Update - 27/01/2025
Hello, everyone! I hope you all had a great weekend. I spent mine working hard on Machine Gods of the Noxian Expanse, and I finished all writing on Friday. I have been since then working on the layout, and I'm confident I'll be completely done either tomorrow, or day after tomorrow. The game is a rules-light game, as I mentioned before (it's super straightforward, and if you're familiar with my work you'll be up and running in a matter of minutes), but it does have a lot of random tables and tools and those take space, so it might end up being over a hundred pages long. The second I'm done with it, I'll send the details to Simone so he can start working on the art. As usual, I will first upload an artless version for you guys, so we can get some playtesting going, if you're up for it. I've started playing it myself and I think it's fun! The character sheet is almost done as well.
As you already know, my goal with Machine Gods is to give you nice folks an extra reason to stay here, since it will be a Patreon exclusive, and to see if more people want to check out the game, join, and hopefully stay when they see that I release new stuff every month. The key here will be reaching out to people to let them know that I have this cool new game, and that if they want to check it out they'll have to join the Patreon. It's going to really test my marketing capabilities, and I hope I can get as many reviewers and folks talking about it as possible.
As soon as I'm done with Machine Gods (my procrastination game), it's time to go back to Across a Thousand Hollow Vaults and try to wrap it up. I don't know why I have such a hard time working on stuff that isn't fantasy (sure, Machine Gods is not fantasy, technically speaking, but it plays like it is), even when I'm really liking what I'm doing with ATHV, and I'm so close to being done with it. It just feels more daunting.
Speaking of sci fi, I don't know what to do about Karum Station Blues. As you all know, the illustrator, Marcin S., has been at the hospital for almost two months now. Or at least, I assume he's still there, because I haven't heard from him in a while. The problem is that I already paid him in advance for all the art (I know, I keep trusting people but this time I really thought it was fine cause we've worked together before, he's well known in the RPG community, and he's a nice guy), and he was close to being done last time he sent me an update about it (in November). So what do I do, cut my losses and hire a new person so I can release the expansion, or wait and hope he'll be back? What do you guys think I should do? I don't feel like throwing a thousand bucks to the garbage, quite honestly.
In any case, this week I'll be wrapping up Machine Gods and start working on ATHV once again. I'm hoping I'll get the Path of the Aram Thyr books very soon, too, and I'll need to ship those out to backers.
So that's it for now, have a great week!
Comments (12)
About Karum Station Blues. That is a difficult one. On one hand $1000 is a hefty investment to write off, and if you go with another artist, the book would need to do even better just to break even. So I can see the argument to 'wait and see'. But on the other hand, it sounds as if the artist has been reliable in the past, so I cannot see why he would suddenly start ghosting everyone. From the outside, it would appear whatever required him to go to hospital was something serious. Well more serious than what normally sends people to hospital. So he might not be in a position to finish the project. Just a thought, If you do commission new art, and the original artist gets back in contact with you. Would it be possible to use that art for ATHV, or some other, as yet unplanned, release for the series. 🤷♂️
Yeah, I thought about how to use the existing Karum Station Blues art on something else, but I just don't really see it possible, because it was depicting scenes from this particular scenario, it's way too particular. That's the only thing that's stopping me from finding a new artist already. I honestly don't expect to break even with this release because it's written by Richard Kelly, which means we are going 50/50, and that's after DTRPG's cut, so to cover expenses I'd need to sell hundreds of copies, something difficult when it comes to scenarios and suplemental material... But I think it's a really good addition to the game, so I want to publish it no matter what.
Sadly, I wonder if he passed away. I say cut your losses. I know that’s a lot of money but why hold up a project?
Yeah, it's honestly really strange, as I don't see any other reason for him to disappear, since he's been a reliable illustrator in dozens, if not hundreds of projects. I do need to see if I find a new illustrator for this, apparently.
“Machine Gods” has been an awesome surprise for the new year! I also love having low art or no art versions of your games before the beautiful POD is available, so I can print out custom cheat sheets! I’ve been playing ATDW again lately in anticipation of ATHV coming farther down the pipeline and I’m still really enjoying myself! I’m sure that I’d love a reason to return to ATDW even after ATHV has released…. like a reason to start a new character in the original game without feeling like I’m just doing everything over again… (Since you’ve mentioned that once you’re in the “vaults”, you’re in the vaults) You really take good care of us Alex and as others have also stated, you release so much great work already! I’d love to play Karum Station ASAP, but we’ll be okay if you just keep doing what you’re doing with the rest of your projects 👍🏼 I hope Marcin is alive and will be resurfacing at some point, but maybe deciding to not care, or releasing an artless version is the way that the universe gets tired of trying to screw you. We all love you, no matter what way you go with this issue man! Thanks for everything!
Thank you for your kind words and support, I really hope you guys like Machine Gods! So far I've been playtesting it myself and having a lot of fun!
If I were in your shoes, I would move on from Marcin, at least for this project. The fact is, from a business perspective, it doesn't matter why he isn't answering your emails. If he's sick, that's awful, and maybe you can iron out the kinks in the business relationship in the future. If he's not, then he's avoiding you, and there likely won't be a business relationship in the future. Either way, it seems extremely unlikely that the work you paid for will be completed. If you want the work done, you need to find someone else. Your communications to him can be as positive and hopeful as you can make them, but regardless of the reasons for his absence, he should understand why you are moving on. This is just my opinion. I don't run my own business, so I can't claim any experience in this area.
Yes, this is solid advice. Thank you!
Pew, that's bad luck with the art! Maybe, if you hire someone new you can get some art from Marcin later for another project? Like having credit with him? Maybe even the pieces he started can be used later for another project? That would mean it's not completely lost. But most importantly, you dint have to rush anything imho. You have so much content coming all the time, maybe just give it another week, try to get in contact, maybe you can reach some colleague or friends of his that know what's up?
I thought about that, but the art Marcin has completed already wouldn't fit into anything else, since it's scenes of stuff that takes place in the scenario. I should have asked him to at least send me what he had already done, I suppose... I have been trying to reach out in different ways but it's been all for nothing so far. Which is actually worrisome, it's very strange he disappeared, I hope he's fine.
Thanks for the great update as usual! Regarding the art for ATHV, I would try to contact him and give him a deadline. If deadline is not reach tell Him that you will realest a partial refund. It might not work as I’m guessing you did. It have a contract in place but that’s worth a shot. Turn the email in a non threatening tone as you still want to keep good relationships with that guy. I’m sure he will understand, hopefully
The problem is that the deadline was passed 2 months ago, and he's not replying to emails. Or social media accounts... He's completely disappeared, which makes me worry.