A Goblyn Market Kickstarter Update #12
I’m not going to hide it. I’m having a ball! What is supposed to be the grind part of the process has instead been a joy for me. On point editorial questions are filtering in, forcing me to clarify, rethink, and most importantly make Goblyn Market more accessible. This in turn compels me to stress test any new rules or information.
Oh rats. I have to play my game more. And, you can join me in February with an actual playthrough being recorded on January 28th! Lighting technician Eric and sound engineer Mary are already planning things like blocking, sound purity, and other topics I am woefully ignorant of. You’ll also be able to see Eric in all his goblyn glory too!
Method to the Madness
I’ve learned some stuff too. Because Goblyn Market began as an exercise in creating one shot adventures I assumed that’s how most affairs would be created. However, with more playtesting came a deeper understanding of the game. And with that, easier methodology for creating affairs.
Before the tasks that were presented to the players were fairly higgledy piggledy reflecting the chaotic nature of the market. What I discovered is people wanted a little more ‘sense’ for what was going on. So I instilled a creative pyramid structure.
The Empress of Night (the end all, be all for what can be considered leadership in the market) assigns the goal of the whole adventure. Usually something simple but hard to accomplish in one step like, keep a detective from finding the truth or completely wipe this family name from history. (You know, completely random examples for The Devil in Old Smoke and Fall of the House of Porden)
That task IS the affair/adventure. Now, the players may take on other subtasks from the Goblin King, Fairy Queen, and High Seer. These are easier to complete AND help achieve the Empress’s debt. For example: to distract the detective it would probably help if the opium dens weren’t currently condemned by the Prudence Council. Or maybe one of the Porden sons is attempting to introduce airship flight. It would be a shame if anything happened to those folks…
It also occurred to me that folks may want more affairs to explore once the game was available. We have set a tentative two month due date! And while formatting and art gets placed I will be hard at work doing three things.
- Update the free A Most Wicked Wig affair on itch to more properly reflect the updated ruleset and affair construction.
- Writing a trilogy to reveal how a Fairy Queen can be created.
- Writing a time manipulation part two to an affair you get for free in Goblyn Market.
Lots of things are happening and I can’t wait to share the new affairs and the live play action when they are finished!
Other Projects
Speaking of trilogies. With Twilight War being released (another collaboration between Gamenomicon and myself) I am well on my way through adventure number two of the Project Morning Star Chronicles using the new rules! Here are some mockups for cover art:
If you aren’t familiar with the Party First world, it is a 1980s alternate Russian history blended with X-Files crossed with something akin to Citizen James Bond. Covering up possible supernatural occurrences and intercepting secrets from counteragents all the while remaining loyal to the Party! Check it out on DriveThruRPG.com – Gamenomicon – The Largest RPG Download Store!