Kickstarters Thread

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Ladybird said:
I liked Veins of the Earth, even if it did get into weird-for-the-sake-of-it territory in places.
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Veins was a mixed bag for me. A lot of the mechanics were cool and interesting, and I very much liked some of the unique creatures. But other creatures were more like art projects than something you could enjoy in a game. For my underdark action, I prefer Operation Unfathomable and even Journey to the Center of Aereth.
The Butcher said:
I am actually curious about Veins of the Earth, though to be honest “weird for the sake of it” describes much (or at least a very noticeable segment) of the OSR these days.
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That's definitely a space occupied by folks like Patrick Stuart and Zak. I'm usually a fan, but I'll acknowledge that they sometimes stretch the boundaries of playability in the service of being creative. It's a risk I'm usually willing to take because, if nothing else, its purveyors are very willing to try something new.
 
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The Butcher said:
I am actually curious about Veins of the Earth, though to be honest “weird for the sake of it” describes much (or at least a very noticeable segment) of the OSR these days.
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The first big chunk of the book is an LotFP monster manual; in addition to the various nasty things down there (The Veins is not a pleasant place, but you already guessed that), there's a deep dive into the societies of a few creatures down there and how to work them into adventures.

The back half of the book starts with rules for a Veins campaign, including rules for light and senses, food, hunger, exploration, climbing, and a new take on encumbrance. A lot of these mechanics use all of the stats, and while I find it hard to rationalise why (Say) having a Chrisma bonus lets you carry more stuff or can help you climb better, that's just how it is so I won't question it too hard. Then there's a lot of randomisation advice - how to make underground environments, how to make them feel right and like places the PC's really don't want to be, random encounter tables, random caves the party might encounter and the weird stuff living there. All this stuff could easily be adapted to any d20-based class/level system, even if the book is overtly marketed as being an LotFP supplement, and fluff is fluff so you can use that anywhere.

It's not quite the Vornheiim of underground adventures, it's a distinct place rather than a general guide, but it's certainly in the same ballpark and would make a fine starting point

I don't really like Scrap Princess's art that much, but it does really work for the environment, her sketchy style is good for these horrible things that you catch a glimpse of in the dark.

It's good. It's a quality project.
 
I got this confused with Reach of Titan which started playtesting on Drivethru today. :smile:
 
Edgewise said:
That's definitely a space occupied by folks like Patrick Stuart and Zak. I'm usually a fan, but I'll acknowledge that they sometimes stretch the boundaries of playability in the service of being creative. It's a risk I'm usually willing to take because, if nothing else, its purveyors are very willing to try something new.
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Hmm, not sure those two should be lumped under that descriptor.
Patrick seems more on the "artistic but not very useful at the table" descriptor.
I've found Zak to be "very useful at the table IF the artistic presentation doesn't scramble your logic centers."
 
CRKrueger said:
Hmm, not sure those two should be lumped under that descriptor.
Patrick seems more on the "artistic but not very useful at the table" descriptor.
I've found Zak to be "very useful at the table IF the artistic presentation doesn't scramble your logic centers."
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I consider DCO to be eminently playable. And the two collaborated on Maze of the Blue Medusa, which takes table-readiness to a new level. I will agree that nothing in Fire on the Velvet Horizon is likely to hit my tabletop, and Veins of the Earth could be seen as evidence for either POV.
 
Some dude by the name of Greg Stolze (jk) is Kickstarting a sf RPG with an interesting premise. More info here.



I’m interested in anything Stolze is doing myself and the sf elements are promsing.

I wonder if he will ever get around to redoing Godlike. I’d like a print edition.
 
I love Stolze but I admit I'm not really feeling this game. The mechanics look gimmicky for gimmick sake. What doing things with Energy/Gravity/Harmony has to do with the premise of first contact with aliens, for e.g.? What the play structure look like? What's the pitch for players here, first encounters with alien aliens? Then what?

Don't know, maybe the final product changes my mind (and being Stolze there's a big chance this happens) but I'm not seeing something engaging atm.
 
