Transmission Thursday: The Seraph Path
over 4 years ago – Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 11:17:27 PM

Welcome back, agents.

As we focus on building a book (or two) with quality only fitting for you all, we’ll keep posting regular updates every week.

Thanks to all your comments and insight, we are now steering layout and budget for TWO hardcover books; one for Lore and one for Mechanics. This is not final yet but it seems as the most likely path for us to follow. We are awaiting for our manufacturer's final quote along with the possibility to offer you slip cases, GM screens, new digital adventures, extra STL models and more optional buys that will help us handle manufacture with the new scope. More news about that once we get the revised quote but we are committed to deliver the best value for any RPG Kickstarter project you have backed. (Let us know in the comments which RPG Kickstarter rewards have brought the most joy for you.)

STL files fulfillment

We have been waiting for our subsidiary company LAIR to deploy its platform in order to send your STL rewards. However, they have been struggling with some deployment issues, so we will start distributing files via DriveThruRPG this weekend. 

Now, let's proceed with some teaser art. Today, we will take a gander at the Seraph, one of the available paths in game.

Seraphim

Among the greatest and more widespread discoveries unearthed in the Gift is the process of creating Dread Angels. Dread Angels are soldiers who have received Zohar crystal implants, along with other more minute and incredibly painful changes. The most painful of these, and perhaps the most dangerous is the creation of Seraphim.

Seraphim, mechanically, are a mix between powercasters and combatants. They're usually put in leadership positions, but in the fog, everything may change.

Here’s an excerpt from the Axumite Federation faction developed by Helen Gould regarding Dread Angels and Seraphim.

There are five kinds of Dread Angel which can be made by using different formulas and placements of Zohar implants. Some transformation processes are more painful than others, but none of the Angels have any memories of it once the procedure is complete. Regardless, the soldiers do scream as they are turned from humans into something more.

Six Zohar implants are inserted in three rows into the Seraph’s back. These implants then grow into three pairs of glowing crystalline wings, which allows Seraphim to be used for extremely effective air reconnaissance.

The Seraphim are also implanted with a chip that links directly back to The Gift, so that in an emergency they can fly back to protect it from falling into enemy hands without needing to be contacted.

In the fog, Axumite units count on their seraphim to keep the group together, both as a unit and individually. Their orders and presence are paramount for the team’s mental strength and survival. Such responsibility may also count as a drawback, as a seraph that fails at their duties dooms the team to disarray and defeat.

On the books

The books are taking shape. Our design team is working hard to make sure the content is not only alluring but properly presented. Currently we are at 95% of finishing text title hierarchy and arrangement. Some chapters, such as Equipment and Bestiary, are very advanced at art placement too. We receive art updates daily for sketches or revisions so the layout is still changing for most chapters. Many charts and tables are done as well. We now need to commission a new cover art for the second book.

That's all for now, we will be back next week with more news (including how to proceed if you can't find your DriveThruRPG email for your STL files) and more art. Every week we convince ourselves even more that your rewards for this project will be one-of-a-kind!

Transmission Thursday: A memo from the Owls
over 4 years ago – Fri, Jul 10, 2020 at 07:55:05 PM

Greetings, Minerva agents. Welcome back to a new Transmission Thursday.

We’ve received an urgent memo from the Owls at the top of our organization. Our report on the Miasma and the Wounded Earth has far exceeded our expectations.

Now that we have all edited text currently in layout stage, our core rulebook content, plus design and art (which is looking amazing, mind you), is close to reaching about 600 pages, if not much more. Releasing the book as is would result in quite the impact in resources (art and manufacture) so once more, we come to you in conversation.

The way we see it, we have three options:

A. An unabridged PDF including everything we’ve worked on, along with a hardcover copy with the essentials for the universe. Not only the system itself, but also the key elements of the world. 

• Digital PDF file: 600+ pages; sent to backers in pledge levels $20 and higher.
• Physical Hardcover book: 400 printed pages; sent to backers in pledge levels $60 and higher.
• The extra content (about 200+ pages) left out from what we consider essentials would be considered for a physical release outside of this Kickstarter.
• Timeline won't be affected and some extra funds for art of the unabridged PDF would be needed. 

B. Work two books: one for system and one for the universe. This, unfortunately, would most likely delay fulfillment. We can go at this two ways:

• Two Digital PDF files: total of 600+ pages; sent to backers in pledge levels $20 and higher.
• Two Physical Hardcover books: total of 600+ printed pages; sent to backers in pledge levels $60 and higher.
• Content would split between game system for book 1 and the universe and lore for book 2. Both for this Kickstarter rewards.
• Timeline for physical fulfillment might be affected a couple of months because we would like to include extra art for the pages plus our manufacture costs would double. 

