1) Are there many DMs out there who would be interested in a campaign by an author that cranked out pieces/chapters every week? Or does everyone like writing their own?
I'm envisioning a weekly downloadable PDF, with maps and even printable grid-sized maps (for the miniature users), as well as suggestions for cheap props for a given session.
2) What if a well-known author was connected to it?
3) Does this already exist somewhere?
Shoot this idea down if you think there's no market for it.
I'm interested in whole campaigns, so that I can run them at a pace appropriate to my group. I would hate to be running something and go through it faster than I was "meant" to and tell my players, sorry guys, short session this week.... So no, I don't want to be drip fed. There is a lot of great stuff on DMs Guild, beyond obviously the official WOTC published stuff. That's my preference.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the idea (particularly cheap prop suggestions, printable grid maps etc) , it just wouldn't be for me.
I think there's a possibility here for creating usable content on a weekly basis - I'm thinking of Grant Howlett's One Page RPG Patreon - but as MajorPuddles points out, a serial campaign could be problematic, with game pacing.
I'm thinking that released content might be better as self-contained units.
If you're thinking of creating paid content, then maybe Dungeon Master's guild might be a better way to go.
If you go the Patreon route, you'd probably be putting out content with very little remuneration until you got a following, and you'd have to keep your output frequency & quality pretty high to get a following. It's a bit of a gamble.
Given all that, I think a weekly publishing schedule is pretty aggressive and ambitious. Perhaps monthly to start and ramp up if you can?
Looking at Grant Howlett's output, he's publishing monthly, and with a pretty decent amount of fame, he has pledges of about $2.2K per publication.
I think there is money to be made here; maybe don't quit your day job, even if it is successful.
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I wouldn't be remotely interested in something like this, nor would my players. A campaign written by someone else wouldn't be personal to them. I haven't run a pre-packaged campaign, in any system, in more than 20 years. I've used elements from them, and maps (never underestimate the value of a well-done map), and some NPCs, but, in general, a pre-packaged, pre-written campaign just doesn't have what my players are looking for.
For us, a campaign needs to remain fluid where the players can do what they want, while still following the main plot thread. So, high-level bits are important, but the details are less important to pre-plan, and can come out during the game (take lots of good notes).
Additionally, a drip-fed campaign runs the problem of not having the entire picture at once. If the party steps off the golden path, then there is no way to maneuver them toward the ultimate goal since you don't know what it is. There is no way for the GM to plan out additional encounters that might help them.
1) Are there many DMs out there who would be interested in a campaign by an author that cranked out pieces/chapters every week? Or does everyone like writing their own?
I'm envisioning a weekly downloadable PDF, with maps and even printable grid-sized maps (for the miniature users), as well as suggestions for cheap props for a given session.
2) What if a well-known author was connected to it?
3) Does this already exist somewhere?
Shoot this idea down if you think there's no market for it.
I'm interested in whole campaigns, so that I can run them at a pace appropriate to my group. I would hate to be running something and go through it faster than I was "meant" to and tell my players, sorry guys, short session this week.... So no, I don't want to be drip fed. There is a lot of great stuff on DMs Guild, beyond obviously the official WOTC published stuff. That's my preference.
Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the idea (particularly cheap prop suggestions, printable grid maps etc) , it just wouldn't be for me.
I think there's a possibility here for creating usable content on a weekly basis - I'm thinking of Grant Howlett's One Page RPG Patreon - but as MajorPuddles points out, a serial campaign could be problematic, with game pacing.
I'm thinking that released content might be better as self-contained units.
If you're thinking of creating paid content, then maybe Dungeon Master's guild might be a better way to go.
If you go the Patreon route, you'd probably be putting out content with very little remuneration until you got a following, and you'd have to keep your output frequency & quality pretty high to get a following. It's a bit of a gamble.
Given all that, I think a weekly publishing schedule is pretty aggressive and ambitious. Perhaps monthly to start and ramp up if you can?
Looking at Grant Howlett's output, he's publishing monthly, and with a pretty decent amount of fame, he has pledges of about $2.2K per publication.
I think there is money to be made here; maybe don't quit your day job, even if it is successful.
My DM Philosophy, as summed up by other people: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rN5w4-azTq3Kbn0Yvk9nfqQhwQ1R5by1/view
Disclaimer: This signature is a badge of membership in the Forum Loudmouth Club. We are all friends. We are not attacking each other. We are engaging in spirited, friendly debate with one another. We may get snarky, but these are not attacks. Thank you for not reporting us.
Rather than patreon, just put it in DM Guild. Even as chapter by chapter for 49-99 cents or 5-10 dollars to prepay for the whole campaign.
I wouldn't be remotely interested in something like this, nor would my players. A campaign written by someone else wouldn't be personal to them. I haven't run a pre-packaged campaign, in any system, in more than 20 years. I've used elements from them, and maps (never underestimate the value of a well-done map), and some NPCs, but, in general, a pre-packaged, pre-written campaign just doesn't have what my players are looking for.
For us, a campaign needs to remain fluid where the players can do what they want, while still following the main plot thread. So, high-level bits are important, but the details are less important to pre-plan, and can come out during the game (take lots of good notes).
Additionally, a drip-fed campaign runs the problem of not having the entire picture at once. If the party steps off the golden path, then there is no way to maneuver them toward the ultimate goal since you don't know what it is. There is no way for the GM to plan out additional encounters that might help them.
Looking at dmsguild now. Thanks!