Update - 31/03/2025

Hello, and welcome to another weekly update! I hope you all had a great weekend! I spent it working for the most part, but I did decide it was time to try Hellbringer, the card-based Diablo-like boardgame I bought about 6 months ago. It's a lot of fun, and fast to get to the table!

Last week was a really busy one! You got to see the first rules that will go into Machine Gods - Advanced Rules, as well as the first half of Riftbreakers 2e. So far the feedback has been positive, but please, keep it coming! I need to know if you guys spot anything that doesn't work well. I've already fixed a few things that I missed in Riftbreakers 2e, like detailing conditions a bit better, and clarifying how damage and Protection interact when it comes to resistances and vulnerabilities. I've already started working on the next chapter, which is a short gazetteer (expanded from the one in 1e, and with new maps!), which will then include all the new hex-based exploration procedures. It was one of the most requested features, and even though I like the more abstract exploration from 1e, it's clear that people want a bit more of control and detail, and I'm happy to comply. I am still trying to keep it minimal, and I'm pretty sure I'll remove all survival elements, because they don't really suit the theme of the game. Instead, eating food will provide a boost to different stats. Still need to work on it!

I'm also going to rework how companions work, and I'm removing all the idea of ranks. It was cool, but it was a bit annoying to deal with, especially when it comes to crafting, so it goes out the window! My goal is to make the game easier to play, without losing depth, so I'm really shaking things up.

Last week was also the release of the Book of Masteries for Ker Nethalas. It's been really well received, people seem to be loving it, but I'm surprised by sales not being as strong as I expected. Ker Nethalas is my most successful game so far (followed closely by ATDW), so I expected a lot more interest. I'm still to recover what I spent in producing it, but I'm confident I'll get there soon. Let's hope people start realizing that this is a great addition to the game! In case you missed it, check out this video showcasing it!

And speaking of additions to Ker Nethalas, I've made a lot of progress with the third issue of The Vaelorian Codex. I still have a couple of last details to decide, but José Antonio is already working on the art, so I hope it will be ready around summer. We'll see, though! We all know he isn't the fastest (although his illustrations keep getting better and better).

This week will be a return to Tales from the Green for me, the skirmish game I'm working on with Ivan Sorensen. I need to write the list of character Evolutions and the kinfriend Powers, before I can get into the meat of how gameplay works. Lots of cool ideas being tested here! I think it's going to be a really interesting blend of both Ivan and I's mechanics and rules.

So that's it for now, back to work for me. Have a great week!