Reworked Darkness mechanic to a save roll.
Removed reference to an alternate trinket list that was removed from the book earlier.
Hey! so I figured it out haha essentially I had just reorganized stuff on my end and in doing so was looking at an *older* version when I answered your original questions.
So I've updated the darkness rules to be more in-line with the current game, and I've removed the reference to the additional trinket table, which did not end up making it into the latest update.
The rest of your questions about leveling and the empire are still valid.
Let me know if you have any other troubles!
hihi,
1. the main advancement mechanic is done during downtime with the various downtime activities. there is no traditional "leveling up" anymore, BUT that idea is returning in the next big expansion I'm working on, which will feature a few new mechanical options for folks.
2. so, you're right, it's intentionally vague for folks to fill in their own setting, BUT I do have a setting of my own that I based it off of. I released a few zines (Aberdeen 1 & 2) that detail small sections of my city, and i've been talking about my world building a bit on my blog, but there's nothing super concrete yet. Dungeon Girls also has some info about the city.
3. I believe you are looking at an older version of the PDF (it's been updated quite a bit). The new version says: "Whenever songbirds are in total darkness within a Dungeon, the GM rolls a d10 and records the number. Every conflict round or dungeon scene that passes, the GM ticks the number down. If the number reaches 0, the Open Maw enters the room. Turn order continues as normal, but at the end of every songbird’s turn, the Open Maw rolls on the table below."
4. They are more nebulous forces that can be called upon or followed. Though, they do get named in other sections of the book and future books. Like most things in the book, they are little hooks that might grab a player and drag them in a direction.
Huge update to the playtest! Including:
You can check it out right now!
Another update!
This one features only text editing. Fixed a lot of sentences and spelling. Removed a lot of unnecessary words (which, or else, and also, so as, as well, in order to, begin, will, etc.). Cleaned up a lot of passive voice. This is all stuff you won't really notice, but it reads better and is the slow task of editing.
Go read in detail about the massive update by clicking here!
The short version: the PDF has been massively overhauled. Legacy versions are now availabe to everyone. New PDF is extensively hyperlinked, the blue is back, and so many errors have been fixed.
If you've already bought/claimed the game, you should download the new pdf and check it out!
Aaron Boehm wrote a review for Soul Cemetery over on Bloody Disgusting: https://bloody-disgusting.com/books/3885991/solo-ttrpg-soul-cemetery-taps-into-n...
Red Giant is the Berserk-inspired game you've been looking for! https://batts.substack.com/p/red-giant
I reviewed Kala Mandala and omg I love it: https://batts.substack.com/p/kala-mandala-a-review
idk who will see this but I wrote a review of lancer: https://batts.substack.com/p/building-a-time-machine-to-review