tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post6168045622314230106..comments2024-03-29T07:35:51.362+00:00Comments on Fabled Lands: Latest news on Fabled Lands book 7Dave Morrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-71085014227205275282018-01-21T02:00:56.214+00:002018-01-21T02:00:56.214+00:00Having missed the KS but finding out about it than...Having missed the KS but finding out about it thanks to random FB targeting, I am very excited to hear that it will be available so soon to the public after KS fulfilment!<br /><br />I’ve been slowly purchasing the new pubs to fulfilling the dreams of a nerdy kid with a library card all those years ago. Thanks so much for keeping this dream alive for so many of us!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12899774431635521010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-48046220674682620082018-01-12T09:24:12.137+00:002018-01-12T09:24:12.137+00:00Woohoo! Thanks!Woohoo! Thanks!Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00216500377531773406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-37491767254962053582018-01-10T10:39:40.229+00:002018-01-10T10:39:40.229+00:00It certainly is! There'll be a regular paperba...It certainly is! There'll be a regular paperback and large format edition, both on sale as soon as the KS backers have received their copies.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-83182724222116568502018-01-09T16:18:58.861+00:002018-01-09T16:18:58.861+00:00So....just finding these books and have just order...So....just finding these books and have just ordered the others on Amazon. Really excited to play them...is #7 planned for a retail release after KS fulfilment? Thanks!Jayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00216500377531773406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-20041028581842499392017-11-06T15:20:10.208+00:002017-11-06T15:20:10.208+00:00Book Three has sixteen, in sections 3, 41, 48, 60,...Book Three has sixteen, in sections 3, 41, 48, 60, 71, 90 (five different entry points), 103, 110, 212, 245, 276, and 445.<br /><br />Book Five has two, in sections 320 and 550.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-63241315677181339102017-11-06T14:40:28.313+00:002017-11-06T14:40:28.313+00:00Can I ask a silly question as a new excited FL ini...Can I ask a silly question as a new excited FL initiate? Will there be direct entry points from somewhere in books 1-6 into this new book 7?Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05465773476275487766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-73572194136890124402017-10-10T20:44:23.315+01:002017-10-10T20:44:23.315+01:00I wonder if we originally intended to cap it at 10...I wonder if we originally intended to cap it at 10th rank (which would stop characters from getting invincible in a fight) but failed to make that explicit? Who knows? Anyway, we'll go with the ruling that there is no rank limit.DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01887893691053633187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-36220441287213064542017-10-10T14:57:53.658+01:002017-10-10T14:57:53.658+01:00Thank you! I was wondering because I have always p...Thank you! I was wondering because I have always played with a cap at tenth rank, and when I started to play the fan made book 9, it had a lot of areas where higher than tenth rank was required. Not too much of a problem because I'm probably at rank 20 something or other. Thank you again, SethAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10633294869928395151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-39413587255384091202017-10-10T10:33:31.846+01:002017-10-10T10:33:31.846+01:00There's no rank cap, even though the books onl...There's no rank cap, even though the books only list titles up to 10th Rank. And 10th Rank isn't so high, in fact - if you're starting in one of the later books (or if you're pounding on bandits or pirates to level up fast), there are enough levelling-up opportunities to go past 10th Rank without too many problems.<br /><br />Though it's true that the combat system does break down a little when the player's Defence gets really high, because of Rank effects. I've seen house rules that cap the Defence bonus given by Rank, and that's not a bad idea. Certainly, it's something that we'll need to look at in future books. <br /><br />Incidentally, the spirit combats in The Serpent King's Domain are one way of making the playing field a little more level for high-rank players. Rank doesn't give any bonus to Defence, there; the only advantage high-rank players get is that they can go into the fight with higher Stamina. <br /><br />Also, incidentally, there's one area in The Serpent King's Domain that specifically checks whether the player is 14th Rank or higher...Paul Grestyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12928818666428286693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-79994061848241882932017-10-10T10:09:48.918+01:002017-10-10T10:09:48.918+01:00I'm going to throw that one over to Paul and J...I'm going to throw that one over to Paul and Jamie. I don't recall there being a rank cap, but it's been a long time...Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-84634543172453800322017-10-09T21:14:03.285+01:002017-10-09T21:14:03.285+01:00I have a question regarding the fabled lands books...I have a question regarding the fabled lands books. Can ranks be gained infinitely or are they capped at ten? The rules can be read both ways. Thanks, SethAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10633294869928395151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-90097627922546177362017-10-02T17:02:02.581+01:002017-10-02T17:02:02.581+01:00The link to that post btw - though I'm sure yo...The link to that post btw - though I'm sure you remember it anyway:<br /><br />http://fabledlands.