The Road Ahead
April 2nd, 2022
"It is almost time Dreamwalkers! The Soulforge calls to you once again. Will you answer?" - V
Today we wanted to get into some of the details surrounding the story and what to expect when you return to the Dreamworld. A lot of time has passed since we have played together in-person and we felt it was necessary to reflect that as a part of the new narrative. This will help to mitigate some of the pressure of hosting events again as we get back in the groove, and give us all the much needed time to find our comfort zones together.
So how much time has passed exactly? Approximately 200 years. When your characters wake up again for the first time, they will find a world that has become more dangerous, but this story will be one of hope, not about being absent protectors. Your character's deeds and their legends have become common myths, and many people they meet will look up to them for strength. The old kingdoms are lost or scattered, and wild magical forces have replaced those who once held all of the power. But rest assured, our usual blend of drama and comedy is still alive at the heart of our storytelling, and we are so excited to take you on this journey with us!
Part of this new in-game era will address the changes in rules and there are some things we will not be releasing right away. Faction Powers and Magical Curiosities will be returning in Season 2, during the Fall.
We found that with all of the other changes made, Factions being included right now would be too much for us to collectively handle. In the original game, they took around 3 years to develop into what they were when we went on hiatus. Some folks might even remember a time when Templar and Reaper were going to be the only ones! Factions have always been an important part of the world and will continue to be in the not to distant future. What I can tell you right now is that Faction Powers will not occupy crystal slots, so you do not need to worry about them affecting the builds you create for your characters during season 1.
And your Magic Items will not be going away, but we need time to properly convert them to the new system. We want to get a handle on how the new rules will play during full events and which players and characters will be returning before we dive completely into the process. Since all of the items are unique, they also take a lot of time to review and we want to keep that uniqueness a part of them. Your characters will still have their physical items, but the magic inside them has gone dormant during your time away.
I also wanted to talk about Realms. While a full announcement is coming, the Mundania and Wasteland finales will be postponed so that we can build them back up as your character's regain their former strength over the next two seasons. We want to make sure these are done right and that they get the endings they always deserved.
Lastly, I wanted to leave you with a little preview leading up to the first event. Which can be Found Here!
- Adam & The Catalyst Staff
Today we wanted to get into some of the details surrounding the story and what to expect when you return to the Dreamworld. A lot of time has passed since we have played together in-person and we felt it was necessary to reflect that as a part of the new narrative. This will help to mitigate some of the pressure of hosting events again as we get back in the groove, and give us all the much needed time to find our comfort zones together.
So how much time has passed exactly? Approximately 200 years. When your characters wake up again for the first time, they will find a world that has become more dangerous, but this story will be one of hope, not about being absent protectors. Your character's deeds and their legends have become common myths, and many people they meet will look up to them for strength. The old kingdoms are lost or scattered, and wild magical forces have replaced those who once held all of the power. But rest assured, our usual blend of drama and comedy is still alive at the heart of our storytelling, and we are so excited to take you on this journey with us!
Part of this new in-game era will address the changes in rules and there are some things we will not be releasing right away. Faction Powers and Magical Curiosities will be returning in Season 2, during the Fall.
We found that with all of the other changes made, Factions being included right now would be too much for us to collectively handle. In the original game, they took around 3 years to develop into what they were when we went on hiatus. Some folks might even remember a time when Templar and Reaper were going to be the only ones! Factions have always been an important part of the world and will continue to be in the not to distant future. What I can tell you right now is that Faction Powers will not occupy crystal slots, so you do not need to worry about them affecting the builds you create for your characters during season 1.
And your Magic Items will not be going away, but we need time to properly convert them to the new system. We want to get a handle on how the new rules will play during full events and which players and characters will be returning before we dive completely into the process. Since all of the items are unique, they also take a lot of time to review and we want to keep that uniqueness a part of them. Your characters will still have their physical items, but the magic inside them has gone dormant during your time away.
I also wanted to talk about Realms. While a full announcement is coming, the Mundania and Wasteland finales will be postponed so that we can build them back up as your character's regain their former strength over the next two seasons. We want to make sure these are done right and that they get the endings they always deserved.
Lastly, I wanted to leave you with a little preview leading up to the first event. Which can be Found Here!
- Adam & The Catalyst Staff
Announcement!
