BREAKING NEWS: May Update - The Bad, the Good and the Better news + UKGE expo !
Hello everyone !
Quite a lot happened in these past 5 weeks. So many emotions, a lot of great indie TTRPG acquisitions, and a ton of good encounters.
TLDR : Production hiccup sorted, we are on track to print. UKGE was amazing. New project is looking very promising.
Layout:
The Bad news: We hit a problem in production and were forced to redo the initial layout due to a production issue with the original files.
The Good news: The whole MM25 creators community was very supportive and prompt to offer help, advice and recommendations. In the spirit of transparency ; this is my first project and I want to keep you informed every step of the way; I was very nervous and a bit at a loss with this hiccup happening so close to the finish line. Daniel (from TKG) was of very good counsel and helped me see things through and find a solution. Big shoutout to the creators of Prospero Protocols, Sunlit Path, The Company's New Groove, Certain Fathoms, Drink from the Hippocrene and The Conduit (I may be forgetting someone, sorry if I am!) who all offered help and words of comfort when I needed it most. You might still be able to pre-order their MM25 submissions on the MM25 pre-order store while it's still up.
The Better news: I took this opportunity to look at the whole book with fresh eyes (not only the layout) and dare I say, BREAKING NEWS is now better than ever. Mathieu Baguet (Red Nation) did an amazing job in such a timely fashion. Not only did he take over the project very quickly, he respected the original vision, identified some improvement points, and brought his own perspective to the piece; elevating the overall feel and quality of the zine. In the end, this whole experience was probably a blessing in disguise, as you can tell from the screenshots of Mathieu's version below :
BREAKING NEWS: New and improved layout (by Mathieu Baguet)
UKGE:
Haven and I met in Birmingham for the 20th anniversary of the UK Games Expo. Not only was it our first time meeting face to face, it was also our first UKGE; and what a treat it was! Over 50,000 visitors, 800+ exhibitors, and an aircon malfunction on the hottest day (and a cancelled flight back) made it quite the experience.
What made it truly unforgettable was the opportunity to meet so many like-minded individuals; indie and more established developers, talented illustrators, writers, and the people working behind the scenes that make it all possible.
I was very happy to get some of my favorite games and books signed by the minds behind them. I couldn't afford everything I wanted, but I highly recommend anyone thinking of going to the Expo next year to do so. I hope to be back if life allows it!
I received the initial outlines and some drafts from the guest writers while making progress on my own end. This is shaping up to be an amazing adventure or rather, adventures!
Since writing my first module, I always aimed at doing a grand collaboration project, and I am so glad for the collaborators who raised their hands and accepted to work on this together.
I am currently working with an editor to review my initial manuscript. Once that's done, I will finally be releasing more information. I hope you'll find it as exciting as we do.
Until then, I wish you the best and thank you again for your support. Hadrien
BREAKING NEWS: April update - Mothership Month Pre-Order Store, Final Layout Progress
Hello everyone,
Quick update on where we're at.
Mothership 2025 Pre-Order Store: The Mothership 2025 Pre-Order Store is now open for projects that funded during Mothership Month. If you missed out on any campaigns or want to support other creators, this is your chance. Every order helps us dial in print quantities before we send everything to the warehouses; your support is appreciated.
Final Text, Edit, and Layout: While reviewing the layout with Golden Achiever, I realized we could add a complete section on Au Clair de Lune, the high-end restaurant at the heart of the adventure. This meant a bit more work for our editor Mark and our layout artist, but it was absolutely worth it. The location is now fully detailed and ready to be reused in your own Prospero's Dream based or A Pound of Flesh campaigns. Final layout wraps mid May.
Next Steps: Shortly aftter layout is locked, we'll close our portion of the Pre-Order Store and finalize print quantities. We're keeping it open until then because we've received additional orders (which is amazing for an indie project), and we want to make sure you receive the best possible version before we go to press. We still have plenty of buffer before Tuesday Knight Games needs the books for the warehouse.