I'd be interested to see how it makes the aliens actually alien, but more so tech inspired by actual science. Not so much for realism, but I think new concepts from the last two decades of physics for example haven't trickled down much into fiction.
 
Howdy y'all! I'm an indie game designer and owner of Higher Grounds Publishing. So far, players love Modern RPG, and the next installment in the Modernverse is Kickstarting now! Lex Draconis places you in the claws and scales of one of the shattered dragon tribes, forced to reconcile your mortal lives with your newly awakened draconic soul. As you discover your powers, you'll quickly realize that the dragon is seductive, and threatens to steal away everything from your mortal life that you knew and loved. The thirst for power and wealth is real, and forces you to answer the burning question: What would you sacrifice for power?

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/highergrounds/lex-draconis-be-the-dragon
 
Disclaimer: I am totally a consultant on the project.


Venger Satanis is kicksharting his magnum opus. After half a decade of increasingly perverted space smut he has gone back to his roots: weird-science-fantasy smut! It's almost funded and it has 3 days left!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vengersatanis/chaalt/

Gaze in awe at the majestic poetry of my actual play report here:

https://princeofnothingblogs.wordpr...ay-the-dungeons-of-kradumek-session-1-chaalt/

Treat your mind to the sultry sentences and penetrating questions of this terrific interview with the designer, giving you many new insights into the creation of this majestic megadungeon:

https://princeofnothingblogs.wordpr...tanis-interview-about-his-chaalt-kickstarter/

Check out a sampling of the Riftastic OSR goodness here, with a FREE ADVENTURE:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vengersatanis/chaalt/posts/2401542

Am I biased? Yes! Mad? Perhaps! Hopelessly corrupt? Er...that is to say...But I cannot bear to live in a world where my children cannot play as Connor Mcregor wielding a traffic sign to kill a sand-caterpillar against a backdrop of a black pyramid silhoutted against an ominous purple sky. Check it out I say!
 

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How pervy is this? lol.

For me at least I'm a "fade to black" love scene, "sex has no part in my tabletop games" kinda guy. Call me a prude.

I've always been curious about Venger's work, but I get the impression there's a high perv factor in all of it and it's steered me away in the past.
 
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Gwarh said:
I've always been curious about Venger's work, but I get the impression their's a high perv factor in all of it and it's steered me away in the past.
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That's a pretty fair observation. I think the height of his sleeze period was around Alpha Blue (I have become something of a VS scholar as of late) but Cha'alt is more reminiscent of Isles of the Purple Haunted Putrescence. So expect the usual mixture of post-apocalyptic bikers, robots, lovecraftian horrors, demons, elves, doctor who references, cultists, disembodied green face-things, dinosaurs, intelligent apes, time-travellers and aliens, only add a sprinkling of...actresses and perhaps some damsels in the midst of a wardrobe crisis.

I do a decent job describing both on my blog, which I will link here:
https://princeofnothingblogs.wordpr...-putrescence-osr-pop-culture-cluster-warhead/

Compare Alpha Blue, which is very sleazy:
https://princeofnothingblogs.wordpr...-core-rules-a-game-best-played-with-one-hand/
 
Venger is an interesting character, at least what I know of him*, though his tastes and mine don't line up. Still, it's always cool to see someone create his own thing and do it his own way. The sandworm drawing is pretty nice. More power to him. :thumbsup:

* not a lot
 
1) thanks for your prompt reply, I appreciate it.
2) I am really enjoying your blog, keep up the excellent work and great/humorous writing. (I've got 5 tabs/posts of your blog open in my browser already w. more opening!)
 
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"actresses and perhaps some damsels in the midst of a wardrobe crisis." ~ PrinceofNothing​

I am personally all for wardrobe malfunctions, it's when the tentacles come out and the awkward nerd sexlarping starts I go all

nooope!
​
"Venger is an interesting character, at least what I know of him*, though his tastes and mine don't line up. Still, it's always cool to see someone create his own thing and do it his own way. The sandworm drawing is pretty nice. More power to him." :thumbsup: ~ Dumarest (I can't seem to get post quotes working)​
​
I agree whole heartedly with you Dumarest.

