Issue 15

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 3:36 pm

Another kick ass issue of the Crusader.

A Darker Shade of Ale.....Awesome.

Welcome to the Conquered East.....Awesome

Hlobane orcs.....Awesome.

I'm on my 2nd read through the magazine now. 36 pages of goodness.

James M. Ward · Post by **James M. Ward** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:04 pm

Thank you very much for those kind words. We all worked very hard on issue #15 and there is lots more to come in future issues that will be even better. We at Troll Lords deeply appreciate your kind words.

best,

James "Subscribe Now" Ward

Managing Editor

CRUSADER

MacLeod · Post by **MacLeod** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:28 pm

Y'all make me feel bad cuz I can't afford a subscription yet.
But that will change!

O IT WILL.
_________________
In this world of LIES... the TRUTH, it means RESISTANCE!

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Feb 09, 2009 6:55 pm

Yes a very good issue. Loved the Haunted Highlands insights, as well as all of the Aihrde material. Not that it is any real issue but the name of maps of mystery section (Troll Lord Freebies) is... blechy. UNLESS this section turns out to be other fun freebie-like items other than just maps. That would be cool.
Keep crankin' 'em out! Crusader is defintely on the uptick and that is impressive since it was even getting better 6 issues ago.
-O

Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:53 am

Another great issue guys, keep up the good work.
_________________
Never throw rocks at a man with a Vorpal Sword!

CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:09 am

No, this was not another great issue ...

It was the BEST!!!

imho
It was what I hoped Crusader would eventually become. And now it is.
_________________
The Rock says ...

Know your roll!

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:40 am

Shucks, mine came in the mail on Sat, but I was so excited to be CK'ing that night (after a long hiatus) that I completely forgot about this issue.

Yayyy, I'll be reading it tomorrow!!!

_________________
Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

Ogden Twohorn · Post by **Ogden Twohorn** » Wed Feb 11, 2009 3:34 am

Just had to pipe in, I agree...this was the best issue of Crusader so far. Very enjoyable read and it seems to have a different feel to it. Can't quite place my finger on it yet, but very well done!

One happy subscriber

James M. Ward · Post by **James M. Ward** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:02 pm

People,

Again I would like to thank you for your kind words on CRUSADER. I'm also looking for a bit more feedback. Please review 15 and tell me what you think of the various features. For example I enjoy writing the game reviews, but if none of you like them, I shouldn't be doing them. Please give your opinions and don't worry if people agree or disagree with you. I want to hear what the readers of the magazine think and this is the only way to get that done.

James M. Ward

Managing Editor

CRUSADER

Julian Grimm · Post by **Julian Grimm** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:52 pm

Just off the top of my head...I liked the free maps but Id didn't like the name used. Unless TLG is going to add more than just maps in the freebies. Also I feel the freebies should be a pull out or 'loose extra' rather than stuck in the middle of the mag. The free tiles from FDG suffered from the same problem.

The game reviews rock. They have made me be on the look out for games I wouldn't have known about in the beginning. Keep them but try to get better images of the games. Some of them were grainy and hard to make out.

I also had hoped we wouldn't see the con blog any more. Nothing against Hudson but I feel this would do better on the website. As well Tim's article seemed more of a rant against the dreaded new skool than anything. I don't like hearing these tired old arguments that drove me away from certain sites in my favorite magazine. Tim is a great writer and I hope he sticks to the history of the game and tales of the old days rather than things like this.

Finally, The C&C society needs some mention or space in the Crusader.

As a whole though the magazine was well polished and very well done. Jim, your articles much like Steve's are something I look forward to. Over all this was the best issue ever besides my little quibbles.
_________________
The Lord of Ravens
My blog

James M. Ward · Post by **James M. Ward** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 2:14 pm

On the C&C Society, I totally agree, could one all decide on someone to write me an 800 word piece telling everyone about the society and I will get it in the next issue.

James M. Ward

Managing Editor

CRUSADER

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:25 pm

Not that much a fan of the game reviews, because frankly all of that stuff can be found online (boardgamegeek, etc.). What I personally like to come to the Crusader for new material for the game that we love. This could be in the form of crunch, stories, adventures, TLG setting information, magic items, world-building, insider news on future C&C/TLG items, random charts, and the like.

But that is just what I like the Crusader for.

