Kickstarter Roundup

This seems to be a thing, so here goes:

Dwimmermount - Coming soon.

Myth and Magic - Seems less and less likely this will ever actualize.  The guy pops up once every few months to tell everyone how sorry he is for not communicating, then disappears again.  Most updates don't include any indication of movement on the game itself.  I've got the pdf of the Player's Guide, but the GM's Guide is, near as I can tell, vaporware, and while we've seen a picture of one book, I have no reason to believe that there is, in fact, an entire shipment of the book in existence, waiting to be shipped, as he claims.

Ogre - Finally have a delivery date, I live close enough to Austin that I can drive down for their launch party and pick up my copy in person.  October can't get here fast enough!

Recreating Jeff Dee's Rogues Gallery Art - Delivered.  A bit late, but worth the wait.

Champions of ZED - Almost a year late, and communication is sparse.  But, it does seem to be staggering towards the finish line.  I've got the pdf, so just waiting on the physical copy.

Appendix N Adventure Toolkit - Much like nuclear fusion, Appendix N are the modules of the future - and seem likely to always be so.  Maybe we'll get them at some point, maybe not.  I've got pdfs, and the most recent update says he's shipping now, but I'm pretty sure I've read that before.  Almost a year late, will likely be 1.5-2 years late if/when all rewards are sent.

 Tales From the Fallen Empire - Just got the art done, "Part 1" is apparently finished, while "Part 2" languishes in layout, seemingly interminably.  Six months late and counting.

The Future of Table Top Role Playing Games - An ambitious title, to be sure, but I was genuinely interested in this, a portable game surface that folds up, briefcase style.  Unfortunately, it didn't fund, and the creators, after promising to restart, have instead turned their attention to a dodgy RPG, dangling the prospect of a return to this project if they fund their game.  Sorry fellas.

Republishing, Synnibar: The Original SciFantasy RPG - The original, abortive attempt at getting this off the ground, where Raven c.s. McCracken asked for $50,000 and the gaming community replied with a resounding, "Meh."  Yeah, I backed it, call it morbid curiosity.

Hydra Dice: Necron - It's been somewhat interesting examining all the walls this guy has run into, from finding the right 3d printer to the right materials to designing the perfect cast.  He's now eight months late, and I'm starting to get ready for this tale to run its course, though.

Shadows of Esteren: A Medieval Horror RPG - I want to say they were maybe a month late in fulfillment.  I don't know, honestly - the book is beautiful, and I'm happy to own it.

Pitfalls & Penguins: First Printing - I was a bit alarmed at first when we weren't getting any updates following funding, but it turned out he did all his updates on Twitter, which seemed a bit odd, but maybe I'm the odd one that doesn't have Twitter?  Anyhow, it delivered... maybe a month or two late?  Looked good, but haven't played.

Axes and Anvils by Mike Nystul - Sigh.  I feel bad for the guy.  I met him at a con last year, and got to playtest the game.  It seemed like a fun game with some unique ideas, and Mike definitely had enthusiasm about the premise, so I was really looking forward to getting this.  Then came The Troubles.  I sincerely hope that he can find a way to turn this around, both for his sake and for mine - I do really want to play this.

Nocturnal Emissions Music Video Project - My wife and I are a big fan of Shilpa Ray, and some friends of mine gave us money to contribute to this project as a wedding gift so she would play our wedding reception.  It was awesome.

Myth & Magic Game Master's Guide and Collector's Complete - see above.

PURGE: Sins of Science- The 1st Real Time Strategy Card Game - Initial shipment came without incident, expansion set was scheduled for February but delayed until June, and no word since.  Almost halfway through June now, but waiting patiently.  Honestly, I had forgotten that I was supposed to receive it until I went to write this.

Shadows of Esteren - A Medieval Horror RPG: Prologue - While the first Kickstarter was run like a well oiled machine, this one... wasn't.  They hammered me with Updates throughout the Kickstarter, they kept coming up with new backer classes, new shipping classes, they had some map... thing... that was supposed to represent stretch goals, I think.  I just remember getting somewhat annoyed.  And now they're late.  Last update was a few months ago, saying everyone should have their books by late May, but....  At least they are communicating in the comments section, so that's good.

Hillfolk: DramaSystem Roleplaying by Robin D. Laws - Late.  A victim of their own success, to be sure, so a good kind of late.  Plus, it's in layout.  So hopefully, soon?

Spears of the Dawn - Kevin Crawford, the man, the myth, the legend!  They said it couldn't be done, but he proved them wrong!  Delivered, not just on time, but early!  No, seriously!

How to Make a Book Safe - I'm a big fan of Greg Stolze, going back to Unknown Armies and Demon: The Fallen, so I back his stuff whenever I can.  Bonus for this one was an actual hollowed out book safe and two linocuts done by the author himself.  Delivered on time, if I recall.

Boss Monster: the Dungeon-Building Card Game - They were late, but handled it the right way - not just apologies, but added value.  Hopefully we should see this in the coming month.

Adventures Dark and Deep Players Manual - Delivered quickly and professionally.  That Joseph Bloch guy, I like the cut of his jib.

Cairn - A Mike Nystul Production.  Sigh.

Martin Wallace's Moongha Invaders - Technically not late, it's due next month, but as the sculptors just started work on the pieces in May, I'm pretty doubtful that it'll ship on time.

