RPG Crowdfunding News – Amethyst, Black God's Kiss, Eldritch, and more

This week I look at RPG crowdfunding projects that end between September 20th and October 3rd. Lot’s of 5e and related systems this week, each offering great ideas and production values.

Amethyst (5E) - Magic & Technology Collide (Collection) from Dias Ex Machina Games

• END DATE: Thu, September 29 2022 11:59 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: CA$75 for the all of the PDFs
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Each week I pick a lead for this round up. This week was an easy selection as I use Dias Ex Machina Games’ UltraModern5 in one of my campaigns. The quality of that book is outstanding, it provides everything you need for 5e set in the here and now. Beyond UltraModern, Dias Ex Machina Games has several other settings including Amethyst (5E). This campaign offers a new sourcebook for the Amethyst setting in which our world was invaded by magic and monsters. Post crossover, humanity dwells in the last technological cities as the monsters of fantasy roam the wider world. This setting sees magic combating science with a world much like our own hanging in the balance. If you need a mix of today, magic, and the post-apocalypse, this is worth a look.

Bullets & Bleedthroughs - Books of Before & Now - A 5E RPG from Outland Entertainment

• END DATE: Tue, September 20 2022 10:58 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $28 for the PDF and POD options for the book
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This project is 230 pages of 5e sci-fi weird west. You play one of the people that survived the Before, living in a post-apocalypse comprised of strange ingredients. Searching for bleedthroughs that let you steal tech and food from the Before, your characters strive to survive in a world that's moved on. While this world feels like The Dark Tower meets Mad Max, the RPG is based on Jason Fischer's Papa Lucy & The Boneman from the Books of Before and Now series published by Outland Entertainment. If you’re looking for something Stephen King meets George Miller, this may be for you.

Micro Dungeons: Anniversary Edition from ND Hobbies

• END DATE: Tue, September 20 2022 3:05 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Adventures
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: MX$40 for three PDFs
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? After a year of Micro Dungeons released via Kickstarter, ND Hobbies has a print book compiling all of the prior dungeons. With over 50 dungeons and 120 monsters plus scalable options, you’ll get a lot of combats from this book. In addition, they’re offering more Micro Dungeon books including one themed around dragons and another for wizards, each featuring their lairs. If you need encounters and monsters for your 5e campaign, this will fit the bill.

Tome of Quests: Volume One from Pacesetter Games & Simulations

• END DATE: Thu, September 22 2022 1:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition and BX
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $45 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book for the system of your choice
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Keeping with the theme of 5e adventures returning to print, Pacesetter dug into their vault to refresh five of their original adventures, each redone for 5e and BX. Designed to stand alone or weave together to make a greater tale, these adventures feature refined encounters designed for 1st to 7th level characters. If you’re interested, you get to pick your system and play the encounters that speak to you.

Eldritch: The Book of Madness - Deluxe Edition from BlackVault

• END DATE: Sun, September 25 2022 5:00 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 book adds new, dark concepts to your 5e game. Offering rules for madness and addictions that the characters will pick up as they encounter profane monsters, spells, and dread lords, this book is over 300 pages of rules governing the dark side of facing fantastic beasts. If you need to institute dread into your 5e campaign, this project provides the necessities.

Black God's Kiss RPG Box Set from Blazing Worlds

• END DATE: Thu, September 29 2022 9:56 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition and Old-School Essentials
• PROJECT TYPE: Boxed set
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $89 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the boxed set, its books, maps, dice, and minis
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Your characters will face the Black God and worse in this dark corner of the universe. While this may appear to be another project that offers 5e or the OSR system, OSE, plus rules for losing humanity and surviving an eldritch pocket dimension, it has a pedigree. Inspired by C.L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry, this project licensed the character, bringing her world to the setting and reissuing her fiction. The books are for both 5e and OSE. As well, there’s a standalone game for two players. If you’re interested in a horrific fantasy journey inspired and reprinting some of the earliest female sword and sorcery, check out the campaign page.

Rultmoork ~ Duality for DnD 5E from AAW Games

• END DATE: Thu, September 29 2022 11:47 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Adventure module
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $129 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the boxed set, dice, tokens, and more
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? At Gen Con 2022, I spoke to Jonathan G Nelson and Endzeitgeist about this project. It is an epic adventure for levels 5 to 7 with difficult battles ahead; you’re hired to investigate a spire and its waterclock, but beware the cults of this stagnant land. If these creators and this concept intrigues you, check out the campaign page for a free preview download.

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Nebula Chaos from Polyhedra Games

• END DATE: Wed, September 28 2022 9:19 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Polyhedra Core Engine system
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $10 for the PDF
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? From the creator of Justice Velocity, Nebula Chaos brings over the top, pedal to the metal sci-fi action to the gaming table. A space opera that pulls from all of the action of Star Wars, Firefly, Mass Effect, Halo, Futurama, Dune, and so many more; if a laser was involved, Nebula Chaos can recreate the moment. I reviewed Justice Velocity and, since this project uses the same engine, I can say that if you need sci-fi action at your gaming table, this is a fast system that offers combat and stunts for days.

