Under A Hostile Sun

Devlog

• Construction Currencies
  September 27, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  Construction Currencies For players seeking a base building component Basic Resources can be combined into Construction Currencies that in turn can help them build places for their animals, gain autom... Continue reading

  
• Post Playtest Edits 25-Sept-24
  September 25, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  Recorded Playtest Last night we had a recorded playtest - I hope to have video up this weekend. Based on the playtest a few edits have been made to the book Combat The order of combat steps have been... Continue reading

  
• Post-Gencon Hostile Sun Updates
  September 02, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #combat, #creature, #playtesting, #OSR, #new projects, #Archetypes, #Archetype Balance

  Newest Updates Separate Opportunity Dice One of the feedback I received from GenCon is that it might be ideal to allow each member of the party to have their own Opportunity Die, allowing suits to fai... Continue reading

  
• Archetype Balance Changes
  August 26, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  Changes to Aerospace Doctor and Priest of the Immutable To ensure a strong difference in playstyle between these Archetypes and the “tamer” Archetype some of their Pet slots can only be used to ta... Continue reading
• Books / Character Sheets Updated with New HazMat Placards
  August 26, 2024 by Martian Muckraker#character sheet, #pipeline, #graphics, #art

  New HazMat Placards Hey all - as I mentioned earlier, I commissioned a new set of Hazard Placards for Under a Hostile Sun. The Character Sheets and both books are now updated with the new images. What... Continue reading

  
• GenCon and New Placards Coming Soon
  August 18, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  2

  #Placards, #Graphics, #images, #resources, #GenCon, #Gen Con, #Conventions, #playtesting

  Gen Con Thank you to all the playtesters that came out for GenCon! It was exciting to see the game play out with a new set of faces in-person - real glass beads tracking resources, physical maps, and... Continue reading

  
• GenCon Golden & Cryptid Collector
  April 13, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  GenCon Golden The rulebook for Under a Hostile Sun has been submitted to the Printer for GenCon! It features a QR code that will point you to where you can get a digital version of the Galactic Master... Continue reading

  
• Cryptid Collector Subsystem
  April 02, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  What to do about Combat? Under a Hostile Sun, focuses on planetary exploration, with volcanoes, acidic atmospheres, and storms being the primary problem confronting explorers. But given that there is... Continue reading

  
• Galactic Master's Guide updated to Hazard Placard Format
  March 03, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  Galactic Masters Guide Updated The Galactic Master’s Guide has been updated to the new hazard-manual style design. There are also a few new features. I believe the Hazard-Manual style is easy to rea... Continue reading

  
• New Design for Core Rulebook
  February 22, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #Graphic Design, #readability

  Hazard Documentation Hello all - the Core Rulebook has been updated with a new format that I hope will improve readability,as well as give a sort of “Hazard Guidebook” vibe with the use of the new... Continue reading

  
• Rearranged for Clarity
  February 15, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #clarity, #edits, #character creation

  Edits Proposed by a Player A player proposed some great reorganization ideas. I have only started implementing them. But as you can see Character creation how has three Steps, each given its own chapt... Continue reading

  
• Updates - 11-Feb-24
  February 12, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  Updates Added handwritten placeholder images to illustrate a few mechanics. Will eventually replace with something made in Photoshop. In the meantime, I hope my terrible handwriting makes it feel auth... Continue reading

  
• Creatures and Support Dice
  February 07, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  Getting Help From Creatures Howdy all - one of the most revised elements of this system has been how creatures are handled. And based on player feedback, it has happened yet again. But I think the cur... Continue reading

  
• Galactic Master Guide Updates
  February 05, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #creature collection, #combat, #GM Guide

  Updates to Galactic Master’s Guide Tips on how to make a Hostile Environment Scene I am working on breaking the key ideas of the system into short easy-to-remember lists. In the case of how to desig... Continue reading

  
• Building a Hallowed Hunter
  February 04, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #playtest, #playtesting, #alchemy, #example, #character creation

  Building Hallowed Hunter! I am introducing a new set of players to Under a Hostile Sun! An example of the character creation process, can be found at this blog post! See how in just a few easy steps w... Continue reading

