A Faeseeker's Guide to Avallen - A Celtic Sourcebook

May Update - Secrets & Tariffs
about 1 year ago – Thu, May 01, 2025 at 06:05:08 AM

Spring just arrived, and now it already feels like summer! But it's not all sunshine and roses, we have to talk about tariffs :/

Tariffs

By now, I'm sure you have heard about the new tariffs introduced by the U.S.A. on the world and particularly China. If you've been following the tabletop industry, you've probably seen statements from larger publishers already: nearly all your favourite tabletop games are manufactured in China. That included my previous project, Against the Faerie Queene, which was printed by a Chinese partner whose quality and service I was deeply impressed by. I had every intention of working with them again for this campaign.

Unfortunately, these new tariffs are forcing me to reconsider that plan.

Though I’m not eager to change partners, I’m now reaching out to European printers to see if they can meet the same standards and costs. However, I'm not hopeful, as I've made inquiries before and had no luck. Seriously, no country has the bandwidth and quality printers like China does for our industry. European products are also affected by tariffs, but not to the same scale as China (10% vs 145%).

Adder Stone Games is a small, independent team. Let me be clear: had we opened the pledge manager and collected shipping fees immediately after funding, and we then had to fulfil from China right now, we'd be bankrupt, and US backers and stores would not get our books. Fortunately, I actually prepared for the US election by not yet launching the pledge manager and holding shipping charges until we're closer to fulfilment. 

Here’s what this means for you:

• U.S. backers: If these tariffs remain in place through the summer, there may be an additional fee when you go to pay for shipping. However, as I will mass import the products and distribute from inside the USA (rather than distributing to you from the UK) the tariffs will apply only to the manufacturing cost of your items, not the full value of your pledge. As most of what you’re backing for is our creative ideas, not the raw materials, I currently estimate the tariff cost would be around 20-35% (not 145%), which is similar to VAT rates we have across the pond.
• Canadian backers: I’m taking extra steps to avoid passing these additional costs on to you, as I will likely import all of North America's products through the USA, and I don't think it's fair for you to bear any costs from those tariffs.
• Global backers: You’re not currently affected in the same way, but I’ll continue to monitor all routes and options to keep things fair and smooth.

During my last campaign, our books were delayed because Houthi rebels attacked shipping containers in the Red Sea. Needless to say, the world is a small place, and everything affects all of us, even if we're just trying to have fun making games about ancient myths.

Thank you for your patience, your trust, and your enthusiasm. I’m committed to bringing you something wonderful, no matter how winding the path may be.

UK Games EXPO

If you live in the UK and have never attended the UK Games Expo at the NEC in Birmingham, I strongly recommend it! Multiple halls FULL of board games and TTRPGs from indie creators all the way up to the big name companies. It's glorious.

If you are going, we'll be there! Come find the Adder Stone Games table at Stand 2-882. We'd love to meet you, chat about games and sign books! 

It's on the 30th of May till the 1st of June. Which reminds me: if my update is late at the beginning of June, this is why.

Accomplished in April

Through April for the Faeseeker's book, we achieved the following:

• Hired two new exceptional artists to add some final special pieces to the book! You can see one of their illustrations below.
• Designed the starting character feats and character creation tables for the last two clans.
• Wrote the gamemaster's tribal and location lore secrets for three of the five clans, giving each clan around twenty quest hooks for players to unravel!
• Wrote the gamemaster's tips for crafting your own quests in four of the five clanlands, each with suggestion tables for quests, hazards, villains, and monsters.
• Wrote the gamemaster's guide for the included adventure site maps for four of the five clans and a table of suggested quests that can occur there.
• Created 14 illustrations. We are now at about 84 out of 105 total illustrations! Almost there.
• Created two adventure site maps set in the otherworld, making that 7 out of 10 adventure maps.

We achieved much of what I wanted in April, some parts less, but some parts more! The good news is that we've successfully tackled the gamemaster's clan secret section that stumped us back in February. More good news is that I'll soon be finished with all the illustrations, which means I can focus even more on writing and begin layout.

All good stuff!

Design Vlogs

If you want more details on the behind-the-scenes creation process, you can follow the journey with our weekly designer vlogs! You can catch us live on Twitch, Thursdays between 14:00-15:00 GMT (UTC+0).

We are live right now when this update goes out! Pop in and say hi or catch the recordings later on YouTube.

Here's a video from April where we learn about the crazy history of Monopoly, and then plan the Faerie Court secrets chapters of the book.

That's all for now, see you in June!

The Adder Stone Games Team,
Deren, Kurt, Krissy, and Jasmine

April Update - A Spring In Our Step
about 1 year ago – Tue, Apr 01, 2025 at 05:43:56 AM

The daffodils have bloomed, spring is here, and we are feeling creative! March has been a great month for the project, so let's jump right in.

Note: Previously, I published updates at the end of a month, but that was sometimes confusing as you would be reading a February update in March. From now on, I'll be publishing updates at the beginning of months instead. Thus, the end of March update has become the beginning of April update (sorry March).

