Respite.

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Woad; they/them. Queer as hell. Guest on Nukunu Country. Tank main (irl). Autistic, elder millennial. A Jack of all Spades.

Starfinder: Afterlight Excitement Builds Up for the Trial Run

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Starfinder: Afterlight playtest is right around the corner, bringing a fresh party-based RPG game to Linux and Windows PC. Thanks to the creative minds at Epictellers Entertainment, this universe is stepping into the spotlight. Working to bring its native support onto Steam.

For a long time, Starfinder fans have been waiting to see how this universe would feel as a full video game. Now we’re finally getting a taste. The Starfinder: Afterlight playtest kicks off March 19, and it’s the first real chance for players to step into this sci-fi RPG and see what Epictellers Entertainment has been building behind the curtain.

And honestly? Even the small preview sounds like a pretty exciting first step.

Your first trip into the Afterlight

The upcoming Starfinder: Afterlight playtest is being described as a focused slice of the game. Think of it as the opening act — roughly 45 to 60 minutes designed to show how the systems work and how the world feels.

Players will start by crash-landing in the Entertainment District of Hivemarket on the desert world of Akiton. Not exactly the kind of arrival you plan, but it’s a perfect setup for a sci-fi adventure.

From there, the story begins to unfold.

Your early mission revolves around investigating what happened to Captain Khali. Along the way you’ll meet companions, explore the city around you, and start interacting with the world in ways that hint at what the full release will eventually offer.

It’s not meant to show everything. Instead, it’s a carefully crafted introduction to the experience.

And if you enjoy party-based RPGs, the setup should feel immediately familiar.

Choose your crew and test the combat

For this Starfinder: Afterlight playtest, players won’t need to build a character from scratch. Instead, you’ll choose from three pre-made options that highlight different playstyles.

You can jump in as:

• A Human Soldier
• A Vesk Envoy
• A Shirren Operative

Each character offers a different angle on the turn-based combat system, which is one of the core mechanics the developers want feedback on.

Combat, exploration, and basic interaction systems are all part of the preview. The goal here isn’t just to show the gameplay, it’s to see how players actually use these systems in the wild.

And that feedback will help shape the title before Early Access.

Starfinder: Afterlight - Official Teaser Trailer (pre Playtest)

The voices behind the adventure

Another cool surprise from the announcement is that the Starfinder: Afterlight playtest will also give players their first chance to hear part of the voice cast.

Some pretty recognizable names are involved.

Neil Newbon voices Preach.
James Alexander plays Sterling.
Carolina Ravassa takes on the role of Captain Khali.
Roger Clark steps in as the narrator.

For a story-driven party-based RPG, voice acting can make a huge difference. Hearing these characters come to life during the playtest should give players a stronger sense of the game’s tone and world.

Why this playtest matters

According to Epictellers Entertainment CEO and co-founder Ricard Pillosu, this first public playtest is all about learning from the community.

The team wants real player feedback before it heads toward Early Access. Systems, pacing, and overall feel can still evolve, and early reactions will help guide those decisions.

In other words, this is the moment where players start shaping the gameplay alongside the developers.

How to join the Starfinder: Afterlight playtest

If you want in, it’s pretty simple.

Players can register through Steam right now for the Starfinder: Afterlight playtest, which begins March 19th. The game is coming to Linux and Windows PC, which is great news for Linux player who are always watching for more native support.

The full Early Access launch is currently due to arrive on Linux sometime in 2026, and a public demo is aiming to arrive later this summer.

So this upcoming playtest isn’t the final destination.

It’s the first real step.

And for fans of tactical sci-fi adventures and party-based RPGs, it might be the moment when Starfinder: Afterlight finally starts feeling real.

In the quiet transition. (11 11)

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Woad; they/them. Queer as hell. Guest on Nukunu Country. Tank main (irl). Autistic, elder millennial. A Jack of all Spades.

Viridian Forest & Preparing for Brock

I lowkey hate Kakuna now

Listen, I’m not gonna sugar coat it, this is gonna be weird and rough. Onix is an extremely tanky pokemon, and Squirtle does not learn a Water-type move until he levels up, and even then it’s fuggin Bubble, a 1d6 Power Special move. So I need all the help I can get. So, I’m going to skip over to Route 22 and look for a Mankey.

Why Mankey? Simple, it’s the only other pokemon before Brock that has Super Effective moves against him, even if they are Physical. Once at level 2, Mankey learns Low Kick, which deals damage based on the opponent’s weight. Onix is just above the maximum weight for Low Kick, at 463 lbs, letting us have a Super Effective move with 5d6 Power. With luck, Mankey could wipe the floor with the entire gym.

