Posted February 13, 2024 by Ryan
Greetings, pilots!
It's been a minute since our last update, and in the meantime there's been a lot of interest in the game, which I greatly appreciate! As I'm gearing up to send the current version off to at least one reviewer, I decided to give everything a once-over to shore up some editing and layout issues. Instead - I did that AND addressed some changes I wanted to make, and some tweaks based on input from YOU - pilots who have been running and playing the game and reached out with thoughts, responses, and notes. I always appreciate that constructive criticism and will seek out ways to incorporate your reflections in one form or another. The broad strokes in version 0.3:
If you follow LUMEN system originator, Spencer Campbell, you know he has been hard at work on a LOT of awesome games, and steadily building up to a forthcoming toolkit for LUMEN 2.0.
WHAT!?!?! Diceless, skill-based, maybe even gridded!? LUMEN 2.0 departs in a lot of ways from what you are used to with existing LUMEN games in order to create an experience that often cleaves much closer to the spirit those games are attempting to invoke.
The future of After\\Burner will definitely be written in LUMEN 2.0, as I'm already excited for what it can bring and how the starfighter action genre can be even more faithfully adapted using its mechanics and tenets. Now that said, the "classic" version of After\\Burner will ALWAYS be available in its most contemporary state, and I'll be doing at least one final "Classic 1.0" revision before any LUMEN 2.0 iterations begin showing up.
Also, just as LUMEN 2.0 is a next step in development and not truly a 'new thing,' an After\\Burner adaptation to that ruleset is likewise not a new game or product. Everyone who already owns After\\Burner "classic" will have full access to both games all the time for no additional charge.
There's...absolutely no timeline on that development - partly because LUMEN 2.0 is still solidifying. I'll share thoughts and notes as I'm able, though.
Until next time, good hunting, pilots!