Answering a few questions about Legends & Labyrinths. If you’ve got more questions about the game or funding project, post ’em as a comment and I’ll answer them ASAP.

Q. WHY 8-BIT FUNDING?

At this time, I felt it was the best fit for the project.

Q. DO I NEED A PAYPAL ACCOUNT TO CONTRIBUTE?

No. Although 8-Bit Funding uses Paypal to fulfill payments, you can just use a credit card.

Q. WHEN DO I GET MY COPY OF THE BLACK BOOK BETA?

When the project reaches its funding deadline, 8-Bit Funding sends me a spreadsheet with the contact information for all donors. This will allow me to send and/or arrange all of your perks. However, after talking things over with 8-Bit Funding I’ve found something of a work-around. It’s a bit time-consuming for me, but it’ll give me a way to distribute the Black Book Beta rulebooks early.

On the 8-Bit Funding website, I can post updates to the project. This includes updates which are visible only to contributors. When the project hits $1500 (getting halfway to my goal), I will post an update with information on how current sponsors can claim their copy of the Black Book Beta. (I’m doing it this way so that I can fulfill them all at once, which will make things considerably easier on my end.)

Q. CAN I UPGRADE MY SPONSORSHIP LEVEL LATER?

8-Bit Funding’s infrastructure doesn’t support this. (There’s information on their website about why, but I don’t think it’s really important.) But, once again, there is a work-around.

If you want to upgrade your perk at a later date: When you make a contribution at 8-Bit Funding you have the option to contribute without requesting a perk. Select that option and pay the difference between your current perk and the perk you want. (For example, if you were a Beta Warrior at $12 and want to upgrade to a Labyrinth Exemplar at $50, you’d make a contribution of $38.) When I get the final report of contributors, I’ll see the un-perked contribution and be able to contact you to confirm your intentions.

You can follow a similar procedure if you want to purchase multiple iterations of the same perk. Select the perk you want but then simply multiply the contribution amount by the appropriate amount. (For example, if you want to purchase copies of the rulebook for your whole gaming group — nudge, nudge, hint, hint — you can select the $30 Labyrinth Prowler perk, but then enter $$120 as the contribution amount to get 4 copies of the rulebook.)

Q. HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE FOR THE FINAL VERSION OF THE RULEBOOK TO BE PRINTED?

This depends pretty much entirely on how long it takes for the artists to complete their work. Based on previous projects, I would estimate roughly 3 months. Possibly slightly longer; possibly quicker.

My intention is to anticipate the end of the funding drive and begin contacting artists as soon as I know that I can afford them, which should speed things up on the back end. This is also another reason for the Black Book Beta rulebook: It’ll give you a fully playable version of the rules ASAP to tide you over until the final edition is completed.

CLIMB INTO YOUR LABYRINTH AND FORGE YOUR LEGEND TODAY!

LEGENDS & LABYRINTHS

The 8-Bit Funding drive for Legends & Labyrinths continues! Here’s our plain-and-simple pitch video:

LEGENDS & LABYRINTHS

As I mentioned yesterday, Legends & Labyrinths is being initially released as an 8-Bit Funding project. Today I’m going to talk about the Funding Perks you can claim by sponsoring the project:

REGISTERED ADVENTURER ($5): You’ll be listed as a Registered Adventurer and sponsor in the L&L rulebook. You’ll also receive a PDF copy of the Black Book Beta rulebook which will be given to all sponsors as soon our goal is met.

BETA WARRIOR ($12): You’ll be a Registered Adventurer (as above), but you’ll also receive a PDF copy of the final, full-color rulebook when it’s released.

LABYRINTH PROWLER ($30): As above, but you will also receive a signed, full-color, softcover copy of the rulebook when it’s released.

LABYRINTH CONQUEROR ($35): As above, but you also get a limited edition, full-color poster commemorating the artwork you’ve helped to sponsor.

LABYRINTH EXEMPLAR ($50): One of the great things about the L&L rulebook will be the Sidebar Reference System (making it the easiest rulebook you’ll ever use). The SRS sidebars include many examples, and as an Exemplar sponsor your character will be starring in one of them! You also gain all of the above perks. (Subject to approval of your character name.)

LORD OF THE LABYRINTH ($150): As per the Labyrinth Conqueror, but you’ll be listed as a “Lord of the Labyrinth” among the sponsors. Plus you get an exclusive “LORD OF THE LABYRINTH” t-shirt. These t-shirts will only be available during this limited sponsorship period.

LEGEND IN YOUR OWN TIME ($450): As per Lord of the Labyrinth, plus your adventuring group will be immortalized in the Legends & Labyrinths rulebook: Provide us with a campaign journal describing your adventures and we’ll commission an awesome piece of art ripped right from your gaming table. (Subject to approval of content.)

INTO THE LABYRINTH ($300): As per Lord of the Labyrinth, plus Justin will personally run a 4 hour adventure for you and your group online using Google+ video chat. This also includes PDF copies of the Black Book Beta and final rulebooks for up to 5 additional players in the group (for a total of 6 including the purchasing sponsor). And the entire group will be listed as an Adventuring Party among the sponsors. (Justin has final approval over scheduling of the session. He will run the adventure for more than 6 people and everyone playing will be listed in the adventuring party, but this sponsorship only includes PDF copies for 6 players.)

