Patch Notes 26.02

Some quick model updates, Text Gemini 3 Pro has been upgraded to Gemini 3.1 Pro. More intelligence at the same price point. Images Grok Imagine has been added with a cost of 6 credits per generation / edit. This is a very capable image model worth trying out for both generations and simple edits. Nano Banana 2 was added to the image studio and has replaced Nano Banana Pro in the scene image generator. Nano Banana 2 outputs images with quality on par or better than the previous Pro version, with faster image generations, and at half the cost at 15 credits. If you were previously using NBP, we recommend using the new Nano Banana 2 instead.

Creator Spotlight March 2026

Creator Spotlight: Lovecraftian Horror The veil is thinning. March 2026 ushers in Friends & Fables’ Creator Spotlight Competition with a Lovecraftian Horror theme. The goal is for participants to create a world steeped in cosmic dread and unknowable truth. Think ancient entities slumbering beneath reality, forbidden tomes, warped cults, hostile stars, and truths the mind was never meant to grasp. Whether your world is subtle and unsettling, bleak and oppressive, or utterly alien, it should make players feel small, uncertain, and afraid of what lies just beyond perception as they play. Be sure to read the rules to make sure you qualify! Contest Details Theme: Lovecraftian Horror / Cosmic Dread Tone Keywords: Insignificance, Madness, Forbidden Knowledge, Ancient, Unknowable Prizes 1st Place: 10,000 Credits, Top Creator Reddit Flair, Top Creator Discord Role & World Featured until April 30 2nd–5th Place: 2,000 Credits each, Creator Spotlight Winner Reddit Flair All Qualified Entries: 100 Credits Honorable Mentions These are awards granted to participants who didn't place in the top 5, but still impressed the judges enough! Only a handful of worldbuilders will receive these awards, and only if you didn't place in the top 5! Runner Up!: +900 Bonus Credits granted to participants who did such a good job that they almost made it into the top 5! Aesthetics Award!: +150 Bonus Credits granted to participants who stunned the judges with beautiful and consistent art! Map Design Award!: +150 Bonus Credits granted to participants with the most amazing maps and polygon lines! Story Award!: +150 Bonus Credits granted to participants who created a unique and original story that impressed the judges! Rules You must be part of the Friends & Fables Discord to participate. Your world’s theme must clearly fit the Lovecraftian / Cosmic Horror theme. Worlds must have a minimum of 10 Points of Interest. Worlds must have a minimum of 10 Characters (with at least 1 Featured Character.) No NSFW or copyrighted material. Collaboration is allowed (credits go to the listed creator). Worlds must clearly have been made for the purpose of this event. Submissions of older worlds or copies of other creator's worlds will not be considered in the judging. Judging Criteria Judging will begin on January 31st and will be based on: Creativity & Originality [Is it unique and engaging?] Visual Presentation [Is it consistent and appealing?] Gameplay [Is it fun, clear, and playable?] Submissions: Submissions open March 2, 2026 Submissions close March 31, 2026 11:59pm EST You must share your world on the Friends & Fables subreddit and complete the Submission Form below to enter. On Reddit, submissions should have the Event Submission flair so that they can be searched by the judges on March 31st. Winners of the March 2026 Creator Spotlight will be announced on Friday, April 10, 2026. Submission Form Reddit Submission

