This week’s TTRPG crowdfunding sampler looks at campaigns that end between February 15 and 21. February is Zine Month, which manifests in the form of many, many TTRPG crowdfundings through Zine Quest on Kickstarter as well as campaigns elsewhere such as Crowdfundr and Backerkit. There are around 100 zines available already and, as such, I can only offer a limited sampling of them and still share the non-zines. As such, let me point you to those links.
In related crowdfunding news, Morrus shared “On Kickstarter There Are More Successful Projects But Creators Earning 30% Less”, an excellent discussion about what creators can expect in the current Kickstarter landscape.
Tales of the Valiant Game Master's Guide 5E from Kobold Press
Valiant Adventures Roleplaying Game from Green Ronin
Battle for the Realm (5e) from Midnight Tower
The Wizard's Library: Three 1st- & 2nd-level Grimoires from lumpley games
Make 100 Battle Bookmarks! from Lester Smith
SpeedyRPG from Five Sided Fates
GREENHORNS: A Weird Space RPG from Marco Serrano
Over War: The Night Comes Down - Monarch Edition from Black Oath Games
Feyforged: The Feywild’s Ultimate Treasury (5E) from The Monster Directive
Level Up: A5E Gate Pass Gazette Annual 2023 from EN Publishing
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.
In related crowdfunding news, Morrus shared “On Kickstarter There Are More Successful Projects But Creators Earning 30% Less”, an excellent discussion about what creators can expect in the current Kickstarter landscape.
Tales of the Valiant Game Master's Guide 5E from Kobold Press
- END DATE: Fri, February 16 2024 6:00 PM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $59 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? For this week’s list, I look at two major roll outs that both feature “Valiant” in their title, both are based on D&D, and both are from notable publishers. First up is Tales of the Valiant, Kobold Press’ answer to the OGL crisis. This game is Kobold’s version of the Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition ruleset. the first two core ToV books – Player’s Guide and Monster Vault – are expected to release in May. This campaign brings in the Game Master’s Guide rounding out ToV’s standard ruleset. In addition, the campaign offers a Map Folio. What’s in the GM’s Guide? Guidance for encounters, for crafting spells and magic items, and ideas for how to make ToV the best TTRPG for your gamers. If you’re interested in completing the core books, check out the campaign page for a preview.
Valiant Adventures Roleplaying Game from Green Ronin
- END DATE: Wed, February 21 2024 8:00 PM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): Mutants & Masterminds 3rd Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $110 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of both books and the GM’s kit
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? The second “Valiant” project I’ll share this week is Valiant Adventures Roleplaying Game. Combining the Valiant Universe comic book universe – Bloodshot, Shadowman, Faith, Dr. Mirage, and X-O Manowar – with the Mutants & Masterminds ruleset, Green Ronin brings a well-known IP to your tabletop. Offered in two books, The Valiant Adventures Hero’s Handbook is your core rules while The Worlds of Valiant sourcebook offers write-ups of settings and Valiant characters. If you want more, The Valiant Adventures Gamemaster's Kit provides a GM screen, reference cards, and more. Green Ronin is the second company to bring the Valiant superhero universe to tabletop. To make their project stand out, Green Ronin brought the secret weapon: Mutants & Masterminds. This system is perfect for the physicality of the Valiant Universe, offering up all of the powers backed by a reliable system. If you’re a fan of Valiant and M&M, this is worth your time.
Battle for the Realm (5e) from Midnight Tower
- END DATE: Thu, February 15 2024 10:00 AM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Adventures
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £40 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of book plus an additional PDF and VTT tokens
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is the final chapter in a publishing epic. With this book, Midnight Tower’s Eastern Farraway Adventures five-book campaign, which takes your characters from levels 1 to 15, is complete. Battle for the Realm is over 160 pages for levels 13 to 15, and wraps up this five year epic. If you’re a fan of epic adventure paths, this project promises high level encounters to make the ending memorable.
