Short version: TLRB v0.5.0 will not be released by April 15th. Sorry... no joke.



Long, long, LONG version: I have pushed myself, the other Designers and all the Contributors to the limit. Today is April 14th, and I still have one MAJOR task to complete. Very sorry. All staff members have been, honestly, beyond helpful. Everyone had taken their assigned tasks and completed them, and then starting helping those who were behind. Only one idiot has not completed his tasks... me. Although the deadline for April 15th was my idea, and it was implemented back in February, I won't be able to make it.

One of the major points of this release is to fix several of the 'under the hood' topics that affect the campaign mode. For this, we have created a nicely convoluted excel calculator that is capable of cross-referencing multiple subjects, so we can compare everything 'apples-to-apples'. It is slow work, but it allows us to see at a glance multiple items and see what is 'wrong' with something. It is fair and balanced... keeps the design honest. All the staff members have seen the results of the tweaks and how they affect the units, hired guns, special characters, weapons and armor... all in preparation for the fix of the Wargear.

While we could eyeball the prices (we have done it in the past), we have found this to be a temp fix, that tends to come back to haunt us in the future. All these stuff needed to be fix, so we can have a solid foundation to integrate the Space Marines in campaign mode. Because of the calculator, we were 'forced' to revisit lots of elements that we had left pending for the future... no time like the present, ehh? We have revised the big units, so not only they are more simple to use (you will be pleasantly surprised at the changes on the Trash-Kan for example), but now they are correctly priced.

The work on the math has been BRUTAL, to the point that I'm receiving calls from the Adeptus Mechanicus insisting I return their Servitors. I'm not making excuses for me... I'm just sharing the reality. For example, organizing and revising the weapons in Excel (which I dominate) and TLRB (which I know better than any other book in existence) took me 15 hours of work. The staff got to see the results and interpret any issues they saw.... and comments flew everywhere (good and bad), which allowed us to fix stuff.... which in turned had to be replugged on the calculator to insure the fix was fair and balanced. To the common reader and player, all of it in TLRB will look like a simple re-arrangement of items... but EVERY single detail (from weapon, to placement, to special rule, to stat) was carefully and meticulously checked twice. There is a lot of detailed work that goes behind the scenes, so when everyone plays they get a sense of fairness and professionalism (thing that I have been missing lately from some recent rules released by certain companies.)

The math behind the cost of weapon increased from 3 'loose' points to 13 'detailed' parameters. The accuracy of the calculator became monstrously powerful. Items that we had carefuly revised came out exactly the same... items that we had left incomplete for a later date showed red flags in an instance. With honestly, 90% of the items flagged were forgotten! Thanks to the calculator that pointed on errors on game design, which in turn triggered the army of Designers & Contributors to tackle and fix the issues, we had return to the attention to detail that we (as players) always demand from our games. In the end, the result was an elegant, simple, almost invisible tweak that served to re-balanced and fortify Death Squads.

The task pending is the work with the Wargear. You may have notice that everything cost 15 or 20 credits... because back on v0.2.4 we had to put a number, and Da Bank blurred a number first (I was going to say 25 credits!) Most of the items are over priced, so they are not used. These items also affect the cost of certain units and how the Exploration Phase affects the Campaign as a whole. I have not yet started to code the new calculator... so I have some severe time to log on this part of the project. Unfortunately, the other person who understand the mathematical and coding aspect of the Calculators is Dozer... and he is going through a rough time (lots of time consuming issues) and he asked me to take over the process two months ago. Yes, I have been working on all this for 2 months... already.

For better or worse, I am the game's design bottleneck. Everything that is written, no matter how big or small, has to pass through my hands. Sometimes I have to re-write complete sections, sometimes I just make minor editing. Regardless, I have to let everyone know... sometimes everything is fine; sometimes someone finds a better way to do things, which in turns puts me back in square one. Sometimes I have to cross reference rules and find things that are either unclear or just contradictory; sometimes I see other people cross referencing my 'final' write ups. Again, this is all done for the betterment of the game... but it puts lots of work on everyone. I tend to start LOTS of topics, so other staff members can discuss items. I'm NOT saying I do it all (I definitely do NOT do it all)... but my to do list tends to be a little longer. It always has been that way... and I volunteered.

Recently I had LOTS of personal issues (lost my job, regain it... but I got no contract, so I can loose it again any day!), my wife (she is a pediatrician) is helping the relief effort in Haiti... and my refrigerator stop working. Funny... that was today's personal event. They wanted $300 to fix the fridge. So I went to the web, find out what the problem was (the auto-defrost lamp is damaged), ordered the part ($35!!!) and will fix it myself when it arrives in couple of days. Of course, all that took 4 hours of my time... time that I could not plug to TLRB. Meanwhile I have to deal with having no refrigerator... and having no mom for the kids (including me!)... but she got it way worse that I could ever have. The things in Haiti are REALLY bad still!

I could release v0.5.0, then release v0.5.1 with the wargear is done, as well as the new Roster Character Sheet and the maximum stats for the Ogryn and Gretchins... maybe few other details that escape me at the moment. Sorry... I won't. Not only it will force ME to work harder on a list of pages that have changed (so you guys can print only those, instead of the whole manual) but it will take the little energy and enthusiasm I have to release TLRB.

