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Post by Vile Traveller on Dec 20, 2014 9:20:02 GMT -6
I might have mentioned somewhere that I'm using the Outdoor Survival map as a basis for the Known World of BLUEHOLME™. I very much doubt there will ever be a gazetteer or suchlike, but all the adventures are co-located in the same world and may eventually fit together as a cohesive whole, if I live long enough to publish them all! At the moment my plan is to produce a Known World map as part of the Compleat Rules artwork Indiegogo campaign once that kicks off. In the meantime, though, I have to keep everything organised so that I don't get mixed up, and so that I can relate the adventure locales to one another. For this purpose I've been keeping a sort of "graphical notebook" in the form of a copy of the Outdoor survival map with my modifications and additions added as I go. I thought you might like to have a look:
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Post by Merctime on Dec 20, 2014 9:33:46 GMT -6
Oh, God... That's Fantastic! I wanna be a cleric! I wanna live (points) There!
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Post by Vile Traveller on Dec 20, 2014 9:37:30 GMT -6
Oh, God... That's Fantastic! I wanna be a cleric! I wanna live (points) There!Heh, thanks, merctime ... I have to emphasise I'm not actually going to use this graphic (because the base is just a scan of the OS map board), I plan to get a well-known map artist to produce one based on this. This is really just a sort of virtual post-it board. Mind you, I have modified it a bit by adding in minor rivers, a bit more forest, and turning the area east of the major river into ocean. So far the places hail mainly from xerxes's Forbidden Mazes of the Jennerak material, The Maze of Peril, and the Wizards and Warriors TV show. As well as the rest of Holmes's writings, I'll probably drop in bits of Clark Ashton Smith and What is Dungeons and Dragons?.
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Post by Merctime on Dec 20, 2014 9:52:20 GMT -6
Threaten me with a good time, will you? Get him, my pretties! (cue maniacal laughter)
No, seriously... I just love the map, dude! Looking forward to what else you have in store!
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Post by snorri on Dec 20, 2014 10:06:56 GMT -6
Oh greattttt!
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Post by stevemitchell on Dec 20, 2014 13:45:37 GMT -6
I'm focused on that city or castle in the middle of the Black Marshes. I imagine that it's crawling with scheming Serpent-Men and the foul, degenerate acolytes of Tsathoggua.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Dec 20, 2014 22:29:58 GMT -6
Black Marshes? Black Moors? Blackmoor?
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idrahil
Level 6 Magician
The Lighter The Rules, The Better The Game!
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Post by idrahil on Dec 21, 2014 16:32:09 GMT -6
Very, very cool!
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Post by Hawklord on Dec 24, 2014 19:53:25 GMT -6
I like this! I just have a couple of comments if you want "by the book" Maze of Peril and other Holmes tales.
1. The coastline and the island of Amazonia should be west of Caladan (about 100 leagues away, as I recall). 2. The Meadow Country should be far to south of Caladan.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Dec 25, 2014 2:32:53 GMT -6
Thanks for pointing that out, Hawklord. I originally had Caladan north of the Meadow Country, but when I moved the former I forgot to shift the latter. As for Amazonia, there's only artistic licence - I don't have a sea on the west side of the map!
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Post by kesher on Dec 25, 2014 16:06:20 GMT -6
Truly awesome!
What's the Wizards and Warriors tv show?
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Post by Vile Traveller on Dec 25, 2014 20:58:26 GMT -6
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Post by Deleted on Dec 26, 2014 9:35:24 GMT -6
While I initially thought something akin to *oh noes, not another D&D clone* , it's slowly dawning to me that brother Vile is doing a pretty amazing job with his Blueholme (TRADEMARK! ) project. What's your goal with the project? One big codex, or smaller booklets, like you have done so far?
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Post by Merctime on Dec 26, 2014 12:35:26 GMT -6
I've got to say that I really do appreciate the work on Blueholme. I don't really have a specific reason for that, other than saying that when I read it, it just 'feels' right to me. I know that sounds silly. But, Dang... It's really excellently done. Definitely worth the time to get a copy, and give it a whirl. I have to agree with Raphael above regarding that. Glad to see Blueholme's intrinsic beauty is settling into your mind, also, Mr. Pinthus!
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Post by Vile Traveller on Dec 26, 2014 21:12:58 GMT -6
Thank you for the kind words, all - having started this project as a Holmes errata document I must say the development of BLUEHOLME™ is as much a surprise to me as it is to everyone else!
As for my "goal", if I can call it that, I think small booklets are likely to be the way forward with BLUEHOLME™. I've never really been a fan of giant game books myself, plus I lack the time to really see a massive project like that through to my satisfaction. Even the Compleat Rules are weighing in at somewhere around 100 pages, no more. In terms of setting material I've always preferred adventures with setting information to dedicated gazetteers - I don't know how everyone else feels about this but I've always preferred small areas developed organically over a big, top-down approach. I also don't like to constrain referees too much in their interpretation of the world (because that's one of the things that eventually turned me off the post-RQ2 world of Glorantha).
The nearest thing to a World of BLUEHOLME™ Gazetteer will probably be the introductory adventure I'm planning to go with the Compleat Rules, which will demonstrate the Underworld / Wilderness / Realm-building guidelines while still functioning as a playable adventure. That's going to include the proper version of the world map I mentioned above, plus the city of Blueholme itself, plus a small-ish dungeon.
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Post by kesher on Dec 26, 2014 21:35:18 GMT -6
I don't understand how it's possible that I don't know anything about this show. I think I just senses a glitch in the Matrix...
