Some more questions about KoD (Spoilers)

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

karui_kage

Jun 09, 2004 21:16:38
I'll add to this if I think up more questions. Im just a curious lil DM

1. In the very beginning of the adventure, it lists a number of random encounters that can happen while the players are wandering the streets. On the first one, the Acrobats, it lists two seperate encounters, one for day, one for night. However, wheras on other encounters it lists an EL, this one is listed as "EL Varies". This is understandable, considering there is two. However, after looking through both, I find that there is no listed EL for either, but there are references to giving out experience based on the 'above EL'. Any idea what these two ELs should be?

2. Also in the beginning, a shadowy character follows the PCs for a while, slowly leading them towards the Five Dragon Inn (I believe that's the name). It does specify that is where they should end up, however after checking the Inn itself, it doesn't have any real information on anything special happening there. The only real start into the adventure is the immolating woman, but that encounter only specifies to use it "when you want to move the party along with the adventure". It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the Inn either. So, any idea why the characters are led to the Inn, or was this just an idea that never went through?

3. In the end of the book, the characters find Huma's Dragonlance. Here, there seems to be some contradictions. At the end of the adventure, it lists that the lance's true origins and purpose should go unknown to the adventures for some time. However, in the back on the notes for the artifact itself, it speaks of the artifact being very recognizable, and others seeking to get it if displayed openly. As I will have a Knight of Solamnia in the group, I wonder which I should go for. Would he recognize the lance when he saw it, or would he not know what it was for some time?

4. This doesn't concern KoD so much as Dragonlance in general. Is there a site, place in either the DLCS or AoM books, or anywhere to find information on the different human races of Ansalon? Abanansian (sp?), Solamnic, Nerakan, Ergothian, the various barbarian tribes, etc. I know in FR and KoK (Forgotten Realms and Kingdoms of Kalamar) they had descriptions, information, general traits, etc of all the different human races, so I was wondering if there was something like that for Dragonlance? I wouldn't expect there to be something for EVERY human race, but having something on the major ones would be nice. Any ideas?

5. For the benefits or penalties of moons in high sanction, low sanction, conjunction, etc., do they need to be in the sky for this to apply? By 'in the sky', I mean does it need to be nighttime, when they can be seen, or do these effects go throughout the whole day? If a moon is just moving into its high sanction, stage, when do the benefits begin to apply? The next time the moon comes up, 12:01 AM of the day it first shifts (which would be night as well), etc.?

Thanks for any help. Sorry for being so inquisitive, I just like to get my questions out in the open. Granted, a DM ruling could answer some of these, but it's always nice to hear other's thoughts on them.

I'll post more if I come up with them.
#2

zombiegleemax

Jun 10, 2004 3:21:22
well as for Q. 2 i think thats just to begin the whole khas thing of someone is pulling your strings thing
as for Q. 3 i think that you char should not realize that its THE dragonlance but just one, having him simply over look the fact but then when other people see it be like boom there it is you just never realized it...
#3

karui_kage

Jun 10, 2004 6:18:26
A new question just came up, one I tried to post a while back but got lost in an error and I didn't bother reposting.

4. This doesn't concern KoD so much as Dragonlance in general. Is there a site, place in either the DLCS or AoM books, or anywhere to find information on the different human races of Ansalon? Abanansian (sp?), Solamnic, Nerakan, Ergothian, the various barbarian tribes, etc. I know in FR and KoK (Forgotten Realms and Kingdoms of Kalamar) they had descriptions, information, general traits, etc of all the different human races, so I was wondering if there was something like that for Dragonlance? I wouldn't expect there to be something for EVERY human race, but having something on the major ones would be nice. Any ideas?
#4

zombiegleemax

Jun 10, 2004 14:06:59
.... the AoM & DLCS kinda but i dont think it has the detail your looking for.... what you want will be out in the Races of Ansalon book which i think wont be out until 2005... im not sure....
#5

karui_kage

Jun 11, 2004 6:55:28
Yeah. Its unfortunate. I didn't think there was any info in either book, but I was hoping for maybe a website somewhere.

2005 seems so far away.
#6

zombiegleemax

Jun 11, 2004 8:15:31
The information you seek already exists in a variety of locations. Particularly in the boxed sets and materials for 2nd edition & SAGA. Although you won't find game mechanics for 3.5 the background is there. Also alot of background is presented in the "Leaves" books (recipes, songs, descriptions, etc)
#7

karui_kage

Jun 11, 2004 8:57:52
The information was all I was really looking for. The hassle was in buying products when I wouldn't really be using them for anything else save reference. I dunno. I may give in in the future, but for now, I'll just wing it.
#8

karui_kage

Jun 11, 2004 21:15:24
Here's another question that doesn't relate to KoD so much, but was brought up by someone in the game.

