August Update 2023
over 1 year ago
– Sat, Aug 19, 2023 at 06:55:48 PM
Hey Everyone,
As I write this, I'm recovering from my third week of COVID and getting ready for a hurricane to hit Los Angeles. I somehow managed to avoid for 3 1/2 years but I seem to making up for...I'm still suffering from some pretty serious fatigue.
Still, progress continues to be made on CHAOTIC NEUTRAL.
First off, Jacob Hurst has completed laying out the adventure module, and I've finished giving him my final edits. That's a major, major step.
The module is now in the hands of Dave Accampo, who will be laying out the whole book - combining the comic, module and Ryan Browne's satiric take on a Chick Tract.
Aside from a final proof of that when it's ready, the next big steps for Chris and I are to set up Backerkit so we can prep fulfillment and dealing with the printer. We're planning on getting together to do that as soon as I'm fully recovered.
Beyond that, I wanted to share two things that I thought would be of interest to you.
The first is that I have an RPG adventure module out from Lamentations of the Flame Princess called MEANDERINGS OF THE MIND MIND. You can but the physical copy and PDF here. (I believe at some point the PDF only copy will be on DriveThruRPG).
It's an old-school adventure about exploring a mind which (SPOILER) is really the mind of an giant, alien being. Lest you worry, I took time from working on CHAOTIC NEUTRAL to write this, it was actually written and playtested in 2018 or so, originally intended as an introductory adventure for Lamentation's upcoming Referee Book. Earlier this year, Lamenations' publisher asked if he could put it out it as a stand-alone adventured. While I did to some more editing and approval of art and layout, the majority of the work had already been done for years. That said, I think going through the publishing process helped me make CHAOTIC NEUTRAL's adventure better and vice versa.
If it sounds up your alley, I hope you'll check it out.
Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't plug my friend Jack Mulqueen's Kickstarter for NIGHTLIFE NOIR. It's a very cool anthology of comic stories about New York nightlife written by Jack and illustrated by a murderer's row of creators, including Paul Azaceta, my GROUNDED/GRAVEYARD OF EMPIRES artist/co-creator. What makes these stories special is that Jack creates on runs some of New York's most amazing nightclubs, including Outer Heaven, not only named for Metal Gear Solid but featuring comics for sale. He brings that real-life experience to comics, of which he's a huge fan and supporter.
As always, thanks for your support and patience. Stay safe out there.
Mark
June 2023 Update - this is a good one!
over 1 year ago
– Mon, Jun 12, 2023 at 01:24:42 PM
ffdddyone,
I'm happy to share that we've made tremendous progress on CHAOTIC NEUTRAL since the last update.
Chris finished the maps for the module: a town map, keep, dungeon and wilderness area. They aren't keyed yet, but I will share them in a future update. I think it should be fun to see how he transformed my poorly handrawn maps into works of art.
But I do have things to share. Jacob Hurst has completed a huge chunk of layout for the module. Here's what some of the first few pages look like:
Bear in mind that these are screenshots I took of a PDF so the resolution is not what you'll see in the final print and PDF forms, and that we'll go through at least one more round of edits/proofreading when the full module is laid out. (If you see XXX in some places it's because we're waiting for the final page #s)
BUT...I am thrilled with how the pages are turning out. I think Jacob is capturing the feel of old school D&D modules while at the same time making it much more readable and accessible for DMs. (I'm running Keep on the Borderlands with my D&D group, and while a classic it is often a wall of impenetrable text).
Layout still needs to be finished, we'll need to do a final round of edits, we've got to deal with the printer, get backer kit set up etc...but between Chris completing the cartography and at last half the module laid out, we've come a long way.
Fingers crossed that there will be more good news to share in the next update.
As always, thanks so much for your support and patience.
Mark
March 2023 Update
over 1 year ago
– Wed, Mar 29, 2023 at 04:42:02 PM
Hey Everyone,
I'm about to head to the C2E2 comic convention in Chicago (if you're there, please stop by Artist's Alley Table F-02 and say hi!), but I wanted to give a quick update on the project before I go.
