RPG Crowdfunding News – Grim Hollow, Conan, Broken Empires, and more

This week’s TTRPG crowdfunding sampler looks at Kickstarters and Backerkits that end between October 31 (Halloween) to November 6. While I have some great games in the list below, I want to shout out one that’s outside of what I normally cover: MÖRK BORG Heresy Supreme from Morbidware. This is the “official MÖRK BORG videogame.” It’s great to see the popularity of MÖRK BORG coming as books, comics, action figures, and, now, a video game. Congratulations to Pelle Nilsson and Johan Nohr.

Grim Hollow: Transformed from Ghostfire Gaming

• END DATE: Fri, November 1 2024 10:00 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition (2024)
• PROJECT TYPE: Sourcebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $195 + S/H for the PDF, VTT, and print versions of the books, boxed set, GM screen, and more
• ADDITIONAL REPORTING: I talked to Ghostfire Gaming COO Nick Ingamells here
• DISCLAIMER: I freelanced for Ghostfire Gaming. I am not involved in this project
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? A refined, major dark fantasy 5.2024e setting is coming from one of the largest D&D Beyond partner publishers. Ghostfire Gaming is expanding upon their Grim Hollow: Campaign Guide and Player’s Guide, making them compatible with the 5.2024e ruleset, and rolling them out to D&D Beyond as well as Foundry, Roll20, and Alchemy. Original species, 40 subclasses, magic items, and Grim Hollow's signature transformations, you’ll get all of these rules plus the setting: Etharis. The world involves mystery, fallen gods, and empires ruled by powers both human and greater. The artwork is next level, the highest quality you can hope for, and the setting reflects that same attention to detail. In addition to the books, there are dice, miniatures, cards, and so much more. If your gaming table - physical or virtual - wants a dark fantasy campaign with the ability to become powerful creatures such as lycanthropes, vampires, and liches, this project is worth a review.

Conan: The Hyborian Age - The Roleplaying Game from Monolith Board Games SARL

• END DATE: Tue, November 5 2024 5:59 PM EST.
• SYSTEM(S): An original system
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: €149 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the core rulebook, adventures, GM screen, dice, and more
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? With the amazing Conan comics by Jim Zub and Roberto de la Torre coming from Titan Comics, creating a new TTRPG to match their efforts is the right move. After Modiphius’ Conan TTRPG came to an end, Monolith Board Games is taking up the mantle. Based on Robert E. Howard’s Conan, Monolith has a board game that leads into their Conan TTRPG. Set during the era when Conan was king, you play as adventurers telling the tales of what comes after the Cimmerian. Monolith offers their Conan board game and this Kickstarter page suggests that you can use its contents – game boards, tokens, and miniatures – to get the most out of their new TTRPG. The core rulebook is a 200-page affair with great looking artwork. If you’re interested, check out the campaign page for a free preview PDF.

The Broken Empires RPG™: Sim-Lite d100 Skills-Based TTRPG from Evil Baby Entertainment

• END DATE: Thu, October 31 2024 9:00 AM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): An original system
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $39 for the PDFs of the book, starter set, and GM screen
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? From the creator of the Me, Myself and Die!, this game is designed to let GMs run the game and play within the rules. Specifically, the rules are meant to be adhered to to level the gaming experience. I’ve watched Professor Dungeon Master’s interview with the creator of this game, and the creator, Trevor Devall, believes in your character’s stats, not your player’s charisma. This game keeps the focus on simple d100 rolls so you’re able to achieve your actions without getting bogged down in the rules. Success levels allow you to overcome obstacles in fast combat scenarios. In terms of setting, think of an open world of new discoveries, something a GM can build upon. If you’re looking for a new take on fantasy, this may speak to you.

The Between from The Gauntlet

• END DATE: Nov 1, 2024 at 12:59am EDT.
• CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
• SYSTEM(S): “Its rules are based on the award-winning Brindlewood Bay”
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $90 + S/H for the PDF and print of the three books
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Using rules based on the Brindlewood Bay RPG, you play as investigators and monster hunters in Victorian-era London. The core rulebook is 200 pages containing playbooks, monstrous threats, and a boss to battle over the course of a campaign. The ruleset is designed for mysteries, meaning you’ll investigate the situation more than just bludgeon your way through. If you’re interested in Victorian monster mysteries, check out the Backerkit campaign page for a free PDF preview.