5. For the benefits or penalties of moons in high sanction, low sanction, conjunction, etc., do they need to be in the sky for this to apply? By 'in the sky', I mean does it need to be nighttime, when they can be seen, or do these effects go throughout the whole day? If a moon is just moving into its high sanction, stage, when do the benefits begin to apply? The next time the moon comes up, 12:01 AM of the day it first shifts (which would be night as well), etc.?
#9

theredrobedwizard

Jun 11, 2004 23:26:35
I believe it's a nighttime only thing, though I do have a history of incorrect interpretation.

Also, I think it's moonrise to moonset. The new changes not happening til the next moonrise.

-TRRW
#10

zombiegleemax

Jun 13, 2004 13:12:05
We had a huge discussion about this on the dragonlance.com boards and as far as i can remember, the new effects went into affect when the moon rose again. As far as getting the benifit in daylite, i seem to believe that we had also come to a rather unanamous discision that you did get your powers through out the day because the bonus doesnt come from seeing the moons so much as how close they are to Krynn in general (same concept as a wizard getting the bonus when they are in a building). But like I said this is what i remember, check out the message boards there for more info on the discussion, that's just how I play my camaign.

Hmmm, now that I think of it I did't really say much that conversation, but I know there was one... Ahh, maybe I'll just have to go dig up the link...
#11

zombiegleemax

Jun 13, 2004 13:49:14
Wow, I guess it was just a small thread, in which i didn't say anything by the way. But, none-the-less, here's the link; http://forums.dragonlance.com/discussions.cfm?forumid=1&topicid=9040&kw=wizards%2C%20moon ; check it out if you want but I really quite rather summed it up well in my previous post.
#12

iltharanos

Jun 13, 2004 23:23:32
Originally posted by Karui_Kage
I'll add to this if I think up more questions. Im just a curious lil DM


4. This doesn't concern KoD so much as Dragonlance in general. Is there a site, place in either the DLCS or AoM books, or anywhere to find information on the different human races of Ansalon? Abanansian (sp?), Solamnic, Nerakan, Ergothian, the various barbarian tribes, etc. I know in FR and KoK (Forgotten Realms and Kingdoms of Kalamar) they had descriptions, information, general traits, etc of all the different human races, so I was wondering if there was something like that for Dragonlance? I wouldn't expect there to be something for EVERY human race, but having something on the major ones would be nice. Any ideas?


Check out this site:

http://www.dreadgazebo.com/astinus/humans.html
#13

karui_kage

Jun 14, 2004 0:51:26
On the moon thing, cool. Im sure we'll come to some sort of an agreement. Personally, I would think that so long as the moons were able to 'see' the character (IE: they could see through earth and stone and such, but not the whole planet.) then the character would get them. That may not be the exact way it works, but I prefer the moonlight method, where the bonus applies from moonrise to moonset. Of course, the other method does make sense, so I'm not sure what we'll use.

I have to extend a special THANK YOU SO FREAKING MUCH to iltharanos though. That page is PERFECT. Im bookmarking it right now.
#14

cam_banks

Jun 14, 2004 6:16:09
Moon magic is always on, and has nothing to do with the time of day. For convenience, the moons change phases at midnight, but for your campaign you can of course determine a specific time of day that it happens (such as dusk, moonrise, midday, etc).

Cheers,
Cam
#15

karui_kage

Jun 14, 2004 7:06:56
Awesome. :D Hopefully I can get such helpful answers to the first few questions I had.
#16

zombiegleemax

Jun 14, 2004 11:04:08
Originally posted by Karui_Kage
[b]1. In the very beginning of the adventure, it lists a number of random encounters that can happen while the players are wandering the streets. On the first one, the Acrobats, it lists two seperate encounters, one for day, one for night. However, wheras on other encounters it lists an EL, this one is listed as "EL Varies". This is understandable, considering there is two. However, after looking through both, I find that there is no listed EL for either, but there are references to giving out experience based on the 'above EL'. Any idea what these two ELs should be?

* This is in the forthcoming errata, but the answers are EL 1 for the acrobats and EL 2 for the encounter with Dove.

