Development Continues!
almost 3 years ago – Sun, Jul 02, 2023 at 11:21:31 AM

Hope everyone is having a great summer so far!

Progress Report

The layout has been completed for 140 pages now. The setting is expanding a bit as I put it on the page. The bad news is that this is taking longer than expected, the good news is that the book will be larger. My previous two Kickstarter campaigns roughly ran on schedule, so I'm disappointed I'm behind schedule on this one, but regular progress continues! I'll release an updated demo on August 1st. 

Miska's Maps

I'm so glad to be again using the wonderful art of Miska Friedman for the maps in this book, I've been his patron since the first book, and he's only gotten better! Here are just a few of the maps that will be included in The Incubator and Willka Yaku.

THE INCUBATOR.  Jenterra's Dark Forest research facility, where biotech regulations are of no concern. Jenterra research is a pathway to many experiments some consider to be unnatural, yet the market dictates just how valuable their products can be. 

WILLKA YAKU.  An abandoned developing city, swallowed by Dark Forest. Great wealth and danger lies in these ruins.

Dark Forest Preview PDF
almost 3 years ago – Tue, Jun 06, 2023 at 11:48:52 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Demo News and Artist Spotlight
almost 3 years ago – Tue, May 16, 2023 at 12:57:07 PM

I hope everyone is having a great Spring so far!

I missed the April update; sorry about that. Time seems to be moving in fast-forward recently.

Dark Forest Demo

By June 1st, I expect to finish a demo PDF to release to everyone! It will be around 100 pages, and include the following content. 

• Part I: Factions and NPCs
• Part II: Cusco City
• Part V: New Rules

It will be distributed via DTRPG to all backers. Obviously, this will contain spoilers, so backers who are also players be warned. :)

Artist Spotlight: Dean Spencer

You've already seen some of his great work on the main page, but here are some more wonderful pieces by this talented man! I've been working with Dean since the beginning, and as such, his work is synonymous with the GeneFunk aesthetic. Here are a few of his newer pieces for this book!

I'll update you all in early June with the demo release! 

March Update - Book Layout and Continued Roll20 Development
about 3 years ago – Sat, Mar 18, 2023 at 09:44:46 AM

Book Layout

Spring is in the air, and development continues! Here are the different sections in the book, and their progress.

Part I: Factions and NPCs 

Part 1 details the people and factions a cadre might encounter while doing merc work in and around Dark Forest.  For those with the Shadows of Korea book, it follows a similar format, only I've combined the two chapters. This section is near complete in both writing and layout, at ~50 pages.

Part II: Cusco City

Part 2 outlines potential encounters in Cusco and Mazuko, the closest city and village to Dark Forest. These settlements are the initial transport hubs for the narcotics and biotech manufactured in the jungle valley. The cadre will acquire initial contracts and gather information, supplies, and contacts for their Dark Forest Expedition. This section is complete in both writing and layout at 34 pages. 

Parts III and IV: Jungle Adventure

Parts 3 (The Jungle) and 4 (Encounters) cover the entirety of the bioengineered jungle valley, Bosque Oscuro. Dozens of random and prepared encounters await the cadre, outlined in a hexcrawl map. The dangerous forest is filled will giant beasts, lethal viruses, poisonous plants, and hidden treasure protected by traps.  It includes predetermined encounters at fixed locations and a variety of random encounters as the cadre traverses the forest. These sections are 3/4 written and 1/4 done layout and will be ~80-90 pages combined. 

Part V: New Mechanics

Part 5 contains rules for new genomes, class archetypes, feats, upgrades, and selling loot and harvesting upgrades from enemies. Many of these new rules will relate to the setting of The Dark Forest. This section is complete in both writing and layout at 24 pages.

I wanted to have a Beta PDF out in April, but a family crisis has slowed development, I now expect the Beta to be out in late May or early June. I'll post some completed sections in PDF format in April!

Roll 20 Compendium 

The Roll 20 compendium is now live, and the persistent glitches that have made me reluctant to promote it have now been resolved, so I'm comfortable and happy to report its existence! :) If you enjoy Roll20, check it out! The Shadows of Korea module should be up in April as well!

Hope everyone has a great spring, I'll make sure to update at least monthly from here on out as things approach completion.

Backerkit Surveys and OGL Changes!
about 3 years ago – Wed, Jan 11, 2023 at 11:55:12 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.