Populated Hexes Monthly is a (monthly) periodical zine written for Old School Essentials and other similar OSR systems. Each issue covers one area in the world of Absalom, the author's setting, looking at a hex and the inhabitants/features of that hex. It's designed to provid location and geographical hexes that can be used either as drop-in locations in an existing campaign setting or as part of a larger hexcrawl.
This project is a compilation of Issues 25-36, compiling all twelve issues into a single book. While the individual issues of the zine are published in the classic A5 "zine" format, this book will be in the large A4 format. The previous two volumes were in that format, and the larger size allows for more definition with maps, especially the overview hexcrawl maps.
Cover for PHM 31, by Droned Artworks
This book will be available in the following formats:
PDF
Print on Demand (hard or softcover)
Offset
The pdfs and print on demand books will be fulfilled via Drivethru rpg. The Print on Demand tier will give you a discount code to redeem via Drivethru for the copy in either hard or softcover (you'll have this option at checkout), and all you'll need to do is pay for the printing and shipping costs at the time you order it. The offset book will be shipped from the US and will include a sewn binding. Estimated page count for this book is 190-200 pages. The estimated cost for the print on demand books (in US dollars) is 17.00 for hardcover books and 12.50 for softcover books.
Cover for Issue 35, by Alex Cogan
Previous books -- Year One and Two -- will be available as add-ons at the close of the campaign.
The campaign is raising funds for the following:
An offset print version of the book, in the similar vein as the previous two collections.
New art for the compilation; where possible I used stock or public domain art for the individual issues of Populated Hexes Monthly to save money (all of the covers for the individual issues are commissioned, however), and if we reach the funding goal I will be replacing all stock art with commissioned works.
The third year of this series covers a diverse variety of topics:
Issues 25 and 26 introduce a simple to use psionics system that doesn't require tracking points, but instead relies on activation rolls. They also include two new playable race-as-class options -- the caprini and caprini contemplative -- goat-folk with psionic abilities.
Issue 27 visits a network of caves, high above the Deep Ocean, that was once the hiding place of a gang of pirates.
Issue 28 takes a look at a bluff inhabited by a pride of manticores that preys upon passing caravans, a handful of new monsters suitable for mountainous terrain, and rules for aerial combat.
Issue 29 examines nature spirits -- including a shrine haunted by a corrupted spirit -- new psionic devotions, and two additional vestiges.
Issues 30 and 31 delve into the world of deities, covering general rules and guidelines for creating gods; their abilities, areas of influence, and followers, including channeling divinity, options to give PCs more than just turn undead. Includes some sample gods as well as additional psionic abilities.
Issues 32 and 33 continue, tangentially, the look at gods with rules and guidelines for creating artifacts, those powerful, unique magical items beyond the ken of mortals. The rules can be adapted to randomly generate standard, more mundane magical items.
The final three issues cover the town of Dry Gulch, a mining community mentioned in the Basilisk Hills Hexcrawl. Issues 34-36 explore Dry Gulch (Issue 34) and the two levels of abandoned sewers, oubliettes, and passages below the city, the remnants of a much older city that once stood in its place.
I don't offer additional material as a stretch goal to my products, since I want to make sure everything can be released on schedule. There are stretch goals for this project, but these will go towards commissioning additional art for the project. Like all of my projects, this book will have no AI art or assets, and all of the artists will be paid a fair wage for their work.
I've already reached out to the artists I work with and let them know this project is coming. Everything is written, but I haven't started laying it out yet (everything is laid out, but in A5 format, so I need to switch it over to A4). I'm not going to start laying it out until we hit stretch goals, so I can do so based on the number of illustrations we hit. I'll begin laying out during the campaign, as we hit stretch goals, and I'll begin reaching out to artists at this point. The plan is to have everything in and done by the end of January, and at that point I'll release the pdfs. A week or two after that I'll submit the print files, and hope to have the print books (and proofs) in hand by the middle of February, with shipping starting the end of February.
There are three ways shipping will work for this project, based on the selected pledge level.
All digital. All rewards sent digitally via codes that link to a Drivethrurpg product.
Print on demand. Any digital titles will be fulfilled as above. Additionally, you will be able to choose through the survey whether you want a soft or hardcover version of the book. Once that choice is made, you'll be getting a code for the Drivethru purchase for whichever version you selected. Please note that for Print on Demand titles you still will need to pay for the actual printing and shipping costs. Drivethru uses several printing facilities throughout the world, and use the ones closest to you to minimize shipping costs.
Offset. Offset books are shipped from the US. To destinations in the US we'll be using media mail, for those outside of the US we'll use whichever shipping option is most cost effective.