2. Also in the beginning, a shadowy character follows the PCs for a while, slowly leading them towards the Five Dragon Inn (I believe that's the name). It does specify that is where they should end up, however after checking the Inn itself, it doesn't have any real information on anything special happening there. The only real start into the adventure is the immolating woman, but that encounter only specifies to use it "when you want to move the party along with the adventure". It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the Inn either. So, any idea why the characters are led to the Inn, or was this just an idea that never went through?

The original idea is to give the characters an opportunity to rest up after the events in Sylvan Key, then to spring the encounter with the strange old hag/man upon them as soon as they leave the inn the next day. With the Inn's central location, it also provided plenty of places for the PCs to run off to.

3. In the end of the book, the characters find Huma's Dragonlance. Here, there seems to be some contradictions. At the end of the adventure, it lists that the lance's true origins and purpose should go unknown to the adventures for some time. However, in the back on the notes for the artifact itself, it speaks of the artifact being very recognizable, and others seeking to get it if displayed openly. As I will have a Knight of Solamnia in the group, I wonder which I should go for. Would he recognize the lance when he saw it, or would he not know what it was for some time?

You could be nice and allow the characters a chance to make Knowledge (religion or arcana) checks to identify the lance, if you want. It's more the aura of the dragonlance itself that makes it easily recognizable, although it is a very pretty lance as well ;) It's more of an issue where the dragonlance is a potentially powerful, powerful artifact, and sometimes, it's nice to not have the characters know exactly what they are carrying while those working against them do know...

Christopher
#17

karui_kage

Jun 14, 2004 22:51:01
Ah, good point on the aura. A detect magic or such would probably stun the user very nicely.

What kind of DC do you think the Knowledges should be? 25 Religion, 30 Arcana perhaps?
#18

theredrobedwizard

Jun 15, 2004 8:23:29
I'm planning on using the following Knowledge check DCs for my players:

Arcana: 30
Religion: 30
History: 25
Nobility and Royalty: 30
Local: 35
Bardic Knowledge: 20

-TRRW
#19

brimstone

Jun 15, 2004 9:45:00
I've got a new question.

It says it is a 3 to 5 day hike from Pashin to the ruins of Hurim (I think). Does that actually mean a 3 to 5 day hike until the PCs come across the Mikku camp? Or do they come across the Mikku camp in 2 to 4 days and then hike the last day to Hurim?

Thanks.
#20

frostdawn

Jun 15, 2004 14:46:38
Originally posted by Brimstone
I've got a new question.

It says it is a 3 to 5 day hike from Pashin to the ruins of Hurim (I think). Does that actually mean a 3 to 5 day hike until the PCs come across the Mikku camp? Or do they come across the Mikku camp in 2 to 4 days and then hike the last day to Hurim?

Thanks.

The latter makes more sense to me, but that's just my $.02
#21

karui_kage

Jun 16, 2004 18:11:54
Yeah, I think they meet them sometime in the middle as well.
#22

karui_kage

Jun 17, 2004 7:09:49
Hmmm. This is probably just an inconsistency between books, but I took notice of it anyways. In the DLCS, for the Sylvan Key adventure, it says the innkeeper of the Wounded Crow (the best inn in town) is Stewart Donson. However, in the KoD, it says the innkeeper is the half-ogre Blackbird, and that the inn itself seems to be a dark place full of mercenaries, thieves, 'private' business, and prostitutes, not to mention that Blackbird himself runs his girls onto the street for cash.

So, which one of these is more accurate? Personally, Im going with the Blackbird one, as it seems a lot more interesting and has more impact on the first part of the KoD, but it'd be interesting to know who this Stewart Donson is, and if he is secretly a lyncanthrope half-ogre. <_< (Yes, I know it isn't possible, but humor me. hehe)
#23

zombiegleemax

Jun 17, 2004 7:21:28
Originally posted by Karui_Kage
The information was all I was really looking for. The hassle was in buying products when I wouldn't really be using them for anything else save reference. I dunno. I may give in in the future, but for now, I'll just wing it.

