Draw Steel News

[TiQuinn]

That's entirely possible but some of them are weird mistakes to make given Colville's experience and the company's previous success. But equally maybe that is to some extent the cause? It worked before so why change anything or make more effort? If that's what happened then I think it's a bit of a mistake because launching an entire new RPG is different to launching RPG products for 5E.

I know he's talked a lot about his experience in the past, but running the company amidst the biggest release you've ever done could just be whole other level of new for him and his team. I compare them to Kobold Press or Monte Cook Games - they've been around for almost 20 years or more. MCDM's a relative newcomer. Getting some of this stuff nailed down and making it really run perfectly is not easy, and just to add to the speculation, Colville does seem like someone who marches to his own beat so who knows if he's trying to do some stuff differently.

 

[mamba]

Go to the backerkit campaign and read the "what we're funding". Two books, Heroes and Monsters.

Now scroll down to the schedule. It says: playtest packet by Q2 2024, full release June 2025.

ah, I see, it says nowhere that this will be the only package though, I read this as a first package given the 12-15 months between then and the scheduled full release

 

[Meech17]

That is a wild post my dude.

I can't speak for the first half of OP's comment but as for the second part I kind of believe it.

I'm a huggggge Colville fan, and started DMing because of his running the game videos, but I haven't really been following Draw Steel and I was surprised when his video dropped yesterday saying it was out.

With that said, Matt has talked before about this, and kind of admitted that he is like this with his projects. I don't remember which video it was, but he talked about how he used to have a semi-successful (movie based?) podcast. He talked about how most of the fun from it came from the fact that it was a new and exciting challenge for him, and something new to learn. He said they gained decent listener numbers, and got to the point where production quality was really good, and then he was satisfied. He like, did the thing, and now wanted to move on.

I could see that being the same here. He made the "Running the Game" videos, garnered a huge fan base, and got to the point where the videos were super high quality. Now he's pretty much done with that.

He started a company, made supplements that came out to critical acclaim, and then moved on.

Now he made a whole dang game.

I think he was wise, by hiring people like Introcaso to run the show, so that if he does fall off the ship won't run aground. With that said, it does kind of stink because I'm sure a not insignificant amount of people bought into it more for him than the game itself.

 

[TiQuinn]

I think he was wise, by hiring people like Introcaso to run the show, so that if he does fall off the ship won't run aground. With that said, it does kind of stink because I'm sure a not insignificant amount of people bought into it more for him than the game itself.

So this is kind of a chicken and egg situation. You have to step back the right amount and let other people be the voice of the company but if you do it too much, you risk people saying "Where's Matt?" MCDM was initially built on the strength of his YouTube viewership first and foremost.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I can't speak for the first half of OP's comment but as for the second part I kind of believe it.

I'm a huggggge Colville fan, and started DMing because of his running the game videos, but I haven't really been following Draw Steel and I was surprised when his video dropped yesterday saying it was out.

With that said, Matt has talked before about this, and kind of admitted that he is like this with his projects. I don't remember which video it was, but he talked about how he used to have a semi-successful (movie based?) podcast. He talked about how most of the fun from it came from the fact that it was a new and exciting challenge for him, and something new to learn. He said they gained decent listener numbers, and got to the point where production quality was really good, and then he was satisfied. He like, did the thing, and now wanted to move on.

I could see that being the same here. He made the "Running the Game" videos, garnered a huge fan base, and got to the point where the videos were super high quality. Now he's pretty much done with that.

He started a company, made supplements that came out to critical acclaim, and then moved on.

Now he made a whole dang game.

I think he was wise, by hiring people like Introcaso to run the show, so that if he does fall off the ship won't run aground. With that said, it does kind of stink because I'm sure a not insignificant amount of people bought into it more for him than the game itself.

Yeah this matches with the vibe I've been getting from him, like he's really excited by new stuff, but once it's locked down, once it's solid, he doesn't really care.

I'd be more fine with that if he hadn't insisted on making so many elements of Draw Steel! very... Colville-specific, particularly the setting, because I think what he's done there is actually create a big problem for anyone who isn't him, because I don't think anyone else on his team is deeply enthused by the Order vs. Chaos, weird creepy religions (derogatory not complimentary because it 100% includes the "good guy" religions and the creepy element seems unintentional) and "space fantasy meets regular fantasy but in a 1970s way" themes he's made a major part of that setting (even though the artists absolutely understood it and nailed it, lets be clear, on that latter element, absolutely spot-on). It's like, I don't think it's really right to make a setting so peculiarly your own, build the game around that setting (rather than making it more flexible as a lot of RPGs are), and then walk away from it. I guess I kind of wish he got bored before he did that, because I think without him specifically being enthused by these prog rock album cover elements (man does love his prog rock) we'd have seen a much more uh, manipulable setting.

