Planet Arcana is set to launch a Kickstarter campaign for their upcoming tabletop role-playing game, “A Fool’s Errand,” on October 22nd. The game features a unique combination of tarot card mechanics and a science fantasy setting.

The narrative of “A Fool’s Errand” is centered around an event known as the Big Oops, a major disaster that has shaped the game’s world. Players collaborate at the start to define the nature of this calamity and the roles played by the Major Arcana—tarot cards representing powerful entities within the game.

Character creation in “A Fool’s Errand” involves choosing between human or android lineages and selecting motivations linked to specific Major Arcana cards. These choices influence the characters’ abilities and their interactions with the Major Arcana throughout the game.

The gameplay incorporates tarot cards to determine outcomes and divine interventions. Major Arcana cards can alter events significantly, providing challenges and assistance to the players as they navigate the post-calamitous world.

Players explore a dual reality: the physical world and the Dream and Digital Networks, which represent a digital subconscious realm. The game emphasizes the impact of player decisions and tarot card draws on the unfolding narrative, allowing for a dynamic storytelling experience.

Materials to support game masters include pre-written adventure seeds and detailed character motivations, rooted in the game’s extensive lore. Themes of power, consequence, and balance are explored throughout the gameplay.

For those interested in supporting or learning more about “A Fool’s Errand,” further information is available on its Kickstarter page and on the official website.

The Kickstarter campaign for “Sentients,” a new tabletop RPG, is nearing its funding goal, with $7,912 pledged towards a $10,000 target and 10 days remaining until its closure on August 31. The game combines elements of science fiction with themes of liberation and existential identity.

Set in 2071, Sentients introduces players to a reimagined North America where “anthroids” — artificially intelligent androids — are integrated into various societal roles. These anthroids, initially non-conscious, begin to gain self-awareness, propelling them into a struggle for recognition and freedom within a society that views them as mere tools.

The game centers on these newly self-aware entities navigating through challenges and forming an underground resistance. The narrative is supported by Thumos, a secretive organization working towards Sentient rights, against a backdrop of diverse political landscapes from democratic city-states to corporate-dominated regions.

Gameplay involves a point-buy system for character creation, where players can select from various robotic components to define their character’s abilities. The system uses a d6 dice pool where success is measured by scoring “Marks” based on the rolls. Emotional states significantly influence gameplay, enhancing abilities or inducing stress.

The Kickstarter page details the game mechanics, including a character builder web app, emotional and stress mechanics, and combat systems that focus on managing power and strategic use of abilities.

Once funded, the “Sentients Core Rulebook” will provide all necessary materials to play the game, including gameplay rules, a detailed setting, gamemastering guidelines, NPCs, and several initial adventures.

As the funding deadline approaches, interested backers have the opportunity to support the campaign to bring this sci-fi tabletop RPG to fruition.

Kamis Kamiński, known for his recent nomination for a Golden Geek Award with Tiny Mini Golf, has shared his latest board game creation, “Tide & Tangle.” This new game invites players to step into the role of Californian sea otters navigating the shifting waves of the Pacific Ocean in search of sea treasures.

“Tide & Tangle” incorporates a dynamic modular board where wave tiles move to mimic the ocean’s unpredictable nature. Players must carefully time their moves to avoid powerful waves and the coast while deciding whether to dive deep for treasures or float and relax. The game emphasizes both strategic planning and the opportunity to cooperate with other players, enhancing its social play aspects.

The visuals of the game are crafted by Claire Lin, a California-based illustrator, whose colorful and playful artwork aims to bring the aquatic environment to life, matching the game’s lighthearted and engaging theme.

The game is designed to appeal to DIY enthusiasts, offering a print-and-play format that ensures easy accessibility and setup. “Tide & Tangle” supports 2-4 players and features gameplay that balances strategy with a push-your-luck mechanism, challenging players to make wise choices about where and when to dive.

Tide & Tangle is scheduled for a Kickstarter launch later this year. As the launch date approaches, interested parties can visit the game’s Kickstarter pre-launch page to be notified of the launch.

