A huge expansion for Animon Story, the TTRPG about Kids and their Monster friends!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
April Update - Tariffs, Timelines, & A Free Bonus
over 1 year ago
– Sun, Apr 13, 2025 at 06:30:25 AM
Hello again,
I've got another update on progress for you, as well as some longer term timeline stuff to discuss, and a free bonus release at the end!
If you follow the tabletop gaming space at all, I'm likely not the first creator/company you'll have seen talking about the potential consequences to the industry of the US President's recent actions. But before we get to that, something far more straightforward.
Digital Release Timeline
As per the last update, I am continuing work on the layout of Legend's Wake as quickly as I can without sacrificing quality. In addition, I have sent the first batch of finished pages to proofreading, so we're making progress simultaneously on the two biggest tasks remaining.
That said, I believe I now need to update the timeframe for digital release - I was hoping to get everything out by the end of April, but that would require rushing things at this stage, which is certainly not something I want to do.
As a result, I'm now looking at digital fulfilment of Legend's Wake in late May/early June. I truly hope not to keep you waiting for much longer, however I hope you'll all agree that adjusting to make sure everything is done properly, so I can deliver an end result of the highest possible quality, is the best choice here.
That estimate is for the Legend's Wake expansion book, after which the new digital Card Deck should follow shortly - this is a much smaller job, so won't require as much time, however I still aim to release the book as soon as possible, rather than waiting unnecessarily just to launch book and deck at the same time.
Layout Continues
Take a sneak peak at a few more spreads from the in-progress layout!
What part of the book are you most excited to see finished?
Tariff Troubles
As always, when the global corporate elite grow hungry enough to stir from their wretched mounds of hoarded wealth, we are left scrambling in their wake. Never thought I'd be sitting here thinking I made Team Steele too subtle!
As you will no doubt have heard elsewhere, US President Trump has been nonsensically enacting, delaying, and altering trade tariffs on a huge number of countries worldwide. This could have devastating effects on the tabletop industry, reducing already minimal profit margins to nothing, or even negative, unless prices increase or the type and number of components is drastically altered.
TTRPGs may escape the worst of things, as there is some indication that books are exempt from certain tariff categories. Though this, like everything about this situation, is uncertain, and could drastically change in the coming days, weeks, and months depending on the whims of the President. This could also create complications where shipping different product types together is concerned, for example the book and card deck.
If you would like to learn more about what is happening within the context of the tabletop industry, I highly recommend the article "Tariffs and You, the Gamer," written by Zachary Cox of SoulMuppet, a well-established UK-based TTRPG creator with a background in economics.
I am working with Andreas at Metal Weave Games to figure out the best way through this with minimal cost to you all. At this point, it is incredibly difficult to tell what things will look like when we are ready to print and ship.
Delivering a high quality product to you all is my absolute top priority, so we will adapt however necessary to do that. For now, I must update the estimated delivery of physical products to early 2026, as quite apart from anything else, we need to see how things shake out before making any irreversible decisions about where and how to produce/ship the products.
Now, on to brighter things!
A New Free Release for Animon Story
The support of all of you via this Kickstarter, and those who have chosen to join me via Ko-fi Memberships, helps me stay afloat and continue to do what I love. In times like these, this means more than ever.
As a token of gratitude, and to fuel all your Animon Story enjoyment while Legend's Wake is still on the way, I've put out a bonus release, newly available as a free download!
Tempting Freight introduces an intriguing overgrown industrial complex. There you'll meet Sammie, who has figured out how to crack open shipping containers like they're capsule toys. You never know what you'll find inside!
It was funded by, and originally exclusively released to my Ko-fi Members in December 2023.
If you'd like to get more rewards on a regular basis, including a behind-the-scenes dev diary, early previews of upcoming projects, and brand new exclusive bonus releases every month, just like this one, consider becoming a Member.
