Improved Initiative Is Undergoing An Update (And I Could REALLY Use Your Support)!

It's been one hell of a year so far, and it feels like every day brings us a new four-alarm fire that requires yet another response. Even narrowing things to just my little corner of the world of TTRPGs, we've had an uphill battle getting folks interested in the stuff I'm putting out, Drive Thru RPG's roll out has slashed organic discovery on the site to nearly nothing, social media continues to decay, and of course there are a slew of challenges as major companies in the hobby make changes that send shockwaves through the landscape that smaller creators have to try to weather.

However, despite all those challenges, I am still trying to push forward, and to keep making cool stuff for all of you to consume! And I try to keep the costs as low as I can because I know that a lot of my regular readers are on threadbare budgets as it is, and you all may not be able to afford just one more cost.

With that said, though, I'm currently dealing with a 2-on-1 assasult, and I could really use your help to get to the other side of this fight.

We're adjusting... your patience, and help, would be appreciated.

But before I get into the meat of today's post, remember, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

The Two-Front Financial Assault

For folks who are regular viewers of my show Tabletop Mercenary over on the Azukail Games Youtube channel (which you should subscribe to if you haven't yet), you already heard about the most immediate challenge I'm currently facing. The short version is that, thanks to finally getting my portion of the earnings from the Kickstarter for Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic, I got kicked up into a new income bracket. So instead of cutting a check for $300-$400, which is my usual, this year I owe roughly $1,700... which is more than half of what I actually earned from the Kickstarted in the first place.

More details can be found in the latest episode, Talking About Taxes For TTRPG Creators, embedded below.

That is, of course, a hell of a punch to the gut. I spent the year getting as many receipts for business expenses and charitable donations as I could, but in the end it just didn't matter. This isn't going to leave me penniless, but it is basically knocking me down the ladder to where I was at the start of last year, wiping out any progress I made, and just at a time when earnings are going into a serious downturn all around.

And that is... well, that's bad enough. But if that was the only problem I was dealing with, I wouldn't dedicate this Monday's update to the situation.

There is, of course, a second issue I'm dealing with. Since late 2024 I've been working on getting the details together for my audio fiction podcast Windy City Shadows. This show will be set in the world of the Chronicles of Darkness, and season 1's scripts are slowly coming together. However, since I already updated my video editing software in late Fall of 2024, I figured that this would be a good time to update my audio equipment as well. What I have is perfectly functional, but I was thinking on moving out of the realm of standard USB microphones, and getting something that would capture a slightly richer sound before I started recording for this podcast. After all, I don't want to be 3 episodes in, and then have the style and quality of the sound I'm producing radically shift.

Again, if this was the only challenge I was dealing with, I'd just handle it behind the scenes. But these two things happening at the same time is... less than ideal, to say the least.

How You Can Help

I'm not going to lie, I could use a hand to clamber up a few rungs. I also know that everyone is struggling right now. So if you're someone who'd like to help me dig my way out of this hole, but you're not sure you have the ability to do so, I've arranged the options in descending order. If you have spare dosh you'd like to throw my way, that's a great help! If you've got no spare money, but you have time and eyeballs, that can also be a major boon!

Let me explain.

If You Just Want To Give

If hearing about this situation makes you just want to throw money in my tip jar, that would be greatly appreciated. If you just want to do a one-time tip, consider Buying Me A Ko-Fi, or if you want to become a regular contributor consider Becoming A Patreon Supporter.

This is the most direct way to help, and the most efficient in terms of funds going directly to me as a creator, which is why I put it first. The others on the list are equally good, though, so feel free to take advantage of them as well!

If You Want To Make A Purchase

If you're the sort of person who wants to support me by buying stuff I've made (and there's a lot of it for sale) there are two major categories you should check out.

The first is my rather large archive of tabletop RPG games and supplements. I've made a TTRPG pinboard for all of them for ease of browsing, but if you prefer to avoid going to Pinterest as a website you can also find everything I have on Drive Thru RPG through this link.

Secondly, for folks who don't know, I also write novels and short stories. You can find a majority of my books on my Amazon author page, and several of my titles are also available at other bookstores if you see something you like, but you're trying to avoid buying from Amazon. Defunct super soldiers, mystery-solving cats, a sword-and-sorcery novel that reads like Conan if he was from Tennessee... all these and more await you!

If You Want To Help Without Spending Money

I get it, funds are in short supply these days. Or maybe you already did one (or both) of the previous options, but you'd like to put a cherry on top of your efforts to support me as a creator. Well, there are several things you can do that won't cost you any money whatsoever, but they still go a long way toward helping me pay my bills, recoup my losses, and get the new equipment I'm looking at for my upcoming projects.

