More Q&A for DQ Kickstarter Adventure

I’ve gotten a few other questions about this project, so I have some more answers about this idea.

One of the questions was whether setting the goal at the end of September would allow enough time to pull together enough support. My thinking was that I would reach most of the likely supporters just in the DQ groups, and that, in that case, it wouldn’t take much time to see whether or not there was enough support for the project. But it’s a fair question; do others of you also think that’s too short a timeline? Would it make sense to open it up through to December, and make it a 2012 project?

It was also suggested that it should be possible to contribute a smaller amount than the lowest premium level. That was my intent, as well, but I guess I didn’t state that explicitly. As with Kickstarter projects, you can contribute any amount. The premiums I outlined are a list of proposed rewards or opportunities at various levels of contribution, but if you only want to contribute $1 just to get your name in the credits, that would be fine. But only contributors at the premium levels would get advance copies; a $5 contribution would help fund the project, but wouldn’t get a copy of it until it was released for general distribution.

A couple people asked about proposed page count. I would expect it to be at least twice the size of “The Water Works,” which is 10 pages (plus the title page) without any internal artwork other than the map on the last page. So, roughly 24 pages for the adventure. If there are new rules introduced in the adventure (new college of magic, new skills, etc.) that would be in addition to that base page count.

Those figures are also for page count without art. For “Poor Brendan’s Almanac,” I used all clip art and freely usable material for the illustrations. I could certainly do that again with this project. Art is also expensive to commission, so I don’t have expectations to have a lot of custom art in the adventure. But I think there was usually not much in the way of additional art in the various SPI adventures, so this would probably be along those lines, as well. There would, of course, also be maps and diagrams as part of the adventure. I already have a volunteer to help with cartography.

Thanks for the feedback, and keep asking questions.

Preliminary Corwdsource DQ Adventure Proposal

I am thinking about writing and producing a new DQ adventure, and I am looking at crowdsourcing models as a way to gauge interest and to generate enough support to make it worth doing. There’s no market for a traditionally produced adventure for DQ, but I think if I can crowdsource some support for it in advance, I can take the time to work on this. This is a draft proposal for comment and discussion.

If you are already familiar with Kickstarter, then you’ll understand the premise of this project. Basically, I’m looking to fund the creation of a new DragonQuest adventure. I’m going to see if I can get enough pledges to let me take the time to work on this project. If there is enough support, I will take the time to write and produce this adventure and have it completed by the end of the year.

In short, the Kickstarter model lets a creator get support for a project from aggregating a number of supporters who would like to see the project carried out. Rather than relying on a single patron, a bunch of people agree to contribute a small amount for a project to be carried out, assuming that enough other contributors also agree to help out.

Pledging to contribute doesn’t cost anything until the goal is met. If the creator’s goal isn’t met, no one contributes anything. Pledging only means that you are agreeing to contribute to the project if enough other people to also pledge to contribute. If the pledges fall short of the goal, then no funds change hands, and nothing happens. (If that turns out to be the case, I may revise the proposal, or I may just set it aside.)

If you are interested, you can pledge to contribute towards the production of the adventure. I’m not looking to match my freelance rates for what I do, but I am going to put time and effort into this.

Basic level pledges will get you an electronic copy of the adventure when it is completed. I plan to eventually make it freely available, but that will not be until some time (maybe 6 months or a year) after the supporters get copies. So contributors will get to have the adventure before it is otherwise available.

But there are also higher levels of support and involvement. If you want to contribute at a higher level, you can have some involvement in the design and configuration of the adventure. Contributors at higher levels can help select the NPCs, the setting for the adventure, and other elements. These premiums can also help make the adventure fit better with a supporter’s existing campaign. Higher contributions also make it more likely that the project will meet its goal and be able to be completed.

The goal is to get at least $1500 in pledges by September 30. If the goal is reached, then all pledges will be due, and work will begin on the adventure to be completed by the end of the year. However, if the goal is not reached, then no pledges will be collected, and the project will be dropped.

If you aren’t already familiar with my work in DragonQuest, I’m the author of the “Poor Brendan’s Almanac” supplement and the adventure “The Water Works.”

Premium contribution levels and benefits are as follows:

All paid pledges will be listed in the credits of the adventure.

Mercenary Level
$20 – Basic level pledge. Receive an electronic copy of the adventure at least 6 months before it is open to free distribution.

$50 – Print pledge. Receive an electronic copy as with Basic level, plus receive a hardcopy printed version of the adventure. (Non US residents will have to pay an extra postage premium).

$100 – Playtester pledge. Receive a copy of the draft adventure before final publication for review and/or playtest before the final version is released. Playtesters can provide feedback about the adventure to help improve the final release version. Those who provide feedback will be credited as playtesters in the final adventure credits.

Adventurer Level
Adventurer level supporters will get all of the premiums offered to Mercenary level supporters (printed hardcopy, etc.), as well as the particular premium selected. They will also receive one review/playtest copy of the adventure before even the supporter release and can provide feedback and commentary before the adventure is finalized.

$150 – NPC – Use an NPC from my campaign. An NPC in the adventure will be an NPC (or could even be a PC) from the contributor’s campaign world. (3 available)

$200 – Adventurer – Treasure Supporter. A specialty treasure to be selected in collaboration with the contributor for purposes of their own campaign will be incorporated into the adventure. (2 available)

$250 – Use part of my campaign world. Adventure setting will include places and features from the contributor’s campaign world. (2 available)

$250 – Adept – Magic College Supporter. The contributor’s choice of a College of Magic will be incorporated into the adventure in a significant fashion. This may include any college from the basic DragonQuest rules, Arcane Wisdom, or Poor Brendan’s Almanac.

Hero Level
Hero level supporters will get all of the premiums offered to Mercenary level supporters (printed hardcopy, etc.), as well as the particular premium selected. They will also receive one review/playtest copy of the adventure as the Adventurer level supporters.

$350 – New Skill Underwriter. Rules for a new skill will be developed for introduction and use in the adventure.

$500 – Magus – New Magic College Underwriter. Rules for a new college of magic will be developed for use in the adventure

$750 – Hero – Choose the adventure outline.