tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post5927749863053038664..comments2024-03-25T22:48:31.750-04:00Comments on Dreams in the Lich House: Questions that Need AnsweringJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031181424520125213noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-22714098484555686702011-11-24T12:37:41.259-05:002011-11-24T12:37:41.259-05:00@Beedo: I LOVE me some Castle Amber!!!!!@Beedo: I LOVE me some Castle Amber!!!!!Niccodaemushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12969643475763823901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-19620844652343980972011-11-23T12:21:09.072-05:002011-11-23T12:21:09.072-05:00I've got a ton of VNV Nation in the queue, and...I've got a ton of <b>VNV Nation</b> in the queue, and some pieces from <b>Beborn Beton</b>. I'm going right out to add <b>Blue Oyster Cult</b> - that's a big oversight - and will check out the Hawkwind.<br /><br />@Niccodaemus: I don't remember any medusa in a closet, but there's a closet in <b>Castle Amber</b> with a cockatrice in it!<br /><br />Don't go poking around those dungeon closets, they're bad news.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18031181424520125213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-81477076281237389582011-11-23T12:06:40.498-05:002011-11-23T12:06:40.498-05:00I"m a huge proponent of rational dungeon desi...I"m a huge proponent of rational dungeon design. I try to avoid at all costs the "Medusa in the Closet" syndrome. That is, there is a specific 1e AD<br />&D module that has a "Medusa in a Closet". You open the door, and there she is! This is a creature that should have its own adventure designed around it, rather than having some cheesy cameo role just to fill the monster quota.<br /><br />It all goes to the type of game world feel you are trying to achieve. The more "grounded" a campaign, the more important top down rational design.Niccodaemushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12969643475763823901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-67014523394127685842011-11-23T12:02:37.152-05:002011-11-23T12:02:37.152-05:00First question:
Early Thomas Dolby Golden Age of ...First question:<br /><br /><b>Early Thomas Dolby</b> Golden Age of Wireless especially<br /><b>Blue Oyster Cult</b> as already mentioned. <i>Fire of Unknown Origin</i> is a complete space fantasy campaign in and of itself (Fading Suns would love you to write adventures while listening to that album)<br /><b>Hawkwind</b>If your name is out of Moorcock and he both wrote for you and jammed with you you're included.<br /><b>Vangelis</b> Some of the 70s stuff, specifically <i>Spiral</i> and maybe <i>Albedo 0.39</i>. Off the later, Alpha, in particular would seem to have a good ancient astronauts vibe.<br /><b>VNV Nation</b> You're already listening to A-Pop's <i>Welcome to Earth</i>. I'd suggest popping in VNV Nation's <i>Future Perfect</i> at the very least. <i>Empires</i> might work as well.<br /><br />I'm sure I could think of more but that is hopefully a start.<br /><br />Oh, what, if you have it or can find it, Beborn Beton's <i>Tales from Another World</i> (a greatest hits album) would work. I'm after a couple of songs but don't remember the exact album names.Pulp Herbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02486803457210325703noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-21600503780097841352011-11-23T10:32:52.932-05:002011-11-23T10:32:52.932-05:00Gimp is a bitmap orientated drawing program while ...Gimp is a bitmap orientated drawing program while Inkscape is a raster orientated drawing program. Both good - it's like a little tool kit since they are both free and awesome.Toddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04921387967662542436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-5938701398298909752011-11-23T09:31:28.769-05:002011-11-23T09:31:28.769-05:00Great suggestions, thanks for all the ideas fellas...Great suggestions, thanks for all the ideas fellas.<br /><br />As I'm revising hex maps, I'll do them in B&W from the start; that makes a lot of sense. In Hexographer, there are B&W tiles, and you can change colored backgrounds of the regular ones to greys.<br /><br />@Simon - I'll take a look at Inkscape; I'm trying to learn basic GIMP mainly because I've got some folks in my department that use Photoshop and GIMP that can always provide pointers if I hit a wall...<br /><br />Good music suggestions all around, I'll explore them over the long weekend. I saw some Skinny Puppy out there (Too Dark Park and Vivesect VI have been in the queue) and I'm a big fan of 70's progressives like ELP and especially YES. I've got some Tangerine Dream and Vangelis to dig up; the rest is off to Youtube and Pandora.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18031181424520125213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-1616822147834575452011-11-23T08:29:36.007-05:002011-11-23T08:29:36.007-05:00I'd probably listen to the following for scien...I'd probably listen to the following for science fantasy inspiration: Android Lust (The Dividing, Devou, Rise and Take Flight), Kirlian Camera (Coroner's Sun & Spiritual Front), Skinny Puppy (Too Dark Park, Rabies), Portishead (Third), Tricky (Pre-Millenium Tension, Maximquay).Jack Guignolhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05226738666709754348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-69418295110186648292011-11-23T06:23:37.792-05:002011-11-23T06:23:37.792-05:001. A lot of good suggestions already, but I'd ...1. A lot of good suggestions already, but I'd add Hawkwind, ELP, and Uriah Heep <br /><br />2. I'm more on the wahoo end, but do try for consistent "themes" (the swamp level, the mad scientist level, the warring Drow vs Serpent Men level, that sort of thing. But I generally don't include bathrooms and salt licks...