|
|
Post by geoffrey on Sept 30, 2008 16:40:39 GMT -6
I think I forgot to mention that the map on pages 48-49 can easily be removed from the book since it is in the book's exact center. The backs of the map (pages 47 and 50) are left intentionally blank. That way you can remove the map (if you so choose) without removing any text from the book. The beginning of the last sentence on page 46 continues without interruption on page 51. Of course, anyone should feel free to photocopy the map as many times as he needs for his game.  |
|
|
|
Post by coffee on Sept 30, 2008 16:58:31 GMT -6
Of course, anyone should feel free to photocopy the map as many times as he needs for his game. Thanks, but it would still be nice if you printed that information directly on the map. I've run into people at Kinko's or wherever that are real sticklers about copyright violations (which attitude I cannot fault, because I believe in and agree with copyright laws...) |
|
|
|
Post by cadriel on Oct 2, 2008 5:49:18 GMT -6
Since it's been October for over a day now, I feel obliged to poke...when will we be able to order? Any word on the website?
|
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Oct 2, 2008 7:12:07 GMT -6
Yeah, I'm interested as well...but also: I'd love to see some of your bad artwork inserted in. After all, the artwork in the OD&D books was pretty bad as well. It adds to the flavor!
|
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 2, 2008 9:27:07 GMT -6
Since it's been October for over a day now, I feel obliged to poke...when will we be able to order? Any word on the website? Thanks for the interest. All I can say at this point is that an October release is guaranteed. Further than that I cannot guarantee. I hope to make the release date as early as possible, but I don't want to give a specific release date until I am 100% certain that it will be correct. I hate, hate, hate the way so many rpg products announce release dates and then don't get released on time. Supplement V: CARCOSA is going to be released exactly on time. |
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 2, 2008 11:33:55 GMT -6
"There is no new thing under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
or, "Whose Cthulhu Mythos is this anyway?"
Supplement V: CARCOSA contains little that you haven't seen elsewhere. Cthulhu Mythos, Space Aliens, Lake Monsters, sorcery, ray guns, human sacrifice, etc. None of this is unique to Carcosa. I do trust, however, that the particular mixture thereof is unique and pleasing.
One of the major elements of Carcosa is the Cthulhu Mythos. First let me say what the Carcosan Cthulhu Mythos is NOT:
1. It's not derived from the Call of Cthulhu game.
2. It's not a faithful version of H. P. Lovecraft's creations.
3. It's not a faithful version of August Derleth's (or of any other short story writer's) Cthulhu Mythos.
The Cthulhu Mythos on Carcosa was primarily inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos in DDG. Of course, it's not exactly the same, but it's closer to that than to any other version. Why? Because I think it is the most gameable.
One particular is that the entities and races of the Cthulhu Mythos do NOT come from outer space (though the Mi-Go can travel through outer space). Instead, they all had their genesis on the planet of Carcosa. In particular, the Primordial Ones, the Shoggoths, the Mi-Go, the Great Race, the Deep Ones, and the B'yakhee were all spawned out of Shub-Niggurath's disgusting bulk.
To me, Cthulhoid horrors which squirm out of the earth's depths are so much more D&D to me than if they came from outer space.
Of course, there are some unique Lovecraftian entities that I have created for the book that do come from outer space (not to mention the entire race of the Space Aliens). But all of the names that you will recognize are terrestrial rather than extraterrestrial.
|
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 3, 2008 9:54:00 GMT -6
A Brief Note on How I Use Dice in CarcosaThree pages of Supplement V: CARCOSA are devoted to the most optional and most versatile section of the book: how I use dice in my Carcosa campaign. Ever since I started playing D&D in 1980, I've been enchanted by all those polyhedral dice. I'm the polar opposite of those who want to reduce everything to 6-sided dice. I love 4-siders, 6-siders, 8-siders, 10-siders, 12-siders, and 20-siders. I also love to roll handfuls of all those dice. Rolling dice is part of the fun! In the dice system I use HD are re-rolled at the beginning of each encounter, resulting in very differing hit point totals for any given character. This avoids the problem of an unlucky 5th-level fighting-man perpetually running around with 8 hp. Every combat he gets to re-roll his hp. Some will hate the system. Some will love it. In any case, it has no essential connection with the world of Carcosa. You can play in Carcosa without using the variant dice conventions included in the book. You can also use the dice conventions in a non-Carcosa campaign. Special thanks to Zulgyan and others on these very boards for opening my eyes to all the possibilities with dice!
