The Eye of Anubis: OOC Thread
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Kaitou Kage
- Evil Genius
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Sacha - the pit effect meant you were prone at the start of the round. Do you have enough movement to stand up and partial charge?
"No, but evil is still being — Is having reason — Being reasonable! Mousie understands? Is always being reason. Is punishing world for not being... Like in head. Is always reason. World should be different, is reason."
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Rock of the Fraternity
- Evil Genius
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NeoTiamat
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
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- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
This Book is most definitely bringing out the best in people. Or the worst in people, but hte best posting. All the same to me. 
Some more bonus XP.
800/2=400 to Nathan for posting.
800/2=400 to Whistler for posting.
400/2=200 to Andre for posting.
Some more bonus XP.
800/2=400 to Nathan for posting.
800/2=400 to Whistler for posting.
400/2=200 to Andre for posting.
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
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NeoTiamat
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a wrap! Post any final questions or comments, and in about 24 hours I shall answer such queries as remain and close up the Book.
Also, say hello to your new travelling companion
Also, say hello to your new travelling companion
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
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NeoTiamat
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Ta-da! Well, that was a fun Book. I enjoyed it a lot, at any rate. Whole slew of announcements, so let's jump into them.
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Interlude
First off, instead of jumping into Book Ten straight away, I am going take a two-week vacation from active posting. Why? Because Book Nine was sufficiently intensive (and you guys managed to move faster than I expected on at least three seperate occasions), that I don't have too much material prepared for Book Ten. I need to get map information to Lostboy, I need to get encounters play-tested, etc.
On a more general level, I also want to catch up on my other projects a bit, namely the Fair Folk book and also on a series of cutscenes for EoA. (I hope to write up a buffer, at any rate).
More IC, this is also a chance for you guys to work out some of your issues, either by side-RP with me or Isabella, or in the main thread. I will still be posting (though probably not more than once a day, if that), and Isy is likely to be posting as well.
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Rebuild
It has been a while since the last rebuild, so here's another chance to make your character weaker, stronger, or the same (roll a dice to decide?)
Basic rules: You can't change ability scores, spells, or items.
You may switch around feats, classes, or skills, provided you check in with me about what you want to change.
Sound like a plan?
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Feedback
As always, it is feedback time! I imagine you folks know the drill by now. 500 bonus XP for detailed feedback on the Book, and a further 500 bonus XP for detailed feedback on the two combats (or more accurately, two encounter traps).
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Experience
4,500 XP for surviving madness, emotional trauma, and Charles Devereux!
This means, I believe, that.... Charles, Tomas, Sascha, and Andre gain levels.
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Also, a new cutscene is up, which might answer some questions and will probably ask others.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interlude
First off, instead of jumping into Book Ten straight away, I am going take a two-week vacation from active posting. Why? Because Book Nine was sufficiently intensive (and you guys managed to move faster than I expected on at least three seperate occasions), that I don't have too much material prepared for Book Ten. I need to get map information to Lostboy, I need to get encounters play-tested, etc.
On a more general level, I also want to catch up on my other projects a bit, namely the Fair Folk book and also on a series of cutscenes for EoA. (I hope to write up a buffer, at any rate).
More IC, this is also a chance for you guys to work out some of your issues, either by side-RP with me or Isabella, or in the main thread. I will still be posting (though probably not more than once a day, if that), and Isy is likely to be posting as well.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rebuild
It has been a while since the last rebuild, so here's another chance to make your character weaker, stronger, or the same (roll a dice to decide?)
Basic rules: You can't change ability scores, spells, or items.
You may switch around feats, classes, or skills, provided you check in with me about what you want to change.
Sound like a plan?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Feedback
As always, it is feedback time! I imagine you folks know the drill by now. 500 bonus XP for detailed feedback on the Book, and a further 500 bonus XP for detailed feedback on the two combats (or more accurately, two encounter traps).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Experience
4,500 XP for surviving madness, emotional trauma, and Charles Devereux!
This means, I believe, that.... Charles, Tomas, Sascha, and Andre gain levels.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, a new cutscene is up, which might answer some questions and will probably ask others.
