Freebooters on the Frontier 2e Discussion

#141

Mmmm that’s a layout problem rather then practical concerning the different type of dice to me.
I’m comparing with the old table at page 20 of Basic Rules. There I can see a clear hierarchy on the three levels of rolls. That’s a bit lost with the introduction of dice variation.

But I think the ascending number 8 -> 10 -> 12 is a natural feature that helps.
Maybe you could try some of these:

  • keep DISCOVERY and the following line of text out of the box so that that block is read separately from the table
  • try to separate more clearly the three levels
  • add a color-coded key/icon to show the hierarchy visually, and then implement the same color-coding on the three levels

Also quantity matters. In the old table the first cathegory 1 . UNNATURAL FEATURE only have 1 row between the first and the second result. The new one 1-6 . FEATURE have 2 rows which makes it more difficult for the eye to recognize the hierarchy pattern.

I hope it can help.

2 Likes
#142

@jasonlutes, quick recommendation on the booty table. At the very top of the table you have increased value for fine and exquisite items. I would recommend adding a value increase for magical and divine items as well.

I ran into one of those situations were there were some good rolls that upgraded tables. And ended up with a magical chainmail with a suggested value of 45sp. Which is a great deal at half-off the price of normal chainmail.

Now, I know the value usually gets thrown out if it isn’t valid, as the value is only suggested. And that is how it should work. But, giving accurate guidance to the regular items that are magical would be beneficial. And I think a value booster, like is already being done, would be the easiest way to do that.

2 Likes
#143

Thanks @Haaldaar – I’m going to do a complete reboot (so to speak) of the booty tables pretty soon, since I’m not happy with the way they work right now. I think magical and divine items will be considered priceless, though, which is to say that since they will cover a vast range they probably will not have a “list value.” If PCs want to sell or trade that stuff, they’ll have to find a buyer and then negotiate the exchange.

2 Likes
#144

I remember hearing you say a while ago that you’re planning to revamp the booty tables, and I’m really glad to hear that. I find them cumbersome with too many parts to put together. I don’t think they’re usable on the fly at all, at least for me. They’re somewhat better for rolling up specific loot tables for locations or monsters that can then be rolled on, but I’d love to be able to easily just come up with treasure on the fly.

1 Like
#145

I really like the d12 tables. I can grab a single d12 and throw it in my pocket and roll stuff up on my breaks. Also, if you switch to a d8->d10->d12 that is 96 fewer results than a d12->d12->d12 table (if my math is correct) but that only matters if you have a full 12 possibilities at each roll. Also, if you are still up for making that encounter table, we have a flooded wetland called Riasdubh. Rumors include an ogre that patrols the only road through the region, robbing travellers, a flooded ruin of a fortress that was once owned by a warlord and now houses an up and coming thieves syndicate, a ghostly dark elf king beckoning travellers to follow him into the swamp and a cult of crocodile worshippers.

2 Likes
#146

@Devin_Pike and @chrisshorb, here’s a pass at a wetlands table. Devin, I wrote most of it before your notes about the denizens of Riasdubh, but there’s a kind of ogre in there, and you can sub in the flooded ruins for one of the two dungeons.

Since my online campaign is building toward a big wetlands expedition, I’ll also be writing up some d6 Creature/Discovery/Hazard/Obstacle tables soon, and will post those here as well.

5 Likes
#147

Awesome! Thanks! Freebooters is becoming my default roleplaying experience I think. I never had the oldschool roleplaying experience growing up (90s kid with parents that bought into the satanic panic) but I read Tolkien, Andre Norton, E.R.B., Lieber and anything else the library had at the time. Freebooters brings back all those memories of hiding under my blanket with a flashlight when I was supposed to be sleeping. It is really cool to be able to share that with my kids.

2 Likes
#148

@jasonlutes This is awesome. I didn’t realize I wanted this until seeing it. I especially love that there is a mini bestiary attached. Great work. When the game moves to a finished version, do you expect more tables like this included? Or is this just on the side?

3 Likes
#149

@Haaldaar, a booklet of tables like this will probably be some kind of stretch goal. The focus of the game is on putting the tools of creation in the hands of the user, so there will be guidelines included for making your own regional tables.

3 Likes
#150

This is very cool. Out of curiousity, do you tend to use tables more like this (the “one-roll ______”) at the table, or the kinds of tables you shared on the blog?

1 Like
#151

@jexjthomas, I use the D6 tables like on the blog. They’re shorter, so easier to write. When the party encounters a given thing I cross it off the list and then write a replacement between sessions.

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#152

@jasonlutes I am curious if there are versions of the playlets doc available that has each page on it’s own page, instead of two on-a-page in landscape? Just curious before I print it out. I am going to bring a hard copy with me to Gen Con in a few days and try to show some folks the awesomeness! Would just be easier for me to flip through in that format, as I won’t have my laptop.

4 Likes
#153

@Haaldaar, I just uploaded three of the files as one-page-per-page pdfs to the dropbox folder. They’re formatted as 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" pages, since that will be the size of the final books, so they’ll be surrounded by white space if you print them on 8-1/2" x 11", but hopefully you will find them of use.

4 Likes
#154

@jasonlutes Man, thanks so much! I can easily print them with a bit of zoom, to fill the page. Hopefully I can convert some folks.

2 Likes
#155

Howdy, ya’ll! Just wanted to share that I’ve set up some of the nested random tables from the playtest as a collection in Chartopia. Tried to stay as true to the charts as written while still being usable/understandable. Hope they’re helpful!

@jasonlutes: Loving what you’ve put out so far! Let me know if you have any problems with me putting these tables up on Chartopia and I’ll take them down.

Also, to follow up on @Haaldaar’s post about the crafting rules as currently written, I kind of like the way it works currently. It implies that, without investing in a workshop, hiring an apprentice/laborer, etc., you can craft simple things at or below cost but not high-quality/complex things.

5 Likes
#156

Very cool, @sdonjr! No problem at all on this end. I’d never seen Chartopia before but I like that it lets you look under the hood at the actual tables and procedures.

Also reminds me that I need to get on that booty generation procedure ASAP…

1 Like
#157

@sdonjr this site is awesome. Your work is great, and I love the ability to save roles and make notes on them. I am going to use the heck out of this!

If you would entertain one ask… Your NPC roller would be a one-stop-shop if it also included an NPC name. I know FotF 2e doesn’t have a name generator (yet?). But, maybe you could use the name generator from FotF 1e?

But Kudos on this. Thanks for doing the work!

2 Likes
#158

Thanks, @Haaldaar. Jason, the dynamic dev duo at Chartopia, and the inventor of copy/paste deserve the vast majority of the credit.

Also, I had been thinking about adding a name generator and linking that to the NPC generator but completely forgot about the name tables in Freebooters 1st edition! Here’s the updated NPC generator and here’s the name generator.

I’ve started working on a settlement events/locations generator and dungeon area generator. I can’t figure out anything as “elegant” as the NPC generator but should still be useful.

On a related note, @jasonlutes, do you have a map / list of the relationships between the different tables you have so far? If not, I’d be happy to put something together.

5 Likes
#159

@sdonjr, I do not have such a map, no.

#160

Wow, that NPC generator is great!

1 Like