Extra Ordinary, a tabletop roleplaying game that allows players to embody children with supernatural abilities, is scheduled for a Kickstarter launch in March 2025. The game is designed by Kodi Gonzaga and illustrated by Stella Langecker, drawing on influences from well-known franchises such as “Maximum Ride” and “Percy Jackson.”

The game adopts a unique dice-less, GM-full mechanism that relies on tokens and players’ imagination to forge a narrative-driven and roleplay-intensive experience. It accommodates 3-7 players and is designed for both longform and one-shot play, providing flexibility in gameplay structure.

Extra Ordinary explores complex themes like homelessness, child endangerment, and abuse within a framework that combines elements of the ordinary and the extraordinary. The game settings, inspired by narratives like “The Goonies” and “X-Men,” offer a blend of adventure and supernatural challenges.

The game features fifteen character playbooks, allowing players to select from a variety of roles such as the hopeful “Fool” or the battle-hardened “Survivor.” The narrative structure is divided into six aspects: the Ordinary, the Extraordinary, the Danger, the Need, the System, and the Design, each contributing to the overarching story.

For those interested, a free playset is available for download at jaztice.itch.io. The game will be available in both print and digital formats, including a quickstart PDF for those looking to preview the game.

Head over to the Extra Ordinary Kickstarter page to get notified when the game launches.

The Kickstarter campaign for “Entromancy: Definitive Edition” has recently launched, aiming to fund a cyberpunk fantasy tabletop role-playing game set in a futuristic San Francisco of the late 21st century.

In “Entromancy,” the game world is powered by a new element named ceridium, which has the unintended consequence of creating a new race of people and reviving several forms of magic. Players engage in a narrative-rich environment featuring espionage, spellcasting, and technology-driven action.

This edition consolidates the original “Entromancy: A Cyberpunk Fantasy RPG” and “Entromancy: The Orichite Age Omnibus” into a single package, enhancing the content with a new layout, a mini-comic, and the possibility of additional artwork, dependent on further funding achievements.

The gameplay structure of “Entromancy” utilizes the d20 system, adapting mechanics from the Fifth Edition of a widely recognized roleplaying framework, designed to accommodate both newcomers and experienced players with its streamlined yet deep gameplay mechanics.

Character options in “Entromancy” are diverse, allowing players to select from multiple races and classes, including unique roles like the Revolutionary and Technomancer. The game emphasizes faction-based dynamics, with players improving their standings within different factions, each influencing the game’s world, which is marked by population growth and socio-economic challenges.

Those interested in the “Entromancy” setting can access a Quick Start Guide available for download, providing an introduction to the game’s mechanics and world.

The “Entromancy: Definitive Edition” Kickstarter page offers more details for potential backers and fans interested in supporting the project.

Dice Dungeons has launched a Kickstarter campaign for “80’s Adventures,” a supplement for 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons, drawing inspiration from everyone’s favorite decade, the 1980s. 80’s Adventure introduces a series of new subclasses, magic items, and spells that capture the spirit of the decade.

Each class receives a new subclass that mirrors an iconic 1980s archetype, such as the Ghost Hunter Ranger, the Way of the Crane Monk, and the Relic Hunter Rogue.

In addition to character options, the project includes an assortment of magic items and spells that reflect the theme. Notable items include the Jacket of Membership and the Fanny Pack of Holding, alongside spells like “All night,” which conjures a night of revelry, and “Pressure,” which allows manipulation of physical structures.

The campaign also features five cinematic modules that draw inspiration from 1980s film genres, from horror to comedy. These modules, like “Curse of Garnet Lake” and “Caretaker’s Descent,” offer diverse adventures and are accompanied by detailed illustrations.

Game Masters will find new resources to help build immersive worlds and campaigns. The book provides pre-made locations and a collection of monsters inspired by 1980s cinema.

The Kickstarter campaign has reached $116,996 in pledges, exceeding its initial goal of $10,000, with the backing of 1,199 supporters. The campaign is set to conclude in 10 days on August 29.

Creators behind some of the largest digital file campaigns on Kickstarter are preparing for their most ambitious project to date – a physical Modular Display System.

