Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Cross of Fire Saga - More Kaylethon artwork!

We added some color to this Kaylethon rough draft, so you get a better look of what the final will look like. I am sure the kilt will changes colors in the final version, plus some other things will be modified. I am happy to say, I like where this is going and Cross of Fire Saga for Pathfinder looks like a good Kickstarter. Talk to you later...

Monday, April 28, 2014

Cross of Fire Saga – The new rough draft of the Kaylethon

So our character design artist send us a new rough draft artwork of the Kaylethon for the upcoming Cross of Fire Saga adventure path kickstarter. I think the Kaylethon are going to be a great addition to this adventure path. The situation of how they arrive on Obsidian Apocalypse makes a lot of sense, and if people like them we can also keep expanding them by doing the Pirates of the Bronze Sky campaign setting. But let’s deal with one issue at a time. So enjoy the rough draft and expect to see the final artwork done in the very near future. Talk to you later…

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Cross of Fire Saga - The Kaylethon make their return for the first time!

So I talked to out artist about doing a whole character design for the Kaylethon ( The four armed Scotish Rhino-men) this is what he sent back to me:

I love this one!  I will start with the sketches on Monday so I can do a few studies of real rhinos for the face during the weekend.

Nothing like an artist who takes his work seriously. And that is why he gets a lot of work from us. Talk to you later...

Thursday, April 24, 2014

The Cross of Fire Saga - The waiting for the Phrenic Scourge is over!

Looks like our version of the Phrenic Scourge is in soon than I thought. So does it look like something that might worry your PCs in the upcoming Cross of Fire Saga adventure path? Better still I get to think about how many psionic / psionic-ish monsters I can connect to them in the family line.   Plus I still will be able to build in the psionic interference field for the Phrenic Scourge  I thought might be cool. If there are a certain number of Phrenic Scourge near you, the psionic interference field over lay causing your head to explode a la Scanners style. I am sure PCs will love that. Well off to more work on Cross of Fire Saga. Talk to you later...

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

The Cross of Fire Saga - Waiting on rough draft on artwork of the Phrenic Scourge

I am waiting for one of my regular and senior character design artist to submit his rough draft of the Phrenic Scourge which is going to be part of the VERY dangerous monsters and villain you are going to meet in the upcoming Cross of Fire Saga adventure path. While many use the Phrenic Scourge as a replacement for the WOTC IP protected Mind Flayer, (including me) I am glad that I can use the Phrenic Scourge instead. There is TOO MUCH of a history with the Mind Flayers and what people expect from them. Using the Phrenic Scourge give me the ability to use a concept people are familiar with and twist it ways that might not be ready for. That really is what my secret when creating monsters: Take something you know and twist it what that make it unfamiliar. For example: Star Wars from Hidden Fortress; Avatar from Dances with Wolves; and Magnificent Seven from Seven Samurai. Hiding tings in plain sight is fun and difficult to do, and this is no different with the Phrenic Scourge. I have decided to use the Durlan race from DC Comics and the artwork from Wayne Reynolds’ Age ofWorms as inspiration and the template for visually where we are starting from for them. Plus I am going to make some cool psionic influenced monsters related to the Phrenic Scourge. Basically put, I looking for ways to make your PC’s head explode and I am off to a good start.  Talk to you later…

Monday, April 21, 2014

Cross of Fire Saga – LPJ Design sees RED!!!!!

With all this cool information and samples of artwork I have been showing you for the upcoming Cross of Fire Saga, you have to wonder on some of the artists I would be looking to work with on this project.  One of the first names that came up was the amazing Lance Red. We have worked on several projects and I know that he already had an understanding of what I like to see visually. Due to the nature of this project I would be looking at using only one or two artists for the interior work of all the books, with one artist for the covers. The layout of this project will follow that Obsidian Apocalypse with a few changes as needed. I think having Lance on the team is only going to improve the already impressive quality we have planned.  Expect to see some rough drafts of what we are planning for this kickstarter very soon.  Talk to you later…

Thursday, April 17, 2014

2nd Bestiary of Armageddon Contest Coming May 1st!

2nd Bestiary of Armageddon Contest Coming Soon!

Last year, we did our 1st Bestiary of Armageddon Contest, and this year we are doing it again. Louis Porter Jr. Design is going to do a contest for our Obsidian Apocalypse campaign. This 2nd the Bestiary of Armageddon Contest and as like last time, we ARE trying to kill PCs with these monsters / templates that you will be creating.