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
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The Whistler
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 1454
- Joined: Thu Jun 07, 2007 7:38 pm
- Location: Southshore
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yalenusveler
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 1266
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 10:44 pm
- Location: Pennsylvania...or Baator
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Nathan of the FoS
- Fiendish Enforcer
- Posts: 5247
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 3:39 pm
- Location: San Francisco CA
I figure he's a 12th level ranger or thereabouts; that explains a) the fighting, b) the healing, c) the animal companion--up to a point.
If she's a fiendish raven (as seems to be the case from her size, appearance and general demeanor) then I am somewhat at a loss for an explanation, as I am not sure that animal companions can be fiendish.
EDIT: OR!!! He could be a blackguard.
It was too easy.
If she's a fiendish raven (as seems to be the case from her size, appearance and general demeanor) then I am somewhat at a loss for an explanation, as I am not sure that animal companions can be fiendish.
EDIT: OR!!! He could be a blackguard.
It was too easy.
Last edited by Nathan of the FoS on Thu Feb 12, 2009 12:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
[b]FEAR JUSTICE.[/b] :elena:
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Rock of the Fraternity
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 6844
- Joined: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:16 pm
Should be at work, but this is more fun.... 
Book 9 Feedback
This one was a bit different, wasn’t it?
Ok first off I loved the creepy atmosphere of Kamarn-quse; it felt dark, dangerous and oppressive. There were some really spooky moments there and I really did feel relieved to read the bit about seeing the sun again. Good writing Neo.
I also really loved the idea that the only enemies we had were the ones we took with us. I personally spent the whole first half of the book wondering when the evil denizens were going to come out and attack, before realising we had enough of our own demons to take care of it all. This was an interesting approach and not one I’ve come across before, but it certainly pushes everyone to role-play their character to a high standard, which everyone did brilliantly. It also felt that we had more of a say in the story, which was a nice touch (even though Nt was giving all the prompts).
I think also that this book benefited from a cut-down roster of NPC’s, in as much as they all got in on the action, all had voices and story arc’s and became a lot more alive than in the past. Too many had been only bit players in the past or had been overshadowed by some of the larger than life characters.
Also this book finally went some way to explaining the meta-plot, with some interesting revelations from just about everyone. Good job all round, I’m firmly suckered in and can’t wait to see how it all pans out.
The combat/traps were an interesting change of pace, although I really would have liked to see the Street map used a bit more. I spent hours putting that bloody one together (planning it out, working out how to show people on different levels, planning routes up and down so both levels could get used) for about 10 secs of game time (although perhaps it was worth it for that post from Nathan!).
The water trap was good, it felt dangerous, and that time was against us. The difficulty seemed pitched about right with hampered movement etc. The only down side was how easily even the best traps can be circumvented by a couple of spells. Don’t get me wrong I’m not having a pop at people for casting them, it certainly saved our collective asses, but it did lower the apparent lethality of it, but I guess this a DM’s problem for D&D overall, how do you trap people who can bend their surroundings so effectively? Overall this one was good though and nicely thought out.
The obelisks, weeell it was a nice idea, again you felt time was against you, and this one really felt like it had the potential to go pear-shaped, but ultimately it just felt frustrating. Being hit round after round by incapacitating effects with high DC saves is a great defence on the part of the obelisks but gets old really quickly. Problem is that its what PC’s can do that is one of the elements that makes D&D fun, being constrained again and again form what you’d like to do does becomes frustrating. It also meant that a huge chunk of the damage was caused by ranged spells, and our non-magical characters could have pretty much sat this one out for the same end effect. Maybe though that’s what was needed after some of the previous encounters that were tailored towards Melee, dunno just felt a bit unbalanced.
But I really should say that both the traps had moments when I though we might not make it, which is awesome as it was one criticism I had of the previous book.
Overall pretty damn good book, and compliments should be paid to Isabella and Kage for really rather excellent artwork.
Book 9 Feedback
This one was a bit different, wasn’t it?
