RPG Crowdfunding News – Delta Green, Tome of Heroes, Mausritter, and more

This week’s article looks are RPG crowdfunding projects that end between August 24th to September 12th. As always, it’s not an exhaustive list of the RPG campaigns available Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, GameOnTabletop, or GameFound, instead this series shows a sampling of some of the great games that are out there.

Delta Green: The Conspiracy from Arc Dream Publishing

• END DATE: Fri, September 10 2021 8:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Delta Green
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $40 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book plus another PDF
• TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: Delta Green: Need To Know is PWYW at DriveThruRPG
• OVERSIMPLIFIED BIT OF RPG HISTORY: Delta Green started out as a setting published by Pagan Publishing for Call of Cthulhu. In 2015/2016, Arc Dream Publishing released Delta Green as a standalone RPG that uses a variation of the d100 Basic Role-Playing system that powers CoC.
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? A reprint of that original 1996 third party Call of Cthulhu sourcebook, Delta Green, with updates making it a sourcebook for Delta Green: The Role-Playing Game. The campaign page promises new artwork and layouts to improve the look of the book as well as rule updates to make it cleanly Delta Green. In addition, the stretch goals unlock additional Delta Green books you may get as add-ons for your game. If you’re a fan of Delta Green, this reprint let’s you see what started it all 25 years ago.

Tome of Heroes: 5th Edition Character Options for Your Game from Kobold Press

• END DATE: Wed, September 8 2021 7:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $49 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the campaign
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? If you’ve purchased any Kobold Press 5e products, you know this: The quality of the writing, artwork, and layout mark the book as a product of the top third party publishers for 5e. Kobold has written for official 5e products, their books are among the most likely to be in FLGS next to Wizards of the Coasts’ products, and they have a large fanbase. All of that is to say, while Kobold Press’ 5e books are not official, they’re the next best thing. With the Tome of Heroes, they’re offering player options with 10 new ancestries, 50 subclasses, new schools of magic, and more. If you’re interested in solid, well playtested 5e material, this is likely to be another winner.

Mausritter: Box Set & Adventure Collection from Losing Games

• END DATE: Tue, August 31 2021 4:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): An original system
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rule boxed set
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: AU$125 + S/H for the boxed set as well as the PDF and print versions of the adventure collection
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This RPG makes you a mouse with a sword. It’s rules-lite fantasy RPG, yet offers some interesting options. Inventory is card based so it’s easy to track, yet makes your decisions feel like they have cost. The game uses 15 spells, which is a limited number compared to many so I’m curious what makes the cut. This campaign brings the second printing of this project to life* plus a new adventure collection. This boxed set gives you the core rulebook, GM screen, dry-erase marker and inventory cards, and more. The adventure collection offers 11 adventure sites as tri-fold pamphlets. If you’re looking for a game of rules-lite sword-and-whiskers, this may fit the bill. If you’re interested, you can pick up the core rulebook through the campaign page
• Reprinting: In addition to this campaign to reprint their work, The Black Hack Second Edition is running a campaign specifically to reprint their book and boxed set. As a note about the health of the market, it’s worth pointing out that these projects are doing well without a new edition (which is the normal way to get more fans of a project). Instead, these publishers are seeing success focusing on their existing products. That’s a positive sign for the economic health of RPGs.

Codex of the Mind - A Complete Psionics System for 5E from Paradigm Concepts

• END DATE: Sun, September 12 2021 11:59 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $50 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This project brings psionics to the Arcanis 5e campaign setting. Psionics are one of the odd powers of D&D as each edition embraces the ability to different degrees. This book offers 192 to 224 pages with three psionic classes, 50 subclasses, psionic dueling rules, and a variety of options within the mental sphere. If you want to add this range of powers to your campaign, or use this as a jumping off point to create a psionic-centered campaign, visit the Kickstarter to get a preview of the ruleset.

BLEAKSPROUT from Dead Box Games

• END DATE: Wed, August 25 2021 9:59 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Adventure module
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $14 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book plus player handouts
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This 5e adventure is for 3rd to 5th level adventurers. The party is shrunk down to the size of, well, there’s a part where it sounds like you’ll face off against fleas and they’re sizable compared to you. From there, it’s exploring the Underlog, a tavern inside a toad, and flea cultists as you work your way through this adventure. Beyond the premise, one of the features of this 20-page booklet is the art and its printing process. Using two-tone inks, they create some striking look, which they detail on the campaign page. If you’re interested in a gonzo adventure that touches on Honey, I Shrunk The Kids through the lens of Dungeon Crawl Classics, this may be the one.
  (Note: To be clear, this adventure is for D&D 5e.)

Omega Horizon TTRPG from Paleo Gaming

• END DATE: Tue, August 31 2021 6:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): An original system
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $70 + $8 US S/H for the PDF and print version of the book plus dice and a soundtrack
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This sci-fi RPG offers a universe in which humanity has conquered the stars and most of the species that orbit them. Earth and its empire are ruled by a literal god-machine. The Earth’s main rival are those that fled the god-machine and setup a mega-corp union of worlds. Those competing empires vie for/battle with the remaining alien planets of the galaxy and some unaligned human colonies. Within this universe, you’re hacking out a living doing whatever you can. Using an original system with a sliding scale of crunch, this game promises a universe of adventure for your characters to battle through.

