Become the Mutant in this biopunk, facility-crawl zine for Mothership RPG!
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Latest Updates from Our Project:
Update 4 – Final Week of Funding!
about 3 years ago
– Mon, Feb 20, 2023 at 02:13:47 PM
Recent Stretch Goals
Happy Mothership Monday, everyone!
I’m pleased to report that thanks to our new backers over the last week, we’ve unlocked the eighth stretch goal! Thanks everyone for joining us on this wild ride, and I’m stoked to get everyone digital copies of The Sleeper Crew in this campaign.
The next stretch goal unlocks a new Digital Asset: Interactive Terminals, built in Twine. The html files will be included in the Digital Asset folder, and can be opened in a browser on PC or mobile! I will post the source code (probably on github), so Wardens can play with the text themselves to change names, passwords, whatever they’d like. This will be available to all backers, if unlocked!
Zine Progress
Last Friday, Vini Alex wrapped the art for the zine! Two spots are still open for the “Become a Cryo-Clone” tier, so Vini will return if need be. Of all the art he’s done, it’s hard to choose a favorite, but I’m quite partial to the Caudal Wetnurse artwork—one of the big freaks hiding in the facility. I also adore the NPC art; Vini proposed to make them like Polaroid photos—so I added an instant camera to the adventure and scattered these photos throughout the facility. They will be part of the Digital/Printable Assets for Wardens to use during the game!
Ariel Ramses & Fares Shuchang Bishr
I have sent the manuscript to Roz Leahy for line edits and copyediting. When revising this most recent draft after developmental editing and cultural consulting, I was very happy to read a zine that reflected myself as a writer more than any previous draft, steeped in its living world. You’re gonna dig this, and I cannot wait to hear play reports!
After Roz returns the manuscript, I’ll apply the necessary changes and pass the manuscript to Eric Alsandor “spider00x” for layout. He’s already done a test layout, so the process should be smooth and rather quick! We’re just keeping a few spaces blank in case those Big Ticket “Become a Cryo-Clone” spots are picked up in these last few days of the campaign.
Mockup Spread by Eric Alsandor: Design and text is not final.
Cryo-Clone Mutation Tables
On the surface this is a pretty simple table: 10 mutations, roll twice, and combine mutations for your game’s special brand of mutant freak. Each entry gives the description, encounter behaviors, stat changes, attacks and specials. Given the environmental circumstance and how the players interact with their mutant-clone selves, the variations on encounters has never failed to surprise me!
Check out a sample of the table:
Mixing this mutation with another and you got yourself a fun yet horrific time!
Mothership Monday!
For new backers, it’s a lil Mothership 3pp tradition during Zine Month to give shout outs to our fellows crowdfunding their awesome MoSh projects. Here are three that have launched in the last week you should check out:
Hoss
Hoss is Boss! I had the luck to read this zine, written by Tim Obermueller and Logan Dean. Hoss is a union figurehead loved by the people, and he wants to keep it that way! He hires the crew to check out this strange derelict boat on their ocean world—complete with hazardous atmosphere, just for you!—in an attempt to cover up his mass murdering past. Come for the corpo-union intrigue, stay for the alien whales, wild narcotics and the Hoss Fight!
I also had the chance to read this zine! Graveyard of the Gods is a chthonic mining adventure, putting players in charge of massive mining vessels hoping to score some sweet dead alien god parts. While the zine is geared towards its God is an Astronaut Who Hates You corporate mystery -slash- catastrophe, many of its tables are written for mining colonies anywhere in Rimspace, and since this zine is like 50% tables, it’s super useful.
Plus, the extraordinary Sam Wildman (a.k.a. HailSanta) is the artist on this zine!
Killing in the Name draws its inspiration from RATM, Žižek, and inevitable violent revolution. This high-concept whodunit features amazing cover art from Alec Sorensen (just look at how gorgeous that cover is), and layout, design, development and editing from Ennie Award winner D.N. Wilkie (a.k.a. AnxietyWizard). With the writing by Owen O’Donnell, creator of community-favorite one-shot The Year of the Rat, be sure to check out this zine!
I am clearing up some info on EU Direct Duty Paid options to add onto BackerKit, which should make customs/duties for some EU countries more affordable. I’ll give the low-down on how that works on Wednesday for the “final 48 hours” update! Take care!
All best,
Chris Air
Update #3 New Stretch Goals and Mothership Monday
about 3 years ago
– Mon, Feb 13, 2023 at 04:11:20 AM
Heya Drones & Clones Backers!
10k Stretch Goal - New Goals revealed!
You all continue to amaze me! Over the weekend, the Bio-Drones & Cryo-Clones campaign hit the 10k Stretch goal! This was my "best case scenario" goal, outside of some crazy fluke. Thanks so much for your support and spreading the word on this campaign!
