Hey everyone! This week, my second-oldest daughter and I started working on Home Sweet Home, my contribution to a 4-game collection (The Welcome Wagon) that Nate, Tim, Kanishk, and I are working on together. This project has been in the works since January of this year. My initial draft was completed forever ago, but when I […]
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Summer Progress Update
Hey friends! Despite my kids being home and our kitchen being under construction, this summer has been extremely productive. Here’s what I have going on right now: 1.) After two weeks of waiting, Plane is finally being processed at Ingram. Hopefully, I’ll be able to order our first proofs this week, so the print-and-play PDF can […]
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March Update: Things are happening!
Kickstarter Announceme—oh, we’re funded already?
Well, I did plan to come in here and announce the launch of our Kickstarter for Plane, but we funded before I could even draft the post!
As I write this, the campaign is at $973 with 31 backers and 24 days left to go. We’re $27 away from hitting a major stretch goal—a guided campaign where players investigate one of AstroFusion’s Interdimensional Mysteries. I’m trying not to refresh every five minutes, but I’m so excited to have the opportunity to make a guided campaign, I’m tempted to start working on it right now.
New Artist!
In other news, we’ve brought an artist—Pickle—onto the project to make some character art for us! Kanishk and I have already sent the design brief information. Pickle’s work is amazing, and we’re so thrilled to be working with her.
Plane Trailer
If you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the trailer I made. (All hail Canva for making this process ridiculously easy.)
Moar Playtesters Plz
As the game’s development continues, a lot of things are changing, so we’re recruiting more playtesters for another round of review. If you’re interested, you can sign up here. Each playtester who submits a playtest report will receive a copy of the game in PDF and playtester credit in all versions of the title and on our online project pages. (Do it for glory!)
Plane Development Update: Look How Pretty!
It has been really fun to see the game evolve, especially since most of the evolution seems to happen organically. The interior is gradually becoming more polished. It has developed its own tone.
It’s starting to look like a real rulebook.
Did you know that the word for the game where you take turns removing wooden blocks from a tower until the tower falls can’t be used without permission from Hasbro? Now you do. This screenshot is taken directly from my publishing software, so ignore any weirdness caused by reference lines. Unfortunately, I had to kill my awesome custom-painted tumbling block tower idea. It’s taking forever to paint every individual brick, and they’re not looking as crisp as I want them to. So, they’re on the backburner for now while I focus on the rulebook, which is growing into a complete monster, now that the prompt sets have doubled.
The more work I do, the more work I create. I made some printable AstroFusion reports, and then I decided I’ll make printable character sheets and turn references too. Because why not? More is always better.
Oh, and we’re adding some optional tables. Why? BECAUSE WE CAN.
This project is a total labor of love. The Kickstarter campaign has performed beyond my wildest expectations. I thought we’d be fortunate to hit $500, so the fact that we’ve almost doubled that with so much time to go has me absolutely floored. Solo games are a niche, but solo journaling games are a niche within a niche within a niche.
Thank you so much for being here. If you’ve already supported the campaign, I promise you won’t be disappointed. 🙂
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February Update!
Hello friends! It’s been an exhilarating (read: nerve-wracking) few weeks at AstroFusion Command, and I’m thrilled to share the progress we’ve made on Plane, our first journaling RPG. Artistic Evolution: First and foremost, Plane’s vibehas undergone a remarkable transformation. I’ve been refining the art style to better capture the mood of the game, which has […]
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HAPPY NEW CAT DAY! (and other news)
Hey everyone! Today is a very special day for me, one I’ve been looking forward to for weeks. It’s NEW CAT DAY! NEW CAT DAY!!!! SQUEEEEE!!! If you aren’t interested in pets, scroll down, because this is all I can think about right now and I’m dying to talk about it. As those in our […]
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January Update: Exciting Times Ahead at The Dread Machine!
Hello beloved supporters!
As the new year unfolds, we’re thrilled to share some fantastic updates from The Dread Machine. Your support has been the backbone of our journey, and we’re excited to take you along on our latest adventures!
Issue 3.4: A Record Success!
Issue 3.4 sold more copies on release than any previous issue! Arcane Advisors, your epub copies are waiting for you. Investigate a haunted record store, meet an accidental martyr, and marry a god. Gather the stars, catalog a new planet, and settle the feud with your twin brother. Learn how to determine if your grandmother has been replaced by a fairy, how to build a social media following to crowdfund medical bills before you need it, and thirteen ways to dissect a blackbird. Whatever you do, don’t wander to the planet’s dark side, be sure to buckle in, and stay far away from the Roomba.
Plane: Expanding Into New Dimensions
After many hours of playtesting, I have expanded the Plane universe, enriching the prompts and adding more tables to bring a larger cast of characters and a grander scale to your interdimensional escapades. The first draft of the plaintext PDF version is complete, so I’m formatting the paperback and hardcover editions full-time, from now until they’re ready to go out for proofing. Kanishk is trying to find someone to create a game trailer. (Pray for him, lol. Reliable freelance creators can be hard as hell to find.)
Introducing “The Welcome Wagon”
We’re ready to reveal our second project of the year: “The Welcome Wagon.” This collection will feature three games, each set in its own unique small town:
- The Night It Went Down by Nathaniel Lee: Relive a legendary brawl in a small-town bar, a night of chaos, connection, and change.
- Open Mic Night at Cafe Bakery: Step into the spotlight and carve your path to local fame.
- Home Sweet Home by Alin Walker (that’s me!): Create and explore as you settle into your new home, uncovering the mysteries of its past inhabitants.
These games promise to be immersive, unique, and engaging. We can’t wait to share more with you as we progress, especially once we launch “Plane” on Kickstarter in mid-February.
Short Stories: We Need Them
We’ve decided to continue publishing short stories! Each month, we will publish a new story, culminating in a physical anthology at the year’s end. We’re currently finalizing word counts, payment, and themes for each month.
Looking Forward
Your support and enthusiasm make all of this possible. Thank you for being part of this adventure. Here’s to another year of creativity and relentless weird.
Warm regards,
Alin Walker & The Elder Gods
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Issue 3.4 is here!
You know the drill, right? Dowload this thing. Put it somewhere memorable, or read it all at once. It’s made for you to consume, but not physically, okay? Don’t try to eat it, no matter how good it looks.
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Blood Debt
This story is by EC Dorgan. It is appearing online for the first time here, but was originally published in The Dread Machine Issue 3.3, available in paperback and Epub. The doctors call it bad blood, but you know you’ve stumbled on something bigger. And so you find yourself in front of a steakhouse, lips […]
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How to Determine if Your Grandmother Has Been Replaced by a Fairy and What to Do About It
This story was written by Greta Hayer. It is appearing online for the first time here, but was originally published in The Dread Machine Issue 3.3, available in paperback and Epub. 1. If you show up to your grandmother’s house on a Sunday afternoon for iced tea and bourbon on the front porch and immediately […]
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Monthly Updates: November
TL;DR The Long Version After a lot of experimentation with two different brands of gypsum-based eco resins, I have learned how to not make dice. Here’s what else we’ve been up to the last few weeks! While I love the idea of dice that look and feel like stone, eco-resin may not be the best […]
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