Project Update: Missed the campaign? It's not too late!
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Note that if you are already a backer, this is not the place to add things to an existing pledge. We'll have the pledge manager up and running soon, and that will be where you can add any dice, books, or the GM Kit to your pledge, as well as enter your shipping info.
Project Update: March Update: Approvals and Proofing!
I’ve got a short update this month but it’s a good one. I have submitted PDFs of the Fifth Season RPG core rulebook and GM’s Kit booklet to N. K. Jemisin for final approval! While she is looking them over, we are doing another round of proofing.
As I’ve mentioned before, N. K. is a busy woman so we are unsure how long this approvals phase will take. She has the right, of course, to ask for changes to the text and art to ensure that we get everything right. Naturally, we want that too, and we are ready to address any changes that need to happen.
The next step is a beta PDF to you. At that point, you can see and play the game. I say beta because inevitably getting a game in front of many sets of eyes will turn up things we’ll want to fix before it goes off to print.
That’s the news I have to share this month. I can see the finish line from here!
Chris Pramas
Green Ronin
This user contributed to this community!
I believe the title says it all. I fully expect my heirs in 2185 to be very confused when this project finally delivers. When I tell people that I've got a crowdfunding project that is over a year past its deadline, they all nod knowingly. When I say it’s by Green Ronin, that's when the confusion begins. Being over a year past delivery date with no end in sight, a staggering lack of communication about how the project is actually going, missing a second delivery date without even a peep about why or an updated project timeline.... This is the sort of thing you'd expect from some YouTuber trying to publish their first RPG splatbook, not a publishing company with a couple of decades of publishing experience and a sizable library of published works. Basically; Guys, you are better than this. Or at least you should be. So why is this project being treated this way? So, will my heirs get the book by 2185? Or will it be my far distant descendants in the 41st century?
Project Update: February Update: Lions and Tigers and Kirkhusas, Oh My!
First up, we have Season-changed kirkhusas, depicted in this exciting piece by Claudio Pozas. Normally, kirkhusas are cute, playful, otter-like creatures that midlatters with food surpluses take in as pets. But, all things change during a Season, and those who invite kirkhusas into their homes will have to be quick to turn to violence if they want to stay alive.
- Their Speed is 16 on land and in water, meaning that you’re not going to be able to get away from them by swimming. Climbing could help, but don’t count on it.
- Like the otters they resemble, they’re social creatures. So, when they can, they hunt in packs. And they have Stunts that support that (Double Team & Knock Prone). Don’t get surrounded.
- Our version of the kirkhusa is visually based on the Brazilian ariranha (giant otter; Pteronura brasiliensis), thanks to the artist Claudio Pozas’ brilliant idea.
- Surprisingly, kirkhusas are even bigger than giant otters! According to the novels, Season-changed kirkhusas can be around 100 pounds.
In this gorgeous, yet horrifying illustration by Cristián Huerta, we see an unfortunate bull under attack by the violent boilbugs. As their name suggests, they’re bugs that boil water inside their bodies, causing severe burns on anything they land on. In large swarms, they’re a terrifying force of nature, capable of wiping out entire comms.
- Boilbugs are swarm creatures, meaning that they obey swarm rules; you can’t hurt them by swinging a glassknife at them. Only an attack that does damage to an area does full damage. That’s great news for orogenes and bad news for everyone else, which is how fights with boilbugs go in the novels.
- If you manage to do enough damage to a swarm through area attacks, they become vulnerable to the Knock Out Stunt. Not very vulnerable, mind you; successfully landing the Stunt will only deal 1 point of damage. Still, it’s better than nothing.
Lastly, we have this vicious attack by a stone eater, depicted by Julie Sakai. Very few characters truly know anything about stone eaters, as the creatures are secretive and not usually social among humans. But, they are intelligent and very, very deadly when they want to be.
- Like in the novels, they can pass through earth and rock at will and can do so with terrifying speed. In game, this is represented by an ability called In A Blink, which allows them to reposition themselves (and anyone unfortunate enough to be dragged by them) anywhere in an action encounter. The only thing keeping this from effectively being a teleport is that there has to be contiguous solid earth or stone between the two points.
- Also like in the novels, their ability to grab someone and hold onto them is terrifying; they use their incredibly high Constitution (8!) to maintain grabs instead of their lower Accuracy.
- They also have potent natural armor that makes it very unlikely for an attack to actually do damage.
- On top of all that, GMs can choose to make them even more dangerous with the optional Adversary Improvement rules, which bumps their stats up.
- In short, they are statted out to be terrifying, because that’s how they’re presented in the novels. That said, they’re not indestructible. It is possible to injure or even defeat one. It’s incredibly unlikely, and I would not recommend picking that fight, but the option is available to you.
Project Update: January Update - More finished art and Orogeny Preview!
This piece by Julie Sakai shows how characters grow and mature and how the same person who needs a helping hand one day can become the person providing a helping hand to others as they grow up.
This illustration, also by Julie Sakai, is the fourth one for the Adversaries section of the book, showcasing the terrors that are stone eaters. Not all of them are as amiable as Hoa, so stay on your toes if you see one around. Also, if you spot one, that’s good news! Because if they definitely wanted to fight, you’d already be in combat.
This dynamic painting by Julie Sakai shows off just how deadly Guardians can be, as this one wields both a poniard and a macuahuitl. She’s definitely not messing around, as the poor Orogene below her is quickly learning.
This painting from Christian Huerta shows how, with a little imagination, you can see the Stillness manifest in your mind’s eye. I really love how Christian brought this one to life!
Keeping the theme of manifesting characters and events in the Stillness, we have this painting by Claudio Pozas. It features me as the GM, roleplaying as a Western Coastals woman who’s providing information to Tanya DePass and Joe Carriker’s characters.
Rounding out the gorgeous illustrations by our talented artists is this exciting painting by Danil Luzin. These two characters are on the run, although the Strongback’s knives may cut their pursuit short.
Sidebar: More on Role Balance
Orogeny Talents
Orogeny
Requirements: Game Moderator consent. See this talent’s listing in Chapter 7 and this appendix for discussions of when an orogene is appropriate for play.