This contest is giving you a chance to monster / template design where the fans of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game get to test their skills and abilities designing amazing monsters / templates that will be judged by LPJ Design staff members. Those wanting to prove themselves as game designers will be able to create monsters / templates to fit into the Obsidian Apocalypse campaign setting. An just in case you were wonder here is the list of writers who won last year: James Desborough, Robert “Bob” E. Drouin, Wojciech “Drejk” Gruchala, Nick Herold, Sam Hing, Michael McCarthy, Jonathan Palmer, Michael L. Romansky and Jakeiol Rudd. Why wasn't your name on this list? Don't miss out this year. The 2nd Bestiary of Armageddon Contest is starting May 1st. Don't miss out your chance!!!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

A New Obsidian Apocalypse toolkit setting template...Maybe

And this is what happens when you watch a Thundarr the Barbarian marathon over the weekend:

Under A Shattered Moon – New Obsidian Apocalypse toolkit setting template

Many years from now. From out of space comes a runaway planet, hurtling at Abaddon and crashing into its moon, unleashing epic destruction. Abaddon’s civilization is cast in ruin. Many decades later, Abaddon is reborn... A strange new world rises from the old: a world of savagery, fantasy science, and sorcery. But one lone slave bursts his bonds to fight for justice! With his several companions, the slave pits his strength, his courage, and his fabulous Solarsword against the forces of evil. This is Under a Shattered Moon.

Talk to you later...

Monday, April 14, 2014

LPJ Design goes Mythic with Templates - Unstoppable

So as a little side project, Jeff Lee was kind enough to tackle the Mythic rule set here at LPJ Design and finished a short PDF that we are working called Mythic Add-Ons: Templates. And just so you can see it before you buy it here is a sample of what you can expect in this PDF.  And I am sure if you are a comic book fan, you might guess where this was inspired from. Enjoy!

Unstoppable (MR 1 or 2, CR +1)
Creatures with the unstoppable template have strength, durability, and will above and beyond their lesser kin, brutes that can run roughshod over most opponents, and nearly impossible to slow or stop when on the move. Like a juggernaut, an unstoppable creature can mow down anything in its path. If the creature has 11 or more Hit Dice, this simple template grants a mythic rank of 2 instead of 1. An unstoppable creature's quick and rebuild rules are the same.

Rebuild Rules: AC increase natural armor by 2 (or 4 if creature has 11 or more Hit Dice); hp mythic bonus hit points (see sidebar); Defensive Abilities gains DR and resistance to all types of energy as per table 2, as well as fortification and second save (see sidebar), and a +4 to its CMD vs. bull rush, grapple, overrun, and trip combat maneuvers; Special Attacks +4 to bull rush and overrun combat maneuvers, and double damage on charge attacks.

UNSTOPPABLE TEMPLATE DEFENSES
Hit Dice
Energy Resistance
DR
1-4
5
5-10
10
5/epic
11+
15
10/epic

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Cross of Fire - Threshold Goals and future goals

When I started working on the Cross of Fire Saga as a kickstarter I started looking at threshold goals of other KS for ideas. See threshold goal do have the ability to make your KS even more successful then you originally thought. a KS thresholds can also add additional cost to you KS and put you in debt. And just in case you were wondering, that does happen a lot. So this time I decided to crunch the numbers and get the most out of our threshold goal by making logical and exciting rewards for donors.

$3.5K 1st Adventure reached
$5K PDF Cards of Poisons / Disease
$6K More Artwork
$7K 2nd Adventure reached
$8.5K PDF Cards of Traps
$9.5K More Artwork
$10.5K 3rd Adventure reached
$12K PDF Cards of Feats
$13K More Artwork
$14K 4th Adventure reached
$15.5K PDF Cards of Spells
$17K More Artwork
$18K
$19K PDF Cards of Hazards / Haunts
$20K [REDACTED] Cover for Collected POD

As you see our KS goal is to reach $3,500 but we keep adding all kinds of cool stuff usually at every $1,000 to $1,500 threshold goal.  The reason for that (for those who are interested in the business of KS) it makes it easier to increase the momentum when raising money from donors and the number of donors. And the more donors they are, the more money we will raise. And just in case you were wondering, we do have threshold goals planned over the $20,000 limit just in case but we don't want to jinx ourselves either.  Oh and by the way that $20,000 with that [REDACTED] cover label, we will be confirming who the artist is AFTER we make sure their schedule is clear And we make a payment to them. Can you guess who we are trying to get for the cover? I guess you will have to wait and see. Talk to you later...

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Cross of Fire Saga - Look at these logos

So here is a little something that I am working on for Cross of Fire Saga, The Logo! While this might not be important to many, it will give you an idea on how I build and layout my products. Something as simple as a logo can tell a lot about your product and what influences it.  While I am STILL working on this logo, here is some of the ideas that have reached “the paper”. I am still going to try out many more versions until I get the one I am happy with, but I thought you might be interested in the process.  People. Product. Process. That Marcus Lemonis might be on to some this. Talk to you later…

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Races of Obsidian Apocalypse: Flesh and Iron (PFRPG)

Louis Porter Jr. Design, has released Races of Obsidian Apocalypse: Flesh and Iron for The Pathfinder Roleplaying Game at RPGNow.com and DriveThruRPG.com.  Here is information on this product:

A dark star fell from the sky bringing with it the end of all things! The sanctity of the world known as Abaddon was shattered when a global apocalyptic event of a meteor impacting the planet causing a destructive ecological and eldritch change. Now there is no day or night, just never ending Apocalypse. Races of Obsidian Apocalypse: Flesh and Iron adds four new races to the Obsidian Apocalypse campaign setting making the world even more interesting and just as dangerous. Are you willing to take up the fight?

