Unvisible Citadel: November 2013

This is a list of typos, inconsistencies and other glitches for the Swords & Wizardry versions of the Cyclopean Deeps modules from Frog God Games. I don't know whether these issues are also applicable to the Pathfinder versions of those modules. This list also contains some organizational recommendations for the unified print version.

Bold items are the most significant or confusing; if you don't care about editorial minutia, and just want to know what "gotchas" might otherwise sneak up on you while refereeing, just skim the list for the bold items…

Cyclopean Deeps 1: Down to Ques Querax

Tertiary Passage table (p 5):
- Should have bold 1-20 numbers like the other tables do.

Shroom (p 6):
- Supposed to have 3/2 spells listed, but only has 2 first-level spells, and 1 second-level spell listed. (This was likely a copy/paste error from Fthormidor in Demonspore.)

Dark Creeper and Dark Stalker (p 5):
- Possibly important to mention of the two major dark stalker civilizations, or point to the relevant info in CD3, given the possibility of fighting these wandering monsters and acquiring disguises or artifacts.

Dark Stalker Caravan (p 7):
- "Darkfolk" (four places) might be a misnomer, especially as a label for caravans, given that the other text calls them "dark stalker caravans."
- Misspelling: "darkstalker" should be "Dark stalker" in two places.
- Possibly important to mention of the two major dark stalker civilizations, or point to the relevant info in CD3, given the possibility of fighting these wandering monsters and acquiring disguises or artifacts.

Area 0E-1-E (p 11):
- Refers to the teleportation destination being "Area OE-7" which does not exist, and also describes it as "just outside the fortress of Ques Querax," would would be 3 miles away at area 3H-something.

Area 0E-4 (p 11):
- Should the depth of the crystal clear pools be specified? It's one of the first thing my players would ask, since they are, after all, crystal clear; and various other heights are specified (cliffs, ceiling, etc.).

Map 0E (p 12):
- The pool depicted in area 4 should be depicted as closer to the cliff face. The description of area 0E-3 says, "one of the pools is directly underneath the cliff face," and refers the reader to the map for specific positioning.
- There should be a third pool depicted in area 4. The description of area 0E-4 says, "Three pools of crystal-clear liquid glitter in the floor."

Player Map 1 (p 13):
- It has the wrong top-of-page header ("Hex OE Map").
- This map more properly belongs in Cyclopean Deeps #2, since that's where the PCs can actually find it (area 3H-21). (And also because there is no mention of it or commentary about it in CD1.)

Area 0E-5 (p 14):
- Should this indicate the height of the cliff face? (For comparison, area 0E-3 indicates its cliff face height.)

Area 0E-6 (p 14):
- Incorrect implication that Ques Querax is 1/2 mile away, when it is actually more like 3 miles away.

Monster Appendix (p 15-19):
- A number of creature descriptions don't give any indication of the creature's size. Some are called out explicitly in this list below, but not all. The unmentioned ones are probably obvious given the reader's likely familiarity with other versions of the game, but then again, maybe not.

Dark Creeper and Dark Stalker (p 15):
- Possibly important to mention of the two major dark stalker civilizations, or point to the relevant info in CD3.

Fungus Bat (p 16):
- Needs to describe the creature's size.

Khryll (p 17):
- Only an oblique indication of size is given (10ft. tentacles), though the picture can help sort this out.
- Size (length/width) of the psychic cone blast is not specified.
- No indication of how telepathy works. This ought to be specified because of the setup of the Khryll in area 3H-20 (in CD2), where PCs are granted a saving throw to avoid mental probing. (There is no default behavior to be inferred from the S&W rulebook.)

Neh-Thalggu (p 18):
- Needs to describe the creature's size.
- There is an errant line break (and paragraph start) in the last paragraph, between "perhaps" and "exiled."

Shroom (p 19):
- Needs to describe the creature's size.
- Remove the inadvertently left-in phrase, "DC 15 Fortitude save."

Syanngg (p 19):
- Needs to describe the creature's size.

