Latest from the Creator
PROJECT UPDATE
ZEG Media
CREATOR
4 days ago
Project Update: MAY 2025 UPDATE!
It’s been a month, and that means it’s time for your May update! Thanks again for sticking with me on this ride—we’re getting closer, even if the road’s still a little bumpy.
First off: yes, I did want to show you some layout this month, and no, it didn’t happen. That’s on me. Real life came swinging with a folding chair this past month, and we’re all doing our best to juggle work, life, and this big ol’ game project. Craig, who’s handling layout like a champ, is also balancing a full-time job and multiple other responsibilities. So, it’s a delay—not a derail. You have my word: we’ll have something to show you next month.
Now, onto what did get done.
Included this month is a new section of Optional Rules, which I think you’ll find really exciting—especially if you’ve been following our conversations about the expanded Rank Ladder and real-world martial arts. If the Rank Ladder’s not your thing, I still think the martial arts section will blow your mind. There’s more to come on that front too.
Also in this drop are the first rough drafts of two starting adventures:
- Project Paladin by Darrin Drader
- Shadows of Chaos by Bill Keyes
These are unedited and raw, so expect a few typos and rough edges, but I wanted you to see where we’re heading with the narrative side of the game. These will be among the first adventures available at launch, and I hope they give you a spark of inspiration.
In addition, Leonard Pimentel of Lakeside Games is hard at work developing the introductory adventure: TRY OUT! for the core rules. It’s coming along really well, and I’m hoping to have something to show you in next month’s update.
Now, about art…
Let’s just say we go through artists the way Spinal Tap went through drummers. But! Good news—Tony is back at it, after a short hospital stay. We’re wishing him a speedy and full recovery. I’ve included a few of his most recent pieces here to give you a sense of the Zenith art direction. There’s lots more behind the scenes, but I thought these were too good not to share.
As for backer art:
We’ve started receiving the first pieces from TJ Frias, and they’re looking great. TJ is a fantastic artist—passionate and professional—and I’m thrilled to have him working with us. If you’ve submitted backer art, please continue to coordinate with Shane. TJ is navigating some personal matters right now (his business and his alone), which may slow things down a bit, but rest assured: the work is being done and the art will come.
Want to stay in the loop more often?
Patreon is where I post the updates, lore, adventures, and hundreds of heroes and villains, and sometimes just a little peek behind the curtain. Here’s the link [link will be inserted]. Consider hopping on if you want regular insider access, and hey—it helps us keep the art flowing and the project moving.
Likewise, if you want to help us finish strong, we’ve got a GoFundMe right here [link incoming]. Every little bit helps, and your support directly fuels this game’s journey to completion.
Oh—and don’t forget to check out the live plays on our YouTube channel. They’re a great way to see HEROIC in motion. Links to follow shortly.
Next month, I’m aiming to show off:
- First looks at layout
- More art
- Some cleaned-up and edited material
- A clearer path toward the finish line
Thank you—sincerely—for your continued patience, your encouragement, and your unbelievable support. Given all the hurdles we’ve hit, I couldn’t have asked for a more positive and passionate group of backers. You’ve kept the flame alive. It’s going to be worth it in the end. That, I promise.
You are HEROIC.
Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
PROJECT UPDATE
ZEG Media
CREATOR
about 1 month ago
Project Update: END OF APRIL UPDATE!
ZENUTZ!
It’s Bear (Andrew Collas) here with a quick — but important — update for you all.
There won’t be a full backer update for the month of April… but there will be a big one coming in May! I wanted to take a moment to explain why, and what’s going on behind the scenes, because you deserve to know exactly where we’re at and why we’re making the choices we are.
Right now, several major pieces are coming together at once:
- April (the amazing writer helping me) is almost finished doing her complete narrative boost across the rulebook. That means all the flavor text, setting tone, and “heroic” voice is being layered into the rules to make everything smoother, clearer, and more exciting to read and play.
- Shane is hard at work doing the editing pass to tighten everything up.
- Craig is working away on layouts, bringing the visual presentation into line with the vision we want for HEROIC.
