This week I look at crowdfunding options that end between May 19th and June 4th. I share a number of Kickstarters, a GameFound campaign, and a Itchfunding option. This article features another million dollar RPG and several products with free previews you can download.
BLADE RUNNER – The Roleplaying Game from Free League Publishing
Creatures: Netherworld - Monster Compendium & Toolbox for 5E from Studio Agate
Creed's Codex: Arcane Secrets of the Summoners (5E) from Knight Vision Creative
The Eye Of Everywhere 5e from Alan Tucker
Iconic Adventuring System from Alea Publishing Group
Seidkona Saga: Shadow of Killmoure from EC Games
We Deal in Lead from By Odin’s Beard RPG
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.
BLADE RUNNER – The Roleplaying Game from Free League Publishing
- END DATE: Thu, May 26 2022 3:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Year Zero Engine
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: SEK 1,298 + S/H for the PDF and deluxe print version of the core rulebook plus the PDF and print version of the starter set
- ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: You can see some previews (here) and Morrus’ thoughts on this project as a million dollar Kickstarter (here)
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? In the cyberpunk world of 2037, you walk the streets of a dying LA, retiring replicants or expecting your own retirement. Free League delves into another classic Ridley Scott universe using their award winning Year Zero Engine. As you can see from the previews, expect artwork that looks like concept pieces lifted from the movie bible. Combine that with a fully realized detective RPG available as a core rulebook and a starter set, you have Free League’s latest million dollar Kickstarter. For my part, I’m excited about this project and, while this is unlikely to be written into either game for contractual reasons, I expect to see some epic campaigns combining ALIEN’s xenomorphs and androids with Blade Runners’ blade runners and replicants for a unique take on the two. Check out the campaign page to learn more about the game.
- END DATE: Sat, June 4 2022 2:30 AM 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
- TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: Creatures: Netherworld 66-page Preview is free at DriveThruRPG
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? The studio behind Shadows of Esteren and Fateforge is back with a new 5e book of monsters. Coming in at 390 pages, this book has 150 original monsters, 30 revamped options, 5 PC ancestries, 8 archetypes, and feats, magic items, and more. Expect amazing artwork and beasts designed for every level. I love books of monsters and this one promises another amazing selection. If you’re looking for monsters to battle, ones that feel different from many other sources, this book is worth exploring.
Creed's Codex: Arcane Secrets of the Summoners (5E) from Knight Vision Creative
- END DATE: Thu, May 19 2022 7:37 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $16 for the PDF of the book
- TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: Creed's Codex: Arcane Secrets of the Summoners Preview is free at DriveThruRPG
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This 5e sourcebook centers on, but is not limited to, the new Summoner class. Offering up a new point based system for 5e, you can summon other worldly creatures to play with. In addition, there are subclasses, spells, feats, and new mechanics. Among the new is symbiotic gear that evolves with you. I love the idea of your special items leveling as you do. In addition, there’s a new power, Convergence, that lets you tap its potential, but requires you to take exhaustion and risk something bad occurring. At over 100 pages, this sourcebook breaks more ground than some by focusing on lore and building mechanics to suit.
The Eye Of Everywhere 5e from Alan Tucker
- END DATE: 6/2/2022, 6:00:00 PM
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $15 for the PDF of the book
- TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: The Eye of Everywhere FREE Preview is available at DriveThruRPG
- NOTE: This crowdfunding campaign is at GameFound
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Need a portal connecting worlds? How about a portal that is being contested by different factions so it’s not an easy walk through? This sourcebook is sci-fi fantasy 5e that lets you enjoy its own setting and bridge worlds. If you want to build out a sci-fi campaign with monsters, robots, psionics, and bridges to other worlds both homebrewed and published, this project looks outstanding. Check out the GameFound page to learn more about how the worlds are connected, the setting, and who you have to compete against to use the portal.
Iconic Adventuring System from Alea Publishing Group
- END DATE: Thu, June 2 2022 12:01 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rules
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $25 for the digital version of the basic and core rulebooks including the starter set for Tabletop Simulator plus POD versions
- EN WORLD FORUMS: Alea Publishing has a hosted forum where they answer questions (here)
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is a card based RPG that uses proprietary cards instead of a standard deck to build characters, create quests, and resolve actions. It’s a complete system, one that’s been playtested and built over many years. If you’re looking for a fantasy RPG that gets away from dice to use specially designed cards for everything including resolutions, this may be the right fit for you. Developed over 10 years, this project is built on the back of a system that failed to crowdfund; taking that core and fully revamping and improving it. Sometimes, failure leads to improvements. This concept is different enough that I’d recommend checking out the campaign page for video tutorials and their forum here on EN World.
Seidkona Saga: Shadow of Killmoure from EC Games
- END DATE: Thu, June 2 2022 11:36 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Adventure module
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $10 for the PDF and POD versions of this book
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This campaign is for one of three 5e adventures designed for duet or solo play (though, there are options to expand it up to a party of four). As the third chapter, it comes in at 135 pages or more, and this conclusion of the linear adventure offers an option for seven different endings. If you’re looking for a duet or solo 5e adventure, one that runs across three books so you’re getting many weeks worth of games, this may fit your bill.
We Deal in Lead from By Odin’s Beard RPG
- END DATE: No end date because this is Itchfunding
- SYSTEM(S): “Streamlined d20 roll-under rules based on Cairn, Into the Odd, and Knave”
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £19.00 + S/H (assumed) for the PDF of the ashcan edition as well as the PDF and print versions of the final version of this book
- NOTE: This project is Itchfunding on Itch.io. If you’re new to Itchfunding, it’s different than regular crowdfunding. “Normal” crowdfunding have “hard” timelines. Itchfunding represents a project in which the creator that will work on the project as time and new funding allows. If you’re casual about deadlines and delivery, Itchfunding may be an option you could support. If unstructured delivery times will upset you in any way, Itchfunding may not work for you as a backer. I’m not saying this project will take a long time to deliver. I’m simply pointing out that Itchfunding itself is less deadline oriented than other crowdfunding sites.
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? I have not covered an Itchfunding campaign before, but this one intrigues me. As an homage to Stephen King’s The Dark Tower series, you play post-apocalyptic gunslinger knights battling the forces of chaos. Designed for solo or group play, this game uses roll under d20 rules inspired by Cairn, Into the Odd, and Knave. As an Itchfunding project, this campaign is being worked until it’s completed. When you back, you get the work in progress ashcan edition PDF. As more of the project is developed, the ashcan will be updated, a finalized edition will be created, and a book will be printed, if you backed at that level. If a rules lite d20 option that puts the spirit of Stephen King’s The Dark Tower into your hands is right for your gaming table, this is worth checking out.
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.
