Book, Dice or Die, for sale

[doublejig2]

I have written a book. It's Dice or Die: Investigations into a Fantasy Campaign Milieu.

The book is 33 chapters and 697 pages. It is broken into a 1st chapter, followed by 8 sections of 4 chapters each:

Classes,
Denizens,
Communities,
Core Areas,
Adversaries,
Geography,
Fantasy milieu,
Campaigns.

It features a Rick Sardinha cover, and interior art by Jaquays, Leblanc, Sardinha, and others.
Does it have a happy ending?

At $23.99, that may be. 

[Finarvyn]

Tired of just skimming the adventurer gameable surface? Take a plunge into a productive, fantasy, campaign milieu discussion. This book features in-depth eclectic examination of classes, denizens, communities, core areas, adversaries, geography, milieu, and campaigns, and more. You'll get your noggin full. That much is certain. GM, adventurer, theorist, hooded savant, or planet saver - will you pass muster in an intense game table discussion? Will you feed your head?

Details look interesting, but a little vague. Is this aimed at OD&D, or is there a specific edition/game that forms the focus of the book? Maybe it's a "general RPG" primer?

[doublejig2]

I'd have to go with general RPG primer; it's a guided invitation to a fantasy campaign milieu discussion -- more OD&D and 1e than any other systems but not tied to a specific system. 


Here's the toc:

LEGALESE 4
DEDICATION 5
PREFACE 6
TABLE OF CONTENTS 12
INTRODUCTION 15
ANTE UP 21
PART I—CLASSES 41
CLERICS, HEALERS, AND DRUIDS 42
FIGHTERS, PALADINS, AND RANGERS 53
MAGIC USERS & ILLUSIONISTS 64
ROGUES 77
FICTION: BOOTS 88
PART II—DENIZENS 90
ARISTOCRACY 91
COMMONERS 113
THE GAINFUL PERSON 136
NPCS 140
FICTION: THE STERN MAN 163
PART III—COMMUNITIES 165
GROUPS 166
CITY FACTIONS 173
URBAN PLACES 183
SOCIETY 202
FICTION: ADVENTURER’S CONTRACT 215
PART IV—CORE AREAS 218
A NEWS STORY EXAMPLE 219
A SANDBOX EXAMPLE 229
TEMPLATE EXAMPLE 246
AN URBAN EXAMPLE 253
FICTION: SONG IN THE SLAVE HOLD 268
PART V—ADVERSARIES 274
EVILDOER 275
EVIL CULTS 294
MONSTERS 308
CULT OF THE SHORN MEN (ADVENTURE LEVELS 10+) 320
FICTION: DOG CAPTAIN 337
PART VI—GEOGRAPHY 339
ISLANDS 340
VOLCANOES 345
DYNAMO (A DIALOG) 349
TRAVEL LOG ENTRIES 366
FICTION: THE TALE OF LYRATES 381
PART VII—FANTASY MILIEU 386
CHANGE 387
CULTURES 401
COSMOLOGY 409
SPELL CASTER REPUTATION 423
FICTION: SUN OF ASPS 433
PART VIII—CAMPAIGNS 437
WITCHLANDS (A FANTASY CAMPAIGN SETTING) 438
TROUBLE IN TECKTON (AN ADVENTURE LEVELS 1-3) 502
DUNGEONS 568
RE-SKINNING 581
FICTION: THE TRIALS OF CHERZANUS 646
EPILOGUE 652
APPENDIX BLOGS 654
APPENDIX BOOKS 659
APPENDIX MOVIES 665
APPENDIX WATCHTOWER 668
BIBLIOGRAPHY 671

[Finarvyn]

Looks pretty extensive. Is the target demographic novice gamers or experienced? (e.g. is it a "what is an RPG?" sort of thing, or a "here's how to master what you do already" concept?) The TOC makes it seem a lot like a guide for the novice.

[doublejig2]

Not for novices, though I wish I had had something similar when I first started out. Each chapter is an in-depth look at a topic. It's more basics/foundation than beginner, if that makes sense. Hopefully, the experienced gamer will enjoy it as a general, re-assert a campaign milieu source book. Thanks for the inquiry. I'll change the blurb on Amazon to reflect the intended audience better. 


