Winter Game Jam Entries + Soot & Soil expansion
Welcome to the worlds by watt newsletter. I’m watt, creator of the ecological science fantasy tabletop roleplaying game Cloud Empress. You can preorder the new Cloud Empress box on Backerkit. You can find worlds by watt digital products at DriveThruRPG. For all things Cloud Empress go to CloudEmpress.com.
TL;DR Summary
⛄ Cloud Empress Winter Jam closes Feb. 2nd
📈 Writing literary adventures talk
💼 New Cloud Empress jobs
💍 Soot & Soil NPC winter expansion
📖 What I’m reading and playing
⛄ Cloud Empress Winter Jam closes Feb. 2nd
There are just a few days left to enter submissions to the fan-run Cloud Empress Winter Jam. If you want to be entered into the raffle to be one of twenty winners of a Cloud Empress promo patch, make sure to enter your submission by February 2nd. (I’m told by the organizer there will be opportunities to enter content after the date too).
📈 Writing literary adventures
At the beginning of January, I gave a talk about my approach to writing Cloud Empress adventures on the podcast/YouTube show The Weekly Scroll. In the presentation I highlight elements that make ttrpg adventures more or less “literary” and how I use concepts adapted from the literary science fiction genre to enrich my own writing.
You can download my presentation slides here.
💼 New Cloud Empress jobs
Speaking of the Cloud Empress Winter Game Jam, I’ve been wowed by the excellent entries already submitted. Over the next couple of months, I wanted to highlight some of my favorites. Let’s look at three new jobs player characters can take in the world of Cloud Empress, the Slipsinger, Sporebinder, & Brood Prophet.
Created by the talented Emil Bovien (of Electrum Archive and Durf fame), the Slipsinger wields powerful new magical abilities that require an anchor to reality and a song to cast power spells. Each spell decreases the Slipsinger’s connection to reality, threatening to toss them into the Slip forever.
Download your copy of the Slipsinger here!
A Knave and Shadowdark expansion creator, Arcane Sporecery, brings us the Sporebinder and Brood Prophet.
Part human, part animated spore, the Spore Binder doubles the efficacy of spores and activates these living fungal tools with ease. Entwined with fungal life, the Sporebinder takes extra Stress from the harm of fungal entities in your vicinity.
The Brood Prophet allows players to embody the deepened connection between Brood Monks and the giant magical cicadas called the Imago. Brood Monks shape the reaction of nearby Imago, but require years of study (there are no Teenage Brood Prophets. Very cool!
Download your copy of the Sporebinder and Broodprophet here!
💍 Soot & Soil NPC winter expansion
At any given time, a line of Farmerlings, travelers, and curious children wait to ask Soot and Soil for answers to the Lowland Waste’s greatest questions. Geniuses both, Soot & Soil rarely agree on anything. Many in Tack Town snicker watching Soot and Soil heatedly argue about the origin of the chalk, the location of the absent Emperor, or the cause of Bravo City’s Calamity. The arguments twist and turn, amble, and ramble.
Young Farmerlings peek through windows and doorways watching the old men argue. Entertainment comes scarce in the Lowland Waste’s during snow ridden winters after all. Soot and Soil shake their fists, huff, and puff, and finally, slink to opposite corners of their tiny domicile – a begrudging truce called – for now, and on to the next visitor.
An unlikely couple, Soot & Soil have bedded down for forty-six winters and counting. Both geniuses, the couple’s theories overflow into mental chess matches, which can last entire seasons. Come Summer, the Lorlding, Soot, returns to Delta City to run a pigeon-fly breeding program. Come Summer, the Brood Monk, Soil, dons a mask to walk under the Imago in the Thickwood.
Don’t question their love. Unexpected unity erupts between the two cantankerous men when another Farmerling dare suggest Soot and Soil sleep apart.
SOOT THE LORLDING
Soot never intended to travel to the Lowland Wastes, much lest spend half his life underneath the Spread. As a young man Soot traveled from his family home in Delta City to acquire new DNA eggs for a new pigeon-fly program. Soot’s pigeon-flies now play a vital role in connecting Cloud Cities through pheromone-based encoded messages. Soot never intended to fall in love. Soil’s rough hands helped Soot’s fingers locate the smallest eggs in densely weeded and dangerous grasses. In no time at all, Soil’s fingers helped Soot find many more treasures.
Soot proudly exclaims Soil can shape a clay pot better than any other, provides an open ear to troubles, and kisses with deft skill.
SOIL THE BROOD MONK
Soil never intended to befriend a Lordling, much less spend half his life underneath one. Soil spent his youngest years tending to fields of wheat and barley. Then Soil’s two loves took him to greater things.
The Imago in the sky showed Soil humankind could aspire to greater wisdom in the clear open winds. He saw how the Imago do little harm when left to their own devices. The uptight and brilliant Lordling, Soot, showed Soil reminded Soil there was as much wisdom in Earthly delights.
Soil champions Soot’s implacable memory, dry wit, and quiet acts of generosity.
Download this month’s expansion and my entry to the CE Winter Game Jam here!
📖 What I’m reading, watching and playing
Arcane (Season 1 & 2) by Riot/Fortiche
Reach of the Roach God by Zedeck Siew and Munkao
Crush Depth Apparition by Amanda Lee Franck
Harrowhawk the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Severance by Dan Erickson
Final Fantasy 14 (lvl. 70 Lalafell Scholar)
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For all things Cloud Empress go to CloudEmpress.com.
-watt