Character Sheets, Quickstart Guide v2, and Development Update
almost 3 years ago – Sat, Jul 17, 2021 at 10:15:43 AM

It's been about a month since our last update and I wanted to send out an update to everyone to share some news and info on what the team has been up to.

Character Sheets

The printable/form-fillable Under the Seas of Vodari themed character sheet PDFs are complete and we'll be sending them out to all backers shortly. We also have the designs completed for all of the pre-gen characters sheets but we're still developing the specific level 3 character stats for each. 

Quickstart Guide v2 - End of July 2021 Release

Our layout designer has begun work to update the races and player options chapters of the Quickstart Guide. These updated chapters will include additions and changes based on feedback and playtesting: 

• Ancients are descended from near-divine beings who constructed a highly advanced civilization using magic. War and eons of living in vastly different oceanic zones split the ancients into two people, the Dakri and Varu.
• Karokans are amphibious crustacean humanoids most known as peaceful nomads who keep to themselves. Adapting to vastly different environments divided them into Shallows and Deeps karokans.
• Sea Elves now have racial stats for Sunswimmers who live closer to the surface and for Deepdivers who have adapted to the deepest seas.
• Speargunner Gunslinger Archetype: Use your speargun in inventive ways to foil enemies. Includes a reprint of the Gunslinger class with notes for using firearms underwater.
• Warden of the Ancients Fighter Archetype: Shift between predator and sentinel using ancient battle techniques.
• Ancient Magic Sorcerous Origin: Channel technology-like magic through an arcane device.
• Corruption in the Flame Warlock Patron: Devastate your enemies with fire and necrotic energy.
• Feats: We've tweaks and the feats and added an additional feat, for a total of 5.

We will be sending out the updated Quickstart Guide v2 PDF with the updates to chapters III and IV to all backers by the end of the month (July 2021).

Development Update

Here are some details on what we've been working on since the last update:

• Undersea World: Continuing to expand out the history section with a mix of history and myth passed along through oral traditions and scholarly research. We expect this chapter to be in final editing in August.
• Gazetteer: The Midnight Depths and Wild Seas expansion is near complete. We expect this chapter to be in final editing in August.
• People of Vodari: We have completed the Karokans and some added racials stats for sea elves. Everyone will get a chance to take a look at the lore and stats for the Ancients, Karokans, and more in our Quickstart Update.
• As mentioned last month... the player options, equipment, and magic chapters are all pretty solid now and have all gone through multiple editing rounds. We will continue to tweak and add to these sections after additional survey and playtest feedback. 
• Vehicles: Development continues! As you can see in the illustration above, we'll be providing smaller vehicles and larger ones as well.
• Monsters: Development of the final monster additions continues. This section will be moving to editing and commissioning more artwork in August.
• Running Undersea Adventures: Development continues for natural hazards and traps. In addition, we're adding new random tables and expanding some of the existing tables this month.
• The Sunken City of Zuroth: This level 3 to 5 adventure is ready for playtesting and I'll begin running playtest sessions soon!

Under the Seas of Vodari Update
almost 3 years ago – Tue, Jun 15, 2021 at 11:12:37 PM

Here's what we've been up to since our last update.

Feedback Survey

We received 137 responses! Thank you to all of our backers who took the time to complete a survey and provide feedback. We used your feedback to make corrections, tweak content, and even add some new stuff you asked for. 

Development Update

I wanted to share some details of what we've been working on since my last update in May:

•  Undersea World: Currently expanding out this section with details for how religion differs in the undersea world and other additions. We will be moving into completing the history of the undersea to finish up this chapter. 
•  Gazetteer: We're continuing to write out all of the locations and people and places to visit. We're currently expanding out the Midnight Depths and Wild Seas. We also started working on our backer-submitted locations. This chapter is getting very close to being complete and moving to editing.
•  People of Vodari: After seeing your feedback asking for a crustacean type racial option we decided to take the Karokans of our maybe list and move them into development. Karokans are amphibious crustacean humanoids most known as peaceful nomads who keep to themselves. Adapting to vastly different environments divided these undersea people into the shallows and deeps karokans. I'm hoping to be able to share some art previews soon, the stat blocks are done, and we're finishing up their lore.
•  Vehicles: We have started heavy development of our undersea vehicles. Lots of fun working on this and I really hope you'll be excited when you finally see it. 
•  Monsters: We're working on the remaining monster stat blocks and artwork. It's looking like this book will have more monsters than The Seas of Vodari. 
•  Running Undersea Adventures: We've started working to close out this chapter and with development only remaining for natural hazards and traps. We're also working to add more random tables.
•  The Sunken City of Zuroth: I'm currently finalizing the adventure with a target of playtesting starting in July. I can share one detail... kalidus are a big part of the adventure.
• The player options, equipment, magic items, and spells are all pretty solid now and have all gone through multiple editing rounds.

QuickStart Guide Update

We're looking to update the QuickStart Guide this summer. The update will include all of the new and updated player options including the Speargunner subclass for gunslingers and the Ancients and Karokans. It will also include some tweaks we made to equipment, magic items, and spells.

Development Update - Undersea People & Player Options Additions/Changes
almost 3 years ago – Thu, May 13, 2021 at 12:27:15 PM

Hi everyone, 

I wanted to share some details of what we've been working on for undersea characters. We made numerous changes based on our own review and your survey feedback (thanks!)... plus lots of minor tweaks and typo fixes. You'll see some content related to Vodari's Ancients below, which I hope everyone is excited about. Here are the main highlights of what we've been working on.