Ok first off I loved the creepy atmosphere of Kamarn-quse; it felt dark, dangerous and oppressive. There were some really spooky moments there and I really did feel relieved to read the bit about seeing the sun again. Good writing Neo.
I also really loved the idea that the only enemies we had were the ones we took with us. I personally spent the whole first half of the book wondering when the evil denizens were going to come out and attack, before realising we had enough of our own demons to take care of it all. This was an interesting approach and not one I’ve come across before, but it certainly pushes everyone to role-play their character to a high standard, which everyone did brilliantly. It also felt that we had more of a say in the story, which was a nice touch (even though Nt was giving all the prompts).
I think also that this book benefited from a cut-down roster of NPC’s, in as much as they all got in on the action, all had voices and story arc’s and became a lot more alive than in the past. Too many had been only bit players in the past or had been overshadowed by some of the larger than life characters.
Also this book finally went some way to explaining the meta-plot, with some interesting revelations from just about everyone. Good job all round, I’m firmly suckered in and can’t wait to see how it all pans out.
The combat/traps were an interesting change of pace, although I really would have liked to see the Street map used a bit more. I spent hours putting that bloody one together (planning it out, working out how to show people on different levels, planning routes up and down so both levels could get used) for about 10 secs of game time (although perhaps it was worth it for that post from Nathan!).
The water trap was good, it felt dangerous, and that time was against us. The difficulty seemed pitched about right with hampered movement etc. The only down side was how easily even the best traps can be circumvented by a couple of spells. Don’t get me wrong I’m not having a pop at people for casting them, it certainly saved our collective asses, but it did lower the apparent lethality of it, but I guess this a DM’s problem for D&D overall, how do you trap people who can bend their surroundings so effectively? Overall this one was good though and nicely thought out.
The obelisks, weeell it was a nice idea, again you felt time was against you, and this one really felt like it had the potential to go pear-shaped, but ultimately it just felt frustrating. Being hit round after round by incapacitating effects with high DC saves is a great defence on the part of the obelisks but gets old really quickly. Problem is that its what PC’s can do that is one of the elements that makes D&D fun, being constrained again and again form what you’d like to do does becomes frustrating. It also meant that a huge chunk of the damage was caused by ranged spells, and our non-magical characters could have pretty much sat this one out for the same end effect. Maybe though that’s what was needed after some of the previous encounters that were tailored towards Melee, dunno just felt a bit unbalanced.
But I really should say that both the traps had moments when I though we might not make it, which is awesome as it was one criticism I had of the previous book.
Overall pretty damn good book, and compliments should be paid to Isabella and Kage for really rather excellent artwork.
"I had a dream, which was not all a dream.
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
The bright sun was extinguish'd, and the stars
Did wander darkling in the eternal space..."
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Nathan of the FoS
- Fiendish Enforcer
- Posts: 5247
- Joined: Fri Nov 28, 2003 3:39 pm
- Location: San Francisco CA
Yeah, this was a pretty fun Book. Like lostboy, I was waiting for the Secret Evil Guardian to emerge and zap us all, so it was a nice twist to just have all the NPCs (and the PCs, too, a bit) go crazy and try to kill us.
Sorry about the map, lostboy, by the way. That encounter was mostly serendipitous; NT and I had been saying "Charles and Sarari should get romantically involved" for, I dunno, about seven Books now, and it was going So Slow (due largely to stuff like...graduate school) that I was just about to write the whole thing off. Then, when Sarari went all Apocalypse Now on us, and everyone ran back to see what had happened with Remy shooting Marchard-Renier, I was busy with stuff and didn't post for a day or so. So, NT sent me a PM noting that I hadn't posted and was/would I consider going after Sarari?
So I said, "Yes. Yes I would." And the more I thought about it the better I liked it, because it was the perfect chance to get the Charles-Sarari relationship on a...different...footing. From which eventuated a truly disturbing AIM session. (FWIW, I dialed it back quite a bit--I was considering going all the way to the "Spinal Tap 11", but it ended up being about a 7. Which is enough.) NT and Isabella were pretty sure I would get Charles killed, but invisibility and a nice high Move Silently modifier--plus sneak attack, death attack, and a complete disregard for one's personal safety--ended up making it about an even matchup.
