Darwin’s World Starts the Long Walk Back from the Wastelands
As Misfit Studios moves forward with bringing out a new edition of RPGObject’s Darwin’s World gave for the Savage Worlds rules, I want to do my best to present something of a progress journal here to keep everyone up to date. So, where do things stand so far?
Well, in the weeks since I announced Misfit Studios had acquired the Darwin’s World license from RPGObjects, I’ve been plugging away at getting the core book ready. The first step was deciding if I would merely take the previous Savage Worlds Survivor’s Handbook and Campaign Guide and “reskin” them to essentially be the same (but updated) products with a new look, or if I would take it a step farther. I opted for the latter. Here’s how that now stands:
Darwin’s World Nuclear Edition for Savage Worlds
Currently, I’ve been calling the pending first supplement the “Nuclear Edition” to set it apart from the previous Savage Worlds and d20 Modern releases. Beyond combing the Survivor’s Handbook and Campaign Guide supplements back into one book, the Nuclear Edition will also be adding some content they left out but appears in the d20 book. This includes utilizing new ways to approach some of the d20 content (e.g., classes) that didn’t initially fit well with how Savage Worlds operates as a rule set. It also means taking another look at some of the previous Savage Worlds material to determine if there is perhaps a more fitting approach than how it was previously converted. This means giving everything a new edit and, where necessary, some clarification.
So, where does that leave us to date?
Thus far, I’ve sent RPGObjects my interior layout test and it’s been approved (maybe I’ll post a sample in a later update.)
I’ve also edited the introduction, and character-oriented and mutation chapters. The former was easy because it was brief and had no game rules to look over; it was a simple edit, which is why I used it in my layout test. The character chapter is pretty hefty, combining a number of related sections that were previously separated. Now, skills, Edges, Hindrances, backgrounds, and occupations all appear in one chapter. Also, I’ll be adding information on character archetypes that will help get players into the game faster. Most of this has been edited, plus I’ve added some new content to give customers some things they’ve not seen in previous Darwin’s World releases. Work is nearly done on this large chapter.
The mutations and defects chapter is likewise nearly done. I haven’t added anything new here beyond modifying and clarifying some of the content. Some mutations can now be taken more than once for additional effect, for example, while others have had their operation better explained or brought more in line with how Savage Worlds‘ core rules function.
I’ve also been working on some of the visuals. As you can see from the accompanying “Development Update” image, I’ve taken the previous Darwin’s World logo and retooled it a bit so the new content may more easily be identified while retaining brand recognition. The interior pages’ appearance has similarly been updated while retaining enough of the old look to remain recognizable. This approach has extended to other aspects of how future releases will look, including coloring the previous art and perhaps commissioning new art as needed. I hope you’ll be happy with this decision when you see how it pans out in the final product.
Playtesting Darwin’s World and other Savage Worlds Content
As I finish my edits, I’ve been posting the content to my confidential playtesting forum. Thus far, unfortunately, my usual playtesters have been rather quiet on what I’ve posted (including some Savage Worlds material unrelated to Darwin’s World.) I don’t know if it’s just the summer or something else, but I’m looking to get some eyes on this content as soon as possible. If you’re interested in helping out with the playest, drop me an email and let me know why you think you’d be a great Savage Worlds playtester.
All playtesters receive a free digital copy of anything they meaningfully contribute to upon publication (meaning you have to provide useful feedback — saying “I like it” or “I don’t like it” isn’t very helpful.)
What Comes Next for Darwin’s World?
Beyond the Nuclear Edition supplement, I’ve been bouncing around what comes next. I want to follow-up with some products you’d expect: more creatures, some adventurers, and other releases that will help you get a Darwin’s World game up and running quickly. Perhaps I’ll follow the d20 Modern line’s product code order, or maybe I’ll just do what makes sense to me. Or maybe I’ll open it to you all via a poll or the like. Who knows?
That’s it for this update. There’s a lot of work to do, and I want to get back to it. Leave me your comments or questions and I’ll see what I can do about addressing them in the next update. And don’t forget to subscribe to this blog to keep up to date on what’s happening with Darwin’s World and other Misfit Studios projects.
Steven Trustrum
Steven Trustrum has been writing in the RPG industry since the end of the '90s and publishing via Misfit Studios since 2003. Aside from writing and publishing role-playing game content, he ... dabbles ... in content and social media marketing.