Mentzer's Epic Worlds of Empyrea Kickstarter Launches For 10 Game Systems!

I started in 1981 with B/X and moved on to AD&D within a year after finishing B2 & X1. I still love Greyhawk. I also really like 5e so I have no desire to return to the mechanics of yesteryear.

So, nostalgia aside, I just don't see anything compelling about the campaign setting itself. Well, maybe since there isn't any real details that makes sense. The pitch has a lot of name-dropping to create a compulsion. However, I have since become immune to this particular charm effect.

Honestly, I would be happy with just getting the Darlene maps. I think a much lower goal at much cheaper price with system neutral folio similar to original Greyhawk folio would be more appropriate.

I think with all the celebrity game designers and huge team that this will easily be pulled off. I imagine each system book has an author/lead and will be developed near simultaneously. Also, may of those clones are near-compatible. The boxed set approach is deliciously tempting!

Hm, not too interested. I'd want the boxed set and $75 is a little steep to me.

I'll be interested to see how it all plays out, for sure. I'd love a BECMI box set, but the price is too steep for my blood, unfortunately. It does seem ambitious, yes, but Frank seems to be trying to do it right and get lots of help. Some hefty pledge levels there though, for what you seem to get. YMMV.
[MENTION=6790058]EthanSental[/MENTION]: Darlene was the artist who did the big two poster hex map of Greyhawk from the original folio and box set - HUGE nostalgia factor for new maps by her. And just to point out, Tal'Dorei was a single hardcover book, I believe? This will be more akin to the old campaign box sets from TSR - multiple booklets, poster maps, etc. So much more expensive to produce.

Matthan said:

I don't even know why it's called Worlds of Empyrea. All the descriptions make it sound like a continent. Are there other worlds? Do they impact the setting? Is it just a clever nod to the DMs who will undoubtedly make their own world of Empyrea? I would appreciate knowing that in the pitch.

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I read the Gnome Stew interview which answered this. Each ruleset version is considered a "World" for some reason. <shrugs>

Koren n'Rhys said:

I read the Gnome Stew interview which answered this. Each ruleset version is considered a "World" for some reason. <shrugs>

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Right you are! Thanks Koren n'Rhys!

EthanSental said:

Who is Darlene and what are the 3 little brown books (contents)?

i think it will get there considering how well 7th Sea and Numeria did. I plan on the $75 level but need to decide what D&D edition

edit - since my first post 2 hours ago, it's went up over 8k.
for a setting book, maps and a rule book for one of them, and still not knowing what the 3 little brown books are, $75 seems good to me. The green ronin taldorei campaign setting is $35 for 144 pages.

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DARLENE (she's very specific about the name and asked I try to refer to her that way) has a wiki page linked in the big list on the Kickstarter project along with most everyone else on there.

The 3 Little Brown Books are going to be nostalgic in design, like the little brown books they used to have in old D&D box sets, and can vary in topics. I'm only tangentially on the creative team (haven't even got my pitch idea approved yet) but Frank and the higher ups on the design team are in charge of sorting out the particular contents inside of each (just like days of yore).

We're working on another section for the KS page (got the banner done already) that points to a spot on WorldsOfEmpyrea.com with a bunch of information about the campaign setting itself, but Frank's got a really involved project and getting that in alongside the rest of the ambitious plan would've made the project page inaccessible. Expect that to go up soon though!

As for the project goal if you look at the $75 level there's a limited pledge quantity that's kind of weird--3,335. Frank is deadset on making a huge splash and change in the RPG industry with Empyrea (that's part of the ethos and 10-RPG system approach), and part of that is a big print run. It's definitely ambitious but the pantheon-esque production team doesn't come cheap, and getting all of these printed and organized isn't either.

We've got a bunch of time left before the first day closes and just now crested $39k so it's really ramping up!

Bravesteel A: Dang it, I can't resist! I'm in!

Bravesteel B: No, you don't have the money or time for something else!

Bravesteel said:

Bravesteel A: Dang it, I can't resist! I'm in!

Bravesteel B: No, you don't have the money or time for something else!

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Bravesteel C(?): But there is time yet for precious, yessss. We coulds make a small pledge now and makesss it bigger later, yesss.

neobolts said:

10 systems supported is also very ambitious. There is a lot being promised here.

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let's see

List said:

Dungeons & Dragons 5E
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1E & 2E
​Dungeons & Dragons BECMI
RuneQuest
Savage Worlds
Pathfinder
Castles & Crusades
Dungeon Crawl Classics
Hackmaster
Swords & Wizardry.

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BECMI can easily use AD&D statblocks. The exact number sequences differ, but the mechanics applied work, so monsters don't need to be converted.
Same for C&C and S&W.
I am led to believe that DCC is the same.
So that's really only 6 to support.
Hackmaster 4 is reasonably close in the monster blocks, 3 a little less so, but some general conversions and it's good.

Pathfinder and 5E are similar that conversion isn't hard, either. each counts about half a system for support when working from an AD&D or BECMI baseline.

Have officially backed at the 100 dollar tier - will be 110 + shipping when it's all said and done, because I'll be getting it for AD&D (2E) and 5E as nostalgia demands I play both systems at least once a week, so might as well shell out the extra 10 bucks.