verhaden
Lurker under the Bridge
Posts: 3
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Post by verhaden on Dec 4, 2009 13:19:33 GMT -5
As far as 'zine names are concerned, I'd try to stay away from anything even remotely derivative of Sorcerer's Apprentice. The publication should have its own identity. It's okay if you want to make clear the connection to Tunnels & Trolls, but the less it's seen as a nostalgic throwback seeking to piggyback on another magazine's successes, the better. For what it's worth, "Trollbridge" would be interesting insofar that someone could write a recurring, leading introductory short story (3-4 paragraphs max) at the beginning of the magazine depicting a scenario whereupon a traveler attempts to cross said Troll Bridge. Topics of said story could be used to relate to the main "theme" of the issue. For example, if the magazine had an abundance of topics relating to magic items, the traveler could use an item featured in the magazine to fend off the troll. Or perhaps the troll's goal in this issue is to uncover said staff or ring. It'd be a nice summary in narrative form. Also, both Fight On! and Knockspell have had great success with quarterly releases. Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter issues would probably be the way to go, considering the free/submission-based content model I assume the 'zine will follow. -- Yeah, a T&T-exclusive fanzine would be really neat. In the early days, OD&D had Dragon and for a while T&T had Sorcerer's Apprentice and these kinds of things really help to keep people interested in the game. I have nothing against Knockspell or Fight On!, and indeed endorse them heavily and enthusiastically, but their focus is more OD&D-like games and their clones. I just don't see T&T material as being that useful to OD&D players since the systems aren't really compatible. Granted, I've only owned T&T for...3 days now? But I think there's a good deal of cross-over available for OD&D and T&T. The games are broad enough mechanically that converting things wouldn't be much of an issue. Hell, of the issues I own, most are filled with adventure modules, random tables, and the occasional new monster or magic weapon. Converting only requires changing some of the (simple) mechanics and keeping the fluff. Saving throws become Saving Rolls, monsters with high HD become monsters with high MR, etc. Then again, I rarely use stuff I seen in magazines, blogs, forums, or websites wholesale. I cherry pick what I want and use the rest as inspiration for other things. And I really think that at least grabbing the extended olive branch would be a good thing.
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eagle
1st Level Troll
Posts: 45
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Post by eagle on Dec 4, 2009 15:39:24 GMT -5
I would definitely be intersted in a T&T ezine or magazine!
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Post by sonofthor on Dec 4, 2009 16:58:27 GMT -5
I don't think Knock Spell or Fight On! would be against having some T&T articles. I think they'd actually encourage it. Fight On! had an issue dedicated to Arduin.
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Post by Toad-Killer-Dog on Dec 4, 2009 17:14:23 GMT -5
I put my vote in for RTF.....because I'm competent with it.
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quoghmyre
7th Level Troll
The Summer Troll
Posts: 1,048
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Post by quoghmyre on Dec 4, 2009 17:27:54 GMT -5
for sharing documents for edits and pre layout RTF is great, but to be fair to the person who going to lay it up, Plane Text or .txt is the best. Removing formatting adds another step to the job or worse yet unwanted formatting sneaking into the final document can make life hell.
Oh, If you want a volunteer to page lay up and PDF it then I'll do that job.
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quoghmyre
7th Level Troll
The Summer Troll
Posts: 1,048
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Post by quoghmyre on Dec 4, 2009 17:30:06 GMT -5
Name: TrollBridge the zine
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Post by jongjungbu on Dec 4, 2009 17:51:34 GMT -5
As far as 'zine names are concerned, I'd try to stay away from anything even remotely derivative of Sorcerer's Apprentice. The publication should have its own identity. It's okay if you want to make clear the connection to Tunnels & Trolls, but the less it's seen as a nostalgic throwback seeking to piggyback on another magazine's successes, the better. For what it's worth, "Trollbridge" would be interesting insofar that someone could write a recurring, leading introductory short story (3-4 paragraphs max) at the beginning of the magazine depicting a scenario whereupon a traveler attempts to cross said Troll Bridge. Topics of said story could be used to relate to the main "theme" of the issue. For example, if the magazine had an abundance of topics relating to magic items, the traveler could use an item featured in the magazine to fend off the troll. Or perhaps the troll's goal in this issue is to uncover said staff or ring. It'd be a nice summary in narrative form. Also, both Fight On! and Knockspell have had great success with quarterly releases. Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter issues would probably be the way to go, considering the free/submission-based content model I assume the 'zine will follow. -- Yeah, a T&T-exclusive fanzine would be really neat. In the early days, OD&D had Dragon and for a while T&T had Sorcerer's Apprentice and these kinds of things really help to keep people interested in the game. I have nothing against Knockspell or Fight On!, and indeed endorse them heavily and enthusiastically, but their focus is more OD&D-like games and their clones. I just don't see T&T material as being that useful to OD&D players since the systems aren't really compatible. Granted, I've only owned T&T for...3 days now? But I think there's a good deal of cross-over available for OD&D and T&T. The games are broad enough mechanically that converting things wouldn't be much of an issue. Hell, of the issues I own, most are filled with adventure modules, random tables, and the occasional new monster or magic weapon. Converting only requires changing some of the (simple) mechanics and keeping the fluff. Saving throws become Saving Rolls, monsters with high HD become monsters with high MR, etc. Then again, I rarely use stuff I seen in magazines, blogs, forums, or websites wholesale. I cherry pick what I want and use the rest as inspiration for other things. And I really think that at least grabbing the extended olive branch would be a good thing. I don't feel it converts as simply as that. At least not in a somewhat balanced sense. I think the scaling some have found can get messed up where certain things you do following some formula you might use, will work in a certain level range but be pretty skewed in another. Scaling. But, I like your other ideas about the Bridge and the connections to the content within via introductory narratives.