Until Next Time
As always, I will continue to update as the project progresses. Despite everything, I am so delighted with how this book is turning out, and I can't wait for you all to get your first look soon!
See you in the next one,
Zak B
March Progress - Layout Underway & More Kid Types
over 1 year ago
– Tue, Mar 25, 2025 at 10:35:32 AM
Hello all,
Welcome back to another update!
Layout Underway
Firstly, it is looking like I won't have the layout wrapped up by the end of the month. It is a very big job, and though I'm making good progress, it is going to run into April at the current rate.
I am hoping to still fulfil the digital version of the expansion before the end of April - this means completing the layout, then going through the final proofread/editing process, then sending the files out in the next month. There's quite a lot to do, but Legend's Wake has my full focus at the moment, so I'll be able to get plenty of uninterrupted work done on the project in the next few weeks.
All things going well, this means that we will still meet our estimated delivery for digital products! I will of course continue to update along the way.
In the meantime, take a look at some spreads from the sections that have been completed so far. The basic framework of the layout from the rulebook and Ani-thology has been maintained, but everything has been tightened up a bit. Margins and borders have been reigned in, title formatting updated, and the style of boxes and images has been made more consistent. I'm really pleased with how it's looking so far, I hope you agree!
Look forward to diving in to the full book soon!
Meet the Kids
I'm very happy to introduce the final two Kid Types added via stretch goals.
The Sleuth
Pride of the school newspaper, solver of small-town mysteries—whether as a budding journalist, private investigator, or just someone who can’t leave questions unanswered, you’ve got a reputation for finding stories and solutions. But no matter how much you dig for evidence, or stroll to the terminus of truth, there are always more questions to be asked.
The Specialist
You are undeniably an expert in your field—a result of the many hours you’ve spent living and breathing your Speciality. It shapes how you see the rest of the world, and how others see you as well. You can certainly be relied upon as a font of information, but there’s so much more to discover! Even so, you sometimes wonder if your solitary focus causes you to miss out on other things.
Thanks again, until next time.
Zak B
February Progress - Writing Complete & New Kid Types
over 1 year ago
– Sat, Feb 22, 2025 at 01:32:59 AM
Hello all,
Welcome to another update on Legend's Wake!
Writing Complete
I'm delighted to say that as of the end of today I will be completely finished with the manuscript for the expansion, including all adventure sections, supplemental materials, and optional rules sections.
That means starting next week I will be moving into layout! I look forward to sharing some sample pages as I progress through. It's a big job, as the book is now over 100k words, however I find that layout is less unpredictable than writing, so I'm hoping things will go smoothly over the next month. I should be able to meet the target of having layout finished in March.
Next Steps
Proofreading and editing will happen once a draft version of the laid out book is complete, then prep for digital launch in April will commence!
Following that, the book will be sent to print, and we should be on track for physical delivery by the end of the year as estimated. Simultaneously, I will begin work on the various extra bits such as the solo rules, epilogue adventures, as well as an introductory adventure using the 'Dungeon Dens' ruleset which won't quite fit in the book itself, so will be going on the website as a free download.
I'll also be following up on the Break!! collab content. Similar to Dungeon Dens, half of it will be in the book, rules related to 'Adventure Sites', inspired by the exploration style of Break!!, while the other half, a pre-built Adventure Site featuring a literal crossover between the Dunia Region and Break!!'s Outer World, will be available as a download.
Meet the Kids
I now have all the final illustrations for the new stretch goal Kid Types, and I'd like to introduce you to a couple of them!
The Mystic
You’ve always been a bit different. Where others see fairy tales, ghost stories, or fanciful fables, you see opportunities to learn, to expand your horizons beyond normal human boundaries. Whether you simply seek supernatural knowledge, or play a part in the unseen ways yourself, you know that the world is larger and stranger than most people assume.
The Outsider
You’re not from around here—this school, this town, or perhaps even this world. Whether by choice, chance, or consequence, you’ve come from elsewhere and now you find yourself seeking a way to fit in on unfamiliar territory. Even though it can be tricky, it’s also exciting—you’ve found that seeing new places and living in new communities gives you a unique perspective.