(TIP: Talk to your gaming group. For six people, this sponsorship splits into reasonable $50 chunks.)

LEGEND IN YOUR OWN TIME + INTO THE LABYRINTH ($700): As per Legend in Your Own Time, plus Justin will personally run a 4 hour adventure for you and your group online using Google+ video chat. (The commissioned illustration can be taken from this online game or from your home game.) This also includes PDF copies of the Black Book Beta and final rulebooks for up to 5 additional players in the group (for a total of 6 including the purchasing sponsor). And the entire group will be listed as an Adventuring Party among the sponsors. (Justin has final approval over scheduling of the session. He will run the adventure for more than 6 people and everyone playing will be listed in the adventuring party, but this sponsorship only includes PDF copies for 6 players.)

A LOCAL LABYRINTH ($1000): As per Lord of the Labyrinth, plus Justin will personally run a 4-hour gaming session for you in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. (Justin has final approval over scheduling of the session.)

A LABYRINTH ON THE ROAD ($1500): As per A Local Labyrinth, but Justin will run a 6-hour gaming session for you anywhere in the United States within 450 miles of Minneapolis/St. Paul. (That includes Chicago, Kansas City, Bismarck, Davenport, Milwaukee, and more.) (Justin has final approval over scheduling of the session. You must be able to provide a reasonable location for the playing of the session and the location must be within reasonable driving distance of an acceptable hotel. Winnipeg and other Canadian destinations within range may be doable. But you may need to wait until Justin gets his passport renewed.)

A LABYRINTH ANYWHERE (SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY) ($3000): A per A Local Labyrinth, but Justin will run a 12-hour gaming session for you anywhere in the continental United States. (Justin has final approval over scheduling of the session. You must be able to provide a reasonable location for the playing of the session and the location must be within reasonable driving distance of an acceptable hotel. Justin also needs to be able to get to you, which means having an airport nearby that Justin can fly to at a reasonable ticket price.)

(If you don’t live in the continental United States, we may still be able to make arrangements. Send me an e-mail and we can hash out details.)

BOILING THAT DOWN

PDF Rulebook: $12

Softcover, Full-Color Rulebook + PDF: $30

Beyond that, I’m offering nifty perks for people who want to contribute more than that. But, for the most part, the larger contributions are there for people who want to help make this rulebook as awesome as possible.

CLIMB INTO YOUR LABYRINTH AND FORGE YOUR LEGEND TODAY!

LEGENDS & LABYRINTHS

In June, 2k Games released Duke Nukem Forever.

In July, George R.R. Martin finally published A Dance With Dragons.

Since it seems to be the season for projects trapped in the quagmire of Valve time, I figured it was time to release one more: Legends & Labyrinths has, at long last, arrived and is now available for sale through an 8-Bit Funding project.

WHAT IS LEGENDS & LABYRINTHS?

For those of you unfamiliar with Legends & Labyrinths, it’s a fantasy RPG that was first announced in June 2008 and then got stuck in development hell for three years.

Legends & Labyrinths takes 3rd Edition and strips it down to its most basic components. It removes everything non-essential, leaving behind a simple, fast-and-loose, easy-to-use system.

Legends & Labyrinths is based on a simple belief: Not only is 3rd Edition the most popular gaming system on the plant, it’s also one of the best. Its designers created a small, elegant set of core mechanics, resulting in an extremely flexible system. They then used those core mechanics to implement a wide array of carefully researched and thoroughly playtested guidelines and supplementary rules. The result was possibly the most robust and detailed system ever created.

Legends & Labyrinths, on the other hand, was created with a simple methodology: If it’s not a core mechanic, it’s not in the game.

The result is a slick, tight, elegant system that doesn’t get bogged down in the details. Legends & Labyrinths jettisons the rules and guidelines which make 3rd Edition so robust, but it leaves behind the simply and flexible game which lies at the system’s core.

For experienced gamers, Legends & Labyrinths is a fast-and-easy game that jettisons the baggage of 3rd Edition. For new gamers, Legends & Labyrinths serves as the perfect introduction to roleplaying games — simple enough to learn in an afternoon, but also a complete game that can be played for years without ever needing another supplement or rulebook.

One of my playtesters recently explained the appeal of Legends & Labyrinths like this: “Plenty of games have tried to add stuff on TOP of 3rd Edition. But Legends & Labyrinths comes UNDER 3rd Edition.”

Have you ever thought that 3rd Edition was too complicated? Had too many details? Was too time-consuming to prep? Then Legends & Labyrinths is exactly the game you’ve been waiting for.

100% COMPATIBLE WITH 3rd EDITION

What really makes Legends & Labyrinths special is that it is 100% compatible with 3rd Edition.

What does that mean? It means that any stat block or mechanic usable in 3rd Edition can be used in Legends & Labyrinths without conversion. It also means that any character created in Legends & Labyrinths can be used in a 3rd Edition game without conversion.