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/gamebooks-value-of-doing-it-with.htmlDave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-57454402081298688542017-10-01T19:21:29.917+01:002017-10-01T19:21:29.917+01:00Contacting 500 backers to ask their opinion would ...Contacting 500 backers to ask their opinion would take a while. It's not really going to make a lot of difference to sales revenue from the paperbacks either way, because those 500 backers are probably a substantial fraction of the customers who would otherwise buy the books. But I'm sure the paperbacks will be out before too long.DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01887893691053633187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-46542505369505831912017-09-30T17:28:10.855+01:002017-09-30T17:28:10.855+01:00I didn't find out about the kickstarter in tim...I didn't find out about the kickstarter in time to back it, but if I did I would the following 'as a backer...': you should absolutely get the books out before xmas if you can! I don't know how much better that would be financially - probably quite a lot? - but even if only a little, what Fabled Lands fan would prefer you all to get less money for the endeavour of giving us what we wanted? Was there a firm promise that backers get it first? If so and breaking that promise unilaterally feels too much, what about polling backers to confirm the obvious - that they'd be fine not holding you to that promise if it means even a slightly brighter future for FL and for you guys?spaceboy_psyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13312933363781518795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-58608755230136837262017-09-30T17:13:03.317+01:002017-09-30T17:13:03.317+01:00Thanks for the info Dave. Well if it ever comes up...Thanks for the info Dave. Well if it ever comes up, do use me as anecdotal evidence for fans who would love to pay for a PDF (and specifically can't buy it in paper because they're living in Spain and may already have too much stuff to eventually bring back to the UK in their luggage!).spaceboy_psyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13312933363781518795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-58479641558496049802017-09-30T08:22:11.357+01:002017-09-30T08:22:11.357+01:00I know that, Michael -- and I'd far rather hea...I know that, Michael -- and I'd far rather hear your honest and considered opinion any day. In the same spirit, I ought to add that creating a good narrative-based game isn't just a case of taking a gamebook and putting it in app form. Ideally it should be designed for the medium. So the Winter's Rage app I abortively began work on with Leo Hartas and his coder friend Royston (described a year or two back on this blog) would have been a much more interesting kind of interactive story. Still, spilt milk and all that.DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01887893691053633187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-60195321081429041972017-09-30T01:46:48.946+01:002017-09-30T01:46:48.946+01:00I completely agree regarding apps being the logica...I completely agree regarding apps being the logical solution to audience Dave, and either yourself or Paul would be a gift to any developer looking to produce a narrative-based game. And that's really my point - I'd rather see the fruits of that, knowing you'd also receive what you're worth.<br /><br />If Paul would get more out of another (excellent) Metahuman Inc game, then he can pursue that with my blessing.<br /><br />As for "complaining", well I was aiming for honesty. :) I've been one of the very few cheering the project along on the KS updates, so I'm certainly not trying to be negative.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16820212330098297211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-63993746625877357912017-09-29T14:28:41.604+01:002017-09-29T14:28:41.604+01:00Thanks, Mike. In all of this talk of crowdfunding ...Thanks, Mike. In all of this talk of crowdfunding and marketing, it's important not to lose sight of the fact that the creative team (and Paul especially) have produced a real epic feast for FL gamers. If we do go on to do book 8, they're the people we want for it. I wouldn't even swap them for Joss Whedon, JJ Abrams & Vince Gilligan!DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01887893691053633187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-77482889437844171652017-09-29T14:05:42.538+01:002017-09-29T14:05:42.538+01:00I feel there have been adequate updates along the ...I feel there have been adequate updates along the way. When you have such talent as Kevin Jenkins, Paul Gresty, Russ Nicholson, and the modern-day book bandits Morris and Thomson at the helm; great things happen.<br /><br />Everyone has lives to live, other projects to work on, and so on. I have been "geeking out" the entire time. Fabled Lands: The Serpent King's Domain is actually being released!<br /><br />My inner 12 year-old thinks back to when Dave's agent said he would put me in touch with him. Got an email back shortly thereafter. Had some great advice that helped shift gears away from my rough past, and I can't thank these chaps enough.<br /><br />I will always support these projects, especially seeing the Fabled Lands series to its completion.<br /><br />Cheers to everyone involved!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00831780348561743931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-69289556266262298302017-09-29T13:53:02.275+01:002017-09-29T13:53:02.275+01:00Well, your patience will soon be rewarded, Tristan...Well, your patience will soon be rewarded, Tristan. I sent the PDF of the book interior to Megara yesterday. As soon as Kevin Jenkins lets them have the cover, copies can be printed and winging their way to backers.<br /><br />Even if the book had only taken 6 months to get ready (and btw the average production time for the FL books back in the '90s was 9-12 months) I think it would have been unrealistic to expect Kickstarters to fund us up to book 12. But let's not worry about that, as FL players will soon have another 1200 sections of adventure material -- enough to be going on with for a while.DMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01887893691053633187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-84121424849091232212017-09-29T11:51:02.620+01:002017-09-29T11:51:02.620+01:00I don’t know how much of a minority I’m in, but I’...I don’t know how much of a minority I’m in, but I’ve been really pleased with the whole Kickstarter. The amount of care and attention to detail that has been put into the book has only made me more excited to see the results. It doesn’t really matter to me whether the original books were published in 1996 or 1998 – it matters how much I enjoy them, how deeply I can get immersed in them, and how long that experience lasts before they run out.