[19:36] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> I’m Donaven Brines, CEO and founding member of Rusted Portal Games. Our game is Apocalypse the Risen Campaign setting, a post-apocalyptic fantasy horror game set on Earth, 25 years after the fall of society in an event known as the Rise.
[19:36] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The Rise represents the moment in time when the seven seals were broken in a catastrophic event, tearing the veil between Earth and Purgatory, releasing souls of the dead and magic back to Earth.
[19:37] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, RustedPortal_Chad!)
[19:37] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Those seals found their way into the bodies of the dead, who rose from their graves to seek out and feed on the living.
[19:37] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The breaking of the seals also released the demon lords, allowing the Darkness a greater foothold on Earth.
[19:38] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Apocalypse the Risen RPG is live on Kickstarter. We are fully funded, nearing 140% and yet another group of stretch goals.
[19:38] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> That Kickstarter can be found here: (Link: http://kck.st/2oClung)http://kck.st/2oClung
[19:38] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> (PHEW!)
[19:39] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> I’ve got most of the team with me today. Chad and Jason are owners and game designers, Pathfinder and 5E respectively. And Jeff is our Logistics expert and also a founder.
[19:40] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> Yeah!Β I do stuff!
[19:40] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> I see Sage has joined up, thank you for dropping in! He is one of our super backers!
[19:41] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Dan – I think that intro should suffice, happy to field questions.
[19:41] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> I just wanted to say THANK YOU to any of the backers we’ve attracted so far.Β Your support means everything to us!
[19:41] <~Dan> Thanks, RustedPortal_Donaven! The floor is open to questions!
[19:42] <~Dan> I’m glad to have you all here with us this evening. I hope you like the place and decide to hang out with us in the future. π
[19:42] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> RustedPortal_Jeff speaks for all of us in that!
[19:42] <~Dan> So do you consider this a zombie game?
[19:43] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> At risk of turning away our awesome horror and zombie fans, I’m going to say no with a caveat.
[19:43] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The Walking Dead is my reference to this… that show did not present itself as a zombie show, but rather a show about people surviving against horrific conditions.
[19:44] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> When we set out to design this game, we really wanted to embrace that thinking. The influences from zombie lore are certainly there, and World War Z (the book) gets brought up by Jeff on the regular. But we have many non-zombie influences.
[19:45] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> I use the term “Fantasy Horror” in describing our game because it really does present a lot of fantasy elements, despite the post-apocalyptic near future Earth setting.
[19:46] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> We introduce a level of magic that stands against high fantasy settings. And we have designed a game that allows for a crazy amount of exploring a world you only think you know.
[19:46] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> In all of that, Risen (zombies) become but a dangerous backdrop to be aware of and protect against, but no more than goblins or owl bears in a high fantasy campaign.
[19:47] <~Dan> Hmm. I see.
[19:47] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> I was an early proponent for incorporating historical mythology and theological references to the supernatural aspects of this campaign, which is where Chad and Jason just took the concept to a whole new level.
[19:48] <+RustedPortal-Jason> A good example of the fantasy horror mindset is in the downloadable sample adventure we have on our website. Without too much in the way of spoilers, it contains battles with marauding highwaymen and their mutated two-headed skunk hounds, brimstone-trailing demonic land-based “sea” urchins, and well… sausage-making cannibals.
[19:48] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> One thing I am most proud of in including Risen (zombies) in our game is making them cinematic. We wanted the grabbing, biting, chewing zombies… not the slamming kind.
[19:48] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> RustedPortal-Jason You totally just gave away the sausage.
[19:49] <+RustedPortal-Jason> I also didn’t state in which order they would find those horrors. π
[19:50] <~Dan> What is the nature of the PCs in the game?
[19:50] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Dan – Another angle for that question… Apocalypse the Risen offers a lot of different game play scenarios for GMs to design. If you WANT a hardcore zombie game, the mechanics and risen options are all there. From the Hungry base risen to Depraved sentient risen.
[19:52] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Hrm, nature… well, they’re a bit unnatural, really. We wanted to bring as much of the Supernatural into the game as possible. Most classes have some level of supernatural abilities. We also wanted the classes to have some familiarity to D&D and Pathfinder players while bringing something entirely new to the table.
