Site Update !!!
1 view
Skip to first unread message
Raymunji
Oct 12, 2009, 9:35:00 AM10/12/09
to Stockade
Hi,
I have just uploaded a copy of my short story Where the Shadows Play.
Which my RPG will be based on.
So if you want a bit of a sneak peak into this world, head over to my
blog and download a pdf of it.
http://wp.me/PFmNg-j
Cheers
Ray
I have just uploaded a copy of my short story Where the Shadows Play.
Which my RPG will be based on.
So if you want a bit of a sneak peak into this world, head over to my
blog and download a pdf of it.
http://wp.me/PFmNg-j
Cheers
Ray
Raymunji
Oct 22, 2009, 1:48:14 AM10/22/09
to Stockade
Ok, so as I am new to this whole game creating thing. I am finding
that I am doing a lot more research then creating.
With the design and layout aspect I have been looking through other
campaign books, namely the Eberron setting as this happens to be my
favorite to play, to gain an idea of how they should look and be laid
out. What order should the content be placed in.
1) Should I have everything about the world and land first, then a
section on races, and finally skills traits and other mechanics.
Or
2) Should I say here is a location in this world, and at this location
you will find these races, and the traits and skill relating to them.
While I kind of like the idea of the second way, as I feel it would
give it more of and encyclopedia feel to it. The more traditional way
to set the book out is the first way.
And how big should this book be? Unlike Wizards of the Coast I don’t
have enough hours in the day to produce a 300 odd page book. So what
it the average page number of an Indy campaign book?
And last but not least, the Greek mythology, as I have included the
Greek gods in my setting and will be using a number of the myths as
ideas for the basis of a campaign ideas, I feel I have an obligation
to have a page or two describing the Gods and what they do, and to
make sure it is as correct as possible. The only problem is there are
a lot of websites out there and they all have very useful information,
but they are all slightly different to each other. Not only that when
you go back to the days when these legends were being created, they
were all slightly different with how they portrayed the gods then as
well.
I guess I’m concerned that in my attempt to get these facts as correct
as possible, I will lose my original theatrical feel for why I have
brought them in to the system in the first place.
I guess what I should do is work with what I have got and fill in the
blanks later – otherwise I will never move on from page one.
Cheers Ray
that I am doing a lot more research then creating.
With the design and layout aspect I have been looking through other
campaign books, namely the Eberron setting as this happens to be my
favorite to play, to gain an idea of how they should look and be laid
out. What order should the content be placed in.
1) Should I have everything about the world and land first, then a
section on races, and finally skills traits and other mechanics.
Or
2) Should I say here is a location in this world, and at this location
you will find these races, and the traits and skill relating to them.
While I kind of like the idea of the second way, as I feel it would
give it more of and encyclopedia feel to it. The more traditional way
to set the book out is the first way.
And how big should this book be? Unlike Wizards of the Coast I don’t
have enough hours in the day to produce a 300 odd page book. So what
it the average page number of an Indy campaign book?
And last but not least, the Greek mythology, as I have included the
Greek gods in my setting and will be using a number of the myths as
ideas for the basis of a campaign ideas, I feel I have an obligation
to have a page or two describing the Gods and what they do, and to
make sure it is as correct as possible. The only problem is there are
a lot of websites out there and they all have very useful information,
but they are all slightly different to each other. Not only that when
you go back to the days when these legends were being created, they
were all slightly different with how they portrayed the gods then as
well.
I guess I’m concerned that in my attempt to get these facts as correct
as possible, I will lose my original theatrical feel for why I have
brought them in to the system in the first place.
I guess what I should do is work with what I have got and fill in the
blanks later – otherwise I will never move on from page one.
Cheers Ray
Nathan
Oct 22, 2009, 2:04:08 AM10/22/09
to Stockade
Ray,
I don't think there is a "right" way to set out your book - you should
do what YOU want. However, if you did it the second way, would it mean
that there would be "double up" entries when you describe the Dwarves
that live in FOREST LAND and then the Dwarves that live in MOUNTAIN
LAND (forgive my lame examples!). You might do a region-by-region
description, mentioning the races found there and describing the
cultures, but have a seperate entry for the races which talks about
"sub" races or cultures.
