Latest from the Creator
PROJECT UPDATE
Nora Haynes
CREATOR
about 2 months ago
Project Update: Download the Prototype PDF Here!
Hey everyone! Nora Here!!
Now that cards have cleared, we're able to share with you the first version of the Prototype PDF!! You can download it now by going to the "Backer Exclusive Content" section under this update - if you're seeing this over email, then you'll need to click through to see that backer exclusive content.
Now that cards have cleared, we're able to share with you the first version of the Prototype PDF!! You can download it now by going to the "Backer Exclusive Content" section under this update - if you're seeing this over email, then you'll need to click through to see that backer exclusive content.
What's In the Prototype PDF
We believe in getting our backers something that we know is interesting before doing the crowdfunding campaign. To ensure that, we make sure our projects are content complete and playable before planning funding. Here's a breakdown of how complete everything in the book is:
- Core Gameplay (100% - COMPLETE)
- Playtesting (80%)
- Non-Essential Writing (60%)
- Stretch Goals:
- Modules:
- Solo Rules (80%)
- Special Character Arcs (20% - Not Included)
- Death Game Sheet Collaborations:
- Backers (80% - Not Included)
- Rippile (70% - Not Included)
- Tokimekiwaku (30% - Not Included)
- Little Lab Design (20% - Not Included)
- Viveros (50% - Not Included)
- Jun Kakeru (5% - Not Included)
- Modules:
- Typo/Grammar Fixes (30%)
- Art Assets (20%)
- Formatting and Design (40%)
- Appendix / Rules Resources (10%)
- Print Assets (15%)
Currently, the PDF is 102 pages (including the cover), but based on our current estimates, you should expect the final version to be between 134 and 152 pages depending on how much space rules resources take up.
What/When to Expect (in) the Next Update
We're currently planning to release an update to the prototype PDF every two weeks - give or take a couple days depending on the local situation and amount of work we've been able to do. This next update will be distributed through the Pledge Manager, and that means you'll need to complete your pledge manager to access the next update.
As for what you can expect to be included in the next update:
As for what you can expect to be included in the next update:
- Updates to formatting and art assets.
- Complete versions of both the Backer Death Game (The Purgatory Express) and Rippile's Death Game (Lockdown Livestream).
- Updates to existing content based on further playtesting and feedback.
- Additional rules resources and non-essential writing like the "Who is Usashi" section.
I've Noticed an Error / Want to Give Feedback
Brilliant! We're a small team and it's impossible for us to catch everything. Your feedback, whether it's about a gameplay issue, unclarified detail, or typo - is something we value deeply. If you want to give feedback, the best place to do so is through our Discord server. We'll be opening a "Feedback and Errors" channel in the coming days where you can submit issues so we can resolve them between updates.
A Note on Tariffs
As many of you are very aware, the US Government has recently instituted some very heavy tarrifs on shipments from out of the country. Compared to other companies in the field, we're in a rather lucky situation since we have plenty of time to adapt and plan to these changes. We're doing our best to find ways we can avoid the impact of these costs. However, this is a continually updating situation and it's difficult to know exactly what the future will look like. We'll keep in touch with you all and update you so we can figure out what's best. It may mean some additional shipping costs or delays on production depending on what we can sort out, but we want to make that as minimal as possible.
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Thank you for your time and I hope you have a fantastic time playing Despair Dilemma!!
Nora Jean Haynes
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Thank you for your time and I hope you have a fantastic time playing Despair Dilemma!!
Nora Jean Haynes
Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
PROJECT UPDATE
Nora Haynes
CREATOR
about 2 months ago
Project Update: One. Last. Stretch Goal!!
Hey everyone!
It's about halfway through the final day of the crowdfunding campaign, and things are going fantastically. We'll be able to get you the prototype PDFs soon, and then you'll be able to get started playing right away!! We're really excited to see what you all think. I won't actually be awake for the last few hours, but if you want to celebrate with us, Iris will be active on the Discord Server here.
You can expect the proper update celebrating the end tomorrow morning (Australian time). With that all said, we have one more exciting reveal before we go.
