Role-Playing Games
Highlights
Project Update: UPDATE: HEROIC COVER SKETCH FROM OLIVER!
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Project Update: 24 - April Shower of Art
Hello from drizzly Seattle, where a recent Facebook post that got shared ‘round stated “We leave tomorrow for Seattle, our first time there, and it looks like it will be raining all week. I really wanted to visit the parks. Can we still go? Will they close?”
This update does not require any action if you've already completed your Survey. If you haven't: now's the time to do so!
In his own words:
Hey Everyone!
Marshall Short here. You can learn all about me in Update #7. My apologies for the lack of art updates lately, I’ve been working deep in the art mines, growling at anyone who tries to interrupt me. However the team managed to haul me back to the surface to show off and walk through the art process on some of the larger Map Tiles available in the Vault and the Terrain sets.
Quick note before we get started, these images are of my prototypes that I’m working with to visually and tactilely review colors, readability, general vibe (does it feel good) and to playtest general usability. These prototypes don’t have all the bells and whistles of the final product; for instance the large tiles shown below are only 8”x10” while our final versions will be 10”x10”, and I’m just using simple paper bases instead of the fancy clips and pog bases we’ll be using in the final product, some colors may change, etc.
We talked a little bit about the smaller map tiles in Update #6, but I’m going to be using the Graveyard set to walk through the art side of the larger map tiles.
So right off the bat one of the big things that was important to us when we designed our map tiles was modularity - it was important to us that Game Masters are able to rotate, flip, mix-and-match, and rearrange tiles together to create a myriad of different layouts.
For the Graveyard this meant we wanted to provide path segments, grassy fields, transition from path to field, and then a larger structure for narratives to be built around.
Another thing we knew going into making these map tiles is we’d be providing lots of props and terrain pieces for folks to place on top, so it was important that we provide enough space for Game Masters to flesh out their encounters. That also means not painting things like gravestones, coffins, etc. directly into the map tiles because that would limit the use cases (maybe you want to use these graveyard tiles for overgrown forgotten ruins and not a graveyard at all!) and conflict with the gravestone and coffin props the Game Master will be placing themselves..
Here things really start to get fun! I always know we’re on the right track when I’m playtesting stuff and my Game Master creativity starts firing,
“Ooo, what if I place an orb here on the dais, and when the character’s enter the graveyard it starts glowing and undead rise up from the ground until the character’s disable the orb?”
Let’s take this map tile as an example,
I knew I’d need multiple brick tiles, something for the main dais, then rough flagstone for the roads. Since we were using more traditional green grass in the Wilderness set I wanted to go with a yellowish-orange dead grass for the Graveyard set, in addition to the rocky dirt ground texture.
Here’s the tiling textures that I ultimately created for this tile,
Once all of the textures are created (with lots of little test collages to make sure they work together) I start blending them together to flesh out the map tile.
Here’s a quick and dirty breakdown of those textures being applied, much like painting except instead of painting with a singular color I’m painting with “mud texture” or “grass texture” and trying to blend them all together so they feel natural.
After the main body of the map tile has been fleshed out with the blended tiling textures I go back through zooming into each section to clean them up - making sure grass blades correctly over grow rubble, and placing little bones or other debris neat little details.
Here’s a close up of that tile that shows how those elements all come together,
Okay, now let's place some miniatures on there and see how it all feels,
Fun right?
As much time as I spend thinking and designing these miniatures, props, and map tiles, it’s really all about how they feel when you place them on the table top and start playing with them. If as I’m picking up and moving miniatures around I suddenly feel the same excitement I did as a kid just discovering D&D then I know I’ve done something right.
Alright, I should probably get back to the art mines, but before I go here’s one last shot of the party encountering a Werewolf featuring the Graveyard assets that I thought was neat.
Thanks everyone!
-Marshall (and Mike, Chris, and Lane!)
Project Update: 📺 Livestream tomorrow, and upgrade giveaway! (Distal)
Tomorrow's livestream (May 1st, 1pm EDT) we'll check in on the project, preview some design work being done on the next (and likely final) alpha version of the game! We'll announce the giveaway winner on stream, as well, all you need to do is play the BackerKit Mini-Game below!
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Play the BackerKit Mini-Game (and win a free upgrade!)
- Like this update.
- Comment on this update with: A question you'd like answered in tomorrow's Livestream!
- Reply to someone else's comment (even if it's just with an emoji! 🔥)
Giveaways upgrade an existing pledge to a higher tier (or add a bonus standard edition book to a limited edition pledge,) but you must be in a place we can ship to, and pay for the shipping when we send our surveys. You can't win a giveaway multiple times... but you can still help the project by playing the game!
Thanks folks, let's keep it going!
-Wrel
Side Note: To the folks that won giveaways in the last stream (BenBRockN, Kittling, Novy, and IncendiumRPGs), I've got your names down. Originally I was going to send giveaway codes to hold onto, but it turns out that BackerKit doesn't let me match up usernames and email addresses until after the campaign ends. No worries, either way though, I've got you covered!
Project Update: The next (and final) Alpha is on the horizon. (Distal)
The Next and Final Alpha
Example: Building a character is loads of fun -- until you get to equipment selection, which feels like a slog.
