Hi everyone. The last few months have been completely crazy. Since Death Game funded, I have had my nose to the grindstone working to complete it on time for UK Games Expo in the spring.
The game is complete now and with the layout/editing gods, so I can get to work on a few other projects I have. In spring I usually work on random miscellany, small side projects and little freelance gigs. I’ll share what I can of that over the next few months and should even have some fun free products to share with you as well!
The pledge manager for Death Game should go live very soon, and you can sign up to follow it here if you didn’t get to back the game on Kickstarter.
THIS IS JUST A REMINDER THAT ALL MINE AND KRISTEN’S GAMES ARE AVAILABLE IN PHYSICAL FORM ON TWELVEPINSPRESS.COM.
If you enter the code PROMO10, you should get a discount. I’m putting this at the top of my newsletter because people often get in touch asking where they can get physical copies of my stuff. That’s the link you should go to!
CONTENTS
PWYW online game design workshops
Fight for Communism Fundraiser
From the Design Den
Cons We’ll Be At
Projects I can’t wait for!
Online workshops!
I’ll be running two online workshops with Glasgow Zine Library over the next couple of weels. You still have a little bit of time to register.
The first one is on Narrative and Mechanics; how to design an RPG and is next week. There’s still one or two tickets left!
The second one will be held later in May, and it is on how to self-publish an RPG. If you’re thinking about getting started in RPGs, come along!
All the events are pay-what-you-want.
Laurie’s Communism-In-Our-Lifetime Itch.io sale!
Right now, all of my PDF’s are 50% off on itch.io here. If you don’t mind, give me 5 minutes of your time to explain why.
TLDR: I have an awesome schedule of free releases planned, and I’m raising funds to make a dono to my organisation!
A lot of the people who follow me for my game design work won't know that for the last eight and a half years I've been a proud member of a communist organisation. If that's you, then: surprise!
I don’t usually talk about my politics with RPG people, for the reason that I feel my work speaks for itself politically. But I’m by no means embarrassed about it. I'm a communist beceause like so many people, I grew up during climate change and COVID. We now live in a time of endless war and crisis, with brutality heaped on those who deserve it the least. I don't want to sit back and watch the world burn. I want to leave behind a better world for future generations. That means we need action now.
This year, we are launching the Revolutionary Communist Party. We will be holding a founding congress in London at the beginning of May. From now until the 1st of May, all my revenue from itch.io will be donated to help found this organisation. I'm putting everything I have on sale to make as much of a splash as possible.
I’ve made a few little ‘goals’ for the product, so if enough people purchase the PDF bundle you’ll also get an awesome schedule of free releases. Check the graphic below!
Notes from the Design Den
This last few months I’ve pretty much entirely been getting Death Game ready for layout. I’m so proud of where the game is at.
To give a few quotes from my editor; “clearly written by someone who loves the genre” , “I love this rule”(x10) and of course, “lol”.
I’ve already shared a lot of the core ruleset with you but I wanted to share a few clips from The Examination Hall, the scenario I’ve been writing for the game.
Also, can I just say how weird and amazing the scenarios our guest writers have written for the game are. I can’t quite share them yet, but you guys are in for a real treat.
Con’s we’ll be at
If you want to some see us in person, we’re going to be at several conventions in the next year! Come find us.
UKGE: I’ll be at UK Games Expo at the start of June. I’ll be working on the Soulmuppet stall, and all my stuff will be there with me so come and say hi!
Norwich Games Con: I’ll be at Norwich Games Con again this summer.
Dragonmeet: Twelve Pins Press and friends have a big stall at Dragonmeet later this year. I am looking for solo games to carry on the stall to flesh out our solo collection. Please contact me if that is something that interests you at all!
If there’s a convention you think we should be at that’s not listed here, get in touch and give us a tip off!
AMERICANS:
Want to see my games at a convention in the USA? IPR stock all my games but they’ve actually stopped bringing them to conventions recently (they usually do this after a while to make room for new stock). Next time you’re at a con, or just beforehand, why not get in touch with IPR and ask them to bring some of my stuff? If there’s interest, they will stock it, and it will be both good for me to get eyeballs on my work, and good for you because you can save on postage!
Crowdfunds and new games I’m excited for!
IKO- The LOST BAY
I’m glad I magaed to get this newsletter out today, because there are only three more days to go on The Lost Bay RPG.
This one caught my eye because I love urban fantasy, but I in general don’t like to play PBTA games. So I’ve been looking for an urban fantasy I’ll actually enjoy for a while. I’ve also been looking for something that isn’t so obviously Americanised.
Needless to day, I’m already mentally planning a mini campaign in my head.
What I found cool about this game:
The player classes. Player classes are called Vibes and I believe there are 10+ of them already in the core game. Personally I prefer classes that are niche and evocative over ones that are broad. If I have to have them at all, they need to be genre appropriate. And even from the names of the character classes you already get that vibe. From the Firestarter to the Screamer, there’s plenty of flavour even before play starts!
Plenty of D6 pools. I just prefer them to pretty much any other resolution mechanic.
The setting. For me, the different districts of the Lost Bay give dark Sims world vibes. I don’t know how to explain it but it’s really cool to me.
Anomalies of the Aether Sea
Saga, a map artist I really admire, who I have employed in the past to do work on Sleeping Above A Stolen Crown (you know those cool battlemaps and exploration map in the book? That was her) is kickstarting a new map pack.
Her cartography work is so colourful and unique, and this is not one to be missed out on especially if you’re the type that plays online and enjoys using battlemaps. You should follow the project here
Godslingers
Kayla from the Rat Wave Game House has released another game. I’m not including a description there because you all can read the itch page for yourself. but she literally NEVER MISSES so do yourself a favour and have a look!