Honestly, you’ve hit on the single biggest issue we found with the original version, and we’re so grateful you brought it up. That feeling of succeeding at a challenge but then failing the Keepsake Roll and getting nothing for your effort felt really punishing, and it’s the exact opposite of the “cozy” feeling we were aiming for. You’re not just imagining it; it was a core mechanical problem.
Your feedback is incredibly validating because it’s precisely why we created the v1.1 update. We completely overhauled that system, and it almost feels like you were reading our design notes!
Here’s what we changed, based on feedback just like yours:
The old Keepsake Roll is completely gone. There’s no “second roll” or second point of failure anymore. Your success and your reward are now determined by a single challenge roll.
Progress is now guaranteed on almost every outcome. We replaced the old system with a “Margin of Victory” table. Now, even a near-miss (Close Call) or a strange, mixed result (Plot Twist) rewards you with Memory Fragments.
These fragments build up to a full Keepsake. Collecting just three fragments gets you a full Keepsake. This is a bit like your homebrew rule, but built right into the core mechanic! It ensures that you’re always making progress towards the next upgrade, even when things don’t go perfectly.
You mentioned you’re tired of tweaking games, and we completely get that. That’s why we made these changes—to make the game feel rewarding and fair right out of the box.
If you ever feel a spark of curiosity, we’d be truly honored if you’d take a peek at the new v1.1 rules PDF. The progression system is a night-and-day difference, and we think it directly solves that “VERY long time to collect” feeling you mentioned.
No pressure at all, of course. We’re just so grateful for your sharp insights, which helped confirm we were heading in the right direction with the update. Thank you again for being part of the journey, even for a little while! :)