[19:53] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The Enforcer is a d12 warrior class skilled in all kinds of exotic weapons and capable of shaking off otherwise dangerous conditions… or inflicting them on others.
[19:53] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> (going back to alphabetical order)
[19:54] <+Guest69> The places you explore, will it only include post apocalypse areas, or will we all be allowed to explore more super natural areas as well.
[19:54] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Arbiter is a d8 other-worldly warrior akin to a Paladin, but powered by their own sense of justice and wrath that at times is powered by their own hit points.
[19:54] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Guest69 – For sure a lot of supernatural areas.
[19:54] <~Dan> (Guest69: You can set your name with the /nick command; e.g., /nick Dan π )
[19:55] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Darklands are a major scene in AtR, places of great tragedy or sorrow that have soaked up supernatural energy and become twisted and mutated into a variety of horrifying locations.
[19:56] <+RustedPortal_Chad> strange creatures, plants and more
[19:57] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> For example… the Yellowstone caldera had an eruption triggered by the Rise, resulting in a supernatural portal between Earth and Purgatory. Souls of the dead and volcanic ash have combined to cover a large region to strange effect.
[19:58] <~Dan> (Howdy, Lin_Chong!)
[19:58] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> There are portals connecting one location to another by portals that cut through the ether. These portals shorten travel between great distances, allowing for exploration to otherwise unreachable locations.
[19:58] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Hey Lin_Chong!
[19:58] <~Dan> (Howdy, Cassiemouse!)
[19:58] <+Lin_Chong> (-waves-)
[19:59] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Paradox represents the place between all places, a strange and dark world difficult to reach and even more difficult to return from.
[19:59] <+Guest69> What would be the recommended number of people to play? Would 2 or 3 people be fine or would you really need a nice diverse amount of characters for the game?
[20:00] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> And outside Apocalypse the Risen, there is a grand Worlds of the Portal story of the battle between the Light and the Darkness that includes many connected worlds, each vastly different, centered on Purgatory.
[20:00] <+RustedPortal_Chad> 2-3 sure, with the right GM. Could even so a lone survivor game too
[20:00] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> 2-3 players would work very well. We have included a variety of CR creatures in the campaign setting, and we are just about to unlock even more with the next stretch goal!
[20:01] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> With 9 all new character classes, there
[20:01] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> there’s a lot of variety in covering some of the basis for adventuring.
[20:02] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest81! You can set your name with the /nick command. π )
[20:02] <+RustedPortal_Chad> (for copyright purposes) Insane Dwayne beyond Tacoma Dome
[20:03] <~Dan> (Thanks, Darth_Zorg! Here for the Q&A?)
[20:03] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> Remember, this is a post apocalyptic world.Β Resources are valuable.Β Scavenging is important.Β How the PC use resources is even more important.
[20:03] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> But its all well seamlessly incorporated into game play
[20:04] <~Dan> What is the time period of the Rise? Modern day?
[20:04] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Dan – Nature of PCs… redirect me if I’m not answering the question how you envisioned, but in addition to a variety of PC classes that cover a lot of different bases and use game mechanics in familiar but different ways, we have made some significant changes with regard to nature.
[20:04] <~Dan> RustedPortal_Donaven: Well, I was wondering in particular if there are nonhuman races to play.
[20:05] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The game takes place in near future Earth. Let’s just say, for a timeline reference, that the breaking of the seals started now and took place over the next dozen years and caused the apocalypse. Twenty-five years after that is when AtR takes place.
[20:05] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> AH! There are three all new races plus humans.
[20:06] <+RayAtHigherGrounds> Adendum to Dan’s question: What do the characters do?
[20:06] <~Dan> (Howdy, ChadDubya!)
[20:06] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Descended – These are fallen angels that elected to abandon their celestial home and join humanity in the fight on Earth. They are cutoff from their past lives with only vague memories. They come from one of three angelic banners, each with unique powers and abilities.
[20:06] <+ChadDubya> (hello)
[20:07] <~Dan> ( ChadDubya: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rustedportal/apocalypse-the-risen-rpg-5th-edition-and-pathfinde?token=ea8e2b47)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rustedportal/apocalypse-the-risen-rpg-5th-edition-and-pathfinde?token=ea8e2b47 )
[20:07] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Progeny – These are half-demons and come from one of seven sin natures. Thematically speaking, they are similar to Tieflings. We wanted to keep some design features of this favorite race with the addition of the seven sin natures to choose from, each creating very different characters.
