This week, I look at RPG crowdfunding projects ending on July 2nd or earlier. There are seven campaigns making five-figures at this point (and Alice is Missing is likely to be at six figures around the time this goes live). There are a number of RPG crowdfunding campaigns and accessories, not all of which are shared here. Of those that are featured in this article, four will have interviews going live before the campaigns end to offer more perspective to these projects.
Alice is Missing: A Silent Role Playing Game from Hunters Books
“Alice Is Missing is a unique kind of roleplaying game in which players only communicate using their phones, sending text messages to each other as they unearth clues about what happened to Alice. The game is played live and without verbal communication. Players inhabit their character for the entirety of the 90-minute play session, and instead of speaking, send text messages back and forth to the other characters in a group chat, as well as individually, as though they aren’t in the same place together. Haunting beautiful, deeply personal, and highly innovative Alice is Missing puts a strong focus on the emotional engagement between players, immersing them in a tense, dramatic mystery that unfolds organically through the text messages they send to one another. Right at home with games like Life Is Strange, Gone Home, Oxenfree, and Firewatch, it’s designed to feel as much like an event-style experience as it does a role-playing game.”
KULT: Divinity Lost - Horror Guide & Scenario Collection from Helmgast
“Two new books and two new game aids to KULT: Divinity Lost - the ENnie award-winning and critically acclaimed tabletop horror RPG. In KULT: Divinity Lost, the world around us is a lie. Mankind is trapped in an Illusion. We do not see the great citadels of Metropolis towering over our highest skyscrapers. We do not hear the screams from the cellar where hidden stairs take us to Inferno. We do not smell the blood and burnt flesh from those sacrificed to long forgotten Gods. But some of us see glimpses from beyond the veil. With this Kickstarter, Helmgast is excited to present two new source books for the ENnie award winning game KULT: Divinity Lost, along with two new gaming aids, all to support the Gamemaster before and during play. Beyond Darkness and Madness is a book that serves as a tool for the Gamemaster in creating scenarios, locations, characters and building a horror atmosphere. Screams and Whispers is a scenario collection featuring six scenarios, which a Gamemaster can pick up and play with minimum preparation. Labyrinths and Secret Chambers is a set with maps and floor plans that a Gamemaster can use to quickly set scenes in play or prepare interesting locations during the downtime phase. Weapon Deck is a deck with 55 reference cards for weapons and gear that can be given to the players for easy reference.”
Fantastic Lairs: Boss Battles & Final Encounters for 5e D&D from SlyFlourish 
“A book of drop-in villainous lairs and dynamic combat encounters for your Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons games. The best 5e fantasy roleplaying games are often the most unpredictable. When the plans of the Gamemaster meet the actions of the characters, the incredible creative energy that results can spin encounters off in different directions, creating a largely spontaneous campaign story that keeps the GM and the players alike on the edge of their seats. But when it comes to the climactic boss battle encounters that cap off single adventures or entire campaigns, it’s often much harder for GMs to work things out on the fly. Fantastic Lairs is a book of capstone lair encounters for your 5e fantasy RPG, designed to inspire and fit into your own campaign. Each fantastic lair includes evocative artwork, a beautiful full-color map, and a well-designed and playtested boss encounter for characters of various levels.”
BEOWULF: Age of Heroes from Handiwork Games
“One of the oldest recorded stories in Western Europe, Beowulf is an epic tale of hero against monster. And the monster’s mother. And then a dragon. BEOWULF: Age of Heroes is a setting and rules set for 5th Edition, designed primarily for duet play – one GM and one player. BEOWULF presents a host of new and specially adapted rules to create epic and thematic adventures for your lone hero and his or her companions. Explore a mythic migration-era Europe and beyond, solve mysteries, and do battle with dreadful monsters! BEOWULF will be hardcover, in full colour. It will be chock full of great art from Jon Hodgson, Scott Purdy and a handpicked team of artists. Graphic design and layout is by Paul Bourne (The One Ring, Adventures in Middle-earth). We will have Anglo-Saxon style poetry from our friendly poets John Freeman and Dave Oliver, and excerpts from the Beowulf poem throughout. It will detail the setting of Beowulf, and a host of new rules to facilitate duet play in 5th Edition by the Beowulf development team - Jon Hodgson, Jacob Rodgers and David Rea.”
Rise of the Ice Dragons Trilogy: Three RPG Adventures for 5e from Midnight Tower
Legendlore RPG Setting for 5th Edition Fantasy Roleplaying from Onyx Path Publishing
Maximum Apocalypse RPG from Rock Manor Games
Modern Mythos and Machine from J.E. Shields
RPG Quick Hits
The Savage Sign 02 from Sigil Entertainment Group
Egg Embry participates in the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program and is an Amazon Associate. These programs provide advertising fees by linking to DriveThruRPG and Amazon.
