foxandboargames
Villager
On the Odder Side, the Low-Cost RPG Exploring a World of Bizarre Horrors
The Game
On the Odder Side is a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) rooted in the Mark of the Odd system, drawing inspiration from Chris McDowall's acclaimed Into the Odd. This game beckons players to venture into a realm filled with bizarre horrors, autumnal atmospheres, and Victorian aesthetics.
Setting
In this game, adventurers either lose their way or daringly cross an invisible boundary, leading them to the "shadow side" of their city. This familiar yet unsettling place grows stranger the longer they remain.
Campaign
Launched on Kickstarter this November 5th, the campaign has already amassed over 300% of its initial funding. The game, along with all additional manuals, is set for delivery to backers by May 2024. This 30-day campaign will conclude on December 5, 2023.
The Authors
Conceived by Marco Ragni, a long-time gamer and the brain behind the story game Shakedown City, and Gianluca Ranieri, another RPG veteran and versatile creative, this game is being launched under the Pizza Games label.
Inspirations
On the Odder Side draws from a rich tapestry of works, including:
Neverwhere and The Last Temptation by Neil Gaiman
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
The City of Lost Children and Delicatessen by Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Inception by Christopher Nolan
Penny Dreadful by John Logan
The Haunting of Hill House by Mike Flanagan
RPGs like Into the Odd and Electric Bastionland by Chris McDowall
Itras By by Ole Peder Giæver and Martin Bull Gudmundsen
Don't Rest Your Head by Fred Hicks
Rich Bundle
The complete game is encapsulated in The Book of Souls, a 48-page PDF manual containing all the rules and setting details needed to create characters and start playing. Priced at just 4 euros, the campaign aims to make this low-cost game accessible to as many people as possible. For 7 euros, backers also receive The Book of Bones, a 48-page PDF manual filled with tips for creating a haunting atmosphere and prompts to help the GM craft a world of strange horrors. At 9 euros, backers gain The Book of Madness, a 48-page PDF manual with tables and ideas for quickly generating adventures.
The bundle is enhanced with The Book of Flesh, a new PDF manual unlocked through a campaign stretch goal, offering prompts for adventures in the Stranger Side of the City. The next goal is to expand this substantial package with the Encyclopedia Rerum Innominabilium, introducing backers to the City's darkest mysteries. PDFs of these additional manuals will be sent to anyone who has at least obtained The Book of Souls. Even a one-euro support pledge will net the PDF of the Almanac of Oddities, featuring thirty eerie prompts for any horror game.
A Lightning Start
The campaign achieved its funding goal in less than 5 hours after going live on November 5th and has since surpassed 300% funding, unlocking new stretch goals and heading towards remarkable success.
An Ever-Expanding Project
The authors intend to create a continually expanding world, with the help of fans. Soon, groups will be formed for idea exchanges to make the game world increasingly eerie. An active Instagram profile (@on_the_odderside) already daily shares horrific inspirations that reflect the game's atmosphere.
Conclusion
On the Odder Side promises a unique and unsettling horror experience. The game features a simple system suitable for beginners and a richly detailed, evocative setting.
Contact Information:
Website: On the Odder Side Kickstarter
Email: ragnimarco@gmail.com
Instagram: @on_the_odderside
