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Post by Sarah Newton on Apr 20, 2023 3:34:27 GMT -5
Looks amazing Sarah! Congratz! Thank you Steve! I've just finished up my work on the page XX refs and index, and we're doing a few final tweaks before outputting the print files next week. Then it's just a question of producing the bookmarked and hyperlinked PDF version and confirming the print proofs for the hardback, so right now we're still firmly on target for a May release. Here's a quick peek at the cover art. We're just brainstorming the buyline - I really want to convey Ken's idea that in the Monsters! Monsters! family of games you effectively end up with super-powered fantasy characters as you level-up. "Superheroic Fantasy Roleplaying" is what I've come up with so far, but I'm thinking that conjures up too much spandex. Although with LAIR OF THE LEOPARD EMPRESSES, maybe leopard-print spandex isn't too far from the truth! All the best, Sarah
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viva
3rd Level Troll
Posts: 109
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Post by viva on Apr 20, 2023 8:12:40 GMT -5
Feedback from a consumer (someone who will buy either way but...):
When I saw this announced a few months ago I was a bit confused by the "superheroic" tag and did a double-take at the cover back then to make sure it wasn't some kind of modern superhero spin. The artwork on the cover did strongly lead me to believe it was my preferred, traditional "fantasy" setting but use of that word "superheroic" absolutely was a bit misleading/confusing, as you mention. I don't know that it is actually going to cost a meaningful amount of "sales" (T&T/M!M! is so small pond already) and just "Heroic" is probably too common for what you were trying to convey. But current pop culture (eg, Marvel/DC movies) really has created a very strong connotation for that word that I would try to come up with something else.
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Post by Sarah Newton on Apr 20, 2023 8:25:41 GMT -5
Thanks for the feedback, Viva, that's very useful! Thank you for taking the time. So, so far, what we're thinking for the cover text is to have the following: THE LAIR OF THE LEOPARD EMPRESSES SUPERHEROIC SWORDS & SORCERY ADVENTURE! A roleplaying game by Sarah Newton Plus, of course, the cover, the back cover blurb, and the whole look n feel of the game - hopefully no one's going to mistakenly think this is 4-colour spandex superhero action! We're hoping not just to appeal to fans of M!M! but also more broadly to Mindjammer Press fans and also to folks who enjoy a rollicking action-packed pulpy swords & sorcery setting. Most of all, we're trying to indicate this isn't your standard D&D-like fantasy setting, but something with hugely different game tropes, a very different vibe and also a very different game reality - when your 10th level character has 105 Strength and 102 Speed, he can not only outrun your average horse, but carry it too! That's the "superhero" bit which I think Ken has referred to more than once, and which we'd like to give a clear nod towards. Maybe at levels 1-3 or so it's a bit trad fantasy, but then things start to change... All the best, Sarah
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Post by Sarah Newton on Apr 21, 2023 3:30:54 GMT -5
Hi everyone - so we finished up the cover and tagline yesterday. Here's how it's looking. ETA May 2023! All the best, Sarah
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jeffb
2nd Level Troll
Posts: 66
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Post by jeffb on Apr 21, 2023 5:17:17 GMT -5
For someone like myself, whose first contacts with sword & sorcery were comics of the 60s and (mostly) 70s before classic fantasy/pulp literature, I'm all for the "superheroic" bit. High action. High adventure. Episodic play. That's what I get out of "superheroic". Y/OMMV.
Looking forward to this even though I'm not a fan of MM.
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Post by stefanj on Apr 23, 2023 14:07:50 GMT -5
Ken St. Andre once described T&T adventuring like what LOTR would be as a Marvel comic.
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sscrompton
4th Level Troll
One of the members of the Fellowship of the Troll. Worked on dT&T with Ken, Liz, Bear & Rick.
Posts: 414
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Post by sscrompton on May 1, 2023 1:29:13 GMT -5
That cover looks incredible Sarah! LOVE IT! Be sure to contact me and we will hple spread the word. If possible maybe we can get some copies to sell at the new monstersmonsters.org/ website! If not we'll do an article with a link to whereever you are selling it! Congratulations! Steve
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Post by Sarah Newton on May 2, 2023 8:45:47 GMT -5
That cover looks incredible Sarah! LOVE IT! Be sure to contact me and we will hple spread the word. If possible maybe we can get some copies to sell at the new monstersmonsters.org/ website! If not we'll do an article with a link to whereever you are selling it! Congratulations! Steve Thank you, Steve! Well, we've just sent off the print files so are now waiting for approval to order a print proof; assuming that's all good, we'll launch as soon as we receive it and check through. Hopefully just a few weeks now! Over here I'm working on the bookmarks and hyperlinks for the PDF version too, so it's all coming together. Here's our final front + back cover. The final book came out at 399 pages, including front papers, spell lists, and a generous index. Thanks for the offer to spread the word - we're definitely up for that, just as soon as we're ready to launch. We'll work out physical copies for your webstore too. We're excited! All the best! Sarah
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Post by bigjackbrass on May 18, 2023 5:43:42 GMT -5
Great to see this pop up on DriveThruRPG (I'm sure there's more to it than just popping up from the publisher side, but I am only a humble customer). PDF and print on demand too. Considering the size of the book I was hoping it would get a more traditionally bound print run, so I may have to wait and see if early buyers report any issues with the PoD version.
