Going Old School
over 3 years ago
– Fri, Sep 11, 2020 at 11:23:52 AM
I was a kid who became a pro illustrator in the 90s. This was a fascinating time because illustration studios still existed and computers were just coming in. (We couldn’t understand why anyone would want to use a PDF!) But I was also learning from veterans with 40-50 years experience in hand-lettering, airbrush, painting—yes, actual acrylic, gouache, and watercolor on rag board—dye retouching, and more. The education I got from the masters was immeasurable!
I became an expert with Rapidograph ink pens and could draw painstakingly accurate line drawings on vellum. (A skill that quickly became obsolete once we figured out those computers).
For the cover of War Mage Diary, I decided to mix old school with new school. I needed to create a stamp for the leather on the cover. And when creating a spellbook, an imperfect hand-drawn illustration is better than a perfect computer illustration. I set to work with a Sharpie and a pad of 360 paper (my old ink pens are dried up and vellum would be too perfect). I dug out my ancient french curves and oval templates and went to work.
To draw the whole moon shape by hand would be maddeningly slow (just the little bit I drew took a couple hours) but once I had the key scrollwork done, I could bring it into the computer and repeat the shapes over and over.
It’s a little detail readers aren’t likely to notice but it’s one of those things I do to honor those teachers I had starting out.
Cory
Cover stamp delivered to the printers
The War Is On!
over 3 years ago
– Fri, Sep 04, 2020 at 11:56:34 PM
I want to thank you again for bringing magic to Perdition! Emails have gone out to backers with a link to download your final PDF version of the War Mage Diary. We’ll keep this link active for a few weeks.
Toss any previous versions of WMD along with preconceived notions. Almost everything has subtly changed from the last PDF. Rules have changed. Skills have changed. Equipment has expanded. (Mage armor!) The Unreal Beasts are completely new. And Perdition is so much bigger now.
The other great news is, we should be uploading the final files to our printer next week and the leather-bound version will be underway!
Thank you for your support and belief in The WitchBorn. Enjoy!
—Cory
P.S. Folks who purchased from the Preorder Store received separate emails. Those who purchased a beta version at WitchBorn.com can login for their updates on the “My Downloads” page. And if you missed out, the price will never be better than in the Preorder Store now.
ANATOMY OF AN ILLUSION
over 3 years ago
– Fri, Aug 21, 2020 at 08:25:31 AM
The handwritten look for War Mage Diary has come together over several years. First, there was the writing (which never really stops—we’re always playtesting something!)
Then, came the photography. Maybe you saw me on your vacation. I was the nerdy guy photographing the blank leather spellbook on the sandy beach, in the autumn forests, and on the precarious cliffsides.
This was all roughly assembled in the last PDF version. Then came the comments of three different proofreaders plus input from you.
Now, we’re in the production phase, finalizing the retouching on each spread and “bending type.” A rough spread looks pretty good in the page layout program.
Here’s where we sell the illusion. I import and bend the type in Photoshop—an easy step—but not easy to edit afterward. That’s why we save it for last. With the type bent, I add a little highlight to the type to sell the curve of the book. It doesn‘t have to be perfect (part of the reason it’s handwritten).
Subtle change but pretty cool, hunh?
I am excited to share the new PDFs as soon as this is complete!
And you won’t believe how good it will look.
Cory
Pour Me a Whisky!
over 3 years ago
– Fri, Aug 14, 2020 at 05:41:33 AM
203 templates done!
You may be thinking—great—but why are you celebrating?
The templates were the last piece of creative work for War Mage Diary. Sure, I’ll be fielding comments from proofreaders and editors while making final tweaks right up to the moment this book goes out the door. But all the heavy lifting is done.
War Mage Diary is in effect written and designed. And that is cause for celebration!
So what’s next? I’ll be working through production details with the printer. There’s one stage left. We used to call it “keylining,” pre-computer. Now it’s the process of making sure all the retouched imagery is ready for press; a little Photoshop magic to bend 288 pages of type to make it look like it’s really on the page; and prepping the cards, templates, slipcase, and spell cards to look their best. And of course I need to get an updated PDF of the whole thing to you backers.
Still a lot to do. But this is also a milestone to celebrate!
Cory
Cards and Templates
over 3 years ago
– Fri, Aug 07, 2020 at 02:19:21 PM
Cards and templates for War Mage Diary are getting the final once-over.
The process starts with me. I generate stats for all the critters that are summoned, called, or conjured into service. Check out the image at the bottom. It’s a lot of fine details for 41 critters. There are Summoned creatures valued from 39 GP to over 150. The Elementals are even higher values and one Avatar is valued at nearly 400 GP by itself! (In comparison a starting war clan of 8 warriors is 125 GP).
As I go through these, I’ve beefed up the powers after firsthand experience with the creatures in play. I’ve simplified the rules governing them too to make these “go to” spells.
I just began the final cleanup of templates which are double-sided and feature some new art. I have all this going through 3 different proofreaders which has been fascinating to see their subtle comments—not just catching errors—but fantastic suggestions on how to clarify and simplify.
After templates, I have decided to add a free slipcase to all orders to protect the book and as a thank you for your patience!
GEN CON ONLINE
We really enjoyed the convention last weekend and it was awesome to talk to many of you and share demos on Roll20. We’ll be doing plenty more in the future so send [email protected] an email. We should be able to schedule a 90-minute online demo and Q&A session of the game for you too!
Stay well and game on!
Cory
