Welcome back to our weekly look at tabletop roleplaying game, and accessories, crowdfunding roundup! Each week we’ll be looking at a few campaigns currently running that have caught our eye as well as occasionally speaking to some of the creators about their campaigns, or looking at some of the ‘behind the scenes’ business aspects of putting together, launching, operating and then delivering a crowdfunded project. If you have anything you’d like us to cover, or questions about anything we talk about, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or contact me directly.
[h=3]Symbaroum: Karvosti – The Witch Hammer by Jarnringen[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Monday 10th April 2017; 20:00 UTC)
Symbaroum was originally released in Swedish in the summer of 2014 before being translated and released in English in late 2015. Since then the game, and its setting, have been translated into a number of languages (Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese) and has been getting a lot of positive attention. And for good reason.
Karvosti – The Witch Hammer is the second episode in the Chronicle of the Throne of Thorns campaign. A 152 page book in a set of seven making up an epic campaign. The first book, Thistle Hold – Wrath of the Warden was on Kickstarter last summer and is now available to retail.
It is through these campaign and adventure modules that we will keep building the world of Symbaroum, aside from an in-depth introduction to a specific region in Ambria, Davokar or beyond, each book will introduce new optional rules and features: abilities, (monstrous) traits, mystical powers and rituals, creatures, artifacts, elixirs and much more.
Looking at the second episode in particular, it focuses on the cliff of Karvosti – the age-old thingstead of the barbarian High Chieftain, located deep within the forest of Davokar. The module is divided into three sections which may be described as follows:
The Explorer’s Haven – The opening section is meant to be read by both players and Game Masters. It offers an introduction to the cliff of Karvosti, as it is known to visitors in general. This section includes information on a range of topics such as historical events, places to eat and drink, entertainment to be found, the people of power, information about the barbarian clans and their settlements, and so forth.
Game Master Section – The second section is for the Game Master’s eyes only and offers a deep descent beneath the surface. A significant part is devoted to truths and secrets which may be used to produce homebrew adventures or even lengthy campaigns, but the majority of the section introduces new and optional rules – most of which will come to use when playing The Witch Hammer.
The Witch Hammer – The remainder of the book is dedicated to the adventure The Witch Hammer. For the sake of any players reading this we will not go into details, but there is a reason why the text on the back of the book talks about “the most dire and perilous treasure hunt since the days of Symbaroum”.
The below piece of art has been sent to us by the team at Jarnringen as an exclusive reveal. It shows a Templar and a member of the High Chieftain’s Wrath Guard sparring outside the caverns of the Huldra.
[h=3]Arcanis 5E RPG by Henry Lopez[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Saturday 22nd April 2017; 17:00 UTC)
Taking its inspiration more from the Ancient World than the European medieval era. Arcanis was originally published in 2001 as a d20 campaign setting. Arcanis has been a critical and commercial success attracting players with to its grim dark world of epic fantasy and now this award-winning setting is being updated to be fully compatible with the 5th Edition of the worlds most popular fantasy RPG.
The 400+ page book will include:
· 19 New Races and sub-races
· New take on base classes such as Fury (Barbarian), Holy Champion (Paladin), Ranger without spell casting, and introducing Elder and Eldritch Sorcerer Traditions.
· New classes such as the Psion and Shaman.
· 12 new Clerical Aspects and a new take on Domains.
· 13 New Holy Champion (Paladin) Orders.
· Dozens of new Archetypes such as the Tactician (Fighter), the Bard (Rogue), and the Warped ne (Fury)
· Over 50 new Spells
· Skills and Feats including new Combat Schools
· New and unique Psionic system
· New Fame and Renown system for Allegiances and Secret Societies
· New weapons, armor, equipment, magic items and monsters.
The Arcanis Campaign Setting is an immersive world of epic battles, where the most dangerous adversary is not some mythical creature, but your fellow being. It is not a world of stark black and whites, but rather a spectrum of grays where heroes have their flaws and even the most devilish of villains have virtues. This is also reflected in the world’s religious structure where the gods are arranged in Pantheons, being neither inherently good or evil. It is the religions created by mortals that choose what aspects of the gods are worshipped and whether these are good or evil is determined by each cultures’ values.
