Adventurers Fanmail for Oct 2008

published Friday 31 October 2008




From: john fox
Subject: Ged's Land
Date: Sat, 30 Aug 2008 22:35:13 -0700

Dear Thomas:
  I started rereading the Adventures and it suddenly dawned on me that
there was never a map of Ged's land. I also know it is near Greyhawk
and the Nyr Dyv but not exactly where.  In addition there was several
buildings and temples constructed by Ged. Have you ever considered
drawing a map of this and putting it on the web site.

john W. Fox


This falls into the category of (the many) things I need to wrap up
or update but haven't yet dealt with.




From: Jones, Curtis
Subject: Long time - no email
Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2008 14:00:20 -0400

Hello Thomas,
Been reading your stories for many, many years and it's been way too long
since I last emailed you.  I hope this email finds you happy and prosperous.

I can't remember which one, but in one of your more recent stories or emails to
the mailing list, you challenged your fans to read the entire Adventurer's saga.
Well, I did - including the 25 lost tales - and just finished this week.
While I have read the initial 125 or so episodes numerous times and the episodes
up to around 300 several times, I have not really gone back to re-read the episodes
that are well above 300.  Thanks for making that challenge.

Let me first say, Thank You, for writing these stories and posting them free
for your fans enjoyment.  I certainly have gotten quite a few hours of enjoyment,
jollies and whatnot from them and for that you deserve a medal.  Secondly, let me
say a huge thank you to you and to any others responsible for creating and
maintaining a website for these stories and your fans.

In the fanmail dept, I thought I would list some of the storylines that really
stood out for me (I'm sure I'll forget a few):

I also wanted to point out two subtle but specific things that I picked
out of all these stories for comment:

# 1:  In episode 89 while in the underdark anti-magic zone, the
following exchange takes place just before Peldor walks a tightrope:
 	Ged: What are you doing?!? Or should I even ask?
	Peldor: What does it look like? I'm going to walk across this tightrope.
	Mongo: We didn't know you could do that!
	Peldor: Of course not. But actually, I am an experienced walker of tightropes.
      And other fine lines.

	This is probably my favorite Peldor quote from the entire saga
and describes his personality perfectly!  Well done!

#2:  In episode 236 after the return to the lost city when the Suel lich
appears and has wreaked a fair amount of havoc, the lich utters the following:

	thing: (surveys the area, appearing pleased) Fckngxclnt.

	I'm ashamed to admit it since I've read that saga at least 4 or 5 times,
but I just managed to translate lich's statement when I read it this time.
And I laughed my butt off...........  Classic subtle humor!  How the heck
did I miss that before!?!?!

Okay, I think I've taken up enough of your time.  Congrats on what I think is
a lasting saga that many fans will enjoy for years to come!  Take care.


Glad you enjoyed it!  I will someday re-read it all, maybe if I ever get a long weekend.




From: Eric Barrett
Subject: Re: chapter #970 of The Adventurers
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:39:38 -0400

Thomas,

Welcome back.  Fantastic episode -- big fights and mortal peril and
unintended consequences!  That wish was a very 'Belphanior' mistake, I must
say.  I can't wait to find out where they went, and what Neera and Jenna do
in their absence.

I welcome the new longer-but-monthly format.  Hope it works out.

With thanks as always,
Eric


Glad you liked it - their location will be revealed in #972 if all goes as planned.




From: David Dunn
Subject: Welcome Back!
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:41:39 -0700

Huzzah for the adventurers!

I'm thrilled to see you posting again.  I haven't read it yet, but thanks.
I'll be sure to send you feedback when I read it.

Pure chance that I stumbled across your page today.  I miss clicked in my
book marks, and thought "970?  What?  Holy crud, Tom's postign again!"

Best of everything.

Dave


Actually, something like 25 people found it the day it was posted on the site...
that's pretty amazing!




From: Trevor Atkins
Subject: RE: chapter #970 of The Adventurers
Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 11:59:47 -0700

Nice surprise to get this story in the inbox.  Just in time for Thanksgiving
in Canada.


Thanks!  I will have 1-2 more in time for Thanksgiving in the U.S. too!




From: Marios Xrysopoulos
Subject: Adventurers - Welcome back!
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 10:53:32 +0300

Subject says it all!!!

Welcome back Thomas! I've sorely missed Belphanior and his gang!    :)

Marios


A gang now one less, unfortunately.  See next comment/email.




From: Arthur Morgan
Subject: Re: chapter #970 of The Adventurers
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:30:29 -0700 (PDT)

Yay! The Adventurers are back. Keep up the fine work.
I look forward to the next installment. (And I think
Lost is the best one of the 3 shows mentioned.
Just a bit biased, I guess... :-)

  Arthur


Heroes is the best right now.  I could have written a show like that 20 years ago
when I had all these ideas in my head.




From: David Dunn
Subject: Adventurers 970
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:32:14 -0700

Having read 970, I really enjoyed it.  Very nice to get a complete story arc
in one sitting, and yeah Gorath had to die, nice to see it get taken care of
so well.

I can totally understand your frustration when working with protagonists
this powerful.  The stakes are so high every fight that has meaning will be
a crushing defeat or a stunning victory.  It can quickly start to feel
contrived.  (The last three Harry Potter books really have this feeling)

If Mongo had not had the uber-undead killing artifact, the party would all
be dead.  Belphanior put Gorath down, but one blow from him permanently and
irrevocably ended Elgon.  These guys are all walking WMDs.

In many ways these last story's (Ending Al-arakara, The vale of death) don't
really feel like heroic fantasy any more.  I don't know what they are, but
not sword and sorcery.  This was why I enjoyed the Hellgate stories so
much.  Even though Belphanior had insane power he was invested in a real
place.  It humanized him and his followers.  I had high hopes for his
relationship with Neera to develop and give him another tie to live.
Separating them with that wish was cold stuff man.  I hope it all works out
in the end for my favorite homicidal maniac.

In many ways Belphanior's crew needs to start taking on the major players,
maybe Greyhawk no longer holds challenge for him.  (maybe that's what the
real effect of the wish will be).  Or maybe this in an ending (of sorts) for
Belphanior?  and we will get to catch up with some of the other adventurers.

Thanks for another episode.  I await the next one with much anticipation.

Dave


Sometimes, new characters just don't stick.  Though Elgon was around for a little while.

It is tough to write high-power-level stories.  It's a new challenge every time.

I actually have a plan for Belphanior and the others who vanished, but I'm now
wondering if I can implement it in the short time that's left.




From: Philip Quan
Subject: Loved the Story
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 07:01:38 -0700 (PDT)

Thomas,

A great story.  It was a very pleasant surprise to hear from you again
after the long break but it has been really worth it.

I loved the suspense and drama.  Even though there wasn't much fighting,
the battles were very well thought out.  We didn't have any epic battle
but the holy torch and the hourglass + finger of disintegration combo are
fantastic ideas.

I like the new Belphanior.  He seems more controlled, less reckless,
think things through carefully to fully utilise his party's power.
The best thing is that he seems to care more about his companions' life
(and his own mortality) than acquiring more power.

I like the way he coined his Wish.  Hopefully for the next Wish, he will
be able to Wish to be able to cast level 9 magic without needing the ring
of Zaeon.  This should be feasible knowing that a Wish can add +1 to Magic.

I am also intrigued as to which Plane of existence he and his companions
been teleported to.

I look forward to reading the next story.

With Best Wishes.

Philip.


Much of this will be answered in episode 972, along with some unexpected surprises!