The Almanack is Dead

[Solomoriah]

I hope that got everyone's attention.

I've decided to give up on the Olde Dungeoneer's Almanack, for a variety of reasons. First in my mind is the fact that so many people seem to think the Almanack is some sort of "Advanced Edition" rulebook for Basic Fantasy RPG. Thus, they are prone to try to use it wholesale. I never meant for it to be that way.

More importantly, though, is the fact that I don't believe the Almanack can ever be completed. The core rules had a "coverage target," that is, a specific group of rules that it needed to encompass. As I've said before, I knew it was done when all the comments I received about it were "It's really good, but it would be perfect if it had X" where there was no consensus about what X actually was. The minimum set of rules which would cover the sorts of games I envisioned, without anything really unnecessary added in.

That can't be the case with the Almanack. To be complete, it has to either have a coverage target (which it doesn't), or include everything (which is a heck of a lot of work). After futzing with it for years, I've decided to give up on it.

I've restored all the original supplements to the main downloads page. I'd like to see some nominations for supplements that should be marked "Final" or which are very close to final, so I can get them done and marked as done.

On a related note, I've decided that from now on, I'm only going to announce new releases in the thread here and on Dragonsfoot in this thread:

http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewt ... 42&t=15740

Trying to find all the specialised threads to post announcements in is a pain. If someone else wants to try to maintain them, feel free.

[SmootRK]

Sound thinking all around.

I have said it privately, but I think the Almanack might still be possible, but perhaps simply re-organized as a compilation of Supplements, rather than as an integrated Tome... with the exception of a Spell Section (integrating all the various spells).

I do look forward to an actual book of Monsters (the Field Guide) to keep on my shelf.

[Mhogrymm]

Not that my approval is needed but... Hurrah! I wish you would have done it before I spent the time dissecting what I wanted out of the old boy. Should make it easier for new players to find what they want though. One topic supplements are really the best in my opinion.

[SmootRK]

I think this should be dialed down a bit "Dead" thing... It is not necessarily good news, and some might take it wrong (without reading the context) that support for BFRPG is being reduced or eliminated.

To be sure, there is continued quality ongoing work being produced for Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game... the only change is the manner in which these projects are being presented.

Not that my approval is needed but... Hurrah! I wish you would have done it before I spent the time dissecting what I wanted out of the old boy. Should make it easier for new players to find what they want though. One topic supplements are really the best in my opinion.

You may be right... although I would love a book or two more to add to what is available. A Tome of Magic (spells, magic items, etc), the Field Guide (monsters), Perhaps a Setting Book (for instance expanding the info on the region around Morgansfort).

[Solomoriah]

Ooh. I might get behind a "magic" book containing all the new spells plus all the spellcasting subclasses. Or perhaps just the spellcasting magic-user and cleric subclasses... I'm still not a fan of the Jester.

[SmootRK]

Ooh. I might get behind a "magic" book containing all the new spells plus all the spellcasting subclasses. Or perhaps just the spellcasting magic-user and cleric subclasses... I'm still not a fan of the Jester.

Such a Tome of Magic would be fun, and a logical place to compile stuff like Channelling Items, Sentient Weapons, various Magical Items and Treasures. A Sorcerer class, Necromancer, Illusionist, or more would be perfect there too.

Perhaps a divine version, "Prayer Book" would be an ideal place for Druids, Shaman, or others dealing with Clerics and clerical spells.

When it comes to the Jester, I would think the Bard/Performer would suffice for a Jester... just tweaked for comedy instead of music. All the same stuff (spells coming from combo classes, choice of thief abilities, and such) would be identical. A jester is still just a performer anyhow, just with comedy.

[swirler]

would it maybe be appropriate to have an ODA "section"? Basically it'd be a place designed for "Done" add-ons? Such as the bestiary could (once completed as is) be called #1 and placed there and then a new #2 project for that could start?

[Solomoriah]

The Field Guide has its own section of the downloads page. I'm loathe to consider it "finished" (in the "ready to print" sense) until it's at least 70-80 pages long, owing to the cost issues on Lulu.com (the bigger the book, the better deal it is).

I suppose separating "finished" from "unfinished" supplements is a good idea. However, I'd like to see some nominations of specific supplements that everyone agrees are "done" before I start marking them that way.

[swirler]

ahh good point

[SmootRK]

The Field Guide has its own section of the downloads page. I'm loathe to consider it "finished" (in the "ready to print" sense) until it's at least 70-80 pages long, owing to the cost issues on Lulu.com (the bigger the book, the better deal it is).

I suppose separating "finished" from "unfinished" supplements is a good idea. However, I'd like to see some nominations of specific supplements that everyone agrees are "done" before I start marking them that way.

While there might be a few critters from existing material that can be included in the Field Guide, I think art would be the necessary ingredient for stretching the page count out.

To Do

• Art for as many critters as we can accumulate
• We need to make sure we look through the modules for the critters that appear in some of them to include. I have a few monsters still up in my head that need to get down on paper, but "making the Book happen" needs filler material.
• Another filler, should be to include the "Fine Art of Monster Conversion" Supplement to the back of the Field Guide (as an appendix).
• A table of contents adds one page, and an index(s) adds a few pages, especially if we do a couple of different organizations.
• Re-done and expanded Encounter Tables would also add several pages to the Field Guide.

Anyone with such experience at making these (or just the inclination to do so) would be very welcome.