RPG Crowdfunding News – The Ace of Spades, Deadlands Audiobook, We Dig Giant Robots, and more

As we get into the new year, this is the last article of the annual cycle from mid-November through early January where crowdfunding pickings are “slim”. Through over the next 11 months, we’ll see more and more campaigns. For this article, there are a few interesting options including two original RPGs with unique systems plus several adventures, a hex map, and a Deadlands audiobook.

The Ace of Spades: A D&D drop in casino from Greedy Gorgon Press

• END DATE: Sat, January 18 2025 6:00 PM EST.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £8 for the PDF adventure, digital maps, and VTT tokens
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This crowdfunding offers a 50-page casino setting for your fantasy-with-modern-entertainment campaign. This book is a third-party adventure setting, in this case a casino; the location is not related to Wizard of the Coast’s recent deal with Games Global (covered by ICv2 and discussed in EN World’s forums). Within the pages are 10 dice games, drinks, NPCs to game and party with, and a heist adventure. Come to game, stay for a concert from Elfish Presley, Mage against the Machine, The Rolling Stone Giants, and other bardish talents. Want to scope out this casino for a heist? The campaign page has a link to a free 4-page preview that includes “The Ace of Spades: I cast Liarball!” If you want to add a casino to your 5e games, The Ace of Spades may be a gamble worth taking.

Audiobook of Deadlands for Savage Worlds from World's Largest RPGs

• END DATE: Jan 17, 2025 at 1:00pm EST.
• CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
• SYSTEM(S): Deadlands (Savage Worlds Adventure Edition)
• PROJECT TYPE: Audiobook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $23 for the audiobook
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? A Deadlands audiobook from World’s Largest RPG? That’s the right way to start out 2025. This audiobook is not a piece of adventure fiction, but a sourcebook for your Deadlands games that focuses on the setting, giving you another options when looking for a way to read and prep for your next Deadlands gaming session or campaign. Officially licensed, this MP3 provides professionally narrated text for fans of the setting. If you want to know what this book will sound like, check out the Backerkit campaign page to get a sample and decide if this audiobook is for you.

We Dig Giant Robots: A Rockin Mecha One-Shot RPG from Friendly Neighborhood Game

• END DATE: Thu, January 16 2025 6:37 PM EST.
• SYSTEM(S): An original system “inspired by Mike Pondsmith's amazing Teenagers From Outer Space and Ryo Kamiya's Maid RPG”
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $20 for the PDF version of the rules and a POD discount coupon
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This project turns giant mechs into an RPG inspired by Megas XLR and systems like Teenagers From Outer Space and Maid RPG. This is an RPG designed for single sessions and short campaigns, moreso, it’s a game for gamers that want to party during their gaming sessions. The tone is action comedy party plus giant monsters and mechs with flame decals. Considering how few campaigns were running during the 2024 holiday season, it’s ambitious to launch a full RPG. While the amount of funds raised so far isn’t staggering, this game is finding an audience. If you want a giant mech RPG with plenty of d66 random charts to help flesh out the session, this may be the right one for your gaming table.

Dystopian Dawn "Cowboys & Mutants!" from Fractured Brain Studios

• END DATE: Jan 17, 2025 at 6:00pm EST.
• CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
• SYSTEM(S): Dystopian Dawn
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $25 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the game
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This Backerkit campaign funds the creation of a 100-page Dystopian Dawn sourcebook of Old West post-apocalypse adventures. Dystopian Dawn: Cowboys & Mutants expands on the core game with new setting details, creatures, one-shot and campaign-length adventures, and magic. This setting appears to take inspiration from fantasy, Westerns, and properties such as Fall Out, Deadlands, and Mutant Crawl Classics to create a fallen wasteland that’s ready for your gaming table. In addition, Dystopian Dawn already has multiple books including a Player’s Guide, Game Master’s Guide, and three adventure books. If you’re a fan of Dystopian Dawn, or you love post-apocalyptic Westerns, this campaign is worth a review.

