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.

Death Love Doom: A Review

Well.

It's just after 6 in the morning, I just finished reading through the pdf of James Raggi's Death Love Doom and well, hmmm.

I have a tendency to think of myself as jaded.  I laugh my way through horror films, I make jokes about inappropriate topics, and look oddly at  others whose stomachs don't allow them to.  Every once in awhile, though, I'm reminded that I haven't quite lost every bit of my innocence.  Usually I come upon that realization only as another bit is ripped away.  The last time this happened was when I read Garth Ennis' Crossed comics.  I remember thinking to myself that I admired the craft that went into writing something that was able to disturb me.  I also remember wondering if it that was a good thing. 

Raggi definitely wades into deep water with this module - he is staking his claim to the dark, murky depths of extreme horror roleplaying, and his promotion of the contents has been accurate - this module does what it says on the tin.  There is a Cronenberg meets Barker sort of vibe running through the descriptions that leaves you feeling uneasy, and slightly queasy.  I can only think of Mongoose Games' Noctum as comparable RPG material, if that gives any indication.  The artwork brings out the horror, with the two page drawing in particular evoking feelings of disgust.  You know the one I'm talking about.  Or you don't.  I'm certainly not going to reproduce the image here, but kudos to Kelvin Green for his evocative artwork.

The thing is, this sort of product is essentially review-proof.  You're either sucked in by the idea of a Big Nasty, in which case a bad review isn't going to sway you, or you're repulsed by the idea, in which case it could have been ghost-written by Gary Gygax, and you're still not going to pick it up.  

So is it good?  I don't see it as compatible with my gaming group.  That's not necessarily a failing on the part of the product, but rather a realization that it isn't providing material that would prove entertaining for the dynamic of the group that I play with.  I suspect I won't be the only one to feel that way.  That doesn't mean it's not good, it just means it's not useful.  Hrm.

So maybe good/bad isn't the correct indicator for this review.

So is it effective?  To a certain extent yes.  It's essentially a tableau, a diorama that the PCs wander through, and experience the horrible things Raggi has dreamed up.  There's no saving anyone, there's no rescuing the damsel here.  Shit has gone down, and there's no coming back from it - the best that can be hoped for is to put some that linger out of their misery.  There's no satisfaction to be found, no victorious release to be had, and some groups will not enjoy that.  They don't interact with the setting, but rather bear witness, and indeed, are punished in many cases for interaction.  So the question of it's effectiveness depends on the expectations of the group, not just with regards to the gross-out factor, but with regards to how much influence they should have over the story, and it's outcome.

I think that, for better or for worse, whether your group would appreciate this module or not, whether you can stomach it or not, whether you agree with the design or not, there is a strong statement being made here.  To me, it seems that this is less an adventure than it is a manifesto, so take it for what it is - a declaration of intent, a vision of Raggi's world, where life is a Hobbesian nightmare - bad thing happen to good people, and the best you can hope for are "heroes" to clean up the mess. 

Unless a man possessed by a giant insect sprays black goop from his junk and kills them first.

I'd Like to Thank the Little People

Over on the Lamentations of the Flame Princess Forum, Jim Raggi challenged his readers to come up with a description of the events portrayed on the banner at said site.  My contribution was selected by Mr. Raggi as his favorite, being "very evil and very unlikely to end well for anyone."

Which, if you've ever played LotFP, is high praise, indeed!