That said, it is a setting specific screen, so there isn't much on there that you need on a day-to-day basis as far as rules go. The most useful thing is the charts for determining treasure and experience are on it. The calendar is nifty, but not essential. The arial combat rules are also pretty cool, but will be rarely used. The moon tracking chart is there, but it doesn't have the information on how to use it so if you've forgotten you'll have to look it up anyway.
The booklet has got some sample NPC's, the stats for a few exotic weapons, and an article on monsters. The article on monsters is pretty cool if you are a hardcore world-builder like I am, but the gist of it is "All monsters in the monstrous manual 1 are Krynnish creatures except lyncanthropes, drow and orcs". There is also some errata, but I don't think you want to pay for that, so it isn't a selling point.
It is cheap though ($15-$20) so it isn't a huge sacrifice to buy it. I would recommend it if you are a DL completist. Otherwise you might want to save your money for other DL sourcebooks, or wait and see what the DM's screen from WotC looks like.
Originally posted by Brimstone
What "DM screen from WotC," Terry?
Probably this one.
As for my opinion of the DL screen, I found the booklet usefull but the screen itself lacking. I mean, it looks great, it's very high quality, there just isn't that much info that seem usefull except in specific occasions like the arial combat rules. When (or if, it seems like I'll never get to play) I get a game started I'll probably use the 3.5 screen that came with some Dragon #310.
I actually have the DM screen that came with the Dragon magazine so I guess Ill just stick with that.
I know I was quite disapointed when I heard they didnt redo all the weapons from the old DLCS.
Anyway, thanks again
Originally posted by Thrackerzog
When (or if, it seems like I'll never get to play) I get a game started I'll probably use the 3.5 screen that came with some Dragon #310.
I have (and use) both screens for my game.
Having the experience charts, moon chart, and other details is very useful. Plus, the back of the screen (with the Elmore artwork) has been well-received by my players, who think the one in Dragon is far too violent and bloody.Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Cam Banks
Plus, the back of the screen (with the Elmore artwork) has been well-received by my players, who think the one in Dragon is far too violent and bloody.
That statement was very telling, Cam.
Only a full blooded DM would call the painted side the "back" of the DM Screen.
:D
Originally posted by Brimstone
That statement was very telling, Cam.
Only a full blooded DM would call the painted side the "back" of the DM Screen.
Guilty as charged!
Cheers,
Cam
The booklet that comes with it is good, although the section on monsters in the MM would have been better having an entry for each of the creatures rather than a blanket yes and this goes here.
The screen itself is too small. I prefer a four panel screen because it fits nicely around an open module laying on the table. Due to this I shall be sticking with my usual four panel screen. But the DL one is brought to the game as a handy dandy reference tool because the inside has the relevant DLCS charts for the moons and XP charts...etc.
DM Screens should have game information, such as skill listsings, actions and whether they draw AoO's, armour AC's and such.
The DL screen is a great in game reference but its not a DM's screen as I think most if us are used to.
Hope that helps.
Originally posted by SweetMeats
The DL screen is a great in game reference but its not a DM's screen as I think most if us are used to.
In reality I believe it serves as a supplementary or additional screen for Dragonlance DMs, rather than a replacement. There are as you say many things which aren't on the screen precisely because they are on the standard one.
Cheers,
Cam
:D
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
But at least one NPC described in there gives me a great idea for a side plot. Namely the Wyrmling gold Pala... oh the trouble that little dragon could cause.
Originally posted by jechambers
We did not want to design a competing product to Wizards of the Coast, and so we didn't try to make it a general D&D resource.
Unfortunately, this leaves the issue of a DM having to spend yet another $15 (on top of the what, $100 for the core books?) to get what they need to run a game.
I hope such conflicts between Sov Press products and WotC products do not continue happening in the future.
Originally posted by silvanthalas
Unfortunately, this leaves the issue of a DM having to spend yet another $15 (on top of the what, $100 for the core books?) to get what they need to run a game.
