The Extracanonical Tom Baker

[koloth]

As its the New Year I'll turn my hand at something.
Has someone nabbed Nyssa from 'Asylum', and I'd like to attempt 'The Future Seed'?

[taikowolf]

I've looked through both the First and Second Doctor books, and I'm curious about something; is Quadrigger Stoyn going to be included in this book, or in an update for one of the earlier ones? He first appeared in "The Beginning", then in "The Dying Light", and finally appears in "Luna Romana", and each time in a different state.

I could try and do a write-up for him, if nobody else has started.

[misterharry]

I think the decision was to leave Quadrigger Stoyn for the 4th Doctor sourcebook, as it isn't until Luna Romana that we get to hear his full story. I don't think anyone else has volunteered themselves for this, so I'd say help yourself!

[taikowolf]

In that case, should the mechanical soldiers Stoyn employs in Luna Romana be statted too, along with the Archaeons from "The Beginning" and the creatures/Sanctuary from "The Dying Light"? I ask, because while the mechanical soldiers are foes the Fourth Doctor fights against, the Archaeons are creatures the First Doctor encounters, and Sanctuary to the Second Doctor in the "Dying Light". Both are related to Stoyn, but happened in the Fourth Doctor's past.

[misterharry]

For Luna Romana, I'd say yes to the mechanical soldiers. In fact, anything from that story that you'd like to see included. I was thinking of preparing something for the future Romana (who also features in the Gallifrey audios), but let me know if you want to have a go at her too.

But for the earlier Stoyn stories, an entry on Sanctuary is already included in the 2nd Doctor book, and I assume that the Archaeons will be added to a revised version of the 1st Doctor book when we get around to that - the 1st Doctor book was written before The Beginning was released.

[taikowolf]

Ah, my apologies; I should have been more thorough about my search in the first two modules. I'll see about statting the golden robots then, and I'll see about the theme park on the moon too. The robots shouldn't be hard, but summarizing the location will be new for me. Should be an interesting challenge. I wonder if I should also do the clockwork mechanism Stoyn used for powering his miniature transmat, as well as the mini transmats themselves...

As for the future Romana, aka Tre, I think I'll let you have the reigns on her misterharry (WOW that sounds weird out of context). Luna Romana doesn't reveal much on her save for her being part of yet another war, and finally getting around to getting rid of the Quadrigger work stations (despite Quadriggers not even being around for centuries by the time her first incarnation was doing the quest for the key to time). She simply reminisces on her first incarnation, and her second as well. I'm afraid I've not listened to the Gallifrey audios, so I honestly don't know much (though she's a bit of a vague character in and of herself at the moment).

[misterharry]

Jan 13, 2015 19:53:34 GMT taikowolf said:

Ah, my apologies; I should have been more thorough about my search in the first two modules. I'll see about statting the golden robots then, and I'll see about the theme park on the moon too. The robots shouldn't be hard, but summarizing the location will be new for me. Should be an interesting challenge. I wonder if I should also do the clockwork mechanism Stoyn used for powering his miniature transmat, as well as the mini transmats themselves...

Sounds like a plan! As for the clockwork mechanism and mini-transmats, if you decide not to do these as separate Gadgets, you could always include them as part of the main write-up for Stoyn - might be challenge to fit it all on one page, of course, but then maybe he deserves a two-page spread?

As for the future Romana, aka Tre, I think I'll let you have the reigns on her misterharry (WOW that sounds weird out of context). Luna Romana doesn't reveal much on her save for her being part of yet another war, and finally getting around to getting rid of the Quadrigger work stations (despite Quadriggers not even being around for centuries by the time her first incarnation was doing the quest for the key to time). She simply reminisces on her first incarnation, and her second as well. I'm afraid I've not listened to the Gallifrey audios, so I honestly don't know much (though she's a bit of a vague character in and of herself at the moment).

She is due to make another appearance in Gallifrey: Intervention Earth, due out in February, so I'll see what additional info that throws up.

I believe another possible future Romana appears in the novel Tomb of Valdemar, so I may look to do a submission covering both.

[Siskoid]

In any case, the Gallifrey series doesn't feature a Doctor, so that material would be part of a later Spin-Offs book.

[misterharry]

Yeah, I was just meaning any additional info on the future version of Romana who appeared as the narrator of Luna Romana. I wouldn't be looking at anything specific to the Gallifrey series.

[Siskoid]

Awesome.

Update: The 4th book will go into production in February no matter what, so sharpen your pencils, ladies and gentlemen.

You should start seeing firm updates on the 3rd Doc document by the end of the week, if not the end of the day.

[taikowolf]

Jan 14, 2015 9:26:21 GMT misterharry said:

Sounds like a plan! As for the clockwork mechanism and mini-transmats, if you decide not to do these as separate Gadgets, you could always include them as part of the main write-up for Stoyn - might be challenge to fit it all on one page, of course, but then maybe he deserves a two-page spread?

