2017 Forum Hoards

[Vermin King]

Is it too early to start thinking about these? Last year, the discussion didn't start until the 3rd of January.

2016 Hoards were:

FH 137 January Monster Manual Monsters
FH 138 February All Things Irish
FH 139 March Landlubbers Need Not Apply
FH 140 April Out and About
FH 141 May Robots vs Power Armor
FH 142 June Pantheon of the Gods
FH 143 July VSF and Steampunk
FH 144 August Star Tales
FH 145 September Halloween Wars
FH 146 October Medieval Mayhem
FH 147 November Christmas Wars
FH 148 December The Hoard of the Procrastinators

September, November and December should stay the same, but all other months are up for grabs

FH 149 January Out of Time
FH 150 February Anthropomorphic Madness
FH 151 March Sci Fi Encounters
FH 152 April Mountain Mayhem
FH 153 May Welcome to the Dungeon
FH 154 June Deities and Their Followers
FH 155 July Familiars and Earthly Wildlife
FH 156 August Papercuts
FH 157 September Halloween Wars
FH 158 October Beyond the Black Nebula
FH 159 November Christmas Wars
FH 160 December The Hoard of the Procrastinators

Keeping in mind that Papercuts is in August, I feel that whatever we come up with for topics in July and August, you would want to work on early.

Any ideas?

[wyvern]

I just suggested a follow-up to the "Pantheons of the Gods" (FH142 June 2016) on another CWF topic before I'd seen this one - Deities of Old Egypt.

Would it be worth packaging the Papercuts freebies together as the Hoard for August, rather than running a separate Hoard for then? Is one distracting from the other? I know the Papercuts entries were a little down this year is all.

Reluctant to set a trend of just follow-ups to ideas from 2016, but Wizards of the Coast are shortly to release (November) what looks to be 5th edition's "Monster Manual 2", as Volo's Guide to Monsters, so maybe More Monster Manual Monsters, not necessarily just drawn from this new book though, might be suitable for another Hoard?

[Vermin King]

I've also been thinking about Paleolithic. Some of those creatures lived up to near-modern times.

[mproteau (Paper Realms)]

A prehistoric theme sounds like fun. Thinking of themes, and working those aliterations...

Aquatic Adventures? (Mermen, sailors, crabs etc)
Wonders of the Wilderness? (Monsters found in nests, dens etc)
Marvelous Monuments? (Statues, monuments, buildings)
Denizens of the Dark? (Horror theme)
Modern Mercenaries? (Modern warriors of all types)
Ancient Armies? (Historical figures)
Victorian Villains? (Victorian/steampunk anything)
Mutant Madness? (Crazy creations for any setting)
Crazy Japanese cartoon mech things?

I will stop there...

[Vermin King]

I was also thinking 'real history', something like 'Pick an era, any era'. That could cover quite a few topics that wouldn't have enough interest just in one theme.

I look at the Hoards as a way to focus interest, but maybe a broader view might be a good thing occasionally.

[Punkrabbitt]

Given 9 months to work with, perhaps we should try three eachbof science fiction, fantasy, and historical. Just a thought.

[squirmydad]

I like the idea of more monsters, how about "Monsters of the Abyss" as that could cover demonic entities as well as deep sea beasties.
I like that this conversation is starting now.

[Vermin King]

I could see three of the months being general topics. You know it has been a long time since we had a specific Dungeon theme -- Welcome to the Dungeon

[chiefasaur]

Has there been a super hero horde? Or just comics/manga themed in general? That could be a fun subject to explore.

[wyvern]

Thinking of the general topics/more monsters angles, what about creatures found in different terrain types? Say Denizens of the Mountains, of the Deep Seas, Swamps, Coastal Waters, Deserts, Tundra, Clouds, Lakes, Woodlands, etc., etc. Maybe even two or more contrasting terrain types, just to spread the net wider and maybe generate some fresh ideas. This way, other things than just monsters - or indeed fantasy - could be incorporated too. Not suggesting this should take over the entire Hoard system here, but maybe pick one or two terrain types per year, and continue the theme into subsequent years?

