Calidar: Dreams of Aerie
[video]https://ksr-video.imgix.net/projects/2959449/video-779678-h264_high.mp4[/youtube]
Hi All. My third book's crowd funding is coming up mid June. I've made my preview page (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ambreville/752984857?token=9b35c2a0) available to the public. If you have suggestions or questions, please do bring them up. Thanks!
A few more words: Centered on a flying circus, this mega-adventure and mini-setting can also be run in any game world, with RPG rules of your choice.
Adventure: This RPG adventure also is a self-contained mini-setting. Because the action takes place on a flying circus, Dreams of Aerie is easy to adapt to any game world. Drawing on Barnum & Bailey and Cirque du Freak, this book's main plot elements involve a murder mystery, the rivalries of circus guilds, urban adventuring, and monster-hunting. Countless hooks allow side trips and alternate storylines, as each of the 90+ circus folk hide shadowy pasts and secret motivations. The heroes must contend with secret societies vying for hegemony among circus folk. If left to its own devices, a monstrous presence hidden aboard heralds catastrophic world events.
Sourcebook: This book's setting includes the circus itself, standing amid side shows and carnie shacks, themselves surrounded by a ring of permanent shops and dwellings called aeries, perched at the edge of the clouds. Two more decks lie below with all that the Greatest Show on Calidar needs to function, as well as its dark secrets. Although written for the World of Calidar, this setting is nearly self-contained until the referee starts unfolding the hidden stories of circus folk, and connects them with the chosen game's universe.
More details on the preview page. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ambreville/752984857?token=9b35c2a0)
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Cool stuff Bruce!
Which was your 2nd book, though?
Quote from: RPGPundit;963182Cool stuff Bruce!
Which was your 2nd book, though?
Thank you! The second book is
CC1 "Beyond the Skies," a major development about the divine pantheons of Calidar, the shamans of the Dread Lands, death in this universe, special powers for faithful followers, fanatics, and priors, mini-adventures, etc.
Click here for details. (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/188479/CC1-Calidar-Beyond-the-Skies?affiliate_id=428743)(http://www.drivethrurpg.com/images/5797/188479.jpg)
Hey Bruce, great to have you here. The Principalities of Glantri is one of my all time favourite supplements as are many others in the GAZ series. Very intrigued by this new work, I'll pick up the pdfs sometime soon.
Thanks! Glad we connected.
Last call!
I'll be submitting the Kickstarter campaign for final approval within the next day or two. This is your last chance to peruse the preview page and jump in with comments.
CLICK HERE! (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ambreville/752984857?token=9b35c2a0)
Greetings!
I wanted to alert you of my third book coming up: Calidar "Dreams of Aerie." I need to finance cover and internal art, and for this I'm launching a Kickstarter event on June 14th. Text and maps have already been completed. Poster maps and game-mastering aids will also be elements of the event. As always, Calidar does not rely on specific game mechanics. The adventure can be run with most tabletop RPG games. Due to the nature of the setting, "Dreams of Aerie" can easily be transplanted into a world other than Calidar if you prefer.
You'll be able to find the event with a simple search on Kickstarter: enter "Calidar" or "Calidar Dreams of Aerie" in the search box to find the correct page, or contact me for more information.
Thank you for your kindness and support!
Bruce Heard
(https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hHBHO8Qx2tw/WUEdYYxsUMI/AAAAAAAAIoA/pdwl8HycmgArqnUyJjq8KUl8SaO1R1SZQCLcBGAs/s400/Logo%2B%2526%2BCurtain.jpg)
See you all at 09:00 US Central Time this morning when the Kickstarter campaign launches for Calidar "Dreams of Aerie." Search for this title on Kickstarter's home page. I'll be back as soon as possible when the campaign launches, with the correct link. The present one, for the preview page (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ambreville/752984857?token=9b35c2a0), will cease to work when the campaign launches. You can also have a peek at the project preview (http://www.enworld.org/forum/content.php?4197-Dreams-of-Aerie-Bruce-Heard-s-Circus-in-the-Sky!#.WUEfsWgrKM8) posted on EnWorld, which reveals an extra poster map showing an "exploded view" of the aeries' upper floors on a night display of the main deck. Until the curtains open, sit tight and enjoy the popcorn. :D [/b]
Update June 14th 09:00 CST: Let the Game Begin: welcome to the Third Calidar Kickstarter! (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ambreville/calidar-dreams-of-aerie)
Shouldn't this be in the "news and ads" forum?
Quote from: Dumarest;968548Shouldn't this be in the "news and ads" forum?
You're probably right. The admin didn't say anything (see his post earlier.) I'm okay with this either way.
Quote from: Dumarest;968548Shouldn't this be in the "news and ads" forum?