Right then, back to work for me!
Until next time,
Zak B
January Progress, Stretch Goal Plans, New Art
over 1 year ago
– Wed, Jan 22, 2025 at 01:58:39 AM
Hello again,
A belated happy 2025 to all of you! It has been a pretty hectic time with typical seasonal diversions and lots of work being done on Legend's Wake. Allow me to share some of the plans and progress being made.
Project Progress
In the last update, I said I wouldn't be rushing the final stretches of the manuscript, and that remains the case. To be completely honest, I underestimated just how big the campaign would be. Happily, I set an estimated timeline with plenty of buffer time included. Although I was hoping to deliver the PDF version ahead of schedule, it is now looking like the April release estimate was accurate.
To give you a better idea of how the project looks at the moment, here's a contents list and the status of each section:
Welcome to Legend's Wake [COMPLETE]
Using this Book
The Kids
Legends in the Making [COMPLETE]
Kid Types [COMPLETE]
Connections [COMPLETE]
Secret Bases [IN PROGRESS]
The Animon [COMPLETE]
Marvellous Monsters
Classification Expanded
Signature Attacks
Building a Team
Support Animon
The Legend's Wake Campaign [COMPLETE]
Introduction
PCs in Legend's Wake
Running the Campaign
Ani-Tool Research
The Legends of Dunia
The Wake of Legends
Team Steele
The Tamer Challenge
The Rebel League
Beyond the End
The Dunia Region
A Land of Coasts and Moors [COMPLETE]
Kids in Dunia [COMPLETE]
Animon in Dunia [COMPLETE]
Locations and Scenes
Iscalon City [IN PROGRESS]
Heartshire [COMPLETE]
Burrowshire [COMPLETE]
Veilmoor [COMPLETE]
Daggershire [COMPLETE]
Skybloom Mountains [COMPLETE]
Loamacre [COMPLETE]
Wymoor [COMPLETE]
Paddleshire [COMPLETE]
Clovershire [IN PROGRESS]
Steele Island [IN PROGRESS]
Mt. Archimore [IN PROGRESS]
Campaign Events [IN PROGRESS]
Gamemaster's Toolkit
Animon Battles [COMPLETE]
Legendary Animon [COMPLETE]
Villain Teams [COMPLETE]
Dungeon Dens [IN PROGRESS]
Adventure Sites [COMPLETE]
Items and Ani-Tools [IN PROGRESS]
NPCs [IN PROGRESS]
I am currently expecting writing to continue through the end of January and into early February, after which point editing and layout will begin immediately, running into March. Finally, proofreading and final file adjustments, which will bring us into April.
In order to make sure that happens, I've made an adjustment to the Stretch Goal material plans.
Stretch Goal Plans
I have made the decision to shift the 'Epilogue Adventure' and 'Future Adventures' Stretch Goals into a PDF release that will be completed after work on the Legend's Wake book is done, rather than a chapter in the book.
This is for a few reasons. The book is already larger than I originally expected it to be, and I don't want to be rushing through the main campaign and rules materials in order to squeeze in work on a secondary section. Also, the epilogue and future adventures will only be of use to those who've completed the campaign already, so I don't feel that delivering them down the line will in any way affect the usefulness of the contents of Legend's Wake.
Work of the Solo Mode rules is already planned for after the main bulk of Legend's Wake, and I'm currently expecting that both this and the epilogue/future adventures stretch goals will be released before the end of 2025, hopefully lining up with the physical delivery of the book.
I hope that you can understand my decision. At this stage I am heads down, focusing on delivering the digital book in April, and I think this change is a necessary part of that.
More Illustrations
The last few pieces of art are coming in at the moment. The new Kid Types are not quite ready to show off yet, but I do want to introduce you all to Mordini, a mythical animon (added to Legend's Wake via stretch goal). Precious little is known about this unique being, so far only known by rumours and glimpses.
