Downtime in Zyan, my new zine, has just launched on Kickstarter! The zine presents a system for downtime, the activities characters engage in between adventures. Brought to life by the whimsical and alluring art of Evlyn Moreau, the mole rats of Zyan will show you how to transform the neglected space between adventures into a site where player-driven schemes and dreams grow with delightful results.
Head over to the campaign and you'll see some exciting stretch goals. Half of the stretch goals for this project are about sharing the profits with my dream team. It’s a way of recognizing Evlyn for her fantastic art that has brightened our collective existence for the better part of a decade in this corner of indie rpgs, and Lester for his visionary graphic design and layout, which has given Through Ultan’s Door its distinctive (and award-winning) look. Both members of the dream team also played in my original dreamlands campaign, Evlyn as her character Satareh who explored the hanging Summer Palace in the bright groves of the inverted White Jungle, and Lester as the lizard man gladiator Sleestakarus whose dreamland picaresques include snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in the Gauntlet of the Panther Priests. It means the world to me to be working with them both on this project. Along the way there are also Kickstarter exclusive stretch goals that provide a handy reference to the system of downtime activities as well as a pamphlet with special rules for carousing in Zyan!
This Kickstarter presents two versions of Downtime in Zyan. The first is the modest edition. In keeping with the human preference for pants, this version has added bottom coverings to the illustrations of mole rats that otherwise would appear naked to human eyes. The cover illustrated above is drawn from the modest edition of Downtime in Zyan. But this Kickstarter also presents an option to purchase a Kickstarter exclusive bold edition of Downtime in Zyan that presents the mole rats as they actually dress and prefer to be seen: without pants. I encourage you to think of your pledge for the zine as a vote between these two editions. Choose sides in this eternal struggle and back this Kickstarter by clicking here!
Stay tuned, I'll have more exciting news on blog soon about Through Ultan's Door 4. Until then, I'll see you in slumberland.
Imagine thinking it was "neat" to bundle your junk into a little cloth package day in and day out.
ReplyDelete-This comment brought to you by the No Pants Gang
I dislike seeing mole rat private parts, and so ordered the "pantful" version.
ReplyDeleteI think I missed the Kickstarter by mere moments. It ended today?! Will you offer the zine for sale too?
ReplyDeleteYes, I will likely either sell it through my own webstore or supply it to Exalted Funeral (US), Ratti Incantati (Canada), and All the World's Problems (Germany) after it goes out to backers. The easiest way to stay apprised of developments is to sign up for the mailing list here: http://mailchi.mp/bfc17b793b1
DeleteThat link is resulting in a 404. What am I doing wrong? LOL
DeleteHere's a link that should work:
Deletehttps://mailchi.mp/bfc17b793b19/through-ultans-door-press
I backed the kickstarter but didn't notice a place to vote pants/no pants... where is that? I'm solidly in favor of letting them dress however they like, not forcing our conventions on them.
ReplyDeleteGood news Knobgobbler, people voted with their wallets and the result was NO PANTS by more than 2:1. While the minority's wishes for modesty will be respected in the zines they receive, the majority favor a bold freedom for the mole rats.
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