Just as I start planning one stretch goal, we've already knocked it down!
The project has been so successful that I can officially announce some book upgrades! First, the early bird Oathbreaker class. Instead of a separate printed leaflet for only the early backers, I wanted to upgrade that and include it in the book properly. This means that everyone will now get it for free, hope that's okay with everyone!
On top of that, you all have unlocked the funding needed to develop the SPELLBLADE subclass. The art is below, and development on both of those, as of yesterday, is now underway!
I'm working with a designer on upgrading the spell cards and character sheets too! (Work in Progress preview below, art not final)
Also, at 100k, we have officially unlocked BIG Legendary Monster cards as a free upgrade to everyone at the boxed set tier! These are 10 tarot sized cards with full art on one side, to impress (and intimidate) players, and an easy to run statblock on the back so you don't have to go flipping through books while running it.
Next Stretch Goal is for everyone, at 120k we're upgrading the adventure to support 1 more level of play and a sandbox style "choose your quest" layout for this and any future updates, for more freeform play.
Quick update on the personal side, it's been... a week, I've been sick and now some of my kids are too, so if there is a slight delay in responding to comments & questions, that's why! I'm slowly getting caught up though. Some additional FAQs have been added as well.
Thank you all, next week: class previews! Which class would you like to know more about first? I'm interested to know, leave a comment please
– Evan @ Nimble Co.
PS. the free preview has been updated with some clarifications & wording changes, clarifying what dying means and some other small things. And will continue to be updated, so check back every once in a while for the latest preview doc.
We're officially 300% funded and have unlocked our second Stretch Goal: a digital copy of the original soundtrack by Castle If free for all Backers. Thank you!
The documentary is getting bigger and better with every additional backer – and we can’t wait to reveal even more exciting surprises over the next few weeks.
And speaking of surprises, we’ve received so many positive comments and kind words about the teaser trailer theme, which Castle If aka Jess Forrest, composed specially for our campaign video. We’ve passed all of those compliments along to her. We can’t wait to see what she does with the full original soundtrack for the doc.
As a special bonus, Jess has released a special music video for the “Legends of Adventure Teaser Theme” on YouTube – a music video featuring some amazing vintage Sierra footage – and Bandcamp.
Watch the music video below:
The song will be available on all major music streaming services later this week!
The response has been absolutely amazing. Thanks to all of you, the project is off to a great start: we funded in just about 15 minutes yesterday and are currently over 1000% of our original funding goal. 🤯 I am so very thankful for you all, with your help I promise to make this the absolute best it can be!
Now onto the Mystery Subclass reveal! The OATHBREAKER! Man I'm so excited for this, I can't even tell you... Instead of being a regular subclass chosen at level 3, this is going to be a special Story Driven Subclass. A player will be able to choose this subclass at ANY point along the level curve, when the story demands it. I love the idea of someone playing an Oathsworn, and watching something terrible happen (losing a party member, BBEG tempting or backstabbing them) and the BREAKING THEIR OATH... wow, that just seems too cool.
STRETCH GOALS
I waited to announce any stretch goals since I wanted to hear what YOU all are most interested in. As much as I'd love to, I don't think I can do ALL of them, but I want to do as many as I can. Let me know which ones to prioritize.Â
Fancy Dice. We've all got plenty of dice, but do we have enough fAnCy dice? (Included for free in the Boxed Set) Cloth Map. Who doesn't love a cloth map? Art TBD, likely of the adventure area for the starting adventure. (Included for free in the Boxed Set) BIG Legendary Monster Cards. Full are on one side to show (and intimidate) your players. Easy to read statblock on the back for convenience. Tarot Sized. (Included for free in the Boxed Set) More Subclasses. Let me know what you're most excited about. Spellblade? (Included for free with all tiers). Metal Action Trackers. Honestly, you don't need these, you can use dice or just your memory, 3 isn't that hard to count to. But having a hefty metal physical thing to interact with... mmm something about that... (Included for free in the Boxed Set) Holofoil Cards. Shiny. Need I say any more? (Included for free in the Boxed Set) Bigger Adventure. Up to level 4? Level 5? A sandbox style choose your own adventure? (Included for free with all tiers).