The New Project: I'm currently confirming availability with the artists and illustrators who'll bring this next vision to life. I can't share details yet, but this one feels like a dream coming true. More soon.
Looking forward to meeting those of you heading to UK Games Expo in May.
This one turned into a bigger update than I expected when I sat down to write it. Get ready as there is a lot of good news to share!
UK Games Expo : Haven and I will both be attending UK Games Expo in Birmingham this year (29–31 May) as visitors. If you are planning to be there or were on the fence about going, please reach out! We would love to meet you in person.
Project Timeline : Everything is on track. Final copy editing is underway and should wrap up this month. Once that is done, I will do a final review pass, then hand everything over to Golden Achiever for the full layout compilation before we go to print. It is genuinely starting to feel real, and I could not be more excited.
Cross-Collab AZOR OPERATION : Mathieu and I have made a ton of progress on AZOR OPERATION. I focused primarily on writing, concept, and gameplay design while Mathieu handled the layout and NPC portraits ; three out of four are done and they look fantastic. What made this collaboration so rewarding is how naturally we fell into a rhythm, each contributing across every aspect of the project. The result is an adventure you can play in two very distinct ways ; the Union path or the Oracle path, which made it a genuinely fun design challenge. I am confident your players will want to try both.
Artwork : Haven is 99.9% done. The work he has delivered throughout this project is nothing short of extraordinary, and I cannot wait to see it all printed. The only remaining piece is a cross-collab double spread featuring in-universe ads, something that came together organically. Haven reached out to other MM25 projects to feature a few of them in the book, and the result is a great piece that makes a small part of the Dream come alive. I cannot wait to see how many easter eggs you can spot.
A New Project on the Horizon : I have been sitting on this one until BREAKING NEWS was nearly out the door. I am now working on something quite ambitious : an anthology of shorter to medium-length adventures that can each be played as standalone one-shots, or linked across multiple sessions to reveal a larger meta-plot. I am collaborating with several artists and a couple of writers I hold in high regard, and the project is already coming together beautifully. More details soon.
What are you most excited about? And if you are heading to UK Games Expo, drop us a message, we are looking forward to putting faces to names!
BREAKING NEWS: Jan-->Feb updates, cranking up the horror
Hello everyone,
January flew by and we have been busy with getting closer to completion. Things are really taking shape, and I am incredibly proud of how the project is turning out. I am excited for the next steps, so let me share some progress and what we have been working on since the end of the year:
Early Access V0.1 PDF feedback and quotes : I have started receiving feedback from early access readers, and here is a high-level summary. I was genuinely touched by the kind words, especially around the following themes:
(re)usability and flexibility
strong thematic identity
depth and escalation
terrirfic art
great character design
I also took the feedback to heart. Based on a question from Schmaron, I realized we could improve clarity early in the book, particularly around the PRESS Badge mechanic and how parts of the book can be reused in other adventures. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and help make BREAKING NEWS better for everyone.
Blasto:
“First impressions for me are great. I love the style, art and layout.” “I’m really excited about being able to use it to create more of these types of mysteries.”
Schmaron:
“I’m very excited to run this.” “The premise reminds me of ARKYVR, but it’s doing enough different that they’re in different niches.” “The idea that your group’s note-taker can be mechanically rewarded for taking notes is a very fun idea.”
Cross-Collab : I finally wrote a description I am very happy with for the two extra NPCs drawn by Mathieu Baguet, borrowed from the Red Nation universe. I also added an escalating side quest for each of them that reflects their conflicting agendas. I would strongly advise your players to choose carefully who they ask for help. :)
Artwork : Haven has been very busy. The stretch goal stickers are finished, so go check them out! He is also ramping up the final illustrations needed to complete the book, including NPC portraits and blueprints of the Oracle Tower. These will also be included as handouts for convenience at the table.
Below is one of the latest portraits he sent me, and I absolutely love how it turned out.
Rook Vann - Cleaning Crew Lead and Field commander for “incident containment”
Timeline : Schedule-wise, everything is looking very good as we move toward final copy editing.
