While work on the Complete Edition continues, Heart Heist: The Zine has also received its first major update!

Now that I understand itch's platform a bit better - as well as the scope of this project - it no longer seems correct to update the zine itself directly into the Complete Edition. I think it makes more sense to split Heart Heist into two bespoke editions: the cheap, easy to distribute, lowest-possible-barrier-of-entry Zine Edition; and a Complete Edition that is free to grow into whatever it ends up becoming. I don't want anyone who supported this project already to feel cheated out of the Complete Edition, which is why anyone who purchased (or purchases) the Zine Edition here on itch will get $5 (the full price of the zine) off of the Complete Edition when it releases.

This does not mean that the zine is an unfinished version of a full game. Now it is quite the opposite - it is its own, complete thing (and has had its release stats on itch updated accordingly). It has everything you need to play, and can stand on its own. Some might come to call it a "rules-lite" version, and while I don't want to fall into the rabbit hole of definitions, it is looking very likely that the Complete Edition will have at least three more mechanics than its zine counterpart. Some players might even come to prefer one version over the other - relative simplicity and ease of use vs. mechanical depth and additional useful tools. Only time and continued development will tell.

While the Zine Edition obviously won't have everything the Complete Edition will have in it, it will still benefit from some of the updates work on the Complete Edition produces - such as the changes that released today!

Thank you for continuing to support Heart Heist!

Changelog:

• Created a Google Sheet that helps automate calculating each Thief's Favor at the end of the game if you don't feel like doing math
• Updated estimated play time based on additional playtesting with more groups of different players - down from 5 or 6 to 4 hours!
  • Added expectation of an additional 30 to 60 minutes if the entire group is new to playing Heart Heist
• Added section strongly encouraging players to read their intel before meeting up to save time at the table. This section also explains that heists cannot be "spoiled," and are reusable!
• The Evocative Language Update
  • "Stats" → "Vibes"
  • "Game Master" → "The Guy in the Van" (GV)
• Removed unnecessary references to upcoming material meant for the Complete Edition
• Rephrased explanation of "Fake It 'til you Make It" for clarity
• Fixed unspecified print error on page 5
• Added missing paragraph break on page 9
• Fixed various typos
• Removed grey sketch line from corner of Bingo.png
• Fixed missing Alt Text for Bingo.png
• Clarified that armor counts as a set of clothes
• Specified how long it takes for a glass cutter to cut holes of various sizes
• Reduced cost of the Aptitude spell from 3 to 2 Favor
• Added advice for players to - at minimum - figure out how they will get in, how they will acquire the target, and how they will get back out again within their planning time limit. You'd be surprised how many groups forget one of those three things!
• Added reminder for the Guy in the Van to award bonus Favor for the Dragon's Patron effect at the end of Phase 2: The Plan
• Various tweaks to The Princess in the Box example heist based on continued playtesting
• Added a timeline overview of the heist to The Princess in the Box
• Increased margin size of The Princess in the Box intel handout for easier note taking
• Updated the titles of some of the art pieces in the credits