ZGG's 2006 Call for Blackmoor Writers

[aldarron]

I think you should develop a template (with all the editing details, such as fonts, spaces, columns etc.), then the authors can put together the adventures, possibly avoiding too high level of playing (at least at first...), so we won't need to go into the detail of the real nature of the Egg etc.
Maybe you should identify a mapmaking tool (free download, if possible), so the maps will all look similar as well...

Sounds like a good place to start.

I am all open to suggestions when it comes to all these things to be honest

Is it a good idea to stick to the D20 Blackmoor Setting (ie Year 1030) for these adventures? This might be the best thing we have as a common point of reference. I don't mean the D20 Ruleset, just the setting.

-Havard

I think, as I have done for my campaign, it is easiest to look to the past. There's less baggage and less to argue about, and most of the setting material still applies. The temple of Id period is full of potential, but personally I'm having great fun with my campaign set during the mage wars, because of the freebooter feel of a wartorn Blackmoor and all the deliciously interesting factions.

[Rafael]

I think continuing the MMRPG would be a pretry bad idea, frankly.
It was it's own thing, and it belongs, if not legally, then, morally, to the people who managed it back then, which were Dawn, Robert, Jared, Scott, Tad, Harley, and many others.

Unless they were somehowm involved, I would not touch it. Mind you, they might not even be aware that the MMRPG episodes were made available the way they were, and that's more than anit legally unstable.

That said, for a community project that wasn't just doing what others have already done, and neatly organized at the same time, I'd be willing to lend you a hand.

[Havard]

I think continuing the MMRPG would be a pretry bad idea, frankly.
It was it's own thing, and it belongs, if not legally, then, morally, to the people who managed it back then, which were Dawn, Robert, Jared, Scott, Tad, Harley, and many others.

Unless they were somehowm involved, I would not touch it. Mind you, they might not even be aware that the MMRPG episodes were made available the way they were, and that's more than anit legally unstable.

Two things to get out of the way here.

First of all, I have been in touch with most if not all of the MMRPG module authors. None of them have expressed any problems with me hosting them here. Some have even expressed gratitude for the work we are doing in keeping them available. As noted in the MMRPG Season threads, the modules are hosted here with the expressed permission of Dustin Clingman.

Secondly, this thread is not going to be about continuing the MMRPG. If the active posters here are interested in writing Blackmoor modules, perhaps even in a coordinated way, I have stated that I am willing to host them here. The details of this project are yet to be discussed.

That said, for a community project that wasn't just doing what others have already done, and neatly organized at the same time, I'd be willing to lend you a hand.

Great. Anyone is welcome to join

I think, as I have done for my campaign, it is easiest to look to the past. There's less baggage and less to argue about, and most of the setting material still applies. The temple of Id period is full of potential, but personally I'm having great fun with my campaign set during the mage wars, because of the freebooter feel of a wartorn Blackmoor and all the deliciously interesting factions.

Historical periods can be problematic since pretty much everyone here have their own understanding of the various time periods. That said, we do not need a single consensus-based timeline for the modules or even for them to be set in the same era. This place has room for all interpretations of Blackmoor.

In general I agree on the setting. Probably sticklng to the same ruleset is a good idea as well for consistancy, although I'm open for potential improvement on this issue.

Based on the people posting in this thread so far I would propose a system based on the Classic D&D family, with everythig from OD&D to BECMI.

Some guidelines for avoiding controversy could be:
1) Avoid specific references to historical periods beyond what is detailed in the published material.
2) Modules must not cause dramatic changes to the setting or official NPCs.
3) Modules must not attempt to expose known mysteries of the setting (such as the identity of the Egg of Coot).
4) Modules should be compatible with the 1030 setting as presented in the D20 Hardback
5) Modules should not include elements that would specifically place them in the Wilderlands, Mystara, Greyhawk or similar continuities.
6) Modules should at the same time try to avoid elements that would make them incompatible with the Wilderlands, Mystara etc.
7)Modules should be written with low or lower mid-level characters in mind (1st- 6th)

The above are just ideas. Again, I would be willing to host modules that do not follow the above criterias as well, but perhaps we could use something like this to allow for a a series of adventures that are compatible with most peoples continuities and thus useful for a somewhat larger audience.

Just tossing out ideas here. Nothing is set in stone.

-Havard

[Yaztromo]

Based on the people posting in this thread so far I would propose a system based on the Classic D&D family, with everythig from OD&D to BECMI.

Some guidelines for avoiding controversy could be:
1) Avoid specific references to historical periods beyond what is detailed in the published material.
2) Modules must not cause dramatic changes to the setting or official NPCs.
3) Modules must not attempt to expose known mysteries of the setting (such as the identity of the Egg of Coot).
4) Modules should be compatible with the 1030 setting as presented in the D20 Hardback
5) Modules should not include elements that would specifically place them in the Wilderlands, Mystara, Greyhawk or similar continuities.
6) Modules should at the same time try to avoid elements that would make them incompatible with the Wilderlands, Mystara etc.
7)Modules should be written with low or lower mid-level characters in mind (1st- 6th)

It all makes sense to me.
Believe it or not! :mrgreen:

[RobJN]

Were I to write adventures for general consumption based in Blackmoor, they would most likely be skewed towards Thorn's World That Was, and at least give nods to the Twins' mythology. But this would be writ large in the adventure introduction, and include notes to excise said material.

Thorn's World That Was already has some "fixed points" in its timeline, and I would of course, make full use of those (and (m)any others that come along)

But I suspect all of you would expect nothing less of me

[Havard]

Were I to write adventures for general consumption based in Blackmoor, they would most likely be skewed towards Thorn's World That Was, and at least give nods to the Twins' mythology. But this would be writ large in the adventure introduction, and include notes to excise said material.

