Official ICE Forums
Systems & Settings => Shadow World => Topic started by: Destyar on May 30, 2017, 11:25:43 AM
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I feel like it's time to ask this again: Is this book officially dead?
Please advise, Mr. Amthor.
Thanks so much,
--Desty
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No, It is just sleeping. Much of it is written. I was disappointed in sales of the first book so it is on the back burner. I'd appreciated critiques and more expressions of interest.
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Count me as officially interested. About critiques: would you like here, or as PMs, or another method?
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Definitely interested!
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Definitely interested.
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Count me as officially interested. About critiques: would you like here, or as PMs, or another method?
Perhaps reviews on sites it's listed on. They can make a difference.
Terry, have you thought of giving a few chapters away as a free sampler? There are a few series I've gone on to buy because of a free sample.
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Count me as officially interested. About critiques: would you like here, or as PMs, or another method?
Perhaps reviews on sites it's listed on. They can make a difference.
Terry, have you thought of giving a few chapters away as a free sampler? There are a few series I've gone on to buy because of a free sample.
Yes please review on RPGFiction or where you bought it; it does make a difference.
Thanks for your support and I'll get back to it while working away at the current RPG books; it is a nice break from statting NPCs.
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Count me as officially interested. About critiques: would you like here, or as PMs, or another method?
Perhaps reviews on sites it's listed on. They can make a difference.
Terry, have you thought of giving a few chapters away as a free sampler? There are a few series I've gone on to buy because of a free sample.
Egg, I'd be happy to, what chapters do you suggest and where?
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I have already reviewed it once on the rolemasterblog but if you ever want to use it [the blog] to promote anything of yours just say the word.
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I'm interested in reading the next book!
Having read all the chapters that used to be available online, there is still much ground to cover to reach before I get to where I was with that. But I did enjoy all the added details in the book.
Maybe the first book can be promoted during the upcoming games conference? Will it be available for sale there?
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Egg, I'd be happy to, what chapters do you suggest and where?
I'm not totally sure as to how many chapters (I'd need to have another read) - enough that people can get hooked on the story and want to continue. Perhaps the first six? As to where, well, everywhere the book is on sale - Amazon and DriveThruFiction, Smashwords if you're on that - plus other places such as your site and the Vault here. I'd also have a list at the end of the sample of sites where it can be purchased. I think currently it's mostly attracting RPGers that like Shadow World, which is kind of niche. It should appeal to the larger fantasy audience as well, if they have a chance to get to know it. Maybe distribute free copies to some book review blogs, especially fantasy/sf? Of course, actually getting them to read and review it is harder - I imagine they get a lot of books sent to them.
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You all have permission to distribute review copies, and please send links where I can send it out. If you like it and want to see sequels, let's get the word out.
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You could also set up a Patreon with patrons paying so much per book released. I imagine a few would be willing to pay a dollar a book to get them finished. Higher donations could get benefits such as autographed cover artwork and books themselves, but those are mostly only suited to US patrons, given postage both to you and then to the patron.
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Yes, I'm interested and I'd be willing to support via Patreon.
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Yes, I'm interested and I'd be willing to support via Patreon.
I am not familiar with Patreon
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It's worth checking out.
Here's the main site: https://www.patreon.com/
Here's an RPG publisher's Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ragingswanpress (Okay, that is one of the more successful in this industry that I know of.)
I suppose there are some similarities to Kickstarter, but Patreon isn't generally for a specific product in a specific time frame.
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Us Norwegian enthusiasts are very much interested in seeing more books as well. ;)
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I am not familiar with Patreon
Like egdcltd said, it's not so much for getting a project off the ground but rather about funding creators (writers, musicians, podcasters, …) on a per work basis. Whenever a creator finishes something, the patrons are charged a certain amount.
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Also Terry, I think sometimes with these types of series, they can reach a bit of a critical mass where the existence of further books drives sales of earlier ones. There are some folks that like the more immersive experience of series, so they will perhaps be drawn in when there are more books. And each release is another opening for marketing, so also will hopefully drive sales of earlier books.
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Hi All,
As I consider going forward with this (and yes much of the second book is written), I really want some constructive criticism from those who have read the the first book. Is it too much of a certain theme...? Where should it go? What do you want to see, and what characters do you like or dislike? I want to hear your opinions, including criticism.
