tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post282085419768577547..comments2024-03-28T06:20:47.668-04:00Comments on GROGNARDIA: REVIEW: Skull MountainJames Maliszewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-84361989591658909182010-10-04T22:40:17.566-04:002010-10-04T22:40:17.566-04:00Thanks for the info!Thanks for the info!Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-82284787703586016802010-10-02T15:13:32.849-04:002010-10-02T15:13:32.849-04:00Question: How many total rooms, approximately (inc...<i>Question: How many total rooms, approximately (including empty ones)? I would want each separate level to have at least as many rooms as the Holmes Sample Dungeon -- like, 25 or so minimum.</i><br /><br>Unfortunately, none of the levels in the product are anywhere near that size. In fact, I don't any level has more than about a dozen rooms/areas on it and most are fewer than that. This is a very small lair-style dungeon.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-86620170081765815272010-10-02T15:11:10.999-04:002010-10-02T15:11:10.999-04:00In Holmes, it's actually the "Great Stone...<i>In Holmes, it's actually the "Great Stone Skull" on "Stone Mountain". But "Skull Mountain" is the popular name (much like "Tower of Zenopus"). And perhaps a better usage in a product like this when considering copyright. ; )</i><br /><br>Correct as always, Zenopus! I'm not sure when/where I picked up the Skull Mountain usage, but it's of long vintage, so that probably explains why so many others know what I meant, even if it's not, as you rightly point out, what is stated in the Blue Book itself.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-20913107581632617932010-10-02T15:09:36.576-04:002010-10-02T15:09:36.576-04:00So, how many levels is it then? I'm assuming i...<i>So, how many levels is it then? I'm assuming it doesn't have the Domed City.</i><br /><br>Counting sub-levels, there are 9 levels in total, but most are quite small. The domes are there on Level 7, but, again, they're very small -- not a "domed city" as in Holmes but more like a series of domed buildings on an island in the lake on the lowest level.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-36546342935556520592010-10-02T15:06:32.895-04:002010-10-02T15:06:32.895-04:00Isn't that what you're trying to do with t...<i>Isn't that what you're trying to do with the upcoming Dwimmermount product?<br /><br />I know you plan on presenting it much like In Search of the Unknown, but that is obviously a commercial product, no?</i><br /><br>Dwimmermount is going to be an experiment. An attempt to provide a structure from which others can construct their own megadungeon, using the materials I give them in the book. It's not intended to be used straight from the page; it requires the referee to add his own details and make choices in stocking the place. I don't know if this approach will be well received. Indeed, I've already heard from a couple of people who don't see the point in my approach and that could well be the majority opinion. But I remain committed to the notion that anything calling itself a "megadungeon" can't be printed up in a ready-to-run book/module.James Maliszewskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00341941102398271464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-90012857396026676442010-10-01T15:44:49.885-04:002010-10-01T15:44:49.885-04:00@TheGrumpyCelt
Gee! I don't think that song w...@TheGrumpyCelt<br /><br />Gee! I don't think that song went through my head more than A THOUSAND times while writing this! =)<br /><br />(I even have the Skullcrusher Mt. T-Shirt from when I saw JoCo)Bigharahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14232940345429292782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-52960007347058891512010-10-01T14:01:40.727-04:002010-10-01T14:01:40.727-04:00I know its off topic, but i can't think of Sku...I know its off topic, but i can't think of Skull Mountain without thinking of this song...<br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZq2m906xzQAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00801468265072232351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-28114005580903467702010-10-01T08:09:48.296-04:002010-10-01T08:09:48.296-04:00Some of the ideas in this advanture are very creat...Some of the ideas in this advanture are very creative. Having said that, I would have preferred larger levels attached to the skull's eyes and such. I'm not talking megadungeon, just more than was provided. That's just a quibble, not a criticism. As an aside, the Time Tracker they have is wonderful.Kiltedyaksmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03462341093016199620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-76549777726375237602010-10-01T02:05:31.135-04:002010-10-01T02:05:31.135-04:00I bought it tonight and, so far (about 30 pages in...I bought it tonight and, so far (about 30 pages in), I'm very happy with this interpretation of Skull Mountain. Good backstory, mostly believable foes... I could even see adapting this to WFRP's Old World setting. Based on my reading so far, I highly recommend it.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01254215329246851683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-37052602128517074872010-10-01T01:02:25.470-04:002010-10-01T01:02:25.470-04:00My opinion is that it really should be a megadunge...My opinion is that it really should be a megadungeon. <br /><br />Question: How many total rooms, approximately (including empty ones)? I would want each separate level to have at least as many rooms as the Holmes Sample Dungeon -- like, 25 or so minimum.Deltahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00705402326320853684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-77977385987561166032010-09-30T23:16:32.508-04:002010-09-30T23:16:32.508-04:00In Holmes, it's actually the "Great Stone...In Holmes, it's actually the "Great Stone Skull" on "Stone Mountain". But "Skull Mountain" is the popular name (much like "Tower of Zenopus"). And perhaps a better usage in a product like this when considering copyright. ; )<br /><br />Since the text of the Holmes rulebook makes no specific reference to the SM cross-section, I've wondered whether Holmes or someone else at TSR designed it (Sutherland, perhaps?). The cross-section is clearly an update of the rougher one in Underworld & Wilderness Adventures, which seems like an editorial decision. And there is a feature resembling "The Pit" in Holmes’ Maze of Peril, as well as an underground city (Dagonites!). So perhaps Holmes designed it rather than just telling the artist to "put an updated cross-section here".