"The Lantern" has been styled as a periodical written and presented as a local news gazette edited and published by a curmudgeonly, strained member of the press, Geoffrey Fleetmarsh. The content he's created includes village gossip, explanations of weapons and training schools, the mechanics of spellcasting and a first-person adventuring account, each of which doubles as inspiration for those seeking to understand the setting from the point of view of those inside it. Essentially, it's a guidebook on how NPCs live, what they care about, how they perceive their lives... and ultimately, how they might be depicted more immersively by the DM.
Elements of fantasy and game features are included into the text as though these things are perfectly every day and ordinary, while the characters and advertising is frequently poignant, humorous or darkly horrific. I believe it's wholly unique in the whole lexicon of D&D based material.
The whole magazine will be offered free, as a PDF, through my Patreon on the 15th of July, two days from now. The above presents pages 14 and 15. The whole is 24 pages. On the 22nd of July, I will remove the free offer and thereafter will be charging $7 for it. A second edition of the "magazine," the September 1635 edition, will be ready for publication on the 21st of August, and it's my intention to continue releasing editions each month, for $7 a piece, for sale on Lulu. Those contributing $7 monthly to my Patreon will be sent the new edition through their email on the 21st of each month. Back issues will be available on Lulu.
A reading of one of the articles can be heard by following the link. Examples of the ads from the magazine are included (save one, which appears in the next issue) and a teaser for the "September" cover is also shown. The speech accent feels period-true, with a bit of a rural edge, something British-but-nowhere-specific. It's not meant to be Cockney or posh or stage Scottish, just from the world. I'd appreciate more page views on my youtube, comments and a like if you've got it in you.
And yes—this is now the focus. I’m stepping away from the unfinished long-form projects. That may disappoint a few of you, but the truth is this: those projects didn’t gain traction. Interest was soft. Support was polite. I won’t spend hundreds of hours building something no one will buy. If that’s a hard thing to hear, so be it.
A reading of one of the articles can be heard by following the link. Examples of the ads from the magazine are included (save one, which appears in the next issue) and a teaser for the "September" cover is also shown. The speech accent feels period-true, with a bit of a rural edge, something British-but-nowhere-specific. It's not meant to be Cockney or posh or stage Scottish, just from the world. I'd appreciate more page views on my youtube, comments and a like if you've got it in you.
And yes—this is now the focus. I’m stepping away from the unfinished long-form projects. That may disappoint a few of you, but the truth is this: those projects didn’t gain traction. Interest was soft. Support was polite. I won’t spend hundreds of hours building something no one will buy. If that’s a hard thing to hear, so be it.
And yes—this is now the focus. I’m stepping away from the unfinished long-form projects. That may disappoint a few of you, but the truth is this: those projects didn’t gain traction. Interest was soft and support was, at best, polite. I can’t go on spending hundreds of hours building something no one will buy. If that’s a hard thing to hear, so be it.
This one—The Lantern—has legs. I think The Lantern is the smartest, most immersive thing I've ever done. I think it steals the heart and soul of the real game from the clumsy, stumbling module format, repainting the latter as something that has happened, not a pantomime meant to be staged.
This one—The Lantern—has legs. I think The Lantern is the smartest, most immersive thing I've ever done. I think it steals the heart and soul of the real game from the clumsy, stumbling module format, repainting the latter as something that has happened, not a pantomime meant to be staged.
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