Update 3 - Behind the Scenes of Lapidary Legends – Art, Brin Doda, and What’s Next

A lot has been happening lately with Lapidary Legends, and I wanted to give you a peek into what’s been going on behind the scenes — especially as we get closer to launching the game on Kickstarter.

🖌️ Card Artwork In Progress

The biggest update: I’ve been hard at work illustrating the cards. Every card type now has its own artwork, and I’ve also designed the card backs. While this may not be the final artwork, my goal is to enter the Kickstarter campaign with something I’m proud of — and without relying on AI-generated placeholders.

If the campaign is successful, I may either refine this art myself or bring in another illustrator to polish things up further. But for now, having this visual foundation helps me better communicate the theme and tone of Lapidary Legends — and gives you a clearer idea of what the finished game might look like.

👩‍🎨 Rulebook Art with My Daughter

One of the most special parts of this process has been working with my daughter on artwork for the rulebook. Together, we created an illustration of Brin Doda — the master jeweler from the city of Neavine — who serves as your guide and narrator throughout the game.

Here’s what Brin says to welcome players into the world of Lapidary Legends:

“Greetings, aspiring gem artisans! I am Brin Doda, master jeweler of Neavine, and I seek a skilled apprentice to join me in a dazzling contest of craftsmanship. Compete against fellow gem cutters to sculpt the most flawless, radiant gemstone using precision tools and sharp technique. With each expertly removed imperfection, you’ll earn points toward victory—only one will rise as the true master. Will it be you? Let your talent shine in this ultimate gem-cutting showdown!”

You’ll see this quote featured prominently in the rulebook, along with Brin’s artwork — both of which I’d love your feedback on.

Brin Doda at her jewelry shop “The Stunning Globe” Asking players to compete to be her new apprentice.

📣 Follow Us & Help Spread the Word

We’ve also just launched a brand-new YouTube channel (@PATreeGames), where you can watch shorts of me drawing the card artwork. Coming soon: a full “How to Play” video and more behind-the-scenes content.

If you like what you see and want to support Lapidary Legends, the best way to help right now is to follow us on social media, share with friends, and encourage others to join the mailing list. Every new supporter brings us one step closer to making this game a reality.

Thanks for following the journey — and stay tuned for more updates soon!

✨
Brett
Creator of Lapidary Legends

Update 2 - 🎨 I Picked Up the Pencil! New Art for Lapidary Legends

Hey gemstone grinders, facet fanatics, and lovers of all things shiny—welcome back to the Lapidary Legends development blog! 💎

First things first: yes, it’s been a little while since the last update. And yes, that’s totally on me. I recently started a new job (cue the classic life-leveling-up montage), and it’s taken a bit of time to get settled into the groove.

But make no mistake—Lapidary Legends is still very much alive and sparkling behind the scenes. ✨

Let’s Talk About Art (and AI… and Budget… and Stylus’)

If you’ve been following the project, you know I’ve been wrestling with the question of how to approach the artwork. AI art has been a hot-button topic, and I’ve seen several Kickstarter projects get absolutely obliterated by the community—even when the AI art was just placeholder. And I get it. You deserve something better. Something thoughtful. Something human.

So I started exploring options:
👀 Fiverr? Beautiful portfolios, but the cost added up fast (especially for something that might not even be the final art).
🖌️ Me? Hey, I used to draw… So I dusted off my old tools and gave it a shot.

Surprise: I’ve been loving it. It’s slower, sure—but it's personal. Every brushstroke is a piece of the vision I’ve had in my head since day one.

Show and Tell Time! 🖼️

I’ve attached a few of the newly illustrated cards to this post—and now, I need your help.

💬 Tell me what you think!

• Do you like the style?

• Are there details that really shine (or need a polish)?

• Would you want to see something different entirely?

Your feedback helps shape the look and feel of this game. Even a quick “love it!” or “maybe try X” in the comments goes a long way.

Super Glue Card

This card lets you cut a layer from your active facet AND cut a layer from any other facet.

Extender Fluid Card

The Extender Fluid lets you add a polish tile to two different facets on your gemstone. Polish tiles can protect against cutting deeper than you would like and to help prevent others from attacking your gemstone.

Alcohol Lamp Card

The Alcohol Lamp lets you move your Active Facet Market to an adjacent facet, thus allowing you to begin cutting that facet to earn more points!

Stay Connected 💬

Want to help Lapidary Legends grow? Follow, like, and share us on our socials so we can keep building momentum and spreading the word!

🔹 Facebook
🔸 Instagram
🔹 Our Website ← you’re already here, yay!
🔸 YouTube

Thanks again for being here and supporting Lapidary Legends. Every comment, share, and message means the world. Stay tuned for more updates soon—and in the meantime, keep those facets fabulous! 💠

Oh and don’t forget to visit our Contact page to sign up to get email updates on our progress.

First Update - Injection Molding

Hello everyone!

First off, thank you so much for signing up to follow Lapidary Legends and PineAppleTree Games. I know it’s been a minute since ProtoCon, and I truly appreciate your patience while I wrangled a few things in my personal life. But let’s get to the good stuff — updates on Lapidary Legends and what’s been happening behind the scenes!

Playtesting and Prototyping Updates

I've been continuing playtesting at the Board Game Designers of Utah Guild — always a great place to test ideas and meet incredible designers. Speaking of, check out a fellow designer’s game Stack City, currently on Kickstarter:
Stack City on Kickstarter
It’s a solid game worth backing if you love supporting indie creators!

As for Lapidary Legends, here’s what’s new:

1. Manufacturing Research: I posted for quotes on Alibaba and learned the current gem design needs thinner walls for proper injection molding.

2. Gem Redesign: Inspired by a ProtoCon playtester, I’ve started redesigning the gem to be hollow, so it can store the facet pieces inside — functional and thematic! Check out the attached images of the new concept.

3. Cost Estimates: Initial quotes for injection molding came in around $5,000, so I’m now building out a full cost estimate as I prep for Kickstarter.

4. Prototype Delay: My 3D printer decided it needed a vacation… so printing the updated prototype is on hold until I fix it.

What’s Next

• Fix the printer (wish me luck!)

• Get art quotes to start bringing the game’s look to life

• Price out the full production: box, rulebook, cards, facets, and coins

Want to Help?

If you’ve played Lapidary Legends, I’d love to hear your feedback! Tell your friends, share your thoughts, and help spread the word — every bit of support helps this project grow. Make sure to follow us on social media as well. 

Thank you again for being here at the start of this journey. I’m excited to keep you updated as Lapidary Legends takes shape!

Stay legendary,