This looks so dope. I just ordered the Deluxe Edition from FloatingChair.Club, but see now that it doesn't look like a PDF is included. Is it possible to get the PDF if I send you proof of purchase? No worries if not lol, I know this is kind of an annoying request.
Alfred, excited to review this tomorrow on my YouTube Channel and, since it has been out for a while, I might even do a more extensive playthrough than other channels have (with a spoiler warning of course).
I have two questions:
1. What does it mean when you write the bracket plus and minuses in the handbook? i.e. [-] or [+]. Is that something so simple I'm missing it like roll for advantage/disadvantage or is it something else?
2. Do you have any idea if GusBC is cool with people playing the soundtrack underneath the vocals in review/playthrough videos? The soundtrack is one of the most amazing albums of last year and I would hate to leave that piece out...
If anyone sees this and wants to check it out, I am on Youtube as "Man Alone" or @amanisalone
Hello! Thanks for your comment and your interest in Thousand Empty Light. Great to hear you're going to feature the module - looking forward to it. To answer your questions:
1. [-] means roll with disadvantage, [+] means roll with advantage. This is also how the core Mothership rules styles it in its tables.
2. It should be fine to play the soundtrack underneath speech in your video. I agree, I think the music is excellent and I'd love more people to hear it.
Feel free to post the link to your video here when it's live.
I just left a comment on the video, but thank you so much for making this. It's a wonderful review and overview, and it's really validating hearing how the module seems to have resonated with you. It's a very diligent commentary and I'm impressed at your ability to improvise on the spot!
Of course! It was easy to give a review like that, and I am so glad you felt validated because I do not think enough rightly deserved validation is going to the places it needs to go in the world these days, especially to independent artists.
Heya, I'm super excited to try this after the Geek Gamers video. But I noticed on the play sample is says it's for 1ed. Is the "alpha zine edition" equivalent to 1 edition? Or is 1ed only a available through the kickstarter?
Hey! Thanks for checking it out. The alpha zine edition is also known as 0 edition (0e) so the 1e is different. But it’s just been announced that the PDFs are being released next week. I don’t know whether they’ll go up for general sale.
If not, the only important change (for Thousand Empty Light) is to how Panic checks work. In 1e when you make a Panic check you roll a d20. If the result is greater than your current Stress level, nothing happens. If not however, you take that value and consult the Panic chart (Thousand Empty Light has its own one).
There are also changes that streamline combat I believe, but the Panic thing is most important for this module.
I'm really stoked to give this adventure a try, and I will do so on your rule adjustments.
I'm particularly interest in the incident report mechanic. Gets my juices flowing and I'm curious as to how I can use this in an adventure I'm writing.
Super intense! Finally played. Had a blast. I have no idea if I played it right (is that even a thing?) but if anyone is interested, here’s my play journal.
(Edit: Actually I finally read the play example which I should’ve read first. I did a couple things wrong haha. Still had fun. Will play again using the oracle in a more useful way)
I’m always super impressed when someone manages to play this without the play example and I love seeing the different approaches people take! I think this might be the first time I’ve heard of someone’s Lamplighter managing to get to section 5 and then back again to 1.
I ordered the deluxe edition from Exalted Funeral, which just arrived today. The content of the book is great, but the text on the Semiotic Standard is completely unreadable, it's way too small. Kind of disappointing as I liked the idea of having it on the bookmark, but it's just unusable.
Other than that it looks great, am looking forward to getting it to the table.
Hey, I’m sorry you find the Semiotic Standard unreadable. The font size is definitely smaller than I would like but a compromise had to be made to get everything to fit on the single page / the bookmark.
Do you have the PDF for consulting the Semiotic Standard in a more legible form?
I backed this on Kickstarter and am delighted. Interesting, imaginative and the Semiotic Standard is an ingenious system that suggests so much from a single dice roll. I have doubled back to purchase the soundtrack before diving again.
There are still copies! I’m planning on opening up general orders on my site soon. Are you in the US? There will also be available from a few different retailers soon.
What a serious banger – theme and feeling are on point 🤘
As long as Alfred is still cool with it, would other folks with “hidden messages” be interested in sharing them here (or another, more clearly organised space)?
