Wolfgang Baur's Open Design #3 down to Ghouls vs. City-State

[Vigilance]

That seems to be part of the draw.

If by "part of the draw" you mean the arcane, intimidating and off-putting part, I agree completely.

 

[Monkey King]

I was interesting in learning some design-fu and getting some cool books, not joining a club.

I thought these were just ransom projects.

Just seems like a very complicated, arcane process.

The first one was extremely arcane, though not really complicated. It just follows the old Renaissance model: patrons pay writer/artist/someone to make a thing. The thing gets made. End of story.

The second one is a little more traditional, as people who are patrons of any project can get a copy of that one.

I expect the third may be even simpler. The reason it's limited to a "club", as you say, is that I can only handle the input from so many patrons at a time. Beyond that, it's hard to teach design-fu or respond to questions in a timely way.

 

[Monkey King]

If by "part of the draw" you mean the arcane, intimidating and off-putting part, I agree completely.

Huh, I'll buy arcane and off-putting, I guess, sort of. But why intimidating?

 

[catsclaw227]

If by "part of the draw" you mean the arcane, intimidating and off-putting part, I agree completely.

It is a shame you feel this way. As a patron of the 2nd and now 3rd project, I find the process and result to be quite the opposite. Maybe when you hear feedback about this third project, you will be interested in the next one (assuming there is a 4th).

 

[Vigilance]

The first one was extremely arcane, though not really complicated. It just follows the old Renaissance model: patrons pay writer/artist/someone to make a thing. The thing gets made. End of story.

The second one is a little more traditional, as people who are patrons of any project can get a copy of that one.

I expect the third may be even simpler. The reason it's limited to a "club", as you say, is that I can only handle the input from so many patrons at a time. Beyond that, it's hard to teach design-fu or respond to questions in a timely way.

But it was the patrons who closed the first book off yes? Meaning it could happen again?

In other words, I could sign up for the current book, thinking "I can buy book #2 later", but then those patrons can vote, and close it off before that happens?

I was just looking at the livejournal a little, and it seemed the patrons (some of them) were the driving force behind the exclusivity.

 

[Vigilance]

Huh, I'll buy arcane and off-putting, I guess, sort of. But why intimidating?

Mostly the time element of the equation.

It seems like if you become a patron earlier you'd get more feedback on the current project, and then once you were "in" you'd want to buy the back catalogue quickly in case the patrons decided to close it off.

 

[Monkey King]

But it was the patrons who closed the first book off yes? Meaning it could happen again?

No, it cannot happen again, mostly because I feel burned by the way the first one turned out. I wasn't as clear as I could have been about the terms of the first one, and when I asked, "So, future patrons can get copies, right?" some people disagreed.

I changed the terms for the second and all future projects. This will NOT happen again.

In other words, I could sign up for the current book, thinking "I can buy book #2 later", but then those patrons can vote, and close it off before that happens?

That was true for the first one, but is not true for the current one.

I was just looking at the livejournal a little, and it seemed the patrons (some of them) were the driving force behind the exclusivity.

Yes indeed. But the folks who pushed for it were a tiny minority; most people wanted the work seen more widely. I think eventually (project #4? who knows) I'll propose a project that is meant from the start to be released to the public.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'm still a little confused on how Project #3 patrons can get their grubby mitts (I really should go wash my hands) on Castle Shadowcrag.

 

[Man-thing]

I don't believe that Wolfgang has said how members of Open Design 3 can get a copy of Castle Shadowcrag yet. Probably when he decides on the specifics he will make an announcement on the Open Design site.

 

[Vigilance]

No, it cannot happen again, mostly because I feel burned by the way the first one turned out. I wasn't as clear as I could have been about the terms of the first one, and when I asked, "So, future patrons can get copies, right?" some people disagreed.

That's a lot more clear, thanks a lot for the information.

Chuck