Three Days Left to Back REALIS

Hello again everyone!

I've got some updates, but first of all, let me lead with the big thing:

The Realis Kickstarter ends THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AT 11:59PM EDT. So that means you've got about three more days to back the game and get your copy secured!

Okay, phew. There's the big one. Now onto all the other things.

Thanks, and wow.

For people not following along, we're currently at about $270k raised. That's well over 500% more than what our goal was. And, importantly, that's over 5,500 backers (over 5,000 of which are getting physical books). That's so incredible to me.

I knew that folks would be rooting for the project, but I cannot begin to express my gratitude for the support it's received. I say it a lot, but my intention with Realis has never been to make something for everyone, but just to make the best version of this particular game that's been burrowing its way through my skull. This response has really made me feel like that that was the right thing to do.

Lower International Shipping Prices!

If you already backed the campaign or follow the Possible Worlds Kickstarter, then you already know this, but a lot of you don't, so to quote our publisher, Tyler:

Thanks to international pledges, we were able to secure more affordable shipping for backers outside the US! You can read more in our latest update, but the long-and-short of it is that we're saving international backers at least $5 on their rewards postage.

You can see some more specifics over on this campaign update.. This rules, and it's the result of enough folks around the world backing the project that it means Possible Worlds can do more direct distribution across the globe. Hell yeah.

I've Been Yappin

I do a lot of podcasts these days, and let me tell you, this month I've done even more than before. If you want to hear me play or talk about Realis... or about how the decade of making Friends at the Table influenced Realis... or about other TTRPGs... or about Bungie's Marathon... about the beauty of the Shonen Anime Tournament Arc... then you are in LUCK. (phew)

Here's where I've been (and in a couple of cases, where I'll be in the very near future, as some of these interviews are coming in hot!)

• Rascal Radio Hour - Tyler and I went in depth on Realis from conception to production. Kind of the biggest high level convo we've had about the project from idea to product. Tyler specifically gives a ton of great insight into his role as publisher, here!
• One Shot - Giving a general link to the One Shot episode page because Tyler and I joined host Dillin Apelyan along with our friends and fellow game designers Viditya Voleti and Elliot Davis on a multi-episode one shot of Realis! Tyler GM'd, which meant that I got to actually play as a PC in my own game. I NEVER get to play Realis as anything except the GM, so this was an absolute blast—especially because Tyler chose to spotlight one of my favorite factions that isn't in the Ashcan. Please give it a listen! (Parts 1 and 2 are out now, and the finale should be out soon!)
  • And, by the way, if you do want to hear me GMing Realis, you can do it on the Friends at the Table Patreon at the $5 tier. We're over 20 episodes into a campaign that has gone to some pretty strange and memorable places already, and let me tell you, what is coming up soon is something I'm very proud of...
• Dice Exploder - I joined Sam Dunnewold to dig deep into one of the biggest influences on Realis: Dream Askew / Dream Apart, and specifically the Belonging Outside Belonging concept of Weak, Strong, and Regular Moves. If you want to really get into the nitty gritty of contemporary TTRPG design (and where Realis sort of fits into that) this is a great listen!

• The Jeff Gerstmann Show - It has been something like seven years since Jeff Gerstmann and I chatted on mics. We dig into Realis, Jeff's own history with TTRPGs, and the various video games we've been playing (including, yes, some Marathon talk).
• Whatcha Doing - Matt Caulder had me on their podcast to dig deep into how all of the other work I've done over the years (like Friends at the Table) shaped my perspective as a game designer. This was a wonderful chat, and we really got to dig into some of the broader influences--things that go beyond comics and games, and more 'how does a creative person orient themselves in this world.'
• Axe of the Blood God - I joined Eric Van Allen to talk about RPGs (of both video and tabletop varieties), what it's like to give away control to people who play your game, and how my own thoughts around aesthetics and design have shifted over the years!

• The Ultimate RPG Podcast - It's not out quite yet but, but I sat down for a massive convo with the excellent James D'Amato (whose anime-inspired Cosmic Century Knights is also being published by Possible Worlds). We had a really great, in depth convo about Realis, including parts that James clashed with, which I always appreciate! This is a great podcast to listen to if you want to hear me go deeper into the guts of Realis instead of just giving the high level pitch! (Also, we end by doing a really fun world building excercise!)
• FUNLAND ZINE No. 9 - Also not out yet, but I sat down with Zack Kotzer to chat about broader literary and writing influences on Realis among other topics (which, frankly, I'm struggling to remember because it was one of the first interviews I did this month and my brain is becoming sludge). FUNLAND rips and I'm thrilled for Realis to be in it.
• Talk of the Table - This is a re-release, but if you missed it last year, you should check it out! Elliot and Brian sat down with me and Tyler for the high level overview of Realis and what our plans were for the game after the Ashcan release!

Whew. Okay. I think that's it (you know, besides the usual set of FatT, AMCA, Side Story, and Shelved by Genre).

So one more time: If you haven't backed Realis yet, you have until THURSDAY NIGHT AT 11:59PM EDT!

Thanks again for all your support, and special thanks to everyone who has made this possible.

-Austin