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Free Spacer // a sandbox starship tabletop RPG

Created by Christoph Sapinsky

Adventure. Investigation. Science! Your crew hustles to complete jobs in a sector-wide cold war.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Printing Process, a Survey Reminder, and the Cover Reveal
almost 5 years ago – Mon, May 27, 2019 at 06:35:56 PM

Survey Reminder

While the BackerKit pre-order store has been close for a little while now, you can still go and update your Address and--for 11 of you--fill out your survey. Recover your survey here: https://freespacer.backerkit.com/. This is essential for one #gamemaster level backer, so if that is you, please fill out your Survey!

Printing Process

I sent Free Spacer to the printer last week on May 21st. My printer is Friesens in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, so the recent trade issue shouldn't affect us too much. Since then we've been examining the content proof to ensure that there are no layout errors and contract proofs to make sure all the art looks just right. Check it out and tell me what you think. 

All our proofs spread out on the game table
All our proofs spread out on the game table

Cover Reveal

As you can see above we've submitted the cover. We followed the same theme as our teaser and some other images. The cover background is a star with the ship at the distance and the title Free Spacer in silhouette. Check it out and tell me what you think? 

The softcover version of Free Spacer
The softcover version of Free Spacer

Last Day
almost 5 years ago – Tue, Apr 30, 2019 at 12:54:25 AM

Today is the Day!

Today is the last day to change your order. The last day to get an Add-on. And the last day to submit corrections to the typo form.

But this won't be the last day to update your address. Or the last day you hear from me. And it especially won't be the last time I say thank you for your backing.

If you can't find your survey form, click here: https://freespacer.backerkit.com/

Deadlines, an Update, and Reminders
almost 5 years ago – Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 02:13:55 AM

Proofreading

Free Spacer is rapidly approaching completion. Alex Roberts is working hard on proofreading text and I can't wait to see what she finds. For additional coverage, we've booked Matthew Seagle as the sudries proofreader to look over all tables, excerpts, and text in the art as they can always use some extra love.

Typo Form Deadline

Thank you all for scouring the book for typos and reporting needed corrections on the form. Which means I get to add a bunch of names to add to the credits as proofers. So if you want to pitch in, get your fixes in soon, I'll be closing the typo form on April 29th.

BackerKit Deadline

With the project coming to an end, I need to finalize all the item counts. I'll be closing the Pre-order Store and locking BackerKit changes on April 29th, then doing the final credit card charges on May 1st. So tell all your friends to come pre-order Free Spacer and make any changes that you want BackerKit. Also, 16 of you have yet to finish their Surveys. I sent you all reminder emails, please finish your Surveys. 

Your PDF

You should have an email from DriveThruRPG to grab your Proofreader PDF. If you grab it, you'll be able to update it to the full version to the final version with ease.

Shipping

I've signed contracts with both fulfillment houses and that all coming together. The only speed bump is that my initial shipping to the UK double what I expected. This increases my base cost for all non-north american shipping. While I won't be asking for any more money from overseas backers, I would appreciate tips from any of you that can afford it.  

The Art

Finally, the colour and greyscale art is nearly complete. The artists have all turned in their illustrations and tracking document is nearly all green. We've even made a pictorial guide for Free Spacer's core mechanics, check it out!

Proofreader Copy Launched!
almost 5 years ago – Sat, Apr 13, 2019 at 03:22:00 PM

Proofreader

As I announced on social media a couple of weeks ago, Alex Roberts designer of Star Crossed and For The Queen has agreed to proofread the book. She is already busy hunting for typos, errors, and problems throughout the text.

Your Help

A couple of weeks ago I said that I'd need all for your help. Here is the call to action--I'd love your help to find all the typos. There is a typo report form link on every page of the PDF, so you can submit any typo that you see. If you submit one, you'll get a Proofer credit in the book. Hurry though, the form will close on April 29th.

Digital Fulfillment

The proofreader version of the game has been sent to every Backer that ordered a PDF and finished their Survey on BackerKit. I sent reminders at the same time to those that haven't finished their Surveys. I am sending out the PDF using DriveThruRPG. I am using DriveThruRPG for a two main reasons. First, it is standard in the community and many of you already have accounts with them. Second, it will allow me to update your PDF, so that you will get the final version with ease. 

PDF

When you check out the book, you'll see that I've finished first layout. You'll also likely notice two things: first that it is in colour, Yes, I'd like to announce that the PDF will be in full colour! While the printed book may be greyscale, the artists and I wanted to share a full colour version of Free Spacer with you. When you read it, you'll also notice a lot of white space and blank spots. The book isn't done. Most of those spaces are waiting for the final art. I can't wait to show you how good it look with the art, but you don't have to wait to see all the art, you can check out this illustration by Lisa Sapinsky.

Art, Revisions, and our latest Progress
about 5 years ago – Thu, Mar 14, 2019 at 05:18:03 PM

Coming Together

Everything Free Spacer is coming together. We've been updating spreadsheets, sending emails, and having meetings-it's been a busy time here for logistics and that been on top of revisions.

Pre-order Store

You've all been doing great with your BackerKit Surveys, we're at 95% completion. If you haven't done yours yet, please do. We still have the BackerKit Stretch Goal of $3000 CAD above shipping, which will be enough to do full colour printing! 

Please, tell your friends that they can still get onboard through the Pre-order store

Sector Archives

This awesome setting and example book is so close to being done. Kira Magrann has turned in her cyberpunk inspired sector and Johnstone Metzger has turned in his exploration sector. I am finishing up the stretch goal pirate sector inspired by Star Control 2, Commonwealth Saga, Damned Trilogy, Misspent Youth RPG, and Titan A.E. The final sector I need to make is based on Eric Vulgaris' stream game that I'll be refining to be a Bounty Hunter sector in the spirit of Cowboy Bebop and Killjoys.

Proofreading Copy

Karen Twelves is editing my last revision and I am currently talking to proofreaders. For proofreading I need to layout the book and I'd love to share it with you all. In a couple of weeks, I'll send post the Proofreading copy for you all to check out. It won't have art, but it will have all the text. So backers, I'd like your help to find all the typos. For your typo hunting, you'll have a google form to submit for each typo. Also, everyone that submits a proper typo will get a credit. 

Art

Lisa has a spreadsheet showing the art at greater than 50% complete with most of the rest in-process. All the chapter starts and chapter enders are complete, plus we have many of the mid chapter images done too. It's looking gorgeous, but you don't have to take my word for it, check out this illustration by John Love.

Free Spacers investigating an overgrown wreck.
Free Spacers investigating an overgrown wreck.