The Troll Lord talks about the CKG

Hey all, thought you might want to hear from Steve regarding the CKG, the history of it, and it's place within Castles & Crusades.  If you follow our Troll's Tusk Newsletter, you might have seen a little of this, but if not (and even if you have) it's worth a read:

"The Castle Keepers Guide is at last released and perhaps it is time to talk a little more about where this books lands in the pantheon of C&C books and what exactly it is.

The CKG was conceived as a book that would help new comers to the game and table top genre get into running games quicker by giving them a better understanding of how role playing games work. It quickly evolved into a book that would be more than a simple instruction manual; as Davis took over lead development on it the book became a structure within which to house all the rules rejected from the base-line C&C game as well as a host of house rules; these combined with the how-tos making it a great project still. When Davis removed himself as lead designer and Steve took over the book morphed once again. In a long conversation with Mac Golden (co-creator of C&C) it came out that what the CKG should be is all the above as well as a place to answer all those questions the players ask the CK throughout the course of any game.

In some ways the massive delays played well with the books development allowing it to morph with the game's growth. Particularly important was several years of playing C&C with CKs encountering issues...such as henchman loyalty...that the PH just did not handle in detail. For certain the Siege Engine can supply the answer, but what are the factors that influence the actual challenge level? 

This, the CKG has done. A notable example are the tracking rules. Listed under the ranger class are a host of rules on tracking, how to gauge time, weather, and the tracks themsleves in order to come up with a reasonable CL. For certain the CK can still do this on the fly, but if rules are needed, then the rules are now there.  

 So what role does this book have at the table? The book is not necessary to play C&C. It was never intended as such, nor has it changed since the book's release. However, the CKG is filled to the brim with new concepts, rules, tips of the trade. More than that it gives hints of what CKs could do on their own, creating a basis for new approaches to things like magic spells. The CKG is almost 300 pages, with multiple rules for multiple problems, issues, and circumstances. We tried to cover as much as we could, and keep it as useful as possible.  

It's a good book and one, though not necessary to play C&C, we think you'll really want at your gaming table." 

So there you have it, straight from the Troll Lord's mouth. Well, his pen.  Okay, his fingers actually.  But I've been around him a lot when he is typing and I can tell you he talks out the words a lot when he types.  :-)

In Other News

Our $10 sale is winding down.  You have only to Sunday to save over 50% on many of our hottest items.  Probably the best deal to me is the Players Handbook/Monsters & Treasure for $20. They are both in hardcover and are really the only main books you need to play Castles and Crusades.  It's a great deal, even if you own them already, you can get another copy, give it to new players, etc. There's never been a better time to get these two major works.  

So go to the TLG Specials Page to check the special on this combo and plenty more, including the entire A Adventure Series for $10, the entire DB Series for $10, and much more.

We are getting excited and gearing up for Gary Con! We hope to see all of our fans and friends up there.  We'll be making the long trek by car again, should be great fun.  TrollDog Maggie wants to come, but we are gonna be out of the hotel most of the time, but maybe next year.  

I was in the main TrollDens yesterday for meetings and to do a little case wrapping on some hardcover books and i snapped a few pics of a part of the print shop.  I've posted these on our yfrog and you can see them by clicking on them at the end of this page.

Guess that's all for now, have a great weekend if I'm not back before then.  

-- Tim