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Friday, June 9, 2017

I Just saw Kong: Skull Island Today - Totally Thinking a "Monster Island" setting for SWL would Rock!


Kong: Skull Island was simply a great ride. Not saying it was a classic, but my time was spent enjoying it.

Of course, as the title of this post shows, I was thinking pretty much from the moment they reached the island how cool a setting it was.

And it is.

Ancient ruins. Ancient people. Geography larger than life. Fauna that is larger than life. Add in some flora with medicinal purposes and have those ruins conceal ancient treasures and you have the recipe for some true excitement.

So I'm thinking - expand a bit on the ranger and barbarian classes in SWCL, add a tribal casting class (with some new spells), adjustments for small races fighting giant creatures, give elves some wilderness stealth, lots of new monsters and creatures, a map of said island, a scattering of ruins big and small (and some history for the now deceased ancient culture) and maybe an isolated port just off the island where adventurers can have a home base. PCs could be a mixture of classic "civilized" races and classes as well as ones native to the island.

The ruins can each be their own one-sheet. Wandering creature tables by general region. Not level appropriate for the PCs. A sandbox with lots of "Oh Shit! Run!"

Phew. Yeah, that's a full plate. Heh.

Anyone know of a stock art map that might fit the bill? Or do I simply use one of my mapping programs and stumble around to I get what I need?

I'll start my outline tonight and post pieces to the blog when stuff gets done. A full plate this weekend of family, fun and being the subject of a Sunday afternoon interview. Whee!

9 comments:

  1. I see this all X1 Isle of Dread style. Have a DM map and a player map with the player map only filled in along the coast...

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  2. I'm a big fan of the 2005 movie. Weta produced a book about Skull Island. It is a must for all lost world style campaigns. Its really good. https://www.amazon.com/World-Kong-Natural-History-Island/dp/1416505199

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  3. I saw this movie soon after it came out and thoroughly enjoyed it. Made me think about re-working the "Isle of the Ape" adventure to make Oonga a potentially sympathetic monster, if not an outright ally.

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  4. I volunteer to be a PC in this SWL sandbox at the FLGS

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  5. This was a fun movie that I totally didn't expect. Ended up watching it twice.

    The thing that struck me was how certain scenes were very D&D-ish in their own right. Especially the "Bamboo Forest" scene (I don't want to give anything away...). This is exactly how a surprise attack (with all of the missed chances for Perception that allow it to happen) encounter should work and DM's should watch this movie for that graphic illustration. Show it to those whiny players who always say, "But how would I be surprised?! I should be able to roll initiative and attack now! I wouldn't be surprised at all!"

    Heh. Sure you wouldn't...

    I can't wait to own this movie and watch it with my kids when they are old enough.

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  6. I'll be getting PJ's "King Kong" and "Kong: Skull Island" when they come out on 4K disc! Yea it was cool how they did the "Bamboo Forest" scene! In my current campaign, which is now in "DD3: Fortress of the Yuan-Ti", my players will be going to "I1: Dwellers of the Forbidden City" next and I am enhancing it with "C1: The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan". They will head to the Forbidden City using the first part of "I11: Needle", and I will have this set on "X1: Isle of Dread". I am thinking to enhance the city using the "Black Pearl" Campaign extra encounters. Other suggestions would be welcome! Anything set in a jungle and monster island setting!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, for the 2nd blank Portal in "DD3: Fortress of the Yaun-Ti" I was going to use "N1: Against the Cult of the Reptile God" and "I2: Tomb of the Lizard King". But now I might toss them onto, Isle of the Dread and use the 2nd blank portal as their way back home. I might also put, "Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth", under the Forbidden City and also include, "The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun".

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  7. http://elfmaidsandoctopi.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/monster-island-zone-and-gamelog.html

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