Abyss of Hallucinations is an occult inspired Mörk Borg setting built on the nihilistic psychedelia of Aleister Crowley’s Book of Lies.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Not much to update, but we have a Discord server now!
almost 2 years ago
– Mon, Jul 22, 2024 at 03:33:23 PM
In my last update, I mentioned that I was moving, which would slow things down a bit. I got COVID right before moving, and it was rough. But I am healthy and have moved and set up my new office. Now, I just need to get the studio space set up. Hopefully, I will have a bit more for you next month!
That said, I am excited to share that we have opened up the Max Moon Games Discord server, and I set up an Abyss of Hallucinations channel. I am also hoping to run some open games of Abyss online, but that will take me a little longer to get to.
Look out for more info on the development and production timeline in the next update!
By Night,
Max Moon
93/93/93
Layout complete! PDF being proofed.
about 2 years ago
– Thu, Jun 13, 2024 at 11:08:18 AM
Here is a quick list of some of the key things that have wrapped up since the last update.
Layout for the collected edition is complete and on to proofing!
Layout for the volume 3 zine is complete and will go to proofing soon!
Layout for the Book of Lies is complete and has been proofed but will get another round of proofing since updating the page dimensions.
Field of Night Adventure Pamphlet by Janaka Stucky is written and I will start layout for that soon!
This month I will be focusing on getting as much ready for print production as possible. That includes;
Layout for pamphlets
Adding the final pages for the player's guide
Finalizing designs and art for the Coin of Wheel and Woa
We are about one month behind where I had hoped to be, but for a project this size, that feels ok to me. Especially considering my studio and office space flooded (again) which was a massive disruption.
On that note, I am anticipating moving in about a month. If everything goes smoothly, then I don't expect that to slow anything down with the Abyss, but if I am slow to respond to messages or if we miss an update, don't worry, I am just busting my already busted back moving objects through space and time.
Oh, and you should definitely check out Robin Harris aka Mystic Barbarism's illustration of the Sword of the Hawk (page 93)
Ok, that's all for now!
By Night,
Max Moon
Layout preview video! Also, don't miss out on Mystic Punks!
over 2 years ago
– Tue, Apr 09, 2024 at 02:29:39 PM
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Digital soundtrack released! Includes 2d66 tables for rolling up altars found in the Abyss!
over 2 years ago
– Fri, Feb 23, 2024 at 05:40:10 PM
Stay False by Cthulugans Now on Bandcamp!
Download codes coming via Backerkit shortly!
I am terribly excited to share this album with you. I think we accomplished our goal of creating a soundtrack that will induce an altered state priming you for the ritual exploration of the Abyss of Hallucinations. I have spent a number of nights laying in bed with headphones listening to this beginning to end and awakening only to find myself wholly dissolved into nothingness.
We have been on a modular synth journey for a long while now, but this is the first album where we got to put it to serious use. It allowed us to get way more lush with subtle complexities and just go outright weird at times. We are constantly learning and I expect much more modular work in the future! Likewise, I think this album is markedly our findest work to date!
So go give it a listen!
And here's some shots of the j-card...PDFs are available via Bandcamp and will also be distributed through Backerkit along with download codes.
How to redeem your code
You will receive a download code via Backerkit. To redeem that code visit the link below and enter your code.
The album is currently a private release for backers only!
Production Update
First round of editing the full manuscript is complete. Second round has started!
Most of the core artwork is in progress. I expect after layout we will discover need for a number of spot illustrations, flourishes, etc.
Layout work has started focusing on the collected edition. Volume 3 layout will be completed after the collected edition is done.
The Coin of Wheel and Woa text is written and the files for creating the coin are in review. We are still working on package design and determining needs for additional art.
T-shirt art has been passed on to the screen printer and we are working with them on printing details at the moment.
Book of Lies layout is complete!
Soundtrack and contents are all complete so tapes can get to production soon!
GM screen contents are still be fine-tuned and layout for the interior of the GM screen will wait until the collected edition is complete.
One of the pamphlet adventures is written, and the other two will be coming down the line. Production for these will be easier than most other parts of this campaign.
By Night,
Max Moon
Music Update and BackerKit Closing
over 2 years ago
– Fri, Jan 26, 2024 at 02:15:18 PM
Hello Backers!
First Draft of the Collected Edition DONE
Holy Hell! The first draft of Abyss of Hallucinations Collected Edition is complete and in the hands of Walt, our inglorious editor for the project. Walt and I have worked together recently on the Black God's Kiss box set and I can attest to his thoroughness as well as the playful rot in his spirit that welcomes the Abyss. I can't wait to see how he helps me hone this for you all!
This marks a significant milestone, as I started writing this project three years ago! It has held a spot in my "currently working on" list ever since. We still have a long ways to go until completion, but my will and stamina are strong.
There is something bittersweet about having finished the first draft. I have been so ensorceled by the Book of Lies these last few years, that it often felt like a relationship. Despite reading every word innumerable times, I never left a reading without discovering something new! The thought of no longer pouring over those 93 chapters is both refreshing and sad. I guess in the sadder moments, I will just remind myself that there are always more adventures to be written even after the book has been published!
Soundtrack is Recorded!
Cthulugans rose from the deep waters of the Puget Sound to isolate in a cabin in the woods on Whidbey Island during a rare gorgeous snowstorm.
Over the course of our entombment, we wrote and recorded about an hour of music. This is my favorite music we have made to date and I think we have done well to capture the spirit of the Abyss. For each track, we began by rolling on a d93 table of chapters and then read aloud that chapter from the Book of Lies to take inspiration from.
The tracklist is not final, but this is what we are thinking: 1 - Steeped Horsehair (6:31) 2 - The Glow Worm (5:48) 3 - The Cry of the Hawk (8:29) 4 - The Battle of the Ants (6:24) 5 - Twig? (4:53) 6 - Sic Transeat (6:33) 7 - The Star Sapphire (16:32)
We will be working on the j-card for the cassette and then once that is ready, we can deliver the digital soundtrack. Cassettes will obviously take longer, but for those who wait to listen to the physical object, I applaud your endurance.
While crafting music we also took breaks to explore, play, and garner inspiration. We did some more playtesting of a game we have been working on for a very long time. We also finally played Forbidden Psalm, which was fantastic. And we got in a play of an old microgame I have been dying to try, Dimension Demons. I played the Demons and the Demons won. Humans all died.
We were visited by a cougar, met some deer, and attempted to revivify a massive jellyfish to no avail. While exploring we found a coconut on the frozen beaches. The coconut mystery remains unsolved, but Monty Python fans assure me that they know the answer.
Traveling with my modular synth was stressful...and it turned out I was right to be anxious. Airport security fucked up the wood case and, for some ungodly reason, unscrewed a bunch of modules, losing some of the screws. Luckily, in my hasty packing, I accidentally brought a bag of screws and intentionally brought my favorite screwdriver, so I was able to reinstall everything nicely. Case repairs will happen eventually.
Here's a photo of a Cthulugan entranced by aural emanations.
One of the Cthulugans Pondering Death through Music and the Gentle Dress of Snow
BackerKit Closing
We will lock orders on the 31st of January. At that point you will receive an email notifying you that cards will be charged 48 hours later on February 2nd.
Addresses will not lock until closer to fulfillment, so you will still be able to access your survey to update your address until then. We will send an update closer to fulfillment before we lock addresses.
