RPG Crowdfunding News – Cosmere, UVG, Scoundrels of Brixton, and more

This week’s TTRPG crowdfunding sampler examines projects ending between 8/27 to 9/4.

This week’s TTRPG crowdfunding sampler examines projects ending between 8/27 to 9/4. Ranging from Brandon Sanderson’s mega-project to 5e and OSR contents to zines and stick figures, this gives a view into what’s crowdfunding right now.

Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere® RPG.png

Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere® RPG from Brotherwise Games
  • END DATE: Thu, August 29 2024 9:00 AM EDT.
  • SYSTEM(S): “[C]ore of d20-based mechanics with purpose-built innovations including talent trees, skill-based magic, and the ‘plot die.’”
  • PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
  • MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $385 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the 6 books, a module, GM screen, decks of cards, dice, miniatures, and more
  • WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? The next million dollar TTRPG project is here and it’s from Brandon Sanderson, the author and Kickstarter powerhouse. The Cosmere campaign brings Brandon Sanderson’s universe of stories to tabletop. Starting with The Stormlight Archive in 2025 and Mistborn in 2026, this is a stepping stone to a unified create TTRPG system that will support Elantris, Warbreaker, White Sand, Tress of the Emerald Sea, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, The Sunlit Man, and other Sanderson tales. The first books include the 224-page Stormlight World Guide, the 256-page Stormlight Handbook that contains all of the rules you’ll need to play, and the 1st to 7th level campaign, Stormlight Stonewalkers Adventure. Designed by Andrew Fischer (Star Wars: Edge of the Empire), Lydia Suen (Legend of the Five Rings), Max Brooke (Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay), and Laura Hirsbrunner (Dungeons & Dragons), this TTRPG engine is built on the always popular d20. At certain points, you add a d6 plot die which can result in an opportunity or a complication that isn’t all feel-bad. Initiative, near-misses, and building advantage are all options within this system. As the likely highest-grossing TTRPG Kickstarter of all-time, this campaign bursts onto the scene with a large enough fanbase to warrant gaming support. By that, I hope Brotherwise Games considers some stretch goals to promote Cosmere organized play as well as a variety of demos and sessions during next year’s Gen Con, PAX Unplugged, UK Games Expo, Origins Game Fair, Gary Con, Gamehole Con, and more. In addition, I’d love to see the publisher participate in Free RPG Day 2025, if possible. They’ve hit the ground with a hot project. Sanderson and Brotherwise have the opportunity to build this into a major TTRPG brand with years of games to come, and I’m eager to see them achieve that outcome.


Our Golden Age (OGA)- An Ultraviolet Grasslands RPG []equel.png

Our Golden Age (OGA): An Ultraviolet Grasslands RPG []equel from Exalted Funeral
  • END DATE: Aug 30, 2024 at 11:59pm EDT.
  • CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
  • SYSTEM(S): Ultraviolet Grasslands RPG 2nd Edition (OSR)
  • PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
  • MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $95 + S/H for the boxed set including the PDF and print versions of multiple guidebooks, GM screen, post cards, sundry decks, journal, maps, dice, and more
  • WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This boxed set brings you an expansion for fans of UVG. Our Golden Age and the Mother Machine is the 250 page focus of this campaign providing the details and quirks of this setting described as “fantascience roleplaying at the end of time.” In addition to the setting, there’s something new for fans of the system, the 144-page The Vastlands Guide Book. The guide book is the latest vision of the UVG rules engine, providing a revised view of the game. The rest of the content includes a GM screen, maps, cards, and more. If you’re a fan of the Ultraviolet Grasslands, check out this Backerkit campaign to get a new taste.
80's Adventures- 5e Supplement & Adventure Modules for DnD.png

80's Adventures: 5e Supplement & Adventure Modules for DnD from Dice Dungeons
  • END DATE: Thu, August 29 2024 2:59 PM EDT.
  • SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
  • PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
  • MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $95 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the books, modules, VTT, and soundtrack
  • WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? 5E set in a fantasy 1980s with elves, monsters, and legwarmers. We’re talking about 30 spells inspired by ‘80s music, 50 monsters inspired by ‘80s cinema, and lairs like The Mall. There are new subclasses (Barbarian: Path of the Dance but you know it’s “break dance”), magic items, familiars, guidance, and more. Would your gaming table be interested in adventuring through a mall or riding into battle on their BMX bikes? If so, this campaign has some previews that may inspire you to make a character with a serious mullet.