These are listed starting with the most impactful.

- Read Articles From My Vocal Archive: This archive has 326 articles at time of writing, and they're all free for you to read! However, for every 1,000 reads, I earn about $6. So if a couple hundred people all read 1 article a day, that's going to be a noted difference in my income every month. For extra points, share the articles you like on your social media platform of choice to get more eyes on them!

- Watch My YouTube Videos: I contribute a lot of content to the Azukail Games YouTube channel, and when last I looked I think I've got nearly 200 videos on there. As with the above option, folks who watch just 1 video a day consistently can make a big difference (and an even bigger one if you upvote, leave comments of at least 7 words, and subscribe to the channel while hitting the bell icon to get updates)! Thanks to platform decay, it's hard as hell to get eyes on these, but whether you want to hear me talk about my Sundara: Dawn of a New Age setting, my Army Men RPG, advice for the World of Darkness, audio dramas, or dozens of other things, adding views to these videos makes a difference.

- Subscribe To Me: Whether it's on social media platforms, the YouTube channel I just mentioned, or becoming a free member on my Patreon page, anything that puts more bodies in my queue helps tell the algorithm to pay more attention to me. Interacting with my posts, leaving comments, sharing stuff, all of that helps as well, but even just clicking to follow me as a bare minimum makes a difference. Social media sites can be found below, for folks who want to take this option!

My Thanks In Advance

In an era where it's getting harder and harder to tell stories for any kind of living, you are the folks who help keep me afloat so I can keep doing this. Because without you, I don't know where I'd be... and that's pretty scary.

So thank you. Thank you to those who've been with me since the beginning, and thank you to folks who are just coming across me. All of you help keep me going, and it's my hope that the things I make enrich your lives just a little bit.

Here's hoping we reach the other side of this challenge together!

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or my Rumble channel The Literary Mercenary! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, my hardboiled gangland noir series starring a bruiser of a Maine Coon with Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Blue Sky, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

Owen K.C. Stephens Has Won His Cancer Battle, But The War Goes On!

For the past year and a half or so, one of our own has been engaged in a struggle with the Hateful Flesh. Though it tried its best to drag him down, as of the last news I received, Owen K.C. Stephens is currently cancer free!

This is, indeed, a moment to celebrate. However, as they often say, even when the battle is won the war is ongoing. And though Owen's recovering physically, he still has another foe to fight... the American healthcare system. Because beating cancer is a bastard and a half, but even more importantly, it's not cheap. Which is why he's still trying to make sure all the bills get paid so that he can go back to doing what he does best.

And that's why I wanted to let folks know about the new bundle going around to help the cause, along with other ways you can assist.

Will you answer?

As always, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

A New Bundle, Solid Supplements, And Other Funding Options!

The newest funding option that's been given for folks looking to help Owen pay his bills is The Beacons Are Lit! bundle. This bundle, which is jammed with supplements for Pathfinder, DND 5E, Icons, and a bunch of other systems, gives you a ton of fresh stuff to use at your tables. It's only been up for a little while, but this deal isn't going to last forever, so I'd recommend getting yourself a copy before it's gone!

It's not the only one, of course.

In addition to The Beacons Are Lit!, I'd recommend folks also check out Like A Boss, which has a slew of boss battles and creatures for both editions of Pathfinder, along with a lot of other systems they've been converted to. And for those who are looking to get some direct thoughts from a veteran of the craft, I'd highly recommend grabbing copies of Essays on Freelance Tabletop RPG Writing and Publishing, as well as its sister piece Essays On Surviving An Indpendent Tabletop RPG Career. While these have been up for a while, they're important for anyone out there who intends to make a living in this profession.

If you find yourself looking for career advice, though, I'd also recommend checking out my series Tabletop Mercenary (which is free on the Azukail Games YouTube channel).

If you're not in the market for new TTRPG supplements (which is a heresy we'll let slide, as that's not the focus for the day), there are other things you can do to help Owen come out on top in this second fight! So take a moment to:

- Go to Owen's Go Fund Me

- Becoming one of Owen's Patreon patrons.

- Bookmark and follow his blog.

- Follow Owen on Twitter (yeah, it's falling apart, but a replacement has yet to take its place)

We've had a victory in this fight, but we haven't claimed the hill yet! So if you can help, please do. And spread the word even if you've just got a couple of dimes in your own account, and you can't afford to pitch them in right now. Every little bit helps, whatever form it takes!

