The Kickstarter for Frozen Skies is now live!
Frozen Skies is part of a new Dieselpunk campaign setting for the award winning Savage Worlds system and is set in the mysterious, frozen lands of Alyeska, it is an in-depth and informative guide to its history, geography, myths and legends. After Frozen Skies is successfully launched, further books are planned to cover a much wider setting known as the Realms of Darmonica.
The Kickstarter is intended to fund the Frozen Skies book with the view to release it as a PDF and through Print-On-Demand.
Thanks for your time and even more so if you decide to back this project, but by all means please help spread the word about it.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/349041463/frozen-skies-a-savage-worlds-dieselpunk-rpg
Kickstarter Update #1 So It Begins
Well the first 24 hours are over and things have gone about expected.
Getting close to or even reaching the target goal this early would have been a nice surprise, though as an indie who's just getting established I have to keep expectations a little modest as I still have yet to develop a huge fanbase that larger companies enjoy.
Still, it is nice knowing that there is interest in Frozen Skies.
Though I am hoping that by the end of the first week we're looking at being about third of the way there, halfway there would be even more awesome. If we get that far then things will be looking good for getting this project funded, so get out here and ask/pester/blackmail your friends to back this project and help spread the word!
For those who have already pledged and/or spread the word, thanks for being awesome.
Kickstarter Update #2; So Far So GoodWell, the project's pace is starting to pick up a little bit and I expect it to grow as word spreads to more and more people. We're now over the £100 mark, again showing there is interest in this book but there is still a long way to go. Now if we can get over the £1,000 mark by the end of the week then that will be truly awesome.
Once again thanks to everyone who has pledged thus far, I will keep on saying thanks because you guys deserve it for giving an indie their chance and help them to get their first product (of hopefully many) out into the world. So please, please continue to pester people you know or who might be interested in this book to pledge as well as spreading the word about this project.
As a small reward for those who have pledged already here is a snippet from the book;
QuoteTime's Icy Breath: Alyeska's Pre-History
For many centuries the frozen tundra of Alyeska remained a largely distant and unknown land, far removed and isolated from the rest of the world. As such much of Alyeska's actual recorded history only covers the last few hundred years, going back further than that one has to rely on the oral tales of the Windryders or piece together fragmented writings that litter the walls of ancient, snow bound and icy ruins scattered across the wastes.
In short, Alyeska's history is bit of an enigma.
It is known that many eons ago Alyeska was settled by an ancient civilisation, one that could quite possibly be comparable to the present day and age. They were skilful masters of engineering and construction. Their finest city, The Monolith, is the most visible reminder of their existence. This towering structure, more akin to a mountain than a city, sits in the heart of the Chillwynd Marches and remains as much a mystery as its builders. Scholars are frustrated by the lack of knowledge concerning Alyeska's original settlers. Nobody knows where they came from, or even what they called themselves. The Windryders themselves are especially tight-lipped on the matter, vaguely hinting at a terrible event which effectively wiped out this ancient civilisation only leaving scattered ruins in its wake.
Time passed, seasons changed and the ruins endured the harsh weather common to the North. For an age the nomadic Windryders gave the ruins a wide berth out of fear of curses or evils that may be contained within the frozen stones. Gradually they began to make use of the smaller, easier to repair structures first as shelters and then over time as meeting halls. Eventually these halls became semi-permanent villages occupied briefly by a single tribe for only a few months at a time before they moved on during their seasonal migration. These 'villages' would later be taken over as outposts by a new wave of settlers and become the modern townships now dotted across Alyeska.
Kickstarter Update #3 Day 4 & Stuff!
We're over £150 and 5% of the way there by Day, this calls for yet another big thank you to those who have backed this project thus far.
Still wish to get a third of the way to the project's goal by the end of the week, so to this end I've been working hard and spreading the word to various different websites and forums. So if you happen to know people who might be interested then please tell them, likewise with websites you think would help this project reach its target and ultimately get a copy of Frozen Skies in your hands.
As a mini-reward for reaching £100 I posted a snippet from the book, I intend to post others as the project reaches certain marks. So if there anything you'd like to see or know about the book then feel free to ask for it.