Playtest Feedback

Last month, we sent everyone access to a playtest PDF for our full Faeseeker rules. I'm happy to say that feedback has been overwhelmingly positive regarding the rules, abilities, and their feel for both Legends of Avallen and Dungeons & Dragons players!

We've still received useful feedback, especially regarding the ways some abilities are worded, and we're very appreciative of it. So, thank you all who have provided feedback already.

If you haven't seen the Faeseeker's playtest, it's not too late! Just take a look in your Kickstarter messages and there should be a link there. If there isn't, please message me and I'll sort you out.

Accomplished in March

Through March for the Faeseeker's book, we achieved the following:

• Rehired our layout artist, Squish, who did the excellent work found in Against the Faerie Queene!
• Designed the starting character feats and character creation tables for three of the five clans.
• Wrote the player's guides for culture, lore, and lifestyle for three of the five clans to help players better embody their character within a clan.
• Wrote the region and location guides for those three clans.
• Created 21 illustrations (for a total of 56 now!).
• Created three adventure site maps, and here's half of one!

We achieved what I wanted in March and are arriving strong into April, when we will finish the player's clan guides before moving on to the Secrets of Avallen in the Gamemaster's Guide.

Adder Chatter Tuesdays

I've just started Adder Chatter Tuesdays on our social media channels and discord. What's Adder Chatter Tuesdays? Well...

We've got a great little community here, and we want everyone to get to know each other more. We're all TTRPG nerds after all. So each Tuesday, I'm asking everyone some fun questions. Today is a Tuesday, so here's today's questions!

What was your most recent TTRPG adventure? What was the setting, what was your objective, and did you succeed?

Mine was a Vampire: The Masquerade quest, set in a dark Los Angeles. We were investigating the deep rabbit hole behind a drug that forced vampires into a feeding frenzy... Quest is ongoing after we found a secret staircase in an apartment. I'm desperate to find out what's at the bottom of that staircase.

So, what was your last TTRPG quest?

You can comment below or join the storytelling fun on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nZnPwh2

Design Vlogs

If you want more details on the behind-the-scenes creation process, you can follow the journey with our weekly designer vlogs! You can catch us live on Twitch, Thursdays between 13:00-15:00 GMT (UTC+0), or watch the recordings later on YouTube.

We just finished a series recapping all five clan territories in Avallen, and are now back working on design live with chat.

That's all for now, see you in May!

The Adder Stone Games Team,
Deren, Kurt, Krissy, and Jasmine

IMPORTANT: Faeseeker's Playtest PDF - February Update
over 1 year ago – Fri, Feb 28, 2025 at 06:32:29 AM

Playtest PDF

I've just sent a direct message through Kickstarter to all backers. In that message is a download link to a backer-exclusive playtest PDF for A Faeseeker’s Guide to Avallen. That PDF contains the rules for our Faerie Blessing abilities, Faerie Tricks, and the Faerie Court favour system designed for Legends of Avallen, 5th Edition, and 5E 2024. 

Alongside the PDF link is a link to a Google form where you can provide important feedback, which we will use to adjust the content before publishing. Any and all feedback is welcome! Whether you play with the content or just read it, your opinions as a backer are important to us.

Previously, I said you should only expect a plain white document with simple text and no art. But in the end, I spent a bit more time on it and included our introduction to Avallen and new artwork for all of the fae in our five Faerie Courts.

If you want to reach out to us directly for questions or anything else, you can message here through Kickstarter, or join our Discord: https://discord.gg/nZnPwh2

We hope you enjoy it and I look forward to reading your thoughts!

February Update

Through February for this Faeseeker's project, we achieved the following:

• Created 16 illustrations
• Wrote the Gamemaster's Guide to Faerie Courts and Tricks found in the playtest PDF
• Designed all of the Faerie Tricks found in the Playtest PDF
• Created the Playtest PDF and feedback form
• Continued work on the Avallen Secrets and Adventures chapter (though, see below for more on this)
• Created two adventure site maps, and here's half of one!

Despite all of that, to be honest, we're actually a bit behind where I wanted to be in writing the book by the end of February. There are two reasons for this:

• Preparing the Playtest PDF took more time than I anticipated
• Writing the Avallen Secrets chapter has been more difficult than the Faeseeker's chapter. We've just realised it would help to write the Introductory Lore chapter before the advanced secret lore. That sounds obvious now I write it down, but we had creative reasons for trying it this way first. So, we are pivoting to writing the broader clan lore in March. 

In the end, neither issue will linger through Marsh, so progress should continue at the speed I'd like. Fortunately, I included wiggle room in the full schedule, so we aren't currently delayed.

Magazine Features

In the past few weeks we have been featured in not one but two magazines! You remember magazines? Well you can still get them, in print and PDF!

Everyday Dragons

Everyday Dragons is an independent TTRPG magazine that takes content submissions from small indie creators! That means you can be featured in it too!

The Everyday Dragons editor, Kylie, reached out and asked to interview me on what it's like running a TTRPG business so I happily said yes. The magazine is 79 pages long (!) and features loads of useable content, interviews, and opinion pieces, as well as a full adventure at the end!

