1. Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts
  2. News

Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts News

Dev Update #6: Answering your playtest questions! & Scriptorium at PGA!

[p]Hey everyone,[/p][p]Uff... it’s been a while since the Playtest ended, but we’re finally back with something you’ve been asking us for quite a bit - answers to your most common playtest survey questions! We went through thousands of your responses, and these were by far the ones that showed up the most.[/p][p]Since the Playtest, we have been working very hard on development and taking a bunch of your feedback onboard. With each passing day, the game is becoming more complete and closer to what we envisioned for it, and a lot of that is thanks to your incredible playtest feedback. So, let’s dive right in and tackle the questions you care about most![/p][p][/p][p]When will the game be released?
No release date yet! The reason is simple - we’re currently working hard on the game after the Playtest and want to first update our plans based on all the great feedback you gave us. We take it seriously![/p][p]What we can already say is that we’ll need a bit more time than we initially thought, and we are aiming for the release in 2026. Don’t worry though - it’s not a big delay by any means, and the game doesn’t have any major problems that would significantly push the release date back. Just after the Playtest, we decided that Scriptorium deserves a few more features you asked for to make both Story Mode and Sandbox Mode more engaging and replayable. [/p][p]As you know, we’re a small team, supported by a great publisher, but we do everything ourselves, and as many of you ask, with no AI-generated content. So making these changes takes time, and we don’t want to overwork our team in the process. We believe you’d make the same call in our shoes - this extra time will really make Scriptorium a better game, and a more complete experience that’s truly worth your purchase at launch. And just to clarify - right now, we don’t plan another Playtest session as we’re still implementing your amazing feedback from the last one. We treat Playtests as a development tool, not a demo, so that plan might change in the future if we need to test something with you all.[/p][p][/p][p]What is the estimated price?
No decision on the pricing yet, but our goal is to keep it reasonable. We know there are so many great games out there, and we want Scriptorium to be accessible to as many players as possible. You can expect more details on that closer to release.[/p][p][/p][p]I missed Summer Playtests - will there be more playtest opportunities? Yes! We are happy to announce thata you will be able to play Scriptorium during Poznań Game Arena in Poznan, Poland between October 24 to October 26! Yaza Games booth will be in Hall 5 Booth no. 10![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]We’re also looking into other future opportunities to let you experience the game again before release. For now, our focus is on the full version and the upcoming demo, which we plan to share closer to launch - most likely during one of the future Steam Next Fests. Stay tuned for updates![/p][p][/p][p]Will the game be available in other languages besides English?
Yes! While it’s too early to confirm the full list of supported languages, we definitely want to localize Scriptorium into as many as we can. We’ll share the confirmed list later on our social channels. [/p][p][/p][p]What platforms will the game be on?
PC (Steam) is confirmed as it’s our main development platform! Interestingly, during recent playtests we’ve heard from a few of you that the game runs quite well on Linux, even though we haven’t prepared a native port for that system and we can’t guarantee that all distributions are fine now or will be fine closer to the release date. We’ve also received a lot of questions about MacOS support - unfortunately, it’s not an easy system to port to, so we can’t promise anything yet. If anything changes regarding new platforms or stores, we’ll let you know here and on our social media channels.[/p][p][/p][p]Will the game have regional pricing for countries like Brazil?
Of course! We know very well that Steam’s default regional pricing tables can be a bit outdated - as developers from Poland, a country where our currency is affected by this quite heavily, we’ve seen how that can make prices uncompetitive. So rest assured, regional pricing will be carefully adjusted to make the game fairly priced in every region, especially in countries with lower purchasing power.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be an Early Access period or a full release?
No plans for Early Access. You can, however, expect a demo and at least one chance to play the game live at upcoming gaming events. The game will be showcased in our home country Poland at Poznań Game Arena! We’ll be there next week with a build quite similar to the playtest between 24-26 October.[/p][p][/p][p]Can creations made in the game be used for personal or commercial purposes (e.g. D&D campaigns, posters, etc.)?[/p][p]We get this question all the time! Here’s the rule:[/p]
  • [p]You can freely create, export, and share your manuscripts on social media or use them for non-commercial purposes (for example, illustrate your hobby writing project, use as your profile picture on social media, etc.).[/p]
  • [p]However, if your project is commercial - like a published book or monetized material - you can’t use Scriptorium-generated works in it. We want to treat everyone fairly, so this rule applies equally to all players with no exceptions - Scriptorium is a tool designed to provide you with fun experiences. [/p]
