With the Bionicle RPG in working condition, I've come to a conclusion: It was good for a practice run.

That's not to say it's bad or that I don't like it. Heck, I'm going to be recording an entire campaign spanning who-knows-how-many sessions that'll be going up on YouTube. But I've pretty much accomplished what I set out to do and, while I'm going to continue supporting it, my focus has moved on to the next big thing.

As I've mentioned before, I'm slowly working on a series of three or four novels. I started writing again and it felt good, but I found myself going back to a previous problem I felt I still had: the universe felt too empty. It didn't feel right to be writing this cyberpunk/fantasy epic with nothing but transhumans and dragon-humans. That's a pitifully small amount of culture to delve into. I'd been trying to expand the universe further, but it was just difficult to do from a plot perspective.

Enter my next big project and world-building solution: The Steel Scales RPG. Now that I've got my feet wet with designing Lost Chronicles, I have a better feel for what does and doesn't work in a game system and where the line between complexity and simplicity should lie. But most importantly, by taking a step back from worrying about plot and designing a game around where the universe will be shortly after the end of the novels, I find it a lot easier to retroactively know what will happen when I go back to writing to get to this point. Suddenly, a lot more interesting plot points and characters come to mind. I have a clearer vision of how things are going to play out. Most importantly though, the universe doesn't feel like such an empty void anymore. I now have six races/factions well fleshed-out and the number is continuing to climb. I'm going to have a lot more toys in the sandbox when I crack open that .docx file again.

As for the RPG itself, I'm taking a more traditional approach and will be using a d20 system. This time, I'm taking cues heavily from KOTORII, 5th edition DnD, and the Star Wars Saga Edition RPG by Wizards of the Coast. I can't wait until it is finished because it means a chance to do more in my universe than just describe events to a reader. I'll be able to escort people there personally so that they can experience it first-hand.

The Steel Scales IP as a whole may be taking the back burner while I focus on more important things like hunting down a job and other pressing matters, but if I could just one thing to be my legacy, this would be it. I have faith that, if given a chance, I could craft something truly great and wondrous for everyone to enjoy.

*cue Two Steps from [Karzahni]*