I want to take a few minutes to check in with all y’all. Especially because I’m facing a minor delay and because I’ve promised to be more transparent about that and in general.
Many of you have noticed that, in the past six weeks, I’ve been undergoing a major turnaround compared to the previous too-long period of struggles. I’ve been keeping up with weekly content, hosting Live Chats, putting out regular check-ins, moving content to General Access more regularly, and I’ve even put forth two blogs, including a pretty cool video, about Project Slapdash. None of it is happening as fast as I want. I have so many things in backlog to push out and only so many hours in every day. But every day, I’m gaining ground. Nothing has been forgotten or discarded. Everything is getting resources. Even a few things you don’t know about. But more on that some other time.
Many of you have responded by cheering me on, expressing your support, gratitude, and encouraging, and pledging support for my work. Thank you so much for that. Knowing so many people believe in me at a time when I’m still struggling to believe in myself is keeping me going every day. Every one of you who reads my work, comments on it, chats in Discord, sends me a message, or pledges me support has touched my life in a real, meaningful, significant way. You’re helping me claw my way out of the darkness.
For the first time in two years, I saw a doctor, and found out how I’m actually doing. The results were better than I deserve but also not as positive as I’d like. It’s just another wake up call. It’s what happens when you spend months and months in darkness letting your life rot away. Now starts the hard work of saving my life a second time just as I’ve started the hard work of saving my work and my dream.
It’s a lot. It feels like too much. But I’ve got all of you and I’ve got a lot of gifts to share. So I’ll do it.
That said, due to some changes in my mental health treatment, I’m going through a really crappy time right now. It’s just an adjustment period. But I’m ragged and strung out and not sleeping right now. So please be patient with me this week and, if I’m a little quiet for a few days, don’t worry. It’ll pass quickly.
But there’s two side effects…
First, I’m a little behind finishing the next Feature. It was supposed to happen today. I’m probably going to have it done tomorrow or Friday, but I’m going to do the safe thing and set a firm Monday release date. Monday, April 20 will be the next Early Access Feature. That way, if I really run into trouble, I have the weekend and it still won’t throw off next week’s releases. I’m sorry for that delay.
Second, I recorded a Live Chat this past Monday, April 13. I was not in a good state to record it. I was strung out, exhausted, maudlin, scatterbrained, and mentally foggy. I spent too long talking on topics I had no business talking on, I went into harsh truth mode a little too often, and I do not feel good about releasing it. A couple dozen people listened live; several of them disagree with my misgivings about releasing it as is, but I can’t in good conscience just throw it out there. I am going to take the time to heavily edit it, cut out the crap, and release the good stuff like diseases in RPGs, the fact that Misty Step is the worst spell ever conceived by man or demon, how you can make dramatic irony work in a D&D campaign precisely once ever, and other shit like that. It’ll take a few days.
Meanwhile, I am hosting Angry’s Deep Dive: Mystery Adventures on Monday, April 20 at 8:30 PM ET and I will release the complete recording, in both audio and formats, to my Angrican-tier supporters as bonus content.
So, that’s it. That’s the check in. Thanks again to all of you and thanks, especially, for your ongoing grace and patience as I try to drag this work back from the brink of collapse. After all, someone has to make the best roleplaying game ever, and it sure as hell ain’t gonna be WotC.
You _do_ have a lot of gifts to share. And not just the ones than can be put on PDFs. Never forget that.
I’m so happy reading your every update and each of these features that aren’t just more regular but also more qualiti… tive.
Waiting for more to come, but first of all – wishing you safe road through the dark. And – while we’re at it – Christ is risen, and so we will!
Take care of yourself, you’re worth it!
The effort and work you’ve been putting in to meet your deadlines has been noticeable! I appreciate everything you do here Angry. Be sure to take care of yourself and don’t drown yourself in work. Rooting for you to find your rhythm and gain some breathing room for the future projects ahead. Forever excited about Slapdash!
Best wishes, Angry. Looking forward to all your forthcoming content.
As one of the people who was there for that recording, I think your misgivings are unjustified.
Yes you said a lot of hard things, but hard things need to be said sometimes.
And everyone needs to know how terrible Misty Step is.
Figured if I can leave a comment about pretend elves in past articles, I should definitely leave a comment about this:
This site alone has improved hundreds, if not thousands, of DMs. Either through directly reading the words, or second hand from people who have; each of whom pass on your lessons, advice, and approach to the game.
Through those DMs, you’ve improved the games of untold thousands of players across the planet, even if those players don’t know your name. Their DMs are better, their adventures less crappy, their happiness increased. Thousands of people, happier, and better off.
And that’s just the pretend elf content on this site. Not even mentioning the help you might have given by writing about non-pretend-elf things, or indeed anything else you’ve ever done, on any given day, to help another person outside of what you publish here. Personally, I think that makes you a pretty fucking awesome member of humanity, and deserving of happiness, satisfaction, praise and success. You’ve got this.
Been there. Keep going forward and working on making the next day a little better.
Bon courage à vous ! J’espère de tout coeur que vous irez mieux. Je suis GM depuis peu de temps et vous êtes ma référence absolue en matière de RPG. Sans vos conseils, j’aurais cédé au découragement qui m’envahit parfois à l’approche d’une session. Alors merci et bravo !
Merci beaucoup pour votre message, ça me touche énormément.
Thank you so much for reading and commenting. It means a lot to me at this time. I wish I could tell you the pre-game fear goes away eventually, but even after years of running games, it still shows up sometimes. Keep fighting through it.
Keep on trucking brother!
I woke up one day and realized I was about 4 months behind on your content. It’s kind of reassuring to know that I’m not the only one that’s been going through the wringer lately, and it’s heartening to see that you didn’t disappear when times were rough. Your articles are always good for my morale, and I’ve really enjoyed catching up. Had a blast listening to your Mystery chat and can’t wait for the next one