Development Log 26.01

Hey Everyone, It's Will here. It's been a little while since our last announcement, so I wanted to check in with a status update and share some news. What we're building for F&F I know a lot of you are expecting the next F&F update to be combat, so I want to be upfront: before we can build combat the right way, we need to rewrite the narration engine and state update system that everything else sits on top of. Combat will be built on that new foundation, but it may be some time before we get there. I know you are all looking forward to the combat update, but I hope you’ll understand that combat is built on top of some core pieces that need to be reworked first. A lot of F&F's core architecture was built for older AI models, models that needed much more hand-holding and rigid structure to get things right. That rigidity served us well early on with the models available at the time, but it's now the biggest thing holding Franz back. It limits how well he can handle situations we didn't specifically design for, and it's an architecture that makes future updates slower and limits the emergent capability of stronger models. While we could add some patches to the current architecture, it would result in a worse experience in the long term that delays and takes up time and resources from building the stronger foundation for the future. In the earlier stages of the platform, we could push updates quickly because we were building just on top, but now that there’s so much interconnected, making changes and updating the core of it is a process that naturally takes longer, but one that we think will result in a better experience for everyone in the long term. Something New We want to be transparent and share a bit more about the development process behind the scenes. The F&F codebase has evolved into something like a container ship: large and powerful, but slow to steer. Rather than risking months rewriting F&F around an unproven architecture, we started iterating on standalone prototypes where new ideas could be tested and proven much faster. By the end of January, one of those prototypes had grown into something with a lot of potential and one that we realized makes more sense as its own separate application. We’re calling this new app Craft. When we reflect on our roadmap and the user feedback we’ve heard over the last few years, a couple common themes emerge. Some of you want a deep, focused D&D experience, and some of you want something that’s much more general, supportive of other rulesets, customizable, and not constrained by the D&D mechanics. Those are two different audiences, and trying to stretch F&F to serve both means neither gets the peak experience they really want. With two applications, each one can excel at what it does best. The scope of F&F can narrow and stay focused on trying to be the best AI D&D 5e experience, and the Craft can go much broader, better supporting other systems and genres. The two applications also inform each other. Everything we’ve learned about what players want from F&F is informing the design process of the Craft, and Craft is a more nimble ship where ideas can be validated much faster and then integrated back into F&F. Many of the ideas that we’ve seen proven from early alpha testing are actively being brought into and informing the upcoming F&F updates. So, are we just focusing on this new app and putting F&F off to the side? No. We plan to support both apps, and we’ve debated over whether we should prioritize one over the other. Ultimately, we decided that working on both in parallel is the best approach because we believe it will actually help us get the right F&F updates out sooner than going 100% on FnF would and also create something new for those who have always wanted a more flexible system than what F&F can offer. What's next We can't promise exact dates yet or what will be released first, but we're heads-down and making great progress on both fronts. We’ll keep you posted as things come together and we expect to have more information to share within the next few weeks. Thank you for sticking with us. We hear you and know that some have felt a bit frustrated lately, and we’re actively working on getting these core updates out to you. We’re more excited than ever about where this is all heading and can’t wait to share more with you.

Patch Notes 26.01

Quick patch notes - have a larger Dev Log coming out right after this so make sure to read that! Credit History descriptions now show a preview of the attached generated image or event. Fixed an issue where GLM would sometimes generate blank responses. You can now bulk delete entities from the workshop by using command/control + click to multi select and then delete.

January Creator Spotlight Winners Announced!