That's all we have for today, feel free to share your thoughts and questions.
What do you think about Rook? What are you most excited for?
Thank you again for your support and for taking the time to read this!
BREAKING NEWS: Holidays update - Stretch goals, player handouts, early V1 PDF available to play !
Hello everyone,
I hope you are all well and looking forward to the holidays.
We wanted to share some good news and a bit of festive spirit with an early V1 PDF version of the book. We will send private links to the backers who left a comment and would like to give it a try before everyone else. All we ask in return is that you share your feedback and play experience with us.
With most of the stretch goals reached, we were also able to create several in-universe props and documents. These are designed to be printed and brought to the table, or used as fillable PDFs for those playing remotely.
So far, Golden Achiever has mastercrafted:
The Journalist Engagement Notice: the in-universe contract sent by The Oracle to new recruits, outlining their mission, perks, and journalism skills
A Fallout Tracker: to help Wardens track how player investigations impact the world around them
For WHERE IT SHOULDN’T: a player-facing map with space for notes, intended to be used during the one-shot
Stretch goals Players handouts
Another exciting stretch goal update: we commissioned Roque Romero to illustrate a crucial piece of story lore. The idea is that you can hand this two-page mini-comic to a player when a specific trigger occurs and let them act or roleplay based on it, with very little guidance.
I was genuinely happy, and honestly quite emotional, when I read the comic Roque produced. I cannot wait for you to experience that moment at your table as well.
First strip of the mini comic Roque Romero drew for BREAKING NEWS lore
We wish you a great end of 2025 and are very much looking forward to your stories in 2026.
BREAKING NEWS: post campaign progress update and timeline
Hello everyone,
It has been a couple of weeks since the end of the crowdfunding campaign and what a ride it has been. This project has been energizing, humbling, and honestly a little draining in the best possible way. We are extremely grateful for the number of people who supported BREAKING NEWS and we cannot wait to share the work with you.
PDF V1 Progress
We are working toward releasing a playable V1 PDF before the end of the year. This will let the most eager among you dive in early, try the module, and share your thoughts with us.
This V1 will be a Work In Progress version. Some text blocks still need a final pass, a few illustrations are being drawn, and the full layout will come once the manuscript is completely locked. The goal of this early PDF is simple: show how far we are, let you start playing, and open the door for community feedback.
Your comments, ideas, and session reports will help us polish the book and make it as strong and fun as possible.
Art Update
Haven has finalized the map of our infamous restaurant, Au Clair de Lune. You will find a preview below. This is part of what will become a complete digital pack and will also be included in the book. The map is an exploded isometric view that you will be able to use to investigate, sneak around, or fight your way through the restaurant.
View of the restaurant Au Clair De Lune from outside.
Want Early Access?
If you would like early access to the V1 draft PDF, please answer the poll and leave a comment below !! We would love to share this phase of the project with you.
Quite a lot happened in these past 5 weeks. So many emotions, a lot of great indie TTRPG acquisitions, and a ton of good encounters.
TLDR : Production hiccup sorted, we are on track to print. UKGE was amazing. New project is looking very promising.
Layout:
The Bad news: We hit a problem in production and were forced to redo the initial layout due to a production issue with the original files.
The Good news: The whole MM25 creators community was very supportive and prompt to offer help, advice and recommendations. In the spirit of transparency ; this is my first project and I want to keep you informed every step of the way; I was very nervous and a bit at a loss with this hiccup happening so close to the finish line. Daniel (from TKG) was of very good counsel and helped me see things through and find a solution. Big shoutout to the creators of Prospero Protocols, Sunlit Path, The Company's New Groove, Certain Fathoms, Drink from the Hippocrene and The Conduit (I may be forgetting someone, sorry if I am!) who all offered help and words of comfort when I needed it most. You might still be able to pre-order their MM25 submissions on the MM25 pre-order store while it's still up.
