DB2 The Crater of Umeshti is some kind of sick, awesomeness!

I just picked up my copy this morning and have read through it.
Initial impressions:

I love the layout to DB2 The Crater of Umeshti. The layout and the higher quality paper stock resemble TLG's recent Fish For Breakfast module for LA. I hope this is going to be TLG's new format as this will showoff the goodness that is C&C.

The perfect follow-up to the DB1 Haunted Highlands module in scope, but characters going into the Crater of Umeshti directly from the DB1 module will need a few extra levels of experience. The Crater would be very difficult for 1-3rd level adventurers.

The description, introduction, history and adventure hooks are perfect and fill out the Haunted Highlands setting quite nicely (although, obviosuly from the contents of DB2, there is a lot more to go!).

The first few levels of the Crater itself are small, but very well detailed and fully fleshed out. Every encounter is described with C&C's small stat blocks, and this in no way takes away from the module itself. Every encounter fully detailed is very welcome.

There is some nice new Peter Bradley art pieces in here (3 new B&W, plus the color cover and 3 maps). The half-page piece on page 8 is particularly nice and, as always, features Peter's talent of the female warrior form being beset upon by a mob of kobolds. The B&W artowrk is really good and as usual for his work, harkens back to the good ole' days of module presentation.
DB2 is more then just a module, it's a whole mini sourcebook! DB2 includes new spells (which will go into my C&C games RIGHT AWAY ~ oldies, but goodies), new magic items and a slew of monsters (especially new kobold baddies, one even with the name "Ginormous!").

Overall, DB2 The Crater of Umeshti is a good module, epeically when coupled with the previous DB1 release. DB2 learns from the slight mistakes of the earlier module attempts by use of better layout, more information within the 24 pages and high quality paper. DB2 The Crater of Umeshti is worth the price of admission.
Discussion and reviews for DB1 Haunted Highlands can be found here:
http://www.freeyabb.com/phpbb/viewtopic ... llordgames

.............................................Omote

FPQ
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

Thanks for he kind summary Omote. Glad you like it. DB3 should be right around the corner and expands the crater with another 4 levels!

Case

I have yet to buy DB2, but DB1 proved that it is "my kind of setting for adventure". In fact my kids rolled up some first levels to start in the Highlands campaign today.

The only thing I am going to change is the "kill zone" around the palisade. 100 feet is not enough for bows. Unless the perimeter was left that close so Handle could trash bowmen and such with Entangles and summoned swarms. Otherwise, cover that close, with bowmen and a decent supply of arrows would not go well for Dirty Bowbe's.

This link here in the UPCOMING section states that DB3 coming out in "March." I will playfully assume that means March 2007.
...........................................Omote

FPQ
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

Sounds good, this is on my list of things to pick up, as soon as my wallet recovers from the holidays.
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Never throw rocks at a man with a Vorpal Sword!

DB2 is on my list. I have decided where the Highlanda are going in my world and am looking forward to an adventure to go with them. Lesse with The Haunted Highlands, Yggsburgh and Airdhe (coming) C&C fans will have alot to do this coming year!
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The Lord of Ravens
My blog

My copy came into my game store. I would have picked it up, but it was blank! Well, all but the first and last pages were blank. So, I'll have to wait a few days until another one comes in.

*snorts* Now I know what Steve meant by 'printer error'.
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"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

Doh'!

Case

Was this a fluke or is this an extensive issue?

Moriarty the Red
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"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

Partner to Brave Halfling Publishing
http://www.arcanacreations.com

I just picked up Crater of Umeshti at the FLGS last night, and it doesn't appear to have any printing issues...

A quick glance is all the time I've had to give it, and like Omote, I'm very happy to see new monsters, spells, and a magic item.

just ordered this mod from rpgshop.com. Also stocked up on some other goodies by our friend Casey - Haunted Highlands and Tower of Jhedophar.

Looking forward to them all!

G

I noticed that this module isn't available in pdf yet (at least not at DrivethruRPG or RPGnow).

Will it be released in pdf? If so, when?

Thanks.
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While it is unlikely to interest most of you, here is my 'cunning' blog: http://dailyakrasia.blogspot.com/

I just picked this up at my FLGS (on sale for 20% off ). Looks good at first glance. I have yet to find time to sit down and give it a good read.
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Never throw rocks at a man with a Vorpal Sword!

I'm guessing whenever Steve-o gets back from Lake Geneva he will be getting it to PDF.