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

seskis281 · Post by **seskis281** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 3:49 pm

James M. Ward wrote:
On the C&C Society, I totally agree, could one all decide on someone to write me an 800 word piece telling everyone about the society and I will get it in the next issue.

James M. Ward

Managing Editor

CRUSADER

I'm on this - I will write asap and send to you Jim. I'm also trying to finish two other higher-level short adventures, but got behind on these, for future submissions - hoping to carve out some time to finish those this week and weekend.

_________________
John "Sir Seskis" Wright

Ilshara: Lands of Exile:
http://johnwright281.tripod.com/

High Squire of the C&C Society
www.cncsociety.org

dachda · Post by **dachda** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 4:40 pm

Omote wrote:
Not that much a fan of the game reviews, because frankly all of that stuff can be found online (boardgamegeek, etc.). What I personally like to come to the Crusader for new material for the game that we love. This could be in the form of crunch, stories, adventures, TLG setting information, magic items, world-building, insider news on future C&C/TLG items, random charts, and the like.

But that is just what I like the Crusader for.

-O

I agree with Omote on all his points.
_________________
Sir Dachda McKinty,

Margrave and Knight of Portlandia
Castles & Crusades Society

huds0n · Post by **huds0n** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 9:55 pm

Ouch, thrown under the bus. *cries*
_________________
Richard McBain

Trolllord Games

Convention Coordinator

Executive Director - TrollCon, Winter Dark
richard@trolllord.com

------------------------------------------

ALEA IACTA EST - THE DIE IS CAST

Julian Grimm · Post by **Julian Grimm** » Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:00 pm

huds0n wrote:
Ouch, thrown under the bus. *cries*

Now, don't be that way. I actually have made comments against the convention blog being in the mag for some time. Your writing was good in fact I'd like to see more from you.
_________________
The Lord of Ravens
My blog

Tadhg · Post by **Tadhg** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:57 am

I enjoyed Tim's column and I'm glad to see him join the staff. I very much look forward to his next entry.

As for Jim's game reviews . . fantastic! While I agree with Omote about the boardgamegeek site and others that have reviews, reading something from an expert game designer and author is far more important for me personally.

I like the CON article from hudsOn.

If fact, what I really like is the overall mix of articles/columns.

Oh and yeah, glad to read Joe Damiani's stuff.

The cover artwork continues to be fabulous.

My only thought there, is - can we get Rowena, Tom Wham and Darlene to do some future covers or any other interior artwork?

How about artwork from Jaybird, Glad and ATOM??? Fantastic artists, IMO!

"Well Done"!!! to the Crusader staff.

_________________
Count Rhuveinus - Lejendary Keeper of Castle Franqueforte

"Enjoy a 'world' where the fantastic is fact and magic really works!" ~ Gary Gygax

"By the pricking of my thumbs, Something wicked this way comes:" - Macbeth

Julian Grimm · Post by **Julian Grimm** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 2:08 am

I miss the trolls comic. And, I'm sorry, but Tom Wham's cartoons make very little sense to me. I feel like I'm missing an inside joke when I read them.
_________________
The Lord of Ravens
My blog

gideon_thorne · Post by **gideon_thorne** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 7:15 am

Ok. I got one. This one for Tim Kask who wanted something to talk about. Perhaps some anecdotal stories about the people behind the early TSR company? Lots of folks seem to like bits and bobs on development of the game, but I, for one, like to hear about the people behind the iconic legends.

After all, its the people behind the company that help me decide whether I work for em or not, not what they can offer me. ^_^
_________________
"We'll go out through the kitchen!" Tanis Half-Elven

Peter Bradley

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:20 pm

My issue sits on my desk 'mocking' me. I haven't had much time to read it since I got it. I've started to and thumbed through and it looks great. Hopefully I'll have a better chance this weekend.

M
_________________
"You face Death itself in the form of... 1d4 Tarrasques!"

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

Frost · Post by **Frost** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 2:46 pm

I chime in here. I could do without the book reviews, but I like the game reviews, particularly since they are limited to games that Jim actually likes. My wife and a lof of my friends like games, but not RPGs, so I find it interesting to hear about board games, card games, etc. that are worth checking out.
_________________
Lord Frost

Baron of the Pitt
Castles & Crusades Society
The Dungeoneering Dad

Bowbe · Post by **Bowbe** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:21 am

Quote:
Welcome to the Conquered East.....Awesome

Haha. Dunno about all that but thanks! I got a quick read through of it the other day before my gamers snatched it up and wouldnt give it back. Now I'm annoyed because I want to finish reading it. Of course I told them to help me out and get their own subscription and they laughed at me! "That's what we got you for dude." Haha.