I've also put up a FAQ that people should find useful, though if there is a question that I haven't covered and you feel that I should then by all means let me know.
Once again, thanks for being awesome and backing this project!
Kickstarter Update #4 Day 5
Now up to Day 5 and coming towards the end of the first week.
Interest in Frozen Skies has been steadily growing as work continues on spreading the word about both the book and the Kickstarter. Don't expect too much in the way of updates until Monday, though unless the funding reaches certain levels over the next couple of days. On Monday another preview will be posted, though please say if there is anything you like to see.
Regardless thanks yet again to those who have backed already, you guys are awesome.
And to everyone, have a good weekend.
Kickstarter Update #5 Week Two Ahoy
I trust that everyone reading this has had a good weekend, I've been promoting the Kickstarter like crazy and getting more exposure for the project to help it succeed.
First week is over and the number of backers continues to grow, though we're still a ways off from reaching the project's goal. We've got three lefts and I'm confident we can make it, we're still getting an increasing number of hits and the project is getting more exposure.
So if you know people who may be interested in this project then by all means let them know about it, especially since if it pushes us over £1,000 this week then the project stands a good chance of succeeding.
But check back tomorrow for another preview from the book.
Kickstarter Update #6 Three Weeks And CountingFirst week is now behind us and the project is gaining more exposure, more hits and more shares.
The next three weeks will count every bit as we get closer to our target goal, though thanks once again to those who have already backed and also to those who've helped by spreading the word.
As promised, another preview from the book in the form of a notable NPC.
QuoteCarl 'Judge' Kingsley
A veteran of the trenches during the Last War Carl Kingsley is a tough man who prefers actions over words. Originally hired by the Lord Governor to be his lackey in the Air Police, Kingsley quickly showed that he was his own man, much to the Lord Governor's dismay. Cleaning up Gravenburgh effectively almost overnight through sheer force of arms by taking out the criminal kingpins, his instant popularity with the townsfolk made it impossible for the Lord Governor to remove Kingsley. This has led to the current tensions between the two, and it is only a matter of time before an outright fight erupts on Gravenburgh's streets when the Lord Governor finally decides to get rid of Kingsley.
Attributes: Agility d8, Smarts d6, Spirit d6, Strength d6, Vigor d8
Skills: Fighting d6, Intimidation d6, Knowledge (Law) d6, Notice d6, Persuasion d6, Piloting d8, Shooting d6,
Charisma: -; Pace: 6; Parry: 6; Toughness: 6
Hindrances: Code of Honor, Loyal, Vow (Minor),
Edges: Ace, Combat Reflexes, Command, Steady Hands,
Gear: Edward No.3 Revolver (12/24/48; 2d6+1 damage; RoF 1; Shots 6; Revolver), Dagger (d6+d4).
Kickstarter Update #7 Good News Everyone!
Big announcement concerning the project and the Frozen Skies book.
*First off, Fabled Environments have offered a selection of four of their maps as a free reward for backers of the project. The maps will be available to everyone regardless of the amount they pledge.
*Secondly, Anthony Preece has offered to write some fiction for the book. He has previously written for Savage Insider and this will mean extra content in the book when it releases.
Kickstarter Update #8 Preview: Places of InterestOnce again thank you to everyone who has either backed this project or at least spread the word about, you guys are awesome for doing so.
Still a ways off but if we continue to promote the project we'll get there.
But in the mean time, here is another preview from the book.
QuotePlaces of Interest
The Chillwynd Marches
A completely flat plain lying to the far north, its boundaries are marked by a ring of standing stones. Rumoured to be a haunted place, the voices of the dead are said to be heard whispering on the chill wind. Small mining settlements and ancient ruins lie scattered across the plains, though despite the potential fortune, most folk tend to steer clear. The heart of the Marches is dominated by a towering city known as the Monolith. Believed to have been the capital of some long since forgotten empire, its ice bound streets and halls remain uninhabited. Only tomb raiders and curious explorers dare travel here, however, those who do return, are forever scarred by their experience and quickly flee elsewhere.
The Monolith
Standing forlornly in the dead centre of the Chillwynd Marches, sits the Monolith, a ruined mountain city carved by unknown hands a great many eons ago. Towering high into the sky, its great spire can be seen for miles around; however, its interior is largely unexplored. The carvings that adorn the exterior are believed to have taken decades to complete, but centuries of neglect and exposure to the harsh northern elements have weathered and worn the stonework. Much of the surviving carvings can be found in the more sheltered parts, but even these aren't untouched, having been crudely defaced at some point.
Very few people have ventured far into the ruins, with only the outlying areas having been combed over by relic hunters. Even fewer have tried climbing up into the spire. Those who have report it as being akin to a palace....though admittedly one that has been thoroughly desecrated with strange glyphs covering every possible surface. There is evidence that the structure descends some distance underground, though hardly anyone has dared brave these tunnels. Of those who have, none have returned.
The Maw
More of a roaming storm than a fixed point, much of the year this tempest stays out over the Frostbracken Wastes. Only during the winter months does it expand south over the Bastion Peaks, shutting down the northern routes. Some of the older and superstitious aviators refer to the storm as being akin to a living beast, but only in low whispers and with a nervous glance over their shoulder. The Maw is certainly a wild thing, winds howl as dark clouds boil and rage. There is little escape for those who get caught in its grasp, the countless wrecks that litter the Bastion Peaks attest to this.
When the Maw hungers it is best to keep your feet on Terra Firma.
The MacHorne Trail
Little more than a long canyon, the MacHorne Trail is the sole overland route between Alyeska and the rest of the Commonwealth. Primarily it was used by wagons during the summertime when it was first discovered. Naturally, when the railway arrived, it was along the MacHorne that it came. During winter, it often gets blocked by snow drifts.
Kickstarter Update #9 Much Ado About Skyjacking
Coming up to the midway point of the campaign, the number of backers has steadily increased along with views and exposure. The project has been mentioned on a few gaming podcasts like RPG Circus as well as a few blogs.
Still a ways off from the target, but we've got two weeks left which is plenty of time to make it. So continue to plug and share this project and we'll get there, but everyone who ahs abcked thus far or just shared the project has my undying thanks.
So time for another preview from the book; Skyjacking.
What is Skyjacking I hear you cry.
It is basically the name given to a form of hijacking of aircraft done whilst it is airborne, it is highly dangerous and typically only air pirates try it. Though on occasions military units have been known to attempt it.
Skyjacking involves a person jumping out of an aircraft above the intended target armed with a grappling gun, also a parachute if one is lucky enough to have one. The idea is whilst the person is in free-fall they are to fire the grappling gun at their intended target, hope it hooks on and then inch their way along the rope to board and take control of the aircraft. Though it remains highly risky as the grapple could miss or the aircraft's crew could cut the rope, there is also the risk of hitting an aircraft's propellers.
It is especially dangerous for air pirates as they rarely have access to a parachute.
To attempt a Skyjack a character must first jump out of an aircraft that is flying above their intended target and must be armed with a Grappling Gun. Whilst in free-fall the character must then make a Shooting roll at -4 (Steady Hands reduces this to -2), a success means they've hooked onto their target. Failure means they've missed, critical failure means the character flies into the props of an oncoming aircraft and take 5d6 points of damage.
Probably they've successfully hooked onto their intended target, the character must then make a Climbing roll at -2 and follows the normal rules for Climbing. The aircraft crew (if aware of the character) may try shooting at the character but suffer -2 for doing so, or they could simply cut the rope if they can reach it.
If the character misses their target or the rope they're climbing up is cut they then fall down to earth unless they have a parachute that works. If they don't have a parachute then follow the rules for Falling.
Kickstarter Update: Week Three
We've reached the start off Week Three and we're continuing to get more backers, keep sharing and bugging your friends/gaming groups and we'll get there.
Also a quick PSA; To all backers, be them current or future, please double check the amount you pledge.
This may only apply to non-UK backers, Kickstarter appears to automatically include shipping when you make your pledge. Whilst the extra money would be helpful, I'd rather people pledge the correct amount.
Bit of a nice surprise yesterday was the Frozen Skies Kickstarter getting a mention on Geek Native and almost £200 worth of pledges over a handful of hours.
The Geek Native article can be found here; http://www.geeknative.com/40894/frozen-skies-is-a-savage-worlds-dieselpunk-rpg-worth-looking-at/
Kickstarter Update: Two Weeks And Counting!
There are now two weeks left to go!
A big thank you to everyone's support thus far, past day or so has seen a huge boost with a ton more backers pushing the project over the £500 mark. If it keeps up like this then there is a very good chance that not only reach the target goal, but perhaps get into the stretch goals!
Thanks again to everyone, keep sharing/bugging your gaming groups and we'll get Frozen Skies funded and released this year!
Kickstarter Update: Myths & Legends PreviewYet again a big thank you to everyone who's backed this project or supported it by spreading the word, you guys are really really awesome!
We're now getting towards the end of Week Three, but there is still a ways to go until the project is fully funded. So again I must ask you to continue to promote this project and harass friends and gaming groups into back this project, even if its just couple of pounds/dollars which will still get them a bunch of RPG maps. £3,000 isn't much by Kickstarter standards and can easily be reached in under an hour, so all that is needed is to continue pushing the project.
Anyway, over a week ago posted a preview of some Places of Interest from the book. Today I'll be posting another preview in the form of myths & legends related to those places.
QuoteChapter Seven: Myths, Legends & Folklore
Alyeska has its fair share of myths and legends. Some stem from hearsay and drunken bar-room tales, while others are stories of ancient events retold countless times and thus kept alive, mainly as bedtime stories to scare young children. In truth, the Alyeskan Wilderness is a weirder place than most folk care to admit.
Whispers on the Wind and a Sleeper in the Dark
Throughout Alyeska the Chillwynd Marches are regarded as the strangest and most unsettling places in the Territory. The unnaturally flat plains, the ring of standing stones marking its boundaries and the Monolith which sits in the heart of the Marches, all go hand-in-hand to create an eerie reputation. The most common tale originating from the Marches is the fabled 'Whispers on the Wind'. Whilst simply dismissed as just the howling of the wind, many have claimed to have heard the dead calling out for help whenever the wind blows. A Professor Davidson once recorded the so-called 'Whispers' with the intent of deciphering them. It is said he was driven insane by what he heard, and the sole recording he made was destroyed.
The Chillwynd Marches are also commonly known for the disappearances which occur every year; camp sites are abandoned with no trace of their inhabitants ever found. Investigations and searches are carried out by the Air Police, however after a month, the missing persons are declared as 'vanished without a trace', and the report filed away. As a result of all the disappearances, lone prospectors have ended up banding together into large, well-armed groups for mutual protection whenever they work the Marches. Even safety in numbers offers little actual protection. The occasional soul still vanishes during the night, and there is one famous incident of an entire expedition disappearing.
Another tale linked to the Marches, but generally only ever told in hush tones, is that of a Windryder myth concerning the Monolith. It is said that a great being known as the Sleeper in the Dark, dwells beneath the ruins in deep slumber awaiting the return of the Elder Ones. When the Sleeper awakens, he will bring death and destruction across the world, sparing no-one as he prepares for the return of his masters. Little evidence has been found to support this myth, only a few translated glyphs which make continuous reference to a 'Sleeper'. Many have dismissed it as nonsense made up by the Windryders to scare people away, though some have become somewhat...obsessed with the myth.
Gorwell's Lost Gold
Twenty-five years ago a prospector named Lious Gorwell claimed to have found a gold mine deep within the Alyeskan Interior. Every few weeks the grubby prospector would sneak into Tay River with a load of crudely minted ingots. After a year of stashing his hoard in the town's bank, Gorwell vanished. To this day no one has found the mine, and it remains one of Alyeska's well-known legends.
Some maintain he fell afoul of some beast, others blame bandits. Regardless, Gorwell's gold remains in storage at the bank.
Kickstarter Update: Rogue's Gallery
As always a huge thank you to everyone who's backed thus far or helped out in other ways!