[20:08] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> And Lazarus are free spirits that escaped from Purgatory, returning to Earth through ancient portals to live again. They have vague memories of their past lives and a rare connection to the supernatural.
[20:09] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> RayatHigherGrounds – We have a vision for this world that centers on the home colony. You could certainly run a campaign that starts at some watering hole, with ronin PCs finding common ground, but the vision is a little different.
[20:10] <+Guest69> What are your plans after the kickstarter? Will we see more updates to this game?
[20:10] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> We have some detailed rules for GMs to build a home colony and for PCs to all be part of the hunting party for that colony. Hunters are tasked with defending the colony, searching out resources, finding trade partners, etc. But as they explore the world, finding channels and world secrets, things become more epic.
[20:11] <~Dan> How so, re: more epic?
[20:11] <+RayAtHigherGrounds> But what do they do? You say there’s a colony.. cool. But what’s a character do in your world? What’s the plot? I play D&D to adventure and loot. I play exalted to do heroic stuff. Why would I play Rusted Portals?
[20:11] <+RayAtHigherGrounds> Also, how much of the game is done?
[20:12] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Guest69 – Absolutely! Apocalypse the Risen has a sizable amount of content for us to continue rolling out in support of the campaign setting. We have been officially working on this game as a company since 2014. We have tons of adventures, from playtests and conventions, to release. There are numerous locations that will be explored in depth in future books.
[20:12] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> And we have a lot of monsters, including a demon creation system, that simply won’t make the campaign setting.
[20:14] <~Dan> What sorts of monsters exist, generally speaking?
[20:15] <~Dan> Aside from zombies and demons, I mean.
[20:15] <~Dan> (Howdy, CaiasWard!)
[20:15] <~Dan> ( CaiasWard: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rustedportal/apocalypse-the-risen-rpg-5th-edition-and-pathfinde?token=ea8e2b47)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rustedportal/apocalypse-the-risen-rpg-5th-edition-and-pathfinde?token=ea8e2b47 )
[20:16] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> RayatHigherGrounds – Characters in this world do very much of what you are describing. Initially those adventures are close to home, searching for resources (loot) through abandoned infrastructure (really a lot like tombs). GMs have the content to continue building adventures that explore the world, allowing PCs to find unique and powerful magic, dangerous
[20:16] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> demons, and even uncover secrets to the demon lords themselves.
[20:16] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> (looking back through questions to catch up… and keep pushing the challenging questions!)
[20:17] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> RayAtHigherGrounds: Have you ever seen the AMC show Into the Badlands?Β Its a post apocalyptic world that looks familiar, but is also completely different.Β There are City states and fiefdoms of peaceful farmers, traders, thieves, warriors, etc.Β But in our world, the ‘Barons’ are more than likely a demon or fallen angel of some sort.Β These are our colonies.
[20:17] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> What kind of role do you want to play in this world?
[20:17] <+RustedPortal_Chad> @ray: maybe get an area to create an allegiance. Long run – try and fix the world, repel the demons, stop the dead from rising, put the world back or fix it and keep it the same.
[20:17] <+RustedPortal-Jason> Also kind of the mantra of the PCs in this game is survive and thrive. At early levels, survival, both yours and your colony’s, is at the forefront of a PC’s thoughts. But as you explore, widening the world to your character, it becomes more about thriving.
[20:18] <+RustedPortal-Jason> And by thriving I mean your colony becomes kind of a living base of operations for you. The more resources you bring in, the more contacts your PCs make in the world (and enemies for that matter), the colony shifts and changes.
[20:18] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Zombies (Risen) – We have a variety of vastly different types, including some sentient.
[20:19] <+Guest69> Looking through the classes, I believe the Splicer would be my favorite … Finding tech and splicing them to make new things seems really cool. which ones are your personal favorites and why?
[20:20] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Demons – Either Shunned (spawned in chaos from the Darkness living/fighting outside of the hierarchy of demon-kind) or Embraced (created and controlled/influenced by the demon lords).
