The first Open Design was a head-to-head slugfest of something like 6 proposals, knockout style, until one pitch was the winner and went into the design phase. That was interesting (the vote never goes quite as I suspect), but part of me wanted to get away from the voting.
So the following projects had fewer and fewer proposals to choose from, until in the case of Blood of the Gorgon, there was no voting between projects at all.
However, many patrons have said "I like watching the process, and the proposals all sound good." Plus, I know some patrons feel they want something very particular, and obviously there's disappointment when a certain project isn't commissioned. Heck, I've felt that myself, when the project I was rooting for didn't wind up on top. Fortunately, though, the chosen project has always been interesting from a design perspective. Probably because there haven't been a lot of dud pitches.
As you may suspect from all this, I'm debating whether the Open Design announcement tomorrow will be for one project, or for a choice of two or three. Do you LIKE having the options, or do you find them annoying?
I await the will of the patrons and the public.Poll #1180339 Freedom of Choice
Open to: All, results viewable to: All
I prefer an Open Design commission to be....
View Answers
A single perfect offer for me to accept or decline
11 (12.5%)
A choice of two good options, with the best one winning 22 (25.0%)
A choice of three options. Don't limit it. 52 (59.1%)
I have another idea (see comments). 2 (2.3%)
I haven't signed up as a patron at all, because .... (see comments) 1 (1.1%)
Profile
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open_design- Wolfgang Baur
- the Free City
Page Summary
- terraleon : (no subject) [+2]
- kunger00 : My thoughts [+0]
- richgreen01 : (no subject) [+1]
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- coffeesucker : Kungeroo for president! [+0]
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Comments
-Ben.
The current OD project just hasn't reached out and grabbed me. It DEFINITELY isn't the Nick's ability or the subject matter.
Thinking about it I have come to a conclusion... I think (and I stress, that I think and not that I KNOW) a small part of it is that I don't really feel I have a vested interest in the project.
Not having the vote... turned this project (in my mind) not into a patron project but more into a behind the scenes project.
"This is the project, you can buy it or not." is only a little way from me buying an adventure at the FLGS. (Obviously that is an exaggeration).
And because of that initial indifference, I wasn't involved as much, which means it seems less interesting to me, which leads to more indifference, etc etc etc. :)
Which is REALLY a shame because Nick does GREAT work... but, as I said, I FEEL (which doesn't mean it's true) that my lack of having a vote led to me having a decreased sense of "buy in" initially. The shift was made away from contributing towards watching.
And as I said, this is all just a small part... Real Life has done much to take my attention away from OD as well. So don't get the false impression that the lack of an initial vote is the only culprit.
Anyway... some thoughts. Right or Wrong. :)
I must say I concur with richgreen01 and kunger00.
Kungeroo nailed my sentiment with this:
"This is the project, you can buy it or not." is only a little way from me buying an adventure at the FLGS. (Obviously that is an exaggeration).
It's still great work, but it's much less personal.
Seriously, I could really go either way. I suppose votes are handy to get some initial feedback to shape the idea before anyone dives into actual work on it, but if the idea is good and fits what I would like, then one is all that's needed.
Really, it is better for everyone if they don't see me crying, so save me the pain and make it 1!
(p.s. there is a bit of me that likes the choices, so either give no choice, or give 3 choices, but don't go for more than 3)
I do still love Blood of the Gorgon, but work has smeared me lately but I've followed it silently.
As for the voting before Commission, I think it's a good idea on a couple different. Blood of the Gorgon was no surprise, if you listened to the Podcast, you knew what you were in for. Having said that, I think a Pre-Commission vote adds another layer of transparency and investment, for both the Patron and the Author.
I assume you would announce the three choices, and keep the voting open for a few days. There would be discussion and people could change their votes up until the decision time was closed whereupon you would tally the actual voting results. That discussion could allow people to voice their enthusiasm, their concerns, their hopes.. and shape the voting process. However in the end, the idea with the highest number of actual votes would win.
I believe through discussion people would look at the proposals a little more discerningly, and by following that discussion, the Author would also glean insight.
By keeping it down to three choices, you can do that in a week and maybe only have a few days of fun filled drama. :)
I definitely wouldn't like to see more than 3 choices, it would be cruel if someone liked the lonely 8th idea and nobody else did. It should be at least three good proposals.
Dr. Wolfgang and Mr. Baur...plural. All DMs have their evil twins.
MINDS!
It is tough to work on it, though, until the GSL is released. It will ship in October.
Where can I learn more?
My apologies, I screwed up all the dates. The GSL ships in June, along with the rules (or so WotC says). That means design starts in July, really, and the river-based adventure ships in November, most likely.
Discussion on it has been slow for lack of a full rules set.
If so: Great choice!
More details on this soon.
-Ben.
But until I see the license and can get a good understanding of what it means, I'm going to remain optimistic. Worst case, the 4E stuff goes to Necromancer or something.
Would you be willing to entertain patron submitted ideas and stick those into the running? Not necessarily for OD6, but maybe for OD7?
OD7 then!
-g-
The next project was "Blood of the Gorgon." I wasn't attracted by the topic, and don't have a use for it in my (family-oriented) game. More than that, though, by the time I first heard about it the topic had already been decided. There was no exciting preliminary vote and discussion in which I could participate.
Now, evidently, things are gearing up for another new project and I'm back to the place of no money. (I used it to subscribe to Kobold Quarterly when the Open Design project didn't suit me.) However, the patron input from the earliest stage was what really got me excited about the concept so I would hope that would be retained in the future.
I do think a vote provides an important reality check, though, and an opportunity for people to comment on the basic desired components of the design.