I originally intended to put out a single 2026 update near New Year’s, but as I started collecting my thoughts, it quickly became clear that it would turn into a very long post. More importantly, I wouldn’t really be able to do justice to some of the things I’m genuinely excited about without them getting lost in a wall of text. So instead, I’ve decided to break things up and put out a short series of updates, each focused on a different topic.
I may be a bit overly ambitious about next year. I’m sitting on a mountain of ideas and projects I’ve wanted to tackle for a long time, some of them for years now. I’ve finally come to the conclusion that if I don’t actually start working toward them, they may never come to fruition at all. That means plans may change and priorities may shift as reality sets in, but at this moment, this is what I’m hoping to accomplish.
So, with that said, let’s start with the ongoing projects.
The End of the Institute
We are about a quarter of the way through Strange Beginnings, the first story arc of my The Magnus Archives campaign, The End of the Institute. This arc will continue through to its conclusion, and I’ll keep releasing the actual play recaps as serialized fiction along the way.
Once the first arc is complete, I’ll be polishing the second story arc, The Clockmaker’s Tools, and getting those sessions scheduled. Just like Strange Beginnings, those recaps will also be released as serialized fiction.
One-Shots
I posted the story hook for The Fowl Hydra back in December, followed by the actual play recap. Not only that, I also turned it into my very first official publication, which you can pick up on DriveThruRPG.
Going forward, I’m planning to run a one-shot roughly every three months. The next of these is titled The Alchemist’s Heirloom. I’m tentatively aiming to run it in March, with the same goal as before: turning it into an official publication and releasing the actual play recap afterward.
While The Fowl Hydra was a comedic fantasy romp, The Alchemist’s Heirloom is planned as a heist, with a more serious tone and a much sharper, more lethal edge.
Rules and Mechanics
I’ve already shared a handful of homebrew rules, mechanics, and related content in the Rules and Mechanics section, and I plan to continue adding to that throughout 2026. This will especially include new equipment, abilities, and other tools designed to better support my campaigns and the kinds of stories I’m telling.
In particular, I’ve received some genuinely encouraging feedback on the MESH playstyle. As I continue using it in my own games, I’ll be refining it further, stress-testing what works and what doesn’t. I’m also beginning to consider expanding it into its own standalone publication, aimed at helping people with busy lives find flexibility, structure, and real opportunities to keep long-term games alive.
Short Stories and Other Writing
This is only a partial update. I have some larger news and changes related to this that I’ll be sharing later on, but for now…
Based on some feedback I received and talked about in the December Update, I’m shifting gears a bit. I’m currently working on several short pieces that I plan to submit for traditional publication and see where that road leads. If they don’t find a home that way, I’ll release them here and, potentially at a later date, collect them into a self-published anthology.
At the same time, I have other short story ideas that I don’t intend to submit for traditional publication at all. Those will be posted here as they’re completed. Some of them are standalone, while others are companion pieces or supplemental material tied to larger projects or shared worlds I’m considering.
As always, thank you for stopping by and reading along with me.
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Updates, reflections, and what’s next.
Mason Beck Fiction 
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