Introducing Trilogy

Yesterday I released Trilogy, a new tabletop RPG crafted to support you in having grand adventures in worlds of your own making.

There are several reasons I started writing Trilogy, but the biggest one is that I ran a Dungeon World podcast called Crudely Drawn Swords for seven years and that was a lot of time to think about what we were playing. To a degree Trilogy is the game I wish that we could have had to run the podcast.

Starting from the question "what would a purely PbtA game for epic fantasy look like?" I started thinking more widely - what do I want from a fantasy game? And the truth is that I want a game that supports the structure of characters and their interactions but doesn't tie itself to a specific setting.

Trilogy begins with The Appendices - conventionally in epic fantasy these are at the end and document information about the wider world that might not have made it into the story, but here it is where you sit down as a group and decide what tone you want your game to have, and your world looks like. What kind of place is it? What magic is there? What is religion like? What are the major cultures where the story begins? How would it feel to be in this world? Trilogy doesn't tell you any of these things, it gives you the tools to think through how you want your world to look.

This creates a secondary challenge - without knowing what the world looks like, how could I design character classes for this type of game? Trilogy answers this by going back to the fundamentals - instead of a conventional character class, the playbooks in Trilogy represent a narrative arc. Some of them, like The Fighter, The Priest, or The Magus, look like familiar classes. Others, such as The Volunteer, The Mentor, The Weapon, or The Defeated, are a little different. Character arcs have a set of turning points, story beats that allow you to advance along your arc after you have collected a certain amount of experience. Some are positive and others negative, you choose which ones you want to hit and when, but every character's story has its highs and lows and to get the most from the game you need to lean into both. A character can pass through three arcs as they grow and change, like the three volumes of a trilogy.

The aim of the game is to create a slower but satisfying sense of progression - instead of hit points characters take Stress and Harm like in other Powered by the Apocalypse games that can have both mechanical and narrative effects. That makes combat feel dangerous, but the game also offers more ways to solve problems without getting into combat - I have played games where the player characters never got into a fight, instead resolving confrontations through an ingenious selection of alternative strategies including "lying" and "vomiting magic ink all over the floor." I'm genuinely enthusiastic about this game - I think I would be as excited about it if somebody else had written it. It leans hard into the joy of discovery and the excitement of adventure - you can play it as spooky and whimsical or gritty and hard-edged and anywhere in between.

Because I was writing it I even got to make most of the examples of play roll out as the story of someone's game, something I always appreciate when I read it. It also contains every technique I use as a GM in the hope that even before people get the chance to play it (heaven forbid any TTRPG afficionado have books we haven't got around to playing yet!) people who read it will still be able to use that advice in their other games. So that's Trilogy, the game I've been working on for the last few years. I think it's pretty great and I hope you will too:

Obviously it's a full-priced game and that's a big gamble from an unfamiliar creator - if you want an idea of what it's like in practice we've got the CDS team back together and we're starting a streamed campaign so you have a chance to see it in action. You can find that over on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxpXacko9Nc

The first episode includes me notably failing to use OBS at both the beginning and end, and I can't make any promises things will improve in that regard, but it should be a good opportunity to see how the game shapes up from this start and with this crew I know it's going to be funny and take some wild swings. If you're interested in reviewing Trilogy or you really want to give it a try but you can't afford it, drop me a message

Interference

Instead of releasing any of the 12(!) finished posepacks that I've made for people so far this year, I decided to share this incredibly niche pose set that I made for my own story. 🥲

Pack contains 6 couple poses plus all-in-ones. There's a built-in height difference and, as always, height sliders may cause issues. Masc and femme frames used and clipping or floating is possibly depending on Sim clothing or body type.

Download here (always free): SFS | Patreon

TOU: you may adjust for personal use to avoid clipping etc., but please do not reupload/paywall/claim as your own.

I’d love to see them used! You can tag me on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr. I repost. ❤️

You can easily browse more of my posepacks using my Ko-Fi gallery. Have a request or want to make a commission? Details here!

