[S&W WB] Project Update

[Finarvyn]

Mythmere gave me a document running roughly 100 pages. I have gone through a first edit and have trimmed it down to about 87 pages.

At this point my biggest cuts have been in terms of spells. More to come here as I get it worked out.

I anticipate more cuts in terms of monsters, keeping the classics and dumping some of the more unusual. Not certain what is in or out here, just talking out loud.

I had planned on putting in the Thief, but at this point I suspect a "better" product would be more pure WB which means the Thief will probably not get inserted. Still torn on this becasue I've played "big four" (fighter, cleric, mu, thief) since the mid-1970's and the Thief is (to me) about as "core" as it gets; yet it's not in the WB.

Otherwise, many of the edits will likely be those pesky line-by-line things that no one will notice. One thing I observe in reading the WB booklets is that there aren't a lot of extra explanations there. If this project is too wordy, I fear we'll lose some of the "charm" of the WB. Clearly this is still being pondered as well.

I'm about to make a second edit through the file. Just wanted to let everyone know what I'm up to.

[mythmere]

Oops, I just emailed you asking if you'd gotten the comment-to-your-comments draft. Ignore the email.

[Finarvyn]

Drat. I just replied to the e-mail I was supposed to ignore. No, I didn't get the comments-to-my-comments. Hopefully, the comment in your post implies that you liked my comments? :-)

[mythmere]

Jun 19, 2008 5:42:21 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

Drat. I just replied to the e-mail I was supposed to ignore. No, I didn't get the comments-to-my-comments. Hopefully, the comment in your post implies that you liked my comments? :-)

I won't comment on the fact that you've now replied with comments to my comments.

[jrmapes]

I know the thief is a big head scratcher. But IMO I would leave it out.

Here's why. IIRC one of the first things that is being talked about appearing in Knockspell is various takes on the thief and different ways to do one.

IF there were to be an official thief character, I would say draw one up and introduce it in the Thief Extravaganza issue of Knockspell.

This along with other submitted projects will IMO solidify Knockspell as The Strategic Review of S&W

Jerry

[Finarvyn]

Another update.

I went back and tinkered with the main character classes and the level charts now go to 14. Still no Thief, and probably will remain Thief-less.

I just spent a couple of days editing and formatting monsters. I kept most of them in (even though Matt suggested that some were too high-powered). I did tinker a little with monster to-hit numbers and saving throws. Dunno if Matt will suggest I un-tinker with them. :-)

The next big thing to tackle will be treasures.

I really like the way this is shaping up...

[mythmere]

Jun 24, 2008 14:52:46 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

Another update.

I went back and tinkered with the main character classes and the level charts now go to 14. Still no Thief, and probably will remain Thief-less.

I just spent a couple of days editing and formatting monsters. I kept most of them in (even though Matt suggested that some were too high-powered). I did tinker a little with monster to-hit numbers and saving throws. Dunno if Matt will suggest I un-tinker with them. :-)

The next big thing to tackle will be treasures.

I really like the way this is shaping up...

Saving throw and to hit changes are all fine no matter what you did with them. Changing them would "violate" the tables, but the table is only advisory anyway.

[Haldo Bramwise]

Can I have a copy yet? ;D ;D ;D

I am so looking forward to this!
(If I can help in any way,let me know.)

[Finarvyn]

Another update:
I finally finished the treasure parts and sent a copy of v2 to Matt for him to look over. My next plan will be to start over with v2 and try to do a line-by-line careful read to trim out where possible.

My doc is down to 65 pages at the moment (from Matt's original 100 page file, and without any artwork) and I still have this idea of getting it down to something smaller. (I think the OD&D LBB's count out at 56 pages or so.)

[Deleted]

Do you have a proposed release date for this? I am interested in trying to make use of it. It is sounding really cool. Is a lot of the stuff being cut likely to end up in a supplement?

[Zulgyan]

Any updates?

[Finarvyn]

The text appears to be in its final form. Our first layout person had some computer issues, so we had to go to the bullpen and grab another layout guy. I anticipate that this should be ready to go "soon". (I'm a bit new at this stuff, so I don't know quite how long layout takes to do.....)

[Haldo Bramwise]

Nov 13, 2008 20:49:09 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

Our first layout person had some computer issues, so we had to go to the bullpen and grab another layout guy.

I'm so ashamed.

[Finarvyn]

Nov 13, 2008 21:09:50 GMT -6 Haldo Bramwise said:

Nov 13, 2008 20:49:09 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

Our first layout person had some computer issues, so we had to go to the bullpen and grab another layout guy.

I'm so ashamed.

I hadn't intended to associate a name with the crisis. We all understand.

Heck, I'm the guy who sat on my file for a month while both Matt and I thought the other was doing something.

[Haldo Bramwise]

I was just kidding.
I do layout stuff all the time and Word documents often give me fits.

[verhaden]

Computers never seem to do what we want them to do--especially when we need them to do it.

[Finarvyn]

I've seen some layout examples. Wow, but they look nice. (Keep in mind that I'm biased.) :-)

[mythmere]

Nov 16, 2008 7:27:19 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

I've seen some layout examples. Wow, but they look nice. (Keep in mind that I'm biased.) :-)

I think they look really good, too. If all works out, we should have more illustrations than the original Core Rules book, too. Some very talented people are working with the project at this point.

[vacuumjockey]

Sounds right up my alley! When do you think it will be ready? Is there any previews?

[Finarvyn]

We're close enough to completion (I think) that we probably won't bother with previews.

If we were looking at a few months of development time a preview would probably help generate enthusiasm, but at this point it's probably a short enough wait that we won't post one.

[Finarvyn]

My understanding is that overall layout is pretty much done and we're waiting for interior artwork so that the whole thing can be put together. The sample layout sections I've seen look pretty sweet...

[Fandomaniac]

Dec 3, 2008 19:25:11 GMT -6 Finarvyn said:

My understanding is that overall layout is pretty much done and we're waiting for interior artwork so that the whole thing can be put together. The sample layout sections I've seen look pretty sweet...

Thanks for the update. Do you know the approximate release date they are shooting for?

[Fandomaniac]

Good news, I was just at the S&W forums and they are currently laying in the artwork and we should have a release soon!

[vacuumjockey]

Sounds good. Will it be PDF and PoD, and/or will there actually be 3 small booklets in a white cardboard box?

[Fandomaniac]

Dec 8, 2008 6:12:30 GMT -6 vacuumjockey said:

Sounds good. Will it be PDF and PoD, and/or will there actually be 3 small booklets in a white cardboard box?

It will be a one booklet PDF with PoD available at Lulu.com. They will also have a Word document version available for anyone who wants to cut and paste in their own house rules.

[Thangobrind]

The White Box PDF is totally classy. Love the art and design put into it. Just awesome. Thanks so much to everybody involved!

[verhaden]

Thanks everybody. Just wanted to remind people that the WB PDF has been released, and we're getting ready to make the first print sometime soon.

[verhaden]

Print edition is up. Check out Myth's Lulu account.

[mythmere]

Here's the link to the storefront
stores.lulu.com/mythmere

It's the top entry on there (I think Lulu forces your storefront to be chronological).