As we continue our journey toward Faerie, the soothsayers ask that you choose a champion to carry your banner deep into the forgotten realm. Twice a week thou will be asked to decide where this warrior goes and what choices they make, much like the “choose your own adventure” tomes of old.
While your champion is on their journey, any items thou discovers, creatures thou faces, or magic thou champions, will thereafter become part of the final tome. Your choices, and the roll of the die, will guide your champion. You decide what becomes part of the book and what is cast to the shadows as we progress towards their final quest, to defeat the Hag at the heart of the blightwood forest…
Should you succeed in defeating her you will be given a choice of additional special rewards to pick from, changing the book of Faerie forever more!
So choose your champion from the three bold heroes, and comment a name for them below! The most liked comment shall thus determine our champions title, provided it isn’t shudderingly offensive…
Big update today! 1. After the results of the add-on poll I will be adding plushie beanie keychains as the next stretch goal add-on! They are available to add onto your pledge now and will be officially funded at $25,000 CAD. 2. I am finally getting some rough sample photos in from my factory! Join me on the plushie development journey!Â
Plushie Beanie Keychains
After checking out the poll results, about 60% voted for the plushie keychains to be unlocked next! They are available now as add-ons to your pledge here: ADD-ONS PAGE Here's a closer look at the design file: They'll be made out of the same fabric as the frog plushies, with printed and embroidered details! I am currently only going to put out this green frog design with the possibility of expanding later on! I'm excited that these are happening - I've always wanted a smaller plushie offering and this feels distinct to the burger plushies while also fitting in at Frog Tree! : ))
I think I will still go ahead with producing a sample of the tote bag but it might not be a part of this campaign, depending on how this final week goes! I don't want to overload myself with a load of new products and end up delaying the campaign or the survey too much.Â
Rough Sample PhotosÂ
Usually I wouldn't share the very early sample work but I acknowledge that I really should have arranged for samples much earlier to account for unexpected delays! I expect you're also all curious to see how the new shapes and accessories will be rendered in plushie form and I wanted to bring you along the plushie design journey!
Disclaimer: These are not the final samples!
These are the pre-sample samples without custom frog printing. My manufacturer used some old plushie designs on hand to show me what the shapes would look like before they make the final samples with the correct frogs. I'll also talk about some of the notes I've given them as feedback. : )
Wizard Frog! I am SO HAPPY with how the little hat turned out!! You can see the stars are shown as little cut outs as they haven't printed the custom fabric yet so the blue will be much darker. I feel like I need to make a little black and green witch version one day too hehe. Wizard frog will also be just green with matching blue eyes!
Frogbat! Look at his little wing !! That's all there is to see here really but I think it's the perfect size and shape. : )
Cutie! Like frogbat, just the tongue is important here. I think the shape and colour is great!!
Sword Frog! Obviously still needs some refinement but you get a sense of the size of the sword and the removable belt with pouch! Modelled by avocado frog!
Goth Frog samples are still in the works and Skele Frog is just printed so their sample will come with the final round! As I've said before, all final samples will be shown before surveys go out! I hope that was exciting and interesting to see, haha. Designing plushies is a pretty lengthy process with lots of back and forth and giving feedback until the froggies are perfect!!Â
Thank you so much for supporting my project, reading and bringing these froggies into the world. ♥
We did it, ION Heart is our most funded launch ever! We're over the moon that so many people love our lo-fi robot game and have supported us with the launch on Backerkit! 🎆We are already busy engineering away in the back ground to bring you the best lo-fi mech experience on the tabletop!
Not joined us in the Astral Union yet? What are you waiting for? We've unlocked additional stretch goals to expand ION Heart more and more. Your mech best friend awaits you with a promise of adventure amongst the stars. Click here to pledge now! đź’«
Too much fun! I'm still loving the ideas and possibilities presented in Cyber-Scion and it's mechs as Divine Machines. We're *so close* to adding Cyber-Scion to our "DIY" Storyguide Screen reference PDF supplement, and I just wanna live in that World for a bunch of adventures.
