Machine Gods of the Noxian Expanse - The Voidspire Territories
I'm very happy to announce that the second book in the Machine Gods of the Noxian Expanse setting is now available exclusively via this Patreon! And yes, I am aware that the Core Rules book is still technically in beta, but that is only because of the missing art. The same goes for this second book, there's no art for it, but it's feature complete. 72 pages of science fantasy goodness!
The Voidspire Territories is set in the sprawling city of Voidspire, built around a massive, decaying data center. Players navigate a world where the ruling Glass Lords, Circuit Priests, and Conduit Knights vie for power, while the common folk struggle to survive in the shadow of the machine god known as the God of Ten Thousand Glowing Eyes. This richly detailed setting offers a unique blend of science fiction, medieval fantasy, and dystopian themes, perfect for campaigns filled with intrigue, exploration, and survival.
Key Features:
Immersive Setting: Explore the city of Voidspire, a vertical maze of ancient server rooms, noble estates, and chaotic slums, all powered by a mysterious machine god.
Faction Dynamics: Engage with powerful factions like the Glass Lords, Circuit Priests, and Conduit Knights, each with their own agendas, politics, and rewards for loyal players.
Rich History & Lore: Dive into a world shaped by the rise and fall of a technological utopia, where the remnants of humanity worship the very machines that once served them.
Dynamic NPCs: Interact with a diverse cast of characters, from noble lords and religious leaders to cunning merchants and rebellious commoners, each with their own stories and motivations.
Dangerous Exploration: Venture into the perilous maintenance tunnels and Memory Crypts beneath the city, filled with rogue drones, ancient traps, and valuable relics.
Customizable Characters: Choose from a variety of character backgrounds tied to the Voidspire Territories, offering unique perspectives and plot hooks for your campaign.
Conspiracy and Intrigue: Unravel complex plots and conspiracies using the included conspiracy generator, adding layers of mystery and political intrigue to your game.
Unique Creatures: Face off against a host of enemies, from rogue maintenance drones and crypt guards to reanimated nobles and tunnel ghouls, each with their own stats and abilities.
Artifacts and Relics: Discover powerful ancient artifacts that can turn the tide of battle or unlock secrets of the old world, adding depth to your adventures.
If this sounds interesting to you, don't hesitate joining the Patreon! If you do so at the Evocatus or higher tier you will immediately get a copy of both the Core Rules book and this second one!
Comments (6)
Alex, I'd like to make a suggestion and it's totally subjective, so hear me out. The Machine God mentioned is known as the "God of Ten Thousand Glowing Eyes". In my opinion it's a bit cliché and a trope that's been used a million times. I'd suggest renaming it to something more original that sounds intimidating, frightening, awe inspiring or whatever else you might be going for with the being in question. I thought about binary code, and it's a bit clunky for more than one letter, but if you're creative something like 3,201,322 (which is what you get if you add up the binary code for "God". The number 10,000 in binary is 10011100010000, which is a long string of numbers though. But this might not be the way to go as large numbers could be distracting. It could just be me but The God of Ten Thousand Glowing Eyes doesn't elicit anything special. Honestly I just downloaded it so haven't had a chance to read through it, so maybe it makes more sense in context. If you decide I'm wrong that's cool, this is just a suggestion.
I definitely agree that is super cliché, haha. But that was intentional, I thought of the kind of names a bunch of illiterate peasants would give to something like that, and the most obvious answer is something cliché. I love your idea of using binary code, it didn't occur to me, but it would basically imply that the deity was named either by itself, or by someone who knows binary, which is extremely rare in this type of society. I'll think about and ask around, to see how others feel about it. Thanks again!
While we are on the topic of artwork - I second the opinion regarding the cover. However, going back to the artwork of Machine Gods, especially today's updates, I have my concerns and harsh criticisms. My POV: I'm looking at an *original* world mixing relics of hypertechnology devolved and retrofitted into pseudo-medieval times. p.13 - a lady in the woods and a glowing orb. Is this telling me something unique about the author's vision? Is this inspiring me to envision a story behind it? Is this anything setting-specific, that I couldn't otherwise infer from the world? Is it important? This picture does nothing for me and for the system. p.19 - Is this a museum exhibit? A market stand? So... glowing flasks are the same value as high-tech pistols and metalwork? This looks so lazily designed to me. p.22 - I like the picture, but I don't understand why an adult living in that world would attempt to shoot a basic arrow at a huge mechanical construct. Maybe show an (organic?) weak point, at least? p.41 - a burning village? this is like the definition of redundancy for world building, imagery, vibe and everything else. p.50 - Too one-sidedly medieval, needs to emphasize the original duality of the world. Sorry if this is too harsh, but those really miffed me.
I'm sorry you didn't like the new illustrations, I personally love them and they fit my vision for the setting perfectly. It's your game too, though, so if something I include, whether rules-wise, setting-wise, or aesthetically, doesn't match yours, feel free to ignore it or change it. The way I see the setting is a heavily feudal one, with a high-technological background. Anything directly developed by humans nowadays though is purely medieval, and I want that type of aesthetic for the game. Technological wonders are the background, what gives the setting a unique flavor, I don't want them to be front and center.
a pink cover! love it.
Thanks! Simone killed it.