The future of Mythic
Added 2020-11-29 23:53:57 +0000 UTCGreetings tier 3 people! It's time to start setting the schedule for the next project. Before I launch a poll and ask you to select what is designed next, I have a few thoughts to run by you.
I've mentioned before about doing a second edition Mythic. More accurately, it's first edition Mythic in a better looking edition. It would contain the contents of Mythic RPG (the red book), and Mythic Variations I and II. I probably won't call it Mythic Second Edition since that implies a new, updated game. More likely, it'll be called Mythic Complete.
Now ... the main reason for doing this is to update the look of Mythic. The Mythic red and blue books look dated, and they never really looked that great to begin with. The artwork in the red book could be much better. Both of those books were my first efforts at game book making and it shows.
Which brings me to the issue vexing me. I plan to make Mythic Complete, and when it is published the original red and blue books will continue to be available. This gives people the option of buying the books individually or all at once in the bigger volume. I am considering updating the original red and blue books with new art, and replacing the pdf files and POD files with the new files. In the past I have been resistant to doing this because I don't like the idea of modifying already published material. It seems unfair to those who have purchased the product to then change an edition with it still being the same edition. At the same time, I would very much like to update the art in those older products.
What are your thoughts on this? Is the publishing of a nicer, newer Mythic Complete enough? Or, should I also update the older books with new art? If I update the older books those who have already purchased the pdf could download it again at no cost, getting the newer version. For those who have bought the POD version, I could send an offer code that cuts the price drastically if they choose to print it again.
If I update the older books, the new artwork would be the same new artwork that will appear in Mythic Complete. Mythic Complete will likely contain about 60 pieces of artwork, and I would use about 40 of those in updating the older books. The art pieces would repeat in Mythic Complete.
I'm leaning toward updating the older files, and doing this while I produce Mythic Complete. This would represent an overhaul of the presentation of the Mythic system. The newly art-enhanced older books (the red book and the blue book, the Variations books would not be changed) would be updated first, followed a few months later by the publishing of Mythic Complete.
Please let me know your thoughts and opinions on this.
Comments
I agree with that approach. I'd like the rules to blend organically like that. The variations will be woven into the core rules. So, for instance, the chapter on the Fate Chart will be much as it is, but then it will have a whole section on the Fate Check variant to replace the chart. The variations won't be completely separated into their own chapters, but connected with the relevant core rules. I think also, if I include new material, I may put them in sidebars or with an icon that indicates to those familiar with the system already that this is something new.
Tana Pigeon
2020-12-02 21:13:04 +0000 UTCYour idea about the future of the Mythic Magazine as a compendium of the best ideas is very interesting and a good way to improve the system as a whole I think. As for the Mythic Complete, it should perhaps make clear in the base rules which ones are altered by the Variants and how they are altered. Imagine the explication for the Chaos factor with perhaps a call out to Variations 2 that explicitly says that if you want an easier or faster way to treat it, go and check page XX (where the Variations 2 would be explained).
Alexandru Popescu
2020-12-02 21:04:47 +0000 UTCThanks Bryan, I'll check it out.
Tana Pigeon
2020-12-02 20:43:21 +0000 UTCnot wanting to add to your pile, but there's a cool kickstarter going on that is working with indie publishers to make PDF content more accessible to everyone. Called "Vision Layers"... I don't know if FUDGE is gonna make it, but FATE did. Looking forward to making solo adventures and will probably buy anything you put out. Thanks for your hard work.
Bryan Brake
2020-12-02 05:16:38 +0000 UTCOops, I sent that last message early before finishing it ... So talking about Mythic Complete ... right now I visualize it as the red book and the two variations books combined into a single volume, with new layout and art. It's a visually updated, prestige version of the system. A pdf version will be available, as well as a soft cover and a hard cover version. At the moment, I don't plan to have any new content in it. It will be all of the old content, with a few text changes here and there. However ... I wonder if it should have some new content in it. I don't want to put anything drastically new in it, that draws away from my intention of giving people the option to get a legacy book or the all-in-one book. I can think of a few things it should have though, like rules for reconciling the Fate Check of MV2 with the ranks system of Mythic RPG. Alexandru, some of the things you're talking about I plan to include as content in Mythic Magazine. For instance, it's funny you mention Behavior Checks. One of the sections in the first issue of MM will likely be a new treatment for a simplified Behavior Check. Combining Mythic with the Crafter books will also likely be a frequent topic in MM. I suspect that after a year or two of Mythic Magazine, the best bits will get taken and used in another book, a Best Of volume or a Mythic Variations III.
Tana Pigeon
2020-12-01 19:46:18 +0000 UTCGood feedback. I agree, I think the current books are best left alone right now. There are bigger priorities to get to. I'll focus on Mythic Complete.
Tana Pigeon
2020-12-01 19:39:14 +0000 UTCI agree that the time would be better spend on Mythic Complete, especially on visualising certain interactions (looking at you, Behaviour Check you beautiful complex beast) with the help of an easy to understand chart or giving guidance in how to use Mythic, the Adventure Crafter and Location crafter together (tying the whole Mythic environment together so to speak). There is a lot of meat in this system over three books and tying it together in one compedium is a big task, so yeah.. i think you should go full speed with and in a second time update the existing individual books :)
Alexandru Popescu
2020-11-30 10:51:10 +0000 UTCPersonally, I would look at a better-looking compilation of Mythic GME and the variations, focus on making it an appealing (not too complicated looking) system-agnostic add-on choice for any system, and consider the Red Book a seperate track. Also, I would prefer to just keep the older books around as legacy content. I think your time would be better spent on new stuff! Cheerio!
John
2020-11-30 08:55:11 +0000 UTCI'd like you to put all of your energy into "MYTHIC Complete". Those of us who have the current MYTHIC books and/or files weren't looking for new art in them, and tbh will probably be purchasing "MYTHIC Complete" as soon as it appears anyway. Now, if you could offer some form of discount towards "MYTHIC Complete" for those of us that already own the originals...
William King
2020-11-30 02:42:48 +0000 UTC