The big 10k Stretch Goal: Cendrillon Mercenaries for Hire, an in-universe pamphlet that'll be added to all physical backers' orders!
excerpt from Cendrillon Mercs for Hire
I can't wait to hear how these merc contractors fit into your Mothership campaigns! Stephen and I had a lot of fun coming up with these strange Rimspacers. This also means the next three stretch goals have been revealed, so let's take a closer look at those:
Sleeper PDFs
The first new Stretch Goal unlocks the Sleeper Crew Duo PDFs. These pamphlets set the groundwork for Freezer Operations and give a solid vibe check for Bio-Drones & Cryo-Clones. Plus, I love Ben Specklin's artwork in these pamphlets.
Art by Ben Specklin
In addition to character background generation tables, the pamphlets come with boon and bane tables that give PCs temporary benefits and disadvantages from their stint in Extended Cryosleep. These give some novel changes to any Mothership adventure.
Interactive Digital Terminals
Bio-Drones & Cryo-Clones has a fair amount of Terminals peppering the Mountain Forces R&D Lab. These nuggets of information are vital, and the 13.5k stretch goal provides an Interactive Digital Interface for all backers.
WIP: Screenshot of the opening scrawl for the interactive terminal (on PC)
Built using Twine, this file can be opened with any browser, meaning you can send this to players on PC or mobile and have them uncover the secrets of Chen's Mountain Bunker!
WIP: Screen capture of the Bio-Drones info on the interactive terminal (on mobile)
If we reach this stretch goal, I plan on releasing the Twine-editable file alongside the main terminal access file, so Wardens can add PC names and tweak the terminals to their satisfaction.
SEEN ON THE VOID'S EDGE
Another bonus for physical backers! SEEN ON THE VOID'S EDGE is an in-universe Mothership RPG bestiary of characters giving their reports (and illustrations) of XENOS that the Company deny exist.
This mini-bestiary delivers adventure hooks and a cult-like Teamster faction, all in eight pages. With this 8pg zine added, the whole ChrisAir Games lineup is available in this Kickstarter campaign!
Mothership Monday
Same as last week, I'm pleased to share three more Mothership Zine Month projects from fellow 3pp creators that have launched since the last update.
The Sins of Eden Prime
Molgannard Press has developed something like a Gothic Matrix Horrorshow with this zine pair. Tetsuo vampires? Check. Giant Robot Head Hunter? Check. “Body Save or turn into a tree”? Check.
I've had the chance to read the current draft, and each point on the sandbox map is dense enough with intrigue and encounters for at least one session. Either way, you're looking at an incredible campaign, or loads of cherry-picked points for freeky-deeky shorter games. Check it out: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/molgannard-press/the-sins-of-eden-prime
Turbulence
In Turbulence, you're a criminal on a transport somewhere horrid, and become embroiled in a mystery. Just what that is, you'll have to find out for yourself.
You know this zine’s gotta be good when Sean McCoy has been looking forward to it for years. Quadra is the real deal. Their blog is a staple for anyone seeking Mothership homebrew, and this campaign crushed all its stretch goals on Day One.
In the next update, I plan on sharing some more info on how the Cryo-Clone mutation tables work, and featuring how Vini turned the NPC artwork into in-game artifacts that players can discover before they meet the NPCs.
Until next time, I have a question for the backers who've read this far (thanks for sticking with me!). What's your favorite Metroidvania? I warble between the classic Super Metroid and Hempuli's Environmental Station Alpha, personally.
Best,
Chris Air
Update #2: D5s and Mothership Mondays
about 3 years ago
– Mon, Feb 06, 2023 at 01:18:17 PM
Hey everyone,
Over the weekend, we’ve come more than halfway to the sixth stretch goal, which adds a copy of Cendrillon Mercenaries for Hire to all physical backers.Co-written with fellow Mothership player Stephen Shutton, this pamphlet comes with seven nutso characters. I hope we hit this one so you get the chance to introduce them to your players. Spread the word on the Bio-Drones & Cryo-Clones!
Also, earlier today I posted a short video update on twitter about the 3d5 packets that are part of the campaign. These are the very same dice that come packed with the Freezer Ops and ChrisAir Games bundles; they’re also available as an Add-on. Check out the video here:
D5s have been a mainstay at my table since I've had them. It's made running my games with my mathslow brain so much simpler, haha.
Mothership Mondays!
In case you didn't know, February is Zine Month/Zinequest. Loads of ttrpg creators like myself launch their projects and we all try to support each other best we can.
In keeping with a Mothership Zine Month tradition that began last year, each Monday I’m going to feature a couple of Mothership Zine Month/Zinequest campaigns that have caught my eye. Check out these amazing zines, if you haven’t already!
Cloud Empress, by Worlds by Watt
Cloud Empress is an expansive campaign setting for Mothership RPG, inspired by Nausicaa, Earthsea, Dune and Dhalgren. This game is more than a campaign setting, it’s a Panic Engine hack too. The science fantasy of a dying world fits like a lost puzzle piece into the Mothership tapestry: evocative and fun.
It should be no surprise that I’m already a huge fan of Cloud Empress! I’m currently four weeks into the playtests for the Unseen City bundle, and we’re having a blast with this game. Watt has tapped into something special with their world of the Hereafter. You really ought to check out the campaign. Only 3 days left!