I don't want anyone for a minute to think I am criticizing him. What a Man writes and self-publishes is his business and none of mine, nor do I seek to moral/tell/browbeat him at all, I'm fart to libertarian of bent for that.

I just am not into buying. I think at least, what I've "assumed", Venger usually is sellin.
 
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Gwarh said:
2) I am really enjoying your blog, keep up the excellent work and great/humorous writing. (I've got 5 tabs/posts of your blog open in my browser already w. more opening!)
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Thanks man. I get better with time but most of my shit is pretty cool. It's not a family friendly but its good for a laugh.

Gwarh said:
I am personally all for wardrobe malfunctions, it's when the tentacles come out and the awkward nerd sexlarping starts I go all
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I haven't found any tentacle sicko stuff in any of his products and the sleaze he put in AB was more charming then off-putting but some of his stuff is pretty raunchy I'll agree. I tend to be off-put by really edgy stuff like Blood in the Chocolate but Venger's stuff never gave me that vibe. It's 70s pornography, it has a juvenile sort of innocence to it that I find vaguely charming.

TristramEvans said:
I think he's the only person with the honour of being banned from TBP for casting spells on other posters
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Hahaha I did not know that. This is some excellent google dumpster diving stuff. More VS dirt welcome, but also *hopefully rattles tin cup*
 
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TristramEvans said:
Verger will always go d


I think he's the only person with the honour of being banned from TBP for casting spells on other posters
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lol, wut?!

As for the KS, i'd totally back this if it were compatible with the OSR stuff I've got, and not 5E.
 
I've been impressed by the artwork in Venger's previous releases but the editing has been pretty sloppy, what's the plan for that with the megadungeon?
 
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noman said:
As for the KS, i'd totally back this if it were compatible with the OSR stuff I've got, and not 5E.
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I think you might be in luck. Venger uses something he has chosen to dub O5R which is nominally compatible with both OSR and 5e shit but what it boils down to is a very stripped down system that uses hit points, ascending AC, saving throws equal to 20 - character level and one or two special abilities.

Observe a typical Cha'alt stat-block.
Chaalt Statblocks.png
Voros said:
I've been impressed by the artwork in Venger's previous releases but the editing has been pretty slopy, what's the plan for that with the megadungeon?
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Again, a pretty fair point. I myself have lambasted Venger on his sloppy editing for pretty much everything he ever wrote that was not Alpha Blue. That being said, part of my task description has been ensuring that awesome sections are given proper follow-through and you don't get a confusing wall of text ah la Dead God Excavation's central chamber.

As far as experience goes, I draft a lot of contracts in my line of work and I have the honor of having co-written Red Prophet Rises which gets props for being well-edited (as well as totally awesome in other regards). Examples here:

Bryce Lynch: https://tenfootpole.org/ironspike/?p=4123
Beyondfomalhaut: http://beyondfomalhaut.blogspot.com/2018/04/review-red-prophet-rises.html

I can't promise it will be error-free, but we'll be looking into ways of tightening the editing. Also I have prepared a bowl of ground glass that Venger has promised to eat if he commits any errors regarding the editing or typos of any kind.
 
PrinceofNothing said:
I think you might be in luck. Venger uses something he has chosen to dub O5R which is nominally compatible with both OSR and 5e shit but what it boils down to is a very stripped down system that uses hit points, ascending AC, saving throws equal to 20 - character level and one or two special abilities.

Observe a typical Cha'alt stat-block.
View attachment 6979
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Very interesting! Thank you very much. This was very helpful.
 
bryce0lynch said:
Venger's success depends greatly, I think, on someone else keeping him on track.
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Yo Bryce!

Possibly, you yourself have rated a lot of his earlier stuff pretty highly and I'm starting to grow fond of his Alpha Blue output. I'd nuance that by stating that I think there are adventure formats that work well to his natural strengths and weaknesses and formats that most certainly do not.
 