Thorn's World That Was already has some "fixed points" in its timeline, and I would of course, make full use of those (and (m)any others that come along)

But I suspect all of you would expect nothing less of me

Absolutely!
As you have shown very well, having our own continuities is definitely not a bad thing. So even if we did manage to create a kind of uncontroversial contiuinty as Yaz and I are discussing here, I would not want that to be a signal that the other continuities are not welcome here at the Comeback Inn. We should always have room for "all things Blackmoor" as Finarvyn once said.

-Havard

[Yaztromo]

Personally, I think it would be wonderful for this site to be able to offer free Blackmoor adventures that can fit evry Blackmoor-ish campaign.
Of course you can add all the legends and words of mouth that you want and have a personal campaign cycle with your favourite themes, but if you push it too far and make it world changing, then it won't fit all sizes anymore.

This is not bad and you can always have a very personal campaign site with world changing events, but it will be a more personal one and therefore separate (and it would be great if you share it on this site, but on a different, dedicated page).

IMHO

[Rafael]

First of all, I have been in touch with most if not all of the MMRPG module authors. None of them have expressed any problems with me hosting them here. Some have even expressed gratitude for the work we are doing in keeping them available. As noted in the MMRPG Season threads, the modules are hosted here with the expressed permission of Dustin Clingman.

Sure, fair enough. But Yaz asked about *continuing* the MMRPG.

In general, folks - and here I am not speaking to anyone in particular - please leave other fans' work alone, unless you get their explicit, unequivocal permission. Not because of me, or whatever, but because you can't about your privacy being respected by the media, and then do this. - Some of the MMRPG authors used their material for later projects, some even reused their manuscripts for other stuff they created. Let's not meddle with what is theirs.

Just tossing out ideas here. Nothing is set in stone.

Good suggestions - though I am sharing Aldarron's opinion: A campaign a bit detached from the overtrodden ground that is the classic BM era (FFC to MMRPG/LFC) might be of more interest; my main argument in favor of this would be that we, the lucky BM core group, like working with the concept. We among us, if we manage to agree on the color of an orange :wink: , can work good things out. I guess once you got things kicking, others would follow.

[RobJN]

I am sharing Aldarron's opinion: A campaign a bit detached from the overtrodden ground that is the classic BM era (FFC to MMRPG/LFC) might be of more interest; my main argument in favor of this would be that we, the lucky BM core group, like working with the concept. We among us, if we manage to agree on the color of an orange :wink: , can work good things out. I guess once you got things kicking, others would follow.

Emphasis mine. This is pretty much why I chose the Last Days era to play with -- I can throw in just enough references and history to make things interesting, while not having to worry too much about stepping on anybody else's toes, while at the same time giving nods and winks. The gap between "established" Blackmoor leaves plenty of room to expand if I need to, and to leave crumbs for others in our group of regulars to pick up and follow if they want.

Its all about telling a good collaborative story, to me.

[Havard]

Sounds to me like we have two possible options:

A) What is being proposed by Yaztromo and myself: To create a series of adventures that are non-controversial and designed to be used with as many types of Blackmoor campaigns/DMing styles as possible.

B) What is being proposed by RobJN, Raphael and Aldarron: To create a series of adventures that accomodate the creative visions of each of the writers, possibly to be set in different eras and having room for more author defined visions such as found in RobJN's World that Was/End of Days, Havard's Vales Campaign, Aldarron's MageWars Setting, Raphael's LFC/Evensong etc.

The main advantage of option A is a wide appeal and a broad audience. The main advantage of option B is that it offers more room for creativity by the authors. I suspect that authors will probably find this option more appealing as it would allow the authors to delve more into their own visions of Blackmoor.


So here is my proposal: Let us proceed with BOTH options. I propose that we introduce TWO adventure lines here at the Comeback Inn, based on the options presented above.


1. BLACKMOOR JOURNEYS (BMJ Series)
The goal of these adventures is that it should be possible to drop them into any Blackmoor Campaign

• The modules should feature the BMJ logo on the cover (To be designed later).
  
• This line of adventures all conform to a specific set of restrictions:
  
• All adventures in the Journeys Series should be written so that they can be set in the Year 1025-1030.
  
• The adventures should not make references that tie the adventure to a specific version/continuity of Blackmoor
  
• The adventures should not by design introduce dramatic changes to the setting (kill off official NPCs, destroy locations, organizations etc).
  
• The Journey Series should be usable for parties of level 7 of lower.
  
• Links to the Comeback Inn website must be included in the module.
  
• A standard paragraph describing the BMJ and BMX Series must be included with each module.

1. BLACKMOOR CROSSROADS (BMX Series)
This line of adventures produces edgier stories and allow more freedom for each author to present his or her visions of Blackmoor.

• These modules should feature the BMX logo on the cover (To be designed later).
  
• The author is pretty much free to design any type of adventure he wants
  
• The author is asked to include a paragraph in his introduction of the module explaining how the module will differ from the generic version of Blackmoor (does it belong to a specific continuity for instance) and if possible include a few words on how the module may be adapted to other versions of Blackmoor. Continuity logos may be placed on the cover should the author wish to do so.
  
• Links to the Comeback Inn website must be included in the module.
  
• A standard paragraph describing the BMJ and BMX Series must be included with each module.

What do you think? Could this double path model be a good starting point for everyone? Specific requirements for each Series (BMJ and BMX) are still open for discussion as well.



-Havard