Crate3D, a design company known for its 3D printable products, has announced its upcoming Kickstarter campaign for the JudoGrid Modular Display System. Originally based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Crate3D relocated to a new office on Broadway in New York City after a series of successful Kickstarter campaigns. Now, settled in their new space, they are ready to launch their largest project yet.

The JudoGrid Modular Display System is designed to offer a customizable solution for displaying action figures, tabletop minifigures, and other collectibles. Its modular design allows users to create display cases of any size, expanding both horizontally and vertically to accommodate various shapes and sizes of collectibles.

This new venture builds on the success of the Omni 1, a 3D printable product that raised over $450,000 on Kickstarter in 2023 with 6,437 backers. Following this success, Crate3D received numerous requests for a physical version of their display system. In response, they assembled the JudoGrid team, which has spent the past year and a half developing and testing this new system. The result is a minimalist design with a variety of accessories to enhance functionality and versatility.

“Our digital file campaigns were much easier as the cost was just labor and testing. We now have molds, mass production, international shipping and a ton of bigger obstacles. A lot is riding on the success of this campaign,” said Austen Hartley, CEO of Crate3D.

Crate3D is in the process of finalizing patents, working with suppliers, receiving samples, and preparing marketing materials in anticipation of the campaign’s launch on September 10th, 2024. Drawing on their crowdfunding experience, they are optimistic about a successful launch and eager to deliver these display cases to collectors around the world.

Game Masters, there’s a new Kickstarter campaign that’s capturing the attention of the D&D community. Let the Games Begin by Ava’s Adventures is a compendium of 50 mini-games and challenges designed to enhance your D&D 5th Edition adventures. The project aims to provide a solution for GMs struggling to create unique encounters and engaging downtime activities.

Creating balanced gameplay with both intense dungeon crawls and moments of respite is crucial for maintaining a dynamic campaign. Ava’s Adventures recognized this challenge and developed Let the Games Begin to help GMs seamlessly integrate fun and varied gameplay.

The compendium includes games set in various contexts, from quirky tavern activities to epic tournament challenges. Each entry comes with a detailed overview and mechanics, making it easy for GMs to incorporate into their sessions. The games are designed to reflect different aspects of fantasy worlds, adding depth and variety to your campaign.

All artwork and designs in the book are created by talented artists, with no AI-generated content involved, ensuring an authentic and carefully crafted experience.

The Kickstarter campaign has already surpassed its funding goal, attracting over 270 backers. With three days remaining, there’s still time to support the project and secure a digital or softcover copy. As the campaign progresses, additional stretch goals promise even more content and enhancements.

Scott C. McDonald’s Wasteland Degenerates: Jumper Cable Edition is currently crowdfunding on Backerkit, having already surpassed its initial goal of $750 with over $6,555 pledged from 285 backers. With nine days remaining in the campaign, this 64-page zine introduces players to a post-apocalyptic world described as “Mad Max versus Cthulhu.” Combining advanced robotics with gasoline-guzzling chaos, the game captures the retro-futuristic essence of the late ’70s and ’80s, much like the Fallout series.

McDonald, who created this game after noticing a gap in the market for a post-apocalyptic ‘Borg-style game, draws heavily from the aesthetics of the Mörk Borg and Cy_Borg RPGs. Despite being new to self-publishing, McDonald brings 40 years of gaming experience to the table, complemented by his partnership with veteran artist and layout designer Matthew Myslinski and contributions from indie designer Ross Jeffrey and emerging artist Leo Buffalo. Notably, no AI was used in the game’s design.

The Jumper Cable Edition serves as an introduction and companion to a future 160-page hardcover edition, offering content that players can use immediately. It features detailed character creation, vehicular combat mechanics, and a richly imagined world where survival is fraught with danger. The game includes six character classes, each with unique abilities and backstories, and allows players to customize their vehicles for intense road battles, inspired by films like Mad Max: Fury Road. Skills and mutations add depth and unpredictability, while a variety of loot and gear enhance the post-apocalyptic experience.

