What do you think of Wolfgang Baur's Adventure by Design

[Glyfair]

I know I brought this up before, however things seem to be progressing a bit. I ended up getting involved at the lowest level (if I had been working full-time at the time I would have probably invested a bit more in it).

Details are at http://customadventure.livejournal.com/

Do you think this has the possibility of becoming a popular method of adventure publishing?

Right now he's down to 4 themes:

The Black Forest: Old growth and ancient magic.
The Flying Fortress: Aerial adventure suitable for any location.
Steam and Brass: A clockwork city-based adventure.
The Lost City: A lost civilization and its rich treasures.

 

[tadk]

I like it
he has my 2 top choices left
time to donate money

 

[Odhanan]

Nice! Thanks for the link!

 

[Land Outcast]

Yes... nice... If I could make donations...

 

[Wycen]

I've been following the blog since the news was first posted on ENWorld. On the one hand, I like the idea of being a patron AND being associated with Wolfgang Baur would be SWEET! On the other, for some reason "buying" a credit on a product feels kinda dodgy. I've been hemming at becoming a patron since first reading about it. I'm afraid by the time I decide, all the fun will be over.

I have the funds, that's not the problem. I think if I just concentrate on "getting a customized adventure" I'll probably pony up the money.

 

[DaveMage]

No use for it.

 

[trancejeremy]

It's interesting, but I don't see it becoming all that common, even if it's successful. The author of this is one of those ex-TSR/WOTC guys that you've heard of, so some people will be interested. OTOH, he's presumably not got a following large enough to start his own successful company, like Monte Cook and such.

 

[Starglim]

I think the ransom system is an interesting alternative value proposition and has had some notable successes (such as Dennis Detwiler's Delta Green adventures).

To me Wolfgang Baur's current project goes too far in the direction of design by committee and is more exclusive than I think the model requires. I hope he stops consulting, announces the final shape and release intentions of the work and starts designing not too much further into the process.

edit: I wouldn't pay $50 for an adventure of this length. I have my doubts whether the people being persuaded to part with that sort of money will look back and be satisfied they received whatever they imagine they're paying for.

 

[Glyfair]

edit: I wouldn't pay $50 for an adventure of this length. I have my doubts whether the people being persuaded to part with that sort of money will look back and be satisfied they received whatever they imagine they're paying for.

With the amount of input allowed at the $50 level, it's almost like buying a customized adventure (with a lot of limitations).

How much would you pay to have someone like Monte Cook, Bruce Cordell, Gary Gygax or even Wolfgang Baur write an adventure specifically towards your specifications (admittedly, this falls very short of that)?

 

[Starglim]

With the amount of input allowed at the $50 level, it's almost like buying a customized adventure (with a lot of limitations).

How much would you pay to have someone like Monte Cook, Bruce Cordell, Gary Gygax or even Wolfgang Baur write an adventure specifically towards your specifications (admittedly, this falls very short of that)?

For a highly-regarded writer to write, say, a campaign introduction or a major component of my own story arc, based on my campaign assumptions, would certainly be an amazing defining concept for one of my campaigns. As you say, that's not what this is. I still don't know if I would pay $50 to run that concept campaign.

Possibly the discussion and involvement in the design process itself from someone that I respected greatly for his ideas of game development, as well as his finished work, would be a worthwhile part of the project.


Maybe I should clarify that the idea, in principle, of giving close specifications to a writer for the kind or style of adventure, the place that it should fit in a campaign and the direction that it should move my players (in terms of accomplishments, plot lines resolved or introduced and treasure given), is very attractive. I think this project gives over some of the wrong kinds of decisions to the patrons, such as the monsters to be used or the title.