I never paint minis, I never play tabletop or even RPGs but your creative process is so interesting that I stayed glued to your chanel for about a year or 2 now. I fully trust that your creative process will do wonders with your project with time
Guilt free rest has been a recent discovery for me as well. As you said, the productivity that comes afterwards is almost 5x, 6x… 10x? what it would be if you just continued to slog and grind. Arcane ugly is such a cool project Trent and it’s inspiring to see you tackling the mental gymnastics working through it all. So good.
"My Problems" by Miscast (a punk rock anthem) "Oi! con't make spells Oi! con't make miscasts Oi! suck at world buildin' Wand system doesn't work! This game will neva be done This game will neva be done And I feel right guilty!"
This should be a Lore-Bit. Maybe a magical poem or something like that. Maybe the Gandalf-Like Archmage, long before the player characters said exactly these words and then everything changed..
I’m a student nurse in the UK and hearing a man be so frank and honest about burnout and feelings is so refreshing. Hats off, I love the work you’re doing 🙌
Genuinely, the new way of of receiving different magical results (being able to combine two existing spells or recording the results of a miscast) is amazing. It's fresh and exciting, and while it is odd to say, makes me excited to fail! I feel reinvigorated and giddy just thinking about it. This is an amazing project, and I feel blessed to have seen the steps you went through creating it. Thank you.
if you haven't yet, you could add a spell or miscast that causes the wand you're using to fuse with another wand permanently, combining their effects together but increasing their instability... and is something you can do several times until it creates a monster that is a sentient-ish ball of fused wands that attacks you with the magic of the wands you created it out of while rolling around and screeching. Love the work you're doing!
because of you i started and finished many art and music projects. this is helping me through very tough times. so in a way you're helping me to not lose myself in a deep pit of self hatred and emotional breakdowns. thank you trent :)
I'm a writer, and I feel a lot of what you just said. I write around my day job, with the goal of writing fiction *being* my day job. To do that I get up way too early and write for at least an hour before eight hours of writing for my day job. I can feel pretty burnt out at times, and my writing suffers for it. I haven't figured out how to really rest yet, and I somehow feel like I'm working too hard and not hard enough at the same time. Thanks for posting this. It's nice to commiserate with someone you admire.
Hey man, this is a long shot but here goes: I find that deep lore building happens really well when I can bounce ideas off people. I've done it a ton and I love it. I can offer you a call where we talk and I could write some ideas for you to use as source material maybe? Just an offer from your friendly neighbourhood nerd. Love your content either way!
There exists a type of person who struggles to create original ideas, but is incredibly good at developing and expanding on pre-existing ideas. I know, because I'm also this type of person. Trent, give this guy a shot.
To me, Arcane Ugly has always sounded more like a tool than a complete system with rigid rules. Kind of like GURPS. Use that, make it a skeleton that can be added upon rather than shooting for balance and completeness. With how much you get impulsive inspirations to spin around and start, I dunno, making physical wands for the game, it's better suited for an iterative and ever-expanding game. You don't owe us a perfect project and a one-click purchase. You owe yourself a pat on the back for giving people the chance to tap into your ideas and unique mindset.
One thing that you see a lot in OSR books are bits of worldbuilding that take the form of evocative names or tables of options. The worldbuilding isn't set in stone and fleshed out, but rather seeds of worldbuilding are presented to the reader that can then be expanded as they desire. It's one of the things I really like about -Brent's- _Trent's_ "Node" concept. It's a rather striking bit of overall world-building, but it leaves it in the hands of the gaming group to figure out the specifics. Entire campaigns can be built around the rules set forth for a single Node. Maybe the best way to do worldbuilding for arcane ugly is to not try to unify the world-building, but to present them all as options to be plugged in. Crumbs of detail that can be built up into a world that is right for the gaming group. This can take the form of tables of wild ideas, or appending really specific names onto magic items or spells, or a grid of "overworld" map areas the reader is meant to cut out and arrange as they like. A toolkit built of raw creative seeds sounds like it would play more to -Brent's- _Trent's_ strengths.
I think you're totally right! I'm Trent btw, Brent is my science friend with the long hair, I told him this would happen but he refuses to change his name. The way the rulebook is written and the way treasure cards work is the game is really meant to unfold as you as you play it, gamemaster included. I think keeping lore that way too is important. I think lore will only go as far as it currently is, which answering gameplay limitations players are going to question, and also provide atleast one reason to start adventuring. Everything else can be seeds for the group to pick and choose from. Really excited about Nodes and I'd be curious to see how each group might use them.
@@Miscast Yeah, my brain was like "What was Miscast Guy's name again? Brent? That sounds about right." Even at that point, I wasn't sure because I had a brain fart. Apologies. I went ahead and edited my comment to correct the mistake.
I don't think I've ever related to a video harder. The hard thing about working on a project like a game is that there's always a roadblock of the WORK part that you won't enjoy. Personally, I will enjoy Arcane Ugly 100x more if I knew the person who put all their passion into didn't have to slog through so much that wasn't their passion to make it "balanced" Keep it up Trent :)
The idea of leaving deeper worldbuilding to the players makes a lot of sense to me, since I’ve gone into every rpg campaign i’ve GMed with a relatively surface-level understanding of the world, like a few cool concepts and an aesthetic, and by the end it’s got a full fleshed out pantheon of gods, multiple cultures and empires, huge swathes of ancient history and a deep understanding of the inner workings of magic. Something about the act of playing and like having people to bounce ideas off of just makes it so much easier to do, I find
Your’re such an inspiration for me. I’ve been working on my own RPG for a while now. Making small pieces at a time and for the better part of a year now it’s been being worked on. Keep up the good work and thank you for being so open about your thought processes.
Dude, AT FIRST I didn't care that much about Arcane Ugly; I was just following your channel for the minis and craft stuff. But I am SO IN TO IT now, that I picked up making my own RPG again. Thanks Misc!