Dude it's Bruce Heard let him post where he wants. :p
Quote from: Voros;968706Dude it's Bruce Heard let him post where he wants. :p
Well said.
Even overlooking his contributions to the hobby, one of the best things about him is his enthusiasm despite working in the industry since the '80s
Day 1 of Calidar "Dreams of Aerie's" Kickstarter: we did very well. By the end of Day 1, we've outdone CAL1 "In Stranger Skies." All numbers were better across the board. Thank you everyone! To help continuing this success story, do feel free to pass the word around, or simply keep chatting about the project, here, on Facebook, or on Kickstarter directly.
(https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aaYXZC0VEvs/WUJpndhr2gI/AAAAAAAAIoM/atQwfDFblLAB41AHHVnnZE2P8UAbEio8ACLcBGAs/s400/Screenshot%2BDay2.png)
What else can I say, but "merci!" :D
A good number of you did share the campaign announcement, and this helped a lot. I'm very grateful for your enthusiasm and support. Judging from the funding pattern, it looks like "Dreams" should be at least funded by the end of the event. So far, we have at least 111 visitors who watched the video; 59% of them watched it all the way through, which is pretty good actually. Out of 111 visitors, 86 are backers at this point. Compare this with "In Stranger Skies" where more than 5,000 visitors watched the video and about 400 became backers (after 30 days.) That's very encouraging, even though June is a difficult month for crowd funding.
Quote from: Voros;968706Dude it's Bruce Heard let him post where he wants. :p
LOL! I can post where I want, but there's no guarantee it'll stay where I put my stuff. Gotta roll with the punches.
Quote from: JeremyR;968730Well said.
Even overlooking his contributions to the hobby, one of the best things about him is his enthusiasm despite working in the industry since the '80s
Heh, you know, it never gets old (even though my body does.) Gee, with the job market as it is, not hiring anyone in their 50s or older, the alternative is standing at Walmart, greeting customers. If I have to live in poverty, at least I'd rather do so while working on something useful and entertaining. That being said, thank you everyone for making this possible.
Backed! My Calidar collection grows...
Quote from: trechriron;968807Backed! My Calidar collection grows...
Thank you! Much appreciated.
Bruce made the best parts of the best setting D&D ever had. He gets to post where he likes.
Quote from: RPGPundit;969488Bruce made the best parts of the best setting D&D ever had. He gets to post where he likes.
I'm honored. :cool:
Hey folks! Just hit the $6K mark & 80% of target!
Hey, good news: we just blasted past the initial funding target. :eek:
Quote from: RPGPundit;969488Bruce made the best parts of the best setting D&D ever had. He gets to post where he likes.
Clue me in then. I don't own any D&D settings.
Quote from: Dumarest;970937Clue me in then. I don't own any D&D settings.
Dumarest, stuff I'm best known for includes managing TSR's D&D game world (Mystara and the Hollow World), the D&D Gazetteers, Trail Maps, getting TSR's management to authorize the D&D Rules Cyclopedia, and the series of stories in Dragon Magazine in the 80s and 90s called Voyage of the Princess Ark. The latter is the inspirational source for my present work, the World of Calidar.
And it's artisanal awesome sauce. Calidar is wonderfully written and the maps are incredible. You can support the cartographer on patreon (https://www.patreon.com/thorf)and get new digital maps of the setting!
Quote from: Bruce Heard;971006Dumarest, stuff I'm best known for includes managing TSR's D&D game world (Mystara and the Hollow World), the D&D Gazetteers, Trail Maps, getting TSR's management to authorize the D&D Rules Cyclopedia, and the series of stories in Dragon Magazine in the 80s and 90s called Voyage of the Princess Ark. The latter is the inspirational source for my present work, the World of Calidar.
Thank you. You know what, I think I read some of those Princess Ark stories way back when! Was that the hot air balloon traveling from place to place? That was pretty neat. Calidar sounds cool. Thanks again.
Quote from: Dumarest;971042Thank you. You know what, I think I read some of those Princess Ark stories way back when! Was that the hot air balloon traveling from place to place? That was pretty neat. Calidar sounds cool. Thanks again.
You must be thinking of the Oostdok blimps. These were a gnomish airships from the Hollow World. This was a funny episode. The Princess Ark is actually an Alphatian skyship. I wanted to continue writing the stories as a professional author, but WotC would not give me permission or let go of the copyright. So, I rebooted the series with a new crew, a new ship... and an entire game world to wrap around everything! There are of course some common points between Mystara and Calidar. It turns out that I'm much better off writing Calidar material, simply because I can create anew, without the baggage of Mystara and the necessary approval process at WotC, which I think would have broken the camel's back.
I'm glad you carried on anyway and probably it's for the best to control the IP yourself now.
Now I remember the flying ship...I guess the gnomes made an impression!