Though Mordini isn't necessarily part of the main Legend's Wake campaign, Players may discover them as they explore and investigate the Dunia Region. Make sure you check the docks in Iscalon City - I heard Mordini is underneath a truck.
The mythical animon, Mordini. Art by TheSmallestShaun.
I've also got new artwork of Meknight and Mage-Meknight who appear in the core rulebook, and an alternate Evolution, Heavy-Meknight! These animon are commonly used as battle partners by Team Steele in the Dunia Region.
Meknight, Heavy-Meknight, and Mage-Meknight. Art by Addriano Divino.
There'll be more coming soon.
I'm very excited to be reaching the stage of the project where everything is coming together.
When writing is finished and layout has begun, I'll also be able to put more visuals into these updates, like page spreads, so you can get more of an idea how the final thing is going to look.
Until then, thanks for sticking with me.
Cheers!
November Update - Progress, Timeline, & More
almost 2 years ago
– Thu, Nov 07, 2024 at 05:38:08 AM
Hello all,
It's already been well over a month since the campaign finished! I've been on the quiet side ever since, and for good reason - I've had my head buried in the Legend's Wake manuscript almost the entire time!
At this point, there isn't a great deal of news to share, other than that work is progressing at a good pace, but I didn't want to leave it too long before saying hello to you all, so here we are.
Progress & Timeline
In accordance with the estimates we set for reward fulfilment, I'm working towards the goal of having the finished files ready in April - that way they can be sent out in digital form at the same time they're delivered to the printers for production of the physical items.
Between now and April, there are four main tasks to be completed:
Finish and edit the manuscript
Playtest relevant material
Collect art for stretch goal content
Finish layout for book & card deck
As it stands, the manuscript is around 70% complete, and given that there is plenty of time remaining I am not keen to rush this stage. I fully expect layout to take less time, as it will be primarily based on the same layout design as the core rulebook (with certain tweaks and updates), meaning I won't be starting from scratch.
The vast majority of the art for the project was completed before the Kickstarter launched, but seeing as we so successfully met our stretch goals, there are a few new characters, Kid Types, etc. to include. Crowva, the main character artist, is lined up to complete this job late this year/early next.
As I approach the last stretch of the manuscript, I can say for certain this is going to live up to the tagline of a 'huge' expansion! In terms of wordcount, it will likely be at least double that of the core rulebook by the end. It's quite spectacular that a supplementary book raised as much on Kickstarter as the core rulebook did, and I'm determined to show you all that when I do expansions, they're truly worth getting.
Meet the Kids
Continuing the introduction of Legend's Wake Kid Types from earlier updates, lets meet the final two Kid Types from the base book (i.e. those that weren't added via stretch goals).
Racer
You have fire in your eyes, wind in your hair, and a need for speed that never lets up. You’re happiest on your wheels, tuned up just the way you like them, chasing the thrill. There’s so much to do and see, and so little time—you can’t afford to slow down for a second. You’re starting to realise, though, that not everything can be outrun.
Shutterbug
When you look at the world through a lens, you see things differently. Tiny moments of beauty, otherwise unnoticed until you find them in a single frame. It takes patience and subtlety to be in the right place at the right time, to get that perfect shot. Whether it’s to admire the world or to capture precious memories, the camera flash accompanies you wherever you go.
Will you be picked Racer or Shutterbug for your adventures in Dunia?
Other Stuff
One or two other things I wanted to mention here!
Free Module Release
In case some of you didn't see, I recently released a free module for Animon Story on itch, called Sanctuary. This module is based around the idea of building a safe haven for animon of all kinds, getting to know the residents, and improving the Sanctuary either as a downtime activity, or as the basis for a campaign itself.
I am also planning to start up by Twitch channel again soon, streaming monster taming games, chatting about animon, and perhaps doing design streams sometimes as well.
