The Harbinger Variant -- Demoing C&C

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 12:39 am

Go0gleplex wrote:
Same here

That's exactly what I got today - very slick package! Can't wait to dive into it next week and set up a demo night at my LGS.

Shenron · Post by **Shenron** » Sat Jul 17, 2010 2:30 am

I just got mine in the mail today as well. My included the following...

Harbinger Variant Instruction Sheet

Four (4) Quick-Start Rule Booklets

S2: Dwarven Glory Module

4th Print Player's Handbook (softcover)

Six (6) Order Forms

Worlds of Epic Adventure! 2010 Catalog (colorized)

Ten (10) Business Cards

Seven (7) Contact Cards

I am really excited to get going on this, I already have plans to run my first demo in a few weeks! I am working on the sign up sheet. To bad mine did not include the artwork of Steve Killing a bear, that would have been epic!

Thanks Kim!
_________________
Mongol General: "Conan! What is best in life?"

Conan: "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their women."

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 4:40 pm

Okay, the Dwarven Glory module has three short adventures. Which one are you fellers planning to run? Or are you gonna run more than one?

I think I'm going to demo with "Wrym Well" - I really like the way it reads and the dungeon layout, and it is for 3-5 2nd level characters. What about the rest of you?

Are there other modules that might make for a better demo?

seskis281 · Post by **seskis281** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 4:44 pm

I've used the Winding Stair for a demo last Feb. at a local con and it worked really, really well - I used the pre-gens from the C&C society tourney at GenCon, because it's for 3-4 level characters, tho now I know TLG has some of their own pre-gens, I believe at this level.

Again, Winding Stair is my recommendation.
_________________
John "Sir Seskis" Wright

Ilshara: Lands of Exile:
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www.cncsociety.org

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 5:06 pm

seskis281 wrote:
I've used the Winding Stair for a demo last Feb. at a local con and it worked really, really well - I used the pre-gens from the C&C society tourney at GenCon, because it's for 3-4 level characters, tho now I know TLG has some of their own pre-gens, I believe at this level.

Again, Winding Stair is my recommendation.

Yeah, that was my second choice - tough monsters! But if others chime in and recommend it, then I'll go with it. Thanks man.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 8:26 pm

I have run all three of these modules, and I think the Winding Stair is my favorite.

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

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Sun Jul 18, 2010 10:06 pm

Omote wrote:
I have run all three of these modules, and I think the Winding Stair is my favorite.

~O

It's a little sparse - did you add any encounters?

moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 2:18 am

hedgeknight wrote:
Yeah, that was my second choice - tough monsters! But if others chime in and recommend it, then I'll go with it. Thanks man.

I ran the Wyrm Well as a demo I did a couple of years back (it was originally part of the Free RPG Quickstart in the second year). The store got me the copy of the QS a day or two early to prepare for it and I went so far as preparing various rooms using Dundjinni to make 'battle maps'. Not necessary of course but I figured a few extra 'visuals' are always nice.

It was a complete success but it was also a rough day.
M
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hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:30 am

I like Wyrm Well and The Winding Stair; not too crazy about Looking Stones; so we'll see.

Another idea concerns what to do with the extra Players Handbook. I had already bought one (wish I'd known one came with the demo kit!) so now I have an extra one. Do you think it would be appropriate to somehow use this as an award for one of the players? I was thinking maybe running all three adventures in Dwarven Glory or one or two and then adding another one like Shadows of the Halfling Hall or A Trick on the Tain and have the players give a rating to each other and whoever has the highest tally at the end of the day/adventure would be awarded the Player's Handbook.

Thoughts? Other suggestions?

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 11:39 am

hedgeknight wrote:
It's a little sparse - did you add any encounters?

Indeed, it is a bit sparse, and in fact I did add some things. Mostly notible an Ikle Demon in the kitchen, and a shadow roaming the halls. My thought was that the any souls who stayed to near the void would eventually have their life force drained away. Just a little something to spice up the short mod. I also changed up the rediculous trap damage on the stairs leading in.

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

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 12:39 pm

Yeah, the trap damage was...out the roof! Plus, the map didn't match the description in room 3 - mine shows a door where there shouldn't be one. Anyway, thanks for posting.

Shenron · Post by **Shenron** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:54 pm

I have not had a chance to read through it yet. But thanks for the suggestions and all.
When you run you demos, do you use minins and tiles?
_________________
Mongol General: "Conan! What is best in life?"

Conan: "To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentation of their women."

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Mon Jul 19, 2010 4:59 pm

I tend to use miniatures and a grid when running. Particularly for folks new to the game, I think it's easier to catch the visualization of the combat. Plus, miniatures just look cool for the game.

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

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Mon Jul 26, 2010 11:10 pm

I have an old laminated grid map that I'll use and can draw on it with erasable markers. Don't have any miniatures...but my LGS has some cheap used ones in a box...might have to look through 'em on my next visit.