Polishing those rough areas is our mission with Alpha 06, and we've already started addressing some of them. In the next alpha, you'll see (at the very least) the following...
- Easier equipment selection during character creation.
- More elegant handling of currency and stowed items.
- Revisited language with more implicit world building.
- Loads of cleanup and... beautification?
- Updated character sheets!
Yesterday's Stream
Watch the VOD here.
We're now a eight days into the campaign, and we've got a ways to go before we hit our campaign goal. If you can, help spread the word, and keep pushing!
Thanks all!
-Wrel
Project Update: 55k Stretch Goal Unlocked!
Thank you everyone that has backed Knight: An Avalon RPG! With your help we have been able to unlock our next stretch goal – A3 plans of Camelot and Avalon!
They are large A3 posters of the Knight's two HQs. These plans are very useful for imagining the different locations, and are double-sided, with one version in isometric 3D and another from above.
These will be included FREE in every pledge for a physical product from the campaign and will help immerse you and your group in the world of Knight: An Avalon RPG!
Poll Extension
The options on our latest poll have been neck and neck today! We've extended the window to vote until tomorrow, so if you've not voted yet and want to learn about one of the topics, you have another chance to make your voice heard!
If you know anyone that might be interested in stepping into the world of Knight: An Avalon RPG with you, please share the campaign with them and perhaps we might be able to unlock some more stretch goals before the campaign ends!
Once again, thank you everyone!
Project Update: Final week to fight Anathema- Book Reveal PLUS
We had such a close poll the other day that we had to extend it in order to find who the winner is but in the end Cybernetic Implants and Weapons won the day! So here you are, with another page spread for your eyes only!
Since it was such a close tie though we wanted to give you a bit more. Let's see just a glimpse of how life is outside of arks, in particular about the people living out there in the wild, now known as Rejects.
Life in the game is hard but being a Reject is probably a whole other level. A PC with a Reject backstory could be very interesting!
Final Week
We're now in the final week of the campaign and we feel we need your help to broadcast to as many people as possible how cool Knight: An Avalon RPG is. We saw this excellent Reddit thread today (many thanks to Big_Wishbone3907 who posted it!) and we were wondering if you also had a community that you could share about Knight.
It could be an online community that you visit (a subreddit, a Facebook group or a forum) or perhaps your gaming group. We would love to introduce more people from around the world to Knight: An Avalon RPG and we would love to have your help!
Thank you for your support!
Project Update: News, Podcasts, and Reviews!
It also means we've entered a new phase of stretch goals: pay boosts for all our core book and stretch goal creators. We've already unlocked a 10 percent pay bump for the artists and authors contributing to the game, with that increasing to 20 and 30 percent as we push toward $150k.
In other news, we've recently seen some thoughtful reviews and podcast episodes about Stewpot!
"What if your D&D adventuring party settled down and opened a tavern, and the vibes went from, like, dragon murderers to more like, Bob’s Burgers?"
That's Sam Dunnewold of the Dice Exploder podcast who sat down with Lee Conrads to talk about how Everyone Adds a Detail in Stewpot.
Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5GrTPnTsIRKUs3BMComrWU
Or read the transcript here: https://www.diceexploder.com/blog/2024/4/21/podcast-transcript
Seamus Conneely at CannibalHalflingGaming.com posted a very thorough and thoughtful review of the Preview Edition we share with every backer:
"a very strong batch of evocative scenarios and prompts, each one providing a great jumping off point to explore your tavern, your town and its people, and most importantly both who your characters are and who they become."
You can read the full review here: https://cannibalhalflinggaming.com/2024/04/30/stewpot-tales-from-a-fantasy-tavern-backerkit-review/
And finally Takuma Okada, designer of Stewpot, sat in on an episode of Dice Exploder to discuss the game Ribbon Drive and its Playlist mechanic:
"I really love mechanics that help you get in the mood, get in the right mindset, get the right vibe. I like Oracle type things. I like things that, you know, aren't quite prompts that give me a lot to work with... the Ribbon Drive music stuff especially reminds me of like really good, more dramatic long form improv stuff that gives you the kind of vibes that you can really lean into and develop."
Listen to the full episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6bjPGFjxEMVrcUunNxDIv8
Or read the transcript here: https://www.diceexploder.com/blog/2024/4/18/podcast-transcript-playlists-ribbon-drive-with-takuma-okada
If you're just cracking open your Backer Preview PDF of the game, we thought these reviews and podcasts would help give some insight into the casual, cozy world of Stewpot.
And if you've played the game yourself, we'd love to hear how it went. Let us know in the comments!
Project Update: Campaign Success!!!
You, once again, have helped us fund a successful campaign to make an awesome book!! Thank you a million for your support as always. We absolutely adore the Endless Encounters series, and we look forward to continuing it with Wilderness and beyond!
What you can expect next is for the full production of the book to continue moving forward. We will commission the remaining art and maps as well as begin editing the manuscript. We will share assets as they are turned in!
Lastly, we will send out the Backerkit Pledge Manager in a few weeks. You can expect that coming through at the end of May/beginning of June!
Oh by the way, we are going to deliver on the $20k stretch goal! Sometimes in life you just have to say... close enough ;)
All the best,
Team Pacesetter
Project Update: Score card and prototypes have arrived... and maybe something else
Thank you again for being part of this journey.