Editing
almost 3 years ago – Mon, Apr 10, 2023 at 08:57:09 AM

Hey Folks!

We're making some good headway with editing and formatting Adventurer's Agency. In the last month, we've done a lot of balancing and playtesting of the original monsters in the system. In particular, we've done a lot of work on the Rexenant and have even added two new stat blocks to the section: Hive Tendrils and Infant Overqueens. The second stage of editing and formatting is nearly finished - it should wrap up this week with just a few more sections of rewrites. At that point, it will move on to the first stage of line editing (stage 3 of 5 of the editing process). The editing process has been much slower moving than anticipated, a combination of factors including the HHP office shutting down for nearly a week after we got 58" of snow, me becoming bedridden and hospitalized after multiple illnesses over the last few months, and a significant family emergency for Alex, the project's lead writer. 

The editing and playtesting is such an important part of the process and so we won't fast track any part of this to meet our deadline. We are making good progress and have a lot of momentum now. I am still hopeful that we can begin fulfilling orders by June but I think July or August is more realistic now at this stage.

If you're looking for some inspiration for adventure hooks, check out our new blog post featuring 50 adventure hooks. These would all work well for seeding adventure contracts in Adventurer's Agency. https://www.headlesshydrapress.com/post/50-adventure-hooks-for-busy-gms

I will have another update on the editing as we make more progress in the next few weeks.

Thank you all for your patience and I hope you're all having a nice start to spring!

Shane

Quick Update
about 3 years ago – Mon, Mar 06, 2023 at 10:57:35 AM

Hey Folks,

This is just a quick status update. We have gotten a big chunk of the rewrites and expanded sections done. In the last month, a lot of the focus has been on writing the lore for the various monsters and creatures of Prataea. 

However, I do need to share that we've had a hiccup. The wife of our lead writer, Alex, has been having some health issues and is scheduled for surgery soon. Alex has understandably stressed which has impacted his creative output. Please keep Alex and his family in your thoughts and I am hoping that depsite this, we will finally move on to the next stage of editing shortly.

Thank you so much to all of you kind people for your understanding and patience. I hope you are all well and staying warm this winter. Here on our mountain in Vermont, we just got buried under nearly two feet of snow!

Shane

Quick Revision Update
about 3 years ago – Mon, Feb 06, 2023 at 07:28:20 AM

Hey Folks,

Wow, I don't know about you all but I am SO glad January is over. After the the Open Gaming License debacle caused the greatest controversy in the TTRPG space since the 1980's Satanic Panic, I ended up in the hospital for five days due to a severe GI infection. It's taken me a couple of weeks to recover - which didn't help with nailing down the latest revision of Adventurer's Agency, but I am pleased to share that real. tangible progress has been made. I have sent lead writer Alex a list of rewrite/expansion requests, the book is largely formatted, and 95% of the art selection and placement is done. I am anticipating Alex will get me the new rewrites within two weeks and then it will move on the the next stage of revisions. Right now, we are still on target for a June 2023 fulfillment but our margin for error is growing more narrow. I will keep you updated once we move along to the next stage of editing and should be able to show some interior page samples soon. 

Also, speaking of the OGL drama, a lot of gamers have been really curious to see what other game systems are out there. If you're curious to see what's out there beyond D&D 5e, come check out our intro guide to some of the other great systems you might be interested in. https://www.headlesshydrapress.com/post/gameplay-options-besides-dungeons-dragons

Thanks folks! We had a cold one here in Vermont this weekend with wind chill temperatures dipping to -45 degrees Fahrenheit. Wherever you are, we hope you are warm and safe!

Shane

Will You Vote in Our Poll?
about 3 years ago – Mon, Jan 23, 2023 at 08:00:33 AM

Hey Folks!

The OGL and Us

Wow. it has been quite the start to the year. If you’ve missed the high drama of the TTRPG world for the last couple of weeks, Wizards of the Coast, the company that makes D&D, pulled the rug out from under the Third Party Publishing community when they “announced” plans to revoke their Open Game License that allows us to publish content for 5e. After being caught attempting to strong arm and intimidate small publishers, they lied to the public, saying the predatory and draconian OGL 1.1 they sent to publishers with a contract and deadine to sign was just a ”draft”. They’ve since released a new draft that is better but is still a bad enough license that we would be unable to publish under it. While we wait to see what the final draft will look like, we are moving forward with Adventurers Agency in the hopes that we will complete it in time to publish it under the old license. 

However, in the chaos and uncertainty, we have had to completely change our planned publishing schedule, including postponing a 5e campaign setting ive spent 3+ years developing and have spent thousands of dollars preparing for kickstarter. As we try to figure out where to go from here, I really want to know what you hope to see from us. If you have a few seconds, please vote in this single-question multiple choice poll to let us know what content you most want to see. https://strawpoll.com/polls/ajnEOzlajZW

Progress Update

I‘m still working on revising the latest version of the draft but have been stymied by my wife getting Covid and spending 10 days quarantining. Luckily the kids and I avoided getting sick (and my wife is feeling better)@ but I spent a lot of time taking care of her and the kids while still dealing with reduced childcare. Ive made some progress with revisions but not as much as I was hoping. I spoke to Alex and he is making good progress on Agency Contracts.

New Kickstarter

Were fortunate that the next kickstarter weve been preparing is not reliant on the OGL. Villains and Villagers is launching next week and is a system neutral supplement for making great NPCs quickly and easily. You can check it out here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shanecollins/villains-and-villagers

Third Party Partner

Want to support a third party publisher whose making a cool 5e project right now? Checknout the first Kickstarter from Confused Clerics. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/confusedclerics/elodins-item-and-spell-cards?ref=8opic2

Update on Revisions!
over 3 years ago – Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 10:06:07 PM

Hey Folks!

It's been quite a month (not in a great way) over here at HHP. I was hoping to have an exciting update on all the great progress I've made in the last month+ revising Adventurer's Agency. Instead, here is a list of all the things that have happened since I last wrote an update.

Things that have happened:

• I'm 99% done with art selection and art layout for Adventurers' Agency (yay!)
• I've gotten sick twice
• I've had some mental health/anxiety issues that are now being better managed
• Our family cat passed away
• My kids have been acting out after beloved family cat passed away
• My kids' daycare had a fire and their daycare is closed indefinitely

And here's a list of things that have NOT happened:

• I've made significant progress in my second round of Adventurers' Agency Revisions

The fire at my kids' childcare happened late at night and while a cleaning person was there, they managed to escape and call 911. The fire was not as bad as it could have been but we are looking at months of renovations to the facility. For those who don't know, Vermont is in the throes of a major childcare crisis so options here are very limited. While we are still working on a long term childcare solution, we've got a few irons in the fire and I should hopefully have  at least 50% childcare by mid January. Neddless to say, this will have a significant impact on my work productivity. I will be sure to update you when this is resolved and the revision process is back on track. I may have limited work time next week (I wasn't anticipating any, even before the fire) so I may make progress on reviisons then. I will really only need a solid 30 hours to complete the process so once I make it through it, we can begin the next stages of editing and keep chugging away. Thank you all for being understanding of the delay and supportive. 

More than anything, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season and a safe, fun, and warm start to your New Year. And I hope you can all find time to game with your family or friends.

Shane