[h=3]FAITH: The Sci-Fi RPG Core Book and Miniatures by Burning Games[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Thursday 20th April 2017; 10:59 UTC)
FAITH is an ENnie awarding winning game and Burning Games are running a campaign to fund a brand new revised edition along with a series of miniatures for the game.
The FAITH campaign is one of valiant space travelers, remote uncharted stars and bizarre alien technology. But it’s also a realm of mysterious, invisible forces – the Gods and the outlandish, supernatural powers they grant to those mortals who believe in them.
In FAITH, you can be a star explorer, a soldier, a scoundrel or a mystic believer, using a mix of technology, training and god-given powers to survive the untamed regions of wild space against rival factions, alien perils and ruthless bandits.
FAITH's gameplay is card based. This is no gimmick: it's a fully developed and thoroughly tested mechanic where players start each scene with a hand of cards to affect the outcome of every confrontation. The system offers room for nuance and strategy, and players can explore different angles to find the one that better fits their play style.
The Core Book is a comprehensive compendium of the lore and mechanics of FAITH. It is the centerpiece of FAITH, and it will allow you and your friends to play bold adventures in a unique universe.
It's an excellent entry point into the Universe of FAITH and the perfect way to expand your previous adventures if you are a veteran.
The book covers the rules and mechanics of the game, the setting and story of the universe, and everything in between. Beautifully illustrated, it will allow you to dive into a sci-fi setting with political intrigue, high octane action and strategical gameplay.
[h=3]Bloodlines & Black Magic by Jaye Sonia[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Saturday 15th April 2017; 01:00 UTC)
Bloodlines & Black Magic, from Storm Bunny Studios, is a Pathfinder compatible supernatural campaign setting that takes place in the modern world. Bloodlines & Black Magic pits rich political elites, desperate cultists, supernatural horrors, celestial powers, secret magical orders, Goetic spirits, and ancient bloodlines in a deadly war against one another over a reality that nearly all humanity can neither see nor comprehend.
Hidden from the mundane world, only a rare few individuals ever gain a glimpse of this dimension of supernatural horrors, this realm of human tragedy and desperation, learning secrets that - if spoken in public - would mark them as broken. Aligned with secret organizations or working as individual agents, Bloodlines & Black Magic gives these modern heroes a dark universe to explore, a canvas that is even dimmer, painted in a darker, decayed grey than the colors already coating it.
Enter a world where seven distinct magical bloodlines - each with its own ties to the supernatural world, positioning themselves in places of power, working from behind the scenes to shape the world in their image. These bloodlines dominate certain hereditary lines, but might otherwise manifest in secret within any area, or any unaware individual. Although these bloodlines only make up a very small part of the global population, they dominate nearly 72% of the globe, secretly running everything from global trade routes to entire countries.
[h=3]Heroic Fantasy & Barbarian Conquerors Collection by Autarch[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Wednesday 19th April 2017; 17:00 UTC)
This campaign is to fund two supplements, The Heroic Fantasy Handbook and Barbarian Conquerors of Kanahu Setting Sourcebook. Principally for the Adventurer Conqueror King System, but easily adaptable to other D20 OSR games.
The Heroic Fantasy Handbook is a160+ page rules supplement that brings heroic fantacy to your game. Introduced is a new way of casting spells (spellslinging), of creating magical effects (ceremonial magic), a new magic system (eldritch magic), over 155 new spells, 10 new character classes, new rules for heroic adventuring (including fate points, heroic funerals, warrior codes, etc), and a lot more!
The second book is a 144+ page sword and sorcery setting book called Barbarian Conquerors of Kanahu. Whilst the first book looks at ‘heroic’ fantasy this one explores a more pulp based setting. The book presents new monsters, magical items, technology, spells alongside a gazetteer of Kanahu looking at the settings history, regions, cities and so forth.
Kanahu draws on the myths of the Ancient Near East and pre-Colombian Mesoamerica and blends them together into a gonzo milieu with dinosaurs, Cthulhoid creatures, giant insects, crazy sorcerers, muscled barbarians, city-states, alien visitors, and super-scientific technology.
