Dev Log #22: StoryGuider, Mystery Snacks, Patreon, and SUMMER!
Check out the latest on the TTRPGkids works in progress to stay up to date on upcoming releases! This Dev Log will cover status on the StoryGuider and Mystery Snacks projects, a pulse on my Patreon, and a summary of my summer events!
Find my previous update (Dev Log #21) here!
Jump to:
- StoryGuider: digital release and proof orders
- Mystery Snacks: drafts and layout
- Patreon: virtual chat and early access
- Summer: Star Trek TTRPG Camp and GenCon
StoryGuider: digital release and proof orders
I had a goal to finish writing, reviewing, and digitally releasing all of the StoryGuider adventures before kiddo started summer break, and…. I made it with a couple days to spare!
Earlier this month, I finished the Sandy the Dragon series and released them all on itchio and completing the full 36 story collection.
I’ve also completed the coloring book and print version formats (which are slighly different due to needing trim and seam allowances) and have orderd the proofs, which will take a few weeks to print and ship.
That means, for now, I am in sit and wait mode for StoryGuider, which is a bit weird. I’ve been constantly working on this since the end of the campaign in Sept 2025. This project ended up being 804 pages (totaled up from the big books) in multiple formats (big books, zines, print, clickable digital).
It was a lot.
But… something that really made it worth it already was a message from a backer who has already started using this with their kid from the print-and-play versions. They sent me a lovely email and said that it had become their kid’s favorite thing to do together and was this fun family bonding activity that they were already really happy with.
I read that and was a crying mess (in a good way) for a few minutes before replying.
This is why I put all the work into this, and I am really glad it has already reached someone. It was a long stretch, that still not quite over, but it was worth it.
Now, there is still work to be done since there’s the POD release, but I do need to wait for the proofs to come in before I can review them and give the OKs or make further revisions, so… we have the remaining schedule with the next milestones hitting in early July when proofs should arrive:
COMPLETED:
- Oct – campaign funds released from Backerkit
- Oct – send contracts for funded art to artists
- Oct – draft the Tome Traveller Trilogy (part of the Heroes series)
- Oct → Nov – collect first round of art from early artist kick-offs (from itchio and ko-fi prefunds)
- Nov – artists working on Heroes series
- Nov/Dec – finish writing the new Dragon series adventures
- Nov → Jan – reformat the Heroes series
- Jan – Heroes series art due
- Jan – order Heroes series proofs (round 1)
- Jan – artists working on Friends series
- Feb – Friends series art due
- Feb – Heroes series proofs arrive, review, update (round 1)
- Jan – Mar – reformat the Friends series
- Jan – Apr – artists working on Dragon series
- Mar – Dragon series art due
- Mar – send backer surveys
- Apr – update + order Friends series proofs (round 1)
- Apr – update + order Heroes series proofs (round 1.5)
- Apr – set up digial pages for Friends and Heroes series
- Apr – fulfill digital print-and-play for Friends and Heroes series
- May – Friends series proofs review, update, reorder (round 2)
- May – Heroes series proofs review, update, reorder (round 2)
- June – reformat the Dragon series and make coloring book
- June – order Dragons series and coloring book proofs (round 1)
- June – set up digial pages for Dragons series
- June – fulfill digital print-and-play for Dragon series
NEXT STEPS:
- July – Friends series proofs arrive, review, update (round 2)
- July – Heroes series proofs arrive, review, update (round 2)
- July – Dragon series proofs arrive, review, update (round 1)
- July – if no issues with Friends, Heroes, Dragons, or coloring book, start to distribute POD keys
- July – Sept – continue release of OK’d proofs as possible
Mystery Snacks: drafts and layout
For Mystery Snacks, all final drafts from writers were submitted on time, and I’ve reviewed them and made what I feel are the final edits. I’ve also sent this along with final edits on the base material to our layout artist, BoRyan, who said he’d be able to finish getting it into final format in July (aligned with schedule).