Route 22 has 3 pokemon I can encounter right now.
1) Rattata. Which is not at all a bad pokemon, especially once evolved, but it’s not what I want.
2) Spearow, which is cool as hell, but is sadly overshadowed by the powerhouse a Pidgey can become.
3) The GOAT, the boy, Mankey.

To keep with the vibe of random encounters, I’ll roll 1d6 and use that to determine who I encounter. Since there’s just 3, I’ll make the odds the same for each pokemon. Besides, the worst part of pokemon IS the weird encounter rates.

[Encounter Roll]
1 & 2 - Rattata
3 & 4 - Spearow
5 & 6 - Mankey

Result: 5

Well hot damn, that’s lucky. Now let’s hope that little shit doesn’t TKO my Squirtle or make me use up my supply of balls.

1st Encounter: Mankey KO’d (18+ damage crit god damn)

Ok, criticals NEED to be reworked. They are just too easy! So, I think I’ll move to crits being part of exploding dice. Going forward, any dice that rolls a 6 explodes, adding 1d6 to the pool. Anyway, back to the fight.

[Start of Exploding Dice Rule]
2nd Encounter: Rattata (Ran Away)
3rd Encounter: Mankey! Squirtle KO’d. (18 damage again, one dice exploded.)
4th Encounter: Mankey! Mankey Captured!

Luckily, I just caught it without a fight. In this, to capture a pokemon, you have to meet or beat a roll of the pokemon’s Base HP plus it’s SPD Rank. If the pokemon is at half HP, the result of their roll is halved.

A basic PokeBall rolls 2d6. Luckily, Mankey only rolled a 4 + 3 + 3 SPD Rank, and my PokeBall rolled double 5s, letting me capture it. Below is the new lil guy to my team:

Part 1: Viridian Forest

With Mankey on our team, Viridian Forest proper will be at least a little easier. So, we’ll make our way there and see if we can’t bag a Weedle or a Pikachu on the travel through. I won’t be going out of my way for either, but any time I would have to move throuhg tall grass in the game, I will make an encounter roll.

[Virdian Forest Encounters]
1 - Lvl 1 Caterpie
2 - Lvl 1 Weedle
3 - Lvl 2 Metapod
4 - Lvl 2 Kakuna
5 - Nothing
6 - Lvl 1 Pikachu

[Encounter Roll]
Going to grab the free PokeBall early on in the forest.
1d6 = 4. Kakuna! Caught (Barely).

Let’s look at this Kakuna.

Technically, Kakuna should be evolved into Beedril. It’s converted level is actually 10, but because of the condensed numbers, it got a little weird. So, we won’t get a Beedril for another level.

[Encounter Roll]
Going for the free Potion early on in the forest.
1d6 = 6! ITS PIKACHU! Caught!

This Pikachu is going to help out immensely with Misty and some other misc trainers down the line.

At least now I can take a break from wild encounters and handle some trainer battles, with 2 required and 1 optional. Though, since I need the XP and the money, I’ll be fighting all of them. I won’t detail them out, other than if I win or lose.

Bug Catcher Rick: Won in 1 Attempt. Mankey KOd to wild Tackle damage.
Rewards: 72$

Bug Catcher Doug: Fully got my ass handed to me. It was bad. Took 3 attempts, and ended still with half of my party KOd.
Rewards: 84$

This fight also leveled up Squirtle. When a pokemon levels up, it’s HP increases and I get to either adjust its Nature or increase on of it’s IVs by 1.

I chose to change Squirtle’s Naughty nature, swapping out the nerfed SpDEF for nerfed SPD. Changing his nature to Brave.

I can only change on part of the nature, either the buffed stat OR the nerfed stat at level up. If Mints were a part of FireRed, I could use those to change both at once and more easily change his nature. But, they didn’t exist yet.

I would continue this session today, but I have a lot of doctor’s appointments tomorrow and I can be up very late. I’ll be sure to get back to this and finish Viridian Forest out in a couple days!

Worlds Upon The Wind Playtest Offers Unique Strategy

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Worlds Upon The Wind playtest is now live on Linux and Windows PC, inviting players into a peaceful roguelite deckbuilder game. This experience exists thanks to the continued creativity of developer Max Shawabkeh. Which you can request now on Steam.

