RPG Crowdfunding News – Out-Gunned, Army Men, Devilry, and more

This week’s article features RPG crowdfunding projects that end on May 25 and 26. May 25 is a very popular date to end campaigns and I almost did an all May 25th article. I don’t know why May 25th, but the numbers were high for that date.

Alchemy RPG: A Reimagined Virtual Tabletop

• END DATE: Thu, May 25 2023 10:01 AM EDT.
• PROJECT TYPE: Virtual tabletop
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $50 for a backer account, 6 months unlimited account access, and a content deck
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? A new virtual tabletop, this one focuses on a range of official publishers offering dedicated support for their game engines. Calling their setup a “scene-based structure”, the online experience includes “animated environments, particle effects, ambient sounds, and music.” They’ll have “officially licensed first-party support for 12 game systems,” as well as modules from a variety of games. They’re building the platform for systems like 5e, Free League’s Year Zero Engine, PF2e, Call of Cthulhu, Vampire: The Masquerade 5e, Kids on Bikes 2e, Magpie Game’s version of Powered by the Apocalypse, Modiphius’ 2d20 System, Mörk Borg which includes Vast Grimm and Pirate Borg, City of Mist, and more. The publisher support for the project makes it a standout. If you need a virtual tabletop, this campaign is worth looking over to see if the license and feel meet your needs.

Limitless Lands of Darabok (5E) from Limitless Adventures

• END DATE: Fri, May 26 2023 6:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $35 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Limitless Adventures is back with a book that offers 5e crunch and a cool setting. You’ll find new 5e feats, monsters, spells and spell options, and some novel ideas in these pages. More interestingly, the setting of Darabok is built around a shattered multiverse, with floating islands of different worlds drifting nearby. Each land has unique properties that influence the player character’s class and abilities. It allows you to pull together desperate locations into one massive setting. Combine that with the utility already mentioned as well as non-combat class options and this is a good 5e sourcebook to have.

Devilry For Old-School Essentials from Appendix N Entertainment

• END DATE: Thu, May 25 2023 10:04 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Old-School Essentials
• PROJECT TYPE: RPG zine
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $14 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the zine
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is the second book in Appendix N’s Heaven and Hell trilogy. The first book was all about Old-School Essential demons, this book and campaign are about OSE devils. There are lesser and greater devils as well as classic archdevils and new ones. If you need some devils in your OSE, this campaign is waiting for you.

Army Men from High Level Games

• END DATE: Thu, May 25 2023 10:59 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $40 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
• DISCLAIMER: I freelanced for High Level Games. I am not involved in this project
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? You remember plastic toy soldiers, the green army men that were a staple of many a childhood? Did you create a fiction for yours, one that made all of the different eras and units of soldiers make some sense together? Army Men brings together all types of armies and factions combined into one massive military fiction. This project is meta in the best way: You’re the GM who is effectively a child with a huge collection of mismatched plastic soldiers, the kind you still see at Cracker Barrel chain restaurants and the pharmacy toy aisle. Combined together, there’s a forced logic that justifies WWII GIs and aliens in one battle. This project gives you 5e rules and a narrative to pull out your toy soldiers and go to war!

Wyrmlings RPG - A wholesome, all-ages fantasy TTRPG from Lone Colossus Games

• END DATE: Thu, May 25 2023 11:00 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): An original system
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $20 for the PDF of the book, character sheets, and coloring sheets
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Keeping with the idea of kid’s stories, let’s try an RPG that leans a little less militant. Showcasing inspirations like Steven Universe and My Little Pony, this project has you playing as young dragons. That idea feels like a kids show as you try to solve problems with the power of friendship and breath weapons. Offered as a low-prep simple system, you’ll be dragons on adventures and learning the value of teamwork and definitely not eating the farmer’s goats. Definitely not. Designed for all-ages, this RPG may spark interest in the young people in your lives.

Mini-Dungeon Tome II from AAW Games

• END DATE: Thu, May 25 2023 4:10 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Adventures
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $49 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This book includes 124 adventures at the time of this writing. 250 pages of drag and drop dungeons and encounters for levels 1 to 20. 38% of the mini-dungeons are for levels 1 to 4, 49% are for levels 5 to 10. With so much of the book given to the highly played character levels, there’s a lot of utility for GMs since most campaigns don’t get into the double digits. If you need more encounters from AAW Games, check out the campaign page for a preview pack to determine your interest.

Outgunned - Cinematic Action RPG from Two Little Mice

• END DATE: Thu, May 25 2023 5:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Director's Cut
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: €149 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the three books, GM screen, dice, cards, and more PDFs
• TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: Outgunned – Quickstart is PWYW at DriveThruRPG
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Think James Bond, Atomic Blonde, Ocean’s Eleven, John Wick, or any franchise where suits and silencers are proper attire and you’ll have the foundations of this RPG. Modern day action and heists as an RPG. The core book is over 200 pages of rules, the setting book is over 150 pages of locations and jobs. Outgunned is by the Ennie Award-winning authors of Household and Broken Compass, so you have some reference to their level of quality. If the idea speaks to you, try out the quickstart and the campaign page.

