1248 playtest

[MJD]

As from Sunday December 14th, the 1248: The New Era playtest will be open.

Those individuals who participate will effectively be pre-prdering the 1248 sourcebook, and will gain acess to the raw draft as it appears. A closed plytest area will be set up for comments. Since thisis the raw draft, there will be an opportunity to shape the New Era or just to get access tot he information early.

Each chapter will be posted as it is compelted, then as it is updated.

Contributors who significantly assist the playtest will be named in the final book, and a Roll of Honor will be created for all those who made the committment.

Playtesters wil also receive the raw PDF draft, laid-out final draft and the book as soon as it ships.

It's finally happening, folks.

 

[MJD]

A personal note from me:

This has been a long, LONG time coming. From things that have been said here and elsewhere, I have come to belive that there is a real (and large!) demand for this book. We've moved it up the schedule and comited a lot of time and money to it.

For years now we've all kept the flame alive. The title of this book is deliberate - Bearers of the Flame. That's us, folks. Not QLI, not me, us. The TNE community.

The future of TNE depends on whether this book sells or not. We have adventures in mind already. I have an author in mind for the Spinward States sourcebook. I'm looking for authors for other TNE sourcebooks and adventures.

It's ready to happen. The lights can come on again at last. But only if this project succeeds.

So, rather than tell people about the content or spread the files (Please don't, they're copyright - that would be not only illegal but it might kill the project if folks just copied and used instead of buying), please direct them to the playtest area. If enough people sign up we'll be able to bump other projects (like the Spinward States sourcebook) forward.

I've done what I can, folks. I've got this far. Now it's time for us all to go forward together.

We are no longer the keepers of the flame. Now we are its bearers.

Let's go set fire to stuff.

 

[William]

I just wish to say
1) I'm really glad to see this - congratulations for getting it this far!

And 2) how do you wish us to request to participate? A note here in this thread or should we email you direct?

I've got my little group pretty well hyped and a new laserprinter cartridge ordered...

Thanks,

William

 

[Granpafishy]

What Wiliam said in 2)

 

[Flynn]

Woohoo! Whoever you have in mind for the Spinward States is a lucky man, indeed, and I envy him for your trust in his abilities!

Thanks for the opportunity, and I am looking forward to helping in any way I can, if that's okay with you.

Keep The Flame Alive,
Flynn

 

[savage]

Sounds like a great thing, MJD.

Savage

 

[daryen]

Please let us know where to click for the order.

 

[hunter]

I'm finishing up on the system right now. When it is opened on Sunday you will be able to place your preorder and the system should automatically set up your access to the playtest files and the private forum.

When it's ready I'll post an announcement here on the boards and on the front page.

Hunter

 

[William]

Are you looking at needing to charge for the pre-orders right away, or will they be charged for at shipping time? Or somewhere inbetween?

William

 

[ecalupig]

Congratulations! I've only recently stumbled back into the Traveller Community after a long period in low-berth, and at a most fortuitous time, no less. I was quite taken with TNE and I am elated that it makes a return. Echoing the questions above, how may we participate?

P.S. Nice work on Diaspora Phoenix too.

Strike Fast, Hit Hard, No Regrets!

 

[TheDS]

Originally posted by MJD:
Let's go set fire to stuff.

Woo hoo!! You all saw it, Martin made me do it! Great Chicago Fire #2, here we come!

Then again, maybe I'd better not. People might think I was rioting over a Bulls game or something.

= = = =

What TIME Sunday? That's a day when I do things, and I might not get on till mid-week or later this particular week!

 

[MJD]

As Hunter said, once we've run a test or two (today) we'll make an announcement on the boards. Ordering will be through the online shop at the main QLI website.

 

[MJD]

Perhaps I'd better explain/clarify.

This is a mass playtest/development cycle and market-testing exercise. You are of course entitled to use the materials downloaded for gaming just as you would use a game book you'd bought.

You needn't provide any feedback at all. If you're joining the program just to get the data early that's great!

The funds generated by pre-order signups will enable us to jump the queue with 1248. If it waited for its turn in the print budget schedule we'd be looking at a year or more at least. I got the impression folks did not want to wait that long (!).

There are also other considerations, such as the big question of - is it worth spending all this time and money on TNE? This is how we find out.

The bottom line is that whether folks want to contribute to the playtest, to get a head start on pitching as writers for TNE materials, or just want to get the data at last, this period is make-or-break for TNE.

We're taking a leap of faith by plunging time and effort into the program. If the market response is half-hearted or uninterested then we'll have to let the product line drop - we can't stay in business making RPG books for 100 people!

So, the future of the TNE line is in the balance. What I'm asking (me, not QLI) is that the people who have had sufficient faith to keep the flame for 10 years make one last effort to make TNE 1248 a reality. Sign up for the playtest/preorder program. Show us that there's not just interest but people out there actually willing to buy the products.

There's still a chance that the 1248 project will fail. That can only happen through insufficient marketplace interest. So, I'm asking folks to have faith. I've spent 10 years trying to make this happen and now I need something from you. Don't wait to see how it pans out - order the book now. Show us you want it (and help us raise the cost of the first printing). I won't fail you now. All that can go wrong is if folks out there let it slip through our fingers for lack of faith.

This is the last and only chance, I think.

Let's make it happen.

 

[ecalupig]

Amen to that. While we're at it, let's spread the buzz on this. There maybe a few more chaps like me who've been hibernating who may wish to take the leap as well.

I take it the link to sign up for 1248 will be up on Sunday? Couldn't find it just now.

To Absent Friends

 

[MJD]

The signup link will be up on Sunday, yes.

 

[Whipsnade]

Hot Diggity Damn!

Our Olde Game about the Far Future is finally addressing its own future again!

One question: Where's the sign up link?


Sincerely,
Larsen

 

[MJD]

I'm guessing Hunter is still programming the signup software... I put an updated Ch1-2 in today.

 

[MJD]

Heh. Hunter mailed me 10 seconds after that last post went up, saying he was having programming problems.

That's twice this year I've been right about something...

 

[Flynn]

Martin, Hunter,

Has a price been set for this effort? I'm curious, as I'm looking forward to it. Just have to make sure the money's there, with the holidays and all.

Thanks,
Flynn

 

[TheDS]

Originally posted by MJD:
Heh. Hunter mailed me 10 seconds after that last post went up, saying he was having programming problems.

That's twice this year I've been right about something...

Hmmm... two times out of... how many decisions do you make a day? Hundreds? That's a pretty piss-poor record.