It's about halfway through the final day of the crowdfunding campaign, and things are going fantastically. We'll be able to get you the prototype PDFs soon, and then you'll be able to get started playing right away!! We're really excited to see what you all think. I won't actually be awake for the last few hours, but if you want to celebrate with us, Iris will be active on the Discord Server here.
You can expect the proper update celebrating the end tomorrow morning (Australian time). With that all said, we have one more exciting reveal before we go.
Unlocked: Death Game Sheet by Jun Kakeru
With a matter of hours left, we've reached the final stretch goal we had originally planned for the book! We'll be commissioning Jun Kakeru, developer of Yet Another Killing Game, to make a Death Game Sheet! If you've played their game, then you already know just how deeply they understand the genre.
We don't yet know what they have planned, but we can expect the same kind of genre savvy to make its impact on Despair Dilemma!! I hope you'll keep an eye out, we'll let you know more as soon as we have the information.
One Last Stretch Goal: The Monster's Rage as a Plot Book
When we unlocked the "Special Character Arcs" stretch goal, me and Iris started experimenting with some designs we'd wanted to work on. As we kept working on it, we realized that one of these designs - "The Monster" - would fit perfectly as its own Plot Book! Based on the kinds of Death Games you see most often in RPG Maker Horror Games, this plot book (currently named "The Monster's Rage") would put you in control of a rampaging monster on its way to kill as many people as possible.
Similar to The Detective's Trial and The Mastermind's Mask, this would be another Plot Book where you make a special character you have more control over, but this time you would be able to much more directly cause harm to everyone else (similar to The Massacre's Edge).
Given how little time we have left, reaching this goal is a little ambitious, but even if we fail it - we'll still be including our original plan of fulfilling this concept with a Character Arc. If you know anyone who could possibly be interested in Despair Dilemma - now's the best time to tell them!
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Thank you all so much for your time and support!
Nora Jean Haynes
Nora Haynes
CREATOR
about 2 months ago
At $33,333, we'll create an all new Plot Book designed to put you in control of a rampaging monster and include it in the final book
Goal: A$31,686.80
/ A$33,333
95%
We need A$1,646.20 more to reach this goal.
PROJECT UPDATE
Nora Haynes
CREATOR
3 days ago
Project Update: Prototype PDF Update - Version 1.6
Hey Ya'll!
I'm glad to say that we're finally wrapping up making the book. With the exception of content from our collaborators and backers (or content reliant on that) - the book print ready!
I'm glad to say that we're finally wrapping up making the book. With the exception of content from our collaborators and backers (or content reliant on that) - the book print ready!
Prototype PDF Version 1.6 Changes
There aren't very many game play changes here - instead we've focused on cleaning up the book and getting it print ready. What that means is:
- Final or close to Final Assets have been added in every space where placeholders where previously.
- The last two Special Character Arcs have been added with The Imagined and The Time Traveler.
- The Special Victims list and Backer Credits have both been updated to match information from when we updated the PDF.
- A few minor inconsistencies, errors, and typos have been fixed.
While this may seem like a smaller update in comparison to the breadth of stuff in 1.5 or 1.4, completing all the assets and making sure everything was print ready was a massive accomplishment.
What/When to Expect (in) Next Update
Aside from content from our collaborators and backers, there isn't a lot left to expect from the next update. With that said, there are still Four Friends of Usashi backers who haven't completed their survey - if that's you, please complete it as soon as possible so we can lock in the book. Failure to complete the survey may mean sacrificing your place on the Special Victims List.
Instead, with the next update, you should expect the inclusion of game play tools such as:
Instead, with the next update, you should expect the inclusion of game play tools such as:
- Form Fillable PDFs and Printer Optimized Print-outs for Plot Books and Death Game Sheets
- Print Outs for rules cheat sheets
- Character and Location templates and print outs
- Completed assets for the Playing Card Deck & Perspective Marker.
It's possible that this may take some time, so the next update may be a little longer away then the previous ones. We don't want to bombard you with versions of the game that largely change nothing.
