Mark Hart's page

1) Yes. Emphatically yes.

2) I would continue to buy Paizo products.

3) It would drastically drop my number of Paizo purchases, aside from older edition PDFs.

Great. Now I have to figure out some paranoid way to twist your words to support my conspiracy theory. Just terrific.
...

Anyway, I'm off to find more obscure references in Dungeon adventures. I understand that the word Gambit has arisen in James Jacobs' work...

:-)

I can assure you, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that "Graymalkin" was not a comic book reference...

It relates back to Macbeth, but it was the name I chose for a wizard's academy during a campaign I ran about 15 years ago...the players were all apprentice wizards, and the first part of the campaign took place in Greymalkin Academy. The adventure has a connection back to that campaign, and I kept the name "Greymalkin" as an homage to the players who participated.

So, I it is an "in joke" of sorts, but not one that would apply to more than 4 or 5 people!

I imagine no one will believe me when I say this, but I honestly wasn't thinking of Hogwarts or Harry when I wrote the adventure. A lot of the inspiration came from an all-wizard campaign I did back in 1990 where the characters started out at the wizard's academy and evolved from that point.

Of course, it is entirely possible that the Harry Potter milieu crept into my subconscious and influenced the work, without me giving much thought as to where the ideas originated...

Wow, Jason must have burned the midnight oil (although, with the time zone differences, maybe the 10 p.m. oil). I heard back on all of my outstanding DRAGON queries.

30 ideas submitted, 3 accepted and a fourth accepted as a "Class Acts." I'm pretty happy with a 10% acceptance rate, especially if this last batch of queries was so chock full o' good ideas and proposals.

I have two queries from mid-April awaiting initial yea-or-nay decision.

I think the work load over yonder at Paizo may have spiked upwards recently...James Sutter had been going through my queries at a pretty speey clip, and then there was silence (and it looks like other people are experiencing a similar phenomenon).

On another note, I was reading a preview for Dungeon #140 and noticed an adventure I wrote will appear in that issue...that is, unless someone else wrote a different adventure with the same title. It was an adventure I had submitted in November 2004.

That was a weird feeling, seeing that title pop up out of nowhere like that. Assuming a better adventure doesn't come along and knock it from its perch, it will be my second published adventure, although I submitted it first. I had expected to be asked to do some revising and rewriting before it saw print...I imagine that the DUNGEON staff polished it up properly and no doubt improved on it considerably.

Congratulations, James! That is excellent and exciting news!

Just to get things rolling, I've put in a few specific questions below...

QUESTIONS:

Q1
When you are working on a query for an adventure that you haven't actually written yet, how do you:

* Figure out what level it will be written for
* What encounters will go into it
* Who the main villains and other important NPCs are
* Calculate what length the finished adventure

Once I have an overall theme for the adventure, I do a quick run through some monster books and jot down some different monsters that would make sense for the locale, the PC level, and the overall type of adventure. It is sometimes helpful to think in broad categories. An adventure set in the frozen north might call for monsters like the polar worm, white dragons, frost giants, etc.

As for the adventure’s length, I usually shoot for 10-15k adventures. This is more of an art than a science. Once a query is given the greenlight, I write the adventure, and then later pare it down to meet word count (which usually entails a lot of cutting later). The higher the adventure level, the more words needed. The more complicated the plot or setting, the more words are needed. If you use a lot of monsters with PC levels, or monsters from books beyond the Monster Manual, you need more words.

Q2
Once you start a new query, how long does it take you to complete and then submit it and, once you've gotten past the "grey render and the door", how quickly do you usually take to get the first revision of the query (if it's a "re-edit" ) or the first draft of the manuscript (if it's a "send us a manuscript") back to Piazo (And how long do they usually expect/want it to take)?

Paizo generally gives you 2-3 months to turn in the finished manuscript after they green-light a query. I have found this to be more than enough time.

Q3
How much time do you actually spend each week bashing out queries and/or working on manuscripts?

Q4
On a slightly tangential note, when you get a new idea for an adventure/CW/&c. where do they usually come from and/or come to you?

One of the best ways to generate ideas is to ask yourself questions, and then come up with ways to answer those questions. It often helps to throw away the first two or three answers you come up with, and dig deeper for a less conventional or fresher approach. “What if” questions are fun, as are “what happens next,” and “how did this get started?” Look at a monster or magic item or unusual locale and ask questions, and then try and answer those questions.

Hope this helps. Best of luck...
--Mark

Hal,

Wow, thanks for all the collating and collecting of info -- a very helpful list to have handy!

You should send completed manuscripts for Campaign Workbooks...Ashavan

Has anyone received more recent news about submission proposals? I have a couple still in the hopper awaiting the first pass -- dated about mid-April.

For now, time to put on the thinking cap and put together a new round of queries...

*gulp*

What dates were they from, Mark?

Good luck to folks...

::rend::
::shred::

Oh, the humanity!

Five little chickadees down and gobbled...

...James Sutter will...rip your still-beating heart out of your chest and stomp on it while you watch, helpless to prevent it. One of the two. ;)

Here, all along I just thought it was heartburn...