- END DATE: Mon, June 29 2020 9:58 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $20 + S/H for the PDF and physical books
- NOTE: An interview with the creators is coming soon
“Alice Is Missing is a unique kind of roleplaying game in which players only communicate using their phones, sending text messages to each other as they unearth clues about what happened to Alice. The game is played live and without verbal communication. Players inhabit their character for the entirety of the 90-minute play session, and instead of speaking, send text messages back and forth to the other characters in a group chat, as well as individually, as though they aren’t in the same place together. Haunting beautiful, deeply personal, and highly innovative Alice is Missing puts a strong focus on the emotional engagement between players, immersing them in a tense, dramatic mystery that unfolds organically through the text messages they send to one another. Right at home with games like Life Is Strange, Gone Home, Oxenfree, and Firewatch, it’s designed to feel as much like an event-style experience as it does a role-playing game.”
- END DATE: Thu, July 2 2020 3:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): KULT: Divinity Lost
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: SEK 1,150 + S/H for three books in PDF and print as well a deck of cards in PDF and print
- NOTE: At High Level Games, I interview Mitch Wallace of Helmgast about the game
“Two new books and two new game aids to KULT: Divinity Lost - the ENnie award-winning and critically acclaimed tabletop horror RPG. In KULT: Divinity Lost, the world around us is a lie. Mankind is trapped in an Illusion. We do not see the great citadels of Metropolis towering over our highest skyscrapers. We do not hear the screams from the cellar where hidden stairs take us to Inferno. We do not smell the blood and burnt flesh from those sacrificed to long forgotten Gods. But some of us see glimpses from beyond the veil. With this Kickstarter, Helmgast is excited to present two new source books for the ENnie award winning game KULT: Divinity Lost, along with two new gaming aids, all to support the Gamemaster before and during play. Beyond Darkness and Madness is a book that serves as a tool for the Gamemaster in creating scenarios, locations, characters and building a horror atmosphere. Screams and Whispers is a scenario collection featuring six scenarios, which a Gamemaster can pick up and play with minimum preparation. Labyrinths and Secret Chambers is a set with maps and floor plans that a Gamemaster can use to quickly set scenes in play or prepare interesting locations during the downtime phase. Weapon Deck is a deck with 55 reference cards for weapons and gear that can be given to the players for easy reference.”
- END DATE: Wed, July 1 2020 11:00 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $20 for the PDF, ePub, and POD versions of the book
“A book of drop-in villainous lairs and dynamic combat encounters for your Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons games. The best 5e fantasy roleplaying games are often the most unpredictable. When the plans of the Gamemaster meet the actions of the characters, the incredible creative energy that results can spin encounters off in different directions, creating a largely spontaneous campaign story that keeps the GM and the players alike on the edge of their seats. But when it comes to the climactic boss battle encounters that cap off single adventures or entire campaigns, it’s often much harder for GMs to work things out on the fly. Fantastic Lairs is a book of capstone lair encounters for your 5e fantasy RPG, designed to inspire and fit into your own campaign. Each fantastic lair includes evocative artwork, a beautiful full-color map, and a well-designed and playtested boss encounter for characters of various levels.”
- END DATE: Tue, June 30 2020 12:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £36 + S/H for the PDF and physical rulebook
- NOTE: An interview with the creator is coming soon
- NOTE TWO: Try before you buy with the free BEOWULF: The Hermit's Sanctuary adventure at DriveThruRPG
“One of the oldest recorded stories in Western Europe, Beowulf is an epic tale of hero against monster. And the monster’s mother. And then a dragon. BEOWULF: Age of Heroes is a setting and rules set for 5th Edition, designed primarily for duet play – one GM and one player. BEOWULF presents a host of new and specially adapted rules to create epic and thematic adventures for your lone hero and his or her companions. Explore a mythic migration-era Europe and beyond, solve mysteries, and do battle with dreadful monsters! BEOWULF will be hardcover, in full colour. It will be chock full of great art from Jon Hodgson, Scott Purdy and a handpicked team of artists. Graphic design and layout is by Paul Bourne (The One Ring, Adventures in Middle-earth). We will have Anglo-Saxon style poetry from our friendly poets John Freeman and Dave Oliver, and excerpts from the Beowulf poem throughout. It will detail the setting of Beowulf, and a host of new rules to facilitate duet play in 5th Edition by the Beowulf development team - Jon Hodgson, Jacob Rodgers and David Rea.”
- END DATE: Thu, July 2 2020 8:00 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £20 + S/H for the PDFs and hardcover
“A D&D book with 160 pages of fantasy adventures, new monsters, and magical items compatible with Dungeons & Dragons (Dnd) fifth edition. Rise of the Ice Dragons Trilogy consists of three exciting adventures for the fifth edition of the world’s largest roleplaying game. You get the following adventures and compendium: The Frozen Labyrinth, The Quest for the Last Orbstone, Enter Drakenberg Castle, [and] The Ice and Magic Compendium. Rise of the Ice Dragons Trilogy is a series of three adventures for characters levels 7-9. (The adventures will include scalable encounters for tier 1-4 and can now be played by any characters level 1-20). The adventures can be played as a sequel to Secrets of the Drow, but can also be played separately and are easily adaptable to any campaign. The Ice and Magic Compendium will contain new monsters.”
