I do not believe it is necessary to defend the size of my Fictive projects. They are full of good stuff. It is not bloat, it is not splat, it is not crap. Still, I got to thinking.
I will make a version of Fictive Hack that is no more than 50 pages long; that’s 2 pages short of double the original Old School Hack game. But with a LOT more stuff in it. For example, 10 templates for normal humans, then 6 more; 4 for races, and 2 for spellcasters. The additional 6 can be used as-is or used as overlay templates on the others. From 60 templates (plus, if you count World Between and other innovations since “Talents and Templates” came out) down to 16 for the one-shot version.
I will also make a longer version of Fictive Hack with all the rest of the good stuff in it; I’m tentatively naming it “Fictive Hack, Campaign Book, Official TL:DR 2013.”
That should satisfy the one-shot itch, and also have the great resources for those who want more. So maybe I can get more of an audience among those who feel that 26 pages is the perfect length for a game and the rest bloats it up.
As part of that effort, I am working up a monster-builder to include in the one-shot book. I think it will be one of the best gifts I’ve given the Old School Hack community; so I’m clearly excited about it. More to come soon.
Fictive Fantasies 
Sounds like a serious course of action! Looking forward to them both.
For anyone else I would say that this is an overambitious project. For you it is all fact, no brag. Go for it! You will brighten lots of people’s worlds.
Thanks for the support!
Sure, why not?
Things I’d like to see in a revised OSH/Fictive Hack:
1. Put all the rules together. I still find myself on occasion flipping back and forth from the original OSH and your Talents and Templates. Combining them would be nice.
2. Take the time and expand on the AP economy. This thing above all others seems to generate questions on the boards. Time spent here would be appreciated, at least by me…
3. Borrow from some of the cool projects added in the OSH forums as well.
4. Delineate for us what you think the best method of listing monster info. I sort of have it worked out from your modules (The Tireless Archer) but spelling that out would help as well.
Speaking of help, do you want any?
Tim D.
Thanks for your thoughts!
1. Does the information on p. 99-101 not pull the rules together? What’s missing?
2. This is a great idea.
3. What projects in particular? I’ve been all over the boards and I’m not sure what I’d pull out to work up.
4. I’m making a cool monster generator, and I think some guidance on monster info is a good idea. Thanks.
The main help I’ll want is when I’m to a point where it can be reviewed for flow and for errors. I’ll be sure to get in touch with you then. Thanks for the offer.
Hm; looks like the monster part may take up more space than I thought. So, figure I’ll cut out some classes, maybe.
Took awhile to respond, but here goes:
1. I would suggest fleshing out 99-101. Probably not as flowery as the base, but explain things out a bit. And, if its your game, you don’t need to separate the “Fictive” portion out as additional rules (101-102). Redoing this section for the new version should make it a more polished result.
3. Some cool things are OFTHEHILLPEOPLE’s Game Master Prep sheet, for example.
4. Thanks! A common format for writing up NPCs and monsters should help everyone.