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on January 8
Benjamin Durbin
Posted project update #30Sample Layout
Post CommentFirst look at the basic layout for each monster-- although this is an unusual full-page illustration placement.
(She deserves it.)
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on September 10
Benjamin Durbin
Posted project update #29Patronage Monsters (x2) and Progress Update
Two quick patronage illustrations for this update, and then a long-overdue progress update.Post Comment
Mushroom Folk courtesy of James Patterson; Frog Folk courtesy of Jeff Vincent.
These two monsters have a lot in common. Both are an homage to monsters of past editions (myconids and bullywugs); and we've designed both with a fairly neutral outlook, so that GMs can use them as either villains or allies as his needs arrive. They're both protectors of their natural habitat, and both races are natural producers of their own poisons (ranging from the amusingly hallucinogenic to deadly toxic).
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On the update front, we're very nearly there! Our biggest setback to date will, we hope, end up being a major step forward. When we began the project, our print-on-demand service did not offer a full-size (8.5 x 11) book with enough pages to hold all the monsters and all the new rules we wanted to include. The only way we could possibly hope to contain all of the monsters was to go with a 7x10 format, but this quickly ballooned the project to over 800 pages!
Nevertheless we soldiered on. But with editing complete and layout nearly done, I began growing more and more nervous that the book binding simply wouldn't hold up. Rather than risk it, I headed back to explore other print and layout options-- and was happy to discover that the printer now offers full size books of up to 500 pages.
We've had to make some other concessions in the layout. Most notably, we had to scrap our early plans to feature just one monster per page. Although that layout was gloriously roomy (perfect for printing out from the PDF and making notes during game sessions) it was just too terribly extravagant for a printed work. Instead, we'll print the monsters at one per column, one per page, or one per page spread. What you still definitely won't see are monsters that flow together one after the next with no clear break for the eye. We'll condense where we can, but not at the expense of muddying the clear presentation we've worked so hard to establish.
And, of course, we'll still offer a "gloriously roomy" PDF version with just one monster per page, so you can still print exactly the monsters you need for your game session and have plenty of white space left over for notes.
Finally, this adds up to one last piece of good news for those of you who are fans of the Trailblazer RPG: we'll be able to re-release Trailblazer (previously in 8x10 format) in standard 8.5 x 11 format, with a larger font face throughout; and the main rulebook will match the format size of the monster book on your bookshelf. -
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on June 16, 2011
Benjamin Durbin
backed a project
Three Goats Gruff by Greg Luzniak
Once upon a time, in a land far away, there lived three goats, and their names were Gruff.
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234% funded $17,606 pledged
- 354 backers
- Funded Jul 16, 2011
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on April 22, 2011
Benjamin Durbin
Posted project update #28Monster Template Double Feature
Today's double feature is a pair of monsters-- both requests from patrons-- that will serve my design needs to showcase some easy monster templates.
The first, the Dreadnought, is a construct template that can stand alongside the shield guardian, the retriever, or any of the golems. (Courtesy of Nathanial Taylor.)
The second, the Bearhemoth, is a template along the lines of the owlbear-- take two critters and fuse them into one-- resulting in either a magical beast or an aberration. (Courtesy of Desi Durbin.)
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on April 16, 2011
Benjamin Durbin
Posted project update #27SUCCUBUS
Post CommentCourtesy of patrons Sean Silva-Miramon and Shane O'Connor.
(Yes, it's a femme fatale double feature! See below for her infernal counterpart!)
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on April 16, 2011
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on September 23, 2010
Benjamin Durbin
Posted project update #25HARPY
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joela on April 17, 2011
That...is amazing. Nuthin' I've ever seen in any rendition of the harpy. Barely looks humanoid, nevermind female.
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on September 19, 2010
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on September 16, 2010
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on July 15, 2010
Benjamin Durbin
commented on a project updateThen you'll be doubly interested in the revisions to the zombie...
Benjamin Durbin
Drawing on the talents of professionals from within and without the industry, Bad Axe Games has a twofold approach: Provide great game materials from a genuine players’ perspective, and maintain the most professional standards in writing, design, illustration, and production.
Can't wait! Some of the most evocative sketches in the genre.