Denizens of the North Errata

[raleel]

P312 - shadow of ILLICIT deeds, not Elicit - http://grammarist.com/spelling/elicit-illicit/
P326 - ìset itemsî

P347 - heading in the outpost table is the same heading as the giving out magic items table

[andrew]

Please post typos below for you find in the Dec 12, 2014 PDF version

Updates:
- Bookmarks
- Works in 3rd party PDF viewers
- 8 more pages of goodness

We want to go to print asap, but we want to wait for a few full passes, so let us know if you took the time to pass over the PDF in its entirety once more.

Thanks!

[raleel]

mmm, bookmarks

DTRPG has a "denizens-print" one and a digital one, but the print file is not available... I assume some sort of error?

[andrew]

Yeah we're down to one file. The annoying thing that we discovered was that 3rd party PDF readers can't handle transparencies. So we had to flatten the PDF (a week of hair pulling), which meant that we lose all bookmarks. So after we baked the huge PDF, we had to manually add all bookmarks. I don't think we will be going down the road of having 2 PDFs knowing this.

If you can give the PDF a good once-over it'll get us a lot closer to print. The problem with reading your own manuscript 200 times is that your brain sees what it wants to see (stuff as it should be), so you stop seeing errors. I need our 5-star proof readers to hit this thing with all you got this weekend and hopefully nothing falls apart and we're good for print. It's been a long journey- and these bloody caesar's are dulling the pain tonight LOL!

[Audun]

Thanks for the bookmarks ! <3

Please post typos below for you find in the Dec 12, 2014 PDF version

Not much yet:
p.2 - Is this intended to be the Cover/backside of the book ?
Feels strange that this is page 2 in the pdf and also messes up all numbering.

p.272 in book (or 273 in pdf) - Fardrengir passive board
Apples of Idunn

ps. How are you guys liking the book?

So far, really well !
- I Like the extra fluff/graphics done for the skillboards - even it's repeating for each board, it makes those endless pages of skillboards look more interesting.
- Also great that each denizen got a visual introductionary page. It's so much easier to grasp the denizen that way, and also breaks up the long list of skillboards mentioned above !
- Huge props to the layouter to "fluff up" the "Viking live"-section by drawing those borders around the corresponding text and to spice up the positioning. It could have looked like an endless, alphabetized list, if it were just left-aligned text and headers ... but as is, it's so lively that it's a joy to read/look at.
- The section about all the NPC is simply insane. I already knew the text, but having an artwork for each and every one of the NPC would have been professional quality - having whole tapestries for each and every NPC, all in the same artstyle, all individualized showing what the NPC stand for, is just mindblowing. Thanks to the artist doing these (and to Andrew for his willingness to order so many artworks instead of just going for "simple 1-person-pictures" (or heads only) - this must have cost alot).
- Also kudos to the Locales-section. The same, if abit less, praise for that section when it comes to layout and artwork. I especially am fond of the fact that there are disctinct art-styles between the long NPC-section and the locale-section. Makes it -again- easier to navigate, is more pleasant to the eye and is a nice, often overlooked, touch.
- One small nag though - Nidhogg's graphics do not fit that well for those reason mentioned, but I guess you did not commision an artist for those 2pages (?).

----------------
@content:
It's no secret that I was sceptical at first, as it felt that some of the technical content seems to rather fix stuff that was abit unfixed in the base book -- and thus would have been nice as an addition/update to the CRB, rather then being in a new book. But I understand that it was not possible to get all into the CRB (time, financial reasons), and while you can update an PDF, it'd be of no use for hardcover buyers. In the end I'm glad that alot of the stuff that came up in the forums in that last year was adressed, when necessary and should make a much smoother game experience for everybody.
Like the crafting rules/blacksmith and the passive Metas on armor/shields to balance out offense and defense or the reminder for scaling powers+K.A. or the revamped/clarified Alka rules. etc.

On top of that, I'm happy that there are more classical roles like the "ranger" and "thief" classes to help new players from generic fantasy RPGs to "feel at home". Also, like raleel said, the whole first section with the history and backgrounds gives A LOT of context to the world which was hard to get out of the core book and should really help new DMs to jumpstart easier. =)
Also kudos for the Adventure hooks - should be another great help for starting DMs.

Basically, what I'm trying to express, is that DotN expanded hugely on the (natural) shortcomings of the CRB and feels like the "expanded starting book" for me. If both would be in one book or if DotN would have the rules section of the CRB, it would be a dream made in haven (with Lords of the Ash covering the non-mundane stuff).