I'm also going to purchase the CK Screen - this comes with an adventure too, right? The reason I'm asking is because I'm waffling on which demo adventure to run. I'm just not 100% sold on any from Dwarven Glory. So, I need some help. Am I over-thinking this? Do I need to just shut up, pick an adventure and just go with it?

Beginning to obsess...intervention needed stat!! Help!!

AGNKim · Post by **AGNKim** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:36 pm

Some of you may have gotten an email from me, but I wanted to post the same message here. One of the reasons the Trolls can give away The HV for free is the cards included that help us build a database / player base. Returning those cards is key to keeping the Ambassador program alive. So, if you got a free set, please take the time to have your players / store owners fill out the cards and send 'em back. Without your support, the program will die a slow death, not unlike Madonna's career.

Thanks for your support, guys (and by guys, I mean everyone)
Kim
_________________
kim@trolllord.com

Click here: http://tiny.cc/4rvo5

Post by **Breakdaddy** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:27 pm

hedgeknight wrote:
I like Wyrm Well and The Winding Stair; not too crazy about Looking Stones; so we'll see.

Another idea concerns what to do with the extra Players Handbook. I had already bought one (wish I'd known one came with the demo kit!) so now I have an extra one. Do you think it would be appropriate to somehow use this as an award for one of the players? I was thinking maybe running all three adventures in Dwarven Glory or one or two and then adding another one like Shadows of the Halfling Hall or A Trick on the Tain and have the players give a rating to each other and whoever has the highest tally at the end of the day/adventure would be awarded the Player's Handbook.

Thoughts? Other suggestions?

The PHB in the box is meant to be awarded to one of the players at your demo event. It was assumed that anyone demoing C&C would already have their C&C gear up to date and that this extra PHB in the Harbinger set would be a perfect reward for one of the folks attending the demo. You can do it at random or as a reward for the most excellent player (or whatever you want).

Post by **Breakdaddy** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:29 pm

hedgeknight wrote:
I have an old laminated grid map that I'll use and can draw on it with erasable markers. Don't have any miniatures...but my LGS has some cheap used ones in a box...might have to look through 'em on my next visit.

I'm also going to purchase the CK Screen - this comes with an adventure too, right? The reason I'm asking is because I'm waffling on which demo adventure to run. I'm just not 100% sold on any from Dwarven Glory. So, I need some help. Am I over-thinking this? Do I need to just shut up, pick an adventure and just go with it?

Beginning to obsess...intervention needed stat!! Help!!

Hah! Assign numbers to your favorite picks and roll randomly for which one to run! Don't obsess dude, I've been there and in the end, it's not what you run but how you run it that will attract players.

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:51 pm

Thanks BD - I've pretty much calmed down a bit and have set a date for the event and am ready to being recruiting; gonna give the PHB away to the "most excellent" gamer in the demo too! Later man!

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 1:56 pm

Here is my recruitment ad for my demo. How does it look? Do I need to add/change anything?
The Drunderry River runs narrow and fast through much of its course before tumbling into the lowlands beneath the Fallow Hills. From there, the river spreads out across fertile plains, laboring slowly to the south before emptying into the Elmarsh Lake. Until recently this area was unsettled. The writ of the King of Outremere has changed all this. Several small villages, thorpes, and farming communities have been settled in this region since the King's permission was granted. The village of Malforten, nestled along the banks of the Drunderry River near the Fallow Hills, is just such a place.

The people of Malforten are few in number, but sturdy folk with many a stout heart amongst them. Knowing they were settling at the eastern edges of the kingdoms of Outremere and far from help if ever there was need, those who came here were of the uncommon and daring type. Lacking support otherwise, the people of Malforten have banded together and fought off many a wild beast, bandit, and raiding goblin. They even managed to defeat a marauding band of ogres before it lay waste to surrounding farms. They are proud of their independence from the Lords of Outremere and their capacity to care for their own. This is why they consider their current position with not a little embarrassment.

Recently, Malforten has come under a more dire and grievous threat than ever before. A vicious gnoll warrior, Gritznak the Bold, has come to the Fallow Hills and taken up residence in an abandoned temple. From here, his band of raiders has encroached every more often upon the steads of Malforten, taking cattle, grain stores, and stealing away a few residents for slaves...or worse.

The men of Malforten have failed to locate, trap, or capture Gritznak, and each failure has emboldened Gritznak to greater depredations, culminating with this coming to Malforten and demanding tribute. At their wits end, the leaders of Malforten called upon the Lords of Outremere for knights and soldiery to help defeat Gritznak the Bold (as they are duty bound to supply). However, the delegates from Malforten were rebuffed and their request for soldiery denied, as the wars to the west and south have consumed most of Outremere's western warriors. However, to minimally meet their obligations, several Lords of Outremere have offered a bounty to any who might bring an end to the depredations of Gritznak the Bold.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Greetings fellow gamers! My name is Gary and I am recruiting players to demo an adventure for Castles & Crusades - a role-playing D&D system published by Troll Lord Games. If you have never played D&D before or if you are an "old timer" (like myself) who longs for the days of simple gaming without a plethora of charts and tables, then you will really enjoy Castles & Crusades (C&C).

