So,  I got my Dark Albion book yesterday, the print proof; and while the cover will be a little different than the one in this version, the interior (barring any typos) will be identical.

So, head over to my blog and check out the first look at the actual book!


RPGPundit

You're killing me here man, here I am trying to curtail my rpg spending and you go off and release this.

As I said on Pundy's blog, I'd likely not get one second of use out of it but I'm damned tempted to get it anyway. I love the concept, and it looks awesome.

Got a price-point yet?

Looks nice, from what little the preview tells.

I'm impressed with the artwork. Many books, self-published or small press, that use period art manage to mess it up by choosing inconsistent pieces and poorly cropping or shopping them. These pieces are really beautifully rendered, huge fan of the wood-block look.

Nice looking stuff, Pundit.

That's a good looking book

Layout and art looks pretty good! I'm starting to get interested in the content too.

Definitely getting a WFRP vibe from the preview, which, of course, is a great thing.

Are you going to have a hardback/pdf bundle?

Quote from: CRKrueger;838123Are you going to have a hardback/pdf bundle?

Ah, sorry, but no.

Price of printed book, and price of PDF will be kept extremely reasonable (at least in my opinion; not set yet, but no more than FH&W for POD, and probably 10$ for PDF).

Printed book will be on Lulu for hardback, and Amazon for softcover. Then RPGnow/Drivethru for the PDF. However, the PDF will come with bookmarks (for all the table-of-contents and index entries), plus files to print maps in larger size (if you can get an appropriate printer) and maps not featured in the book (i.e. maps for players, that lost their hexes and got a parchment rendition). Add to this an introductory 1st level adventure of 20 pages, published separately, that will be "pay-what-you-want" (so you can get it for free).

I think it's still an honest dealing. First of all, POD on RPGnow means they get money from the book, when all the royalties get into our pockets (RPGPundit and me) when sold from Amazon/Lulu. So why do that? Keep in mind that doing books like this, takes enormous time (it took one year in my spare time doing the Dark Albion layout, maps, etc.). All the money it will bring us, you can see it as a kind of sponsoring (or like a kickstarter) of future products! For example, I have already material for a future 32-40 pages adventure in Dark Albion (with an additional regional map, castle floorlans, etc.), and also a supplement for Averoigne in Frogland! (Though it will be called Auverogne because of copyright issues.) But there must be incentive to do it too. Although Dark Albion (as well as FH&W) was a labor of love, this love doesn't put food in your plate.

By the same token, I don't do discounts (reduced prices) at a later date. For one reason (among others), I think it is kind of an insult toward those who paid it full price in the first place...

The system used is D&D?

Quote from: Scutter;838141The system used is D&D?

Most of the book (approximately 220 pages out of 275) is about describing the setting, without game rules. That is: the gazetteer, history, law-and-justice chapters, etc., make no mention of rules, except for the rare line such as "when standing under a dolmen magic-users cast their spells at +1 caster level".

Then, the pages that describe rules (i.e., character classes in Albion, chapter on magic, etc.) are intended for (and compatible with) most OSR games. That means that they are relevant to any pre-3e D&D game, and all their iterations (S&W, Osric, FH&W, LL, DCC, LotFP, etc.).  

Then, the 30 pages of appendices, feature rule information for playing with specific games, such as FH&W. But the info here could easily be ported to other D&D based games.

I think you might also use 5e to run a Dark Albion campaign, but you would have first to carefully think about spellcasters who have unlimited (low-level) spells per day, before beginning it. Just considering how that would fit and affect your campaign, since Dark Albion is supposed to be "low magic".

Thanks Turanil

Thanks for the rundown, Turanil. That pretty much sold me on getting this. Fantastic work!

Heh, I can't un-see Tom Servo on the cover.

Quote from: JeremyR;838160Heh, I can't un-see Tom Servo on the cover.

The final cover is much different. And there is two covers available when you buy a hardcover book on lulu: one with a 100% medieval manuscript flavor, and another with this painting (the choose-your-rose one) but different logo and bordering.