Halfway there, and halfway there! Also Streaming and Micro-setting development
about 6 years ago – Mon, Apr 16, 2018 at 01:34:28 AM

At 4pm today CST we'll hit precisely the midpoint of the Dragon Heresy Kickstarter campaign.

How are we doing? Pretty well.

Well, I mean, if we just wanted to fund, then we're doing great, and it's hard to argue with 235% funding! But that's not really what I want, nor do I think it's what you want either.

Tell Me What You Want, What You Really Really Want

(apologies)

What I think we'd all like to see is that offset print run at $16,000. That will make an amazing book.

On the one hand, if the back half of the campaign mirrors the front, well, we've got a shot at it.

On the other hand, my personal projections show us hitting about $14,500, which is fairly close, but not quite there.

A daily pledge velocity of $400 or more (with an uptick at the end) will get us there.

That's maybe two extra pledges per day than we're getting, so some social media help as we round the halfway point would always help. Share on Twitter, Gab, Facebook, Google+, or wherever gamers gather. Mention the book at your FLGS and tell them there's a retail level available. (Actually, let me help with that. I will make a flyer available sometime today you can email or print out and take with you.)

Streaming/Play Example on Rolls to Astonish

I'm going to try to try something later today, and record an actual-play example with five 5th level characters starting out in the city of Northwatch.

I'm writing an introductory micro-setting that will eventually see release. It might even see release before the final PDF of the Introductory Set goes out, in which case backers will get it free in PDF. Right now, it's looking like six or eight different potential issues the PCs can get involved in. 

No linear script, no follow the rails. Just things going on that need the PCs to help deal with them. Stay tuned for more!

Twitch game went well!
about 6 years ago – Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 07:36:10 PM

I played through a four hour session with the guys from Roles to Astonish on Twitch. 

Once it finished uploading and sorting out, it'll be here:

Developer Spotlight: Dragon Heresy

We get off to a good start with two of the 1st level PCs entering 1-1 grappling matches at the town fair with the local champ - a 5-8th level fighter!

They lose. Quickly.

From there, they explore the various connected web of the Citadel of Northwatch, which I will keep working on, and publish, hopefully before too long. Like before July, but we'll see. Backers will get the PDF of that for free, so you have something to play.

From there, they fight some cultists in the forest north of Northwatch while investigating a missing noble's son.

They only scratched the surface of what I had planned, which is great. 

But give a listen, and hear four folks that never played Dragon Heresy before learn and master the system in the first session.

Watch Dragon Heresy be played on Twitch
about 6 years ago – Sun, Apr 15, 2018 at 02:04:11 PM

This is a bit of an experiment. I've never streamed on Twitch, but I'm giving it a shot

The folks at Roles to Astonish, a newish channel, have agreed to come on and play Dragon Heresy with me as the GM.

Roles to Astonish

We'll be walking through a first level starter adventure that I'm writing to support the Dragon Heresy release. Yes, if it's done by the time I move the Dragon Heresy PDF to final form and to print (July) backers will get it for free in PDF.

Right now, it's more a skeleton (ahem) than anything else, but I've done free-form play with Dragon Heresy before, and it works out just fine.

Come check out the game! It starts at 5pm Central Time, and will go for up to four hours.

A Glimpse at potential added content: Runic Berserker
about 6 years ago – Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 11:48:29 PM

A backer was asking about something I mentioned in one of the podcasts I was on this last weekend, which also appeared in one of the playtests from way back: The Runic Berserker, also known as the Berserker Path of Galdureiði, The Path of Wrathful Power.

The Path of Galdureiði is not in the Introductory Set. Yet. If we hit the $10K stretch goal, it will be one of the options for "More Content" that backers will get to vote on. It's only about 550 words, and the stretch goal adds 10,000, so it's definitely not the only thing that can happen.

BERSERKER: PATH OF GALDUREIÐI  

You feel the pulse of the earth, the surge of the flames, the bite of winter’s fury, and the vast power of the storms. Those forces are not quiet, and the world is angry. You mirror that passion, channeling the world’s energy as your own through affinity with the true runes of power.  

When you choose this path at 3rd level, you learn to channel your own rage and the energy of the world around you through a set of magically attuned runestones or runic tattoos that you keep on your person. The runes focus your energy and allow you to channel that harnessed power despite the red haze of rage through which you see the world. You cannot use the powers without these arcane symbols, so Berserkers of this path will work the stones into their clothing or weapons to prevent losing them through misfortunate accident or the willful malice of an enterprising thief. You may also permanently brand or mark the runes on your body with the aid of a 10th or higher level arcanist who has knowledge of the rune; a 10th level Berserker can help inscribe all of them.

THE RUNES OF POWER  

The runes are magical sigils as well as letters, and each has one or more associations—with a god or goddess, a concept, a thing, or an action. The meaning is always layered and fluid.  

The runes used for the Path of Galdureiði are not all the runes that exist, but upon choosing the path at 3rd level, the Berserker gains familiarity with some of the common meanings and methods of channeling the runes to invoke certain effects and powers. As her understanding and attunement increase, she obtains the ability to “reverse” the runes and achieve more difficult or subtle effects.

THE PRIMAL RUNES

 Powerful but basic, these runes are the first that Berserkers use to focus their rage.

• Hagall. The power of storms to destroy. Associated with both lightning and thunder damage. 
• Isa. Ice and the power of winter. Associated with cold damage. 
• Kaunaz. Fire and torchlight. Associated with fire damage. 
• Raido. The change in circumstances that breaks a deadlock; travel and movement. Associated with control damage (grappling). 
• Sowulo. The radiance of the sun and the boon of salvation through the gods. Associated with radiant damage. 
• Sverdaz. The sword of kings; another warrior’s rune. Associated with slashing damage. 
• Telewaz. The thrust spear that justly slays; the warrior’s rune and sigil of Ziu. Associated with piercing damage. 
• Thurisaz. Magical force and the power of the giants; Donnar’s hammer. Associated with force damage. 
• Uruz. Strength and the power to smash. Associated with bludgeoning damage.  

Rune Strike

When you choose the Path of Galdureiði at 3rd level, when you rage, each turn you may, as a bonus action, invoke the power of a rune at a foe whom you have struck with a melee weapon. When you do so, the foe takes 2d4 damage (or control, if you invoke Raido), with the damage type being based on one of the primal runes. Once you have chosen the rune, it infuses your rage and persists until your rage ends. When your rage does cease, you must make a DC 12 Constitution save, or suffer an additional level of exhaustion (as described in Conditions). If you rage again, you may choose a different rune. Armor and frantic defense both apply normally to the rune strike damage.

Special Offer! TAX SHIELD!
about 6 years ago – Fri, Apr 13, 2018 at 12:03:49 PM

In the USA, April 15th is Tax Day, the day by which one must file their income tax return

From right now until April 15th ends, I will offer a special "Tax Shield."

If you pledge at the Skjald-hirð level between now and the end of April 15th, you will receive a $50 credit in Backerkit once the campaign ends.

 These are pretty close to what the skjald-hirð level gets. The one on the right is my new personal shield, with an extra-large boss I happened to have on hand due to a mistake of the "measure twice, cut once" variety early on in my career.

The one on the left is about 31" in diameter, good for someone about 5' - 5'6", and will be donated to a charity fund-raiser. I've got another shield in the works that's a lower-level model than these (no rawhide edging, but yes stitching) that will also be donated.