RPG Crowdfunding News – The Story Engine, Longshot City, Caliya’s Chronicle of Runes, and more

This article offers reviews of RPG crowdfunding projects ending between July 20 and 24. Every week is a sampling of the many options that are available on crowdfunding sites such as Kickstarter, Backerkit, Crowdfundr, GameFound, GameOnTabletop, IndieGoGo, and more.

Caliya’s Chronicle of Runes: A Runic Expansion for D&D 5e from Spectre Creations

• END DATE: Thu, July 20 2023 9:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $25 for the PDF of the book
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This book gives you a new 5e rune magic system, a subject that’s been touched on by other publishers but given a language twist. To be clear, the runes offered in this 300-page book enhance your equipment. From Tony Casper, an editor on the Griffon's Saddlebag and KibblesTasty, this book has over 350 magic runes with new subclasses, playable species, and over 80 monsters. The language twist is that the runes vary by fantasy language, so an elvish rune looks distinct from a dwarven rune. If you want to see how their rune system works, the campaign page has a 16-page PDF preview available.

The Story Engine: Lore Master's Deck from The Story Engine

• END DATE: Jul 21, 2023 at 11:59pm EDT.
• CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
• SYSTEM(S): System neutral
• PROJECT TYPE: RPG accessory
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $88 + S/H for the the core deck set plus three expansions
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This project offers decks to help GMs and writers create unexpected lore that provide options that you might not consider otherwise. From “award-winning author, game writer, and designer Peter Chiykowski,” this is a tool to make characters, setting material, and items to find. Drawing eight cards, you select different words to pull ideas together. This project is perfect for GMs looking for something new to spark a variety of plot threads. Check out the Backerkit if you’re interested.

Homestead Creature Handbook (5e + PF2e) from Red Ink Caravan

• END DATE: Jul 20, 2023 at 3:00am EDT.
• CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition and Pathfinder Second Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: €12 for the PDF of the book
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This project brings up an important but often overlooked element in fantasy RPG: domesticated animals. In most campaigns, the setting is populated with animals that live in our own world: Dogs, cats, cows, chickens, and horses augmented by a domesticated bear or giant cat for flavor. Rarely does an adventure have the background elements of a Hayao Miyazaki movie with random creatures here and there to make the world feel more fantastic. Homestead Creature Handbook on Backerkit seeks to overcome that with new creatures for 5e and PF2e. Offering lore and full stats, these aren’t enemies so much as worldbuilding. If improving the feel of your animals and setting speaks to you, this book is worth checking out.

Longshot City from Melsonian Arts Council

• END DATE: Thu, July 20 2023 9:55 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Powered by TROIKA!
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £86 + S/H for the PDF and physical boxed set with the book, GM screen, cards, dice, token bag, and more
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? TROIKA! Superheroes! Those two words imply the reality: Wild, weird, warped world saving heroics. Let’s do the numbers for this book: 36 Archetypes, 36 Origins 24 enemies motivated by a system of Motives and Methods, 3 campaign options, and so many more rules and parts including conspiracies and KO tables. Starting with a 70-page rulebook and more. TROIKA! promises a world gonzo adventure; in the case of Longshot City, gonzo superhero adventures that will live in a unique world of weird.

Witches of Midnight: TTRPG & Tarot Deck from BalsamicGames

• END DATE: Sat, July 22 2023 12:05 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Forged in the Dark
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $123 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the books, the tarot decks, dice, and more
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is a witch-centered urban fantasy RPG using dice and tarot cards. In this world, witches existed openly, but when the mundanes developed enough technology, they fought. The intervention of the fae and a new organization, The Order, set boundaries and control over witches, bringing a fragile peace. Yet, there is a need to be free, and those that push back are the enemy simply for the crime of non-conformance. Using the Forged in the Dark system, you challenge The Order as you and your Coven fight against the system. In terms of witches and sensitivity around their use, the co-authors are practitioners and they hired two sensitivity readers to ensure this project is compassionate in its portrayal of various cultures. Check out the campaign page for more details about this 240-page core rulebook.

Memento Mori: 5E Campaign Setting from Luna Publishing

• END DATE: Mon, July 24 2023 1:00 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $20 for the PDF and POD discount versions of the book
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Magic is evil, science has arisen, and humanity’s inhumanity is on full display. Memento Mori is a campaign setting inspired by dark fantasy, Victorian gothic, horror, and steampunk genres. This book features a variety of concepts revised from fantasy 5e to better fit a world where steam power exists. The classic fantasy and tropey version of witches stand in as a variant of mages, while occultists are the clerics of this setting. If you need a dark Victorican-esque world for 5e, this may fit the bill.