Something quietly beautiful just landed on Steam today, and it’s the kind of game that makes you slow down instead of speed up. The Worlds Upon The Wind playtest is now live, and if you’re the kind of player who enjoys thoughtful strategy, gorgeous art, and zero pressure to rush… this one might grab you immediately.

I stumbled across it earlier and honestly had to sit with the trailer for a bit. It has this calm, almost meditative vibe. Imagine a peaceful roguelite deckbuilder where the goal isn’t conquering enemies or min-maxing damage numbers. Instead, you’re rebuilding a shattered world piece by piece.

And yeah… that idea alone already feels refreshing.

A Roguelite About Healing a Broken World

Most roguelites throw you into chaos. Endless enemies, frantic runs, high-stress choices.

Worlds Upon The Wind goes the opposite direction in this Linux playtest.

Since the world here has already fallen apart. Civilization is gone. What remains are drifting fragments of land, broken “world shards” floating through the sky. So your job isn’t to dominate them. Your job is to help life return.

Each run asks you to guide settlers across these scattered lands. You plan carefully, rebuild forests, restore deserts, and nurture communities.

Every decision shapes how the world slowly heals.

And because this is still a peaceful roguelite deckbuilder, your strategy evolves constantly. As you explore, you collect Glyphs and Relics that transform your deck and open new ways to solve problems.

No two runs play out the same.

Strategy Without the Stress

What makes the Worlds Upon The Wind playtest stand out is the tone.  This isn’t a race.

The gameplay encourages you to pause. Think. And also consider the consequences of your choices. Since every shard you explore is procedurally generated, filled with different biomes, events, and strange dilemmas.

And these dilemmas matter.

Sometimes there’s no perfect answer. You simply choose what feels right for the community you’re building.

That sense of responsibility also changes how you approach each run. Since it’s less about “winning” and more about leaving something behind.

Even a small village becomes part of the world’s recovery.

Worlds Upon The Wind - Playtest Trailer

Spirits, Companions, and a Living World

The world itself feels mysterious.

Some shards are haunted by restless spirits. You won’t be fighting them in typical RPG fashion though. Instead, your goal is to pacify them and bring balance back to the land.

Then there are the animals.

Fifteen unique companions are due to be discovered throughout the game, each with their own quest lines. These aren’t just cosmetic pets either. Each one unlocks a powerful ability that can completely change how future runs play.

It’s the kind of system that quietly rewards curiosity.

You explore, help, and learn the world’s stories. And suddenly your next run plays differently because of it.

A Love Letter to Traditional Japanese Art

Visually, the Worlds Upon The Wind playtest is stunning.

Since everything is inspired by classical Japanese art and music. Soft brush strokes. Gentle colors. Landscapes that look like they came straight from a scroll painting.

The music certainly leans into that same calm atmosphere. It’s peaceful. Almost meditative.

And honestly, it fits the title perfectly.

Instead of adrenaline, the experience feels reflective.

Like you’re slowly stitching a broken world back together.

The Worlds Upon The Wind Playtest Is Live Now on Steam

Here’s the best part.

The Worlds Upon The Wind playtest is already available on Steam right now for Linux and Windows PC. It’s a limited-time open playtest, so this means that  anyone curious about this peaceful roguelite deckbuilder can jump in and try it.

If you’re the kind of play who likes thoughtful systems, experimental indie design, and games that dare to slow things down… this one is worth a look.

Some releases are about power. Others are about survival.

But the Linux playtest for Worlds Upon The Wind feels like it’s about something rarer, restoration. Due to release in Summer 2026.

Vagrant SRD - Playtest 00 - Pennants & Respite

A new round of VSRD! This one is an ancillary mechanic that can be used when you want to try and ramp difficulty without making things impossible for players.

It encourages players to become resilient to failure, try new strategies and experience the feeling of rising success. It also encourages play to pause for a moment, soaking in a satisfying victory after a grueling challenge.

Release date TBC.

Vagrant SRD 1.4 (CC License + Character Sheets) by Woad

itchio | drivethrurpg | bandcamp | redbubble

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Woad; they/them. Queer as hell. Guest on Nukunu Country. Tank main (irl). Autistic, elder millennial. A Jack of all Spades.

Interested in playtesting the 3rd installment of my solo ttrpg? Fill out this form!

It’s an exploration based game that might remind you of choose your own adventure stories, but with dice. It’s magical, funny, and a little psychedelic.

See the first and second ones here: https://nerdburgergames.com/

Playtest and reports for “A world of Plushies”!

Hi everyone!

