Rise of the Drow, Adventureaweek's first Kickstarter, is LIVE!!!


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That's right folks, AAW has jumped in to the deep end with their first Kickstarter offering. A compiled expanded edition of the Rise of the Drow trilogy.

Rise of the Drow Kickstarter

3 time Ennie award winning cartographer Todd Gamble will be bringing with personal touch to the full color gorgeous maps, adding in many new sections as the material expands and grows.

Jonathan Nelson and Stephen Yeardley co-authored a solid, epic storyline and decided to invite along some friends when it was time to revisit the project for an expansion.

With a host of authors on board including Brian Berg, Owen K. C. Stevens, Robert Gruver and Jason Stoffa the sheer weight of new material and sections being added to the trilogy alone are going to provide enough material to fill another 100 pages.

With plans to bring an board familiar names as well as a new fresh faces in regards to art, we'll also got a few surprises in store as to artists we are wanting to work with for this book.

And no, that's not all we have planned my friends...so come check it the campaign, hit us with a million questions, and let's see enjoy this ride together!!!!!!!!!!!

Rise of the Drow Kickstarter


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I'm tempted to do the $100 level but it doesn't mention if I actually get the book or not. :)

Shadow Lodge

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I'm very much looking forward to this KTFish7!

Shadow Lodge

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I believe the $100 is only for advertising purposes.


Necroblivion wrote:
I believe the $100 is only for advertising purposes.

It would seem so but never hurts to ask.


The reward tier for the $100 full page ad includes only the ad space.

We're putting together a FAQ as we compiled questions.


If we pledge $95 for the hardback do we also get a copy of the PDF?


Hmmm...Nabbing one of the advertising spots for now so I don't miss out if they fill up.

So, if I have an advertising spot, and I want the $95 book space, do I just pledge $95 extra?

Also, any difference for shipping to Canada vs. International?


Yes, anyone who pledges for the hardback will also be receiving the PDF copy as well.


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Almost half-way there in about a day! Awesome!


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So End, about that stretch goal: You're writing now?!?


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I actually already did some writing in Coliseum Morpheuon (Gray Feathers) and Northlands (Skald + intro-fluff for all chapters) and when I talked to Joshua on the phone, we got to talking and he asked me whether I'd be game - as a result, I'm gonna tackle the vidre and write an ecology/additional crunchy content if the stretch-goal is met.

I already have the background story written and some really EVIL ideas that should make them not only unique, but also allow DMs to craft anything from regular modules to whole campaigns featuring them.

So yeah, that's the plan - if that stretch-goal is met, I'll get to write that whole entry. :)

Shadow Lodge

Carter Lockhart wrote:
So, if I have an advertising spot, and I want the $95 book space, do I just pledge $95 extra?

Yes, you can just pledge the extra $95 and pledge for the ad spot. That is correct.

Contributor

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Looks ROCKIN'!


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This looks pretty cool! I hope you get enough funding for Endzeitgeist to write his bit!!

-Aaron


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I would like to thank everyone for their incredible support today. We hit 100% full funding right at the 24 hour mark which was more than we could have hoped.

Now for those stretch goals and getting END his place in the book! ;)


Can you confirm that the date we can expect this if we back August 2014, in over a year and a half?

Scarab Sages

mach1.9pants wrote:
Can you confirm that the date we can expect this if we back August 2014, in over a year and a half?

They are just giving themselves plenty of lee-way. I am more skeptical of those new publishers that promise to deliver in less than 6 months. It can be done, but its not the most realistic of goals. Books take time to write, edit, layout, get print approval, print, and ship.

Contributor

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Congrats, guys!

It is definitely a smart move for a publisher to give themselves a lot of leeway. Numerous people are involved in the making of a book, and many of them are only doing it part time. Family crises and illness and life changes happen, so it's best to have some breathing room.

Btw, I've long admired END's analytical, on-the-spot reviews and have offered him some work on the Bite Me! The Gaming Guide to Lycanthropes for playing lycanthropes in Pathfinder. We are working out the details now.


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*blush* Indeed, Christina has been so nice as to contact me and we're currently brainstorming on what I could contribute.

Also: I hope my contribution to this KS sees the light day - at least in some campaigns. (And yes, that will make more sense once you've read what I'm cooking up - suffice to say: Not pretty. Wait. Actually it is pretty.) Which makes it all the more...disturbing.


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I hold an enduring faith in ENDZEITGEIST. His duties as a reviewer, reading products from a wide array of publishers gives him a special insight into game development.

I have also been quite impressed with his ability to compose very well written articles in English, despite the fact that his primary language is German (he lives in Deutschland).

Having obtained a rare glimpse into what END has been writing about the vidre (race of crystalline beings) for Rise of the Drow, I can honestly say that he is going to blow your minds. ;)

We've already passed the first stretch goal and added HERO LAB files! We are now rapidly approaching adding ENDZEITGEIST's section to the book. Help make this happen and pledge now! If you've already pledged than do your part and bombard your friends with encouragement to support an amazing project filled with incredible guest authors! :D

Link to the Kickstarter


mach1.9pants wrote:
Can you confirm that the date we can expect this if we back August 2014, in over a year and a half?

In the end the choosing of the long lead time came down to my voice, I decided on roughly a year, and a stood on it until I convinced the rest of the crew. The reason being that I wanted enough time for all parties involved to have time to work, and bring their A game to the table. We have a lot of guests on board for this, people who have their own companies and writing schedules. Not to mention our artists, who will be taking an a rather large art order.

Now, I fully expect to be in a position to be able to deliver before the projected date. But, I would rather have that buffer to be safe and surprise you with an early delivery rather and have to explain to folks why we are late die to unforeseen issues with an outside source. I have seen several campaigns forced behind due to circumstances of this nature.

So, in short, we hope to be able to deliver far sooner than planned, but we would rather be safe than disappoint anyone.

Thank You for the question Mach1.9pants


Christina Stiles wrote:

Congrats, guys!

It is definitely a smart move for a publisher to give themselves a lot of leeway. Numerous people are involved in the making of a book, and many of them are only doing it part time. Family crises and illness and life changes happen, so it's best to have some breathing room.

Btw, I've long admired END's analytical, on-the-spot reviews and have offered him some work on the Bite Me! The Gaming Guide to Lycanthropes for playing lycanthropes in Pathfinder. We are working out the details now.

Thanks Christina, and congrats on bringing End! on board. I have no doubt he's going to bring nothing but awesome to the project.

End....if you keep this up we're going to have to find us a new reviewer, lol...

Folks, follow the link Bite Me! The Gaming Guide to Lycanthropes, go check out what Christina has got going on...she has pulled together a serious collection of talent for her book.


Not a bad idea, KTFish in that the majority of KS I have backed were well over due (or still are!). However the other point is it is a long time for some of my money to be away, I think you will have to be very scrupulous in keeping backers informed. Is there plans for lots of drafts and stuff to be sent to backers throughout the process?


Can someone give me some background (and a summary) on these modules? I'm highly intrigued just curious where they are originally from and what goes on in them.


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Here are the originals. The are thoroughly reviewed.

A13: Rise of the Drow, Part 1

A14: Rise of the Drow, Part 2

A15: Rise of the Drow, Part 3


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Not sure I count one review as 'thoroughly' but (as always) End does a great and very in-depth review definitely! They sound very fun and I'll definitely be tossing some funds toward this.

Also I don't want to be greedy, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask...are the original pdfs part of any of the levels (probably looking at the 95 level in any case, will see how the pocketbook is though...)? Reason I ask is I'd probably like to start running the adventure before a year and some when the new version is due out. ;)


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They haven't been included. The original Trilogy was available as a bundle, where you would save about $6.00. You can also subscribe to the website: Adventureaweek.com

BTW, I consider anything reviewed by Endzeitgeist to be thorough. :P


mach1.9pants wrote:
Not a bad idea, KTFish in that the majority of KS I have backed were well over due (or still are!). However the other point is it is a long time for some of my money to be away, I think you will have to be very scrupulous in keeping backers informed. Is there plans for lots of drafts and stuff to be sent to backers throughout the process?

Mach1, I completely get where your at here mentally, I do. I've been there myself more than once looking at a book that I wanted weighing the idea of if it was going to be worth the wait. My last mega book with a long lead time I bought was Numenera...and yes, I looked the delivery date and pondered...I am very glad I jumped. One thing I have learned by backing that particular campaign is how it feels to be waiting for that long...and how cool those updates and peeks behind the curtain are.

I intend to run a regular "Diary" if you will, chronicling the progress of the project...showing sample pages and artwork, perhaps sliding in a new item or creature from time to time when I feel the update doesn't have enough to offer...In short, this book, this project, has dominated a great deal of my time for the last several months, and I intend to make the best possible product I can, while sharing the journey with those on board for the ride.

As far as drafts...we're discussing something as a potential, we just want to make sure we're all in agreement, and it will be as good as we want it to me before we publicly toss is out there.

