Hi everyone!

A smaller update today, as well as a few housekeeping updates! If you're in the discord, you no doubt already know some of this stuff, but definitely not all of it.

First things first! I want to apologize for only giving updates in the discord, I had meant to post the updates here as well, but I just had not had the opportunity to do so (Things got hectic with my move and all that).

Second: I have answered some frequently asked questions! So let me post those here:

Q: "Why is Ukraine like that? Is it a reference to the ongoing war?"

A: It is not a reference to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The current situation of Ukraine in Dieselpunk 1921 is based on the Ukrainian war of independence/Ukrainian civil war (I'm not interested in the argument about which of those two terms is more correct) 1917-1921, with a few key events changed. Obviously the outcome of the war of independence/civil war are very different in Dieselpunk 1921. The use of The Free People's Republic of Ukraine, The Free Territory, and The Emirate of Crimea are a means to create a more interesting and varied setting, which gives players and narrators the opportunity to create their own interesting stories. While Dieselpunk 1921 is a work of fiction, I do draw upon major world events (both historical and contemporary) to inform the worldbuilding. This also means that I create factions and states that do things that are counter to the things I believe. I believe that everyone in this server is able to recognize that, however I also know that the internet is a tremendously cursed place where not everyone does.

Q: Why isn't there encumbrance or item weight? 

A: The short answer is I didn't want to write rules for that. The Slightly longer answer is I don't think it's necessary, because in every game I've played encumbrance has been house ruled out. I don't see it as necessary, and I'm confident players and narrators will be able to be reasonable with what characters are carrying. That is also a big reason why there is a section for Equipped and Owned Gear. Adding item weight would add a lot of text to the rulebook and character sheet, and the rulebook is going to be on the longer side as it is

Q: Why does the Ottoman Empire exist in the setting? Why is it called the Sublime Ottoman State? 

A: The Sublime Ottoman State exists in the setting because I need it to as a means to establish the setting I'm working on. Which I recognize is an unsatisfying answer, but it's the truth. To the point about the name: The direct translation of the Ottoman Turkish endonym is "Sublime Ottoman State", and I'm doing my best to use endonyms rather than exonyms wherever possible (except for cases where the endonym isn't used, like Ruthenia or Livonia which established as puppets by external powers)

Q: Do the Background modifiers to characteristics affect derived characteristics? 

A: No

Third Thing! I've been hard at work getting ready for version 0.3, including having two country descriptions (no spoilers about which ones), as well as rules for Stealth & Concealment, and Improvised Weapons. There have also been a number of tweaks to some character creation rules, more art, two new occupations (Police Officer and Firefighter), a new background (Nomad), and a completely reworked character sheet. While I hope I can also have the narrator packet ready, and the major npc sheet ready, I don't want to over promise. I have attached my favourite images that I've made for your enjoyment!

Fourth thing! I hope to be posting all of the updates and announcements here, instead of only in the discord (I will share this post as well as a breakdown of the post in the discord per usual).