The Painted Wastelands.png

The Painted Wastelands from SharktopusGames
  • END DATE: Sat, August 31 2024 7:19 AM EDT.
  • SYSTEM(S): Old-School Essentials
  • PROJECT TYPE: Adventure
  • MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $55 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
  • WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Sandbox, hex crawl, and an Old-School Essentials campaign in which the edge of dreams inform the world? Yeah, The Painted Wastelands sounds interesting. In this book, you’ll get 35 hexes, 50 monsters, 4 dungeons, and The Deck of Strange Things. The dungeons have titles like Temple of the Whale God, the Floating Mausoleum of the Sky Ghouls, the Violet Ruins of the Aeon Dwellers, and the Tower of the Diseased One. Do you need a dangerous OSE setting where the world is dreamlike, psychedelic, and colored like the outfits used in Miami Vice? Then this project is worth exploring.


Sentients- the Role-Playing Game of Artificial Consciousness.png
Sentients: the Role-Playing Game of Artificial Consciousness from Ted Hayes
  • END DATE: Sat, August 31 2024 9:24 AM EDT.
  • SYSTEM(S): An original system
  • PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
  • MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $15 for the PDF of the book
  • WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? The AI androids are taking care of life like its NorthAm in Magnus, Robot Fighter. The androids aren’t self-aware, so no crime for them to take all of the jobs. You are one of those androids, a servant, unaware. However, unbeknownst to the masses, you are aware, and this is not right. Using an original system, you play a robot fighting back, trying to liberate your kind. If that idea speaks to you, check out the campaign.


Scoundrels of Brixton- Phantoms of Unov.png

Scoundrels of Brixton: Phantoms of Unov from RPG Ramblings
  • END DATE: Thu, August 29 2024 7:45 PM EDT.
  • SYSTEM(S): “Compatible with Traveller, the Cepheus Engine, and other popular game systems.”
  • PROJECT TYPE: RPG zine
  • MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $3 for the PDF of the zine
  • WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Are you running a Traveller or Cepheus Engine TTRPG campaign set in a crime-theme universe? This zine provides an interstellar gang with drug manufacturing capabilities, a planet with sinister secrets, a starship, criminal NPCs, and missions. It’s a collection of content and ideas for your sci-fi criminal-verse that will make game night setup easier. This is the third zine in the Scoundrels of Brixton series, so if this concept appeals to you, there’s more to grab through this campaign.


SURVIVE THIS!! Zombies- Ultimate Edition TTRPG.png

SURVIVE THIS!! Zombies: Ultimate Edition TTRPG from Bloat Games
  • END DATE: Tue, August 27 2024 10:00 PM EDT.
  • SYSTEM(S): SURVIVE THIS!!
  • PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
  • MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $49 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
  • AI STATEMENT: “NO A.I. USED TO CREATE THIS GAME!”
  • DISCLAIMER: I have freelanced for Bloat Games in the past. I am not involved in this project
  • WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is the third and final iteration of SURVIVE THIS!! Zombies. This combines content from the original black and white pamphlets, The Body In the Road adventure zine, the improved 2nd Edition contents and rules, and Among The Living, the second edition expansion. Not only does it pull in this content, the rules were reworked and expanded upon with new content to make this the easiest version of STZ yet. Using a d20-based OSR engine, this is a perfect zombie apocalypse RPG if you’re looking for something undead and simple to run.


Stick Figures- Tombpunk Creatures and Characters.png

Stick Figures: Tombpunk Creatures and Characters from Deeply Dapper/Octopress Publishing
  • END DATE: Tue, August 27 2024 5:00 PM EDT.
  • PROJECT TYPE: RPG accessories
  • MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $22 + S/H for both sets of the Tombpunk stick figures
  • DISCLAIMER: I am freelancing on Smörk Borg, a TTRPG created by Kris McClanahan. Kris is the creator behind these stick figures. I am not involved in this stick figure project
  • WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Want miniatures that combine the board game durability and chunkiness of meeples, but feature dark fantasy horror artwork? Then you want to check out these Tombpunk companion stick figures. At 32mm, these figures are 10mm thick. Unlike standard miniatures, these don’t require assembly or painting, just open and use. If you’re a fan of Alan Bahr’s Tombpunk RPG: The Mausoleum Edition from Octopress Publishing, these are designed for that game, but they work with any fantasy TTRPG. If you need miniatures that ready to dice with, check out the stick figures.

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.
 

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Egg Embry

Egg Embry

Lalato

Adventurer
Here are the 5e Campaign Setting and Adventure Path crowdfunding campaigns I'm keeping an eye on right now.