Anyway. As is now more than apparent to all, I was very pleased with how that bit turned out.
The other two "fight" scenes made up for it, in some degree, because Charles did nothing useful in either (except absorb several obelisk attacks which might otherwise have zapped people, which is actually pretty useful, but not what you would call "heroic".) The puzzles at the manor (how do we get in? How do we open the path to the basement?) were pretty cool because they were implied, rather than overt, puzzles. (Kudos to Rock for working them out, btw.) There seemed to be an effort to allow fighter-types (direct damage), spellcasters (damage or dispel) and rogue-types (Disable Device) to get their licks in, which I appreciated.
I confess, I do not understand the relationship between Devereux's attempt (if he was in any way controlling it?) to open the gate to Somewhere Awful and the rest of the campaign. From her actions (and lack of action) it would seem Menetnashte (as we must now call her) approved of this--but why, and what does it have to do with Beherith and the Ultimate Goal of the Campaign, which, at long last, we have learned?
So, some answers, a bunch of questions, and a lot of psychodrama. Overall, I'd rate the Book a pretty nice success.
Sorry about the map, lostboy, by the way. That encounter was mostly serendipitous; NT and I had been saying "Charles and Sarari should get romantically involved" for, I dunno, about seven Books now, and it was going So Slow (due largely to stuff like...graduate school) that I was just about to write the whole thing off. Then, when Sarari went all Apocalypse Now on us, and everyone ran back to see what had happened with Remy shooting Marchard-Renier, I was busy with stuff and didn't post for a day or so. So, NT sent me a PM noting that I hadn't posted and was/would I consider going after Sarari?
So I said, "Yes. Yes I would." And the more I thought about it the better I liked it, because it was the perfect chance to get the Charles-Sarari relationship on a...different...footing. From which eventuated a truly disturbing AIM session. (FWIW, I dialed it back quite a bit--I was considering going all the way to the "Spinal Tap 11", but it ended up being about a 7. Which is enough.) NT and Isabella were pretty sure I would get Charles killed, but invisibility and a nice high Move Silently modifier--plus sneak attack, death attack, and a complete disregard for one's personal safety--ended up making it about an even matchup.
Anyway. As is now more than apparent to all, I was very pleased with how that bit turned out.
The other two "fight" scenes made up for it, in some degree, because Charles did nothing useful in either (except absorb several obelisk attacks which might otherwise have zapped people, which is actually pretty useful, but not what you would call "heroic".) The puzzles at the manor (how do we get in? How do we open the path to the basement?) were pretty cool because they were implied, rather than overt, puzzles. (Kudos to Rock for working them out, btw.) There seemed to be an effort to allow fighter-types (direct damage), spellcasters (damage or dispel) and rogue-types (Disable Device) to get their licks in, which I appreciated.
I confess, I do not understand the relationship between Devereux's attempt (if he was in any way controlling it?) to open the gate to Somewhere Awful and the rest of the campaign. From her actions (and lack of action) it would seem Menetnashte (as we must now call her) approved of this--but why, and what does it have to do with Beherith and the Ultimate Goal of the Campaign, which, at long last, we have learned?
So, some answers, a bunch of questions, and a lot of psychodrama. Overall, I'd rate the Book a pretty nice success.
[b]FEAR JUSTICE.[/b] :elena:
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NeoTiamat
- Evil Genius
- Posts: 4119
- Joined: Tue Sep 12, 2006 5:00 pm
- Gender: Male
- Location: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Before events get out of hand, Devereux's summoning attempt was mostly a result of his own, rather specific transformation in Kamarn-Quse (I can't say he went crazy, since he was crazy before. Now he's sane...ish.) Nothing more, nothing less.
Menetnashte probably wouldn't have been too upset if he'd succeeded, mind you.
Menetnashte probably wouldn't have been too upset if he'd succeeded, mind you.
Ravenloft GM: Eye of Anubis, Shattered City, and Prof. Lupescu's Traveling Ghost Show
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Lead Writer & Editor: VRS Files: Doppelgangers; Contributor: QtR #20, #21, #22, #23, #24
Freelance Writer for Paizo Publishing
Yo.
