Oubliette Issue 9

After an almost 3 year hiatus, I'm pleased to announce that a new issue of Oubliette is just a week away from publication.

Issue 9 will be released on Sunday 12th April in both PDF and print versions. Whilst the new issue retains the characteristic look and feel of past issues, it is now in a smaller, A6 format. This means that the PDF is better suited to viewing on tablets, but more importantly, makes printed editions more viable.

The PDF edition will be available from RPGNow.com at the launch price of $1.00 until the end of April, after that it will be $1.50. There is also a new bundle option for the 8 back issues of Oubliette which saves over a third on the total separate selling prices.
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/147339/Oubliette-Issues-18-BUNDLE

The printed edition of Oubliette Issue 9 will cost £1.50 plus postage. I will add paypal buttons to the blog here, and also add it the Squarehex site. As a bonus I will be releasing a code for a FREE print copy with any Squarehex order over £5.00.

A printed copy of Oubliette Issue 9 will also be included in the April Mythoard.
See: http://www.mythoard.com/#!blank/ctpu for details.

Here's a sneak peek of the cover and the contents of the new issue:

Issue 9 Contents:

• Tales from Hell
• Editorial
• The Fella in the Cella
• Book of Lost Spells
• Found Familiar The Bat
• These Boots Were Made for...
• Monster Club #17 Titanoboa
• Pool of the Titans
• D20 Hit Point String Generator

A2 Numbered Hex Sheets

I've got a new supplier that can print large sheet sizes at reasonable prices. I'm going to start with a couple of short-run test prints to try them out, which I will run as pre-orders rather than Kickstarters. One of them will be an A2 mapping sheet. My plan is to have it printed with 14mm numbered hexes (I already have A4 sheets with these). The print run would be limited to 100 sheets which I'd sell at £1 each, 5 sheets for £4, or 10 sheets for £7. Those prices would include a card mailing tube, but postage would be extra.

Just wanted to check potential demand for such a sheet. I'm also very happy to listen to other suggestions for large A1 and A2 mapping sheets. If the pre-order works well then my next Kickstarter could involve printing several different sheets.

Dungeon Desk Pad Sample Map 4

This is another sample sheet I've drawn to illustrate uses for sheets from my Dungeon Desk Pad Kickstarter. It shows a cliff-top keep with a nifty double drawbridge to keep enemies out. I've added a couple off additional plans of the keep. One shows a side elevation, and the other has numbered locations. I drew these additional plans on one of my 3.5mm grid pads, cut them to size, and stuck them to the sheet with glue dots.

The Kickstarter campaign has just 30 hours to go! It has passed the Hex Sticker Sheets Stretch Goal, and, including several large offline pledges from overseas backers, it is almost halfway to the Extra Pages Stretch Goal.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730454032/dungeon-desk-pad

Dungeon Desk Pad Sample Map 3

Stonehell Level 1 Player's Map

This is another sample sheet I've drawn to illustrate uses for sheets from my Dungeon Desk Pad Kickstarter. This time I've shown how one of the sheets could be used to by the players to chart their progress through a dungeon. It is based on the Stonehell (Michael Curtis's excellent megadungeon) game that I am a player in. As it is based on a 5-year old hand-drawn map and notes I apologize for any mistakes on it (as a player I can't look at the book to check it). The columns on either side are used to add details of encounters and places of interest, whilst the small columns below may be used for tracking kill, treasure, etc..

The Kickstarter campaign has reached another Stretch Goal and the sheets in the pad will now be printed on top quality 120gsm paper. The next Stretch Goal will add some useful hex sticker sheets that will allow small outdoor areas to be mapped alongside dungeons all on the same sheets. I've added one to my Stonehell map as an example.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730454032/dungeon-desk-pad

Close-up of a Hex Sticker

Large Hex Sticker Sheet

Small Hex Sticker Sheet

Dungeon Desk Pad Sample Map 2

The Crypts of the Undercity

This is another sample sheet I've drawn to illustrate uses for sheets from my Dungeon Desk Pad Kickstarter.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1730454032/dungeon-desk-pad

As the pads are A3 they don't fit on my scanner, but with the sides folded back they are just the right size for scanning. I've included a photo of the whole sheet along with a scan of the map portion. I've also added a scan of the previous map that I first posted a couple of days ago.

The Kickstarter is now entering its middle phase as do most projects. However, it is a short campaign (14 days) so I'm confident that it will gather momentum as it enters the last few days. It is currently just £100 away from the next Stretch Goal, so that has a good chance of being reached in the next 24 hours
.

Scan of the previous map

I'll Send Ian Livingstone a Dungeon Desk Pad

when they are printed, because I think he'll understand what it's for...

The image above is the first D&D dungeon that Ian created, that he apparently still keeps on his desk. I spotted it in an excellent blog article about the history of Games Workshop here- http://www.unpluggedgames.co.uk/2015/02/13/games-workshop-the-inside-story-part-one/

The Dungeon Desk Pad Kickstarter is less than £200 from its next Stretch Goal. I'll post another sample sheet with a map tomorrow.

Dungeon Desk Pad Sample Map 1

I've drawn a few sample maps to support my Dungeon Desk Pad Kickstarter. The first one shows the Market District of the the Town of Sampleford. I've only had time to write headings for the text blocks but they give a general idea of how the sheets might be used. The large left and right columns are used to describe locations of interest on the map. Then the 3 smaller columns under the map are used for a random encounter table, a rumor table, and one is left empty for notes.

I'll put another map up in the next day or two (probably a dungeon one).

The Kickstarter campaign is going very well. In just over 2 days, it has blazed through its funding goal and the first 2 stretch goals. This means that for no extra cost, the pads have been substantially upgraded with heavier paper. If we can hit the third Stretch Goal, they get smoother, whiter paper stock as standard too.