It's actually not technically 48 hours left yet at the time of writing this, but I'll be asleep when that hits so I wanted to get the update done now! Despair Dilemma has done phenomenally, and I'm really proud of what we've been able to do here. It's a game we're really excited about at DSG and I'm glad you've all been here to support us.
These next two days are the last push until the campaign is over! We'll be spending this time trying to reach the last few stretch goals we had planned, but even if we can't hit everything we'll still do our best to make the game the best it can possibly be.
When Will You Receive Your Prototype PDF?
We went into more detail into what the Prototype PDF is in a previous update, but the short and long of it is that it's a gameplay-complete and playtested version of the game that still needs a few things like formatting and additional content made up before we feel confident to make a public release.
We've already finished up the file ready for release, but please be aware that it may take up to a day or two after the game is done for us to actually be able to send it to you. Since we're giving the reward out immediately, we need to wait for cards to be charged and administration to be done from BackerKit's end. We're in contact with them to try and make it happen as soon as possible, but there shouldn't be any delays longer then 48 hours.
You'll receive the first version in an update post like this through the "Backer Only Content" tool - and from there we'll be releasing fortnightly updates from BackerKit's Pledge Manager once that's been sent to everyone.
Finishing Up The Purgatory Express!!
The last few days really caught up to us, and admittedly I think a few polls lasted a couple days longer then intended cause I kept messing up timezone math. That said, we've just finished voting on chapter two and that means we still have plenty of time to finish things up!!
Now that we have both Chapter Two Options (and damn are they cool, I'm deeply impressed by how much both of these options ooze tension), all we have left is Chapter Three!!
Just like Chapter Two, Chapter Three has two options, but what makes it unique is that as the last part of the story before the epilogue, the events that happen in them are allowed to be much much more drastic and scary. This is the finale! So it's important to bring everything to a devastating climax. Given that, you already know that today's question is: What Should Happen in Chapter Three? What Questions should be asked?
Just like with Chapter Two, we'll do a vote and pick the top two - but this time I'm going to recommend everyone give their most out there ideas for a finale. Keep it tied to the theme of the Plot Book of course, but don't hold back at all with your ideas.
To give you some inspiration, here's some examples of Chapter Three options from the book!
Intervention of the Outside World Someone - a Journalist or a Government Operative - has caught wind of this game and has come to try and shut it down. Effect:Create a new Character. Whenever this character successfully Achieves, the narrator can put a card from their hand on the Chapter Mystery. Chapter Mystery: How did the game master(s) hide this game from the world?
Graduation Ceremony For one reason or another, the characters' memories start to return… but… they aren't the memories they should be. Are they really who they thought they were? Effect: Erase the “Skill:” Truth from each character in the Death Game. Erase any other truths that rely on those skills. Chapter Mystery: What happened to the school and why did the characters end up here? Who truly are they?
Rage of the Gods Why now, of all times? Only a week away from safety, a storm threatens to sweep over the island. It’s hard to say who will make it out alive, if anyone. Effect: Choose a location and give that location “Sheltered from the storm” as a Truth. At the end of this chapter, kill all characters not in locations with this Truth. Chapter Mystery: What secret about this island was lost in the storm, never to be brought to light?
We'll be adding the effects on our end to keep things simple and balanced - but please feel free to let us know what you imagine could happen in this chapter mechanically! We'll do our best to stay true to your vision.