Wow... this video is... beautiful. Both I and several people I love have dealt with burnout and it's no joke, so it's really fantastic to see such an honest and sincere exploration of it here. I feel like this whole hobby can lean a little hard into the escapism and so I'm always so impressed when people bring discussion of important real world issues into it. As for rest... that's the nail on the freaking head. And I just hope you let yourself take as much guilt free rest you can! Along with any other help you need. Also.. on another note, that big art piece from the beginning is gorgeous and genuinely... art. This new stark black and white style in particular is just so, moving. You could do a real gallery with these as it's becoming a spectacular collection! So thanks again for all you're doing, your channel is just such a joy.
I am so impressed with everything! Your goals, your methods, your process for working through the hard times... all of it! Was just reminiscing about where you started with this channel and to see where you've taken it and yourself.. Good on ya!
Man, I really love this channel. I find myself struggling with a lot of the problems you do and seeing you overcome them makes me feel like I can get over what's ailing me when it comes to my creative projects, and I really resonate with the off-the-cuff presentation!
Your honesty and willingness to be so candid about every part of your process is so important for other creatives to hear, never stop talking about it, all of it. Great video, as always 😊👍
Still loving the updates on this project, waiting in anticipation for the release. I'm so hyped about this that I started hyping my fellow employees in our store, a dice and RPG store in the Netherlands. Keep up the good work, don't burn yourself out and till the next update. 👍
As a person who filled notebooks in middle school with ttrpg ideas, I have to say finding this whole project is super fun and exciting! I love the new, creative ideas. I also love the human side of this project, a person who struggles the same way as me who found a way to work and still take care of himself. Thank you for putting this out there, I found much value in it!
Watching you muddle through how best you work and bending the rules instead of bending yourself always make me feel so inspired. We all have different quirks and limitations but the way you work around them and lean into them I think is a lesson for everyone.
Dude this is such an important video. I too experienced burnout in a pretty hard core way a few years ago and you've hit the nail on the head, in every respect, on how to maintain yourself so that you can do and create good things in the world. It's not easy to be so open about this topic and you've done a very cool thing by helping to normalize it. The game looks amazing, don't rush it
My favorite channel. Thank you for letting us share your Journey Trent. I'm a Aussie artist too and i also feel that burnout. Guilt free rest is yet to come but you have made it seem like i can do so. Thank you again, happy crafting :)
Thank you for talking about this. I experience this on basically every project I've ever worked on because, like you, I only grind. To the point where it even effects my relationships. I will take your advice and just chill out a bit.
Every single time I see that you have updated your channel and added a New video about Arcane Ugly, i get so pumped up and motivated. I'm Also in the process of making my own TTRPG, and I've been so burnt out for so long but I've just kept mulling through because I saw you getting so much work done and it was so inspiring. This video is what I needed to just stop and take a fucking break. Thanks for talking about this, i didn't even know i was burnt out until you made me think about it. You're awesome, man. Thank you for being one of the best content creators on the website
Awesome video ! I've been following your work for a couple months, I love your creativity and honesty. As an artist putting a lot of pressure on myself, what you said about work, rest and guilt really resonated with me. Please keep it up ! :)
This was such an awesome video. Thank you for being honest about your journey. It’s comforting, in a weird way, to see how everyone deals with the same struggles.
Hey Trent, I just started watching your channel and, even worse, I know nothing about game playing. But I’m glad you finally are allowing others to help you. These games are like medieval cathedrals….it takes a village! Thanks
I gots a monster idea, similar to the beholder where it has many tendrils. However, it has mouths instead of its eyes. With each mouth it demands something to be eaten and with its tongue it has the capability to catapult a chained magical eyeballs to see someone. If one takes the tooth of one of these creatures they get a magical pen to make closet doors out of thin air to hide in or store items. Absolutely love Arcane Ugly dude, its gonna be wicked.
Here's how I see it, If your job is to move a mountain you may admit defeat before starting simply by the insane size of the job. I'm use to busting out a project and burning myself out. I've learned over time I can part out something I'm working on and set goals to finish one part in an allotted time. Even if it's cutting out a pile of shingles or making something small that fits into it I consider it progress. Eventually I finish with less stress and enjoy the overall experience. Accepting help and helping others with they're projects is also a great way to progress. You get a change of pace and everyone still gets stuff done. You already did that with some of your art so maybe you can find something you don't want to do that a friend of yours doesn't mind doing. And don't forget to take a brake and get inspired by going outside and looking at things first hand.
Your videos feel so friendly and intimate towards what and how you work. I struggle a lot with self discipline and making myself work on stuff I dont find entertaining, so this video hits super hard!
Whenever I make more monsters/creatures in d&d it helps to first understand were they come from, they're culture, and there goals. I personally got a lot of inspiration from gith in d&d 5e, there story is very cool to me. More specifically githyanki
Hey thanks for being so honest and naked and vulnerable about your hopes and fears. It was beautiful and makes me feel better about what I'm (not)working on
I really love the work you've been putting into Arcane Ugly, it seems so creative (and hence burnout is to be expected, it happens to everyone). A solution to your problem of needing lots of spells could be a system for people creating their own spells? With all the bells, whistles, and horrific side effects, that come with it!
I've never seen a more accurate reflection of how my brain works and the struggles I've been facing with my own game!! This was a very reassuring watch :)
Thanks for this video! I've been working on my RPG module and i feel like i'm burning out on it. I'm in that moment where the thought of picking up the wacom pen is a little terrifying, even though im like 70% done on this. So i made my list of problems, and im gonna work on them. Also delegating to an artist friend whos already helped me with something. Rest seems challenging because i have other stuff going on that needs attention, and i feel to really rest i'd need to leave town for the weekend..
I've had some very similar experiences, both with writing and art. Creative pursuits are hard enough in the best of times. When lockdown hit I figured I'd just bury myself in my work and get tons done. That way I didn't have to be stressed about covid (lol). Turns out I was just using work as a coping mechanism and my creativity became a bit of an unhealthy place after a while. Taking breaks is necessary and all artists do it, though many won't admit it. It's really great to have you be so open about these struggles. Thank you so much for sharing.
It has been a pleasure of mine to support you for the last...however long I've been doing it, really! I found your channel about a year ago - that's crazy! And I've always been interested in what you'll come up with next.
