Caliya’s Chronicle of Runes

November Update
4 days ago – Wed, Nov 20, 2024 at 06:39:35 PM

Hiya folks! Got a monthly update for you.

I've been making some solid progress on the book! If you haven't downloaded the latest Alpha Playtest yet, it was sent out a couple weeks ago. Let me know if you're not getting emails or if you're having trouble accessing your downloads. ([email protected], or just hop on over to the Discord server) Happy to help!

I wanted this next playtest release to be the first "Beta" playtest—which in my mind will be when all of the content is in the book, but not necessarily fully edited/revised/finalized yet. But I think I'm gonna take a lesson from the last release and just send out what I've got by the end of next week, rather than keeping you all waiting as I push to get to that "checkpoint."

One thing of note: Until now, I've just relied on built-in Bookmarks for folks to navigate the PDF. So the thing I'm most excited about that will be in the Alpha v0.10 PDF (and I'm sure quite a few folks will be happy to see it as well) is... drum roll please... the Table of Contents! People have been asking about it for a while, but I wanted to make sure I had the layout/structure for the book fairly solidified before putting it together.

This next release will also feature the "Rune Variant Rules." These are optional ways to implement the rune system other than the standard assumption of the book (acquiring discrete "magic item"-like runes and transferring them to various objects). These variants include implementing runes as:

• Runic tattoos (for folks who want to transfer runes to their body, rather than objects)
• Enchantments imbued directly into objects by specialized magic-users (for folks who want all the mechanics without the runic flavor)
• Data chips (for folks looking to implement the runes in a modern/sci-fi setting)

I think that's all I've got for now. As always, feel free to reach out with any questions!

– Tony

October Update!
about 1 month ago – Mon, Oct 21, 2024 at 11:18:08 AM

Greetings, folks! I hope all is going well for you.

Progress on the book is continuing to chug along! I probably should've sent out another playtest in between the last one (Alpha v0.8) and this next one I've been working on to continue getting new stuff out to you all. It just wasn't quite where I wanted it to be yet—and then I kept getting hit with hurricanes and other life events delaying things. (We made it through fine, thankfully!) So apologies for that.

That being said, the next playtest doc is nearly ready! In addition to the previously promised content that will be included, there have been two notable changes:

• The Kobold Viper race has been moved to the Ascension of the Behidra companion adventure book. In its place is now a collection of Dragonborn Variants giving expanded traits unique to each draconic ancestry. (I elaborated on this a bit more in last month's update.)
• The Command language has been renamed to "Wilderyn." The concept is still the same: an umbrella language collecting all the languages—or rather "dialects"—of intelligent beasts (e.g. Winter Wolves, Blink Dogs, Giant Eagles, etc.). The reason for this change was just that "Command" made it feel like the person speaking/communicating via the language is in charge and the intelligent beast is subordinate to them, which has never really been the intent considering, well...the fact that they're intelligent, and it's really their language first and foremost. I think Wilderyn much better reflects the spirit of the language.

Last week, I also sent out all the latest fonts that have been finished up (the new ones included are Abyssal, Goblin, Sahuagin, and Sylvan). So if you ordered all the fonts, or any of those individually, you can go grab them via your BackerKit downloads for the project. And if you still want to get any of the fonts for the book's runic languages, you can do so under the "Digital Loot" section on the Pre-Order Store.

I expect to have Alpha Playtest v0.9 sent out by early next week. And thanks for your patience since the last release. Until then, here's some fun new art that will be included for the Rivener lineage!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out here on Kickstarter, by emailing [email protected], or just chatting on the Discord server. Thanks, friends!

– Tony

September Update
2 months ago – Sat, Sep 21, 2024 at 08:28:24 PM

Hey folks!

Not much new to share, but I wanted to give a monthly update as usual. I know this next playtest release (Alpha v0.9) has taken a bit. Doing my best to get it out ASAP!

One notable update is that the Kobold Viper race is being moved to the companion adventure: Ascension of the Behidra. (You can still pre-order that over on the BackerKit store if you didn't before.) Of course, the race is still perfectly accessible to everyone and usable via all the playtest PDFs to date, and it's already been reviewed and edited so it shouldn't be changing.

The reason for the change is that it had been bothering me that, technically, Kobold Vipers (which are related to Behirs, rather than Dragons) are really more tied to the Serpentine dialect than the Draconic language, but the book already has the Nagaran race for Serpentine. So since the adventure book will feature Behirs and Kobold Vipers heavily, I've decided to bring the race over there instead. (Which will also feature two subclasses and a group patron for other player options.)