At $32,000 in Funding - MYTHIC SHARDS REFERENCE GUIDE PDF - CYBER-SCION -Â A series of charts and information for a Storyguide to use while running a Cyber-Scion game will be added to the Reference Guide PDF. This PDF will automatically be added to the rewards list of all backers receiving the Scion: Mythic Shards PDF.
Add that on to the fact that I'm STILL thinking about After the End, and my recent rewatch of Furiousa and Fury Road have got me really vibing with that setting as well. And we've got some After The End suitable dice as a potential add on in our sights.
At $34,000 in Funding - NEW ADD ON - AFTER THE END-THEMED DICE SET - A dice set selected to represent After The End will be offered as an option Add On to all backers pledging to a reward tier that includes a hardcover copy of Scion: Mythic Shards. A drawstring bag with ten 10-sided dice in After the End colors can be added to your pledge for +$20 each.
But Mystic Shards contains a ton of great ideas, and we're gearing up for the next big section download coming on Tuesday. So I start to fall in love all over again with today's sneak peek preview.
Farewell to Heroes
Farewell to Heroes takes place in a version of the World that turned against Scions in the aftermath of disaster that mortals call the Herakles Incident. Those Scions who have not already been hunted down must stay hidden from mortal forces while still feeling the pull of Fate to realize their heroic destinies. They have to decide whether it’s worth risking their own lives to draw on their divine heritage to help others, because when they do, they set in motion powerful forces that will chase them to the ends of the World.
The Scions of this World live in a murky realm. Most of them are constantly on the move, struggling to survive and keeping their nature hidden. Their desperation leads to compromise: vulnerable to blackmail from people who discover who they really are, they find themselves caught up in dangerous schemes. It’s hard to trust anyone when you know they could turn you into the authorities just for existing, but sometimes, there’s no choice. Other times, it’s best not to ask too many questions about what the smuggler who can cross the border deals in, or what the mastermind behind a robbery plans to do with the money.
Still, the call to heroism whispers in the back of Scions’ thoughts, urging them to do what’s right.
New Player Options
Schemes
Eventually, every Scion in this World finds themself in situations where the only way to get what they need is to take it from someone else. Once TITAN has identified a potential target, it’s not only supernatural threats they monitor, but financial transactions, travel, and the whole range of activities that a global intelligence network can in our own world. In order to survive, a Hero must adapt to a new economy of barter and favors, and the people they deal with will want more than a blessing.
The sort of schemes in Farewell to Heroes are different from the Operations undertaken by Draconic Heirs (Scion: Dragon, p.183) in tone, even if they cover many of the same areas of espionage. Like the rest of the setting, they’re usually smaller in scale and pettier in motivation. That’s not to say they can’t be heroic — breaking another Scion out of prison, infiltrating a network to erase records, or righting a wrong done against an ally can all be virtuous acts — but for the most part, it’s the more common factors of greed, revenge, or desperation that drive them.
Planning and executing a scheme is a specific form of Complex Action that requires the successful completion of a number of Milestones to accomplish. The number of Milestones depends, as usual, on the complexity of the plan. The maximum number of failed Intervals — the Countdown — before the plan falls apart represents the amount of outside attention the characters can afford to attract before triggering a response from local authorities or TITAN. Using supernatural abilities during the scheme (especially Boons and Marvels, but also clearly superhuman Knacks when used in front of witnesses) reduces the Countdown before the literal or metaphorical alarm sounds.
When deciding to carry out a scheme, the first thing for the players and Storyguide to determine is the number of Milestones they need to succeed. The minimum is two: one to plan, one to carry out. There’s no maximum, but situations involving more than five Milestones should be reserved for the most audacious attempts, like breaking into TITAN headquarters in São Paolo.
Milestones    Examples 2     Break into a small bank or store, con a local figure, escape custody in a town 3     Break into a wealthy mansion, con a regional figure, rescue someone from moving vehicles 4     Break into a secured vault or museum, con a national figure, escape federal prison 5     Break into a TITAN office, con TITAN agents, escape TITAN prison
Because success depends on keeping reductions to the Countdown to a minimum, players will want to focus on the planning stage as much as possible and use it to build up a pool of Enhancements for the execution. Invoking an appropriate Path connection for aid gives 1 Enhancement without requiring any rolls, but because the World is less trusting of Scions than usual, it can come at a higher price: if the request puts the connection at serious risk or goes against their values, it still succeeds, but triggers the Path Suspended Condition (Scion: Origin, p.101) until the end of the scheme or until the character does something to set matters right with them. This applies even if the scheme takes multiple sessions to complete, unlike the usual consequences of the Condition.