Here's a link to Chapter 2 - clerics, healers, and druids

And one to Chapter 5 - rogues.

[doublejig2]

Dice or Die: Investigations into a Fantasy Campaign Milieu

Book can be purchased: here.

preview links:
Chapter 2: clerics, healers, and druids
Chapter 3: fighters, paladins, and rangers
Chapters 5: rogue

[doublejig2]

Favorable book review of Dice or Die (1st edition) from Bret Winters at Dark City Games. The review. 

[doublejig2]

Based on feedback, I have released a second edition of my book. The result is a dense, tight book of 436 pages, suitable for cogent DMs and ferocious world builders, or anyone else, who insists on some deeper FRP foundation in discussion or at the game table.

From the book's description:

Tired of just skimming the adventurer gameable surface? Take a plunge into a productive, fantasy campaign milieu discussion. Responding first to the question of whether or not a person can return to the game table after decades hiatus, the book investigates with vigor a fantasy campaign milieu, which is seen to follow from the simple assertion that the bulette is tougher than the owl bear. Here, what follows is an in-depth, eclectic body of work. Gritty fantasy world conceptions are developed, including: classes, denizens, communities, core areas, adversaries, geography, fantasy milieu, and campaigns. This sourcing foundation is augmented with original fiction and chock full of examples and insights into the creative process. Always, the reader is anchored into the campaign milieu and its panics, revels, and struggles, which develop over the course of the text. Thus, with depth, an answer to the original question develops. As well, eloquently, when taken to the max this book should be flat out inspiring to a particular kind of reader. Gaining entry are thus experienced referees, rock-steady adventurers, theorists, hooded savants, and planet savers. Last, pound for pound and for the money, this book is by far among the best available on its subject. For although Gary Gygax's renowned Fantasy Worlds series is the closest in concept, it's out of print and very expensive, while Dice or Die is 3 times the length and less expensive than one of the excellent Kobold Guides. The only questions remaining, then, sir or madam, are will you pass muster in an intense game table discussion? Will you feed your head?


Here's the Amazon link: Dice or Die: Investigations into a Fantasy Campaign Milieu. 

[Deleted]

Do you have a preview of the actual "main" chapters online, perhaps?

Also, if you're on Amazon, will there be a Kindle edition coming?

[doublejig2]

Not sure what you mean by main chapters. The book features 33 chapters in total and 4 appendices.
The following are from the print version: 

Introduction,
Chapter 3: fighters, paladins, and rangers,
Chapter 5: rogues,
Chapter 8: the gainful person, 
Chapter 19: evil cults,
Chapter 20: monsters,
Chapter 29: spell caster reputation.

Also, a kindle version is in the works but requires reformatting from scratch due to quirks in the word doc. 

[doublejig2]

Dice or Die: Investigations into a Fantasy Campaign Milieu is currently under review by amazon. It will be ready in a day or two.

[doublejig2]

Dice or Die: Investigations into a Fantasy Campaign Milieu is now live on Amazon.

[doublejig2]

Okay. After a favorable review from Mister Frau Blaucher for the 1st edition, I received feedback from Finarvyn that the book was good but theoretical in places. Agreeing, I rewrote chapters on npcs, society, cosmology and a few others. The book 2nd edition is now complete and should allow for a full read without incurring the risk of a fatal brain aneurysm or any other discomfort.

The skivvy: I think you will like Dice or Die: Investigations into a Fantasy Campaign Milieu, if you like the following two sample paragraphs:

Manifest Dyad of Lost Imperial Nalel (scores: 5, 2, 6, 5, 2, 6, 5)

   Manifest Dyad of Lost Imperial Nalel (scores: 5, 2, 6, 5, 2, 6, 5)

Behold the Manifest Dyad of Lost Imperial Nalel! On the surface, just on the southern coast of the straits of Ongr, along the northern border of the Desert of Protean Kings, where the River Nicor rushes down from a hard plateau, below which lies Candela’s terrible Tombs of Hurn, the City State of Fajar declares for all of Běone of both the sun and the moon. Yet far beneath the surface, cunning in access, entry by regal charter alone, beneath Fajar’s palace, subterranean schooners trade on the upper Chthon River. These ships traverse daily to find Fajar’s underdark sister City State, which is the legendary hidden gem called Hrad. Such is the Manifest Dyad of Lost Imperial Nalel. Few know its larger secrets. Access to the lower realm is not easily acquired. Historical landed arrangements guard the trade between the ruling houses of both cities.


