A Hail the Storm Bunny - the Rabbitfolk made it in!
almost 8 years ago – Thu, Jun 07, 2018 at 08:12:45 PM

TL/DR: We hit $17k while I was writing this update!

Hey Backers,

It's been an exciting day with a lot of progress and I suspect, by the time I finish this update, we'll either pass our next goal or still be so close to doing so that it only makes sense to share more info with you.

To Celebrate 300 Backers...

So, Jere and I spoke this morning, where he excitedly informed me he wanted to celebrate reaching our 300th backer. After a chat on Discord, we decided we're going to include - as a bonus for everyone - the Tru'atha!

 So, once we add the Rabbitfolk to the World of Alessia Campaign Primer, you're going to have no less than sixteen unique species to pick from. That's an impressive allotment of potential heroes!

Surprise Guest Authors Join Us!

We're happy to announce that American Fantasy Author Erik Scott De Bie (known for his work on the Forgotten Realms) will be writing a unique tale for the World of Alessia! So, backers are in for a bonus treat! If we hit $18,500, we're going to double the size of his story, too.

If we hit our $25,000 stretch goal, American Fantasy Author Matt Forbeck will be including a short story, as well!

A Comprehensive Look

If you're curious what those other stretch goals look like, we've included a fancy graphic, too.

First Stretch Goal Unlocked!
almost 8 years ago – Thu, Jun 07, 2018 at 01:52:51 AM

TL/DR We just hit our first stretch goal and unlocked the kitsune.

Hey Backers,

So, tonight we hit our first stretch goal and unlocked the kitsune, a species we've been chasing since this weekend. in Alessia, the kitsune are agile, cunning, and exceptionally lucky. Commonly known as the Children of the Nine-Tailed Lord, the kitsune often deploy their luck to benefit everyone around them.

So what's next? That would be the Rabbitfolk at $17,000, which I honestly think we'll hit! I'm pretty excited about that, too. Seriously, who doesn't want a bunch of Rabbitfolk and Weaselings running around on awesome adventures? I know I do.

And once we hit this stretch goal, we'll start seriously looking at the Nekomata, a species with several variants we'll explore in the setting. But before we start talking about them, just visualize with me - for a brief moment - what a Weaseling and a Rabbitfolk might look like in your 5e or Starfinder party. 

Go ahead. 

I'll wait.

It's late here, so I'm going to keep this update short. I'll have more exciting things to tell and show you as we dive into the weekend! So, let's keep up this awesome pace and see if we can get the Rabbitfolk added to the World of Alessia Campaign Primer!

Cheers,
Jaye 

Funded!
almost 8 years ago – Tue, Jun 05, 2018 at 05:32:15 PM

Funded!

 First, Jere and I would like to thank each and every backer who has stepped up (or will step up in the future) to help fund this campaign, by sharing our content, asking important questions, bringing friends to the Kickstarter, and of course, investing in the world we’ve been building for you!

So, thanks. 

Your help makes projects like The World of Alessia possible.

What's next?

Now that we’ve funded, let’s talk about our next steps over the next few days! We’ve got about five days remaining, so we can and should start focusing on our stretch goals, including describing what those look like and how they will make your gaming experience better. 

So far, we’ve been showing you the various new species the World of Alessia Campaign Primer will bring to your gaming table, as well as the additional species we’ll be sharing as we reveal more of the world with the Starfinder and 5e space-fantasy communities. 

Aside from bringing over a dozen new species to your games, what does this mean? 

People playing their games set in The World of Alessia (or who export this concept as an optional rule) can deploy these relationships as species synergies – relationships whose cultural, historic, or genetic connections allow them to overcome their shortcomings by working together. In the case of the Harpyans and the Fengu (who I discussed in the last update), the forces of light engineered this relationship in preparation for the War of Sovereigns so they could take advantage of their natural terrain, as well as the species living nearby. Each relationship has a similar story, as well.

In some instances, global-level events have forged these relationships (as they have with the Minotaurs and the Dwarves), while in others a natural relationship evolved based on their goals and environments (the Treah and the Velestrians share a specific relationship like this). So, as we hit more stretch goals, we’ll unlock and explore more of these relationships and see how those synergies change the dynamics of play at your table. 

Here’s what these look like:

$16,000 - We add the Kitsune (everyone should probably thank @Michael for championing this one) and learn more about the wilds of Yerwin.

 $17,000 – We add the Rabbitfolk and learn more about Alessia’s moon and the fabled Elixir of Immortality. 

$18,000 – We add the Nekomata and learn more about the wild jungles Elysia, the power of the Proud Tribes, and more about the lands of Yerwin. 

 $19,000 – We add the Minotaurs and learn more about the tunnels that crisscross the lands below northern Fryrea. We also learn about the Mark of Minos and the bond the two races enjoy. 

$20,000 – We expand the book to 240 pages to include more spells, weapons, and gear for both systems.  

 So, let's go unlock some stretch goals!

Cheers,
Jaye

9 Days to go!
almost 8 years ago – Sat, Jun 02, 2018 at 10:14:07 PM

TL/DR: We show you more art!

Hey Backers,

Earlier today, Jere and I were discussing the Kickstarter and he asked me to share some more art with you, specifically art that was commissioned for the Yökai we have planned for future releases. So, today's post is going to be a giant art show.

Here is a look at some of the species you'll be able to play, as well as some of the equipment and gear your characters will be able to use. So, let's get started!

Art Show Time!

 The Nekomata - the people of fur and fang - have several subspecies including panthers, jaguars, leopards, lions, and other hunting cats.

 One of the things Jere and I are both proud of about Alessia is the simple fact that while our art certainly has attractive characters, we've taken great care to make sure a wide array of heroes are represented in terms of ethnicity, body types, and even cultural influences.

I'm a visual person who studied graphic design in my 20s (and continues to do follow-up courses), so I tend to place a high priority on art in the projects I lead. I want the visual elements to follow the themes and empower GMs, while exciting players at the same time (because immersion is important). To be perfectly honest, that's one of the primary reasons why I keep copies of all my favorite comics, games, and other media close at hand (a trait I suspect I share with LPJ)!

 We've spent a lot of time thinking about how technology develops in a setting and designed Alessia around some principle concepts, which we hope will enhance your 5e and Starfinder games! 

 While I plan to talk about the Ring of Heaven, The Light, and similar technology in a future update (hint: pics of weapons and gear), I really want to show off some of the Telg'ra. Why? Because they're Moon Cats. And Moon Cats are awesome. 

I also want to share another image of the Fengu - a species that starts out as one of our core starting species.

 The Fengu (who most people know by their popular Japanese variant, the Tengu) are a displaced people. Originally a winged species, the Fengu of today have long ago lost their ability to fly - one of the many after-effects of Galgaræ's Fall.

 I also want to take a moment to tell you about the relationship that exists between the Fengu and the Harpyans, which you'll be able to put into play when you get your copy of The World of Alessia Campaign Primer. Each species has a special trait that directly interacts with the other. In this case, the Harpyans possess an ability called Skysong that allows the Fengu to activate their ability Aerial, allowing them to take to the sky in battle. 

 A similar relationship exists between the minotaurs and the dwarves. Both species begin to play with an ability called Mark of Minos that confers benefits to both when

In this image, we show you the iconic Kitsune on an airava'a, a type of magitech hoverboard. Originally, we called these personal air skiffs or hoverboards interchangeably, but the term airava'a is starting to grow on me. Why? Fun fact: the word airava'a is a cognate air + a + va'a (a type of Polynesian canoe or boat). 

A Few More...

 Before I end this update, I want to share four additional illustrations. Each of these illustrations shows you one of the various types of Kaima who live on Alessia.

 When the Kaima manifest in corporeal form, they often take the form of fantastic beasts.

 Not all Kaima are good, either.

 And with that, backers, I'm going to leave you to your Saturday!

Enjoy the show and thanks for backing!

Cheers,
Jaye

Team Alessia's Week Three Push!
almost 8 years ago – Fri, Jun 01, 2018 at 02:19:22 AM

TL/DR Yesterday we hit 200 backers and I gave everyone a tour of the Yökai!
Also, we officially start the 11 Days of Alessia.

 Hey Backers,

Yesterday we hit 200 backers and officially added the Dark Ish'ra and Tir'ians to the World of Alessia Campaign Guide, increasing the number of included species to lucky thirteen. Currently, that list includes:

• The Celestia - a species of beings touched by the light.
• The Dark Ish'ra - an alien species related to the Ish'ra who still serve the Orgothii.
• The Djinnkin - this species is native to Alessia and is related to both humans and terrans.
• The Dragonsworn - the children of the Great Celestial Dragons.
• The Elathi - a species native to Alessia who evolved from the elves.
• The Elves - one of Alessia's eldest species.
• The Fengu - a species of wingless, native Yökai who resemble ravens.
• The Ish'ra - the oldest alien species on Alessia.
• The Pandrens - a species of native Yökai who resemble pandas.
• The Terrans - the four-armed cousins of the humans of Alessia.
• The Tir'ians - an alien species from beyond the stars that resemble reptiles.
• The Treah - a native Alessian species created from the Great Trees of Life.
• The Weaselings - a species of native Yökai who resemble polecats.

With all of these species going into the book, it's time to start looking at our future options, as well as some of the stretch goals we originally planned. We're going to be actively revising some of these, but as we close in on funding, it's important to think about.