[h=3]Exilium – A Science Fiction Roleplaying Game by Greg Saunders[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Sunday 16th April 2017; 00:00 UTC)
Exilium is a sci-fi RPG from Greg Saunders/Fire Ruby Designs that uses the Open D6 system (made popular through a sting of games from West End Games such as their version of Star Wars). Exilium is a new, revised and updated, edition of the In Flames RPG that was previously published in partnership with Cubicle 7 in 2011. This volume merges content from the original In Flames rulebook and the Uplifts and Chimera supplements in to a single book.
Exilium is a science fiction role-playing game set in a distant future in a solar system known as the Flame system. The Flame system is filled with genetically modified humans, robotic Puppets, and uplifted animals of bewildering forms.
The game centres on a group of seemingly ordinary people that have been possessed by the feeling of being trapped in a body not their own, and haunted by memories of a bizarre and beautiful place. This forms a disconnection to the material world, making these individuals increasingly feel like lost souls. Only the thing calling itself the Envoy offers any explanation. It tells them that they are of the Numina – a race of post humans who inhabit a realm called Elysium, a paradise, majestically isolated from the material universe. The player characters are Exiles – banished for a crime they committed on Elysium.
Players must appease the Envoy to earn the right to return to Elysium. They do this by hunting others of the kind who have become obsessed with the material world – Numina who are termed Shadows.
The Envoy gives Exiles black pills that help to dull the dreams of Elysium. These drugs also allow Shadows to be identified by sight, surrounding the Shadow’s host with a dull red glow that marks them out. If the Exiles perform well, and do all that is asked of them, they might find a way to resolve the guilt of their barely-recalled crimes. If they do, the Envoy can bestow the greatest gift of all – forgiveness, and a return to Elysium.
With fantastic cover art, and interior layout, by Paul Bourne (The One Ring) this should also be a very nice looking game!
**********
If you like what we do here at EN World (the Forums, Columns, News, ENnies, etc) and would like to help support us to bring you MORE please consider supporting our Patreon. Even a single dollar helps Thanks!
**********
If you have a forthcoming Kickstarter, or see one that excites you, please feel free to drop me an email on angus.abranson@gmail.com You can follow me on Twitter @ Angus_A or on Facebook where I often post about gaming.
Until next week, have fun and happy gaming!
Angus Abranson
[h=3]Symbaroum: Karvosti – The Witch Hammer by Jarnringen[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Monday 10th April 2017; 20:00 UTC)
Symbaroum was originally released in Swedish in the summer of 2014 before being translated and released in English in late 2015. Since then the game, and its setting, have been translated into a number of languages (Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese) and has been getting a lot of positive attention. And for good reason.
Karvosti – The Witch Hammer is the second episode in the Chronicle of the Throne of Thorns campaign. A 152 page book in a set of seven making up an epic campaign. The first book, Thistle Hold – Wrath of the Warden was on Kickstarter last summer and is now available to retail.
It is through these campaign and adventure modules that we will keep building the world of Symbaroum, aside from an in-depth introduction to a specific region in Ambria, Davokar or beyond, each book will introduce new optional rules and features: abilities, (monstrous) traits, mystical powers and rituals, creatures, artifacts, elixirs and much more.
Looking at the second episode in particular, it focuses on the cliff of Karvosti – the age-old thingstead of the barbarian High Chieftain, located deep within the forest of Davokar. The module is divided into three sections which may be described as follows:
The Explorer’s Haven – The opening section is meant to be read by both players and Game Masters. It offers an introduction to the cliff of Karvosti, as it is known to visitors in general. This section includes information on a range of topics such as historical events, places to eat and drink, entertainment to be found, the people of power, information about the barbarian clans and their settlements, and so forth.
Game Master Section – The second section is for the Game Master’s eyes only and offers a deep descent beneath the surface. A significant part is devoted to truths and secrets which may be used to produce homebrew adventures or even lengthy campaigns, but the majority of the section introduces new and optional rules – most of which will come to use when playing The Witch Hammer.
The Witch Hammer – The remainder of the book is dedicated to the adventure The Witch Hammer. For the sake of any players reading this we will not go into details, but there is a reason why the text on the back of the book talks about “the most dire and perilous treasure hunt since the days of Symbaroum”.