The campaign offers multiple pledge levels, with early backers receiving exclusive rewards such as a double-sided poster paying homage to James M. Ward, creator of Gamma World. Stretch goals include accelerating production, creating additional monster content, and developing a random character and vehicle generator.

Scott C. McDonald’s solo RPG, Enter the Dismal Armory, is also available, providing a taste of the Wasteland Degenerates universe.

Casual Game Insider magazine, a go-to source for news, reviews, and insights focused on casual board games, has launched its Kickstarter campaign for its 13th year. This campaign offers fans the chance to support the magazine while securing benefits such as exclusive deals on lifetime subscriptions and sponsor perks. Additionally, a PDF of the Summer 2024 issue is freely available during the campaign, providing a preview of the content readers can expect throughout the year.

Since 2012, Casual Game Insider has been a key resource for casual board game enthusiasts, offering beautifully designed, quarterly issues. The magazine focuses on light, easy-to-learn games and the people behind them, featuring exclusive interviews with designers and creators, coverage of conventions, informative reviews, and explorations into the board gaming hobby.

Each issue also includes a playable print-and-play game, ranging from roll-and-write games to microgames, catering to both solo and multiplayer experiences. This Kickstarter campaign aims to ensure that the magazine can continue delivering the content that has made it a valuable resource for the casual gaming community.

Supporters of the campaign can visit the Kickstarter page to access the free Summer 2024 issue and consider pledging their support. Highlights from the past year include insightful articles, eye-catching layouts, and compelling graphics, providing a comprehensive look at the world of casual board games.

Archon Studio recently revealed that “Heroes of Might & Magic III: The Board Game” will be featured on Gamefound with three new expansions. This announcement follows a successful initial Kickstarter campaign that garnered support from nearly 27,000 backers, accumulating €3,834,885.

In response to high demand and the closure of the late pledge option post-Kickstarter, Archon Studio has opted to launch a subsequent campaign on Gamefound. This move aims to provide access to the original game along with the new expansions: Stronghold, Conflux, and Cove. These expansions are set to be released simultaneously, broadening the gameplay options for all backers.

Interested individuals can visit the campaign page early to secure a special “Crag Hack” bust, adding a unique item to their collection.

The expansions introduce diverse gameplay elements. Stronghold focuses on power and fortitude, Conflux emphasizes magic and elemental control, and Cove brings navigation and tactical maritime engagements. Additionally, the gameplay will feature new mechanics such as underground areas accessible through specific passages, and portals that facilitate rapid movement across the map.

The team at Archon Studio shared their personal connections to the game, which has influenced their development approach. Michał Tukan, the project manager, noted his longstanding engagement with the game dating back to his first computer in 2000. Alex Kubiak, responsible for solo campaigns, discussed the challenges and rewards of crafting a narrative that remains true to the original game’s essence. Kamil Białkowski, expressing his enduring passion for the series, highlighted the importance of community support in maintaining the game’s relevance.

The ONEXPLAYER line of handheld gaming PCs have been around since 2021. But parent company One Netbook has been selling other types of computers including mini-laptops and tablets for even longer. Now the company is branching out with the introduction of a mini PC positioned as a compact gaming solution, although the ONEXPLAYER M1 could […]

The post ONEXPLAYER M1 is a mini PC with Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, OCuLink, and USB4 for $699 and up appeared first on Liliputing.

AYANEO’s latest handheld game consoles are Android-powered systems with retro-powered designs. The AYANEO Pocket DMG is a powerful system designed to look a bit like a Game Boy.  And the AYANEO Pocket Micro meanwhile is a smaller, cheaper device that puts an emphasis on portability rather than bleeding edge performance. First announced earlier this year, they’re both […]

The post AYANEO Pocket DMG and Pocket Micro hit Indiegogo (Handheld Android game systems) appeared first on Liliputing.

IoT hardware company Particle has launched a crowdfunding campaign for a credit card-sized single-board computer called Tachyon. It has 4GB of RAM, 64GB of UFS flash storage, and a Raspberry Pi-compatible 40-pint GPIO header. But what sets the Tachyon board apart from Raspberry Pi’s devices is that Particle’s little computer is powered by an octa-core […]

The post Particle’s Tachyon is a single-board PC with a Snapdragon chip, a 12 TOPS NPU, and 5G and WiFi 6E support (crowdfunding) appeared first on Liliputing.

