This week’s crowdfunding sampler looks at campaigns on Kickstarter and Backerkit that close between August 13 to 26. This list includes the 20th anniversary of The Guild, the 25th anniversary of HackMaster, a new, dense game from Steve Jackson Games, murder mysteries, conventions, and more.
Attending Gen Con this weekend? Many of the publishers behind these projects are in attendance, eager to talk to you about their upcoming projects. Seriously, head over to Kenzer & Co’s booth (1229) to see the HackMaster arena, it’s a miniature battleground worthy of your time.
The Guild: Ren Faire'd from Felicia Day (and Hit Point Press for the TTRPG)
Seven-Part Pact from Steve Jackson Games (Possum Creek)
Children of Time: The Roleplaying Game from Rowan, Rook and Decard
HackMaster 25th Anniversary Edition, a Fantasy RPG from Kenzer & Co
Merryshire Detective Club from Pelgrane Press
The Body in the Mage Tower – Inspired by Frankenstein (5e) from Midnight Tower
Starbreaker: Year Zero Engine from Star Anvil Studios
Further Adventure TTRPG Playtest from Limitless Adventures
CONVENTION CROWDFUNDING
Speaking of Gen Con, let’s look at some other in-person tabletop conventions. On Kickstarter and Backerkit, there are three to peruse. Ranging from Tennessee to California, these shows feature tabletop in-general as well as a Dark Sun-specific convention. If you’re a fan of gaming with new gamers, these options await.
BATSCon 2026 from The Bay Area TRPG Society
See you in two weeks.
Egg Embry does not use AI in any of his writing. He participates in the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, Noble Knight Games’ Affiliate Program, Kobold Press Affiliate Program, and is an Amazon Associate. These programs provide advertising fees by linking to DriveThruRPG, Noble Knight Games, Kobold Press, and Amazon. If you like the articles at EN World please consider supporting the Patreon.
Attending Gen Con this weekend? Many of the publishers behind these projects are in attendance, eager to talk to you about their upcoming projects. Seriously, head over to Kenzer & Co’s booth (1229) to see the HackMaster arena, it’s a miniature battleground worthy of your time.
The Guild: Ren Faire'd from Felicia Day (and Hit Point Press for the TTRPG)
- END DATE: Fri, August 21 2026 11:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons 5.5e
- PROJECT TYPE: Movie plus tabletop gaming options including a TTRPG
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $45 for a digital version of the movie and the TTRPG plus digital extras
- AI STATEMENT: “Human made. No AI.”
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Coming in 2027, celebrate 20 years since the debut of Felicia Day’s web series, The Guild. The 2007 to 2013 series had 70 episodes focused on gamers playing a fictitious MMORPG video game in the vain of the World of Warcraft. In the build up to the anniversary, the creators are running a Backerkit campaign to fund a movie and tabletop games, including a TTRPG in conjunction with Hit Point Press. Beyond that, they’re conducting some events at Gen Con. The 5.5e sourcebook for The Guild bringings the setting to your gaming table. If you’re a D&D and The Guild fan, this Kickstarter is worth a look.
- END DATE: Thu, August 13 2026 5:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $150 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the boxed set
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? You are one of seven wizards living under the rules of a pact. Changing the rules will change you and the game, but at great cost to everyone. You rule a domain of magic, for example, the necromancer and death-related magic, yet others rule equal and counter domains. Each mage gets a full book of setting knowledge and rules. This game is a complex mix of tabletop RPG and board game with turn based requirements as well as roleplaying scenes. Coming from Steve Jackson Games, this is more than a simple game, this is an adventure for players that want to embody a world of new ideas and absolute powers that transform their characters, the setting, and very nature of the game. If you’re looking for a next level gaming concept, this Kickstarter offers the power you seek.
Children of Time: The Roleplaying Game from Rowan, Rook and Decard
- END DATE: Tue, August 11 2026 11:00 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £100 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the Children of Time RPG, Core Book Set as well as The Time Capsule, play aids, and maps
- AI STATEMENT: “This work was made by humans. No AI or Machine Generated works are included in this project. Supporting this project means you are supporting real human beings who have dreams, passions, & bills.”
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Based on the award winning Children of Time novels by Adrian Tchaikovsky, this TTRPG explores the aftermath of a dying Earth. Create a generational ark ship and escape the planet to a terraformed paradise that, unbeknownst to you, has been usurped by evolved creatures introduced from Earth. You’re arriving on a planet that you’ve created to discover an unintended consequence. To deepen the challenge, you can’t go back home. Will there be peace, war, or worse? If you’re a fan of the Children of Time book series, this Kickstarter awaits.