It also becomes difficult when you view those two things as conflicting parts. Try and think of them like 2 horses. If they’re pulling opposite directions they won’t go anywhere but if they’re pulling the same direction the work is way easier. The difficult part is wrangling our brains.
Thanks for the video treat you have been a creative idol for me since not long after I found your channel you self analysis of the mental side of the hobby and how people actually interact with the hobby is really pure and genuine, thanks your doing great
Watching you work on your ttrpg was what prompted me to finally work on my own system. (Ive been running a ramshackle homebrew for ages since I couldnt get a system that my players like enough) So I started writing things down in a large binder of things. Its going to be pulpy arcanepunk wasteland styled. Where magick has gone wild, and the world mad. I would say keep on, Arcane Ugly has given me plenty of ideas/inspiration for my work.
Thanks for making this video! I'm dealing with a lot of these issues right now in my client and personal work. It's helpful seeing someone else work through it.
The world needs more open honest expressions of how we feel when we are in a funk, strong video man. The monster mash idea is genius that is great art and game development . I thought you would have put the spell components /elements in the game so the players would create unique spells through play and you had done the hard work of identifying what was needed.
Im so impressed with all you have created and really enjoy the documentary on the process! The nodes are a great idea and reminds me of the truths from Ironsworn. The way magic works sounds exciting and really good! Good luck with the future of Arcane Ugly!
It took me a long time to learn "you cannot pour from an empty vessel" some one also recently told me that life is not a series of blank cheques for you to sign and give away. Loving the 'node' idea and loving your concepts. Hubby and I are planning on binge watching the series again over the weekend in anticipation of getting Arcane Ugly soon
I've been watching your stuff for a while, never really commented much, but I just wanted to say that seeing someone else so passionate and unapologetically and vigorously creative in wild ways really pumps me up and has been helping me with my own creative rut which I've been stuck in for the past while. Seeing all the hiccups and flaws of another person's creative work, and seeing it seriously treated as just part of the process has been a big help for me.
Thank you so much. I've been reading rpg after rpg assuming I had to read as much as possible in order to build one but hearing you say out loud that you felt like you had to read every rpg made me realize how stupid I was being. Thanks.
I absolutely love your work and this series. The whole creative process and finding a balance between the two parts of your brain really resonates. Its very good that you're taking breaks and taking care of yourself, all of the grind can wear you down to nothing if ya don't take time to rest.
Thank you for talking about this! This is super important and part of qhy I love the community of minipainters and builders and tabletop gaming! It's an open space and it's ok to talk about stressful things. That's cool.
I really do enjoy your videos, especially about your rpg's work. I myself have been working on a project aswell, but I seem to get stuck on things, but with your videos and help it has become easier. In the matter of knowing myself. I don't really know who I am yet, but making a somekind of diagram or something could help me understand myself better. Again, thanks!
I love your Arcane Ugly project! It has inspired my friends and I to make our own TTRPG! I have been loving your videos and can’t wait to try the beta. You must remember, this first beta will not be perfect and that is okay, don’t let Order Trent take over.
Sound video, great rep and solid insight into pitfalls I remeber a few years back there was a radio program about an institute in Cornwall someone had set up based on the philosophy that people were unsatisfied with monotonous manufacturing simply because it didn't satisfy the creative capacity of the hand. Bakers were happier because there was some craft.
Trent, you're too hard on yourself sometimes. You work harder than most people I know. I'm glad you took some time to rest and I can't wait to see the first version of Arcane Ugly 💜
Here's some of my ideas for this game (reposting from the arcane ugly art vid because i want you to get something out of these) -I don't believe in astrology or witchcraft but i think it would fit really well as a source of inspiration (granted it would be weird if you hadn't looked into it already but still) -The HiveSkull (structure/monsters): A giant beehive made of strong bone(?) On the outside & flesh on the inside. The "bees" are made of organs, some normal, some magical & some unknown. the organ used determines a member's abilities, stats & role within the colony. These "bees" are made using the organs of hunted creatures, which suggests the existence of undiscovered creatures when combined with the unknown organs mentioned earlier (which is an extra lore excuse for homebrew on top of the world just being wild as all hell). -I remember seeing someone suggest functional titles & i really liked it. You basically get them by doing cool things & they functional like equipabbles that boost certain rolls. -If familiars are souls & spirits then i'd like to see a set of mechanics where you can catch & store enemy spirits then melt them into a familiar at the cost of it being bigger & more unstable the more of them you have. Maybe you could also choose between keeping the familiar a spirit & giving it a physical vessel. -Maybe you could also experiment with adding accent colors? Maybe even using 2 color pallettes instead of black & white? I don't expect the second one to go far in any way but still. -Check out Chimeride & shittycryptids on tumblr as well as C.M.Kosemen on his site & instagram. -Here's a new thing; what if there was a scalpel type item that allows you to cut mutations out of yourself & use the resulting parts to frankenstein something together? Maybe use them to make monter bash cards? Edit: A spell inverter would also be a good idea
Hey, im following the creation of Arcane Ugly since you first uploaded a video on it, and every time I see a new Video im like nice a new update! I think your doin realy well, and wish you only the best. :D
Your admission of this conflict comes to me at the exact right time. Especially the part about brain structure. I have beat myself up unmercifully over failing to do the hard work. It has even frozen me in my creative process. Thank you thank you.
I've definitely found that stepping away from a project can sometimes be the best thing for it. I've been down in the weeds, pushing myself and running against a brick wall with a story and I can't push through. I take a week off, watch some movies, take a trip, whatever... And BAM! I come back roaring to go, breaking through whatever wall or roadblock I had.
Honestly excited for this to come out in how ever many more years itll take you, i have trouble learning new systems of TTRPGs but i still wana be able to play this once its out >.>
Thank you so much for opening up about the challenges underlying burnout. Thank you being honest about your reaction to "grind" culture. As some with ADHD I can certainly understand the conflict between needing creative space and the need for something to be "right" and the lockup in executive dysfunction stemming from that. The answer is never "just work harder" no matter how often we are told to do so.
