Kate and I are so excited to finally have this new update out in the world. We know it's been a while since we posted and we want you to know that we are still very dedicated to the game. Kurt has been playtesting non-stop and we are really happy with the way the game has evolved. This should be the last "big" update before editing and layout so let us know what you think in the comments or by posting in our community.

So, what did we change?

Magic Descriptions

The descriptions of the colors of magic, effects they produce, and their emotions have been expanded to give a better sense of what magic can look like in the game.

Presentation changed to Culture & Pronouns

The purpose of this section is to encourage players to consider how their characters are perceived by others and spotlight the parts of their identity which are most important to them. The previous wording was vague and didn't achieve that goal.

Malfunctions

Several malfunctions have been broadened to expand their use and a few were reworded to better align the dichotomy between their Heart and XP triggers.

Transforming Malfunctions

Before, transforming a malfunction cost 10 XP which was too steep for something that should naturally happen as the characters progress and grow. The XP cost was meant to help with pacing, but we think it will lead to a more interesting story if your progress is limited by the people around you.

In addition, there is no longer a way to change cliques through play. Instead, that kind of growth should be handled by transforming malfunctions. If players feel they chose the wrong clique to start with, they can just swap it.

Advanced Chosen Abilities

Each of the chosen have 4 new advanced strengths they can purchase after character creation. Some of which can be quite powerful or introduce some magical weirdness. Like the Traveller's Dimension Hop.

Running the Game

The majority of the updates in this version can be found here. You'll find several pages on directing magic, magical consequences, Lightborn & Darkspawn, thaumaturgy, tempted characters, and setting scenes. We've attempted to give you a practical guide for using the language of film to create a dramatic and magical experience.

Setting

You'll find more details on Lightborn and Darkspawn as well as a few groups and organizations you might encounter at Elco.

Cinematic Adventures

Finally, we've added an example adventure, Weird Thaumaturgy. Which explores a college party filled with magical weirdness.

Thanks

Thank you so much for being a part of our journey and supporting Lighthearted's development.
- Kurt