I’m writing this on my IPhone at a Starbucks after shopping for a
relative. This little ritual of sitting in this window seat is part of my
recalibration from the reality of traffic, Costco shoppers, grocery
stores and a few homeless beggars. A place to reset and turn my mind
back to the creative mix of a few freelance illustration gigs and the
ongoing, seemingly never ending work on the TME Expansion Rules.
Oh, but it’s not ‘Never Ending’, because I have been getting so
much done on this massive, much anticipated source book for The Mutant
Epoch Role-Playing Game.
When I’m not penciling the interior art, I’m inking the stacks of
ready images, or working on the cover figures, or pressing on with the
pre-art layout. And no wonder this has taken 7 years to get to this
late stage in the project, the book is gonna be way bigger than the TME
Hub Rules book at 450 +/- pages, with more, bigger and better art, and
extra touches. The Hub Rules were 246 pages, and also took 7 years to
put together.
Anyway, I’m in the last 10% on this book. And with the mountain
summit and completion within sight, my drive to see this
done only makes me work harder. Aiming for a fall release with a
single play test proof to be printed (without all the interior art even
done) for a Kamcon23 here in Kamloops in the middle of October. Impossible? Especially impossible because I need this proof sent to the printer about two or three weeks before I can get it mailed back... shit, who knows. I will try and keep you posted here on the blog.
This play test copy will be more for page referencing and flow than for
rules testing, as so much of this content has already been in use for
years privately.
So of course, with this project’s completion within sight, my mind
leaps way ahead to other projects. Very importantly, there is rebuilding
my lost Outland Arts Insider Newsletter, which must be set up before
the XR books is published. The plan is to setup using Mailer Lite, with a
free creature as a sign up bonus (the Red Ripper), so look for an invitation email from me in the near future.
So, back to what’s next after the Expansion Rules…
Besides the TME novel series, which will be 80% of my Outland Arts,
post Expansion Rules focus, what’s next for the Mutant Epoch game?
Answer: Nuke Tower
Nuke Tower is already written and the layout done. It’s a 250+ page
multi path adventure for 3-5th rank excavators and is based out of
Pitford. Thinking of doing a kickstarter for this one, but I’ll need
community feedback on that idea.
What’s after Nuke Tower?
Well, we have some one day digs and ideas for short content, as
well as another written and play tested mid rank adventure called Blood
Road. But, I’ll put feelers out there as far as doing a One Day Digs
compendium book that includes all of those already released plus two to
four all new book-exclusive mini adventures.
Beyond this, there is the Shattered Region Gazetteer, as well as
some time after the first novel series wraps up to create the Shallow
Sea Region Gazetteer ( where the Novels take place). I don’t plan to
have these other regional source books to be near as big as the
Crossroads Gazetteer.
Other books I’m contemplating:
- TME Art book
- 100 Excavators ( a hundred actually played characters created by Epochian gamers)
- Random mutant monster generator
- Paper miniatures (28mm print , cut and glue figures for tabletop gaming in the Mutant Epoch).
- Fantasy RPG using the Outland System and compatible with TME characters
- Other Outland System RPGs: sci-fi, western, modern, modern
survivalist, prehistoric ( for lost world adventures for fantasy or TME
characters to visit)
Anyway, my coffee is nearly done and my hand is shaking.
Stay tuned to this blog for ongoing updates on the Expansion Rules and other Outland Arts content.
Regards,
William McAusland
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