<br /><br />Interestingly, a "Great Stone Skull" appears in the the Conan story “Shadows in the Skull” by L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter. It's in a southern region (south of Zembabwei) and is home to a city of serpent-folk. This story is most easily found in the book Conan of Aquilonia (1977), a compilation of four Conan stories, but was first published as the headline story in the February 1975 issue of Fantastic magazine. This places the story’s first publication well before that of the Holmes Basic Set in 1977. This story was later illustrated in King Conan #4 (Marvel, Dec 1980). Holmes once contracted with L. Sprague De Camp to write a Conan sequel set in Africa (“Conan on the River of Doom”), though it was canceled before he finished it.Zenopushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04423199583499955572noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-49533017936325124302010-09-30T16:24:32.917-04:002010-09-30T16:24:32.917-04:00just bought it, going to print it out tonight, and...just bought it, going to print it out tonight, and then slowly read it a few times. When i find time i'll give it a play.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11558492021637279803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-26649500739503930212010-09-30T15:55:03.517-04:002010-09-30T15:55:03.517-04:00The domes are there. =)The domes are there. =)Bigharahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14232940345429292782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-60445592367757420552010-09-30T15:44:16.335-04:002010-09-30T15:44:16.335-04:00Based upon my perusal of the pdf preview, I felt t...Based upon my perusal of the pdf preview, I felt the same appreciation and excitement about Jeff's fine product.<br /><br />It appeared to me in looking at the cross-section at the beginning of the module, that the domed city was indeed there, although not (understandably) shown to scale in the illustration. If it's not actually detailed within, I think that's fine in light of providing the DM with a place to develop for themselves within the context of the adventure.migellitohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17106614212764056058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-7253328649092726732010-09-30T15:16:32.580-04:002010-09-30T15:16:32.580-04:00So, how many levels is it then? I'm assuming ...So, how many levels is it then? I'm assuming it doesn't have the Domed City.Matthew Slepinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04056247825064943944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-32318506141632711202010-09-30T14:40:07.492-04:002010-09-30T14:40:07.492-04:00@Evan, have you taken a look at Stonehell Dungeon?...@Evan, have you taken a look at Stonehell Dungeon? In my opinion, it's perhaps the best megadungeon published to date and can be purchased on Lulu. Our current group is currently exploring it and it is huge! Check out the review here on Grognardia: http://grognardia.blogspot.com/2009/11/review-stonehell-dungeon.htmlFandomaniachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15218040154798820117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-38198522765695589592010-09-30T12:34:50.737-04:002010-09-30T12:34:50.737-04:00"I'm still not yet convinced that a true ..."I'm still not yet convinced that a true megadungeon can be presented in a commercial product anyway..."<br /><br />Isn't that what you're trying to do with the upcoming Dwimmermount product?<br /><br />I know you plan on presenting it much like In Search of the Unknown, but that is obviously a commercial product, no?Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-2651974357355837762010-09-30T12:12:55.838-04:002010-09-30T12:12:55.838-04:00James,
Your comments vis-a-vis the difference bet...James,<br /><br />Your comments vis-a-vis the difference between "lair" and "mega" dungeons are interesting; they clarify for me why megadungeons bored me early on in my gaming life, and why I prefer the smaller lair type. Back then, at least, a dungeon had to make sense in the context of the world. If it was just a series of random rooms and monsters, it grew boring. Lair dungeons were more "authentic" and natural-seeming to me.<br /><br />That said, your Dwimmermount write ups have been doing a great job of showing the potential inherent in a megadungeon setting, making it interesting to me again.<br /><br />Oh, and I plan to buy this, too. :)Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01254215329246851683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-41568541288751089872010-09-30T11:54:17.560-04:002010-09-30T11:54:17.560-04:00Thanks for the kind review James!
Yes, the megad...Thanks for the kind review James! <br /><br />Yes, the megadungeon was tempting, but –as you've mentioned before– problematic in published form. Also, we monkeys are suckers for Gygaxian Naturalism! <br /><br />@blizack. Funny you should mention PDF only. Look for more news about that in the near-to-immediate future!Bigharahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14232940345429292782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7487871339000666216.post-83447351218157899622010-09-30T10:43:03.044-04:002010-09-30T10:43:03.044-04:00Why was I not consulted?!
Seriously, though, this...Why was I not consulted?!<br /><br />Seriously, though, this sounds like something I might pick up. Too bad it's only in PDF format - running games off my laptop is a pain for me.letsdamagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02145102722055581254noreply@blogger.com