Taking a Break
+5
ZamuelNow
Philadelphus
Ramsus
Paper Shadow
Stairc -Dan Felder
9 posters
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Taking a Break
Hey everypony, need to make a quick announcement.
Nearly a year ago, inspired by my friend Newbiespud's webcomic, I embarked on running a one-shot MLP adventure over Skype. After going over the existing systems and not finding one that I felt would work smoothly over Skype - I decided to channel my studies on game design and throw together a quick system optimized for lots of flavor options, character depth and smooth enough to work over voicechat. After a week and a half, what emerged was the core of the Pony Tales: AOH system. It was supposed to last an adventure or two then I'd head back to 4th Edition D&D.
Instead I've spent nearly a year now working with a team of talented designers and developers plus people in skype chats and these forums to expand and polish the Pony Tales system. We even liked it so much that my non-brony friends wanted to run regular D&D adventures in it - leading to the more classically flavored spin-off we called Living Legends.
However, progress has definitely slowed over the year. I simply haven't had the time to respond to everyone's interesting ideas - even those by my fellow designers. Nehiel Mori and Kindulas (especially Kindulas) have folders stuffed with new utility talents, combat talents and more. They're incredibly passionate about the system and love designing material for it. I love Pony Tales, I'm more proud of all our community's work on it than any other game I've worked on, but I'm interested in exploring lots of other ideas too. I have stories sitting in drawers, I've grown fascinated by tabletop gaming in general (not just RPGs, but tabletop games like Pandemic and Settlers of Catan) and frankly - I could use the creative shakeup that comes with working on some other projects. Hopefully, they'll give me brand new ideas and perspectives to make Pony Tales better.
In short, I need to change gears and work on other projects for a while. In the mean time, Nehiel Mori and Kindulas will be starting to take a more active role in polishing content via updates/expansions and talking to the community. So work on Pony Tales won't stop (though it'll certainly slow for a while, especially considering that we have finals coming up) and once Nehiel Mori and Kindulas are fully comfortable taking on all the roles that I usually do - things should eventually start happening 3x as quickly as they once did.
What This Means
I'm not going to be polishing new content, designing new content, updating old content, taking part in rules discussions or generally doing any maintenance or development work on Pony Tales at all for a while. I might still answer the occasional question and comment on a design idea, but it'll be out of interest and not out of obligation. It's time for Nehiel Mori and Kindulas to step up to the plate while I take a breather and work on other projects for a while. Hopefully this will mean we end up having three people doing development and approval work in the end instead of just one and that I come back fresh, enthusiastic and full of new ideas. So best for everyone.
Nearly a year ago, inspired by my friend Newbiespud's webcomic, I embarked on running a one-shot MLP adventure over Skype. After going over the existing systems and not finding one that I felt would work smoothly over Skype - I decided to channel my studies on game design and throw together a quick system optimized for lots of flavor options, character depth and smooth enough to work over voicechat. After a week and a half, what emerged was the core of the Pony Tales: AOH system. It was supposed to last an adventure or two then I'd head back to 4th Edition D&D.
Instead I've spent nearly a year now working with a team of talented designers and developers plus people in skype chats and these forums to expand and polish the Pony Tales system. We even liked it so much that my non-brony friends wanted to run regular D&D adventures in it - leading to the more classically flavored spin-off we called Living Legends.
However, progress has definitely slowed over the year. I simply haven't had the time to respond to everyone's interesting ideas - even those by my fellow designers. Nehiel Mori and Kindulas (especially Kindulas) have folders stuffed with new utility talents, combat talents and more. They're incredibly passionate about the system and love designing material for it. I love Pony Tales, I'm more proud of all our community's work on it than any other game I've worked on, but I'm interested in exploring lots of other ideas too. I have stories sitting in drawers, I've grown fascinated by tabletop gaming in general (not just RPGs, but tabletop games like Pandemic and Settlers of Catan) and frankly - I could use the creative shakeup that comes with working on some other projects. Hopefully, they'll give me brand new ideas and perspectives to make Pony Tales better.