Considering too what seemed to be popular this year, the Irish theme seemed to go down particularly well, so maybe there's an argument for trying other cultures or physical areas too. Somewhere equally evocative - Transylvania, say, which might be considered in either a tight sense of part of modern Romania only and the folklore from there, but could also be taken more loosely in the "Land Beyond the Forest" sense, which would allow access to folkloric creatures from other SE European cultures like Bulgaria and the countries that were formerly parts of Yugoslavia; Transylvanian Tales?

Also on the more general theme, what about something like The Time-Shifted, which could mean time-travellers, but could equally apply to anything used outside its historical period (so including variant science-fiction settings, not just 19th century, or variant historical settings).

All in favour of more deep-sea creatures, and divers of various types (the Bond movie Thunderball provides ample inspiration for scuba combats, for instance), plus historical minis too (though we've had quite a few discussions about both previously, with only limited success).

[Vermin King]

In the latest iteration of D&D (or in other rulesets), how many terrain types are listed? In my older than old Monster Manual, I think they only had six terrain types for all the different creatures.

I like the concept of 'Out of Time' for a general theme of atypical creatures and items. Paleolithic, futuristic, VSF, near future could all converge into one really interesting Hoard.

[chiefasaur]

Oct 23, 2016 10:15:18 GMT -9 Vermin King said:

In the latest iteration of D&D (or in other rulesets), how many terrain types are listed? In my older than old Monster Manual, I think they only had six terrain types for all the different creatures.

Taking a quick peek at the 5E Monster Manual, looks like environments are very loosely summarized. Their list is: Dungeons,The Underdark, The Wilderness, Towns and Cities, Underwater and The Planes of Existence.
I'd bet the DMG has more specific locations defined, like mountains and desert and such.

[nolabert]

Another possible option for a horde is Kobold Press's Tome of Beasts for 5E D&D.

The environments listed in the 5E DMG are
- Arctic
- Coastal
- Desert
- Forest
- Grassland
- Hill
- Mountain
- Swamp
- Underdark
- Underwater
- Urban

[Vermin King]

We are collecting a lot of good ideas here. I really like the concept of Welcome to the Dungeon. I would like to see an Out of Egypt and Abysmal Creatures. Out of Time could cover so many topics, and I think that once oddball things started coming together, folks would want to push boundaries further, which is a good thing. General topics would also be good, but I am uncertain whether they are inspiring enough. Should we combine July and August to be Papercuts 2017?

Keep the ideas coming

[soaringraven]

I'd really love to see a hoard like 'Malicious Menagerie' - dealing with normal animals. These are always miniatures I lack, but often need in rpgs. Beasts like wolves, bears, boars, warhounds or animals that might see use as a wizard's familiar like ravens, owls, newts, etc.

[Vermin King]

Familiar Creatures and Malicious Menagerie would be a good one

[Vermin King]

Oct 23, 2016 10:35:13 GMT -9 nolabert said:

Another possible option for a horde is Kobold Press's Tome of Beasts for 5E D&D.

The environments listed in the 5E DMG are
- Arctic
- Coastal
- Desert
- Forest
- Grassland
- Hill
- Mountain
- Swamp
- Underdark
- Underwater
- Urban

I like the concept, but can we reduce these or combine them in a way that makes sense?

[wyvern]

Oct 24, 2016 17:26:54 GMT -9 Vermin King said:

Oct 23, 2016 10:35:13 GMT -9 nolabert said:

Another possible option for a horde is Kobold Press's Tome of Beasts for 5E D&D.

The environments listed in the 5E DMG are
- Arctic
- Coastal
- Desert
- Forest
- Grassland
- Hill
- Mountain
- Swamp
- Underdark
- Underwater
- Urban

I like the concept, but can we reduce these or combine them in a way that makes sense?

Lowlands, Highlands, Wetlands, Drylands, Ocean & Sub-Aqua, Icelands? Or simplify still further to Wildlands, Wildwaters and Iceworlds?

Underdark could be classed as Dungeons (but it also includes caves and anything else subterranean).