Nope. Youc an pick up the WOTC 3.5 DM Screen in an issue of Dragon magazine if you so choose, like many folks have already done.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Cam Banks
Nope. Youc an pick up the WOTC 3.5 DM Screen in an issue of Dragon magazine if you so choose, like many folks have already done.
And does every gamer in the world read Dragon?
The local gaming/hobby store for my area doesn't even carry the magazine, as far as I can tell.
Originally posted by silvanthalas
And does every gamer in the world read Dragon?
The local gaming/hobby store for my area doesn't even carry the magazine, as far as I can tell.
In that case, try this:
http://www.paizo.com/news/pressreleases/dmscreen_120803.shtml
And yes, a great many D&D gamers in the world read Dragon. That's why it's the number one roleplaying magazine, even though it only features D&D content.
Cheers,
Cam
My local hobby store is full of a bunch of idiots so rather deal with them every month I ordered it direct (cheaper too,hehe).
Then I looked at the screen. Well, the painting is beautiful! (too bad there's not a white dragon in the sky too...but that doesn't matter, really) and the tables on the back are quite helpful for Dragonlance specific games. Yeah, it's the same tables as in the DLCS but now they're in a convenient gaming form.
Then I looked at the tables even closer and noticed they are the exact tables from the DLCS. I mean come on, you have got to be
me. Did nobody even look at the tables to make sure they were correct? Case in point, the money table...now because I've been a DL fan for years...I know which is correct. But along the top it has Iron and Steel pieces being the same monetary value and along the left it has Iron and Bronze pieces being the same monetary value. This was a problem in the DLCS, I mentioned it (and placed it in my doc), I know several others saw it and mentioned it, too. So how in the Abyss did it make it past two editings...especially when it was pointed out the first go around.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's a good product, and I'm glad to have it. I just got upset about the table still being wrong.
Not cool, I think Ill just stick to the Dungeon mag version.
Originally posted by Hammerhand
Not cool, I think Ill just stick to the Dungeon mag version.
Honestly...if you're going to be running a Dragonlance game, it will be immensly useful tool, easily worth the $14 in my opinion.
I just had to get the Table thing off my chest and out there so that maybe it won't be missed a third time.
Originally posted by Hammerhand
Things like that brim annoy me to no end and make me feel like a company thinks we will keep buying products reguardless of quality or usefulness.
Better to have the occasional human error and to be able to pick and choose what you get rather than not having any products at all.
It wasn’t all that long ago that WotC announced that they would no longer be supporting a Dragonlance role-playing line. It was up to the fans to keep Dragonlance gaming alive, ergo the Nexus.
We’re very lucky that Sovereign Press has gained the license to Dragonlance gaming. Sure, they make the occasional mistake, but name me a gaming company that doesn’t. How many companies out there have errata on their website?
Even WotC makes mistakes, and they’re much larger. Heck, I was reading in Races of Faerun the other night, and the avariel has a feat listed that they can take called Rapid Flight. This feat isn’t in the feats section of the book, nor in any other WotC book. It doesn’t exist.
Sovereign Press is approaching Dragonlance gaming with a lot of love. They’re giving it the treatment it deserves. Would you rather have a book on the Towers of High Sorcery, or would you rather go back to the TSR days with Otherlands?
Sure, Sovereign Press makes a few mistakes. So does every gaming company out there. I find it amazing that a company so small can make such quality products. Most of their DL products will be in color, which most 3rd party publishers cannot pull off. The art in Age of Mortals is better than what WotC could muster with the DLCS.
So let’s cut Sovereign Press some slack, guys. They don’t expect you to buy every product they make. They do their best, though, to make quality products that they hope you will buy. Above all, they make products that show the love, respect, and dedication they have for Dragonlance.
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
So let’s cut Sovereign Press some slack, guys. They don’t expect you to buy every product they make. They do their best, though, to make quality products that they hope you will buy. Above all, they make products that show the love, respect, and dedication they have for Dragonlance.