[20:21] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> Guest69>: I’m a big fan of the Splicer myself…
[20:21] <+Darth_Zorg> Will there be lines that blur between the Descended and the Progeny that will cross paths?Β Darker sides to the Descended and lighter sides to the Progeny?
[20:21] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Mutated Creatures – Darklands mutate those that live or pass through, including the flora and fauna. Because of this the previously mundane creatures of Earth have become nearly mythical. The aforementioned Skunk Hounds and the Siren Pine are a couple of my favorite examples.
[20:21] <+RustedPortal_Chad> zorg: yes
[20:22] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Devils – These creatures were once angels that became corrupted by the Darkness. The Eclipse is an example of one of these creatures, formed from the angels Solar and Lunar, that once corrupted were merged into Eclipse.
[20:24] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Darth_Zorg – To expand on that answer… we do not have alignment in this game. We have replaced alignment with a personality system and attached insanity mechanic. Players (and GMs) are free to build PCs/NPCs that cross all boundaries of expectation. There’s no reason a demon couldn’t side with a colony and help fight off a pack of Risen, etc.
[20:25] <+RustedPortal_Chad> I personally love the loss of alignment. No more arguments over if a lawful good person would kill the defeated necromancer or not. Its never so cut and dry in the real world.
[20:26] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Guest69 – I have a hard time picking a favorite, they each hold something special for me from the design process. That said, I’d have to go with the Harbinger. They offer a unique spellcasting mechanic and cross so closely into insanity, just perfect for this world.
[20:26] <+CaiasWard> Here’s a production question: “These stretch goals add a sizable amount of content into the final book.” I’ve seen a number of books victim of aggressive stretch goals which add to the main product. What steps have you taken to avoid ‘scope creep’ and the delays associated with it? (done)
[20:26] <~Dan> Speaking of necromancers, what is magic like in this setting?
[20:26] <+Darth_Zorg> Personality mechanic? like backgrounds Ideals, Bonds, Flaws of 5E with Madness kind of rules?
[20:26] <+xyphoid> Looking at the sample adventure, there’s a resource system – how does that work?
[20:26] <~Dan> (Question pause after xyphoid’s question, please.)
[20:27] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> CaiasWard – Great question! We staggered our production between Pathfinder and 5E in part to allow us to focus our efforts as a company. We have also limited the content that goes into the core book at levels that allow us to throw additional resources at them as they are added.
[20:28] <+RustedPortal-Jason> Darth_Zorg: Yes, in a nutshell that’s what the personality mechanic is like. Add in the insanity rules from the horrific things that you see along the way, and you have the basis of our system.
[20:30] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Resources: Combustible, Consumable, and Mechanical – Three types of resources that have replaced all other monetary systems, account for food/water, cover spell components, and also amount to parts for building things in post-apocalyptic society.
[20:30] <+Sage> So many ideas going through my head right now. Wish I could afford that colony/demon/artifact/adventure tier! Haha.
[20:30] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Sage – You have been an awesome backer! I know you’re planning to add a colony, can’t wait to work with you on that!
[20:31] <+RustedPortal_Chad> @Dan: There is Other-worldly magic (divine) and there is the magic of the Splicer and harbinger (arcane-ish). Both of the last two classes work differently with magic.
[20:33] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Resources (cont.) – Splicer uses resources to create the fuses that house their spells. This was our way of including spell components thematically without the mechanical complications. When you buy or sell equipment, you trade resources. When you build something, you also use those resources. When you scavenge a collapsing high rise building, you rescue
[20:33] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> resources.
[20:34] <~Dan> (Caught up?)
[20:34] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> (almost)
[20:35] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Future Products (cont.) – As noted above, Apocalypse the Risen Campaign setting is the first in an umbrella of connected Worlds of the Portal. We have a lot of supporting content for AtR and then we will expand AtR into a much bigger picture.
[20:35] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Worlds of the Portal covers a number of campaign settings connected through the hub world (and campaign setting) of Purgatory the Tormented.
[20:36] <~Dan> (Howdy, HeartQuintessence!)
[20:36] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Hello!
[20:36] <~Dan> Will all of these settings be fantasy/horror?
[20:36] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> I THINK I’m caught up… if I’ve missed anything or anyone wants a deeper answer, keep it going.
[20:36] <+Josh> hello
[20:36] <~Dan> (Howdy, Josh!)
