Poll #493 - How should I lay this book out?
Added 2025-02-01 19:08:51 +0000 UTCHello, my dearest Patrons,
I'm about to kick off writing Broadsword #26, Guide to the Negative Energy Plane. I'm trying to decide the best format for this book and what information to include. I have a few ideas on how I want to split it up. Below, I've listed sort of my favorite formats from the history of D&D. Pick the format you like best.
5e Splat Book
This organizational method usually puts a rough introduction of lore, then player options, GM options, an adventure or two, and a bestiary. It's relatively balanced on all fronts. The last Broadsword more or less followed this path. Examples include Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft and Acquisitions Incorporated.
Just Passing Through
This style is mostly lore-driven, with lots and lots of tables. It tends to be rules agnostic or OSR. A lot of OSR books such as Into the Wyrd and Wild and Ultraviolet Grasslands uses it use this format.
5e Campaign Book
These are about 80% adventure, and then just a little bit of mechanical information and maybe 1-2 new backgrounds or subclasses. Nearly all 5e campaign books fit this mold.
2e Campaign Boxed Set
Although it will still be a book (boxed sets kinda went the way of the dodo), these were usually divided into multiple books and supplements. There was usually a player's guide that had info for the players to read and then a GM's guide for the GM to read. Occasionally, an adventure was tossed in there or a monster book. The Dark Sun boxed set and Ravenloft boxed sets were like these.
LORE FOR DAYS
This is another format that hasn't been seen since 1e/2e, but it's basically just a monstrous book of lore lore lore. The old Volo's Guides were like these.
