This update strengthens both reliability and clarity. The Checks System expands beyond core structures to validate dialogues, conditions, actions, and event links, catching broken references before publishing and reducing runtime surprises during play. In parallel, the editor UI gets a careful standardization pass: typography, spacing, colors, and component layouts are aligned so panels, inputs, and controls behave predictably everywhere. No flashy redesign - just a more unified, readable tool that supports long-term iteration.

Instead of leading with genre labels, Talescape now organizes stories by the emotional experience they aim to deliver. Dream Types (Daydream, Nightmare, Vision, and Echo) describe tone first, giving readers clearer expectations before they begin. This system also helps authors tag their work more precisely and keeps discovery consistent across the marketplace, search results, and contests. It’s a shift toward mood-driven navigation, and an experiment in building a shared language between Bards and Dreamers.

This entry marks the moment the project becomes Talescape in name and identity. It explains the naming process, why Talescape fits both creation and exploration, and how the community roles of Bards (authors) and Dreamers (players) emerged. It also introduces early branding work: the logo and the first mascot drafts, Ben and Anna, and the practical decision to use AI-generated placeholder art for now, with the goal of funding consistent professional illustrations later.