RPG Crowdfunding News – Misspent Youth, Ultimate Treasury, Emerald Templars, and more

This week, I look at RPG crowdfunding projects that end between April 29th and May 22nd. Some cool rebellious projects, some 5e offerings, an RPG zine, and some dice.

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Misspent Youth: Fall in Love, Not in Line from Fragging Unicorn Games

END DATE: Thu, May 19 2022 8:01 AM EDT.
SYSTEM(S): An original system
PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $35 + S/H for the PDFs of the original two Misspent Youth books plus the PDF and print version of the new book
ADDITIONAL REPORTING: In 2020, when Misspent Youth creator, Robert Bohl, left RPGs, I talked to him about his game and exit (here)
WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? In a dystopian future with hints of cyberpunk, you play Youthful Offenders fighting against the system. This is an RPG of over-the-top rebellion against those in power. This sourcebook, the first from Fragging Unicorn Games after taking over the product, offers a new Misspent Youth experience. Intended to get players rebelling against the system quickly, the rules are revised and streamlined in the new book. Open the book and pick a chapter because each one has a campaign setting, an Authority (the GM), Youthful Offenders for you to play, and a pilot episode. This gets you into the game quickly. If you’re looking for an RPG about rebelling against an authoritarian society, this is worth your consideration.

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Ultimate Treasury: 1001 DnD 5E treasures, monsters, & magic from Legendary Games

END DATE: Thu, May 19 2022 9:00 PM EDT.
SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $25 for the PDF of the book
WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Legendary Games presents an encyclopedia of 5e treasures. Magic items, potions, spellbooks, and every type of reward between, this book includes all of those and an assortment of monsters to guard these rare finds. In addition, the campaign includes legendary loot cards to make passing out loot its own adventure. If you need a tome spilling over with 5e loot, this is worth checking out. Plus, the campaign page offers a link to a free sample PDF to give you an idea of what you’ll get with the book.

Emerald Templars from The Geek Lyfe

END DATE: Fri, May 20 2022 10:38 AM EDT.
SYSTEM(S): An original system
PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
OST POPULAR PLEDGE: $90 + $5 S/H in the US for the PDF, POD, and print version of the book plus the emerald dice set
WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? In a world where chaotic magic threatens everyone, you are the only line of defense, you are the Emerald Templars. The Emerald Templars are a force like the Night’s Watch of Game of Thrones or the Witchers of their stories; a job you’re condemned to, but an important job all the same. In this RPG, you’ll face chaos using an original d100 system and random tables to keep the world chaotic. If you need a new fantasy option with a unique system in which chaos drives the story, check out this campaign page.

Children Of UMA from John McGuire of 3,2,1...Action!

END DATE: Thu, May 19 2022 10:00 AM EDT.
SYSTEM(S): 3,2,1...Action! System
PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook, setting book, and adventure
MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $20 + $8 S/H in the US for the PDF and print versions of the system rulebook, the setting book, and an adventure
WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? In the style of those ‘70s and ‘80s post-apocalypse films many of us watched growing up, this RPG lets you play the survivors, the good natured heroes of the apocalypse. Children of UMA comes as a rule book, a setting book that’s over 100 pages long, and an adventure. In other words, this gives you everything you need to rule in the apocalypse! Using electric vehicles amid the dust bowl, you’ll play as orphan members of The Hellsings, a warrior group beating back the darkness. If riding through the apocalypseO sounds like a blast, check out the campaign page for a link to the rule system.

HEREAFTER | 5e from Sigil Entertainment Group

END DATE: Fri, April 29 2022 11:59 PM EDT.
SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
PROJECT TYPE: Adventure module
MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $25 for the PDFs and the digital token pack
WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Unexpected TPK ruined your 5e campaign? What if there were a solution to that? This book offers an adventure for your characters to traverse after they die. Designed for 6th level characters, though there are rules that can move the adventure from 1st to 10th level, this 64-page adventure and setting sourcebook gives you the tools to redirect a TPK from a campaign ender to another level of adventure. This one ends soon, but I couldn’t let it slip by without shining a spotlight on it; if the idea of a safety net in case of TPK speaks to you, check out the campaign page for a preview.

To Change from usducktape

END DATE: 5/22/2022, 1:00:00 PM
SYSTEM(S): An original system
PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $28 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the rule book and the Tarot deck
NOTE: This campaign is running on GameFound
WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is a rules lite RPG that uses a 22-card Tarot deck, only drawing from the major arcana. Setting agnostic, this is a ruleset meant to focus on easy character creation and change. This system is for a game where you go through change, enjoying different experiences from start to end. If you like the idea of Tarot mechanics, a GameFound crowdfunding campaign, and want to see change, check out their page.

Ascoleth: The Last Great City from MonkeyBlood Design & Publishing and Rabid Halfling Press

END DATE: Sun, May 8 2022 7:00 AM EDT.
SYSTEM(S): System neutral
PROJECT TYPE: RPG zine
MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £17 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the zine
WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Need some help creating a weird science-fantasy city for your campaign? Glynn Seal has a 28-page toolkit to bring that type of metropolis to life. Expect random tables, prompts, and other low prep options to make this zine a great GM resource. If you need to make a science-fantasy city and are in the market for a toolkit to make it shine, this zine is worth considering.

1UP-Dice II: The Revenge from Infinite Black

END DATE: Thu, May 12 2022 9:30 PM EDT.
PROJECT TYPE: Dice
MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $27 + S/H for the 11 die set, the box/tray, a d2 coin, and a mini adventure
WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? If you’re in the market for dice inspired by Nintendo games and their cartridges, this Kickstarter is the one you’ll want to check out. Each die has a symbol on its highest number. But the real attraction of this campaign are the dice box/trays. Outside, they look like a Nintendo cartridge held together with magnets. Inside, they feature classic pixel style artwork. They’re very striking. Plus, the Kickstarter offers an exclusive d2 coin. I try not to go nuts for dice, but these are tempting me. Beware! Once you go to the campaign page, you may want a set as well!

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In Our Dreams Awake #1: A Cyberpunk/Fantasy Adventure from John McGuire and Egg Embry

END DATE: Fri, April 29 2022 11:00 AM EDT.
PROJECT TYPE: Comic book
DISCLAIMER: I co-wrote this comic
NOTE: In Our Dreams Awake’s John McGuire is not Children Of UMA’s John “Hambone” McGuire
WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? “My” John McGuire and I wrote a dreampunk comic book in which Jason Byron does not know when he’s awake and when he’s asleep. Featuring artwork by Edgar Salazar, artist of many Stranger Things comics, Rolands Kalniņš, who has a natural cyberpunk art style that elevates my story, and a variant cover by Sean Hill, this story combines cyberpunk, fantasy, and mystery as the main character tries to work out the truth of his situation. On the campaign page, we have a number of glowing reviews, but I’m going to close out with Zak Webber’s summary of the central character motivation of this tale: "In the Taoist tradition of the Zhuangzi - in which a man wakes from a dream in which he was a butterfly with no knowledge of being human; a dream so vivid that he is uncertain if he is a man dreaming he is a butterfly or a butterfly dreaming he is a man - Jason Byron is a mystery to himself."

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.