November Update, and Fiadh the Fighter
about 2 years ago – Wed, Nov 30, 2022 at 12:39:48 AM

Hail adventurers!

Another month and plenty of progress.  I've had more non-project commitments than usual this month, so I've made a little less progress than usual, but I'm still ahead of schedule! 

Updates from this month include: 

• Covers
• Guides and workflow videos
• A new example Journal for Fíadh the Fighter, including magic items!

Cover pages

I'm happy with how the Fighter cover turned out (see Fíadh the Fighter below). I've also drafted a cover for the Ranger class, below.  

Guides and workflow videos

I want to make sure it's really easy to prepare, print, and use the Journal. This can be supported by things including:

• Detailed guidance on selecting pages, using PDF fields, printing, assembly and binding in documents
• Guidance in Journal creation videos

Guides are currently scheduled for April-May in my project plan, but it's nice making a start on them and having a template for the documents that I can use when I begin the work proper!

Detailed guidance in documents

While putting together the Fighter insert files for Fíadh the Fighter (below), I drafted a usage guide for the Fighter files, which I'm happy with, and which I'll use as a template for most file usage guides. This:

• Lists the pages included and unique identifiers for each page
• Lists the recommended order of pages
• Lists options for pages (e.g. some pages have black and white or color variants - this is made clear)
• Describes the PDF fields included on each page and shows the location of PDF fields you may not spot (e.g. subclass title)
• Describes how to use each page, including what's included on the page, how to mark and know when you have access to a specific ability, and when to check or update the page

I expect that many people won't need to read these, but they'll be available for those who do! 

Journal creation videos

I have drafted storyboards for videos that will demonstrate the Journal page selection and preparation, printing and assembly workflow. I'll likely produce the videos themselves alongside making a new Journal example early next year. Want to make sure you catch them? Make sure you're subscribed to my YouTube channel.

Fíadh the Fighter - new example Journal

I prepared a new example character this month.

Meet Fíadh the Fighter.  

 This is the first example that includes magic item pages (46-58s in the video, items courtesy of Adavan's Armory, check them out). I hope you'll agree that the Journal provides a convenient way to store info on magic items. 

Fíadh's character art was by the awesomely talented s0ulafein on Twitter, and I got some of my inspiration for Fíadh's backstory from Better Backstories' inspiration cards.

As you may have noticed, I'm using my Journal examples as an opportunity to showcase the works of other tabletop RPG creators. It's an awesome community, and I'm stoked to be able to help spread the word and help other creators (plus it makes for better example Journals!).

Closing

Having spent a little less time on the project this month, I'm still ahead of schedule. 

Thank you so much for supporting me, and congratulations if you made it to the end of this long update! If you have any feedback or questions on anything related to the project, please get in touch, either here or on my Discord server.

I'll be posting a project finances update within the next few days. Until then, or until next time, happy adventuring!

Dan

On One DnD and other systems
about 2 years ago – Wed, Nov 23, 2022 at 04:30:29 PM

Hail adventurers!

It wasn't long after my Kickstarter funding period launched that One DnD was announced (if you're not aware of it, this is the next iteration of the DnD rulset, currently set for release some time in 2023 - rules wise, it's intended as more of an update than an entirely new ruleset, and playtesting is currently running). 

This got me thinking about how the Character Journal can be adapted to other systems. Long story short, I hope that I'll be able to make a version of the Character Journal that covers One DnD, but this depends on what content from the version Wizards of the Coast make shareable by independent creators (see What's possible legally? below). I'd also like to develop versions for Pathfinder and perhaps DnD 3.5 one day (this is possible). For any future versions of the Journal I develop, I'll provide a discount for Kickstarter backers and those that pre-order the Character Journal on Backerkit, as some work I've already done will be reusable (see Reusability and its impact on you below).  

What's possible legally?

To be able to deliver what I want to with the Journal (customizable journals that streamline play by listing all key character information, including class-specific information, in a well laid-out fashion), the main thing I need is rights to share content that isn't my intellectual property. Until now, Wizards of the Coast have been very generous with this - with each DnD version for some time, they have released a portion of content in a System Reference Document (SRD) that can be shared by independent creators to support an open marketplace. All of the content that's in the Character Journal is in the SRD. This is why:

• The Journal covers the 12 core classes, but not the 13th official class, the Artificer (as the Artificer content is not in the SRD)
• Every example character's background so far has been the "Acolyte" background (this is the only background in the SRD)
• I haven't made much use of feats in example Character Journals (the only feat in the SRD is the "Grappler" feat)

I hope that Wizards of the Coast will make enough content available in an SRD (or similar document) that I'll be able to make Journal files that support One DnD. There's is every indication that they will, as this is a trend that has been going for quite a few versions.

I believe it's possible for me to develop versions of the Journal for other systems such as Pathfinder 1E and 2E, and I hope to do that one day. I may even go back through the DnD catalog and make a Journal for 3.5, as I love that version of the game.

Reusability and its impact on you

If I do develop further versions of the Journal to cover different systems as I hope to, it's important to consider how much content can be reused. Reusability of content comes in one of three categories, directly reusable, reusable with updates, or not reusable. Below is a rough outline of what content fits in each category. 

