CM1: Test of the Warlords: Difference between revisions
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Much of the map isn't, technically, under Norwold's sway. There's (probably) Heldann Freehold territory in the south... but screw 'em, they'd probably not unite against Alphatia anyway. If those losers had been worth a toss they'd have got a Gazetteer. Even the Shadow Elves and Atruaghins got a Gazetteer, you pathetic worms. Where's yours? Huh? | Much of the map isn't, technically, under Norwold's sway. There's (probably) Heldann Freehold territory in the south... but screw 'em, they'd probably not unite against Alphatia anyway. If those losers had been worth a toss they'd have got a Gazetteer. Even the Shadow Elves and Atruaghins got a Gazetteer, you pathetic worms. Where's yours? Huh? | ||
Also a good bit of the Isle of Dawn is on the map. And lands west of the Wyrmsteeth | Also a good bit of the Isle of Dawn is on the map. And lands west of the Wyrmsteeth; ''[[X11: Saga of the Shadow Lord]]'' will attempt (ineptly) the south parts of these. Later supplements would narrow down exactly how far Eric's writ is supposed to run. | ||
Thyatis apparently couldn't find anybody with a moral compass so its agents are a gallery of utter bastards, including an evil spellcaster, a mafioso, and some total douchecanoe who calls his 24-mile hex of territory "The Dominion Of Max the First". The players know exactly who wears the white hat and who wears the black hat. This is funny in the light of ''Dawn'' where we learn that Alphatia is running a caste society at home and a slave ring in other colonies. | Thyatis apparently couldn't find anybody with a moral compass so its agents are a gallery of utter bastards, including an evil spellcaster, a mafioso, and some total douchecanoe who calls his 24-mile hex of territory "The Dominion Of Max the First". The players know exactly who wears the white hat and who wears the black hat. This is funny in the light of ''Dawn'' where we learn that Alphatia is running a caste society at home and a slave ring in other colonies. | ||
Revision as of 17:45, 2 June 2020
CM1: Test of the Warlords is the Mentzer-era BXCMI's foray into high-level play. It was the way players tried out the new Companion rules: first the dominion-ruling mechanic, then the War Machine - because Cretia knows the TSR crew hadn't tested that shit in-house. Douglas Niles got this booby prize.
The party is done with the Known World so makes off to help colonise fantasy New England and Canada - Norwold, here. This is north of the Known World as the modules had it up to 1984. There weren't nations down there strong enough to do that, so Niles used the powerful maritime kingdom Alphatia, off the map(s) to the east.
Norwold is cold and barely-civilised. Here a Companion Set slate of nasty beasties runs amock. The region hosts a whole mountain range of MASSIVE DRAGONS, for instance. The empire has installed a king, Ericall, callow 20something, who will need all the help he can get. The emperor of Thyatis, meanwhile, questions that "not strong enough down there" thing. So he's inserted some agents in Norwold to pry it off Alphatian hands.
The module gives the party the opportunity to send third-level versions of themselves to their certain fiery deaths in one of those caves, before the party goes in there for themselves. One hopes those poor sods didn't have mothers.
Much of the map isn't, technically, under Norwold's sway. There's (probably) Heldann Freehold territory in the south... but screw 'em, they'd probably not unite against Alphatia anyway. If those losers had been worth a toss they'd have got a Gazetteer. Even the Shadow Elves and Atruaghins got a Gazetteer, you pathetic worms. Where's yours? Huh?
Also a good bit of the Isle of Dawn is on the map. And lands west of the Wyrmsteeth; X11: Saga of the Shadow Lord will attempt (ineptly) the south parts of these. Later supplements would narrow down exactly how far Eric's writ is supposed to run.
Thyatis apparently couldn't find anybody with a moral compass so its agents are a gallery of utter bastards, including an evil spellcaster, a mafioso, and some total douchecanoe who calls his 24-mile hex of territory "The Dominion Of Max the First". The players know exactly who wears the white hat and who wears the black hat. This is funny in the light of Dawn where we learn that Alphatia is running a caste society at home and a slave ring in other colonies.
Norwold will end up the default setting for other CM adventures, and M as well.