Have you ever checked out Tobril Magazine ? It is made by DL fans and has small tidbits of information on races throughout Ansalon(Funeral rites, etc.) that you may be able to use.

~~~
#24

cam_banks

Jun 17, 2004 7:52:23
Originally posted by Karui_Kage
Hmmm. This is probably just an inconsistency between books, but I took notice of it anyways. In the DLCS, for the Sylvan Key adventure, it says the innkeeper of the Wounded Crow (the best inn in town) is Stewart Donson. However, in the KoD, it says the innkeeper is the half-ogre Blackbird, and that the inn itself seems to be a dark place full of mercenaries, thieves, 'private' business, and prostitutes, not to mention that Blackbird himself runs his girls onto the street for cash.

I have Blackbird own the place, running his various nefarious operations from the building and using it as a front for his crime ring, but I use Stewart Donson as the innkeeper he pays to put a friendly face on the common room when he's concerned about such things.

Stewart would make an excellent NPC to join up with the group if the DM felt like beefing up the party, too. All you need to do is stage a scene at the Wounded Crow where Blackbird confronts the heroes, perhaps provoked by their meeting with Dove, and Stewart jumps in to help out. I doubt Stewart's all that happy with a villain like Blackbird running the show.

Cheers,
Cam
#25

Nived

Jun 17, 2004 9:07:14
For the second question, on my second run through the module (since I found another group interested in playing... which lets me play around with random encounters and situtations I didn't go into with the first group) I combined the mysterious watcher with the 'Jacob the Rebel' encounter.

The Legion of Steel contact at Old Omars (whose name escapes me right now) had heard of their jumping to the defense of the Herald the night before and was curious about their motive and their stance against the dark knights. The enemy of my enemy so to say. Jacob of course wasn't the best choice for a spy it seems as the two elves (Qualinesti ranger and druid) spotted him right off. I had the encounter take place at dawn (when they were getting back to town after dealing with Pegrin, and it was snowing) the ranger had no trouble following Jacob right tot he Inn of the 5 Dragons. They went in and had breafast while checking out the assembled merchants and other dwellers of the inn looking for their quarry, wasn't hard to spot the only one that had clearly been outside in the snow. (amusing side note the elves who are both of neutral alignments and followers of Chislev got paranoid when the innkeepers ring didn't light up for them, as everyone else in the party is good, they thought it was a ring of elf detection or something).

Two of the characters sat down next to Jacob and had a 'talk with him'. Jacob tried to be slick like James Bond... but wasn't fooling anyone. After a little back and forth wordplay Jacob knew they were no friends of the dark knights and he himself was pretty much caught so he admited to watching them for an 'interested party', passed one of the elves his starjewel pendant and told them to go to old omars. After this he got up and left.

They met with the half ogre lady who told them that some of the Dark Knights had a real mad on for them and to stay low, offered them some minor assistance and so forth.

All in all it worked out fairly well. I'm not sure how I'll have this play out once they get to Legion Controled territory, but one can be sure their names and descriptions will be there long before hand, for better or worse.
#26

zombiegleemax

Jun 17, 2004 9:39:33
Originally posted by frostdawn
The latter makes more sense to me, but that's just my $.02

It all depends on how many feet they can move. My group is travelling at 20 feet per round therefore it is going to take them about 4 days to get to the Mikku tribe.

~~~
#27

brimstone

Jun 17, 2004 10:11:26
Originally posted by LordofIllusions
It all depends on how many feet they can move. My group is travelling at 20 feet per round therefore it is going to take them about 4 days to get to the Mikku tribe.

My point was, the only traveling times given (and distances known) is Pashin to Hurim. It doesn't state anywhere where the Mikku are at. So I was wondering if people were using the 3-5 days traveling time for when they meet the Mikku...or are they putting the Mikku encounter somewhere in the middle of those 3-5 days.
#28

cam_banks

Jun 17, 2004 10:23:31
Originally posted by Brimstone
It doesn't state anywhere where the Mikku are at. So I was wondering if people were using the 3-5 days traveling time for when they meet the Mikku...or are they putting the Mikku encounter somewhere in the middle of those 3-5 days.

All of the encounters take place at some point between the trip from Pashin to Hurim. A DM is then able to pace it however he or she likes, and have the heroes meet the Mikku either early on or a little later. It's best that they hook up fairly soon, but it's also beneficial to stage the encounter with the Mikku after a particularly nasty fight so that the heroes get some place to rest, recuperate and have access to healing.

Cheers,
Cam
#29

brimstone

Jun 17, 2004 10:27:18
Originally posted by Cam Banks
All of the encounters take place at some point between the trip from Pashin to Hurim.

Alright...that seems to be the concensus...I will probably do that as well.

Thanks guys!
#30

zombiegleemax

Jun 17, 2004 11:35:43
Just to be the odd man out I am having them meet them late.

