Hello dear readers!
Some good news: the heatwave has finally ended and the heavens have opened.
The burnt grass that crunched underfoot like snow is getting watered. The scorched trees, leaves burnt brown or bleached chalk white in some disturbing parody of autumn, are at last seeing a reprieve.
The fresh air and drop in temperature has done wonders for me as well. The sound of pouring rain and rolling thunder is the sweetest music I have heard all summer. I feel like I can think clearly again, after nearly three months of sweltering torpor. Which of course means I have been able to truly get back into creative mode.
That said, this is still a fairly short post, as the respite has come a little late in the week. I’ve only really been able to work on my new project for a couple of days. Let’s have a look, either way.
Rolling Up Some Characters: Art Process Video
In my previous post, I wrote a bit about the plethora of roll tables I have been writing for my modular fantasy TTRPG project. Wanting to celebrate the end of the heat, I thought it was high time I made another art process video. For the subject matter, I decided to use those roll tables to randomly generate some characters to draw.
For this video I improved my filming set up, with some invaluable help from my wife. We attached an extension to the tripod I use. My phone is now held higher up above me and further away from the tripod. I don’t know how noticeable the difference is, but it certainly felt better to me. Usually I have to draw in an awkward position to avoid hitting the tripod/phone with my head or elbows!
As I mention in the video, making this video and designing these characters was great fun. Below is a closer look at the three characters.
Pictured above: Sir Grove of the Grave (a.k.a. Ghoulish Grove), the divine revenant and fallen knight.
Pictured above: Hollivy Frill (a.k.a. Holly & Ivy), amnesiac forest creature and high-society thieves.
Pictured above: Rumble Moonglade (a.k.a. Righteous Rumble), freedom fighter and interdimensional explorer.
And that’s pretty much it from my end, I’m afraid. Of course, the designs and video still took a lot of effort, so I shouldn’t sell myself short. Nonetheless… I’d have loved to be able to do more. With any luck, the rains will continue and I’ll have more art to share in the next issue.
Media Showcase: Deluxe Edition
As I don’t have anything else of my own to share with you, here’s an extended list of things to check out from other creators!
Live Mausworn Design Stream from Cezar Capacle
Cezar livestreamed some of his game design process the other day, and it was lovely. It was great to see him chat with viewers, brainstorming and bouncing ideas in real time.
D6-only Games Bundle on RPG Trader
Ten Acre Games is hosting another excellent value bundle over on RPG Trader. 108 d6-based games (including my own Greenjackers) for just $25! Check it out HERE.
Roll For Fantasy: An Invaluable and Underrated Collection of Resources
If you’ve been interested in fantasy and TTRPGs for as long as I have (or longer), you are probably already familiar with Emily’s Fantasy Name Generators.
Recently, my good friend Rob (Psiren) let me know of Emily’s sister site: Roll For Fantasy.
Aside from containing a veritable treasure trove of resources for all your fantasy gaming and world-building needs, Emily has very graciously included a collection of royalty-free music.
You can listen to her tracks on her YouTube channel or her Soundcloud. It’s great work: you heard some of her pieces in the video I shared above!
Unhoused Fundraising Bundle for Beth and Angel Make Games
Game creators Beth and Angel have been forced to move out of the home they were living in due to transphobia and gaslighting. They are in urgent need of funds: you can help by supporting their fundraising bundle HERE.
More Cool Links To Share
- Check out Quinn Murphy and Thoughtcrime’s collection of games, including Griot Anthology: “Griot Anthology celebrates the brilliant work of black TTRPG game designers.Utilizing the powerful medium of TTRPGs, this anthology holds space for intersectional blackness in the past, present and future, giving us the opportunities to tell our own unique stories and share our unique perspectives.”
- Sprinting Owl Games is hosting a Beginner-Friendly Pay-What-You-Want TTRPG bundle on itchio!
- Skilled gnome artist and professional troll-whisperer Warren Kennedy has published a fantastic set of paper miniatures: The Steppe Goblins!
- Hello From The Other Side, a solo journalling RPG by Minakie about DID (dissociative identity disorder).
- The last of the Cartoon Cartoon shorts: Unravel, a gorgeous entirely embroidered animation about a little bilby unravelling a length of yellow thread. It also shows some of the painstaking creative process behind the short!
- I heartily recommend checking out Magnolia Keep, Lizzie Magnolia’s TTRPG focused blog.
- Finally, give a listen to Louie Zong’s latest album: Nintenhogs! An “official” soundtrack made using DS/GBA soundfonts.
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!
Want to try a space to hang out and chat that’s not a social media platform?
Check out my forum, PennySpace!
Until next time,
– Penflower