The Morrow Project 4th. Edition - Late - it was due in January, but supposedly he's shipping now.  Hope to see it soon!

Cataclysm at the Acaeum - I meant to ask Bill Barsh about this when I was at NTRPGCon, but didn't.  He was really pushing for a May delivery, but it doesn't seem to have worked out.  There was supposed to be an update at the beginning of the month, but nothing yet.  Hopefully this can finish soon.

Das Horn: the Definitive Drinking Horn. - Ugh, what a disappointment.  Their initial design for the horn was awesome, so I backed.  Now months late and numerous design changes later, I'm much less interested in the final product, and not sure if I'll actually use it if/when I get it.

Creature & Encounter RPG Card Decks - Victim of scope creep, big time.  They started off making encounter cards, then decided to add three other types of cards, then couldn't decide which system to make them for, so they decided to make them for like six systems and now instead of a May delivery we have a, "Who Knows?".

Fate Core - The pdfs look great - I can't wait for the books!  Might even make it on time, too!

Republishing: The World of Synnibarr - I believe in Raven c.s. McCracken!  After blowing up my inbox for the first month or so after funding, he's gone (comparatively) quiet.  Hopefully that's a good thing.  He's got plenty of time yet, so no worries.

Guilds of Cadwallon - This just arrived recently - got it in May instead of March - no big deal.  Fun game, too!

Seattle Doomsday Map - completed, and it looks gorgeous!

Necrochrome - Another Greg Stolze joint. Just got my bookmark in the mail last week!

The following are still in production, and not late:

Sorcerer Upgrade

Dragons Hoard

LotFP 2013 Free RPG Day Adventure

ALAS VEGAS: an RPG of bad memories, bad luck & bad blood

KOBOLDS ATE MY BABY! IN COLOR!!!

"Mask of the Other" Audiobook

MAJUS: A Magic Noir Pacesetter Game

Domains at War: Battles, Campaigns, and Mass Combat

Adventures Dark and Deep Bestiary

Adventure Maximus

Moby Dick, or, The Card Game

Finally, these are the Kickstarters that I am currently backing, and you should too!

Kingdom - I loved Microscope, and I'm really looking forward to this.

Cthulhu Wars - The price point is pretty high on this, but it looks absolutely gorgeous.  I'm calling it a birthday present to myself.

Playtest - Mike Nystul's Axes and Anvils

I recently backed the Kickstarter for Mike Nystul's Axes and Anvils.  When I saw that Mike was headed to Fencon and would be playtesting, I bought my ticket.  Unfortunately, I had to leave early, but I was able to get a good sense for the game, and I'm even more excited to get my copy now.

Before I get into the meat of the report, it's worth mentioning the fact that this is a fun game, and you can tell that Mike has had fun designing it.  The passion he has for this game was on full display as he ran us through the session.  If you doubt his commitment to this game, see the picture to the right, where the Stretch Goal-sponsored tattoo is on display.

Yeah, it's like that.

As far as the game itself went, it was simple, intuitive and fun.  There's an emphasis on the clannish nature of Dwarves that permeates the system mechanics in an organic sort of way.  The clan is in many ways as important as the characters themselves, and part of the character creation process includes the group creating the story of their clan in an interactive, communal process that was lots of fun.

As far as character creation goes, I was impressed - in less than an hour and a half, we had all the setting background  figured out, and characters in hand.  There's a good mix of character archetypes, and each character we ended up with had a good set of skills and abilities that gave each it's own unique flavor.  I ended up with a human sized Sorceror Dwarf who was Blessed by the Gods, but there were Berserkers, Scholars, Diplomats, all sorts of different shades of Dwarfdom were recognized. 

At one point, I was reminded of my brief, passionate love affair with Kobolds Ate My Baby.  When you score a critical hit, if you want to take advantage of the bonus associated with it, it is MANDATORY that at least half of the party hoist their flagons (shown to the right), and cheer, "HUZZAH!"  If that doesn't happen, the attack is as normal.

Combat is simple and intuitive but actiony, and we were able to bash through several giant spiders.  It wasn't easy, but had just about the right feel for the systems equivalent of 1st level characters.  The mechanics are very different from what you might be used to with Dungeons & Dragons, while capturing the freewheeling, rules-lite spirit of early editions.

I was disappointed that I had to leave early, we had just negotiated our way past an ogre and threw a pack animal down a hole (don't ask), and were on our way to track down a wayward clanmember who had been apparently fallen prey to a clan of goblins.  But alas, duty called and I had to abandon the party.

I'm definitely even more excited about this game than I was previously, though, so mission accomplished, Mike Nystul!   

All Hail King Torg!

The afore mentioned King Torg (All Hail King Torg!)

So I finally got to play Kobolds Ate My Baby! tonight, and lo it was awesome.  I actually GM'd for the first time in quite awhile, and had a blast.  Every kobold bit it at least once, many in spectacular explosions of chicken feed.  Ark even suffered the most foul death of all - the Death By Monty Python Skit!  A Black Knight riding a fierce rabbit rode through and spanked Schmecky Encephalitis to death after he quoted Monty Python.  Clucky, the chicken/masked vigilante protector of the village struck twice, and there was much barking from all around the table.

Seriously, if you haven't played this game, find a copy and pick it up.  I don't think we stopped laughing all night!