New zines in stock! Conventions. 2024.
Hey Bayers!
The end of the year is going to be very busy for The Lost Bay Studio. We’ve got quite a few releases and announcements that should lead us to an even busier 2024. I’m talking about new zines in the store, new collaborations, new releases and big news for The Lost Bay RPG. I’ll distill the info in a few newsletter between now and the end of the year, you should get three of them, I hope you don’t mind.
Here’s what’s going on in the TLBS factory right now.
We’re printing! If you’ve pre-ordered a bundle from us (not including Outer Rim Uprising) it’s being printed right now. We’ll receive them in a couple of weeks, right before Christmas, and start dispatching them to our fulfillment centers asap. If you’ve missed preorders for the Fallen Bundle or the CY_BER bundle, don’t worry, I’ve printed a few extra copies, I’ll put them on the store as soon as ready.
We are printing most of the bundles locally. It's a big change, and I’m glad I can talk with the printing manager IRL, it’s a whole different experience than working only via mail/phone, and I’m sure it’ll lead to better products.
Quick note about Outer Rim Uprising: we’ll open pre-orders next week, and I can tell you that the pre order store will offer a whole load of extra 3rd party Mothership zines. I’ll send a newsletter about that, as soon as the page is live.
After a full logistics reboot, which took much more time than planned, the shop is full steam ahead, with lots of new zines in stock. We used to fulfill weekly on Fridays, one of the big changes is that now your orders will be processed daily, which should lead to shorter fulfillment times. We’re expecting roughly 20 titles in the next few weeks, and today we have a load of games, adventures, solo games for you.
Remember that as a faithful reader of The Dispatch you can benefit from discounts anytime using the code PEOPLEOFTHEBAY. Right now and until the end of the year, this promo code gives you 20% OFF the whole catalog.
Here’s what we got for you:
RuneCairn Zine Collection
by Colin Le Sueur
Deep dive into mist, stormy mountains, and Norse fantasy, with this game/adventure/advanced rules mini-bundle. Built on top of the Cairn engine: 3 stats, D20, no roll to hit. Grab your two handed ax and slay the Stone Demon.
https://www.thelostbaystudio.com/products/runecairn-zine-collection
HOWL
by Colin Le Sueur
A slick red and black adventure for Cairn, inspired by English folklore and Ravenloft. Your adventure starts on The Erebus, a ship at sea, when you reach a bustling port city, and the promise of riches and adventure.
https://www.thelostbaystudio.com/products/howl
Storyteller
by Pandion Games
A campfire narrative game featuring a super quick and streamlined engine to create and play spooky adventures. It’s ideal for the winter break, to chill out with friends and family. Who doesn’t like to be scared?
https://www.thelostbaystudio.com/products/storyteller
Whispers in the Walls
by Pandion Games
A 15 to 60 minutes solo journaling game. You’re a PI, shrouded by night and darkness, and you unveil unspeakable secrets with your unique investigative talent and a deck of cards.
https://www.thelostbaystudio.com/products/whispers-in-the-walls
Waffles for Esther
by Pandion Games
Love a mystery, but need a more mellow vibe? Waffles for Esther is a lighthearted mystery journaling game where you play as a small-town waitress searching for your favorite regular customer who has gone missing.
https://www.thelostbaystudio.com/products/waffles-for-esther
Hamsters and Himbos
by Pandion Games
Prepare for massive amounts of cuteness. Giant hamsters have appeared in Willowdale! Their flowing, shining coats tell of pampered creatures on a rich diet full of keratin. However, the townspeople are terrified and have no clue where these creatures came from or why they are here. That’s when you come in, as three Himbos, to solve the mystery in this furry solo game.
https://www.thelostbaystudio.com/products/hamsters-and-himbos
Badger + Coyote
by Pandion Games
A GM-less duo game of survival through the wilderness. Play it IRL drinking a cup of herbal tea, or as an PBM/epistolary game.
https://www.thelostbaystudio.com/products/badger-coyote
All of these, plus the rest of the items in the store 20% OFF just for you, https://www.thelostbaystudio.com/discount/PEOPLEOFTHEBAY
CONVENTIONING
I had the chance to attend the DragonMeet convention last weekend in London. It was so cool to mingle with so many RPG-obsessed folks like me, including blue-haired elves, teens with hand-knitted D&D sweaters, dice nerds, and most of all, many online RPG friends I met IRL for the first time. I had a blast, I needed that feeling of belonging. It was a unique experience, and it gave me the itch: I’ve already pre-booked a stand for the UK Games Expo next year in early June. The Lost Bay Studio is going to be boothing! I’m so excited and I’m already scheming and plotting the future TLBS booth!
In the meantime, let me show you a few pics of cool people I met at DragonMeet, and at the bottom of the newsletter there’s a little teaser for you.
The yellowest booth of the convention, by Alfred Valley, packed with so many cool zines, and a Goblin Perfume!
A multi-publisher booth that almost killed my wallet. With Laurie O'Connel, Kayla Dice (Rat Wave), and many more cool folks.
Colin Le Sueur! Just wondering why I didn't buy this T-shirt. Silly me. Next time I will.
The Italian-French booth, felt at home here, with Eric Nieudan and Paolo Greco showing a print test of Beyond the Pale by Yochai Gal. I'm super excited about this book, you should be too, go back it right now!
The Peregrine Coast Press booth with Eryk who still owes me a convention-beer.
The gigantic Soul Muppet booth, say hi to Mol! I was about to snag that Yoon-Suin second hand book, but I got distracted. Too bad. But I snagged a lot of cool zines here.
The skull-themed booth by Monford Tales, featuring beyond cool journaling games, which I have proudly backed.
That was my first post-pandemic convention, I can’t wait for UKGE, I hope I’ll meet you there.
THE TEASER-THING
You’re a reader of The Dispatch, you probably know that I’ve been working for some time on an urban dark fantasy RPG set in alternate 90s: The Lost Bay RPG. It’s my big passion project and I've already released an early access version on itch.
It’s not much of a secret either that I’m going to run a crowdfunding campaign next year to try and fund a print run/more art/editing. The print version will include a series of collaborations/3rd party content with/by other designers. Let’s shoot a few names of confirmed collaborators: watt, Sam Leigh, Alfred Valley, Chris Airiau, Christian Sorrell! I can’t believe these folks will be working on The Lost Bay material, I’m excited and honored.
One more collab: right now I’m co-designing with Dave Kenny a solo mall crawl/survival adventure: CORPSE SNATCHERS XMAS. We’re working hard to release a preview PDF before Christmas. It’ll be the perfect excuse for you to leave the dining room and take a moment for yourself fighting abominations in a desolate mall. Below is the WIP cover, with art by Evangeline Gallagher. That’s a version of you on the cover.
I have to go now, I have to cook for the tribe, pack some zines, and write some D9 tables.
Stay well
Iko