Khorvairan Publications [Archive] - Wizards Community

Khorvairan Publications [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Atlictoatl
10-01-04, 03:38 PM I have a player playing an Urban Ranger in Sharn who is a member of a Bounty Hunter's Guild. He's an obsessive newspaper reader, and so I've come up with a list of Khorvairan publications for him to subscribe to.

Feel free to use any or all of these in your campaigns.

My description of the Sharn Inquisitive may need to change when the Sourcebook comes out.

~*~

Korranberg Chronicle (published 3 days/week, 3 cp/issue)
Breland Ledger (1/week, 5 cp/issue)
Sharn Inquisitive (2/week subsidized by merchants (lots of advertisement articles describing special market fairs and such), + 1/week in-depth news and features, 2 cp/daily, 5 cp/ for the weekly issue)
Aundairian Scroll (2/week, 5 cp/issue)
Proclamation of Korth (1/week, posted free as public announcement throughout Korth, 1 sp/issue for those subscribing out of nation)
Trolanport Times (the other Zilargo paper, focused on Zilargo itself, gnome and common language versions, 2/week, 3 cp/issue)
Korunda's Gate (published in the Mror Holds, for the Mror Holds, in dwarven, 1/week, 5 cp/issue)
Varna Version (all the news of the Eldeen Reaches, 2/month, 5 cp/issue)
Newhome News (Q'barran journal for the rest of Khorvaire, supposed to be quarterly but comes out erratically, 2 sp/issue) read mostly by governmental types

There are a number of publications that are not region specific. Each House has publications designed for public consumption, essentially promotional feature articles and ads. Each House also has one or more publications intended for internal consumption only, which one would need in-House connections to get access to.

Here's some examples:

The Gathering Stone (published by Houses Tharashkh and Sivis for merchants, governments, and the Houses about events in Dhakaan; 2/month, 1 sp/issue)
Ghallanda Gazette (House Ghallanda publication for and about House Ghallanda, available to patrons, 2/month, 5cp/issue)
The Bounty (published by the Bounty Hunter's Guild, includes job listing teasers designed to get members into the Guild house, 1/week, free with Guild membership)
The Medani Watch (security journal for professionals, 1/week, 1 sp/issue or 8 cp/issue discounted rate for members of the Bounty Hunters Guild)
The Finding - Edited Version (professional journal for Finders published by House Tharashk Finders Guild, in a lite version published for the Bounty Hunters, 1/week, 1 sp/issue "discounted" rate for members of the Bounty Hunters Guild)

A rare / special interest publication:

The Oracular (published by the church of Aureon for the clergy of the Sovereign Host, chock full of very interesting and useful information, and quite scholarly; 1/month, 2sp/issue)

There are other Mror Holds papers that are specific to each Hold, published in dwarven only. On average, they come out 1/week, and cost 4 cp/issue.
Serpentine
10-02-04, 01:22 AM Thanks Atlictoatl. This is a great compilation of prices and titles, and the summary really makes it work.

I'm a sucker for the newspapers.

In my campaign, I've been thinking about using small press tabloids: single sheet scream-sheet type papers that sell for just one copper every day. These are specific to a city, sometimes with country-wide news, but it's more of a local paper with a sordid edge. The headlines have to be eye-catching, and quite often stretch the truth a bit.

There could also be a significant amount of competition between the small presses: rival publishers, competing newsboys, reporters who'll do anything for a story, etc. I think two or three rival papers in a town is a good number.

Need a name for your paper?
Newspaper names are quite simple: first you pick a town or a city name or a description of when you publish from column A, then you attach some sort of communications or observation oriented, astrologically oriented, or just a good noun that conveys security, speed, or relevance from column B.

Column A:
Town or City Name
Country Name
Daily
Weekly
Morning
Evening
Weekend
Night/Nightly
Midnight

Column B:
Post
Bulletin/Bullet
Messenger
Standard
News
Times
Observer
Inquirer/Enquirer/Inquisitive
Spectator/Spectacle
Monitor
Student
Watch
Crier/Cryer
Bugle
Trumpet
Herald
Sun
Star
Constellation
Planet/Planetary
Globe
Planar
Shard
Dragon
Continental
Horizon
Advertiser
Citizen
Guardian
Independent
Forge
Patriot
Current
Journal

Should one paper have bought out another, you could pick two words from column B and either hyphenate them or just string the words together.