I reckon a length of about 100-150 pages would be a good proportioned
setting book, and it won't take much when you break it down into all
the smaller components (one page for each of the 10 races, three pages
for each of the 10 lands, one page for each of the ten plot hook/
adventure outline.... that's fifty pages right there.)
Don't get hung up on getting things "accurate" - this is a fantasy
setting afterall! Differences are going to occur, as they obviously do
in our own world! Take all the "cool" bits, dump the rest. Mix and
match as necessary!
Finally, my advice is to STOP researching and get stuck into writing.
Do your first draft. When THAT is complete you can go back and fill in
the details, do the research that you have discovered you need and all
that jazz. Otherwise you are in danger of researching forever as you
try to get things "perfect". You are better off having an imperfect
finished prodcut than an imaginary perfect one!
That's my ten cents, anyway!
- Nathan
I don't think there is a "right" way to set out your book - you should
do what YOU want. However, if you did it the second way, would it mean
that there would be "double up" entries when you describe the Dwarves
that live in FOREST LAND and then the Dwarves that live in MOUNTAIN
LAND (forgive my lame examples!). You might do a region-by-region
description, mentioning the races found there and describing the
cultures, but have a seperate entry for the races which talks about
"sub" races or cultures.
I reckon a length of about 100-150 pages would be a good proportioned
setting book, and it won't take much when you break it down into all
the smaller components (one page for each of the 10 races, three pages
for each of the 10 lands, one page for each of the ten plot hook/
adventure outline.... that's fifty pages right there.)
Don't get hung up on getting things "accurate" - this is a fantasy
setting afterall! Differences are going to occur, as they obviously do
in our own world! Take all the "cool" bits, dump the rest. Mix and
match as necessary!
Finally, my advice is to STOP researching and get stuck into writing.
Do your first draft. When THAT is complete you can go back and fill in
the details, do the research that you have discovered you need and all
that jazz. Otherwise you are in danger of researching forever as you
try to get things "perfect". You are better off having an imperfect
finished prodcut than an imaginary perfect one!
That's my ten cents, anyway!
- Nathan
Steve Darlington
Oct 22, 2009, 2:16:12 AM10/22/09
to stoc...@googlegroups.com
Research naturally comes before writing, but Nathan's right: if you constantly worry about the right way to do anything, you'll never do ANYTHING.
But if you are researching, use books, not the internet. Books are great analog sources of typically well-checked facts.
But if you are researching, use books, not the internet. Books are great analog sources of typically well-checked facts.
Peter Blake
Oct 22, 2009, 2:20:50 AM10/22/09
to stoc...@googlegroups.com
If you do get stuck in a researching or fact-checking phase, get down to the nearest library. Hell, those people are paid to answer your questions, so make them earn their pay!
(Disclaimer: I am a librarian J)
Graphhiker
Oct 22, 2009, 2:54:36 AM10/22/09
to Stockade
Hi Ray,
Yes, all the others are right - there is no right or wrong. Research
helps; but don't let the research be the shield to stop you from
writing. More importantly the world/story in which you create comes
from you and no one else has the maps. They are in your head. Best
you do is (in my case, I have children) get some crayons and draw a
picture of your worlds. Then you fill in the picture. It's called
landscaping and backfilling the picture. Once you have the backfill
in, then they become the maps for your world. Then you write the
words in "monkey do" terms. It's an old term and means, you have to
tell the monkey to go to the cupboard and get a hammer out. Hence,
this is a question;
1 - Can you please instruct the monkey to go into the back room of the
house and get the hammer out from the grey cupboard in the room full
of tools?
:)
when you figure it out, then you're infilling the rest of your world.
Make sense?
Cheers!
Bev.
On Oct 22, 2:20 pm, Peter Blake <Peter.Bl...@acu.edu.au> wrote:
> If you do get stuck in a researching or fact-checking phase, get down to the nearest library. Hell, those people are paid to answer your questions, so make them earn their pay!
