Open Design

This Week... On KQ.com

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 20:16:08 GMT

The week got away from me, but there was much good stuff on KoboldQuarterly.com in the last couple days. We started off with a new 4E dragon called the Kuldresha, continued with a squick-tastic trapped satchel, and then got the illustrious Mr. Steve Kenson to answer questions on how he got into the industry, how he designs for Mutants & Masterminds, and what makes villains great.

If you haven't seen them yet, why the heck not?

Bruce Cordell Shares Some Psionic Psecrets

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:14:34 GMT

Apparently kobolds and Cordells get along, because we have a scoop from Mr. Cordell on the Web site about psionics in 4E, plus some discussion of how his game design has influenced his fiction.

Definitely worth a read; if you enjoy it, please digg, stumble, tweet, blog etc. Kobolds need link love for the big news!

Open Design Podcast: Bruce Cordell Talks Far Realms

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:08:01 GMT

WotC Designer Bruce Cordell talks to the Open Design crew about the Far Realms, and we talk about editing and adventures with Paizo's James Jacobs. Monte Cook and Skip Williams contribute their usual segments as well, rounding out some of industry trifecta.

In other words, the second installment of the Open Design Podcast is live and free for your listening pleasure!

Last Call for 3E/OGL Halls of the Mountain King

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:31:21 GMT

Wow, six months can go by pretty fast when you don't look up.

With the work of dozens of patrons, the final text has been designed and playtested. The cartographers and artists have turned over glorious work. Editor Mike McArtor has finished his review and improvement of the manuscript, and Steve Wark has completed the layout. This weekend, I went over the final proofs. There’s final tweaks and one round of changes to the galleys, and then this huge 170 page adventure will go out to the patrons by the end of June. That is, before Tuesday. The Gazetteer will follow shortly thereafter.

So Last Call is on for the 3E/OGL version of this adventure. If you want your copy, sign up today! This project will not be available in game stores or at koboldquarterly.com. It’s purely a limited edition for those who support it. And it’s an amazing deal for the money: a complete dwarven sourcebook with spells and setting and gear, plus an adventure that I can only describe as the best dwarven stronghold adventure since Moria.

Thank you all for making Halls of the Mountain King amazing, and thank you for your patience as it’s been put together!

Designer's Roundtable

Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:37:30 GMT

KQ is taking questions for a roundtable of the top RPG designers. Submit your question here or in the thread at KQ.com.

You will be amazed at who is participating...

Kobold Joy: Monsters and Trapped Chest

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:56:44 GMT

Richard Pett does a layered trap that will have your rogue gnashing his teeth in despair, and Ben McFarland delivers a deadly 4E monster in the Deathspittle Bombardier. Both worth a look.

KQ.com keeps delivering some goodness. I'm very happy with the ways the site is ticking along. What do you like? What would you want to see more/less of?

Funny, Funny Polymorph

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:55:10 GMT

This week's Friday Funny is not as filthy as last week's, but it is a wonderful list of 100 ways to abuse a polymorph spell.

Diabolical Paizonian Fiends

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 19:42:52 GMT

He looks so harmless, really, but don't let that fool you. Wesley Schneider loves the infernal and diabolical and tells us about the hellish plans that Paizo has for Pathfinder.

Plus, a great send-off to the Behind the Spells series, on koboldquarterly.com.

Open Design Podcast Now on iTunes

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:20:35 GMT

ODP is now available directly from iTunes. That is all.

Monster: The Whispering Lady

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:36:30 GMT

The newest Monday Monster is the second 4E critter in a row, the Whispering Lady. Seems like a good one, by KQ Associate Editor Neal Hebert.

Open Design Podcast

Thu, 28 May 2009 17:47:40 GMT

After some deliberation, Open Design has launched a monthly podcast. All details available at the site, and a subscription through iTunes or other RSS services as well.

First show was a learning experience, and you can hear from great designers like Monte Cook and Jeff Grubb, plus patron designers like Brandon Hodge. I hope you'll give it a listen and let me know what you think.

4E Yeti, Traps, and Ed Greenwood

Tue, 26 May 2009 19:38:23 GMT

Memorial Day holiday in the States seems to have been good for kobolds: there's a 4E Frostfang Yeti as the Monday Monster, plus the next installment from the Trapsmith, and the first installment of our Ed Greenwood interview.

All great stuff. Take a look!