Here is a link to the book:
http://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/117364/The-Loremaster-Legacy
(http://www.drivethrufiction.com/product/117364/The-Loremaster-Legacy)
Thanks!
Terry
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I haven't read it in a long time now but I liked the central character and young noble guy they met on the ship.
I found the cousin extremely annoying.
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While I am fine with all of the characters, I think the main ones have very little agency. They seem to always being saved/protected and shuttled around by others. It came off a little as a tour of the setting (which I love), with the main characters not really doing much of anything. I guess it depends upon how many books you imagine in the series: if you plan on having many, then it does a good job of establishing the various characters, but if you don't plan on there being more than one or two more, then I think it could benefit from the main characters taking more of an active role in the story.
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I haven't read it in a long time now but I liked the central character and young noble guy they met on the ship.
I found the cousin extremely annoying.
LOL! You mean the overprotective squire?
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I haven't read it in a long time now but I liked the central character and young noble guy they met on the ship.
I found the cousin extremely annoying.
LOL! You mean the overprotective squire?
That's the one! I remember repeatedly hoping he would fall overboard. I don't care if it was the sailing ship or the skyship, either would do.
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It's been a while since I last reread it, but for what it's worth:
I like the setting, I've been a fan of Shadow World for nearly thirty years and it's nice to see a book in print - it's nice to explore all the areas in the RPG from the point of view of someone else's characters. As far as characters go, I think Randae was my favourite character.
I agree with the poster who said Jad was annoying, and I didn't think the hints of relationship between him with Kalen really added much to the story, it seemed a bit out of place compared to the main plot (unless it's important later?). I also wasn't sure whether introducing the Dia Khovaria agent (Patrick I think?) would potentially put off new readers; one of the things Shadow World does (IMO) is blur the line between fantasy and sci-fi, but if you're not already familiar with Shadow World it might need more background explanation.
I'd like to see more of the unique features which make Shadow World stand out from average fantasy, such as the skyships and flow storms. I'd also like to know what Andraax is up to (of course, so would everyone else!).
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I loved the book (read on Kindle). I liked all the main characters, including Jad ;-)
Patrick's presence represents something more unique about the setting vs other stock fantasy worlds, it kind of reminded me of the Avernus spacestation people in the Helliconia Trilogy - with Patrick you have the potential to see a true outsider perspective on this world. Any characters that help to showcase the unique and contrasting cultures in Shadow World are a plus in my mind - Sten and T'tania for example.
Randae is awesome as others have said, although it's good to see other loremasters as well in action just to see the variety and differences of opinion within the loremasters org.
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Kalen and Jad need much more development - right now it's unbalanced in favor of the high-power "signature" characters.
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While I am fine with all of the characters, I think the main ones have very little agency. They seem to always being saved/protected and shuttled around by others.
I second that. But don't get me wrong Terry: I really, really enjoyed reading the book, I think it is great and I wished there was a sequel for that cliffhanger you left me with. Ever since working with the Folenn stuff for Bladestorm, I remember reading (in Master Atlas II??) about the fellows finding the entrance to a Coral Road. What on Kulthea do you have in store for them there ? Or was it just a teaser?
I must admit that I am a very lazy reader and it takes quite a story to draw me in for hours. Loremaster Legacy took it's time to get everybody introduced, but when the story started to take off, I loved how you changed settings and characters while pulling the strings ever closer. In the end, I couldn't put it out of my hands.
I followed Loremaster Legacy up with "Stormriders" because I wanted to stay in the Kulthea setting and it is a pity that there are not more novels revolving around the the Shadow World. The most successful role playing games in Germany are all supported by novels which help players get settled in the world and also keep the mind on the game while not being able to actively play in a group ("The Dark Eye" (Das Schwarze Auge), ShadowRun, Splittermond, Engel, Battletech). As a side effect, those novels (as long as they can be considered "canon") tend to broaden the background for players and game masters.
So yes, Loremaster Legacy is a great and much needed novel for Shadow World that sparks appetite for much more.
