This week I sample RPG crowdfunding projects that end between March 29 to April 13. I’m able to share options from Kickstarter, Backerkit, and Crowdfundr.
The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game from Free League Publishing
.dungeon//remastered from John
"Relive" a nostalgia ttrpg game about reliving memories for 1-4 people from Tavernstories
The Black Ballad from Storytellers Forge Studios
Die Laughing 2: Die Laughinger from NerdBurger Games
The Fury of the Northmen: Digital Edition from Jess Nevins
The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast is Going Hog Wild in 2023!
Tabletop News from WatchTableTop
CinCityCon 2023 Boardgame & RPG Con - Halloween Version
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.
The Walking Dead Universe Roleplaying Game from Free League Publishing
- END DATE: Wed, April 5 2023 9:59 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Year Zero Engine
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: SEK 798 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the core rulebook and starter boxed set
- ADDITIONAL COVERAGE: EN World has an interview coming this week.
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? When this project was announced, it surprised me. At one time, The Walking Dead comic books and TV series were the peak of must read/must see entertainment. Few comics or shows in the modern era have reached their heights of readership/viewership. Picking up this license shows the reach and vision of Free League Publishing. The property retains a massive fanbase, and this project taps into those fans offering options to play in the core AMC series as well as Fear the Walking Dead, Tales of The Walking Dead, the upcoming spin-offs, and everything between. Using the Year Zero Engine, you can play as original characters in the zombie apocalypse or as pre-gens based on some of the most popular TV characters. If you’d like to experience the world of The Walking Dead and tell your own zombie tales, this project is worth checking out for the starter set and/or the core rulebook.
.dungeon//remastered from John
- END DATE: Fri, March 31 2023 1:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Sync
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $50 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is a fantasy/sci-fi concept in which you’re playing a character in a long forgotten MMO. This game is a TTRPG, but it has trappings of a MMO. When you end a session, you’re logging out of a session, yet the MMO goes on between your adventures. You’re completing fantasy searches in the game, but add in glitches and the curiosities of online play. There’s a hint of LitRPG and Sword Art Online in this concept, but mixed with original ideas that make th TTRPG unique. If you’re interested, check out the campaign page for a free copy of the playtest.
"Relive" a nostalgia ttrpg game about reliving memories for 1-4 people from Tavernstories
- END DATE: April 1, 2023 at 3:59 AM
- CROWDFUNDING ON: Crowdfundr
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: €10 for the PDF of the game
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This project is a structured RPG about memories. You start a memory and the next player builds on it. It’s a GM-less project as you round robin ideas, creating a world of memories. Check out the campaign page for a link to get a free preview of the game.
- END DATE: Apr 5, 2023 at 8:00pm PDT.
- CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Adventure
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $80 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book plus additional PDFs and MP3s
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Character deaths happen in RPGs, sometimes they include TPKs, sometimes they’re solo, but they happen. To prolong your characters, there’s this option. This adventure takes place in the afterlife. Your deceased character carries on and has more adventures. Inspired by Diamorte’s music, this book is 300 pages while the campaign offers orchestral tracks to accompany your gameplay. With new mechanics for the next plane of existence, this offers an alternative to putting the character sheet into the morgue.
Die Laughing 2: Die Laughinger from NerdBurger Games
- END DATE: Apr 6, 2023 at 4:00pm PDT.
- CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $12 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the supplement
- DISCLAIMER: I’ve traveled with NerdBurger Games to conventions and ran Die Laughing for them
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is a great slasher horror comedy RPG, one that I’ve had a lot of fun running. You play a character in a slasher movie waiting to be offed. But death doesn’t end your time because you were just a character in the movie, but off-screen you’re the movie’s producer which means you get to influence the movie for the remaining players. That’s right, it’s a slasher movie so love the tropes and when you die, cut the budget. This is rules lite, but it encompasses a lot of good content; you and your players will laugh. This campaign adds new options to the game including more monsters, characters, and options for the producers. Need more information about the core game, I interviewed Craig Campbell about Die Laughing years ago, but it’s still applies as the core mechanics are unchanged.
The Fury of the Northmen: Digital Edition from Jess Nevins
- END DATE: Thu, April 6 2023 10:36 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Adventure
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $100 + S/H for the PDF and POD print versions of both books
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This campaign hopes to bring viking adventures to life with two books. The Player's Guide contains 10 ancestries, 26 classes, over 600 spells, and more. The World Book sets the campaign in viking England, 865-871 A.D. If vikings and 5e interest you, check out the campaign page for the bestiary website.
The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast is Going Hog Wild in 2023!
- END DATE: Fri, April 7 2023 6:00 PM EDT.
- PROJECT TYPE: Tabletop Gaming Podcasts
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $5 so you can do add-ons post-campaign
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This campaign funds four tabletop gaming podcasts. For this column’s purposes, I’m highlighting Lords of the Dungeon since it’s for RPGs. Coming every second Wednesday, this campaign is meant to expand their offerings. If this podcast speaks to you, this campaign offers an opportunity to support their work.
Tabletop News from WatchTableTop
- END DATE: Thu, April 13 2023 4:00 PM EDT.
- PROJECT TYPE: Tabletop gaming news
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $10 for Discord access and add-ons post-campaign
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This project will create a weekly news series dedicated to RPGs and other types of tabletop games. Promising news from the major publishers as well as independent and BIPOC designers, this promises to be a great industry-wide resource. Offering YouTube tabletop gaming news, this campaign hopes to bring hosts like “Becca Scott (Good Time Society, Dimension 20), Carlos Luna (Roll20, Dimension 20), Michelle Nguyen Bradley (Critical Role, New York by Night), Xander Jeanneret (L.A. by Night, Invitation to Party), Katie Wilson (SYFY, Paizo), Surena Marie (Critical Role, Dimension 20), and Nathan Ondracek (TheDaTNetwork).” It’ll be interesting to see their content and approach to delivering RPG news online.
CinCityCon 2023 Boardgame & RPG Con - Halloween Version
- END DATE: Wed, March 29 2023 11:59 PM EDT.
- PROJECT TYPE: Tabletop gaming convention
- DATE & LOCATION: October 27 to 29, 2023 at the Sharonville Convention Center in Cincinnati, Ohio
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $45 for a weekend badge
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? In the run up to Halloween, you can attend CinCityCon in Cincinnati, Ohio. They’ll offer RPGs “including a large amount of Pathfinder and Starfinder Organized play events.” Since it’s a gathering of tabletop fans, there will be plenty of board and card games. As well, they’ll have publishers and local designers there demoing their products. If you’re in the Cincinnati area and looking for some games to play, this is worth checking out.
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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