Hope you had an amazing June! It’s the first Tuesday of the month, and we’re excited to give you a peek at what we’ve been up to behind the scenes.
✨Preview Files in Your Inbox!
An updated version of Covens of Midnight should now be waiting for you via DriveThruRPG! This version is nearly print-ready, with most of the layout and design work complete. We’re now just making those final tweaks and polishes to get it across the line. 🙌
You should have received a download email from DriveThruRPG, but if you can’t find it, check your spam or promotions folders. If it’s still hiding, don’t worry! You can also access the files through BackerKit.
Still can’t find it? Drop us a message at[email protected] and we’ll get you sorted.
There’s still some final proofreading and polishing happening behind the scenes, but honestly, we were just too excited not to share this version with you now. We’ve included a quick changelog at the end of this update so you can see what’s been updated since the last version and what’s still to come.
We’re no longer collecting playtesting feedback, but we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped us get here. Every typo you spotted, mechanic you tested, and idea you shared helped shape this game into what it is today. 💜
We hope you enjoy flicking through the pages. We’re so proud of what we’ve built together!
More soon, The Crossed Paths Team 🐾
Here’s a quick summary of what’s been updated in this version:
New Additions
Spark Point Event System rewritten and expanded, replacing older introspection events with new, emotionally resonant scenes linked to Practical and Theoretical stat changes. Now includes 14 unique events designed for reflection journaling.
New Spark Point Events added, project-based interactions, and relationship tension with rivals and peers.
Unique Kin Name Table implemented, featuring 6 masculine, 6 feminine, and 6 neutral names per Kin. Each set reflects distinct cultural tones, removing repeated names and clarifying Arbor as Satyr-adjacent (not Elven).
Reflection Table for Academic Year revised, with Spark Point events integrated into Term 1, 2, 3, and Break periods. Each key moment now includes narrative prompts and specific stat effects (e.g., +1 Spark Point, -1 Practical).
Dark mode accessibility feedback addressed, with the planned release of a format-free, screen-reader-friendly edition for accessibility and print-friendly needs. This version will launch post-layout.
Changes & Balancing
Term Calendar corrected to resolve inconsistencies in moon/day counts across Terms and Breaks - all terms have been updated to correctly note the 400-day year.
Weekend mechanics are clarified in the core rules. Instructions now explicitly differentiate weekday vs. weekend draws, Social vs. Work events, and how to use Best Friend/Rival/Paragon tables during weekends.
Paragon Events timing clarified, resolving confusion about when Paragon tables are accessed (now tied to weekend Social Events or character-specific triggers).
Spark Point prompts added to Term 1, responding to feedback that early-game relationship moments were too sparse.
Revised text on drawing Major vs Minor Arcana in combat and prompts, addressing confusion about when each deck is used.
Fixes & Cleanups
Typo Corrections:
“Temporia” corrected to “Tempordia” throughout.
“CroaCommon Kin” restored to “Croakin” after Find & Replace issue.
Hope you had an amazing May, and it was lovely to see some of you at UKGE over the weekend! It’s the first Tuesday of the month, and we’re excited to give you an update on what we’ve been up to behind the scenes!
✨ Playtesting Wrap-Up
First up, a huge thank you to everyone who took part in the final playtesting and shared your feedback. We had over 1,000 of you send over your thoughts, which completely blew us away! Your feedback has been thoughtful, honest, and incredibly valuable in helping us polish and shape the final version of the game.
We’re now deep in the process of combing through every piece of feedback, applying changes, and proofreading the final game files to make Covens of Midnight as magical as possible.
✨ Production Begins
While edits are being made to the final files, we’ve also kicked off the next big step - production! Production is a careful, multi-stage process, but we’re already laying the groundwork behind the scenes. That means we’re working on sampling for our physical components like the tarot cards, packaging, pin, and more! These pre-production samples will help us make sure everything looks, feels, and functions exactly how we imagined before we move into full manufacturing.
✨ Bonus News - Take Your Coven Characters Into Drakonym!
Our next big adventure is here: Drakonym - a fiction-first fantasy TTRPG where you’ll forge deep bonds with your dragon companion and explore the wilds of Akeroth together.
