A rustic fantasy tabletop RPG based on the acclaimed City of Mist. Spin a tale of journey and peril where choices transform gameplay.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Spellcraft & Bookcraft
over 1 year ago
– Wed, Nov 06, 2024 at 03:52:22 PM
Hello companions,
As you approach the hooded and cloaked stranger you met upon the ancient road, somewhere deep in the Aldenwood, a growing sense of danger knots up in the pit of your stomach. When you at last reach out to touch his shoulder -- a thunderclap booms! -- and the heavy woolen garments fall empty to the lichen-covered cobblestone. "I am Sidurg, Imbiber of the Brazen Chalice!" a shrill voice echoes from all around you, from overshadowed boughs and under shrubbery, as you cower and huddle together back-to-back, "Master of Flesh and Form! Bow before me, or prepare to be shaped like clay!!!"
It's high time for an update, and we have a lot to cover today! Yours truly (Amit) has been on vacation (rare!) and then under the weather for a while, but I'm back in full force. Meanwhile, the dev team has made leaps and bounds in development progress - let's see what it's all about.
You can watch the Legend In The Mist Devlog #3 video above to get the scoop directly from me.
Magic Systems
As promised with the unlocking of the Magic Systems stretch goal, we've developed a marvelous tool for you to create your own forms of magic for your Legend In The Mist campaigns. You will be able to pick out pre-made magic system components, such as "Magic is Dangerous" or "Magic is Scant but Powerful" and combine them to form any imaginable magic system, just write for your series. Check out the full details in the video.
Feedback Discussion and Upcoming Discord Q&A
We've opened a Magic Systems feedback thread on Discord (#feedback channel) where you can post your thoughts and hopes for this part of the game, or you can post them as comments on YouTube or here below.
Even better, Game Designer Itamar Karbian is holding a Q&A session this Sunday 11/10 at 4pm EST (1pm PST, 10pm CET) on our Discord server. Check out the video and then join him to talk all things magic in upcoming the Legend In The Mist RPG!
Book Design
We've made significant progress with the look & feel of the book and with designing its layout and decoration. Here are a few points to know before diving in:
We're exploring a wide book format. It will be the same size as our other books, just landscape. This is because we want LitM Core Book to be a pleasant reading experience, without crammed text, and to feel more like a hedge witche's tome than a university text book. This does not mean it won't be full of delicious goodies, we're just serving them better by cutting out what's unnecessary and highlighting what's important. Also, a wide format PDF is more suitable for viewing on a computer.
In this design, the Action Grimoire will act as the reference book of the game. It's not necessary for play, but it contains a summary of the rules + tons of action suggestions. Hear more about it on the video above.
Everything we're showing you here is work in progress. We're still working on how it will all come together, and things are expected to change.
(The dice and tracking cards are from our other game, QUEERZ!.)
So without further ado, check out these shots and video from our Lead Graphic Designer, Manuel Serra Saez, sprinkled with art from Lead Artist, Daniel Pinal.
Learn To Play With A Comic
The core book will open with a ~40-page comic that teaches you how to play. You'll be able to sit down with it for a few minutes, roll some dice, and pick up the game while enjoying an interactive tale set in the Hearts of Ravensdale setting.
Game Development Status
Magic Systems represent the last chunk of core game design we had to work on (solo play is the last one we have to finish, but it's been worked on quite extensively - more soon). Moving forward we will hone the texts and start laying out the book, as well as add specific art where needed.
We will start releasing the core book's five chapters (comics, player, narrator, adversaries, magic) one by one over the next couple of months, with a first chapter hopefully before the end of the year. Production design is progressing alognside dev, and we already have final designs for some of the dice and other accessories. All-in-all, things seem on track for the March 2025 estimated digital delivery date we provided on the Kickstarter campaign. We will continue to update you all on that.
You Can Still Pre-Order Legend In The Mist!
We just added Legend In The Mist pre-order bundles to our shop. They're not AS good as the Kickstarter pledge levels, but they're the next best thing!
During our Black Friday All Month sale this month, you can also get City of Mist at the best prices and secure your copy of :Otherscape and City of Mist Local Legends, before they ship in print at the beginning of December (in most locations)!
---
That's it from us for today. Stay tuned for more rustic adventures as we continue to develop this incredible RPG.
Please let us know your thoughts and comments below!
-Amit and the Son of Oak Team
Subsystem Stew
almost 2 years ago
– Sat, Aug 31, 2024 at 11:17:06 AM
Hello there companions!
We've been walking in the Aldenwood since daybreak, and your bellies begin to rumble, when lo and behold - as you push aside the last dense branches of hemlock, you unveil an expected view: a log cabin standing solitary in a clearing, rays of sun sparkling upon odd trinkets hung from the eaves. The smells of a delicious stew waft through the air, beckoning you to approach. The Apple Picker darts forward, but is promptly stopped by the extended arm of the Wise One, who half-whispers half-barks "Halt, you fool! This is a place of great danger. Tread carefully or it will be the last place you'll see!"
It's been a while and we have a lot to catch up on!
Please check out Devlog #2: Subsystem Stew above to see what we've been up to, or read the summary below.