- END DATE: Thu, July 2 2020 2:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $50 for the PDF, POD, and print versions of the book
- NOTE: At High Level Games, I interviewed Steffie De Vaan about the first campaign for this RPG. Michael Jacobson did a review of the game. I’ll share a follow up interview with Steffie soon
“Drawn from The Realm and Legendlore comics, the Legendlore RPG will whisk characters from our world to a magical fantasy realm filled with dragons, orcs, unicorns, and hobgoblins. With over 60 comics published covering three volume runs, The Realm and Legendlore combined became one of Caliber Comics' most critically acclaimed series. In the Legendlore RPG, players can choose to play as themselves or create a new character employing the 5th Edition Fantasy Rules System. You cross into the Realm, where you become a hairfoot Bard, or maybe an elven Sorcerer. You can change any characteristics you like. For example if you have hay fever and glasses, you choose if your Legendlore self keeps or drops those. Your identity might not always match your outward physique, but your Legendlore character does. We've also updated the 1980s setting so Realmborn characters represent all ethnicities, genders, and sexualities. No one in the Realm will bat an eyelash at your agender panromantic self.”
- END DATE: Wed, July 1 2020 11:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $58 + S/H for three books in PDF and print plus the quick reference screen
- NOTE: Try before you buy with the PWYW Maximum Apocalypse RPG Quickstart at DriveThruRPG
“Maximum Apocalypse: The Roleplaying Game is based on the acclaimed board game series of the same name. In Maximum Apocalypse: RPG, players take on the roles of survivors of one of many apocalypses, adventuring across the ravaged wasteland attempting to survive the many dangers that lurk around every corner. In order to survive, you will need to scavenge and craft new items while also scrounging for food and fighting off everything from zombies to an alien invasion. Survival is not guaranteed; there are a multitude of ways to encounter death. Alien Invaders harvest survivors for organic components; Robots seek a utopia free from humans, and Zombies are insatiable stalkers. Maximum Apocalypse: the Roleplaying Game combat is a savage and brutal exchange of attacks against overwhelming odds.”
Modern Mythos and Machine from J.E. Shields
- END DATE: Tue, June 23 2020 6:00 PM EDT.
- PROJECT TYPE: Stock art
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $95 for “every illustration for every genre PLUS the Photoshop vector files”
- NOTE: An interview with the artist is coming soon
“A Mix-N-Match stock art project of Modern, Sci-Fi, and Lovecraft themes. This project will be a collection of 75 to 100 stock illustrations with a Modern, Sci-Fi, or Lovecraft theme. There will be a total of SEVEN categories of artwork. ONE font for each of the Modern, Sci-Fi, and Lovecraft Themes. THREE vertical full page illustrations designed to also be usable as cover art. Each illustration will be divided into foreground, middle, and background images. FIVE images of various modes of transportation. These will include up to 3 variants each with a minimum of 12 total variants. SEVEN half page illustrations of action or display of skill. Like the full page art, these will be broken into foreground, middle, and background images. Each image will include up to 3 variants with a minimum of 15 total variants. NINE images of various effects such as explosions, weather, gunshots, and more. These will be accompanied by an appropriate text effect such as: BOOM, ZAP, CRACK, etc. ELEVEN characters and creatures posed to be used in a scene. Each of these will include up to 3 variants with a minimum of 24 total characters or creatures. THIRTEEN illustrations of various items and equipment. These also will have up to 3 variants each with a minimum of 27 total variations. As usual with most of my projects, illustrations will be chosen from submitted ideas. These ideas will be curated and voted upon to determine the actual contents of this project.”
RPG Quick Hits
The Savage Sign 02 from Sigil Entertainment Group
- END DATE: Tue, June 30 2020 11:45 PM EDT.
- “A licensed Savage Worlds publication containing new Creature Features, Fiction, Savage Tales, Savage Settings, Maps, and more!”
- END DATE: Thu, July 2 2020 11:01 AM EDT.
- “A 0-level funnel adventure compatible with Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG.”
- END DATE: Tue, June 23 2020
- NOTE: For those concerned about coverage of a project from Frog God Games, I’m linking the Joint Statement of BJ Hensley and Frog God Games
- “A holiday-themed RPG adventure for 5e, Pathfinder, and Swords & Wizardry.”
- END DATE: Sat, June 27 2020 2:02 PM EDT.
- NOTE: For those concerned about coverage of a project from Frog God Games, I’m linking the Joint Statement of BJ Hensley and Frog God Games
Egg Embry participates in the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program and is an Amazon Associate. These programs provide advertising fees by linking to DriveThruRPG and Amazon.
