New 5E Epic Books coming in 2020

[Alzrius]

Howdy Alzrius amigo!

Once I get this new Epic Bestiary on sale I'll know the specs/requirements for their print versions on drivethru and I can sort out an Ascension hardback.

Glad to hear it! I look forward to being able to pick up hard copies of both!

 

[Upper_Krust]

Glad to hear it! I look forward to being able to pick up hard copies of both!

I think for 160+ pages a hardback is probably the right idea for Ascension. For these new Epic Bestiary's I'll start with a softcover.

 

[Alzrius]

I've just checked my files. I no longer have a separate cover image for Ascension and I also do not have a back cover created for Ascension. So it will take a bit of work to sort those things out. Additionally the pdf is 162 pages and needs to be a multiple of four for print. Hopefully I can edit this pdf otherwise we might be in trouble.

So a thought just occurred to me; if the book's page count needs to be a multiple of four, and it's currently 162 pages, why not throw your old entry for Surtur - which is six pages long - in there? That would solve the problem nicely, and it would serve as an appendix of what a sample deity looks like.

 

[Upper_Krust]

So a thought just occurred to me; if the book's page count needs to be a multiple of four, and it's currently 162 pages, why not throw your old entry for Surtur - which is six pages long - in there? That would solve the problem nicely, and it would serve as an appendix of what a sample deity looks like.

Provided I can edit the pdf (which I haven't checked yet because I am occupied with this new book) the page thing won't be a problem. I think worst case scenario I can just delete 2 pages.

If I can't edit the pdf at all then the plans are in trouble because I no longer have a non-pdf version of Ascension.

I may need to totally rework the front cover - I still have that cover art so that won't take more than an hour.

 

[Upper_Krust]

As regards the latest Epic Bestiary: Mega Gods progress, things are going well. However, the artist still has 10 illustrations to do, almost all for the third section. At best we are getting 3 illustrations done per week.

So by the time they are completed I should have all the writing done. Plus I booked 2 weeks off work (starting 2 weeks from today) to get the whole thing wrapped up.

I have added my proprietary 5E Divinity rules* in an Appendix to the back of the book. I had to change things slightly from Ascension. I added an extra category between Old One and First One (this new Status is called Ancient One). I also added a new category to Demiurge and fleshed that out a bit. Demiurge makes a bit more sense now.

ie. A First One was one of six (sentient) dimensions within a Universe. A Demiurge is a single sentience that has conquered more than one of these dimensions. A Time Lord is a sentient Universe in control of all 6 dimensions. So the Demiurge now has 2, 3, 4 or 5 of these.

*A very basic overview where (for example) I list the number of Divine Abilities (etc.) but I don't detail individual powers (that would of course require its own book). So for those you could just use Ascension as a guide. But I think you could still easily create a working prototype of a deity of any level of power in 15 minutes using just this basic system outline (albeit fudge the divine abilities).

 

[Rhuarc]

Thanks for the update, UK! Hope we can see the final product then at some point this spring, very excited

 

[Upper_Krust]

Thanks for the update, UK! Hope we can see the final product then at some point this spring, very excited

Hey Rhuarc amigo.

Its definitely shaping up to be a worthy sequel. I'd love to do add a bit more to it (both writing and art) although I suspect I need to know when to stop adding stuff (one of my many flaws as a writer) otherwise the book will just keep growing. Like a Lernean Hydra I already split it into two and now each half is bigger than when I cut it up.

 

[Rhuarc]

I strongly support this need for finding a clear stopping point! You can always revisit these topics/monster focus later on and write a sequel with the other ideas you have now. Much better (for you and your funds and us as consumers) to get more books at a faster rate with a smaller page count, than the opposite.

I think a very important part of your publishing/writing future will be to set realistic goals ahead of a project and then sticking to it! Adding new stuff is great and all, but if this always delays the publishing date of a book so much that it might never see the light of day, or at least to a point when people lose interest, then you'll miss out on a lot more than you'll gain with these constant additions.

Sure, in the end you must be satisfied with the product, but finding a good balance is rather paramount in my opinion.

 

[Upper_Krust]

I strongly support this need for finding a clear stopping point! You can always revisit these topics/monster focus later on and write a sequel with the other ideas you have now. Much better (for you and your funds and us as consumers) to get more books at a faster rate with a smaller page count, than the opposite.

Agreed. I just end up going down the rabbit hole with ideas and then I'd end up taking another six months. Not adding any monsters* beyond the current 30-33 (...figure off the top of my head but in around that).

*...even though the six cut monsters are cool.

I think a very important part of your publishing/writing future will be to set realistic goals ahead of a project and then sticking to it!

Yes I am terrible at that.

Although in a normal week I only have (at best) 25 hours free time to work on this stuff. Its easy to get hung up on some design issues and lose a day or two's progress. Plus I also have to allocate a few hours of that time to doing the layouts for the artist.

Adding new stuff is great and all, but if this always delays the publishing date of a book so much that it might never see the light of day, or at least to a point when people lose interest, then you'll miss out on a lot more than you'll gain with these constant additions.

I know. I probably should have delayed mentioning the book until it was virtually finished.

Sure, in the end you must be satisfied with the product, but finding a good balance is rather paramount in my opinion.

I won't release it until I am happy. But at the same time, in my own head I know I need to draw the line at some point otherwise I just keep adding cool ideas.

I might do a special edition hardback (with the stuff that failed to make the cut) after the two softcovers.

 

[Upper_Krust]

Hey all,

as I'm sure Rhuarc could have predicted the book is not yet finished. I won't say when its going to be ready other than, sadly it won't be before the end of this month.

Writing and art are progressing at a steady pace but not as fast as I'd hoped. Apologies for the delays, what more can I say.

On the positive note, I do think the book is really starting to look good. The monster line up has both variety and depth. The Challenge Ratings are pretty evenly spread. I have tried to make each monster as tough as possible within its own Challenge Rating. I have quite a few really cool monsters* in the book no one will have heard of (as well as some famous ones you'll know). I hope the extra features will prove interesting (especially for building your own gods, monsters and other things). The amount of artwork in the book is crazy. Plus there are a few surprises in there I won't reveal.

*From esoteric and mythological sources.

I'm really enjoying creating things like this again and even though I sometimes let my imagination get me into trouble, adding the odd thing here and there, cough sorry Rhuarc cough, its always for the betterment of the book as a whole.

I'll keep plugging away at it and get it done as soon as possible, don't worry I won't let it become my own personal Silmarillion/Winds of Winter...I hope.