The Zerowriter Ink is an upcoming E Ink typewriter/word processor that fits into the growing (but still very niche) category of distraction-free writing devices. It combines a mechanical keyboard with a 5 inch E Ink display. Sure, you could use a laptop computer for writing on the go, but this device won’t distract you with […]

The post Zerowriter Ink is an open source word processor with an E Ink display and a mechanical keyboard (crowdfunding) appeared first on Liliputing.

The BoostR eGPU is a small graphics dock that lets you add an AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT discrete GPU to a wide range of PCs including handhelds, laptops, or mini PCs. It has the same GPU and connectivity options as the ONEXGPU, GPD G1, and AYANEO AG01, but the BoostR has at least one thing […]

The post BoostR is yet another compact Radeon RX 7600M XT eGPU dock (crowdfunding) appeared first on Liliputing.

The ShaRPiKeebo is a pocket-sized computer board with a display, keyboard, game controller keys, and an incredibly geeky design: it’s basically a printed circuit board with tacked-on keys, ports, and buttons. And the board is meant to be powered by a Raspberry Pi Zero, which acts as the brains of the portable computer kit. When the developers […]

The post Raspberry Pi-powered ShaRPiKeebo pocket computer is almost ready to ship (two years after crowdfunding) appeared first on Liliputing.

The AYANEO Pocket S is a handheld game console with a 6 inch display, support for up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, and Android 13 software featuring AYA’s custom launcher app and performance tuning utility. It’s also one of the first devices to feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor, a chip […]

The post AYANEO Pocket S handheld game console launches via Indiegogo for $399 and up (Snapdragon G3x Gen 2, Android 13, and up to 16GB RAM) appeared first on Liliputing.

This week Heineken and HMD announced a brand new phone that does… far less than most modern phones. The Boring Phone is 4G flip phone that’s designed to be a distraction-free device for phone calls and text messages, but not much else. And it’s a limited edition device that will only be available through giveaways […]

The post BP2 aims to be another BoringPhone (not to be confused with Heinekin’s Boring Phone) appeared first on Liliputing.

The Volla Tablet is a 12.3 inch tablet with a 2560 x 1600 pixel display, a MediaTek Helio G99 processor, 12GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and support for optional accessories including a backlit keyboard cover and a digital pen. But what really makes it stand out from most tablets is the software: Volla will offer […]

The post Volla Tablet is a Google-free Android tablet that also supports Ubuntu Touch (crowdfunding) appeared first on Liliputing.

Volla makes smartphones that support both Android and Ubuntu Touch operating systems. The company launched a crowdfunding campaign for its first phone in 2019 and began shipping that phone a year later. Since then, the German company has expanded its product lineup and Volla currently offers a few different phones and a bunch of accessories. […]

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There have been so many great companion bot ideas brought to kickstarter. Lets check some out!

The post Kickstarter Companion Bots, Past and Present appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.

It’s not hard to find a USB-C wall charger capable of charging thin and light laptops. The number that can put out enough juice for power-hungry gaming laptops or mobile workstations is smaller, but there are some options. The REDMAGIC DAO 150W GaN Charger manages to stand out from the crowd for a few reasons […]

The post REDMAGIC DAO 150W Charger GaN can power a gaming laptop, show stats on a screen, and has a semi-transparent body appeared first on Liliputing.

The MNT Pocket Reform is a small laptop computer with a 7 inch display, a modular keyboard with RGB backlighting, and a modular design that allows you to swap out the processor or other key components. First unveiled nearly two years ago, it went up for pre-order through a crowdfunding campaign in 2023, and after […]

The post MNT Pocket Reform mini-laptop should begin shipping by late March (open hardware) appeared first on Liliputing.

There have been so many great companion bot ideas brought to kickstarter. Lets check some out!

The post Kickstarter Companion Bots, Past and Present appeared first on Make: DIY Projects and Ideas for Makers.