I'll go first and offer code #068 (moved it to the devlog)
I have never been happier with a crowdfunded project I've backed. The core gameplay loop is intuitive and interesting and makes the scenario - essentially moving through a tunnel - feel open-ended and replayable. These components can certainly be ported to other Mothership scenarios or sci-fi horror games.
Thousand Empty Light would be open to a number of different solo play styles, whether you want a single-session playthrough or to spend time further developing and exploring through journaling or recording audio reports in the log. This would also work for GM-less cooperative play.
The accompanying soundtrack is great. The easter eggs/ciphers are a beautiful and thematically appropriate touch as well. While I am sure the physical copies are going to be lovely, it made sense to me to print this on the photocopier at work. Absolutely pulls off the corporate training manual thing.
I’m so glad that you’re happy with it. Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to leave a comment, I really appreciate it. Also I love that you put the office photocopier to work - top marks.
First of all, well implemented tone and incredibly natural feeling resolution tools (in ORACLE and the Semiotic Standard). Everything beyond that is into bonus points! The art, design, existing logs, dangling prompts… beautiful stuff. I hope Hazmos has some other contracts in other locations down the line!
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This is so good that it makes me understand mothership and solo games all in one concise and beautiful package. Alfred always impresses me.
Such a great adventure! Amazing atmosphere and feels easy to jump into. Loved the semiotic standard table.
Awesome, glad you like it.
This looks so dope. I just ordered the Deluxe Edition from FloatingChair.Club, but see now that it doesn't look like a PDF is included. Is it possible to get the PDF if I send you proof of purchase? No worries if not lol, I know this is kind of an annoying request.
No problem - there’s a contact form on my site: https://www.hausofvalley.com/contact. Drop me a line there and I’ll sort out your download key.
Alfred, excited to review this tomorrow on my YouTube Channel and, since it has been out for a while, I might even do a more extensive playthrough than other channels have (with a spoiler warning of course).
I have two questions:
1. What does it mean when you write the bracket plus and minuses in the handbook? i.e. [-] or [+]. Is that something so simple I'm missing it like roll for advantage/disadvantage or is it something else?
2. Do you have any idea if GusBC is cool with people playing the soundtrack underneath the vocals in review/playthrough videos? The soundtrack is one of the most amazing albums of last year and I would hate to leave that piece out...
If anyone sees this and wants to check it out, I am on Youtube as "Man Alone" or @amanisalone
Thank you!!
Hello! Thanks for your comment and your interest in Thousand Empty Light. Great to hear you're going to feature the module - looking forward to it. To answer your questions:
1. [-] means roll with disadvantage, [+] means roll with advantage. This is also how the core Mothership rules styles it in its tables.
2. It should be fine to play the soundtrack underneath speech in your video. I agree, I think the music is excellent and I'd love more people to hear it.
Feel free to post the link to your video here when it's live.
Thanks again!
No Thank YOU Alfred for this amazing game. The review is up:
I just left a comment on the video, but thank you so much for making this. It's a wonderful review and overview, and it's really validating hearing how the module seems to have resonated with you. It's a very diligent commentary and I'm impressed at your ability to improvise on the spot!
Of course! It was easy to give a review like that, and I am so glad you felt validated because I do not think enough rightly deserved validation is going to the places it needs to go in the world these days, especially to independent artists.
I can't wait to see what you come up with next!
Heya, I'm super excited to try this after the Geek Gamers video. But I noticed on the play sample is says it's for 1ed. Is the "alpha zine edition" equivalent to 1 edition? Or is 1ed only a available through the kickstarter?
Cheers!
Hey! Thanks for checking it out. The alpha zine edition is also known as 0 edition (0e) so the 1e is different. But it’s just been announced that the PDFs are being released next week. I don’t know whether they’ll go up for general sale.
If not, the only important change (for Thousand Empty Light) is to how Panic checks work. In 1e when you make a Panic check you roll a d20. If the result is greater than your current Stress level, nothing happens. If not however, you take that value and consult the Panic chart (Thousand Empty Light has its own one).
There are also changes that streamline combat I believe, but the Panic thing is most important for this module.