As a Covens of Midnight backer, you’ll unlock exclusive backgrounds that let you bring your character into this new adventure. Set in the same world, Drakonym expands their story - this time, on the back of your very own dragon.
Hey Scribes! We hope you’ve had an amazing April ✨
We’ve got some big news - all playtesting for Covens of Midnight is now officially closed! 🎉
Thank you so much for all your brilliant feedback and wild ideas - your voices have helped us craft a game that feels alive with magic, mystery, and heart. Over the past few months, you’ve shaped Covens into something truly special!
✨ Coming Soon
With playtesting complete, we’re hard at work weaving in the final round of feedback. Once that’s complete, we’ll send out the final digital version, giving you everything you need to step fully into the world of Covens of Midnight! Keep an eye out for updates (we usually drop major news on the first Tuesday of the month).
Then we’ll turn our attention to getting everything ready for production - preparing layouts, testing samples, and ensuring every single component meets our high standards. It’s all about getting things just right before the presses roll.
✨ Tell Us Your Favourite Moment!
To celebrate how far we’ve come, we want to hear from you. What’s been your favourite part of Covens of Midnight so far? Drop a comment below - we’d love to hear your highlights!
Thank you for every idea, every spell, and every moment you’ve shared with us. We’re so proud to have built this coven with you. 💜
Hey Scribes, hope you're having a wonderful April!🪻
We’ve got some exciting news - and we couldn’t wait for our monthly update to share it with you!
✨ The final playtest version of Covens of Midnight (v0.3) is here!
We pored over every word of your feedback from the last round of playtesting, and we’ve made changes based on the ideas, questions, and sparks you shared. This is your game as much as ours - and this version is proof of what we can build together. (You can check out the full changelog below to see what’s changed.)
✨ Check your inbox
The download link for v0.3 has been sent directly to your email! Make sure to check your inbox (and your spam/junk folder, just in case) for a message from us with the updated files, or head here: https://midnight.backerkit.com/backer/review
(Please download files from October 2024 or whenever your latest files are from - All the actual PDFs have been updated to the latest version)
This is the final round of playtesting before we move into production and printing. We’re reopening feedback for 2 weeks, until the end of April — so if you’ve got thoughts on gameplay, features, or anything else, now’s the time to share them.
We’re on track for our Q3 physical release, and everything is lining up well for the next stages of production. As we get closer to shipping, we’ll confirm final details like timelines, locking addresses, and the new US tariff rules (they’re still shifting daily, but we’ll keep you in the loop). For now, the focus is on finishing the game with you, and this version brings us right to that last creative milestone.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We’re proud of where the game is now, and we can’t wait to hear what you think.
Ruby & The Crossed Paths Team 💜
Changelog – Covens of Midnight (v0.3)
Last Updated: April 2025 Status: Playtest Update / Pre-Final Layout
New Additions
Orientation Week added to help new players begin their first term, including three themed Orientation Tables (General, Friend, Rival).
Best Friend and Rival Weekend Tables expanded to cover all 22 Major Arcana, each with unique Spark Point opportunities.
Phonetic Guide introduced for Kin names, regions, covens, Paragons, and lore terms to improve accessibility.
Lore updates:
Clarified that Leaf Blood and Shadow Blood elves were merged into Noble lineage.
Gnawborn may choose to remain permanently small, framed as a character-defining moment.
Elementai removed from official Kin list but remain available as a legacy/narrative option.
Paragon Strike system clarified:
Influence cost reduced from 3 to 1.
Opponents may use Major Arcana if they draw matching suits (currently under review for balance).
Spark Point gain during combat re-enabled as optional outcomes tied to specific narrative beats (e.g. shared vulnerability, mirrored action).
Changes & Balancing
Overwhelm mechanics rebalanced:
Maximum duration capped at 5 days.
Failed Purge no longer grants +2 Influence.
Influence threshold increases after each Overwhelm (e.g. 10 ➝ 20 ➝ 30).
Additional Spark Point prompts added across Term 1 to improve early-game relationship progression.
