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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
 Posted - 22 Jul 2011 : 22:32:11
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I don't recall seeing mention of this on these boards. The current Open Design patron project is the massive Midgard Campaign Setting, the default setting of Kobold Quarterly based on Wolfgang Baur's home setting. Basically, patrons fund the project, which gains them entry into the brainstorm threads and potential idea and concept pitch sessions, allowing them to have a say in the final product. Open Design's patronage system is explained here: http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/faq
The Midgard page is here: http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/midgard
quote:
From: Open Design - Midgard
Midgard is a world of distinct regions and flavors, and one of the first ways you’ll shape the project is be choosing what regions of the world will get attention first. Here are the choices.
1) The Crossroads is the heartland of the setting, containing the Free City of Zobeck, the dwarven Cantons, and Margreve Forest, as well as the Magdar Kingdom. Filled with shadow elves and clockwork magic, this is where plots come together and blades cross!
2) The Dragon Empire of the East is ruled by its Sultan and his harem assassins, a place of fierce elemental gods and expanding power. Also includes a visit to the Flying Cities of Sikkim, and possibly the tombs of the River Lands to plunder.
3) The Grand Duchies of the Princes are the wealthiest of Midgard’s lands, heirs to elven civilization but very much filled with the pride of human accomplishments. Visit the ruins of the elven city of Thorn, dare to enter the Elven Court of Arbonesse, or simply take the ready money of adventuring companies in the Free City of Salzbach and its 10,000 riches.
4) The Northlands and Elflands are snowy realms held by the reaver dwarves and thursir giants, home to Thule and the Lands Beyond Knowing. Valkyries come calling, frost oracles and linnorms prowl, and a dozen mysteries await the warrior who can carve a path of steel.
5) The Seven Cities, once the great urban centers of empire, now these city states feud in a state of perpetual war. Their weapons are poison, guile, and steel, their goals to serve their oracles—or to amass great wealth and power.
6) The Wasted West, haunted lands of the wizards’ magocracy, towering horrors on blasted heaths, the wasteland of ruined kingdoms fallen into goblin realms.
7) The Tsars and Steppes with their cold gnomish hells, nomadic Rothenian elves, infernal princes, bloodthirsty centaurs, and crazed slaver despots!
Somewhat surprised by the lack of mention given the demonstrated love Candlekeep members have for settings of all types. Doubly surprised given the designers involved, Wolfgang Baur (Al-Qadim, Planescape, some FR stuff, currently KQ magazine editor), Brandon Hodge (Sunken Empires), and Jeff Grubb (yes, that Jeff Grubb).
The project started earlier this year and has a development time extending probably into next year. The Crossroads and the Northlands were mostly detailed in previous Open Design projects. While there could still be topics to discuss, I'm not sure they will be the fresh region brainstorm like the others. We'll have to wait and see what Wolfgang plans to do with them.
The Seven Cities, overseen by Wolfgang, are complete. They are of the feuding city-states of intrigue archetype and the material can easily be adapted for places like Sembia or Chondath in the Realms. Patrons recently helped develop the Wasted West written by Brandon Hodge, who sent his first draft for patron review. The project is currently on the Eastern Steppes with most major brainstorms done and now a few NPC and tribe pitching sessions left.
That leaves the Dragon Empire and the Domain of the Princes, the latter of which I believe Jeff Grubb will take the design lead on. Last I heard (around June), he has to finish writing a novel before he could jump into Midgard.
I should also mention the main rule set for Midgard as voted on by patrons is Pathfinder. The AGE system (Dragon Age tabletop rpg by Green Ronin) is the secondary supported system and will get an appendix. Some patrons are working on a 4E conversion, possibly to be released as a PDF file.
I've been a patron since the middle of the Wasted West and it's been a blast so far. If this seems like something that interests you, have a look.
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Edited by - Dark Wizard on 22 Jul 2011 22:34:27
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 03 Aug 2011 : 11:36:24
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| I really like the Northlands cause it's similar to my world. The rest is interesting tough I'd never make the Dragon Empire to be ruled by a sultan. I wish they started this a few years ago. |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
Posted - 15 Aug 2011 : 11:02:53
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| Will there be the Crossroads project? I am using Zobeck and the Margreve with the Kingmaker campaign, just started. Also the land of Illyria is mentioned but I haven't found anything more than a few words. |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2011 : 20:29:02
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quote:
Originally posted by Quale
I really like the Northlands cause it's similar to my world. The rest is interesting tough I'd never make the Dragon Empire to be ruled by a sultan. I wish they started this a few years ago.
Fortunately, the Northlands is already available as a separate book. I like its heavy Norse inspiration with a touch of the weird and haunted (Hyperborea and some Reaver Dwarf ruins)
The preliminary brainstorm on the Dragon Empire is ongoing. Judging by where the discussion is heading, "Sultan" fits the position's confines of power perfectly.
quote:
Originally posted by Maruluthu Mistrivvin
Will there be the Crossroads project? I am using Zobeck and the Margreve with the Kingmaker campaign, just started. Also the land of Illyria is mentioned but I haven't found anything more than a few words.