It's up to the player invoking the Path to explain how the connection will help, and at what stage of the plan. It can take the form of information (guard schedules, types of locks, drink preferences), physical activity (briefly shutting down power, distracting a guard, holding a door open), or equipment (custodian’s uniform, company car, party invitation), and adds its Enhancement to rolls where it would reasonably apply.
If players want to play out part of the planning stage by having their characters gather information or other resources themselves, they run the risk of making a failed roll in the scene (and decreasing the Countdown) but gain the advantage of being able to turn any threshold successes into an Enhancement during the execution stage, up to 3 Enhancement. Invoking a Path to get an I.D. card is safer, but plying a security guard with drinks could mean getting not only a card, but an entire uniform and a solid excuse for why the guard is missing on the night of a heist.
Countdown
Countdown represents the number of failed Intervals that players can accumulate before triggering a large-scale response or otherwise failing an entire scheme. It begins at 7 — the number of Milestones needed, and is reduced by 1 for each failed Interval. That does not mean each failed roll, but only if the outcome of a scene as a whole could be considered a failure. For example: failing to gain vital information from a target after a lengthy persuasion attempt; allowing any of a group of guards to summon reinforcements, unless the reinforcements are also subdued; or being unable to hack the security of a TITAN office’s computer network. So long as an attempt succeeds by the end of the scene, it doesn’t reduce the Countdown.
In addition, Countdown can be decreased or increased by any of the following: Display a character’s Omen (Scion: Hero, p.188), -1 Perform a Feat of Scale, -1 Perform a visibly supernatural action in public, -1 Use a Boon or Marvel near detection wards, -1 Gain 3 Momentum when Momentum pool is empty, -1 Spend 3 Momentum, +1 Start of a new session, +1
The Countdown increase at the start of a new session only applies if the characters aren’t already in the midst of a scheme (e.g., the previous session didn’t end with one of them dangling on a rope over a museum exhibit while security is approaching). So long as they can spend at least a scene engaged in more innocent activities, it rises during the cooling-off period, although it cannot exceed the base Countdown for the difficulty of the task. For this reason, it’s generally a good idea to spread the planning and execution of particularly risky schemes over a several sessions or even an entire arc and focus on other plans until it’s safe to proceed.
At Countdown 0, the Scions have failed in their scheme and must escape the scene immediately. This usually means triggering a further Complex Action using the chase rules (Scion: Origin, p. 73), with contested rolls between the Scions and their pursuers and requiring one lap fewer to succeed than the number of Milestones needed for the original plan. The nature of the pursuit is up to the Storyguide: the higher the number of Milestones, the more dangerous it is, ranging from a few local police cars or bodyguards at lower levels to teams of TITAN agents at the upper end.
New Fatebindings
Traditional film noir involves two character tropes that appear frequently enough to be representative of the genre, but are often outdated: specifically, the femme fatale and damsel in distress. In Farewell to Heroes, variations of these take the form of Fatebindings, but in a way as to apply to a much wider range of Storyguide characters.
Innocent
Typically young and naĂŻve, the Innocent turns to a Scion because they recognize some inherent goodness in them and trust them to find a solution to their problems. On their own, they act as a beacon of hope despite the cynicism of the World, encouraging the Scion to display their own heroism.
Invoke: In the face of adversity, the Innocent taps into the Scion’s hidden reserves of strength. The Scion’s player can choose one of the following results:
Immediately heal one of their own Bruised Injury Conditions.
Ignore an Injured Condition for the rest of the scene.
Add Momentum equal to half the Fatebinding’s strength to a separate pool that empties at the end of the scene and is only available to the Scion.
Compel: The Innocent’s trusting nature tends to land them in trouble. The Scion gains 1 Legend while the Innocent gains the Imperiled Condition. The nature of the peril is not necessarily life-threatening; kidnapping and blackmail are just as likely.