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Post by ragnorakk on Dec 4, 2009 20:12:03 GMT -5
for sharing documents for edits and pre layout RTF is great, but to be fair to the person who going to lay it up, Plane Text or .txt is the best. Removing formatting adds another step to the job or worse yet unwanted formatting sneaking into the final document can make life hell. Seconded with feeling! The simpler the source is, the easier it is to fit in final form (whatever that'll end up being). Oh, If you want a volunteer to page lay up and PDF it then I'll do that job. Huzzah! Man! We're developing a 'deep-bench' here! This is pretty awesome! I gotta compile some better lists...
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uburoi
4th Level Troll
Rarr 'n' stuff.
Posts: 486
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Post by uburoi on Dec 4, 2009 20:33:15 GMT -5
I have to cast my vote for "The Journeyman". It's an homage, not a direct derivative - and you have to think about it to get it, which is never a bad thing to encourage.
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Post by feldrik on Dec 5, 2009 0:09:44 GMT -5
I am thinking TrollBridge is a good name for the 'zine. We can even pretend that we chose it for all kinds of layers of meaning about 'bringing more players to T&T' and '..connecting the player base'. People love that stuff.
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
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Post by machfront on Dec 5, 2009 6:42:21 GMT -5
verhaden is wise. Hark ye. ....did I just say "hark ye"? While the stats and whatnot of OD&D and T&T may not be easy to directly convert, it's still very easy to use any and all stuff in KnockSpell and Fight On! because with T&T you don't need direct conversion. Folks that play and use T&T will have a decent feel for what's right for their group,etc. Still, Saving Throw do indeed become an SR. It would just be up to the GM to decide what sort and what level is all. As much as I love "TrollBridge" I'm still a bit wary. Will we nickname it "TB"?!? No matter what I'll support and cheer-lead and whatever else. I'm glad I've no pertinent skill(s) so I can't get drafted. ;D
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Post by hrrrothgarrr on Dec 5, 2009 8:08:51 GMT -5
I prefer "TrollBridge" to "Journeyman" as a title.
I am not sure Sorcerer's Aprentice is remembered outside of TT circles, and even then... I have never seen an issue. Journeyman harkens back to this, but it is a tenuous link. To be honest it sounds more like a trade magazine.
TrollBridge clearly speaks of Trolls, which is a direct link to the game title.
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Post by mgtremaine on Dec 5, 2009 10:30:39 GMT -5
A section for Dungeon Features would be fun also, for Tricks & Traps, Riddles and Puzzles. Magic Items under some section like Arcane Bazaar, 1 Mini Solo and 1 Short GM and we'd cover a lot of the ground. Perhaps a piece of fiction each time as well. We need 32 pages minimum for POD and I think the idea of Quarterly would be awesome. So Spring 2010 would be the first deadline so start typing. Worse case we fail to get going and you submit to Fight On! . -Mike
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machfront
11th level Troll
Stalwart of the Trollbridge
"Let's go dark!"
Posts: 2,147
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Post by machfront on Dec 5, 2009 10:50:53 GMT -5
Not to be negative, but can I say my peace/piece of what I wouldn't like to see? Fiction. No fiction. Please. Please!I cannot stress this enough. Not nearly enough. There's nothing in this cosmos worse than rpg-oriented/fantasy magazine fiction (even worse when it pretends to be "humorous"). Nothing. Nothing!!! I'd rather lick a troll's.... Well, anyway.... there's better use for a fanzine's precious creative space. Love ya long time.
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Post by mgtremaine on Dec 5, 2009 11:04:03 GMT -5
Yeah I hear you it's hard to do well. SA always had pretty good fiction but I must admit I tend to ignore it in other magazines. I added that because there seems to be lots of "writers" in Trollhalla. 2 other organizational points. We could divide labour by having Section Editors. So of the various "Regular Features" each would have an submission editor who would be frontline gatherer and editor to pass on material to layout editor. That would help streamline the process rather then sending everything in to one person. Standardized submission contract, we need a document that outlines the deal. I'm sure we can pinch one from somewhere and make the changes needed but it would be best to have it all laid out. I think most would agree we just want right of first publishing in print and pdf format [includes combined PDF or print archive so long as the original magazine/zine is complete, that will handle any instance where in some fantastic future it gets bound as a hardback ]. Any use beyond that requires author permission. -Mike
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