[20:36] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Hello Josh
[20:37] <~Dan> (For those just arriving, topic: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rustedportal/apocalypse-the-risen-rpg-5th-edition-and-pathfinde?token=ea8e2b47)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rustedportal/apocalypse-the-risen-rpg-5th-edition-and-pathfinde?token=ea8e2b47 )
[20:37] <~Dan> Questions may resume!
[20:37] <+RayAtHigherGrounds> (Not sure if this one got answered) How much of the game is complete?
[20:38] <~Dan> On your KS page, what is the elf-looking thing with the techie equipment?
[20:38] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Dan – No, they are not all fantasy horror. They DO all have a narrative in the Light and the Darkness battle, but in different ways. Example: Cataclysm the Fallen is our high fantasy setting. In this world, there are no demons representing the Darkness, but rather ancient beasts from a lost civilization.
[20:39] <+Darth_Zorg> So I imagine the insanity mechanic will/can affect personality with long term failed attempts at keeping your sanity?
[20:40] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Pathfinder is 90% complete in design. We have playtest the heck out of that version for years. Chad has been busy moving our design files into final playtest so we can get them ready for editing.
[20:40] <+RustedPortal-Jason> Darth_Zorg: yes, that’s pretty much spot on! Personalities can develop disorders complete with situational triggers and they can get worse and worse depending on what you’ve seen, and what checks you may have failed along the way.
[20:40] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> To those wondering, this campaign is set on a post-apocalyptic world (our world) and has been initially designed with a geographic/regional focus.Β These areas reflect actual places with actual landmarks.Β Expansion material may one day include your hometown and everything that entails in a post-apocalyptic setting.
[20:41] <+RustedPortal_Chad> @Dan: Ruby, the progeny splicer. Great art by Raven Mimura
[20:41] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The narrative is absolutely locked down and ready to roll. We have a number of commissioned writers that continue to push content over to us on world building, adding more to regions, darklands, and unique colonies. All of that content applies to both systems.
[20:42] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> D&D 5E we began building six months ago, which is why we pushed out the deliver to April. Jason has been really busy with the races, classes, and monsters. All of the races have been moved to 5E, 6 of the 9 classes are in beta playtests (released), and all 10 of the monsters presently included in the campaign setting are in beta as well.
[20:42] <~Dan> (Howdy, Will!)
[20:44] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Personality Mechanic – Core: Who you are, Positive Reaction: What you are like when things are great, Negative Reaction: What you are like when things take a turn for the worse.
[20:45] <+RustedPortal-Jason> And to add on, the 5e version has had it’s first beta level playtests publicly for the last month or so, with a few different outside parties having played and offered feedback. We also had our first major demonstration at a convention (Norwescon), so it is moving along!
[20:45] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Insanity – In addition to playing on the personality mechanics, we add physical manifestations (nervous twitch, bleeding from the eye, mumbling) as well as hallucinations. There is a video game Eternal Darkness back in the day that did some killer things to the game with their insanity mechanic… that is an influencer.
[20:47] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Dan – As Chad noted, that piece of art is for the class iconic Splicer. A Progeny of Envy with bestial ears and feet. Raven continues to deliver amazing art!
[20:47] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> (We will be releasing a fourth iconic from Raven Mimura this week… the Mutated Human Conservator, Mushroom!)
[20:47] <~Dan> That art is quite good.
[20:48] <~Dan> So splicers use technology to store their magic?
[20:48] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Art and Narrative are so important to us. We know Art gets people to pick a book off the shelf and it also drives creativity. Narrative gives that creative mind a big canvas with which a GM and players can paint their ideas.
[20:49] <+RustedPortal_Chad> I’ve seen Mushroom. Raven Mimura as an artist is on another level.
[20:50] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Splicers store supernatural energy in a “fuse”, using mechanical and combustible resources to house the dirty magic and keep them safe from the effects.
[20:50] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> Dan>: Re Splicer: In a manner of speaking, yes.Β Chad or Donaven can tell you about how one beta tester creatively used a boom box…
[20:50] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The “fuse” is housed in a fuse box connected to a device known as a “caster” which fires the spell.
[20:50] <~Dan> Can a caster be anything?