Before we go start showing off our stretch goals, I want to visit some more of those backer comments that continue to come in! Last week, backer Frank C. asked us a bunch of important questions about familiars, which I never adequately addressed. I'd like to tackle one of those now.

Smart Familiars for an Evolving Alessia

On Alessia, all of its native species have or are currently in the process of evolving. While this would typically take hundreds of thousands of years, the very nature of Alessia - itself a living world - has expedited the process for nearly all of the native species (including the now native Ish'ra). While this evolution has manifested mainly among the bipedal species, it has also begun to manifest among many of the four-legged species. As a result, Alessia enjoys a growing list of animal companions and familiars that possess heightened intelligence and who are genuinely unique beings. To account for this, conscientious arcanists have evolved their practices, removing many of the traditional rituals and spells they used to 'bind' familiars.

Today, the Order of Astrænna continues these new arcane traditions by teaching spells, rituals, and methodologies that encourage their arcanists to form meaningful bonds with their familiars instead of commanding or forcing them into subservient roles.

Because of this independence, we needed new rules to handle how other intelligent species form similar bonds, even when they cannot normally cast arcane spells. To do this, we explored the relationship individuals (regardless of whether or not they use arcane magic) and gave GMs several options to explore, one of which simply includes treating additional familiars as magic items.

So, how do we handle classes with features that also grant a familiar?

It's simple. You can have more than one. Currently, our rules allow you to form meaningful bonds with a number of intelligent animals, objects, or beings equal to your proficiency bonus (only classes with a familiar or animal companion can exceed this limit), and each bond requires a period of attunement. These bonds represent the time and effort required to maintain these relationships, whether that is caring for a beloved familiar or simply cleaning/repairing your magical armor.

So how does an evolving world impact your game?

While I fully expect a host of backers will be using this content exclusively in their home games, I also hope quite a few of you will be diving headfirst into the exotic world we've built, so understanding that the world itself is pretty significant. This understanding also allows creative GMs to customize how the world changes, too. While the natural terrain changes on Alessia are as frequent as they are here on Earth, the people of Alessia make excellent use of both the Alessia's ley lines and magitech to keep that expansion and change under control.

Of course, creative GMs can explore how that evolution might manifest for various species, cultures, and even the terrain itself; we're also going to reveal how we do some of that, as well.

So, stretch goals, anyone?

As a few backers have already mentioned, our Kickstarter campaign is moving along nicely again, and we're hoping to fund over this weekend, which would let us realize some of our stretch goals. We've got a few, but our biggest hope is to hit 30k, at which point we'll be able to expand some our design team and add much more to the book.

We'll continue to reveal them as we count down the Eleven Days of Alessia. Today's opening stretch goal is a little ambitious, but absolutely possible. So, here it is. If we can reach and maintain 250 backers by Sunday, June 3rd, 11:59 PM (U.S. Central Time), we'll go ahead and toss the kitsune into The World of Alessia Campaign Guide. Alongside the two previous stretch goals, this will bring our total up to 14 species and about 200 pages.

Think we can hit that number?

Let's Meet the Yökai

The World of Alessia has numerous natural species, although we're currently focusing on the most common, land-based species likely to interact with citizens of the Empire of Xian. These species include:

Harpyans – One of several species encouraged to evolve to fight for the forces of Light during the War of the Sovereigns, the harpyans helped to make tactical decisions that brought about several decisive victories for the forces of Light. “Born” on eastern Yerwin, harpyan can be found all over Alessia.

 So I'm actually pretty excited about the harpyan, because they have this really cool ability called skysong that allows other species to fly when specific conditions are met. Although not pictured here, some harpyans have evolved to grow wings, and wear special armor and outfits to accommodate for this. In some areas, harpyan nestmates adopt tribal dress or specific fashion, too.

  Kitsune - These agile, clever, and incredibly lucky yökai are a common sight on imperial streets and make up a large part of the Empire of Xian’s industrial workforce, working almost exclusively in textiles as expert craftspeople. A surprising number of kitsune also work in the shadows of the empire, where competing clans of ninjas put the full weight of their luck to the test.

Nekomata – One of the earliest Yökai races, the Nekomata evolved out of the humid, hot jungles of central and southern Elysia. After expanding throughout Alessia, several tribes of nekomata helped the Gnoles build the Empire of Anu. By the time the Yökai made peace around the Yerwin’s Council Fires, the Nekomata had already evolved into several powerful and agile sub-species.

 The Nagai - The direct descendants of naga, today’s nagai claim Velestra as their home. Originally snakes who grew large and smart off Shenns’ænn energies, these creatures now live longer, completely sentient lives.

Onward Towards Funding!

Well, all, that's a bit of an update already, so I'm going to wrap this one up. Have a great weekend. I'll see you in the comments section.

Cheers,
Jaye