I'm not sure on the Crossroads. Between the Zobeck Gazetteer, Tales of the Margreve, Streets of Zobeck and various other books and KQ articles the Crossroads is the already the most detailed region of the setting.
Illyria is part of the Seven Cities, south of the Crossroads. It will have a write-up in the CS as will all the Seven Cities.
During GenCon, Wolfgang reported that the project manuscript is currently at 80,000 words, which would have been about half way to the 160 page goal. Open Design has a tendency to go over word count and that holds true for this project. He announced the page count is now 50% larger than originally planned. The Midgard Campaign Setting will end up around 250 pages when all is written and done.
According to the most recent Kobold Courier email newsletter the next region up for brainstorm and discussion is the Domains of the Princes with Jeff Grubb. |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 06:57:11
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| Will the CS be released in a year time? That's when I want to include Illyria. I hoped there will be more about the Crossroads, that Zobeck will become Midgard's Waterdeep. The Northlands is excellent, the Thule and Hyperborea part especially, but we'll be playing in a different area for a long time. Do you know where are the River Lands in the Dragon Empire, in the north? |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2011 : 21:54:58
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I'll quote Wolfgang on his recent post (Aug. 22) regarding the tentative publishing date:
http://www.koboldquarterly.com/kqforums/viewtopic.php?p=29931#29931
quote:
Originally posted by Wolfgang Baur
It's way early, but the patrons are getting manuscript materials to review every other month or so. The print book will be released at least a year from now. Sort of depends on design time, art, editing, etc. This is by far the biggest project Open Design has ever done, and I want it to be done right.
So, I'm thinking it ships when it is ready. Not this year.
Indeed, Zobeck is the Waterdeep/Greyhawk/Sharn/Absalom of Midgard, the setting's iconic city.
I'm not sure where the River Lands are, I haven't encountered them on my readings. The Dragon Empire is east of Illyria, southeast of Zobeck and the Crossroads. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 02:29:12
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quote:
Originally posted by Dark Wizard
I'm not sure where the River Lands are, I haven't encountered them on my readings.
Aye.
I don't think they've been particularly plotted as of yet. Or, at least, I've yet to encounter any specific info that positions them in relation to what we know of the other prominent locations on Midgard. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
7989 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 02:52:05
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quote:
Dark Wizard
Basically, patrons fund the project, which gains them entry into the brainstorm threads and potential idea and concept pitch sessions, allowing them to have a say in the final product.
I read up the info at your linky, plus don't get me wrong I love KQ stuff and find this Midgard setting very interesting.
But it basically costs you money to sell them your ideas? You pay to work for them? I don't quite see how this is supposed to work, sounds like a lame deal to me. |
[/Ayrik] |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 06:43:18
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That's correct, different levels of patronage open different levels of access to the design process. Each patronage level also makes available different print formats related to the project. Most of the patronage levels include the physical book or at least the PDF, so patronage is not just paying to pitch ideas, though that is a significant component of patronage.
By paying more than the cost of the book, patrons get a say in how the setting takes shape. Even senior patrons who pitch ideas only get their work included based on a vote by all patrons, so those who pay more are not automatically filling out the setting. The designers (Wolfgang, Brandon, or Jeff) still write most of the material, but they base their work off of the ideas patrons discussed and proposed in the various brainstorm threads or from the winning pitches.
Personally, I only considered patronage because:
- I wanted to see how a project goes from starting brainstorm to design and critique to final write-up and revisions. I get to see what did or didn't get included and how they arrived at the decision (broader ideas outside of voting on NPC or monster pitches).
- I wanted to learn about game design, including game mechanics. Many of the prominent patrons are up-and-coming or established freelancers and contributors with published gaming credits with Open Design/KQ, Paizo/Pathfinder, and sometimes other companies. Between them and the lead designers, they will give any serious ideas pitched a good look over and explain what works and what needs revision.
- I wanted to try my hand at pitching ideas and see how well I do. Then later see how much I improve over the course of the project as I apply what I learn to improve pitches and write-ups.
- I liked the setting. Midgard is familiar but still focuses on inspirations not as well treaded in other similar settings. For instance, there is really no region strongly correlating to Western Europe (British/English, Celtic, Frankish/Norman/French) influences where as in most settings that forms the default core of the setting.
- I would be doing something similar with my free time anyway. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 08:39:15
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I'm seriously considering patronage for the "Midgard" project. Most of the areas this work will be covering appeal to me as fantasy-derivatives, and I'm keen to see how the design process for something like this works... from the inside.
And Dark Wizard's third point above, also, is something I've long been curious about. I've only had the briefest opportunity of being able to contribute ideas for an officially-printed RPG product [back in the mid-to-late period of 3e's OGL]. So I'm eager to see how far my efforts may take me in something as grand in scope as creating an entirely new fantasy world!