I promise... I will continue to work hard. This is a hobby, but now it feels like work. BLAH! Not to worry... I get this way before the release. It is a lot of work. Right now this is consuming all my 'other' time... I have played once in 2 months and have not painted in 4... I don't remember when was the last time I did 'the hobby' for myself. Regardless, I want to finish TLRB v0.5.0... and earn my right to become just a regular player, convert models, paint, build terrain and go crazy with pictures to share with you guys. That is my motivation to finish this leg of development... looking forward to writing stories and sharing them. Right now, I need to finish this thing. Laser beam... pew, pew!

Flame me, blame me, stone me... it is my fault. The only thing I can offer you is the promise of a better tomorrow; my personal goal is have TLRB v0.5.0 out before April is finished.

I'm sorry to disappoint. If I were rich and making were my 'job', all this stuff would had been completed long ago. Right now, it is 1am... and I'm upset because I have not done anything for the wargear yet... probably will finish this apology and go to work on that, instead of sleep. HA! I better... or someone will complaint to the Assasinorium!

Again, my deepest apologies. No one in the staff, except me, is to blame for the delay. Thank you guys for keeping up, taking your role as contributors seriously and making the very best you can. It is an honor to have you guys helping! I will do my very best to reciprocate your superb dedication and attention to detail with some hard work of my own. I know you all want to help, but unfortunately this is a part I need to do alone (except for the roster sheet... hint... here I go cracking the whip again!)

Expect TLRB soon...

PS: I told you it was LONG!

No worries- these things happen.

If you would like an editor (in the normal sense of the word- typos and misprints) to look over things at some point, lemme know. I'm a regular beta-reader for some friends and graduated with an English degree (and I guess I should get some use out of that, even if it is pro bono )

@Mord...no worries. You are working hard on editing and trying to become a servitor. This stuff will all roll out in time. This is our game and we are not bound by shareholders but are bound to fellow gamers who love the game and I am sure 99.9% get it.

If i didn't have to work and you didn't have to work this thing would still take a while to get it done as there are sooooo many different ways to make things work.

As we talked about this game when it was Project X, I was never in a rush to release it and nor worried about time lines as to do something correctly with all the different people helping out from all over the WORLD and everyone has lives, jobs and families there is truly never enough time to get is all done.

Somtimes things need to set and then an idea will pop into your mind on how to do it.

With that, I need help with the Kroot if someone else who loves Kroot and want to help playtest. I have most things figured out but not being a Kroot player is it tough to see what we could be missing.

kartofelkopf: Thanks for your kind words. They do mean a lot! I will take you on your offer for proof-reading! Just like Corporal (in)Dispensable, you could be of great help. I would suggest waiting after v0.5.0 is released, so you could join the task team I plan to create that concentrate only on proof reading (rather than designing). Yes... yet another thing I want/need to organize and put the idea to the Contributors and if approved, make special areas in the forum, tags and other 4 billion little things. AHHH!!! More work! You are ... you tricked me into more work! I should change your nick to Tom Sawyer!

Da Bank: Thanks bro! I know we are in control... but you know me. Stupid ethics... I dreamed on finishing the 'boring' stuff we I could join the players' guild again; that and my big mouth... putting everyone's expectations high and then finding out it is a big chuck of stuff. It is very high quality stuff we are doing... and I understand it takes time, but it hurts letting people down. Even if it is understandable. I have my Kroot in the sprues and I have a Pentax (the original Kroot big unit!) to convert... I'm itching to do it... but priority of TLRB is important.

mudboy: HAHA! Thanks mudboy... someone actually tapped me in the back when I was reading your comments... I think it smells funny around here now! Your comments do energize me... I get this stuff done, Boss!

While I am certainly a bit disappointed we won't be seeing it tomorrow... better right, than rushed my friend.

I can wait (he says... pretending to have a choice).

-Dryw

Sh!t happens build a bridge get over it.....

take your time and build this game the right way.... I'd prefer to wait and get the rules right then have it rushed and still wait for three- four revisions due to the job being only half done.

take it each day as it comes and do the best you can...... which you are doing and doing a great job we all have RL issues.....

still got my support and will endeavor to help as much as I can.....

Cheers
LGW

We all love the game, but like you guys told me before, our lives comes first.
We all know you (and the rest of the contributors) are working like dogs, trying to create a balanced experience for everyone, but some times stuff happens.
No sweat man!
Keep your fridge running!

Warning: comparative life event incoming...

A few years back I was a rabid player of the MMO Neverwinter Nights. Played it more than was truly healthy. Loved it to obsession.

Thought the best creative output (because I loved it so much) was to stand up, run and maintain a persistent NWN world/server.

I quit a year later and never went back.

Working 100% of the time to ensure _someone else_ had fun, ground me to dust. Ended up hating every minute of login time. Felt like a second career.

Never let someone else's enjoyment of any hobby overtake your own level of enjoyment. Do I want to see v5? Absolutely. Is it worth reducing your enjoyment of your preferred hobby?

Not one bit.




p.s. Is it done yet?

@Akkon...Thanks for sharing and very very true.

Things are turning better... hopefully tonight I get to go some hours and hopefully see my failure turn into creative energy!

You are right... I have to be careful not to fall on the pits you mentioned. We have been at this for long time, and at times you feel like running naked off a bridge (that way you also make the whacky news on the web!)... fortunately for me, I'm not alone AND as soon as I finish I get to paint. Will finish my Ork Mob (The White WAAAGH!), Trash-kan and bobby-traps. Then move to the Eye Pokers. By then it would be time to play.

Wish me luck tonight.

Why, God, WHY, did you aim for the SAME DAY AS (US) TAXES? That's just asking for trouble! God knows I can only meet one deadline a year!

BTW, would it be terrible if I start poking at the Rogues again?