    There is a wildness to both of these places. Savagery, conquest, and experience are called equalizers here. Life cannot be restricted to craft and tedium alone. It is up to an individual to render himself on such a canvass in a way that captures the imagination of others. Intrigue, politics, indulgences of every kind find the markets and alleys of Fajar near the desert. And these pale before the Hradian sense of upright man, limping before the satyr he could be, if he weren’t so d**ned reserved. Those who can do. Those who can entertain, enliven, and embolden either the City State of Fajar or Hrad do very well, indeed. Festival in these places touches upon lunacy. The peoples here push for more out of habit. There is a great longing for lost glory. There is a willingness to be seduced by promises for its renewal. Many cults claim Fajar and never sunlit Hrad as their place of origin.




Fight on!

[doublejig2]

Anyone out there interested in reviewing Dice or Die 2nd edition?  If so, message me your mailing address, and I'll send you a copy. 

[doublejig2]

A new review of current book on Amazon (2nd edition):

5.0 out of 5 stars "Dice or Die" is the Edda of Fantasy Campaigning!

Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2021

With its interwoven strains of world creation, game mechanics, philosophical debate and original fiction, "Dice or Die" reads like an ancient text that reveals only the surface of a vast cosmological array. Take the journey cover-to-cover and you will find yourself fully immersed in a fantastical world that feels perfectly real and true. It will prod any DM worth their salt to consider questions of geo-political, societal, ethical and historical depth as they construct and inhabit the fantasy world in their care, and suggest ways in which game mechanics can make such considerations manifest in a very real, table-top RPG context. Kudos to Knoepfle for bringing these worlds so thoroughly to life in flesh and bone, the parts you see and don't see. "Dice or Die" is truly a wonderous tome.

[doublejig2]

Just added an image of a dice blowing courtesan thief by Rick Sardinha to the book.

[doublejig2]

Map of the Witchlands

[rredmond]

Feb 4, 2021 18:39:04 GMT -6 doublejig2 said:

Map of the Witchlands

Nice map!

[arkansan]

Just ordered a copy, I'm looking forward to it!

[doublejig2]

Awesome! First sale!

[arkansan]

My copy arrived in the post the other day. I've been a bit busy lately, but I plan on sitting down and giving the book a first pass this weekend. May even write up a preliminary review.

[doublejig2]

A kindle version of Dice or Die is now available $6.99 on Amazon.

[doublejig2]

In an effort to generate word of mouth comments regards my book, I will send a free copy of Dice or Die to anyone who wants one (up to 10 people). No review expected or necessary. If interested, just send a pm with your mailing address.

[jeffb]

I had no idea you had written a book, let alone how long ago- First time I saw this thread.

I'm clueless about some of the areas of this forum.


Looking forward to checking this out. Thanks doublejig2

[doublejig2]

Thanks to everyone who responded with PM. Half the books are on order. The other half are delayed by a billing snafu, which should be resolved in a day or two.

[doublejig2]

All books are ordered and should be shipping soon. Expect your copy by Wednesday or Thursday of coming week.

[jeffb]

FYI- received my copy today. Thank you. It's hefty! Looking forward to sitting down with it a bit this weekend.

[doublejig2]

Cool, man! The slow blade penetrates the shield, said Duncan Idaho to Paul...

[jamiltron]

Just ordered, I am looking forward to reading this!

[Deleted]

I'm halfway through my complimentary copy (thanks). Enjoying it a lot so far. I've read a lot of advice about making a believable and interconnected fantasy milieu over the years, of course, which is inevitable when you've been running and playing in fantasy RPGs for decades, but you've organized your thoughts into an enjoyable, informative and often humorous way.