Portent - A Solo Journaling RPG

Hi everyone,

Well. Portent just went live! :D

As with all crowdfunding launches, this is going to be an update of me just, no plans whatsoever, just sharing whatever pops in my mind right now. In true Natasja-Launches-A-Crowdfunding fashion.

We are already at 73% (as I'm typing this)! That is insane! <3 My past with crowdfunding has always been D&D adventures and, recently, enamel pins, and the funding goal for those was always fairly low. €500. So for this new campaign, which is at €2000 because I am doing so many things that require a bit of capital (hardcover, tarot deck), to already be at 73% is just... I am a little overwhelmed. Thank you so much!

The last few weeks have been very chaotic on the creative side of this campaign. I was always coming up with new things I had forgotten and adding it to the list. The game itself is still being worked on, and illustrations usually come as the last step for me, but you can't do that with a campaign, of course. So a lot of things had to be created before the game itself was finished. This required a lot of time management. But you know, it was also the best deadline ever. I got a ridiculous amount of work done.

I stopped tweaking the campaign this afternoon at around 14:00, and now it feels a little weird to be letting it go and live in the public as it is. Because it is. Out there. Visible. Available. That part is still a little surreal!

Tonight, I'm going to give myself a breather. And tomorrow, let's get cracking again 💪

Thanks so much for your interest in my newest; solo journaling RPG Portent <3

Cheers,
Natasja

Hi everyone! With the launch around the corner, you might have noticed an uptick in activity in my updates feed as well. You're very right: I've got a lot of last-minute things I'm doing and want to share <3

Yesterday I realized I hadn't designed the game mat yet. The game mat is completely optional and you don't need it to play the game. But, since the game mat is going to be one of the add-ons, I can't really expect people to be interested in that unless they know what it looks like~ So I set to designing it this morning!

I have one problem though. I don't know which size I prefer! There are two possible sizes I have in mind; one is more narrow (60x20 cm) and really meant to accompany you when you play Portent, and are the perfect size to fit four to five cards. But the other size is a more regular game mat (60x35 cm), which you can also use beyond Portent.

Help me decide which one to offer?





(PS. If they end up being roughly equal in votes, I might consider adding them both so backers can pick for themselves <3 I put the poll to close tomorrow to still be able to make adjustments to my campaign if needed.)

Thanks for helping me choose!

Over the past month, my main focus for the game has been based on things that were essential for Pocketopia: a cover mockup, side products, and not a small bit of figuring out the art direction as I went.

I've finally begun sketching the first kami today. Portent will have 22 of these, each of them illustrated and included in the game, as well as featured on the tarot. Since I'm finally starting on the inside art, I wanted to share my process for it with you <3

Here's how my sketches look for Gusha, The Fool:

(Both images represent a full page.)

The process involves:

Here you can also see how the card layout is likely going to be.

I plan to have at least this artwork finished and ready on Thursday (or as far as I can get it), to show you at launch <3

(PS. Thanks so much for voting on the previous update, everyone! It was super insightful, and I was initially going to send the lighter version to the printer for a promo version at MCM London and Fantasy Basel, but it ended up being the darker version after your feedback <3)

During the time when Portent is going to be live on Backerkit, I will also be attending Fantasy Basel and MCM London. Prepping for those conventions, I decided it would be a really cool idea to create two promotional prints to bring there.

I just finished the first one, depicting the kami Akuma (XV The Devil) and I made two color versions of it. I already have a preferred option for the convention print (as it fits the general style better) but with two options that frankly both work really well, I'd love to hear which one you'd prefer for the official campaign-related art print!

Yesterday, I've started on finalizing the outfits for some of the 22 kami. I got to around 1/3 of the needed designs, and I just scanned the first batch to include in the concept art book.

Here's a sneak peek :D




Note that this is not the final style, it's just how I like to sketch outfits in my sketchbook. I'll be approaching this in a bit of a blend with Breath of the Wild style, and hopefully I'll be able to share a final piece with you soon to show you <3

Only a few weeks remaining before launch, now! I started this project in February, and I'm working on the graphics a bit sooner than I usually do, but I'm having such a good time with it <3