Got a 3rd Edition adventure? It can be run in Legends & Labyrinths as-is. Got a book full of monsters? It can be used in Legends & Labyrinths. Got a supplement of new spells? They can be cast in Legends & Labyrinths.

You can also incorporate core mechanics from 3rd Edition into your Legends & Labyrinths games without any difficulty. For example, Legends & Labyrinths features a stripped-down combat system. But if you really like some or all of the detailed combat rules from 3rd Edition? Well, all you have to do is use ’em. Legends & Labyrinths is 100% compatible with 3rd Edition.

On the other hand, what if you really like all the different character creation tools 3rd Edition gives you (allowing you to tweak your character just the way you like it), but you feel the complexity of the rest of the system chokes the life out of your roleplaying? Well, all you have to do is use the full character creation rules to create your PCs and then play them using Legends & Labyrinths. The game is 100% compatible with 3rd Edition.

In other words, you can think of Legends & Labyrinths as being the streamlined foundation of the game: It’s a complete game all by itself, but you can also add whatever additional functionality you want whenever you want (and however you want).

WHY 8-BIT FUNDING?

Legends & Labyrinths is being initially released through an 8-Bit Funding project. Basically, I think it’s a spiffy game. I’m willing to bet that you’ll think so too. And spiffy games, in my opinion, should also look spiffy.

I’m looking to raise enough capital through this funding project to pay top-of-the-line artists to provide top-of-the-line illustrations. I want to see wandering mercenaries marching through the purple dunes of the Arcano Deserts and twisted caverns of silver-veined stone filled with smoky torchlight. Imagine dragonriders racing between the half-shattered towers of the Bassanen Empire and elven detectives scouring the back alleys of the grotto megapoli.

Basically, I’m treating the 8-Bit Funding project as a preorder-with-perks program to raise the funds necessary to make the final rulebook as awesome as possible.

WHAT IS THE BLACK BOOK BETA?

The Black Book Beta rulebook is being released to fulfill two functions:

First, it will allow those sponsoring Legends & Labyrinths early access to the game while we wait for the artists to finish their commissions.

Second, it basically gives us a public beta testing period in which sponsors and their gaming groups will be able to give me a final round of feedback which can be incorporated into the rulebook.

The Black Book Beta rulebook is fully playable, but not complete. What does that mean? Basically, the Black Book Beta rulebook is missing:

(1) Spells
(2) Monsters
(3) Magic Items

These items are missing primarily because the layout of these sections of the rulebook will depend heavily on the art which we’ll be able to commission following the funding drive.

Don’t you need spells, monsters, and magic items to play the game? Yes. But, remember, Legends & Labyrinths is 100% compatible with 3rd Edition: Until the final rulebook is completed, you’ll be able to pull spells, monsters, and magic items from any online SRD (or your existing 3rd Edition rulebooks and supplements).

(The Black Book Beta rulebook will also include L&L’s super-simple monster creation system, so you can whip out playable stat blocks for any creature you can imagine in seconds.)

To be perfectly honest with all of you, given the long and painful development process for this project, I also felt very strongly that the game needed to be in a completed state before I offered it for any kind of sale. The Black Book Beta rulebook allows me to accomplish that while also working to ensure that the final version of the rulebook is the best it can be for you: Even if I keeled over from a heart attack tomorrow, Legends & Labyrinths is in a completed state. It has been written. It has been laid out. It even includes temporary, public domain art. About the only thing missing at this point are a few “page XXX” references that still need to be filled in.

I could, if I wanted to, simply publish the rulebook as it exists today and nobody would blink an eye at it. (Well, the lack of art in the bestiary would probably annoy.) But I’d rather make this final, extra effort to push it over the top. I hope you’ll agree with me and help to make that dream a reality.

If not, just wait a few months and the final version of the rulebook will be on sale.

CLIMB INTO YOUR LABYRINTH AND FORGE YOUR LEGEND TODAY!

LEGENDS & LABYRINTHS

I’m producing and starring in a two-person adaptation of William Shakespeare’s The Rape of Lucrece at this year’s Minnesota Fringe Festival. We’ve got three shows left:

Tuesday 8/9 – 10pm
Thursday 8/11 – 5:30pm
Sunday 8/14 – 7:00pm

All performances at the Theatre in the Round.

An intimate, intense, and terrifying adaptation of William Shakespeare’e epic poem. In this dramatic, storytelling staging, the vibrant, staccato beats of the Bard’s eternal verse pound out a tale of erotic savagery and violation.

Lucrece is the sweet and virtuous wife of Colatine. But when Colatine sings her praises to his fellow officers, he lights a blazing lust in the heart of Prince Tarquin. Tarquin flees the army, returns to Rome, enters Lucrece’s home under false pretenses, and in the blackest hours of the night forces himself upon her.

Lucrece’s ordeal, however, is only beginning as Shakespeare vividly captures her bleak and hopeless struggle to cope with unimaginable trauma…

You can visit the American Shakespeare Repertory’s website for my information. You can also listen to a podcast Fringe Mini interview I did with Joshua  Humphrey from Twin Cities Theater Connection.