Decagone caught my eye right away. This duo worked on Aurora together, WacoMatrixo’s animations are legendary on the Mothership Discord, and Bodieh’s Goblings are iconic in the indie ttrpg scene. Plus, I clearly love a good time-loop adventure, haha, so let’s dig into how the Decagone cycle continues.
On an ocean world, the players descend into an underwater base. After ten minutes, they’re back in the elevator where they began. Isometric map and NPC/Creature booklets help the Warden guide their players into their attempts to escape, or go mad trying. Check it out, Decagone just launched today (Monday, Feb 6th)!
Inspired by Mexican myth, this adventure places players at the cusp of the Burning Butterfly Miracle that will raze the lands. The Smolder Cult claims this tradition helps their ecosystem survive, while others wish to let the Great Husk-Winged Monarch live and prevent years of drought and famine. Who will the players help?
Okay, so this is Primal Quest, not Mothership RPG. It’s still awesome. Marco's awesome. SpicyTunaRPG is a major player in the 3pp Mothership scene, and produces zines with gorgeous art, sleek layout, and tons of useful game materials. A Butterfly Dies builds on this reputation. Check out all they've got to offer!
Vini's been at work on the page of Spot Art. This will be the various gadgets, weapons, and equipment players can find in Chen's Mountain Bunker. Check out the Portable Holoprojector:
An old piece of entertainment hardware, this two-handed beast can project a five-meter-cubed hologram. Certainly could be useful, don't you think? (Tripod not included.)
That's all for this update. Excited to share more art and talk some about the mechanics soon! Take care and be well.
Best,
Chris Air
Funded in under 40 mins?! You're amazing!!
about 3 years ago
– Wed, Feb 01, 2023 at 10:20:58 AM
Funded in under 40 mins!
Wow, thank you all so much!!
Here I am, launching my first Kickstarter, nervously pressing that button, spreading the word real quick, and leaving to prepare my kiddo's the afternoon snack... and when I get back, it's funded!?
For real, the Mothership community is the best. You're amazing <3
Stretch Goals Unlocked
As I set out to write this "Funded WHOO!" update, the campaign unlocked the first three stretch goals, too (that said "two" when I first wrote this sentence)!
The first goal is to commission the Bio-Drones & Cryo-Clones artist, Vini Alex to illustrate a page of Spot Art and the six NPCs in this adventure. I guess I forgot to add "and NPCs" to the graphic, whoops!
Working with Vini these past couple of months on the Drone and Clone art has been so much fun. He's a great artist, and I've been so glad to see his vision of these nasty creatures I wrote come to life. It's been a genuine collaboration and I'm excited to see his renditions of the NPCs and various gadgets and doodads scattered throughout Chen's Mountain Bunker.
When Vini finishes some of these, I'll definitely feature one or two in an update. There's some weird stuff in this bunker!
It's been said (Has it been said? It should if it hasn't), if you want true lo-fi sci-fi maps, you want Daniel Hallinan. His ability to craft so much utility into this 8-bit style amazes me. As soon as he started working on the main map, I started dreaming of detailed area maps. I mean, check out this WIP of the player-facing map:
Gorgeous, isn't it? Having detailed area maps on the spreads will make running this facility an even more fluid experience. Thanks for your support, you've helped make this a better zine already!
And with this third stretch goal, backers at the Freezer Ops and ChrisAir Games "Deluxe" pledge levels will be able to pull out that poster and reveal the bunker map in all its glory to their players.
This isn't a "battle map" or anything of the sort. Rather I have that scene from Aliens in mind where Ripley, Hicks and Bishop are all bent over those colony maps and making a plan. That's what I love to see at the table, and this map now gives you that opportunity!
As with Vini's work, when the detailed pieces come in, I'll share lil teasers with y'all.
New Stretch Goals to Unlock!
Three down, three more up! The Cycle Continues!
For the digital assets, I've got some weird little handouts in mind, and I'd love to be able to package all the little digital bits and bobbles needed to run Bio-Drones & Cryo-Clones online. Being in France, getting Mothership to the table is a bit tough (my French is fluent, but describing melting flesh and quickness with mechanics is not my forte, let's say), so I've more often than not relied on VTT resources. Loads, if not most players do play online, I'd think, so getting a solid package together that could also be home-printed in a pinch has been part of the vision since the start.
Improving the zine quality speaks for itself, I think. Give a big boost to durability and feel is something everyone with the zine in hand will appreciate.
Cendrillon Mercs for Hire!
At the big 10k, all physical pledges receive this bonus pamphlet!
This pamphlet was made as part of a game jam Sean McCoy hosted for in-universe Mothership documents. This has seven weirdo mercenaries you can hire, plus NPC "Office Hours" for the people running the merc outfit. It lacks station-specific names, so you can throw this to your players at any Shore Leave location, if they're looking for specialized outside help.
Woof, I think that's it? Feels like a lot already, haha, but again thanks so much for your support on this campaign! Happy Zine Month!
To end, I guess it's no surprise my body horror is inspired by David Cronenberg. Leave a comment and let us know what your favorite Cronenberg film is!
