Hi everyone,

As of 22:07 local time, Portent wrapped and was successfully funded! We blew past 1000% funded... I'm trying to make a coherent update as we speak, but you know how it goes.

Portent started out on a whim this February. "Hey, I just finished Pintopia, what's next?" And then that thought connected to the idea I've been having for over a year now about doing a solo RPG. There was no concept yet. Long before February, people had asked me at conventions on several occasions if I had anything that could be played without a party and planted a seed, and a friend sent me a video of Koriko, and then that had already rabbit-holed. But kami? Not really.

This might sound extremely whimsical. If it helps, this is how I usually start <3

To be honest, I don't remember how Portent became exactly what it is today. I didn't keep my old notes; I just replaced them with better concepts, and then shaved and fit those into ones that better fit my vision. What I do remember is wanting to combine tarot, rococo, and kami. Somehow. That was the first seed.

Backerkit's deadline forced me to make decisions quick. And here we are today. No rococo. A cozier art style than I've done before. And a very proud, slightly chaotic, creator.

I have, as of yet, 75 pages of artwork ready for the concept art book. I have an entire Obsidian vault dedicated to the contents and the side products (like the game mat and the enamel pins). I started working with Obsidian bases, I ditched Notion, I went over the game mechanics and made flow charts on paper, then cut out unnecessarily complicated bits. The book is looking at 120 pages as we speak, give or take. Three months of work.

At this point, roughly 80% of the game itself is ready to go, and the kami gazetteer that chronicles 22 kami has all the kami fleshed out. I'm creating more random tables to customize the game as you see fit. Wrapping the v1 that can be playtested will be my focus throughout June and July. Then artwork. Because with the yokai expansion also unlocked, that will be another 22 illustrations. And honestly, I can't wait <3 (while probably, admittedly, being a bit more mindful than usual of my wrist during that time)

Portent wrapped, so let's get cracking! Here are all the stretch goals we managed to unlock:

Yes, that is all of them!

Plus, as a bonus on my end, the hardcover will have red sprayed edges!

I am going to take a breath this weekend. Then, I am going to make sure that your overwhelming support will be reflected into the game. 

Thank you so, so much for your support <3

Cheers,
 Natasja

Hi everyone,

The Portent campaign has headed into its final day at Backerkit this morning, and you've really blown it out of the park ;^; We've unlocked so many stretch goals this month, and we might just be heading towards the last one. And that also means that yes, since my last update and today, the yokai expansion illustrations have become unlocked! I'll officially be doing some 22 additional illustrations in July, and I'm so looking forward to it! And to everyone who also pitched in with some cute yokai ideas, thank you <3

I've also finalized v1 of the front and back of the bookmark yesterday:



The design may still change a little, depending on the final artwork for Tsuki (The Moon) and Taiyo (The Sun) and maybe some technical limitations, but I don't expect anything drastic. And, if the printer lets me, I'll try and add in some gold detailing here or there. Fingers crossed <3

Since it's the last day today, I want to take a moment to celebrate how far Portent has come. Even the unillustrated yokai expansion itself had been a stretch goal I had hoped for but hadn't realistically expected to make, and now we're at illustrated. For someone who is running this project on her own, I feel very blessed with the support around me; from the playtesters, the muses, and my rubber duck friends, to everyone who has backed Portent or spread the word. You are all stars in the skies above Kaminari <3

So, as my thanks to you, I am adding a little something extra to the hardcover book! Let me know which you'd like best?

Cheers,
Natasja

We're approaching the final week of the campaign, but as you might have noticed, that doesn't mean things slow down on the creative side.

On my trip to Fantasy Basel, I sketched some bookmarks at last. I haven't decided yet which bookmark I will be making. Maybe I will use two designs for the front and the back?


I put the bookmark sketches into the concept art book file this morning. It was an excellent excuse to export what I have so far and share it with you as well <3

I have also been drawing outfits for all the kami, and picked the ones that suited the concept best while also giving a nice silhouette. For 22 designs, that went surprisingly fast! It is more difficult to actually stick to my picks... (Fun fact: The Chariot pin wears the design initially intended for The Strength, but I confused the numbers, so now it's just canonically The Chariot and I'll have to just make new designs for The Strength.)

Note that I rarely keep the layout of my books this plain, and the layout of the art book is definitely still changing!



If the Yokai Expansion Illustrations stretch goal becomes unlocked, I'll be doing these kinds of sketches for the yokai in the expansion as well. Of course, they will also be included in the art book.

And here's a preview of the enamel pin designs as they are currently displayed in the art book. I have included all enamel pin designs in the concept art book, with rough sketches, detailed sketches, and the final design.

With the art book steadily documenting every design choice, I have started to think that maybe, the initial A5 size (which would make it the same size as Portent itself) might not be absolutely necessary. Most of the art books I have on my bookshelf are a bit bigger. So I think I need your help once again!

Help me decide on which size the final concept art book should be in the poll at the bottom?

A lot of people might know me from my D&D adventures over on Kickstarter in the past. In true Kickstarter tradition, us creators like to give a shout-out to other projects we think are really cool. I've gotten to know the small and dedicated team behind Quill's Tiny Quests in the past and done some illustrations for them, and they have a new amazing project that I think some of you might like <3



City of Sirens is a 400+ page 5E campaign setting that throws Lovecraftian dread, BioShock-style retro-futurism, and Fallout-flavored dark humour into a blender. It's got 6+ fully realized districts, a city-builder toolkit, and a complete Level 1–7 adventure, all set in Angler's Den, a decaying post-apocalyptic port cursed by Change radiation and slowly consumed by the Pale, a radioactive fog bleeding upward from the ruins of an annihilated ancient civilization.

City of Sirens currently has 12 stretch goals (!!!) unlocked and is live on Kickstarter now.

Hi everyone,

Freshly back from Fantasy Basel, I am currently preparing for another big convention next weekend. But I wanted to take the time to give you an update on the latest developments around Portent, first :D

My friends from The Speechless Bard and I often run into each other at conventions. This weekend, we finally made it official: we are collaborating on a leather tarot pouch :D

This pouch is definitely different from the tarot pouch: it will be made to order by The Speechless Bard with a custom Portent design, fits your belt, and doubles as a small pouch for coins (and trinkets). Since we only thought this out this weekend, I haven't had the chance to design it yet, so that will be my job in the upcoming days. But what I can tell you is this: each pouch is handcrafted from genuine leather, fits the Portent deck, and will only be available as part of the Portent campaign.

As this is a super last-minute addition, the leather pouch will be available as an add-on only. You can still add it to your items during the survey.

This morning, a new stretch goal was unlocked: gilded details on the hardcover book! That means that, every copy in the first print (read: your copy as backer) will be embellished with gilded details on the cover! I am super excited about this one, and I'm going to be working closely with my printer to make sure that it will be the best it can be.

The poll has decided and a new stretch goal has been added: when we reach €17.500, the Yokai Expansion will be fully illustrated! 

So many things are always on the move with this project, but I really love it <3 A special thanks to everyone who has helped me decide on the illustrated expansion and the new collaboration choice by voting in the polls! <3

Cheers,
 Natasja