I agree. Without Soverign Stone I would still be using a homebrew version of Krynn rather than a proper campaign setting. Spelling errors and whatnot don't bother me so long as I know what is meant.
SS have my support and I will buy every DL product they put out.
But that doesn't mean I can't be unhappy with something they've done.
Originally posted by Brimstone
So will I. Sovereign Press have my undying support.
But that doesn't mean I can't be unhappy with something they've done.
We certainly don't mind good old-fashioned, honest feedback. Quality is important to us, and even though we don't have the same resources as the larger companies, but we want to improve with every step.
Keep you opinions coming!
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
Im looking forward to seeing the quality of the bestiary of Krynn. Im sure it will be well edited with great artwork and content by the sounds of things.
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Sovereign Press is approaching Dragonlance gaming with a lot of love. They’re giving it the treatment it deserves. Would you rather have a book on the Towers of High Sorcery, or would you rather go back to the TSR days with Otherlands?
Otherlands is cool in spirt. Geographical information, huzzah! I admit some of it is rather silly, "the rat-dog funnos" and most of the Chorane section. Now that we've acknowledged our Krynnish underdark though, I wouldn't mind a 3e treatment of the place using the MM1 to flesh it out. Perhaps something to do when I've explored the caves of Port Balifor.
There was some very cool parts of the supplement too. The Dargonesti kingdom is awesome, and whenever I would want a particularly nasty undersea creature I wouldn't call upon the Sahuagin, I'd call upon the Maqwab. The detailing of the Mischta is largely forgettable, though I love the Nunzta as well.
Some of the details were a little cheezy, but I admire the spirit of "Otherlands".
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Sovereign Press is approaching Dragonlance gaming with a lot of love. They’re giving it the treatment it deserves. Would you rather have a book on the Towers of High Sorcery, or would you rather go back to the TSR days with Otherlands?
Okay...now, dude, don't be putting meaning where none is meant.
This was not some, "Sovereign Press can't handle Dragonlance comment."
In fact, if look, you will see that where Dragonlance content is concerned, I applaud the Screen (and the other products)...and the only issue I had with the screen was the one table. And the ONLY reason I took issue with it is because the mistake was seen before in a previous book, and it had been pointed out by several people and even documented in one case.
Maybe I'm just truly upset because no one looked at it.
Originally posted by jechambers
We certainly don't mind good old-fashioned, honest feedback. Quality is important to us, and even though we don't have the same resources as the larger companies, but we want to improve with every step.
Jamie,
Please don't get bogged down with the negative aspects of the post. Yes, I do feel strongly about the thing I mentioned...but I think it's important to note (maybe I'm just being stupid and should let this drop) that I do enjoy the product, and beleive it to be of good quality and good content.
I just wanted to make sure you understood that as well (since the possitive comments seem to be getting lost in the clutter).
Originally posted by ferratus
I admit some of it is rather silly, "the rat-dog funnos" and most of the Chorane section.
It's a common saying among the dwarven children that every time you bad mouth the Thanes, Reorx kills a funno.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Cam Banks
It's a common saying among the dwarven children that every time you bad mouth the Thanes, Reorx kills a funno.
Cheers,
Cam
Hi, my name is Dragonhelm. I'm from the SPCF: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Funno...
That said, I don't think the Funno has to be immediately awful. Make it blind, hairless, give it some sharper teeth and a nastier attitude, change its subtype to vermin. Some good concept art would probably do wonders. It was good concept art which changed my most hated 2e monster (the sea lion) into one of my 3e favourites (the sea cat).
The biggest problem with the Funno is that they used them for absolutely everything. Toilet paper, seat covers, everything. Now that we have an underdark, maybe we can work on a better underground ecology, where the Funno is just one part of a larger food chain.
P.S. The Ursoi can pretty much be known as "Quaggoths" now right? I mean, they are both subterranian bear-type humanoids.