The below piece of art has been sent to us by the team at Jarnringen as an exclusive reveal. It shows a Templar and a member of the High Chieftain’s Wrath Guard sparring outside the caverns of the Huldra.
[h=3]Arcanis 5E RPG by Henry Lopez[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Saturday 22nd April 2017; 17:00 UTC)
Taking its inspiration more from the Ancient World than the European medieval era. Arcanis was originally published in 2001 as a d20 campaign setting. Arcanis has been a critical and commercial success attracting players with to its grim dark world of epic fantasy and now this award-winning setting is being updated to be fully compatible with the 5th Edition of the worlds most popular fantasy RPG.
The 400+ page book will include:
· 19 New Races and sub-races
· New take on base classes such as Fury (Barbarian), Holy Champion (Paladin), Ranger without spell casting, and introducing Elder and Eldritch Sorcerer Traditions.
· New classes such as the Psion and Shaman.
· 12 new Clerical Aspects and a new take on Domains.
· 13 New Holy Champion (Paladin) Orders.
· Dozens of new Archetypes such as the Tactician (Fighter), the Bard (Rogue), and the Warped ne (Fury)
· Over 50 new Spells
· Skills and Feats including new Combat Schools
· New and unique Psionic system
· New Fame and Renown system for Allegiances and Secret Societies
· New weapons, armor, equipment, magic items and monsters.
The Arcanis Campaign Setting is an immersive world of epic battles, where the most dangerous adversary is not some mythical creature, but your fellow being. It is not a world of stark black and whites, but rather a spectrum of grays where heroes have their flaws and even the most devilish of villains have virtues. This is also reflected in the world’s religious structure where the gods are arranged in Pantheons, being neither inherently good or evil. It is the religions created by mortals that choose what aspects of the gods are worshipped and whether these are good or evil is determined by each cultures’ values.
[h=3]FAITH: The Sci-Fi RPG Core Book and Miniatures by Burning Games[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Thursday 20th April 2017; 10:59 UTC)
FAITH is an ENnie awarding winning game and Burning Games are running a campaign to fund a brand new revised edition along with a series of miniatures for the game.
The FAITH campaign is one of valiant space travelers, remote uncharted stars and bizarre alien technology. But it’s also a realm of mysterious, invisible forces – the Gods and the outlandish, supernatural powers they grant to those mortals who believe in them.
In FAITH, you can be a star explorer, a soldier, a scoundrel or a mystic believer, using a mix of technology, training and god-given powers to survive the untamed regions of wild space against rival factions, alien perils and ruthless bandits.
FAITH's gameplay is card based. This is no gimmick: it's a fully developed and thoroughly tested mechanic where players start each scene with a hand of cards to affect the outcome of every confrontation. The system offers room for nuance and strategy, and players can explore different angles to find the one that better fits their play style.
The Core Book is a comprehensive compendium of the lore and mechanics of FAITH. It is the centerpiece of FAITH, and it will allow you and your friends to play bold adventures in a unique universe.
It's an excellent entry point into the Universe of FAITH and the perfect way to expand your previous adventures if you are a veteran.
The book covers the rules and mechanics of the game, the setting and story of the universe, and everything in between. Beautifully illustrated, it will allow you to dive into a sci-fi setting with political intrigue, high octane action and strategical gameplay.
[h=3]Bloodlines & Black Magic by Jaye Sonia[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Saturday 15th April 2017; 01:00 UTC)
Bloodlines & Black Magic, from Storm Bunny Studios, is a Pathfinder compatible supernatural campaign setting that takes place in the modern world. Bloodlines & Black Magic pits rich political elites, desperate cultists, supernatural horrors, celestial powers, secret magical orders, Goetic spirits, and ancient bloodlines in a deadly war against one another over a reality that nearly all humanity can neither see nor comprehend.
Hidden from the mundane world, only a rare few individuals ever gain a glimpse of this dimension of supernatural horrors, this realm of human tragedy and desperation, learning secrets that - if spoken in public - would mark them as broken. Aligned with secret organizations or working as individual agents, Bloodlines & Black Magic gives these modern heroes a dark universe to explore, a canvas that is even dimmer, painted in a darker, decayed grey than the colors already coating it.