C. Just go for a single huge book. This would be heavy and we’d have to be careful with the publishing, which would probably require new funds. The weight of the book would probably be the least of our problems, considering how big school books are.

• Digital PDF file: 600+ pages; sent to backers in pledge levels $20 and higher.
• Physical Hardcover book: 600+ printed pages; sent to backers in pledge levels $60 and higher.
• All content in a single book as planned in the campaign except it would be almost twice the original size.
• Timeline for physical fulfillment might be affected a couple of months because we would like to include extra art for the pages plus our manufacture costs would increase (less than double). 

The expected path for us to follow would be to make the essentials Core rulebook with a 400-page PDF and hardcover book. But in all honesty, we firmly believe all the content deserves to be published, printed, and have more matching art for this unique setting. To handle the extra costs of extra art and manufacture, we could re-open the preorder store for all backers who want to chip in (voluntary).

Again, we want to hear your opinions on this. This work is yours as much as it is ours. And when you look at it, we want you to be proud (even more) of having backed Eldritch Century RPG.

We’ll leave you with this Work in Progress, so you can stare at it while you’re thinking:

We will be back next Thursday!

Transmission Thursday: The President and the lore
over 4 years ago – Thu, Jul 02, 2020 at 02:49:37 PM

Hello Minerva Agents. Welcome back.

Today’s Transmission Thursday is quite the special one. Head Quarters has received two very intriguing and exciting pieces of content.

President Juan Galt of the Atlantean Alliance

Ever since his reappearance a few years before the Discovery of the underwater tunnels that gave name to the Atlantean Alliance, Juan Galt has been a beacon of Atlantean values and nothing short of an action hero. He has led exploration parties to the great oceans that surround the Alliance as he has starred in marvelous films. Long before he was elected, he was already very well known. A wondrous politician that keeps the Mexican, American and English interests and agendas at bay, Juan Galt is a paragon of adventurers everywhere as the bannerman of fearless adventure.

Here’s an excerpt of Juan Galt as developed by Ezzy Languzzi

Upon returning to Mexico City, Galt visited a cantina and met Don Pedro Torres de Rivera for the first time. It was as though their encounter had been predestined. They downed tequila as they bonded over personal demons and shared their plans. Rivera planned a coup of the new socialist regime in Mexico, and Galt sought purpose for his new life.

Rivera sensed something extraordinary in Galt and invited him to join his rebel army. Their chance encounter resulted in friendship and a lifelong pursuit of common goals. Galt joined Rivera on his quest to champion freedom and helped lead the peasant revolution that freed their country from oppression. The victory invigorated him and, for the first time since his time at sea, he vowed to return one day to the place that had transformed him into a man.

The years that followed brought Galt wealth, notoriety, and respect. He ventured into the Corsair business, where he met one of his closest friends, Augustus L. Walker. He became active in local politics, crossing paths with Lady Heathcliffe, who championed children’s and women’s rights. Everything Galt touched turned to gold. He became a self-made millionaire, his films won him awards, and political rivals threw their hands up in defeat whenever he entered a race. Nothing seemed unattainable to him, and he developed a taste for excess. When the time came to elect a president for the Atlantean Alliance, Galt emerged as the natural frontrunner.

Lore section editing complete

The other document we received today was Jaym Gates' final editing work on the lore section of our book. We are one step closer to send your expeditions into the fog. Now it is time for us to prepare the layout for the second half of the book and finish the art.

You will hear again from us next Thursday!

Transmission Thursday: Aurea Kerana de Souza
over 4 years ago – Thu, Jun 25, 2020 at 04:00:59 PM

Hello, Minerva Agents. Welcome back.

We hope everyone is keeping safe and healthy. Listen to your health authorities.

Today we’ll dive into one of the strangest characters at the helm of the Renascent Hegemony: Aurea Kerana.

Aurea Kerana de Souza

Very few facts are known about Ms. De Souza. We understand that Aurea is a form of title among the dreaming cabal she leads in the Hegemony. This cabal worships the long-lost whispers of the Golden One in the Amazon that the indigenous nations of the region fought so hard to keep hidden before the Renascents’ arrival. Of her origins, we know little to nothing; but if our planet’s doom doesn’t come from the Miasma itself, she certainly had something to do with it.