Chapter III - The Undersea People 

• ANCIENTS (NEW): We added this stretch goal to the chapter. The Ancients are descended from near-divine beings who constructed a highly advanced civilization using magic. War and eons of living in vastly different oceanic zones split the ancients into two people, the Dakri and Varu. The Dakri rely on stealth and speed, embracing the darkness and cold of the deeps. The Varu use their wits and innate magic to honor Taeva and seek to restore the past greatness of their civilization.
• ELVES: In the survey, some of you asked for racial stats for sea elves. We added subrace traits for Sunswimmer and Deepdiver elves, which differ from the official Fifth Edition sea elf option and provide greater variety with two undersea options for elves.
• HALF-ELVES: We added a Vodari specific trait for half-elves to substitute for the Skill Versatility trait. The new Aquatic Heritage trait provides a swimming speed of 30 feet and the ability to breathe air and water. 
• ABILITY SCORE INCREASE: We added a sidebar box with info for using the optional alternative rules for Ability Score Increases that allows players to pick whatever stats they want versus using those listed in the racial traits. All of the undersea racial options still include an Ability Score Increase trait.
• RACIAL TRAITS UPDATE: We added creature type, simplified size, and removed alignment and age from racial traits to keep in line with the most recent official Fifth Edition releases. We moved the size and age information into the lore paragraphs. As we get closer to our final release, we'll work to keep our formatting of racial traits as close to official sources as possible.

 Chapter IV - Player Options

• GUNSLINGER - Speargunner (NEW): This gunslinger archetype lets you use a speargun in inventive ways to foil enemies. You'll get to have fun with harpoons, nets, poison, sonar, and more. We also added a reprint of the base gunslinger class with a focus on using spearguns underwater to support this subclass or any gunslinger who wants to dive under the seas.
• BARBARIAN - Path of the Wild Seas (Updated): Based on your feedback and our own review, we tweaked or rewrote nearly all of the features of this subclass. The subclass is still focused on being a barbarian that is also good at ranged attacks... but now hits harder and is a better hunter too. Also, we added a Dragon Turtle to the Primal Connection feature and improved the Giant Squid, Orca, and Swordfish.
• FIGHTER - Warden of the Ancients (NEW): This martial tradition has been preserved among surviving descendants of the once-great Ancients and rediscovered by those who have delved into the ruins they left behind. This archetype lets players shift between predator and sentinel using ancient battle techniques.
• SORCERER - Ancient Magic Sorcerer (NEW): Players who select this sorcerous origin can channel technology-like magic through an arcane device. The origin of this power could be anything, from ancestry to chance.
• CAMPAIGN BONDS (NEW): We added a d12 Under the Seas of Vodari specific bonds table for character creation.
• FEATS (NEW): We renamed a couple of the feats and added a new feat called Amphibious Ancestry, which allows surface people to join undersea adventures.

Both of these chapters have been sent out to Early Access backers as a PDF and everyone else will see this content in the final book. If anyone would like to upgrade their pledge to gain Early Access, please email [email protected].

If you haven't completed our feedback survey, please try to take a few moments as it will be available until the end of the month. Written comments with specific feedback are most appreciated. Thanks.

Under the Seas of Vodari Feedback Survey
almost 3 years ago – Tue, May 11, 2021 at 10:40:57 AM

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Under the Seas Update and Seas of Vodari Back in Stock
almost 3 years ago – Sun, May 02, 2021 at 08:36:06 PM

Under the Seas of Vodari Update

Development has been completed for the following stretch goal content:

• Ancients Race (Dakri and Varu subraces). Descended from near-divine beings who constructed a highly advanced civilization using magic. War and eons of living in vastly different oceanic zones split the ancients into two people, the Dakri and Varu.
• Speargunner Gunslinger Archetype. Use your speargun in inventive ways to foil enemies.
• Warden of the Ancients Fighter Archetype. Shift between predator and sentinel using ancient battle techniques.
• Ancient Magic Sorcerer.  Channel technology-like magic through an arcane device.
• Corruption in the Flame Warlock. Devastate your enemies with fire and necrotic energy.
• and additional spells and magic items

This new content will be sent to early access backers later this month in PDF format. 

With most of our player options completed, we are moving our focus to the following content in May. 

• The history and religion of the undersea people
• Undersea vehicles and modifications
• Adding content to the gazetteer, providing even more locations, NPCs, hooks, and more.
• Additional monsters from the Sunlit Seas down to the Midnight Depths
• Gamemaster content such as hazards, random tables, and The Sunken City of Zuroth adventure 

Survey

We'll be sending out a feedback survey to all backers this month for your feedback on the content in the Quickstart Guide. Your participation is appreciated and will allow us to make tweaks and deliver a better final book than we could without your help.
 

The Seas of Vodari is Back in Stock

We have ordered more copies of The Seas of Vodari from our printer and the book is back in stock again! If you didn't get a chance to add this hardcover book to your order, there are two ways to still get it.

• 1) Order the book from Tribality's online store and have it shipped to you now.
• 2) Email us at [email protected] and we'll update your backer survey in Backerkit to include the book in your order and ship it to you when we ship Under the Seas of Vodari. Your credit card will only be charged the extra amount after we contact you to let you know the extra cost and we get your approval. If you have not completed your survey yet, it will still be unlocked and you should be able to select The Seas of Vodari as an add-on.