Originally posted by Hammerhand
I liked that big humanoid bear from Otherlands. Was it the Ursloi or some such?
Yep, that was the ursoi. Not to be confused with the quaggoth.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Cam Banks
Yep, that was the ursoi. Not to be confused with the quaggoth.
I was about to say "Why not" when I realized that the Quaggoth was not in the MM1, but in my Monsters of Faerun! ;)
Still, Quaggoth is a cooler name. I wouldn't be suprised if the Quaggoth were in fact a fine-tuning of the Ursoi by the same designer.
Matter of fact I would love to see it updated to the 3.5 system and rereleased by SS. Any chance of that?
Originally posted by ferratus
Still, Quaggoth is a cooler name. I wouldn't be suprised if the Quaggoth were in fact a fine-tuning of the Ursoi by the same designer.
The quaggoth was created by a man by the name of Andrew Torchia and it later appeared for American audiences in Fiend Folio, back in 1981. It probably appeared earlier than that in White Dwarf's Fiend Factory, the column which was eventually responsible for a great many AD&D monsters that have since become popular icons of the game.
The ursoi was created by Scott Haring for his section on Chorane, and bears (if you will forgive the pun) only superficial resemblances to the original, in that they are both large hairy bipeds with claws.
I happen to think ursoi is a much better name than quaggoth, but then your mileage tends to vary quite a bit. Probably the miles/kilometre thing.
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by SweetMeats
Whats with the dislike of Otherlands? Apart from the "ogre islands" its a solid book and one that I still use today.
And that's cool that you do use it. Really, it isn't a bad product in and of itself.
I'm baffled why a product like Otherlands was put out when TSR never put sourcebooks on the Wizards of High Sorcery, Holy Orders of the Stars, the various knighthoods, etc. Why it has taken 20 years for these sorts of sourcebooks is beyond me. Luckily, Sovereign Press has a good feel for Dragonlance gaming.
I'm not saying that Otherlands should never have been put out. I do think, though, that TSR could have managed the Dragonlance gaming line better, put out some essentials for Ansalon, then expanded.
Whatever the case, the past is the past, and I very much like what's in store for the future.
Matter of fact I would love to see it updated to the 3.5 system and rereleased by SS. Any chance of that?
Not in the immediate future, but they may get to it down the road.
However, there will be some elements taken from Otherlands which you will see later this year...
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Better to have the occasional human error and to be able to pick and choose what you get rather than not having any products at all.
It wasn’t all that long ago that WotC announced that they would no longer be supporting a Dragonlance role-playing line. It was up to the fans to keep Dragonlance gaming alive, ergo the Nexus.
We’re very lucky that Sovereign Press has gained the license to Dragonlance gaming. Sure, they make the occasional mistake, but name me a gaming company that doesn’t. How many companies out there have errata on their website?
Even WotC makes mistakes, and they’re much larger. Heck, I was reading in Races of Faerun the other night, and the avariel has a feat listed that they can take called Rapid Flight. This feat isn’t in the feats section of the book, nor in any other WotC book. It doesn’t exist.
I think generally people are trying to give Sovereign a chance. It can be frustrating to see errors like this continued. It's not like the screen was rushed out, and they didn't have time to catch it....wasn't it delayed by several months? I'd have thought this would give time to recognize the error and correct it.
Just so you know, though, the Rapid Flight feat in Races of Faerun was a rather odd....I noticed it as well. Apparently, at the last minute it was cut from the book. Maybe Rapid Flight is unbalanced, but Rapid Swimming is not? Regardless, Sean Reynolds posted the stats for the feat on his website.
http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/misc/ZZZracesoffaeruncutfeats.htm
SP definitely isn't alone in having errors....every company has them, and some are worse than others. The books so far have been good.....
Banshee
Originally posted by Dragonhelm
Sovereign Press is approaching Dragonlance gaming with a lot of love. They’re giving it the treatment it deserves. Would you rather have a book on the Towers of High Sorcery, or would you rather go back to the TSR days with Otherlands?