The Better news: I took this opportunity to look at the whole book with fresh eyes (not only the layout) and dare I say, BREAKING NEWS is now better than ever. Mathieu Baguet (Red Nation) did an amazing job in such a timely fashion. Not only did he take over the project very quickly, he respected the original vision, identified some improvement points, and brought his own perspective to the piece; elevating the overall feel and quality of the zine. In the end, this whole experience was probably a blessing in disguise, as you can tell from the screenshots of Mathieu's version below :
BREAKING NEWS: New and improved layout (by Mathieu Baguet)
UKGE:
Haven and I met in Birmingham for the 20th anniversary of the UK Games Expo. Not only was it our first time meeting face to face, it was also our first UKGE; and what a treat it was! Over 50,000 visitors, 800+ exhibitors, and an aircon malfunction on the hottest day (and a cancelled flight back) made it quite the experience.
What made it truly unforgettable was the opportunity to meet so many like-minded individuals; indie and more established developers, talented illustrators, writers, and the people working behind the scenes that make it all possible.
I was very happy to get some of my favorite games and books signed by the minds behind them. I couldn't afford everything I wanted, but I highly recommend anyone thinking of going to the Expo next year to do so. I hope to be back if life allows it!
I received the initial outlines and some drafts from the guest writers while making progress on my own end. This is shaping up to be an amazing adventure or rather, adventures!
Since writing my first module, I always aimed at doing a grand collaboration project, and I am so glad for the collaborators who raised their hands and accepted to work on this together.
I am currently working with an editor to review my initial manuscript. Once that's done, I will finally be releasing more information. I hope you'll find it as exciting as we do.
Until then, I wish you the best and thank you again for your support. Hadrien
Mothership 2025 Pre-Order Store: The Mothership 2025 Pre-Order Store is now open for projects that funded during Mothership Month. If you missed out on any campaigns or want to support other creators, this is your chance. Every order helps us dial in print quantities before we send everything to the warehouses; your support is appreciated.
Final Text, Edit, and Layout: While reviewing the layout with Golden Achiever, I realized we could add a complete section on Au Clair de Lune, the high-end restaurant at the heart of the adventure. This meant a bit more work for our editor Mark and our layout artist, but it was absolutely worth it. The location is now fully detailed and ready to be reused in your own Prospero's Dream based or A Pound of Flesh campaigns. Final layout wraps mid May.
Next Steps: Shortly aftter layout is locked, we'll close our portion of the Pre-Order Store and finalize print quantities. We're keeping it open until then because we've received additional orders (which is amazing for an indie project), and we want to make sure you receive the best possible version before we go to press. We still have plenty of buffer before Tuesday Knight Games needs the books for the warehouse.
The New Project: I'm currently confirming availability with the artists and illustrators who'll bring this next vision to life. I can't share details yet, but this one feels like a dream coming true. More soon.
Looking forward to meeting those of you heading to UK Games Expo in May.
This one turned into a bigger update than I expected when I sat down to write it. Get ready as there is a lot of good news to share!
UK Games Expo : Haven and I will both be attending UK Games Expo in Birmingham this year (29–31 May) as visitors. If you are planning to be there or were on the fence about going, please reach out! We would love to meet you in person.
Project Timeline : Everything is on track. Final copy editing is underway and should wrap up this month. Once that is done, I will do a final review pass, then hand everything over to Golden Achiever for the full layout compilation before we go to print. It is genuinely starting to feel real, and I could not be more excited.
Cross-Collab AZOR OPERATION : Mathieu and I have made a ton of progress on AZOR OPERATION. I focused primarily on writing, concept, and gameplay design while Mathieu handled the layout and NPC portraits ; three out of four are done and they look fantastic. What made this collaboration so rewarding is how naturally we fell into a rhythm, each contributing across every aspect of the project. The result is an adventure you can play in two very distinct ways ; the Union path or the Oracle path, which made it a genuinely fun design challenge. I am confident your players will want to try both.