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or my Rumble channel The Literary Mercenary! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, my hardboiled gangland noir series starring a bruiser of a Maine Coon with Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!

Con Was A Bust, And Improved Initiative Could Use A Little Help!

Like a lot of authors and RPG makers out there, I try my best to make it out to conventions. Sometimes I'm a panelist, sometimes I'm doing readings of my work, sometimes I'm running sample games, and sometimes I'm holding down a table in the dealer's hall. It's been rough coming back to in-person events after the pandemic, and I've been trying to make my way out to a wider variety of events so that it's not just me in front of the same crowds at the same conventions with the same books time after time.

When you branch out to new cons, sometimes you find great crowds, a good reaction, and lots of sales. And other times... well, other times you find yourself at Raptor Con.

A penny for a tale would go quite a long way this month...

As always, don't forget to sign up for my weekly newsletter to get all my updates right in your inbox. Also, if you've got a bit of spare cash that you'd like to use to help keep the wheels turning, consider becoming a Patreon patron! Also, be sure you're following all of my followables, check out my LinkTree.

Lastly, for hundreds of extra articles on gaming, weird history, and for more free fiction, check out my Vocal archive, too!

How I Spent My Weekend...

For folks who noticed the hiccup in both my social media posting, as well as my missed updates on my blogs, I was at Raptor Con down in Evansville, Indiana this past weekend, holding down a table in the dealer's hall with Alice Liddell. And let me tell you, it was a trial. Preparations started Thursday afternoon, and I didn't stop sweating and straining until Friday night, which is how long it took to load up all our combined merch, drive 5.5 hours across Indiana, load that merch into the dealer's hall, and set it up so it looked nice and presentable.

And from the outside, this con looked like it had a lot going for it. The dealer's hall was quite large, the venue was located in a good spot, there were some fairly big names on the celebrity guest list, and there were even additional programming options attendees could participate in. Not only that, but our fellow dealers came in all shapes and sizes, selling everything from handmade plushies, to wooden dice towers, to laser-engraved and 3D printed everyday carry items and geek paraphanalia.

The numbers were looking good, is what I'm saying.

I can tell you quite honestly that the con did pull a lot of attendees. A few hundred people went past our booth in the two days we were there, and it very well might have been well over a thousand by the time all was said and done. The con also ran a live stream of the hall to get folks interested, and the event was covered by several local news stations. Despite all of that, though, I didn't sell a single thing. Most folks who showed up to the event barely scraped by with a few sales, and everyone I talked to during load out was grumbling about how they didn't make back anywhere near the cost of this event.

Now, I hadn't come to this event expecting to sell out of all my novels and RPG books... but of all the events I've gone to over the years, this is the first time I had a table, and I sold nothing. Hell, I can count the number of people who even picked up a book and looked at it on one hand, and that was also something I'd never seen happen before at all the shows I've been to.

Which is why I wanted to take a moment to ask folks reading this if they could help me out a little before this month is over.

What I Do (And Don't) Mean By "Help Me Out A Little"

Some folks who read those words are thinking that I'm just shaking my cup and asking for donations. That is not what I'm doing here, though if you did want to buy me a Ko-Fi or become a Patreon patron I certainly wouldn't say no to that.

However, I'm also aware that times are tough, and belts are being tightened all around. So rather than just asking for direct assistance, I wanted to instead ask my readers this week to please help support some of my ongoing projects. As always, if you have the spare dosh, consider buying some of the books and supplements I'm going to mention. If not, though, consider sharing a link to them, reading some of the articles I mention below, or watching some of the videos, because that also helps more than I can adequately explain.

Okay? Okay.

#1: Check Out "Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic"

We're so close to Copper sales status I can smell it!

Earlier this year I released my first RPG every, Army Men: A Game of Tactical Plastic where you and your follow players take on the roles of soldiers fighting for the Plastos Federation against the incursions of monstrous insectoid creatures called vespoids. Since the initial game dropped there have also bee 4 separate supplements released for it (listed below). The game uses a modifed version of the DND 5E rules set, but with a lot more tactical rules added back in so that players need strategy as much as they do the luck of the die to help them clinch victory in their missions!

This is a project I've been trying to build momentum on for a while, and it's been an uphill battle. So if you haven't checked it out yet, please give it (and the other supplements I've released so far) a look! And if you are one of the folks who bought a copy or backed the Kickstarter, then please leave me a review and a rating on Drive Thru RPG, as well as boosting the signal about it so others can find the game!