The Daily Standard and the Korth Guardian-Observer are bitter rivals, but both are established tabloids circulating throughout the city. A new upstart called the Midnight Whisperer is moving in on both papers' territories, though, causing them to panic as their circulation sales drop.
Roger Nicholls
10-02-04, 05:25 PM I really like the idea of "scream sheet" style newspapers. I used them many moon ago in my Cyberpunk campaign and the players loved them.

Ive started using the Korranberg Chronicle now to give my players a feel for the world around them as well as writing up their adventures or perhaps more importantly stories that are influenced by their adventures for the Chronicle.

If you dont mind me asking -how are people using newspapers like the KC in their campaigns and is it adding any benefit ?
Atlictoatl
10-04-04, 10:37 AM Thanks Atlictoatl. This is a great compilation of prices and titles, and the summary really makes it work.
Thanks, Serpentine!

I also like the idea of scream sheets. Yellow press can certainly generate some good adventure ideas and provide DMs with a number of potential red herrings and obscure information sources in their campaigns.
Serpentine
10-20-04, 08:19 PM "Everything is quiet. There is no trouble. There will be no war. I wish to return." -Frederic Remington, photographer, 1897
"Please remain. You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war." -William Randolph Hearst, publisher of the New York Journal

http://halogen.note.amherst.edu/~lhing/rpg/ambition/midnitewhisper.gif

How to fake up a yellow press newspaper

Most newspapers use a serif font, like Palatino, Times New Roman, and Caslon for the body text. Serif fonts, for the beginner, have little tails that line up along the base and top of the letter: they're easier to read because the tails lead from one letter to the next.

Sans-serif fonts, like Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana do not have the tails. They have smooth lines and look more futuristic.

Headlines are big and bold: they should stretch across the page. Many newspapers used alliteration freely to make the headline catchier. Beneath the headlines, there are occasionally smaller subheads for further explanation — no more than a sentence. "TITANIC SINKS!" 'Great Loss of Life—World's Greatest Liner Strikes Iceberg'

Then just above the text, there is an author byline. Sometimes, there is a smaller tagline slightly larger than the text, or a date written for the article.

Newspapers always use columns. At least two columns. Three or more, if the paper is at least 8.5x11.

Even after photography became widespread, many newspapers still relied on pictures—drawings and etchings. (And Eberron does not quite have photography.) The Wall Street Journal still uses a stipple portrait artist rather than using photographs on the front page.

Don't forget the ads! Eberron's setting draws inspiration from any time period between the 1500s and the 1940s. Snake oil salesmen are running around Sharn right this minute promising to restore hair and health and happiness and cure airsickness. And it might work!

Newspapers shove ads in to fill space wherever they need it; or, if the advertisers pay enough, they make the text fit around the ads.

http://www.lileks.com/oldads/

http://pre1900prints.com/Newspapers/newspapers1.htm
http://pre1900prints.com/Newspapers/saturdaybladejuly121919.htm
Atlictoatl
10-20-04, 09:38 PM Thanks, Serpentine! A handy primer!
Save-vs-DM
10-20-04, 10:10 PM If anyone is interested, I can give you a jpg copy of the Korranberg Chronicle paper background for use in your home campaigns. For those of you with In-Design I'll also happily provide you with a template copy of the issue instead.

And actually, if you have any questions about how to format a paper in general, please feel free to PM via the boards or any IM service listed in my profile. I'm always happy to help.

Edit: If you want a copy of some adds for your home game I can also give you some of those.

(The one benefit of being the publisher and layout guy is that I can do stuff like this. And hey, we're all about helping the community!)

[Shameless Plug] Read the Korranberg Chronicle (http://www.kchronicle.com) [/Shameless Plug]

Cheers,
Save vs DM
eclipticavatar
10-21-04, 04:46 AM If anyone is interested, I can give you a jpg copy of the Korranberg Chronicle paper background for use in your home campaigns. For those of you with In-Design I'll also happily provide you with a template copy of the issue instead.

I would greatly appreciate it.

You can email me at ecliptic@ameritech.net

I don't have In-Design.
Serpentine
10-21-04, 10:19 AM The Korranberg Chronicle is also a good source. It gets better and better with each issue.