Artwork : Haven is 99.9% done. The work he has delivered throughout this project is nothing short of extraordinary, and I cannot wait to see it all printed. The only remaining piece is a cross-collab double spread featuring in-universe ads, something that came together organically. Haven reached out to other MM25 projects to feature a few of them in the book, and the result is a great piece that makes a small part of the Dream come alive. I cannot wait to see how many easter eggs you can spot.
A New Project on the Horizon : I have been sitting on this one until BREAKING NEWS was nearly out the door. I am now working on something quite ambitious : an anthology of shorter to medium-length adventures that can each be played as standalone one-shots, or linked across multiple sessions to reveal a larger meta-plot. I am collaborating with several artists and a couple of writers I hold in high regard, and the project is already coming together beautifully. More details soon.
What are you most excited about? And if you are heading to UK Games Expo, drop us a message, we are looking forward to putting faces to names!
January flew by and we have been busy with getting closer to completion. Things are really taking shape, and I am incredibly proud of how the project is turning out. I am excited for the next steps, so let me share some progress and what we have been working on since the end of the year:
Early Access V0.1 PDF feedback and quotes : I have started receiving feedback from early access readers, and here is a high-level summary. I was genuinely touched by the kind words, especially around the following themes:
(re)usability and flexibility
strong thematic identity
depth and escalation
terrirfic art
great character design
I also took the feedback to heart. Based on a question from Schmaron, I realized we could improve clarity early in the book, particularly around the PRESS Badge mechanic and how parts of the book can be reused in other adventures. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and help make BREAKING NEWS better for everyone.
Blasto:
“First impressions for me are great. I love the style, art and layout.” “I’m really excited about being able to use it to create more of these types of mysteries.”
Schmaron:
“I’m very excited to run this.” “The premise reminds me of ARKYVR, but it’s doing enough different that they’re in different niches.” “The idea that your group’s note-taker can be mechanically rewarded for taking notes is a very fun idea.”
Cross-Collab : I finally wrote a description I am very happy with for the two extra NPCs drawn by Mathieu Baguet, borrowed from the Red Nation universe. I also added an escalating side quest for each of them that reflects their conflicting agendas. I would strongly advise your players to choose carefully who they ask for help. :)
Artwork : Haven has been very busy. The stretch goal stickers are finished, so go check them out! He is also ramping up the final illustrations needed to complete the book, including NPC portraits and blueprints of the Oracle Tower. These will also be included as handouts for convenience at the table.
Below is one of the latest portraits he sent me, and I absolutely love how it turned out.
Rook Vann - Cleaning Crew Lead and Field commander for “incident containment”
Timeline : Schedule-wise, everything is looking very good as we move toward final copy editing.
That's all we have for today, feel free to share your thoughts and questions.
What do you think about Rook? What are you most excited for?
Thank you again for your support and for taking the time to read this!
I hope you are all well and looking forward to the holidays.
We wanted to share some good news and a bit of festive spirit with an early V1 PDF version of the book. We will send private links to the backers who left a comment and would like to give it a try before everyone else. All we ask in return is that you share your feedback and play experience with us.
With most of the stretch goals reached, we were also able to create several in-universe props and documents. These are designed to be printed and brought to the table, or used as fillable PDFs for those playing remotely.
So far, Golden Achiever has mastercrafted:
The Journalist Engagement Notice: the in-universe contract sent by The Oracle to new recruits, outlining their mission, perks, and journalism skills
A Fallout Tracker: to help Wardens track how player investigations impact the world around them
For WHERE IT SHOULDN’T: a player-facing map with space for notes, intended to be used during the one-shot
Stretch goals Players handouts
Another exciting stretch goal update: we commissioned Roque Romero to illustrate a crucial piece of story lore. The idea is that you can hand this two-page mini-comic to a player when a specific trigger occurs and let them act or roleplay based on it, with very little guidance.
I was genuinely happy, and honestly quite emotional, when I read the comic Roque produced. I cannot wait for you to experience that moment at your table as well.
First strip of the mini comic Roque Romero drew for BREAKING NEWS lore
We wish you a great end of 2025 and are very much looking forward to your stories in 2026.
