Weekly News
For March 21 - March 27 2024
Another rough week, with another day’s worth of delay. I apologize for the lack of consistency – I’ve tried to be very good about making the update every week on a set day, but it seems likely that I will just be able to be aim for an update at some point each week. I appreciate your patience with this.
An Anniversary (of sorts)
Putting a particular date to the start of Ashen Frontiers is tricky, because I was working on it for some time before I started my public push, and I experimented quite a bit in the early days about how to get the word out.
So it is somewhat arbitrary, but I’ll declare today (March 21st 2024) the One Year Anniversary of the Ashen Frontiers Project and check in with everyone.
Here are my current goals:
Release The Lost Vault (the adventure I debuted at Gen Con last year) as a Quick Start adventure for various adventure TTRPGs (D&D, Pathfinder 2, BLEND20, perhaps others) this year.
Update The Broken World (the free setting guide) for release at the same time.
Complete the manuscript for a complete set of rules and setting information in BLEND20 format, and then begin to localize it into 5e, Pathfinder 2, and other open adventure TTRPG rulesets.
Of course, I’ve made good progress on all of these. although The Lost Vault has lain fallow for a little while. However, the bulk of the adventure is completely written, and I need to only add a bit of framing material for it to serve as a Quick Start Adventure. In reviewing what I’ve done over the last year, I was reminded of where this was, so expect to hear more about in the next few updates.
Progress on the Rules
I’m continuing to work to revise my previous efforts and complete the Katergar, and I’m also working through some playtest feedback on terminology. Of course, BLEND20 isn’t the only ruleset for the project and I’m trying to be mindful of its position as a mashup of what I like about the various rulesets that I’ll use for Ashen Frontiers as final targets.
So as part of the previously mentioned refinement process, I’m questioning how much I want to differentiate BLEND20’s terminology from other rulesets. There are arguments both ways, of course. New terms help differentiate things, but a new term for an existing concept can just be confusing instead. Expect some continued refinement on terminology.
But here is a preview of the Katergar Talents:
You’ll notice that they have a lot of Reaction Talents, allowing them a lot of off-Turn opportunities.
BLEND20 Development
So I showed off a bit of the standard BLEND20 cosmology last week, and here it is a bit more about how things are structured:
The Multiverse
The entirety of creation is known as the Multiverse, and consists of the Planes, the Gossamer Expanse, and The Outer Void. There is also the Cycle of Destiny, which is an attempt to understand the existence and meaning of the Multiverse.
Planes
A Plane is a part of creation, infinite in its own dimensions, but also just a small part of the whole. Each of the 13 Planes has a thematic aspect, but also is large enough to contain many worlds, each with their own specific qualities and quirks.
The Gossamer Expanse
Allowing travel between the Planes is the Gossamer Expanse, a hazy reach between the Planes where, while components of each Plane seep into it, you can transition between the Planes. But it also has its own denizens and minor locations that seem strange to Mortals.
The Outer Void
The great unknown beyond the Multiverse, and a place where terrors spawn. Those who have attempted to pierce its secrets have either returned changed and corrupted by the experience or were never seen again.
The Cycle of Destiny
Some scholars hold that the existence of the Multiverse is to give Mortals experiences on the Prime Plane, and then reward them with eternity among the Outer Planes. Others hold that the Multiverse is really the domain of the Deities of the Outer Planes and all of the Inner Planes exist only as a sort of “neutral ground” for their quarrels.
Despite the debate, almost all agree that there is a purpose to the Multiverse and speak of the Cycle of Destiny, although they may debate the particulars.
Those that Live in the Multiverse
There are three general categories of the Creatures that inhabit the Multiverse.
Mortals
All of the Origins qualify as Mortals, although some live longer than others. The essential component of being a Mortal is to be born into the Prime Plane, live a life, and have a chance of your spirit transitioning to one of the Outer Planes.
Many other Creatures other than the Origins are also Mortals, but little is known about their spirits, although it is believed that at least some of them reach the Outer Planes.
Transcendental Beings
Those Creatures that live on the other Inner Planes are often Transcendental Beings. Such Creatures come into being in various ways, but their Spirits are tied to the home Plane. While they can be defeated and even temporarily destroyed, in time Transcendental Beings will reform, and once again carry out the Cycle of Destiny.
Deities
The immortal beings that exist on the Outer Planes are given the catch-all category of Deities, though their powers and interests may vary intensely, from the lesser Deity devoted to only those who visit their shrines scattered among one world on the Prime Plane, to ones like The Creator of Mischief and the Master of the Tide who have many names and aspects across the Multiverse.
A good bit of that is outside the scope of Ashen Frontiers, but hopefully it provides a bit more about what might be out there to discover. I’ll have even more details on the Inner Planes soon, and those will might be even more relevant to the project.
Sign Off
So that’s the news for this week, and I’ll have more for you next week. Thanks for reading along, and I appreciate your support!
Jacob