Open Design is a series of RPG projects funded by a small group of patrons. The projects are always chosen from a list of suggestions that I put forward, together with suggestions from the senior patrons themselves. As part of the writing process, I share the manuscript as it evolves over time (and the whole manuscript with some patrons).

Open Design is a way to look inside the RPG design process, and to suggest changes to an adventure as it is being written and developed. What's the result of having 100 patrons peeking over my shoulder while I'm writing? Better adventures!

What's Open Design?

I'm returning to an old, old model for writers with the next adventure I write: patronage. In the medieval age and in the Renaissance, patrons were the ones who commissioned artists and writers. There was no such thing as a "publisher". People who wanted books paid someone directly to write them.

The OpenDesign projects are about applying that strategy to RPG adventures. They use a publishing approach that avoids the pitfalls of corporate game development, and they provide a way to share design knowledge with interested gamers.

What's the current project?

There are three current projects, two for 3rd Edition D&D, and one for 4th Edition.

The project about to ship is called Blood of the Gorgon, and it's a dark urban mystery adventure by Nicolas Logue, set in the city of Zobeck. The encounters and themes will be heavily influenced by the patrons.

At least 50,000 words long, BotG will be written and edited by July 2008.

The other two are the OGL Tales of Zobeck, and the 4E Wrath of the River King. Those are still in the design stages. 

To Join: You can join the current project by clicking on the button below. The current project's minimum donation is $30; there is no maximum. Patrons who donate $75 or more gain additional access and information.

Who are you?

My name is Wolfgang Baur. I've been professionally involved in the RPG field for 15 years, starting at TSR and later at WotC. I've written for every major D&D setting, though I'm best known for things like

• Dark*Matter
• Planes of Law,
• Planes of Chaos
  
• Expedition to the Demonweb Pits,
• Forge of War,
• Frostburn, 
• Book of Roguish Luck,
• Assassin Mountain,
• "A Rose for Talakara",

and adventure design in general. Here's the complete list.

I've written 14 adventures for Dungeon magazine, including three for the Adventure Paths, and I used to be that magazine's editor (these days, I edit Kobold Quarterly instead).

I do all the writing, organizing, and scut-work for Open Design. You just decide what you'd like to see in the adventure, or ask what you want to know about design, story, and publication.

How many patrons are there?

I expect no more than a hundred or 200 patrons. Since there's no retailer, no publisher, no distributor, and no print costs, even a tiny audience makes it worthwhile to design exclusively for patrons.

What do I get?

You'd get the complete adventure, professionally laid out and available both as a PDF and as a paper POD book. You get access to several months of rubber-meets-the-road design discussion, Q&A, and design essays on topics chosen by the patrons.

How to Join

Please click the button above for the standard membership ($30), or for the most insight into Open Design, consider a patron of the arts membership ($75), described below.

Yes, Open Design is trying to do something different. I hope you join the small community that's supporting original and amazing design, right here.

What's a senior patron?

It's the inside track, with direct access to the manuscript, art sketches, maps, plus additional commentary and Q&A not available with the standard membership. I'd recommend a minimum $75 donation. There is no upper limit. To join as a senior patron, click below: