Hello, Shoppers, New and Old!

Wowzer bowser, it's been over a year since the last devlog! My, my, how time flies. Say, have you gotten taller?

Whether you've been with us from the start or are just finding your way here from a bundle, you'll be happy to hear that playtesting for You Are Here has been taking place behind the scenes! We're a few sessions in, one cheese wizard freed, nine credit cards swiped, 100 pounds of copper fished, and several thousand feet of escalators high. But enough about my table, let's talk about yours: There's been a ton of love already for YAH from a ton of really awesome players. It's been such a relief seeing people really understanding the heart of this game, and I'm as happy as a clam about it. Edgelord samurais, legendary faucets, epic fashion show showdowns, etc. This mall may be rough around the edges, but somewhere, somehow, you fine and fancy people are communing with mannequins and hotwiring golf carts. Gotta love it.

Thank you, really, for all the feedback, all the stories, and all the kind words. I won't ever forget it.

Updates In The Window

Anyways! Speaking of feedback, let's talk about the big ones!

Playbook File Optimization

First of all... the playbook file. If your computer breathes heavily every time you open it, you aren't the only one. I wrote YAH in Scribus as my first foray into TTRPG design, and I learned one big lesson: DON'T use Scribus 😅 It seems like it doesn't know how to handle vector images well and has a tendency to corrupt itself every now and then. I'm working on converting the files over to Affinity by hand, but it'll take a moment (because the whole corrupting itself thing really makes ctrl+c ctrl+v a non-starter). However, I've already started work on this and have the first two playbooks nearly done. If it's getting in your way, I suggest taking a screenshot of the pages you need while the page IS loaded and drawing on it in your favorite app.

Consistent Language

Trivia time: Did you know that "Control Yourself" used to be called "Act Natural"? If not, you could probably figure it out based on how many times it still shows up in the book. Whoops! 😂 Some eagle-eyed Shoppers have let me know about this, so trust that I'm working on making sure no more carry-overs from old versions stick around. 

Moves and Stats

During playtesting, we found a few moves and starting stats that could use a facelift to make more sense thematically. For example, a well-loved and underpaid clown named Quinn brought up the fact that the Part-Timer should probably have different starting stats than what they currently are. Additionally, a high-rolling skater girl suggested that Mash It Up be +Strong or +Swag instead of +Slick (which, honestly, duh.). 

Feedback like this is pouring in, and I'm drinking it all up like a gallon of Pepper Ph.D. Keep it coming, Shoppers, our optional feedback link is in the same place where you download the files.

What's Next?

Well, working on all those updates ofc! In the meantime, if you have a session planned or are in one now, make do with what we got! Feel free to drop me a line on Twitter or hit me up on Discord at _natenate if you have any questions about the book. Or just make it up as you go -- you never need my permission to make shit up. Always remember Retailations 1: "You are infinite and absurd. Act like it!"

Toodaloo buckaroo!

Stay Infinite, Shoppers

 Nate