Very interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing the "process" with us. Many times we follow creators and become hard on ourselves because they nail everything right the first time... When in reality we are watching their highlights or their polished creation. I teach art classes and I will share your experience with my students. Cheers
Really excited for Arcane Ugly!! I love how the players have a large role in creating more of the game (new spells and strange combinations of wands, etc). Keep up the great work! (unless you need another rest 😅)
usually when i need to create something i go from "low resolution" to "high resolution", like creating schools of arcane paths, categories of spell inside this paths and finally when im confortable i try to find the "limits" of this categories with generic spells and after that i derive new variant in the spells-clusters and if i feel the need to split or add new categories i do... thats how i create ANYTHING, i don't mind about the small, i start from the "highpoint" and zoom in to a medium point, when i need to finally build the "interative particles" (character for a tale, are particles, parts of a 3dmodel are particles, when "final" decisions are made) i summon them in clusters, the bigger the better then i keep zooming to give depth and perspective, i never "close" the system, because any real system in the world is open, we never know everthing about something, keep the universe open allows you the eternal "here lives the dragons" in the border of your creation. perfection is a feeling, i usually don't put as a project requirement, my requiriments tend to change because i review them allong the way like: maybe you want to create a category driven spell system, and doesn't have to put much effort in especific spells, in that case my requiriments will point that fact. design requirements work better for me if they are especific like: - expandable OR closed? - restricted to class/job/training OR anyone can use it? - general limits (like mana?) OR especific limits (this is a rare spell X commom spell) requirements can be boolean like: - expandable (in reality) AND closed (by belief) - restricted (by belief) AND anyone can use it (in reality) and you can have diferent requirements related to: time/dimensions/plots/characters/geographic/etnical reasons...
I've had similar troubles for a tabletop system I've made in the past. Pouring your heart and soul into something for so long can really burn you out and make you forget about the fun part of things. It's definitely a hard balance between structure and spontaneity but once you can it maaaan is it such a RELIEF
You've been inspiring for creating lore or monster and sketching for me. My brain has been everywhere as well on sculpting and sketching for DND and 40k. I've been making some fun idea in dnd to put in my campaign. Also my brain been stimulated with vast ideas and I gonna write it down before it gone. Also sketching random monster has been fun.
This is the first time I've actually seen a behind-the-scenes video of a board game being created and it's amazing but more importantly I see the love and care that being poured in. I already feel invested in the world and can't wait to join in the fun. Definitely purchasing when it comes out. PS how amazing are the $40 red tool boxes. 😜
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and process. Super inspiring and great reminders. You’re incredibly creative its awesome how tangible you’ve made your ideas.
Welcome to the world of indie rpg designers, I find working on more than one project helps me avoid burn out but I'm a little unique. I will say that often looking at other games can make it more complicated than it needs to be. Good Luck though, I look forward to see how it turns out, as it reminds me a bit of Low Life by Andy Hopp.
I don't have much to add to the conversation, but I really wasn't expecting you to make me unearth years of childhood memories of messing around with kid pix on my school's computers!
With all the Spell Cards, on the table, my first instinct would be to collect them all up, shuffle them, deal out a pair, and take up a spell that has those two effects. Those creature collages look fantastic.
Asking for help when you're stressed is an important skill and can be really difficult. For me, the times I've managed to ask for help have sometimes changed my entire trajectory, just by talking to people I have realised I was stuck inside of a dead end framework and I didn't know it, bogged down by things that I thought I "have to do"
This was really motivating to me. Seeing that you as someone I hold on a pedestal as an amazing artist is still very human, and struggles too. And you talking thru your mindset showed me my own. I have the biggest art event of my life on Halloween and I've been sitting here. Staring at the wall. Nothing I make seems worthy of this event, and it's causing me to freeze up and make nothing. It's kind of a self fulfilling prophecy. But, I'm picking 10 and going forward! Also, I need coffee. A whole pot.
I love the practical tip of marking jobs that can be delegated ahead of time. I'm exactly the same, if I'm managing a project, when the pressure increases I am liable to take on all of the work, even take jobs away from other people because having control of everything seems less stressful (but isn't).
Burn out is real my dude especially on a project as extensive and involved as this is. Take a break and rest your mind, drink some water. Come back later and make something better! You’re doing awesome, I love what you’re doing and it’s inspiring to me as a game designer and an artist. Thank you for acknowledging burn out and sharing your stories.
I just happen to be (re)writing the worldbuilding chapter for my RPG right now. Worldbuilding with depth comes from developing relationships between things, not just imagining the things themselves.
If you want some video game inspiration the game “Noita” has a really weird wand system that allows you to make crazy magic that is just as likely to blow yourself up as much as anything else.
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
Link to new AU merch, more on the way miscast.creator-spring.com
When the whole thing is done will be access to the public? Cause i wanna play it but i cant really get it off of patreon. which is a rip for me.
I never paint minis, I never play tabletop or even RPGs but your creative process is so interesting that I stayed glued to your chanel for about a year or 2 now. I fully trust that your creative process will do wonders with your project with time
Just got the long sleeve T, its great, very comfy, think I'm gonna get the small sleeve version now.
Imagine trying to figure out the rules of chess by only seeing a small portion of the board. And every now and then a wizard shows up.
Guilt free rest has been a recent discovery for me as well. As you said, the productivity that comes afterwards is almost 5x, 6x… 10x? what it would be if you just continued to slog and grind.
Arcane ugly is such a cool project Trent and it’s inspiring to see you tackling the mental gymnastics working through it all. So good.
"My Problems" by Miscast (a punk rock anthem)
"Oi! con't make spells
Oi! con't make miscasts
Oi! suck at world buildin'
Wand system doesn't work!
This game will neva be done
This game will neva be done
And I feel right guilty!"
Incredible
bwahahaha! comments section is blessed.
This should be a Lore-Bit. Maybe a magical poem or something like that. Maybe the Gandalf-Like Archmage, long before the player characters said exactly these words and then everything changed..
