An Introductory Adventure

[Majestic]

I don't think that's a bad thing. I just watched a really bad episode of Star Trek: TNG with my daughter today (called "The Outrageous Okona"); I don't think I'd seen that one since the 80s (and I fell asleep during it, it was so bad).

The point being that the main character (NPC) they introduced was this roguish cad who clearly had a fondness (and weakness) around the ladies. I could see a character like that having an increased Tolerance for the fairer sex.

[Rich H]

So I'm revisiting everything, and it's starting to bother me a bit that Rathwulf's tolerance goes up for females... it's supposed to represent a sort of vulnerability in Rathwulf, but maybe I should take it out/change it... I don't want people getting the wrong idea.

Thoughts?

I think it's fine. It's only similar to particular Cultures raising and lowering Tolerance.

[Rue]

Hmmm, I can see Tolerance increasing for females being a culturally appropriate thing in this context, but when I thought about it reversed (say if Rathwulf was more tolerant of males), it bothered me a *little*. A very little. I don't think it's going to ruin the experience for anyone if you leave it, and again, it does fit within context.

[zedturtle]

Hmmm, I can see Tolerance increasing for females being a culturally appropriate thing in this context, but when I thought about it reversed (say if Rathwulf was more tolerant of males), it bothered me a *little*. A very little. I don't think it's going to ruin the experience for anyone if you leave it, and again, it does fit within context.

Hmmm... Maybe it would be better if it was just Woodmen and Beornings that raised Tolerance, the only trouble with that is that it makes Rathwulf and Torbald have the same prejudices (that's not unrealistic per se, just less interesting).

OR, perhaps more interestingly, he'd be more likely to talk to strangers than his own folks... thinking he can trick a Daleman or an Elf maid more likely than another Beorning...

[Rue]

OR, perhaps more interestingly, he'd be more likely to talk to strangers than his own folks... thinking he can trick a Daleman or an Elf maid more likely than another Beorning...

Oh, I like that idea! Takes out the gendering of the tolerance, but still makes it different than the others.

[zedturtle]

Speaking of gender, I'm thinking a 3-5 split Female-Male is ok, with all of the backgrounds written to accommodate easy gender-flipping if needed.

I'm going for eight pregens: 2 Scholars, 1 Slayer, 1 Treasure Hunter, 2 Wanderers and 2 Wardens.

[Looping]

Zed, do you have to have Adobe Creative Suite to use the template you created?
Is there another template out there (even a simpler one) that someone has made available?
I have tried this viewtopic.php?f=7&t=530&p=4389&hilit=template#p4389 but it does not seem to be functionning properly (or maybe I just don't know who to use the document).
My computer skills aren't that great so I may be have the wrong expectations/wrong way to go about using the files. Do you have a suggestion to help?

Thanks.

[zedturtle]

At the very least, you'll need Adobe InDesign. Be aware that Adobe does offer a 30-day trial, but all of the CS programs have a learning curve to them. For example, people often want to treat InDesign as a composition program (ala Word) but it is an assembly program, designed to bring different assets (text/pictures/graphics) together and put into a format for some kind of publishing.

EDIT: What I mean by that is that it's best to have a very clear idea of the end state and have all the pieces worked out before you start working in InDesign, especially if you're going to be fighting the double whammy of a time limit and a learning curve.

Of course, this is a sort "do what I say, not what I do" thing because I'm always thinking visually and rearranging stuff...way too early in most cases, but I just like the look of a "finished" page, even if it's not really finished.

Let me know if there's any more specific questions you have.

- - - - - - - -

And since I'm here... I've sent a preview version of the "final" version out to some select individuals... Based on feedback I've received so far, I'm going to do a bit more expansion and I think the final thing will be 16 pages, with art, maps and sample characters included.

[Looping]

EDIT: What I mean by that is that it's best to have a very clear idea of the end state and have all the pieces worked out before you start working in InDesign, especially if you're going to be fighting the double whammy of a time limit and a learning curve.

Yeah… I am nowhere near close to having all my materials ready! What I have so far is a prologue and the introductory scenario of what I envision will be a 7 or 8-part campaign…
It is taking me a while because I am trying to make it as cannon as possible. Plus, I do not have a large group to test out my scenarios, unfortunately.

Thanks for the speedy response.

[MattG]

I started thinking about the way to incorporate the Festival into our game, which seems pretty natural at first but then I stumbled across unexpected obstacle (which I planted myself in the past).
I realized a different way we thought about the Beornings lifestyle in the game. Before, I didn't find in the books about them being farmers planting, grow and harvesting large amounts of crops. I don’t think, unless I overlooked, there is anything about working in the fields at all. It wasn't obvious to me maybe because of my urban background.

It seemed to me they raise horses, cattle and tend to bee-farms in Beorn’s footsteps but instead working in the fields they are primarily hunters and fisherman patrolling the land, guarding the crossing and collected taxes from travelers are their fair compensation for “military service”, providing safety to the region. From the land descriptions in the books it’s mostly grassland with flowers, trees and the bee pastures around isolated farms. They surely need the flour to bake their cakes and biscuits but the festival and the theme around the Sickle of the Full Moon implies harvesting crops is a huge part of their culture and the way of everyday life. That is not how I introduced the culture to players and especially to the Beorning PC. I assumed any farming would be limited to small scale family operation, more like gardening, which was probably false since no one raised a question about that before me.

Any ideas how to adjust that? I am thinking to make the Festival in the adventure for the first time in history or maybe second since it’s best for Beorn to be absent at the time of theft. The farming in the vale is becoming more popular, safe and is advertised to followers by the Skin-changer and his thanes instead relaying on hunting and rising animals for meat and skin (which in the Wilderland was probably more regionally common at the time).
Am I on the good track or should I explain my mistake to players and retrospectively adjust the farming aspect of the culture?