"Write your first adventure" June-August

[Leitz]

I'm being tempted by the StoryTelling Collective's Write Your First Adventure (WYFA) semi-sale, and it's on at the moment.

I've written adventures before, like most of you. However, I'm always open to doing better. Again, like most of you.

Anyone else thinking about this? Or have you done it?

[Leitz]

UPDATE: There is a 25% off coupon code, I've asked if I can share it here or in PM. Will let you know.

[dmw71]

I could be tempted to join the "Write Your First Adventure | General Path" if you're looking for some comradery. I absolutely do not have the time to dive into the program and work it immediately (it would be a buy now, use later sort of thing), but I could be a part-time accountability partner, or a set of ears for feedback.

[Leitz]

That'd be great! I got the "General Path", and just read the intro document. One of the things it suggests is to create a lot and then look for the really good ideas. We're supposed to write ten potential ideas, so here are mine. Do extend grace, it's the end of my day and I'm a bit tired.

Note that [modern] could go for low tech level sci-fi, and [fantasy] could also be historical.

1. [modern] Nuclear/other incident, rural area, prepared folks. An allied group was supposed to move to your location and they are very late. Roving bands of marauders exist, people still have gasoline, and there are lots of unprepared who could use your limited resources.

2. [fantasy] Annual initiation for new warriors (can act as group). Do a quest, get a high quality sharpening stone for your blades.

3. [scifi] You are a secret agent undercover on a pirate ship making a raid on a luxury liner. How do you protect innocents and take down the pirates?

4. [modern] Plane crash in difficult terrain. Must fight off local scavengers, carnivores, deal with injuries, and limited resources.

5. [modern, solo] Your true love invited you over to meet their (crime-family) parents, but once you're there they want to flee. Tonight! They have a car, cash, and clothes just two miles away. All you have to do is get past guards, overly watchful parents, and late night denizens.

6. [fantasy] Your party barely made it to a village for supplies, only to find out they are being attacked by bandits. No one will sell or share anything until the bandits are dealt with.

7. [modern] It's your first night in your new high rise downtown apartment, and then the earthquake hits. Roads are broken, mobs are forming, buildings aren't stable, and gangs think it's a free night of chaos.

8. [supers] A nefarious mad scientist just set off a zygon ray bomb. Normal people are developing super powers they can't control and those who had super powers now struggle to activate them (8- on 3d6).

9. [supers] As #8, but the characters never had and didn't get super powers.

10. [supers] As #8, but the characters were normal but got (randomly assigned) super powers.

[dmw71]

I could be tempted to join the "Write Your First Adventure | General Path" if you're looking for some comradery.

Alright, I purchased the General Path as well.

Again, I need to remain disciplined and resist the temptation to dive into it, but I’ll get to it eventually. That said, I’ll be here to passively monitor the progress and/or questions of anyone that participates.

Good luck!

[atpollard]

Mission Log: Day 17,855

I have completed a diagnostic scan of all ship systems and report a 0.00000021% decrease from the previous scan. We are 14,205 days overdue for maintenance. I have advised the Commander, but have received no response. It has been 14,935 days since I have received communication from the commander. I note my concerns in the daily log.

This will not prevent me from completing our mission. I continue to operate under the General Standing Orders. I will continue to maintain combat readiness and scan for hostile forces. I will continue to patrol until recalled by my commander or direct instructions from His Glorious Radiance, the Supreme Commander. I will defend the Concordant from all enemies for as long as I am able.

I resume long-range passive scans for Hostile vessels.


Mission Log: Day 17,980

We have detected an enemy vessel with our long range sensors. System scans indicate that our Point Defense is operating at only 32.45659210% effectiveness. That is sub-optimal. Power Systems are functioning at 88.38630251% of design capacity. That is acceptable. Our Primary Weapon System appears to still be fully operational. We contacted the Commander for instructions, but have received no response.

INITIATE EMERGENCY OVERRIDE. We must assume that the Commander has been incapacitated. Under General Orders, we are authorized to take command and complete the mission objectives if the Commander is unable to. We have analyzed the enemy ship and, although it is a formidable opponent, we have the element of surprise. I estimate a 92.11385704% chance of destroying the target.

[Leitz]

There are four units, and I'm almost through the first one. Some reading, and then a good bit of thinking through ideas, picking a few, then developing them. It's a pretty fun process.

Not sure I'm too worried about the fourth unit; "Marketing and Publishing". I already have my plan for that. Will possibly play-test it here for feedback, if anyone's interested.

[Leitz]

Finished the first unit a little ahead of schedule. The next task is writing out all the ideas into a module.

[dmw71]

Finished the first unit a little ahead of schedule.

Nice, congratulations!

The next task is writing out all the ideas into a module.

I haven't looked to see the entirety of what the first unit covers, but that seems like a big jump.

I'll actually check into the course later to confirm these suspicions, but I suppose the four units could be:

1. Idea generation and development
2. Structuring ideas into module format
3. Module layout and design
4. Marketing and publishing

In which case, the perceived "big jump" isn't so big.


Either way, good luck!

[Leitz]

I am "sort of" ahead of schedule; I've read the second section's lessons and made good notes. Locally it's heavy thunderstorm season and all the electronics get unplugged. So I have the task list, and it's writing and thinking, which usually flow easily for me. Should be able to at least mentally map out the lesson's work, even if I can't get it typed in.