www.gamingtavern.eu

[Dom]

I was privileged enough to get a look at an early proof copy of the new edition of Tim Gray's Albion at Furnace (in a discussion of layout) and think the setting looks really interesting, and the layout very pretty.

I'm looking forward to seeing the final version of this.
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"We live in a nuclear powered universe. We're the oddballs by getting energy from burning carbon."
James Lovelock

[Tim Gray]

I thank you for this utterly, utterly gratuitous plug.

[dr_mitch]

I liked what I saw of it too- very interesting setting, and the bits of the book I looked at all nicely thematic- it that's the word I'm looking for, which I doubt.

Anyway, something I'm looking forward to.
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Paul Mitchener

Maths Sensei

Author: Blood of the Gods (Wild Talents in Ancient Greece), Drowned Lands (in Adventures in Wordplay), Dragon City (in the OpenQuester).

[Guvnor]

I resisted buying Jade, if only for a few months, but I was genuinely intrigued by Albion. I shall get Jade eventually, but I want to play some PDQ before I jump fully..
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neither god nor master

[Tim Gray]

Do you mean Jaws? Curse your resisting ways!


One of the things I was wrestling with, as previous posters know, was whether to go with one book or two, and the size of the thing if I put all the content in one - probably 300 pages or more. I think conversations helped me get clearer on that. Current plan is to aim for the 256-page standard, as seen in WFRP2 and Dragon Warriors, at least introducing all the key bits of the game* but putting some detail aside for future use. I'm going to see whether that can be made to work.

Certainly for myself as a consumer 256p tends to feel substantial but just about readable, whereas 300+ is liable to just sit in a pile.

(* For instance in my vision of the game the otherworld and spirit world are a key source of Stuff Happening, but in the abortive first edition they're barely mentioned. I might still keep much of the detail out, but they should at least have an explicit few pages.)

[Neil Gow]

I too had a chance to have a look through Albion and from my scant viewing it definitely had a wealth of material packed within its covers. Its a massive work from Tim and I heartily hope it gets to see print as the subject matter is Right Up My Street.

On the size issue, there are definitely exemplars on both sides. If you look at games like Burning Empires, Starblazer Adventures, SotC etc. there are some Big Ass games out there that sell well. On the other hand, it can create both an intimidating product and price point.

You could do a brutal edit? You could take some stuff out for a sourcebook? You could even distribute some of it for free as pdfs and sell the core material in the book.

Best of luck with this Tim, it looks smashing.

Neil
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Take the King's Shilling - Duty & Honour available now!

[dr_mitch]

For what it's worth I definitely favour putting everything needed to play and GM into one book. This does not mean no supplements- just that no supplements that are absolutely needed before it's possible to play and run without things feeling 'missing'.
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Paul Mitchener

Maths Sensei

Author: Blood of the Gods (Wild Talents in Ancient Greece), Drowned Lands (in Adventures in Wordplay), Dragon City (in the OpenQuester).

[Tim Gray]

Yeah. The sticking point is the information about the two otherworlds: the physical one, Annwn, and Abred, the spirit world. I think I'm going to give each a brief introduction and a small number of sample beasties, enough to flag up that they exist and let the GM do something with them. Then a fuller line-up and more detail - e.g. the geography of Annwn and what Cromm Cruach is really doing in Abred - can go in a separate book. Only way to find out if that'll work is to have a go so I'm pulling material into the corebook document now.

[Tim Gray]

Here's a thing. When I got the Albion sample for Furnace, I actually had three printed. (It's pretty cheap, and I might have sent one away with a potential artist, though that didn't pan out.)

I'd be very happy to send one up to Sheffield for folks to pass round if there was a reasonable chance of further feedback. I gather you actually speak to each other up there so it seems possible. (Obviously you'd need to bear in mind that some content will change, etc etc.)

If, say, Tom or Paul PMs me I can make it so.

(Should have thought of this at the end of Furnace but was short of available brainpower by then.)


PS - Paul, I see you've updated your sig!

[dr_mitch]

PM sent. And the sig update seemed appropriate
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Paul Mitchener

Maths Sensei

Author: Blood of the Gods (Wild Talents in Ancient Greece), Drowned Lands (in Adventures in Wordplay), Dragon City (in the OpenQuester).

[Tim Gray]

Have now pulled all the old GM's Book content into the corebook and a file for a supplement. The two are standing at 246 and 72 pages respectively. There's a lot more work to do, so it'll all change, but it's looking reassuringly workable.

Posted about it on my blog today. I think I've said most of that here previously, but feel free to check.

[Tim Gray]

Just got some more art in, courtesy of Mark Huffman. Some otherworld beasties coming soon.

[Wolverine]

Tim, that artwork looks awesome!
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Nathan Baron

A Cosmos without the Doctor scarcely bears thinking about.

[Sacha]

Tim, you're seriously challenging my resolve to not buy any new gaming material!

I agree with Nathan, the artwork sample looks tremendous.

Cheers,

Sacha
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Am I still unconscious?

[Wolverine]