Quote from: Dumarest;971461I'm glad you carried on anyway and probably it's for the best to control the IP yourself now.
Now I remember the flying ship...I guess the gnomes made an impression!
So far so good. I nearly did not return to writing after TSR went down and I left the industry. It was only at the insistence of my better half, 15 years later, that I did. Of course, I'll never live as comfortably as I had become accustomed to, but at least I am doing what I want for now. The present project has funded. It's June, though. It's a slow month. People are on summer vacation mode right now.
Hi All. Guess what... we've not only funded, but have also flown past the first stretch goal. Life is good. :cool:
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Very cool. It must be gratifying to see how many people are interested, especially after going through all that with TSR or whoever they are now.
Not surprising to me. Mystara fans are seriously hardcore fans.
Quote from: RPGPundit;972043Not surprising to me. Mystara fans are seriously hardcore fans.
Of course, a lot of Mystara fans either backed Calidar since the first book came out or picked "Dreams" as their entry point, but the good news is that an increasing number of other people (folks I've not been able to identify as Mystara fans) are also joining the fray.
Quote from: Bruce Heard;972102Of course, a lot of Mystara fans either backed Calidar since the first book came out or picked "Dreams" as their entry point, but the good news is that an increasing number of other people (folks I've not been able to identify as Mystara fans) are also joining the fray.
I'm one of those. I was a Forgotten Realms nerd for most of my 2e - 2eR career. I wars drawn by the quality of the maps and info, and I dig the origin/cosmos setup of Calidar.
[edited for clarity]
Quote from: trechriron;972178I'm one of those. I was a Forgotten Realms nerd for most of my 2e - 2eR career. I wars drawn by the quality of the maps and info, and I dig the origin/cosmos setup of Calidar.
[edited for clarity]
Wow. Thanks! You actually went through all of CC1 "Beyond the Skies?"
Most of it. I haven't read every God entry, but it's one of the most comprehensive list of gods I've seen. I also LOVE how faiths are mapped inside countries, that's actually super helpful.
Quote from: trechriron;972336Most of it. I haven't read every God entry, but it's one of the most comprehensive list of gods I've seen. I also LOVE how faiths are mapped inside countries, that's actually super helpful.
Thanks for this feedback. It's an awful lot to read. IIRC, that's close to a quarter million words printed in small type. Picking one to two pantheons upfront already is an eyefull. But if you read anything else, before proceeding to yet another pantheon, read the sections AFTER the pantheons. These, in my opinion, are actually more important than the individual deity descriptions because the information therein applies to all pantheons and affects the game world in its entirety. Thorfinn will be pleased to hear about your comment on the maps. :p
Hi everyone. Here's a review by Glen Hallstrom of CAL1 "In Stranger Skies." It is a fun walk through.
[video=youtube_share;TNrVPLMtpFY]https://youtu.be/TNrVPLMtpFY[/youtube]
Another reminder: crowdfunding for Calidar "Dreams of Aerie" is on its last week. Click here for the details. (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ambreville/calidar-dreams-of-aerie)
You can find CAL1 "In Stranger Skies" on DTRPG (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/5797/Calidar-Publishing?affiliate_id=428743).
Quote from: Bruce Heard;972283Wow. Thanks! You actually went through all of CC1 "Beyond the Skies?"
Ha! It's definitely larger than the first book, but good and interesting reading.
And ditto on trechriron's admiration of the maps.
Last chance to get in on the kickstarter! Only a day and a half to go.
Last but not least...
Uncool.
Apparently, there's a person who's been ranting about me, accusing me of swearing at him/her and doing so with a racist intent. This is a lie. For people who listened to this and became offended, I'll hope you'll understand there are always two sides to a story for those who make the effort to find out.
Quote from: Bruce Heard;974640Last but not least...
Uncool.
Apparently, there's a person who's been ranting about me, accusing me of swearing at him/her and doing so with a racist intent. This is a lie. For people who listened to this and became offended, I'll hope you'll understand there are always two sides to a story for those who make the effort to find out.
What's his deal? Do you know why he's making this up?
Quote from: RPGPundit;975410What's his deal? Do you know why he's making this up?
Giant chip on one's shoulder + anger management issues + really poor judgement.
I'm just ecstatic that we have ANOTHER awesome Calidar supplement coming!
Quote from: Bruce Heard;975651Giant chip on one's shoulder + anger management issues + really poor judgement.
Sounds like a lot of people who've gone after me over the years.
Quote from: RPGPundit;976333Sounds like a lot of people who've gone after me over the years.
We all know you are racist against half-latino Canadian ex-pats living in Uruguay. You sicken me.
Quote from: Harlock;976507We all know you are racist against half-latino Canadian ex-pats living in Uruguay. You sicken me.
Is this about the Belgians? I'm sure he didn't mean it.
::sadly shaking his head::