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2 years ago ::
Oct 05, 2011 - 9:10PM
#1
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Date Joined:
Apr 27, 2006
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 Dungeon 195
Backdrop: Xiousingby Dan Anderson Xiousing (pronounced yow-sing) is a small Shou district on the northern edge of Marsember, built on land revealed when the Sea of Fallen Stars receded during the Spellplague. Talk about this article here. 
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2 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2011 - 3:03AM
#2
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2009
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WoW this is a very well written and solid article as an opening for the Oriental Adventures theme of Kara-Tur ! I really liked the history of Xiousing and the Nine Golden Swords, the inclusion of various Power Groups operating in the Marsember's large District and their dealing with the Shou (and Half-Shou :P), map is detailed enought and yet leaveDM lots of place to flesh it out and also provide some interesting Adventure Hooks. Nice to see a new Golden Blade weapon too ! And the art is really nice too, as well as a very cool FRish map of the Xiousing district. A huge Astral Diamond to Dan Anderson for the article and  To Adam Paquette and Mike Schley to the cool artwork and cartography.
Yan
Montréal, Canada
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2 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2011 - 4:56AM
#3
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Great article guys. Really. Gotta love that big sexy map. Please do not release large adventure-prone cities without them (cough *Elaadrich* cough).
I will try to kill PCs in this city right away.
DMAIA: DMs Against Immediate Actions - Turning 6 seconds into 15 minutes since 2008.
Vampire Class/Specialty in 2013!
Wizard: I cast Burning Hands.
Rogue: I grab a torch and a can of hairspray.
I prefer Next because 4E players and CharOpers can't find their ass without a grid and a power called "Find Ass."
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2 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2011 - 5:02AM
#4
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Date Joined:
Oct 25, 2009
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Great article, and a nice way to kick off the oriental theme. Well done!
I gotta say that these backdrop articles are among my favorite. As a busy DM, I love having everything pre-thought out for me. Rich in details and story, I can just drop them right into my campaign. Thanks, and keep em coming.
Want to know more about the history of D&D, especially how to play older editions of the game? Check out Crazy Monkey's "Tour through the editions":
http://community.wizards.com/crazymonkey/go/forum/view/133793/225799/Asylum_Play-by-Post
The current edition is BECMI, the most popular form of Basic D&D and the adventure is the classic Red Box quest to kill Bargle the evil magic user. Check it out, learn about the games roots, and enjoy the story as it unfolds.
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2 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2011 - 7:06AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2007
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From what I gather from the table of contents is that this is our only real taste of Kara-Tur's regions. And it is located off the coast of Cormyr. While the article is pretty awesome, I feel kinda disappointed we didn't get more adventure sites located in Kara-Tur itself.
CORE MORE, NOT CORE BORE!
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2 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2011 - 8:26AM
#6
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2007
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We actually had another Kara-Tur backdrop, but due to an art snaffu, it couldn't make it out this month. We're looking at releasing it some time next year.
D&D Producer Twitter: @gregbilsland Blog: gregbilsland.wordpress.com 
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2 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2011 - 9:08AM
#7
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Date Joined:
Aug 22, 2007
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We actually had another Kara-Tur backdrop, but due to an art snaffu, it couldn't make it out this month. We're looking at releasing it some time next year.
I could have sworn there were two when the ToC initially was put up. I take it that the one you are referring to is that one.
Either way, I still liked this article quite a bit. I hope this monthly setting theme formula can be applied to other settings like Dragonlance.
CORE MORE, NOT CORE BORE!
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2 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2011 - 9:10AM
#8
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Date Joined:
Sep 19, 2007
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We actually had another Kara-Tur backdrop, but due to an art snaffu, it couldn't make it out this month. We're looking at releasing it some time next year.
That sounds like quite the art snaffu.
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2 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2011 - 10:15AM
#9
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Date Joined:
Aug 30, 2010
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And it is located off the coast of Cormyr. While the article is pretty awesome, I feel kinda disappointed we didn't get more adventure sites located in Kara-Tur itself.
Kara-Tur is too big to address in an article like the ones of the "Backdrop" series, IMHO.
However, what could have been fleshed out is Nathlan, the Shou state south of Westgate, and of which there is next to no information about; much of the info in this article could easily fit that region, while also add some more lore on the south side of the Dragonmere, possibly including some nuggets about Westgate (since there is a known rivalry for control of the west end of the Golden Way).
Was it even considered?
One example of a great Backdrop article that helped flesh out an existing area that was almost in limbo and in need of an update was the one about DaggerDale.
It was a wasted opportunity, inventing yet another region while others already referenced languish with but a few phrases; 4th ed FR left too much in limbo and three years after the reboot, we still are much in the dark about it.
However, the Backdrop series are still one of my favorite, with a lot more meat than any of the Eye on the Realms ones, sadly.
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2 years ago ::
Oct 06, 2011 - 12:05PM
#10
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Date Joined:
May 12, 2009
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I forgot; Congrats to Uthrac for getting published in Dungeon !
Yan
Montréal, Canada
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