What next?

From the start of May, I'll be Precinct Omega on a full-time basis (I have some other commitments to deal with before then, quite apart from trying to get Zero Dark done and out there).  I already have two things in hand that are definite:

I aim to have Operation Nemesis out for public consumption by August.  Then, by the end of the summer, I'll have the Patreon-exclusive supplement, Hero Dark, up for all patrons to enjoy.

I have a bunch of other things to work on, but would like your collective opinions on what I should prioritise.  Some options:

Ballmonsters! - Although there is a beta version of Ballmonsters!(the game of improbable silliness) on my website, I want to re-visit it.  Basically, the game is too tactical, too wargame-y and not silly enough.  It will become more like a boardgame.  The plan is to develop it through Patreon, re-launch the existing miniatures (see http://precinctomega.co.uk if you don't know what they look like), re-cast, and explore the possibility of a Kickstarter to produce a boxed game starter set.  It's fun, silly game with some key Precinct Omega qualities at its core, but its very different to Zero Dark.

Infinite Dark  - Infinite Dark is to spaceship games what Zero Dark is to skirmish games.  Whilst Zero Dark explored Era 3 in more detail, Infinite Dark will look at Era 4 as humankind leaves the solar system and encounters old enemies and new allies.  Still based on the Horizon Wars mechanics engine, it will be miniatures neutral, with the same stripped-down approach to ship design that you've seen in mechs in Horizon Wars and heroes in Zero Dark.  But it will also try to capture some of both the three-dimensional nature of space combat and its physics (although I promise not to make it too complicated).

Zero Dark the Novel - I intend to continue working on the story of Jaq Moog and his investigation into the truth behind Ammit and Zero Dark.  But it'll be pretty sporadic unless you guys tell me you really want to read more.  Suffice to say that we've not even met the real central characters, yet.

Skrapyard - A game I designed years ago, Skrapyard is a low fantasy skirmish game set in what's best thought of as an alternate Georgian/early Victorian era.  Best I can tell you is that it's a really fun, tactical game.  The big challenge, though, is that it probably needs dedicated miniatures, rather than being a generic miniatures game.  The game needs a little re-writing, but is basically ready for Patreon consumption.  Public release, though, will need art, photography and a digital sculptor to produce 8-12 designs for production and casting.

WarCallers - This one is basically high fantasy Zero Dark.  It's in very rough form, right now, because I had some high concept ideas for the mechanics that I couldn't make work properly back in the day.  But with everything that I've learned from Horizon Wars and Zero Dark, I reckon we could get it up on the blocks, have a good tinker and produce something that would let you mix Mantic, Reaper, GW and Privateer Press minis in a single, fantasy mash-up setting.

Zero Dark - I don't have to do something entirely new.  Zero Dark has a huge amount of potential for new material.  Faction rules, environmental conditions, new upgrades and complications, mech heroes, tournament rules, more operations...  If you say so, I'll just do Zero Dark stuff from here to the horizon.

Something Else! - You want hobby videos?  Podcast reviews?  Painting tutorials?  Game design philosophy?  Vote accordingly and comment below.

Point to note: for the moment, Horizon Wars material is off the table.  As you may be aware, Strato Minis has bought a non-exclusive licence to the rules and a version of the rules, designed for their miniatures range, will be released later this year.  But we are talking about the future of that relationship.  So until that is resolved, I've put plans for Horizon Wars material on hold.