Inside this book you will find you will find four new races for Races of Obsidian Apocalypse: Flesh and Iron:

      Promethean (Flesh and Clockwork): Prometheans suffer lingering mental effects from their creation rites. The flesh prometheans have a personality made from an amalgam of souls, cobbled together from various creatures. Clockwork prometheans have the luxury of a solitary mind, but the creation rites cause them as much torment as they do to their flesh-bound cousins.
      Raijin: When an outraged spirit of one slain by the undead lords of Abaddon possesses a survivor filled with desires for revenge, the two form a powerful and terrifying force, a raijin. A synergy of life and death, it can reach into the netherworld and manifest some powers of the dead in the physical world. 
      Uzamati: The only uzamati trait that stands out in their normal form is the purple irises of their eyes. But, when an uzamati phases out, all semblance of normalcy disappears. They melt into pure negative energy, becoming twisted in the process: Their skin turns a deep purple and exudes a strong glow. Their bodies become slightly transparent and gaunt as a skeleton.
      Over 20 new feats for these races including Amplify Negative Energy, Monstrous Body Parts, Necromantic Phasing, Spectral Wall and Weapon Graft.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Cross of Fire Saga - The Rewards the Donors Get

If you are wondering what we might offer you as a donor, well take a look.

$1:  Thank You
$9: First Cross Of Fire (COF) Adventure PDF
$25: First COF Adventure B&W POD book
$36: All Four COF Adventures PDFs
$55: All Four COF Adventures PDFs plus All Stretch Goals
$55 (Retailer): Special Reward for Retailers
$65: Collected B&W POD book of COF, All Four COF Adventures PDFs plus All Stretch Goals
$70 (Limit 35): Submit 2 Poison / Diseases for possible publication
$75 (Limit 35): Submit 2 Poison / Diseases for possible publication
$80 (Limit 30): Submit 2 Traps for possible publication
$85 (Limit 30): Submit 2 Feats for possible publication
$90 (Limit 25): Submit 2 Spells for possible publication
$95 (Limit 25): Submit 2 Hazards / Haunts for possible publication
$100 (Limit 20): Submit 2 Templates for possible publication
$105 (Limit 20): Submit 2 Monsters for possible publication
$110: Collected Full Color POD book of COF

$125 (Limit 10): Submit 2 NPCs for possible publication

And just in case you are wondering, for every level you pledge about the $70 level, you get the $65 level and all the reward levels up to the level you pledged. So if you pledged at the $90 you would get: Collected B&W POD book of COF, All Four COF Adventures PDFs plus All Stretch Goals; Submit 2 Poison / Diseases for possible publication; Submit 2 Poison / Diseases for possible publication; Submit 2 Traps for possible publication; Submit 2 Feats for possible publication; and Submit 2 Spells for possible publication.

The reason we are giving these types of rewards is because when I did my first KS I gave away thing that I thought people would like. But now I realized you should give away things that people found useful in their gaming session. The KS I feel did that the best was Kobold Press' Deep Magic. The more money that was brought in the cooler stuff they added to the book. No t-shirts or dice, just cool content for your home gaming. And that is what I focused on developing this.  See that Wolfgang Baur is smart, so I follow what he does and when I say "follow" I mean copy. This is rocket science and you don't get points deducted for coping other peoples work.  I use all the brains I have and any I can find, borrow and steal.  Talk to you later...

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Cross of Fire Saga - Budget and Goal with Kickstarter

As always I am thinking about Cross of Fire Saga Kickstarter  for use with the Obsidian Apocalypse Campaign Setting and any other horror based campaign setting for Pathfinder. and now I am working on the Budget of how much money I will need to raise for this KS. I am planning for this KS a little different by only asking for $3,500 for the first adventure. The complete saga is going to be 4 adventures roughly 30 - 32 page each for a grand total of 120 to 128 pages. I am planning to actually pay for and complete  all the writing and editing BEFORE we start the KS.  So no matter what the project will be done before we even start and we will be using KS to see if we can cover what we have already done.  Basically we are doing all the work so the donors don't have to worry and wait to see if we have actual done the work. So when the KS ends, we send them rough draft copies of the adventures to donors look over and enjoy while we work on the artwork and layout.  As I stated before, we are looking at a budget of $3,500 with a breakdown of 40 - 50% for Writing and editing; 20 - 25% for artwork and cover; 20 - 25% for shipping, printing, covering KS and Amazon costs; and finally 0 - 5% for miscellaneous. Every $3,500 we raise will cover one adventure until we raise $14,000 which will cover all the adventures. Any money we raise above the $14K we will use to created great threshold goals.  So as you see we do have solid plans. now we just have to work on the adventures.  Best of all some of the rough drafts for artwork will need to be worked on soon. So expect to see so very cool stuff in the very near future. Talk to you later...