The True History of Oz

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The Next Chapter.
Is The First Chapter.

A whispered legend has it that L. Frank Baum took his OZ story from a mysterious series of books called The True History of OZ.

The Wizard of Oz, the beloved movie from 1939, and all the other adaptations and variations – in books, on TV, other movies, several new ones currently in development in Hollywood – are all based on the book The Wonderful Wizard of OZ by L. Frank Baum.

The problem is, that that source material – Baum’s book – is, according to this legend, wrong.

Or, to be more precise, L. Frank Baum took the idea for his OZ from The True History of OZ, written by a native of the actual OZ named Calista Z. Turns out, Baum stumbled upon this strange 5-volume history while going bankrupt running a general store in the Dakota Territories in 1890. How they came to be in the back room of his general store in the Dakota Territories is a book unto itself.

Baum, at first, did not like these stories. They were dark, violent, full of revenge, terrible secrets, gangs, vice, war, apocalyptic magic, and more.

Nevertheless, Baum, so the still unproven legend has it, recognized the power of the stories and the characters and the world in which they lived. He appreciated the ultimate lesson and theme of those books, which was: If change is possible, then hope is justified.

After reading and re-reading the 5 books dozens of times, he decided to turn it into a children’s story. He made it cute, silly, and sweet, and, of course, it then became one of the most beloved books ever, and he became a fabulously wealthy man.

From a bankrupt shopkeeper, to one of the wealthiest men in America, in a few short years, from one short book. Very curious.

But the real story of OZ, according to Calista Z., who was there, was not cute. Or silly.

Or sweet.

At all.

In other words, there are other words.

This is:

The True History of OZ.

[Limited Edition TTRPGs]

The True History of Oz

Limited Editions

In advance of the Oct. 1st Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of The Tin Man Runs the Town TTRPG (tabletop role-playing game) we are offering a Limited Edition version of the game. 100 Limited Edition versions will be published. These editions will be hardcover, will contain additional artwork including maps and character illustrations, and will be numbered 1-100, signed by the creators, and dated.

Alley

They are the only Limited Edition versions that will be published, ever. Game release: Q2 – 2024.

Buying one of these limited edition versions also entitles you to a sponsorship package of other great, and limited edition, media from The True History of OZ. More on that below the game description!

The Tin Man Runs the Town TTRPG is based in part on the Forged in the Dark d6 system. The basis for this system is to make the mechanics feed the narrative by having the players choose when and what to roll and have more control over the narrative description. Game Masters set the Position and Effect of the rolls, helping to inform Player decisions on their effect and consequence. Rolls are almost exclusively based on the Player Character’s Skills list, outside of which, there are only a handful of uncommon rolls. This further simplifies gameplay and keeps the focus on the action.

The game also puts an emphasis on the Player Characters as a team with the Theme mechanics. The Players decide on a single Theme that defines what their Player Characters want to achieve as a group and why they have decided to work together. The group’s Theme helps determine the campaign narrative as well. Will they be freedom fighters working against the oppressive nobility? Or will they work to take control of the criminal underworld? Maybe they’re all there to become the nobility and put the workers under their thumb just like they were. This mechanic ties into Session Zero discussions and helps the Game Master decide how to outline the campaign.

Your purchase of that Limited Edition game also gets you the following:

A compilation album of songs inspired by the characters of The True History of OZ (they’re not who you think they are – for example, Stann, the Leader of the Giant Flying Monkey Gang). Done in partnership with Denny Swofford, founder of the legendary Portland, OR record company Cavity Search Records (Elliot Smith, Richmond Fontaine, Jerry Joseph, King Black Acid, etc.)

Signed, numbered (CD or Vinyl) limited edition of 100 only to the 100 project sponsors. Digital release: Q2 – 2024. CD: TBD Vinyl: TBD

The 5 Volume True History of OZ books, including Book One: The Tin Man Runs the Town. Limited edition of 100 for Book One print version – signed, numbered, and dated, only to the 100 project sponsors. Publication date: TBD

A children’s book about one of the characters from The True History of OZ: Bungle, the Glass Cat. First in a series of children’s books. Limited edition versions of 100 (signed, numbered, and dated) go only to the 100 project sponsors. Publication date: Q3 – 2024.

In addition, you-the-sponsor can choose to be promoted/shouted out – any project, cause, or just your smilin’ face – in every piece of media put out, or that comes out, on a day you choose during the 100 day campaign. Social media, earned media, paid media – anything, 100%. (Note: choosing a specific day for your sponsorship is optional).

And what else will these sponsorship dollars go to?

The launch of “The True History of OZ” 100 sponsors/100 days awareness campaign begins with a tour, in Portland OR, and continuing to Boise, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Fort Worth, Austin, and ends in New Orleans. I will be visiting board game and card game shops in each city, giving folks the first glimpse of the world, and the game, we’ve created.

The sponsor dollars will go towards: support of this in-person awareness tour ; marketing the pre-launch and launch of the official Kickstarter campaign for the TTRPG, including marketing materials (such as the poster and other giveaways we will be distributing to those shops along the way); social media ad buys; and the hiring of a social media and content development partner to help manage the 100 day awareness campaign

The tour ends in New Orleans, and New Orleans will be base camp for the duration of the 100-day awareness campaign. Why there? Because I can’t think of a better city in America to conjure up some mystery, some magic, and some hard-won hope in the face of forces that sometime seem beyond our control – and that’s what the True History of OZ is all about. Mystery, magic, and the theme of this incredible story: IF CHANGE IS POSSIBLE, THEN HOPE IS JUSTIFIED.

And so:

GoFundMe
gofundme.com/help-launch-the-true-history-of-oz

Or

Venmo @Matt-Schulte-7
CashApp $matt61schulte
Zelle matt@lowerboom.com

In the description make sure you list your name and email address (or in the case of GoFundMe, email me at matt@TheWizardofOZ.org) and tell me what day you’d like to sponsor. (Note that picking a specific day is optional, but only 100 total sponsorships are available).

You will receive an email from me, confirming you are one of the official 100 sponsors, and reiterating what you will receive.

Thank you!

Matt Schulte
Creator, Writer, and Lore Master of The True History of OZ

More about me:

Mattschulte.net

linkedin.com/in/mattschulte

 

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