What's wrong with Otherlands? That was an awesome book. 2/3 of it (Selasia and the Dargonesti Kingdom) were very cool. The Dargonesti part remained the best and most in-depth look at underwater adventuring for like 8 years or something, until Sea of Fallen Stars came out. And in some ways, that Dargonesti kingdom is still cooler
And more details about the Irda? And their evil cousins? That was a race that hadn't been detailed much at all aside from the Campaign Setting racial descriptions, so it was sorely needed.
One of the things is that one man's dross is another man's gold, I guess...
Banshee
Though some people have expressed disappointment over our products on this board, overall most of our customers seem pleased and we are always working to improve. Thanks for your support!
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
A world ruled by Minotaurs while they battle hoards of undead cant be a bad thing now can it!
and otherlands is a great supplement, imo. Why, you ask? Well, what have i been begging for? More geography. A booklet that gives me more of krynn to work with, with new cultures and all that, is an auto winner in my book, even if it has the kendar, which is utterly stupid. I really really like the mischta and nzunta, for instance.
Originally posted by talinthas
fwiw, trampas, ursa is a latin word =)
Well, it's all Latin to me. ;)
Banshee, thanks for the link. I'll check it out right away. That will be a big help.
Originally posted by Cam Banks
The ursoi was created by Scott Haring for his section on Chorane, and bears (if you will forgive the pun) only superficial resemblances to the original, in that they are both large hairy bipeds with claws.
... and they both have stone age culture, and they have brutish intelligence, and they both live exclusively underground....
The resemblances are more than superficial. The only thing that keeps them apart is the Ursoi's "strong sense of honour" which tramples over the minotaur's shtick anyway.
I happen to think ursoi is a much better name than quaggoth, but then your mileage tends to vary quite a bit. Probably the miles/kilometre thing.
This is too vague for me understand. What exactly is "my milage"?
Originally posted by talinthas
and otherlands is a great supplement, imo. Why, you ask? Well, what have i been begging for? More geography. A booklet that gives me more of krynn to work with, with new cultures and all that, is an auto winner in my book,
Yep, but like Trampas said, it is odd that they did an "Otherlands" supplement before stuff that fleshed out Ansalon. However, there is a simple solution to that. As far as TSR was concerned, Dragonlance wasn't a campaign setting. It was all about the heroes of the lance. Otherlands was an attempt to create a new campaign setting while playing off the Dragonlance name, just like Taladas was. I find the attitude that the attitude that Dragonlance could not be a campaign setting because they had had an epic storyline persisted for so long. Why didn't anyone just say, "Okay, now that storyline is over, let's go onto the next one?"
The Chaos War gaming products gave us a new storyline, 5th Age did as well. What makes Sovereign Press the best people in charge of Dragonlance to date is that they are actually trying to make Ansalon dragonlance a campaign setting with more than one storyline, something that hasn't been done before. That makes me very happy, even if I'm not particularly happy with some things. Now all we need to do is to kick it up a notch. We have 25 million sentient creatures on Ansalon, let's put them to work doing something other than standing by slack-jawed while the KoS, KoN or WoHS make their moves. ;) Pack the setting full of organizations, adventure hooks, and nations with their own agendas and which SP don't plan on exploring in a novel or game adventure themselves.
even if it has the kendar, which is utterly stupid. I really really like the mischta and nzunta, for instance.
It seems whenever anyone wants to do something original with kender, the first thing they want to do is to not make them kender.
I say just let the kender flow naturally from their emotional archetype and let them do what they will. Their innocent humour will be made fresh again. Don't talk about "handling" talk about insatiable curiousity. Talk about fearlessness rather than leaping before you look. In other words, talk about the behavoir instead of the actions, just like you do for all the other races.
Originally posted by ferratus
This is too vague for me understand. What exactly is "my milage"?
"Your mileage" or "YMMV" (your mileage may vary) is just a saying to indicate that you may get a different amount of use out of something than somebody else.