I’m a student nurse in the UK and hearing a man be so frank and honest about burnout and feelings is so refreshing. Hats off, I love the work you’re doing 🙌
Genuinely, the new way of of receiving different magical results (being able to combine two existing spells or recording the results of a miscast) is amazing. It's fresh and exciting, and while it is odd to say, makes me excited to fail! I feel reinvigorated and giddy just thinking about it. This is an amazing project, and I feel blessed to have seen the steps you went through creating it. Thank you.
if you haven't yet, you could add a spell or miscast that causes the wand you're using to fuse with another wand permanently, combining their effects together but increasing their instability... and is something you can do several times until it creates a monster that is a sentient-ish ball of fused wands that attacks you with the magic of the wands you created it out of while rolling around and screeching. Love the work you're doing!
because of you i started and finished many art and music projects. this is helping me through very tough times. so in a way you're helping me to not lose myself in a deep pit of self hatred and emotional breakdowns.
thank you trent :)
I’m absolutely loving this series man, really been helping me with the board game I’ve been making for my ttrpg group! Keep up the good work.
That's the best to hear! Good luck making your project, keep me updated!
@@Miscast thanks a lot, it’s a post apocalyptic rendition of talisman with a lot of punk influence.
@@exiusagron6660 that sounds VERY cool
You're an amazing and creative person but has anyone ever told you you look like a movie star? I would've preferred you in Venom.
lol! Thank you hahah that is a new one
I'm a writer, and I feel a lot of what you just said.
I write around my day job, with the goal of writing fiction *being* my day job. To do that I get up way too early and write for at least an hour before eight hours of writing for my day job.
I can feel pretty burnt out at times, and my writing suffers for it. I haven't figured out how to really rest yet, and I somehow feel like I'm working too hard and not hard enough at the same time.
Thanks for posting this. It's nice to commiserate with someone you admire.
Trent, you're an artist not a machine. Take your time, have fun at what you're doing, I think thats when we all will have the most fun too :)
Hey man, this is a long shot but here goes: I find that deep lore building happens really well when I can bounce ideas off people. I've done it a ton and I love it. I can offer you a call where we talk and I could write some ideas for you to use as source material maybe? Just an offer from your friendly neighbourhood nerd. Love your content either way!
There exists a type of person who struggles to create original ideas, but is incredibly good at developing and expanding on pre-existing ideas. I know, because I'm also this type of person. Trent, give this guy a shot.
To me, Arcane Ugly has always sounded more like a tool than a complete system with rigid rules. Kind of like GURPS. Use that, make it a skeleton that can be added upon rather than shooting for balance and completeness. With how much you get impulsive inspirations to spin around and start, I dunno, making physical wands for the game, it's better suited for an iterative and ever-expanding game. You don't owe us a perfect project and a one-click purchase. You owe yourself a pat on the back for giving people the chance to tap into your ideas and unique mindset.
One thing that you see a lot in OSR books are bits of worldbuilding that take the form of evocative names or tables of options. The worldbuilding isn't set in stone and fleshed out, but rather seeds of worldbuilding are presented to the reader that can then be expanded as they desire.
It's one of the things I really like about -Brent's- _Trent's_ "Node" concept. It's a rather striking bit of overall world-building, but it leaves it in the hands of the gaming group to figure out the specifics. Entire campaigns can be built around the rules set forth for a single Node.
Maybe the best way to do worldbuilding for arcane ugly is to not try to unify the world-building, but to present them all as options to be plugged in. Crumbs of detail that can be built up into a world that is right for the gaming group. This can take the form of tables of wild ideas, or appending really specific names onto magic items or spells, or a grid of "overworld" map areas the reader is meant to cut out and arrange as they like.
A toolkit built of raw creative seeds sounds like it would play more to -Brent's- _Trent's_ strengths.
I think you're totally right! I'm Trent btw, Brent is my science friend with the long hair, I told him this would happen but he refuses to change his name. The way the rulebook is written and the way treasure cards work is the game is really meant to unfold as you as you play it, gamemaster included. I think keeping lore that way too is important. I think lore will only go as far as it currently is, which answering gameplay limitations players are going to question, and also provide atleast one reason to start adventuring. Everything else can be seeds for the group to pick and choose from. Really excited about Nodes and I'd be curious to see how each group might use them.
@@Miscast Yeah, my brain was like "What was Miscast Guy's name again? Brent? That sounds about right." Even at that point, I wasn't sure because I had a brain fart. Apologies.
I went ahead and edited my comment to correct the mistake.
I don't think I've ever related to a video harder. The hard thing about working on a project like a game is that there's always a roadblock of the WORK part that you won't enjoy.
Personally, I will enjoy Arcane Ugly 100x more if I knew the person who put all their passion into didn't have to slog through so much that wasn't their passion to make it "balanced"
Keep it up Trent :)
The idea of leaving deeper worldbuilding to the players makes a lot of sense to me, since I’ve gone into every rpg campaign i’ve GMed with a relatively surface-level understanding of the world, like a few cool concepts and an aesthetic, and by the end it’s got a full fleshed out pantheon of gods, multiple cultures and empires, huge swathes of ancient history and a deep understanding of the inner workings of magic.
Something about the act of playing and like having people to bounce ideas off of just makes it so much easier to do, I find
Your’re such an inspiration for me. I’ve been working on my own RPG for a while now. Making small pieces at a time and for the better part of a year now it’s been being worked on. Keep up the good work and thank you for being so open about your thought processes.
Dude, AT FIRST I didn't care that much about Arcane Ugly; I was just following your channel for the minis and craft stuff. But I am SO IN TO IT now, that I picked up making my own RPG again.
Thanks Misc!
Wow... this video is... beautiful. Both I and several people I love have dealt with burnout and it's no joke, so it's really fantastic to see such an honest and sincere exploration of it here. I feel like this whole hobby can lean a little hard into the escapism and so I'm always so impressed when people bring discussion of important real world issues into it.
As for rest... that's the nail on the freaking head. And I just hope you let yourself take as much guilt free rest you can! Along with any other help you need.
Also.. on another note, that big art piece from the beginning is gorgeous and genuinely... art. This new stark black and white style in particular is just so, moving. You could do a real gallery with these as it's becoming a spectacular collection!