What Is Light Without Dark RPG from NerdBurger Games

• END DATE: Thu, May 25 2023 7:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Roll-Track System
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $22 + S/H for the PDF and softcover of the book
• ADDITIONAL REPORTING: Check out my interview with Craig Campbell about this project (here)
• TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: Good Strong Hands Quick Start is free at DriveThruRPG
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Good Strong Hands, the whimsical fantasy RPG that is the core rulebook for the What Is Light Without Dark sourcebook, was nominated for an Ennie Award in 2022. Inspired by movies such as Legend, Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, Willow, and The Neverending Story, this book gives you more material to create worlds of childish wonder. With this campaign, Craig is adding the first sourcebook to the game. This sourcebook adds more generals to support the evil force that threatens the realms, adds new folk such as the clockwork, dragonet, patchwork, and gives more history to the world. If you need an RPG that gives the feel of fun fantasy movies from the 1980s, this campaign page is worth your time.

Monsters of the Dungeon for 5th Edition and other RPGs from Cawood Publishing

• END DATE: Thu, May 25 2023 9:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition as well as Pathfinder Second Edition and OSRs
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: CA$47 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is the sixth book in Cawood Publishing’s Monster series. With a focus on what you’ll find in different dungeons, this book gives you creatures, quest ideas, and some related magic items. Since the book breaks down the monsters by dungeon environment, it makes them good additions for your random encounters. Coming in at over 160 pages, you’ll get more than 100 monsters. If you’re looking for the next creature around the corner, this book has a variety to choose from.

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Egg Embry participates in the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, Noble Knight Games’ Affiliate Program, and is an Amazon Associate. These programs provide advertising fees by linking to DriveThruRPG, Noble Knight Games, and Amazon.

 

[Darth Solo]

I'm all over Army Men and Outgunned looks fun.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I've backed Monsters of the Dungeon, and all of Cawood's previous monster books. They are always a lot of fun to read and inspiring for a light-hearted D&D game. Check it out!

Yeah, I've never picked up one of their monster books and not been able to say "yep, I can see using this critter" to nearly everything, which I can't say for 99% of monster books.

 

[Thomas Shey]

Yeah, I've never picked up one of their monster books and not been able to say "yep, I can see using this critter" to nearly everything, which I can't say for 99% of monster books.

I don't play/run 5e, and they're probably a little too whimsical for me.

I still buy them when they're on sale.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

We shouldn't be too surprised if Hasbro in the future could be interested into the acquisition of other IPs, specially no-fantasy franchises, because "don't put all eggs in only one basket". In the next ten years, how many 3PPs will survive and keep publishing new titles? Let's remember the list of 3PPs from the 3rd Age. Hasbro's strategy bets for the "multimedia franchises", an IP to sell different type of products.

 

[Lalato]

Here are the 5e Campaign Setting crowdfunding campaigns I'm keeping an eye on right now...

Closed and Funded:

• Wayfarer: Nomadic Realms

Closed

• Wild and Far Frontiers 28%
• Tales of Arwana 1%

Open and Funded:

• World of Lumina
• Adventure College Student Handbook
• Koboa: South American Fantasy Setting
• Sanctuary: Dungeon Tales
• Nightport
• Dretelia (new, relaunch)

Open:

• Yarthe 42%
• Tales of Kings & Dragons (new) 42%
• Limitless Lands of Darabok (86%)

 

[aramis erak]

We shouldn't be too surprised if Hasbro in the future could be interested into the acquisition of other IPs, specially no-fantasy franchises, because "don't put all eggs in only one basket". In the next ten years, how many 3PPs will survive and keep publishing new titles? Let's remember the list of 3PPs from the 3rd Age. Hasbro's strategy bets for the "multimedia franchises", an IP to sell different type of products.

The odds are, most of today's publishers will be gone; most of the original companies are gone, most of the 3rd Ed OGL Bubble are gone. But for every original gen publisher which died, a dozen more have arisen.

There are hundreds putting new product out. Almost too many.

 

[humble minion]

We shouldn't be too surprised if Hasbro in the future could be interested into the acquisition of other IPs, specially no-fantasy franchises, because "don't put all eggs in only one basket".

You've been saying this sort of thing for years now, and it doesn't seem to be happening. Hasbro don't need to buy out 3pp publishers, they can do it all in-house. Creatives are cheap.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

The odds are, most of today's publishers will be gone; most of the original companies are gone, most of the 3rd Ed OGL Bubble are gone. But for every original gen publisher which died, a dozen more have arisen.

There are hundreds putting new product out. Almost too many.

You are right, but if some IPs are too good, original, cool or interesting, then they shouldn't fall into oblivion. My opinion is to be acquired by a bigger company shouldn't be a worse fate.

 

[aramis erak]

You are right, but if some IPs are too good, original, cool or interesting, then they shouldn't fall into oblivion. My opinion is to be acquired by a bigger company shouldn't be a worse fate.

For the designer, it almost always seems to be.

Hell, 23 years on, and many are still worried HasBro will cannibalize Wizards, and kill the RPG development and try to make their money as a literary branding (which, it''s been said by people who worked there, is what kept TSR afloat in the 1992-1998 timeframe).

D&D itself is unlikely to see such, but every new scandal sends a few I know to wailing and gnashing of teeth...

 

[Thomas Shey]

For the designer, it almost always seems to be.

See SPI. Arguably it was on the way down the drain anyway, but there might have been products that could have survived if sold off to anyone but TSR.