I promised I’d update the Reader’s Companion for Steam Highwayman and I managed to complete it last week, so rather than wait until the next scheduled update, I wanted to post it here for free access.
What is the Companion? It’s a printable character sheet / tickbox / codeword list combo document that allows you to:
- keep your copy of Steam Highwayman clean and unmarked
- keep different playthroughs recorded or separated
- track the many variables without having to turn to the back of your book
I’ve produced it in two new versions – one that includes every tickbox and editable field from all four volumes of Steam Highwayman, perfect for a new playthrough with ambitions. Then there’s a version that only duplicates the Princes of the West sheets – which is still around 12 pages – which might suit anyone with a longstanding playthrough which has already drained the first volumes. The original 3-book companion is also still available for download.
All of them are here on my website.
An earlier version of the Companion can be seen on Dan Shaw’s Steam Highwayman table, which he kindly photographed for me a few days ago: you can see a playthrough in process right here!
And what a playthrough it was. I quote (with permission) from our conversation (some spoilers removed):
I befriended two locals who could help me, built hideouts in two woods, became a famed lawbreaker after going to prison for stealing a paychest, hit a wealth high point after opening a strongbox, and twice got beaten half to death robbing seven melons and a pineapple from a grand house and unwisely flashing the cash…
But my tale went downhill after unwisely killing a judge in a fit of righteousness. I decided to prematurely retire after about 15 hours’ play, with £26 4s to my name, 13 scars and 140 points total.
Perhaps you recognise some of the Smog & Ambuscade exploits alluded to in there? Perhaps you too have suffered for your taste for tropical fruit? It was that moment in our conversation that had me laughing – an unintended, emergent narrative of a highway robber returning again and again to rob a greenhouse, sell the fruit somewhere nearby (I don’t even remember who buys them!) and suffering for his hubris – it was that moment that really felt like the heart of the Steam Highwayman experience.
I’d love to hear more of the highs and lows of your adventures in the world: the moments that I wrote that really stood out for you, and the unintended odd bits created by the open-world system, like meeting the same person again and again or an odd juxtaposition of encounters that felt somehow right. I’m hoping that some of these will be the stories that draw new readers in too.
As far as fulfilment goes, it’s still underway. Thanks for the patience of everyone who has paid for their shipping and not yet received their complete rewards: some are in the post and some are being resent today. Essentially, post-Brexit small shipments like these are not as simple as they used to be, and I’m doing my best. I’ve received many, many emails from those of you awaiting rewards and arranging deliveries and I’d like to sincerely thank the entire community for their patience, politeness and understanding. Amongst all these messages I haven’t received a single complaint or rude word, only support and encouragement: it makes this all much easier for me!
I have to be upfront and let you know that now that the main part of the project is completed and I’m simply handing shipping and fulfilment, I’m not able to devote as much time to the project as previously. I have other things to do (some of which help pay the bills!) that demand my time, so in some cases you’ve had to wait up to a week for a reply to a query or an email. I’m still able to give most Mondays to the project, so expect a reply or update then if you’re waiting for your packages or to hear more. I’m about to work through the current backlog after posting this update.
So I wish each of you happy adventuring and I’ll aim to update again here in a fortnight – unless something exciting happens first!
Next update due: 5.10.26