Case

man, those folks at rpgshop pissed me off. I made a spontaneous and irrational decision to buy a bunch o' modules (and two cool dice), including two NG things on sale. Ten days later (yup) I get a package with half of the modules and only one of the dice. The shipping form obliquely reveals that they were Out of Stock of both NG sale items AND the Crater of Umeshti, and another mod. Couldn't let me know that when I ordered, eh? Why'd they let me order the suckers if they didn't have 'em? As for the missing dice, they just dropped the two dice in the mailer, which naturally developed a seam where the hard plastic corners rubbed against it (yup, no interior packaging for the dice), and - presto! - one of the dice is missing in transit.

Not a very happy experience.

I know, you may be thinking - why doesn't he just shut up and re-order from TLG or NK or something. Thing is, I was breaking budget as it is and Mrs. Geleg was not pleased. Now I'll have to wait a while until the budget is repaired before I can see what Bowbe has been up to .....

sorry to rant,

G

Sorry about your crappity experience. I may have to eat those guys's liver's too. Or let you borrow my hammer to smite the shit out of them.

Once upon a time there was such a thing as GOOD customer service. Sadly that all went by the wayside somewhere in the last 10-15 years, and now nobody seems to care about doing a good job. I think this attitude is going to bite a lot of people right in the butt before too long but I feel your pain dude.

I ran into a deal at a rib joint I like(d) to go to where about 2 times in a row I got sorta crap service and sorta cold food. I complained both times and they fixed it. Third time I go in (couple months later) they "forget" to tell us that there is no Mac and Cheese for my kid. Forgot for about 40 minutes.

I got the manager, and luckily this guy DID care about his job and his business' reputation. I was calm and cool, told him abot my varied (mostly good) history eating at the chain over the last 8 years. He Comp'ed our lunch and hooked me up with $25 in gift certificates. The next time I was there... we got excellent service and enjoyed the free eats. Turns out he was the district manager of the chain and he made damned sure that the current management knew how to run the ship.

Case

RPGShop.... eyuck. I feel your pain brother-man. Craptacular, indeed.

Get you some Umeshti!

..............................................Omote

FPQ
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

I'll sneak it by Mrs Geleg one of these days. Probably package it in with some work stuff. He he.

Gotta get it soon, since the lure is in me hard - I just read Haunted Highlands and loved it!

[BTW, kudos to Bowbe for Jhedophar as well. I'm digging it a lot, even though I'm not sure when if ever I'll run it. One thing - tell your cartographer to put scale and a key on the labyrinth map next time ...]

Geleg

I just got my copy and after a very quick look through, it looks effing sweet. Great job Casey!

However, I have a question: Is there supposed to be maps in the insides of the covers? My copy doesn't seem to have any.

R-
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Rigon o' the Lakelands, Baron of The Castles & Crusades Society
The Book of the Mind

All the maps for this module ought to be in with the text.
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"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

I use FRP Games. They have always been great and have great customer service whenever I ask them to add something to their selection. Never had a problem with them in 2 years of doing business.
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Thanks Peter.

R-
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Rigon o' the Lakelands, Baron of The Castles & Crusades Society
The Book of the Mind

Weel, I just read this puppy, cover to cover, today. I must say, it's one hell of a module. I know I'd hate to be a PC trying to make it through the Sinkhole.

R-
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Rigon o' the Lakelands, Baron of The Castles & Crusades Society
The Book of the Mind

Well then Rigon, you run it and all play it. As a PC, I would love the plumb the depths of another good crawl. Bring it on!

Yeah, Crater of Umeshti is bound to go down as one of those classic dungeons, espeically when Deeper Darkness comes out.

................................................Omote

FPQ
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> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

Thanks for the kind words Omote.

After Deeper Darkness will come Dwellers of the Darkness which focuses on the Undercity of Ulgakur, the ogre mound, and some other cool locations that branch off from this level of the crater that are mentioned in DB 2 and DB 3 with previous adventure hooks fulfilled and new hooks for deeper delvers to follow up on in future descents.

Case

I can't wait!!!!! This is by far my favorite series of modules since I went through Night Below. Write faster, Bowbe, darn it!!!!

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If you are looking for something to read:
http://bit.ly/QOfso

Visit magehammer's Keep on the Weblands at http://magehammer.googlepages.com

Are yu sure you want to mess with a CK?




Amen brother, amen!

R-
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Rigon o' the Lakelands, Baron of The Castles & Crusades Society
The Book of the Mind

Yeeeaaah. Just maybe I do... don't hit me.

.............................................Omote

FPQ
_________________
> Omote's Advanced C&C stuff <
Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

R-
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Rigon o' the Lakelands, Baron of The Castles & Crusades Society
The Book of the Mind