As I mentioned in the last update, module editor/layout artist extroardinaire Jacob Hurst sent me a revised draft of the text of the adventure. He's done a great job of re-organizing it and making it clearer and more concise, suggesting where it can be more interactive etc. He had a number of questions for me, and I sent him answers along with my own close-to-final revisions.
Some of you have asked for an example of what's going to be in the module, which has been hard because a) layout isn't done yet and b) I don't want to spoil anything.
But, I thought could share an example both of content and how Jacob and I are making going back and forth.
Here is the initial rumor table I created for the adventure (I've taken out the answers as whether they are true or false, which the DM/GM will know):
IV. RUMORS:
ROLL 1d10:
1.The Prince Bishop is A Devil Worshipper
2. The Cyclopean Ruins were built by actual Cyclops
3. Huckle Enworth, The Halfling Whoremonger is operating without a license from the Thieves Guild
4. An orc has secretly infiltrated the town to soften it up for an invasion
5. The Prince Bishop’s sacrifices do not actually protect the town from invasion
6. The Cutwife is in league with Baphomet
7. There are forces of Chaos even Baphomet fears
8. Rubbings made of Cyclopean Artifacts can be used as spell scrolls
9. Oleng, the Imperial Guard, is from an advanced civilization and hides a weapon of immense power.
10. The Princess has been impregnated by Baphomet
Jacob suggested that rather than randomly rolling for rumors, that they be spread out amonst the NPCs of the story, and written in the voice of those characters. That should make it less work (and more fun) for the DM to work them in organically.
What I came back with are the rumors broken down by location/NPC:
1. THE NIGHT-MARE INN/DRUNKEN PATRON (immediately silenced by barkeep) "The Prince Bishop is hypocrite! Why, he worships Baphomet himself!"
2. FORGE OF FURY/FAFNIR FURY: "They say the Cyclopean Ruins aren't up to the standards of Dwarven craftmanship, but they were built by actual an Cyclops. I slain plenty of cyclops in my time, and they never struck me as smart enough, but what else could have lift such heavy stones! ...
3. BEGGAR's GUILD/BEGGAR KING: "If you're smart, you'll stay away from the brothel in town. That Halfling Whoremonger is operating without a license from the Thieves Guild.
4. PRINCE BISHOP'S KEEP/GUARD: "Town's lucky to have us protecting it. I hear an orc has secretly infiltrated the town to soften it up for an invasion."
5. KRESSLE FARM/THE CUT WIFE: "To think the church condemns me but sends innocent townsfolk to their doom. And for what? The Prince Bishop’s sacrifices don't actually protect the town from invasion. The forest does, and that was here long before the Bishop or his Crucifying God."
6. CHURCH OF THE CRUCIFYING GOD/MOTHER SUPERIOR: "That Cut-Wife's work is an abomination against god. She's surely in league with Baphomet."
7. DRUID/HUT WOOD ELF DRUID: There are forces of Chaos even Baphomet fears
8. ALPTRAUM ANTIQUITIES/ELVEN ARCHAELOGIST: "These are no mere etchings! Rubbings made of Cyclopean Artifacts can be used as spell scrolls!"
9. VANCE'S ALCHEMY/ALCHEMIST: "Don't let her spear fool you. Oleng, of the Imperial Guard, is from a highly advanced civilization. I know she's hiding a weapon of immense power somewhere. Bring it to me, and any potion you want is yours
10. HUCKLE'S WHOREHOUSE/ANY PROSTITUTE: "Stellan think's he's too good for us, and has been having an affair with The Princess. But what he don't know is that's she' been knocked up by Baphomet himself!"
This is just a small part of the 30,000 plus word adventure. But I wanted to share it so that you can see the attention to detail we're giving to everything, trying to balance giving the adventure a unique voice with ease of use on the table.
It should give you a taste of the larger world of both the module and the comic. These are just a small portion of the town locations and NPCs.
So what's next? Jacob should be able to move to layout now. Once I have a sample of that I'm excited to share it. Chris will be doing cartography. Right now the adventure calls for three maps - the town hub (which is done), a small wilderness area, a keep and a dungeon. Together we need to get Backerkit going to work out distribution and try to deliver rewards like original art.
I'll update you all in April, hopefully with more progress to show.
As always, thanks for your patience and support.
Mark
