NECROVENGE – A solo TTRPG

April25 – This isn't going to be a perfect book
about 1 year ago – Sun, Apr 06, 2025 at 01:01:16 PM

And that's sometimes hard for me to accept. 

I’ve been writing less than I wanted to. Part of it has to do with very good, happy reasons. Part of it is just my lazy ass procrastinating perfection.

It happens to the best of us excluding Stephen King and Pelle Nilsson. The feeling of dread as you sit down to write, because you haven’t solved something, or you don’t feel your solution is perfect. So you'd rather try to solve it in your head. You must solve it, without doing the work, before sitting down to do the work. That at least happens to me more often than it should.

When I write it out like that, it sounds stupid. Childish, even. Naive beyond belief. Like a necromancer thinking they’ll actually succeed at getting satisfying revenge.

Setting aside the bad reasons, we’ve also found out that my girlfriend is carrying a goblin around. Meaning that, before long, I’ll be a goblin king.

That's amazing for me personally. I'm truly happy. For the designer of this book, it sets a deadline that creeps closer every minute he isn’t writing. So he better get back to it.

Phew. That was a bit of a wave of apologetic sadness. How’s the whole thing actually progressing? Actually quite well, so disregard the whole sob-story someone wrote above. Sorry if you read that.

I’m at +75 pages and plan to launch the next version of the play-test document around the start of May. I need to do a sum up page of the rules, and then do a grammar read-through of the prompts before I release it. Once I'm ready I would love all the help I can get play-testing it. I really need some valuable feedback derived from playing! 

In other news, I’ve released a one-pager for MÖRK BORG set in an Alice in Wonderland-inspired setting. Go check it out if you want to. It’s potentially free. Potentially really expensive. Your call.

Let me know if you bring it to a table. 🔥

Feb25 – Back from the dead ...
over 1 year ago – Tue, Feb 11, 2025 at 11:53:45 AM

Both me and these monthly updates have been resurrected. As you've likely noticed, it's not the 1st of February but the 11th. Sorry. But just like this update eventually resurfaced, I've been on the brink of no return, having been under the weather for the last 10-14 days. So that's a reason for the delay, though not a good one. Hope to be back to casting spells in no time!

On the dark and positive side, the Backerkit Preorder Store is now up and running! You can share it with friends who might've missed the original Kickstarter. It would mean the world to me if you did. You can find it here and on the Kickstarter page (be mindful that shipping will be added, and charged later):

As for the project, I've surpassed the word count for Trapped Within (my first zine), making this the longest project I've ever written. While it's not exactly a grave achievement, this being only my second book, nor an assurance of quality, I lacked things to talk about. Which brings me to ...

Olaskos and Kevin the backer interviewed me over at Whisper From The Dying Land. Go listen, if you want to hear me laugh. It happens once. Okay, maybe a little more than that. 

I truly don't know what Full-Frontal means. But I'm too afraid to ask at this point. And speaking of names, I seem to be butchering everyone's, so if you value stuff like pronunciation, perhaps skip this episode. Sorry, Tommy and Matthew.

In other news: 

I'm running a small jam for people who want to create a fun one-page thing for MÖRK BORG. If you've never created anything go join, that's how I got started! You can talk with me over at my Discord and I'll help you create something. 

By the way, several good friends are launching Kickstarters which might spur your interest, first off Gnomelackey (who I might currently be doing a secret project with) is launching his first Kickstarter, a sweet-swamp-filled zine for MÖRK BORG, there's just a few backers needed to bring this one to life, so go support that croak-of-a-mother, here:

Brian the father of Vast Grimm is bringing us all Sqwürmish. Though I'm more a theater of the mind-kinda-guy I've had to back this – and you can too:

The Gonzo GM, a longtime friend and resident over at my Discord, is trying to fund his first zine Mussel Beach which looks both sexy and fun. Two things I know I'm lacking. Go help him out here:

Last but not least I'm currently backing Rook & The Crook, and while I know nothing in addition to what's on the Kickstarter page – I just really loved the visuals – they felt prime, plus I'm a sucker for a mediocre rhyme (see what I did there?)

That's all for now. I'll probably skip March and see you in April with a bigger, more beefy update, really don't want to spam you all too much – hope that's okay. If not, let me know in the comments! 

Stay evil out there. 

Jan25 – New Year Old Bones
over 1 year ago – Fri, Jan 03, 2025 at 03:02:22 AM

"Oh, hi," he said with a raspy voice, as he slowly resurfaced from yet another New Year's Eve celebration. His bones cracked from age, as a moan of self-loathing escaped his mouth. He wasn't a proper author, but at least he never wrote about himself in third person, he assured himself as he typed out another Kickstarter Update... 

