Well, here's the latest. We have our new cartographer, Govi, working on updating the maps. I'm working on finishing up the writing. I know this sounds like a broken record, but it's still progressing - just a millimeter at a time.
The problem is that real life has been so demanding on everyone that it's hard to get much done in a timely manner. The biggest problem I have with the writing is that I may write a room or three, and then life steps in and demands my attention 24/7 for weeks or months at a time. And then to get back to writing, I have to re-read all 180+ pages of material so far developed, to get it all orderly in my mind. Remember, this project covers 3 levels of Undermountain, with 172 developed rooms and areas of interest - which is deceptive, because some "rooms" consist of
complexes of rooms, each being a fully developed room in its own right. For example, on Level 7, Rooms #36, 37 and 38 are being counted as 3 rooms. However, Room # 36 consists of 3 distinct, developed rooms, while Room #38 goes from #38A - #38G, with multiples of some rooms, meaning Room #38 consists of 12 actual rooms. So the room complex of #36, #37 and #38 are not 3 rooms, but in reality consists of 16 rooms linked together.
Once the math is all said and done, there are well over 200 developed areas and rooms. Then we have to consider the many, many gates linking various areas to other areas and other levels, which gates are one-way, which are two-way, which ones lead where, etc. Plus keeping track of where each new spell, magic item and monster resides (around 3 dozen new each - monster, spells and magic items) and you can see how confusing it gets.
And when you all get to see the maps for Level 8 and especially the sub-level, you'll realize how difficult it is to keep it all orderly in my mind. In fact, back when Doirche was doing the maps, when I first sent him the map of the sub-level, his reaction was:
"This sub-level is so amazingly detailed and convoluted, I've never seen anything more difficult to map. I'm going to have to smack you across the knees with a baseball bat when we meet, just for making that level so difficult. You're clearly depraved and insane!"
I'm sure you'll all agree when you see that level.
So it's quite a chore because when I take a month or three off due to real life, I have to then re-read all that info. It's like reading a book, about 200 pages long. Only then can I start writing again. And of course, by the time I re-read all that, I may end up unable to write for weeks or months again. So yeah, it sucks.
But it will eventually be released. And once it's all written and done, I am hiring a professional artist to do the art. I've given up on even trying to find an artist who wants to work for the fun of it. I'm starting to wonder if artists even enjoy drawing, or if it's all about getting paid. I'll never understand that. I'd sell one of my kidneys and half my liver to find Chris Miller, who did the interior art to
FR1 Waterdeep and the North, and get him to do the art. Oh man!
Anyway, I'm hoping to be in a teaching position by summer, so hopefully that will give me so much free time and make things so much easier that I'll be able to spend the kind of time I really want to on this labor of love. Fingers crossed!