The following is an excerpt from the Renascent Hegemony developed by Ezzy Languzzi and Alvaro Zinos-Amaro.

While unconfirmed, Urbanites speculate that Aurea’s perpetual youth may be related to ethically dubious experiments developed by Leonora D’Avinci--experiments that most Renascents find grotesque, though not necessarily morally reprehensible. A more complex history may explain Aurea’s appearance, as her lineage is mysterious and her psionic skills and knowledge far surpass those of any Rensascent of her presumed age. She is a strikingly beautiful young woman, who taught both Atreus and D’Avinci during their Dunwich University days.

Unsurprisingly, Aurea is always by the Hegemon’s side and only leaves him to visit the ruins of the ancient cities. Whether it’s a trick of the eye, or environmentally produced, she exudes an amber aura in dim light. Her presence is felt by all when she enters a room, as her poise, use of precise language, and intense and penetrating gaze draw people to her.

The Book – Character creation

We’re taking huge strides in progress. The design team is still working on tables, boxes and spacing for art for our book.

Here’s another sneak peek at the first pages of the Character creation formerly known as the Exegesis system. As we explained in one of our previous updates, we’ve made a few changes, but the intention of narrative-driven choices and the incredibly modular design remains.

That's all for today. We hope to have made you as excited as we are. We're doing our best to create as three-dimensional world as we can, as well as to deliver a book of excellent quality.

Oceanic Community Illustrations
over 4 years ago – Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 10:22:54 PM

Hello, Minerva Agents!

Welcome back. Today we’ll zero in on one of our characters, mainly because the art came in and we’re really excited.

Faezah Wasaidan Jasmay

Faezah is one of the key characters of the Oceanic Community, and she’s bannerperson of the diversity values of the faction. She’s known for her tireless work and her first biggest creation, the Cetacean Communication Device. She has led the Community on a path of theoretical knowledge and ingenious creation regarding the world below them that was never before imagined by any of the Matua Matuas or captains of the council. 

Here’s an excerpt from Elizabeth Chaipraditkul’s work.

Faezah was born to a USSR refugee and a Malay scientist within the Community. A brilliant young woman, the only life she’s ever known was on the waters and to this day gets dizzy each time she steps on land. As a child Faezah was quiet a ponderous, she spent most of her time rummaging through the bowels of her Mothership to find scraps of seaweed and other living things to squish, dissect, and understand. Always sure of herself and what she wanted, Faezah adopted the name Wasaiden from an early age signaling her true gender identity. She loved life on the Mothership, but relished her time alone among the salvage pretending to be a great scientist like her mother.

Wasaiden’s life changed her, her parents were stationed for six months on the island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) so her father could study the statues there. Without the constant roar of life around her, the now young woman felt unanchored in a sea of silence. Where she would’ve relished the chance to live among so much nature, she realized what she truly needed was life and the hum of her Community and thus sank into a deep yearning sadness.

Salvation came one day while Wasaiden swam far off the shore of the island, deeper and deeper into the waves crashed around her making such a roaring sound she felt as if she was once again in the bowels of her beloved home. She swam so far out, so entranced by the waves, she didn’t realize there was not enough energy in her limbs to bring her back safely to the island and the unrelenting waves pulled her father and farther out into the water. Just as Wasaiden’s body was about to be taken by the Primordial Sea, she felt a smooth warmth along her side and a flurry of movement.

Before she understood truly what was happening a small pod of dolphins hoisted the young woman between them and brought her to shore. Halfway towards the island Wasaiden grabbed hold of her senses to the miracle surrounding her and then a deep wave of peace came over her—once again she was surrounded by the flurry of life she so desperately missed. How truly lovely it was.

We recently received the art for the Oceanic community paths and they look awesome. Here's a sneak peek for the Recycler path:

Core rulebook Layout

We’re still working on more artwork for the book as we wait for the final editing delivery regarding lore. Additionally, our design team has taken huge steps into transforming the book from large chunks of shared word processing documents into a beauty. Both the design team and writers have in contact to make sure the heading hierarchy is okay and adapting tables; they've also been making plans as to where illustrations should go and creating art briefs for new illustrations. Placing art is the last step, so the current layout has lots of blue placeholder frames to mark where art or some other visual elements are needed.

Here's an example of what was mentioned above: 

That's it for now, thanks for sharing with us the enthusiasm for this project and reading this project updates. We are working hard to deliver a top-quality book.