Greetings Horizoners,
It’s been a long time. After we didn’t quite manage to get enough funding for the Guide to Death, I spent a little while reflecting on the project, and a little soul-searching. I also got hella mad about it, which didn’t really help but it made me feel better. Anyway I’m back now and that’s good. Good for me, anyway.
Having that time to reflect on projects is, I feel, really important as a creator. There’s this constant pressure in this space to be moving onto the next thing, big or small, and whilst as a creator it’s important to keep your hand in, it’s also really important to take A Breath. “Self-love and self-care are radical and defiant acts of resistance” says Jeff Stormer, and he’s so f***ing right. Fight the never-ending invisible hand shoving you back onto the conveyor. Bite it if you need to. You have my permission, good dog.
Here’s an idea to float: when you’re in a project, you’re never really ahead or behind, but exactly where you are. You can’t actually be further ahead or further behind than you are, because all the events of your life have led up to this moment, this position. “If that hadn’t had happened, I—” No. Cut that out. Stuff happens, and you there’s no responsibility on you to be further ahead, or further behind, than you feel you are.
Anyway.
News
Outliers crowdfunding in Zinequest
You might remember the release of Outliers by Samantha Leigh, Far Horizons’ first creator-in-residence in the A Thousand Burning Stars series of ttrpg zines. It’s a love-letter to human subject research from a research assistant who truly knows and understands the experience; it’s also weird, unsettling, and at times downright odd. If you think Welcome to Night Vale and Gravity Falls meets Look Around You, you’re probably on the right track.
The release itself was pretty successful, but we never managed to get a print run together because we wanted something a little bit special: an A5 zine with wire-binding and a frosted cover, made up to look more like that academic/corporate document James Hanna spent so much time perfecting (and Carly A-F spent so much time corrupting with her bangin’ illustrations). That comes with a price tag, so we’ve waited until now to launch Outliers during Zinequest.
The campaign will run from February 15th until that weirdest of days February 29th. You’ll be able to get digital editions, the new printed “Regulatory Binder” edition, and a special edition with annotations from the designers to give us all an insight into the publication process.
If that sounds up your street, follow the campaign now to get notified when Outliers goes live. We promise you won’t regret it (time travelling Principal Investigators need not apply again).
Project updates
Far Horizons Guide to Death
Many, many thanks to the many of you who did back the campaign. It hasn’t gone away – we’re just regrouping and trying to work out what to do next. The current idea has us funding for less ambitious zine editions of the games, to come later in the year. But watch this space and we’ll keep you posted.
We Dig Giant Robots
Kamala Kara Arroyo’s TTRPG love letter to giant freakin’ robot anime is nearing completion. They’re waiting on some amazing cover art to round it all off, and then there’ll be news about release coming really soon. Get in the robot, horizoner!
A Thousand Burning Stars season two
Season Two is slightly on hold due to a general slowdown due to, well, I guess the economy but also the fact that the world seems to be on fire. Things are, however, progressing, particularly with UndeadAuthor’s game Sic Itur, a tarot/heraldry/chivalry/duel game which sounds just so damn cool. Watch this space, knight.
That’s it for now. Remember: make cool games. wage class war.
— F.H.C. //
Thanks so much for sharing your personal reflections on the creative process. It’s awesome how much positivity and growth you were able to get from the crowdfunding campaign! Really needed to hear that. As a creative, or I guess any kind of human, it’s so tough constantly feeling the pressure of making/doing/producing/being productive. Really appreciate the sentiment of ‘you are were you are - and it is fine’ 🤙