I just heard back from James Sutter about the query that I was asking about above...

But first I was wondering if anyone else had heard back from a query after March 27th, before I go and send in another email to add to the editor's pile of emails to answer.

We recently had a meeting. Responses might be in the mail... uh...

Funny, I don't remember writing it on my character sheet...

In some cases, that means we end up sitting on a manuscript for months or even years. If, after a year, we still haven't published an adventure, we have to make a hard decision what to do with it.

Fortunately, an adventure I submitted last October was recently published, so even if my other adventure ultimately gets canned, I've had some success.

I also had a fair number of "accepted" articles with DRAGON that ended up being canned with the change in editors and the change in the magazine's focus. Published or not, they at least helped me hone my writing and learn the process. For better or for worse, it seems every submission has something to teach...

Does anyone have any Eberron specific adventures they're waiting patiently to hear back on?

"The Purloined Corpse"
"Fallen Hero"

I think I have 2 for the Forgotten Realms, and then 4 that are "generic" setting adventures.

...Well, I'm still here and waiting! No word on my submission yet. I can wait...

Wow, almost a week and nothing new in this thread...I can practically hear the tumbleweeds rolling past in the street...

For future reference, I am of the perfect age to have gone through all of elementary school being told how much I "like it." Like many other Mikes of my age bracket (and we are legion), I despise Life cereal for that damnable ad campaign, and I do not like being called Mikey.

Hey, I thought of a question for ya Mikey...

:-)

...a Bazaar of the Bizarre query should include a list of 9-20 items with a name (placeholder or "final") and a sentence describing its function for each one.

Sorry to leave you all hanging, but things have been extremely busy around here lately with AP3. Don't expect anything in the next few days, but I'm going to try to dive back into the slush pile in the immediate future....

Queries and proposals are basically "fire-and-forget" things...you shoot them off into the aether, forget about them for a time, and find something else to work on.

Here are the query titles I am awaiting word on:

The Purloined Corpse
Fallen Hero (I guess it is a popular title?!?)
Lesser Evil
Rumors of War
Predatory Nature
Dread Inheritance
Well of Sorrows
Witch Hunt

The oldest of these only goes back to the last day of March, so they are fairly recent overall.

...I do a "pitch week" three times each year, about every four months (around 30 ideas at a shot)...

I noticed there is one already -- Karsus, although the FR-specific flavor has been changed.

Thanks, James, I appreciate your assistance.

(I seriously have to wonder if you guys aren't working too hard and way too many hours...but, your efforts really show in both DUNGEON and DRAGON!)

I have a question about the use of more recent WotC books in desgining adventure submissions for DUNGEON. Specifically, in this case, the excellent TOME OF MAGIC.

I am designing a submission proposal that would work especially well with one of the new classes introduced in ToM.

I know that when using non-core books for adventures -- the Fiend Folio, for example, the designer needs to include info on that monster in the adventure, since the assumption is that readers do not necessarily have the FF.

How does this work for new spellcasting classes, such as the binder, introduced in ToM? Is this a case where it is just best not to use non-core material, but rather find a way to use a core class instead? I imagine that word limitations alone might force this path. Does use of something as rule-heavy as a new class from a non-core book pose too many problems, or make the adventure inaccessible for too many readers?

If it *is* permissible to use a new spellcasting class like the Binder in a DUNGEON adventure, how much info should be included?

I would greatly appreciate any help, advice, suggestions that people (editors, designers, gurus) could provide.

Thanks in advance!

From the 1st edition modules, three possible examples of true "dungeon crawls" (as the term seems to be evolving in this thread) could incude Ghost Tower of Inverness, White Plume Mountain (mentioned above), and Tomb of Horrors (the "killer dungeon" prototype).

Several other 1st ed. modules seem to epitomize adventures with plots: Against the Giants and Vault of the Drow. Obviously, these series also had elements of dungeon crawl built into them (slogging through the Underdark, for example), but they also had cohesive plots, groups of monsters and bad guys in close proximity for good reason, and a narrative flow.

I like all of the above named adventures -- each has its charms, each has its drawbacks. From a personal stance, I prefer the adventures with a narrative flow, and where monsters have reasons for collecting in one place.

Of course, many adventures are of both types, such as Temple of Elemental Evil. It had a plot, narrative flow, but it also had a hefty dungeon crawl.

It often seems that after the "mystery" of the dungeon wears off, it often becomes a chore to slog through, rather than an adventure. For various reasons, once a dungeon gains too many rooms, too many hallways, and too many different encounters, it moves into the category of dungeon crawl. As long as the setting (be it dungeon or whatever) retains an air of mystery, a feeling of danger, and an atmosphere of impending danger, it holds a lot of fun potential. Once the dungeon becomes commonplace (another empty room, or this room contains dust and cobwebs), it ceases to be unique and becomes gaming-by-numbers.

I like the fact that, more and more, designers are putting serious, detailed thought into how to make the game FUN. Figuring out what rules make the game fun, and which bog things down. Then, when folks like WotC and Paizo incorporate their findings and discoveries into their adventures and products, the game benefits immensely.