Liches: Dance Macabre from Texas in August Studio

• END DATE: Thu, August 26 2021 10:29 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition and Pathfinder 2e
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $10 for the PDF of the book
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Do you need Liches in your campaign? If the answer is yes, this book offers six Lich archetype templates, a detailed Lich’s lair, six ready made Liches, spells, magic items, and monsters. The book has chapters about their decaying bodies, how they destroy the land that they inhabit, what social life they maintain, and more. There’s enough detail to [Oy.] flesh out your Lich. [Sorry!] My awful puns aside, if you’re interested, check out the campaign page for a sample of the book.

Over the Next Hill 2: 6 Plug-In Settlements for your 5E Game from EN Publishing

• END DATE: Tue, August 24 2021 5:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £14 for the PDFs of Over the Next Hill 1 and 2
• DISCLAIMER: EN World is a subsidiary of EN Publishing
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This books adds six new fantasy settlements to plug into your campaign. Coming in at 37 pages, each settlement is 4 to 5 pages of information including NPCs, plot hooks, and information about the location. There’s an island, a lighthouse, a manor, artistic community, and more. If you need ready made locations to run your campaign, this is an excellent resource.

Unplugged Games Cafe

• END DATE: Fri, September 3 2021 11:30 PM EDT.
• PROJECT TYPE: Board game cafe
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $100 for stickers, play passes, and a special event
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This campaign generates funds to bring a tabletop board game cafe to the greater Richmond, Virginia area. I like to cover the expanding footprint of friendly local gaming stores (FLGS) as well as their related businesses. This isn’t quite a full-service FLGS, more of a companion featuring a place to play your games. Coming this Fall to 1300 Sycamore Square, Midlothian, Virginia 23113 USA, if you’re interested in a restaurant with gaming options in the Richmond area, this may be an option to add to your list.

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[eyeheartawk]

The new Delta Green is great. I have some mixed thoughts about the rules. Which, you know, is just houseruled BRP. It's alot of " We use CoC advancement, but it's cool because it's in reverse". But the books and scenarios themselves are absolute gold.

I think this 90s era of Delta Green is the best. While, the new books do an excellent job of incorporating modern technology (namely the internet) doing your Cthulhu X-Files thing in the 90s before ubiquitous smart phones I think is really the way to go.

 

[Sunsword]

The new Delta Green is great. I have some mixed thoughts about the rules. Which, you know, is just houseruled BRP. It's alot of " We use CoC advancement, but it's cool because it's in reverse". But the books and scenarios themselves are absolute gold.

I think this 90s era of Delta Green is the best. While, the new books do an excellent job of incorporating modern technology (namely the internet) doing your Cthulhu X-Files thing in the 90s before ubiquitous smart phones I think is really the way to go.

For me the problem is that Chaosium is a bit too litigious about BRP I think Arc Dream's solution to use the Legend OGL is the best of both worlds.

 

[dave2008]

Codex of the Minds seems like a good buy for those clamoring for full psionics and 5e.

 

[eyeheartawk]

For me the problem is that Chaosium is a bit too litigious about BRP I think Arc Dream's solution to use the Legend OGL is the best of both worlds.

No doubt, that BRP SRD is hot trash.

 

[jhallum]

As someone who has been collecting the Delta Green books over the past two or three years, their packaging is simply top notch. Their 384 page mega adventure, Impossible Landscapes, is impeccably packaged with meticulously designed and period appropriate art and handouts. Horror RPGs may not be your thing, but if you had to choose a setting to get into because the lore (merging popular conspiracy theories with Lovecraft's monsters and ideas) is just entertaining to read and the art is great to look at, you really can't go wrong with anything released for Delta Green by ArcDream. They are really invested in their projects and it shows.

 

[PCIHenry]

Codex of the Minds seems like a good buy for those clamoring for full psionics and 5e.

Thanks for the mention, Dave. If anyone's interested in our take on 5E psionics, feel free to download this free pdf preview.

http://paradigmconcepts.com/Downloads/Arcanis5E/CotM_Preview.pdf​

 

[Superchunk77]

I backed Codex of the Mind as soon as the KS launched. A full on Psionics 5e sourcebook playtested for 4 years? Yes please!

 

[Texas in August Studio]

The Kickstarter has passed it's first stretch goal!

The effort has passed the first stretch goal; “The art in the book will be lavish, and include a 3d-isometric view of the lich lair and expanded details on the area around the lair.” This is good news, and the Kickstarter received a boost from a nice review over at ENWorld.

 

[PCIHenry]

I backed Codex of the Mind as soon as the KS launched. A full on Psionics 5e sourcebook playtested for 4 years? Yes please!

Thank you, Superchunk77. Your support is greatly appreciated!