Because all of this is happening right now, I decided it would be much better to wait a few extra weeks and show you a fully written, edited, and partially laid-out version of the book — something much closer to the final product — rather than toss out a smaller, less meaningful update right now. I truly believe you deserve a meaningful glimpse, not just incremental noise.
Meanwhile, on my end, I’ve been working furiously on Appendix O: Optional Rules (Fun fact: the old Appendix O got bumped to Appendix P in the Table of Contents.).
Appendix O is shaping up to be a really exciting part of HEROIC for players and Judges who want even more options at their table, including:
- Expanded Ranks: offering a broader range of possibilities for FEAT rolls.
- Real World Martial Arts: giving players a chance to tap into historical fighting styles and mechanics.
- Teamwork FEATs: optional teamwork-based mechanics that encourage and reward players for working together in combat.
- Orange Result Tier: an optional new color result added between Yellow and Red on the Universal Table, with specific new FEAT effects tied to it, creating even more nuance for those who want it.
I’m really proud of the work going into Appendix O — it adds a lot of flavor, options, and customizability without bogging down the core streamlined HEROIC rules.
On the art front, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been working with the incredibly talented Tony Farrar. Some of you might also know him by his online handle FrischDVH on DeviantArt. Tony has been doing some fantastic character art for backers — and he’s also stepping up to provide interior art for the core book itself!
I’ll be including a few sample pieces in the next update so you can see the quality he’s bringing to HEROIC. His work is dynamic, full of energy, and a perfect fit for the tone we’re aiming for. If you want a sneak peek at more of his work, you can check him out here: FrischDVH on DeviantArt.
Important note on Surveys and Art:
- Some surveys still haven’t come back yet! If you haven’t received your survey, please reach out and let me know.
- If you received a preview of your character art but haven’t responded yet, please get back to me as soon as you can.
- Our custom character artist (TJ Frias) is available right now — but not indefinitely — and getting your feedback quickly means we can keep your art moving forward without delays.
- If you haven’t seen your art yet, don’t worry — we’re going through them in batches of three to keep everything organized and manageable.
Also:
If you want to stay plugged into even more HEROIC goodness, don’t forget:
- We have a Patreon where you can support and follow even more updates and behind-the-scenes work.
- We have a YouTube channel where you can watch live play sessions — HEROIC is being actively playtested, tuned, and battle-forged by real groups every week!
Finally — and I cannot stress this enough — THANK YOU!
Thank you for your patience, your understanding, your belief in this project, and your support through all the twists and turns of getting an RPG across the finish line.
I am so incredibly grateful to have backers like you. Your patience will absolutely be rewarded with the best damn superhero RPG I, no... we... the team, can deliver.
You have our word.
Until next time…
BE HEROIC!
PROJECT UPDATE
ZEG Media
CREATOR
about 2 months ago
Project Update: MID-APRIL UPDATE! MORE ON RANKS!
Zeenutz!
Since there has been a very lively discussion on this, and it would be easier to do now than later, for the backers you will find a Poll below on whether or not to add the Expanded Ranks to the HEROIC RPG base game or save them for a later expansion.
Please BE HEROIC and vote ASAP!
Since there has been a very lively discussion on this, and it would be easier to do now than later, for the backers you will find a Poll below on whether or not to add the Expanded Ranks to the HEROIC RPG base game or save them for a later expansion.
Please BE HEROIC and vote ASAP!
Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
PROJECT UPDATE
ZEG Media
CREATOR
2 months ago
Project Update: ICONIC SURVEY UPDATE!
Zeenutz!
If you backed for custom characters, you NEED to get your Surveys in. If you've been sent the first draft on your art, you NEED to reply ASAP to Shane.
The artist we have for this is waiting for characters to draw!
See this post for the details
BE HEROIC!
If you backed for custom characters, you NEED to get your Surveys in. If you've been sent the first draft on your art, you NEED to reply ASAP to Shane.
The artist we have for this is waiting for characters to draw!
See this post for the details
BE HEROIC!
PROJECT UPDATE
ZEG Media
CREATOR
2 months ago
Project Update: STATE OF HEROIC UPDATE!
THIS UPDATE IS FOR BACKERS ONLY, SCROLL DOWN FOR BACKER ONLY CONTENT.
Includes Backer-Exclusive Content