@ts4-poses @alwaysfreecc

I was gonna do a whole lookbook but I got bored sorting through my screenshots lmao... so just Saxen in a couple of dresses that I thought looked good on him. ❤️

Dress 1 | flower crown | dress 2 | arm warmers | veil | hair

Thank you @backtrack-cc , @miikocc , @simandy ❤️

Party Preparation

These are some poses that I made for my story last year and forgot about. I never got round to sharing them because I don't like to use posepacks that require multiple accessories/objects unless it's for something very specific... so I assume no one else does, either. 😅🤣

But I had to make these for myself because at the time I couldn't find any poses where an adult was applying make-up to a kid, and as always, maybe that means someone else needs them too.

This pack contains two sequences (with all-in-ones for both): six paired poses between an adult and child having a conversation, and three group poses for two adults and two children. All poses require the "Captain Rodrigo De Pablo Ottoman" which is base game - I discovered recently that not all of EA's ottoman's are the same height/width, so you may need to use TOOL if using anything else.

Place all teleporters in the middle of the ottoman.

You will need: - Pose Player - Teleport Any Sim - Captain Rodrigo De Pablo Ottoman (base game) - make up brush (bracelet category) (one adult, all poses) - nail polish top (bracelet category) (one adult, poses 7-9 only)

Download here (always free): SFS | Patreon

TOU: you may adjust for personal use to avoid clipping etc., but please do not reupload/paywall/claim as your own.

I'd love to see them used! You can tag me on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr. I repost. ❤️

You can easily browse more of my posepacks using my Ko-Fi gallery. Have a request or want to make a commission? Details here!

@ts4-poses @alwaysfreecc

His Prince

I made this as a self-indulgent treat for myself because I really wanted to capture the specific way in which I imagine Sax looking at and admiring Fen. Yes, I have issues. No, I won't be accepting criticism. 😌🤣

Twelve floor poses (you can use TOOL or WW pose player to raise them onto a bed), all-in-ones included. These were made with masc rigs and there is likely to be clipping/floating depending on body type and clothing.

You will need:

- Pose Player

- Teleport Any Sim

Download here (always free): SFS | Patreon

TOU: you may adjust for personal use to avoid clipping etc., but please do not reupload/paywall/claim as your own.

I'd love to see them used! You can tag me on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr. I repost. ❤️

You can easily browse more of my posepacks using my Ko-Fi gallery. Have a request or want to make a commission? Details here!

@ts4-poses @alwaysfreecc

Update: I think it's my graphics drivers (thank you to @dead-lights for that light bulb moment!). I forgot I'd updated them yesterday while we were trying to fix a completely unrelated software failure lmaaaaoo. Fortunately, opening my rigs in 2.79 instead shows them with their correct textures, so... I guess I'm using that now.

Can anyone help me figure out how to fix this? I've just opened one of my base rigs in Blender and it was showing all black. I checked all my other base rigs, and my custom rigs, and they had the same issue. I exported a new rig from S4S and, once opened in Blender, that was black too. However, when I render (just by using the textures panel at the bottom) the original texture shows up. I've tried all the other texture options too and render is the only one that shows me how it's supposed to look.

As far as I know I haven't changed or updated anything since I last opened Blender, two days ago. I thought it might be a lighting issue but moving the lamps around changes nothing; environment lighting is on; the lamps were set to specular so I checked diffuse too, but no change. HOWEVER, when I tried render again, the lighting on the model was very different - so it is doing something, just not in the view I usually work in.

I also get an all black image if I open a build or pose acc mesh, but NOT if I open a new file with the standard cube/lamp combo.

Obviously this makes it really hard for me to make poses so I'd really appreciate any insight. 😅 I'm using Blender 2.76.

Can anyone help me figure out how to fix this? I've just opened one of my base rigs in Blender and it was showing all black. I checked all my other base rigs, and my custom rigs, and they had the same issue. I exported a new rig from S4S and, once opened in Blender, that was black too. However, when I render (just by using the textures panel at the bottom) the original texture shows up. I've tried all the other texture options too and render is the only one that shows me how it's supposed to look.

As far as I know I haven't changed or updated anything since I last opened Blender, two days ago. I thought it might be a lighting issue but moving the lamps around changes nothing; environment lighting is on; the lamps were set to specular so I checked diffuse too, but no change. HOWEVER, when I tried render again, the lighting on the model was very different - so it is doing something, just not in the view I usually work in.

I also get an all black image if I open a build or pose acc mesh, but NOT if I open a new file with the standard cube/lamp combo.

Obviously this makes it really hard for me to make poses so I'd really appreciate any insight. 😅 I'm using Blender 2.76.