But that is just because they have already been travelling for a few days.

~~~
#31

karui_kage

Jun 17, 2004 18:06:59
Good idea on Stewart Donson. I wish I had thought of it sooner. As it was, Im at the part with the Herald, and I had the huge crowd gathered around the Wounded Crow. Blackbird was out there shouting "You're welcome to come in, but only some showin' of good steel won't get you kicked right back out! We ain't servin' to beggars today!" So, that got most of the crowd away. Right now Im just waiting for the player's responses on if they're going to show their purses or not before going in. I know one of them at least has the feeling that its a 'suspicious innkeeper asks to see purse then knifes them in the night' scenario. Should be fun.
#32

brimstone

Jun 18, 2004 8:14:27
Originally posted by LordofIllusions
Just to be the odd man out I am having them meet them late.

Actually...by "concensus" I mean that everyone is having them meet the Mikku sometime during the 3-5 days of the trip (not having the afore mentioned 3-5 days be the trip to the Mikku). So you're pulled in that.

I haven't decided when they meet them...that will probably be an off the cuff thing...depending how hurt the group is.

First session is next Saturday. Woo hoo! Of course, it will probably only be character creation and maybe "The Sylvan Key" but that's it I would think.
#33

cam_banks

Jun 18, 2004 8:18:58
Originally posted by Brimstone

First session is next Saturday. Woo hoo! Of course, it will probably only be character creation and maybe "The Sylvan Key" but that's it I would think.

Excellent! I want to hear all about it!

Last night my group decided to pursue the dark knights who kidnapped Zoe Left-Hand over the Bay of Balifor to Port Balifor. They managed to acquire passage on a ship, the Perinchief, thanks to Chatomi Mikku. However, halfway across and during a tremendous storm, the ship was attacked by an amphi dragon! I never realized quite how dangerous these things were, and I was the one who wrote them for the Bestiary, but I wanted to use one since I started the campaign. It nearly killed a couple of the characters, before the half-janni Aesthetic swashbuckler fired her magic crossbow bolt into its brain.

Now the heroes are in the middle of the sea, with huge waves, constant rain and lightning, no middle mast because the dragon snapped it off, and the captain of the ship is dead...

Cheers,
Cam
#34

karui_kage

Jun 18, 2004 8:27:04
Man, Cam, I'd love to be in one of your games. Even though I've read the KoD, you seem to have changed more than enough to make it interesting all over again.
#35

cam_banks

Jun 18, 2004 9:16:21
Originally posted by Karui_Kage
Man, Cam, I'd love to be in one of your games. Even though I've read the KoD, you seem to have changed more than enough to make it interesting all over again.

Well, Zoe and the Perinchief and the crossing of the Bay to Port Balifor and the really nasty weather are all in Chapter 4. I added a couple of things (like the amphi dragon) and gave the players a few more specific reasons to go to Port Balifor, but they still have a note from Sir Lionel to take to Gloom Town, they still have the key of destiny and the shard of light...

So it's not so much that I've changed everything, but that I've made use of the adventure's contents and tied the player characters into it more thoroughly.

Cheers,
Cam
#36

brimstone

Jun 18, 2004 9:20:04
Originally posted by Cam Banks
Excellent! I want to hear all about it!

I'll be sure to let you know how it goes.

My Hackmaster group keeps a campaign journal, ever week it is someone else's turn to write it (and we keep it written like the character's diary). I've really enjoyed that idea, and maybe I can convince these guys to do it too. But, I don't want to push them too hard too soon. So, maybe I'll just keep a running journal. Maybe I could post it here like what Sean does with his. But since this is a published module, there are probably copyright issues with that.

Well, either way...I'll let you know how it goes.

Oh, and I'd like to second Kage's comment...your games definately sound like a lot of fun...if not dangerous. :D
#37

zombiegleemax

Jun 18, 2004 14:10:21
Yea I've already managed to kill one of my players... he got buried in a landslide at the mountain lion fight in the entrance to the valley.
#38

karui_kage

Jun 21, 2004 5:15:55
Originally posted by Brimstone
My Hackmaster group keeps a campaign journal,

I wish my group kept a journal. Of any sort. Than I wouldn't have situations where I know that the characters probably would have remembered, and so I have to ask for Wisdom checks so that they may have a chance of remembering where their players' didn't.

-shrug- Although lately Ive taken to the 'if you have a high wisdom and *didn't* write it down, then you forgot' method. But yeah. It's annoying to have to re-explain things over and over.