I write workhorse products . . . Should I?

[Justin D. Jacobson]

I hate you, Phil Reed.

Are you the one who PM'd him that he should die? I think I've cracked the case!

 

[philreed]

put something out for OD&D(1974). you'd have me at Hello.

You know, I've never played that version. Hell, I was 2 in 1974.

If you enjoy both aspects then you are lucky.

I definitely enjoy both aspects. A lot of the fun is the challenge of determining what sort of material a DM could really use -- even if he doesn't realize it. I've never been big on creating magic items since they're everywhere but the more mundane stuff . . . well, that's fun!

(Incidentally, in response to your reply to my review, it was a typo. I meant "tacky". I didn't choose to read into it that way, but I could easily see how someone could...)

Aha! That makes sense. I sat there for a few minutes thinking, "Tack, WTF is tack?"

 

[Rodrigo Istalindir]

I've got that down. "What do I want to write today?" is a common question I ask myself.

I ask myself that question every day. By the time I get all the other crap done I need to do and get home from work, I'd be happy to write anything Thank God for Ceramic DM.

I suppose you're really in the same position, though. Write the bread & butter stuff during the day, and work on the pet projects at night.

 

[philreed]

I'd bet you would put together some really excellent adventures or focused settings books.

I'm actually better at coming up with adventure ideas than I am writing complete adventures. While I like the idea of adventure writing it just isn't one of my strengths. Whenever I'm involved in adventure material these days (such as with Superline #1 I write up 500-1,000 words and then Michael Hammes takes that and greatly expands and improves upon it.

That said, I've been studying adventures a lot more lately and want to take a shot at writing a sci-fi adventure. Maybe in August.

I'm waiting for the other monster variants to replace those taken out of the SRD. The possessors have seen use in quite a few fields and I was anxious to see what Christopher Shy and you came up with for Beholders.

I'm still sitting on all of the art and text for the beholder variant. I really should rework that and release it someday.

I hate you, Phil Reed.

Yeah? Well . . . uh . . . okay. But you're gonna have to get in line.

Are you the one who PM'd him that he should die?

I bet if you take thirty seconds to think about it you can guess the identity behind that quote I used to have in my sig. While the quote was a great soundbite he had some really excellent words that still make me chuckle.

 

[philreed]

I suppose you're really in the same position, though. Write the bread & butter stuff during the day, and work on the pet projects at night.

Well, these days it's been sleep at night. But since I rarely sleep in until 5 am I've been very happy with the extra sleep this week.

 

[Vigilance]

I sometimes wish I was better at writing products that slot right into folks' campaigns Phil

I have the opposite tendency, at least with my fantasy books, cause there's a lot about traditional D&D that I cant live with, so I changed it. While this makes me (and I hope those who buy my stuff) happy, it does decrease utility somewhat.

But I guess on the Modern front my stuff "slots" fairly well.

Chuck

 

[der_kluge]

I love your products as is. That's why I buy them. I could just plug them in at any time. I love adding little slices of realism and creativity in places where players least expect them, which is why I really like the products like "pockets picked" or the mundane treasures books.

Great stuff. If you're looking for suggestions, I'd love to see more "encounter" type products. And not villains, but just interesting encounters.

 

[philreed]

I love your products as is. That's why I buy them. I could just plug them in at any time. I love adding little slices of realism and creativity in places where players least expect them, which is why I really like the products like "pockets picked" or the mundane treasures books.

Thanks. To be fair, Michael Hammes wrote A Dozen Pockets Picked.

Great stuff. If you're looking for suggestions, I'd love to see more "encounter" type products. And not villains, but just interesting encounters.

If you play in future campaigns that feature starships you'll probably find the PDF I'm working on today -- Future: 13 Sensor Contacts -- useful. It's basically 13 brief encounters to throw at players as they're traveling from one planet to another.

Ed Bourelle and I were talking about A Dozen Dungeon Entrances the other day. That would also be a type "product with encounters" PDF. Of course, since I was talking to Ed you know that there would be an e-Adventure Tiles companion product.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Phil,

If this is your main source of income then I wouldn't go fixing what isn't broken. Keep up with the workhorse products and get all artsy only when you are able (or to keep from going nuts).

Incidentally I picked up your 2004 compendium. Good work man. As a gamer, I give you a big thumbs up. As a publisher, I think you should drive over to Wulf's place, blindfold yourself, and knock on the door.

 

[WayneLigon]

I'd rather have a description of a dozen armors, or an article on various horse types, or several unusual coins that most adventures I've seen.