Maybe you missed the first Open Design project; after all, word really only spread to the gaming hardcore. Maybe you weren't sure the "patron" approach would produce good results.

Well, the first project is done, and the word is starting to spread. The second Open Design project is underway: you can choose from four possible projects (listed in the next entry). One of them will be chosen and completed for the private use of Open Design patrons.

Formal work will start in JanuaryNovember 2007, but all the informal action starts now, with outlines and votes in October and November. The input from the early patrons will likely set the foundations and direction for the project, as it did for the first one.

All donations will be refunded if the project commission is not met by January 15th.

( Patron of the Arts )

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( Patron Details )Shadowcrag Patron ($60)

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( Member Details )

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( NO LONGER AVAILABLE: Apprentice )</strike>

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What You Get
As a patron, you influence the design of the project in many ways. Most obviously, you vote on the title, level, and many other design elements. But there’s a direct view on the creative process as well, with the opportunity to makes suggestions before the design is finalized: in fact, at every stage. You can comment on outlines, sample encounters, monster writeups, or the like. You also get access to the locked posts, design essays, and other materials not visible to the public.

What the Commission Means
The work on this project only begins when it has enough patrons to fund it. Naturally, this means that patrons who donate more will see the project start up sooner, and those patrons will also have more influence over the final design.

When the donations add up to match the required commission for the chosen project, the commission is met. Two things happen at that point:

1. The price goes up. The Apprentice price goes away at this point, and the member price goes up.
   
2. The timer starts. Depending on the project length, you’ll get the final designed PDF within about 90 days of commissioning it.

Previous Patrons Speak Out!
The patrons of the first project overwhelmingly feel they got a great deal:

“I am truly impressed by the quality of the product”
“I am very, very happy I participated.”
“I'm very impressed!”
“I am ecstatic about how easy this will be to convert to my CSI: Sharn campaign … Great work.”

Don’t miss out this time around!

The patrons who signed on for this project early were taking a chance that I'd actually deliver. Well, I've delivered the first chunk on Monday.

The dozen senior patrons now have a rough manuscipt to review and comment on. All patrons will see a revised version soon. But it's not too late! I'm still taking new patrons for the next 30 days. Sort of.

Why sort of? The patron votes are mostly done. The closer I get to a final manuscript, the more it is locked down. Patrons get access, but there's less time for influence.

On the upside, the project is now a known quantity. The adventure is called "Steam & Brass", and

• Includes one new monster (the steam golem) and two 3.5 updates (flayed man, possessor)
  
• Features clockwork magic, elite kobolds, and the Mouse King
  
• Designed for 12th, 8th, and 6th levels
  
• Roughly 64 pages long
  
• Color player handouts and professional maps
  
• Two mysteries and strong tactical combat, plus zombie angels.

Got questions about the project? Ask away in the comments. Ready to sign up? Click the button below.

Just a public announcement to the patrons out there who joined up, but have never contacted me to get into the locked portion of the site. There's three I know of: Neal, Eric, and Michael.

In about a month, I'll be sending the adventure to the email addresses I got from PayPal. If that address is not one you check often or ever, please get in touch with me using the User Info section of this blog (scroll down).

Obviously, if you got a confirmation email from me, this doesn't apply to you, but I'd hate to lose anyone. Plus, hey, you're missing out on all the behind-the-scenes posts…

I've posted a few more design secrets for project patrons today, mostly covering an area of design that is often neglected: roleplaying. It's odd, but gamer designers often don't value encounters that don't feature combat. That's not only missing the point of roleplaying games as a genre, it's pretty dull as well. Not to mention it's tough on the bards, rogues, and other charismatic characters.

In any case, I offer a few solutions and tricks.

Well, that was quick. Several patrons have already announced their interest, and the project is barely launched!

To forestall additional questions, here's the pricing strategy in much greater detail. If you have questions, please send a note. As a direct publishing experiment, there's certainly room to fix things that you don't like.

Open Design Patrons

Thanks for your interest! Wolfgang Baur is opening up the design of a complete v3.5 adventure to the public, to create an adventure compatible with a wide range of fantasy RPG campaigns. As the author or co-author of dozens of adventures and sourcebooks for WotC, TSR, Malhavoc, Green Ronin, and others, he is offering this subscription adventure directly to fans and creating a direct feedback loop between gamers and designers.

This blog will serve as a clearinghouse for customized adventure design by Wolfgang Baur for RPG patrons. The premiere adventure in the series launched on March 22, 2006, and it will be open for commission and design input from its patrons until July 4th, or until the commission is paid for. It will be released 90 days after the commission is covered.