I am looking for 4-6 "adult" players (no kids or teens please) - each player will get a booklet with a character sheet and some basic rules of the game to help create a character. The rules are very straight forward and you if are familiar with any edition of D&D, you won't have any difficulty understanding the C&C system.

The demo will run on Sunday, August 29, 2010, starting promptly at 2:00 pm. That should give us up to four hours to create characters and complete the adventure. At the end of the adventure, all of the players (and myself) will vote for the best gamer of the night and that person will receive a new copy of the Castles & Crusades Players Handbook!

The first six people to respond with a commitment of interest will be in the demo; after that, I will keep an alternate list in case any of the first six are unable to show on the 29th. Please post your intent to play in this thread and include your first name, age, and gaming experience. It's gonna be a lot of fun and might lead into a monthly gaming group.
So...recruitment is now OPEN!!

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:05 pm

It's wordy for sure, but I'd play it! Perhaps note that each participant will receive a free copy of the basic rules (handouts they can keep!). Why are you asking for their "gaming experience?" That may dissuade players who have little experience. Just a thought.

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

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:11 pm

re: Gaming experience, I did that just for me...but I'm second-guessing it. Might edit it out.

And I'll reword the note about the booklets - I like what you said better than what I said.

DeadReborn · Post by **DeadReborn** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:23 pm

Sounds good, hedgeknight. Hope all goes well!
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The Dead watch the road that leads to the sea.-The Two Towers

Post by **Breakdaddy** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:16 pm

I'd sign up, chieftain. It's wordy but well-written and will likely attract gamers interested in this style of gaming.

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:21 pm

Breakdaddy wrote:
I'd sign up, chieftain. It's wordy but well-written and will likely attract gamers interested in this style of gaming.

Thanks fellers - I can't take credit for the intro - I copied it from the Rising Knight intro (changed a line or two).
We'll see how folks like it in town - hope to get at least four to sign on; would like six.

Post by **Breakdaddy** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:41 pm

hedgeknight wrote:
Thanks fellers - I can't take credit for the intro - I copied it from the Rising Knight intro (changed a line or two).
We'll see how folks like it in town - hope to get at least four to sign on; would like six.

At Troll Con I had a six person sign up for my OD&D (1974) game, and found out that I shouldve had at least 8. I had more than a couple of people actually wanting in that one even though it was full. Ill know better next time. Hell, the adventure Im working up for next year is going to make this year's pale in comparison if it comes out like I want it to. Good luck, and remember to let the players try whatever they could reasonably attempt. Get them into the "yes" mode of gaming. Yes, you can try that!

hedgeknight · Post by **hedgeknight** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:04 pm

Good advice, BD. I've always been a "rules lite" DM anyway, so it should come back to me fairly easily. It's been nearly a decade since I did any f2f gaming. I'm a little nervous but very excited about the opportunity.

Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Jul 29, 2010 4:05 pm

Breakdaddy wrote:
...and remember to let the players try whatever they could reasonably attempt. Get them into the "yes" mode of gaming. Yes, you can try that!

Advice of the Day Award. *ding*

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

Go0gleplex · Post by **Go0gleplex** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 2:55 am

I think I'm gonna cheat a bit and use the player cards to do a random draw for the PHB and a bit of other swag I have available...gets 'em to fill out the cards and sucked into the game for free swag.
I just need to get enough cards and books for the number of players between two games.
_________________
The obvious will always trip you up FAR more than the obscure.

Baron Grignak Hammerhand of the Pacifica Provinces-

High Warden of the Castles & Crusades Society

Post by **Breakdaddy** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 12:40 pm

Go0gleplex wrote:
I think I'm gonna cheat a bit and use the player cards to do a random draw for the PHB and a bit of other swag I have available...gets 'em to fill out the cards and sucked into the game for free swag.
I just need to get enough cards and books for the number of players between two games.

Make sure they're only eligible if they fill out a card!!!11!!

Go0gleplex · Post by **Go0gleplex** » Fri Jul 30, 2010 8:23 pm

[quote="Breakdaddy"][quote="Go0gleplex"]I think I'm gonna cheat a bit and use the player cards to do a random draw for the PHB and a bit of other swag I have available...gets 'em to fill out the cards and sucked into the game for free swag.
I just need to get enough cards and books for the number of players between two games. [/quote]

Make sure they're only eligible if they fill out a card!!!11!! [/quote]

They don't fill out a card...then there's no chance of me drawing the card with their name on it dude.
_________________
The obvious will always trip you up FAR more than the obscure.

Baron Grignak Hammerhand of the Pacifica Provinces-

High Warden of the Castles & Crusades Society