>
> (Disclaimer: I am a librarian :))
Yes, all the others are right - there is no right or wrong. Research
helps; but don't let the research be the shield to stop you from
writing. More importantly the world/story in which you create comes
from you and no one else has the maps. They are in your head. Best
you do is (in my case, I have children) get some crayons and draw a
picture of your worlds. Then you fill in the picture. It's called
landscaping and backfilling the picture. Once you have the backfill
in, then they become the maps for your world. Then you write the
words in "monkey do" terms. It's an old term and means, you have to
tell the monkey to go to the cupboard and get a hammer out. Hence,
this is a question;
1 - Can you please instruct the monkey to go into the back room of the
house and get the hammer out from the grey cupboard in the room full
of tools?
:)
when you figure it out, then you're infilling the rest of your world.
Make sense?
Cheers!
Bev.
On Oct 22, 2:20 pm, Peter Blake <Peter.Bl...@acu.edu.au> wrote:
> If you do get stuck in a researching or fact-checking phase, get down to the nearest library. Hell, those people are paid to answer your questions, so make them earn their pay!
>
>
> From: stoc...@googlegroups.com [mailto:stoc...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Steve Darlington
> Sent: Thursday, 22 October 2009 4:16 PM
> To: stoc...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: [Stockade] Re: Site Update !!!
>
> Research naturally comes before writing, but Nathan's right: if you constantly worry about the right way to do anything, you'll never do ANYTHING.
>
> But if you are researching, use books, not the internet. Books are great analog sources of typically well-checked facts.
>
> From: stoc...@googlegroups.com [mailto:stoc...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Steve Darlington
> Sent: Thursday, 22 October 2009 4:16 PM
> To: stoc...@googlegroups.com
> Subject: [Stockade] Re: Site Update !!!
>
> Research naturally comes before writing, but Nathan's right: if you constantly worry about the right way to do anything, you'll never do ANYTHING.
>
> But if you are researching, use books, not the internet. Books are great analog sources of typically well-checked facts.
>
Timothy
Oct 22, 2009, 3:42:13 AM10/22/09
to stoc...@googlegroups.com
Seriously, he’s right.
(I’m a librarian too.)
From:
stoc...@googlegroups.com [mailto:stoc...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Peter Blake
Sent: Thursday, 22 October 2009
4:21 PM
To: 'stoc...@googlegroups.com'
Subject: [Stockade] Re: Site
Update !!!
If you do get stuck in a researching or fact-checking phase, get down to the nearest library. Hell, those people are paid to answer your questions, so make them earn their pay!
Raymunji
Oct 23, 2009, 12:26:45 AM10/23/09
to Stockade
Cool thanks,
Nathan as always you are wise in the ways of science.
I really like the idea of the map drawing, I have two young girls,
so it could be a team effort.
I will also take the librarians's advice, when it comes time to do the
research, I will hit the books
Cheers
Ray
On Oct 22, 5:42 pm, "Timothy" <timothyfergu...@bigpond.com> wrote:
> Seriously, he's right.
>
> (I'm a librarian too.)
>
> _____
>
Nathan as always you are wise in the ways of science.
I really like the idea of the map drawing, I have two young girls,
so it could be a team effort.
I will also take the librarians's advice, when it comes time to do the
research, I will hit the books
Cheers
Ray
On Oct 22, 5:42 pm, "Timothy" <timothyfergu...@bigpond.com> wrote:
> Seriously, he's right.
>
> (I'm a librarian too.)
>
> _____
>
> From: stoc...@googlegroups.com [mailto:stoc...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf
> Of Peter Blake
> Sent: Thursday, 22 October 2009 4:21 PM
> To: 'stoc...@googlegroups.com'
> Subject: [Stockade] Re: Site Update !!!
>
> If you do get stuck in a researching or fact-checking phase, get down to
> the nearest library. Hell, those people are paid to answer your questions,
> so make them earn their pay!
>
> (Disclaimer: I am a librarian :-))> Of Peter Blake
> Sent: Thursday, 22 October 2009 4:21 PM
> To: 'stoc...@googlegroups.com'
> Subject: [Stockade] Re: Site Update !!!
>
> If you do get stuck in a researching or fact-checking phase, get down to
> the nearest library. Hell, those people are paid to answer your questions,
> so make them earn their pay!
>
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages