Hello dear readers!
I hope April has been treating you well.
This issue has a fair amount of ALBO-related news, as well as some recent commissioned art.
ALBO Digital & Print Versions Now Available!
As of last week, you can now also purchase a print copy of ALBO from my website shop.
Here are some photos of the printed zine, which you can buy HERE.
I’m really pleased with how the zine has turned out, and I’m planning to make a short video about the game, with footage of me colouring in the illustrations.
Alboverse Ideas & Concept Art!
As I mentioned in my last issue, I’ve been tinkering away at a couple of potential Alboverse settings. This past couple of weeks I’ve written up more ideas, and made some concept art for both.
Alboverse Idea #1: Etchling Summoner
I decided to reduce the scope of my “alternate 90’s cosmic horror” setting, and focus on one aspect of it in particular that I felt was most interesting.
The concept is for a world very much like that of Pokemon or Digimon, where humans co-exist with a multitude of colourful creatures with amazing powers. However, in this world, the creatures in question are eldritch beings summoned from another dimension through arcane means.
I don’t want to go into much more detail than that, so here is some of the concept art I’ve drawn so far.
I’m not a fan of most anime art styles, so I decided to evoke the “rubber hose” animation style from the 1920s. This also works as a little nod to the usual historical setting for most cosmic horror stories and games.
Pictured Above: my second pass at this character design. Originally the creatures – called Etchlings – were summoned via scrolls. However, after my recent enjoyable experience sculpting an eldritch idol, I decided to substitute the scrolls with little clay tablets.
Pictured above: a revised design of the same characters, who now also have names. The clay tablet is now larger and round, worn like an amulet rather than on a sash or bandolier. The Etchling also has a slightly different design, which I think makes it look both cuter and weirder.
Alboverse Idea #2: Longjohns
This second setting/premise is very much inspired by two main sources. First, the DCAU shows Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. Secondly, this video essay by the Pop Culture Detective (Defenders of the Status Quo).
In a nutshell, this is a world where super-powers are fairly common. This has brought the rise of both costumed superheroes and supervillains. There is an established team of superheroes (inspired by DC’s Justice League and Marvel’s Avengers) who are active internationally. They save people from disasters, catch supervillains and fight off invading aliens – the usual stuff. However, despite their amazing powers and resources, they don’t work to change the world for the better. The limit themselves to defending the status quo.
The idea with this setting would be to have a third faction of super-powered people. These don’t chase bank robbers or try to blow up the moon. Instead they use their abilities to try and fight systemic injustices across the globe. They’d end up being branded as villains as often as they would be lauded as heroes.
Pictured above: concept art for this setting’s established team of superheroes, the Protectors. From left to right: the cybernetically enhanced inventor, Hephaestus. The psionic contruct-generating alien, Moonbird. The ambassador of our solar system, chosen and empowered by an order of ancient aliens, Citizen Sol. The magically re-animated detective from the 20s with super-speed and invisibility, Stygian. The wunderkind rocket-powered adventurer/billionaire, Jetpack Jenny.
Final Thoughts
To be completely honest, while both these settings have been fun to work on, I am not sure if they would work that well for a TTRPG. Even a super rules-light and flexible one like ALBO.
I think I need to keep experimenting.
If you’re reading this on my website, I’ve decided to be brave and leave the comments open. To clarify, I usually leave them off because of spam-bots: I’ve not received anything mean or malicious so far.
So, feel free to tell me what you think of these ideas. Do you think they would work well as settings for TTRPGs? Any tips for creating settings?
Commissioned Art: Doodles and a Logo!
I’ve also been doing more commissioned work this month. Below are some of the past few Patreon Gallery monthly character doodle commissions, as well as a logo design I did for an upcoming project.
Pictured above: a selection of recent character doodle commissions I did for Patrons recently. In the early days of my Patreon these all used to be D&D characters, so it’s really refreshing that nowadays I get asked to draw a more varied range of subjects.
Pictured above: the main logo and avatar variants I was commissioned to create for a un as-yet unpublished TTRPG-ralted project.
Media Spotlight!
- Some new animations!
– First: the post-apocalyptic wasteland full of brutal warlords has net its match in a relentlessly cheerful and friendly rolleskating girl. Check out “Harmony in Despair“!
– Second: some comedic high-fantasy sword and sorcery adventure with a mighty hero and his inept toddler son: “The Legend of Legendarius!“ - A very timely and informative video by Not Just Bikes: “When Oil Gets Expensive, Cities Get Better“.
- I recently came across Ikoxun’s channel, where they published three videos (so far) recommending cool websites to visit and explore!
PART 1 – PART 2 – PART 3. - Lastly, a couple of albums I recently discovered and have been listening to a lot: After-Party Animal by After-Party Animal and In Technicolor by Fleur Electra.
That’s all for this issue!
As always, thank you so much for reading.
One last reminder that if you feel like supporting my work, you can buy something from my website or itchio, join my Patreon as a paying member, or commission me.
If none of the above are doable for you, please consider spreading the word about my work to your friends!
New subscribers to the Penflower Post get a special discount code to use in the shop, as a thank you.
Until next time,
– Penflower