Clarified that "Semester" and "Term" are interchangeable for narrative flow.
Paragon Event Tables expanded to include:
Clear outcomes tied to Major Arcana.
Integration with core game stats and Spark systems.
More structured prompts for journaling during Paragon events.
Fixes & Cleanups
Replaced all instances of "Pawfoot" with the clearer term "Dogfolk".
Elementai repositioned for lore flavor only; removed from Kin list to avoid confusion.
Region/Kin pairings clarified as “common,” not exclusive, to promote character flexibility.
Planned / In Progress
Location Appendix for Exploration Events (brief descriptions to support narrative prompts).
Glossary Companion to expand phonetics, names, and lore references.
Printer-Friendly version of the core book (light background + high contrast).
Additional review of opponent use of Major Arcana and future Paragon Strike balancing.
Ash here - I wanted to share something that’s been weighing heavily on a lot of indie creators right now, including us. As of April 5th, the U.S. has brought in a 54% import tariff on goods manufactured in China - and unfortunately, that includes most of the board games and TTRPGs you know and love.
It’s a huge shift. One that came in overnight, with very little warning, and we’re still trying to understand what it’ll actually mean for us - and for you.
ℹ️What We Know
To be completely transparent, we don’t yet know the full impact this will have. The situation is changing every day, and new information is still coming out. For example, some reports suggest that books might be exempt, which would be great news for our rulebooks, but the language around that exemption is vague and unclear, especially when it comes to mixed products like ours. Right now, we just don’t have a solid answer.
What we do know is that these tariffs are applied when goods physically enter the U.S., not at checkout. So if nothing changes before we ship, there’s a chance that some backers might see additional customs fees at the time of delivery.
🔧 What We’re Doing
We're doing everything we can to understand what our options are and to make the best decisions. Our goal is always to minimise any additional costs for those of you in the USA. If we do need to pass on any part of these new tariffs, it will be done inside the pledge manager and we will make it as clear as possible.
We’ve built flexibility into our business structure so we have no plans to increase the price of our products. We’re also exploring alternative fulfillment options for backers in Canada and Australia, since our current delivery routes go through U.S. warehouses.
We are also looking at alternative printing options within Europe and other countries that aren’t as severely affected by these new tariffs.
We’re not ready to make any official changes or decisions just yet. It’s simply too soon, and there’s too much still up in the air. But we didn’t want to wait until we had all the answers to start the conversation. You’ve trusted us with your support, and you deserve honesty, even when things are uncertain.
🧭 What happens next
We’ll keep sharing updates as we learn more, and you’ll be the first to know once we have a clear path forward.
Thank you, truly, for your continued support, patience, and kindness. This is an uncertain time for a lot of game creators, and your encouragement means more than you know. We’ll always be honest with you, we’ll keep you informed as things evolve, and we’ll do everything in our power to keep things running smoothly.
- Ash and The Crossed Paths Team 💙
❓ FAQ
Will this increase the cost of my pledge? For anyone who has already pledged during the live campaign, the cost of your chosen items will remain as originally listed. However, if the tariffs remain in place by the time we ship, some backers may be charged additional import/customs fees at delivery.
How much more could I be charged? We can’t give a solid number yet. The exact amount depends on how the new rules are applied, how our product is classified, and what exemptions might exist for books. As soon as we have clear details, we’ll share them.
Couldn’t you just print the games in the U.S. to avoid this? We’ve looked into it. Unfortunately, printing in the U.S. isn’t viable for us. There are very few printers equipped to handle TTRPG production, and the cost is significantly higher, often far beyond what’s sustainable for indie creators like us. For non-book components, the infrastructure simply isn’t there. We are looking at alternative printing options within Europe and other countries that aren’t as severely affected by these new tariffs, but right now, printing in China remains the most realistic option.
Will this affect delivery timelines? Not at the moment. Our production and delivery timelines are currently on track. If anything changes, we’ll let you know right away.
What happens next? We’re monitoring the situation, speaking with fulfillment partners, and exploring options. We’ll make the most informed decision we can when we’re closer to shipping. You’ll be the first to know once we have concrete updates.