ANYWAY ... How are you all? I hope you had a nice little holiday wherever you are and whatever you celebrate. 

I'm good, and so is NECROVENGE. In December, I released the A and B demo versions, you can find them in my Discord, where good people read them with dread and excitement. Both versions are 40-page excerpts of what will eventually be the full game.

As always, my ability to scope things has proven to be on the conservative side. The Kickstarter page says 60+ pages but I think one plus might not be enough. We're heading for ++ territory.

Luckily, page count is not an expense; it's just a matter of time. My time.

Regarding the two versions, I've concluded that I'll move forward with the B version. After a couple of trusted friends playtested it and some chats with other, more experienced designers, it seems like the most sensible thing to do.

It's also been the more "fun" demo of the two, which is all I wanted to figure out by designing both. I'm glad I went through the trouble, and I think the A version might one day resurface as something new. So it hasn't been a waste of time.

What are the next steps now? Well, I just have to draw the rest of the owl. Or write the book. That's it, really ... Easy as blowing life into a bunch of bones.

I've set a daily writing goal, and I hope by consistently hitting my target, the book will slowly but surely be brought to life.

When I created the layout for the B version, I also took the opportunity to update the typography. It was a little too dusty for my taste, and after many experiments and printed pages, I've settled on PP Woodland and PP Right Serif from Pangram Pangram. They "feel" better visually, and more importantly, are more legible. 

If I end up using those, I'll spend around $200 on a printing license. What I wouldn't do for looking good.

That's it for this month's update. Feel free, as always, to join me on Discord or throw me a comment about the typography, or what you are currently reading. I just started reading Mistworld ... Enticing read. 

Dec24 – The Prototype Rises
over 1 year ago – Tue, Dec 03, 2024 at 08:32:07 AM

The chill of December is here, snow has fallen, disappeared, and something else has quietly emerged from the darkness…

A very early work-in-progress prototype (emphasis on very and in progress) has made it to my Discord. This is the A-version of the game, which takes the concept of Dark Fort and stretches it into something more ... menacing.

If you're brave enough to dive in, join my Discord and check it out (click the link.) I would love to hear what you think.

Later this month, the B-version of NECROVENGE will claw its way into existence, guess where to find it? You're right. Necrobay. No, sorry, it'll be uploaded to my Discord. So keep your torches lit and your eyes peeled for that update.

As for the rest, progress is steady, if a bit slow. I'm postponing the Pledge Manager, as we're still miles away from fulfilling the project. So it shouldn't matter.

I wish I had more time to sink into this (or more sunlight during the day to work by, it's starting to feel Mörk), but for now, I’m making the most of what I’ve got. 

Thanks for sticking with me through the bone-grind, it means the world to my black heart. I'll update you all again around the 1st of January, once I'm resurrected from the "New Year's Eve hangover".

Until then, don't die ... Again,

Phil

November Update – Death looks down upon you
over 1 year ago – Thu, Oct 31, 2024 at 04:13:19 AM

Greetings, necromancers!

Hope you're all doing well. It’s been a busy time in the vengeful world and it's time for the monthly update! (which arrives in your inbox around the 1st of every month.)

Still Writing Dark Spells
The writing process continues. This stage is about making sure each element feels truly immersive, darkly evocative, and of course, fun. This means that halfway through October I started writing the book again.

What, again? Yes, again. I had a feeling that the book wasn't turning out to be the best it could be, so I'm currently creating two playable demos. Similar in necro-vibe, but different in mechanics and game loop: One focuses more on being "roleplay" whereas the other focuses more on being a "game." 

The goal is to put both through playtesting soon, where we’ll see which system fits the NECROVENGE vibe. Once we’ve gathered enough feedback, I’ll choose the most fitting system for the final version. (And who knows – some elements from both might just make it into the final game!)

I know I've teased preorder earlier, but I've chosen to spend what little time I have on writing and progressing NECROVENGE. Once the first demo is out, I'll set up the Backerkit.

Other NECRO-things

If you simply cannot wait on great stories about revenge, I can only encourage you to listen to the great story Tenebroumby my good online friend D. Winchester. He reached out during the campaign as he felt our love for necromancy was shared. I've read the first 8-9 chapters and it's good! 

On another necromantic note, I've just stumbled upon this small roguelike on Steam, and I'm excited to try it – eventually.

Do you have any good books or games about being a necromancer that you can recommend? Let me know in the comments. 

Thank you again for your amazing support and patience.

Till next time, stay dark and daring – and have a happy Halloween. 

– Phil