Explore a dark-fantasy future with your hero, completing their quests to win in this retro solo to 4 player adventure game!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
June Production Update: NEW (and OLD) FACES!
11 months ago
– Tue, Jun 27, 2023 at 08:04:32 AM
Hello Backers,
We made a lot of progress in two specific areas this month: the development of new characters and a new game mode!
CHARACTERS: Over the past month, I completed all the mini-expansion (Alderkang and Beasts & Monsters) and CRAWL! character cards. I polished their art, finished their layouts, defined their attributes, then wrote and play-tested all their special abilities (which takes the most time).
The KELVON BUTCHER (one of 3 KELVON enemies) can inflict damage before engaging in combat; you might know LARVOK, a hero introduced in Battle of the Ancients; this TRILOK increases its POWER with each battle turn!
There will be more characters in CRAWL! than I originally anticipated. I changed the balance between items and characters, decreasing the number of items (originally 24, now 18), while increasing the number of characters (originally 12, now 18). The fresh special abilities of the new characters add a lot more dimension to the gameplay, so you'll get more bang for your buck.
In the CRAWL! game mode, characters are being enchanted with “The Darkness,” and even if they may usually be friendly, they become enemies (*AGGRESSIVE*). An important new game mechanic in this mode is that players can choose to have their heroes “disenchant” an enemy instead of killing them (gaining additional Quest Points for doing so, but alerting the Ancient of Death, DHOREGAT KELT to their presence!).
KEJEN is a follower who has an increased chance of fleeing combat; the THRG’FERVHEN, introduced in Battle of the Ancients, is a terror that teleports all over the map; the DARK LAKE TERROR is another terror…that is absolutely terrifying!
ANEW GAME MODE: In addition to the original solo/2p game mode in CRAWL!, there will be a new solo or co-op “FULL WORLD EXPLORATION GAME” for 1-4p. In this game mode, you will play through ALL THE LOCATIONS THAT YOU OWN, exploring everything from start to finish. This will take a lot of time (you can think of it as a "campaign"), so a new “SAVE GAME” system has been developed: players can pack up their game and resume it at another time, where they left off.
Simply put, the player’s heroes make a CAMP. Once their heroes have "camped," players can choose to (a) start a "new day" (begin at round 1 on the Day Track again) and continue playing, (b) leave the game tabled to start a "new day" at another time or (c) or pack up the game (in a very particular way) to resume later.
A “full exploration” mode (or campaign) is something I’ve wanted to add to the game for a long time, and I think having it as part of CRAWL! makes a lot of sense.
That’s it for now. More news on production and (hopefully) manufacturing in the next update.
Stay safe!
Rob
May Production Update: Location, Location, Location!
12 months ago
– Wed, May 24, 2023 at 07:41:48 AM
Hello Backers!
I’ve made a lot of progress on Dark Venture 2nd Edition over the past month. In this production update I’ll go over what I’ve been working on: testing new components, finalizing new additions to the Core Rules, and creating new Locations! Also, toward the end of this update, there's a full progress report. This is a long one, so buckle in!
Testing some of the new Alderkang expansion prototype components mixed into the core game.
CORE RULES UPDATE: Over the past month we've focused on reviewing the 2nd Edition Core Rules. This rule set has been fine-tuned since the first edition was released and now, in our final passes, we are reviewing all the new passages. Specifically, the new 12-page FAQ has undergone a full editorial review. We’ve folded the ANCIENTS into the core game (they were originally an add-on expansion). We’ve added several pages of updated APPENDICES. It is not 100% press-ready and requires a final editorial pass (a detailed proofreading), but here is a link to the latest version (this link will be consistently updated with the newest version of the book, it is a work-in-progress until sent to the printer):
The Core Rule Book is a GAME SETUP GUIDE, a PLAYER AID, and a RULES REFERENCE all rolled into one. It explains all the included components, the basic game setup (for all game types), and outlines the SOLO, COMPETITIVE, and CO-OP games in detail.
The goal in updating the Core Rules was to clarify and simplify the existing book and make playing the game easier, while trying not to add more rules to the game. I think we've achieved this goal.
NEW LOCATION ART: Over the past month, I've been breaking up the “rules review” and the writing by creating artwork for the locations in the new Dark Venture ALDERKANG, BEASTS & MONSTERS, and CRAWL! expansions. Each location is hand-drawn, hand-inked, and hand-painted. Creating the game location art is absolutely my favorite part of making this game. The ideas for what will happen in a location are made simultaneously to painting the location, so the art is often very inspirational to creating the events that will happen there, and vice versa.
Three of the new locations: two are from the Alderkang expansion, one is from Beasts & Monsters.
For the CRAWL! expansion, the locations will be handled in the same way that they were in Vile Invaders. Namely, the CRAWL! rule book will contain the LOCATION ENTRIES (read when playing the location) and ACTIONS (events that are read when a player’s character enters the location).
However, there are no rule books in the mini-expansions so we had to handle the location entries in a slightly different way. Location Entries are on cards, 1 per location, that are kept near the play area. Similar to the location entries in the books, when the specific location is played (added to the map), the Location Entry on the card with the number corresponding to the location is read, events take place and choices must be made!
Mostly spoiler free, these are LOCATION ENTRY cards. They are read when locations are played.
Also, in addition to the actual location card art, this month I created quite a few backgrounds representing the new locations. This art will be used behind the various characters and items that are included in the new expansions.
Slivers of the new card backgrounds. They're based on expansion locations.
FULL PROGRESS REPORT:
The Core Game and Vile Invaders expansion token sheets, boards, and cards are laid out and press-ready (this includes the Upgrade Kit), the books require a final editorial “proofreading” pass.
Khrag Pit token sheets and cards are complete (but require a final review), the game board is press-ready, the rule book is typeset and has undergone a lot of rule testing and 2 full rounds of editing (but require a final “rules pass” and “proofreading pass”).
I made a lot of progress on The Alderkang and Beasts & Monsters expansions this month. Token sheets and cards are laid out; they are now content-complete (Location Entry cards and Heroic Quests are typeset, written, and edited). These are now ready to send to print.
The Official Soundtrack (with bonus Rake the Void location) is complete and ready to send to print. We will likely get a prototype of the final tape next month. The tape production will follow a slightly different process compared to the game, but I’m confident it will work out: it’s being mastered in Canada, will be shipped to me (in the US), then we’ll be sending out separate deliveries to each of our worldwide hubs (who will add it to your order upon fulfillment).
The CRAWL! expansion has many brand new, never-before-seen characters, items, and locations. Art is mostly complete, the layouts for most of the character and item cards are 60% complete (and likely will be complete by the end of next month), token sheets need to be laid out. The main game mode (for SOLO and 2P) is written, but requires editing. As new characters are finalized in the other expansions, they are being added into the CRAWL! play mode (enemies are sorted into STANDARD, HARD, or LEGEND classes for use in CRAWL!). I'll complete typesetting the book when all the locations/actions are written (soon). I am making a lot of progress, knocking out large parts of this expansion weekly, but my primary focus is to complete the other content to 100%.
In summary, I’ve made a lot of progress on the legacy content of the game (the Dark Venture Core Rules), while also completing a good portion of the new expansion content this month. That said, I have a lot to do so I should get back to it :)
Thank you again for your amazing support and words of encouragement. This project could not have been made without your incredible generosity.
Until the next update, stay safe!
Rob
Backerkit Orders Will Lock On APRIL 15th 2023 (In 2 Days)
about 1 year ago
– Thu, Apr 13, 2023 at 06:39:06 AM
Hello Backers!
A quick reminder that we are locking all Backerkit orders on Saturday April 15th, 2023 (2 days from now). What this means is that shipping costs, new orders, and anything that you added to your initial pledge will be processed at this time.
Also, after Backerkit is locked, you will not be able to add additional items to your pledge.
However, we won't be locking addresses in Backerkit at this time. Your address will be locked at a later date so that you are able to make changes to it right up to the time when we are shipping the game to you.
If you have any issues with your pledge or with Backerkit, please DIRECT MESSAGE ME THROUGH KICKSTARTER.
Thank you, and I hope the rest of your week is great!
Rob
March Production Update: Why a CASSETTE TAPE?!
about 1 year ago
– Fri, Mar 24, 2023 at 06:51:26 AM
Hello Backers!
This month, a concise production update, then a discussion about (of all things) cassette tapes.
PRODUCTION UPDATE: For the past month, I’ve continued to work on “Khrag Pit” and “CRAWL!”, finishing up the character art (I’ve started a couple new backgrounds today). I'm writing the special abilities for all the new characters and laying out their cards. Testing of CRAWL! is continuing and, so far, it is a lot of fun to play! I’m really excited for you to see it (soon!).
WHY ATAPE? As a kid growing up in a rural town in the 70's and 80’s, two of the most treasured things I owned were a cassette tape player/recorder and a Walkman. They opened up my world, allowing me to create, edit, mix, and listen to music that I never would have heard on the local radio. Later, in the 90’s, I’d often make tapes for friends, spending hours crafting mixes and (more important to this discussion) designing and hand-drawing fold-out tape covers! Even though the tech has been (far) superseded, tapes have a tactile quality (think about opening a cassette tape case, pull out the tape, hold it in your hand, shake it, do you remember that sound?) and are a weird, sculptural, cultural object.
For this project, knowing that we had already published CDs of the soundtrack, I wanted to do something different. I began researching cassette tape manufacturing and soon discovered a whole subculture of rpg cassette tape soundtracks. Many of these soundtrack tapes included written adventures or supplements to tabletop rpgs on their liners! Which led me into THE LAIR OF RAKE THE VOID.
Initially, as seen in the Dark Venture 2e Kickstarter, I wanted to have a giant Dark Venture location with written location entries printed on the cassette tape j-fold card (the liner) of the soundtrack. Over the past weeks, I completed writing the rules and location entries for this new tape location and found, to my dismay, that a lot more space would be required on the tape liner, even if the longest possible j-fold was used. I began pricing out a new idea: a j-fold in the cassette that would have the location map on one (full) side and…a booklet that would fit into the case with the j-fold and the cassette! Here are some photos of the initial prototype.
Rake, a powerful warlock, is known throughout Darkgrange as "The Void" because he has the ability to erase minds.
This location is composed of many smaller locations, each with an event, treasure to discover, enemy to fight, puzzle to solve, or Quest Points to earn. The booklet allows for a lot more event content, and (I think) it looks great, helping to graphically tie this expansion more closely to the game. I really hope you enjoy playing it!
Hard to believe, but the font in this little book is the same size as the font in the game books!
Let me know your thoughts on cassette tapes, your experiences, stories!
Until the next update, stay safe!
Rob
Short Month, Short February Update
about 1 year ago
– Tue, Feb 28, 2023 at 08:20:11 AM
Hello Backers!
This month seemed to fly by! Makes sense, it was short. In the spirit of the month, I’ll keep it brief. There'll be more to talk about in the coming weeks.
PRODUCTION UPDATE: I’ve been working heavily on CRAWL! (I needed to create a slew of new items and monsters) and the Khrag Pit Arena expansions: iterating, testing, and refining the rules. They are coming along nicely, are very unique, and I'm sure you will love playing them.
New characters and monsters! That one guy looks like trouble.
PRINT & PLAY: There have been a couple inquiries about the print & play version of the game. I want to hold off on releasing it until the Core Rules are 100% finalized and we are sure that there will be no other revisions to any of the cards or books. We are still working on (and testing) the new core rules* (see below). The templates for the 1stED cards, books, and boards are complete, so the P&P should release soon after everything is locked down. Also, to be honest, I don’t want to take time away from designing the new expansions. Soon!
PLEDGE MANAGER CLOSING APRIL 15th: BackerKit will lock down pledges and will process any shipping costs, add-ons, and new orders on APRIL 15th, 2023.
You will still be able to edit your shipping address in BackerKit (addresses will be locked right before we ship), but we need to send order numbers to the manufacturer to get a final price quote for production and to estimate the freight shipping costs. If you haven't finalized your pledge on Backerkit (340 people have not!) please do so before APRIL 15th.
That’s it for now. More “fun” updates in the coming months (a CRAWL! preview, component overview, a Khrag Pit Arena battle, and a few surprises)!
Thanks and stay safe,
Rob
* On Feb. 3rd, 2023 we updated the Core rules with this crucial rule adjustment:
ACTIONS: Players have 3 ACTION POINTS each in a 1-2 PLAYER game, 2 ACTION POINTS in a 3-4 PLAYER game, that they may use to do things on their turn.
Early on, the 2ndED rules had been revised so that players weren’t required to pay Action Points for general upkeep actions (equipping items, picking up dropped items, trading items, etc.). Also, in a 2ndED rule revision, on your turn, you can play your first location card and character card for free. These rule changes freed players up to do more on their turns. In 1-2 player games, this was great. It allowed more freedom to explore, and the “puzzly” factor (being stingy with your AP) was reduced. Players were free to take more Location Actions (that often cost AP) without fear of spending too many. However, 3-4 player games became longer. This revision helps to keep the length of games with higher player counts down.
