I had my layout consultancy meeting with Jean Verne a week and a half ago. He's back from Japan! As I believe I mentioned before, Jean has already chosen the typefaces and created the grid for Twisting Unseen, as he detailed in his newsletter if a deep dive interests ya.

We spent a good amount of time correcting some of my amateur layout settings, and talked about how to prep the manuscript for import. Not only that, Jean had some true layout wizardry (for the professionals: Decorations) that kinda broke my brain, but I was able to put into practice emulating some design work Jean had already done for the zine mockups.

All that was just before the spring break hit. When I posted last month's update, I'd totally forgotten I had to be on vacation this month. Ouch. Plus, my family is preparing for an unexpected transatlantic move this summer! Well, the big move was a possibility, but in our minds it was definitely a long shot. This has naturally put the time crunch on something fierce!

The style guide edits to Twisting Unseen that I mentioned in the last update are running behind schedule, due to other professional engagements taking priority during this crunch. (Check out my 5 Million Worlds Rokaner Reports, i.e. my newsletter, to follow more on that work.) 

I'm not too worried about delivering this project on time, however. With the new tools that Jean has taught me, this is likely to be the quickest layout I've done yet. The overseas move does put me in a pickle for getting my hands on print tests, so I've opted to release an updated Project Timeline.

May 2026: Finish style guide revisions
June 2026: Begin Layout
July 2026: Finalize Layout with Jean + Order print tests
August 2026: Proofreading + Print test checks
September 2026: Production (patches, map, flyers, zine)
October 2026: Shipping to Warehouse
November 2026: Kitting
December 2026: No-go postal delivery zone, :(
January 2027: Fulfillment Begins

I built in a lot of redundancy for this project just in case the overseas move became a reality. This updated version of the Project Timeline slots all the production together, and runs coinciding proofing with print checks (which was how I did Not Enough Scoundrels). I'll continue posting updated Project Timelines as the months continue, :)

As I do on all projects I run, I'm committed to sending an update on Twisting Unseen's progress on the second-to-last Monday of each month. Thanks for tuning in, and see ya soon. Enjoy the holiday, for those who celebrate, ;)

Chris Airiau

Not much to report here this month! I'm figuring out with Jean Verne, between EU and Japan time zones, when we can set aside some time to discuss his layout consultancy for this project, and start popping this zine off. I do have a new Paul Enami piece in to share with you, though:

Last summer, Josh Domanski of the Liminal Horror team invited me to co-write an Orbital Blues zine with him. With art by Lur Noise and editing from Samantha Leigh, Paramour is set on an iceball planet, in a city you used to love, where an old flame is in trouble (again). The zine sticks its Outlaws in a tough spot of seeking a bounty, or helping her with one last job.

I wrote the adventure sites and six city districts, and it was a fun change of pace flipping from sci-fi horror to sci-fi heartbreak & nostalgia. The BackerKit launches next month, check it out!

5 Million Worlds Press is committed to sending an update on this project's progress on the second-to-last Monday of each month. Like this month, we'll be sure to share any other projects I'm working on. 

Thanks for tuning in, and see ya soon.

Chris Airiau

Truly, sending out five million thank yous to each backer for supporting this pretty out-there Mothership module. It's going to be something special. After a weekend of much-needed personal time and writing, I'm getting to work to get this zine pack into your hands, :)

We didn't quite hit that Cloud Empress conversion kit goal, but Hodag and I are still keen to get it made at some point. My priority will be to finish the core Twisting Unseen package, but once all that's digitally fulfilled I'll send a poll to folks to see if y'all are still eager for the CE conversion kit.

Ripley Matthews has already completed the work on the Twisting Unseen map tiles (she rules). These are the raw image files, not in the flyer layout, but here's what she got for us:

The next step is preparing the manuscript for layout. During Mothership Month 2025, Tuesday Knight Games shared a new Mothership Style Guide with us, and Will Jobst's editing on Twisting Unseen predates its arrival. Luckily, in addition to running this crowdfund campaign, my life the past three weeks has been editing MM25 entries, haha, so I know this style guide pretty well. So the first part will be me making sure the manuscript follows this style guide, and making other small tweaks as I go along. Late in the month, I hope to consult with Jean Verne about getting layout underway.

For those new to my projects, I commit to sending an update on my project's progress every month. Expect to receive an update on the second-to-last Monday of each month, during which I may also share some other projects I'm working on. See y'all in three weeks.

Chris Airiau

We've entered the final few days of the campaign! It's been a wild ride, and I've one last surprise yet for y'all tomorrow.

Also, hah, I thought I'd already shared the Underthings art, but I was wrong! Compare and contrast the Mothership and Cloud Empress versions of the cybernetic weird lil guy faction:

In a few short hours, Mothership writer and radio host Joshua Justice is launching his first solo crowdfunding project for their zine Last Light Station.

Gear up with new cybermods and equipment, experience new downtime Shore Leave, and even sing some sultry karaoke on Last Light Station. In this tight zine, a conflict is brewing in the Hekate Sector, and the crew can tip the balance, one way or the other.

Check out Last Light Station on BackerKit!

Chris Airiau

We're entering the final 48 hours of the campaign, thanks so much for all the support you've shown, :)

Today, February 25th at 5pm EST, I'll be on the Weird Place Zine Month livestream, talking about Twisting Unseen and ZiMo excitement. My buddy Waco Matrixo is on at the same time slot too!

Click here to tune in on YouTube.

A new episode of Ansible Uplink, the sci-fi module review podcast that I host, dropped today. This week, D. Kenny of Hardlight Station fame joins me to review Amanda P.'s Mothership module, Resonant.

I gotta give a huge shout out to one of the greats out there, Direct Sun, writing puzzle dungeons that are loads of fun and making them look cool while he does it. Not only that, Direct Sun also organized our cross-promo cohort for this Zine Month, a ttrpg community man!

Let's give it up for Direct Sun's A Familiar Tower, an escape room puzzle dungeon for Old-School Essentials!

The long-awaited sequel to the acclaimed Abberant Reflections, and inspired by the puzzle box dungeons of The Legend of Zelda series, A Familiar Tower delivers challenges that feel organic to its world—mechanics that click into place the moment you discover how they work. With editing by the lauded Sam Sorensen and art by the irreplaceable Sam "Skullboy" Mameli, this is sure to hit on all cylinders.

Chris Airiau