Update 3 Feb 23

First, Horizon Wars: Midnight Dark. Most of you have seen at least one version of the text, by now. These are strictly, I supposed, alpha versions because they are all to some extent incomplete.

The beta version - in that the rules will be complete in their entirety - will be finished on Monday. Of course, I'm sure more will change and be added, and there will be corrections to make as there always are in any beta. But I will be at the point of preparing to move to layout.

It's going to be interesting getting back to Affinity Publisher. For most of a year I used it almost daily and now it's been a long time since I last opened the software and, frankly, I've forgotten a lot of how I did layout in the interim. It's probably had at least one update since then.

I have learned to move from beta to layout, which can seem counter-intuitive. But it does make sense, because it's only once I've had a good look at how the text is laid out that I can start to make an estimate of how much art and photography will be needed and I need to commission that as early as possible to be able to make sure the text has what it needs. The process of laying out a text to maximize the use of page space is an art I'm still to fully master. I think Operation Nemesis was my best work so far, in that respect, although Infinite Dark wasn't bad, thanks to the art I licensed for it.

Adjustments to the text can then be made in parallel with the layout and the size and positioning of art adjusted in response.

My current professional contract finishes in September and my intention is that the book should be ready for publishing no later than mid-September, as this will allow me to do a chunk of pre-launch marketing, then launch, then do post-launch marketing for a month or so before I start a new contract. Longer it takes me to find another job, the longer I get to spend promoting Midnight Dark.

I have also finally managed to finish the script for my next video, about CMON. The story took some interesting twists and turns as I dug into more of the people involved in the business and it's various ups and downs. I started off pretty negative and ended up pretty positive. I should be recording today or tomorrow (I'm having my car serviced and writing this from a nearby Costa, so recording will depend on when I get to go home!) and editing for YouTube on Sunday.

I've also started drafting several new scripts, one of which is looking at the WOTC OGL debacle from a miniatures gamer's perspective. I've not decided if it's worth recording, or whether it's just pointless bandwagon-jumping.

To those who've only recently signed up to the Patreon - thank you!

To those who've stuck with me through this long period of low activity - HUGE thank you! It is hard to articulate how important your support has been to keeping momentum through challenging times. I'm sorry I've not been here more often to show you that appreciation.