The rest seems pretty cool, though
--it looks very, very useful NB
-X
Any status on the Prestige Class Appendix II ?
Please don´t derail the thread. This thread should focus on Trade Lords, not other future releases. Start a separate thread or reply to a project status thread. Thanks.
It's interesting, but I feel like if there was something missing. I will try to clarify my ideas once I get deeper in the document.
The stats table describing the merchant houses is great. I missed some information about the number of soldiers from the merchant houses from Balic.
It is basically just an information dump - sure, there are some tid-bits of information in the back, but after reading through portions of it, its usefullness is limited and parts actually read like a textbook to me.
Was there a review process? Why is there no one besides Jon and Brax listed on the cover - this tells me that it is most likely that no one else but those two reviewed this material and I ask myself "Why?" Now I know that they are both skilled, and this is not intended as an attack upon them, but if no one else reviewed this material, I think that the overall product is suffering for that.
Anyway - that is my rant on this item. Like I said, it is kind of useful, but the product as a whole is very lacking.
I'd suggest changing the info on the trade houses themselves from the current graph/chart format into actual paragraphs of text with a little bit of fluff, quotes, and actual clip art of house symbols. I'd also move all the charts related to trade goods & prices to the back of the supplement rather than leading off with them.
I think both of these would improve the over all visual aspect of the release by leaps and bounds.
I'd suggest changing the info on the trade houses themselves from the current graph/chart format into actual paragraphs.
I'm not opposed to this, but I find the chart format to be rather handy. It's great for a quick check in the middle of the game. This happens often in my own campaign: the players suddenly decide to inquire about, or even travel to, a weird location somewhere and i'm forced to do a quick search through my books or just trust my faulty memory.
of text with a little bit of fluff, quotes, and actual clip art of house symbols.
Fluff, quotes and clip art of house symbols would be awesome, too!
But, please, include charts. ;)
I'm not opposed to this, but I find the chart format to be rather handy. It's great for a quick check in the middle of the game. This happens often in my own campaign: the players suddenly decide to inquire about, or even travel to, a weird location somewhere and i'm forced to do a quick search through my books or just trust my faulty memory.
The chart is useful as a quick reference but I feel it work better along side a section that elaborated a bit more on the houses themselves and not solely rely on Dune Trader for that info.
Fluff, quotes and clip art of house symbols would be awesome, too!
But, please, include charts.
Keep the charts but use them to support the supplement not be the supplement itself.
Here are those I made:
I had made Urik heraldry as well and a funny Urik logo too :D
I'm definitely using them in my own game.
P.S.: Any chance you could make a few more?
I suggest you compile them into an archive and e-mail them to Brax and myself.
You can check them out here.
Those are nice too, Bengeldorn. I particularly liked the caravan map/battlegrid.
Thanks, I used it, when my groupe was being attacked while traveling on a wagon. I printed it in a ratio, so that it would fit with battlegrid, and we were able to use miniatures. But that's being of topic.
Although, if athas.org is interested in using this, they have my permission.
I particularly liked the caravan map/battlegrid.
Ooh, very much agreed. Very handy. Now if we could just get a set for a silt skimmer to go with it - hint hint, hee hee.:P
Ooh, very much agreed. Very handy. Now if we could just get a set for a silt skimmer to go with it - hint hint, hee hee.:P
Yeah....I was planing to do one, but unfortunatelly it has to wait for now. I can't find the time right now.
Those are cool, Grum.
I suggest you compile them into an archive and e-mail them to Brax and myself.
Hum Jon, they are all here, if you wish to just right click and "save as...". It will do the trick ?
The problem is that i think that an expert from athas must start at the 2nd level of the NPC class, because he or she is more combat oriented than a plain 1st level expert.
Also how i manage the experience. So its -1 or -1/2 or i treat a 1st level expert (trader) as a 1st level character.
Also i like to see some NPCs caravan leaders in a posible update of the Trade Lords.
I remember there is a adventure in 2nd named Merchant house of Amketch, Is the house of Amketch so small so do not mentioned in the Trade Lords, or its already out of the business.
and also rules to make small or independent trader groups (such as a party trader group) should be fine.
Btw, not that I want you to put my material in your document, but it could have been a good idea to put the Merchant Houses logo I made (those made by Ruhl-Than Sage too) a while ago in this document no?
Here are those I made:
[/IMG][/CENTER]
Nice work, Grummore! Could you do one that fits the description of the Azeth banner?
Trade Lords is a quick reference, and not intended to replace Dune Trader, but rather to supplement it.
Trade Lords was submitted to the Senate for review at least seven weeks before we published it, we also circulated it among some templars. At Squidfur's suggestion, we incorporated Jon's articles on the culture of trade.
Some will find Trade Lords very useful, many will not. Not everyone runs a trade game, or cares about the lighting of the moons during travel, or the price of Salt in Azeth's Rest. :D
A scale grid map of typical trade wagon vehicles, banners such as Grummore's offered plus Azeth and Maraneth. Maybe a rewrite of Jon's Dune Trader prestige class in the new PrC format, with sample NPCs, including expert merchant types, written up in the new MM4 format. And of course, more new art. And definitely add Amtech to the list of houses! (good catch, Alder!)
But TL's useful as is; there's nothing inconsistent or game-breaking in it. I'm glad we put it out rather than sitting on it for a few more months.
How could we forget Amketch? It is my second favorite adventure... Must have been bitten by an agony beetle.
That must be why you forgot House Uinjinjum of Raam too
Are there any plans to release any of the other projects you were working on in the coming weeks?
Hey Jon & Brax,
Are there any plans to release any of the other projects you were working on in the coming weeks?
I will pre-empt Jon in this - but I know he would say that this is a question for another thread
lol
:D So true that he would say that, he always does :D
A scale grid map of typical trade wagon vehicles, banners such as Grummore's offered plus Azeth and Maraneth.
Can you tell me what's the Banners description for both these Merchant Houses?
Are there any plans to release any of the other projects you were working on in the coming weeks?
No, that´s probably too soon. Oh, and please start a new thread. I would like to keep this thread focused on Trade Lords and what people feel it is lacking.
No, that´s probably too soon. Oh, and please start a new thread. I would like to keep this thread focused on Trade Lords and what people feel it is lacking.
LOL, good one Jon!
my 2 bits
I am actually serious. Consider it an official playtest, just as every other product we´ve released during my time at athas.org. Some of the feedback is that you want more out of the product than it contains today. Keep it coming, then we can do something about it!
Well just more about the houses themselfs and major npc given the new 3.5 stats would be nice.
Oh sorry about the last post....