Some new content is available for “A World of Plushies”, available in the “Test reports” file!

In this file, you will find the reports of 7 sample battles with four level 30 heroes…

The heroes are available in the report, making 4 premade level heroes:

1. A level 30 brawler (Velka)
2. A level 30 magician (Orphéa)
3. A level 30 healer (Eloria)
4. A level 15 brawler + level 15 magician (Althea)

And the enemies used also are available!

1. 4 Devil Commanders (LV 30 normal enemies)
2. 4 Hellspawns (LV 50 normal enemies)
3. The Abyss’ cat (LV 50 miniboss)
4. Kasane Teto (LV 50 boss)
5. Gold Mushroom (LV 50 final boss)
6. Jääta (LV 50 superboss)
7. Marle Clef de Nuit (LV 135 final superboss)

You can find the file on the Goggle Drive of the game, right here (with details about each battle):

A world of plushies, complete archive! - Google Drive

And here are the conclusions of said tests:

At the end of all playtests and after the analyisis of the following data, some points are risen:

• The overall balancing of the game is right: the normal enemies are easy threats, the midbosses and bosses are little challenges, the final boss is a true test of skills for the player and the superboss is an opponent with a (good) chance to beat the heroes!
• On player’s side, the playtester found it would be interesting to be able to mix actions in a single turn (like attacking with a weapon, casting spells and using potions in a single turn). Drawbacks has to be made in order for this rule not to break balancing.
• On the Game Master’s side, the difference between normal enemies and bosses (with any boss role) isn’t quite marked, as the number of attacks or spells in a single turn is only determined by the level. It is a wise decision to lower the number of attacks of normal enemies, at least when they serve a Boss (maybe against a bonus in another thing).
• Marle Clef de Nuit’s armor raises the need to cap armor to 30. All exceeding points could be recycled in other stats or powers.

All hypothesis will be the subject of future updates

NOW, THE FUTURE:

First of all, I will update the Basic rules next week so the points above are treated.

Then, due to work and an upcoming (IRL) Dungeons and Dragons campaign of mine, I will publish some NPC stats for some classical creatures each week (with around 3 creatures per week)

For a reminder, here is the link to the Itch page of the game (the new file isn’t uploaded there).

A world of plushies (base docs) by JulienDesClefs

Horizon Hunters Gathering : Sony Organise un Playtest Fermé Exclusif Ce Weekend

Sony annonce la tenue d’un playtest fermé pour Horizon Hunters Gathering, son spin-off multijoueur en service continu, prévu ce weekend. Cette session d’essai restreinte s’adresse aux membres du programme bêta PlayStation, offrant un aperçu exclusif sur PC et PS5.

Modalités de Participation au Playtest

Le playtest se déroulera du vendredi 27 février au dimanche 1er mars, accessible via Steam…

Horizon Hunters Gathering : Sony Organise un Playtest Fermé Exclusif Ce Weekend

If you’re interested in playtesting a solo journaling game, message me!

Ars Vagrant. ♠️

“Many seek the summit. The Gate Constellation. Vaulted upon the altar of divinity.

Though the bows of the great tree are a test, they not of one’s capacity for greatness.

No. Kabal, instead, is a test of defiance…”

itchio | drivethrurpg | bandcamp | redbubble

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Woad; they/them. Queer as hell. Guest on Nukunu Country. Tank main (irl). Autistic, elder millennial. A Jack of all Spades.

Where’s this going? (WIPs)

itchio | drivethrurpg | bandcamp | redbubble

tumblr | instagram | bluesky | kofi

Woad; they/them. Queer as hell. Guest on Nukunu Country. Tank main (irl). Autistic, elder millennial. A Jack of all Spades.

An offering. 🐌

itchio | drivethrurpg | bandcamp | redbubble

tumblr | instagram | bluesky | kofi

Woad; they/them. Queer as hell. Guest on Nukunu Country. Tank main (irl). Autistic, elder millennial. A Jack of all Spades.

Testing day!
If you’re around Wellington this January, come play Echo Zero at Respawn on the 30th alongside other super cool games made in Wellington. Touch the bugs. Feel the vibes.