As my primary playtest group for all things C&C and mostly HH, they got a chuckle about the article and we all named a certain name at the same time that will undoubtedly end up in a project or another I am working on.

I may be in the "in" and often times "in the know" as far as a lot of great C&C stuff is concerned but the truth is, The Crusader has become as valuable to me when I'm running a game as issues of Dragon used to be twenty five years ago. As a relative newcomer when it comes to submitting material for the mag, I can say I'm thrilled to be working with Jim Ward... just wow right? Jim does an awesome job and is a great help to those of us who want to grow in our writing craft!

Case

CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:06 am

A review of Crusader #15:

First of all it's bigger. Says right there on the cover, "Now 36 Pages!"

Cover art could have been worse. Just check out Kobold Quarterly #2. Blech. I think we're done with pictures of towers for the time being though. Grade:C+

The editorial by James M. Ward was decent. I liked how he related actual experience of WoW into it. I myself played WoW and found myself going "oh, yup." throughout. Grade:B

Deluxe editorial by Stephen Chenault was pretty good. Especially as an insight to how the xp system of C&C was formed. Grade:B+

Dragon Grumbles by Tim Kask. I liked this one, and it stayed almost in theme with the first editorial without sounding like a clone column. Grade:B

I couldnt tell if the Fat Dragon E-Z tile terrain was an actual article or a full page ad. I liked it though (I like ads, its how I discovered some of my favorite book companies). Grade:C+

Red Dragon Inn game review was also pretty good. I had only just picked the box up in my FLGS a week before getting this issue so it was personally timely. I'm not in the market for another card game but when I am I may hunt this one down. Grade:B+

Somebody check out the new Talisman and review it, please.
A Darker Shade of Ale was awesome! John William Wright can come drink my beer. Cant say enough good things about this except that I hope there are more to come in future issues. Grade:A

I Found Mark's Mechanics to be an interesting read but I cant figure out how I will use the information in it. I gave up game designing long ago. Maybe someone else will find the information useful. Grade:C+

Now, an admission of sorts. I've been skipping or skim-reading the Aihrdian Chronicles since issue 5. I'm not keen on it as a setting though I find no particular faults with it. I know this is really gravy for the fans of Rings of Brass so I'll pass on grading it.

My copy had some typeset issues with a few words appearing in the corner of the illustration. on page 15. No biggie.

The Troll Lord Freebies were quite nice. I actually ran off the first side and used it with our Towers of Adventure to come up with a really thick tower game one night.

Ready to Serve NPCs was another homerun! Some people may think this is filler but this is stuff I love to see. One of my favorite articles in KoDT is the good, bad, and the ugly wherein three thematically linked characters are introduced as well as the various "who you meet in a tavern" type articles they run. Really love this stuff. Grade:A

Cast a Deadly Spell was a downright useful article as that is something we try to do a lot at our game table. Ever since somebody around here figured out that some of the D&D spells were named after somebodys characters everyone wants their wizard to have his own spell. Grade:A

Welcome to the Conquered East by Casey Christofferson was pretty neat. I like the DB series of modules (now my favorite series) and appreciated the story of "them early days of C&C". Garde:A-

The Angry Gamer is usually my favorite column but seemed off this month. Grade: C+

Convention Blog is another one I skip. I used to read it up until last year when I realised there was not a chance in hell I was going to get off work long enough to get to any of these places.

Monsters of Aihrde is another of my favorite pieces. Though I dont play in the RoB setting, I'll definately steal its monsters for my own. The novelty of an insane orc is rather played though. Grade:B

Inside Back Cover by Tom Wham. I laughed aloud when I saw this part. My wife and I love this game (I got the SJG version) and play it at least twice a year. Usually around a holiday. When I showed her the chart , MrsCharlie got a giggle from it. Grade: automatic A for making MrsCharlie happy.

Overall grade was a solid A. This is easily my favorite issue. Keep it up Troll Lords!
_________________
The Rock says ...

Know your roll!

