MEG Campaign Planner

[philreed]

Don't thank me yet. I've bought it, I've read it, and I'm going to comment. Just not until I've sorted out my thoughts a little more.

Well, I look forward to whatever feedback you have to give.

 

[Nellisir]

Well, I look forward to whatever feedback you have to give.

I'm not trying to scare you. I like it, but it's not quite clicking for me, and I don't want to complain without a clear complaint or a possible solution.

I will say, it feels very retro. A campaign supplement you print out and write on.


Nell.

 

[Flyspeck23]

Now, where can I find this fabled "Player's Archive" I've heard so much about? (And read, for instance in the copyright notice of the Campaign Planner...)
Right now I'm in the mood of aquiring more game aids

I will say, it feels very retro. A campaign supplement you print out and write on.

That's the best part, ain't it? Real paper with real letters and boxes for me to sit down and write real words on it.
Maybe it's just me, but creativity doesn't quite work out for me while sitting in front of a computer. And as I'll likely use those notes in a real roleplaying game (and not PBEM or somesuch, mind you) I'm glad my notes are real. Hope I made my point

 

[Mystic Eye]

Now, where can I find this fabled "Player's Archive" I've heard so much about? (And read, for instance in the copyright notice of the Campaign Planner...)
Right now I'm in the mood of aquiring more game aids


That's the best part, ain't it? Real paper with real letters and boxes for me to sit down and write real words on it.
Maybe it's just me, but creativity doesn't quite work out for me while sitting in front of a computer. And as I'll likely use those notes in a real roleplaying game (and not PBEM or somesuch, mind you) I'm glad my notes are real. Hope I made my point

The Player's Archive is available at your local gaming store, most on-line shops and our very own on line store. Thanks for asking!

 

[MEG Hal]

Now, where can I find this fabled "Player's Archive" I've heard so much about? (And read, for instance in the copyright notice of the Campaign Planner...)
Right now I'm in the mood of aquiring more game aids


That's the best part, ain't it? Real paper with real letters and boxes for me to sit down and write real words on it.
Maybe it's just me, but creativity doesn't quite work out for me while sitting in front of a computer. And as I'll likely use those notes in a real roleplaying game (and not PBEM or somesuch, mind you) I'm glad my notes are real. Hope I made my point

If you click on my first post in this thread it will take you to our online store, but most retailers should have this in stock or should be able to order it for you ASAP!!! We love both so enjoy!

 

[Flyspeck23]

Aaah, no PDF-version then. Well, then I've got to ask the forbidden question:

Any chance of this coming out as a PDF?

Sounds funny, I know.


(Sidenote: you guys are really quick. Thanks for that.)

 

[Mystic Eye]

Aaah, no PDF-version then. Well, then I've got to ask the forbidden question:

Any chance of this coming out as a PDF?

Sounds funny, I know.


(Sidenote: you guys are really quick. Thanks for that.)

We do not have any plans right now to bring the Player's Archive to PDF but Phil will be selling the add-on's to it as PDF files (These are the 11 class specific items he is doing to add to the Archive). We always eventually bring our products to PDF format when they have run their course or gone out of print. With a product like this though, who can say when that will be.

 

[Nellisir]

Maybe it's just me, but creativity doesn't quite work out for me while sitting in front of a computer.

Well, it's you and a large number of other people, but it's not me, and I daresay, a fairly large number of yet more people.
I've got a 92+ page campaign setting handbook -- that's including slightly revised races, classes, new prestige classes, new feats, spells, magic items, deities, and a geographically small gazetteer, plus an appendix with non-OGC material and recommended reading. Computer-assisted campaign creation is not an issue. But that's not my point.

And as I'll likely use those notes in a real roleplaying game (and not PBEM or somesuch, mind you) I'm glad my notes are real. Hope I made my point

Just fine; I'm really not arguing it. I still print that 92+ page handbook and hand it out (in a real game...), and there are forms in the Campaign Planner that I could use as handouts.

However...taken as handouts and printed material, the forms are boring and unattractive. They look like something I could do in 3 hours in MSWord (DISCLAIMER: I'm not saying I -could- do them in 3 hours, just that they LOOK like it. DOUBLE DISCLAIMER: Yes, MS is the devil, we are all being seduced by lucifer, I should switch to a real program, yadda yadda yadda, got it. ). Frankly, I'm suprised to see something like this from Phil. His designs are usually pretty spiffy. Regardless of how long the forms take to create, I -know- I could reach over, grab a book of copyright free illustrations, scan a few simple b&w pictures/designs (simple, line-style, non-inkhogging), convert them to jpgs, and plant them in the document in 30 minutes or less. Would it change the -actual- utility value of the document? Not a bit. Would it change the -perceived- value of the Campaign Planner? Absolutely. It's the difference between buying the 3 core rulebooks and downloading the SRD. Same crunch, only in caramel candy corn chocolate flavor, instead of cardboard.

Then again, it could just be me.

Cheers
Nell.

 

[MEG Hal]

However...taken as handouts and printed material, the forms are boring and unattractive.
Then again, it could just be me.

Cheers
Nell.

Being the one that has had the Players Archive in my thoughts for almost 3 years, and now its sister piece the Campaign Planner my thoughts on them from the start was utility, I find the look and feel simple yes but roomy and professional looking and with the Campaign Planner being a .pdf only I know that was a concern of Phil's to let it be used as a tool not drain ink. So I am partly to blame for this and when I looked at it, I was pleasantly happy with how both products turned out.

So I am sorry you feel that way but our theme was "utility" and less drain on the customer, and to focus on the history of the words you wrote.

I am sure Phil will have more to say since he is the heart and soul behind the books.

 

[Nellisir]

I know that was a concern of Phil's to let it be used as a tool not drain ink.

I -really- think there's a middle ground. Margin art doesn't have to be thick, heavy, and rainbowed. A 1/2" of light gray 1/16th gridlines around the border would add definition, take away the feeling of blank white space, use very little additional ink, and allow people to write over them. (It'd also look very technological, and I wouldn't do it just like that, but the idea works...)

Cheers
Nell.