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Post by Sarah Newton on May 18, 2023 6:01:46 GMT -5
Great to see this pop up on DriveThruRPG (I'm sure there's more to it than just popping up from the publisher side, but I am only a humble customer). PDF and print on demand too. Considering the size of the book I was hoping it would get a more traditionally bound print run, so I may have to wait and see if early buyers report any issues with the PoD version. Hi Big Jack Brass! I hope you're doing well - it's been a while! Yes, we're up and live at last, and selling well so far! We decided to go down the POD route with LAIR as part of our "Mindjammer Press Regeneration Plan" - there may be a distribution print-run later this year, but nothing has been decided yet. As far as the POD copy is concerned, I've had mine for a little over a week, and I'm finding it very good. Here are some details: - the paper is 70gsm, uncoated, so it's a matte finish on the interior pages, not gloss. The covers are gloss, and pleasantly thick. I'm digging the feel. It feels very much like the dT&T book, except of course it's in colour throughout. The images look good - in particular, I'm enjoying the maps, the big chapter headers, and the leopardy page headers. The text is decently large, and very easy on the eye. - structurally the binding feels solid. However, it's a big, 400-page hardback, so I'd recommend breaking it in carefully, as you would with any large hardback printing. Here's what I've always done with big books, and it's stood me in good stead: 1. Place the closed book on its spine on a table. 2. Slowly, keeping the interior pages pinched together in your hand, allow the front and back hard covers to open slightly. Start with 30 degrees, then 60, then 90. The object is to ease the covers open without cracking the spine. 3. As you ease to 30 degrees, allow a handful of interior pages at the front to open to meet the front cover, and a similar number of rear pages to open to meet the rear cover. 4. Continue to do the above gradually, taking your time, slowly allowing the book to open itself until it's lying flat on the table, the interior pages open roughly at page 200. 5. In general, be careful not to swing the book around by its covers, at least to begin with! This is something I've always done with big hardbacks, and I did it with LAIR and have found it's retained its structural strength very well. I've been buying PODs from DriveThru at least since the Dragon Warriors RPG, and they've got better and better. LAIR feels very sturdy. I hope you enjoy the game! All the best, Sarah
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Post by nialldubh on May 18, 2023 6:13:09 GMT -5
Trying to make this quick...
Eh, page 31, it states Kangnar's Str and Con is 15.
But in fact his Str is 17...
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Post by Sarah Newton on May 18, 2023 6:37:35 GMT -5
Trying to make this quick...Eh, page 31, it states Kangnar's Str and Con is 15. But in fact his Str is 17... And we have our first Erratum! Thank you, Niall, I've begun a list of errata, and will post that when we find the best way to do so (maybe there'll be a subforum or something here?). Happily this one doesn't change anything - Kangnar's level is still 1! All the best, Sarah
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apn
5th Level Troll
Posts: 578
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Post by apn on May 18, 2023 6:58:46 GMT -5
The illustrations used in this book were drafted and initially generated by a professional artist using the commercial version of the Midjourney tool, then manually manipulated, assembled, corrected, and processed in post-production by the same artist. No artist names were used in prompts. All illustrations were paid for at the RPG market rate.
Interesting! Already seen one comment in the Drive Thru RPG comments about this. For myself I have no qualms about where artwork comes from so long as it's good and legal (let's not go into what went on a while back...).
Intend to purchase the PDF (when payday comes around, money is tight when you're on strike...) but can anyone tell me what the colour coverage is like in the book? I tend to print/bind them myself but if it's full colour on every page may be better off buying the POD version in a few months when it's updated/errata'd.
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Post by bigjackbrass on May 18, 2023 8:14:36 GMT -5
Hi Big Jack Brass! I hope you're doing well - it's been a while! It has indeed! Thanks for the additional details and advice. I might just bring this one forward to payday 😁
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Post by nialldubh on May 18, 2023 8:26:49 GMT -5
NP Sarah:
Eh, another question, I know you using a map that you (had) used for Trollworld, but on it is still a mention of Khavad and Phoros (once Phoron on old map). Are we to presume a connection with Trollworld or is it still to be erased?
Yes, if a moderator could do that?, and perhaps if you could create a post?
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