Curseborne tabletop roleplaying game from Onyx Path Publishing

• END DATE: Thu, October 31 2024 2:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): Storypath Ultra
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $25 for the PDF version of the book and the POD discount coupon for the book
• ADDITIONAL REPORTING: I asked Danielle Lauzon Harper (Exalted in-house developer, co-developer on Curseborne) how OPP classifies Curseborne: “We're classifying it as an entirely new horror game that comes from the minds of people who worked on [World of Darkness/Chronicles of Darkness]. Ultimately, we cannot divorce our vast knowledge of those games from what we do, but Curseborne is entirely new, built from the ground up from different sources of horror inspiration such as creepypasta, urban legends, and newer media presentations.”
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Onyx Path Publishing (OPP) is creating an homage to the World/Chronicle of Darkness TTRPGs, settings they have a history with, and I’m eager to see their take. In this game, you play as The Accursed (vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, ghosts, demons, and angels), monsters hiding in our world. You’re cursed, it makes you a monster, and everything in your life – family, how you exist, who is hunting you – is a reflection of that curse. If you’re familiar with the WoD/CoD, this game should feel familiar, yet tweaked. What feels the same are the monsters and the d10s, what is new is the curse that drives your adventures. A key selling point for Curseborne is its foundation; from the first book, all of the major monster families are included meaning that their powers are better balanced and their mythologies are more aligned. This promises to resolve a longstanding challenge in WoD and improve upon the world seen in the CoD games. If OPP returning to monsters interests you, check out the campaign page for a discussion around the Storypath Ultra system and previews of the game.

Salvage Union Starter Set from Leyline Press

• END DATE: Nov 5, 2024 at 11:00am EST.
• CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
• SYSTEM(S): “A simple d20, variable, resolution mechanic powered by the Quest RPG.”
• PROJECT TYPE: Core ruleset
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £50 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the boxed set and asset pack
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? You’re commanding a mech in a post-apocalypse world. Your job is to salvage what you can in order to make enough to keep your mech running. The full version of this Ennie-nominated game is available now. During that campaign, I spoke to the creators about this game. This campaign simplifies your options by providing a starter boxed set so you can dive into the game and start scraping the sands to find your buried treasures. If salvage mechs sound interesting to you, check out the Backerkit campaign page for more details.

Marching Order: Curse and Coin Edition from Crumbling Keep

• END DATE: Fri, November 1 2024 12:00 PM EDT.
• SYSTEM(S): An original system
• PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $195 + S/H for the core set and all of the accessories
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This is the second edition of the solo/co-op game. Coming as a boxed set, you’ll get a great physical box to store the rules, scenarios, cards, tokens, dice, and more. This game allows for random dungeon generation and great solo gaming options. As a dark fantasy rogue, you’re delving looking for coin to survive upon. This game focuses on the crawl, giving you a chance to dive for money. If you want to try it out, check out the quickstart rules available via the campaign page.

Split the Hoard: A competitive card game for 2-5 players from EN Publishing

• END DATE: Thu, October 24 2024 5:00 PM EDT.
• PROJECT TYPE: Competitive card game
• MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £15 + S/H for the PDF and print versions of the game
• DISCLAIMER: EN World is a subsidiary of EN Publishing
• WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? This competitive card game ends tomorrow! Back it while you can!

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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.

 

[Bill Zebub]

I downloaded the 52 page quick start rules for Conan. Decent first read through on if it appealed to me. The flex die might take some table time if I like it or not. Glad it was shared on here as I wouldn’t have known otherwise. Heck I might back just to get some more Conan minis

I also read through that quickstart. I'm a little disappointed.

I mean, it looks like a fine RPG, but system-wise it also seems (to me) to be just another RPG, with a sprinkling of Conan themes. For example, the four attributes have a Conan-esque flavor, but otherwise they are just attributes like you see in any RPG. The system doesn't feel like it was created from a blank slate, starting with and always focusing on the question, "What is unique (or at least special) about the Conan stories?"

Some example themes I would have liked to have seen addressed with innovative mechanics/rules:

"Easy Come, Easy Go" After each successful adventure, treasure (and other rewards?) are lost again. Maybe a downtime system in which you "spend" your treasure (and maybe "story/success points" based on the last adventure?) to get various (random?) advantages in your next adventure.

"Weapons are Temporary". Conan is constantly losing weapons, finding weapons, breaking weapons, and using weapons unique to the land where he finds himself. This is the antithesis to the standard RPG trope, where you (usually) keep your weapon until you upgrade to a slightly better one. I'm not sure what the mechanics would be here, but something that bakes this theme into the game would be awesome.

"Savagery vs. Civilization". In the REH stories, Conan's lack of civilization is an advantage in just about every way. In an RPG, though, I would like to see a mechanic where each PC (and NPC?) has a rating on a spectrum between the two extremes (kind of like paired attributes in Pendragaon), and there is no "best" place on that spectrum. Your character might be all the way Savage, all the way Civilized, or somewhere in the middle, and there are pros and cons to each. And maybe it changes over time?

 

[Superchunk77]

I also read through that quickstart. I'm a little disappointed.

I mean, it looks like a fine RPG, but system-wise it also seems (to me) to be just another RPG, with a sprinkling of Conan themes. For example, the four attributes have a Conan-esque flavor, but otherwise they are just attributes like you see in any RPG. The system doesn't feel like it was created from a blank slate, starting with and always focusing on the question, "What is unique (or at least special) about the Conan stories?"