- END DATE: Thu, September 10 2026 5:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): HackMaster 25th Anniversary Edition (XXV)
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $290 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the HackMaster GameMaster's Guide, HackMaster Player's Guide to Adventuring, Hacklopedia of Beasts, Hackmaster Player Character Codex, and the PDFs of HackMaster basic and Any Port in a Storm adventure
- TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: Bundle of Holding offer the early editions HackMaster here
- DISCLAIMER: I freelance for Kenzer & Co’s Knights of the Dinner Table; I am not involved in this project
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? The best in-comic joke that turned into a full-fledged TTRPG ever, HackMaster is back. In 2001, HackMaster pioneered the then-unknown OSR movement with an old school game of violence and adventuring. HackMaster started as the stand-in for D&D (and all fantasy TTRPGs) in Knight of the Dinner Table, but it has grown beyond its baseline joke. This game is perfect for KotDT fans, OSR fans, and gamers that want a little cheek and a lot of violence in their tabletop. If nothing else, please go to the Kickstarter page and check out “Gary Jackson’s Power Dice” graphic to see a black 12-sided d3, black 12-sided d4, black 12-sided d6, a black 8-sided d8, and a black 12-sided d12. Confusing! Determining which of the 12-sided dice is the right one for this roll will be maddening in the best possible way!
Merryshire Detective Club from Pelgrane Press
- END DATE: Aug 22, 2026 at 3:00pm EDT.
- CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
- SYSTEM(S): GUMSHOE
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £80 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the Merryshire Detective Club, The Dreadful Hare, and the map pack
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Build a cozy, fantasy settlement, populate it with halflings, dwarves, pooka, and boggarts, discover a murder, serve tea, and solve the capital crime. This TTRPG offers options to build a town, discover fun characters within it, join a mystery-solving club of friends, and help bring justice to the hamlet. From the minds behind Mutant City Blues, The Dracula Dossier, and GUMSHOE, expect a mystery and the tools to solve it before the murderer strikes again.
The Body in the Mage Tower – Inspired by Frankenstein (5e) from Midnight Tower
- END DATE: Thu, August 13 2026 10:31 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Adventure
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £35 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
- AI STATEMENT: “This book will be made by Tove and Erik, the two nerds behind Midnight Tower.
- The written content and all fantasy art in this book is made by 100% humans.”
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? How about a murder mystery adventure? Not a cozy mystery, but grim one for 5e, inspired by Frankenstein. The team at Midnight Tower return with another adventure, this one built on the bones of Mary Shelley’s classic. This 80-page adventure includes digital handouts, maps, and VTT tokens. If you want a 5e mystery based on a well-loved novel, try out this Kickstarter.
- END DATE: Aug 22, 2026 at 1:00am EDT.
- CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
- SYSTEM(S): Year Zero Engine
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $60 for the PDF versions of the items plus POD discount coupons for print versions: Starbreaker Zero, adventure pack, maps, multiple sets of cards, and figure flats
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? The universe is a desperate place full of outlaws. The ruling worlds are in decline after a galaxy-wide war and criminals are in-charge. Rip and run as you steal to survive or fight for a share of galactic justice. Using a version of the Year Zero Engine as seen in Blade Runner and Twilight 2000 by Free League Publishing, this game brings the setting from Savage Worlds to Free League’s multi-award winning TTRPG engine. If you love Starbreaker or want a different sci-fi YZE RPG, this Backerkit deserves a look.
Further Adventure TTRPG Playtest from Limitless Adventures
- END DATE: Fri, August 21 2026 8:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $20 for the Further Adventure quickstart rules PDF, character sheet PDF, Expanded Road to Ruan adventure module PDF
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Creators offer new fantasy TTRPG systems from time-to-time. Limitless Adventures is offering the playtest PDFs of their new venture so you can get in on the ground floor, see what they’ve come up with, and offer feedback. If you want to help shape an indy RPG, this Kickstarter is a gateway to providing your feedback. Also, if you’re at Gen Con, check out their booth to learn more about the game.
CONVENTION CROWDFUNDING
Speaking of Gen Con, let’s look at some other in-person tabletop conventions. On Kickstarter and Backerkit, there are three to peruse. Ranging from Tennessee to California, these shows feature tabletop in-general as well as a Dark Sun-specific convention. If you’re a fan of gaming with new gamers, these options await.
BATSCon 2026 from The Bay Area TRPG Society
- END DATE: Aug 10, 2026 at 1:00pm EDT.
- CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
- CONVENTION DATE & LOCATION: October 10, 2025 (10:00AM-5:00PM) at the Berkeley Public Library in Berkeley CA
- DAY BADGE PRICE: Free to attendees (the Backerkit campaign pays for this free event)
- END DATE: Tue, August 11 2026 7:10 AM EDT.
- CONVENTION DATES & LOCATION: January 29 to 31, 2027 at Louisville Marriott East Hotel in Louisville, KY
- WEEKEND BADGE PRICE: $55
- END DATE: Sat, August 15 2026 6:07 PM EDT.
- CONVENTION DATES & LOCATION: October 24 to 25, 2026 at the Knoxville Airport Hilton in Knoxville, TN
- WEEKEND BADGE PRICE: $75
See you in two weeks.
Egg Embry does not use AI in any of his writing. He participates in the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, Noble Knight Games’ Affiliate Program, Kobold Press Affiliate Program, and is an Amazon Associate. These programs provide advertising fees by linking to DriveThruRPG, Noble Knight Games, Kobold Press, and Amazon. If you like the articles at EN World please consider supporting the Patreon.
