Splashdown
Since the first of these monthly updates I have been leaning on the thematic analogy of a trip back to Poseidon - leaving earth orbit with the Kickstarter success, passing the outer planets when drafts were submitted, transiting the wormhole when the editing was done, entering orbit as the layout started coming in. If I may continue without stretching the comparison too thin, it feels like our shuttle has finally splashed down with the final PDFs and that we are being towed to the Haven docks as the files head off to the printer.
During the printing phase, the project will mostly be out of our hands. We will be reviewing proofs as they come in, but most of the work will simply be waiting until the books come back and orchestrating distribution. It means that this, and the next couple updates, are likely to be a little thin on first-hand progress reports. It’s simultaneously exciting and anxiety inducing…
Final Covers
I do get to share - first hand - the final cover designs however. We considered more complex title graphics, but in the end decided simplicity best complimented the layouts and was more readable in the complexity of hues. You may notice we did change from white to various blues however, as the color’s in the name after all.
Pledge Manager and Preorders
The Pledgebox site has been up and running for a week now, and it's going well. If you have had any issues or questions, please know that Alan at GKG is working through those, and if still pending, you should have resolution shortly. In the meantime, please consider passing on the link to gamer friends who you think might be excited to visit Poseidon.
Storm Surge
Now that the books are out of our hands for the time being, I can turn my full attention to the Storm Surge campaign. I have been giving possible formats a lot of thought, and I may have finally settled on a structure.
Given the restrictive word count limit, I think I am going to present the story as a series of nodes - each detailing a key event or featured setting element that would play out or develop in specific ways without player character intervention. I’ll itemize ways that each of the three character parties could encounter, engage or otherwise become entangled with these events and allow lots of open sea room for any given group’s particular characters and play style. I’ll offer possible outcomes and paths to subsequent nodes, recognizing that the scale and intention the campaign requires maximum flexibility.
This means that the final product will be more a campaign skeleton than a body of fleshed out narratives or encounters, and that it will be up to moderators and their players to add their own…meat…to the bones through play. (Ok, that analogy got away from me, but you get the idea).
First Underwater SF
Last week I stumbled on this quote from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and was bummed that I came across it too late to put it in the core books. It is perfect however for Storm Surge, so it will feature on the campaign’s title page.
“May the contemplation of so many wonders extinguish forever the spirit of vengeance! May the judge disappear, and the philosopher continue the peaceful exploration of the sea!” - Jules Verne
First published 1870, it astonishes me how ahead of his time Verne was. Not only did he get so much right about submarine technology, but over 150 years ago he understood the threat posed by imperial exploitation of the seas, and in understanding, created Captain Nemo, one of the first anti-colonial, environmentalist heroes of modern literature.
Community Building
The following links will take you to various online venues were you can engage with other Blue Planet enthusiasts. RPGs survive (and sell) based on their player communities and word-of-mouth, so please spread the word.