|
|
|
|
Post by Zulgyan on Oct 3, 2008 11:44:10 GMT -6
I'm definetely, definetely, definetely gonna get Carcosa. You've done justice to the hobby Geoffrey. This is the kind of stuff that TSR should had made at some point but because of X or Y never did.
|
|
|
|
Post by thegreyelf on Oct 3, 2008 14:29:46 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 6, 2008 14:03:06 GMT -6
Supplement V: CARCOSA will go on sale starting this Wednesday, October 8. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 6, 2008 16:55:54 GMT -6
I have a stack of copies of Supplement V: CARCOSA, but PDFs have not been made yet. Please be advised that PDFs won't be for sale on Oct. 8th. I hope to have PDFs available later this month.
I also hope to have a very modest website up and running on Wednesday. If not, here is the cost break-down for the book for orders shipping within the continental U. S.:
$9.00 for the book
$3.00 for shipping and handling
$1.70 insurance (optional)
So total cost will be either $12 or $13.70 (your choice).
I think the cost is very reasonable. Remember that Supplement V: CARCOSA seeks to be of the same material quality as OD&D supplements I through IV, which were published in 1975-76.
$13.70 in 2007 dollars = $3.80 in 1976 dollars
$12.00 in 2007 dollars = $3.33 in 1976 dollars
$9.00 in 2007 dollars = $2.50 in 1976 dollars
In 1976 the D&D supplements had a cover price of $5.00 (or $18.00 in 2007 dollars).
|
|
|
|
Post by grodog on Oct 6, 2008 22:55:08 GMT -6
So, will we be ordering via the web site, or will you send us Paypal invoices, or what?
Also, how will ordering multiple copies work, in terms of shipping cost?
|
|
tank
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 58
|
Post by tank on Oct 7, 2008 7:42:05 GMT -6
Tomorrow! This is going to be awesome.
|
|
|
|
Post by cadriel on Oct 7, 2008 8:10:33 GMT -6
Well, I hope that stack of supplements is pretty big, because it looks like you'll have plenty of sales on your first day. :-) I'm very much looking forward to this, and will be diving into the book the minute it is in my hands.
|
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 7, 2008 8:27:51 GMT -6
So, will we be ordering via the web site, or will you send us Paypal invoices, or what? Also, how will ordering multiple copies work, in terms of shipping cost? I hope to have the website up by tomorrow. On the website will be A) my email address to which PayPal payments can be made and B) my mailing address to which money orders can be sent. If for some reason the website isn't up tomorrow, I'll simply post all necessary payment information to this thread until I get the website going. In terms of shipping cost, ordering up to 3 copies won't increase shipping costs. More than that might increase it by 50 cents or so. Of course, anyone wanting to order a box of 20 copies will get free shipping. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 7, 2008 8:32:10 GMT -6
Oh, and I forgot to mention that I will typically mail orders within 3 business days of receiving payment. The only possible exception will be if I am so deluged with orders that I run out of copies and have to print a bunch more. That would be a "problem" I would like to have. ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 7, 2008 8:53:12 GMT -6
"Magic Items" on Carcosa
None of the traditional D&D magic items are present on the planet of Carcosa. The campaign world is definitely science-fantasy rather than straight fantasy. Think of Blackmoor with its crashed starships, laser rifles, etc. alongside magic-users and monsters. Most of the items detailed in Supplement V: CARCOSA are of high-tech nature. Here's what you get:
12.5 pages devoted to sorcerous and high-tech items, as follows:
1 page describes the horrific effects of five of the varieties of the desert lotus
5.5 pages are devoted to Space Alien technology. The Space Aliens are humanoid in form and mentally similar to humans, so their technology is relatively easy for humans to figure out. Tables are given to randomly generate any of an insanely vast number of possible high-tech items (e. g., a selenium pulse rifle, an ultraviolet ray bazooka, etc.).
2.5 pages are devoted to the Random Robot Generator, a series of tables to roll-up zillions of different robots made by the Space Aliens. A note is also given for how to generate cyborgs (part robot, part organism).