Aside from this, I also got the bonus 1-pager for collab project backers completed! It’s about a group of goblins who are trying to fix the human’s party to make it more tasteful (to goblin tastes) without getting caught. Here’s a sneak peek of the top 1/3 of the page!
Goblin art for this one-pager is from an artpack by Guillaume Jentey that I’ve been saving just for a special project, and I’m really glad I got to use it here! I’m giving the game to a proofreader and playtesting with kiddo this summer, then it should be ready to release alongside the surveys, which will be sent out in Aug/Sep (I plan to wait until proofs are confirmed OK first).
Everything so far is on track, and I’ll keep you updated at our next check in!
COMPLETED:
- Feb – fund project
- Mar – kick off guest writers (send guidelines, formatting + style guide)
- Mar – set up pre-order store
- Apr – guest writer check in
- May – guest writer 1st drafts due
- May – review 1st drafts
- May – kick off guest writer 2nd drafts
- June – guest writer 2nd draft due
- June – kick off layout artist
NEXT STEPS:
- July – final layout due
- July – order proof (round 1)
- Aug – proofs arrive, check, review update (round 1)
- Aug – order proof (round 2)
- Sep – finalize surveys
- Sep – distribute surveys
- Sep – proofs arrive, check, review update (round 2)
- Sep – order bulk
- Oct – bulk order arrives
- Oct – ship to fulfill project
Patreon: virtual chat and early access
This month, I launched a TTRPGkids Patreon!
My goal with this is to offer some extra perks to folks who want MORE TTRPGkids while keeping it manageable and helping to make the whole blogging and game release cycles more sustainable.
From the 2025 – 2026 TTRPGkids surveys, readers and gamers requested a few features that I think I can implement in a limited manner but probably not at large scale (at least, yet), so Patreon gives me a good way to test those out. This includes regular creator chats, article readings, newsletter small ads, and having playtest and early release content availability.
I’m hoping this gives an avenue for folks who do want more, and any revenue generated will go towards funding the site, improving the site, game updates, new games, and convention travel so I can give talks and connect with folks in person.
With all that, the first virtual chat is scheduled for June 25 at 9am ET on the Patreon exclusive TTRPGkids discord channel, and I hope to see a few of you there! Sign up here to join in.
Summer: Star Trek TTRPG Camp and GenCon
In a few weeks, I’m running aStar Trek Adventures TTRPG summer camp through Young Dragon Slayers, and there’s still a spot open!
We’ll be playing the Star Trek Adventures TTRPG, doing additional summer camp activities related to the game, and hopefully havnig a couple guest apparances calling in to say hi to the kids for a few minutes (so far, one is on board)!
I also wrote a very reference heavy blurb that I’m quite proud of and gives a smidge more detail:
ENGAGE! in a week long, Star Trek themed, special edition tabletop RPG summer camp at Young Dragon Slayers!
Create your own crew person, design your ship, and boldly go explore strange new worlds with your fellow virtual campers.
Your GM, Steph, will be bringing their love of Trek and experience from NASA, crash test engineering, teaching college freshman, and publishing games as TTRPGkids to create a camp that blends both game time and fun space-focused activities.
This camp will use the Star Trek Adventures Quickstart Guide by Modiphius (available free online) for the tabletop RPG portion of the camp.
This system is a rules-lite and easy-to-learn d20 system with mechanics and character builds made to align with Star Trek vibes.
New players are welcome, and the system will be taught as part of the camp.
See you on the other side!
If you want to sign up, check out the link on Young Dragon Slayers here!
AND I’ll be going to GenCon this summer too!
Keep an eye out for my GenCon schedule, which I’ll be announcing in the next coupld weeks. So far, I have a few talks planned and will be running probably three game sessions, but the schedule is still getting confirmed, so I don’t want to announce all the times yet. I plan on being there Weds – Sun though and have the countdown going already!
Thank you for checking out this update and just kind of being interested in what TTRPGkids is doing! I hope it helps with seeing some of the self-pub, crowdfunding, and blog writing process for anyone who is thinking of getting into that themselves, and…
Until next time, happy gaming!
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