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Post by Vile Traveller on Sept 18, 2012 3:10:14 GMT -6
I guess this project is far enough advanced now to come out with it. Blueholme* is a retro clone of ... well, what do you think? The free edition is probably about 50% done - 60-70% by page count, but you know how it goes: "It's 80% done, only 90% to go!" By free edition I mean a 1st to 3rd level, no art, OGL clone based on the SRD and referencing only the original book, no external sources like OD&D, B1/B2, or anything else. It'll be PDF-only, free to download - PoD (at cost) may be a possibility later on but it's not a priority. Depending on how that goes, there'll be a basic edition, also 1st-3rd level but with art and some of the more popular options such as variable weapon damage and demi-human thieves included in an appendix. Again, PDF at first but possibly PoD once all the errata is ironed out. That one will need a cover price to pay for the enhanced goodness of it all. Depending on how that goes, there may well be an advanced or expert edition down the line to take characters beyond 3rd level. Because Holmes is OD&D tidied up and tweaked, that's probably what this edition will be based on, rather than 1E or B/X, extrapolated as faithfully as possible. I know that there have been various sort-of and not-quite clones of Holmes in the past, and quite a few unfinished attempts. Here's hoping that the time for the blue book to be resurrected has come at last. * Not to be confused with Adventures in Blueholme, which is another project entirely.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Sept 19, 2012 7:14:10 GMT -6
Okay, better update that level spread!
1. Blueholme Free Edition: 1st-3rd level.
2. Blueholme Basic Edition: 1st-5th level.
3. Blueholme Advanced/Expert edition: 6th level to ... who knows. 10th at least, 20th at most, somewhere inbetween probably.
By the way, what's the opinion of Expert or Advanced as the edition? Both have pretty strong connotations which might give people the wrong idea - because it will not be 1E, (B/)X or (B)E(CMI).
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Post by paleologos on Sept 19, 2012 23:49:00 GMT -6
I'd say it's best to avoid terms like Expert or Advanced, for sure.
For 1-5 "Introductory" would be good (wasn't one of the later Basic boxed sets for levels 1-5"
For your expanded version, why not "The Compleat Blueholme" or something?
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Post by Vile Traveller on Sept 20, 2012 0:36:42 GMT -6
Compleat. I like it! Hits the Holmes vibe. Exalt! Apprentice Edition, Compleat Edition. Need to go stand in front of the mirror and say that out loud a bit.
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Post by Mike on Sept 20, 2012 6:06:50 GMT -6
Still waiting...
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Post by Vile Traveller on Sept 20, 2012 8:15:03 GMT -6
Hang on a second ... halfway through monsters now ...
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Post by Finarvyn on Sept 20, 2012 9:00:26 GMT -6
How about this: Free = levels 1-3 Introductory = levels 1-5 Complete = levels 1-12 I kind of like having a 1-12 version instead of two seperate volumes of 1-5 and 6-12, but maybe I'm the only one.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Sept 22, 2012 10:00:20 GMT -6
Right, that's monsters done, they're always a bit of a (fun) slog. Next up, treasure. Table fun, yay ...
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Post by Vile Traveller on Sept 24, 2012 7:55:13 GMT -6
Just a post about my design philosophy for the Blueholme Prentice Edition ("BP", which used to be the 1st-3rd level free edition). As I probe further into Holmes with the invaluable help of this forum and its members (Zenopus, I'm looking at you, but everyone else's help and encouragement is also greatlu appreciated!), I find my approach crystallising. Basically, the book as written is key. Now, I know there are some things which were put in by Holmes that don't chime with OD&D, and may be house rules or misinterpretations or just typos. Also, the TSR edit clearly changed some things that were not fully integrated into the whole. None of that matters here. BP attempts to make sense of what makes no sense, and tries to plot a course where there is contradiction. If a choice between a common rule and a quirky rule has to be made, you can bet the quirky one is the one that's going to make it into BP. I love stumbling implications, because they can be extrapolated. The key to Holmes, I feel, is to exploit the differences and build on them as strengths. I'm only looking at the Prentice Edition for now, because next I will go back to Adventures in Blueholme ("AiB"). A lot of the AiB background will make it into the Blueholme Compleat Edition - which, after further cogitation, I have decided to make a 1st-14th level all-in-one, fully illustrated, all-singing, all-dancing opuscle. And then I'm supposed to squeeze in AEONS there, somewhere ...
