Brief Update

So, um... my deadline I gave last post turned out a little optimistic xD. Apologies for not writing this post earlier, I figured I could just release v2 a *little* late but it's been 3 days already since Saturday, so I've got to post something.

Main thing is I've unfortunately decided to stop working on Dread. This means that v2 will be the last release, and therefore I want to make a decent rules document since it'll be the final version. The thing about Dread that made it really appealing to me at first was that it was essentially made to be a more convenient, exciting version of PnF. The dice tower gives you a good pacing mechanism for fights, and the Hope score is a simplified version of the passions/fears mechanic. The problem I ran into (really, the problem I run into every time with these sorts of ideas) is that in practice the convenience I gain is always outweighed by the tradeoffs. By having a pacing mechanism it removes your control over the length of the fight and makes the experience feel "video gamey", on top of the practical challenges of using a real stack of dice as a game component. The Hope score also just feels too impersonal and bland. Overall it just creates an experience that feels "watered down" from actual PnF, and in practice I just prefer video games, anime, and other sorts of stuff over a very approachable, convenient rpg.

Bottom line is, Dread isn't the right game for me, but I do want to release what I have in case it's the right game for someone else. I'm sure you could take the idea into pretty cool directions if you wanted to