tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post209772657750290218..comments2024-03-29T07:58:31.156-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: REVIEW: BarrowmazeJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-58873072868237308562012-02-28T06:12:40.583-05:002012-02-28T06:12:40.583-05:00Can you give an example of a combat encounter? I a...Can you give an example of a combat encounter? I ask because most dungeon encounters I come across are in featureless square rooms - or worse still, through the doorway of the room. I need encounters with interesting environments (even if it's just furnishing) and maps that encourage movement rather than chokepoints.Marasmusinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656321521663281621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-68616566543032764152012-02-28T00:57:18.890-05:002012-02-28T00:57:18.890-05:00The sample player-characters in the back of the bo...The sample player-characters in the back of the book are all level 1.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-19425529956786751402012-02-24T10:30:45.236-05:002012-02-24T10:30:45.236-05:00That may very well be, but skills aren't learn...That may very well be, but skills aren't learned in isolation. Brief advice, or pointers to advice, can help people develop these skills (or at least be thoughtful about them) if they don't already have them or don't already have them well developed.Viktorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04867648528753994863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-30271501034033111432012-02-24T09:09:43.622-05:002012-02-24T09:09:43.622-05:00Yeah, I'm pretty much sold on the print versio...Yeah, I'm pretty much sold on the print version. Another dungeon for the pile...Wayne R.https://www.blogger.com/profile/04118962136054206381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-60547994918442638652012-02-23T20:33:03.487-05:002012-02-23T20:33:03.487-05:00Just waiting for the print version!Just waiting for the print version!Keith Sloanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319879076978887933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-31271755139260204232012-02-23T16:54:03.285-05:002012-02-23T16:54:03.285-05:00I thought Stonehell addressed this well with the h...I thought Stonehell addressed this well with the huge listing of "dungeons dressing" in its appendix.Will Mistrettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18403399118961902073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-43471822718323080592012-02-23T16:52:16.801-05:002012-02-23T16:52:16.801-05:00Very nice. I'll definitely be ordering this ne...Very nice. I'll definitely be ordering this new print edition soon.Will Mistrettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18403399118961902073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-10194830124474376842012-02-23T16:50:39.111-05:002012-02-23T16:50:39.111-05:00The DM needs to be able to adjust for things like ...The DM needs to be able to adjust for things like that, on the fly if need be. It's a basic skill that an "Old School" DM needs, in my opinion.TheShadowKnowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11073693648569864707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-38877086308433884752012-02-23T16:46:35.666-05:002012-02-23T16:46:35.666-05:00I also agree. I think it's possible to find a...I also agree. I think it's possible to find a balance between too much and too little detail, and this sounds about right.TheShadowKnowshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11073693648569864707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-79315527335826621182012-02-23T15:27:26.737-05:002012-02-23T15:27:26.737-05:00Also agree.Also agree.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-79953564220771661532012-02-23T12:39:02.157-05:002012-02-23T12:39:02.157-05:00how hard is the conversion to use this with ACKs.
...<i>how hard is the conversion to use this with ACKs.</i><br /><br>Not hard at all, since ACKS is based heavily on <i>Labyrinth Lord</i>. It's not like the differences between the two games are all that significant.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-91443490019866325002012-02-23T12:38:01.667-05:002012-02-23T12:38:01.667-05:00One thing I couldn't figure out is what levels...<i>One thing I couldn't figure out is what levels is it designed for? I don't think it lists it on the cover nor did you mention it in your review.</i><br /><br>The monsters in <i>Barrowmaze</i> range from 1 to 7 HD, with most being in the 1-4 range, I'd say. That means you're probably looking at a dungeon geared for 1st to 5th level PCs, more or less.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-21072539246491111222012-02-23T12:28:49.491-05:002012-02-23T12:28:49.491-05:00how hard is the conversion to use this with ACKs. ...how hard is the conversion to use this with ACKs. thats the system we are looking at starting and this sounds like a nice spot for the players to Vacation. im guessing from the webpage that its for lower levels is there a suggested level.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08164338064534438655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-65055853860960413442012-02-23T11:46:05.276-05:002012-02-23T11:46:05.276-05:00Nice review. It sold a copy of Barrowmaze. I am re...Nice review. It sold a copy of Barrowmaze. I am reading it now ... thanks!!Jeff W. Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08172275785507310262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-16903592757391837822012-02-23T11:32:50.730-05:002012-02-23T11:32:50.730-05:00One thing I couldn't figure out is what levels...One thing I couldn't figure out is what levels is it designed for? I don't think it lists it on the cover nor did you mention it in your review. <br /><br />Also, when using a "theme" such as undead, sometimes there can be power (don't want to use the dreaded balance word) issues if a cleric/paladin or multiple turning classes are present. Any pointers within the module that address that concern?<br /><br />Thanks for the review.Richhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06259868994112526101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-31528555406028013452012-02-23T11:06:20.345-05:002012-02-23T11:06:20.345-05:00I know it's popular in old school circles nowa...<i>I know it's popular in old school circles nowadays to praise room entries that read "6 giant rats, 2 gems (25 gp each)," but, especially in a published product, I prefer a little more meat. </i><br /><br />I agree with you here. I think the concrete features of a room are often more important than the attending monsters; the urns and tables and chandeliers and all that stuff are what the PCs work with to take action. I might make my own notes that spare if I have a good mental image of a room already, but with someone else's dungeon it's very helpful to have more to build from.Colehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873430636366896071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-1299632829492898722012-02-23T10:55:45.846-05:002012-02-23T10:55:45.846-05:00James, thank you for taking the time to review.
L...James, thank you for taking the time to review.<br /><br />Lightning Source has, well, been anything less than lightning and snailmail hasn't been kind either.<br /><br />Softcover and hardcover print are nonetheless in the pipe.<br /><br />There are extras at www.barrowmaze.com and I've already begun on a second "half" dealing with mid and upper level play.Greg Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08934958487613782595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-7390320349053563742012-02-23T10:37:43.379-05:002012-02-23T10:37:43.379-05:00From the sale page:
"Buy the print copy and t...From the sale page:<br />"Buy the print copy and the .PDF is just $2.00! [Update (Feb16): Print will hopefully be available next week]"<br /><br />So at least there's that.masquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11421644393539292803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-76504187618997596992012-02-23T10:36:24.962-05:002012-02-23T10:36:24.962-05:00I agree, whole-heartedly, with your assessment. B...I agree, whole-heartedly, with your assessment. Barrowmaze is the best example I've seen of a dungeon adventure module done right. Throughout my entire gaming life I've been disappointed by published adventures, and have become an increasingly vocal critic of the design flaws that make them unsatisfactory as play aids. Barrowmaze is the first adventure module that I actually plan to use; indeed it is about to become the cornerstone in my campaign.<br /><br />With respect to Barrowmaze being a megadungeon, my understanding is that this is just the first part of the dungeon and that Greg intends to follow up with expansions. So I think it is very possible for Barrowmaze to be the foundation of a campaign and will develop into a true megadungeon campaign setting.Sean Robsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16429301144221551751noreply@blogger.com