<br /> <br />It all depends on the final product, of course, but based on what I’ve seen so far I’d probably pledge more for the next one. Admittedly that’s no use if most backers have lost interest along the way. But at least if you’re having doubts I can say that the perception that this has taken too long is not universal.Tristan Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02684297086144916096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-69219178342395860902017-09-29T09:49:39.832+01:002017-09-29T09:49:39.832+01:00Michael, you're saying exactly what I've b...Michael, you're saying exactly what I've been thinking. The reality is that Kickstarter backing would sap away over five more books, especially as each would take a year or two to deliver. And it's not even like there's an unfinished story that people are waiting to see the end of. That there *is* no story is the series USP. Fabled Lands is perfectly playable as it is, each book just opens up a bit more of the world and some more adventures.<br /><br />I've said all along that if FL is to continue it can't just rely on the enthusiasm of a few fans. It needs to be a commercial series with high enough sales to justify professional effort in production. These days, that means as apps. If FL were successful in that form, the print books could still be produced alongside, like doing a special vinyl pressing of a new album to reward the aficionados. Inkle and Failbetter have shown that gamebooks can work brilliantly in digital form, but simply porting the book onto a phone isn't enough. So we continue to look for a developer who understands that.<br /><br />(Historical trivia: we could have licensed FL to Inkle back around 2011. Unfortunately the app rights were tied up at the time. Who knows whether it would have happened, but if it had then we'd probably have book 12 done by now.)<br /><br />I must just add that the lack of updates isn't Paul's fault. Only the owner of a Kickstarter page can issue updates, and in this case that was Megara Entertainment. Backers have only seen the tip of the iceberg of effort that Paul, and Richard Hetley too, have put into the book. And Paul has copious notes for book 8, so we should probably figure out a way to get him writing that one before too long. But we do need something better than Kickstarter, not least because I think Kickstarter's strength lies in funding completely new projects rather than mobilising fans to fund old favourites. If I ever get personally involved in a Kickstarter it'll be for something like that.Dave Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14468228790874490693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-5659048854985008792017-09-29T04:39:45.745+01:002017-09-29T04:39:45.745+01:00The only reason this thing is being done is that i...The only reason this thing is being done is that it interests them. It's not like they're Daniel Craig holding their noses to go back for another bite at the Bond apple. If they didn't love the idea of continuing this series, it wouldn't have continued.<br /><br />That said, the time and effort they spend on it has to be worth it. And for the most part, even with the Kickstarter being as phenomenally successful as it was, it isn't. All of the people involved in this can make more money more reliably by doing almost anything else. So, we get the dregs of their professional time because ultimately that's what we paid to get. <br /><br />If you want it faster you have to pay for it. And you'll have to convince enough other people to also pay for it. Maybe at $200-$300 a book, with a minimum of 500-1000 books, FL8 might get done in 9 months to a year. Are you willing to plunk down $300 a book? I'm not either. So, I'm willing to pay what I did to eventually get something instead of complaining about the whole thing and ultimately nothing, because enough complaints will absolutely cause the series to peter out.johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-85695989557102315512017-09-29T02:36:44.172+01:002017-09-29T02:36:44.172+01:00I'm really torn with how I feel about the new ...I'm really torn with how I feel about the new book given the delays, and even whether I should comment on it. Obviously I'm excited to read the book, but that's diminished over the months of waiting, and judging by some of the KS comments posted since 2015 I think frustration has set in for others too.<br /><br />That might just be a communication problem, as updates weren't always regular. And I certainly don't blame Paul personally for the reasons you outline above Dave (labours of love don't necessarily put bread on the table, after all).<br /><br />But 2 years for a single book feels too long, and I worry has deflated some of the excitement around the series being revived when the KS launched.<br /><br />So being honest, as much as I love FL, love Paul, love Dave (I own most things you've each professionally published), I'd prefer you each committed to things that interest you and remunerate you appropriately for your efforts. Particularly with a sandbox series like FL, I fear 2 years per title will see it peter out before 12 is even in sight.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16820212330098297211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141372262111342844.post-89886434762545013842017-09-28T04:51:10.813+01:002017-09-28T04:51:10.813+01:00Yep, it still exists. http://www.drivethrurpg.com...Yep, it still exists. http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/2377/Greywood-Publishing<br /><br />The point of the PDFs to me is that once they're set up and linked to PoD, you don't have to do much of anything else. People will buy them, download them, ect with no further need for you to do stuff.johntfshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005496604068259398noreply@blogger.com