 

[Epizarwin]

I can't speak for the first half of OP's comment but as for the second part I kind of believe it.

I'm a huggggge Colville fan, and started DMing because of his running the game videos, but I haven't really been following Draw Steel and I was surprised when his video dropped yesterday saying it was out.

With that said, Matt has talked before about this, and kind of admitted that he is like this with his projects. I don't remember which video it was, but he talked about how he used to have a semi-successful (movie based?) podcast. He talked about how most of the fun from it came from the fact that it was a new and exciting challenge for him, and something new to learn. He said they gained decent listener numbers, and got to the point where production quality was really good, and then he was satisfied. He like, did the thing, and now wanted to move on.

I could see that being the same here. He made the "Running the Game" videos, garnered a huge fan base, and got to the point where the videos were super high quality. Now he's pretty much done with that.

He started a company, made supplements that came out to critical acclaim, and then moved on.

Now he made a whole dang game.

I think he was wise, by hiring people like Introcaso to run the show, so that if he does fall off the ship won't run aground. With that said, it does kind of stink because I'm sure a not insignificant amount of people bought into it more for him than the game itself.

I don't think it's fair or wise to apply how he interacts with his hobbies (podcasting, youtube) to his job and company. Youtube was never his job, it was just a hobby. Also he has stated multiple time why his running the game has stopped and its not because he met some goal. It's just there nothing to say. He made videos about all he knew and didn't want to make videos just to make videos. There simply is not that much to say about tabletop rpgs. Any quick browse of channels that need to upload every week because it IS their job will confirm that. When an idea comes to him he rights a script and make another video, which is why he still uploads occasionally.

If you want to know how the people at MCDM feel about the game Matt and James stream almost every week and constantly gush about their game and how happy they are with it. They are xlcobstantly talking about all the new projects, classes, adventures, encounters books, and more relating to this game. It's so strange that people think this when Matt regularly states on stream how much he is in love with this game and how enjoyable the experience of creating it was and how proud of the team he is.

It's just so weird. I guess if there is a creator that has any public persona people expect them to constantly scream into megaphone about how everything is awesome and if they do that into the wrong megaphone or facing the wrong direction than you don't hear it and assume something must be wrong. Nothing is wrong. Calm down (not specifically you ). Something must be wrong because did you see what they named...tiers?!?! Um, no it's fine. WTF is that thinking? Now I don't think I'm even responding to you. Lol, whatever. Moving on.

 

[Agamon]

I know Matt explained his PC he's running in the actual play, so I get it, but it was an interesting choice to play a sad, withdrawn character in the game's launch example play. It looks like he's very tired/disinterested, even though I'm pretty sure it's just playing in character.

 

[Aldarc]

Speculating wildly Draw Steel feels to me as if there has been some behind the scenes drama and someone had their suggestions just automatically rejected because they came from that person in specific - who was something like an editor or social media manager. Things like "drop the occasional two line update to the backers" or "call your levels of success something evocative" or "you made your name explaining how to run an RPG. WTF are you doing not explaining this one?" All to do with presentation and communication.

It also feels as if Colville's done with the project somehow. We know he can do the "nerd who can barely shut up what he loves" for the camera (and Spencer Starke is doing an excellent one of those for Daggerheart right now). And ... he just isn't. If we look at Matt's YouTube plus the MCDM YouTube we've the launch party and the first episode of an actual play in the past day or so and that's it for the past six months.

I'm also wondering whether to read anything about the absence of Dael Kingsmill from the launch party when I'm pretty sure she has the missing skillset.

Dude. Please stop. You're reaching in a way that isn't particularly flattering.

 

[Zaukrie]

The glossary links are current not working (those are being updated in an errata), but OTHER internal links in the book should work. There are a few bugs still they will be squashing.

The other links aren't working for me at all.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Colville does most of his promotion and talking up of his game through his Twitch livestreams. The people who really give a darn about what he has to say tune into those... and he has said that while his YouTube audience is larger, they don't tend to want the actual nitty-gritty of what is going on, they just want top-level info: What's the status of the game? When is it coming out? And so forth.

He came to that conclusion a long time ago that his Twitch and Patreon followers were the ones who actually cared about the deeper level information which is why that's where you tended to find him.