What font is that, by the way?
nyysjan
10-21-04, 10:31 AM If anyone is interested, I can give you a jpg copy of the Korranberg Chronicle paper background for use in your home campaigns. For those of you with In-Design I'll also happily provide you with a template copy of the issue instead.

If you have time throw one at jani81_9@hotmail.com
Larac
10-21-04, 01:52 PM If anyone is interested, I can give you a jpg copy of the Korranberg Chronicle paper background for use in your home campaigns. For those of you with In-Design I'll also happily provide you with a template copy of the issue instead.

And actually, if you have any questions about how to format a paper in general, please feel free to PM via the boards or any IM service listed in my profile. I'm always happy to help.

Edit: If you want a copy of some adds for your home game I can also give you some of those.

(The one benefit of being the publisher and layout guy is that I can do stuff like this. And hey, we're all about helping the community!)

[Shameless Plug] Read the Korranberg Chronicle (http://www.kchronicle.com) [/Shameless Plug]

Cheers,
Save vs DM

Please do!

lfseeney@comcast.net

thanks!
Save-vs-DM
10-21-04, 04:17 PM I'll send those along when I get home, along with the font we use.

Cheers,
Save vs DM
eclipticavatar
10-21-04, 10:37 PM Just a note, that font you use for your body text is headache inducing.
Save-vs-DM
10-24-04, 04:35 PM (I've sent those materials out - sorry it took so long, but I had my wisdom teeth out and I now just finally feel better).

The two fonts we use are:

Clairvaux (Body Text)
and
Wilhelm Klingspor (Headlines)

eclipticavatar - Just a note, that font you use for your body text is headache inducing.

I'm sorry to hear that? I've never had a problem with it, but that's just me? If others are having this problem, I can try and offer a plain-text version as well.

Cheers,
Save vs DM
Serpentine
10-24-04, 05:03 PM I would have to agree that the Clairvaux font is rather hard on the eyes. It's almost a calligraphic display font, and I don't think it's easily legible in paragraph form.

It would be fine for a headline, but I think that replacing it with a Baskerville variant, like Mrs. Eaves, or a Caslon Antique variant would be much easier to read. Plaintext would also be welcome.