A mighty dragon faces a lone traveler. What an opportunity to break out the new Might rules!
Game Development Status
Development of Legend In The Mist has been continuing swimmingly over the past two months and progress is well on track for the March 2025 estimated release date we provided on the Kickstarter.
Tl;dr What has been done so far?
The Dev team has been focused on completing all the elements of the game system, including Backpack, Journeys, Camping, Solo / GMless, Character Evolution and the Might system (characters of different power levels).
The Dev team also continued to build the world of Hearts of Ravensdale, with a focus on factions, as well as writing up ready-to-use Challenges, be they of human, monstrous, or otherwise.
In Art and Design, masterful Daniel Pinal has created tons of new and beautiful art pieces which you'll see in the book. Graphic Designer Manuel Serra Saez has been working on the visual style of the book, inspired by herbals (ancient botanical guidebooks).
Here's a quick comics test Daniel did just for fun (story also by Daniel, set in Hearts of Ravensdale) - it won't be in the books but it so cool we had to share it:
We just digitally released :Otherscape, the first game using the one-roll-to-rule-them-all Mist Engine that will be used in Legend In The Mist!
In stark contrast, :Otherscape is a dystopian fantasy-cyberpunk heist game where corporations and syndicates exploit mythic forces just as they do tech and natural resources. Your characters are a crew of operatives, freedom fighters, or survivors trying to get ahead by running jobs for or against the powers that be.
You can download :Otherscape as well as pre-order a physical copy on our store. If you backed for :Otherscape together with Legend In The Mist, you should already have the digital files for :Otherscape, and will get your books together with the Legend In The Mist books. You can also ask for a split shipment to get your :Otherscape books earlier, in November 2024, instead.
That's all from us for today. Please let us know in the comments, here or on YouTube, what you think of the game aspects we've revealed in this update / devlog, or join us for a discussion about this in the feedback thread we've opened on Discord.
Until next time, don't stray off the trail!
-The Son of Oak team
Groundwork and Worldbuilding
about 2 years ago
– Wed, Jun 12, 2024 at 06:14:21 AM
Hello there companions!
We continue our journey through the Dales and beyond. What has taken us on this adventure? Are we an old Wise One going to visit her friend in a nearby village and running into bandits? Or a child who must find the cure for their mother's sudden illness? Perhaps we're a Child of Twilight, looking for answers as to what foul forces are seeping into the Dales? Let's find out!
In today's Devlog update, I talk about the new proposed structures for the core and setting books and share some gorgeous worldbuilding art from Lead Artist Daniel Pinal.
Oldways practitioners are now few and far between, as the Dales slowly forget their pivotal past role
Tl;dr What has been done this month?
Teambuilding: We analyzed past projects and set up new work processes to improve our work and to also have a better creative experience for the team.
Book Design: We focused our vision for the book, its structure, how it will read, how it will teach you to play, and the different content blocks it will offer for players and MCs.
Initial foray into content: We started drafting some of the character creation content (tropes), MC guides (adapting to various fantasy genres), and game systems (magic system builder).
Worldbuilding: We've done a lot of worldbuilding with the art team - from currencies to buildings to life styles in different Dales - check out dozens of art sketches I share in the video above.
For transparency, while three out of four of the Dev team have now started working on Legend In The Mist components, yours truly (Amit) is still finalizing the last chapter of the last :Otherscape book. I hope to wrap this up soon and be fully dedicated to Legend In The Mist. Overall, we are already making good progress with the content I mentioned above.
Dalespeople of Cedargate are the most martial, coping with frequent raids from the clans of the Craggen Highlands
The next update will come in July. We're hoping to release at least something small for you to feast on, perhaps the comic choose-your-own-adventure game primer or a chunk of the Hero chapter before the end of July. This also depends on how fast the graphic design vision will evolve.
Tell Us Your Thoughts
If you have any questions or feedback, please put them in the comments here, the comments on the Devlog video on YouTube, or share them on Discord and tag the Dev team. Also, what do you think about the art, worldbuilding elements, and proposed book structures we've shared in the Devlog? Let us know!
Until then, enjoy the summer trails!
-The Son of Oak team
Last Stretch Goal Unlocked + Our Plan For Community Updates
about 2 years ago
– Tue, May 07, 2024 at 08:56:05 AM
Fine day to you, companions!
For a while the path takes us through sparse hillside woods with the soft sunlight filtering through the foliage like golden fingers. But as we emerge on the other side, we are struck by the view of Soddenmore, the wettest of all Dales, a miserable quagmire if there ever was one -- but famous for its rowdy taverns. Better put your boots on, if you packed them!
Community Marketplace Dev Pack Unlocked!
As planned, last week we locked the pledge manager and Late Pledges. The vast majority (92%) of you are all set, but if you haven't yet filled out your survey, please do so to avoid delays in receiving your rewards.
In total, between this Kickstarter campaign and pledge manager, we raised a total of $963,466, unlocking the final $950K stretch goal of the Community Marketplace Dev Pack!
