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This is rad. I really like that you've set up this wider world in a good amount of detail, but the core of the module zooms in really closely into the encounter at the top of the tower - a single event that will have significant consequences. That mix of scale is really cool and gives the tower encounter a lot of weight.
Also the visual presentation - the mix of art styles and the paper minis in particular are really charming and I love that you've presented this as a physical object first and foremost.
That's incredibly kind of you, thank you so much for reading through. I loved your entry too, it had loads of great ideas!
You packed a whole setting, a skirmish game, with paper minis, and a NPC network, all in two pages. Brilliant. I long to write stuff like this.
That is an incredibly kind comment. Thank you so much!
I like the map and the minis! You managed to fit a lot on here. One thing I was thinking about while reading is how this would all be resolvable in one big room. For example, the description is clear that the apprentice is hiding, but since there is no description of features on top of the tower, I wonder how they are hiding. Even so, it's a tense situation and that comes through in your writing clearly. Great job!
Hey, thank you so much for the feedback!
Reflecting on it, I made the choice to keep things vague for two reasons; time and my own personal style of adventure running.
I spent maybe a couple weeks kind of intimidated by drawing the map, so I did just want to make sure I got an entry out, but I also thought about how much I cut and change from existing adventure maps to make them fit what I personally want to do. I totally get it wouldn't be everyone's cup-of-tea, but personally, I enjoy when an adventure gives me a little space to put my own stamp on it.
So for the doodle map specifically, you could draw in some basic tables or maybe the apprentice is hiding behind a stone column with a magical channelling gem on top or even have some tall ice-pillars from whatever magic froze the Architect. It's totally up to you.
The writing is clear and the module packed with ideas. Like the notion regardning communication over combat. The layout is minimalistic and a bit cramped, but provides us with a very cool map and cut out tokens. This module is certainly fun at the table.
Thank you, I'm really glad you thought it was fun! I've still got a ways to go learning layout design, so hopefully my next attempt will be even better :D
Love me some tokens! This one is succint, but evocative: The setting is cool, and I can't help but think about the wider implications of the weather wizard guild and what sort of context they'd fit into! the frazyrmlings and frazimps are cute and I really like the focus on dialogue over combat. The layout and text is minimalist but clear, I think the text around the map is slightly squashed, but I think it is still reasonably clear and a not unreasonable compromise to accommodate having a decent sized grid for the map. Great work on this!
Thank you so much, I really appreciate the kind words!
I think after this jam is over I might try to expand on the guild and world a bit to make a full adventure. A big final ocean-monster encounter could be a lot of fun to build.
Cut-out NPC tokens! Awesome to see, fun inclusion for people who'd play this physically.
The zine having a map you can physically put down to play on is also really cool! Though it looks like the information printed on its side might be something you normally wouldn't want players seeing? If that's something worth considering and you update this after the jam, maybe reformat to shift that text to the other pages; or make the map a smaller reference to be drawn elsewhere, giving you more room to expand upon the adventure.
Thanks for leaving a rating!
I don't really have to much experience with layout work, so I decided to just go for something a bit whacky. If I did a redesign without the space constraints, I think I would try and make a few double-sided layouts so I could have more maps/encounters, which could be flipped over to save space. Have the GM information be all in one section, maybe even try build a little cut-and-stick folder or something into it to store all the map and token cut-outs.
Love the doodle map concept! feels very diagetic
Thank you!
I've been having a lot of fun with hand-drawn maps for another project, so I decided to work that into this project too :D