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Dungeon Delver's Guide: A Sourcebook for D&D 5E and A5E from EN Publishing

• END DATE: Mon, October 3 2022 6:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition and Level Up: Advanced 5E
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £50 + £14 S/H to the US for the PDF and print versions of the sourcebook
• DISCLAIMER: EN World is a subsidiary of EN Publishing
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Last week, I talked about this project from Morrus and team. It’s worth repeating, Level Up: Advanced 5E is one of those systems that scratches an itch for players looking for more crunch in their fantasy RPGs. If you’re interested in checking it out, this campaign offers a new sourcebook and a chance to catch up on the core books.

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[Mannahnin]

I like the mix of horror and swords and sorcery mixed with OSE rules and fiction in Black God's Kiss. And the art is out of this world. I really like the art and setting of Nebula Chaos. Along with all the space opera action. Both on opposite extremes but both obviously created with a lot of passion for the source material and end product. Kickstarter is worth navigating to find gems like these.

Yes, this one is extremely tempting to me. Might have to back it.

I dig them as well. Black God's Kiss makes me want to read C.L. Moore's work!

Black God's Kiss looks really compelling -- the short story was already going to be my next audiobook listen -- but I might hold off until, perhaps, the 5E-only version is available in PDF after the campaign fulfills to backers.

I finally read the story recently and can attest it's a good one. I bought an old paperback collection by C. L. Moore at The Last Bookstore when I was in L.A. in March because of it.

Oh my god someone made an adventure book for Basic/Expert D&D?

That's the other one tempting me in this bunch.

 

[Charles Dunwoody]

Oh my god someone made an adventure book for Basic/Expert D&D?

A lot of adventures and other support is being made for Basic/Expert D&D with Old-School Essentials being a big part of that. Basic D&D is alive and well and getting lots of support. 618 items on DriveThruRPG, 49 kickstarters, 5 pages on Exalted Funeral, Frog God, and now Bloat Games are just a small number of companies supporting OSE/Basic D&D.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

A lot of adventures and other support is being made for Basic/Expert D&D with Old-School Essentials being a big part of that. Basic D&D is alive and well and getting lots of support. 618 items on DriveThruRPG, 49 kickstarters, 5 pages on Exalted Funeral, Frog God, and now Bloat Games are just a small number of companies supporting OSE/Basic D&D.

Any time someone bemoans "having" to play 5E, I shake my head. More content is made for TSR-era D&D editions each year than TSR did during their entire history. Grab your preferred version and go nuts, people.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Jumping the gun here, since I'm sure it'll be featured in a future crowdfunding round-up post, but this new Skerples book looks like an insanely useful must-have for fantasy GMs.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gmdk/the-monster-overhaul?ref=profile_saved_projects_live

I actually was raving about that on another thread. I love, love, love the utility of that book as a DM. If I were DMing OSR games right now, I'd be on that like a shot.

I have Skerples' Magical Industrial Revolution book and it is amazing -- the city book for any DM who ever wanted to run an Ankh-Morpork campaign or a heavily magical game.

 

[Charles Dunwoody]

Any time someone bemoans "having" to play 5E, I shake my head. More content is made for TSR-era D&D editions each year than TSR did during their entire history. Grab your preferred version and go nuts, people.

True and I happen to have a great game group that understands if I'm GMing I pick the RPG and they only say no if they really aren't into that game. But I think some people can't find a group like that or are trying to start a new group. It might be more difficult to find three or four people into the same RPG you are if they don't already know you. and you live somewhere smaller in population.

 

[Charles Dunwoody]

I actually was raving about that on another thread. I love, love, love the utility of that book as a DM. If I were DMing OSR games right now, I'd be on that like a shot.

I have Skerples' Magical Industrial Revolution book and it is amazing -- the city book for any DM who ever wanted to run an Ankh-Morpork campaign or a heavily magical game.

Thanks for the heads up. That book looks amazing.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

True and I happen to have a great game group that understands if I'm GMing I pick the RPG and they only say no if they really aren't into that game. But I think some people can't find a group like that or are trying to start a new group. It might be more difficult to find three or four people into the same RPG you are if they don't already know you. and you live somewhere smaller in population.

We are also in the golden age of gaming online. There are armies of people standing by wanting someone to DM a Rules Compendium game for them, for instance. It's not the same as playing in person, but it's also better than not playing at all.

 

[Mannahnin]

Just pulled the trigger on Black God's Kiss and The Monster Overhaul, both in physical and PDF.

They just look too good to miss.

 

[beta-ray]

Hmn first time hearing about Amethyst, but the description interests me. Anyone here familiar/play with it?

 

[LuisCarlos17f]

Amethyst is an "old veteran", from the times of 3rd Ed when d20 became an open licence. It is about high-tech meets magic, and relations between both is not good.