Mournful Update
9 days ago
– Mon, Apr 15, 2024 at 11:24:48 AM
TRACY HICKMAN -- My brilliant, talented father, Dr. Harold R Hickman, passed away two weeks ago. My sisters, Laura and I took turns at his bedside in the IHC Hospital ICU for the week previous, telling stories, laughing with him, saying everything that needed to be said and finally just being there to support him in his final battle. He was 90 years old and had a bright mind and sharp wit right to the end. If you wish, you may read his obituary here.
I have been assisting my sisters as co-executors of the estate to deal with the harsh reality of dying's paperwork. Two days ago, I conducted and spoke at his Celebration of Life. That same afternoon we attended the inurnment of my father's remains next to those of my mother in the soil of the small Southern Utah town in which they met.
I am heartbroken. My creative life, my stories and my drive to be disciplined about creative arts all have their roots in his teachings and example.
I hope you will forgive me, then, these three weeks while I've had to drop everything on this project (and everything else) to help care for him and, finally, honor his wishes. I now pick up the copy editing where I left off. I find the tedious nature of it comforting, a repetitive task that somehow means I don't have to think too much on what I've lost.
He was my Dad. Somewhere, I'm sure, he is telling me to get back to work.
-- Tracy Hickman
Skymasters Guide Comments Closed and Next Steps
about 1 month ago
– Sat, Mar 16, 2024 at 09:03:31 AM
We have a lot going in in the updates today!
Online Worldbuilding Con
If you can, please join me for the free, online Worldbuilding Con hosted by World Anvil. I'll be presenting today at 3 pm mountain time and tomorrow as well!
We have officially closed comments on the initial release of the Skymaster's Guide. We were delighted with the helpful and considered feedback.
In particular, I want to single out one of our backers who has gone above and beyond in helping us get this Guide cleaned up for press. Jeremy Weyand saw our need for help and pitched in with an incredibly detailed copy edit front to back. I will be inputting those changes over the next week and hope to have a much cleaner text copy for you all by then. I'm grateful to Jeremy -- and so many others of you like him -- whose support, encouragement and helpful contributions are improving this project with every step.
I also would be remiss in not mentioning Chelle Rohrer, another backer who also saw a need and just took up the task. She is a ninja at setting up discord channels and was able to get us properly up and running with amazing speed.
There were only four of us attempting this massive project in the beginning. It is heartening to know there are so many more of you willing to step up and help.
Joe Manganiello on Skyraiders
We wanted to share a short, shout-out for Skyraiders from our design partner Joe Manganiello.
Joe was appearing on 'The Character Sheet on Comicbook.com' to speak about why the powers that be walked away from the Dragonlance TV series Joe wrote. Joe is always an interesting interview but we've tried to cue this up to the part where he speaks about Skyraiders. It's at about 31:05 into the YouTube. You may want to watch the entire interview when you can.
Next Steps
With the editorial nearing completion, it is time to talk about next steps toward fulfillment.
- Our software designer, Joe Bourrie, tells me that we need to complete a series of AR tests on the finished manuscript. This is to insure that the images we have placed in the book can be properly read and registered by the AR in our app and that none of the images in the book need to be adjusted.
- As we move through the AR testing, we will be completing the editorial inputs on both the Guide and the Handbook.
- Following the AR approval, we will then be sending the books to press. At that point, shipping the physical product to you is only a matter of process and we should be able to give you more accurate data on when you can expect everything in your hands.
- But, that is far from the end. Joe Bourrie and I will be continuing the app development and, importantly, additional content creation online to support the app. You will be able to use the game, of course, as any 5e product but there is a great deal more to come after the books are in your hands.
We are grateful to you backers for not only supporting our project financially but for your active help in bringing this project to fruition. There is more to come!
-- Tracy Hickman
Comments on the Skymaster's Guide Closing March 9th!
about 2 months ago
– Sat, Mar 02, 2024 at 04:52:48 PM
Quick update items for you as we prepare to bring the game books to press!
We will be officially closing off comments on the GM book, "Skymaster's Guide" next weekend on Saturday, March 9th). This will allow us to make corrections to both the Player's and GM's books immediately afterward and get the books to the printers and into production as quickly as possible. Once the books are on the print schedule, we should be able to provide you with a better delivery estimate.
You may submit your questions, observations, comments or corrections directly to our Discord Server set up specifically for this purpose. There is a designated #guide_feedback channel there for your posts. These links will be functional for you to join the server over the next seven days but will likely not operate after that time.
How to download the GM Guide:
Login using the email address you used to back the kickstarter here: https://skyraiders.backerkit.com/ then click on "Get Your Digital Downloads" button. The latest version is v01cm.
This file is 112mb in size.
Remember, the comment period on the GM book will be closing Saturday, March 9th.
GM & Player App Update
With a functional game text completed, the four of us are now turning our full attention to the ongoing app development and online portal. This development has, of course, been going on since before the project was announced however with the TTRPG now completed, we can address the specifics of the app design and UX to properly reflect the more concrete game systems and requirements now in the books.
This app and online portal will be refined during the publishing and fulfillment phase of the books. We now have a discord channel in the feedback section for @living_tome_app. There we will be posting updates and looking for your feedback over the next few months as app development progresses.
Watch for more updates monthly or as development progress as we move steadily to toward final fulfillment of the project.
-- Tracy Hickman
Skymasters Guidebook Available for Download!
2 months ago
– Sat, Feb 24, 2024 at 11:03:13 AM
We are delighted to announce that the 'rough draft' of the Skymaster's Guidebook -- the GM book for the Skyraiders of Abarax -- is now available for download!
Learn how aeroships fly, the secrets of the Erinyes Coast towns as well as the ports and shores of the Sulurian Isles. Enjoy the first adventure and the deeper details of the history of the greater world beyond the horizon. I'm particularly delighted by the Ice Spiders -- it is listed under Spiders in the Creature section.
How to download the GM Guide:
Login using the email address you used to back the kickstarter here: https://skyraiders.backerkit.com/ then click on "Get Your Digital Downloads" button. The latest version is v01cm.
This file is 112mb in size.
Accord on Discord
We have a #guide_feedback channel on our Discord server to submit & discuss typos, suggestions or issues you find in the Guide ... as well as all other things Skyraider. We hope you join us through this link (good for the next 7 days).
We will be closing feedback on the Skymaster's Guide over the next few weeks so that we can get the books to press. Please provide your feedback on Discord as soon as possible.
To the winds, Buccaneers! To the storm!
It's time to fly...
-- Tracy Hickman
First Draft Guide Finished!
3 months ago
– Sat, Jan 13, 2024 at 03:59:55 PM
Just a quick update today, letting you know that as of just minutes ago, the first draft of the Skymaster's Guide is now complete!
What a journey we've taken to get all the way around the world of Andrakonis. We look forward to sharing with you the strange and wonderous ports of call in our world.
Next steps: I'll be red-penning my way through the guide book all next week to insure that I haven't left anything out. Then Laura and Kim will be pushing through the editorial and layout process. We will be releasing an early PDF copy of the guide to you shortly thereafter! Then, happy day, the books go to press and we can at last begin the fulfillment and shipping!
Which is not to say that the work is over. Joe and I will then dive into the online and dedicated app to insure it is all in place when the books arrive.
I'm feeling so giddy that I think I'll give you a new map from the guide ... just for fun!
We are seeing the edge of the storm. The dawn of Skyraider's is on the horizon!
-- Tracy Hickman
