24 (OK sure, 25) hours in, and you have made us all very, very happy.

There are very few feelings like watching 750+ people show up and tell us that, actually, they believe in a book as much as we do. So whether you're coming back to DIE or joining us for the first time - thank you, it's a pleasure to have you here.

Now: we are funded, and it's time to start talking about stretch goals. First up...

What's a DIE book without Kieron Gillen? Still bloody good, because Gareth's writing it, and we are hereby doubling down on our claim that he's the best scenario writer in the business. But with Kieron? Even better. When we reach £80,000 in funding, we're officially giving Kieron permission to dig into his favourite corners of TTRPG history and turn the deep lore he excavates into a sub-level of the Metadungeon.

We've batted around a few ideas already, but not settled on one. But if you've played any DIE, you already know that Kieron's scenarios - from the dead-eyed zombie fans of Con Quest to the running gunfight in an IKEA (thank you, Love Is A Battlefield) - are a treat. If you've got any suggestions for something you'd particularly like Kieron to explore, let us know in the comments. 

- Chant

Well hello there.

We're six days out from the campaign launch, and the doors of the Metadungeon are beginning to yawn invitingly open. Which means we can catch our first glimpse of what's within... or just in front of it I suppose, technically.

Stephanie Hans has given us the cover artwork, which we're affectionately calling "edition war": a clash between an impressive, classic barbarian and a joyfully vicious, thoroughly modern assassin, in the moody depths of the Metadungeon.

Bloody hell, it's good.

Actually, it's quite hard to stop him, which is exactly what I like to see in a writer.

He chatted to All Year I Dream About Gaming Conventions about DIE generally, and the Metadungeon specifically, and (I am given to understand) a good time was had by all!

https://shows.acast.com/all-year-i-dream-about-gaming-conventions/episodes/episode-195-die-valiantly-with-gareth-ryder-hanrahan

- Chant

That's right, folks, we now officially know what a Metadungeon looks like!

Thanks to your ideas, and some suggestions from the RRD team - who, it turns out, all have highly specific trauma around dungeons - I was able to send Juan (Odd Artworks on YouTube) a set of art prompts, which he's now turned into a map.



While the map is not of the Metadungeon, in that it is not the map of the dungeon that will be in the book, it is an expression of the Metadungeon: the ideas that go into it, and some examples of the fun details a GM could tailor to their group's experiences. ("Oh good, we've found the NPC we're inevitably going to adopt. Everything is proceeding to plan.")

Odd Artworks' drawing process is also just a really fun thing to watch. He's endlessly creative and his art is joyful. Check out the Metadungeon map video here:



Or go and watch it on YouTube, at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-llYgemS2NE.

- Chant

Friday's update was beset by gremlins, it turns out. If it didn't go into your spam folder, it showed up with a warning about a dangerous link. If you did manage to see it, you probably couldn't comment on it.

Given all that, let's give it another go.

I would really like to know what goes in your personal Metadungeon - what the tropes and standards are that remind you of your own games. And I'd like to then get Odd Artworks (YouTuber, nice fella) to draw them.

I promise there's no scary or scammy stuff in the link, which is just to Odd Artworks' channel, and I'm hoping this update won't go into your spam folder. And I categorically promise that commenting's properly enabled now. 

Pop by the last update and give us your ideas! 

Chant