[p]Tl;dr - the easiest way to be sure if you can use Scriptorium’s export images: ask yourself, “Am I using this work directly or indirectly to earn money?” If the answer is no - go for it! [/p][p][/p][p]Is it possible to use the sandbox for educational or cultural projects, with proper credit?
Absolutely! All educational and cultural institutions are welcome to use works made in Scriptorium for non-profit purposes and use Scriptorium as a game that helps bridge medieval times with contemporary experiences. Cultural institutions are especially welcome to get in touch with us, as we have a lot of experience in working with such entities and we love to get involved as a studio too for collabs, cross promos, etc.![/p][p][/p][p]Will there be more assets and illustrations (animals, mythical creatures, different eras, etc.)?
Definitely! We’re adding lots of new content - more animals, more decorations, more characters, and more everything. Honestly, we’re only a little worried there might be too much to choose from! As for different eras - no plans for that, as medieval times are our one and only source of inspiration.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be a Story Mode? How long and replayable will it be?
Yes, of course! Story Mode is at the very heart of Scriptorium. You’ll create your own scribe, take commissions from various quirky clients, and grow your medieval workshop (including filling it with various items to make it truly yours!) to become the best illuminator in the land. It’s hard to say exactly how long it’ll take to complete the game - it’s tough to estimate for creative-based games as a lot depends on how much time you want to spend crafting each manuscript. Some players will move fast, focusing on progression, while others will lose themselves in every little detail for hours.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be a text option to write full sentences instead of placing individual letters? Yes! The system in the Playtest build was temporary - we’ve already implemented a proper text editor that lets you choose fonts, sizes, and move text fields freely around the manuscript page. (please keep in mind the the art design of this feature that you see below is still a work in progress and not final by any means! but it's only going to get better.)[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Will players be able to customize their character/avatar?
Yes! In Story Mode, you’ll create your own scribe, choosing from various appearance options, choose your own name and other details to make your experience personal to some degree.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be more music or a longer soundtrack? Will the OST be available on Spotify?
We’re working on it! Based on your survey answers, we know you loved the medieval and lo-fi chill vibes, so we’ll keep expanding the soundtrack in that direction. We’ll share more soon, but rest assured - we want the music to make you feel truly immersed in the experience.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be modding or Steam Workshop support?
Not planned at the moment - but that may change in the future![/p][p][/p][p]Will there be more stories and lore about the characters and the world?
Yes! Characters will have their own motivations, quirks, and personalities - some will appear only once, others will return with follow-up commissions. Expect interesting stories and even more interesting manuscript requests![/p][p][/p][p]Will there be an option to save images in formats like PNG or PDF for printing? [/p][p]Yes! You can print your artworks and use them however you like - for example as a bookmark. [/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Will there be the option to write entire books with multiple pages?
Not directly in-game, as it’s not in our plans for launch as of today, but you’ll easily be able to create multiple pages (i.e. each page as a separate image file), export them, and combine them into one PDF with multiple pages using any free tool online.[/p][p][/p][p]Can players keep playing the Playtest version or access a limited demo?
The Playtest build was (and will remain in case of future playtest sessions, if they happen) a tool for testing the game together with you - not a demo or early access version, so expect a time-limited experience.[/p][p][/p][p]How did the developers get the idea for the game?
Scriptorium has been with us since the days of Inkulinati. We thought: maybe instead of fighting on the pages of manuscripts with medieval marginalia creatures, why not let players create them themselves? We already had the assets to start with, and your early feedback was so encouraging that we knew this was the perfect next step for our little medieval universe.[/p][p][/p][p]Will there be paid DLCs?
No plans for that as of now! If we ever do DLC, it’ll be because we have something truly meaningful to add - like a whole new setting or major content expansion. Cutting content to sell as DLC isn’t something we want to do with Scriptorium, so no worries there![/p][p][/p][p]Phew... that was quite a list!
Thank you once again to everyone who played the Playtest, filled out the surveys, and shared your thoughts. Your passion and feedback continue to shape Scriptorium every single day. If you have more questions, feel free to drop them in the comments or join our Discord community - our team is there and happy to chat anytime![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]See you soon (in person - next week in Poznań at Poznan Game Arena 2025!), and thank you for helping us illuminate the world of Scriptorium together.[/p][p]Your Yaza Games and Mythwright teams[/p][p]
[/p]