  
• Playmat Character Sheet
  January 28, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #character sheet, #playmat, #gencon

  Playmat Character Sheet Just introduced a Playmat character sheet. The idea is that you place Poker chips in the different resource “zones” to show how much of that resource you have. No need to w... Continue reading

  
• Gygaxian Dungeons and Cogent
  January 20, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #Cogent, #Gygax

  Gygaxian Dungeons A short document (Early draft) has been added addressing the topic of “Gygaxian Dungeons” - those labyrinthian mazes filled with treasure and danger. Could a similar concept work... Continue reading
• Boss Monsters . . . and GenCon?!
  January 16, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #monsters, #conventions, #GenCon, #creatures, #Boss Monsters

  GenCon and Monsters! GenCon That’s right folks - I am aiming to run games of Under a Hostile Sun at GenCon! Will share more information as I get it! If you are going, hope to see you there! Boss Mon... Continue reading

  
• Bestial Goals and Mouse Traps
  January 01, 2024 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  Bestial Goals & Mouse Traps Minor update to ensure there are differences in personality amongst animals. Bestial Goal If desired a creature may be assigned a individual specific (not species specific)... Continue reading
• Archetype Specific Resource Moves
  December 20, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  Realize that for some one shots the players may not want to home brew potions (due to time constraints). I have given each Archetype a specific resource action so that, even if full potions have not b... Continue reading
• Kaiju Playtest
  December 16, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  Playtest My players and I tested the Fueled by a Hostile Sun system in a Kaiju context. I also got some feedback on how easy (or not) the books are to use. Based on the feedback Numerous pre-defined m... Continue reading
• Made 8 Pages Shorter
  December 08, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #editorial, #length

  Brevity They say never use two words when one would do. So I went through the rulebook and tried to remove everything that seemed to add unecessary complexity. The result is a book that is 8 pages sho... Continue reading
• Changes to Resist Rules
  December 06, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #Resists, #Kaiju, #Major Rule Change

  Resisting the Effects of a Hostile Sun From this game’s earliest inception I liked the idea that losing Health would make it harder to survive, as opposed to there being no effect until you hit zero... Continue reading

  
• The Kaiju Are Coming
  November 23, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#Godzilla, #Kaiju, #Spin-off

  The Kaiju Are Comming! Hello All - now that Under a Hostile Sun has a stabilized ruleset I have been considering where the future lies. And that future is Kaiju. The project for 2024 will be to develo... Continue reading

  
• Damage Increased
  August 15, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  General Updates Based on playtests a difficulty bump was needed. Made some general edits to certain Hostile Environments to reflect that. Most Recent Playtest Recently my friends and I were able to pl... Continue reading
• Healing Updates
  August 12, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#heal, #healing, #Cohesion, #movement, #resources

  Healing Healing has been (imo) simplified. Rally always provides temporary stamina. To heal (not temporary) stamina, a medicine roll is needed. Costs to HH. On a fail you heal 1d2. On a success you he... Continue reading

  
• Engines Down!
  August 04, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #adventure, #short adventure, #creatures

  A Successful Playtest A group of my friends played the “On Thin Ice” Scenario, and it went very well. I may release a revised scenario based on the playtest. New Adventure Engines Down! is an adve... Continue reading

  
• Purification
  July 16, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#alchemy, #playtest, #feedback

  Purification Based on playtest feedback, Instant potions can now be used twice if a Purification ingredient added. Thus this type comes in a Purified and not Purified form. Action Assist / Area potion... Continue reading

  
• The ORC is Finalized!!!
  July 03, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#ORC License, #Alchemy, #Open game, #playtest

  The Orc is Finalized! Okay, granted this might be more of a major release for Paizo than for me, but happy to say that the spirit of Open Gaming is alive and well. You can read more about the finaliza... Continue reading

  
• Sea of Lies Playtest
  June 26, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  Playtest I am seeking players for an online playtest happening soon. If you are interested, please comment or message me! The game scenario is below: “Poseidon IX is an oceanic world once believed t... Continue reading

  
• Current Build 230619
  June 19, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  Build Notes 230619 Alchemy System now reflects the [Base Price], [Enhance Price], [Main Ingredient] and [Special Ingredient] paradigm. Example potion recipe calculations are included. All potion recip... Continue reading