- Army Men: Threat Assessments (Extra Monsters and Threats)

- Army Men: Medal of Honor (Introduction of The Medals System For Rewarding Players)

- Army Men: Ungentlemanly Warfare (Booby Traps)

#2: "Windy City Shadows" and The Azukail Games YouTube Channel

I've been talking about this for a while on this blog, but the Azukail Games Youtube channel has been steadily getting closer and closer to reaching the goals for monetization. At the moment we have shows about my Sundara: Dawn of a New Age fantasy setting, Discussions of Darkness where I talk about the World and Chronicles of Darkness system, audio dramas taken from my various supplements, and Tabletop Mercenary where I talk about the business of TTRPGs behind the curtain.

However, we need about 200 or so more hours of watched content (that is, amount of time that the audience watches our videos) to get us over the hump to get us monetized... which would be a huge accomplishment under my belt, and it won't cose you all a dime (just a little bit of time and energy).

Additionally, once we cross that threshold, I am hoping to use that momentum to put together a Chronicles of Darkness audio drama podcast titled Windy City Shadows. I recently talked about this project on the channel, as well as on this blog, so if you'd like to listen to a show that can best be described as Dark Fae John Wick, take a moment of your time to check it out, subscribe to the channel, and help us reach our goals so I can push this up my priority list!

The initial elevator pitch can be found at "Windy City Shadows" A Chronicles of Darkness Podcast Proposal, and the recent Ask Me Anything I did about it is below!

#3: Check Out My "Sundara: Dawn of a New Age" Setting

I've been releasing splat books for my own fantasy RPG setting Sundara: Dawn of a New Age for several years now, and while something occasionally breaks the surface, it's been harder and harder to get any sort of eyeballs or interest regarding it. While I'm currently in the midst of doing another concerted push to build off of the already-released cities books (which are designed to be useful for any Game Master, whether they want to run my setting, or import the cities into their own setting), I really need any and all attention folks could give this project. Whether you watch the Speaking of Sundara playlist, where I talk about the various parts of the world and my process for making them, or you buy, review, or share the links to the supplements below, I would appreciate any signal boost you could offer!

Cities of Sundara

The setting first began with the Cities of Sundara splats. Self-contained guides to some of the larger and more powerful centers of trade, industry, arms, and magic, these unique locations provide plenty of fodder for character generation and plots. Not only that, but each one comes with unique, mechanical goodies for players and GMs alike to take out for a spin!

- Ironfire: The City of Steel (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Built around the Dragon Forge, Ironfire is where the secret to dragon steel was first cracked. The center of the mercenary trade in the region, as well as boasting some of the finest schools for teaching practical sciences, Ironfire is a place where discovery and danger walk hand in hand!

- Moüd: The City of Bones (Pathfinder and DND 5E): An ancient center of trade and magic, Moüd was lost to a cataclysm, and then buried in myth. Reclaimed by the necromantic arts of the Silver Wraiths guild, this city has once again become a place teeming with life. Despite the burgeoning population, though, it is the continued presence of the undead that helps keep the city running, ensuring that Moüd is not swallowed up once more.

- Silkgift: The City of Sails (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Built on the cottage industry of Archer cloth (an extremely durable material used for sails, windmills, etc.), Silkgift is a place that prizes invention and discovery. From gravity batteries that store the potential of the wind, to unique irrigation systems, to aether weapons, the city positively churns out discoveries... and then there's the canal they cut through the mountains that makes them a major center of trade across the region.

- Hoardreach: The City of Wyrms (Pathfinder and DND 5E): A center of power across an entire region, Hoardreach is ruled over by a Cooperation of five different dragons. A place for refugees and outcasts of all sorts, Hoardreach boasts some of the most unusual citizens and creations from across Sundara. Infamous for their sky ships, which require the cast-off scales and unique arcane sciences of the Dragon Works to take to the air, one never knows just what they'll find in this city built atop a mountain.

- Archbliss: The City of The Sorcerers (Pathfinder and DND 5E): A floating city in the sky, Archbliss has been a refuge for sorcerers for thousands of years. It's only in relatively recent years that the city has allowed those from the ground below who lack the power of a bloodline to join them in the clouds. However, while there are certainly amazing wonders to behold, there is a darkness in Archbliss. Something rotting away at its heart that could, if not healed, bring the city crashing to the ground once more.

Gods of Sundara

- Gods of Sundara (available for Pathfinder and DND 5E): In a world with no alignment, and where the gods are often genuinely mysterious forces that are far too large for mortals to truly comprehend, the divine feels genuinely strange and unknown... something that really does have to be taken on faith. This supplement provides a sample pantheon for Sundara, but also provides instructions on how to easily make your own gods in a world where you can't cast a spell and tell whether someone is good or evil.

