I've been on a mental block with Statuesque for what feels like eternity, but by simply sitting down with a pen and a notebook instead of my laptop I broke it all down. Why, brain? Not that I'm complaining (now that I'm making progress again).

I'm going to play through Statuesque in its current version and post my progress here, maybe write a little story out of it. I'll cross-reference my experience with my editor's (the exceptional Helen Gould) notes. All this is to build towards a crowdfunding campaign for a new print version, illustrated by the wonderful Charlie Arlet.

Act One of Statuesque is a solo journaling game about creating a masterful work of art. At the end of Act One, the creation comes alive and Act Two is a two-player mini-campaign to figure out what happens next (note: the Image does not, by default, love the Creator—kick rocks, Pygmalion). So far, I've decided my Creator will be Barnaby the painter.

Stay tuned.

Barnaby Rose, skilled at a variety of media, has set their hands to work on a new oil painting. Their previous portraits, traditional or digital, left an indescribable impression of hollowness they hope to overcome. The studio feels isolated after the recent and permanent departure of their mentor.

First Step: 8/100

"I prepared the canvas for my work: a full-bodied portrait of... someone. I'm not sure yet who they are. My mentor left behind many of her paints and, among them, I found a beautiful teal blue, unopened. Broad, rough strokes fill the emptiness, and I speak to the canvas—no, I speak to what the canvas might become. I plead, you'll let me know who you are? There's much waiting while the layers dry and my mind turns."

Design Notes
I already have fairly thorough notes both from my own readthroughs and Helen's editing, however I'd still like to jot down thoughts as I go.
• add more prompt questions but also prompt question organization based on dice results. Instead of one big list, each result has its own smaller list.
• make sure there are enough questions aimed at early steps, before The Image really takes shape.
• add character/studio creation prompts for easy starting.

Barnaby Rose continues to labor at their canvas.

Second Step: 17/100

"There is some gathering hosted by the building's owners—I hear the music and commotion from downstairs. Out the window, chic so-and-sos wander in and then wander out at deep hours of the night, guffawing with sports coats and high heels slung over their shoulders. The invitation lurks unopened on the floor beneath my door's mail slot.

"I see his form emerge. I studied old notebooks of gesture drawings I'd scribbled in 60 seconds each, and then 30 seconds, now do it in 10. What fervor I had! An exhausted student, eyes bruised from endless, sleepless studio hours, tucked those notebooks away. The fire in their soul blazed until it ashed and left me, burnt out, questioning everything I've known.

"Ash, burning, bruises—yes, yes, charcoal and blues and purples. What a lovely palette this is turning out to be."

Design Notes
Definitely want to divide up those prompt questions. The current dice mechanic is "roll 3d6, keep the top two." However, I'll probably change that to "roll 3d6, pick two and select a prompt question for each." There'll be six groups of questions. I'm debating whether I want to reward going slow by having the 1-3 questions be more positive and the 5 and 6 questions stuff like "you act recklessly; in what way do you accidentally harm The Image?" or "you lash out; what do you say that you wish you hadn't've in front of The Image?"

I'm going to play through Statuesque in its current version and post my progress here, maybe write a little story out of it. I'll cross-reference my experience with my editor's (the exceptional Helen Gould) notes. All this is to build towards a crowdfunding campaign for a new print version, illustrated by the wonderful Charlie Arlet.

Act One of Statuesque is a solo journaling game about creating a masterful work of art. At the end of Act One, the creation comes alive and Act Two is a two-player mini-campaign to figure out what happens next (note: the Image does not, by default, love the Creator—kick rocks, Pygmalion). So far, I've decided my Creator will be Barnaby the painter.

Stay tuned.