Dread: Part Thirteen
Thirteen offerings (with an epilogue to come) and the Dread arc winds down with a bittersweet T.P.K for the group.
I know that I did not delve into a word for word description of the rules but I’m hearing a lot of people excited to take Dread for a spin themselves and that makes me giddy. I love to get excited about games, feature them in this comic, and hopefully get you excited too. I’d like to thank Epidah and Nat for their support as well (not just with prize support but their kind words). That is huge to me. I love your game, guys and rest assured that I will be singing it’s praises for years to come.
I have to say, I truly enjoyed this arc but I realize (especially after the comments in the previous comic) that this story turned a few folks off. I’m no stranger to people disagreeing with my ideas and I’ve seen the harsh end of trolling, so I can handle that. Of course, I hate to turn people away but I believe that 99% of you realize and support the notion that while d20monkey is about jokes, gaming, geeks, and the occasional pixelated wang there will be times I try something new. Doing so led to the Innsmouth Garden Society, Brett Klaus, and Larry the DM. If you cannot accept that, well I’m sorry and I wish you well finding comics that float your boat.
For those who are digging it, I’ll see you on Monday.
About 2 weeks remain on the d20Monkey: First Edition Kickstarter and we are in for the initial goal and 3 stretch goals! It still kills me every time I open the Kickstarter page. Next week I shall put the finished cover and sketches for the GM screen on display for all to see.
Just have to say that I found your comic for the first time *because* of this arc, and absolutely loved it and am now a huge fan. I’ve picked up the first volume on kickstarter and can’t wait to catch up in print! So say what you will about some fans being disappointed, you’ve gained at least one new one.
Hmm, I guess I’m (one of) the troll(s) referred to in the post. Reading my previous comment, I regret the wording. I hadn’t had my morning jug of coffee, and my comment was poorly worded. I sincerely apologize for calling your comic “cock-tease tripe”, Brian.
My feeling is that this story arc, while beautifully drawn, was overladen with pathos. Much like the Call of Cthulhu arc previously, in fact. Maybe my problem is that I came here expecting a gag-a-day comic, and not graphic novel drama.
“Brian didn’t specifically said he was being trolled just recently, he said he has ‘seen the harsh end of trolling’. Just saying.”
“Also, and I am not attacking you here, but your expectations are not Brian’s problem. You don’t like it, don’t read it. Simple.”
Don’t sweat it too hard. I actually got a laugh out of it (the good kind). I’m sorry you came into the middle of what is an exception to the rule, not the norm usually.
I personally love the drama in some of the games. There are a million gag-a-day comics, and I love to read them just as much, but I read so many different webcomics because I love their story, and yours is right up there.
Personally, I love that you experiment when you have a different game. With your standard D&D, you do a switch between the IC and the OOC by switching between “in game” and “at table.” With the Cthulu arc, you were strictly in game. This game seemed a more ‘at table’ version of the first one.
tldr; I love this comic. :3
Fan-freaking-tastic man!
Hi Brian,
I wanted to say ‘thank you’ as a new reader. I’ve jumped right in over the last few weeks and have managed to catch up with all of the archive, and I’ve backed you on Kickstarter for a hard copy to take more time over. The comic is great – I love the characters, the odd pixelated d**k, and all of the banter. I also really enjoyed your ‘alternative’ arcs; Innsmouth Garden Society and Dread. I admire the fact that you’re wiling to experiment with different ideas, even though you’ve got a well established audience who come here expecting a certain ‘genre’.
For me, I enjoy the comics most when you’re flipping between IC and OOC, or seeing their lives away from the gaming table. It’s particularly fun seeing the player reactions to character actions and mishaps.
Anyway, enough rambling. Thanks for the comic – and I can’t wait to get my copy of First Edition!
A great arc, Brian.
Always remember that negative feedback is still feedback, and it’s criticism that leads to improvement. Enjoy your supporters but listened carefully to your critics. If they’re right, heed them. If they’re trolls, well that’s something different altogether 🙂
Loved the Dread arc, Brian. It was a bit of a tear-jerker (particularly the previous strip), but I think that was part of the appeal. Shame it ended so abruptly.
Still got me interested in Dread, though. SO want to play it!
I 2nd this whole statement. I LOVED the absolute mindf–k storyline that was played and I seriously and out loud said “Holy Shit” when her character remembered that it was her lover that had just died before her eyes. A very satisfactory and I feel realistic conclusion for that game. Now pardon me, gonna google for this game and maybe try to get a Jenga set XD
Dude…. that was EPIC! :))))
I must admit, that I have mixed feelings about the Dread arc. While I like the concept of the game, I didn’t feel that Trevor, Mel and Brett had any control on their environment. It seems they’Ve been railroad from start to end without any real chance to do anything to overcome the situation they faced. Maybe, it was just not possible to convey the feel of a real Dread game into the comic. But at least this last update change it all. I like that Mel, for the sake of her character, decide to screwup with the plan and sacrifice her character.
I think a lot of that probably had to do with fitting the story into just 13 strips. It’s hard to show a ton of options without making the arc incredibly long.
Good arc. Horror games don’t explain everything – that’s often part of the horror. The sacrifice at the end was in character, and I agree it seems appropriate. Brett is just going to have to get over it. Keep going with the balance of humor and drama. I’m good with it.
To be honest, the Innsmouth Garden Society arc kept me reading, and I have absolutely loved the Dread arc. Please keep doing alternates.
Gorgeous, powerful stuff. Keep doing what you do.
Damn you. Now I have the theme song from “What Happening” stuck in my head.
I enjoyed this arc and the Cthulu one. Do not give up on this format.
