Blades in the Dark

PDF Update Coming Soon!
over 7 years ago – Sun, Oct 02, 2016 at 07:58:12 PM

In case you haven't seen the comments on the kickstarter page, here's a quick report about the next PDF update.

My lovely Surface tablet (which I was using to do all the work on the Blades book) died and I'm currently waiting for my new PC to arrive -- any minute now -- so I can get setup and back to work finalizing the next PDF update for the game.

My plan is to have a new update out this weekend. I'll also post a production update showing the progress in all the areas (like I did in the last big update).

Thanks so much for your patience and support!

May Update: Project Tracker
over 7 years ago – Wed, Aug 03, 2016 at 01:23:34 PM

Greetings Scoundrels!

Work on Blades in the Dark continues at full throttle. Thanks to your support, I’ve been working more than full-time on the project since the Kickstarter ended. Since this is my dream job, I couldn’t be happier about this. But even with that many hours, the project is a huge one for my little one-man operation. I totally whiffed on guessing the delivery date for the project, and I’m sorry about that. It’s taking a lot longer than I planned.

The good news is that part of the reason for the extended timeline is because I’m making more and more stuff for you. You’re all getting much better backer rewards in exchange for your continued patience and encouragement. Here are a few examples of game elements that have been developed beyond their original scope to make them even better in the final product.

I can’t say it enough: your support of this kickstarter has made it possible for me to work more than full time on my dream project, and that will result in the coolest backer rewards I can make for you. This isn’t really a ‘pre-order’ kind of project, like some other RPG kickstarters have been. This has been true patronage. Your support has paid a living wage to an independent game creator which has given me time to actually develop the best product I can make. You’re not just getting Blades in the Dark when this project is done -- you’re essentially getting Blades 2nd Edition. It’s a much better, clearer, and more complete product than what I had last year when the kickstarter ended.

To soften the blow of the later delivery, I’m making sure that you always have a complete game available to play right now. I want everyone to have access to the core game while I continue to work. Based on your feedback, this compromise seems to be working out very well. It’s been wonderful to see the game explode on Twitch and YouTube as many new groups join the community of Blades players. Your sessions are so inspiring to me!

My Kickstarter Tasks for May

• Set up Backerkit (finally!). Once this is done, you’ll be able to increase a pledge level, add an extra book, etc. as many of you have requested. 
• Send out instructions for Backer Portraits and Overlord backers (finally!)

Project Status Tracker

This is a new thing I’ll be doing with each monthly update. Below you can see every aspect of the project and how far along it is. I don’t have a fixed ETA for the final book yet, but this will help you see what’s left to do. As soon as I have a finalized document for the printer, I’ll give you a solid delivery date.

Completed
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Action & Effect Mechanics
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Teamwork Mechanics
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Downtime Mechanics
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Crew, Heat, Entanglement Mechanics
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Magic / Alchemy Mechanics
⚫⚫⚫⚫ XP & Advancement
⚫⚫⚫⚫ PC Playbooks
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Supernatural PC Playbooks
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Crew Playbooks
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Crew Claims
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Items / Equipment
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Doskvol City Maps
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Doskvol City Landmarks / Locations
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Key NPCs
⚫⚫⚫⚫ GM Section
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Random Streets and Buildings Tables
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Random NPC Generator Tables
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Random Cults and Devils Tables
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Starting Situation / Kickoff
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Book Design: Page Layout Templates
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Book Design: Typography & Formatting System
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Book Design: Graphic Elements, Page Decoration

Remaining
⚫⚫⚫⚪ District Survey Illustrations
⚫⚫⚫⚪ City Environmental Art
⚫⚫⚫⚪ Cover Art
⚫⚫⚫⚪ Reference Sheets
⚫⚫⚪⚪ Faction Write-Ups and Situations
⚫⚫⚪⚪ Tips, Techniques, Designer Notes
⚫⚫⚪⚪ Prison Claims, Incarceration
⚫⚪⚪⚪ Expanded District Write-Ups
⚫⚪⚪⚪ Examples
⚫⚪⚪⚪ Characters / Action Art
⚫⚪⚪⚪ Item Illustrations
⚪⚪⚪⚪ Backer Portraits
⚪⚪⚪⚪ Final Content Edit
⚪⚪⚪⚪ Final Copy Edit
⚪⚪⚪⚪ Indexes  

Stretch Goals in Development Now
⚫⚫⚫⚫ Vigilantes
⚫⚫⚫⚪ Blades Against Darkness
⚫⚫⚫⚪ Moon Over Bourbon Street
⚫⚫⚪⚪ Scum & Villainy
⚫⚪⚪⚪ Bluecoats
⚫⚪⚪⚪ Rail Jacks
⚫⚪⚪⚪ Leviathan Song
⚫⚪⚪⚪ Broken Crown
⚫⚪⚪⚪ Womb of Night
⚫⚪⚪⚪ U’Duasha (extra city map / factions)

That's all for now! I'll update you in June showing all the progress I've made on the tracker over the month. I'll also share the book PDF in progress with you then.

Thanks for all your feedback and support. You're the best game community I know. :)

- J