So thanks again for all you're doing, your channel is just such a joy.
it has been so excellent watching you go through this journey. thank you for being so inspiring
I am so impressed with everything! Your goals, your methods, your process for working through the hard times... all of it!
Was just reminiscing about where you started with this channel and to see where you've taken it and yourself.. Good on ya!
Man, I really love this channel. I find myself struggling with a lot of the problems you do and seeing you overcome them makes me feel like I can get over what's ailing me when it comes to my creative projects, and I really resonate with the off-the-cuff presentation!
Your honesty and willingness to be so candid about every part of your process is so important for other creatives to hear, never stop talking about it, all of it. Great video, as always 😊👍
Still loving the updates on this project, waiting in anticipation for the release. I'm so hyped about this that I started hyping my fellow employees in our store, a dice and RPG store in the Netherlands. Keep up the good work, don't burn yourself out and till the next update. 👍
As a person who filled notebooks in middle school with ttrpg ideas, I have to say finding this whole project is super fun and exciting! I love the new, creative ideas. I also love the human side of this project, a person who struggles the same way as me who found a way to work and still take care of himself.
Thank you for putting this out there, I found much value in it!
Watching you muddle through how best you work and bending the rules instead of bending yourself always make me feel so inspired. We all have different quirks and limitations but the way you work around them and lean into them I think is a lesson for everyone.
Dude this is such an important video. I too experienced burnout in a pretty hard core way a few years ago and you've hit the nail on the head, in every respect, on how to maintain yourself so that you can do and create good things in the world.
It's not easy to be so open about this topic and you've done a very cool thing by helping to normalize it.
The game looks amazing, don't rush it
My favorite channel. Thank you for letting us share your Journey Trent. I'm a Aussie artist too and i also feel that burnout. Guilt free rest is yet to come but you have made it seem like i can do so. Thank you again, happy crafting :)
Thank you for talking about this. I experience this on basically every project I've ever worked on because, like you, I only grind. To the point where it even effects my relationships. I will take your advice and just chill out a bit.
Every single time I see that you have updated your channel and added a New video about Arcane Ugly, i get so pumped up and motivated. I'm Also in the process of making my own TTRPG, and I've been so burnt out for so long but I've just kept mulling through because I saw you getting so much work done and it was so inspiring. This video is what I needed to just stop and take a fucking break. Thanks for talking about this, i didn't even know i was burnt out until you made me think about it. You're awesome, man. Thank you for being one of the best content creators on the website
Awesome video ! I've been following your work for a couple months, I love your creativity and honesty. As an artist putting a lot of pressure on myself, what you said about work, rest and guilt really resonated with me. Please keep it up ! :)
This was such an awesome video. Thank you for being honest about your journey. It’s comforting, in a weird way, to see how everyone deals with the same struggles.
Hey Trent, I just started watching your channel and, even worse, I know nothing about game playing. But I’m glad you finally are allowing others to help you. These games are like medieval cathedrals….it takes a village! Thanks
I gots a monster idea, similar to the beholder where it has many tendrils. However, it has mouths instead of its eyes. With each mouth it demands something to be eaten and with its tongue it has the capability to catapult a chained magical eyeballs to see someone. If one takes the tooth of one of these creatures they get a magical pen to make closet doors out of thin air to hide in or store items. Absolutely love Arcane Ugly dude, its gonna be wicked.
Here's how I see it, If your job is to move a mountain you may admit defeat before starting simply by the insane size of the job. I'm use to busting out a project and burning myself out. I've learned over time I can part out something I'm working on and set goals to finish one part in an allotted time.
Even if it's cutting out a pile of shingles or making something small that fits into it I consider it progress.
Eventually I finish with less stress and enjoy the overall experience.
Accepting help and helping others with they're projects is also a great way to progress. You get a change of pace and everyone still gets stuff done.
You already did that with some of your art so maybe you can find something you don't want to do that a friend of yours doesn't mind doing.
And don't forget to take a brake and get inspired by going outside and looking at things first hand.
Your videos feel so friendly and intimate towards what and how you work. I struggle a lot with self discipline and making myself work on stuff I dont find entertaining, so this video hits super hard!
Trent, you are the best! Thank you for being this open about your struggle and showing us yours ways of dealing with it
Whenever I make more monsters/creatures in d&d it helps to first understand were they come from, they're culture, and there goals. I personally got a lot of inspiration from gith in d&d 5e, there story is very cool to me. More specifically githyanki
Hey thanks for being so honest and naked and vulnerable about your hopes and fears. It was beautiful and makes me feel better about what I'm (not)working on
I really love the work you've been putting into Arcane Ugly, it seems so creative (and hence burnout is to be expected, it happens to everyone). A solution to your problem of needing lots of spells could be a system for people creating their own spells? With all the bells, whistles, and horrific side effects, that come with it!
I've never seen a more accurate reflection of how my brain works and the struggles I've been facing with my own game!! This was a very reassuring watch :)
Thanks for this video! I've been working on my RPG module and i feel like i'm burning out on it. I'm in that moment where the thought of picking up the wacom pen is a little terrifying, even though im like 70% done on this. So i made my list of problems, and im gonna work on them. Also delegating to an artist friend whos already helped me with something. Rest seems challenging because i have other stuff going on that needs attention, and i feel to really rest i'd need to leave town for the weekend..
I've had some very similar experiences, both with writing and art. Creative pursuits are hard enough in the best of times. When lockdown hit I figured I'd just bury myself in my work and get tons done. That way I didn't have to be stressed about covid (lol). Turns out I was just using work as a coping mechanism and my creativity became a bit of an unhealthy place after a while. Taking breaks is necessary and all artists do it, though many won't admit it. It's really great to have you be so open about these struggles. Thank you so much for sharing.
It has been a pleasure of mine to support you for the last...however long I've been doing it, really! I found your channel about a year ago - that's crazy! And I've always been interested in what you'll come up with next.
Thank you so much TJ!
It also becomes difficult when you view those two things as conflicting parts. Try and think of them like 2 horses. If they’re pulling opposite directions they won’t go anywhere but if they’re pulling the same direction the work is way easier. The difficult part is wrangling our brains.