[Audun]

oops, double-post

[raleel]

Thanks for the bookmarks ! <3

(snipped)

On top of that, I'm happy that there are more classical roles like the "ranger" and "thief" classes to help new players from generic fantasy RPGs to "feel at home". Also, like raleel said, the whole first section with the history and backgrounds gives A LOT of context to the world which was hard to get out of the core book and should really help new DMs to jumpstart easier. =)
Also kudos for the Adventure hooks - should be another great help for starting DMs.

Basically, what I'm trying to express, is that DotN expanded hugely on the (natural) shortcomings of the CRB and feels like the "expanded starting book" for me. If both would be in one book or if DotN would have the rules section of the CRB, it would be a dream made in haven (with Lords of the Ash covering the non-mundane stuff).

Yes, this right here.

If I had my druthers and the loonies, I would probably reorganized both books (and maybe lords of the ash) as a single unit and work from there. DOTN very much feels like "this is core book part 2". Not that that is bad - one doesn't expect to run D&D with only the players handbook after all - but it is an important thing to think about. You might consider a package on DTRPG. They do those, and I've used them, particularly on PDFs.

The history + the mechanics of the blacksmith + druid/berserkir/fardrengir/sceagdugengan are really really big deals that bridge a big gap for folks. If you have a player and he doesn't know what to play, you can say "well, what do you normally play?" "Well, I like paladins" "Ok, I'd suggest a Stalo, then. Stalo have a rigorous structure, a dedication to their weapon that is paladin-like, and several group buffs" and they know right what to expect their first time. The history section really grounds the Norn in what the world looks like, and the sagas really make that pregnant with potential. The blacksmith - as you've said - makes a huge difference. Particularly with respect to the defensive metas.

[raleel]

Yeah we're down to one file. The annoying thing that we discovered was that 3rd party PDF readers can't handle transparencies. So we had to flatten the PDF (a week of hair pulling), which meant that we lose all bookmarks. So after we baked the huge PDF, we had to manually add all bookmarks. I don't think we will be going down the road of having 2 PDFs knowing this.

If you can give the PDF a good once-over it'll get us a lot closer to print. The problem with reading your own manuscript 200 times is that your brain sees what it wants to see (stuff as it should be), so you stop seeing errors. I need our 5-star proof readers to hit this thing with all you got this weekend and hopefully nothing falls apart and we're good for print. It's been a long journey- and these bloody caesar's are dulling the pain tonight LOL!

I'll try to take a look this weekend, but I'm kind of tied up with a 4 year old and yea, the proofreading gets hard after dozens of times. you just gloss over it. I was fortunate over the last couple of weeks to have some quiet time, and plane rides

one thing i would suggest is that if you are going to remove the bookmarks from inside the book (I could swear there is a way to deal with this, i'll take a look) having more robust bookmarks would be good. I ended up doing it to the base book down to the individual power level, and making bookmark folders for A-B, J-K-L-M-N-O, etc

It looks extremely good, complaints aside. Honestly, kind of kicking myself for only getting the PDF of the core book, and happy i got the paper version of this one.

[Raggedy Man]

p 188. "Nanus Drakes have a hunger for meta(l) ores ..." assuming it should be metal and not meta


Loving the book, head is spinning with idea's and tie in's.

I wasn't on the beta so guessing the Angel of Death has been moved to LoA? Really that was my only disappointment.

[Chall]

Here you go, I'm using the December 12th Update of the PDF.

Page 332
First line: By default, a created itemís size is equal to its QR. The Miniaturize skill can be used to reduce the itemís size.:
‘itemis’ should be items. I think there's a tag problem. I'm viewing the PDF in Windows 8 with Adobe Acrobat reader 11.

Bottom paragraph: ... is ìPossess Opponentî and the first Passive Power it gets is ìPuppet Masterî: Again, extra i tags.

Page 336
First Feature: … cubic feet mbient warmth…
‘mbient’ should be ‘ambient’.

Page 348
Huagbui section: Possible reasons would be a very important personal goal hasnít been achieved…:
Hasnit should have an apostrophe, hasn’t, more problems with that tag, (at least I think it's a tag).

Page 349
First paragraph: The Nornís available options are…:
Nornis should be Norn’s.

Page 358
Summon Rules - Thanes And Mounts: It isnít stated explicitly, but you can split up your thane levels for more than one thane.
Again the dread i take. isnit should be isn’t.