Cyclopean Deeps 2: Eye of the Titan

Cover:
- Subtitle should be changed from "Cult of the Khryll" to "Eye of the Titan."

Introduction (p 3)
- Last sentence of the introduction is clunky, particularly the start of the last phrase, "... that the Eye ..."

Area 3H-1 (p 5):
Typo: "... they are be attacked."

p 6, Patrons of the Sunworm (p 6)
- The random table doesn't list creature quantity ranges for random patrons, from Huggermuggers on down.
- Shroom: Supposed to have 3/2 spells listed, but only has 2 first-level spells, and 1 second-level spell listed.

Area 3H-7 (p 7):
- It's not clear what level spells the occupants can cast.

Area 3H-9 (p 8):
- Last paragraph has a typo: "... think blue gas ..." should probably be "... thick blue gas ..."

Illustration of Ques Querax (p 10):
- This illustration doesn't match the description on page 5, area 3H-2: "... the walls [of Ques Querax] rise to the top of the cavern like a hollow pillar – they do not have a “top” that can be climbed over."

Area 3H-17 (p 11):
- Refers to Cyclopean Deeps 4: Dread Domes of the Serpentfolk, but according to a note at the end of CD3, CD4 covers a different area. Also the name "Dread Domes of the Serpentfolk" is inconsistent with the name given in area 3H-23 ("Domes of the Serpentfolk").

Area 3H-18 (p 12):
- No indication of room/passage height is given, nor depth of the vertical connection between this area and the throne room above. (Either would be sufficient.) (Note that area 3H-21 gives some clue, with one glass sphere being, "a full ten feet off the ground, very near the ceiling.")

Map of Catacombs of Ques Querax (p 13):
- The lobsters/titans depicted on the map (areas 3H-18 and 3H-22) are too narrow. Area 3H-18 describes it with, "the segments have a diameter of about 20 ft." (Ditto for 3H-22.) If the map depiction is correct, then perhaps the text should use circumference instead of diameter?
- The map depicts area 23 a little oddly/wrong, as if it is south of the area behind columns, when it is actually underneath the columns themselves. (From area 3H-22: "... a stone dais with three orbs floating in the air directly above it. ... the top of the dais swings up and backward on a hidden hinge, revealing the entrance to the prison cell underneath." From area 3H-21: "The prisoner is in a small cell, and is seen from overhead as the ceiling of the cell is lowered down like a hinged box lid.")

Area 3H-20 (p 12 & 14)
- There's an orphaned line at the top of page 14 ("magic resistance.") that is the end of a paragraph that started two pages earlier. Because of the intervening map page, there is definitely an unfortunate page flip that would need to be made when running this room. (Also it would be great if the Treasure paragraph were also kept on the same page as the rest of the keyed area description, though that is somewhat less jarring.)

Area 3H-21 (p 14):
- No indication is given about the size of the glass spheres.
- Misspelling: At the top of the second column, "darkstalker" should be "dark stalker".

Area 3H-23 (p 15):
- Refers to Cyclopean Deeps 4: Domes of the Serpentfolk, but according to a note at the end of CD3, CD4 covers a different area. Also the name "Domes of the Serpentfolk" is inconsistent with the name given in area 3H-17 ("Dread Domes of the Serpentfolk").

Illustration of area 3H-22 (p 15):
- This illustration probably depicts the room incorrectly. I take the corresponding textual description (area 3H-22, especially "Across the bridge, the characters are able to see the room’s southern chamber, which is blocked off by the bulk of the titan.") to mean the floor was not sunken, but that the "bridge" was more like an arch-shaped apparatus allowing access to the top of (and over) the lobster/titan body. If the floor is indeed intended to be sunken, then perhaps the map needs some drop-off indicators.

Cyclopean Deeps 3: Izamne, City of Endless Dark

General:
- Given the prevalence of new monsters, and instances of "see New Monsters" blurbs (which are often longer than the name of the new monster itself), it might be worthwhile to standardize on a simpler sort of pointer: An asterisk * or dagger † could be the shorthand for "see the new stuff section".