Enter a world where seven distinct magical bloodlines - each with its own ties to the supernatural world, positioning themselves in places of power, working from behind the scenes to shape the world in their image. These bloodlines dominate certain hereditary lines, but might otherwise manifest in secret within any area, or any unaware individual. Although these bloodlines only make up a very small part of the global population, they dominate nearly 72% of the globe, secretly running everything from global trade routes to entire countries.
[h=3]Heroic Fantasy & Barbarian Conquerors Collection by Autarch[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Wednesday 19th April 2017; 17:00 UTC)
This campaign is to fund two supplements, The Heroic Fantasy Handbook and Barbarian Conquerors of Kanahu Setting Sourcebook. Principally for the Adventurer Conqueror King System, but easily adaptable to other D20 OSR games.
The Heroic Fantasy Handbook is a160+ page rules supplement that brings heroic fantacy to your game. Introduced is a new way of casting spells (spellslinging), of creating magical effects (ceremonial magic), a new magic system (eldritch magic), over 155 new spells, 10 new character classes, new rules for heroic adventuring (including fate points, heroic funerals, warrior codes, etc), and a lot more!
The second book is a 144+ page sword and sorcery setting book called Barbarian Conquerors of Kanahu. Whilst the first book looks at ‘heroic’ fantasy this one explores a more pulp based setting. The book presents new monsters, magical items, technology, spells alongside a gazetteer of Kanahu looking at the settings history, regions, cities and so forth.
Kanahu draws on the myths of the Ancient Near East and pre-Colombian Mesoamerica and blends them together into a gonzo milieu with dinosaurs, Cthulhoid creatures, giant insects, crazy sorcerers, muscled barbarians, city-states, alien visitors, and super-scientific technology.
[h=3]Exilium – A Science Fiction Roleplaying Game by Greg Saunders[/h]
(Campaign Ends : Sunday 16th April 2017; 00:00 UTC)
Exilium is a sci-fi RPG from Greg Saunders/Fire Ruby Designs that uses the Open D6 system (made popular through a sting of games from West End Games such as their version of Star Wars). Exilium is a new, revised and updated, edition of the In Flames RPG that was previously published in partnership with Cubicle 7 in 2011. This volume merges content from the original In Flames rulebook and the Uplifts and Chimera supplements in to a single book.
Exilium is a science fiction role-playing game set in a distant future in a solar system known as the Flame system. The Flame system is filled with genetically modified humans, robotic Puppets, and uplifted animals of bewildering forms.
The game centres on a group of seemingly ordinary people that have been possessed by the feeling of being trapped in a body not their own, and haunted by memories of a bizarre and beautiful place. This forms a disconnection to the material world, making these individuals increasingly feel like lost souls. Only the thing calling itself the Envoy offers any explanation. It tells them that they are of the Numina – a race of post humans who inhabit a realm called Elysium, a paradise, majestically isolated from the material universe. The player characters are Exiles – banished for a crime they committed on Elysium.
Players must appease the Envoy to earn the right to return to Elysium. They do this by hunting others of the kind who have become obsessed with the material world – Numina who are termed Shadows.
The Envoy gives Exiles black pills that help to dull the dreams of Elysium. These drugs also allow Shadows to be identified by sight, surrounding the Shadow’s host with a dull red glow that marks them out. If the Exiles perform well, and do all that is asked of them, they might find a way to resolve the guilt of their barely-recalled crimes. If they do, the Envoy can bestow the greatest gift of all – forgiveness, and a return to Elysium.
With fantastic cover art, and interior layout, by Paul Bourne (The One Ring) this should also be a very nice looking game!
**********
If you like what we do here at EN World (the Forums, Columns, News, ENnies, etc) and would like to help support us to bring you MORE please consider supporting our Patreon. Even a single dollar helps Thanks!
**********
If you have a forthcoming Kickstarter, or see one that excites you, please feel free to drop me an email on angus.abranson@gmail.com You can follow me on Twitter @ Angus_A or on Facebook where I often post about gaming.
Until next week, have fun and happy gaming!
Angus Abranson