[20:52] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Ruby (the Splicer iconic) is a creative expansion from that boom box story. One of our players at a local convention PaizoCon played the Splicer (hi, Joe!). We told him he could make his caster whatever he wanted. He elected for a “Say Anything” reference with a boom box. His cassette tapes held the spell and played music when casting.
[20:52] <~Dan> Cool. π
[20:53] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The caster takes up one hand, must have some method if aiming a spell, and needs to be connected to the “fuse” in some method (internally or externally).
[20:53] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Mushroom the Conservator iconic also has history in our convention games. We take a lot of pride in knowing our early fans/players influenced the game on such an important level that we can give back with.
[20:55] <~Dan> Is magic as flashy as standard D&D? Fireballs and such?
[20:55] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Absolutely.
[20:56] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> We are sticking to core book (Pathfinder) and PH (DnD) spells for purposes of our campaign setting, plus some spells of our own design.
[20:56] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> We have also modified or cut some spells that don’t fit.
[20:56] <+Sage> Mushroom sounds like he/she could have been someone I went on tour with back in the day. π
[20:56] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Nobody has figured out how to teleport, but dimension door works.
[20:57] <+Sage> Bet Mushroom knows how.
[20:57] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Sage HA! Yeah, that character had an epic battle with the Siren Pine and delivered the goods with some serious flame striking.
[20:57] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> His mutation is a physical third eye in the middle of his forehead, so uh, he sees things for sure…
[20:58] <+Sage> Of course.lol
[20:58] <~Dan> So PCs can be mutants?
[20:59] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Unlocked in the first stretch goal, we have a “Mutated” template. Mutations happen from being within a Darkland and falling victim to those mutating energies.
[20:59] <+RustedPortal_Chad> All player races but the Lazarus may mutate
[20:59] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> With the template included, PCs can start their career with a Darkland backgroud.
[20:59] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> background, even
[21:00] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Yes! Thank you, Chad… the Lazarus are unique in that their already supernatural background prevents mutations.
[21:01] <~Dan> (wb, Sage)
[21:01] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> Had to come out of idler status
[21:01] <~Dan> How “gonzo” are the mutations?
[21:01] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Sage – looking for Mushrooms?
[21:02] <~Dan> Are they the supernatural equivalent of Gamma World mutations, for example?
[21:02] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> From scratcher nails and cosmetic camouflage skin to wings, smoke screen glands, and demonic gazing eyes.
[21:03] <+Sage> Ha… yes the key!
[21:03] <+RustedPortal_Chad> Mutations can be cosmetic, minor or major. Too many mutations give hindrance mutations to the creature.
[21:03] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> We had a great chat with a big time Gamma World player that liked some themes he felt were similar in AtR. I’ve never (embarrassed) played Gamma World but I hear “yes” would be accurate.
[21:04] <+RustedPortal_Chad> In What’s Cooking there is a person with the Huge mutation, making them…well, huge.
[21:05] <~Dan> How huge are we talking? π
[21:05] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> I failed to mention earlier with regard to future supplements… there will be more character classes and alternate class features/paths added to the game.
[21:05] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Some men are bigger than others…
[21:05] <+RustedPortal_Chad> I believe 7’4″ and 430+ lbs.
[21:06] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Technically “large” from a mechanics standpoint, but when he picks up the chainsaw and stands up from the table “huge” is good.
[21:07] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Wow, that was a ton of great questions, a lot of detail.
[21:08] <~Dan> π
[21:09] <~Dan> What is the technology level of the setting?
[21:09] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> We are pretty stoked with the Kickstarter being close to adding three new monsters, backstories for three more of the iconics (that include adventure hooks and world lore), and 4 ghost story adventures!
[21:10] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Well, when the Rise happened it was immediate. There was no spread of disease. The dead crawled from the ground and went after the living from all directions. Population centers were evacuated or overwhelmed, leaving behind a lot of goods.
[21:12] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> 25 years plays havoc on infrastructure. Skyscrapers are starting to collapse. Knowledge of how to run machines is starting to be lost. There’s no power grid, no internet, no running water or sewage treatment except on a colony by colony level.
[21:12] <~Dan> Right, but how advanced had tech gotten pre-Rise?
[21:13] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Since the breaking of the seals has already happened and the world begun to fall into conflict, science and technology progress slowed dramatically.
