The late-pledge campaign is over as Book of Travels now is in Early Access on Steam.
You can still support the game at www.TMORPG.com.
Thanks you!
Might and Delight!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Rewards begin! + Settlers are now welcome in Braided Shore – Here's how to get EARLY Early Access!
over 4 years ago
– Sat, Oct 02, 2021 at 04:16:06 AM
Dear Travellers,
Right about now, Settlers and above can find artwork rewards in their Backerkit account – we hope you love them! As well as 12 Form Portraits you’ll find not 3 or 6 as promised but 16 wallpapers too, and we hope you enjoy using them on all your devices and even - wink wink - your social media!
Even better news is that Settlers’ game codes will be loaded into their accounts TODAY and we are officially welcoming Settlers into Braided Shore a full ten days ahead of Early Access release!
Table of content
1. Welcome Settlers – play today
2. Please don’t share... yet!
3. Accessing Book of Travels: How to use your Steam key and Account code
4. Watch Inside Book of Travels – The journey so far
5. Feedback for Settlers (and Secret Cultists)
76 Backerkit troubleshooting (if you can't upgrade or recieve your keys)
1. Welcome Settlers – play today
Dear Settlers,
We are thrilled to invite you to be among the first to set foot in this new world… One that you’ve already helped to build with your backing and given lift with your time and attention. Today that world is ready to greet you... Your game key (and some of your digital rewards) can be downloaded from your Backerkit Account!
Previously only Secret Cultists have had beta test access and explored this brand new world. Now we’re extending the invitation to be among the first and founding Travellers in Braided Shore. We are always happy to hear what you think, but today our invitation is one of gratitude and friendship, so whether you feedback your opinions or not, we’d love to see you there!
If you didn’t pledge as a Settler or know someone who didn’t get to take part in our Kickstarter campaign, it’s still possible to upgrade (for backers) or pre-order (for non-backers) to become a Settler. While some rewards remain exclusive to Kickstarter backers, those who become Settlers today will get these artworks and access to the game today.
BE AWARE: We are experiencing some trouble with orders that is already locked at Backerkit. We are working on the issue and are doing our best make it possible to upgrade locked orders. Since we know many of you are eager to play we will do our best to help you manually during the weekend, but our temporary costumer support set up might not be as fast as some of you hope for. But we’ll do our best! The thing is that someone need to manually approve and lock the orders (or unlock them if they are already locked). And our one man costumer support army Johan can not be at the screen every hour the whole weekend. But if you want him to help you upgrade your pledge, please fill out this Upgrading to Settler in Backerkit issues-questionnaire and he’ll help you as soon as possible! Thanks for understanding.
2. Please don’t share... yet!
In order to build the maximum momentum that we need to make the game a success, we kindly ask you NOT TO SHARE video content, reviews, or any details of your experience beyond our private channels (namely our Discord). We cannot stress how much it means to us that you keep your game play between us until launch day on October 10th – this game has been nearly five years in the making, the manner and mood of its public debut matter greatly to us. After that, stream and share your experiences to your heart's content – we'd love it if you helped spread the word about Book of Travels!
...But please invite your friends!
If you know anyone you think would love to join you in the first steps into a new and magical world, invite them along! We’d love to get as many as we can to celebrate and help support us as we set sail – this is a moment that comes rarely in life and we hope to feel the warmth of sharing between friends far and wide!
3. Accessing Book of Travels:
If you are a Secret Cultist or Above and have already played you can simply follow the same procedure as last year, so if you’ve activated your key on Steam, you only need to update and start the game!
An account code is how we keep track of whether you are a Backer, an Early Bird, and/or a Secret Cultist. When you have created your Book of Travels account, you can enter your account code(s) in the "Account Settings” on the Character Selection screen. You enter the code and press submit.
When your account is registered with your Account Code, you will have access to the special items and skills associated with your backer status on the characters you create, like the Travellers’ Knapsack or the Secret Cultist perks (the Early Bird account code will be distributed later).
Technical restrictions
The beta is available for Windows (32-bit and 64-bit), OSX (64bit), and Linux (64bit). If you have several options, the best would be your highest performing Windows computer. We will of course work to fix issues with optimization, and platform specific issues for OSX and Linux, but that will be a lesser priority than general issues for the game. All aspect ratios and screen sizes should work now. Please do report if you’re having issues with this! Please note that controller support is still something that would be added in the future and is not a priority at the moment.
Note: The version of the game that is live now is very close to the version that will go live on Early Access launch day. However, there will be updates between now and then and your experience may vary mildly from the players jumping in on release.
4. The journey so far in mini-movies
If you’ve missed our updates these last few weeks you might like to know that we’ve shared some game and dev insights in a set of teeny tiny videos. Here I’ve included one of my personal favourites where Game Designer Arvid looks at what’s special about Character Creation in Book of Travels. To see more, check and subscribe to our Youtube channel and as always, let us know what you think – we are present and respond to your comments!
