Journal Entry 202403c
Looking back on where I started
All of this talk about the myriad TTRPG products coming this year has got me thinking about my own journey in the world of content creation.
I am one of those people that is never content to just use a thing. I always want to figure out how to make the thing. When I listen to a song, I am wondering if I could play it on my guitar (usually the answer is “no”). I love watching behind-the-scenes videos to see how they make the movies and TV shows that I love. And all the way back when I first started playing D&D in 2012, I immediately wanted to try and create my own adventures.
Eventually, I start to wonder if I could sell these home-brew adventures as a side-hustle. It was something I enjoyed and, if I made them well enough, maybe others would want them too. So I gave it a shot.
I was recently cleaning up some old files and found the first adventure module I ever put up for sale on DriveThruRPG—Traavok’s Lair. I loved drawing the map and then figuring out all the details for each location. I toiled for weeks over every detail, never quite convinced that it was ready for public consumption. I finally stopped working on it and listed it for sale and waited to collect my retirement money. 😄
Sadly, it quickly became apparently that I would need to keep my day job after-all. But that was fine. This was just fun. If I could make enough to support my hobby, then that was good enough for me.
As time went on, I expanded into the YouTube Channel and, eventually, this newsletter. I am a writer first and foremost so this is where I spend most of my time. I love doing the live stream each week and I do plan on putting up more videos at some point.
But it is interesting for me to look back at that first adventure that got this all started.
The original map for Traavok’s Lair was quite different from my current style.
This was early 2018. I had no idea how to make a map that worked with Roll20. I did not know what the proper resolution was. My process for drawing it was painful by my current standards. This map was 22MB. Way too big to be useful.
In 2022, I decided to ‘remaster’ the adventure. I reformatted it to use the new template that I had created (different even from the one I use now) and I completely redrew the map to be compatible with Roll20 and use a more reasonable resolution. The updated map is only 2MB.
It is still not perfect. I am not sure I will ever be satisfied with anything I do, but it was the first. It will always hold a special place for me.
So, at the risk of this nostalgia post turning into a promo, I am offering Traavok’s Lair at a discounted price exclusively for newsletter subscribers. For a limited time, I am even including the original player’s map as a bonus. Click on either of the above maps to use the discount code.
The code expires on 1/28/2024.
I’d love to here your thoughts on Traavok’s Lair and any of my other encounters that you’ve used.
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