[21:13] <+RustedPortal_Chad> So the tech level of today.
[21:13] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The more the world began to bicker and hatred spread, the fewer and fewer advancements happen… so yes, today.
[21:14] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guest97!)
[21:15] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Hello!
[21:15] <~Dan> You’ve touched on this, but how extensive is the game’s included bestiary?
[21:15] <~Dan> (Guest97, you can set your name with the /nick command. π )
[21:16] <~Dan> (Howdy, xyphoid!)
[21:17] <+xyphoid> that point when you have to restart irc and realise your saved list of channels is 2 years old
[21:17] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> 10 creatures are included in the initial campaign setting. 5 Ghosts (4 Emotes and the Apparition), 3 Risen (Hungry, Famished, and Ravenous), and 2 Demons (Fire Urchin and Shyft)
[21:18] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> There may be wiggle room to work with (think expansion material) where a certain technology is rediscovered that may have been ‘classified’ prior to the rise.Β Additionally, the rediscovery of older and even ancient and forgotten technology from past civilizations (well known to demons and immortals) will be really fun.
[21:18] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> The next Stretch Goal adds the Devourer (Risen), Poltergeist (Ghost), and Dredge (Demon)
[21:19] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> On that front (expanding on Jeff’s comment) – Special materials have been discovered: Meteoric Iron, Darksteel, Diamon Steal, Antiquity Bronze, and others.
[21:20] <~Dan> From ancient civilizations?
[21:21] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> In our story, magic existed before the Seven Seals were put in place. That magic has been reborn, as well as Antiquity Bronze, a near magical metal of a lost age.
[21:21] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Dan – No, not aliens.
[21:21] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> No aliens and no vampires in AtR.
[21:21] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> π
[21:21] <~Dan> Aliens? I didn’t say aliens. π
[21:22] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> You thought it, I could hear you.
[21:22] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> lol
[21:22] * ~Dan chuckles
[21:22] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Xyphoid – Did you get your answers before the restart?
[21:24] <~Dan> In the time remaining, is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to bring up?
[21:26] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Dan – The Rusted Portal Colony, the community we are building, is very important to us. I know there are a lot of one-shot or one-idea companies, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But we intend to build and feed this community for the long haul.
[21:27] <~Dan> Very cool!
[21:27] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Apocalypse the Risen is our hook, our delivery system for a very big picture. We will continue to support and build on this game for fans. The amount of adventure far exceeds a typical post-apocalyptic game. Future supporting material and expanded Worlds of the Portal will see we support the growth of this community.
[21:28] * ~Dan nods
[21:28] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Thank you to our backers, fans, playtesters, and everyone joining us at conventions. We will be at PaizoCon and (drum roll) Gen Con running Apocalypse the Risen. Join us, back us, stick with us… we will not let you guys down. We can’t wait to show off what we have in store.
[21:29] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> An in case anyone missed it: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rustedportal/apocalypse-the-risen-rpg-5th-edition-and-pathfinde?token=ea8e2b47)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rustedportal/apocalypse-the-risen-rpg-5th-edition-and-pathfinde?token=ea8e2b47
[21:29] <~Dan> I look forward to seeing you guys at GenCon. Maybe you can join us at the #rpgnet get-together on that Wednesday.
[21:29] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> So please check us out and back us at (Link: http://kck.st/2oClung)http://kck.st/2oClung – We have a bit over a week remaining and a lot of stretch goals within reach!
[21:29] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> π Awesome! We will be in town on Wednesday afternoon. Would love to.
[21:30] <+RustedPortal_Donaven> Thank you for hosting this Q&A, Dan! You and #rpgnet rock.
[21:30] <~Dan> Usual reminder: My tip jar is at (Link: https://gmshoe.wordpress.com/the-gmshoes-tip-jar/)https://gmshoe.wordpress.com/the-gmshoes-tip-jar/ , for any so inclined. π
[21:31] <~Dan> You’re very welcome, RustedPortal_Donaven! And as you know, you and your buddies are always welcome!
[21:31] <~Dan> (wb, Sage)
[21:31] <+RustedPortal_Jeff> Yes! Thank you Dan and thank you to all the participants!
[21:31] <+RustedPortal_Chad> Thank you everyone.