Resolve: Some Innocents maintain their hopefulness throughout their Fatebinding, while others learn from the experience to become more worldly. The Scion’s player chooses one of the following results:
The Innocent discovers their own power. For the duration of the scene, treat them as a Follower of a level equal to the Fatebinding’s strength, with an archetype of the player’s choosing. At the end of the scene, the Scion completes a Deed, and the Innocent becomes a Balm, Boon Companion, or Paramour of equal strength.
The Innocent sacrifices themselves to negate any source of damage that would result in the Scion being Crippled or Taken out. If the source of the damage would injure others in the area as well, they are also protected. The Scion accepts a failure Deed and the Innocent is removed from play permanently.
Lure
Sometimes an ally, sometimes an enemy, the Lure draws a character further into the plot by offering them what they need along the way. Some Lures are aware their motivations are selfish, even cruel, and still manipulate others for their own purposes. Others act as they do because they can’t see any other way out of a predicament, they find themselves in; they may hate themselves for it and have genuine feelings for the target of their deceit, but they still carry on.
Invoke: The Lure intercedes to help the Scion along their current path, brushing aside obstacles and rallying them to victory. For the rest of the scene, ignore a single Complication with a level up to the Fatebinding’s strength, including those resulting from Injury Conditions.
Compel: The Lure subtly sabotages the Scion’s efforts without revealing their betrayal. Gain 1 Legend but add Tension to the pool equal to the Fatebinding’s strength.
Resolve: The outcome of a relationship with a Lure is never certain, but always dramatic. Either they have a change of heart and try to make up for their past actions by sacrificing themselves or they reveal their manipulative nature. The Scion’s player chooses one of the following results:
The Lure gives themself up so that the Scion can advance a scheme. Increasing the Countdown by 1 (2 if the Fatebinding strength is 4 or 5), accept a failure Deed for the appropriate Calling, and remove the Lure from play permanently. Resolving the Fatebinding outside of a scheme means that the Lure sacrifices themselves to prevent imminent, lethal danger — throwing themselves in the way of bullets or setting off a trap intended for the Scion — instead of increasing Countdown.
The Lure gloats over their betrayal before escaping, but in doing so, encourages the Scion to succeed even more. Decrease the Countdown by 1 (2 if the Fatebinding strength is 4 or 5), but gain Enhancement on all actions for the rest of the scene equal to the Fatebinding strength. Convert the Fatebinding into a Rival, Nemesis, or Traitor of equal strength and remove them from play for the rest of the episode. Resolving the Fatebinding outside of a scheme fills the Tension pool to its maximum instead of decreasing the Countdown.
OK, yeah, I'm gonna dig Farewell to Heroes too! Can there be too much awesomeness in one book?
And, of course, can turn the dial up to 11 and add even more?
At $35,000 in Funding - ADDITIONAL MYTHIC SHARD - A sixth Mythic Shard setting for Scion second edition will be added to the Scion: Mythic Shards PDF and hardcover book. The theme for this additional Shard will be decided by Backer vote!
That's right! If we manage to achieve $35,000 in Funding, the developers and writers will come up with a SIXTH SHARD to add to the Scion: Mythic Shards book. The theme of the new shard will be decided with a Backer Poll. Your options for a new shard, should we achieve this Stretch Goal target:
Aquatic Adventures: An Atlantis meets Waterworld and pirate-themed shard. Dive into the depths to recover lost relics or awaken the slumbering Earth Gods to create new lands.Â
Lost Time: Rules for playing a battle for the stability of all realities as Scions slip through the different shards and semi shards trying to thwart a usurper's plan to invade another reality. Sliders and Doctor Who style adventures with a group of Scions who are selected to be reality police.
Journey to the Wild West: Journey to the West, but it's set in the Wild West. Wuxia cowboys!Â
The poll for backers to vote on their favorite will run until NOON Eastern Time the DAY AFTER we achieve this Stretch Goal. Again, we'll be voting now, but this shard will only be added to the development list and added to the eventual Scion: Mythic Shards book if we unlock this Stretch Goal at $35,000 in Funding!
So Vote! And then spread the word to all of your gaming friends and friendly gamers!
And look for the next shard coming our way on July 30, when backers will get the full draft of the next chapter!
