Dust, to Dust (& grimoire) (&collaboration)?

[neorxnawang]

Hi all--

I've started outlining and noodling over Dust, to Dust, which is going to be an add-on book for Ashes to Ashes.

Presently I'm inclined to just put it out for free. Chaosium's new printer (whoever they're using for monographs anyway) just can't handle much in the way of fonts & can't handle color anything--frustrating.

It'll include at least one more region (the Western Isles) and maybe another (Takuk). I didn't club anyone over the head with it, but the lands correspond with the 7 deadly sins (Eglantine--wrath, Fallingstar--pride, The Dells--lust, Majestic Plateau--greed). The Western Isles will be sloth and Takuk gluttony. My ideas for the Western Isles are pretty well formed; I was going to include it in the main book until I got the finger waggle about target length.

There will also be 2 scenarios, the Shadow over Trepminster, a murder mystery and It's Not A Lie, If You Believe That It's True, which is really grim and brutal.

One thing I would like to do is include a sample basic spell list beyond what is in the BRP main book. Has anyone done any compilation work on such at thing?

Also, if anyone is interested in a collaborator, I'm always interested. I can't draw but I can write.

[Trifletraxor]

Hi all--

I've started outlining and noodling over Dust, to Dust, which is going to be an add-on book for Ashes to Ashes.

Good news! :happy:

Presently I'm inclined to just put it out for free.

Even better!

Chaosium's new printer (whoever they're using for monographs anyway) just can't handle much in the way of fonts & can't handle color anything--frustrating.

Have you got hold of a paper copy yet? I'm still waiting for one of those to appear. Must say their cover was a bit disappointing - for both Ashes to Ashes and Berlin '61 (the original Berlin '61 cover done for GORE is actually nicer than the BRP one). I'd prefer a colour pdf to a black and white book though, as I then can just print it out myself.

There will also be 2 scenarios, the Shadow over Trepminster, a murder mystery and It's Not A Lie, If You Believe That It's True, which is really grim and brutal.

Very good! I love published scenarios!

One thing I would like to do is include a sample basic spell list beyond what is in the BRP main book. Has anyone done any compilation work on such at thing?

What magic system / power system would you be using? We could always start up a thread to produce magic spells for the wiki, usable by all.

SGL.

[neorxnawang]

I now officially Have No IdeaTM what is going on with the hard copy. It's really frustrating.

The original manuscript was much more attractive than the one that finally wnt out as a pdf. It had a page border, more fonts, color images, etc. I had to remove the border, pare down the fonts, and greyscale everything for the benefit of the printer. It was also going to be longer (a couple more "nastier" scenarios) but I was "asked'' to keep it to around 150 pages. Monograph limitations are what they are.

I've taken several runs at making the printer happy. 3 redos taking about 20 hours. (I should note that I did not have the same level of problems with The Primal State). Chaosium hasnt responded to my last "so please tell me that fixed it" message.

In terms of the magic system, it's basically 'you can try to cast any published spell that has a power point cost, except for summoning or teleporting or anything to do with other planes or raising the dead' but there's a chance of failure'. Which is why I was thinking 'gee, how about a compilation."

They didnt like my cover, I guess (the frontispiece image of the ruined monastery). A lot of people don't seem to be "grokking" the art choices, which are social commentary pieces. I tried for an absurdist vibe against the absurd choices society is making. (Shrug).

[Trifletraxor]

I now officially Have No IdeaTM what is going on with the hard copy. It's really frustrating.

Yup. I guess they must be too. I asked Charlie about it at Continuum, but he said that they then hadn't got anything printed back from them.

The original manuscript was much more attractive than the one that finally wnt out as a pdf. It had a page border, more fonts, color images, etc. I had to remove the border, pare down the fonts, and greyscale everything for the benefit of the printer. It was also going to be longer (a couple more "nastier" scenarios) but I was "asked'' to keep it to around 150 pages. Monograph limitations are what they are.

Sorry to hear that. But what about the pdf edition? No need to remove color and layout there, unless they for some reason really want the pdf and the printed version to be identical that is. To be honest, I would have much prefered if Chaosium could just have set up a "store" on Lulu. Cheaper shipping for overseas too, as it then could be printed in both England and the U.S.

In terms of the magic system, it's basically 'you can try to cast any published spell that has a power point cost, except for summoning or teleporting or anything to do with other planes or raising the dead' but there's a chance of failure'. Which is why I was thinking 'gee, how about a compilation."

