Launch Update - Daragaard Core

Hello all of you!

As I’m sure many of you have realised the May release (part one of the Daragaard Setting book) has not been released - and it’s June!

We’ve got some good news, and bad news, with the hope that mixed together it’s just kind of news! And if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last few years with games being delayed, movies being rescheduled and launch day crashes of servers - launching new content is not as easy as it would seem!

Bad news first - the whole of the release is still not done and ready to be released. The main reason for this is because as this release is the FIRST we’re putting out, there was substantial development time put into templates, building blocks and other ancillary things you don’t really think about when putting this stuff together. Of course, now we have almost all of this stuff done, the second reason is because this is HUGE. A setting book (think Explorers Guide to Wildemount, or Icewind Dale) are very long, and using these types of books as guides (we’re trying to fit as easy with the standard 5e books as possible) this is a huge undertaking. We have completed a fair chunk of the part ONE content, and we’re sitting around 10,000 words. I’m expecting this to be around the 80-90,000 count when the entire 3 part book is complete. Thinking now, this type of undertaking would work best as a kickstarter, or a one off, as opposed to a monthly release. Or perhaps splitting the setting books into smaller chunks. I’ll revise this for the next one! Or perhaps even split the final 2 parts into 3 or 4 to ensure I hit the release times! But for now, assume it shall still be 2 and 3.

The good news! This only really affects the Chronicle Keepers and Founders - you Virtual Hoarders, Collectors and Wardens - for the most part (barring the rolled up PDF/book of all of the content at your tier) is complete and ready to share! So that’s what we’re going to do just to keep the tide moving. All of the items and spells will be added to the master directory as will the monsters from the release, their dndbeyond links ready to use. We’ll also release the Collector and Warden content, and upload the content for each item, spell and monster to the May release folders (barring the PDF). We’ll do the same for the chronicle keeper but fill it with the Warden content for now! The PDF versions of all of these will go out hopefully next week!

So when is this going to be done?

We have completed a lot of the heavy lifting in template, note forming the content, and planning. For the character options we have them all written out, for the lore and quick quests we know exactly what we’re doing. But it’s getting this stuff into a good looking document for the first time which is taking the time. Imagine Core 2, or setting 2, and how much easier it will be to EDIT this master document, copy blocks and just change the wording as opposed to building everything as you go.

It’s the 7th June now and I’m hoping I can complete Core 1 by Tuesday 18th, final checks and release on Wednesday 19th. This would cause a mild cascade effect where I would aim to get our Core part 2 one week clawed back on July 5th weekend. And then finally complete the entire setting book to be released on July 28th weekend. After this I’ll revise word limits per monthly release, split core books into smaller bite sizes, and generally look at sustainability. As right now for the past 2 weeks I’ve been working 9-5 and then working on the setting book 5-10/12 every day! I love doing this but that isn’t sustainable!

I hope you all understand. Just to give you a peek and rough idea of what we’re looking like and working on, I’ve attached the WORK IN PROGRESS introduction and chapter. We haven’t edited nor fine tooth combed this yet, but I hope at least you can see the production value we’re going for.

TLDR:

Core Part 1 Release – Next Week (Commencing 17th)

Core Part 2 Release - Weekend 5th July

Core Part 3 Release - Weekend 26th July

All of the Collector-Warden content being released alongside this update post. Only really Chronicle Keeper and Founders effected.

Thanks for being so understanding and I love you guys! Hope you can see what we’re brewing up over here! - Euphoria