If Siskoid is good with Stoyn having a two-page spread, I'm good with that. There's a bit of info for him I can't fit under the 500 word preference, considering that I'm trying to fit three adventures of different Stoyns into a few short paragraphs. Not that I'd make Stoyn have summaries for each story, although I do have a bit of a spoiler bit for how he ends up - it's just that I'm having difficulties adding in that the Doctor instructed his TARDIS to not allow Stoyn in even with a key, so Stoyn can only get in after someone else opened the door for him (which Romana inadvertently does). If I'm to stick with just one page apiece, then that's fine.

Is there a gadget trait for powering technology? "Luna Romana" has two gadgets that grant power - one is a golden power disk from the robots Stoyn utilizes, and the other is an intricate clockwork device that harnesses power from a segment of the key to time. The segment-device generates power for the mini-transmat, which has a small range from said power-generator being finicky - however, using the robot power disk greatly expands the range when utilized with it (probably as a one-use sort of thing). Or should I just put in the description what these things do, and put in "Restriction" or somesuch.

Jan 14, 2015 14:58:32 GMT Siskoid said:

Awesome.

Update: The 4th book will go into production in February no matter what, so sharpen your pencils, ladies and gentlemen.

You should start seeing firm updates on the 3rd Doc document by the end of the week, if not the end of the day.

Awesome news~ Can't wait to get a-writing. :-)

[misterharry]

Jan 15, 2015 3:04:35 GMT taikowolf said:

Is there a gadget trait for powering technology? "Luna Romana" has two gadgets that grant power - one is a golden power disk from the robots Stoyn utilizes, and the other is an intricate clockwork device that harnesses power from a segment of the key to time. The segment-device generates power for the mini-transmat, which has a small range from said power-generator being finicky - however, using the robot power disk greatly expands the range when utilized with it (probably as a one-use sort of thing). Or should I just put in the description what these things do, and put in "Restriction" or somesuch.

For both of these, I would write this into the stats for the robots and mini-transmats, rather than have separate stats for the power sources themselves. So for the robots, they have a Weakness (Major: Shuts down if power disk removed). And for the mini-transmats, they either have Restriction (Minor: Range reduced without access to power disk), or alternatively a Special Good trait (Range increases if power boosted by disk) - the latter may have the One-Shot limitation.

There may be other ways of achieving the desired effect though.

[Siskoid]

The cover is being created so... last chance to suggest monsters and allies who should feature with the Doctor!

[misterharry]

A few possibilities:

An older Mike Yates perhaps, to reference the Nest Cottage audios
Maybe a Robot of Death (for Corpse Marker)
The future Romana - Juliet Landau has a great photo of herself in costume on her Twitter page:
Juliet Landau on Twitter

There are several BF CD covers with images that could be used:
The Pugilist (from The Justice of Jalxar)
Strang (The King of Sontar)
The Crooked Man (from, well, guess...)
Nurse Torvik (Last of the Colophon)
A Rocket Man (from the forthcoming Requiem for the Rocket Men)

Not sure that many of the novels covers offer much in the way of possibilities though. Though the BF adaptations of Gareth Roberts' 4th Doctor novels are a little better - the Zodaal-possessed policeman on the cover of The English Way of Death, maybe.

[Catsmate]

Jan 29, 2015 20:52:01 GMT misterharry said:

A few possibilities:

An older Mike Yates perhaps, to reference the Nest Cottage audios
Maybe a Robot of Death (for Corpse Marker)
The future Romana - Juliet Landau has a great photo of herself in costume on her Twitter page:
Juliet Landau on Twitter

There are several BF CD covers with images that could be used:
The Pugilist (from The Justice of Jalxar)
Strang (The King of Sontar)
The Crooked Man (from, well, guess...)
Nurse Torvik (Last of the Colophon)
A Rocket Man (from the forthcoming Requiem for the Rocket Men)

Not sure that many of the novels covers offer much in the way of possibilities though. Though the BF adaptations of Gareth Roberts' 4th Doctor novels are a little better - the Zodaal-possessed policeman on the cover of The English Way of Death, maybe.

Ah Juliet Landau. I used this pic of her for the third incarnation of the evil version of Romana in the EDC. Also this close up which I think captures a certain "mess with me and I'll eviscerate you" quality.

I'd also support the Zodaal-possessed policeman, a very good image.

[Siskoid]

We're still finishing up the 3rd book, but we are NOW RECEIVING submissions for the 4th Doctor book. Please check the submission guidelines for text and are, elsewhere on this forum.

[dastari]

Jan 31, 2015 22:17:26 GMT Siskoid said:

We're still finishing up the 3rd book, but we are NOW RECEIVING submissions for the 4th Doctor book. Please check the submission guidelines for text and are, elsewhere on this forum.

The cover looks nice, but any chance getting the Crooked Man up on top above the Doctor and co?

[misterharry]

That's brilliant - the best cover yet!