The S.I.M.P.L.E System from Mr. Tarrasque

• END DATE: Jan 16, 2025 at 6:00pm EST.
• CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
• SYSTEM(S): The S.I.M.P.L.E System
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: €5 for the PDF of the rules
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? The idea behind this project is in the title, a simpler TTRPG system. The rules offer a simulation-lite TTRPG experience. The character sheet explains how you derive each stat in clear, efficient text. The initial version of the game is focused on fantasy rules, however there isn’t a setting, just a ruleset for you to employ. If you’re a fan of original RPG systems, this one offers a clean presentation even in previews. If you want to test out The S.I.M.P.L.E System, head over to the Backerkit campaign page to get a free PDF download of the early version of the ruleset.

Renegade Realms: Raven's Reach (5e / OSR compatible) from Bart Wynants

• END DATE: Wed, January 22 2025 2:00 PM EST.
• PROJECT TYPE: RPG accessory
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: €2 for the PDF of the map
• AI NOTE: “100% A.I. Free”
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This project is an expandable hex map for any fantasy tabletop RPG. With six adventure sites complete with NPCs and inspiration for your fantasy campaign, this project promises a large, economically priced, hand-drawn map. If you’re a fan of hex maps, this one may be right for your campaign.

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[Eyes of Nine]

I actually don't need "simple" systems. I can do a simple system - everyone has a couple of tags for their character, and when we feel like we need a random result, they roll a die and we add a modifier if their tag fits. done, put it on an index card and go. But! Kudos to them for funding, it feels like (anecdotally) that fewer crowdfunds are hitting their minimum these days.

Post Apoc western sounds up my alley though

 

[Lalato]

Another week without a 5e campaign setting or adventure path. Not even one of those heartbreakers destined to fail. I wonder how long this slowdown will last.

 

[mamba]

Another week without a 5e campaign setting or adventure path. Not even one of those heartbreakers destined to fail. I wonder how long this slowdown will last.

Terror from the Underdeep is coming next week, so not much longer

Get Ready for Terror From the Underdeep: A Giant Box of 5E Adventure

From Goodman Games - Get Ready for Terror From the Underdeep: A Giant Box of 5E Adventure

www.backerkit.com

 

[EthanSental]

Yeah, not much of a slow down 3 of 7 in last week thread were 5e so 0 of 6 this week is kind of a slow down but it’s the money maker, it will be used and rightfully so by many creators.

 

[Lalato]

Yeah, not much of a slow down 3 of 7 in last week thread were 5e so 0 of 6 this week is kind of a slow down but it’s the money maker, it will be used and rightfully so by many creators.

To be clear… I’m only referencing campaign settings and adventure paths because I track those and keep a list of them.

Other supplements and one-shot modules I don’t track at all. Egg, as always, does a masterful job of highlighting those.

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Another week without a 5e campaign setting or adventure path. Not even one of those heartbreakers destined to fail. I wonder how long this slowdown will last.

Surely the time of year has something to do with it. Christmas/New Year’s would be a terrible time to launch a crowdfunding campaign.

 

[talien]

I'm still trying to figure out how you can launch a crowdfunding campaign with the words "D&D" in the title.

 

[EthanSental]

Terror from the Underdeep is coming next week, so not much longer

Get Ready for Terror From the Underdeep: A Giant Box of 5E Adventure

From Goodman Games - Get Ready for Terror From the Underdeep: A Giant Box of 5E Adventure

www.backerkit.com

That looks fun, signed up and thanks for the link!

 

[Lalato]

I'm still trying to figure out how you can launch a crowdfunding campaign with the words "D&D" in the title.

Generally speaking I see a lot of "5e" with no reference to "D&D", but perhaps a nod to the "greatest roleplaying game of all time". Less so, I see "5th Edition"... and even more rare is to spell it out fully as "Fifth Edition"