Scriptorium Playtest is over! Thank you!

[p]Hi everyone![/p][p]Ufff... after two long weeks, hundreds of your incredible manuscripts and thousands of messages exchanged on our Discord and social media channels, the first Scriptorium playtest has officially come to an end. We want to thank every one of you who joined us over the past days - whether you played for hours, submitted detailed feedback, or just popped in to see what this illuminated manuscripts world was all about. This was our very first opportunity to let you experience Scriptorium, and your response has been incredible, and we are beyond grateful for each one of you![/p][h3]Summary[/h3][p]Let's tackle some number! Almost 14,000 players joined the playtest on Steam with vast majority of them actively played the game. We received a whooping 2000 completed feedback surveys - and the results speak for themselves![/p]
  • [p]96.5% of you said they would recommend Scriptorium to a friend[/p]
  • [p]97.9% (!) said they’d leave a positive Steam review[/p]
[p]These are exceptional numbers - and if they hold through to launch, Scriptorium would be among the highest-rated games on the platform, with "overwhelmingly postiive" rating![/p][p]Your feedback, both positive and critical, has been invaluable. That was the primary goal of this playtest: to find out what works, what needs improvement, and where we should focus our efforts before release. Some of the issues raised are already on our roadmap - like save system, proper tools for placing text, or expanding the number of available assets for you to use in the editor. We now have a much clearer picture of what Scriptorium needs, and we’re already putting that feedback into action.[/p][h3]So... will the playtest return?[/h3][p]It’s a possibility - but we don’t want to make any promises just yet. As we mentioned every time the playtest was designed as a development support tool, not a marketing event, not a demo version, and whether we run another one will depend on where the project is a little further down the road. We may want to test another build later in development - and for example focus on different aspects of the game for you to test - but for now, we need to take what we’ve learned and make the most of it.[/p][p]What we can conifrm is that the demo version will of course be released closer to the 1.0 launch - most likely during a future Steam Fest. We’ll share more when we have a confirmed date. So it's certain you'll have at least one more chance to play Scriptorium before the full release![/p][h3]What’s next?[/h3][p]Over the coming weeks, our team will be reviewing every single survey, bug report, and suggestion. This is the moment where your feedback directly shapes the next phase of development. Please give us some time to evaluate the feedback and focus a bit more on the development of the game now, as we would love to show you that your feedback really mattered and will actually be implemented into the game.[/p][h3]Your creations[/h3][p]One of the most exciting parts of this playtest has been seeing what you made with the tools we gave you. From faithful medieval scenes to completely surreal experiments, your manuscripts have surprised, inspired, and made us laugh.[/p][p]We’ll be sharing a selection of soooo many our favourite works from the playtest below - we hope they’ll inspire you as much as they inspired us![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Author: veneny[/p][p]Author: Minimaks[/p][p]Author: Minimaks[/p][p]Author: Minimaks[/p][p]Author: longleggedgoth[/p][p][/p][p]Author: Zeer[/p][p][/p][p]Author: The Walrus[/p][p]Author: Liv[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Author: Toltomeja[/p][p][/p][p]Author: Eskilinha[/p][p][/p][p]If you haven’t shared yours yet, don’t worry - you can always drop your work on Discord or tag us on social media.[/p][p][/p][p]Once again: thank you for being part of this Playtest!. You’ve helped us learn more in two weeks than we could’ve in months on our own. Now it’s our turn - to dig in, refine the systems, and get Scriptorium ready for its next chapter. We're 100% honest when we're saying that we believe that we have something special here, of course with you all involved! [/p][p][/p][p]Hope to see you in the Scriptorium really soon - until next time,
Your Yaza Games and Mythwright teams[/p][p][/p][p]Author: Eskilinha[/p]