Here's a preview of the magazine presented by Kylie herself.

You can check out the Everyday Dragons magazine here: https://everydaydragons.com/

Imagine FX

Imagine FX is a British magazine for digital illustrators. Our illustrator, Rafa Guisso, and I were interviewed for a piece on artwork in TTRPGs because of ENNIE nominated art in Against the Faerie Queene! We were interviewed alongside other great TTRPGs, including Koriko and Across a Thousand Dead Worlds.

You can check out Imagine FX here: Imagine FX.

Design Vlogs

If you want more details on the behind-the-scenes creation process, you can follow the journey with our weekly designer vlogs! You can catch us live on Twitch, Thursdays at 13:00 GMT (UTC+0), or watch the recordings later on YouTube.

We're currently doing a series of videos recapping all of the locations and lore we've written for each of our clans!

That's all for now. Excited to see your feedback when you're ready to give it!

The Adder Stone Games Team,
Deren, Kurt, Krissy, and Jasmine

New Year, New Art! - January Update
over 1 year ago – Fri, Jan 31, 2025 at 08:23:36 AM

January Update

I know I'm late to the party, but Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2025 brings you some fantastic gaming. I plan to do my best to help you make that happen.

Through January for this Faeseeker's project, despite Winter's break and a lot of travelling (see later in this update), we achieved the following:

• Created 19 illustrations (far too much to show in one update but I'll try!)
• Designed the Faeseeker powers for all five Faerie Courts
• Almost finished drafting the full lore for the Faeseeker and Faerie Courts chapter
• Begun work on our next chapter for the Avallen Secrets and Adventures
• Rehired our cartographer, the wonderful Melissa Nash, who illustrated the maps in Against the Faerie Queene

Which is all about where I planned us to be by the end of January.

February Faeseeker Playtest

Now that I've designed all of the Faeseeker abilities for the five Faerie Courts, I will begin preparing a playtest packet and feedback form.

You should expect a plain text PDF with no artwork. This will be a simple document made to get your eyes on this content as soon as possible so that we have ample time to make changes based on your feedback!

Look out for that in its own update.

MAGFest!

We attended MAGFest in Maryland, USA! MAGFest is an awesome con that celebrates the fusion of music and gaming for a four-day party extravaganza and as always, it did not disappoint!

We had a table at the MAGFest Indie Tabletop Showcase (MITS). Thank you to everyone who came by to say hi, played chariot-racing sessions with me, or bought books, as well as the other MITs designers I got to speak with! A great time was had by all :)

Designer Vlogs

If you want more details on the behind-the-scenes creation process, you can follow the journey with our weekly designer vlogs! You can catch us live on Twitch or watch the recordings later on YouTube.

Unfortunately, I have returned to the UK to find our internet is broken, so I am currently unable to stream! Hopefully, it will be working again next week so we can continue our regularly scheduled broadcasts on Thursday at 13:00 GMT (UTC+0).

That's all for now. Look out for our next update with the Faeseeker Playtest PDF!

The Adder Stone Games Team,
Deren, Kurt, Krissy, and Jasmine

Previous PDFs Released + Progress! - December Update
over 1 year ago – Fri, Dec 20, 2024 at 09:43:47 AM

Previous PDFs Released!

Today, the funds arrived from Kickstarter! This means I started commissioning new artwork and I sent download links for the PDFs from our two previously published books to backers who pledged for them.

An email (or more, depending on your pledge level) from DriveThruRPG should have been sent to the email registered to your Kickstarter account.

• All backers should have received an email containing a free checkout link for the Quickstart Guide to Legends of Avallen, plus our LoA- and 5E-compatible prologue adventurers, Caer on the Borderlands.
• Backers who pledged for Legends of Avallen should have an email containing a free checkout link for the Legends of Avallen PDF.
• Backers who pledged for Against the Faerie Queene should have an email containing a free checkout link for the Against the Faerie Queene PDF.

Progress Update

In the two weeks since this campaign funded, we've done a whole lot of stuff! 

• Scheduling & Budgeting (boring but important)
• Agreeing contracts with artists
• Creating art briefs (Ever Stranger, Pen Levi lands, and the Ever Father's Fae) 
• Writing Faeseeker lore and abilities for the Godling of Tricks and Their Court of Pebbles

If you want more details on the behind-the-scenes creation process, we do weekly update streams. You can catch us live on Twitch or watch the recording later on YouTube.

Last week, I introduced Kurt to the master sheet that plans out the content for the entire book! That video is up on YouTube now. The video from our most recent stream will be available Monday the 23rd.

There won't be any streams for the next two weeks as we take a break for Christmas and New Years! You can expect us back on the 9th of January, with the following YouTube video on the 13th.

MAGFest!

I am attending MAGFest in Maryland in January! MAGFest is an awesome con that celebrates the fusion of music and gaming for a four-day party extravaganza. We will have a stand at the MAGFest Indie Tabletop Showcase (MITS), so if you're going, come by and say hi!

That's all for now. Hope you have a lovely winter break!

The Adder Stone Games Team
Deren, Kurt, Krissy, and Jasmine