A new rhythm for a day at: introducing the idea of more frequent, but a bit smaller releases with the same big ideas + vote for your favourite themes

Heya everyone!I hope you all had a great weekend and now a great upcoming week as well!End of August I shared with you an update about "Some updates, upcoming content & concept changes" - And in spirit of these mentioned concept changes I’ve been working on a (few) new idea(s) for a day at that I’m really excited to finally be able to share with you! Since that post, a few of those ideas have already turned into something concrete - the free and the "0" Foundry modules are out, first modules updated with levels integration, the first shop items (and cloud alternatives with that) are now online, the highway map published. Your input in the poll about map sizes and resolutions also helped a ton in working out this concept, so a big thanks to everyone who participated!Also I can finally share that a day at will get Dungeonfog Patreon integration! Allowing you to use my assets inside Dungeonfog for your mapping. (Main Announcement coming soon!)And while the Summer turns now into Autumn, I am very happy to leave that chapter behind me and to be able to finally go back to "normal".But because I had to take it slow with my arm - I also had a few realizations and it opened up opportunities to think about my workflow - and what’s actually working… and what isn’t:

TL;DR

A day at stays as the main theme - same core principles & quality, but smaller, more frequent releases.

Each "day" will get split into smaller "times of day" (Morning / Noon / Evening / Night) releases with its own map, assets, prefabs, rooms and foundry publications - and when all times of day are done, they merge into one complete content pack.

I’m aiming for roughly one new release approx. every three weeks - but am testing out a working schedule alongside that first content pack and will then evaluate how this is all working out.

The first test content pack in this new format will come after the City Center publication.

Choose your favourite content pack themes in the poll below!

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BACKGROUND

Starting this year, I had already switched from monthly releases to a roughly six-week rhythm - hoping that this would take out a bit of tension for me. But: that plan kind of backfired - instead of using the extra time to take it slower or working things out in advance, I somehow just ended up making bigger and bigger maps instead XD Thats why I racked my brains trying to figure out how I could change things up:Especially how I could deliver content to you sooner - without burning myself out and maybe even do a little preparatory work so that I could react more resiliently to unexpected things like illness - or go on vacation without wrecking my arm trying to prepare things in advance.

With this new concept I aim to keep the same level of detail you know from me, while making the whole process (and the waiting time!) a little more enjoyable for all of us - and for my dopamine levels, too XD

THE MAIN IDEA

Nothing about the main a day at concept is changing - it’s still all about bringing means to create your own maps and to create detailed, multi-level environments with rooftops and surroundings to your table.The main difference is how I’ll release them:

Instead of releasing one big pack all at once, each a day at theme will now unfold over time -with several smaller releases that kind of represent different times of that day.

So you’ll still experience a full day at a single location - just in parts:Kind of Morning, Noon, Evening, and Night.

Each phase will come with its own map, asset pack, modular rooms, and Foundry module - they will just be a bit smaller in their own, but together, they’ll form the complete a day at experience.

Example: a day at the University Campus

Morning - Lecture Halls & Administration

Noon - Library & Study Areas

Evening - Dorms, Cafeteria & Courtyard

Night - Campus Park & Hidden Corners

This approach makes room for smaller, focused maps that still connect to the same theme - without turning every pack into a mega-project.That doesn't mean, that there won't be options for bigger maps. I will try and connect some maps into one bigger map, but will be mapping them out part by part - so I can share them earlier with you.

COMMUNITY IDEAS

Since I started with a day at, so many of you have shared amazing ideas for content and maps - and I am happy that many of them could be realized. But some of your suggestions would’ve been difficult to turn into full-sized content packs on their own.So I hope that this new format finally makes it possible to explore those smaller, but super exciting concepts - whether it’s a single unique building, a cozy local spot, or a map that simply adds more life to an existing theme or even a little bonus Asset pack around a smaller and less complex theme in between.

SCHEDULING

As most of you probably know - I’m one of those crazy people who like to make everything from scratch XD Since I draw all the assets myself, put together the prefabs and modular rooms, and then build the maps on top of that, my process naturally takes a bit longer.But I feel that one reason this new concept might work out now is that there’s now a solid base of assets - so that I don’t have to constantly draw the basics anymore and I can focus more on the unique, theme-specific assets each main theme needs.

On top of that, I’m also working on a few improvements in my general workflow and trying to make some changes to make the process a bit more efficient overall.

That said, since this will be a pretty different approach I’m still figuring out what a realistic rhythm will look like.Right now, I’m aiming for roughly one new release every three weeks, but I’ll need to see how that actually feels in practice.There’ll naturally be a bit of time between each daytime - enough to plan, draw, and polish everything properly - but instead of long gaps between big packs, there’ll be smaller, regular drops. For very complex maps / theme parts I might have to take a bit more time than for smaller parts, but would try to release them in a way that the content drops stay somewhat consistent.

SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU?

More frequent releases, instead of long waits

Smaller, easier-to-use maps, but still made with the core principles of a day at in mind (surrounded, detailed and multi-level maps)

Final bundles at the end of each "day"

More flexibility for me to plan ahead

A workflow that’s more fun and sustainable (and still 100 % a day at)

Of course I value every feedback or ideas you might have with / for this new approach! Also if you have questions or anything - please don't hesitate to share them as a comment down below, on the a day at Discord Server or DM me.

AND NOW: CHOOSE YOUR FAVORITES THEMES!

In the poll below you’ll find a list of possible themes - along with examples of what each daytime could include as maps and associated assets.This poll is public, so everyone can vote for the next big theme!Once the main theme is chosen, active Patrons will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite "daytime" parts, so I can see what you are interested in and what should be part of that content pack. I’m really excited to hear what you think - and to finally test if this new rhythm works as well in practice as I imagine it in theory XDGreetings from Ana

But now finally to the poll: What are your favorite themes you would like to see in the future?

(To get a better picture of possible "daytime themes" there are some suggestions of (map) locations written in parentheses behind the main themes.)

A day at -