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 25 Aug 2011 08:40:41 |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2011 : 15:17:08
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| My main interest is in the Crossroads and around (Krakova, Salzbach), the central European and Slavic analogies. Because except for one Dragon article the source material on them was really poor. |
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Ayunken-vanzan
Senior Scribe
Germany
657 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2011 : 06:04:58
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| On a sidenote: Connected with the Midgard setting, but easily usable in every setting, is the Book of Drakes by Adam Daigle and Mike Welham, on of the best products Open Design has published this year. |
"What mattered our lives now? When our world had been torn from us? Folk wept, or drank, or stood staring out over the land, wondering what new horror each dawn would bring."
Elender Stormfall of Suzail
"Anyone can kill deities, cause plagues, or destroy organizations. It takes real skill to make them live on."
Varl
FR/D&D-Links • 2ed Downloads |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2011 : 06:13:19
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quote:
Originally posted by Ayunken-vanzan
On a sidenote: Connected with the Midgard setting, but easily usable in every setting, is the Book of Drakes by Adam Daigle and Mike Welham, on of the best products Open Design has published this year.
And anyone interested in seeing the art used in that book, should check out Hugo Solis' DeviantArt gallery. |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2011 : 08:03:11
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The Book of Drakes drew lots of attention at the recent conventions OP/KQ participated in as a vendor, according to those who were there. Many compliments on the art.
Wolfgang sent out a draft manuscript for patron review on Saturday, which contained the chapters for the Seven Cities, the Wasted West, and the Pantheon (30 deities and their masks). That's about 100 of the 250 page project total.
The Eastern Steppes discussions has wrapped up. Wolfgang is writing the chapter now. In his email update Wolfgang also mentioned:
"Jeff Grubb intends to write the Domains of the Princes chapter in September and October, but he's also writing something else very cool, namely a Star Wars novel called Scourge. Just saying, delays are possible, even likely. Brainstorm or outline review will be the starting point."
The Dragon Empires is the current region in active brainstorm, various threads initiated today on several regional topics. |
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Marc
Senior Scribe
662 Posts |
Posted - 28 Dec 2011 : 14:51:18
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| Any news? When they are going to release the Bestiary? |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 18:19:48
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The new Zobeck Gazeteer is out, not the Bestiary, supposedly it has material from Steam and Brass (sourcebook that is impossible to buy  ).
Also they should improve their payment methods. |
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The Hooded One
Lady Herald of Realmslore
5056 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jan 2012 : 18:35:21
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One should not forget that a certain Ed of the Greenwood has been contributing to Midgard all along, with Zobeck city articles, a dwarven goddess, and so on...
love,
THO |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 28 Jan 2012 : 00:38:26
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-> Regarding the Bestiary
According to Adam Daigle, the lead designer on the Bestiary, he handed in the manuscript to Wolfgang sometime at the end of November 2011.
In the most recent Migard draft manuscript, Wolfgang said the Bestiary will be available for sale in the summer, arriving before the Midgard CS itself.
-> Regarding Zobeck Gazetteer
The new gazetteer expands on the old gazetteer (more than double the size), compiling other sources (including KQ articles) with new stuff into a very solid source book on the setting's iconic city.
It's probably available at other online retailers (Paizo, DriveThruRPG, etc.) if you prefer other checkout systems, though getting it direct from OD/KQ likely means more goes to the creators/company.
-> Regarding the ubiquitous Ed Greenwood
Zobeck articles, KQ articles, Ninkash the (Dwarven) Goddes of Beer and an adventure in the Ennie Award winning Tales of Zobeck. That Ed fellow sure does get around.
Of course from all his contributions, Ed gets an Additional Design credit. It's one of the first things I noticed on the draft manuscript.
The main design phase is done on the Midgard CS. It is currently being reviewed by the patrons. Art and maps (a lot of city maps) are being ordered. It will then go through editing and layout. The editing draft is 228,000 words.
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2012 : 02:25:52
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A quick update on this.
The Midgard Campaign Setting is available for pre-order in hardback or softcover formats at the KQ site and Paizo. The book is set to ship around early October.
Plus, the Midgard Bestiary (Pathfinder version) mentioned above was released several months ago. There is a 4E version in the works.
They have some Midgard adventures right around the corner. They're busy at the mines over at Kobold Press. |
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Dalor Darden
Great Reader
USA
4211 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2012 : 03:24:02
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| Any map released for this yet? |
The Old Grey Box and AD&D for me! |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2012 : 04:22:30
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Not yet, though I think they're working on it.
Kobold Press has a poster map of Zobeck (in PDF format) for sale on their site and elsewhere. I expect they will put together a setting map in a similar format. |
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Quale
Master of Realmslore
1757 Posts |
Posted - 10 Sep 2012 : 10:34:16
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| The Bestiary is decent, expected more lore about the monsters, some of them repeat. Dark Roads and Golden Hells, adds many new mysteries to the planes, most interesting book since the Great Beyond. |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2012 : 16:33:55
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| The Midgard Atlas was just released as an app for iPad at the Apple App store. |
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Dark Wizard
Senior Scribe
USA
830 Posts |
Posted - 08 Oct 2012 : 22:48:55
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| The Midgard Campaign Setting book is now available at various internet retailers in both electronic and paper formats. |
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Midgard Campaign Setting [Open Design]
