Clearly the May update is a bit behind schedule along with website updates and a few other things, so I apologize for that. A couple things beyond my control pushed things out a couple of weeks. With that said, this update will be short and sweet. 

Focus continues on getting all assets in place for the crowdfunding campaign. I’m working feverishly on concepts for Tesla’s Shadowcoils - one of the new Company’s for the Servants. Here’s some line art of The Black Clerk…no color or sepia tone at this time (again my apologies).

He’ll be joining Tesla along with Wardenclyffe, The Whisperknife, The Cleaner and a few others…more to come on the Shadowcoils in a future update…maybe.

Work also continues on the storyline fiction along with a number of pieces that will sit outside the Season 1 book. The Prelude stories are now all complete and should begin appearing on the website next month. 

I’ve also been working on a new card layout - as I can’t decide on the portrait or landscape layouts, once I get a more refined design in place I will most likely put it to a community vote. I am working in Tarot card dimensions, so expect to see character cards at 2.75in x 4.75in (70mm by 120mm). On top of that, I am also working on the cover design and page layouts for the core book as well.

Speaking of the core book, I’ve made some planning changes. Originally I was going to only offer a collectors book in the initial campaign. After going through multiple planning iterations, this doesn’t work in my mind for backers as that project will be a longtail project that takes a lot of time to get right, so there will be a standard core book offered with the Season 1 campaign.

It will have the basic core rules in it along with all of the fiction being done. I don’t plan on adding all of the various character rules or anything beyond a locked down core rule set. As the entirety of the rules will be online, I don’t want players and fans to feel the need to buy a book to play the game. I want to deliver a book that people will sit down and enjoy reading, but one that also has the core of the game that has the least chance or change or errata. 

So what of the Collector’s Edition…well, I still have big plans for it, it will be an expanded tome of information with character entries, additional Faction stories, Company background and plenty of surprises. This will get its own crowdfunding campaign and timeline. 

And finally, I have penned an updated set of Alchemancy rules and the Alpha has been sent out to a couple of teams for testing. Once the first rounds of feedback come in and I have an opportunity to see what they think, I’ll be opening up a few slots for Beta teams. 

It’s been a busy month, and my hands are in a lot of cookie jars, but my primary focus is to get everything wrangled for the Season 1 crowdfunding campaign as soon as possible and to get that into an initial layout for public review.

As always, thank you for your continued support!

May The Engine’s light shine brightly upon you.