Hey adventurers, Before we get into the Creator Spotlight winners, just wanted to let you know that we’re working on some big projects and updates that take some more time to cook to get right. We don’t have an ETA yet but will share some more news as soon as we can! Now back to the creator spotlight: The gears have finally cooled on our January 2026 Creator Spotlight, and the results are in! This month’s theme was Steampunk, and wow—what a showing. From clockwork cities to smoke-choked skylines, all worlds that properly captured the pulse of industry have now been ranked. Judging was incredibly difficult thanks to the sheer creativity on display, but the winners have officially been decided! Entries were judged on creativity, originality, visual presentation, and gameplay, with special attention given to the unique approach each world took to convey the pressure, progress, and spectacle of a clockwork age. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event such a success! 1st Place Blood Aria by Kewl Excellent game! Loved playing as Seraphel Veyne. I played as a mole within the Ascendency who was doing what he could to take it down from the inside. I started off at the Rustbone Docks and saved a little girl from Dusters who were going to erase her for being hazardous. From there I began to build an organization outside the Ascendency to help me topple it. This game is easy to get lost in and I loved it so much that I almost forgot that I was playing it just to review it! All of the art in the game is beautifully made, and everything is so thematic. The characters are vibrant and give a lot of life to the game. This is definitely going to be a staple in the Friends & Fables featured worlds. Be sure to give it a play! You won't be disappointed! 2nd–5th Place Winners Shout-out to the next four worlds that powered their way into the winner circle: Otome Punk by solodit Another beautiful world by Solodit! I love the art, it was so eye catching, and the story is so original it really caught me off guard. I started off the game as a cat and my goal from then on was to get a wedding ring from a lady or else I'd be stuck as a cat! It was a real trip! Unique landmasses floating in a sea of clouds, vibrant and diverse steampunk themed locations, and a wild storyline that's a romance adventure unlike any other you'll ever play anywhere else. The Gilded Grove by areelu The first thing that we all noticed was the map. Well done Areelu! The Spine Mountains are amazing, and pretty much the main destination I headed to when I started the game off in the Rig-Rafts. Franz was delightful in the play through. The Skimmer who took me to the Spine Mountains was named "Franz" solely because that name has been "floating around a lot lately." The Clockwork Paradox by treedaddy I love the story for this one! Your timeline has been erased because it's corrupted, and you are the only thing preserved. You are then left as the last remnant of your timeline to start a new life put to work in Prime Meridian. Unit 77-B was really fun to chat with, and I absolutely love his mustache. Definitely play this game if you want to have some fun starting a brand new life. It's easy to slowly pull yourself into the direction of a timeline bounty hunter or someone who wants to fix their timeline and bring everything back to the way it once was. Steam Noir by canknightlife A fun adventure where your job is to solve a Steampunk Noir mystery. Right from the start Franz guided Inspector Calder Vane towards a mystery and created a plot direction and clues to get the game rolling. If you need a break from normal action/adventure games, give this Steampunk Noir game a try, I'm sure you'll have fun! I can tell that the world builder put a lot of work into this game, as it is filled with art that follows a particular theme, as well as a wide range of items, classes, spells to pick from. When I saw almost 700 custom items, my eyes nearly fell out of my head. Great job on this one! Thank you to everyone who entered! Hofferson Empire by damien the malkav Great game! I can tell a lot of work was put into this submission. Love the custom art, spells and monsters. This would have made it into the top 5 worlds, but I had to be fair for the world builders who only had a month to prepare since your game was 143 days old. To Rule the Ashes by BCorrente I love the world and the art, but unfortunatley there were so many missing descriptions that it wasn’t playable just yet. I can definitely see a lot of effort was put into this. I can’t wait to see how you finish this one! The Land of Beautiful Corpses by AimlessGeeks Love how you do your maps and the story was very unique for a steampunk adventure! I know you were sick this month, I hope you’re feeling better! Don’t push yourself too much! Haven XVII by The Entire Population of Uranus Great game, the art was very consistent and fun to look through. I also like how much effort you put into the lore. I think this one was very close to the top 5 pick. Brassfeil by candyman7649 Lot’s of work was put into this one. I love how much thought was put into the map and locations. Starting off as a detective in the Police Station was a lot of fun, and I love how you set up the opening to get the player directly into the game. This one was another that was very close to the top 5. Great work! Blasphemy! by RustyMart Love the art, but the consistency could use a little bit of work. The map was excellent and I loved looking around! Lurruna by chromaticchimera Great effort, I can tell that you thought quite a lot about this world as you were building it, and that’s because I’m looking through the lore you put together! Well done! Astron Cogsworks by Lord_Kaijin Thank you for your submission! Saccharum Crown by lovereid911 Excellent map, and very unique story idea.You did a great job with your world! Starting in the special cargo pens was a very fun experience. Stranded by .snickt. Love the map design with the area blocks, but because all the POIs were around the same area in Alpha town I wasn’t able to experience the blocks. It would have been awesome to see some lore for this game! Great job! The Belldeep Coast by KingTrex101 Love the map, I saw that there were some missing descriptions for several regions, but the playable areas where you start are all in good zones. The Cog & Cauldron is a classic start in a bar. This was our second Creator Spotlight Competition, and it really proved how much momentum this community has. If you built, played, liked, shared, or hyped up someone else’s world—thank you. That energy is what keeps the engines running. If you haven’t already, jump into some of these worlds and show them some love. A single like can mean a lot to a creator. Happy adventuring, Friends & Fables

Creator Spotlight January 2026

Creator Spotlight: Steampunk The age of brass and breakthroughs is here! January 2026 kicks off Friends & Fables’ Creator Spotlight Competition with a Steampunk theme. The goal is for participants to create a world that captures the pulse of industry. Think hissing steam lines, clattering gears, smoky skylines, and bold invention. Whether your world is adventurous, mysterious, whimsical, or grim, it should make players feel the pressure, progress, and spectacle of a clockwork age as they play. Be sure to read the rules to make sure you qualify! Contest Details Theme: Steampunk / Clockwork Industry Tone Keywords: Brass, Steam, Invention, Cogs, Wonder Prizes 1st Place: 10,000 Credits, Top Creator Reddit Flair, Top Creator Discord Role & World Featured until Feb 28 2nd–5th Place: 2,000 Credits each, Creator Spotlight Winner Reddit Flair All Qualified Entries: 100 Credits Honorable Mentions These are awards granted to participants who didn't place in the top 5, but still impressed the judges enough! Only a handful of worldbuilders will receive these awards, and only if you didn't place in the top 5! Runner Up!: +900 Bonus Credits granted to participants who did such a good job that they almost made it into the top 5! Aesthetics Award!: +150 Bonus Credits granted to participants who stunned the judges with beautiful and consistent art! Map Design Award!: +150 Bonus Credits granted to participants with the most amazing maps and polygon lines! Story Award!: +150 Bonus Credits granted to participants who created a unique and original story that impressed the judges! Rules You must be part of the Friends & Fables Discord to participate. Your world’s theme must clearly fit the Steampunk / Clockwork Industry theme. Worlds must have a minimum of 10 Points of Interest. Worlds must have a minimum of 10 Characters (with at least 1 Featured Character.) No NSFW or copyrighted material. Collaboration is allowed (credits go to the listed creator). Worlds must clearly have been made for the purpose of this event. Submissions of older worlds or copies of other creator's worlds will not be considered in the judging. Judging Criteria Judging will begin on January 31st and will be based on: Creativity & Originality [Is it unique and engaging?] Visual Presentation [Is it consistent and appealing?] Gameplay [Is it fun, clear, and playable?] Submissions: Submissions open January 2, 2026 Submissions close January 31, 2026 11:59pm EST You must share your world on the Friends & Fables subreddit and complete the Submission Form below to enter. On Reddit, submissions should have the Event Submission flair so that they can be searched by the judges on January 31st. Winners of the January 2026 Creator Spotlight will be announced on Friday, February 6, 2026. Submission Form Reddit Submission