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Post by Vile Traveller on Sept 28, 2012 3:53:33 GMT -6
Right, well, nearly there on the rules part but now it's time to catch a plane ... back in 4 days!
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2012 4:33:23 GMT -6
... but now it's time to catch a plane ... Do you use a really big net or something? Just curious.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Sept 28, 2012 7:10:03 GMT -6
Sorted.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2012 13:41:39 GMT -6
I don't know what that is, but I want one!
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Post by Vile Traveller on Oct 2, 2012 6:37:49 GMT -6
Right, back on track! Blueholme the freebie Prentice Edition is almost written, still need to do the dragon entry for the monster chapter and give it a first proof-read. That should take until the weekend. Now, any volunteers for proofreading the draft before it goes into final layout?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 2, 2012 18:25:46 GMT -6
Now, any volunteers for proofreading the draft before it goes into final layout? Count me in! I'd love to put my - almost compleat - English degree to work! New here, looking to say more, do more, play more! CM-H
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Post by Vile Traveller on Oct 3, 2012 6:54:32 GMT -6
Welcome aboard, cmohal! Okay, the draft is ready, anyone who is interested in checking it out please PM me with your email address! If you just want to have a look, you're better off waiting for the final version, it shouldn't be too long before that goes up.
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Post by blackbarn on Oct 3, 2012 18:20:42 GMT -6
Glad to see Holmes getting the simulacrum treatment. It really does have it's own feel.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Oct 3, 2012 19:48:40 GMT -6
Agreed, that's the whole point of this exercise. I've looked at all the previous Holmes clones I could find, but they are either literal clones (i.e. using the original text, sometimes re-ordered to be more reader-friendly) or expansions that introduced what, to me, seemed like quite a lot of AD&D or B/X concepts. Blueholme Prentice is as close to by-the-book as I can get it within the OGL, while Blueholme Compleat will stick to the original references (3 LBBs + Greyhawk) interpreted through the blue-tinted glasses of Holmes.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Oct 5, 2012 1:04:00 GMT -6
Okay, time to throw this thing open: The first draft of the text for Blueholme Prentice is complete, if you would like to check it out and give me your feedback please go here: dreamscapedesign.net/downloads/
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Post by Finarvyn on Oct 5, 2012 4:43:22 GMT -6
Downloaded it and will try to read through this weekend. Good to see this project on its way!
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Post by Vile Traveller on Oct 5, 2012 7:33:22 GMT -6
And now I've been persuaded to add some Henry Justice Ford to this baby ...
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Post by funkaoshi on Oct 5, 2012 8:07:16 GMT -6
I can't believe I had never heard of Henry Justice Ford till yesterday. That guy is amazing.
Good stuff! This is looking good.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Oct 6, 2012 6:23:24 GMT -6
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Post by derv on Oct 6, 2012 10:09:40 GMT -6
I think that cover captures the Holmes feel pretty well. That public domain fantsay art collection by teazia is going to be handy. good work.
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Post by Vile Traveller on Oct 6, 2012 10:35:16 GMT -6
Thanks! Took a while playing with the colours and layout, but I'm pretty happy with it now. Definitely worth the extra effort, especially with teazia doing all the legwork. I want to do some more clones just so I can use some other person's PD art now! Pretty impressed with John Batten. I've always liked H. J. Ford's art - might have to spring for some hard copies one of these days ...
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Post by Sean Michael Kelly on Oct 6, 2012 10:40:31 GMT -6
It's looking good!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2012 10:48:17 GMT -6
A quick read-through gives a good impression. Keep up the good work!
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Post by Vile Traveller on Oct 7, 2012 4:37:48 GMT -6
Thanks - the arted-up version will look even better, I can tell you. I'm glad I got talked into doing it, Ford really hits the right note for Holmes.
But you must have found something wrong with it, right? Speak up if you have! It'll be trickier to change things once all the art is in. Mind you I'm still awaiting Zenopus's input once he has time (no pressure!), so I'm not graving the layout in stone just yet.
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Post by jmccann on Oct 7, 2012 16:42:17 GMT -6
I foresee a lot of house rules docs and OSR pubs using this art.
Great stuff! I found the Lambton Worm illustration independently. It looks really good at digest size.
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Post by Falconer on Oct 7, 2012 22:12:08 GMT -6
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