PrinceofNothing said:
Venger uses something he has chosen to dub O5R which is nominally compatible with both OSR and 5e shit but what it boils down to is a very stripped down system that uses hit points, ascending AC, saving throws equal to 20 - character level and one or two special abilities.
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That's actually pretty cool, but I suspect that will be far better received on the OSR side of things. If nothing else, 5e folks are a lot more used to being spoon-fed. I mean, those stat blocks remind me of Maze of the Blue Medusa and even Deep Carbon Observatory, and nobody called those 5e. Again, I think it's good, so maybe my expectations for 5e DMs are too low.
 
Baulderstone said:
Welcome to the Pub, Bryce. I've found your reviews very helpful over the years.
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Thanks. I'm embarrassed to say that the G+ implosion has got me out to the forums more.

Back to Venger ... I liked some of Raggi's early stuff also before he declined. I don't know what lightning Venger captured for Purple. It may be he does indeed do certain formats better. Or maybe its whatever editor he has?
 
Edgewise said:
That's actually pretty cool, but I suspect that will be far better received on the OSR side of things. If nothing else, 5e folks are a lot more used to being spoon-fed. I mean, those stat blocks remind me of Maze of the Blue Medusa and even Deep Carbon Observatory, and nobody called those 5e. Again, I think it's good, so maybe my expectations for 5e DMs are too low.
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I haven't really started delving into 5e too much but from what I've read, how my GM plays and what I assume is the average experience given the fact a segment of 5e guys will be new, its not unfair to assume most of the material will be targeted at and made by illiterate dullards. Then again, one of the best adventures I have ever read is a 5e one.


bryce0lynch said:
Back to Venger ... I liked some of Raggi's early stuff also before he declined. I don't know what lightning Venger captured for Purple. It may be he does indeed do certain formats better. Or maybe its whatever editor he has?
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Hah, I knew my persistent doomsaying would catch on with respect to the Raggu.

I think you also rated Liberation of the Demon Slayer and Revelry in Torth pretty highly, so it wasn't a one-off success. Venger has a lot of ideas but seems to have a problem with following them through. The result is messy but decent gonzo dungeons, a damn fine Hexcrawl and excellent random table/adventure idea generation because in those cases one merely needs to create a seed that can be worked out for the GM. A structured, linear adventure like Battle for the Purple Islands doesn't play to his strengths.

I don't know about the editing, Islands of Purple doesn't credit an editor, I can throw in the question when I do another review of his stuff.
 
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Serious question and hopefully not OT: If I wanted go get into Venger's stuff, where would you recommend I start? If I were to begin with 1-3 books, say? Outside of this KS, obliviously, which I'm on the fence on backing.

EDIT: I know next to nothing of his work other than Alpha Blue is supposed to be somewhat lewd or something.
 
noman said:
Serious question and hopefully not OT: If I wanted go get into Venger's stuff, where would you recommend I start? If I were to begin with 1-3 books, say? Outside of this KS, obliviously, which I'm on the fence on backing.
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Islands of the Purple Haunted Putrescence, Revelry in Torth and Liberation of the Demon Slayer should give you a pretty good idea of whether or not you are going to like his particular style of eldritch gonzo science fantasy to be used in Cha'alt.
 
PrinceofNothing said:
I think you also rated Scourge of the Demon Wolf and Revelry in Torth pretty highly, so it wasn't a one-off success.
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Wait a minute, Venger has something to do with Scourge? I thought that was all robertsconley robertsconley.
PrinceofNothing said:
Islands of the Purple Haunted Putrescence, Revelry in Torth and Liberation of the Demon Slayer should give you a pretty good idea of whether or not you are going to like his particular style of eldritch gonzo science fantasy to be used in Cha'alt.
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I've been curious about the latter two, so I'll pick one up when I make a little more progress through my ridiculous PDF backlog.
 
PrinceofNothing said:
Islands of the Purple Haunted Putrescence, Revelry in Torth and Liberation of the Demon Slayer should give you a pretty good idea of whether or not you are going to like his particular style of eldritch gonzo science fantasy to be used in Cha'alt.
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Thank you! :grin:
 
I always thought Venger's sensibilities would be well suited to horror, does anyone have thoughts on his Cthulhuish horror scenarios?

41DLH7c90kL._AC_UL320_SR248,320_.jpg
 
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