What is the casting chance in Ashes to Ashes for spells, separate skill for each, POW x5% for all, or something else?

They didnt like my cover, I guess (the frontispiece image of the ruined monastery).

That's a shame. The one they are using now is pretty non-descript.

SGL.

[mr_mitts]

Chaosium are famed for being a bit... how should we say?... "unhelpful" with their writers. I mean, I love them dearly (and platonically), but everytime I turn around on the RPG freelance market I hear scary stories about them. Thankfully I'm only in it for the kudos and the adoring fangirls...

Dust to Dust sounds like a good supplement. I wrote a review that was probably a bit harsh on the layout, which seems like a serious case of printing-house errors rather than a concerted effort to make my eyes bleed (JOKE). But I'd really like to see how this supplement pans out, even if it resorts to a GORE self-publishing market. I wish you'd told us that the lands were meant to be the Sins though; I would have felt more in tune with how to use them if you'd put it in block capitals at the top.

They didnt like my cover, I guess (the frontispiece image of the ruined monastery). A lot of people don't seem to be "grokking" the art choices, which are social commentary pieces. I tried for an absurdist vibe against the absurd choices society is making. (Shrug).

I got the absurdity aspect, and on second glance it's not as jarring as I first felt (printing them out helps too). Still, I preferred the writing to the artwork overall. Congrats and good luck!

[neorxnawang]

In a nutshell:

(ADJUSTED POW x3) vs. MP cost x10 on the resistance table.

A variety of circumstance bonuses (from aptitude with that kind of magic, to knowing the precise spell, to focuses, to situation) adjust POW.

Failure causes feedback damage off the amount you fail.

Fumbles really suck.

Since the world is isolated, no teleporting, summoning, involving other planes, or raising the dead.

[Trifletraxor]

Hi neorxnawang!

What's up with Dust, to Dust?

Will it be a new monograph?

By the way, Ashes to Ashes now has a dedicated thread in the Supplements & Monographs section.

SGL.

[neorxnawang]

I answered a question about this at length over on rpg.net last week. Probably easier to cut and paste. Also, if you want to add it to the works in progress, here's an icon. I would put an ETA on it of end of year. Whether I will submit it as a monograph, or give it to Uncounted Worlds, or what, I keep waffling on.

****

Dust to Dust, as it has shaken out (and you'll get a sense of exactly what I have left to do) will concern:

1. A chapter on some extra gear and equipment (a lot of it for the two new lands);

2. Some additional rules (including a BRP mechanism for addiction (important for the Western Isles) and for long term depression (important for Takuk). Not so much a Sanity meter as a mechanism for determining when the villagers are cowed or torture victim broken and what that means in game terms.

3. An additional "secret society"

4. Two more realms. These are written more like campaign arcs, in the sense that there is a limit to what you can do in each of them, more discrete things to accomplish, and a definite plotline. Dust to Dust is, as a result, more of a scenario book, in a sense. These are:

The Western Isles (plagued by sloth). Don't want to spoil, so hard to give more hints.

Takuk, a polar region (plagued by gluttony). Again, don't want to spoil.

All of this is done, in the can, finis. So far its around 75 pages.

The last thing to do is the scenario, "It's Not a Lie, As Long As You Believe That It's True." This is outlined and is going to be a sarcastic poke at the traditional "assemble the McGuffin" adventures, but things are going to go horribly wrong and, frankly, this may not be for everyone. I havent been working on it b/c I've been writing a CofC scenario and wanted a little distance from DtD.

Estimate that the whole thing will be 100 pages or so, and done by EOY.

****
Announcement blurb and image:

Dust, to Dust is a supplement for Ashes, to Ashes, estimated for release around the end of the year. Continuing the story of the World--a devastated fantasy realm run from the shadows by hidden demons and their mortal pawns, and divided by the Seven Deadly Sins--Dust, to Dust describes the lands of the Western Isles (plagued by sloth) and Takuk (overcome by gluttony), each written as a campaign arc to provide discrete adventure opportunities. Additional gear, an additional Organization, new rules for addiction and despair, and an epic, World-spanning scenario, "It's Not A Lie, As Long As You Believe That It's True", round out the collection.

[Trifletraxor]

Doesn't look like the blurb image got through, could you attach it again?

Very good to hear that the project is still going. Please let us know when you know which route you'll go with the publication.

SGL.

[neorxnawang]

http://basicroleplaying.com/forum/do...p/DtdBlurb.jpg