Thanks for the video treat you have been a creative idol for me since not long after I found your channel you self analysis of the mental side of the hobby and how people actually interact with the hobby is really pure and genuine, thanks your doing great
Watching you work on your ttrpg was what prompted me to finally work on my own system. (Ive been running a ramshackle homebrew for ages since I couldnt get a system that my players like enough) So I started writing things down in a large binder of things. Its going to be pulpy arcanepunk wasteland styled. Where magick has gone wild, and the world mad. I would say keep on, Arcane Ugly has given me plenty of ideas/inspiration for my work.
Thanks for making this video! I'm dealing with a lot of these issues right now in my client and personal work. It's helpful seeing someone else work through it.
The world needs more open honest expressions of how we feel when we are in a funk, strong video man.
The monster mash idea is genius that is great art and game development . I thought you would have put the spell components /elements in the game so the players would create unique spells through play and you had done the hard work of identifying what was needed.
Man, this is just my favorite youtube channel. Fantastic thoughts on creativity and ideation - loving all the nuggets of wisdom
Im so impressed with all you have created and really enjoy the documentary on the process!
The nodes are a great idea and reminds me of the truths from Ironsworn.
The way magic works sounds exciting and really good! Good luck with the future of Arcane Ugly!
It took me a long time to learn "you cannot pour from an empty vessel" some one also recently told me that life is not a series of blank cheques for you to sign and give away.
Loving the 'node' idea and loving your concepts. Hubby and I are planning on binge watching the series again over the weekend in anticipation of getting Arcane Ugly soon
I've been watching your stuff for a while, never really commented much, but I just wanted to say that seeing someone else so passionate and unapologetically and vigorously creative in wild ways really pumps me up and has been helping me with my own creative rut which I've been stuck in for the past while. Seeing all the hiccups and flaws of another person's creative work, and seeing it seriously treated as just part of the process has been a big help for me.
Thank you so much. I've been reading rpg after rpg assuming I had to read as much as possible in order to build one but hearing you say out loud that you felt like you had to read every rpg made me realize how stupid I was being. Thanks.
I absolutely love your work and this series. The whole creative process and finding a balance between the two parts of your brain really resonates. Its very good that you're taking breaks and taking care of yourself, all of the grind can wear you down to nothing if ya don't take time to rest.
Thank you for sharing! My mind tends to go all the place as well when I am working on different projects!
Thank you for talking about this! This is super important and part of qhy I love the community of minipainters and builders and tabletop gaming! It's an open space and it's ok to talk about stressful things. That's cool.
I really do enjoy your videos, especially about your rpg's work. I myself have been working on a project aswell, but I seem to get stuck on things, but with your videos and help it has become easier. In the matter of knowing myself. I don't really know who I am yet, but making a somekind of diagram or something could help me understand myself better. Again, thanks!
I love your Arcane Ugly project! It has inspired my friends and I to make our own TTRPG! I have been loving your videos and can’t wait to try the beta. You must remember, this first beta will not be perfect and that is okay, don’t let Order Trent take over.
Sound video, great rep and solid insight into pitfalls
I remeber a few years back there was a radio program about an institute in Cornwall someone had set up based on the philosophy that people were unsatisfied with monotonous manufacturing simply because it didn't satisfy the creative capacity of the hand. Bakers were happier because there was some craft.
Trent, you're too hard on yourself sometimes. You work harder than most people I know. I'm glad you took some time to rest and I can't wait to see the first version of Arcane Ugly 💜
Gonna be DMing this as soon as you release it. I'm just absurdly pumped for the official release.
I’m really excited to try out your creation. Take care of yourself and cheers
Here's some of my ideas for this game (reposting from the arcane ugly art vid because i want you to get something out of these)
-I don't believe in astrology or witchcraft but i think it would fit really well as a source of inspiration (granted it would be weird if you hadn't looked into it already but still)
-The HiveSkull (structure/monsters): A giant beehive made of strong bone(?) On the outside & flesh on the inside. The "bees" are made of organs, some normal, some magical & some unknown. the organ used determines a member's abilities, stats & role within the colony. These "bees" are made using the organs of hunted creatures, which suggests the existence of undiscovered creatures when combined with the unknown organs mentioned earlier (which is an extra lore excuse for homebrew on top of the world just being wild as all hell).
-I remember seeing someone suggest functional titles & i really liked it. You basically get them by doing cool things & they functional like equipabbles that boost certain rolls.
-If familiars are souls & spirits then i'd like to see a set of mechanics where you can catch & store enemy spirits then melt them into a familiar at the cost of it being bigger & more unstable the more of them you have. Maybe you could also choose between keeping the familiar a spirit & giving it a physical vessel.
-Maybe you could also experiment with adding accent colors? Maybe even using 2 color pallettes instead of black & white?
I don't expect the second one to go far in any way but still.
-Check out Chimeride & shittycryptids on tumblr as well as C.M.Kosemen on his site & instagram.
-Here's a new thing; what if there was a scalpel type item that allows you to cut mutations out of yourself & use the resulting parts to frankenstein something together? Maybe use them to make monter bash cards?
Edit: A spell inverter would also be a good idea
Hey, im following the creation of Arcane Ugly since you first uploaded a video on it, and every time I see a new Video im like nice a new update! I think your doin realy well, and wish you only the best. :D
This is so exciting! I can’t wait to play this and add my own spells and miscast and all sorts of homebrew things.
Your admission of this conflict comes to me at the exact right time. Especially the part about brain structure. I have beat myself up unmercifully over failing to do the hard work. It has even frozen me in my creative process. Thank you thank you.
I've definitely found that stepping away from a project can sometimes be the best thing for it. I've been down in the weeds, pushing myself and running against a brick wall with a story and I can't push through.
I take a week off, watch some movies, take a trip, whatever... And BAM! I come back roaring to go, breaking through whatever wall or roadblock I had.
