Wrap-up 21 Feb 2012 - Thank you to all the supporters for this project!  We more than met the goal of the fundraiser, and work is underway to get this adventure produced.  Those of you who didn't sign on as supporters but who are interested in keeping track of the project are invited to follow further developments on the developer's blog:  http://rthorm.wordpress.com

Update 6 Feb 2012 - Just, wow...Stephen Peto quickly turned my sketch into the beginning of a wonderful map.  There's still a lot of detail to be added, but just look at that

I was asked about upgrades...  I'm not positive, but I think the easiest way to upgrade a contribution is to make an additional, non-specific donation in the amount of the difference, and choose the "No Perk, just a contribution!" option.  Then let me know so I make sure you are at the right level when the perks are sent out.  I think that will be the easiest way to take care of it.

Update 5 Feb 2012 - Yet another update; it’s been a busy weekend, and things are moving along as we get to the final stretch. I’ve also sent a couple of very (very!) rough maps of the whole area to the contributors for their comments.

Here’s a first draft of a map of the frontier port town by Stephen Peto. Check it out…

Update 4 Feb 2012 - This was mentioned in one of the updates, but I thought it would be good to include it here, as well:  There is now a BONUS PERK for all contributors, regardless of level: a reformatted copy of The Water Works. It’s still incomplete, but it was a useful testbed to use for working out the fonts and layout, and adding a couple pieces of interior art to try to come close to the ‘SPI style.’ I hope you’ll also give me feedback on how well you think this is looking; I’m going to use this formatting for the Wilderness of A—-, as well.

If you’re a contributor and you’re interested in reviewing this draft, drop me a line, and I’ll forward a copy to you. Also, if you want a copy of the Quick Character Generation system I mentioned in the last update, I can send that out, as well.

Update 27 Dec 2011 - The playtest version of the Quick Character Generation system is now available.  A version of this will be included with the adventure as a method for creating characters to use with the adventure. Feedback and playtest comments are very much welcomed. 

Update 23 Dec 2011 - To build some of the backstory for the adventure, I'm going to try out an online session of the metagame Microscope.  Current contributors are going to be invited to participate in this game.  It's a chance to try out playing Microscope (which I haven't been able to play yet) as well as building a rich and varied setting for the adventure.

Update 1 Dec 2011 - The campaign has just kicked off, and here's the first update: The guy I contacted about doing the interior art is very interested in participating, and is offering very affordable rates for his work.  A couple of samples of his work are included in the pitch below. Final details about working with him, and will depend on the funding we are able to raise.

DragonQuest History

The DragonQuest role-playing game was first published by Simulations Publications Inc. (SPI), a wargame/boardgame publisher, in 1980. The game won the Origins award for Best Role-Playing Game, and it looked like it might become a serious competitor as a fantasy role-playing game, but SPI went bankrupt in 1982. There were only a handful of commercial adventures ever produced for the game. (http://grognard.com/info1/dqmanifest.html#Adventures)

DragonQuest has a base of fans throughout the world who continue to play the game.

This project will lead to the production of a new adventure for DragonQuest (though GMs who play other RPGs can certainly adapt it to their preferred systems).

Our Story

The project designer has already produced one independent supplement for the game, as well as one previous adventure that was released a number of years ago. This project is a labor of love, not something that would likely be commercially viable. There is little awareness of DragonQuest, the game is long out-of-print, and the audience is small, but hopefully still dedicated.

Contributors can sign up to be playtesters or can choose other perks being offered to help support the development of the project, as well as to have a voice in the direction of the adventure.  Even the name of the adventure is open at this point, so if you'd like to be involved in this project, join in!

To engage with the DragonQuest community, and to make this something that will be useful to groups playing the game, there will be regular status updates and discussion of the project posted here and at the project page (https://rthorm.wordpress.com/the-wilderness-of-a/).

What We Need & What You Get

Supporters who contribute at least $25 will get an electronic copy of the finished adventure, and will have it at least 6 months before the adventure is released in other formats.  Eventually, the adventure will probably be available through a sales site like DriveThruRPG, but contributors will be able to have it well before then.

