Frank Mentzer reveals more details on Worlds of Empyrea

Frank Mentzer, in a video interview about his years in game design and upcoming Kickstarter, notes that Worlds of Empyrea will not just include multi-system support, but that each game system will have an Empyrea boxed set tailor made to fit the play style for that particular game system, which he hopes to release for Gen Con 2018 following the upcoming Kickstarter next month.

Additionally, over on Facebook, he revealed a new (final) logo for the setting.

The different boxed sets means that the DCC version of the box set might differ in tone and content, than the D&D 5E version or the Castles & Crusades version. It also means that gamers will not need to sift through mechanics that are intended for other game systems (such as monster stat blocks, etc). The box set will include only the content relevant to the game system of choice. Amongst the systems mentioned were RuneQuest, Savage Worlds, D&D 5e, AD&D, BECMI, Dungeon Crawl Classics, Pathfinder, and Swords & Wizardry.

The interview also touches upon several other aspects of the Kickstarter as well as Frank's history during and after his TSR tenure.

 

[Barantor]

Amazing talk, seems like Frank has lots of plans.

 

[MartyW]

Please visit the site to get me some ad credit for my hard work.

Thank you.

https://ragingowlbear.blogspot.com

 

[Adammar]

I would think this would be impractical. It would mean each book would have to be re-written and have multiple small print runs and the boxes would have to be packed separately. Add the market fractioning from the multitude of systems and I am not sure how one would make it work financially.

 

[jerryrice4949]

I would think this would be impractical. It would mean each book would have to be re-written and have multiple small print runs and the boxes would have to be packed separately. Add the market fractioning from the multitude of systems and I am not sure how one would make it work financially.

I have similar concerns. Looks good but if it is so ambitious I worry about the likelihood of it being on time or complete at all.

 

[ExTSR]

One Product for 10 Systems?

Quite reasonable concerns above. Here's how it will work:

1. I've already worked out the details.
Back in 2012-13 I worked on this a lot, but the company (Eldritch) couldn't handle it, so it got shelved. This time it works. This is my full-time job now.

2. Setting not Adventures: Most of this text isn't system-specific. The crunch can be segregated into a System Book. When you need combat details, you switch to that booklet. Afterward you go back to the realm book (or whichever).
......By contrast, every Adventure must be system-specific. In that case we'll start with one great adventure and convert/rewrite for each System. That may in fact prove infeasible cost-wise, but we'll try. The fallback is to encourage fans and publishers to generate their own, working in cooperation with the Empyrea team.

3. Game-specific details: For 5e (frex), you CAN play a Duergar, Eladrin, Dragonborn, or Firbolg in Empyrea (we provide the key PC background bits) but we may have to rule out Aasimar entirely. In some systems, Clerics are missing; we'll address that too. And so forth.

4. Slight compromise by You
We're aiming for 95% compatibility. There will undoubtedly be a few things we have to modify or rule out. Every system has unique cool approaches, and we'll go through every one of them.

5. A First Step
Yes, a System Publishers' product would have the big books full of lots of game-specific stuff. That's what publishers do to promote their game systems. But it doesn't have to be that way; that's just old habits, the old low-risk Tried-And-True. this is New, both as a product and as an approach. As an independent Design House, we both can and will support many game systems, not just one--because we don't have a System of our own. (We might, in a couple of years; we'll see.)
.

And finally, as to Being Timely: This is my first Kickstarter so I've assembled a large Team of specialists. I know how to Manage, not how to do all this tech and web stuff and art. ;> Loxley is a company, not a hobby, and we have a tight timeline. Team members have already run more than 25 kickstarters for their own projects, and their experience is helping with this one. We're very confident that we can deliver next Summer, in time for GenCon 51.

-- Frank

 

[TrainedMunkey]

Quite reasonable concerns above. Here's how it will work:

snip

And finally, as to Being Timely: This is my first Kickstarter so I've assembled a large Team of specialists. I know how to Manage, not how to do all this tech and web stuff and art. ;> Loxley is a company, not a hobby, and we have a tight timeline. Team members have already run more than 25 kickstarters for their own projects, and their experience is helping with this one. We're very confident that we can deliver next Summer, in time for GenCon 51.

-- Frank

I am excited Frank. Good luck and you have my backing for a couple different box sets.

 

[EthanSental]

Awesome and thanks for further clarification.

 

[ExTSR]

you have my backing for a couple different box sets.

You only need one. Save your money, there's a lot of cool stuff out there.

Add-on the extra System Books only (very affordable) for the other Crunch you want.
That's built into the Kickstarter ordering setup.

F

 

[Ed Veal]

You only need one. Save your money, there's a lot of cool stuff out there.

Add-on the extra System Books only (very affordable) for the other Crunch you want.
That's built into the Kickstarter ordering setup.

F

Now that is even better news, as I play D&D 5E and Savage worlds. This way I can get one box and just add on the other crunch books I need. Well I will probably get two box sets anyway one to use and one to shelve. I like to collect! Thanks Frank!