jimdattilo

Regional History Museum features

I am planning two polls this month for our ongoing development of this location. The exciting thing is that once we develop it, I can write a scene and beta test it with my patrons.

For those not following or aware of this location, patrons chose to develop a new landmark for Safe Haven Part 3, a regional history museum. This poll will determine some of the features of the museum.

Feel free to leave a comment to discuss anything about this topic. I am especially interested in any views o...

Tier Rewards Rebalance

In an effort to make my rewards more valuable and meaningful to my patrons, I am shuffling some rewards and adding new features to tiers. Since this is the beginning of the month, there is time for people to reconsider their tier.

My $1, $3, and $25 tiers are remaining the same.

My $5 tier will now consist of providing me with insight and ideas on story development with more of the questions formally at the $10 level of support.

I am pleased to say my $10 tier will now provide earl...

Games by JimD Newsletter -- More Part 2-2 details, Part 3 info, Q&A

Patrons get to read this 1-week ahead of time. Enjoy!

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By far, I get more questions on future content than anything else.  So in this newsletter, I will provide details on Part 2-2. I will also answer some questions from readers which I am sure relates to things many of you are wondering.

This newsletter contains some Part 2 spoilers, so if you haven’t read it yet, do not continue with this newsletter.

Part 2-2

One point must be made clear about Part 2—any...

$10 Tier Patrons

I thought to check on my patrons for this tier to ask a simple set of questions with complex possibilities. I consider a $10 contribution per month as a considerable amount. I realize part of your donation is to support me, and I appreciate it. Immensely. I also want to reward you for it.

Are there specific types of contributions you would like to make as a group?

Right now, we are making a scenario together, but that kind of content takes a while for us to create together and for me to ...

Musician Traits

Here is our Part 3 Musician, so far:

• Female
• High medicine
• PTSD
• Covertly tracking the MC

Now, let's discuss traits. When I design a character, I try to hear their voice in my head. How would they speak in a conversation? How would they interact with others? Finally, how would these traits be amplified by the apocalyptic setting?

Please pick 2-3.

Poll Closes May 12 at 9pm EST.

Questions for Newsletter

I am preparing my next newsletter and will answer questions from my patrons in the Q&A section.

Feel free to ask here, especially related to ZESH.

Scenario 1

For those of you who remember my Scenario of the Week on social media, I really enjoyed posing situations to readers. I am reviving it for Patreon, except I will post scenarios likely to make it into a game. For this one, think about how your main character would handle this situation but also consider other players.

You and several companions encounter a small band of survivors (3 men, 2 women, 2 toddlers) camped in a train yard. All are armed with small caliber weapons. They have food cookin...

Museum type

I'm excited that the highest option for our last poll was a museum. For this poll, let's think about the type of museum, for example, a science, history, or aerospace museum.

When I design locations, I think of unique places with key features and opportunities. Will it serve a specific skill? Will there be a connection to certain characters? Will highly valuable items be here or tools to use in this larger setting of an apocalypse? Will it be feasible for the group to utilize or explore?

New Patch today

I am guessing all of you follow me on social media but maybe not.

Safe Haven has a new patch live with lots of bug fixes and 1 bug addition!  Someone suggested adding the real and modified skill value. It got screwed up before modified values are set. I'm working on a fix but this is just a display bug.

My next game will be the simplest game ever. All fake_choices, three stats, 70,000 word count.

Higher Tier Reward

I've had a few people ask me for higher tier reward options, and I have been trying to come up with ideas for them.

Truthfully, I value two things, your money and my time. For me to offer a reward, it has to be sustainable, offer something I feel I can 100% provide, and is worth the money someone pays. I'm already providing insight into my games, but I do love to teach game design.

So, my question to you -- are you interested in an hour per month of live interaction with me to discuss cr...

Musician/Doctor

So far, we have a female, medically oriented musician with PTSD. This poll will establish how the character is introduced. Remember, this character will not readily join the MC's group. It is possible later (maybe Part 3).

Here are a serious of traits she may have.

POLL ENDS on Friday, April 27 at 9pm EST.

Polls ending

Multiple polls ended last night or will end today. I will announce winning choices tonight and post new polls to continue building our medical musician and our new location for Part 3.

Character creation

In talking to readers of Safe Haven, it sounds like premade characters are not used very often. I know making a customized character can be a lengthy process, so I am trying to come up with options for making it faster.