​

2024 Quest Calendar An Adventure-a-Day RPG from Sundial Games llc

• END DATE: Sat, July 22 2023 9:00 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Quest Calendar
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rule calendar
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $43 + S/H gets you the PDF and print calendar, the hero book, dice, cards, and more
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? A page-a-day calendar where every day is another step in your solo fantasy roleplaying adventure. On Kickstarter each year since 2021, these calendars inject daily roleplaying into your life. This year’s theme is anthropomorphic fantasy creatures that walk, talk, and adventure. Prepare your hero for 366 days of adventure in 2024. Check out the campaign page for a copy of the 2023 rulebook to get a guideline for what next year’s calendar offers.

Qadida: A Spy-Filled Stillfleet Gazetteer from Stillfleet

• END DATE: Thu, July 20 2023 11:31 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Stillfleet
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $29 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the sourcebooks
• TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: Stillfleet is PWYW on DriveThruRPG
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? In August 2022, Stillfleet was kickstarted by 666 backers who pledged $43,855 towards the project. The core rules offer a sci-fi space exploration about life after the loss of contact with Terra. This campaign adds a 100-page setting book for the system. Qadida is a world of espionage, assassination, and high-stakes warfare as you face off against the Worshipful Company of Stillfleeters. In an RPG about political tensions, this book adds a world and new options like four classes, a new species, powers, factions, and so much more. If the idea of cosmic sci-fi, politics, and weirdness grab you, try out the quickstart and check out the campaign page.

What's OLD is NEW Starter Box: Fantasy/Modern/Sci-fi TTRPG from EN Publishing

• END DATE: Thu, August 3 2023 6:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): W.O.I.N.
• PROJECT TYPE: Starter set
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £24 + S/H for the PDF, VTT, and print versions of the boxed set
• DISCLAIMER: EN World is a subsidiary of EN Publishing
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? After EN Publishing’s Level Up! Advanced Fifth Edition, their best known system is W.O.I.N. (What’s OLD Is NEW). This is a universal RPG system with dedicated options for fantasy, modern, and sci-fi. Used for EN Publishing’s JUDGE DREDD & THE WORLDS OF 2000 AD RPG and others, this d6 dice pool system strikes the right balance between tasks and combat. EN Publishing supports third party publishers using W.O.I.N., which is a nice extra for fans that want to create original content. What’s exciting about the starter set from this Kickstarter is how much easier it’ll make introducing this system to new players with 68-pages of rules, three adventures, 18 pregenerated characters, tokens and 8 dice, plus VTT and the license via OGL, Creative Commons, and ORC. If you’re a fan of W.O.I.N., this a great addition to your collection. If you’re new to W.O.I.N., this campaign is the right place to start.

​

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.

 

[Charles Dunwoody]

I'm really looking forward to Longshot City.

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

I am surprised because some 3PPs showed some really good ideas. My opinion is WotC can earn more if the best content by 3PPs could be sold in D&D: Beyond. This would be also good for 3PPs because D&D:B can be the best showcase to introduce their titles.

 

[Egg Embry]

I'm really looking forward to Longshot City.

Agreed.
In hindsight, I feel I should have suggested this was superheroes from Vertigo comics/indy comics. It should be cool!

 

[Egg Embry]

I am surprised because some 3PPs showed some really good ideas. My opinion is WotC can earn more if the best content by 3PPs could be sold in D&D: Beyond. This would be also good for 3PPs because D&D:B can be the best showcase to introduce their titles.

This is a good thought, but likely too much investment for Hasbro as they're in the process of downsizing.
Likely they'd need to hire a team to create the 3PP interface portal and a team to monitor the content to make sure it meets WotC's image and standards. At a guess, costs versus rewards don't meet their internal matrix.

 

[dave2008]

I don't think I picked up W.O.I.N originally, but I am tempted by this starter set

 

[Egg Embry]

I don't think I picked up W.O.I.N originally, but I am tempted by this starter set

Regardless of the system, I love quickstarts and starter kits. This was an easy backing for me.

 

[Spectre Creations]

Thanks for sharing, Egg! It's been awesome and so encouraging seeing the support this project has gathered from fellow rune-lovers.

 

[Egg Embry]

Thanks for sharing, Egg! It's been awesome and so encouraging seeing the support this project has gathered from fellow rune-lovers.

Thanks for making a cool looking book!

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

This is a good thought, but likely too much investment for Hasbro as they're in the process of downsizing.
Likely they'd need to hire a team to create the 3PP interface portal and a team to monitor the content to make sure it meets WotC's image and standards. At a guess, costs versus rewards don't meet their internal matrix.

Hasbro hasn't to downsizing, but it should be like an advanced version of DMGuild. Maybe the 3PP are going to publish all their titles, but only one or two as bait or hook, to promote themself, like a demo version. Once the player knows the brand, this could search the rest of titles in Drivetrhought or other webs.