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March - Month of the ebook
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March - Month of the ebook
#1This will have my priority this month. Main goal, choose the theme and content and start putting it together.
My thought on it:
Stand alone submissions that still build an over all theme. Each submissions should be targeted and thorough to the point where the idea can be picked up and thrown into most any game. Targeted is probably a bad word but can't think of another but the sub should be fully encompassed unto itself. It shouldn't rely on back story or outside influences to make it a reality. It should also not have any far reaching world affects out of the box.
I am thinking the following general format that mostly matches the website based on locations to start with a theme.
We do need a theme by the way.
I think, for the most part, it would be something location based. City, forest, dungeons, fallen empires, wayt to grandmother's house...something physical to base things on.
So we pick a few locations that hit the spot for what we want: targeted and thorough. Then we pick 1 - 3 NPCs that are fleshed out but not too crazy big to put into it. Then we tie them all together with a series of hooks that incorporate them in a self-contained, non-polluting to the over all game way. Then we have another series of hooks that can take bleed over into the GMs game and can be continued to be used. Each of these two hook sections have to have a good name. Local Hooks. World Hooks. Something.
So we have the main location.
We have NPCs to inhabit it.
We have local in location hooks.
We have dynamic hooks that break out of the location.
Then do we have single full setting with a full adventure worked out?
An in depth NPC write-up that might be used in any of the included settings with his own location and world hooks.
Then end it with 2 or 3 30s that incorporate the theme and things usable in the included settings.
Would that be a good wrap up or at least a starting goal for the series? -
Re: March - Month of the ebook
#2 -
Re: March - Month of the ebook
#3Land of the Living would be a great one to use!
As to your first post, I am processing the idea and thinking... -
Re: March - Month of the ebook
#4 -
Re: March - Month of the ebook
#5I'm a fan of module/single adventure idea too, but I think our first effort should highlight many of the authors here.
The related theme idea is good too, but could require a lot of editing to make it like something other then unrelated subs taped together. The subs that relate to each other best tend to be by the same author, and runs afoul of my thought above.
I'd suggest a magazine type approach, where loosely related subs can be used without needing excessive editing. We have an editorial that briefly introduces the various subs, and perhaps end with a sub that does try to knit them together without rewriting the originals (ala 5-in one quest).
Another idea would be to propose the theme and ask authors to provide pre-edited versions of their own subs to allow for better integration.
Not married to these ideas, just bringing em up :)
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Re: March - Month of the ebook
#6I second Val, I also think that the first edition should promote many and diverse subs that are stitched together by a red thread. We want people to get hooked and continue reading. To achieve this we need high quality plug&play material that is easy to understand and get into. Later on we can experiment with larger and more complicated stuff, but we should keep it simple at first.
My two cents. -
Re: March - Month of the ebook
#7I agree, main thought in theme is more broad like cities, castles, towns, etc. Not necessarily Ninja Assassins or whatever. Each separate entry should be able to be grabbed out and plopped in the readers setting without any others being necessary.I am a little torn on the focus though. First debated only city subs so they can grab the Citadel City book and grab a city and if they need a tavern, the Citadel Taverns, but that is a subcategory of city, so do we want to go that details or put them together. I am trying to come up with things loosely based on the Citadel and not break too much with our website format. Still thinking. As we grab subs it may solidify. Right now, looking for good location subs that will stand on their own.
The one set of hooks mirror this, a set of hooks to use with that one submission that are self-contained with no pollution to the readers game. Almost like a side encounter with no commitment. Then the global hooks that allow for larger ideas that would extend beyond the plug and play and the reader can use it through their campaign.
That is the bulk of the ezine, just like the site. Plug and Play.
Then, as a bonus, provide the detailed NPC with many hooks and/or a Larger Scenerio as displayed. They may or may not intertwine some of the settings but I am sure we can get them in there. That was a brainstorm and depending on our movement with the rest, it may not be needed.
I do only want to use subs where the author has first dibs at a rewrite or at least gives full blessing.
What else was on my mind with reading the comments. They made perfect sense too by the way.
(Ran out of time so sorry if this is a little disjointed) -
Re: March - Month of the ebook
#8Haven't read all of the above, but I think I get the gist of it.
I suggest a single village, any village sub of quality will do.
A village is the minimum basis that a DM/GM needs to run an adventure. Then we use that village as a base for the e-book and provide plots, characters and mcguffins for that village.
In short I propose an adventure module as our first e-book. -
Re: March - Month of the ebook
#9Bouncing around:
No, you didn't read the above. :)
I don't want to write a module. (I don't like modules as a rule, they are too confining and they don't really represent what we do here.) I believe we should concentrate on what the Citadel does best. Bite Sized Pieces that can be plopped anywhere.
So if we wanted to do a Village ebook, then it would be a dozen stand alone villages as the theme. Read above for my full thoughts as they are there. -
Re: March - Month of the ebook
#10OK. I am making the call and will start a side quest in another forum.
We are going to go with City Locations.
It can be an actual city or town and/or any locations that can go inside a City or Town. See a thread inside the Challenge forum which I am writing right now. If we don't get moving on something we won't have anything by the end of March....and I will meet this suspense! -
Re: March - Month of the ebook
#11I read your reply, and from that think I got the gist of it. :p
Sounds like you got things covered, so keep on doing the good stuff! I'm really looking forward to the end result.