Ideally, I could write in a save after character creation, but CoG won't allow it.

For those of you who enjoy creating your own main characters, what things would you like to see added or changed? Mind you, I'm not talking about adding more customizations like facial hair...

Monthly Safe Haven Short Story

 While the $500 goal is met, I will write a patron-only short story, once per month for patrons above the $3 level. I will post the next story by May 5th at 9pm EST.

This poll will be open until Friday, April 20 at 9pm EST.

$1000 Goal Planning

POLL CLOSED

Now that I have reached the $500 goal, I am trying to come up with ideas for the next two levels. Since it is a big one, I am open to ideas for the next two goals.

With the current $500 goal, I will be writing a new short story based on ZE: Safe Haven, once per month as long the $500 level is maintained.

What goal do you prefer?

New Scenario for Part 2-2 or 3

It seems polls are the best way to get feedback, so I'd like to pitch a setting for a new scenario. I would like to develop a place the group can visit as a neutral place, sort of like Thelma's store.

I will keep this up for two weeks to gain feedback for my $10+ patrons.

Poll is open until Saturday, April 20 at 9pm EST. 

Musician/Doctor, Challenge

I'd like to assign one Challenge to this NPC.

POLL CLOSED

Musician/Doctor, gender

Given that the NPC we're building is a musician with a high Medicine skill, I am thinking of a medical student who quit before residency to tour with his/her/their band, Goldrust.

I'd like to set up a series of polls to identify traits. First is gender.

POLL CLOSED

Goals

When I was creating this Patreon, I read the how-to articles which suggested creating goals. We have already exceeded the 300 goal and are approaching the 500. Instead of guessing what may interest you, I figured I would poll my patrons and define the 500 goal.

Poll Closed

Sifer mini-series

I may be able to start on a Sifer mini-series. This would be a series of traditional (non-interactive) stores based on Sifer before you meet her, and maybe until she's bitten.

Zombie Exodus: Soft Haven

 I have decided not to continue Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven.

This may be a shock to many of you, but I have done a lot of soul searching and don’t feel passionate about it anymore.

Instead, I am working on a new game-- Zombie Exodus:Soft Haven. 

(Happy April Fool's)

New Character 1 -- Skill

In Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven, I have tried to give each NPC a main skill. What should our musician's main skill be?

Note: sometimes, it's good to trow in a curve ball to add depth. For example, Madison is good at ranged weapons or Nora is good at intimidating.

A Wise Use of Time

Ask questions about A Wise Use of Time here. This thread will contain spoilers. 

Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven

Ask questions about Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven here. This thread will contain spoilers. 

To My Patrons

I have only had a Patreon account for a few days, so I am getting used to this new medium of interacting with my readers.

If you would like to see any features or have any ideas for how we can use Patreon together, please post it here for all to see or email me directly.

I will be adding a Q&A post for all patrons to use. I will answer all posts daily, most likely in the evening when I am home from work. There will be one for each of my games, so spoilers can be contained.

Than...

Goal 1 Met

Thank you to all of my patrons for helping to reach the first goal. I am overwhelmed by your generosity.

For this piece of flash fiction, who would you like to see as the subject?

This poll will last until Sunday, April 1 at 9pm EST, and the story will be posted April 6th by 9pm EST.

New patch today

The new patch for Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven today fixes a lot of issues people have reported. Also check out the credits/about page for those who helped on Part 2.

Design a Scenario

At this level of support, I'd like your help in designing a scenario. I want to leave it open enough to fit into a current Part 2 chapter. I'm not ready to build it yet, but I'd like to brainstorm ideas.

Is this a character in the main group not utilized enough? Who isn't receiving enough scene time?

Is there a moral dilemma you'd like to explore?

What other characters may be involved in the scene?

Let's start a dialogue and see where this scene can go.

Zombie Exodus Novel Prologue

Here is a draft of the opening chapter of my Zombie Exodus novel.

Prologue

He awoke in the hallway of the apartment building with his wife still gnawing on the flesh of his thigh. He felt no pain in his leg or any sensation as her teeth scraped femur. All he felt was an intense burning in the base of his skull. No blood left the growing cavity—only a brown ooze pooled on the beige carpet. He heard no biting, no gnashing, or sucking. He heard the beating of his own heart.

Though...

Developing a new character.

I am designing a character to meet early in Part 2-Part 2. This will be a recurring character but not one who will join the main character's group. What profession would you like to see for this character?