Species of Sundara

Sundara is filled with creatures that many of us recognize, but I wanted to give greater depth to their cultures, and a wider variety of options. After all, humans always get 15+ ethnicities, languages, and unique histories, while elves, dwarves, orcs, halflings, etc. are almost always left with footnotes, or maybe with a handful of offshoots. So, in short, I wanted to give all the fantastical creatures the treatment that humans usually get in our games.

And there is no human book yet. If readers demand to know more, then I may sit down to pen one... but I figured that humans didn't need to be front-and-center in this setting just yet.

- Elves of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Elves are one of the most quintessential fantasy creatures... but if you want to see more than just high elves, wood elves, and elves of the sun and moon, then this supplement has you covered!

- Dwarves of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): The children of the primordial giants who were meant to fill in the details of the world they'd made (or so the myths say) there are as many kinds of dwarves as their are kinds of giants... and possibly more, depending on who is keeping count.

- Orcs of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Supposedly a creation of the elves, none can say for certain exactly how or why orcs have been made. What most agree on is that these creatures are far more than most may think at first glance.

- Halflings of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Little cousins to the dwarves, halflings are tough, clever, and not to be underestimated. From living beneath the hills, to taking up residence in the deep forests, halflings in Sundara come in quite a variety!

- The Blooded (Half-Elves and Half-Orcs) [Pathfinder and DND 5E]: When orcs and elves mix their bloodlines with other creatures, the result is one of the Blooded. This inheritance takes many forms, and it can even wait generations before manifesting when the right combination of individuals come together to have a child.

- Gnomes of Sundara (Pathfinder and DND 5E): Gnomes are strange creatures, found in places where the spirit of the land has coalesced and made children of its own. The sons and daughters of the ancient nymphs, they are the stewards of these places, and they change as often as the weather and the land.

Organizations of Sundara

Phase 3 has been going strong, but there's still a few titles left in it! So if you haven't seen them, consider checking out:

- Sellswords of Sundara: With power structures being smaller in scale in Sundara, standing armies aren't often maintained for long. As such, soldiers of fortune are quite common! This supplement contains 10 mercenary companies, their history, uniform, sample members, whispers and rumors, as well as either an archetype or subclass for playing these unique warriors. Grab your copy for Pathfinder of DND 5E.

- Cults of Sundara: Faith comes in many forms in Sundara, and there are as many gods in the Prim as there are dreams in the minds of people. This supplement contains write-ups for 10 cults, their histories, sample members, rumors about them, their beliefs and tenets, and a unique magic item for each. Get your copy for Pathfinder or DND 5E.

- Guilds of Sundara: While cities and villages may be relatively local, guilds are spread across the length and width of Sundara. From professional orders of skilled miners and dredgers, to monster slayers and bounty hunters, this supplement has 10 guilds with histories, sample members, rumors, as well as unique feats one can take to represent the skill and benefits of joining this order. Available for Pathfinder as well as DND 5E.

- Merchants of Sundara: Whether a small shop of highly specialized craftsmen, or an organization whose brand is recognized across the world, merchants can add a great deal of story to your setting. The most recent release at time of writing, check out Merchants of Sundara for yourself!

My Thanks In Advance!

Being a professional creator is a crap shoot, and you never know what is going to explode, and what's just going to be a dud. You have to keep rolling, though, because giving up isn't an option in this line of work. So if you're one of the folks who supports me, whatever form that takes, thank you. It means a lot to know that the things I manage to pry out of my mind and set down on the page are things that at least some folks out there really enjoy, and want to see more of!

Just like PBS, without viewers like you, none of what I do (or really what any professional creative does) would be possible.

Like, Follow, and Stay in Touch!

That's all for this week's Moon Pope Monday. To stay on top of all my content and releases, make sure you subscribe to my newsletter at the bottom of the page!

Again, for more of my work, check out my Vocal archive, and stop by the Azukail Games YouTube channel, or my Rumble channel The Literary Mercenary! Or if you'd prefer to read some of my books, like my dystopian sci-fi thriller Old Soldiers, my hardboiled gangland noir series starring a bruiser of a Maine Coon with Marked Territory and Painted Cats, my sword and sorcery novel Crier's Knife or my latest short story collection The Rejects, then head over to My Amazon Author Page!

To stay on top of all my latest releases, follow me on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and now Pinterest as well! To support my work, consider Buying Me a Ko-Fi, or heading to The Literary Mercenary's Patreon page to become a regular, monthly patron. That one helps ensure you get more Improved Initiative, and it means you'll get my regular, monthly giveaways as a bonus!