Honestly excited for this to come out in how ever many more years itll take you, i have trouble learning new systems of TTRPGs but i still wana be able to play this once its out
>.>
Thank you so much for opening up about the challenges underlying burnout. Thank you being honest about your reaction to "grind" culture. As some with ADHD I can certainly understand the conflict between needing creative space and the need for something to be "right" and the lockup in executive dysfunction stemming from that. The answer is never "just work harder" no matter how often we are told to do so.
Very interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing the "process" with us. Many times we follow creators and become hard on ourselves because they nail everything right the first time... When in reality we are watching their highlights or their polished creation. I teach art classes and I will share your experience with my students. Cheers
Love the night sky poster. Super stoked about how this project has come along. Really inspiring man.
Hey Trent, thank you for this. Been feeling burnt out at work and this has really helped.
Ya bloody gotta rest is a great mantra. Glad to hear you're on track and taking care 👍👍💪
I’m really digging the art piece you made on the big piece of board. It reminds me of a map of a city or town with different routes to take to places.
Thanks for keeping us involved in your journey. Love the creative artwork
Thank you for sharing your adventure, we are excited to experience Arcane Ugly!
Really excited for Arcane Ugly!!
I love how the players have a large role in creating more of the game (new spells and strange combinations of wands, etc).
Keep up the great work! (unless you need another rest 😅)
usually when i need to create something i go from "low resolution" to "high resolution", like creating schools of arcane paths, categories of spell inside this paths and finally when im confortable i try to find the "limits" of this categories with generic spells and after that i derive new variant in the spells-clusters and if i feel the need to split or add new categories i do... thats how i create ANYTHING, i don't mind about the small, i start from the "highpoint" and zoom in to a medium point, when i need to finally build the "interative particles" (character for a tale, are particles, parts of a 3dmodel are particles, when "final" decisions are made) i summon them in clusters, the bigger the better then i keep zooming to give depth and perspective, i never "close" the system, because any real system in the world is open, we never know everthing about something, keep the universe open allows you the eternal "here lives the dragons" in the border of your creation. perfection is a feeling, i usually don't put as a project requirement, my requiriments tend to change because i review them allong the way like: maybe you want to create a category driven spell system, and doesn't have to put much effort in especific spells, in that case my requiriments will point that fact.
design requirements work better for me if they are especific like:
- expandable OR closed?
- restricted to class/job/training OR anyone can use it?
- general limits (like mana?) OR especific limits (this is a rare spell X commom spell)
requirements can be boolean like:
- expandable (in reality) AND closed (by belief)
- restricted (by belief) AND anyone can use it (in reality)
and you can have diferent requirements related to: time/dimensions/plots/characters/geographic/etnical reasons...
I've had similar troubles for a tabletop system I've made in the past. Pouring your heart and soul into something for so long can really burn you out and make you forget about the fun part of things. It's definitely a hard balance between structure and spontaneity but once you can it maaaan is it such a RELIEF
Love your new style videos....chaotic, relaxed and fun. THX!!
You've been inspiring for creating lore or monster and sketching for me. My brain has been everywhere as well on sculpting and sketching for DND and 40k. I've been making some fun idea in dnd to put in my campaign. Also my brain been stimulated with vast ideas and I gonna write it down before it gone. Also sketching random monster has been fun.
This is the first time I've actually seen a behind-the-scenes video of a board game being created and it's amazing but more importantly I see the love and care that being poured in. I already feel invested in the world and can't wait to join in the fun. Definitely purchasing when it comes out. PS how amazing are the $40 red tool boxes. 😜
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and process. Super inspiring and great reminders. You’re incredibly creative its awesome how tangible you’ve made your ideas.
Welcome to the world of indie rpg designers, I find working on more than one project helps me avoid burn out but I'm a little unique. I will say that often looking at other games can make it more complicated than it needs to be. Good Luck though, I look forward to see how it turns out, as it reminds me a bit of Low Life by Andy Hopp.
I don't have much to add to the conversation, but I really wasn't expecting you to make me unearth years of childhood memories of messing around with kid pix on my school's computers!
With all the Spell Cards, on the table, my first instinct would be to collect them all up, shuffle them, deal out a pair, and take up a spell that has those two effects.
Those creature collages look fantastic.
Asking for help when you're stressed is an important skill and can be really difficult. For me, the times I've managed to ask for help have sometimes changed my entire trajectory, just by talking to people I have realised I was stuck inside of a dead end framework and I didn't know it, bogged down by things that I thought I "have to do"
This was really motivating to me. Seeing that you as someone I hold on a pedestal as an amazing artist is still very human, and struggles too. And you talking thru your mindset showed me my own. I have the biggest art event of my life on Halloween and I've been sitting here. Staring at the wall. Nothing I make seems worthy of this event, and it's causing me to freeze up and make nothing. It's kind of a self fulfilling prophecy. But, I'm picking 10 and going forward! Also, I need coffee. A whole pot.
You can do it! Good luck! Also thank you :)
What you are creating is truely awesome. We are all with you.
I love the practical tip of marking jobs that can be delegated ahead of time.
I'm exactly the same, if I'm managing a project, when the pressure increases I am liable to take on all of the work, even take jobs away from other people because having control of everything seems less stressful (but isn't).
The great thing about the creative process is how different it really is from person to person.
Man this is so relatable. My problem has always been I have so many projects going at once I wear myself out real fast
Lovely video Trent! Glad that you found some ways to maintain your health
Burn out is real my dude especially on a project as extensive and involved as this is. Take a break and rest your mind, drink some water. Come back later and make something better! You’re doing awesome, I love what you’re doing and it’s inspiring to me as a game designer and an artist. Thank you for acknowledging burn out and sharing your stories.
I appreciate this video so much! I fee like I could have written the script for this. Thanks sharing this with us.
I once did the same and designed/wrote my own pnp rpg rulebook. Creative fatigue is a real think. Watching your videos helps me overcome it!
I just happen to be (re)writing the worldbuilding chapter for my RPG right now.
Worldbuilding with depth comes from developing relationships between things, not just imagining the things themselves.
Thanks for the honest insight into your process!
If you want some video game inspiration the game “Noita” has a really weird wand system that allows you to make crazy magic that is just as likely to blow yourself up as much as anything else.
Can confirm!!! Noita is amazing!!!