Wolfe Tracks: Out goes 2024, in comes 2025!

Where I wax on, wax off about RPG rules, writing projects and more

Well, that was a month and a half! So, out with the old year and in with the new. This was a month of changes, a lot of writing, and a lot of change. But, change can be good sometimes! This covers Hoist the Colors, Windtracer Tales, and Legends of the Privateers!

So let’s catch up and break it down!

Hoist the Colors

So, this month saw me reach the end of the base game rules themselves. All anyone would need to play. It’s a massive amount of work, like climbing a mountain. But, here we are! Right now, I’m taking another close look at the mechanics for Crafting but they look in good shape.

After that? Well, hopefully should get easier as I build off that for the rest. The next is character creation. This is, of course, making your own character but also a bit more.

You see, once you and your fellow players make your character, then you - together as a crew - make the last character that will adventure with you. That would be your ship.

For me, in this setting, the ship is just another character in the PC adventuring party. Fiction has all sorts of examples of this where the ship is almost a character. Look to any famous space ship in science fiction from Firefly, Farscape, Star Trek and on.

All that happens here is some quick rules the PCs will use to assemble that last ‘member of the crew’. It brings a vehicle, but rules that will help PCs out in their roles along their adventures. Moments when the ship’s spirit and destiny aligns with theirs.

Windtracer Tales

Ah, so. On Jan 1st, the last chapter/episode of Dark Device of the Great Chasm was released. Which means that story in Windtracer Tales is closed. But! Windtracer Tales isn’t over. There is more coming! As I put at the end of the last chapter…

Make no mistake…

Yep, the next story to come is Kingdom of the Slithering Maze. I need to get some worldbuilding done, smooth out the plot points and all. The usual. Also do some housekeeping on here! Just a little. But it’s a’coming!

While I’m at it, Dark Device will also be bound up into an ebook and print format. That takes work. I’ve got a cover artist working hard at new cover art and I’ll be tracking down a copyeditor to help me get the story formatted for ebook format and print format. Because while they’re doing that, I can drive forward with the next story!

Legends of the Privateers

Speaking of next stories! I hope everyone is having a good time with Death Whispers of the Etherwave. It’s just getting going and about to get to the good parts. If you’ve been reading along, this one has a different pace than out of Windtracer Tales.

This one moves with some action but a different voice and mystery. A little humor here and there, too. Having one main point of view character but a team behind that main character is a challenge to write. But! I’m really enjoying where it’s going.

So far it looks like this will be a good sized serial fiction. Maybe not as big as Dark Device, but still a healthy size.

Wait! There’s More! (yes, really)

Speaking of mystery! I’ve been working on another (yes another) project on the side. I’m still cooking on this one. This setting and all is a “Cozy Southern Gothic Mystery”, all lovingly bound with a black bow for some horror, a modern day setting with technology, and a bit more.

(why yes, I dump several genre’s in a blender, then turn the mixer on high, why do you ask?)

But! I’m worldbuilding on it, mixed the sauce, and baking it in the oven. It’s smelling pretty good in the kitchen, so I’m thinking I might have another one for you sometime in the not so far future.

I’ve considered reaching out to my paid subscribers to see who might like to Beta Read the first chapter for me. To test the hook, the premise and all. See if what I smell cooking has some promise. We’ll see.

But, here’s a little taste to see if anyone might be interested:

Beware the paths where shadows creep,
Where whispers stir and secrets sleep.

In Darklight’s glow, truths twist and bind,
What you see, you cannot unfind…

The bells of Gloamstead toll at night,
A warning wrapped in ghostly light.

Step too near, and you might stay,
Forever lost to a curse’s dark play.

- Anonymous, found written on a bloody handkerchief in a cypress tree

So, how does that taste? Let me know in the comments!

For more about Hoist the Colors or any of the other fiction I write, please consider subscribing as I would really appreciate the support, sometimes I post behind the scenes on writing, worldbuilding and more. If you’re wanting a deeper look at Hoist the Colors, take the plunge here at the link: Hoist the Colors.

-Kummer Wolfe