Darkmist (p 3):
- Should mention that darkmist reduces illumination from flames down to 10 ft. (This is otherwise first mentioned in area 8Q-4.)

Language (p 3):
- In the finished compilation version, this section should be moved earlier, toward the beginning of the entire book.

The Darkfolk/Dark Ones (p 3):
- It seems odd to introduce yet another term for dark stalkers, dark creepers, etc. Admittedly "Dark Ones" at least has some precedent in the WotC versions of the game. (And google tells me that Pathfinder has "dark folk.") I think I see some value in using terms that bolster peoples' familiarity with the relevant creatures, but I wonder if this could be achieved differently. Possibly in the relevant Monster Appendices? In this case, I think sticking to one term in the body text would be best; and also use that term in each relevant creature description; and also include a monster meta-entry for the selected term which mentions the other term, and directs to all relevant monster entries.
- The start of one sentence is awkward (albeit probably grammatically correct): "They depend for their existence on stealth and mobility,..."
- Misspelling: "Darkstalker" should be "dark stalker."

Avarthamna Civilization (p 4):
- Misspelling: "Darkstalker" should be "dark stalker." (3 occurrences of this misspelling here.)

Kshamarat Civilization (p 4):
- Last paragraph incorrectly uses the concepts of receipts, Ancestor-tokens, and victory-trophies. In the first sentence, "victory-tokens" should be "victory-trophies." In the last sentence, "ancestor-tokens" should be "victory-trophies."

Map of The Shrines (p 6):
- It's not clear where the land part of the ledges are (over which the waterfalls pour).

Area 8Q-3 (p 8):
- Missing a closing parenthesis after, "(see, “New Magic Items".
- Should either include a stat block for ethereal maggots, or at least refer the reader to the new monsters section. (Upon first reading, I assumed they were intended to be handled by the referee in an ad-hoc manner. Only after I reached the new monsters section did I realize that they had actual stats that are significant in terms of removing them.)

Area 8Q-4 (p 8-9):
- Misspelling: "Darkstalker" should be "dark stalker." (3 occurrences of this misspelling here.)

Area 8Q-5 (p 9):
- Table entry 3 says, "... the face, of course, is the face of the wizard Jupiter Kwan." Since this is the first ever mention of Jupiter Kwan in the series, the "of course" should be removed.
- Table entry 4 says, "a hold in a stone floor," which should probably say "hole" instead of "hold."

Area 9L-2 (p 10-11):
- The fourth paragraph refers the reader to the glossary entry for "azamarthi," after the third mention of that term. It might make more sense to move this reference one paragraph earlier, near the first mention of the term. (Or maybe just eliminate the reference to the glossary, because the glossary entry says no more than has already been said.)
- The last sentence's identification of the substance as Darkmist is unnecessary, because that term has already been used to concretely describe the substance. Also, since darkmist was already defined in the introductory information, I'm not sure it's necessary to point the reader to the glossary (though it certainly doesn't hurt).

Map of Izame (p 12-13):
- Should include elevation info on the key, at least showing which colors are higher and which are lower. I think darker areas are higher than lighter areas, mainly due to what appears to be a stairs symbol in some areas leading between levels.
- In the PDF, the second page of the map has no grid labels for the vertical access, which makes it tougher to look up particular coordinates on that half.

Rooftop Animals (p 14):
- Goblin dogs entry should point at the New Monsters section.

Buildings (p 14):
- Temple row says "(see sub-table)" but there is no sub-table for temples.

Agent of Operations (p 15):
- This label has the wrong font & style, and should be like the Alchemical Workshop entry label that follows it.
- Element table: In the first row, "goblin dogs" should point at the New Monsters section.

Flophouse (p 15):
- The table has messed up roll number sequencing; the first two entries are 1-2 and 1-4, followed by 5, 6, 7, 8.

Mills/Pumps (p 15):
- To better match the other categories of buildings names, which are in the singular (not plural) form, this ought to be "Mill/Pump".