<br /><br />3&4. I got nothing.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-19921502258139290332011-11-23T06:17:34.146-05:002011-11-23T06:17:34.146-05:00I'll go with Tangerine Dream for your first qu...I'll go with Tangerine Dream for your first question.<br /><br />My answer for the second question I give my maps to Rob C. and let him do them otherwise its hand drawn stick figures like map.Gothridge Manorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11371740532802642972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-48607194727608769622011-11-23T04:23:24.129-05:002011-11-23T04:23:24.129-05:00Inkscape is quite good for maps, and you can impor...Inkscape is quite good for maps, and you can import images into it and then add text later, and I find it much friendlier to use than GIMP.Simon Forsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01243845335993440168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-23641938886751925402011-11-23T02:06:21.964-05:002011-11-23T02:06:21.964-05:00I wouldn't do the maps in colour then convert ...I wouldn't do the maps in colour then convert to greys, as brown and green may look different, but they often convert to the same or similar kind of grey and then all your clarity is lost.<br /><br />If you're careful about it and test your converted colours beforehand, it can work, but it may be better to work in greys from the beginning.thekelvingreenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01928260185408072124noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-53958732454014978642011-11-23T01:44:07.422-05:002011-11-23T01:44:07.422-05:00I only feel really qualified to answer the first q...I only feel really qualified to answer the first question:<br /><br />I listen to lots of Blue Oyster Cult and the Sword when thinking about Sci-Fantasy. Also space rock.Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10745062840676790649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-51470104679285248872011-11-22T23:00:44.231-05:002011-11-22T23:00:44.231-05:00If you're going to end up with a B&W map, ...If you're going to end up with a B&W map, I'd make it in B&W. Personally, I don't like the way the hexographer tiles look, when converted to B&W (do they have specifically grayscale tiles, now?) You might try getting rid of the background color.<br /><br />I made a numbered hex template and a set of B&W tiles in GIMP for my own use, painstakingly getting them as clean as possible. <a href="http://underdarkgazette.blogspot.com/2011/05/black-mete-map-v-2-techno-gming.html" rel="nofollow">The Black Mete Map - V. 2 & Techno-GMing</a> (be sure to open it in its own window and enlarge, as it loses quite a bit of detail when embedded in the blog post.)<br /><br />Which is to say, if those would suite your purposes better, shoot me an email. But don't feel weird about declining the offer. :)<br /><br />Text overlay in GIMP works. A bit of a pain, but someone with more GIMP knowledge than I, could no doubt pull off some really nice effects. When I still used hexographer, I would use GIMP for touching up and adding tweaks & flourishes to the maps.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08192212467523179768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-1477200393099452982011-11-22T22:24:02.544-05:002011-11-22T22:24:02.544-05:00Unkle:Psyence Fiction is a great CD. It's sort...Unkle:Psyence Fiction is a great CD. It's sort of an anthology, so there is a variety of music styles.<br />Some of the tracks are on Youtube.<br />Daft Punk<br />Chemical BrothersTimothy Paul Schaeferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12279725399542404987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-13023365617872036642011-11-22T22:06:57.603-05:002011-11-22T22:06:57.603-05:00Oh and Monster Magnet--"Spine of God" an...Oh and Monster Magnet--"Spine of God" and "Dopes to Infinity".Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-72530381104463187672011-11-22T22:04:54.413-05:002011-11-22T22:04:54.413-05:00It would be hard to call my dungeons "rationa...It would be hard to call my dungeons "rational" but I don't go in for the whole "owlbear, then spider-frog, then dogs paying poker" thing. I like them to at least have a consistent aesthetic. <br /><br />Though I don't mind being a player in totally random next-room-next-monster dungeons.Zak Sabbathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08812410680077034917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4353391426294254427.post-41981865225872104032011-11-22T22:02:25.269-05:002011-11-22T22:02:25.269-05:00I've only got an answer to one of your questio...I've only got an answer to one of your questions, but I'd suggest Jerry Goldsmith's soundtrack for the original <i>Planet of the Apes</i>. <br /><br />Also, the theremin-based soundtrack to <i>Forbidden Planet</i> and some of Goblin's stuff for <i>Suspira</i>.Treyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04647628467658839351noreply@blogger.com