Mysterious Crystal Hemisphere room number issues [TDB]

[terrex]

My group continues to campaign within The Darkness Beneath. In the last session, they made their first delve to the Mysterious Crystal Hemisphere level (Level 4, Issue #4). In reading the adventure before the session, I noticed a host of room number issues, etc. First, the room numbers are very strangely arranged on the map, which probably hints at some larger underlying issues. Even accounting for some of the strange possiblities of entering rooms through the iris valves, the crystal hemsiphere, etc. much of the room number connection make no sense. The choice to link room 27 with room 43, for example, just doesn't work with the map or even the descriptions of what is going on in this level. I suspect many of the room numbers are off. Has anyone used this? If so, how did you solve these issues?

Cal, I know its been awhile since you edited this one! But, let me know if you have any thoughts on this. I don't think the author posts on this site anymore.

So far, the party mainly explored the natural cave areas where this isn't much of an issue. I suspect I'm going to have to build a workaround for all of these room connections before they return to this level, though. I'll post it here when I do.

[calithena]

I will check it out. There might be one other post about this from a while back. We would love your workaround. I am really trying to get #14 out finally but I will try to remember to get issue 5 out and share thoughts when there is a chance. (Is this issue 5?)

Glad to hear you are still gaming in the dungeon! There is a new level or two already laid out for the new issue.

- Cal

[terrex]

Thanks for checking in Cal. The Mysterious Crystal Hemisphere is in issue #4. I'll do some searching to see if I can find another post about this.

It's good to see you working on Fight On! again. Which levels are going to be in the next issue? I think my players are getting close to heading down the troll highway...

[terrex]

I searched this site, but was unable to find anything. There is a review out there that describes the maps as confusing, but doesn't get into the room numbering. I'll send you what I come up with.

[calithena]

Lee Barber has written the Dark Troll Citadel
Alex Schroeder has written the Caverns of Slime
Simon Bell has written a Snow Throne sublevel for the Deep Caves
and I am about half done with The Tomb of the Black Lord of Nothingness.

I have done layout work on all four of these levels so all are half laid out at least. I think Lee Barber will be in this issue for sure, maybe Alex or Simon also. Whatever is not in 14 will be in 15.

[terrex]

Cal, that is great to hear. I'd love to see Dark Troll Citadel in #14!

[Algolei]

Bumpity-bump!

I've been reading through The Mysterious Crystal Hemisphere in preparation for play, and I've noticed a few problems. Here are the solutions I'm making (hopefully they won't cause more problems).

Room #27: I've changed it so a hole doesn't lead to room #43, but rather just allows entry into the hemisphere. Characters can then enter the ship through the hatches, accessing rooms #33, #35, #37, or #39. Furthermore, I'm changing it so holes can be made in the hemisphere at other points: Room #17, the hallway outside #18, and room #19. This latter change requires slight modification of the map, but will give the players a larger chance of figuring a way in.

Rooms #22-24: First, I've switched rooms #22 and #24 around. Otherwise, I don't see how the party can access any of these rooms -- #24 is blocked by a Dimensional Ship Compartment, which blocks access to #23 and #22. There's an iris in #22 but you can't get to it. #22 leads to #24, but #24 only leads back to #22, so it's a closed circuit. Second, I've added an iris from #30 to #22 (#22 already leads to #30, but #30 only leads to #11 and #31; it doesn't mention leading back to #22). The problem remains that there's no way to access #23 still, but that room is empty anyway.

I'm still left with one puzzle, though: What is a multi-tool? It's mentioned in room #30 with the words "(see below)" but it's never mentioned again. I'm torn between making it a Gerber Truss Multi-tool and a sonic screw driver.

[leg1on]

Dec 2, 2013 14:09:38 GMT -6 calithena said:

Lee Barber has written the Dark Troll Citadel
Alex Schroeder has written the Caverns of Slime
Simon Bell has written a Snow Throne sublevel for the Deep Caves
and I am about half done with The Tomb of the Black Lord of Nothingness.

I have done layout work on all four of these levels so all are half laid out at least. I think Lee Barber will be in this issue for sure, maybe Alex or Simon also. Whatever is not in 14 will be in 15.

"Snow Throne sub-level" you say? Go on.

Also, thank you -- Algolei -- for bumping this thread. I'll give my Hemisphere a read and clean up my pdf as nec.

And Terrex, did you ever build *your* workaround for the room connections? I'd love to see it too.

Thanks again guys!

L

[Algolei]

I also redrew the map, 'cause I ... I like redrawing maps? I guess that's the only reason.

But my version shows the changes I made with regard to allowing access into the crystal hemisphere from areas 17, 18, and 19.

(It also shows the access points from Level 3, including the two trapped shafts that don't connect to anything on Level 4. I also angled things so that the shaft down from Area #48 on Level 3 matches up with Area #45 within the Dimensional Ship on Level 4 BUT ONLY if you edit Level 4 to be a mirror-image of itself. Otherwise, just ignore that stuff 'cause it'll be wrong.)  (As I said, I like redrawing maps!)

Let's see if I can get this link to work....

www.keepandshare.com/doc/8250833/mysterious-crystal-hemisphere-alternate-map-png-4-7-meg

[Algolei]

...oops, and I drew in the Dimensional Ship Compartments too.

[leg1on]

That's pretty boss, my Dude!

Ha! I was going to draw in the Compartments as well.

Another thing to note -- though not for you now you've redrawn the map -- is that the shaft down from 29 is marked to Level 5 but in the text it goes to Level 7.

[terrex]

Hey all, it's nice to see some The Darkness Beneath discussion again.

Its been several years since we made a couple of forays into that level. The last time they we're on that level several characters died and then they went in a different direction in the campaign.

That said, I still have some notes on the level and will check them out this weekend. Based on my memory, Algolei's approach of superimposing those areas on the maps makes a lot of sense.

[Algolei]

May 21, 2020 18:00:12 GMT -6 leg1on said:

...the shaft down from 29 is marked to Level 5 but in the text it goes to Level 7.

Thanks to social distancing, this hasn't come up yet, but...I keep forgetting to ask this:  Both areas 21 and 29 have chutes going down to level 7, but Level 7 (Palace of Eternal Illusion) only mentions the one from area 29.  Does anyone have any idea where the chute from area 21 ends up?  I'm thinking I'll just have it link up to the chute frfom 29 and they can both end up in the same place on Level 7.

[leg1on]

Jul 9, 2020 22:01:10 GMT -6 Algolei said:

May 21, 2020 18:00:12 GMT -6 leg1on said:

...the shaft down from 29 is marked to Level 5 but in the text it goes to Level 7.

Thanks to social distancing, this hasn't come up yet, but...I keep forgetting to ask this:  Both areas 21 and 29 have chutes going down to level 7, but Level 7 (Palace of Eternal Illusion) only mentions the one from area 29.  Does anyone have any idea where the chute from area 21 ends up?  I'm thinking I'll just have it link up to the chute frfom 29 and they can both end up in the same place on Level 7.

I haven't checked yet, but maybe that one actually does go to Level 5.

I'll do a recce.

Regardless, I like your solution.

L