Post by **Fiffergrund** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:03 pm

Charlie, that is a great breakdown. If you have the time, please continue to critique The Crusader as I think we need all the feedback we can get.

Thank you for doing it.
_________________
Sir Fiffergrund, Lord Marshal of the Castle and Crusade Society.

He Who Hides Behind The Elephant's Back

James M. Ward · Post by **James M. Ward** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:39 pm

Everyone has their own opinion. I also can stand the heat when a person says the article I wrote, "Was a little off," sigh. Feel free to go to a pass/fail system for each article to make your work easier.

However, I shudder to think what is going to happen in the April Fools issue. Oh well.

I'll give the review of the issue a solid "B."

Best,

James M. Ward

Managing Editor

CRUSADER

Subscribe please, to keep the magazine going we always need as many subscribers as possible.

Troll Lord · Post by **Troll Lord** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:16 pm

Very good of you Charlie! Appreciate it. Mark actually told me a few weeks ago he hadn't read the Aihrdian chronicles until issue 14. ha Mainly because he hates elves, but he liked that the main character was beating orcs to death with his helmet in that particular issue!

Good work and like Fiff said, we could use the input!

Steve
_________________
The High Lord, Coburg the Undying

He who sits on the elephants back

Castle and Crusade Society
troll@trolllord.com

CharlieRock · Post by **CharlieRock** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:04 am

James M. Ward wrote:
Everyone has their own opinion. I also can stand the heat when a person says the article I wrote, "Was a little off," sigh. Feel free to go to a pass/fail system for each article to make your work easier.

However, I shudder to think what is going to happen in the April Fools issue. Oh well.

I'll give the review of the issue a solid "B."

Best,

James M. Ward

Managing Editor

CRUSADER

Subscribe please, to keep the magazine going we always need as many subscribers as possible.

Your all very welcome and a big thanks to you as well.
Does this mean the April issues will have a fool's day theme, like some of the Dragon issues? That would be almost as awesome as Phil Foglio doing the cover.

I'm usually accused of grading harshly so to everyone out there, a C is pretty good. I could fill endless voids of outer space with the Fs I come across. I could go with a pass/fail model next time. Especially if that would be easier to understandon your end.
I do subscribe, and proudly. I even take it to work so people in the breakroom have to ask me about it. If it had a chinstrap I'd wear it.
_________________
The Rock says ...

Know your roll!

Taranthyll · Post by **Taranthyll** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:17 am

Well, I just spend an hour writing up my thoughts on this issue (which only just arrived at my game store this week), only to have it disappear into the void because the forum logged me off while I was writing it. I won't be doing that again.

Post by **Fiffergrund** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 12:12 pm

Taranthyll wrote:
Well, I just spend an hour writing up my thoughts on this issue (which only just arrived at my game store this week), only to have it disappear into the void because the forum logged me off while I was writing it. I won't be doing that again.

Ugh. This forum issue is hitting critical mass.

I'm sorry you lost all of that work, both for you since it was a waste of time and energy, and for the rest of us who could use the long critique.

Please don't let this discourage you. Comments are so valuable that I wouldn't want a stupid forum to get in the way. Perhaps writing your thoughts offline in a Word file, and then pasting them in here would prevent the problem in the future? Then, if the forum still wasn't cooperating, you could at least attach and send them to Steve and Jim directly.
_________________
Sir Fiffergrund, Lord Marshal of the Castle and Crusade Society.

He Who Hides Behind The Elephant's Back

dachda · Post by **dachda** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 2:53 pm

Fiffergrund wrote:
Ugh. This forum issue is hitting critical mass.

I'm sorry you lost all of that work, both for you since it was a waste of time and energy, and for the rest of us who could use the long critique.

Please don't let this discourage you. Comments are so valuable that I wouldn't want a stupid forum to get in the way. Perhaps writing your thoughts offline in a Word file, and then pasting them in here would prevent the problem in the future? Then, if the forum still wasn't cooperating, you could at least attach and send them to Steve and Jim directly.

I've had my thoughts laboriously written out in other forums only to find the forum crashed or logged out on me too. If I have a long note to write, I do what Fif suggests, write it out in Word, then copy and paste into the forum. You'll never have a problem that way. Still sucks this time though.
_________________
Sir Dachda McKinty,

Margrave and Knight of Portlandia
Castles & Crusades Society