Hope the wisdom teeth get better, Save. Eat some ice cream.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Atlictoatl 10-01-04, 03:38 PM	I have a player playing an Urban Ranger in Sharn who is a member of a Bounty Hunter's Guild. He's an obsessive newspaper reader, and so I've come up with a list of Khorvairan publications for him to subscribe to. Feel free to use any or all of these in your campaigns. My description of the Sharn Inquisitive may need to change when the Sourcebook comes out. ~*~ Korranberg Chronicle (published 3 days/week, 3 cp/issue) Breland Ledger (1/week, 5 cp/issue) Sharn Inquisitive (2/week subsidized by merchants (lots of advertisement articles describing special market fairs and such), + 1/week in-depth news and features, 2 cp/daily, 5 cp/ for the weekly issue) Aundairian Scroll (2/week, 5 cp/issue) Proclamation of Korth (1/week, posted free as public announcement throughout Korth, 1 sp/issue for those subscribing out of nation) Trolanport Times (the other Zilargo paper, focused on Zilargo itself, gnome and common language versions, 2/week, 3 cp/issue) Korunda's Gate (published in the Mror Holds, for the Mror Holds, in dwarven, 1/week, 5 cp/issue) Varna Version (all the news of the Eldeen Reaches, 2/month, 5 cp/issue) Newhome News (Q'barran journal for the rest of Khorvaire, supposed to be quarterly but comes out erratically, 2 sp/issue) read mostly by governmental types There are a number of publications that are not region specific. Each House has publications designed for public consumption, essentially promotional feature articles and ads. Each House also has one or more publications intended for internal consumption only, which one would need in-House connections to get access to. Here's some examples: The Gathering Stone (published by Houses Tharashkh and Sivis for merchants, governments, and the Houses about events in Dhakaan; 2/month, 1 sp/issue) Ghallanda Gazette (House Ghallanda publication for and about House Ghallanda, available to patrons, 2/month, 5cp/issue) The Bounty (published by the Bounty Hunter's Guild, includes job listing teasers designed to get members into the Guild house, 1/week, free with Guild membership) The Medani Watch (security journal for professionals, 1/week, 1 sp/issue or 8 cp/issue discounted rate for members of the Bounty Hunters Guild) The Finding - Edited Version (professional journal for Finders published by House Tharashk Finders Guild, in a lite version published for the Bounty Hunters, 1/week, 1 sp/issue "discounted" rate for members of the Bounty Hunters Guild) A rare / special interest publication: The Oracular (published by the church of Aureon for the clergy of the Sovereign Host, chock full of very interesting and useful information, and quite scholarly; 1/month, 2sp/issue) There are other Mror Holds papers that are specific to each Hold, published in dwarven only. On average, they come out 1/week, and cost 4 cp/issue.
Serpentine 10-02-04, 01:22 AM	Thanks Atlictoatl. This is a great compilation of prices and titles, and the summary really makes it work. I'm a sucker for the newspapers. In my campaign, I've been thinking about using small press tabloids: single sheet scream-sheet type papers that sell for just one copper every day. These are specific to a city, sometimes with country-wide news, but it's more of a local paper with a sordid edge. The headlines have to be eye-catching, and quite often stretch the truth a bit. There could also be a significant amount of competition between the small presses: rival publishers, competing newsboys, reporters who'll do anything for a story, etc. I think two or three rival papers in a town is a good number. Need a name for your paper? Newspaper names are quite simple: first you pick a town or a city name or a description of when you publish from column A, then you attach some sort of communications or observation oriented, astrologically oriented, or just a good noun that conveys security, speed, or relevance from column B. Column A: Town or City Name Country Name Daily Weekly Morning Evening Weekend Night/Nightly Midnight Column B: Post Bulletin/Bullet Messenger Standard News Times Observer Inquirer/Enquirer/Inquisitive Spectator/Spectacle Monitor Student Watch Crier/Cryer Bugle Trumpet Herald Sun Star Constellation Planet/Planetary Globe Planar Shard Dragon Continental Horizon Advertiser Citizen Guardian Independent Forge Patriot Current Journal Should one paper have bought out another, you could pick two words from column B and either hyphenate them or just string the words together. The Daily Standard and the Korth Guardian-Observer are bitter rivals, but both are established tabloids circulating throughout the city. A new upstart called the Midnight Whisperer is moving in on both papers' territories, though, causing them to panic as their circulation sales drop.
Roger Nicholls 10-02-04, 05:25 PM	I really like the idea of "scream sheet" style newspapers. I used them many moon ago in my Cyberpunk campaign and the players loved them. Ive started using the Korranberg Chronicle now to give my players a feel for the world around them as well as writing up their adventures or perhaps more importantly stories that are influenced by their adventures for the Chronicle. If you dont mind me asking -how are people using newspapers like the KC in their campaigns and is it adding any benefit ?
Atlictoatl 10-04-04, 10:37 AM	Thanks Atlictoatl. This is a great compilation of prices and titles, and the summary really makes it work. Thanks, Serpentine! I also like the idea of scream sheets. Yellow press can certainly generate some good adventure ideas and provide DMs with a number of potential red herrings and obscure information sources in their campaigns.