I hope I have answered this well enough to express my sincere intentions of doing right by our pledgers while the process of putting the material together is happening, as one thing I personally dislike as a backer is never hearing from a campaign I have backed...so I have no intention of turning around and doing such a thing to others.


Aleron wrote:

Not sure I count one review as 'thoroughly' but (as always) End does a great and very in-depth review definitely! They sound very fun and I'll definitely be tossing some funds toward this.

Also I don't want to be greedy, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask...are the original pdfs part of any of the levels (probably looking at the 95 level in any case, will see how the pocketbook is though...)? Reason I ask is I'd probably like to start running the adventure before a year and some when the new version is due out. ;)

We discussed offering the original PDF's in the Kickstarter, but in the end felt that would simply become confusing, and a little redundant. And never hurts to ask for clarity, so no worries.


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WOOOOOOHOOOOOWWW! I get to write my piece! Expect a teaser soon! Thanks to everyone who made this possible - I hope I don't disappoint! :)


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CONGRATS END!!! WE REACHED $6,000 AND UNLOCKED... YOU!!!!!!!!!!!! :D


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Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Charter Superscriber

Congrats AW and End!! I sooo wish I wasn't completely tapped out.


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Well, the kickstarter is still running some time and honestly - I'm humbled and amazed how well this KS runs! Also: I sent off a fluff-teaser to Joshua today and have completed 2 different crunch-concepts that were quite hard to tackle.

Damn, I'm itching to spill the beans but can't. LOL. XD


Thanks for the info KTFish, I think that adventureaweek does stuff every week gives a good indication that you guys are capable of fulfilling your promise of lots of info regularly. I will see if I can squeeze some money for another KS!

Shadow Lodge

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Nicely done! I can't wait to see what Endzeitgeist has up his sleeves...


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And I'm looking forward to House Everhate! (And I think you'll like what I'm cooking up...)


@Mach1, I thank you for the kind words, and your faith in us. Welcome aboard, and I promise to do all I can to not disappoint!


We've met the third stretch goal!

Stretch Goals met thus far include:

$5,000: Hero Lab files of all monsters and NPCs.

$6,000: Endzeitgeist, Paizo community reviewer extraordinaire (over 1000 reviews!), to author a section – The ecology of the Vidre, the primary adversaries in Usurper of Souls.

$7,000: New Interior Art featuring the talented Mr. Rick Hershey of Fat Goblin Games and the always impressive Mr. Jacob "ProdigyDuck" Blackmon.

Rise of the Drow Kickstarter (link)

Still to Come!

$8,000: Robert Gruver, of D-Infinity and Skirmisher Publishing to author a section – A new batlike race exclusive to the underworld, and mechanics for echolocation in combat. Robert Gruver is a writer, father, and husband from Houston, Texas. He has numerous credits to his name including articles for "d-Infinity Magazine", and has story in Skirmisher Publishing LLC's "Swords of Kos: Hekaton" anthology. He is the host of the weekly gaming Youtube show "d-Infinity Live!"

$9,000: New Interior Art by Tim Tyler. The man behind so much of the look and feel of Adventureaweek has returned to offer his distinct style to several of the interior pieces.

$10,000: Jason Stoffa, co-founder of Fat Goblin Games to author a new section - on the Undersea and a new subrace of corrupted dwarves.

“Know that all which rests beneath the sun decays. All things made by mortal hands and in into this world brought,with the rise of shadow all shall return to naught...”

Book of the Black Earth

Imprisoned deep within the dark earth, the last living shard of an immortal being once again stirs to life. Its newly awakened essence spreads as a pollution across the light-less waves of a sprawling underground sea, threatening a twisted reign of madness among those unfortunate enough to be touched by the corruption of its gathered power. Already counted among it's unwilling servants are a colony of lost Dweorg. Once part of a clan that fell to a victim to a long forgotten calamity, these dwarves have built a massive kingdom upon the toiling of slaves. Widespread rumors of a dark cult, strange creatures, and of the Dweorg's obsession with unearthing an unknown relic lead adventurers into a cursed place that even their hated enemies, the drow, would fear to tread.

$11,000: Brian "Necroblivion" Berg to author "House Everhate" – The sick mind behind Total Party Kill Games will be bringing us a new drow house for use within the environs of the Rise of the Drow adventures. He will breathe life into House Everhate, a fallen incestuous drow house crushed by its peers and left to rot. Fester they did, and out of sight is out of mind. Generations later they hunger for revenge, willing to use and manipulate anyone and anything they can in order to reclaim their former status and wreak their everlasting vengeance.

$12,000: Interior art piece by Satine Phoenix. Truly an original in both her art and her style, the one and only Satine Phoenix will be looking to add a particular blind drider to her art portfolio. Check out her series on YouTube Monster Maidens.