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Post by Merctime on Dec 26, 2014 22:17:56 GMT -6
You took the wrong pill, Kesher! Quick... Get to a phone!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 27, 2014 5:05:45 GMT -6
Thank you for the kind words, all - having started this project as a Holmes errata document I must say the development of BLUEHOLME™ is as much a surprise to me as it is to everyone else! As for my "goal", if I can call it that, I think small booklets are likely to be the way forward with BLUEHOLME™. I've never really been a fan of giant game books myself, plus I lack the time to really see a massive project like that through to my satisfaction. Even the Compleat Rules are weighing in at somewhere around 100 pages, no more. In terms of setting material I've always preferred adventures with setting information to dedicated gazetteers - I don't know how everyone else feels about this but I've always preferred small areas developed organically over a big, top-down approach. I also don't like to constrain referees too much in their interpretation of the world (because that's one of the things that eventually turned me off the post-RQ2 world of Glorantha). The nearest thing to a World of BLUEHOLME™ Gazetteer will probably be the introductory adventure I'm planning to go with the Compleat Rules, which will demonstrate the Underworld / Wilderness / Realm-building guidelines while still functioning as a playable adventure. That's going to include the proper version of the world map I mentioned above, plus the city of Blueholme itself, plus a small-ish dungeon. Not trying to flatter you - you guys know me by now, I am THE Grinch - but you are indeed "getting it right", as Merctime said. Your project seems to grow organically, and you write without any ego, or false ambition, shining through. This will probably never become a megaseller - but it will become a lasting testament to your gaming exploits. Which, in my opinion, is the very best any true fan of our sport can hope for. ...So, go on, finish that d**n manuscript!
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Post by Vile Traveller on Dec 31, 2014 2:02:54 GMT -6
A bit of an update to the map (see the original post), adding some more references from Holmes's A&E and Dragon Magazine short stories, and my old D&D intro "What is Dungeons & Dragons" by Butterfield & Co.
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Post by Mike on Jan 2, 2015 2:49:18 GMT -6
I, I...want that map. Please?
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Post by Vile Traveller on Jan 2, 2015 4:28:33 GMT -6
Don't worry, the real one will be much nicer. I just cobbled this together from a pretty low-resolution scan I grabbed off the internet.
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Post by Zenopus on Jan 2, 2015 10:23:44 GMT -6
Are the cities fixed in location? The famous sea cliffs/caves of Portown were to the west of town. This could be fixed by moving Portown across the river mouth to the peninsula. Much like this Map of Marblehead, Massachusetts (Lovecraft's Kingsport): zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2012/11/kingsport-as-portown.html
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Post by Vile Traveller on Jan 3, 2015 7:23:12 GMT -6
Are the cities fixed in location? The famous sea cliffs/caves of Portown were to the west of town. This could be fixed by moving Portown across the river mouth to the peninsula. Much like this Map of Marblehead, Massachusetts (Lovecraft's Kingsport): zenopusarchives.blogspot.com/2012/11/kingsport-as-portown.htmlThe OS map is the starting point, but no, they're not fixed - for precisely this reason! Keep pointing out discrepanies, everyone, that's why I'm posting this here
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Post by roaktheunknowable on Apr 29, 2015 10:22:04 GMT -6
This map is awesome! I see so many familiar places already. Caladan, The Meadow Country, Labolinn, Amazonia, Desert Of Irem, The Enchanted Forest, and possibly Porttown(?) all appear upon this beautiful map. I also see Avamere and Kravekos so the Maze of Nuromen or The Necropolis of Nuromen can not be far away. I am really looking forward to this my friend! Thanks again and cheers!
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Post by machfront on May 2, 2015 2:54:41 GMT -6
I'm glad this thread was revived. I don't recall seeing it before. Thank a lot. Now I'm even more excited about something that is still a ways off. Jerks. 1. PORTOWN! *raises fist* 2. How...how can anyone who even has a passing interest in fantasy and is between the ages of 37 to 50 not only not know of but not also have spent decades pining for the ability to yet again see and experience the short-lived show Wizards & Warriors?!?!!? 3. As noted above, I too first thought something along the lines of "Groan. Another clone. Holmes? Nice but expanding Holmes is just OD&D...so...huh?" but over time I've seen that Blueholme will have and be it's own flavorful version of awwweesooommee.
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Post by Vile Traveller on May 2, 2015 3:40:15 GMT -6
Thanks for the vote of confidence, machfront. One of those two deserts is going to be populated with the alternative encounter tables.
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Post by Vile Traveller on May 2, 2015 9:43:52 GMT -6
Bit of area mapping for the Necropolis of Nuromen. Castle Camlann is down by that lake near the bottom, and that's the Elfway snaking its way north through the forest. The city of Blueholme lies on that island in the river.
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Post by Vile Traveller on May 13, 2015 22:13:46 GMT -6
A forced hiatus in The Necropolis of Nuromen until I get back to the office scanner, so I started doodling a bit of The Undercity of Urvekos.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2015 5:51:49 GMT -6
Hey! Just noticed that our campaign worlds share a name that will feature prominently in a project I am preparing for next autumn - ¨Caladan¨. Mine is, and that sort of explains the name, a fusion of mythic Calydon (including a very unhappy giant boar, and all), and Irilian, my favorite fantasy city, ever, from White Dwarf magazine. What is *your* Caladan about? - I think our settings are very different in style and tone, but I am not above stealing any good ideas you might have.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2015 10:41:10 GMT -6
-_- I take "Caladan" is a reference I am not getting.
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