Hey, I'm a former WotC staff designer, currently putting together a crew of designers and playtesters and patrons to design, playtest, and publish a 4E D&D adventure called Courts of the Shadow Fey. If you are interested in contributing, or if you just have some ideas to throw around, I'd like to hear from you. As the same time, I'll be sharing a lot of my own experience, tips, and tricks gathered from 20 years as a professional game designer with the project patrons.
The project discussion is on the KQ Boards, with a private discussion for project patrons as well. The team's past projects have won ENnie Awards, and Open Design itself won the Diana Jones Award for Excellence in Game Design.
If you'd like to see some 4E demons and shadow power source developed over the next few months, please join us today!
This is the same shop that put together Wrath of the River King. If you're looking for a great place where you can really get involved with the process, this is it!
-Ben.
I can't recommend this strongly enough. The adventures these guys have done have been AWESOME so far (and as an old guy, I don't capitalize often).
This is going to be so much fun! The previous projects have been just wonderful.
I'll echo the sentiments above, Open Design is a chance to watch a master at work and even provide feedback. We've only got a short while before the commission needs to be met or the project is cancelled so don't wait till its too late. Yes, Wolfgang will be offering this book for purchase after it is complete, but only if its commissioned in the first place. Wolfgang's work on Open Design has won Ennies, the Diana Jones award, and received acclaim across the net.
Join today!
What everone else said but in bold! AND CAPS! Seriously, this is my first run on a Open Design Patronage, but after hearing about the other projects and seeing Wolfgang's work on Kobold Quarterly, I couldn't resist.
If you have an interest in 4e as a DM or as a potential freelancer (i.e. you want insight on how to someone puts together an rpg publication), or if you just love all things shadowy I suggest you join us. Hurry!
"Wrath of the River King" is a real honey of an adventure and this looks wonderful too. I'd urge supporting this one.
Open Design is awesome. Joining in on the adventure design as a patron is a great experience.
This is my first patronage. I'm looking for ward to it.
Beyond shadows and demons, the most exciting part of this project is the way it's going to feature memorable NPCs who can become either powerful allies or mortal foes. Shifting allegiances, hidden machinations - the players will really get to exercise their roleplaying, and the PCs will learn that neutrality can be just as interesting as the battle of good and evil.
If you haven't tried a patronage project before, I'd really recommend it. Having the chance to influence the direction of the story makes the product much more personal and memorable than simply picking an adventure up off the shelf.
Wolfgang is by far one of the best D&D writers out there. If you are a good DM and looking for ways to improve your adventure-making or if you are just looking for an 4e adventure that will blow your socks off, sign up for this project. You won't be disappointed.
I've chipped in. "Wrath" was my first OpenDesign project and is by far the best 4E adventure I've seen to date. I sure hope Courts happens.
Come and join us !
I'm in. We need more cool 4e modules and definitely more 3PP 4e material in general. I'm sure this will be a great adventure if it goes forward.
I'm not a 4e player but I'm in on this because I look forward to the material. It will be a good read for sure.
Thanks for all the votes of confidence! I'm happy to say that the project is about 90% funded, and I will either "close the doors" and take no more new patrons once it is commissioned ---- or I'll raise the price a bit for latecomers.
Either way, if you do enjoy behind-the-scenes views of design, or the Shadow Power source, or disquieting illusions and demonic mayhem... Well, the outline has something for you.
There's also some previews of the deathshade wisp on the KQ.com site, and more previews to come. Heck, we should take some preview requests right here. Anyone?
Hi,
Just wanted to echo all the comments above. I've been involved in quite a few Open Design patron projects now and they are great fun as well as giving you an opportunity to influence the direction the adventure goes in.
I'm running Wrath of the River King at the moment and it's excellent. I'm sure Courts will be every bit as good.
Cheers
Richard