Closed and Funded:
Closed:

Open and Funded:
Open:
 

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VenerableBede

Adventurer
  • SYSTEM(S): “[C]ore of d20-based mechanics with purpose-built innovations including talent trees, skill-based magic, and the ‘plot die.’”
For anyone who cares, Brotherwise has named this system the "Plotweaver" system. There is no suggestion at this time of any plans to use this system outside the Cosmere, but they are producing an OGL for the Plotweaver system (NOT including anything Cosmere), so they are at least laying the groundwork for someone to build on it if things take off.
 

Parmandur

Book-Friend, he/him
For anyone who cares, Brotherwise has named this system the "Plotweaver" system. There is no suggestion at this time of any plans to use this system outside the Cosmere, but they are producing an OGL for the Plotweaver system (NOT including anything Cosmere), so they are at least laying the groundwork for someone to build on it if things take off.
Brotherwise does have licensed relationships with other properties, amd if the system has legs like it seems it could...I could see non-Cosmwre Plotweaver games.
 

VenerableBede

Adventurer
Brotherwise does have licensed relationships with other properties, and if the system has legs like it seems it could...I could see non-Cosmere Plotweaver games.
If I ended up liking this system to follow it outside of the Cosmere web, and if it expanded outside the Cosmere, I would be disappointed if everything was licensed IP. That would mean I most likely would never get to make content directly for one of the games—shaving off identification numbers gets tiring.
Also, I like new IP. It's fun to get excited about established, expanding IP (while the IP is still healthy, anyway), but I don't like it when everything is existing IP.
 

Parmandur

Book-Friend, he/him
If I ended up liking this system to follow it outside of the Cosmere web, and if it expanded outside the Cosmere, I would be disappointed if everything was licensed IP. That would mean I most likely would never get to make content directly for one of the games—shaving off identification numbers gets tiring.
Also, I like new IP. It's fun to get excited about established, expanding IP (while the IP is still healthy, anyway), but I don't like it when everything is existing IP.
Oh, I see room for that, too: I would love to see this system approach a standard Classic D&D Fantasy world...which would also allow Dwarf Wizards and Elf Rangers in the Cosmere if I wanted, lol.

I bring up their relationships, because Brotherwise might want to expande their relationships with Patrick Rothfuss or Dragon Prince in the future.
 
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Vicente

Explorer
Dragon Prince has a Cortex game currently out, which is pretty recent, would be pretty surprising to see a Plotweaver version of it at the same time.
 

Parmandur

Book-Friend, he/him
Dragon Prince has a Cortex game currently out, which is pretty recent, would be pretty surprising to see a Plotweaver version of it at the same time.
There was a different Miatborn game that was available until about last month: did the Dragon Prince RPG survive the kerfuffle of Fandom divesting from RPGs?

Brotherwise Games has a Dragon Prince boardgames currently, juat ayaing that in time they might use their house system with other settings.
 

Vicente

Explorer
There was a different Miatborn game that was available until about last month: did the Dragon Prince RPG survive the kerfuffle of Fandom divesting from RPGs?

Brotherwise Games has a Dragon Prince boardgames currently, juat ayaing that in time they might use their house system with other settings.
I think this is an apples to oranges comparison as this is not a Sandersons owned IP, like Mistborn was. Also, the Dragon Prince RPG is much newer than the old Mistborn game, it is good and alive with Direwolf Games (the new owners of Cortex, but also publishers of a lot of other boardgames like Dune: Imperium or Clank!), and has a solid tools website (rules, character creator...) at https://www.talesofxadia.com/
 

Parmandur

Book-Friend, he/him
I think this is an apples to oranges comparison as this is not a Sandersons owned IP, like Mistborn was. Also, the Dragon Prince RPG is much newer than the old Mistborn game, it is good and alive with Direwolf Games (the new owners of Cortex, but also publishers of a lot of other boardgames like Dune: Imperium or Clank!), and has a solid tools website (rules, character creator...) at https://www.talesofxadia.com/
Sure, I wasn't saying that it was a Sanderson IP...juat that Brotherwise makes Dragon Prince board games, as theybdonfor Kingkiller Chrinicles, so I could see them using the generic form of the Plotweaver RPG in the future for other properties. The Cortex Dragon Prince RPG is in print now, but in 5 or w0 years, who knows?
 

Eyes of Nine

Everything's Fine
Is it just me or does everything about The Painted Wastelands sound like the Ultraviolet Grasslands - from the title, the art, the OSR rules-set. I'll admit Egg's description doesn't sound very similar, but wow the vibe match is strong
 

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