Played playtest again ^w^! (I know QwQ)

Realized I never showed u guys this blob, so here he is flinching away from my flashlight even tho it isn’t pointed at em O.o

Got a little silly and became one with the blob 7w7

Also, anyone know what these snail points are Q~Q? Ive had zero this whole time and I dunno what they mean TwT

THIS THING STARTED CHASING MEEEE Q∆Q!!! I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THEY COULD DO THAT IT WAS SO SCARY O∆O

And last but not least, I got the seal boy himself >w<! His abdomen is so big you’d think he was a honey pot ant X3

Recital of the Heart: Discover the Metroidvania World

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Recital of the Heart just opened its top-down metroidvania playtest for Linux and Windows PC players. The creative work from Honeypot Games makes the experience feel genuinely alive. Which is yours to try now on Steam.

I like it when a game feels like it found you instead of the other way around. Recital of the Heart is one of those rare projects, born from a childhood dream, sharpened by time, and now quietly asking you to step through the mirror and see what stuck. The public playtest just released, and yeah… this one hit me right in the chest.

A dream that waited 20 years to wake up

This title didn’t start as a pitch deck or a market analysis. It started as a literal childhood dream. Kiefer Nemeth, cofounder of Honeypot Games, held onto that dream for decades. When it finally came time to make something real, his cofounder Dante basically said, “I’ve got exactly what you need.” That’s how Recital of the Heart began its slow burn toward existence.

You feel that history the moment you boot it up. There’s intention here. Memory. Long pauses between ideas finally clicking into place.

A mirror world where stories fight back

At its core, Recital of the Heart is a top-down metroidvania playtest that puts you into a warped mirror dimension. While fiction bleeds into reality. Historic figures, literary characters, and even the phantoms of their creators also wander the maze with unfinished business.

You play as Gregory, pulled into this world while trying to reclaim shattered mirror fragments. Every shard is guarded by antagonists who feel obsessed, damaged, and deeply personal. While the goal is simple and heavy at the same time, get back home. Eliza is waiting.

Recital of the Heart - Gameplay

Combat that rewards thinking in Recital of the Heart, not button-mashing

Moment to moment, the game feels sharp. Encounters shift constantly. While one room might pit you against a few deliberate, dangerous enemies. The next floods the screen with bullets daring you to keep your cool.

What makes it work is flexibility. Since you’re not locked into one solution. You swap brushes like instincts. The Quill is fast and surgical. The Inkwell is slow, charged, and hits like regret. Magical instruments also let you pressure enemies from range. Tempos change how you move through space.

Then there are Flourishes. These little modifiers quietly turn familiar attacks into something wild, extra bullets, reflected fire, unexpected momentum shifts. It’s the kind of system Linux gamers appreciate because it rewards experimentation and mechanical understanding.

Kand: emotional support projectile

And then there’s Kand. Gregory’s companion. Guide. Professional sarcasm dispenser Recital of the Heart.

You can also throw him.

Not metaphorically. Physically. At enemies. At bullets. Sometimes at walls. The game doesn’t judge you, but you might judge yourself. There’s a strange emotional beat when Kand misses and splats, and the devs absolutely know what they’re doing there.

A small team asking for big feedback

Only two developers are building Recital of the Heart, and they’re upfront about needing player feedback. This playtest isn’t a demo, it’s an invitation. So a request for Linux gamers, PC tinkerers, and performance-focused players to push back, break things, and help shape what this dream becomes.

The playtest is live on Steam, available to Linux players running via Windows PC. If you care about indie games that feel personal, systems-driven, and also a little haunted, this is worth your time.

Some top-down metroidvania titles entertain you. While some games challenge you. Recital of the Heart feels like it remembers you were here.

I played a nice game today!! Squeee >w<!!!

Ill show some photos of it, it was a little boring but fun ^^

First photo I took, what a weird looking blob O.o! It kept screaming and growning and it made squelching noises when it moved, weirdo 7m7…

Season the blob with bubbles!! Mwahaha >0<!!!

Moar bugs looking at the blob with me >w•

We tried to get it to go off the edge of the map but it never diidd TmT sighh

Last but not least, I got this cute little skin! Ill probably play it again to get the seal guy, but now I have her! Squee >w<

Erosion - when you die, EVERYTHING in the game world ages by a decade, including your kidnapped daughter!

Read More & Sign Up For The Beta (Steam)

Indie game rec that is currently in the open playtesting/demo stage:

METAMORPHOSIS on Steam

If you liked Blasphemous, give this a shot. You’re a nun with a gun carrying a freaky little mechanical skull around in your pockets and you might also be like… a moth?

Yeah. This is the good shit. Amazing writing and sound design so far. It’s also scary as fuck.

Got to playtest Dodo Ducky! What a cute little game and fun concept. I can definitely see this game getting a lot of attention with a few tweaks.