Vikings D20
- Thread starter Jolly Giant
- Start date
Jolly Giant
First Post
Thanks Fenris, I think I needed that. 
The book is largely completed, I'm done with all the mechanical stuff and what I think of as the "game stuff". All the material on classes, spells, feats, monsters, skill uses, equipment, etc. is finished. The chapters on religion and cosmology are done. I've also done a chapter on the Viking way of life; describing their ethics, laws and way of thinking, and also their day-to-day life in Scandinavia.
I'm mostly done with the section about their travels and their relations to other cultures.
What remains are the bits that are largely Scandinavian geography and history, and I admit I'm struggling here. I just don't know how much to include of this. Vikings D20 is by nature a blend of facts and fantasy, but I just don't know how many facts to include. And which facts do I include, and which do I leave out? Obviously I can't include every bit of potentially relevant information, or the book would be thousands of pages long.
Typing this, I realize what I should have done long ago: Ask you guys! Could you please give me some feedback on what kind of facts you think you need to make your future Vikings D20 campaigns the best gaming experience it could be? How much geographical and historical information do you want? All input is most welcome (as always)!
Finally, thanks for your patience everyone! This project has taken waaay longer than I ever imagined possible, and I apologize for keeping you waiting so long.
-Vidar.
The book is largely completed, I'm done with all the mechanical stuff and what I think of as the "game stuff". All the material on classes, spells, feats, monsters, skill uses, equipment, etc. is finished. The chapters on religion and cosmology are done. I've also done a chapter on the Viking way of life; describing their ethics, laws and way of thinking, and also their day-to-day life in Scandinavia.
I'm mostly done with the section about their travels and their relations to other cultures.
What remains are the bits that are largely Scandinavian geography and history, and I admit I'm struggling here. I just don't know how much to include of this. Vikings D20 is by nature a blend of facts and fantasy, but I just don't know how many facts to include. And which facts do I include, and which do I leave out? Obviously I can't include every bit of potentially relevant information, or the book would be thousands of pages long.
Typing this, I realize what I should have done long ago: Ask you guys! Could you please give me some feedback on what kind of facts you think you need to make your future Vikings D20 campaigns the best gaming experience it could be? How much geographical and historical information do you want? All input is most welcome (as always)!
Finally, thanks for your patience everyone! This project has taken waaay longer than I ever imagined possible, and I apologize for keeping you waiting so long.
-Vidar.
Fenris
Adventurer
Vidar,
My 2 øre
I think you're done. Remember this isn't a dissertation on the Scandnavian cultures from the 6-11th centuries. This is a game supplement. The real question to ask is how many people will run this as a psuedo-historical campaign set on earth, and how many are going to use this as source book to establish a Viking-like culture in thier homebrew.
Most people will want everything you already have: mechanics, cosmology and enough cultural background to flesh out interactions and establish personalities and motivations. But when the Vikings made it to Rus or Vineland is less important than the fact that their longboats could make it there at all.
Certainly the history and geography are important to understanding the Viking world-view. But I think all you really just need is a synopsis, or a well-fleshed out RL time-line. Any more than that people can find on their own.
As I said most people will take this and plunk it down within a larger fanatsy world. So the real life exploits of Vikings are less important within that context.
As a last bit of encouragement, I wanted to point out that this thread has more posts and WAY more views than any other in the publishers forums. That should tell you how much people are looking forward to this. Your passion, expertise and dedication are seen and people are very interested. We just want to see it before 4th ed
My 2 øre
I think you're done. Remember this isn't a dissertation on the Scandnavian cultures from the 6-11th centuries. This is a game supplement. The real question to ask is how many people will run this as a psuedo-historical campaign set on earth, and how many are going to use this as source book to establish a Viking-like culture in thier homebrew.
Most people will want everything you already have: mechanics, cosmology and enough cultural background to flesh out interactions and establish personalities and motivations. But when the Vikings made it to Rus or Vineland is less important than the fact that their longboats could make it there at all.
Certainly the history and geography are important to understanding the Viking world-view. But I think all you really just need is a synopsis, or a well-fleshed out RL time-line. Any more than that people can find on their own.
As I said most people will take this and plunk it down within a larger fanatsy world. So the real life exploits of Vikings are less important within that context.
As a last bit of encouragement, I wanted to point out that this thread has more posts and WAY more views than any other in the publishers forums. That should tell you how much people are looking forward to this. Your passion, expertise and dedication are seen and people are very interested. We just want to see it before 4th ed
Last edited:
Sigurd
First Post
I think I agree with Fenris.
My strategy would be to make everything you have now fit and see what the editors tell you in terms of size - you may not have any room for new material. Once you're published you can still do updates, a web site, a second edition ... whatever floats your knorr.
My guess is you might really enjoy the opening of a circle of gamers to talk about your work. Why not leave something to explore with the people who buy your book. Publish the book and have a module contest to write something from the setting!
Sigurd
My strategy would be to make everything you have now fit and see what the editors tell you in terms of size - you may not have any room for new material. Once you're published you can still do updates, a web site, a second edition ... whatever floats your knorr.
My guess is you might really enjoy the opening of a circle of gamers to talk about your work. Why not leave something to explore with the people who buy your book. Publish the book and have a module contest to write something from the setting!
Sigurd
Xyanthon
First Post
I agree with the others. I find viking culture fascinating and would love to include it in my game. I do like a lot of background material but seeing as how this is for a game setting, most of us will probably include our own geographical information. I'm not saying you shouldn't include such info; it'd be great material. I think it sounds like you have the bulk of the important stuff done. I'm looking forward to getting this!
Jolly Giant
First Post
Well, if everyone agrees with Fenris, then I'm pretty mcuh done. *phew!* 
You here that Le?
You here that Le?
TheLe
First Post
Jolly Giant said:Well, if everyone agrees with Fenris, then I'm pretty mcuh done. *phew!*
You here that Le?
I hear you. But the writer finishing is just the beginning of the process. As the publisher, I am sure there are things I will nitpick.
Don't worry, we'll get through it all. I'll make sure we post another demo to appease the masses though.
`Le
Sigurd
First Post
A good editor is a huge blessing to a writing project. Dont abuse them but make use of the second opinion they offer -- especially as they have a focus on 'product' which is sometimes different from 'message'. I think writers can benefit from being reminded that their message has to be digestible in a format that works for the reader.
Sigurd
