I started this wild journey of self-publishing back in 2012 when I, like so many others, discovered there was something lost between the 3rd and 4th editions of D&D.
Gazing into our gaming past, we looked back at the wonders of old-school D&D (and other RPGs). And what we found is that the old ways were almost always better.
As with anything, returning to accomplishments of our collective past revealed opportunities for improvement, new ways of understanding old concepts, fixing problems we didn't even know were problems back then. That's what the Old School Renaissance means to me, and I owe my getting back into the hobby to all the folks who've been creating in that space, under that banner.
All this is to say that I'm shutting down Kort'thalis Publishing. I'll still be in the hobby, just not the industry, and I don't even know what to say about the "community."
Business was good in the beginning, but these last couple years got hard for Kort'thalis Publishing to survive as a hobby-business. Just to give you an example: Before covid, I was making $700, $800, sometimes over a $1,000 a month in DriveThru sales. I just received this month's check for $217. And it's been like that for awhile. My last Kickstarter failed to fund, and so I tried again (based on an X poll - the winning suggestion, a guide to gonzo for gamers). It will probably make it, but just barely.
Here's the link to that - PRIMORDIAL CHAOS: Gonzo Like A Fucking Boss!
Even 3 years ago, I was confident enough to look my wife in the eyes and tell her that big things were going to happen. All the time and energy I poured into writing, designing, self-publishing, and promotion were going to pay off big time.
Well, that never materialized and I haven't told her anything of the sort in awhile... because I don't believe it myself. Pretty much everything is going in the wrong direction, or simply not far enough in the right direction. Except for the amazing time I'm having behind the screen, gaming with friends, GMing Cha'alt with Advanced Crimson Dragon Slayer and all the little add-ons, experimental mechanics, and optional rules that evolved organically out of actual play.
So, what does all this mean? Assuming the Primordial Chaos book funds, I'm going to finish that (because it's already started and I want to get my discoveries out into the RPG world because life is short and you never know what will happen), and then stop putting out new material. No more crowdfunding or releases of any kind. But if someone wants to buy a Cha'alt hardcover, just ask. I still have a basement full of them. ;)
I will continue to organize and host VENGER CON in Madison, WI. The official dates for 2025 are Friday, July 18th - Sunday, July 20th. I'm waiting on the promotional artwork to come in the first week of September before launching the convention page.
And I'll still blog and make the occasional video. I'll remain on social media, too, but to a lesser degree. So, I guess this is semi-retirement. If, after enough time passes, it makes sense for me to return in 3, 4, or 7 years... (hopefully, not more than a decade), I'd be happy to, but now is not the time for me to keep doing what I've been doing.
If I don't stop now, my supporters will soon see me sucking dick for one-page layout money in the back alley of some rainbow-infested game store. I'd rather go out in the afterglow of accomplishments like Crimson Escalation, Cha'alt X-Cards, Alpha Blue (and her many supplements), The Gilded Die of Satanis, Under Fuchsia Ska'ai digital-comic, all the Like A Fucking Boss books, and the Cha'alt trilogy itself. Going further back, I'm still immensely proud of Liberation of the Demon Slayer, The Islands of Purple-Haunted Putrescence, Revelry In Torth, the Trilogy / Trinity of Awesome collections, The Outer Presence, etc. Check 'em all out!!!
Sure, I could point a tentacle at our shitty economy, "the OSR is dying!" folks, politics / culture war stuff (which may or may not have led to online retailers and crowdfunding sites censoring and stealth-banning via the almighty algorithm), the current necessity of slick marketing campaigns anointed by establishment approved YouTubers - the ShadowDarking of our hobby, various forces and personalities and groups overinflating RPG popularity to the point where everything is geared towards Lowest Common Denominator tourists and infused with Socialism and soy, WotC skull-fisting the b'jeezus out of D&D like Disney has done with Star Wars, or my own stubborn / arrogant notion that I make what I want the way I want and that's just how it is.
In the end, I don't care what the primary, secondary, or tertiary causes were. The rise and fall of Venger Satanis was probably inevitable, nay essential. Circle of life. Nature is healing. The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long, and I have burned so very, very brightly. Based and zoth-pilled.
It was a lot of fun in the beginning, but now the financial struggles have made it not much fun at all. So, I quit. Well, giving my 6-month notice, assuming the Primordial Chaos kickstarter funds. One last project for the road - praise the Great Old Ones. Ia! Ia! Cthulhu fhta'agn!
Before I forget, this Sunday's Inappropriate Characters is our final show - send us off with a bang! I've added some new backer rewards to the Primordial Chaos campaign (capped-off with a new Cha'alt adventure, BTW) - pledge if you can. And thanks for all your support over the years, hoss! I greatly appreciate it.
By His loathsome tentacles,