March 29th, 2022
Hello, and welcome back to the world of dreams! Started in 2015, the original Catalyst ran from 2015 until 2020, and during that time we held over 40 events totalling more than 2160 hours of content. That's a lot of LARPing! Like many, we put the safety of our community first and immediately decided to go on a hiatus due to the Covid Pandemic. During that time we reviewed our system and took everything we learned to completely reimagine it. As we return to play, we will be releasing these rules in phases and may change them as we Beta Test. In addition to a more streamlined system, there will be new crystals, items, realms, factions and more of the things you all love about this game. If you have ever wanted to try us out, or are a returning player, now is the very best time to join us for an exciting new chapter!
Now onto the Important stuff!
First, Catalyst is indeed coming back! Our first event will be April 22nd - 24th. If you plan to attend please read this announcement carefully. Registration will be open April 5th. To attend you MUST register online before the event. We will NOT be accepting payments at the door. You must also bring either a physical or digital copy of your Covid Vaccination Card showing you have received full immunization with the booster shot. There will be no exceptions and without it you may not enter the campground. A Staff member will be placed in the parking lot to greet all players and get you past this step.
Second, let’s talk about our covid protocols. Mask at all times when indoors (except when sleeping or eating) and when in combat outdoors. Social distance as best as possible. Bring multiple masks, change masks if the one you are wearing gets dirty. Do not come to the event if you are feeling unwell, as it is a community violation to come to the event if you are experiencing covid symptoms. If you start to feel unwell, mask, take a rapid covid test that will be provided, pack up and leave camp. If it is found that you have provided false covid vaccination documentation, you will be permanently banned. Even if you are feeling unwell and it is not covid related, do not come to the event.
Third, let’s talk about sleeping arrangements as this has changed from the past. There will be a limited amount of indoor sleeping spaces available. Indoor Spaces are $10 each and can be added to your Registration.Outdoor Spaces are free. This includes adirondacks and platform tent camping which is first come, first serve. You can also bring your own tent. We only ask that you do not pitch your tent on paths or in the middle of the large open grass areas as we use those for combat.
Lastly, the Beta Rulebook will be released Friday April 1st, and no it won’t be an April Fools joke! As for what to expect from the story and gameplay? More announcements are on the way that will begin to answer these very questions. We will also be doing a Q&A post to cover everything else, so please hold further questions until that time. If you are a returning player, you will be able to play your existing characters. Their story is not yet over.
Welcome Back Dreamwalkers.
Now onto the Important stuff!
First, Catalyst is indeed coming back! Our first event will be April 22nd - 24th. If you plan to attend please read this announcement carefully. Registration will be open April 5th. To attend you MUST register online before the event. We will NOT be accepting payments at the door. You must also bring either a physical or digital copy of your Covid Vaccination Card showing you have received full immunization with the booster shot. There will be no exceptions and without it you may not enter the campground. A Staff member will be placed in the parking lot to greet all players and get you past this step.
Second, let’s talk about our covid protocols. Mask at all times when indoors (except when sleeping or eating) and when in combat outdoors. Social distance as best as possible. Bring multiple masks, change masks if the one you are wearing gets dirty. Do not come to the event if you are feeling unwell, as it is a community violation to come to the event if you are experiencing covid symptoms. If you start to feel unwell, mask, take a rapid covid test that will be provided, pack up and leave camp. If it is found that you have provided false covid vaccination documentation, you will be permanently banned. Even if you are feeling unwell and it is not covid related, do not come to the event.
Third, let’s talk about sleeping arrangements as this has changed from the past. There will be a limited amount of indoor sleeping spaces available. Indoor Spaces are $10 each and can be added to your Registration.Outdoor Spaces are free. This includes adirondacks and platform tent camping which is first come, first serve. You can also bring your own tent. We only ask that you do not pitch your tent on paths or in the middle of the large open grass areas as we use those for combat.
Lastly, the Beta Rulebook will be released Friday April 1st, and no it won’t be an April Fools joke! As for what to expect from the story and gameplay? More announcements are on the way that will begin to answer these very questions. We will also be doing a Q&A post to cover everything else, so please hold further questions until that time. If you are a returning player, you will be able to play your existing characters. Their story is not yet over.
Welcome Back Dreamwalkers.
.
Changes Coming to Catalyst in 2022
Updated 10/16/21
Greetings, Dreamwalkers new and old! We are proud to announce the return of Catalyst: The Lucid Dream in 2022!
The Soulforge and the Realms tethered to it have vanished! Old enemies have rushed to fill the power vacuum that has taken shape in their absence which has brought about new conflicts across the Dreaming. The mighty Ashir and other allies of the missing Dreamwalkers are hard pressed to manage the crisis.
Evading this new clash for power, caravans of people displaced during the War of the Accords have begun to resettle in the wilderness near the Unknown Dreaming. Even the secretive Fey Courts of Summer and Winter have unexpectedly issued an edict to open their border to these outsiders. The future is uncertain.
