Cinderlight Games Developer Blog: March 1, 2025
The Road Ahead: Playtest Updates and Convention News
Welcome to the first official entry in the Cinderlight Games Developer Blog! We're excited to share the latest updates on Fade to Black and Fatefully Tragic Hero—including the results of recent playtests, upcoming changes to core mechanics, and where you can find us in the coming months. Let’s dive into the details.
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Fade to Black — Playtest Recap and Future Plans
The first official round of playtesting for Fade to Black wrapped up on February 26th—and we couldn’t be more grateful for the feedback and dedication from all of our testers. This game thrives on tension, and your insights have been crucial in making sure every roll, every choice, and every consequence hits with the weight we intended.
What’s Next?
The next round of playtesting begins in April 2025.
We'll be running monthly one-shots to test new mechanics and push the game’s evolving systems.
A new adventure module—exclusive to convention players—will be given to those who participate at Gen Con. This will not be sold anywhere else or given at any other time. So come check us out at Gen con or miss out!
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Patch Update: Fade to Black [Version 0.8]
Our latest patch reflects the most impactful changes driven by player feedback—focusing on the Fragment Leveling System, Stress mechanics, and the flow of combat. Let’s break it down.
Major System Overhaul: Fragment Leveling Expanded
The Fragment Leveling System has been expanded to give players more meaningful choices in how their Witness grows—or unravels.
New Fragment Spending Options:
Once-Per-Session Abilities — Activate a unique, powerful ability once per session—a moment of clarity or desperation that could shift the tide of a situation.
Passive Abilities — Permanent upgrades that subtly shape your Witness’s survival instincts and physical reactions.
Legacies — If your Witness dies, their story doesn’t end. You can:
Start your new Witness with 4 Talents instead of 3, or
Gain a Bound Companion—an animal linked to your previous Witness’s struggles.
Bound Companions — Witnesses can now form a bond with an animal companion. These companions offer small but impactful benefits, from warning you of incoming danger to providing a brief moment of comfort. They have their own Injury Points (IP) and can interact with combat in unique ways.
Core Mechanics Update
Witness Strengths and Weaknesses
To simplify and streamline the system without sacrificing narrative weight:
Strengths — Now tied to your Witness Role. Each role provides a bonus Trait point. For example, the Caregiver gains a bonus to Ingenuity, reflecting their ability to think fast and support others under pressure.
Weaknesses — Directly tied to Stress levels rather than layered modifiers:
Stressed: -1 to rolls tied to your Weakness.
Frightened: -2 to rolls tied to your Weakness.
Overwhelmed: -1 to all rolls (adjusted from -2 for better balance).
Stress Adjustments
Stress wasn’t hitting as hard as intended, so we’re turning up the pressure:
Failed rolls and Manifestation interactions now add 2 Stress (up from 1).
Push Your Luck adds 3 Stress (up from 2).
Weakness rolls now come with a -1 penalty increase—raising the tension when you gamble on actions tied to your flaws.
Stress is central to the horror of Fade to Black. This change makes sure it’s felt—not just mechanically but emotionally—keeping the tension high without overloading the system.
Flicker of Resolve
After receiving consistent feedback, we’ve reworked Flicker of Resolve:
Now triggered by rolling at least two 4's—regardless of how many dice you roll.
This change prevents players from feeling punished for rolling larger dice pools—removing the awkward trade-off of choosing between smaller or bigger rolls.
Flicker of Resolve is meant to be a key mechanic—your last spark of hope before the Fade closes in—so making it more balanced keeps that tension sharp.
Combat Adjustments
The flow of combat was a frequent topic during playtests—so we’re honing in on the action economy and linked actions:
Linked and Complex Actions — We're exploring ways to make these mechanics smoother, so players and Directors don’t feel bogged down in rules.
3-Action System — We’re testing a simplified action economy:
Action (attack, interact, etc.)
Free Action (quick responses or reactions)
Movement
Expect more updates after the April playtests!
Kyah Peak Expansion
The feedback on Kyah Peak has been incredibly positive, and we’re expanding the setting:
A detailed map of Kyah Peak’s major locations will be included in the campaign module.
We’re adding more about how The Fade corrupts the town—while also providing tools for Directors to build their own dark reflections of the world.
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Fatefully Tragic Hero — Lore and Mechanics Update
While Fade to Black has been front and center for playtesting, Fatefully Tragic Hero continues to move steadily toward its full campaign test in August 2025.
What’s Next?
Fatefully Tragic Hero will be running at Gary Con (March 21st) and Gen Con (August).
We’ve updated the Playtest Sourcebook—with more lore, streamlined combat rules, and reworked Heroic Path mechanics.
Recent Changes
Path of the Maverick — Talent changed to Mirage—allowing for 30-second afterimages or illusions to mislead enemies or create tactical openings.
Path of the Underdog — Talent updated to Up and At’Em—creating solid energy platforms for dynamic movement and better positioning in combat.
Movement Rework — Jumping, climbing, falling, and grappling have been simplified—making movement fast and fluid without sacrificing tactical choice.
Rough Terrain — Moving through rough terrain now takes a full action or a roll—with failure leaving your character prone.
Level Cap Review — Currently capped at Level 5—but we're re-examining how progression works for longer campaigns.
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Join Us at Gary Con and Gen Con!
Come playtest both games at Gary Con and Gen Con this year!
Gary Con — March 21st: Fatefully Tragic Hero one-shot run by our good friend Cody Siemiatkowski!
Gen Con — August July 31 to August 3: Fatefully Tragic Hero and Fade to Black demos, hosted by Wizard's Staffing and Cinderlight Games. So come check us out!
Exclusive Convention Adventures:
All players who participate at Gen Con will receive:
A free adventure One-Shot Module for both games—Fade to Black and Fatefully Tragic Hero.
Quickstart rules
Character sheets and pre-mades for at-home play.
These adventures will not be sold or distributed online—they're a thank-you for joining us in person and exclusive to only this year at Gen Con.
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A Personal Note from Lanosmire
Creating these games has been a deeply personal experience—one built from countless late nights, feedback sessions, and moments of honest reflection.
Fade to Black was never meant to be "just another horror game." It’s about fear—the kind that creeps into your decisions, lingers in your choices, and forces you to ask how far you’re willing to push yourself to survive. I started working on this after my father passed away, as he introduced me to horror. So with each test, and each player who is happy, I believe I get to give more to his memory. Love you Dad, and hope you’re proud.
Fatefully Tragic Hero is about something just as raw—hope, regret, and the weight of second chances. It’s a story about rising up, even when the world (or the gods themselves) seem against you. I had this story buried in me for 20 years, and seeing it almost done is just a lot of emotions. I tried it when I developed CRPGs when I was in my teens. I tried again when I wrote graphic novels/online comics in my twenties. It’s been a story in my heart and the world of Aetheria for so long. So it’s so strange it’s becoming almost a reality. I also hope you enjoy the world that has preoccupied my mind and heart for so long.
None of this would be possible without you—our playtesters, supporters, and friends. Nor my fabulous and amazing Editor Simone Alicea. She has been a godsend, and every insight she’s given, as we get this book in order has just been gold. So I tell you, get a good editor, they are absolute worth it!
More than that, we’re building something real—and I can’t wait to share what’s next.
But until next time,
Lanosmire
Head of Cinderlight Games