Reliquary-House (p 15-16):
- There are two area typos: "3R-15" should be "13R-15," and "3R-11" should be "13R-11."
- The last paragraph of this section is (partially?) redundant with that section's earlier discussion of treasure; though this last paragraph is slightly more generous than the earlier table. In any case, the info could get combined together, so as not to be in two disparate areas (before & after creature stat blocks).
- Should the reference to 13R-11 (as well as the mistaken "3R-11" preceding it) specify the map coordinates for that location (V38), like most of the other 13R-XX references in the module? Ditto for the 13R-15 (as "3R-15") reference (Y25 ?).

Residence, Private (p 16-17):
- various table entries: "Goblin dogs" should point at the New Monsters section.
- table entry 66-70: Should the reference to 13R-16 specify the map coordinates for that location (W65?), like most of the other 13R-XX references in the module?
- table entry 81: Refers to a future installment as "Cyclopean Deeps: Hidden Worlds of Jupiter Kwan", whereas other references add "9": "Cyclopean Deeps 9: Hidden Worlds of Jupiter Kwan."
- table entry 96-99: Misspelling: "Fin Arts" should be "Fine Arts."
- table entry 100: Misspelling: "Reson" should be "reason."

Store (p 17-19):
- Awkward sentence? "Since many of the stores in Izamne are actually craftsmen, or do not fashion the object on site..." It seems like "stores" should really be "store owners" or "proprietors."
- table entry 66-70: "Goblin Dog" should point at the New Monsters section.

Wizard, Shaman, Other Spellcaster (p 19):
- This label has the wrong font & style, and should be like the Theater of Sound and Shadow entry label that precedes it.

Main Streets (p 19-20):
- Table is missing entry for a roll of 18.

Secondary Streets (p 20):
- table entry 53: should refer to New Monsters section for the encephalon gorger.
- table entry 91-97: "Goblin dogs" should point at the New Monsters section.

New Magic Items (p 21):
- No entry for the Veil of Seeing is included, even though area 8Q-3 (p 8) and the Residence, Private entry (p 16) include references to here for a description.

Giant, Jack-in-Irons (p 22):
- Stats are listed in the wrong order. (Saving Throw should be listed before Special.)

Goblin Dog (p 22):
- Stats are listed in the wrong order. (Saving Throw should be listed before Special.)
- Mentions "the goblinoid subtype," which is a d20-ism. Could probably simplify that sentence to just refer to "goblinoids."
- The following sentence is missing a phrase before "saving throw": "...or who otherwise comes into contact with a goblin dog saving throw or break out in an itching rash."

Mites and Pesties (p 23):
- Save stat should be called Saving Throw. (Applies to both the Mites and Pesties stat lists.)

Gloom Crawler (p 23):
- This is out of alphabetical order relative to the rest of the monsters (except Grue).
- Seems odd that the description doesn't say how frequently a Gloom Crawler takes damage from natural sunlight (e.g., once per round or turn or whatever).

Grue (p 23):
- This is out of alphabetical order relative to the rest of the monsters (except Gloom Crawler).
- Stats include Number Encountered, which is not usually given for S&W creatures.

Skum (p 24):
- Stats include Number Encountered, which is not usually given for S&W creatures.

Glossary / Darkmist (p 24):
- Should mention that darkmist reduces illumination from flames down to 10 ft. (This is otherwise mentioned in area 8Q-4.)
- The last sentence refers to just the "demon prince," which probably should be "demon prince Isclaadra." (This confused me when I happened to read that glossary entry without recently reading a passage that mentioned Isclaadra's name.)

Isclaadra (p 24):
- There is an unintentional paragraph break in the middle of the second sentence.

Glossary / Rune of Touch (p 24):
- Misspelling: "Darkstalker" should be "dark stalker."

Player Map of Izame (p 26-27):
- See notes for Map of Izame up above.

Unvisible Citadel

Monday, November 18, 2013

SPI on AD&D: Mostly Pig Lips

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Cyclopean Deeps Errata & Stuff

Cyclopean Deeps 1: Down to Ques Querax

Cyclopean Deeps 2: Eye of the Titan

Cyclopean Deeps 3: Izamne, City of Endless Dark