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What do you want in a published adventure? / Adventure design best practices?
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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 7162444" data-attributes="member: 20323"><p>Keep the comments flowing <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> It's ok if you're repeating something that someone else already said. </p><p></p><p>I'm just gathering information here on ENWorld first, then going to shape this into a poll and try to more widely disseminate it on Reddit maybe. Open to suggestions on how to put a poll out there.</p><p></p><p>I just updated my OP as of [MENTION=6786253]Yaztromo[/MENTION]'s post #91. Some more interesting trends... some design elements seem to have very wide support (e.g. good maps, good boxed text)...while there are competing views of other design elements that an adventure designer needs to consider. For example:</p><p></p><p>"Normal text" layout <–––> Full-page encounter layout</p><p>Abbreviated monster stats in text <–––> Monsters in back of the book</p><p>Freedom to explore/borrow <–––> Clear guidance about adventure's "path"</p><p></p><p>---------------------------------</p><p></p><p>Good useful comprehensive maps (before area descriptions) – (6) LordEntrails, ExploderWizard, vincegetorix, Eltab, Jester David, Charles Rampant</p><p></p><p>Boxed text, direction-neutral & concise – (6) Lanefan, transtemporal, LordEntrails, Charles Rampant, Schmoe, happy hermit</p><p></p><p>Layout that's clear, useful at table, and condenses info while keeping it readable (e.g. 9 pt font, leading 11 pts, diminishing horizontal scale) – (4) Lanefan, steeldragons, hawkeyefan, ratskinner</p><p></p><p>Monsters/NPCs with motivations…and relationships! – (4) robus, ExploderWizard, hastur_nz, Charles Rampant</p><p></p><p>Clearly connected encounters/plot progression for groups preferring linear narrative – (4) shoak1, LordEntrails, Eltab, LostSoul</p><p></p><p>1e style abbreviated monster stats in room descriptions – (4) Lanefan, steeldragons, Schmoe, JohnnyP71</p><p></p><p>What ifs & Monster plans/reactions – (3) Lanefan, transtemporal, ExploderWizard</p><p></p><p>Something different/new (magic item, monster, NPC, trap, spell, etc) (3) – Lanefan, Schmoe, Charles Rampant</p><p></p><p>Limited Backstory, relevant to players/they can find out – (3) Lanefan, shoak1, Yavathol</p><p></p><p>Monster stat appendix in the back (3) – Eltab, Schmoe, happyhermit</p><p></p><p>Modular bits – (3) Eltab, Jester David, happy hermit</p><p></p><p>Compiled index of all monsters used in the adventure for DM token/minis prep – (3) css, JohnnyP71, happy hermit</p><p></p><p>Limited scope, self-contained (2) – LordEntrails, css</p><p></p><p>Event/story development track or flowchart, dynamic story – (2) Lanefan, hastur_nz</p><p></p><p>Inventive design & good/imaginative ideas – (2) hastur_nz, Jester David</p><p></p><p>Subsystems or rules variants appropriate to adventure – (2) Charles Rampant, Tony Vargas</p><p></p><p>Ways to limit rests – (2) shoak1, JohnnyP71</p><p></p><p>Maps (separate/pull-out for DMs & players) – (2) robus, JohnnyP71</p><p></p><p>3.5e/4e style full page encounters – (2) shoak1, aco175</p><p></p><p>Index if needed – (2) LordEntrails, happy hermit</p><p></p><p>Fun-to-read, flowing writing, non-formulaic – (2) happy hermit, Charles Rampant</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 7162444, member: 20323"] Keep the comments flowing :) It's ok if you're repeating something that someone else already said. I'm just gathering information here on ENWorld first, then going to shape this into a poll and try to more widely disseminate it on Reddit maybe. Open to suggestions on how to put a poll out there. I just updated my OP as of [MENTION=6786253]Yaztromo[/MENTION]'s post #91. Some more interesting trends... some design elements seem to have very wide support (e.g. good maps, good boxed text)...while there are competing views of other design elements that an adventure designer needs to consider. For example: "Normal text" layout <–––> Full-page encounter layout Abbreviated monster stats in text <–––> Monsters in back of the book Freedom to explore/borrow <–––> Clear guidance about adventure's "path" --------------------------------- Good useful comprehensive maps (before area descriptions) – (6) LordEntrails, ExploderWizard, vincegetorix, Eltab, Jester David, Charles Rampant Boxed text, direction-neutral & concise – (6) Lanefan, transtemporal, LordEntrails, Charles Rampant, Schmoe, happy hermit Layout that's clear, useful at table, and condenses info while keeping it readable (e.g. 9 pt font, leading 11 pts, diminishing horizontal scale) – (4) Lanefan, steeldragons, hawkeyefan, ratskinner Monsters/NPCs with motivations…and relationships! – (4) robus, ExploderWizard, hastur_nz, Charles Rampant Clearly connected encounters/plot progression for groups preferring linear narrative – (4) shoak1, LordEntrails, Eltab, LostSoul 1e style abbreviated monster stats in room descriptions – (4) Lanefan, steeldragons, Schmoe, JohnnyP71 What ifs & Monster plans/reactions – (3) Lanefan, transtemporal, ExploderWizard Something different/new (magic item, monster, NPC, trap, spell, etc) (3) – Lanefan, Schmoe, Charles Rampant Limited Backstory, relevant to players/they can find out – (3) Lanefan, shoak1, Yavathol Monster stat appendix in the back (3) – Eltab, Schmoe, happyhermit Modular bits – (3) Eltab, Jester David, happy hermit Compiled index of all monsters used in the adventure for DM token/minis prep – (3) css, JohnnyP71, happy hermit Limited scope, self-contained (2) – LordEntrails, css Event/story development track or flowchart, dynamic story – (2) Lanefan, hastur_nz Inventive design & good/imaginative ideas – (2) hastur_nz, Jester David Subsystems or rules variants appropriate to adventure – (2) Charles Rampant, Tony Vargas Ways to limit rests – (2) shoak1, JohnnyP71 Maps (separate/pull-out for DMs & players) – (2) robus, JohnnyP71 3.5e/4e style full page encounters – (2) shoak1, aco175 Index if needed – (2) LordEntrails, happy hermit Fun-to-read, flowing writing, non-formulaic – (2) happy hermit, Charles Rampant [/QUOTE]
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