• Directly reusable - Cover files, Class (and potentially some Subclass) icons, class insert title pages, generic additional internal pages (e.g. extra versions of pages like Backstory, custom title pages, Connections, Locations, Encounter log etc.) 
• Reusable with updates - Class inserts (for One DnD), Some generic interior pages e.g. Advancement Log, Backstory, Inventory, some additional internal pages (e.g. what to do on a long rest/short rest/level up)
• Not reusable - Class inserts (other systems), More system-specific interior pages (e.g. Defenses and Hit Points, Basic Attacks)

Because of this reusability, I'll offer a discount to any Kickstarter Backers or those that pre-order the Character Journal on Backerkit for future versions of the Journal. How I deliver this depends on the method I use for any future projects - if I launch a new Kickstarter campaign (most likely as I'm really enjoying the process), then I'll make sure to add discounted "upgrade" pledges, which don't include any directly reusable files. If I don't run a crowdfunding campaign, I may do this, or may just send a discount code. 

Closing

I'm excited to support your play sessions for 5E and other editions/systems too!

As always, thank you for your support, and until next time, happy adventuring!

Dan

October Finances
over 2 years ago – Wed, Nov 02, 2022 at 01:00:17 PM

Hail adventurers!

Another month of development has passed (Update 18). How are the project's finances looking for the month of October?

As a reminder, extra pending funding from pre-orders will be counted towards the project reaching its Kickstarter stretch goals until end December 2022. If you want to share the project with your friends and fellow adventurers, you can share the project's Kickstarter page, the Brunhilde The Barbarian example video or original Journal tour video, and the pre-order page.

That's it for October!

As always, thanks so much for your support and happy adventuring,

Dan

October Update, and Brunhilde the Barbarian!
over 2 years ago – Sat, Oct 29, 2022 at 05:23:27 PM

Hail adventurers!

Another month and another flurry of activity. October's main scheduled activities were the following:

• "Finalize" internal pages
• "Finalize" class icons

I also took the opportunity to put together a new example for "Brunhilde the Barbarian" using updated Journal files.

Internal pages

The majority of my work on the project this month was on the internal pages. This focused on responding to feedback, upgrading graphics, and improving comprehensiveness, customizability, overall Journal consistency, and usability. I have some minor updates to make, and I'll have "finalized" the internal pages by the end of the month.

Upgrading graphics

I added further graphics to the Journal to make it more graphically interesting. The Journal's front page is more interesting now (graphic reused from my print at home Spell Tome, a little side-project I worked on this month). All page titles for the main interior pages now include small graphics, and I've interspersed some more graphics where relevant, such as in Ammunition below. 

Inspired by other creators and a Kickstarter backer, I've introduced a little more color to the Journal. Items that mention attributes will now be color-coded by attribute, and I've updated appropriate PDF text fields to match (I may want to spend some time getting a better color match). Customizability in mind, black and white and color versions of all files will be available. 

Comprehensiveness

I added a few things things that were missing in the Journal prototype to the main interior pages - Appearance and Spirituality, and passive skill values.

Customizability

I've added a range of optional additional pages to the Journal, including the ultimately customizable... customizable pages, which provide space for a title as a PDF field that you can fill however you want, with either one or two titles and text boxes per page.  

Journal consistency

As class inserts generally include a lot of information, the title on these pages was higher (and smaller) than it was for other internal pages. I've made the other internal pages smaller, allowing more space per page. 

Usability improvements

I've made a range of usability improvements. My favorite is the On Long Rest/On Short Rest and On Level Up pages, which describe what to do when your character rests or levels up (both in terms of DnD in general, and in terms of updating your Journal. You can place these wherever you like – I'd recommend including them at the back of the Journal if they're helpful, as in Brunhilde the Barbarian's Journal (see below).

Class icons

I've now "finalized" the Journal's core class icons. I won't make any further changes to the icons unless I get more feedback on them. 

There are only a couple of changes since I posted these in Update 13:

• The Bard music note icon is now in a suitably flamboyant purple.
• I've made the generic Warlock icon... more generic. The previous icon was great for the "The Fiend" subclass, but not so much for a Warlock of any subclass. The core of the Warlock class is their pact with another entity, so I represented this as a handshake and exchange of energy (through an aura). I expect that not many people will use the generic Warlock files as subclass-specific files will be available, but I needed a generic icon to put together my print at home Spell Tome, a little side-project I worked on this month.

Brunhilde the Barbarian - new example Journal

As the internal pages are roughly finalized, and I don't imagine many, if any, further changes to the Barbarian class insert pages, it seemed like a great opportunity to put together a new example Journal. 

Meet Brunhilde the Barbarian. 

To put this example together, I obviously needed to make cover files for the Barbarian. Customizability in mind, I prepared two alternate versions of the front and back cover files, one with the Barbarian icon in color, and one to simulate an engraved leather effect for the icon.

The character art for Brunhilde was masterfully produced by dalim.ink on Instagram. His art is amazing and he's a great guy, hit him up! 

Closing

Having spent a little less time on the project this month, I'm still ahead of schedule. By November, I will have "finalized" the internal pages and have 3 of the class covers ready (or almost), which are scheduled for November-December.  

Thank you so much for supporting me, and congratulations if you made it to the end of this long update! If you have any feedback or questions on anything related to the project, please get in touch, either here or on my Discord server.

I'll be posting a project finances update within the next few days. Until then, or until next time, happy adventuring!

Dan

September Finances
over 2 years ago – Sun, Oct 02, 2022 at 05:01:59 PM

Another month of development has passed (Update 16). How are the project's finances looking for the month of September?

As a reminder, extra pending funding from pre-orders will be counted towards the project reaching its Kickstarter stretch goals until end December 2022. If you want to share the project with your friends and fellow adventurers, you can share the project's Kickstarter page, the Journal tour video, and the pre-order page.  

From now on, I'm adding a couple of things as extra project expenses (in addition to those already mentioned in Update 8): 

• Printing expenses (paper and ink to print example/playtest Journals)
• Artist commission fees to support creating example Journals for different classes 

That's it for September!

As always, thanks so much for your support and happy adventuring,

Dan