16.06.2023 Preparing the final product

Hello everyone, Vik here. We are slowly but steadily approaching the first final version of our game. 

I managed a lot of the playtesting, took many notes from the incoming feedback, and made a plan regarding changes for the cards, pre-generated characters, and some of the enemies.

We also managed our first print of the cards, held together by card sleeves and some old Pokemon cards before we get to our final version of these cards.

Jona refined the adventure containing the challenges the players must face, a reference book for the players containing lots and lots of in-world knowledge the characters and other inhabitants of this world may possess. Our rules document is also getting an overhaul, becoming more streamlined and up-to-date.

Dustblue illustrated a lot of different things for our adventure. The idol that ends up in the player's hands. The cultists hunting the players, trying everything to get their idol back. And the Bishop in all his forms, the final obstacle the players will face in that adventure.

Design decisions bishop: 

Hi, dustblue here.

The goal was to create a character that not only represents the effects of the molochite on a willing human but also, in some sort of condensed way, the effect of the molochite on the whole world. The bishop is a fanatic follower of the molochite. He is that already when the players meet him but he disguises himself as an old and crippled man that has been negatively affected by the molochite radiation. He is a member of the lowest ranks of society, forgotten and left to die. Despite that, he still remains rather optimistic and kindly offers to help the players. Just like the countless other victims of the molochite radiation that live in the slums and heavily rely on each other to get by. The player has the option to accept the old man or refuse and send him away. 

When the player meets the old man again, he has changed even more. Barely disguised that his humanity is long gone. However, he still tries to lure the players to his side with promises of eternal life and power. Just like the molochite itself. Clearly unnatural and wrong but irresistible for the weak mind. Only, when the players decline, he doesn't try to hide what he has become, just like the molochite does not hide its unsettling effect and powers and relies purely on the greed of humans to advance, turning hostile when you don't comply. 

The Bishop sheds his cloak and his cocoon-like compact shape becomes fully visible. This is the first form and the boss fight starts. Only after the players break away more and more of his outer shell, do the true horrors of the mutation appear. A giant mouth opens where his ribcage should be and a secondary set of long and sharp appendages break out of his back. Almost like the legs of a weird insect. He is now noticeably skinnier, especially at the waist. I did this to give him even more of an insectile appearance (“Wasp-waist) and to mirror the obsessions of Victorians with slim waists. The teeth of the mouth also resemble the structure of a corset. His human eyes were hidden before but now they are completely gone. His head is transformed into a skull. Signaling even more of how the molochite breaks nature's law and animates things that should long be dead. 

The third form has no defenses left. Its legs have become spindly and unusable. But it will never have a use for them again as the metamorphosis has concluded and a total of six filigree insect wings have unfolded on its back. The mouth on its chest has opened wider and does not look like a corset anymore. It has become a black hole armed with teeth and a glowing molochite where the heart should be. The waist slimed even more. Now, there is clearly no space for organs left.

This may not be the horror's last form but the players kill it at this point, signaling that there is still a chance to win against the molochite in general and that the crisis of the final transformation of the continent (and world) can still be adverted.

We are very excited to finish this project and you’ll hear from us next week. See you soon!