2 pages are devoted to four sample artifacts of the Great Race, and 2 pages are devoted to seven sample artifacts of the Primordial Ones. These high-tech artifacts are very powerful, bizarre, and inhuman, being used by humans only with very great difficulty. The artifacts of the Great Race are primarily concerned with space, time, and mind. The artifacts of the Primordial Ones are primarily concerned with the biological sciences.
|
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 7, 2008 15:27:43 GMT -6
The website for Supplement V: CARCOSA is in the form of a blog. Here it is: carcosa-geoffrey.blogspot.com/I'll start filling orders tomorrow. Please feel free to contact me through the email address on my Carcosa blog. |
|
|
|
Post by Melan on Oct 8, 2008 0:03:20 GMT -6
I have done so.  |
|
|
|
Post by cadriel on Oct 8, 2008 4:48:13 GMT -6
Order sent!  |
|
tank
Level 3 Conjurer
Posts: 58
|
Post by tank on Oct 8, 2008 6:12:56 GMT -6
I ordered one too. Thanks a lot, Geof.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zulgyan on Oct 8, 2008 11:39:12 GMT -6
Ordered mine ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by greyharp on Oct 8, 2008 13:34:28 GMT -6
I guess if we're having a show of hands - yep, me too. |
|
|
|
Post by coffee on Oct 8, 2008 13:39:36 GMT -6
Okay, I guess I'm kinda dim. I don't get how to place an order from the blog in the link above.
(I have to admit here that I've only ever used PayPal through the checkout procedure on ebay, so that may explain why I'm lost -- there's no big, groovy "pay now" button...)
|
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 8, 2008 13:58:51 GMT -6
Okay, I guess I'm kinda dim. I don't get how to place an order from the blog in the link above. (I have to admit here that I've only ever used PayPal through the checkout procedure on ebay, so that may explain why I'm lost -- there's no big, groovy "pay now" button...) 1. Go to www.paypal.com2. Click "Send Money" 3. Type in my email address, your email address, and the dollar amount. Click the "Goods" dot. 4. Click "Continue". |
|
|
|
Post by coffee on Oct 8, 2008 14:29:44 GMT -6
Very cool, thanks!
I'm less dumb now.
I can now join the happy throng that have placed their orders.
(Between this and the next issue of Fight On! I'll have plenty to read this fall...)
|
|
|
|
Post by cadriel on Oct 10, 2008 17:33:49 GMT -6
So, the deities of the postal service (weird as they may be) have been kind to me, and I actually received my copy of Carcosa today. The physical product is excellent and fits right in with a whole mess of other D&D books, although the space for the "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS" logo is conspicuously bare. Visually, the text is strikingly laid out in a way that makes you forget for a moment that you're not reading the original OD&D booklets.
In terms of content, the book has a number of standouts. Sorcery is really intriguing; the rituals have consistently exotic, flavorful names and many of them could probably spur multiple sessions' worth of adventure to cast once. Psionics are done delightfully simply, one of the better D&D takes on it to date, and taking up just a couple of pages. If you want OD&D psionics, you want to use Carcosa for them. The monsters are mostly OD&D transplants from the Cthulhu mythos, with some unique additions thrown in. But it's really neat in effect when you turn a couple pages further and get to the "Random Robot Generator" - definite fodder for the science fantasy twist put on things here. I haven't gotten the chance to give much of a look at the map key yet, although it seems to have interesting ideas scattered across the setting.
My first impression is that it's a big positive. I don't plan on playing in Carcosa at this point, but this is an excellent new OD&D book to mine for ideas. Great work, Geof, it's a class act and a hell of a self-produced product.