We're now up to 39 backers and 21% funded, but with just over a week left we've still got a bit of work to do. So please please please share this project, pester your friends and post in local gaming forums or social media groups. Every new backer further proves that there is interest and takes us a step closer to Frozen Skies becoming a reality. With an all-out effort we can get there and get Frozen Skies funded!
Anyway, over the weekend a received a question on one of the forums I visit and post on; "I pledged to this because it seems like a bargain and I'm interested in the combination of dieselpunk and an arctic background, but could you elaborate on what the typical PCs would be and what they'd do? You've discussed places of interest and legends, but I'm more interested in how it would work as a game, not just a setting. Thanks."
Good question.
In my head I view the PCs as being 'from the wrong side of the tracks' and make a living on the outskirts of society, either as outlaws (smugglers, bandits, air pirates) or as pioneers in a frontier land. Think of it a bit like the TV series Firefly.
What they do depends on the sort of game the GM wishes to run, though there are a few options;
*Dungeon Crawling With Guns:- There are old ruins scattered around and there is a Gold Rush of a sort but with relics and old artefacts.
*Criminal Pursuits:- Be a smuggler or be an air pirate, either way you're up against the law and other criminals.
*The Frontier:- Its the frontier with a vast amount of blank map space to fill, either dabble in a bit of colony building or try and find a path into wilderness beyond.
I hope that helps, but if people have any more questions then feel free to ask.
Kickstarter Update: One Week To Go!
Just a week left to go and we're almost a third of the way to the target.
A very big thank you to everyone who has pledge thus far, though I must continue to ask that you share and spread the word about this project. As I've said before, £3,000 is nothing by Kickstarter and we've got plenty of time to get there and get there we will.
Also a reminder that every backer gets £20/$32 worth of RPG maps from Fabled Environments even if they only pledge a couple of pounds/dollars!
Kickstarter Update: The Home Stretch
We're quickly coming to the end of Week Four and the end is in sight, as ever a very big thank you to everyone who has backed this project and help spread the word.
Though a big push is still needed to get us to our target, so pester your friends and blackmail your gaming groups into backing, also share through social media and various gaming forums. Reaching our target within the time remaining is still doable, it can and will be done!
So promote like crazy over the weekend and I'll see you all on Monday.
Kickstarter Update: The Final Countdown
And we're close to the end.
The response to the project has been good and I thank everyone who has backed, though we still need that extra push to get it there. I've said before that £3,000 is nothing by Kickstarter standards and I stand by that, it has been raised before in about an hour or so. Even though there is less than 48 hours left I'm still confident that we'll get there.
So again I ask everyone to share this project and encourage others to pledge, with a strong effort we'll get there and make Frozen Skies a reality.
Kickstarter Update: And She's Done!
The project has reached its conclusion, though I've had a positive response I am a little disappointed that the project didn't reach its target.
In retrospect there are probably a ton of things I could've done differently to make it more successful, the major one I believe that I probably should've spent more time promoting the project before it started. Yes we got up to 31% funded with £943 from 60 backers, had I promoted it heavily for an extra couple of months then its possible that could've been reached within the first few days.
But as I said, there is probably a ton of other factors.
So the question now is what happens next?
I think the obvious answer is get some feedback and learn from my mistakes, this includes asking on forums and sending out a survey later today. The other answer is look at ways to try and get Frozen Skies funded somehow, I know there is interest as has been proven and I'm stubborn enough to keep trying to get the book out.
So my options are as follows;
*Crowdfund via Paypal; Great for people who didn't want to use Amazon and/or Kickstarter, but may end up being a slower method of raising the funds needed.
*Try again with Kickstarter; I can get feedback and make a much better project, though my only concerns are how long do I wait before running it and whether my first project will count against me.
*Seek Alternative Funding; Been keeping my options open and seeing what else is out there that can be useful, though I don't know if anything will come of it.
So that is how things stand, thanks to everyone who has backed the project and I welcome any and all feedback you may have.
In attempt to better organize things for the Frozen Skies Kickstarter relaunch (as well as kickstart my forums) started a thread on the Utherwald forums to consolidate all the feedback, etc in one handy place.
http://forums.utherwaldpress.com/index.php?showtopic=2