Just for Kicks

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Naturally, this is for reference only, just to see if map edges align correctly.  The labels for Limn and Trollhattan still need to be switched around (see Thorfinn's final drafts for that).


You can get the full size file right HERE

The Alphatian Province of Stonewall (Updated June 7th)

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One more weekend project on its way to Thorfinn's computer.  I showed two new hex symbols labeled as "Gates."  These refer to major entrances to the dwarven underground realm.  The idea is that their very approximate location is public knowledge, but not their exact position or their appearance.  These are concealed at the bottom of mountainsides.

The Alphatian Province of Limn (Updated June 7th)

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This is first draft for the Trollhattan area (still showing the swapped tags Trollhattan/Limn).  Coastlines still are problematic for me.  The challenge occurs when trying to emulate coastlines from a larger-scale overlay.  I did some rough manual touch-ups to clean the mess.

Dominion Stats -- Ambur (Updated June 7th)

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I ran the numbers for Ambur (see my previous post about Ambur.)   I posted the updated summary below, which should be a lot easier to read.  It certainly makes my job easier posting the data here.  Since I may be developing a lot of other areas in and around Alphatia, the new format was a must.  Some of the numbers may still shift as I refine the old worksheet.  Let me know if you find anything that looks bogus.

Our Gaming Buddies von Deutschland

I've been having this little conversation with Rorschachhamster about real world economy and fantasy gaming, and he proceeded to expand on the subject on his blog.  Naturally, I had to make ample use of web translator apps to get the gist of things, my Germans being rather limited.  Nonetheless I found his work very interesting and worth a look!  Either way, keep up the good work!

Translated from the original version: "Hmm, I think with the tunic I'm still a little cheaper, then 2.5 GM. Even so it does not look so uniform...   Soooo....   I had come this far, and then came Bruce Heard with this table, in which he equated the SM (sp) with the shilling, rather than as I did with the penny, which was a coin made ​​of silver, although only a third as heavy as mine... hmhmhmhmhm ... because I would love to equate the prices here." (...)

  

Hmm, ich glaube die Tunika mache ich noch ein bißchen Billiger, so 2, 5 GM. Schon damit es nicht so gleichförmig aussieht…  Soooo….  bis hierhin war ich gekommen, und dann kam Bruce Heard mit dieser Tabelle. In der er die SM mit dem Shilling gleichsetzte, anstatt wie ich mit dem Penny, der ja eine Münze aus Silber war, wenn auch nur ein Drittel so schwer wie meine…

The original article is posted HERE.

 

To Boldly Go. . . (Updated May 25th)

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This article has been updated and vastly expanded.  

>>CLICK HERE<< for the updated version.

This is my first attempt at making a Mystara Gazetteer-style map.  It isn't perfect, judging for example from the use of the basic Arial Black font instead of the traditional Feinen Bold.  I haven't acquired the latter yet, or a close equivalent.  Map icons aren't quite correct either.  I used the free version of Hexographer (after a few false starts and software glitches) with finishing touches on Windows Paint.  The title font, Abaddon, was freeware material I found on the internet, so anyone can actually make maps like this.

Time-allowing (time always is the challenge), I plan on reworking areas previously mapped for Mystara which are almost featureless.  This new map is a rendition of the Province of Ambur, in the Northeastern corner of mainland Alphatia.  The original map had been completed at a 24-mile per hex scale.  The new one was replotted at the more useful 8-mile per hex scale.  I've added lots of visual features and made up a number of details and names, just for the heck of it.

You can download the original file here.

Your comments are welcome, naturally.

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Bread and. . . Jousts?

These are notes I'd written (to myself?) about the price of bread and how it can be used to balance out the cost of goods and services in a D&D setting.  This page reflects the economy of Thyatian Hinterlands (see my previous blog post).  I hope these notes aren't too obscure.

Here is a comparison between D&D coins and real world equivalents.  The top row (in green) refers to Roman coinage.  Pound Sterling is, of course, English currency.  Livre Tournois and Livre Parisis are French currency. The existence of the farthing and obolus (and the absence of a D&D equivalent) infers how inflated D&D economy usually is.

 

 

The worksheet proceeds to compare the price of bread in the Thyatian Hinterlands with the price of bread in AD1250 Western Europe.  It turns out, it's a bit more expensive, but marginally so which, thankfully, has a minor impact on the the cost of local "minimum wages" so to speak.  The price of bread fluctuates depending on the dominion's economic situation and whether any/how badly its people are starving.

 

Here are prices of goods and services inspired from real world historical data, and what they amount to in D&D terms.  Prices did vary depending on the century, so I had to settle for a range corresponding roughly to XIIIth Century western Europe.

 

 

 

 

Done!  Hope you found this informative.   The above price list shows suggested D&D prices, which reflect the Hinterlands' economy.  The bottom of the price list suggests a new coin (cheaper than a copper) might be needed.  Any ideas anyone?  Pebbles and shells?   A tiny copper piece, or one cut into four quarters, "only" worth 240 farthings!?