We are down to the final week of the primary campaign and I wanted to share that we are almost at 200 backers. There's a lot that can happen between now and August 1st, so in the meantime, I am working behind the scenes to get all production samples lined up, as well as get the backer surveys prepared (for what I can while the campaign is live) and am excited to share those updates when the time comes.Â
I never thought we would reach even 100 backers, let alone almost 200. Seeing the Magic of Noopy being spread amongst the community is a dream of mine, and I couldn't have done this without you. Whether you shared with a friend, shared to your social medias, or just have been with me since the beginning.. Thank you.Â
I am working behind the scenes to get Noopy themed goodie bags prepared for 3 lucky campaign winners after the campaign ends. I know it's a little bit of 'fluff' right now, but if you are new to my campaigns and my giveaways, or 'goodie bags', those who have had some from my shop before will be the first to tell you: I am not stingy at all, and absolutely LOVE spoiling my customers and friends. Stay tuned, everyone. I promise I've got more goodies up my sleeve to share with you all!Â
If the campaign exceeds 200 backers, I will be arranging a giveaway where 3 winners will receive goodie bags of Noopy Goodies! Check campaign updates for more information coming soon!
Goal: 200 backers reached! — We did it! This project reached this goal!
 Oh my goodness, thank you all so so much, words can not describe how excited we are!!
We now have enough funds to make this episode part-time- every extra dollar from here on out will get us closer to working on the episode as our full-time job!
Our first stretch goal will be to get a dub of Mandelbrot Hall in a language voted by you, the community! Want a language included in the poll? Please leave a comment and we'll be sure to add it in!
We're so pleased to have reached our first goal early, and the campaign is far from over! We have a few more fun livestreams and bonus perks coming right up...
Thank you all so much again. We couldn't be happier to be working on our dream show, and to make it for the people that made it possible.Â
As promised, I am here to talk to you about reaching our first stretch goal. I want to use this first milestone to establish a few things we strongly believe in at Moonbeam: transparency and valuing what you want out of Moonbeam.
So, for our first stretch goal, we will actualize these beliefs by having a candid and open discussion with you and the Moonbeam team to help shape Moonbeam's future in the way you want!
This will happen over the course of a few steps, and we encourage you to engage with us and the community as we complete each one.Â
Step 1. Collect data to determine if the first feature is creator or viewer focused.Â
This will be accomplished via a poll on BackerKit that ends at 11:59pm PDT on July 30th. The poll is attached to this update at the end! Most live streaming platforms bucket their platform features into two categories: features for creators and features for viewers. At Moonbeam, we want to be the most creator-obsessed platform on the internet, and we fundamentally see creators as an essential element of Moonbeam. What sets us apart from other platforms is that we don’t see the other individuals as just “viewers”; we see them as “fans.” Many fans might start off just checking out streams or chatting in a Realm, but we believe many fans will run communities, write posts, chat about engaging topics, and become creators themselves, but in new and novel ways. So, we want to gather data transparently to see what features you and the community of Moonbeam want us to prioritize initially. To do this, we ask that you answer a straightforward question, “What type of feature should Moonbeam prioritize? A feature for creators or a feature for viewers?” With this question, we purposefully use the creator/viewer paradigm to get to the root of the Moonbeam community's needs. This helps us gather data to build our team and establish specific departments within Moonbeam to focus on different aspects of the Moonbeam community and ecosystem.
Step 2. Present feature choices.Â
Once you let us know if the first prioritized feature should be creator or viewer focused, we will present several feature choices to you and explain them in detail. You and the community will have time to discuss these with us, and then we will put them up for a vote. Once the community votes on the feature they want, we will prioritize the one that gets the most votes.
From here, we rinse and repeat as we hit stretch goals or when we come to certain milestones during the alpha or beta phase. The intent is that together, we create a feedback loop to ensure we intimately understand our community and your needs. It would be easier for us to make these decisions and roll out features randomly, but we have the luxury of being a new platform and getting to know you all before Moonbeam becomes home to millions of creators and fans worldwide. We’ll use this method as long as possible, so let’s take advantage of it!
So now it is discussion time! Let's work together to create the best live streaming platform ever created.Â
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