5. Feedback for Settlers (and Secret Cultists)
We are always happy to hear your feedback and are grateful for any time you spend on it, but we don’t expect it or depend on it so if you’d rather just play, go ahead! Discord is a good forum for discussion, but remember to use the in-game Feedback menu tool to officially report bugs and suggestions.
Open the the Feedback menu
Choose the category of feedback
Complete a text field for the feedback (headline + description)
Choose a screenshot (if relevant)
Check in with our progress
The feedback and bug reports you send from the game end up in our public Trello board which you can look at any time. On this board, you can:
See your own feedback/bug reports and those that others have sent
See what we’re currently working on, and what will go into the next update
Vote on cards you want us to prioritize
6. Backerkit troubleshooting
If you pre-order on Backerkit and are not getting any codes, please make sure your order is completed, paid and locked. But be aware, after your order is locked it can't be upgraded without a manual fix (you can still make a new order and friends can order). If you're having trouble please click the ”need help” button in the upper right corner to get to the Backerkit support (don't work during the weekend), or do this survey and Johan in the studio will try to help you as soon as possible. Please be patient and aware of time zones and the limited resources.
Thank you for being with us in these final days! We hope that the world that’s about to emerge is one that will bring you great joy and adventure for years to come, and we’re thrilled to have you here with us in its first days – we look forward to seeing you there!
Best Wishes,
Helen & the Dev Team xx
Play Early! Exciting news about access + last chance to get digital rewards
over 4 years ago
– Thu, Sep 30, 2021 at 12:03:44 AM
Dear Secret Cultists,Settlers,Nomads... Travellers all,
Over the last couple of months, many of you have enjoyed playing Book of Travels a little early. Not only that, you’ve seen us through some tough times with your help and feedback. Thank you. We love the team effort that this game continues to be.
See Braided Shore early!
As you may have read in our Steam post the Unholy Trio has been beaten and we are now closing in on our Early Access launch date of October 11th when the game will finally go on sale and be open for all to enjoy. It’s all VERY exciting!
Now that these pests are beat, we’d love you to log in and test the game out. So if you are one of those who’s been waiting for us to get to the stage where all is fixed and shiny, now is the time, so go ahead and get started andbe with us at the very outset of this very special adventure…(For practical tips on getting started on Steam, scroll to the end of this post.)
Early play for Settlers and Nomads too!
Right now, we’re feeling very grateful for this journey and also, tentatively, a little celebratory about the joys and challenges that lie ahead, and so in this spirit we’d like to invite more of you to join the world you’ve been waiting for ahead of public release. As of Friday 1st October Settlers will be able to play using the key that will appear in their Backerkit accounts. Once the Settlers are - ahem - settled in, then Nomads will be free to roam. Thursday 7th is the day that all Nomads will find keys in their accounts.
If you want to change your pledge
If you want to join Braided Shore with the Secret Cultists this weekend, you can upgrade your pledge - as well as getting access to Book of Travels ten days before launch you’ll also get all the digital goodies that come with that pledge tier, including artwork and wallpapers (coming in just a few days!) a Lore Compendium, Map Book, Soundtrack and Concept Art Sketchbook. To upgrade your reward level on Backerkit log in and click on “Your pledge level” then “Switch Pledge Level”.
(Please Note: If you can’t upgrade, your survey might be locked for some reason. Please contact our Backerkit support team by clicking “need help”.)
How to get playing
If you haven’t played before, you’ll find the Book of Travels Beta Steam key in your Backerkit account. Just log in using the same email as you used in Kickstarter (please complete the survey if you haven't already!) and click the “Get Your Digital Downloads” button. If you lost your survey link, you can recover it here. If you haven’t used Steam before, you can download it here, and here is Steam’s guide on how to activate your key.
Please share kindly
For more information about getting started and about our privacy / discretion expectations (basically please be kind and please keep opinions to #beta-testers channel on Discord) Cultists can look at our previous Cultists-only update right here, and Settlers and Nomads will get their own update soon details in a new update soon.
As ever, thank you for your support - we look forward to seeing you inBraided Shoresoon!
Best Wishes,
Helen & the Dev Team xx
Playing Passage in Book of Travels
over 4 years ago
– Wed, Sep 29, 2021 at 05:36:46 PM
Dear Traveller,
Should you ever wander into The Voices’ Tavern at night time, you may be offered a game of Passage. Passage is one of many ways to distract yourself on your travels and it’s a game of luck and strategy. For full ambiance, why not take a listen to the soundtrack A Game of Passage as you read...
A game with hidden depths
While the game play is relatively simple, the cards themselves are said to hold deeper significance and are regarded as something far more solemn and auspicious than mere entertainment. To many, Passage cards hide a secret, and some folk are quite fixated on discerning a revelation in their inter-relations. And so it’s not only for the material losses folk have suffered that a game of Passage is taboo in Braided Shore. The game is more than a little socially unacceptable, which is why gamblers tend to play discreetly - most usually, Passage is played in The Voices’ Tavern, although Travellers may on occasion find themselves approached by a card-prone stranger.
