V5 in Development

Whole of project topics (across booklets, versions, contributors, etc.)

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Post by rredmond » Sun Jun 22, 2025 3:40 pm

Re: V5 in Development

Is the hyphen after "offshoots" meant to just separate the sentence? Wanted to be sure that, and the ellipses at the very end were purposeful. Instead of the hyphen between "offshoots-sprawling" maybe do something like "a dozen or more levels, sprawling haphazardly in all directions, with various offshoots, rather than stacking..."

Some of my other suggestions below, hope they help:

Before players can begin campaigning in delve into the Underworld the referee must can (or maybe keep MUST here, instead of CAN) secretly draw a (secret!) map of the mazy dungeons on graph paper.

There is no limit to the number of levels and sub-levels a dungeon can have, nor any size restriction on these levels. Ideally, a dungeon should have a dozen or more levels down with various offshoots-sprawling haphazardly in all directions rather than stacking neatly atop one another-with each. Each level being progressively more difficult and more rewarding than the last.

The referee should outline several levels at a time, noting how they interconnect by stairs, trapdoors, chutes, chimneys, sloping passages, or even by teleportation gates. Each should offer various opportunities to descend (or ascend) in order that players not be too constrained. Conversely, the most notable features and richest treasures of the dungeon should be relatively difficult to locate. The lowest levels should always include means of egress to exploring yet deeper depths.
[f=47]Noh’won the Wiser[/f]
Kiplyn: ...no closer to pancakes and rest!
[f=59]Garamon [Hardy Hero, MV 9′′, AC 4, HD 4, hp 20, FC 4 men/hero, SV F4, L][/f]
Wraislin: arcane fire spewing from his fingertips and reaping barbeque death!

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Post by waysoftheearth » Mon Jun 23, 2025 9:54 am

Re: V5 in Development

Thanks @rredmond. That hyphen was actually an en-dash, but it should have been an em-dash.
The prose is partly an attempt to echo the early Gygax style, but I do agree that section was too impenetrable. I've pulled it back from the brink, thanks :)
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]
Help Get DD5 Done! https://buymeacoffee.com/wote

Posts: 389
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Location: New Jersey

Post by rredmond » Mon Jun 23, 2025 10:46 am

Re: V5 in Development

Ha hah! Just suggestions of course. Ignore it all and no biggie! When I used to help Jim Kramer he used semicolons as colons it used to drive me crazy, but he taught me well about the author’s voice. I ain’t a great editor but I’m a pretty good suggester! ;)
[f=47]Noh’won the Wiser[/f]
Kiplyn: ...no closer to pancakes and rest!
[f=59]Garamon [Hardy Hero, MV 9′′, AC 4, HD 4, hp 20, FC 4 men/hero, SV F4, L][/f]
Wraislin: arcane fire spewing from his fingertips and reaping barbeque death!

Posts: 389
Joined: Mon May 20, 2019 2:27 pm
Location: New Jersey

Post by rredmond » Mon Jun 23, 2025 10:47 am

Re: V5 in Development

PS: and dashes and commas (Oxford or otherwise) are NOT my forte!
[f=47]Noh’won the Wiser[/f]
Kiplyn: ...no closer to pancakes and rest!
[f=59]Garamon [Hardy Hero, MV 9′′, AC 4, HD 4, hp 20, FC 4 men/hero, SV F4, L][/f]
Wraislin: arcane fire spewing from his fingertips and reaping barbeque death!

Posts: 16944
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Tue Jun 24, 2025 11:33 am

Re: V5 in Development

Next up, we have:

(Underworld) Distribution of Monsters and Treasure

Those monster tables coming next...
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]
Help Get DD5 Done! https://buymeacoffee.com/wote

Posts: 16944
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Wed Jun 25, 2025 9:23 am

Re: V5 in Development

Next up:

(Underworld) Monster Tables
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]
Help Get DD5 Done! https://buymeacoffee.com/wote

Posts: 16944
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Thu Jun 26, 2025 10:30 am

Re: V5 in Development

Next up:

(Underworld) Treasure Table
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]
Help Get DD5 Done! https://buymeacoffee.com/wote

Posts: 16944
Joined: Thu Sep 05, 2013 1:15 am
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Post by waysoftheearth » Sat Jun 28, 2025 11:39 pm

Re: V5 in Development

Rounding out the Preparation for the Campaign chapter, next up we preview

(Underworld) Tricks and Traps

Based on the high word count dedicated to this topic, perhaps it was one Gygax's thought more about?

Comments welcome!
[f=32]Golgildir the Elf Medium (MV 12", AC 9, HD 1, hp 1/1, AL N) great cloak, lantern; spells: color spray; scrolls: sleep, sleep, charm person
Hirelings: Georges; torch[/f]
Help Get DD5 Done! https://buymeacoffee.com/wote

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