Patronage Project
“Far to the east, away from the lands you know, there lies an island called Kaidan. Shrouded in dark mystery for centuries, its ports are at last being opened to foreign merchants and opportunity awaits the bold. Yes, I have heard the stories you have heard. That it is a land where the dead rule the living. That in Kaidan no man ever truly dies. Who can believe such tales? We shall discount the rumors, you and I, knowing how it is sailors talk. I have a gift to carry to one of the Lord's of that land and I need stout souls to protect it on its journey there. Will you not make this journey with me and see the wonders of the far east for yourself?”
Welcome to Kaidan!
Kaidan is a “Japanese ghost-story setting.” In Kaidan, the land is filled with malevolent spirits, the dead do not rest easy and the living are trapped in an endless cycle of life from which they can scarcely hope to escape. Drawing inspiration from Japanese history and mythology, Kaidan offers a setting that is at once new and yet quite ancient.
The Kaidan patronage project offers you a chance to help design both Kaidan and the three part adventure which will introduce the west to the east, using Michael K. Turney's original Kaidan concepts and his adventure, “The Gift” as a starting point.
The project's guidelines are as follows:
- - compatible with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game
- Approximately 100 pages (75,000 words)
- Japanese based horror setting
- Three part adventure arc in which traditional PCs travel to the land of Kaidan, escorting a gift, only to find themselves trapped on the island, fleeing from the powers that be.
- In Kaidan the lords of the land are undead, and those who die on the island are quickly reincarnated in an endless cycle from which there is no easy escape
- Kaidan is an isolated and xenophobic land, not used to outsiders
- Kaidan will be designed as an isolated island kingdom, easily dropped into any campaign setting.
Original Concept: Michael K. Turney
Lead Designer and Project Manager: Jonathan McAnulty (Kobold Quarterly, Coliseum Morpheuon, The Secrets of Divine Channeling)
Artwork: Mark Hyzer
Cartography: Michael K. Turney
No disrespect to Jonathan, but since this was Michael's original baby originated under a previous publisher, some of us may be wondering about his hands-on with regard to this and the sequels to the story (aside from the obvious cartography plug, that is)?
I'm writing the setting handbook, and the Jonathon is rewriting my original adventure material. I am still very much involved with Kaidan.
Michael "GP" Tumey
I'm writing the setting handbook, and the Jonathon is rewriting my original adventure material. I am still very much involved with Kaidan.
Michael "GP" Tumey
Thanks, GP! I'd figure I'd beat Kaidan Booster to the punch with the question. xD
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Yes, I am going to be focused on the adventure aspect of this project, using material that Michael has already put together as a starting point and, of course, incorporating pre-existing elements of Kaidan into the adventure.
The project guidelines above are, as I understand it, primarily for the adventure part of Kaidan. Though Steve, or Michael, can correct me if that is mistaken.
Yes, I am going to be focused on the adventure aspect of this project, using material that Michael has already put together as a starting point and, of course, incorporating pre-existing elements of Kaidan into the adventure.
The project guidelines above are, as I understand it, primarily for the adventure part of Kaidan. Though Steve, or Michael, can correct me if that is mistaken.
Yes, that is correct, however, hopefully funds from the Patronage Project will include enough left-over to handle the setting handbook. We are still looking for Patrons, so if you're interested follow the links on Rite Publishing's website.
I will continue on with development no matter what!
GP
Yes, I am going to be focused on the adventure aspect of this project, using material that Michael has already put together as a starting point and, of course, incorporating pre-existing elements of Kaidan into the adventure.
The project guidelines above are, as I understand it, primarily for the adventure part of Kaidan. Though Steve, or Michael, can correct me if that is mistaken.
Yes, that is correct, however, hopefully funds from the Patronage Project will include enough left-over to handle the setting handbook. We are still looking for Patrons, so if you're interested follow the links on Rite Publishing's website.
I will continue on with development no matter what!
GP
The setting handbook is not a part of this particular patronage project?
It is part of this patronage project, but we don't know if we have enough funds to do the setting handbook - we are working this issue out.
GP
It is part of this patronage project, but we don't know if we have enough funds to do the setting handbook - we are working this issue out.
GP
I'll be perfectly honest; I'm more interested in the setting book. That's why I inquired. =)
If we hit our threshold goal it will be part of it.
Just to be clear, having a Lead Designer was what Michael "GP" Tumey has been asking me for since early 2009.
For me Jonathan was the only designer I wanted to do this because he did something very similar using Boomer's ideas for Coliseum Morpheuon. What Micheal does with Cartography is what Jonathan does with game design.
Jonathan is also the project lead and Lead Designer. Lead means exactly that, he is the guy in charge but not the only guy You will notice that even Jonathan who wrote that intro above gave "GP" top billing.
And really if we left GP in charge we would have one beautiful map folio but not a paizo level adventure :)
oH and yeah we are at 18% to goal in less than 24 hours.
If we hit our threshold goal it will be part of it.
That's what I wanted to hear. Thanks, Steve.
What's the deadline?
November 28th. Though I want to be there before thanksgiving.
That's my birthday! LOL. Good luck with this. I don't know Jonathan but Michael's maps are the best and deserve to see print...lots of it.
M
Hey Mearin69! Glad you noticed we're moving forward with Kaidan now! I know you've been building a China analog for Pathfinder, so I know we think alike. Just so you know Paizo is coming out with Tien Shu, a China analog for Golarian to be released at Gencon '11. So I hope they don't crimp all the work you've put forward.
If you want to bypass some of that, perhaps your ideas can be applied to Kaidan and make a better setting. Wicht gives you the best advice to do that, if you're interested. Become a Patron - we need more.
GP
I'll check out the project. Are you planning on expanding it past "Japan"?
I'm definitely not going to try to go head-to-head with Paizo on their stuff. :) Actually, I want to focus on adventures (like Curse of the Emperor's Stone) and locales (like Haibianr) and just build background stuff as necessary so they don't sit in a void. Someone using Tian Xia could certainly just plop my stuff down in some corner of that setting with a few changes. I'm actually looking forward to their products.
Our Mythic China analog is Jade Oath.
Glad to be here. :D