I enjoyed this arc, and the exploration of other games besides D&D.
I’d love to see how your characters would handle a game like Little Fears or something less dark like some kind of 4 color super hero game like Mutants and Masterminds.
I would just like to say, not knowing or understanding much about the Dread game, a few points in the mid section of the arc were a little confusing to me, but with this part now posted, taking the 13 parts as a whole, this was a very interesting and intriguing story, and clicks for me more then it did reading it daily. Hope to see you tackle a few more in/out of game arcs like these.
Outstanding.
This was an awesome ending to this arc, and so fitting with the characters.
Imma go cry a little bit now.
Amazing arc, thanks for a look at the game. Really enjoyed reading.
What mudbunny said.
Anna
Fantastic work, Brian. Whenever a web comic can provoke real emotions in the readers, you’re doing something right.
Great stuff as always man. Don’t ever be afraid to branch out and try something new (not that you appear afraid :D). Hell if something doesn’t work out maybe people can wait a week or two before commenting.
Also, Favorite arc thus far.
Very apropos ending, I think. I’m very excited about trying to play Dread! I already found a rules book and am learning it so that I can play with my gaming group. ^_^
Some TPK’s are a huge letdown, Brett.
But some are absolutely awesome and right, like this one.
Or like the ending of our first Rifts campaign, where the last surviving character, a cyber-knight, sacrificed himself to close a rift to hell and prevented a demon invasion of earth.
…
…
What?
Could you post the chars sheets? Im assuming you created those as part of the design of the arc, if not, could you do it and post it anyway?
It could give some more insight on the arc, and would be interesting to those who never played Dread.
I played once and know how much player input goes into it, so it would funny to see those through the perspective of the comic chars.
Never mind, forgot the reference on part 5 about the use of the variant with the questionnaire having only the PC description.
I really enjoy the comic, but I felt like this arc was a total miss for me. I honestly had no clue what the plot was supposed to be most if he time. 🙁
Good job keep it up. And thank you
Great arc, man. I thoroughly enjoyed it, despite the negative comments. And I’m definitely thinking of picking up a copy of Dread now.
Fuck the trolls. Their inability to grow does not mean you should stifle yours. I fell in like with your regular day-to-day strips but I love seeing where you take these tangential arcs.
Keep on keepin’ on.
It takes courage to try something new. It takes even more courage to carry through with it. I cannot count how many potentially interesting storylines in PvP have been cut short because Kurtz lost his nerve when his readers began to complain.
Keep up the good work! I am playing Dread tonight with fellow indie game designers Seth Ben-Ezra (Dirty Secrets) running and Ralph Mazza (Universalis and Blood Red Sands) sharing in a potential victimization.
Reminds me of a Zombie game I played with a few friends of mines for the first time (I forgot the name of the game). I had a card that I held on to the entire game that could wipe out everything and everyone, I was running late for and event with other friends, and instead of letting my friend win the game on his next round. I nuked everything. It was really funny at the end of it. My friend was pissed at being so close to escape.
Ive been following this comic for awhile and have got to say that this is one of my favorite arcs thus far. Sad to see it end, but man, what an ending. I actually bought Dread yesterday, read through it, and now that I got paid today I’m going to buy a Jenga tower. Must. Run. Dread…
I liked this arc. it gave a little more depth to the characters. as many of your arcs do.
I feel that this arc actually shows a bit lesser known side of the gaming table. A much higher level of role playing if you will. To see the players really imbue the thoughts and actions of their characters. Even if that was to mean you didn’t “Win.”
Its the players and characters placing the essence of the story above themselves. And its sessions like these that seem to really fall in to the realm of legend rather than the session where you killed the big bad and got the gold.
I like these kinds of stories and arcs just as much as I love the fun stuff. These characters are a real group and session that we have all played and enjoyed.
So Keep it up Brian. I don’t ever think you could shake me off. I’m a reader for life.
I ordered a copy of Dread. It should be here just in time for Halloween.
Wow, just found your comic and spent the last couple hours reading through the archive! Also, I never knew Dread existed until today (So thank you for that!).
If you didn’t know Dread was a thing, then the universe has failed you. The Internet failed you…I have failed you.
i like it enough to consider getting a copy of dread
how apt
I was at first turned off from it but as we delved more in to it I enjoyed it more. It was definitely a different turn from what I’ve done in table top role playing games. There wasn’t too much interaction with the main characters outside of the game but I liked it. I can’t wait to see more of D20 Monkey!
I love these side stories you do.
You’re very fortunate to be working on a project that allows you to go on tangents so seamlessly without having to do 180’s out of nowhere like Penny Arcade or forcing you to launch a side project like Red String creator Gina Biggs with Erstwhile.
I DEMANDETH ANOTHER ARC JUST LIKETH THIS!!! IT HAS MOTIVATED ME TO CREATE MOST EXCELLENT ADVENTURES!!! Also, It’s one heck of a read when I’m curled up with some cocoa during a cold evening. Seriously. Either start another arc like this, or make a complete second comic series to focus on something like this. I will pay you good money to do so. Good.
So when do they play Fiasco? 🙂
You finally reiretd. Cool, I did too May 7, 2009 after 32 years teaching and 24 years commuting from Nashville to Clarksville. We will be moving to Seabrook Island, S.C. next spring when we build our house. Come visit. gc
Screw the haters, this arc was brilliant. I’ll admit I don’t always enjoy everything (I personally think the whole Brett-as-Santa thing is way too far out in left field), but on the whole this is one of the better webcomics out there. You keep doing your thing and we’ll be right here to enjoy it.