EDIT: I've been racking my brains about the squid things in the lower right. I feel I should recognise them, but I'm drawing a blank - what are they?

EDIT AGAIN: Aha! They're from Phantoms of the Deep!

[Siskoid]

Dastari: A lot of what predicates the covers is what's available in high enough definition, and what fits with the composition. The Crooked Man could only go in there if I sacrifice Romana, so I might try a version like that to see.

MisterHarry: Yes, I needed a little something to patch a hole and bounce off the Rocket Man's colors. I also tried putting some hornets in there, but they didn't mesh with the cover's photorealism.

I would have liked to have had something from the novels in there, but there was little to work with and nothing that really worked. The Doctor's pose on this was problematic for finding spots to put characters.

[Siskoid]

By the way, all would-be submitters should take a look at the submission guidelines elsewhere on this forum. Getting entries in the correct format saves heaps of time.

[dastari]

Feb 1, 2015 15:12:44 GMT Siskoid said:

Dastari: A lot of what predicates the covers is what's available in high enough definition, and what fits with the composition. The Crooked Man could only go in there if I sacrifice Romana, so I might try a version like that to see.

I just see that gap above the Doctor between the Rocket Man and Romana. With the way that the cover of the Crooked Man looks, isn't it possible to hide his arm behind Romana and the other arm behind the Rocket Man (where the Doctor Who logo obscures that arm)? It also seems that cover was tailor made for a character leering over the proceedings. Still, it's a nice cover. Just an idea that I had when looking at it.

[misterharry]

There are a couple more audios to be added to the list, the two stories from Big Finish's Phillip Hinchcliffe Presents box-set:

The Ghosts of Gralstead
The Devil's Armada

Also, BF's fourth series of 4th Doctor Adventures is underway, comprising eight releases between January and August. I'm not sure what timescales we're working on with this sourcebook, but we should be able to include most if not all of these:

The Exxilons
The Darkness of Glass
Requiem for the Rocket Men
Death Match
Suburban Hell
The Cloisters of Terror
The Fate of Krelos
Return to Telos

I've taken out a subscription for this series and am listening to them as they're released, so I'm happy to cover these unless anyone else wants them?

For the moment though, I'll continue to work through the novels - I'll post on here from time to time which ones I intend to tackle next. If anybody wants to bag any of the books before I get to them, by all means let me know. The ones I'm looking at next are: Evolution, The Shadow of Weng-Chiang, Eye of Heaven and Tomb of Valdemar.

[Polar Bear]

Feb 1, 2015 18:40:28 GMT Siskoid said:

By the way, all would-be submitters should take a look at the submission guidelines elsewhere on this forum. Getting entries in the correct format saves heaps of time.

Link, please?  I think I can take both Ghosts of Gralstead and The Devil's Armada.  Between those and the already-submitted pair from Justice at Jalxar, I'd feel like I'd actually done something.

[Nyder]

Feb 5, 2015 3:18:55 GMT Polar Bear said:

Feb 1, 2015 18:40:28 GMT Siskoid said:

By the way, all would-be submitters should take a look at the submission guidelines elsewhere on this forum. Getting entries in the correct format saves heaps of time.

Link, please? 

Here they are:


Submission Guidelines


They've also now been pinned to the top of this section of the forum.

[misterharry]

Amazon are listing a new 4th Doctor novel for release in July:

The Drosten's Curse by A.L. Kennedy

Apparently it's a continuation of her Timke Trips e-short, The Death Pit.

[Siskoid]

Did some work on top post, adding some submission attributions, crossing out those I have already received, and adding to the media to be covered.

[misterharry]

Feb 9, 2015 14:54:02 GMT Siskoid said:

Did some work on top post, adding some submission attributions, crossing out those I have already received, and adding to the media to be covered.

You should also already have received from me a write-up for the Demon from Demon Quest (in the Nest Cottage audios). If not, let me know and I'll re-send it.

Can I make a few more suggestions for the Omitted But Not Forgotten section:

Kellman
Professor Sorenson
Guy Crayford
Castellan Spandrell
Jago and Litefoot - they're a must have! (olegrand posted some stats for them recently: Jago & Litefoot)
Martha Tyler
The Shadow's Mutes

Good to see the inclusion of the Giant Mutant Clams though - I was hoping they'd be included!

[Siskoid]

Jago & Litefoot will have main entries, as per their appearance in The Justice of Jalxar. I'll see about the rest. This is a tentative list at best. A LOT was omitted in the official book for space reasons.

[misterharry]

I'm going to be doing a fair bit of travelling this week, so I'll load up some 4th Doctor audios for the journey and make notes as I go. At this point, I'm looking to cover the following stories:

The Renaissance Man
The Auntie Matter
The Exxilons
The Darkness of Glass

[genesis]

Not to be a buzzkill...but aren't we really putting the cart before the horse? There's an awful lot of prep work happening on the 4th when the 3rd isn't even released.