For example, random traps sprinkled throughout the dungeon. As a side effect, players slow everything down while their characters search every square inch of the dungeon on the chance a trap lies in wait. Now, the thinking about traps has really moved away from that paradigm and towards making the presence of a trap an opportunity for characters to meet a challenge and possibly evade or eliminate it. The emphasis is on making the game more fun for the participants.

I think dungeons/adventures are undergoing a renaissance of sorts. I love the classic adventures and always will have nostalgia for them. As far as actual play, however, I appreciate the direction adventures are taking. Emphasis on the fun, de-emphasizing the mundane, the boring, and the tedious. There seems to be a growing and evolving *intentional* process involved about focusing the game on the fun. I don't recall ever seeing this level of forethought, design, and anticipation applied to the game before.

With "dungeon crawls," my players like dungeons, but generally don't care for huge, multi-level complexes...especially those that have 4-6 doors and hallways every time you go through a room (too many choices often as bad as not enough choice). I personally think "dungeon" type locales are the heart and soul of fantasy adventures (at least the kind I enjoy most). Crypts, ruins, castles, prisons, haunted houses, etc. make for the most memorable adventures (location, location, location).

Personally, I think "Red Hand of Doom" is a perfect model for D&D adventures. Whoever thought to place the designer notes sidebars in the text is a genius. The adventure features a great mix of adventure locales, and thus players don't feel trapped in a single location for a lengthy period of time.

Many congratulations on being named a Paizo publisher! It bodes well for these excellent, iconic magazines and the game itself.

Many thanks to James Sutter for his hard work in notifying writers that DUNGEON has received their submissions. In my experience, writers tend to be nervous and anxious about submissions, and I think Mr. Sutter's efforts will be warmly appreciated by everyone.

This is a far cry better of a system, and I hope that Paizo continues with it.

I look forward to seeing how this turns out -- should be a great collection of rings indeed. I like the idea of a "cherry picked" collection, although it probably means more work on Mike's part putting all the pieces together.

Sometimes a pitch or query can be great or "perfect," and yet still get rejected if it doesn't fit what the magazine needs at that moment. Case in point perhaps would be an adventure featuring half-draogns after the magazine had already accepted a slew of similar ideas.

As a wise man once said, it is possible to make no mistakes and yet still fail...

I haven't seen my copy yet...

(I live in eastern Iowa)

I just wanted to offer a thanks to James and the folks at Paizo for sending me a replacement copy of DUNGEON #130. It arrived shortly after Christmas.

Thanks again for all of your help!!

Now here's a poll of value!

Size 14W here...

Geez -- the new issue of DUNGEON shipped yesterday, and I still have yet to get my issue from LAST month...*sigh*

I wonder if most fantasy worlds are warmer than ours is (especially now, here in Iowa)...I know I'd freeze if I wore the kinds of clothing/armor depicted on some of the covers!

I also have not received my Dungeon #130. In past, I have received my monthly issue about one week after the ship date, but as of yet it has not arrived. At what point is it reasonable to request a replacement copy? Thanks!

Yikes! I just noticed the time stamp on Jason Buhlman's post up above...talk about burning the midnight oil!

I hope the staff at DUNGEON and DRAGON have regular access to copious quantities of coffee.

Thanks to Jason, Mike, and everyone else at the magazines for putting in such time and work to produce these magazines.

Two query letters, each with three articles...Thus a total of six rejections.

I have one last query out there with three more articles, but I haven't heard about those yet.

Time to break out the past few issues of DRAGON, study them a bit more closely to hone in closer to what the editors want/need (and perhaps read a few tea leaves just for good measure)...

I'm sure Mike will be all over your question in the next twenty minutes...

And I don't know if this came within 20 minutes, but I hope it came in fast enough. ;D

One good resource for RPG writers and writing is the "Burning Void" web site located at: http://www.burningvoid.com/rpg/rpgw.php

Thanks for the clarifications -- they help considerably. "Light dawns upon marbled head," as St. Cuthbert of the Cudgel might say.

Sounds like the new Class Acts format will allow additional depth to what has already been an extremely good series. I'm looking forward to seeing these in print.

I imagine I am being somewhat dense, but I'm not sure I understand what the new Class Acts articles should focus on. Mike's initial post spent a fair amount of time focusing on what he does *not* want, but offered precious little information about what Class Acts are really looking for. Would it be possible to get a little more clarification on the new format? I hate to waste anyone's time by sending in queries that don't meet the needs of the editors and the magazine.

Thanks!

I have a couple players like that. They buy the books or borrow them and read everything between covers like a sponge. Unfortunately, they sometimes have difficulty separating game knowledge from player knowledge. Often, I change a few critical details from the published version, just enough to get these "uber-readers" into very hot water if their characters know too much.

For example, a character who knows too much about the daelkyr, or the quor, would attract a lot of unwanted and dangerous attention. People might start assuming that character is corrupted or possessed, or a minion.

For those players who just must read everything (and the Kaius example is a very good one), the DM sometimes needs to find a way to advance the campaign and the story along at the expense of the peeping player...knowledge can be dangerous.

I sometimes fondly think back to 1st edition days when the DMG and Monster Manual were hands-off for players!