In the mean time, we'll also be locking down our printers and hopefully getting test prints done so we can make sure there are no issues. This does mean we'll need to start locking down our plans for shipping, which is still difficult given despite the pause on tariffs, there's still very much room for them to return right as we start actually shipping. This means we have two options: Either we print the books cheaper and US backers are likely to take on an additional cost, or we print the books at a slightly higher price with a longer time to print but US backers are less likely to face additional costs. Most of our backers are from the USA, so we want to avoid too high of an additional cost if possible, but especially for backers who purchased the playing card deck, shipping costs may be higher then we anticipated when we launched. At the same time, it feels unfair to punish people outside the US with overall higher shipping costs and a longer time to produce the book.
We'll have to make this decision ourselves eventually after doing some math, but as our backers we'd love to hear your thoughts and in put on the decision.
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Thank you,
Nora Jean Haynes
PROJECT UPDATE
Nora Haynes
CREATOR
21 days ago
Project Update: Prototype PDF Update - Version 1.5
Morning everyone!!
Things have been really busy here lately, and not the least of that has been making some big progress on Despair Dilemma! We've had a great opportunity for wider feedback with some of the design and balancing, so with this update we've been able to adjust some things to make a better experience!
Things have been really busy here lately, and not the least of that has been making some big progress on Despair Dilemma! We've had a great opportunity for wider feedback with some of the design and balancing, so with this update we've been able to adjust some things to make a better experience!
Prototype PDF Version 1.5 Changes
Please note that just like with the last update, this version of the game is distributed through the Pledge Manager. Last time we had some hiccups with the download link email, but you should receive it soon after you get this update this time. With that said, here are the major changes with this version of the PDF:
- The new "Lily Kiss Graduation" Death Game Sheet by Tokimekiwaku has been added to the game! Mastermind the last moments for the idol group Lily Kiss as they struggle to survive!
- Plot Book Tips have been added to the four Plot Books that didn't have them. (Along with the counter-play tips by our good friend Usashi)
- Two of the four Special Character Arcs have been added - The Other Self and The Monster. The other two are still cooking, so you'll have to wait for next update.
- We've re-balanced a significant number of mechanical effects to create better game play experiences and ensure players have more options during play:
- Relocate now lets you move a number of characters based on the number of card you play. Effects that care about Relocate Actions have been readjusted accordingly.
- The Traitor's Sabotage has lost the old version of Rumour and Puppeteer - instead they have the ability to adjust the Morale of characters more easily at the same time as other actions. Their Chapter Goals have been adjusted accordingly.
- The Massacre's Edge has had it's chapter abilities and goals revamped to make them easier and more versatile to achieve.
- The Witch's Spell has been adjusted to better allow for killing non-believer characters.
- The Challenge's Inevitability has had it's Chapter Three goals adjusted to be more in line with current design for the game.
- Some other abilities have been reworded to be clearer and slightly adjust the way they are played - however these should still play roughly in the same way.
- Additionally, the Prologue Questions on some plot books have been adjusted slightly to create a clearer start to the game.
- Both the Autonomy and Campaign Play Modules have been adjusted to be more in line with the traditional play experience of Despair Dilemma.
- New assets have been included to fill in placeholders where possible and some assets have been updated to more finalized versions.
- Various inconsistencies, errors, and typos have been fixed.
We'll be updating the Special Victims List in the next update, so Friends of Usashi backers should be sure to fill in your pledge manager if you haven't already.
What/When to Expect (in) Next Update
We're reaching a point in the design where updates may be less significant as we go. Most of our design is done, and collaborators aren't all likely to be done for a bit longer. We'll still be releasing next update in ~2 weeks from now, but it's possible that updates after that may take longer as we focus on more time consuming but less exciting elements of finalising the book like completing assets. With that said, next update you should be able to expect:
- More finalized artwork and layout.
- Balance patches to any content that needs it with further feedback and play testing.
- The final two Special Character Arcs.
- And More (depending on what gets done).
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Thank you for your time and have a great weekend,
Nora Jean Haynes