It is a dark time for the Dream World. As battles near and far continue to rage, a new threat looms at the edge of Wyldgrave....
The Soulforge and the Realms tethered to it have vanished! Old enemies have rushed to fill the power vacuum that has taken shape in their absence which has brought about new conflicts across the Dreaming. The mighty Ashir and other allies of the missing Dreamwalkers are hard pressed to manage the crisis.
Evading this new clash for power, caravans of people displaced during the War of the Accords have begun to resettle in the wilderness near the Unknown Dreaming. Even the secretive Fey Courts of Summer and Winter have unexpectedly issued an edict to open their border to these outsiders. The future is uncertain.
It is a dark time for the Dream World. As battles near and far continue to rage, a new threat looms at the edge of Wyldgrave....
Though the land of Dreams is still as complex and untamed as it used to be, this next chapter will bring with it a return to exploring new lands, meeting new people, and uncovering new truths and mysteries of the Dreaming. But fret not, as some of your most beloved characters will return and continue to aid you on your journey.
First and foremost, everyone should know that there are many changes coming to the way you play Catalyst. From mechanics to storytelling, we left no stone unturned.
Overall Changes and What to Expect
- Covid Vaccination is Mandatory for Attendance. As we get closer to event dates we will publish our full policy for event attendance.
- We are establishing a "Soft Reboot" and while many parts of the old world are moving forward, some things are being discarded or reworked to better support a game we all want to play.
- All numbers are being crunched. Damage, Hit Points, Saves, Crystal slots, and most other stats are being reduced. These changes will bring fresh, exciting combat to the game and make all roles in a fight equally valuable.
- All stats including HP, Damage, and Crystal Uses have a hard cap on the amount you can achieve. It will be possible to reach these limits with different combinations of stats, items, and Crystals during the course of play.
Attributes and Character Advancement
- The former level cap of 20 is being reduced. Dreamwalkers will now reach the height of their power at Level 10. As such, the AP Totals have been dropped from 200 to 100.
- Individual Attributes now have a maximum score of 30.
- All styles of play will advance at the same pace. Increasing your AP no longer requires collecting Soul Crystals, siphoning souls, or making an optional purchase. All players get an equal amount of AP when they attend an event. It will be possible to reach Level 10 over the span of 8 Events.
- The Charisma Attribute has been removed from the game. Some skills and abilities once linked to Charisma are being retained and reassigned to different Attributes.
- A new Attribute called Potential is being added. This Attribute will help unlock additional Crystal Slots for your character and can alter the effects of other abilities.
- While the crafting system is remaining largely unchanged, increasing your Creativity now grants your choice of Trades that are recorded directly on your character sheet.
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Prestige
Combat and Damage
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Sanity and The Mind
- Sanity no longer represents or works as a second Health pool that you need to monitor to avoid dying. Sanity is now a measure of how quickly you might succumb to madness, existential threats and the macabre aspects of the Dream World.
- Dropping to 0 Sanity does not cause death or take you out of the fight. It now increases the difficulty of combat by removing or limiting access to some types of powers, healing, and Temporary bonuses.
- Abilities that previously dealt Sanity Damage now deal Psychic Damage to HP.
Introducing Seasons of Storytelling
- We are reducing the number of events per year to eight, which will be divided into two Seasons of Storytelling.
- Each Season will have a self-contained plot that takes centerstage and is run by a select group of Staff. Overall story threads from one Season to the next will still continue to be a cornerstone of the game, as well as faction and realm plotlines.
- The first event of a Season is when new players can join our community, giving Staff the ability to create a better New Player Experience each Season and a better overall experience for everyone.
- You can see our 2022 Calendar of Events now.
Crystals
- The entire Crystal system has been rebalanced from the ground up.
- All Characters start with four Crystal Slots and can choose two Crystals when they begin play from among cards 1-to-21 in the Crystal Library.
- Crystals now require fewer Attributes to equip, and all Attributes have an equal number of crystals available to them and only them.
- Faction Crystals no longer occupy slots. Once a Faction power has been learned, you know it inherently for as long as you retain the Power Cards and Allegiance to that Faction.
- Fragments and Perfects have been removed from the game.
- No Crystals break upon removal.
- The first 28 Crystals are live now.
A Final Note
- More updates, including Game Policies, Factions, More Crystals, and a 2022 Rulebook will be posted later this year.
We look forward to seeing you in 2022!
-The Catalyst Staff
-The Catalyst Staff
