Updates on the Way

 I've been learning Adobe InDesign for layout word as Word has absolutely hated the huge, graphics intensive files that I've been creating...

So I'm doing an update of the Northern Tier (details below) in preparation for a couple of packages:

First, we'll do a Virtual Boxed Set of the Northern Tier on DriveThru - basically a bundle of all of the Northern Tier materials updated with new art and new layout (and new material). This is more than a year away, probably, though as I get used to InDesign the process is getting smoother (and faster!). 

When the Virtual Box Set goes live, I'll put together some limited Physical Boxed Sets of the Norther Tier, hand assembled by yours truly. I can't imagine there is a market for more than a dozen of these (especially considering the likely price point) but I want one on my shelf so I might as well order a few extras... If, somehow, there is greater interest in the physical product, I'll think about doing a bigger run... 

Next, we'll do a Virtual Boxed Set of the Northern Tier, Legacy Edition on DriveThru - basically a permanent bundle of the original Northern Tier products (nothing new or updated) with a print your own box wrap file and instructions on how/where to maybe get this done. In light of that, some of the legacy items will have to be made available for POD, so that's on the near future radar.

Finally, we're considering doing a 5E Compatible version of all the Highlands works and put them up on DriveThru as well. But that's likely to be off in the distance (and 5.5E or whatever it's going to be called).

UPDATE DETAILS:

The Legacy Northern Tier book is 144 pages plus map and covers. It includes: 10 NPC Encounters, 48 Dangerous Encounter, 28 Special Encounters and 62 Keyed Encounters located in 42 Hexes. In addition, the Legacy Tier had 8 "Highlands Locations" that were to be separate products (the Silver Queen supplement never got written). 

The Updated Northern Tier will probably be two books comprising: at least 6 pages of rules and procedures for Hex Crawling, 20 NPC Encounters, 20 Dangerous (now called Monster and Menace) Encounters (the two tables were combined and streamlined), and 80 Special Encounters. The keyed Hex Encounters currently sits at more than 130 - the scope of the Tier has been expanded (nearly a full 24 mile hex). At 130 keyed hexes, about 1 in 4 hexes will have a keyed encounter - assuming more don't get written as the project continues. The eight "Highlands Locations" adventures will be updated - including finally finishing the writing on the Summer Palace of the Silver Queen (which will probably get a "Legacy" version to make things complete). Among the many new hex key locations are no fewer than fifteen potential "Highlands Locations" that need to be written up and published. The Chantry of the Deepflame will be reorganized and expanded to make it easier to run as well as getting the new layout and trade dress that all of the Northern Tier Boxed Set will receive. 

The reason the Updated Northern Tier base book is likely to be split into two books is that the introduction, Hex Crawl procedures and the many random encounter tables and descriptions are already projected to be least 130 pages, probably more like 150. The Hex Key encounters are likely to fill close to 200 pages, possibly 240. While a 330-390 page book is doable, and that MAY be the route we take, it feels a little unwieldy in my mind (the Chantry of the Deepflame is 240+ pages and it's kind of hard to navigate). 

In addition to expanding the encounters and the key, we're planning poster sized regional maps and a number of supplemental booklets - including a generic "running a hex crawl" with the general procedures and the addition of a ton of random tables like the granddaddy of hex crawls - Judges Guild's Wilderlands - only, hopefully, better organized :)