In short, I need to change gears and work on other projects for a while. In the mean time, Nehiel Mori and Kindulas will be starting to take a more active role in polishing content via updates/expansions and talking to the community. So work on Pony Tales won't stop (though it'll certainly slow for a while, especially considering that we have finals coming up) and once Nehiel Mori and Kindulas are fully comfortable taking on all the roles that I usually do - things should eventually start happening 3x as quickly as they once did.
What This Means
I'm not going to be polishing new content, designing new content, updating old content, taking part in rules discussions or generally doing any maintenance or development work on Pony Tales at all for a while. I might still answer the occasional question and comment on a design idea, but it'll be out of interest and not out of obligation. It's time for Nehiel Mori and Kindulas to step up to the plate while I take a breather and work on other projects for a while. Hopefully this will mean we end up having three people doing development and approval work in the end instead of just one and that I come back fresh, enthusiastic and full of new ideas. So best for everyone.
Last edited by Stairc -Dan Felder on Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:26 pm; edited 2 times in total
Stairc -Dan Felder- Lead Designer
- Gender :
Posts : 3099
Join date : 2012-07-19
Re: Taking a Break
I'll still be writing my play-by-post thread of course.
Stairc -Dan Felder- Lead Designer
- Gender :
Posts : 3099
Join date : 2012-07-19
Re: Taking a Break
Although you are most likely aware of it, may I recommend that you watch Tabletop if you already haven't?Stairc -Dan Felder wrote:I've grown fascinated by tabletop gaming in general (not just RPGs, but tabletop games like Pandemic and Settlers of Catan)
Paper Shadow- Smile Like You Mean It
- Posts : 3759
Join date : 2012-11-23
Age : 30
Re: Taking a Break
Well, it should be interesting to see how Nehiel and Kindulas handle things compared to how you did. I wonder who's gonna handle the Q&A thread.
Ramsus- Freakin' Alicorn Princess
- Gender :
Posts : 5688
Join date : 2012-07-19
Age : 39
Location : California
Re: Taking a Break
As a creative person with multi-faceted interests myself, I completely understand where you're coming from. Have fun, learn new things, recharge those mental batteries, and pop in once and a while to say hi!
Philadelphus- Designer
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Posts : 734
Join date : 2012-07-18
Age : 34
Location : Hilo, Hawai‘i
Re: Taking a Break
I also understand on the mental refresh. Enjoy yourself but don't be a stranger.
ZamuelNow- Freakin' Alicorn Princess
- Gender :
Posts : 3309
Join date : 2013-03-19
Re: Taking a Break
I really need to start updating my fanfiction again...
Best of luck with whatever you'll be doing next, Stairc!
Best of luck with whatever you'll be doing next, Stairc!
AProcrastinatingWriter- Freakin' Alicorn Princess
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Posts : 3259
Join date : 2012-08-13
Age : 32
Location : Nowhere Land
Re: Taking a Break
Thanks guys.
And yep, Tabletop with Wil Wheton is awesome - one of the main reasons I'm interested in tabletop games to begin with.
And yep, Tabletop with Wil Wheton is awesome - one of the main reasons I'm interested in tabletop games to begin with.
Stairc -Dan Felder- Lead Designer
- Gender :
Posts : 3099
Join date : 2012-07-19
Re: Taking a Break
Goodbye (kinda) and good luck!
Fury of the Tempest- Freakin' Alicorn Princess
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Posts : 4116
Join date : 2012-09-22
Age : 29
Location : ENGLAND!!!!
Re: Taking a Break
I shall be awaiting a better you at your return.
tygerburningbright- Freakin' Alicorn Princess
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Posts : 3141
Join date : 2012-07-19
Location : USA
Re: Taking a Break
Well, I certainly understand your motivations behind this, and it's definitely something that I can sympathize with. So long, and thanks for all the fish good luck with your future endeavors!
Jason Shadow- Very Special Somepony
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Posts : 244
Join date : 2012-07-18
Age : 28
Location : Barely outside your field of vision
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