BLACKFLOWER pre-orders open Friday

BLACKFLOWER, font resources, speaking at CPOSC, John Company

Mar 13, 2024

Welcome to Exeunt Omnes, the official newsletter for loyal fans and sworn enemies of Exeunt Press, creator of games such as Exclusion Zone Botanist and Eleventh Beast. You can find digital games at games.exeunt.press and physical products at shop.exeunt.press.

TL;DR Summary

🤖 BLACKFLOWER pre-orders open Friday
✒️ Font resources for game designers
🐍 Exeunt Press at CPOSC 2024
🎲 Recently played: John Company

🤖 BLACKFLOWER pre-orders open Friday

As I mentioned last time, BLACKFLOWER is a new heist for the CY_BORG roleplaying system.

The writing and layout are done, and the test print came back looking beautiful! That yellow/gold cover is just amazing in person.

Starting Friday, March 15, 2024 you can pre-order the print edition of BLACKFLOWER and get the PDF for free!

Pre-orders will be accepted for two weeks. After that, the main print order will be placed. Fulfillment and shipping will begin after the final product is received from the printer. PDFs will be fulfilled via itch.io. You’ll get a download key via the email you use during checkout

Limited international shipping is available! Starting Friday, Exeunt Press will offer limited international shipping to the United Kingdom (UK), European Union (EU), and Canada. Please note that all products are Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU).

Pre-orders open Friday! Watch for the announcement!

SHOP: Exeunt Press Shop

✒️ Font resources for game designers

What’s the difference between a font and a typeface? Where can you find free fonts that actually look good? What are some other resources for new fonts?

These are the questions asked and answered in the recent Font Resources for Game Designers article at Skeleton Code Machine.

If you are new to fonts and/or game design, this will be a great starting point. Includes tips on discovering what fonts are used in your favorite TTRPG PDFs, some tips on choosing a typeface, and five font resources to get you started.

Skeleton Code Machine is a weekly publication that explores tabletop game mechanisms in board games and roleplaying games. It’s been called a “Seemingly endless source of gaming ponderings” and a “Goldmine.” Check it out at www.skeletoncodemachine.com.

🐍 Speaking about Python and TTRPG design

I’ve used the Python programming language to help test early designs of both You are a Muffin and Exclusion Zone Botanist. You can read a little about that in Muffins and the Risk of Being Eaten at Skeleton Code Machine.

Python can also be helpful when looking at character creation, skill checks, and combat.

So I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve been accepted to speak at this year’s Central PA Open Source Conference (CPOSC)!

My talk will be called “Accelerating Tabletop Game Development with Python Simulations” and will cover some of the examples above in depth.

Here’s the pitch:

Learn how to use simple Python for rapid iteration and testing of tabletop roleplaying and board games. What used to require extensive playtesting and complicated math can now be done in seconds with a few lines of basic Python code. We’ll explore how to optimize game mechanics through simulation using real-world examples, including an ENNIE-nominated TTRPG. Little to no programming experience required.

If you are in the Lancaster, PA region, the conference is on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Tickets and registration are open now.

If you attend, please be sure to stop by and say hello!

REGISTER: Central PA Open Source Conference

🎲 Recently played: John Company

John Company: Second Edition (Wehrle, 2022) is one of the twelve games I played over the weekend. It was by far the longest, running just over six hours to complete the “short” 1710 scenario. Although long, it was a memorable experience.

It’s a game where everyone needs the company to succeed, and yet you only win if you look out for yourself. Everything may be traded and negotiated. Few actions are ever guaranteed to succeed using a very TTRPG style dice check system. Strategy in the game feels more like pushing chaos in a general direction vs. making specific moves.

I highly recommend watching the Shut Up & Sit Down’s John Company: The Colossal Game of Colonialist Greed for both an overview of the game and context for the game’s setting.

Cole Wehrle’s King Me: A Defense of King-Making in Board Game Design is also related and worth your time.

For some tips and learnings from some of the games I played, including John Company, check out Ten Lessons from Five Games at Skeleton Code Machine.

PLAY: John Company: Second Edition

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Check out games.exeunt.press for all the latest games and resources!

- E.P. 💀

Exeunt Omnes