MCDM's New Tactical TTRPG Hits $1M Crowdfunding On First Day!

Matt Colville's MCDM is no stranger to crowdfunding, with three million dollar Kickstarters already under its belt. With the launch of The MCDM RPG, that makes four!

This new game is not a D&D variant or a supplement for D&D, which is what MCDM has focussed on so far. This is an all-new game which concentrates on tactical play, with a fulfilment goal of July 2025. It comes in two books--a 400-page 'Heroes' book and a 'Monsters' book which is an adaption of the existing Flee, Mortals!

The MCDM RPG

Whether you’re a group of local heroes sent to investigate mysterious goings-on in the nearby haunted wood, or famous mercenaries plotting and scheming in the big city, the MCDM RPG makes building adventures and fighting monsters fun.

www.backerkit.com

The game takes aim at traditional d20 fantasy gaming, referring to the burden of 'sacred cows from the 1970s', but point out that it's not a dungeon crawling or exploration game--its core activity is fighting monsters. The system is geared towards tactical combat--you roll 2d6, add an attribute, and do that damage; there's no separate attack roll.

At $40 for the base Heroes PDF and $70 for the hardcover (though there are discounts for both books if you buy them together), it's not a cheap buy-in, but with over 4,000 backers already that's not deterring anybody!

Even more ambitiously, one of the stretch goals is a Virtual Tabletop (VTT). There's already a working prototype of it.

 

[Zaukrie]

must. resist.

 

[Velderan]

This looks really exciting. I loved some of the things he said in the video (especially talking about paying the people working on the game!) and if they are able to get VTT support for the game, I would actually be able to play it. It honestly seems like a no-brainer for me to back at the PDF level.

Yeah, leaning towards backing at the PDF level just to check it out. I’m trying to make peace with not feeling compelled to get a print book for everything I am interested in checking out.

 

[Reynard]

Yeah, leaning towards backing at the PDF level just to check it out. I’m trying to make peace with not feeling compelled to get a print book for everything I am interested in checking out.

My attitude is that I don't need to back ot for that. The PDFs will be broadly available when the game fulfills anyway. If I really want access to the playtest, that's a reason to back it.

It is telling that they are looking at the Shadowdark model for making it "open." No SRD. No CC. It tracks with the way MCDM has engaged with the OGL tho.

 

[The Soloist]

I don't know how I feel about this project. On the one hand, I am a war gamer, on the other do I need yet another RPG? I'll 'search my feelings' for a few days.'

 

[Divine2021]

I wonder if it’ll be any good

 

[Emberashh]

I wonder if it’ll be any good

Given his track record, it'll have issues but will be serviceable enough to not bomb completely.

 

[Monayuris]

S&F and K&W are ok. They don’t blow me away but are good enough to add some element of domain play. To me, they are more about adding a flavor of that game style as opposed to a well designed and integrated rule system.

I am curious but not enough to back it. I can see a tactical combat game as a good change of pace, but no exploration or dungeon crawling puts it into a “something to play on the side” game category for me.

Not something I would use for an extended campaign.

 

[doctorhook]

Yeah, leaning towards backing at the PDF level just to check it out. I’m trying to make peace with not feeling compelled to get a print book for everything I am interested in checking out.

Legit. I know the feeling. It’s cheaper to stick to digital formats and much better for the environment than the cost of producing and shipping books everywhere. Especially for games you may not actually end up playing

 

[GMMichael]

This new game is not a D&D variant or a supplement for D&D, which is what MCDM has focussed on so far. This is an all-new game which concentrates on tactical play, with a fulfilment goal of July 2025. It comes in two books--a 400-page 'Heroes' book and a 'Monsters' book which is an adaption of the existing Flee, Mortals!​

The MCDM RPG

Whether you’re a group of local heroes sent to investigate mysterious goings-on in the nearby haunted wood, or famous mercenaries plotting and scheming in the big city, the MCDM RPG makes building adventures and fighting monsters fun.

www.backerkit.com

The game takes aim at traditional d20 fantasy gaming, referring to the burden of 'sacred cows from the 1970s', but point out that it's not a dungeon crawling or exploration game--its core activity is fighting monsters. The system is geared towards tactical combat--you roll 2d6, add an attribute, and do that damage; there's no separate attack roll.

So, tactical combat, there's a PHB and MM, focus on (monster) fighting, and mind flayers?

Totally not D&D.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Is "MCDM RPG" the final name? Interesting choice, if so.