|
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 13, 2008 9:25:04 GMT -6
So, the deities of the postal service (weird as they may be) have been kind to me, and I actually received my copy of Carcosa today. The physical product is excellent and fits right in with a whole mess of other D&D books, although the space for the "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS" logo is conspicuously bare. Visually, the text is strikingly laid out in a way that makes you forget for a moment that you're not reading the original OD&D booklets. In terms of content, the book has a number of standouts. Sorcery is really intriguing; the rituals have consistently exotic, flavorful names and many of them could probably spur multiple sessions' worth of adventure to cast once. Psionics are done delightfully simply, one of the better D&D takes on it to date, and taking up just a couple of pages. If you want OD&D psionics, you want to use Carcosa for them. The monsters are mostly OD&D transplants from the Cthulhu mythos, with some unique additions thrown in. But it's really neat in effect when you turn a couple pages further and get to the "Random Robot Generator" - definite fodder for the science fantasy twist put on things here. I haven't gotten the chance to give much of a look at the map key yet, although it seems to have interesting ideas scattered across the setting. My first impression is that it's a big positive. I don't plan on playing in Carcosa at this point, but this is an excellent new OD&D book to mine for ideas. Great work, Geof, it's a class act and a hell of a self-produced product. Thank you very much for all your kind words! So you noticed, too, that no one put the words "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS" in that empty space on the cover?  To put numbers on it: Of the 48 monsters in the book, 19 of them are OD&D versions of monsters from the Cthulhu Mythos of Lovecraft, Derleth, and CAS. The other 29 are of my own creation. Once again, thank you for your post (which I somehow missed before today). I'm very happy that you like the book! |
|
|
|
Post by cadriel on Oct 13, 2008 10:23:15 GMT -6
Thank you very much for all your kind words! So you noticed, too, that no one put the words "DUNGEONS & DRAGONS" in that empty space on the cover? To put numbers on it: Of the 48 monsters in the book, 19 of them are OD&D versions of monsters from the Cthulhu Mythos of Lovecraft, Derleth, and CAS. The other 29 are of my own creation. Once again, thank you for your post (which I somehow missed before today). I'm very happy that you like the book! Ah. To be clear, I wasn't sure whether the Cthulhoid monsters were derived from one or the other Cthulhu mythos sources or original -- I'll have to give them another pass. On a closer reading, the rituals are really quite brutal, nasty things. I'd imagine that a game with sorcerers as PCs would spend quite a lot of time on finding components and sacrifices. If you've had rituals in game, I'd be interested in hearing more about them. The alien stuff is a lot of fun, and I might borrow from it for a novelty level in my dungeon at some point. Still love the Random Robot Generator for its potential. |
|
|
|
Post by geoffrey on Oct 13, 2008 10:54:55 GMT -6
Here are the particular sources for the monsters:
Lovecraft:
Cthulhu
Azathoth
Nyarlathotep
Yog-Sothoth
spawn of Yog-Sothoth
Primordial Ones
Shoggoths
Mi-Go
Great Race
Deep Ones
Unquiet Worms (kind of)
Derleth:
Hastur
I'thaqua
Cthugah
Cthugah's flame creatures
B'yakhee
Clark Ashton Smith:
Shub-Niggurath
spawn of Shub-Niggurath
Fetor of the Depths (Tsathoggua)
Robert E. Howard:
Snake-Men (extinct on Carcosa)
Gary Gygax:
Slime God (Juiblex)
F. W. Holiday's theory of the Loch Ness Monster:
Lake Monsters
My own:
Lurker amidst the Obsidian Ruins
Deep Gibbering Madness
Putrescent Stench
It of the Fallen Pylons
Crawling God
Leprous Dweller Below
Shambler of the Endless Night
Inky Crawler
Lurker of the Putrescent Pits
Weird God
Violet Mist
God of the Primal Void
Tentacled One
Foul Putrescence
Suckered Abomination
Colorless Ooze
Watery Death
Desiccating Slime of the Silent Halls
Squamous Worm of the Pit
Amphibious Ones
Diseased Guardians
Green Ooze Pool
Mummies
Mummy Brains
Giant Jungle Ants
Space Aliens
Species 23750
mutant dinosaurs
Rolling on the Random Robot Generator is a lot of fun. Check out the description of hex 2102 for a cyborg I created using both the Random Robot Generator and the tables for the spawn of Shub-Niggurath. My Random Robot Generator is better than it otherwise would have been thanks to a thread on these boards started by Zulgyan in which many people contributed ideas for robots in D&D. Kudos! ;D
More often than not, some of the PCs in my campaign are sorcerers. The overall "arc", so to speak, of the campaign involves the party travelling to various dangerous and weird places on the planet of Carcosa in search of the proper components and sacrifices necessary to perform sorcerous rituals. Multiple sessions of game play can be and have been devoted to these travels (with, of course, all kinds of harrowing adventures along the way). Once everything is acquired, then the ritual is performed, and I've seldom seen players so ardent in their supplications to the dice gods when a ritual is performed. If that Cthulhoid entity isn't properly bound...
|
|