  
• Alt. Alchemy System
  June 19, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #alchemy

  Alt. Alchemy System An alchemy system that adds just a tad more complexity has been added as a separate PDF. Parts of a Recipe Base Price - all potions based on their narrative effect have a Base Pric... Continue reading

  
• Alchemical Updates
  June 18, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#alchemy

  First Edition vs Current Build Hey all as I get back to tweaking the ruleset I plan to have two versions of the rulebook up. The First Edition is based out of the playtests my friends and I did on You... Continue reading
• Pestilence and Paranoia
  June 04, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#adventure, #short adventure, #galactic master, #GM

  New Short Adventure With emphasis on focusing on our PlayRole release, the month of May saw its standard adventure release a tad delayed. But NOW - Pestilence and Paranoia, the Hostile Sun short adven... Continue reading

  
• Coming to Role
  May 06, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#virtual tabletops, #playtesting, #alchemy, #Pets, #creature taming

  Coming to PlayRole.com Hello All - I just submitted the game to PlayRole.Com. Will let you know when it has gone through the system and is available for purchase. Getting the game there will get you a... Continue reading

  
• Horizon Framework Playtest
  April 26, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#Grim Press, #Horizon Framework, #Playtesting, #Playtest, #YouTube

  Complexity or Simplicity On my blog I discuss Rules-Lite vs Complex systems and how sometimes, simplicity only leads to more complexity. I then discuss the direction the potion-making system of Under... Continue reading

  
• Advanced Alchemy Systems
  April 25, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  Advanced Alchemy The Alchemy Rules of Under a Hostile Sun are deliberately designed to be relatively simple. I want the system to be inviting and efficient for One-Shots or short campaigns . But what... Continue reading

  
• Would YOU like to playtest?
  April 23, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  Seeking Playtesters Hello itch.io! Would you like to be a part of Under a Hostile Sun’s Development process? If so, let me know here (this is a brand new server for this project): https://discord.gg... Continue reading

  
• On Thin Ice
  April 22, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#digital platforms, #Role, #virtual Tabletop

  Thin Ice and Digital Character Sheet! Early in the year I promised an adventure each month. I am counting the Demeter VI Saga as January, February, March and April. For May forward I will be releasing... Continue reading

  
• ORC License Page + Stability
  April 18, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#DriveThruRPG, #ORC License, #Stability, #Balance, #Alchemy, #Potions

  Orc License Page While the License is still being hashed out, we have a solid understanding of what it’s spirit / contents are. One of the benefits of the ORC License is that System Reference Docume... Continue reading
• Episode IV: Who We Choose to Bee!
  April 15, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#First Edition, #DriveThruRPG, #YouTube, #Pets, #Creatures

  Playtest IV is up! Playtest number IV is up. This one runs a full 3 hours and 50 minutes. The bulk of that time is the heroic charge into the Moon Mason Bee Hive. Also included Confirmed that yes Host... Continue reading
• First Edition is Officially Here!
  April 12, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #First Edition, #combat, #Heist

  First Edition is Here Under a Hostile Sun is now up in a complete form. What’s Included Core Rulebook - First Edition - complete with the newest rule updates, Photoshop graphics, and edits. This inc... Continue reading
• Playtest IV
  April 09, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#ORC License, #Open gaming, #playtesting, #pets, #creatures, #Opportunity

  Who We Choose to Bee! The IV playtest went very well. It features exploration of a giant beehive that I think is the best Environmental Encounter I’ve written yet. The players also had a good grasp... Continue reading

  
• Episode IV Delay
  March 30, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#playtest, #playtesting, #Format, #YouTube, #DriveThruRPG

  Playtest Episode IV - Who We Choose to Bee Hey all! The fourth playtest, involving all the feedback my cohort of playtesters have given me so far got delayed due to scheduling. We will be playing the... Continue reading

  
• Alchemy Playtest!
  March 20, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#playtest, #alchemy, #pets, #creatures, #opportunity, #creature collecting