The Wizard's Library: Three 1st- & 2nd-level Grimoires from lumpley games
- END DATE: Thu, February 15 2024 11:00 PM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): Powered by the Apocalypse variant
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $20 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the zine
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Vincent Baker, creator of the Powered by the Apocalypse system, is expanding two of his interlocked games, Wizard's Grimoire or the Thief & the Necromancer. Those games feature fantasy and magic; this project features a magic expansion to them with three spellbooks of 1st- and 2nd-level spells. If you want to take these games, as well as the related The Barbarian's Bloody Quest and The Last Adventure, to another level, this sourcebook is going to give you the magic you’ll need.
Make 100 Battle Bookmarks! from Lester Smith
- END DATE: Sun, February 18 2024 1:01 AM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): Bookmark No HP RPG
- PROJECT TYPE: Source bookmark
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $10 (free shipping) for the PDF and print versions of the bookmark
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? The idea of a TTRPG published by as series of bookmarks? Yeah, I dig it. Staring as a weekend challenge to design a game without hit points, Bookmark No HP RPG has expanded with more bookmarks. Though, to be accurate, between Kickstarters, the game had to be reformatted to appear on cards since DriveThruRPG does not do POD bookmarks but does offer POD cards. If you want the bookmark format, this campaign offer an improved combat option as well as a reprint of the core rules if they reach their stretch goal. If you are a fan of this TTRPG, bookmark this campaign page.
SpeedyRPG from Five Sided Fates
- END DATE: Mon, February 19 2024 12:06 PM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $30 + S/H for the rulebook, bag, and d20
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Ever want to get into a new TTRPG quickly? That’s the basis of SpeedyRPG. Each player draws a character card and an item card, the GM draws a scenario card, and a d20 roll decides every challenge. What do the character cards contain? Name, description, and three stats; you’ll be able to get into gameplay rapidly. If your goal is to get to dicing, this is the project to check out.
GREENHORNS: A Weird Space RPG from Marco Serrano
- END DATE: Thu, February 15 2024 5:00 PM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): Together We Go variant
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $50 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book and zine as well as the patch
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is a project for a specific group of gamers, ones that want to play aliens as they build worlds. The gaming parallels provided include planet creation as dungeon delving, bounty hunts involve schemes and lethal enemies, and your homeworld is an ever-changing sandbox. The book is over 100 pages with classes, planets, mini-campaigns, monsters, and random tables. If you are interested in the book, the campaign page has a free sample to read.
Over War: The Night Comes Down - Monarch Edition from Black Oath Games
- END DATE: Thu, February 15 2024 6:03 AM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): An original system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: €15 for the PDF and POD discounted versions of the book
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Over War – Monarch Edition is an inspiration blender TTRPG using elements of Gothic fantasy, strategy, JRPGs, and OSR to remaster the Over War: The Night Comes Down TTRPG. Your land is besieged by invaders, you’ll have to reconquer it hex by hex using your commander and their combat company. There’s unit combat that is less dice-centric and more about advantages, positions, and initiative. This game makes you a leader of your land and if that inspires you, check out the campaign.
Feyforged: The Feywild’s Ultimate Treasury (5E) from The Monster Directive
- END DATE: Thu, February 15 2024 8:00 PM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: AU$23 for the PDF version of the book
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Because this is a 5e fey sourcebook of courtly design and grace, it’s worth a look. You get 40 magic items, 40 spells, 8 companions, and the really interesting options: 40 curses and 80 blessings. Fey are divided among seasonal courts, each with d20 blessings to bestow on their favorites. That’s what I took from this campaign page, thematic ideas centered around the different courts, but still cliquey and whimsical. Does your table like 5e and fey? If so, this project has the right amount of faerie attitude to feel like a fantasy dream world.
Level Up: A5E Gate Pass Gazette Annual 2023 from EN Publishing
- END DATE: Thu, February 8 2024 6:00 PM EST.
- SYSTEM(S): Level Up: Advanced Fifth Edition
- PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £45 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the book
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Level Up: A5E Gate Pass Gazette Annual is ending soon. If you need A5E content for your game, 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.