Pass or play, luck meets strategy in Passage
Gambling & deck building
You’ll be able to play Passage at any point in Chapter Zero, and while gambling isn’t possible just yet, in future you’ll be able to win or lose your belongings and gamble your way to fortune or destitution. In the meantime, trying your hand at Passage risk-free will be a good opportunity to get to grips with the game in general and to learn some strategy. Then, when gambling is in place, you’ll have Passage skills enough to put to work and win!
The game will also become a deck builder, and as the world evolves, so will your cards! We look forward to sharing more about how you’ll collect new cards and what you’ll be gambling with in a future update.
Gambling with a Sefra
With just less than two weeks to launch we are really excited to share all that we've shown you here on this blog for the last two years! What features are you looking forward to trying out? Is there anything more you'd like you'd like to get more info on before you play? Please do drop your thoughts right here!
Best Wishes,
Helen & the Dev Team x
Releasing in October!
over 4 years ago
– Tue, Sep 28, 2021 at 12:50:52 PM
Dear Traveller,
When we made the decision to delay Book of Travels back in August, we knew we wanted to make sure that we were confident that we could meet the new deadline before we announced it to you. A while ago I wrote a post in which I described a set of nasty bugs that I (un)lovingly called the Unholy Trio, and the team has since vanquished that beast. Therefore I can finally say, with confidence, that we have a release date to share with you.
Book of Travels enters Early Access with Chapter Zero on October 11th.
Wow, that felt good to get off the chest. We knew what date we wanted to go with all along, and it has been a challenge to keep that from you until now. Especially when seeing some of you speculating that the game was delayed to next year, or worse. But now it's out there and we can all start gearing up for launch. Thank you again for still being with us – it means the world to us!
Growing together in Early Access
We do, once again, want to point out that this is an Early Access launch. There will be issues to be solved, there is content to be added, mechanics and systems to be iterated on and (most importantly) player feedback to be heeded.
Chapter Zero is the first season, if you will, of the ongoing story we're telling with Book of Travels. It will last for the entirety of our Early Access period of two years and we're beyond excited to have you come onboard and be a part of shaping this into the game of our dreams.
We'll have more to share about our roadmap for Chapter Zero soon, but we can share that the first month after launch will be strictly about looking at player feedback and taking suggestions – no extra content will be added until we've taken that time to closely examine your first impressions. We want you to feel like we're actually listening to what you have to say about the game after launch, and part of my job will be to make sure you do.
Exciting times, indeed! Once again, thank you so, so very much for your support, patience and passion. We're less than three weeks away from our maiden voyage, and we can't wait to have you with us in Braided Shore!
Best wishes,
Oliver & The Dev Team xx
Four New Forms for Building Characters
over 4 years ago
– Thu, Sep 16, 2021 at 02:29:50 PM
Dear Traveller,
Some time ago we took a look at the Book of Travels character creation process in a post that explains how character creation is one of the ways in which the game will allow you a wide range of personal expression in your roleplay. (You can get a video insight with Programmer, Game Designer and Discord hero Arvid right here on Youtube.)
Today we’re excited to be sharing four new Forms, and just like last time there will be Discord roles available for each one, so if you haven’t joined us there yet, please do dive in and get roled up! It’s been really cool to dip into Discord chat these last few weeks and hear your thoughts and ideas about our dev insight videos and reasons for our final date push. It’s also becoming clear that choosing Forms is something of a topic - and not always easy! So it's good to know that you’ll be able to create many characters in the game, and it’s not too early to start thinking about yours - this is a game for creative souls and character creation is just the beginning. We’d love to hear your ideas here or on Discord. And please know that while the Forms represent a kind of archetype they are only the starting point and it’s up to you to develop personasand backstories with as much detail, complexity and nuance as you see fit. We hope you like our latest additions!
The Crested and The Ribboned
While The Crested shows no vanity, they are naturally dignified and uninhabited about their sophisticated ways. Their ease and clear mindedness finds them accomplished in many arts and well placed to succeed in all kinds of company. The Ribboned’s love of home and nature manifests a spirituality that makes profound connections with all things living. Home and community are where The Ribboned is most energised, but their grounded, centred soul means they take both in heart when travelling.
The Larker and The Veiled
Likeability is not The Larker’s goal but merry times are in the offing when The Larker is around. Adventure comes in many forms and are rarely serious - so long as leisure and idle times abound, a Larker’s day is as it should be. The Veiled is at once inconspicuous and remarkable, holding to the edges of activity where they absorb goings-on from a place of detachment and stillness. But obscurity comes with mystique, the allure of which makes this solitary watcher an enigmatic type with a quiet penchant for power.
-------
Finally, we’d like to say a word about what has been termed our ‘indefinite postponement’... it is not indefinite! With every day that passes we get closer to securing our new release date, and while we’re not yet ready to reveal it, it really isn’t far away! It’s so important to us that we have your trust and that means that we want to be sure that the date we give really is the date we release and not a day later. So when we know for sure, you will too. Book of Travels is coming! Stay tuned and stay in touch!
Best Wishes,
Helen & the Dev Team xx
PS. To see all eight Forms so far revealed, head to our Steam post