Patch Notes 25.52 - MiMo, GLM 4.7, GPT-Image-1.5, and Flux-2

Happy Holidays to everyone! This is patch notes 25.52. Can you believe we’ve put out 52 patch notes this year? That’s one per week! Friends & Fables is almost unrecognizable from where it was a year ago, and we’re so excited to put in the updates we have planned for 2026, but more on that later. For now, let’s get into the new updates! New Narration Models: MiMo and GLM 4.7 First up, MiMo is a new lightweight model that is replacing Finch. It has similar speeds to Finch but it’s smarter with intelligence nearly on par with Fenix, and a fairly different narration style. We recommend using MiMo if you want to try a new narration style, or if you just want some quicker turns. MiMo is included in all subscription plans as an unlimited standard model and will cost 1 credit per turn for those on the free plan. Next up is GLM 4.7. We’ve been looking for a model that fits in between Fenix and Gemini 3 Pro. We had tested a few models with alpha testers, but none seem to really fit. We’re still not quite sure about GLM 4.7, but the reaction in alpha has been good enough that we’re going to roll it out to everyone to get more feedback. Depending on the feedback, the model may stay or be removed in a future update. So far it seems GLM is smarter than Fenix, but is also more cost efficient than Gemini 3 Pro. It costs 2 credits per turn as a premium narration model. Please give both of these models a shot and let us know what you think! New Image Models: GPT-Image-1.5 and Flux-2 We’re also rolling out two new image generation models! GPT-image-1.5 is a fantastic image model that is really good at consistent characters and styles. This makes it really good for scene generation! Quality is close to Nano Banana Pro but at 1/3rd of the cost! GPT-Image-1.5 costs 9 credits per use. Here’s an example of gpt-image-1.5’s scene generation in Shifting Sands by Angusi. There are a variety of Flux-2 models, but we found Flux 2 Flash to be a great option to efficiently edit images. It’s great for simpler tasks, such as replacing hair color or adding a weapon, etc. In edit mode, it costs only 3 credits to use, making it the most affordable model for editing. We’ve also included Flux 2 Pro for when you need a little more fire power. Other Fixes and Improvements Image Studio You can now generate more images while waiting for an existing one to generate in Image Studio Added aspect ratio pickers to image to image tabs in Image Studio Image model pickers will remember the last one you used Adds premium image generation to all forms and Generate with AI Other Fixed an issue where updating a character with OOC mode would reset other non specified values. Fixed an issue where syncing classes with resources was failing. Fixed an issue where you could not remove an equip slot from an item. Fixed an issue where you could not two hand equip versatile weapons from the inventory screen. Fixed an issue where subclass features were displayed out of level order. Fixed an issue where you couldn’t edit the level required on features. Fixed an issue where you couldn’t remove a feat from a character. Fixed an issue where some players could not save workshop class resources. Fixed an issue where moving the party to a location was not refreshing the POI map view. You can now click cmd/ctrl + z to undo a point when drawing areas in the map editor. Made errors in the quest form more specific. Updated SRD item, monster, and spell art. Improved accuracy of AI spell slot consumption when casting a spell. What’s Next In 2025, our goal was to build the V1 of the platform. We set out to get early versions of every major piece in place so we could establish a strong foundation and understand how everything fits together. Building out world-building tools, feats and features, the image studio, and more meant that we had to split time on building the platform and building out Franz. Going into 2026, we’ve got the foundation in place, tons of valuable feedback from you all, some new tech to play with, and the room to truly focus on making the game master experience the best it can be. Our goal for 2026 is to get Franz to a place where everything just works and feels intuitive. Core interactions—like HP updates or NPC combat turns—should be clear and reliable, leaving room for debate only on subjective, creative decisions. From both a narrative and combat perspective, we want the experience to feel seamless, grounded, and satisfying. None of this would be possible without this community. The passion, creativity, and support you’ve shown truly mean the world to us. We’re constantly in awe of what you create, and we only wish we had more time to build even more for you. Thank you for being part of this journey. Wishing everyone a happy new year—we’re incredibly excited to show you what’s coming in 2026.