Okay, lesse. The book as a whole was really solid; everyone got a chance to indulge in a little mind wanking, which is a secret love of many a PC, and frankly it was a trip to a bizarre, alien environment. People were literally going mad left and right and on a personal note, I got to look at the barrel of a gun and say, "I dare you to shoot."
Story wise, I think that this introduction of a ton of background elements was handled okay. On one hand, you got the info that needed to get out, and you gave us a hell of a surprise with the Anubite's secret identity, and kudos on that. I honestly didn't see it coming. (I figured she was Menishante's descendant.) On the other hand, the sheer infodump was kind of overwhelming, and I can't help but think that there was a missed opportunity here. You could have conveyed menace more efficiently with a tie to one of the grand old villains of D&D; one of the arch-devils would have been particularly appropriate to have been the Dynasty's secret patron, or even Demogorgon. One of the benefits of named villains like that is that you can immediately get the idea that this is some serious stuff going on here instead of just hoping your players sell the unique devil you've made up.
Now, with the dungeon we just got through, we're certainly going to sell Belrith, but I'm just saying. This was the time to have a subtle reference if you were going to use one. But don't get me wrong: it worked. And I tell stories differently than you guys, so.
The encounters: I admit part of me thought, "Wow I wish this was 4E." the whole time. This comes back to one simple mechanic, the revised saving throw. You at least have a SHOT to beat just about any mind-twisting attack once a round, and man is that a liberating feeling. I know it sounds petty, but there it is.
On the other hand, maybe we're just crying about the difficult level. It certainly went up a notch-I felt like, wow, I could really get killed here. And I was okay with that. It was a legitimately hard and potentially lethal pair of traps, and it takes guts to use that. Knowing that we literally won by a point of damage at Devereux's ritual was kind of awesome.
Also man, Lily was evil? GUY was evil? What's next, Loup being a cannibal? Snap, son, those bustas better be feeling the long cold shadow of the back of my hand sweeping all up on them, cause it's coming. (What. I can't be a little street?)
Okay, lesse. The book as a whole was really solid; everyone got a chance to indulge in a little mind wanking, which is a secret love of many a PC, and frankly it was a trip to a bizarre, alien environment. People were literally going mad left and right and on a personal note, I got to look at the barrel of a gun and say, "I dare you to shoot."
Story wise, I think that this introduction of a ton of background elements was handled okay. On one hand, you got the info that needed to get out, and you gave us a hell of a surprise with the Anubite's secret identity, and kudos on that. I honestly didn't see it coming. (I figured she was Menishante's descendant.) On the other hand, the sheer infodump was kind of overwhelming, and I can't help but think that there was a missed opportunity here. You could have conveyed menace more efficiently with a tie to one of the grand old villains of D&D; one of the arch-devils would have been particularly appropriate to have been the Dynasty's secret patron, or even Demogorgon. One of the benefits of named villains like that is that you can immediately get the idea that this is some serious stuff going on here instead of just hoping your players sell the unique devil you've made up.
Now, with the dungeon we just got through, we're certainly going to sell Belrith, but I'm just saying. This was the time to have a subtle reference if you were going to use one. But don't get me wrong: it worked. And I tell stories differently than you guys, so.
The encounters: I admit part of me thought, "Wow I wish this was 4E." the whole time. This comes back to one simple mechanic, the revised saving throw. You at least have a SHOT to beat just about any mind-twisting attack once a round, and man is that a liberating feeling. I know it sounds petty, but there it is.
On the other hand, maybe we're just crying about the difficult level. It certainly went up a notch-I felt like, wow, I could really get killed here. And I was okay with that. It was a legitimately hard and potentially lethal pair of traps, and it takes guts to use that. Knowing that we literally won by a point of damage at Devereux's ritual was kind of awesome.
Also man, Lily was evil? GUY was evil? What's next, Loup being a cannibal? Snap, son, those bustas better be feeling the long cold shadow of the back of my hand sweeping all up on them, cause it's coming. (What. I can't be a little street?)