Dying Hard on Hardlight Station: Anthology Edition

June Update: Deep in the Ink
14 days ago – Tue, Jun 02, 2026 at 03:12:40 PM

Hi all!

Hope you are doing well as we transition from spring to summer. 

For me, this last month has been all about the shift from running the Kickstarter back into writing the book, which, as exciting as crowdfunding can be, is exactly where I'm happiest. So while the campaign may be over, the real work is only beginning. Let's take a look at what that means, shall we?

Managing the Pledge Manager and More

The first part of May was all about setting up the Pledge Manager and smoothing out the inevitable kinks. It was also when I received the first round of funds from Kickstarter, which means the team gets paid. A good day all around, though managing payments across an international team is a job in itself.

One of the highlights of the month was getting the Backer-Exclusive Anthology Adventure Preview into your hands. I've loved hearing the initial reactions and hope you've been having fun exploring the adventures so far.

I also want to thank everyone who contributed feedback. There are lots of great ideas, fixes, and suggestions in there, and I've already begun implementing many of them. One especially generous backer mentioned creating a fully marked-up version of the PDF and offered to share it. The feedback form is anonymous, so if that was you, please send me a message here on Kickstarter. I'd love to take a look.

Side note: One small issue affecting pre-order backers is that delivery of the preview files is not yet automated, so I've been manually adding them as orders come in. I've reached out to BackerKit to see if we can streamline that process moving forward.

Wading into the Black Pool of Creativity

With the initial wave of logistics largely behind me, I've been able to return to writing, which will be my primary focus through June.

Behind the scenes, Golden Achiever has also been hard at work on the updated edition of Decrypted. I'm really excited to show off both the improvements to the original material and some entirely new additions. Whether you're a fan of the original or a first-timer, I think you're going to enjoy what we've got in store.

Another area moving quickly right now is the Fleet Guide. I've completed 4 of the new stretch goal ships, which means only 1 collaborative vessel remains. Tony Tran has started work on the final batch of ship illustrations, and Golden has already begun laying out the pamphlets and zine.

I'm also planning the remaining bonus content for the Fleet Guide. If there's a tool, table, or reference you'd love to see included, let me know in the comments below. I'm always interested to hear what would help get your games to the table faster.

As for the Anthology itself, writing continues steadily and I hope to have some new content to share through the Pledge Manager by the end of the month. For now, let's just say there are new ships, new horrors, and a few other surprises emerging from the dark corners of Sector 1365.

Until Next Time

Alright, that wraps things up for this month.

Keep rolling dice, playing nice, and keeping Stress levels under control with your choice of vice ;-). 

Dave

May Update 2.0: Digital Files Ready to Download!
about 2 months ago – Fri, May 01, 2026 at 12:09:11 PM

May Update: Pledge Manager… with a Vengeance!
about 2 months ago – Wed, Apr 29, 2026 at 04:30:07 PM

Hi everyone,

Big news: the BackerKit Pledge Manager for Dying Hard on Hardlight Station: Anthology Edition is opening this week. The initial Smoke Test will go out tonight to 5% of backers to make sure everything is set up correctly. If all is well, I will send the remainder of the surveys tomorrow. Once they arrive, please complete your survey as soon as possible to lock in your rewards, confirm your details, and grab your first round of digital rewards.

In this update I will walk through the steps to make sure you get everything you ordered, along with answers to some common questions.

First Things First: What You Need to Do

When you receive your survey email, click the link and:

• Confirm your reward selection
• Provide your shipping information
• Add any add-ons you would like
• Access your available digital downloads

You do not need to create a BackerKit account to complete your survey. Simply follow the link in the email and fill out the required information.

After submitting your survey, you can return and make changes at any time before surveys close and final counts are locked in.

If you do not receive your survey email, check your spam or junk folder first.

Your Digital Downloads Are Ready

A few days after surveys go out, likely Friday, I will begin distributing the first round of digital rewards for the campaign. These will be delivered through BackerKit, including:

• Hardlight Anthology Adventure Preview (Backer Exclusive)
• NCID Fleet Guide Pamphlet (for first 48-hour backers)
• All PDFs for any add-ons or back catalog adventures you selected, including titles like Awaiting the Burning Gods, Nirvana on Fire, and The Cleaning of Prison Station Echo

Still to come for all backers:

• The complete Anthology with all station and sector locations
• The stretch goal Fleet Guide additions

New Add-On: Physical Fleet Guide Zine

One new item you will see in the add-on section is a physical zine edition of the NCID Fleet Guide. This version will collect all of the unlocked stretch goal ships, expansions, and bonus tables into a single printed package, along with a few extra surprises to round things out. If you are excited for the digital pamphlets unlocked during the campaign and would like a physical copy to bring to the table, this is the way to do it. 

Even better, this physical version is significantly discounted for campaign backers, so if you want one, now is the best time to grab it.

A Note on Pay Over Time

Quick reminder for anyone using Kickstarter’s Pay Over Time option:

Backers who selected Pay Over Time will receive their survey and access to digital downloads once their final payment has been completed.

If a payment fails in Kickstarter, the pledge may be temporarily marked as dropped. In that case, you will still receive a BackerKit survey where you can complete payment and restore your rewards. So no worries, just reach out if anything goes wrong.

