Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting (5E & Pathfinder)

Pathfinder Files to Printer & 5E Notes:
over 4 years ago – Thu, Sep 24, 2020 at 07:07:29 PM

Faithful Survivors!

Greetings from the Rusted Portal Colony! We are still here, safe and healthy, burning the midnight oil to deliver the Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting products eagerly awaited. And why wouldn't you be eager, we like our game, too! :)

First and foremost, thank you again for your patience and encouraging interest. We've received a couple great reviews on the Pathfinder PDF and still have some awesome GMs that have managed many online games. This is why we are here working, because we love this industry and bringing some fun into the world. Stay safe and diligent out there, it's probably going to be bumpy for the next few months. If all goes well, we'll have more gaming in 2021 to makeup for some time rolling real dice!

AtR Pathfinder Print: Print ready files have been sent off to the printer. We passed the first digital ingest test and now await formal review of both the cover wrap and the full manuscript. Does that excite any of you as much as it does me? OMG! Fingers crossed, but even if there are some minor changes our layout mastermind Simeon Cogswell will be able to churn a new version around quickly. 

Once the digital files are approved, we will order proofs (two separate physical proofs) and start the process. Presently, printing is running about a month out with delivery slowed (I'm sure most of you see the news on that subject). Provided the proofs run quickly and we don't have major changes necessary, we should see the full run in December. 

We are using a different printer than previously planned due to the minimum order quantity for Pathfinder. This decision changes little and any backers it affected have been notified. We did just receive an RPG from another publisher that printed with this printer and the quality is solid. We feel happy moving forward with them and believe you will as well. Fingers crossed the next hurdles are quick and painless so we can get those proofs. Once we do, I will make sure to update everyone immediately.

AtR 5E Progress: All chapters of the book finished the initial build about a month ago. We are presently working through the book start to finish, looking for errors and making some redesigns. The goal of the redesigns are to make aspects of the game more distinctly AtR. We did the same thing with Pathfinder and believe it was worth the time. Two chapters are through that review and will be going off to the editor shortly. 

Chapter 3: Classes is under review and I am pushing a few updates to implement designs we have already introduced. Specifically, we will be maintaining the Justice Pool, Nature Pool, and Faith Pool mechanics for the Arbiter, Conservator, and Shepherd. The functionality will be updated for 5E, but the concept stays. Changes like this are a time setback but ultimately worthwhile in separating AtR from core 5E design. We've prided ourselves on not just reskinning systems, and we will continue to deliver on that promise.

Chapter 3: Classes and Chapter 12: Bestiary are the big hitters when it comes to these changes. So while these two will drag down the timeline, the others are functioning almost exactly as intended. In other words, we anticipate most of the book to be a quick review and handoff to editing.

This does put timing later than the November print goal we had hoped. However, in working with that printer we were informed there was not space on the calendar for that timeline. Ultimately, that was the justification I needed to press delivering a little bit more on the design front. I'm certain when you get this version you will agree. 

We will continue to make updates when there are major changes that need communication. However, know that we are still working hard on delivering all aspects of this Kickstarter. We have an artist and layout working on one of the adventures, updates being made to the existing to be released adventures, and more stories and adventures being framed out for later release. I'm thankful to have a team that can take on a project and lay the foundation for future success. On that front, we cannot wait to deliver the campaign setting and come back with AtR Expansion 1. We have so much content to add once you've had time to digest all the material crammed into the setting.

As always, feel free to reach out or comment as needed. And if we've asked you a question in email, please respond soon! We're happy to engage and attempt to support any GMs wanting to run playtests. To those that currently are, we owe a debt of gratitude and forever appreciation. Once we have an opportunity to transition out of heavy final production, we are going to partake of some games ourselves. We hope you do, too!

Enjoy the videos with some art from the campaign setting. 

Sincerely,

Donaven - Rusted Portal Games

Apocalypse the Risen: PF & 5E Status Check
over 4 years ago – Tue, Jun 30, 2020 at 01:29:42 PM

Hello Backers, Friends, and Fans (All of whom we call Survivors!):

We hope this message finds you all healthy and well during these crazy times. The Rusted Portal team remains healthy and working to deliver all aspects of Apocalypse the Risen. We have been busy moving all aspects of the company, the Worlds of the Portal multiverse, and Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting material, forward to better serve your interests in enjoying these games. Below is a quick update:

Pathfinder Print: We remain unable to reach Paizo for license compatibility approval. We are confident we meet all of their requirements, which is why we released the PDF. However, we cannot go to print until we have their approval. We remain ready and available to sign the printer to contract and move this print forward as soon as we have that green light. Timing is ultimately TBD based on when Paizo offices are fully open and available to review licensee submissions. This is a result of the pandemic shutdown of offices in Washington State.

Pathfinder PDF on DriveThruRPG: If you have received your copy of the game and like what we've designed, please lease us a 5-star review. Positive comments are also greatly appreciated. We are proud of the final product and hope you love it, too. Your help in telling others is critical and we couldn't thank you enough!

5E PDF and Print: We continue to make great progress in development for the 5E version of AtR. Chad has two chapters left to put into playtest, which puts us in great shape to maintain the timeline we've discussed in the last few updates. Development of the insanity system, mutation mechanics, and the multiverse have just recently been moved forward in development and we are very happy with how they are working. We plan to deliver the printed 5E AtR Campaign Setting by November. 

Adventures: The Rusted Portal crew is also busy getting a number of adventures ready for delivery. We are working on updates and finalizing the three adventures unlocked during the Kickstarter ("Dead in the Darklands", "Demon Divided", and "Endless Descent"). Additionally, we will be releasing an updated version of "What's Cooking?" in fully illustrated PDF on DriveThruRPG sometime in July. Each of these games will include pre-gen characters should you just wish to play as level appropriate one-offs.

Truth Transmissions: If that doesn't sound like enough for the time being, the crew has also framed out the goals for the Truth Transmission podcast. Backers unlocked 12 episodes during the social media campaign. Each episode will run 10-15 mins recorded. These are in-world pirate radio broadcasts by operator Truth and others that have picked up the moniker. Truth broadcasts rumors (new adventure hooks) from around the world, shares detailed accounts of events (creatures, locations), and interviews other people within the world to share their stories (world narrative and adventure source material). The big picture goal for the podcast is to publish weekly, creating an immersive game session and providing additional campaign material with lots of narrative and Easter eggs.

Thank you again for your support and sticking with us as we crunched to move Apocalypse the Risen into publication. There are funds available to print, so rest assured as soon as we have all the required pieces in place we will print and ship your beautiful hardcover books!

Sincerely,

Donaven - Rusted Portal Games

AtR: Full Survey Sent!
over 4 years ago – Thu, Jun 04, 2020 at 04:47:52 PM

Hello Faithful Backers!

The smoke test went according to plan and the surveys are working as intended. No hiccup means the full survey list just went out to all backers. 

Please take a moment when you can over the coming days and complete your survey. Once complete, we will lock your survey and process. We WILL leave the shipping address open until we are closer to delivery to make sure we have your correct address at that time.

The survey is pretty simple, but please do take a look at the add-ons. We have some great supporting content that the lower tiers can acquire and a couple really awesome design options as well. We have a lot of content after all this time (hides in momentary shame for slow delivery) but as promised you will be rewarded for your patience with ongoing content. And the add-ons allow you to be involved!

We look forward to impressing you and hope to hear feedback as you get content in your grasp.

Thank you!

Donaven - Rusted Portal Games

Apocalypse the Risen Survey: Smoke Test
over 4 years ago – Tue, Jun 02, 2020 at 09:14:45 AM

Greetings Survivors!

This is just a quite notice to inform you that we will be running a smoke test on the BackerKit survey shortly. That means that about 5% of backers across all levels will receive an email directing them to complete their survey. So... let's see if this is working correctly!

Within the next week or so, considering the results of the test, we will roll out the full survey to everyone. We are comfortable with the progress and pricing, so we are ready to get you all onboard and updated.

The surveys are pretty simply, we aren't capturing any complex choices but you do have a number of options. Please browse around, see what you may be interested in, and ask any questions you may have. We are really stoked on the progress and plans for delivering on your fantastic support.

Sincerely,

Donaven - Rusted Portal Games

Apocalypse the Risen Campaign Setting (Pathfinder PDF)
over 4 years ago – Sat, May 30, 2020 at 10:07:33 PM

Greetings Survivors!

This is an additional notification to let you know we have published an updated version of the AtR PF Campaign Setting. You should have received an email from DriveThruRPG letting you know a new version has been added. Whether you received that email or not, you can log into your DTRPG account and download the updated (3.2) version.

We were deep in scrubbing the PDF for any typos or needs prior to going to print. All of those corrections have been made in this update, including a missing chart in the Colony Creation section. (SO IMPORTANT!)

Regarding the Pathfinder print, we are currently awaiting approval from Paizo for the compatibility license. Covid-19 is problematic as typically digital copies are reviewed after a physical delivery. We are trying to work around that requirement as we speak. We expect the printer contract to be finalized within the week.

The 5E conversion is nearly complete. All chapters have been finalized with an additional pass underway before playtesting restarts. We are presently on track to hold our November 2020 delivery schedule. Obviously there's a lot going on in the world, we are hopeful things get better for everyone sooner than later.

Stay safe!

Donaven - Rusted Portal Games