The Dev Pack will contain assorted templates, graphic elements, and art that can be used to create your own original Legend In The Mist content. You can use this to make beautiful creations for your own games, or share them via our community program on DriveThruRPG, whether for free or as a paid product (so you'll be able to make a few bucks from selling Legend In The Mist content!). This will be a part of or similar to the City of Mist Garage program, which has been a great success with lots of community-made content, and you can check the package we made for the Garage to get a clue of what's coming thanks to this unlocked stretch goal.
Development Ramping Up Later This Month
The dev team is still in the process of wrapping up our previous projects, most notably :Otherscape, and this process should be concluded within the next two weeks at most. Then, we will begin to dive deeper into the development plan for the Legend In The Mist game as a whole, as well as its core book and setting book, and begin to send updates on what that's going to look like.
Communicating With You Throughout The Process
Since you are our companions on this journey, we'd like to set the expectations for how we will be communicating with you throughout the coming year. Here are some of our thoughts - please let us know yours in the comments!
We want our communication with you to be:
Open and transparent
Interesting, engaging, and of value to you
Timely and reliable
Efficient, to avoid taking too much time away from development
Focused and not spammy. If you're the kind of backer who doesn't want to get progress reports and playtest material, let us know at [email protected].
We will be sharing with you:
Regular progress updates
Playtest materials, starting with core rules and expanding out
Game design insights and philosophy, a look into the game design process
Lore from the Hearts of Ravensdale setting
Beautiful art!
Where and when we will be sharing this?
Backer updates will be sent on a monthly basis, with a summary of all recent updates, or, on occasion, a dedicated update will be sent for special announcements.
Devlog videos will be shared periodically on our YouTube channel, on an as-needed basis when we have something interesting to share or discuss with you. We hope to release at least once devlog per month.
The Discord serverwill be used for smaller live updates (e.g., "We just shared this file with you!") on the newly added #litm-updates channel, with major announcements also shared with the entire Mist Engine community in #announcements. You can always ask us questions directly at #ama-questions, or give us feedback at #feedback
(Also, for any and all questions, you can always reach out to [email protected].)
For example, when a new Devlog video goes live, we will announce it on the Discord #litm-updates and later include it in the monthly backer update.
It's important to note that we will naturally have more content to share towards the end of development, around the end of 2024. The first several months of development are more sparse in updates and content, as we are building the core of the game and drafting content which isn't yet ready to be shared.
What do you think about this plan? Let us know in the comments.
---
That is all for now! Our next backer update will come out on June 4th, with more updates sprinkled through the Discord.
Until then, tread carefully on the trail!
-The Son of Oak team
Orders Locking & Charging April 30th + Campaign Stretch Goal Unlocked!
about 2 years ago
– Mon, Apr 22, 2024 at 11:39:02 AM
The accursed Red Caps dared not set foot in the Dales for centuries. Until now.
Hello there companions,
As we've scaled the first hill beyond Ravenhome, we look back one more time at the peaceful village we left behind. When will we see it again, and who will we be when we return? The road snakes onwards through the shadowy woodland hillside, where new adventures await...
Wake of The Oldways Campaign Unlocked!!!
Between the Kickstarter campaign and the pledge manager, we've so far raised $936,288 (not counting shipping fees and taxes), which means our $900,000 stretch goal has been unlocked: the Hearts of Ravensdale Setting Book will now include six adventures tied together in a campaign that follows the remnants of the Oldways to uncover what is behind the dark forces invading the Dales. This will be titled Book I: Wake of the Oldways and will serve to launch your group into a greater campaign in this mysterious new world!
Next up at $950,000 is the Community Marketplace Dev Pack which will allow you to create and sell your own Legend In The Mist content on DriveThruRPG. It's so close -- but we have just one more week to get there!
Important Notice: Pledge Manager To Lock and Charge on April 30th
As we announced on our previous update, your completed BackerKit pledge manager surveys will be locked and your credit cards (if not using PayPal) will be charged on April 30th to pay for shipping, VAT, and add-ons not paid for on Kickstarter.
Hurry up and complete your survey to ensure we can deliver your game smoothly. If you lost your invite email, you can find your survey here:
All backer-only digital files we'll be sharing during the development period will only be shared with backers who have completed their surveys. Similarly, if you ordered any City of Mist or :Otherscape items, we will be making their digital files available to you during the first week of May, but you must complete your survey first to receive them.
Last Chance for Late Pledges!
As of May 1st, Late Pledges will also conclude and we will stop tracking funds for the purpose of unlocking stretch goals, so this is our last chance to unlock the final $950,000 stretch goal, as explained above.
Those still interested in pre-ordering the game will be able to do so at the same store on BackerKit, but some Kickstarter bundles and prices will no longer be available. There is still one week, however, so let your friends know it's their final chance to grab the incredibly-packed Ravenhome Set at $129!
Our next update will be on May 7th, where we will share some more information about the development process and communications throughout. The plan currently coalescing is to release as much as possible of the core, playable, and play-testable content of the game as soon as possible, and then continue to flesh it out with core content (such as Challenges, magic systems, and solo mode tools) and setting content (information about the Dales, Creatures of Twilight, and adventures).