Create sacred, obscene or cringey medieval art in the playtest for Scriptorium, an illuminated manuscript sim

In bygone ages, Christian clerics would spend decades hunched over scrolls of vellum and parchment, ornamenting the text with scenes of questing knights, creeping chimeras, spiralling verdure, and perhaps the occasional bare bottom, as a treat. They would sacrifice their wits and tendons to the cultivation of microcosms, planted in the eyes of capital Os, or growing around the bars of capital Es.


Now, you can crap on their efforts by slapping together rad illuminated pages in seconds in a video game editor. That game is Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts, a book-adorning sim from the creators of pen-and-paper (hah!) strategy game Inkulinati. It's got a playtest running till 10th July.

Read more

Scriptorium Playtest is available now!

[p]Hi everyone![/p][p]Today’s the day - the Scriptorium playtest is officially live on Steam! [/p][p]You can now jump into the first-ever test version of Scriptorium: Master of Manuscripts and begin your journey into the art of medieval creation. Whether you’re diving into the Story Mode or letting your creativity run wild in Sandbox Mode, you can relax and design in a cozy, medieval atmosphere of our game.[/p][p][/p][p]The playtest runs from today - June 26 - to July 10 (late afternoon GMT). After that, this version will no longer be accessible - so make sure to find time to explore all its corners! [/p][h3][/h3][h3]Your feedback is everything![/h3][p]We want to know - What worked? What didn’t? What surprised you? What would make our game better?[/p][p]The feedback survey is accessible from the main menu or after you exit the game. Please fill it out - your thoughts directly shape what we do next![/p][p][/p][h3]Share your manuscripts![/h3][p]Yes, you can export your creations as PNGs and yes, we’d love you to share them! [/p][p]Create and remember to tag us on social media:[/p][p]And remember - streaming and content creation are 100% welcome - feel free to export your designs and share wherever you like![/p][p][/p][h3]Community Challenges begin soon![/h3][p]Every few days we’ll drop new creative prompts on Discord - the first one happening on June 29! We're planning to send some cool rewards to the authors of the most popular designs, so it's worth to take part in the challenges![/p][p][/p][p]We’re incredibly excited to finally open the doors to Scriptorium. Thank you for helping us shape the future of the game![/p][p][/p][p]Now go! Illuminate something weird and wonderful. And make sure to show it to us - after all, we're making this game for you.[/p][p][/p][p]Until next time,
Your Yaza Games and Mythwright teams[/p]

Scriptorium playtest - all you need to know!

