some exciting autumnal news

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Hello everyone! It’s been a minute since we last spoke, but I have something exciting to share.

Koriko continues to be the major project in my life, but since the digital release it’s been a different kind of work. It’s a worse kind of work, to be honest—spreadsheets, file formats and fulfilment conversations are extremely not sparking joy, but it’s all part of the process. I’m still having fun writing some of the bonus content for Koriko, but I’ve also been itching to design something new.

Sort of.

Because, you see, the ‘new’ thing I’m working on is kind of old, too. I’m writing a Lost & Found game, in the vein of Artefact and Bucket of Bolts, but along the way I’ve stumbled into a different (better?) way to structure those games.

The way is cards. Cards are the way.

Artefact was one of the first games I wrote, and it’s annoyed me ever since¹. I’m very proud of it, and I love how much it’s resonated with its audience, but it could be better—simpler, neater, more flexible, etc.

I feel so old

So, rather than continuing that design framework for a third title, I’ve come up with a new card-based system. I think it’s going to be great.

Because it’s easier to test with what you know, I’ve started by going back to Artefact and reworking it into this new system². This is where you come in.

Before I commit my life and livelihood to this card-based enterprise, I’d quite like to know if it’s any good. I think it is, but that’s unfortunately not enough to build a successful campaign around.

with placeholder art & layout of course

In short³, I need testers. I’ve got a playtest version ready to go, and I’ve set up a Mousehole Press Playtesting discord. I’d love it if you came and joined, and I’m sorry if I’ve messed anything up. I am, increasingly, not a very Online Person and this is all a little new.

Notably, this Discord is not a general community hangout for the cool people who like my games. I might make one of those someday, maybe, but I have such a small amount of time to work on games-related things at the moment and I really don’t want to lose any of that time to moderating social media.

What’s in it for you, then, if we can’t be BFFs? Well, if my eternal gratitude isn’t enough, I’ll also pop an exclusive, free art print in your order for any playtesters when the campaign eventually launches. I have no idea what it’ll be yet, but hopefully by now you trust that I choose good artists and good paper, so it’s probably going to be good.

So yeah. Come join the discord, download the playtest, make a magical item, have a good-and-or-sad time, and tell me about it.⁴

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Other than that, progress on Koriko continues nicely—as mentioned.

Here’s the pre-production copy, if you haven’t already seen it. I’m almost happy with it, just a few little bits to tie off before we can move into full production.

If you’re looking at this box thinking ‘damn, I should’ve backed that project’, the good news is that I never actually got around to turning off preorders 😅. So, I guess you can still buy it, if you want? There’s still a preorder discount, if you’re so inclined.

Oh! And I’m once again working on a game with Jason . It’s called Outsiders, and it’s a standalone expansion to his very successful game Notorious from last year. Campaign launches next week, sign up here!

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Life

our youngest started school

it continues to rain a lot

we’ve been doing some paddle boarding

we played a DCC funnel (feat @alwayscheckers and my messy living room)

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That’s it for now. Come play my new, old game please.

Cheers! Jack

1. lol. it is good though.

2. any new version of my games will eventually be made available, for free, for all existing owners on itch.io. in case you were wondering.

3. are you allowed to say ‘in short’ after writing a whole load of waffle?

4. btw, if this whole newsletter feels a little more spicy than normal, sorry I guess? it’s been a long day, and a long week, and a long month, and just y’know, long? I really appreciate you being here, I hope you know that.