  Custom Potions Playest This newest playtest video includes me teaching my playtesters how to make their own custom potions. The system got good reviews. The new opportunity system continues to work we... Continue reading
• Playtest Episode II - (w/ Better Audio!)
  March 14, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  There the Hive will Gather This episode begins with a race against the opportunity die to save the miners. The players soon discover that upper management has left the mining town behind - and took th... Continue reading
• Vid Playtest 2
  March 12, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  Play test 2 / What do YOU think of the alchemy system? It may take me a while to get the video up for this one with work. But in summary: The Good Players really liked rolling for opportunity, as oppo... Continue reading

  
• Vid Playtest One Edits
  March 08, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  Playtest Edits Underway Different resources now are mined at different rates reflecting how easy/hard it is to collect them. Because of this there have been edits to what Elite Resources cost in the c... Continue reading

  
• Playtest One is on YouTube!
  March 06, 2023 by Martian Muckraker

  1

  #playtest, #youtube

  Playtests, Six-Legged Dogs, YouTube oh my! Have you ever clicked through itch.io and wondered “Of all these hundreds of tabletop RPGs . . . were any of them ever play tested?” I have. And so with... Continue reading
• We have a Trailer!
  February 25, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#guides, #teaching, #playtest, #playtesting, #trailer, #youtube

  Trailers and Playtests Hey everyone! Under a Hostile Sun now has a trailer on YouTube!!! A “thumbs up” helps us get the word out to others! Had fun with Adobe Animate making this. Mid-March we wil... Continue reading
• New Archtypes, Pet Stat Pools and (Optional) Combat!
  February 18, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#playtest, #archtypes, #combat, #currency, #currency tree

  Pets! Book now includes rules for pets assisting their tamer. Some pets have a pool of points that can be spent to improve rolls on a 1 to 1 basis. Between session these pools are refreshed by paying... Continue reading
• General Revisions, SubSystems
  February 16, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#General, #rules, #playtesting

  2/15/2023 Update This update is fairly general - some more typoes were caught and some edits for clarity were made. I added /e edited the section on solving a problem through alchemy to better fit the... Continue reading
• Using Alchemy to Solve Problems
  February 08, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#Currency System, #Rules Update

  We Solve It With SCIENCE I added a section on the ways the currency system can allow for creative solutions for problems, and a table that gives guidance on how much a potion for different problems sh... Continue reading

  
• Art Update
  February 02, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#AI art, #No AI Images

  Art Direction Update Hey all - apologies if this is too many dev logs in a 4-day period, but had one more thing to add that is of some importance. After consulting with some of my most trusted GMs / p... Continue reading

  
• Scandal on Demeter VI
  February 01, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#adventure module, #adventure, #module, #images, #Campaign, #pre-made adventure

  Scandal on Demeter VI In my previous devlog I said the first adventure for Hostile Sun would be delayed to February. Realized I did not want to wait. After extracting a promise from my players not to... Continue reading

  
• January Releases
  January 30, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#tokens, #vtt materials, #Image assets, #rules updates, #playtesting, #play testing

  January Releases and Log January Adventure: Scandal on Demeter VI The adventure is written! But I do not want to upload it until I have play tested it with my Martian Society players. Playtest day is... Continue reading
• Editable (Word) Character Sheet
  January 22, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#supplement, #ease of use, #character sheet, #word doc, #playtesting, #play testing

  Character Sheet The project page now has a character sheet in word format - it is prefilled with a sample character made by one of my players involved in playtesting. The word doc also has explicit pl... Continue reading

  
• New Images and Edits
  January 22, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#AI art, #Adobe Creative Suite, #Image assets, #edits

  Cartoons, Photoshop and more Oh My! Several images not included in the original publication have been added and more are on the way. These include digital image assets made with Adobe Photoshop and Un... Continue reading

  
• Game Term Changes
  January 11, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#ease of use, #stats

  Short update: In an abundance of caution, certain game terms were replaced with the following “Might” “Agility” “Archtype.” Also the index card references have been included as a separate... Continue reading
• Jan 10 - Rule Fixes
  January 11, 2023 by Martian Muckraker#currency system, #alchemy, #resources

  Jan 10 Fixes Strange Sap stimulants do stamina damage (to ensure there is a motive to research other recipes) Basic Resources are paired with specific “genres” of potions to help guide GMs and pla... Continue reading