Armoury99
2008-05-31, 03:58 AM
Hi all,
This post is a little bit of shameless pimpage but also a genuine query as to what communal design sites (other than this one) people use to showcase their stuff.
Having spent many an hour perusing fine contributions to the gaming world from you guys and girls, I thought that some of you might be interested in what's probably best described as "the ultimate communal homebrew" - Open Design (http://wolfgangbaur.com/opendesign). Its run by Wolfgang Baur (a name I'm sure many of you recognise), who's taken on the gap left by (the print) versions of vanished Dungeon and Dragon magazine with his "scrappy little magazine" Kobold Quarterly (http://www.koboldquarterly.com/)
Here's a description in his own words:
"I'm returning to an old, old model for writers with the next adventure I write: patronage. In the medieval age and in the Renaissance, patrons were the ones who commissioned artists and writers. There was no such thing as a "publisher". People who wanted books paid someone directly to write them. The Open Design projects are about applying that strategy to RPG adventures. They use a publishing approach that avoids the pitfalls of corporate game development, and they provide a way to share design knowledge with interested gamers."
(Thanks to fellow patron Innercaine for supplying this quote by WB)
Time for the pimpage!
http://www.completelybonkers.co.uk/images/smi2%20pimp%20purple.jpg
Basically, a proposal goes online (currently that's Tales of Zobeck, a 3.5 steampunk city adventure pack, and Wrath of the River King, a 4e adventure!) which Wolfgang will act as editor/project leader for if enough people stump up the cash to commission it. Anyone who contributes becomes a 'patron' (there are a couple of levels within this) and can influence the outcome of the product as well as get a copy of the completed version. The disadvantage of paying for somethig "sight unseen" is made up by having a real influence on how its made.
From what I've seen so far, just about every major design decision is voted on by patrons, allowing you to significantly shape the final product. Wolfgang's more of a referee and tie-breaker than leader, and the whole process is also a teaching process for budding amateur designers (it also attracts a few big names too). To take Tales of Zobeck as an example, the project is currently whittling down adventure pitches from all the patrons to a select few who'll go into the final product - all of this an open vote and up for discussion, as well as a learning experience about pitching adventure ideas to publishers. There's occasional other perks as well, like a chance to get in a game Wolfgang's running at GenCon, plus a chance to just ask him pertinent questions.
Yes, you have to part with a little cash but it is one of the most open and constructive design forums I've ever seen. I'd encourage everyone who thinks their homebrew skills are great to have a look and get the official intro and information.
Pimpage over... :smallredface:
As you might gather, I kind of like this site (I'm not a share-holder or anything :smallsmile: but I am a new patron and loving it). I was wondering though, what other sites do people use/avoid like the plague when it comes to homebrew development? I've also become aware of Gnome Stew (http://www.gnomestew.com/) and theGamer Dome (http://thegamerdome.wikidot.com/) wikki recently - what other sites to we recommend (or not)?
This post is a little bit of shameless pimpage but also a genuine query as to what communal design sites (other than this one) people use to showcase their stuff.
Having spent many an hour perusing fine contributions to the gaming world from you guys and girls, I thought that some of you might be interested in what's probably best described as "the ultimate communal homebrew" - Open Design (http://wolfgangbaur.com/opendesign). Its run by Wolfgang Baur (a name I'm sure many of you recognise), who's taken on the gap left by (the print) versions of vanished Dungeon and Dragon magazine with his "scrappy little magazine" Kobold Quarterly (http://www.koboldquarterly.com/)
Here's a description in his own words:
"I'm returning to an old, old model for writers with the next adventure I write: patronage. In the medieval age and in the Renaissance, patrons were the ones who commissioned artists and writers. There was no such thing as a "publisher". People who wanted books paid someone directly to write them. The Open Design projects are about applying that strategy to RPG adventures. They use a publishing approach that avoids the pitfalls of corporate game development, and they provide a way to share design knowledge with interested gamers."
(Thanks to fellow patron Innercaine for supplying this quote by WB)
Time for the pimpage!
http://www.completelybonkers.co.uk/images/smi2%20pimp%20purple.jpg
Basically, a proposal goes online (currently that's Tales of Zobeck, a 3.5 steampunk city adventure pack, and Wrath of the River King, a 4e adventure!) which Wolfgang will act as editor/project leader for if enough people stump up the cash to commission it. Anyone who contributes becomes a 'patron' (there are a couple of levels within this) and can influence the outcome of the product as well as get a copy of the completed version. The disadvantage of paying for somethig "sight unseen" is made up by having a real influence on how its made.
From what I've seen so far, just about every major design decision is voted on by patrons, allowing you to significantly shape the final product. Wolfgang's more of a referee and tie-breaker than leader, and the whole process is also a teaching process for budding amateur designers (it also attracts a few big names too). To take Tales of Zobeck as an example, the project is currently whittling down adventure pitches from all the patrons to a select few who'll go into the final product - all of this an open vote and up for discussion, as well as a learning experience about pitching adventure ideas to publishers. There's occasional other perks as well, like a chance to get in a game Wolfgang's running at GenCon, plus a chance to just ask him pertinent questions.
Yes, you have to part with a little cash but it is one of the most open and constructive design forums I've ever seen. I'd encourage everyone who thinks their homebrew skills are great to have a look and get the official intro and information.
Pimpage over... :smallredface:
As you might gather, I kind of like this site (I'm not a share-holder or anything :smallsmile: but I am a new patron and loving it). I was wondering though, what other sites do people use/avoid like the plague when it comes to homebrew development? I've also become aware of Gnome Stew (http://www.gnomestew.com/) and theGamer Dome (http://thegamerdome.wikidot.com/) wikki recently - what other sites to we recommend (or not)?