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| Aberzanzorax |
 Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:22 am Post subject: Open Design Hesitation |
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Patron
Joined: 01 Jul 2008
Posts: 276
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I've been a patron of most every open design project except for the very first two (and have regretted missing out on those ever since).
I'm a HUGE fan of Wolfgang Baur's writing and storytelling abilities and have every confidence in any project he is in charge of.
However, I've become hesitant to be a patron for freelancers at this point. I feel burned by both Azathoth and Dark Deeds in Freeport, and wonder if there is a structural way to add a bit more confidence/regulation to projects that aren't headed by Wolfgang himself?
The thing is, I love Open Design, both the company itself, and the philosophy by which it works (patron model and being able to observe the nuts and bolts of the experience of writing). I also have tremendous confidence in specific regular contributors...in fact there is no one whom I would avoid intentionally. I've enjoyed ALL of the freelancers who are regular parts of Open Design.
But at this point I've been burned twice by two projects in close succession, and I'd like to go forward with a bit more confidence than I currently have.
The alternative is the position I (somewhat unconsciously) decided to take, which is to just wait until the products are fully released. However, once I realized this, I decided to share my perspective to Wolfgang and the Open Design community, because I WANT to be a patron. I like seeing the nuts and bolts process and I like putting my money toward a potentially excellent product that might not happen without it.
So, what I'm hoping for is a bit more oversight/assurance that projects won't go the path of Azathoth or Dark Deeds, or maybe just a look behind the curtain to understand that these were both isolated and very rare incidents that happened to randomly occur fairly close in time to one another.
I love Open Design, and while this is a somewhat critical post, it's not done in anger. I hope to remain a patron for years and years to come. |
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| avidreader514 |
| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:31 am Post subject: |
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Patron
Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 140
Location: montreal
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I don't think there's any way for Open Design to guard against the unpredictable. I can't speak to the other project, but the 4e edition of Halls to Mountain King was severely delayed because my laptop went and died the day AFTER I prepared the PDF-only version of the file and the day BEFORE I created the print-only files. The upshot: I had to recreate the entire layout from scratch.
It was a disaster. It was unpredictable. Patrons were disappointed and frustrated with the delays. It all worked out in the end.
Nobody was "burned" - in the Nick Logue / Sinister Adventures sense of the word - because the project was merely delayed, not cancelled. Nobody took the money and ran.
Wolfgang's editorial oversight is enough to give me confidence that the projects I support will be released. Each one is a victory in its own way. |
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| Wolfgang |
| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 10:58 am Post subject: |
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Kobold Overlord
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 4986
Location: The Mines
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Aberzanzorax, I feel your pain. Oh my goodness, how I feel your pain. The Red Eye of Azathoth project made me despair of ever shipping, and yet people did find a way to finish it (Tim and Ted were amazing). Dark Deeds is going to ship about 8 or 9 months late, but looks like it will ship. Also very tough.
For what it's worth, this sort of delay and disaster does happen all the time at big companies too (including Wizards and TSR and Paizo), but customers don't see it because they aren't involved in the creation phase. The book moves 3 months back in the schedule while the company scrambles all hands to get the project back on track. I've seen it happen from the inside, but Open Design doesn't have the luxury of hiding its screwups from the public.
What can be done? Well, the current approach, with more patron designers, does provide some insurance against disaster, but the lead designer is still the hub of the project and the person with the most oversight. I'm debating moving that oversight role partially to an editor or project manager (me, Miranda, Ben, someone with a track record of timeliness). That person would be the project timekeeper and schedule enforcer.
What do you think of that approach? I've seen it work elsewhere, but it requires a different way of moving manuscripts, art, and maps around. And it's slightly more expensive, as project management work is rarely free.
Thoughts? Other suggestions?
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Wolfgang Baur
Publisher, Kobold Press |
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| Watcher |
| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:47 pm Post subject: |
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Patron
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 1625
Location: Your TARDIS
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I think a Project Overseerer is a fine idea.
@ Wolfgang: I competed against the current project (the specifics are unimportant at this time, I may pitch it again). One thing I was going to request was a Project Overseerer, or an Editor to keep tabs on me.
My plan was to play host, lead designer, entertainer, coordinator. But have someone watch me to make sure I kept the whole thing on target. That individual wouldn't answer to me, but to answer to the Publisher (you). That individual would have less of a roll in interacting with the patrons, but would be present to help, but acting in an oversight capacity.
I won't play coy, I'd have been glad to have Ben McFarland act in that role. Sure, we're friends, but if anybody could corral my ego and get my attention it would have been him. I also think he's a loyal contractor for Open Design, and would have put the needs of the Project first (but at the same time would have made sure it didn't come to anything drastic in the first place). In a worst case scenario, he could have taken the reigns.
I wouldn't have allowed anything like that to happen anyway, but the safety net could have been there, and I was pretty comfortable with the idea.
All that is hypothetical of course; the patrons picked something else and no one can deny it has captured the imagination of a lot of people.
But yeah- I would not only have accepted Poject Oversight, I would have welcomed it.
Hope this helps!
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Jim Groves
Contributor, Author
OD's Resident and Original Loki |
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| Wolfgang |
| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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Kobold Overlord
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Posts: 4986
Location: The Mines
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Jim, that vote of confidence is great to have. I'll see whether that role is something that I can pull for, either with Journeys or with the Spring/Summer 2012 project.
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Wolfgang Baur
Publisher, Kobold Press |
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| ChristinaStiles |
| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:06 pm Post subject: |
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Patron
Joined: 05 Jun 2008
Posts: 2107
Location: South Carolina
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| Wolfgang wrote: |
| Jim, that vote of confidence is great to have. I'll see whether that role is something that I can pull for, either with Journeys or with the Spring/Summer 2012 project. |
I'd be happy to have Ben watching over my shoulder and lending a hand!
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Christina Stiles
Journeys to the West Lead, Midgard Tales Co-Lead, & Dark Deeds Lead Designer
Kobold Minion #7
Bite Me! The Gaming Guide to Lycanthropes |
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| Aberzanzorax |
| Posted: Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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Patron
Joined: 01 Jul 2008
Posts: 276
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I think something like having project overseers would be a GREAT idea. I know my dissertation would have been (even more of) a disaster without the guidance of my advisors.
This is why I love open design, I can ask a question, and within a day, not only is it answered, but it's answered with a considered response rather than corporate doublespeak. |
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| terraleon |
| Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 12:46 am Post subject: |
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Contributor
Joined: 16 Jan 2008
Posts: 2013
Location: upstate NY
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I can talk with Wolfgang offline about this, but it's something I'd be happy to do, and happy to make work well within (under!) the constraints of the project because I like making Open Design work well. 
(Presuming folk will have me.)
-Ben.
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progressio sine timore aut praejudica - Spectemur agendo |
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| James Thomas |
| Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:35 am Post subject: |
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Patron
Joined: 19 Feb 2010
Posts: 727
Location: Rocklin, California
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Adding an Overseer or Continuity Coordinator sounds wise.  At a certain point in every organization size and scope requires additional structure. Do it right and quality is better than ever and consistency follows what customers have come to expect. Do it wrong however and personalities clash, dicey risks fall flat rather than pay off and creative minds feel stifled. Choose the right people for the right tasks and you'll succeed like the Mongols. Choose poorly or offer too little or too much oversight and you fail like the battle of Gallipoli. Just my take. I love Open Design too and want it to continue to do well. I have confidence in the leadership here including the project leaders already mentioned. Its a small and fierce team! Go get 'em!
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Kobold Minion #66
MightyMongo's Summoned Monster
Freelancer 2, Game Master 7, Historian 5 |
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