KOBOLD Diplomacy: Sean K. Reynolds

Thu, 21 May 2009 13:58:36 GMT

Sean Reynolds talks about WoW, RPGs and painting minis (oh, and maybe lobsteak) in his interview at KoboldQuarterly.com.

Kobold: Mr. Pett's Marvelous Monsters, and a Trap is Sprung

Tue, 19 May 2009 13:44:02 GMT

Two great posts so far this week: the Monday Monster is the colossal Yrchen Bannog by Richard Pett, and today we launched the Trapspringer series by Maurice de Mare (you'll remember him from the popular "Traps of the Mind" article in KQ#8).

Both definitely worth a look!

A Look at the Gaze, and Pact Magic

Thu, 14 May 2009 22:10:36 GMT

Two new articles worth your time: Skip Williams addresses the complexity of gaze attacks in 3E, and Dario Nardi talks from the small-press-publisher perspective about his Pact Magic books, his design and publishing process, and his future plans.

All at KQ.com!

KOBOLD: Funny Monsters

Mon, 11 May 2009 19:54:53 GMT

Another fine construct from David Schwartz this week in the Monday Monsters. I won't spoil the surprise here, but I think it just begs to be made part of your next BBEG's bag of tricks.

Last Call for Free Dice

Fri, 08 May 2009 22:32:30 GMT

The KQ Free Dice promotion has been a big success, and I'm happy to report we're almost out of dice.

I'll be taking the offer down sometime this weekend, so if you want your free dice, subscribe now.

Interview with Jason Bulmahn, Pathfinder Lead Designer

Thu, 07 May 2009 23:53:42 GMT

It's my distinct pleasure to announce that Kobold Quarterly.com is featuring an interview with the tallest game designer in the business and the guiding mind of the Pathfinder RPG, Jason Bulmahn.

Our kobold diplomats caught him when he was still weak from delivering the final manuscript to press, and extorted a few sneak peeks and previews. Worth a look!

Ask the Kobold: Size Matters

Wed, 06 May 2009 15:12:32 GMT

Skip Williams is answering D&D questions from the Kobold forums in his column today. Check out his responses to questions about creature size and opportunity attacks in the Ask the Kobold writeup.

Kobold: 4E Crag Drake, Review, and Dice

Mon, 04 May 2009 16:46:29 GMT

The revised, final version of the 4E crag drake is posted on KQ.com, with illustration and all. It's a teaser for Halls, and I think a good one.

Also new, a review of KQ#9 over at RPG.net, and the FREE dice are running pretty low. Subscribe today, before we run out!

Behind the Spells: Explosive Runes

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:40:12 GMT

We've been talking about dwarven runes a lot lately in Open Design, so it seems appropriate that the Behind the Spells series brings us Explosive Runes for the next installment.

KOBOLD: Quicksilver Ooze

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 04:33:34 GMT

John Ling is in fine form again with this week's Monday Monster, the Quicksilver Ooze. It's quite nasty and will send smug archmages fleeing in terror! Find out why at KQ.com.

Much Ado About Kobolds

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:11:04 GMT

So many, many things going on, it's hard to keep them all in mind. We literally have more kobold posts and giveaway than I could keep up with. We have a few secret projects, as well.

Here's the highlights:

Monday Monster was taken from Manx mythology and transformed by Richard Pett, the Buggane.
I discuss KQ#9 on Atomic Array, and make a Big Announcement. Other KQ authors also weigh in.
Have given away 300 sets of the free Q-Workshop dice. Want yours? Subscribe, before we run out!
A neat interview with the Q-Workshop folks about the art and business of dice making
Kobold hit the bestseller list! Issue #9 clawed its way onto the RPG Countdown.
Some kobold art arrived from Hugo Solis for Halls of the Mountain King!
Dave Arneson interview now available in Spanish, thanks to José Montero

It's been a busy week. And next week is even more packed! Which of these appealed to you? Anything you'd like to see more/less of?

Reminder: 400 Free RPG Books and Box Sets on KQ.com

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 17:15:59 GMT

If you watch the Kobold boards you already know, but Fray is giving away almost 400 RPG books and supplements over on KoboldQuarterly.com.

You just pay shipping. Offer ends tomorrow, so don't delay!

Huge RPG Giveaway from Fray

Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:53:54 GMT

Yes, yes, it's a posting FRENZY for a Saturday. Just wanted to let everyone know that Fray is giving away almost 400 RPG books and supplements over on KoboldQuarterly.com.

You just pay shipping. He's being insanely generous. Check it out!