Serpentine 10-20-04, 08:19 PM	"Everything is quiet. There is no trouble. There will be no war. I wish to return." -Frederic Remington, photographer, 1897 "Please remain. You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war." -William Randolph Hearst, publisher of the New York Journal http://halogen.note.amherst.edu/~lhing/rpg/ambition/midnitewhisper.gif How to fake up a yellow press newspaper Most newspapers use a serif font, like Palatino, Times New Roman, and Caslon for the body text. Serif fonts, for the beginner, have little tails that line up along the base and top of the letter: they're easier to read because the tails lead from one letter to the next. Sans-serif fonts, like Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana do not have the tails. They have smooth lines and look more futuristic. Headlines are big and bold: they should stretch across the page. Many newspapers used alliteration freely to make the headline catchier. Beneath the headlines, there are occasionally smaller subheads for further explanation — no more than a sentence. "TITANIC SINKS!" 'Great Loss of Life—World's Greatest Liner Strikes Iceberg' Then just above the text, there is an author byline. Sometimes, there is a smaller tagline slightly larger than the text, or a date written for the article. Newspapers always use columns. At least two columns. Three or more, if the paper is at least 8.5x11. Even after photography became widespread, many newspapers still relied on pictures—drawings and etchings. (And Eberron does not quite have photography.) The Wall Street Journal still uses a stipple portrait artist rather than using photographs on the front page. Don't forget the ads! Eberron's setting draws inspiration from any time period between the 1500s and the 1940s. Snake oil salesmen are running around Sharn right this minute promising to restore hair and health and happiness and cure airsickness. And it might work! Newspapers shove ads in to fill space wherever they need it; or, if the advertisers pay enough, they make the text fit around the ads. http://www.lileks.com/oldads/ http://pre1900prints.com/Newspapers/newspapers1.htm http://pre1900prints.com/Newspapers/saturdaybladejuly121919.htm
Atlictoatl 10-20-04, 09:38 PM	Thanks, Serpentine! A handy primer!
Save-vs-DM 10-20-04, 10:10 PM	If anyone is interested, I can give you a jpg copy of the Korranberg Chronicle paper background for use in your home campaigns. For those of you with In-Design I'll also happily provide you with a template copy of the issue instead. And actually, if you have any questions about how to format a paper in general, please feel free to PM via the boards or any IM service listed in my profile. I'm always happy to help. Edit: If you want a copy of some adds for your home game I can also give you some of those. (The one benefit of being the publisher and layout guy is that I can do stuff like this. And hey, we're all about helping the community!) [Shameless Plug] Read the Korranberg Chronicle (http://www.kchronicle.com) [/Shameless Plug] Cheers, Save vs DM
eclipticavatar 10-21-04, 04:46 AM	If anyone is interested, I can give you a jpg copy of the Korranberg Chronicle paper background for use in your home campaigns. For those of you with In-Design I'll also happily provide you with a template copy of the issue instead. I would greatly appreciate it. You can email me at ecliptic@ameritech.net I don't have In-Design.
Serpentine 10-21-04, 10:19 AM	The Korranberg Chronicle is also a good source. It gets better and better with each issue. What font is that, by the way?
nyysjan 10-21-04, 10:31 AM	If anyone is interested, I can give you a jpg copy of the Korranberg Chronicle paper background for use in your home campaigns. For those of you with In-Design I'll also happily provide you with a template copy of the issue instead. If you have time throw one at jani81_9@hotmail.com
Larac 10-21-04, 01:52 PM	If anyone is interested, I can give you a jpg copy of the Korranberg Chronicle paper background for use in your home campaigns. For those of you with In-Design I'll also happily provide you with a template copy of the issue instead. And actually, if you have any questions about how to format a paper in general, please feel free to PM via the boards or any IM service listed in my profile. I'm always happy to help. Edit: If you want a copy of some adds for your home game I can also give you some of those. (The one benefit of being the publisher and layout guy is that I can do stuff like this. And hey, we're all about helping the community!) [Shameless Plug] Read the Korranberg Chronicle (http://www.kchronicle.com) [/Shameless Plug] Cheers, Save vs DM Please do! lfseeney@comcast.net thanks!
Save-vs-DM 10-21-04, 04:17 PM	I'll send those along when I get home, along with the font we use. Cheers, Save vs DM
eclipticavatar 10-21-04, 10:37 PM	Just a note, that font you use for your body text is headache inducing.
Save-vs-DM 10-24-04, 04:35 PM	(I've sent those materials out - sorry it took so long, but I had my wisdom teeth out and I now just finally feel better). The two fonts we use are: Clairvaux (Body Text) and Wilhelm Klingspor (Headlines) eclipticavatar - Just a note, that font you use for your body text is headache inducing. I'm sorry to hear that? I've never had a problem with it, but that's just me? If others are having this problem, I can try and offer a plain-text version as well. Cheers, Save vs DM
Serpentine 10-24-04, 05:03 PM	I would have to agree that the Clairvaux font is rather hard on the eyes. It's almost a calligraphic display font, and I don't think it's easily legible in paragraph form. It would be fine for a headline, but I think that replacing it with a Baskerville variant, like Mrs. Eaves, or a Caslon Antique variant would be much easier to read. Plaintext would also be welcome. Hope the wisdom teeth get better, Save. Eat some ice cream.