Stretch Goal Unlocked, Final Goals Revealed, and Tier Clarification
almost 4 years ago – Tue, Jun 28, 2022 at 01:56:39 PM

Hey Folks,

We are getting so close to the finish line here! Just a few more days to go. It's been a wild ride and I am humbled by your support and enthusiasm. As we approach the last few days, we are revealing the final few stretch goals here! But first, check out the latest new art we've commissioned!

Stretch Goal Unlocked

We've just unlocked three new monsters!

• Rexenant Queensguard
• Mutant Knight
• Rebirth Cleric

All of these new monsters will now be added to the core book. Thank you so much for supporting this project and helping us make it as comprehensive as possible!

New Stretch Goals

As we approach the finish line, here are the final goals that we will try to unlock:

*Unlocking the Bluemont City Map will allow us to do a print run of the megacity's map in poster format which will be available on the BackerKit pledge manager. A complimentary digital version of the map will be made available to ALL backers.

Captain Pledge Tier (Physical)

There is a discrepancy on the Captain Pledge Tier where in one area it states the tier includes the standard hardcover and in another spot, it says the tier includes the Limited Edition Hardcover. For clarification, this tier WILL include the Limited Edition Hardcover in its rewards and NOT the Standard Hardcover.

Thank you so much to everyone who has helped share this project on Reddit and social media. Together, we can unlock all of these final stretch goals!

Thank you everyone and happy Monday!

~Shane 

It's the Weekend!
almost 4 years ago – Fri, Jun 24, 2022 at 06:36:48 PM

Hey Folks,

This is just a quick update to THANK YOU for being part of this project. I've gotten a few nice messages from folks saying how excited they are about this campaign setting and I wanted to thank you for your enthusiasm. Alex and I are so excited to bring this project to life and it's all because of you.

I met with Alex yesterday and I'm very excited to share that - potential stretch goals not included - the book's first draft is now 95% complete. It will be going through three rounds of edits and the first will start next week!

We just published an article on our site with tips on running guilds in fantasy RPGs, ideas that will be explored more in the book and I wanted to pass it along. https://www.headlesshydrapress.com/post/gm-tips-running-guilds

Also, since Friday is game night for many of us, here's a free 1st level adventure you can download, prepare in about 20-30 minutes, and run with your group tonight. 

Hope you enjoy and have an awesome weekend!

Shane

It's Dangerous Out There...
almost 4 years ago – Wed, Jun 22, 2022 at 11:02:20 AM

Hey Everyone,

We are closing in on the $25,000 goal and now it's time to reveal the monsters of Prataea!

Here are the 27 original monsters and creatures that will be included in the book!

• Rexenant Juvenile
• Rexenant Drone
• Rexenant Larva
• Rexenant Warrior
• Rexenant Scout
• Rexenant Thumper
• Rexenant Overqueen
• Harold Guardian
• Harold Ley Sorcerer
• Harold Garrison Leader 
• Centauren Ranger
• Centauren Priestess
• Centauren Guard
• Blumont High Guard
• Blumont Captain
• Gang Thug
• Gang Leader
• Rebirth Cultist
• Rebirth Cult Leader
• Guild Squire
• Guild Apprentice
• Guild Adventurer
• Guild Captain
• Guild Veteran
• Guild Leader
• Mutant
• Mutant Brawler

And here are three new monster we will add if we hit the $25,000 stretch goal.

• Rexenant Queensguard
• Mutant Knight
• Rebirth Cleric

Next time, we'll talk a little more about Adventuring Guilds. Until then, safe travels adventurers!

~ Shane

Handling Player Absences
almost 4 years ago – Thu, Jun 16, 2022 at 03:34:29 PM

Hey Folks,

PHEW! It has been a WILD week and a half. I had an amazing time at Origins Game Fair and thank you to everyone who came to talk to me about Adventurer's Agency!

Now that I'm back in the office, I wanted to take some time to talk more about how Adventurer's Agency will help your gaming group deal with player absences. Before I dive in, I also wanted to share a blog post we just published on the topic. https://www.headlesshydrapress.com/post/gm-tips-handling-player-absences

Adventurer's Agency

Our campaign setting provides the framework of the "adventure guild" where players are members of a guild that takes contracts from benefactors who can afford their services to help with anything from rescuing captured diplomats, investigating violent cults, and recovering lost artifacts. This frameworks creates a system where every game night, players take on a new contract in a self contained monster-of-the-week format. The book provides rich history and details about the Adventurer's Agency but it also includes guidance, rules, and random tables for creating your own adventure guild. 

Since players who miss a session may still feel left out, the book also includes a system for generating contracts and outcomes for these players. For instance, when someone misses a game session, instead of explaining their absence as the PC was carousing or navel-gazing, you can use this system to determine the reason the character missed the adventure was because they were handling a separate contract where they investigated a robbery at the local Armorsmith that resulted in a master thief being captured but a bystander died in the crossfire. The Character earned 50 GP, 300 XP, and earned an sworn enemy in the form of the bystander's widow. This will help the absent player feel less left out since they have their own interesting development to share that will both help them keep pace with the rest of the party and also provide fun roleplaying opportunities.

Another key part of the system is that while party tackles what essentially amounts to one-shot adventures each week, these adventures will often feature breadcrumbs of clues that hint at a larger conflict brewing. Cultists that are working to resurrect the fallen Titans.  Swarms of Rexenant that seemingly have no end to their numbers. Sentient wandering mountains that inch closer to Blumont by the day, protected by their devastatingly competent elven Heralds. These breadcrumbs will eventually culminate in BBEG confrontations that you can throw at your players during a session when you have a full quorum. 

Stretch Goal

Much like the Wandering Mountains, we are inching closer by the day to our next stretch goal! This next one will add three new monsters to our bestiary. In the next update, I will include the full list of all monster that will be included in the book so make sure to stay tuned!

Shane

Beware the Overqueen
almost 4 years ago – Sun, Jun 12, 2022 at 12:14:35 AM

Hey Folks!

Thank you to all of our new backers! I want to give a shoutout to everyone who joined us from Origins Game Fair!

We reached the $20K milestone and unlocked another stretch goal. We now have enough funding to commission some additional original art! Ive spoken to our super talented artists (big shout-out to Pawel, Thuan, and Alec!) and new pieces are in the works! I even have one new piece to show off. If you thought Rexenant Warriors were bad, wait until you meet the Overqueen.

Our next stretch goal will unlock additional monsters! In an upcoming update, I will share the complete bestiary list.

Thank you everyone for making this project possible. Have a wonderful evening and if youre having a blast at Origins (like I am) make sure to stop by booth #947!

Shane