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Here, here! I agree, a great read and has brought some new depth to my campaign. Eagerly awaiting the saga to take a determined step forward. :)
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Thanks for the comments and support everyone. Actually, much of the second book is written; I just need to fill in the gaps. (Though they are pretty big gaps)
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Thanks for the comments and support everyone. Actually, much of the second book is written; I just need to fill in the gaps. (Though they are pretty big gaps)
Have you considered releasing this a chapter at a time on Drivethrufiction? I am just curious as to whether it would be economically viable; then once the entire book is finished release a complete title as POD and Kindle. I would certainly sign up to buy a monthly instalment. I am making a huge assumption here that you wrote the book starting at the beginning of course.
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Thanks for the comments and support everyone. Actually, much of the second book is written; I just need to fill in the gaps. (Though they are pretty big gaps)
Have you considered releasing this a chapter at a time on Drivethrufiction? I am just curious as to whether it would be economically viable; then once the entire book is finished release a complete title as POD and Kindle. I would certainly sign up to buy a monthly instalment. I am making a huge assumption here that you wrote the book starting at the beginning of course.
Hah, nice idea, but you are right, most of it is written, not organized! I'm not sure how some of the chapters fit together. I might go give it another look and see if that could be viable... have others published by chapters? It's kind of quaint going back to the old days of SF where authors would publish a book by chapters in SF and Fantasy magazines...
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Some people use Patreon to do that. E.g. https://thewritelife.com/before-you-launch-a-patreon-for-your-writing-read-this/
I know that, personally, I don't really write in order, so I would pretty much have to finish a whole book before releasing it that way, which might sort of defeat the purpose, but I'm sure it's a good motivator for some people. Profit depends on how well you can build up a community of support, I think.
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I'm curious where most people got the first book: was it Drivethrufiction? And did you just get the ebook (and what format do you prefer?), or did you get the hardcopy? Or was it Amazon?
Thanks!
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DriveThruFiction as, at the time, I had no easy way of reading DRM protected Kindle books. Currently only the digital, but I'd like to pick up the print version at some point.
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I am not 100% sure where I got it from, but I definitely prefer a hardcopy - I am old school like that.
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I bought the kindle version from Amazon.
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I got it from RPGNow and read it in my phone and tablet (epub format).
Physical books are nice, but: (1) I mostly read standing in public transportation, so holding a book is not an option. (2) Physical objects produced abroad require ordering with a foreign card, from a foreign country, then awaiting the long trip and finally going through customs, which make getting them in South America a lengthy and expensive process.
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I am not 100% sure where I got it from, but I definitely prefer a hardcopy - I am old school like that.
I cannot remember the last physical book I bought. It was certainly more than 10 years ago. Once I discovered the kindle I never looked back.
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I do have a Kindle Fire and use it a bit, but I still prefer the feel and everything of a physical book.
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Random note: I'd love to do a Shadow World Tarot; not design it myself of course, just guide the card names and meanings beyond what is already in Loremaster Legacy, but it would go great in Artifacts...
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I prefer my RPG-material to be paper based, so I ordered a print-on-demand version off drivethrufiction.
A general thought: Could you see other authors stepping in and writing more novels based on the material you have created for Kulthea?
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A general thought: Could you see other authors stepping in and writing more novels based on the material you have created for Kulthea?
I, too, am interested in an answer to this question.
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A general thought: Could you see other authors stepping in and writing more novels based on the material you have created for Kulthea?
I, too, am interested in an answer to this question.
I wouldn't be averse to it in theory, but I would have to approve it of course. ;)
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A collection of short stories might be easier to do than a novel.
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A collection of short stories might be easier to do than a novel.
That's an excellent idea. That's how Shadowstone began of course, a series of vignettes on my web page. Meanwhile I am looking back at book two. Been writing a few new scenes, but they won't fit in that overall narrative.
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Perhaps you could provide the guts of a short story book by writing (in your copious free time!) some stories related to characters from the main Loremaster Legacy books, as well as suggestions for other stories for others to write (having some that tie in with released supplements might be good).
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Perhaps you could provide the guts of a short story book by writing (in your copious free time!) some stories related to characters from the main Loremaster Legacy books, as well as suggestions for other stories for others to write (having some that tie in with released supplements might be good).
Actually this worked very well with the amazing book series helmed by CJ CHerryh. Angel With a Sword, that began with a novel by her, then subsequent books were short stories written by others, edited by her. The series went on for several books with each author continuing the thread of their characters, but they all intertwined in this big fantasy city.