$13,000: Owen K.C. Stephens to author new source material on a deep dragon's machinations – The Lead Developer for Super Genius Games and contributing author to the Star Wars, Everquest, Black Company and Wheel of Time RPGs plus innumerable Pathfinder sourcebooks will bring us the details of a deep dragon's lair. This source material will bring a new level of terror to these deep realms and possibly turn your players into crunchy bits.

$14,000: Interior art of the Book Golem done by none other than Jen Page, yes, that Jen Page. Need I say more? Gallery link to tempt the appetites.

$16,000: [LOCKED] New cover art to be designed by the inimitable [LOCKED].

$17,000: [LOCKED] - A fantastically themed stretch goal that will knock your socks off and be exclusively limited to backers of the Rise of the Drow Kickstarter. We won't announce this until we hit the previous stretch goal.

Dark Archive

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Since the trilogy is for the levels 6-15, what would be good prelude adventures?


Jadeite wrote:
Since the trilogy is for the levels 6-15, what would be good prelude adventures?

Obviously this would be were I should point out several of the Adventureaweek's offerings, and there are quite a few that would serve well to introduce characters to the setting for the lands this adventure impacts. However, I think instead what I will do is sneak out the hint that this very topic was raised in the planning for this campaign, in regards to looking into a "prequel" of sorts for the Rise of the Drow, that would handle the first six levels.

Nothing has been finalized yet, but it is on the table of conversation as a potential stretch goal to be included in PDF format.

Great question, and thanks for asking.

Keep the questions coming folks, the feedback is greatly appreciated!


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Just in case the prequel-stretch-goal doesn't happen/is o option for you, here's my take:

If only using AaW-modules, I'd probably use A0, A4, A5 and perhaps A7, A8 to set this up if I wanted to establish Rybalka well before RoTD. For a first sojourn into the underdark, I'd adapt B3 to Rybalka (it's set in a different town).

With regards to filling in the blank spots resulting from this module-selection, I'd probably adapt Raging Swan Press' Retribution, Shadowed Keep of the Borderlands, Road of the Dead, Dwellers amid Bones, Gibbous Moon and Dark Waters Rising to get PCs something to do and amass XP if you're using slow progression.

If you're looking for a different style of module, Tricky Owlbear's 11th hour is a 3.5 module that does not need to be converted (Seriously - can be solved sans any relevant combat) and makes for a great, uncommon first module and still one of my all-time favorites.

Also, if you want to expand the frontier/northern feel of Rybalka, Frog God Games' first two Northlands Saga-books make for great Inuit-themed modules further North and should complement Rybalka well with a minimum of work on your side.

Hope that helps!


Endzeitgeist wrote:


If you're looking for a different style of module, Tricky Owlbear's 11th hour is a 3.5 module that does not need to be converted (Seriously - can be solved sans any relevant combat) and makes for a great, uncommon first module and still one of my all-time favorites.

Clearly, I'm going to have to write more like this. ;) Thanks for the love, Runelord of Evaluation!

Shadow Lodge

With no offense intended towards Endzeitgeist, I'm not sure if his inclusion as an author will really incite that many people. Writing good reviews doesn't necessarily translate over into writing good adventures or support articles.


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Number 100 - (that was fast). I'm excited to see where this goes. Good luck!

Shadow Lodge

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I really hope this keeps steamrolling, I'm very much looking forward to showing you guys how awful drow can really be. I'm pulling no punches, this won't be scimitar-wielding Hello-Kitty, I'm talking degenerate desperate scum of the underdark.


@Kthulhu:

None taken! :) I do have some writing credits (Northlands & Coliseum Morpheon), though and I hope the final offering will be to your liking.

Cheers! And yeah, I absolutely hope we get to see House Everhate!


Kthulhu wrote:
With no offense intended towards Endzeitgeist, I'm not sure if his inclusion as an author will really incite that many people. Writing good reviews doesn't necessarily translate over into writing good adventures or support articles.

Hopefully Kthulhu people will be pleased with what End! is writing. You are correct in that writing reviews in not the same as writing material for a storyline, article or adventure. There is a world of difference. Luckily this is not his first time in to the pool, lol.

I've talked with End! regarding what it is he wanted to bring to the table for this project, and it didn't take long for me to be convinced that he belonged on this project.


Just as an aside here, are you guys aware there is a drow house also named Everhate in the Forgotten Realms?

Shadow Lodge

KTFish7 wrote:
Hopefully Kthulhu people will be pleased with what End! is writing.

I'm a whole people?

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