Goodman Games to publish the Morningstar Hardcover... My first book!

[RSKennan]

I'm psyched! First I had an NDA with WotC when I made it to round two of the setting search, and then Joseph asked me to keep quiet about the fact that he was publishing my setting. But since it's now on the front page of Gamingreport.com
, He told me I can now talk about what I'm doing with Morningstar.

For those who don't remember, Here's my old Thread on the subject from these parts:

EN World

and another from the Wizards boards:

http://boards.wizards.com/rpg-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=226;t=000010

I'm now officially free to answer questions! Just don't expect me to post the manuscript

-Scott

 

[haiiro]

I remember really liking your setting proposal back when you first posted that thread -- congratulations on getting the book deal. I am very much looking forward to seeing it.

I feel obliged to ask a question, so...how much of the book will be setting material, and how much of it will be crunch?

 

[RSKennan]

Well, the book is a setting, so most of it is geared towards setting up fantastic locales, strange yet familiar cultures, and establishing a strong "Morningstar Flavor". That said, I have two core classes, the Artificer (unrelated to Mongoose's version) and the Eidolon (A paladin replacement for a world without feudalism), about a dozen feats as of right now (I'm certain there will be more) an entire crunchy chapter on the unique mechanics of magic on Thraxis, new spells, PrCs that fit the world, close to 20 new monsters that I'm going to have to decide between for around 10-15 including several new outsiders like the Tanin; Celestial whales helping to fight the undersea war that has broke out with the aberrant subterranean civilization called Hrum Vaat and rules for "construct vehicles" such as scorpion golems and ornithopters.


I have tried to keep the crunch ratio high enough that the setting book can be mined for rules systems, but not so high that it detracts from the setting.

 

[haiiro]

I have tried to keep the crunch ratio high enough that the setting book can be mined for rules systems, but not so high that it detracts from the setting.

Thus far, this is probably my favorite approach. While some may find the FRCS and Rokugan (for example) too crunchy, I get a lot of use out of both books even when I'm not playing in or involved with either setting.

Here's a follow-up question: how have you handled (or will you handle) playtesting? I assume you have DM time with the setting, but what about with the mechanics?

Edit: sloppy typing = bad.

 

[RSKennan]

It's a process, fundamentally. Goodman Games has several groups that do playtesting, so once we get their feedback we'll make the appropriate adjustments. I also have some old contacts with opinions that I trust. My best friend reigns me in when I get too crazy with my ideas, and tries to break the rules for me. We've always been that way, before d20 made me give up the homebrew system he and I were working on.

I have been awake far too long, and actually forgot some of the most important stuff!

There are three new varieties of Dwarves, each with their own role, five new varieties of fey (Immortal) elves, a monstrous race called the thull, and three halfling subraces. The new Dwarves and Elves are treated as five-level classes with an ECL given for D20 purists.

 

[Airwolf]

Huge congrats to you, RSKennan (Scott). Maybe we can start calling you WotcJR.

 

[Ace]

I'm psyched! First I had an NDA with WotC when I made it to round two of the setting search, and then Joseph asked me to keep quiet about the fact that he was publishing my setting. But since it's now on the front page of Gamingreport.com
, He told me I can now talk about what I'm doing with Morningstar.

For those who don't remember, Here's my old Thread on the subject from these parts:

EN World

and another from the Wizards boards:

http://boards.wizards.com/rpg-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=226;t=000010

I'm now officially free to answer questions! Just don't expect me to post the manuscript

-Scott

Congatualtions! Congratulations!

 

[RSKennan]

Thanks alot!

 

[haiiro]

I guess I'm feeling more inquisitive than I thought...

How large will the book be?
How will the art be handled (on artist, a few, many, etc.)?
Hardcover or softcover?

 

[RSKennan]

I guess I'm feeling more inquisitive than I thought...

How large will the book be?
How will the art be handled (on artist, a few, many, etc.)?
Hardcover or softcover?

It's going to be a hardcover, page count remains to be seen (how much will get cut or abridged) I've seen an early stage of the cover which I thought was great, and Joseph is handling all of the art. From my understanding at least one interior artist will be a name that I've admired from Dragon. I'm not sure if I'm on thin ice talking about the logistics, since Joseph wants to release a lot of that information when he makes the official announcement.

I'm happy to answer any questions about the setting, however.