It’s been a while since we’ve last talked about Eight Bells Bluff (8BB) on this blog. So long, in fact, that you may not even remember what it is! If you’ve heard us talk about our “writing game,” then you’re on the right track. Eight Bells Bluff is a product by Loud Coffee Press, set to launch in preview mode this July 6th.
Since we’re nearly done with the prototype, we’ve decided to share some of the details here for a special first look!
Off the shores of the cold Northern Atlantic lies a town where no one holds more stories than the hearty townsfolk that live among one sandy inlet. Welcome to Eight Bells Bluff (8BB), where night rules the day and oysters reign king. 8BB holds dark secrets, wondrous sites, and odd characters brought to life through you, the storyteller. Using only a pen, paper, dice, and playing cards, you are invited to unleash the power of your creativity while diving into the art of writing and storytelling.
We designed Eight Bells Bluff as a game for both new writers and seasoned wordsmiths. It aims to teach, challenge, and encourage those who've always wanted to try their hand at writing. The gamebook contains the rules of play and serves as a primer for any genre of story writing!
Eight Bells Bluff guides the writer through the traditional story structure with phases like Introduction, Inciting Incident, Rising Action, Climax, and Ending. Each phase includes prompts for the Time of Day, Objects, Weather, and incidents to guide the story and fire up your imagination. At the end of each game, the player will have a completed draft of their story!
Eight Bells Bluff gets its name from the seafaring tradition of the ringing of eight bells when a sailor dies at sea. Here, you’ll dive into the lore of a town rich with tradition and history, a town embedded with fantastic locations and secrets, and a town that awaits you, the storyteller to craft fiction using the main components of story… plus a few tricks of the town.
Sound compelling? Want more? In the next few weeks, we’ll be unveiling the game piece by piece (pun unintended), including some incredible cover art by Pennsylvania-based artist Dan Yowell. Be sure to subscribe to our mailing list at www.loudcoffeepress.com for updates, follow us at @loudcoffeepress and @eightbellsbluff on Instagram, and @loudcoffeepress on Twitter and Facebook.
Check out the Eight Bells Bluff FAQ!
Are you as excited for 8BB as we are? The heart is waiting for your tap! Spout your excitement below! Feel free to fuel us forward...