The Anticanon World Generator (Patreon)

Dear heroes,

Ideally, I wanted to share the whole of SDM:OGA (my fork of beloved BIG SEACAT)  with you for Christmas. But, in truth ... who wants to read a whole rulebook for the holidays? Hold the response. That's a rhetorical question.

No, what I decided to share was the first part of the HVNMKR section of SDM:OGA.

•••

The Heliodor Zone, also the Yellow Lands

For a couple of years, it was my dream to present the world of the UVG and the Rainbowlands as a creative game rather than a gazzetteer or world book. However, as BIG SEACAT got bigger, I ran out of time and space to do that. This was pretty frustrating.

With the fork and simplification, I was able to create the space for it and now I can add the first zone—the PCs home zone in the SDM:OGA—Heliodor.

I had a few design challenges. One of them was how to make a map that provided a structure for splitting out different elements: terrain, locations, connections. Obviously, I borrowed a fair bit from Catan (why mess with a classic?) but ... how to make something that worked well? In Monochrome Rainbows I used spaced hexes, but it wasn't quite perfect. Then, at some point, I hit on the notched hex, and here we are. 

Oh, and a triangular grid. Thanks Affinity Designer. You wouldn't believe how much a triangular grid helps with aligning hexes!

The full SDM:OGA is going to encompass five more zones (and better layout to save space, haha): Amber, Ruby, Amethyst, Sapphire, and Emerald.

•••

Now for some questions instead of news

Q: How's UVG 2E going? No news this time?

Going great! Thanks for asking! The Grand Long Map is done. All that's left is the GM screen 2.0

Q: So ... are you going to just abandon BIG SEACAT?

No, no ... but with EF we're planning to release it as a limited manuscript print and pdf. I'll see about figuring out how to get y'all that want that artful beauty a deal on those. I've got to figure out exactly how, but I'm going to also open up a version (probably art-free) for everyone who loves trpgs.

However, the game I want to anchor some modules for next year is simpler than BIG SEACAT ... i.e. SDM.

Q: Why haven't you given us SDM yet?

I will! I will! Sheesh ... am working hard as I can!

Q: Any other news?

Um. Yes. Some, but can't share all of them.

Q: Can we ask more questions?

Yes, please do! Go ahead, AMA!

•••

Till Boxing Day

That's it! 

I hope you'll have some fun drawing your own Heliodor Zone :)

It's been a massive, weird, strange year, but ... hey, here we are. I'll try and do a roundup next week, but if not, well ... much love, much health, and a plenitude of good cheer.

Happy holidays, good heroes!

—Luka