In their place for Caliya's, I've added "Dragonborn Variants" for each draconic ancestry. These are essentially a few additional thematic traits unique to each kind of Metallic and Chromatic Dragonborn (Black, Blue, Green, Red, White, Brass, Bronze, Copper, Gold, and Silver) and help bring the Dragonborn race up to snuff with other 5e race options—since it's always been rather lacking. Much more fitting as a true "Draconic" race option for the book. I think you all will love it.

I always like sharing art in these updates, so here's the Gravekeeper Ranger subclass!

As always, let me know if you have any questions. You can reach out here on Kickstarter, by emailing [email protected], or just chatting on the Discord server. Hopefully should have the next playtest out by the end of the month. Thanks, friends!

– Tony

August Update!
3 months ago – Wed, Aug 21, 2024 at 06:44:01 PM

Hiya folks! Got your monthly update here!

Alpha v0.8 Playtest was sent out a couple weeks ago, so make sure to go check it out if you haven't yet! New things added were: Nodal and Sahuagin runes, the Dragon Domain Cleric subclass, the Half-Giant race, and two new spells. As always, feel free to contact me if you're having trouble accessing your downloads. I welcome all feedback and questions via messaging me on Kickstarter, emailing [email protected], or just chatting on the Discord server.

This leaves just a couple remaining pieces before we move into Beta—all main content in the book, but not yet "finished" enough to call it the v1.0 ready-for-print release. There should be just one more Alpha release (v0.9) before then, which will include the final two runic languages (runes + lore), the final subclass (Paladin), and a few more subraces for the Half-Giant and Unbound Archon.

Once all of that is out and we're in the Beta phase, I'll be adding the Table of Contents, making final revisions to the lore for each of the languages, replacing some runes that didn't make the cut, incorporating the long-awaited translation guides for the various languages, adding in the rune pricing tables and optional rules for alternative ways to implement runes in your game, finalizing the layout, and a couple other pieces. And of course, working in any final feedback from folks!

As for a quick personal update, the cycle of illnesses my family's been working through has certainly continued this past month (son is currently home sick with me). But overall I'm still pleased with the progress I've been making, and I'm excited to share the latest with you all.

My endless thanks to all of you for being so supportive and patient throughout the development of this project. I have no doubt that, in the end, we'll all be proud of the final result.

Thanks, friends!

– Tony

July Progress Update!
4 months ago – Sat, Jul 20, 2024 at 11:04:44 PM

Hey folks! Monthly update here.

I'm looking to get the Alpha v0.8 playtest out within the next week. It's getting to a pretty good place as far as the (seemingly eternal) endeavor of feedback and revisions—most notably this month, the Rivener lineage and Necril runes, among other pieces. The Abyssal and Goblin fonts are just about finished up too, so be on the lookout for those in the next couple weeks.

This update will also include Half-Giants (the final race option!), the Dragon Domain Cleric subclass, lore and runes for two more languages (probably), and at least one new spell. Plus more art coming in all the time, like this awesome Sphinx runes scene!

All that being said, I know this won't yet be a complete draft of the book. The remaining content is: lore and runes for two more languages, one more subclass (the Paladin), the monsters (many of which are designed, but haven't yet been laid out/included in the playtest), plus all the optional rules for implementing runes and rune pricing. And aside from all of that, the book will still need multiple thorough passes for final revisions before it can be sent to print, because I'm not gonna put out anything less than my best work.

Unfortunately, a whole medley of illnesses have torn through my family this past couple months, and since a lot of the other progress for this project (Rune Cards, VTT modules, art and fonts, etc.) hinges on me finishing the book, that's delayed things a fair bit. So that's my main priority, and I'm working hard to really rein it all in and keep myself on a good schedule to get it all out to you as soon as possible. If all goes well, next month's update should be "complete," barring probably the monsters and optional rune rules. But there is definitely a light in view at the end of the tunnel!

I really appreciate all of you folks for being so encouraging and patient throughout this process. I know this is taking longer to move along than expected. (Though perhaps that's the most "expected" part of running/backing a Kickstarter!) I can promise I am doing my best on this, and the final product will be something we can all be proud of.

Thanks, friends. And as always, if you have any questions or feedback to share, feel free to message me here, email me at [email protected], or head over to the Discord server.

– Tony