Your Exclusive Access to OpenDesign
Here’s how it works: as a patron, you’ll be given a complete, professional electronic copy of the adventure, written to order. Not only is the result shaped by your choices, it’s also an exclusive product, not sold through other channels. Only contributors will get a copy of the adventure; as a patron-published project, anyone who is not a member cannot buy a "back issue". Bound paper copies will be available for an additional $10 to cover low-volume production and shipping.

Once you are signed up, you'll also have access to the friends-locked discussion on the blog about the adventure content. The adventure level, title, and many other design choices will be selected by the project members.
We have the project patrons; at this point, only new art-and-map patrons are being accepted. The rate is $25 contributed through PayPal. You will have full access to the project site and a copy of the final adventure, "Steam & Brass".

Subscriber $5
Anyone who donates at this level will get a copy of the adventure, and some control over its contents as outlined here. As a basic subscriber, please indicate your preferred level for the adventure, and you will receive a complete copy when it is published. You can choose introductory (levels 1-3), low-level (4-6), medium (7-10), high (11-14), or awesome (15-18). All adventures will contain notes on scaling the adventure to other levels.

Member $10
As an Open Design member, you can choose the level range you want (as described above) and also vote on the adventure title/concept from the list below.

1. The Black Forest: Old growth and ancient magic, and the dark hunt that comes from waking a sleeping demigod. A Celtic or Dark Ages tone, or really grim faeries.
2. Empire of the Ghouls: Deep underground delving.
3. The Flying Fortress: Aerial adventure for any campaign: kobolds on giant owls, an imprisoned lammasu, and maybe an isometric or cutaway castle map. Fairly lighthearted, heroic tone, verging toward 1001 Nights.
4. Steam and Brass: A city-based adventure involving a clockwork mage, the Mouse King, and a contract with a devil. Sort of an Iron Kingdoms or Warhammer Fantasy tone.
5. The Lost City: A lost civilization and its rich treasures, guarded by a shoggoth, dinosaurs, and lizardfolk. Pulp adventure tone, like Burroughs crossed with Lovecraft.
6. The Tenth Hell: A visit to Hell and back.
7. Tomb of the Dragon King: A classic dungeon crawl, with dragon.
8. None of the Above: Details will be worked out among the patrons.

I'll be posting the running vote totals to patrons, so you can see what will be written first. If you would like to suggest a title for the next installment in the series, please consider contributing at the Patron level ($50).

Standard $20
You help determine both the monster list and the play style of the adventure. When you contribute, please list two monsters from either this list or from any d20 source to be included in the adventure. If your first monster suggestions must both be declined, you will be entitled to choose alternates.
Please indicate your favorite play style: intense combat, puzzles and traps, heavy roleplaying, or clue-driven investigation.
Your name will appear in the adventure credits.

Patron $50
As a patron, you will have deep access to the design. Please send your choices for level, title, monsters, and style. You may also send a short, 100-word encounter description or major villain description for consideration. Your review will be requested for the final design, your name will appear in the cover credits, and you may suggest a title for the next installment in the series.

Adventure Length
The adventure will be a minimum of 10,000 words long when contributions reach the $1,000 greenlight mark, when design begins – current totals will be posted on the OpenDesign blog. The adventure will be edited and professionally mapped if project subscriptions reach $1500. In other words, with just 50 people signing up at the standard rate, we’re off and running. With 75, we can afford editing and better maps.

If contributions exceed those amounts, the adventure will grow longer as determined by patrons on this blog in friends-locked polls. The OpenDesign adventure will not exceed 25,000 words. Excess contributions beyond what is needed to fund design, editing, maps, and other work will be applied to defraying the costs of the second adventure.

Delivery
The project work begins as soon as the project commission is covered; it will be completed 90 days thereafter. You’ll receive monthly progress reports and may be asked for additional suggestions on this blog. Because this adventure will be commissioned by a group, you may not get all your desired elements (the most popular adventure title will be written first, for example).

You’ll never pay for more than one adventure at a time. If you want to pay for only a particular adventure title or level, please indicate this on your order, but be aware that this can mean a substantial delay of a year or more. Other adventures may (or may not) be written first, depending on which titles attract the most patrons.

Refunds
This is an experiment; designers don’t normally work this way. The project only moves forward if it reaches a greenlight level. If contributions don’t reach the greenlight level, either Wolfgang Baur will write a special, shorter adventure tailored to members’ wishes or your money will be refunded (minus any PayPal fees or costs). There is no risk.

If you have any questions, please drop me a line.

Wolfgang Baur
Designer