There are also opportunities to get a hardcopy of the adventure.  These will almost certainly be very limited editions.  Copies of "Poor Brendan's Almanac," a supplement for DragonQuest that has never before been available in print, will also be available as a special premium for contributors.  All hardcopy printed premiums will be 8 1/2" x 11" size Print-On-Demand saddle-stiched books with full-color covers and black-and-white interiors with illustrations.  (Non-US contributors will have to pay an additional international postage premium for shipping. International postage premium should hopefully only be a maximum of $10.)

There isn't much needed in the way of resources or material to create an adventure for a role-playing game.  The main thing that is needed is time, and having these funds will allow me to spend some time on this project.

Special Perks

There are a lot of opportunities for special perks for people who are really interested in supporting this idea and in helping to customize it.  If you really want to see new rules for a new Skill or a new College of Magic, there are opportunities to sponsor those to be included in the finished adventure.  The names for the different levels of perks (Mercenary, Adventurer, and Hero) correspond to the three levels for characters in the game.

Custom perks are also possible, if there's a different level of interaction and contribution you want to have with this project, just get in touch, and we'll discuss what you have in mind.  

Funding Goals

I'm going with the flexible funding model, because this project will go ahead, whether or not the goal is met.  I appreciate the support of those who have already said they would help to fund this project, and I want to reward those who do participate with the opportunity to have this adventure before it is released more widely.

If the basic goal is met, this will be at least a 16-page adventure (plus maps, charts, etc.); if it surpasses the basic goal and reaches $1500, the adventure will be at least a 32-page adventure. If the goal is not reached, the adventure will still be produced, but in a more limited fashion.

Because we're using flexible funding for this project, work will be going on during the fundraiser, and the project completion target is the end of March 2012.

Two additional incentives to encourage you to contribute:

First, if we reach the initial goal by December 15, I will allocate time to this immediately so that a draft playtest version will be available by December 25 (assuming that a lot of old players might be gathering during the holidays).

Second, if we raise at least $2000, I will also commit to producing a sequel adventure to The Water Works by the end of 2012.  This adventure was another one of the proposed adventure ideas that was discussed for this project, and there are already some sketch ideas for this.  No additional contributions are required, and everyone who contributes to this project will also receive a copy of The Earth Works if that bonus is reached.

Art

There is also an opportunity to have a custom art component. If support reaches $3000, I will have a custom piece of cover art commissioned from Timothy Truman (the artist who did the cover art for Enchanted Wood; I�ve been in brief contact with him, and it looks like it would be possible to commission him for a piece). That might also end up being a separate crowd funding project, rather than rolling it into the adventure fundraiser.

I was going to see about contacting John Garcia (who did many of the interior drawings for the DQ rulebook), but unfortunately he passed away a few years ago.  But I may have found someone else who does some black and white work that is reminiscent of Garcia.

***   That artist is Nate Marcel, who is offering very reasonable rates for some interior art.  I like his enthusiasm about this project, too.  The black and white illustrations here are some samples of his work.  You can see some other examples in a gallery of B+W work and on his blog.

If the fundraiser reaches its basic goal, I will allocate around 20% of the funds for art.  At the rates Nate is offering, that would get probably 4 interior spot illustrations.

The Impact

Yes, as someone commented in the early discussion about this project, it's a lot to pay for an adventure, especially for one for a long out-of-print role-playing game.  If all you want is to buy a new adventure, there are lots of other options available to you.  This is as much to provide some support for the game and to show that there is still a community of players who play the game.

Other Ways You Can Help

Even if you only want to contribute a small amount, your name will still be listed among the contributors acknowledgments (unless you prefer to remain anonymous).

It will also be hugely helpful that everyone spread the word about this project. DragonQuest has always been a niche game, and the fan base of potential supporters is really small. Sharing information about this project with others will help us reach the people who will be interested in knowing about this and supporting it.