I received two emails this week asking me when was (finally) release the extra water snake Urbanscapes for Exile. There were new players, having discovered there is little the game and willing to extend the experience with new hardware. This is not the first time you wonder about the delay of DU and I told myself frustrated that readers deserved some explanation.
First, a small inventory. Exile was released in 2005. It was followed by a screen with his book, then by an additional thematic pdf ("War of the bolts). Almost 4 years later, the first supplement paper, estimated at more than 200 pages, is still not out and I do not even mention the other products considered (a campaign and a supplement on the Ocean Black). Yet
OF does exist: 90% of the texts are written. We have a beautiful cover signed Andreas. As for Akhad he was able to extend the work done on the book and deliver basic and beautiful illustrations that I am furious at not being able to admire in a book completed. That Does he lack? The grumph has produced some beautiful texts on Port exiléenne and crime, but it remains to be finalized. We had to close the book by two scenarios, but it still lacks one. It lacks many images, a template layout and final assembly work.
meantime, we made several announcements and promises not kept, before radio silence. Our publisher, Ubik, who has always trusted, we revived several times. But the project has stalled and not moving.
What happened? A combination of a lot of elements.
First fact: when BT started the job Exile on, we had no visibility on its edition. It is only being developed that deal with Ubik was presented, discussed and signed. We have not so changed approach: fill the book to the muzzle, if you'll pardon the expression. We all knew the world of exile rather unusual and we do not know if a line would be commercially viable. We decided not to overshadow the risk of reaching a book a little indigestible, which some readers have criticized elsewhere. Fashions of the operation of sewage services, we wanted the DOJ has at his disposal everything he needed to stage the daily lives of exiléens.
So naturally, when it needed to embark on a supplement, the question arose of what to put inside. How to expand the universe when it was relatively closed and well detailed? A concrete example: should mention Forge in the rulebook? Some readers have found the chapter too detailed, others too short. Would it take to keep this matter extra Forge rather than to force the basic book? At the time, we did not want to deadlock. But suddenly, how to bounce in a supplement without the repetition? This reflection on the contents of the range, seemingly simple, has already taken a long time. The track of "War of the bolts, small thematic supplements, might have deserved to be extended.
Another concern of basic book: the famous "secret". Who are the real Stalytes? That the simmering Scientists? What are the plans of the cabals Intelligence Mechanics? Many tracks that were not supposed to receive replies. I plead guilty secrets were a canvas background, a decorum that exceeded the dimensions in my view the prospects of a group of players. They had not intended to be solved by the PCs, just add a little mystery impenetrable to the ambience. Except that upon publication, it is these secrets that have fascinated the playmakers and they immediately wanted to know why and how. I admit I was completely baffled by these claims, I had nothing planned in that direction. Again, we had said too much - or too little - in the basic book.
lot of time spent thinking about the content supplements, so. Once done, still had to produce them.
When the book's basic Exile came out, it was for the team-Ballon Taxi a moment of joy, excitement and pride. But also of extreme fatigue. The closure was an epic moment, we did not measure the magnitude of the project and it must be admitted that in view to have fun first and foremost, we have added to the last. The backlash was violent enough and we were already struggling to raise us on the screen. For DU, the energies are crumbled. Life has also taken its due, among gay events and difficult times. I well, back off, let go many months without producing a line. And then the other desires: Exile had held almost two years of our life in its associative, almost five years for me. Everyone needed to do something else, to pursue new projects. Including myself, who got started in the venture with LG John Doe and the writing of Final Frontier. BT has disintegrated, ceased to be a bubbling cauldron of creativity that was. The energy shifted to other projects and Exile remained stalled. Let us be clear
At no moment I do not blame anything to members of Balloon-Taxi. In truth, I can not thank enough all those who have sweated blood and water on the basic book and screen: Antoine Bauza , The grumph , Christophe and Cécile Costard , Pierrick "Akhad" May , James Crook, Frances Sengissen , Matthew Gonbert ... You have been wonderful and I would be eternally grateful for the time and energy you have invested in this project!
In fact, the error attributable to me: back in bulk, I should be willing to let the hand which would have to renew energies. So I neglected the passion of outside contributors to BT. We had the great chance to see some fans take the universe of Exile head on to take an incredible wealth of original material. Scenarios, aid game, whole sections of background (new neighborhoods, organizations, etc ...): enough to fill two supplements at the lowest very thick. They should have been associated with the continuation of the range of Exile, as associative format would permit. When I realized the mistake, unfortunately too late, they have also been many to accept joyfully work on DU, to read and complete texts. Pitche , Freakashu , Croiseurhawk , Achilles (and I probably forgot, my apologies): Big thank you to them, who took exile far beyond what it was and able to perpetuate his mind.
Time passes, the delay accumulates. It is important to say UBIK We were never released, we restarting several times, thinking always ready to exit, or even to increase its pagination to make an additional final closing the range itself. For now, I have not found the solution. Continue to explore Exile always tempts me, but I do not know in what form. Believe me, if I find, you'll be the first to know ...