✨🌈💖

SEND THIS TO BLOGGERS YOU THINK ARE WONDERFUL and AMAZING

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Ohhh you are just the sweetest! 🥹🥹 Thank you for your wonderful CC and for always having a kind word to say. ❤️

March releases

I used to do this at the end of every month... bringing it back in case it's useful lmao. I know I often miss stuff even from people I'm following.

117: Summoning (poses for kids summoning a ghost or demon) 118: Hospital Visit (a Sim visiting an unconscious or deceased Sim) 119: Sit With You (awkward adult and child conversation) 120: Magic Lessons (adult Sim teaching spells to a child) 121: Emotions (with a cane) (emotions/conversation poses) 122: Three On A Bench (a trio having a conversation)

Three On A Bench

Another imaginatively titled pack. I made this for my story and a scene that involved an elderly king sitting with his daughter and daughter-in-law, who he's comforting because she was told some painful truths about her missing father by the king's vampire ex, who has reappeared after being presumed dead for 60 years (he's not dead, but he's still a b*tch).

But maybe you'll have a different use for it, idk.

Just four group poses for three Sims, plus all-in-ones. Made with masc and femme rigs and, as always, there may be clipping or floating depending on Sim clothing and body type.

You will need: - Pose Player - Teleport Any Sim - any bench (made with Romantic Garden bench, but should work with most flat-topped benches)

Download here (always free): SFS | Patreon

TOU: you may adjust for personal use to avoid clipping etc., but please do not reupload/paywall/claim as your own.

I'd love to see them used! You can tag me on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr. I repost. ❤️

You can easily browse more of my posepacks using my Ko-Fi gallery. Have a request or want to make a commission? Details here!

@ts4-poses @alwaysfreecc

Another end-of-chapter round-up just 'cause I enjoy doing them. 🤷 If you like fantasy stories that make very little sense then you can read it on Instagram.

Thank you so much for the cane emotion poses! It's exactly what I need for an upcoming scene in my story!

Ohhh I'm so pleased to hear that ❤️😍 It makes me super happy when my poses are useful to people! Thank you!

Emotions (with a cane)

I made these for a friend of mine, and for myself, because sometimes I want to get a full body shot for conversation scenes when my Sim is using his cane. It contains 20 solo poses plus an all-in-one, and there are 4 'bases' with 5 versions: neutral (silent) and angry/happy/sad/a secret fourth thing (all speaking).

You will need: - Pose Player - Teleport Any Sim - @natalia-auditore 's Neuvilette or Welt cane (both are ring category)

Important note: if your Sim uses hand and/or finger sliders, the accessory may be misaligned in game.

If you're looking for couple poses where one Sim is using a cane, I shared these last year.

Download here (always free): SFS | Patreon

TOU: you may adjust for personal use to avoid clipping etc., but please do not reupload/paywall/claim as your own.

I'd love to see them used! You can tag me on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr. I repost. ❤️

You can easily browse more of my posepacks using my Ko-Fi gallery. Have a request or want to make a commission? Details here!

@ts4-poses @alwaysfreecc ❤️

do you by any chance remember where you got the poncho thingy that the female child in the front is wearing in your ice skating pose pack? its so cute!

Ohh yes! It's the Hildy top by @sims4nexus ! One of my absolute favourite pieces of child CC. 😍 I'm using an accessory shirt under it.

I just enjoy these shots. 😌🤭

I'm still on a massive high, I am utterly in love with this hair and Sax looks so good in it!

Thank you @simandy for sharing your incredible talent with us, and thank you @sansabirdanne for being such a wonderful friend. I love the Sims community - I've met so many fantastic people thanks to these funny little pixels, and have been blown away time and time again by the creativity, kindness, and support that people in this community have. There's SO much goodness here. You're all wonderful. ❤️

Commissioned by sansabirdanne!

This must have hair was a gift for @herecirm-warcry ! Have fun ♥ I hope you like it

BGC

All Lods

All frames

Hat Chops

24 EA Colors

40 Puppy Crow Colors (You will need the mesh with the EA colors)

TOU

       ☀️ • DOWNLOAD • ❤️

PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING ON KO-FI OR BECOMING A PATRON. I’m trying to pay for my new ADHD meds, antidepressants and therapy, also college. Please, consider sharing too, if you can’t pay. Thank you for the support :)

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