This week’s crowdfunding sampler seems to be at campaigns on Kickstarter and Backerkit that shut between August 13 to 26. This record consists of the twentieth anniversary of The Guild, the twenty fifth anniversary of HackMaster, a brand new, dense recreation from Steve Jackson Video games, homicide mysteries, conventions, and extra.
Attending Gen Con this weekend? Most of the publishers behind these tasks are in attendance, keen to speak to you about their upcoming tasks. Significantly, head over to Kenzer & Co’s sales space (1229) to see the HackMaster enviornment, it’s a miniature battleground worthy of your time.
The Guild: Ren Faire’d from Felicia Day (and Hit Level Press for the TTRPG)
- END DATE: Fri, August 21 2026 11:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons 5.5e
- PROJECT TYPE: Film plus tabletop gaming choices together with a TTRPG
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $45 for a digital model of the film and the TTRPG plus digital extras
- AI STATEMENT: “Human made. No AI.”
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Coming in 2027, have fun 20 years for the reason that debut of Felicia Day’s internet collection, The Guild. The 2007 to 2013 collection had 70 episodes targeted on avid gamers taking part in a fictitious MMORPG online game within the useless of the World of Warcraft. Within the construct as much as the anniversary, the creators are working a Backerkit marketing campaign to fund a film and tabletop video games, together with a TTRPG along side Hit Level Press. Past that, they’re conducting some occasions at Gen Con. The 5.5e sourcebook for The Guild bringings the setting to your gaming desk. Should you’re a D&D and The Guild fan, this Kickstarter is value a glance.
Seven-Half Pact from Steve Jackson Video games (Possum Creek)
- END DATE: Thu, August 13 2026 5:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An unique system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $150 + S/H for the PDF and print variations of the boxed set
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? You might be one in all seven wizards residing beneath the principles of a pact. Altering the principles will change you and the sport, however at nice value to everybody. You rule a site of magic, for instance, the necromancer and death-related magic, but others rule equal and counter domains. Every mage will get a full e-book of setting data and guidelines. This recreation is a posh mixture of tabletop RPG and board recreation with flip based mostly necessities in addition to roleplaying scenes. Coming from Steve Jackson Video games, that is greater than a easy recreation, that is an journey for gamers that need to embody a world of recent concepts and absolute powers that remodel their characters, the setting, and really nature of the sport. Should you’re searching for a subsequent degree gaming idea, this Kickstarter gives the facility you search.
Kids of Time: The Roleplaying Recreation from Rowan, Rook and Decard
- END DATE: Tue, August 11 2026 11:00 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An unique system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £100 + S/H for the PDF and print variations of the Kids of Time RPG, Core Guide Set in addition to The Time Capsule, play aids, and maps
- AI STATEMENT: “This work was made by people. No AI or Machine Generated works are included on this challenge. Supporting this challenge means you might be supporting actual human beings who’ve desires, passions, & payments.”
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Primarily based on the award profitable Kids of Time novels by Adrian Tchaikovsky, this TTRPG explores the aftermath of a dying Earth. Create a generational ark ship and escape the planet to a terraformed paradise that, unbeknownst to you, has been usurped by advanced creatures launched from Earth. You’re arriving on a planet that you simply’ve created to find an unintended consequence. To deepen the problem, you may’t return dwelling. Will there be peace, struggle, or worse? Should you’re a fan of the Kids of Time e-book collection, this Kickstarter awaits.
HackMaster twenty fifth Anniversary Version, a Fantasy RPG from Kenzer & Co
- END DATE: Thu, September 10 2026 5:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): HackMaster twenty fifth Anniversary Version (XXV)
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $290 + S/H for the PDF and print variations of the HackMaster GameMaster’s Information, HackMaster Participant’s Information to Adventuring, Hacklopedia of Beasts, Hackmaster Participant Character Codex, and the PDFs of HackMaster fundamental and Any Port in a Storm journey
- TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: Bundle of Holding provide the early editions HackMaster right here
- DISCLAIMER: I freelance for Kenzer & Co’s Knights of the Dinner Desk; I’m not concerned on this challenge
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? One of the best in-comic joke that become a full-fledged TTRPG ever, HackMaster is again. In 2001, HackMaster pioneered the then-unknown OSR motion with an old-fashioned recreation of violence and adventuring. HackMaster began because the stand-in for D&D (and all fantasy TTRPGs) in Knight of the Dinner Desk, however it has grown past its baseline joke. This recreation is ideal for KotDT followers, OSR followers, and avid gamers that need a bit of cheek and quite a lot of violence of their tabletop. If nothing else, please go to the Kickstarter web page and take a look at “Gary Jackson’s Energy Cube” graphic to see a black 12-sided d3, black 12-sided d4, black 12-sided d6, a black 8-sided d8, and a black 12-sided d12. Complicated! Figuring out which of the 12-sided cube is the fitting one for this roll shall be maddening in the very best approach!
Merryshire Detective Membership from Pelgrane Press
- END DATE: Aug 22, 2026 at 3:00pm EDT.
- CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
- SYSTEM(S): GUMSHOE
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £80 + S/H for the PDF and print variations of the Merryshire Detective Membership, The Dreadful Hare, and the map pack
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Construct a comfortable, fantasy settlement, populate it with halflings, dwarves, pooka, and boggarts, uncover a homicide, serve tea, and resolve the capital crime. This TTRPG gives choices to construct a city, uncover enjoyable characters inside it, be a part of a mystery-solving membership of buddies, and assist deliver justice to the hamlet. From the minds behind Mutant Metropolis Blues, The Dracula File, and GUMSHOE, count on a thriller and the instruments to unravel it earlier than the assassin strikes once more.
The Physique within the Mage Tower – Impressed by Frankenstein (5e) from Midnight Tower
- END DATE: Thu, August 13 2026 10:31 AM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Version
- PROJECT TYPE: Journey
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: £35 + S/H for the PDF and print variations of the e-book
- AI STATEMENT: “This e-book shall be made by Tove and Erik, the 2 nerds behind Midnight Tower.
- The written content material and all fantasy artwork on this e-book is made by 100% people.”
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? How a few homicide thriller journey? Not a comfortable thriller, however grim one for 5e, impressed by Frankenstein. The workforce at Midnight Tower return with one other journey, this one constructed on the bones of Mary Shelley’s basic. This 80-page journey consists of digital handouts, maps, and VTT tokens. If you’d like a 5e thriller based mostly on a well-loved novel, check out this Kickstarter.
Starbreaker: Yr Zero Engine from Star Anvil Studios
- END DATE: Aug 22, 2026 at 1:00am EDT.
- CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
- SYSTEM(S): Yr Zero Engine
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $60 for the PDF variations of the gadgets plus POD low cost coupons for print variations: Starbreaker Zero, journey pack, maps, a number of units of playing cards, and determine flats
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? The universe is a determined place stuffed with outlaws. The ruling worlds are in decline after a galaxy-wide struggle and criminals are in-charge. Rip and run as you steal to outlive or combat for a share of galactic justice. Utilizing a model of the Yr Zero Engine as seen in Blade Runner and Twilight 2000 by Free League Publishing, this recreation brings the setting from Savage Worlds to Free League’s multi-award profitable TTRPG engine. Should you love Starbreaker or desire a totally different sci-fi YZE RPG, this Backerkit deserves a glance.
Additional Journey TTRPG Playtest from Limitless Adventures
- END DATE: Fri, August 21 2026 8:00 PM EDT.
- SYSTEM(S): An unique system
- PROJECT TYPE: Core rulebook
- MOST POPULAR PLEDGE: $20 for the Additional Journey quickstart guidelines PDF, character sheet PDF, Expanded Highway to Ruan journey module PDF
- WHY SPOTLIGHT THIS CAMPAIGN? Creators provide new fantasy TTRPG methods from time-to-time. Limitless Adventures is providing the playtest PDFs of their new enterprise so you may get in on the bottom ground, see what they’ve provide you with, and provide suggestions. If you wish to assist form an indy RPG, this Kickstarter is a gateway to offering your suggestions. Additionally, in case you’re at Gen Con, try their sales space to study extra concerning the recreation.
CONVENTION CROWDFUNDING
Talking of Gen Con, let’s take a look at another in-person tabletop conventions. On Kickstarter and Backerkit, there are three to peruse. Starting from Tennessee to California, these exhibits function tabletop in-general in addition to a Darkish Solar-specific conference. Should you’re a fan of gaming with new avid gamers, these choices await.
BATSCon 2026 from The Bay Space TRPG Society
- END DATE: Aug 10, 2026 at 1:00pm EDT.
- CROWDFUNDING ON: Backerkit
- CONVENTION DATE & LOCATION: October 10, 2025 (10:00AM-5:00PM) on the Berkeley Public Library in Berkeley CA
- DAY BADGE PRICE: Free to attendees (the Backerkit marketing campaign pays for this free occasion)
RiverCityCon Board Recreation Conference 2027 – We’re Shifting (from the parents behind LexiCon in Lexington, KY)
- END DATE: Tue, August 11 2026 7:10 AM EDT.
- CONVENTION DATES & LOCATION: January 29 to 31, 2027 at Louisville Marriott East Lodge in Louisville, KY
- WEEKEND BADGE PRICE: $55
DarkCon, an in particular person conference for Darkish Solar followers! from Darkish Home Guidelines Video games LLC
- END DATE: Sat, August 15 2026 6:07 PM EDT.
- CONVENTION DATES & LOCATION: October 24 to 25, 2026 on the Knoxville Airport Hilton in Knoxville, TN
- WEEKEND BADGE PRICE: $75
See you in two weeks.
Egg Embry doesn’t use AI in any of his writing. He participates within the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, Noble Knight Video games’ Affiliate Program, Kobold Press Affiliate Program, and is an Amazon Affiliate. These packages present promoting charges by linking to DriveThruRPG, Noble Knight Video games, Kobold Press, and Amazon. Should you just like the articles at EN World please take into account supporting the Patreon.