Hey, thank you so much for the reply.
I'm really stoked to give this adventure a try, and I will do so on your rule adjustments.
I'm particularly interest in the incident report mechanic. Gets my juices flowing and I'm curious as to how I can use this in an adventure I'm writing.
Cheers once again.
Awesome. Yeah, I find the incident report thing simple but effective. It’s a neat way to give a player’s playthrough a bit more cohesion.
Super intense! Finally played. Had a blast. I have no idea if I played it right (is that even a thing?) but if anyone is interested, here’s my play journal.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GhIriwpJoQiw865o0MkxHxoBDWat43h6v4He-zgk7y8/edit?usp=sharing
(Edit: Actually I finally read the play example which I should’ve read first. I did a couple things wrong haha. Still had fun. Will play again using the oracle in a more useful way)
I’m always super impressed when someone manages to play this without the play example and I love seeing the different approaches people take! I think this might be the first time I’ve heard of someone’s Lamplighter managing to get to section 5 and then back again to 1.
Thank you for posting your playthrough!
I ordered the deluxe edition from Exalted Funeral, which just arrived today. The content of the book is great, but the text on the Semiotic Standard is completely unreadable, it's way too small. Kind of disappointing as I liked the idea of having it on the bookmark, but it's just unusable.
Other than that it looks great, am looking forward to getting it to the table.
Hey, I’m sorry you find the Semiotic Standard unreadable. The font size is definitely smaller than I would like but a compromise had to be made to get everything to fit on the single page / the bookmark.
Do you have the PDF for consulting the Semiotic Standard in a more legible form?
I do, and have already printed out a copy.
I just received my copy of this from the Lost Bay. Immersive and inventive, this is truly a work of art.
I backed this on Kickstarter and am delighted. Interesting, imaginative and the Semiotic Standard is an ingenious system that suggests so much from a single dice roll. I have doubled back to purchase the soundtrack before diving again.
Any chance this will get another physical release someday?
There are still copies! I’m planning on opening up general orders on my site soon. Are you in the US? There will also be available from a few different retailers soon.
I'm actually in Canada, but i'd still buy a copy if shipping isn't too bad.
If not it'd be nice if we could get a pdf with the colour cover at least :)
What a serious banger – theme and feeling are on point 🤘
As long as Alfred is still cool with it, would other folks with “hidden messages” be interested in sharing them here (or another, more clearly organised space)?
I'll go first and offer code #068(moved it to the devlog)
It’s cool with me! To help organise these I’ve made a devlog dedicated to them. Please go ahead and post them there if you want.
Awesome, thanks ^^
I have never been happier with a crowdfunded project I've backed. The core gameplay loop is intuitive and interesting and makes the scenario - essentially moving through a tunnel - feel open-ended and replayable. These components can certainly be ported to other Mothership scenarios or sci-fi horror games.
Thousand Empty Light would be open to a number of different solo play styles, whether you want a single-session playthrough or to spend time further developing and exploring through journaling or recording audio reports in the log. This would also work for GM-less cooperative play.
The accompanying soundtrack is great. The easter eggs/ciphers are a beautiful and thematically appropriate touch as well. While I am sure the physical copies are going to be lovely, it made sense to me to print this on the photocopier at work. Absolutely pulls off the corporate training manual thing.
I’m so glad that you’re happy with it. Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to leave a comment, I really appreciate it. Also I love that you put the office photocopier to work - top marks.
First of all, well implemented tone and incredibly natural feeling resolution tools (in ORACLE and the Semiotic Standard). Everything beyond that is into bonus points! The art, design, existing logs, dangling prompts… beautiful stuff. I hope Hazmos has some other contracts in other locations down the line!
Thank you for the great feedback. I’d love to do more with Hazmos in the future!
Just got the final version today – this is so flipping cool. Completely immersive, wonderfully written and laid out. Just delightful. and spooky.
Thank you!
Will you be offering late pledge options for the kickstarter? I love this project so far but missed the funding.
In case you haven't seen it yet, pre-orders are available here via their website: https://www.hausofvalley.com/product/preorder-thousand-empty-light
Nabbed it and a patch, thanks for letting me know!
Thanks for placing an order!