Some example themes I would have liked to have seen addressed with innovative mechanics/rules:

"Easy Come, Easy Go" After each successful adventure, treasure (and other rewards?) are lost again. Maybe a downtime system in which you "spend" your treasure (and maybe "story/success points" based on the last adventure?) to get various (random?) advantages in your next adventure.

"Weapons are Temporary". Conan is constantly losing weapons, finding weapons, breaking weapons, and using weapons unique to the land where he finds himself. This is the antithesis to the standard RPG trope, where you (usually) keep your weapon until you upgrade to a slightly better one. I'm not sure what the mechanics would be here, but something that bakes this theme into the game would be awesome.

"Savagery vs. Civilization". In the REH stories, Conan's lack of civilization is an advantage in just about every way. In an RPG, though, I would like to see a mechanic where each PC (and NPC?) has a rating on a spectrum between the two extremes (kind of like paired attributes in Pendragaon), and there is no "best" place on that spectrum. Your character might be all the way Savage, all the way Civilized, or somewhere in the middle, and there are pros and cons to each. And maybe it changes over time?

I wonder if any of those might be covered in the "Advanced Rules" stretch goal that was just unlocked a couple days ago?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Some example themes I would have liked to have seen addressed with innovative mechanics/rules:

"Easy Come, Easy Go" After each successful adventure, treasure (and other rewards?) are lost again. Maybe a downtime system in which you "spend" your treasure (and maybe "story/success points" based on the last adventure?) to get various (random?) advantages in your next adventure.

"Weapons are Temporary". Conan is constantly losing weapons, finding weapons, breaking weapons, and using weapons unique to the land where he finds himself. This is the antithesis to the standard RPG trope, where you (usually) keep your weapon until you upgrade to a slightly better one. I'm not sure what the mechanics would be here, but something that bakes this theme into the game would be awesome.

"Savagery vs. Civilization". In the REH stories, Conan's lack of civilization is an advantage in just about every way. In an RPG, though, I would like to see a mechanic where each PC (and NPC?) has a rating on a spectrum between the two extremes (kind of like paired attributes in Pendragaon), and there is no "best" place on that spectrum. Your character might be all the way Savage, all the way Civilized, or somewhere in the middle, and there are pros and cons to each. And maybe it changes over time?

It feels like you want the Black Sword Hack. Not sure if it has carousing rules (the Shadowdark rules are very good about bankrupting PCs immediately after they bring their treasure to town), but it would be easy to add that in, if not.

 

[Superchunk77]

It feels like you either want the Black Sword Hack. Not sure if it has carousing rules (the Shadowdark rules are very good about bankrupting PCs immediately after they bring their treasure to town), but it would be easy to add that in, if not.

I was also going to mention Black Sword Hack. Such a great book.

 

[Bill Zebub]

It feels like you either want the Black Sword Hack.

I know of it, but not familiar with it.

My three examples were just examples, not the three specific things I want to make a game feel like Conan.

What I continue to hope for is a system that is as specific to the Hyborian Age as The One Ring is to Middle Earth. Or even more so.

 

[stadi]

I want that 300k funding achievement for The Between so bad.

I find the last stretch-goal the least interesting of all the already achieved and upcoming ones. What I'd like to see achieved is "Shrouded London" and "New Unscenes".

Regardless, the game seems to be very interesting, so do some of the alternate settings included: I like Unsinkable and Court of Wolves.

 

[Ads]

What the post above doesn't tell you is that The Between backerkit offers just a truly ludicrous amount of stuff. Soooo many play options over and above what is technically needed to run a great game, and the list isn't exhausted as there's still a few stretch goals to go. If you like story games you'd be mad not to pledge.

 

[Ads]

I find the last stretch-goal the least interesting of all the already achieved and upcoming ones. What I'd like to see achieved is "Shrouded London" and "New Unscenes".

Regardless, the game seems to be very interesting, so do some of the alternate settings included: I like Unsinkable and Court of Wolves.

Honestly, it really is important to keep in mind that that stuff, however cool, is pretty minor. You are getting far more than a complete game at the current level. Many campaigns worth. This should absolutely not be viewed as a crowdfunder that has yet to hit a pledge level that makes it desirable package. It hit that point a many, many stretch goals ago.

 

[Morrus]

No mention at all of Ars Magica Definitive Edition?! Even though it is a multi award winning, hugely influential Hall of Fame recipient with more than 50 supplements available as add ons?

Shame. Here is the link: Ars Magica Definitive Edition

"This week’s TTRPG crowdfunding sampler looks at Kickstarters and Backerkits that end between October 31 (Halloween) to November 6."

It's literally the first sentence.

"Shame"? Really?

 

[TrippyHippy]

"This week’s TTRPG crowdfunding sampler looks at Kickstarters and Backerkits that end between October 31 (Halloween) to November 6."

It's literally the first sentence.

"Shame"? Really?

Considering this whole website hasn’t mentioned it all yet, yes. Thanks for acknowledging it.