sorcerer's Isle in almost the same spot as you. The Cage was almost due north of the original entrance, but is was west of center. I've gone back and forth on the spacing of the pillars. The last version of the big map had them 50' apart, but I think the story implies they're closer.
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