[p]Hi everyone![/p][p]Only 2 days left until the very first Scriptorium playtest begins! We’ve prepared all the key info in one place so you know exactly what to expect.[/p][p]The playtest starts on June 26 around noon GMT and will run until July 10 (late afternoon GMT).
Important: after July 10 you will lose access to this version of the game, so plan your Scriptorium time accordingly![/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]What is exactly this Playtest version of the game?[/h3][p]This is indeed a playtest version and the reason we are running this is so we can get important community feedback to help us get the game ready for full launch. With your input it’ll help us know if we are heading in the right direction with the finished version of Scriptorium. Please don’t treat this as a demo - it’s a test build, and we’d love to hear what you think![/p][p]This playtest in particular is here for us to test specific systems. In this case it'll mainly be the commission system (so a vital part of the Story mode) and to hear from the community about what you care about when it comes to the full release.[/p][p]As this is an early look at the game you may run into bugs, rough edges, and weirdness. That’s expected and another one of the main goals of this playtest is to give you access to help us spot these. The more bugs we squash now, the better and more polished the final version of Scriptorium at launch.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]What we need most: honest feedback[/h3][p]What would you change? What would you add? What do you love, what don’t you? Have fun, but don’t be afraid to be critical - so please fill out the feedback survey! You’ll find it in the main menu and when exiting the game. It helps us a lot in shaping the future of the game.[/p][p]For bug reporting please let us know and send us the .log file! You’ll find details how to submit bug report in our Steam forums on Thursday or on the #playtest-bugs channel on our Discord.[/p][p]And one final thing! You can join the playtest at any time while it’s live, right up until July 10. So either sign-up now or jump in anytime until July 10.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]What does this playtest include?[/h3][p]This version of the game includes two main game modes:[/p][p]Story Mode - You’ll be creating illuminated works based on orders from various clients. Expect some unusual characters that will really challenge your creativity!
To progress in this mode, you’ll need to fulfill each client’s requirements.
There are 6 different clients and 17 commissions included in the current version.[/p][p]Sandbox Mode - Just you, blank parchment, and your imagination. You’ll have access to the full collection of medieval assets included in the playtest build and complete creative freedom on more than a dozen different parchments. We cannot wait to see what you create![/p][p]Please note: the assets you’ll see in the game are not final and many things will change before launch, including more characters, decorations, borders and other visual goodies.
[/p][p]⚠️ One important technical note: each manuscript can currently hold up to 450 individual elements at a time.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Sharing your work[/h3][p]✅ Yes, you can export your creations (in PNG format), and we highly encourage you to do so! You’ll find the export button after completing a design. Please share these with us on our social media channels and tag us: [/p][p]✅ Yes, you can stream the game (and honestly, we’d love it if you did!).
[/p][p]We’ll try to be present wherever we can during the playtest period, especially in the Steam Forums to talk with you about the game.But since we’re a small team, we kindly ask: please share your feedback on Discord whenever possible!
You’ll also find the whole team hanging out there, and it makes managing this playtest much easier for us.
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]Community Challenges![/h3][p]Throughout the two weeks of the playtest, we’ll be running community challenges every few days!
We’ll ask you to create a piece around a specific concept and share it with the community on Discord and we’ll let the community vote (we also may pick a few of our favourites too)[/p][p]Expect a wide range of prompts from poetic to bizarre! Psst - the most popular entries may receive special prizes, so it’s definitely worth jumping in![/p][p][/p][p][/p][h3]What’s missing in the current build?[/h3][p]This is important to know before you dive in, as we know many of you will ask![/p]
  • [p]You can’t write text like in traditional editors.
    Instead, you’ll place letters individually by dragging and dropping them next to one another.
    Believe it or not, adding a full in-game text editor is a complex task! But it's high on our priority list for the full release.[/p]
  • [p]There’s no save system in Story Mode - this means your progress in this mode resets every time you close the game.
    We recommend completing the story mode available in one sitting.[/p]
  • [p]Sandbox Mode has save support, but it's limited to a single ongoing project. You’re free to exit and return to your sandbox piece at any time.[/p]
[p][/p][h3]Beholder Boss Battle - timelapse![/h3][p]We prepared this little timelapse of one of our recent designs to inspire you - watch how you can create a DnD boss battle poster! [/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]If this indeed has inspired you, let us know what you will create first![/p][p]
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out, either here on Steam or on Discord.
We absolutely can’t wait to welcome you into Scriptorium! [/p][p][/p][p]Until next time,[/p][p]Your Yaza Games and Mythwright teams[/p][p]

[/p]