What About Shipping Fees?

Since shipping rates fluctuate, shipping will be charged closer to fulfillment. I will post an update ahead of time so everyone has clear notice before any charges are processed. In the meantime, I will do everything I can to keep rates reasonable and within expectations set out on the campaign page.

The Pre-Order Store Is Open

If you are reading this but missed the campaign, or know someone who did, the pre-order store is now live.

Late backers can still jump aboard, and existing backers can share the link with friends who want to join the crew. The pre-order store will remain open until orders close and production begins.

That is all for this update. Keep an eye on your inbox (and don't forget to check the junk folder) for your survey, and get ready to download a whole bunch of adventures.

Until next month,

Dave

WE DID IT! Hardlight is back… with a Vengeance!
2 months ago – Fri, Apr 03, 2026 at 08:37:58 PM

Hi everyone,

Let me just take a minute to say… 

WOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!

We did it!!! 

Thank you so much for being part of this record-breaking campaign. Personal records, but still ;-). This was a hell of a ride, and my favourite part was the good vibes and positive buzz I saw in the comments and across social media while it was all happening. I am truly thankful to have such a fun and supportive community built around my adventures.

Also, congratulations on unlocking the audio logs in the literal final minutes. That was a close call, but I am pumped that Golden, myself, and a few talented friends will get to return to the mics to create a whole slew of new audio aids to augment your Hardlight playthroughs and make the sector just a little more real and horrifying for your players.

What’s Next

More details on each of these milestones will come as we reach them, but in the coming weeks you can expect:

One to Two Weeks

The Pledge Manager opens. You will be able to confirm your address, add any add-ons you may want, and pick up the Hardlight Anthology Adventure Preview PDF.

The Late Pledge store will also open at this time for anyone who just missed takeoff.

Next Steps

Once the Pledge Manager is underway, I will get to work on the station section, with finishing touches coming in over the next few months. The goal is to complete the draft by the end of June and send it to Jarrett for editing.

I will continue to update you on progress and developments along the way. Expect monthly behind-the-scenes check-in as things move forward.

On your end, if you bring the adventures to the table, share your stories. I would love to hear how things go. I will also likely create a typo-catcher and feedback document for the keen-eyed among you who want to report any errors you spot. This is always helpful, since you can catch things that I, Jarrett, and my other proofreaders (my wife - though she is good) might miss before we go to print.

That is all for this short and sweet update. Time to celebrate, everyone. So get out there, get comfy, and heck, play some Mothership!

All the best, and with enormous gratitude,

Dave

Week 4: Rapidly Approaching the Final 48 Hours
3 months ago – Mon, Mar 30, 2026 at 09:48:14 PM

Warning, warning, massive event horizon approaching. The final 48 hours of the Dying Hard on Hardlight Station: Anthology Edition campaign are almost here.

Unbelievably, we are nearly at the finish line, and what a long way we have come since leaving our home port at the start of the month. With over a hundred new crewmembers since the last update, I am confident we will crack that 2,000 backer goal in the next one. So today, let me dig into a little more of what is coming.

Fleet Guide Cross Collab

I am excited to announce that for our next round of ships we will have another guest collaboration, this time with two familiar faces: Chris Airiau and Josh Domanski, who will be contributing a series of shuttlecraft for your crews to escape sticky situations, make rough landings planetside, or simply go for a pleasure cruise around the Hardlight Sector.

They will be pulling inspiration from their new adventure Paramour, launching in less than two days for Orbital Blues Month on BackerKit. A moody heist module set in the rundown remnants of an outlaw city. If the contents of Paramour live up to its fantastic, evocative cover art, I am in. I will be there on day one to check out the big reveal, and you can join me by signing up here.

Backer Exclusive Adventure Collection Update

Speaking of exciting things happening in the coming weeks, I thought I would chime in with an update about the exclusive backer adventure PDF you will all be receiving after the campaign closes.

More details to come, but in short, once the pledge manager opens to collect your addresses and confirm your backer info, you will have access to the Backer Exclusive Hardlight Anthology Adventure Collection.

I have been working behind the scenes with Vil and Golden to get everything ready, and I am excited to share that every art piece for the ten included adventures should be ready for launch, so you can see the full technicolour vision of the alien worlds, abandoned hulks, and corporate hideouts we have in store for you.

Furthermore, Golden informs me that the PDF itself will come in at over 180 pages, including:

• All ten adventures (other than the rewritten version of the original Hardlight Station, coming later this year)
• The pre-campaign preview content
• The new Interstellar Opportunities Temp Agency (IOTA)

I designed IOTA as an easy framework to get your crews playing through the many adventures the book has to offer in a fun, easy to manage, campaign you can dive into with little preamble. Crews head over to the Agency, sign up as contractors, and gain access to increasingly challenging and lucrative jobs as they complete missions and gain clout and experience.

Just a few short weeks after the campaign closes, the pledge manager will launch and the eager among you can get playing now without having to wait for the hardcovers to hit the printer. That means your crew could be running Hardlight just weeks from now.

Next Stop: Final 48 Hours

That is all for this update. Do not forget to keep spreading the word and building excitement as we fall into the gravity well of the final 48 hours. Here is to cracking 2,000 backers and beyond.

See you on the other side,

Dave