[whisper31]

Going in a different route...How about anthropomorphic PC types? I'm thinking along the lines of the Erma Felna EDF RPG that was based off the Albedo comics by Steve Galacci (Man. The things you remember after 20+ years).

[Vermin King]

Giving this a bump. I noticed several inquiries on Gun Crawl. Would that be a good topic for a Hoard? Maybe folks familiar with the game could submit scenarios. Others could supply additional figures and objectives. Just a thought

[squirmydad]

Nov 11, 2016 10:04:44 GMT -9 Vermin King said:

Giving this a bump. I noticed several inquiries on Gun Crawl. Would that be a good topic for a Hoard? Maybe folks familiar with the game could submit scenarios. Others could supply additional figures and objectives. Just a thought

Props and special tiles could be easily applicable to any sci-fi skirmish and exploration game.

[Punkrabbitt]

Nov 11, 2016 14:00:56 GMT -9 squirmydad said:

Nov 11, 2016 10:04:44 GMT -9 Vermin King said:

Giving this a bump. I noticed several inquiries on Gun Crawl. Would that be a good topic for a Hoard? Maybe folks familiar with the game could submit scenarios. Others could supply additional figures and objectives. Just a thought

Props and special tiles could be easily applicable to any sci-fi skirmish and exploration game.

So how about a "Science Fiction Explorers" Hoard? 

[bluecloud2k2]

How about a Traps Hoard?

"It's a Trap!"

[wyvern]

As the October Hoard just went online earlier today, thought this might be worth a bump now again. Maybe we could start tying down a few of those blank months to specific ideas?

[Vermin King]

And following my 'normal' schedule, on December 1, I should be announcing the January Upcoming Hoard. Thanks for mentioning it in a very timely fashion.

On topics already mentioned, is something especially jumping out at you that should be January?

We were talking about generic topics. And several things that could fit into the Out of Time theme were mentioned: Prehistoric, several ancient topics, Victorian, Time shifts/rifts. I've never seen a caveman with a cell phone, but I am half tempted to do that for January, if no one has a particular immediate need.

But we really need to get the year sorted out

[squirmydad]

I pledge to make some kind of little dino figure for January. And probably a clutch of giant eggs.

[whisper31]

While I can't draw a stick figure without a compass and a ruler, I'll throw my two cents it (for whatever it is worth). How about some anthropomorphisized animals. Cats, dogs, rats, etc. I was thinking along the lines of Rock&Rule type critters or even the Erma Felna/Albedo RPG type of characters.

[Vermin King]

Okay, penciled in some themes. Out of Time will be for January. Dinos, plasma rifle-wielding Spartans, VSF, Old West (is the Old West considered Victorian?), Pulp.

I think we could have a very interesting batch of things that don't fit together, but fit the theme. Diversity is the thing that will really make this one to remember.

Almost threw Wee Folk in for February, but opted against it.

Other than January, everything is still up for grabs

[wyvern]

A few more seem to have filled-in now, leaving up to five gaps (depending on whether August should be Papercuts only). Egypt and Dungeon seemed to have raised interest earlier. Looking at the Master List and the various comment lists/suggestions, perhaps something more distinctly historical wouldn't go amiss, and certainly mproteau (Paper Realms)'s Ancient Armies would get my vote, given how over-represented both the near-modern and especially the medieval (or pseudo-medieval) periods are in various RPG mini sets already. Following from that Real Animals would be another possibility already suggested. One more, and with this line-up, I'd incline towards Punkrabbitt's Science Fiction Explorers to round things off.

So, for fancier names, what about:

Wonders of Egypt
Dungeon Denizens
Armies of the Ancient World
Earthly Wildlife
Science Fiction Explorers

[Vermin King]

I'd like to broaden the topics a bit. Frankly, the other deities of the fertile crescent seemed more interesting to me than the Egyptian ones, except when taking the Egyptian deities as a group, the way they filled lots of holes and balanced each other. What would be a good way to combine Wonders of Egypt and Armies of the Ancient World?

Egypt and Its Rivals?

I'd like to broaden the Dungeon Denizens, too. Including traps and treasure.

Then we could free up a slot for Familiar Creatures and maybe get a spot for the underwater theme.

Not sure.