Bagnas Creative Solutions

As you may have noticed, I’m in another struggle with drawing the next few panels. As a project to stretch my artistic muscles, I have pulled a muscle. Some of the tasks I set out for myself are a bit too hard for me at the moment. As discussed before, I created this site as an experiment in web comic design and a house for my art. I have decided that I need to transform the art piece once again.

There I was, minding my own business trying to draw a few more comic panels and write interesting blog posts when *blam* I noticed my site is out of date. Where’d my posts go? As it turns out, I was updating the testing site not the actual server. So all my wonderful posts and comic updates never showed up. Now that makes for an embarrassing situation. I thought I was posting but didn’t. May apologies to anyone who didn’t see anything show up on the site, I’ll attempt to revamp my process. Who knew keeping a web site up was such hard work.

Another variant rule that has lots of potential is the concept of recharging magic slots. Let me start by saying the idea is great but I think the OGL implementation is off and not to my liking. This gist of the variant is spell slots replenish after several (1d6+1) rounds for the most advanced spell known, down to a one round for the easiest spells to cast. As the metagame analysis states, this creates for full powered fights at every combat. Adventures built to whittle the party down through attrition are no longer challenging.

I can’t believe this little concept of incantations wasn’t more in the forefront of the d20 movement. This is a brilliant idea that can really add spice and pizzazz to campaigns. When I first read it at d20srd.org I thought, “Ah, this is what those cultist were doing when the PCs only had five rounds to defeat the minions, stop the ritual, and save the sacrificial woman.” In short, incantations are beautiful ways to apply a mechanic to:

In what seems to be a series on OGL Magic, I continue with my review of the SRD’s variant subsystems. As discussed last post, I think Metamagic feats should play into the game a bit more. Combat and Channel feats are used nearly every combat. It should be the same for spellcasters too. There are two options presented in the SRD. First, think of the feats as rods where you use them three times a day. It also allows the character to take the particular metamagic feat more than once, stacking the uses per day. For instance, Empower Spell is 3/day. Taking the feat again gives you 6/day.

During my evaluation of Elements of Magic: Revised Edition (EOM) by Ryan Nock, from EN Publishing, I began to peruse the OGL variant options regarding magic. One of the optional systems is called Spell Point magic system which effectively provides mana-powered magic (akin to psionic points). The SRD (System Resource Document) explains the benefits well:

One of my favorite unused d20 supplements is Elements of Magic: Revised Edition (EOM) by Ryan Nock, from EN Publishing. This alternate magic system (EOM) for d20 OGL has great potential. I really like how they constructed magic as pieces to link together and then use Magic Points to cast the spell. In a sense, it pre-frames the characters for post 20th-level Epic magic that uses concept seeds for its magic system.

I warned you a few months ago that my style was changing. I hope the abruptness of it all didn’t scare away the thousands, no, hundred, no, ten of you who read this. I just needed to get it done and the sketchy comic style was the fastest so far. That’s how I planed out the panels anyway. What it does is eliminate a step. I also stopped trying to color the panels. Well, I should say I’m coloring them white and gray instead of full color. I hope to get back to them with a paint brush someday. Right now I just need pages done and story progression.

When you’re a one-man shop, you have the difficulty of allocating work. Should I draw or fix the website so my drawings can be seen by others? I finished the drawings but now need time to post them on the web site. Inevitably, I only get one thing done a week. I was looking at the site the other day and noticed it lacked the last three panels. “I thought I posted those?”

It seems I have more and more ideas regarding the web comic, more than I have time to implement. Not that I can compare to George Lucas, but now I see the brilliance of having a team to help you make the ideas a reality. Walt Disney did the same thing. All I really need to do is become wealthy and hire a team. This is where time management kicks in. Those skills have really paid off. The only problem is the web comic is not a top priority, sadly. Managing kids, a dog, work, and chores must take priority. Oh, did I mention gaming…I can’t skip too many opportunities to game.