Recently, game designer Alessio and friends gathered to record their exploration into the world of The Ghost in the Shell Tabletop RPG!
During this campaign, we'll be sharing their successes, mishaps and adventures in an Actual Play series! Apologies episode two arrives a little late in day, it took over 5 hours for my small laptop to process!
Episode 1 - Meet the Characters
In Episode 1, the group are creating their characters, gearing up and taking the first steps into the 8-part story arc of The Lost Patriot, the mission included with all copies of The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG. For those of you looking to avoid any spoilers, be sure to stop watching at around 49 minutes, when the mission truly begins.
Episode 2 - Hostage Rescue
In episode 2, the group jump head first into the mission contained in all rulebooks, "The Lost Patriot". If you want to avoid all spoilers, then consider skipping this video. If you want to laugh, shout, and question the actions of this team of new recruits, the below video is well worth watching.
To find out more about character creation and game mechanics before watching this video, be sure to check out our designer diary series with Alessio.
Try to keep the comments spoiler free, but on a scale of 1-10, how do you think the team did? Whose tactics had you cheering and whose had your face in your hands?
Tomorrow I'll be revealing something new, but my lips are sealed for now. Until then, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
Another month has passed, meaning we're that much closer to getting the final details wrapped up and off to the printer. Editing is on-going and the artists are feverishly working on the various maps, handouts, and interior illustrations destined to grace this massive dungeon. As always, the Castle Whiterock artists are producing some amazing work for your eyeballs (or eyeball if you're our resident Cyclops). Let's take a look at a sample of what's come in since our last update, shall we?
Pretty cool, huh? I personally can't wait to get my hands on the final version.
Two last updates before I light a torch and head back down into the depths of Castle Whiterock for another month. First, we're currently crowdfunding The Book of Funnels on Backerkit. The Book of Funnels contains 12 brand-new 0-level funnels for your next DCC, MCC, or XCC campaign, along with the return of the scratch-off 0-level character sheet! Backerkit supporters will received an exclusive version of the Book of Funnels containing an addition eight classic funnel adventures from Goodman Games' archives, many of which are long out of print. If you're a fan of any of our "Crawl Classics" RPGs, The Book of Funnels is one you don't want to miss! Head over to the campaign page and pledge now.
Lastly, this weekend is Gen Con and all the Goodman Games' crew is either feverishly at work or about to be. You can find us in the Exhibit Hall at Booth #109, Booth #2519, and Lucas Oil Stadium. Stop on by any or all of those three locations, buy some great games, and we're always up for signing whatever Goodman Games' products you want. Don't be shy, come say "hi!"
That's it for July. See you next month (or sooner) for another update.
Deathbringer here! Cast down your torches and howl, for the stretch goal has fallen beneath our blades! Deathbringer VTT is UNLOCKED, and the pits of hell themselves shake with digital thunder!
For those of you who pledged your coin — nay, your very souls—to the Core Box, the Deluxe Box, or the Everything But Your Soul tier: rejoice, for you need lift not a finger! Deathbringer VTT has already been bound to your pledge, chained there like a prisoner in the deepest oubliette. It's yours. It was always going to be yours. You simply hadn't earned the honor of knowing it yet.
For the rest of you wretches, clawing your way up from lesser tiers—fear not, your path to glory is not closed! March to the add-ons and claim Deathbringer VTT for your own table. The dungeon awaits, whether played by candlelight or by cursed glowing rectangle. Deathbringer cares not for your medium. Only your body count.
NOW A MATTER OF VANITY (YOURS, NOT MINE, I HAVE NONE)
My scribes have been busy in the shadows, and they've dragged forth a sneak preview draft of the Male Thief artwork! The stickyfingers, the burglar, the wretch who'd relieve a corpse of its coin before it finished falling. Two versions clawed their way out of the ink. Only one shall stalk these pages forever.
Look upon them. Judge them as you would judge a rival in a back-alley duel—swiftly and without mercy. Tell us which one deserves to live in the final book. The other is tossed to the thousand hells.
Just as we promised, here are previews of the 5E version in glorious grayscale! Still has that Old School feel, but with updated rules elements and stats for NPCs and critters. Everything you need for an immersive experience in the City State of the Invincible Overlord!
There's a lot going on there! Which one of these stupendous spreads is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!
In the meantime, we're continuing our work and putting some final touches on this prodigal project before sending it off to the printers. We'll keep you in the loop as we progress.
And by the way... if you're a DCC fan or looking to become a DCC fan, you might want to check out the Book of Funnels crowdfunding happening RIGHT NOW!!!
We're already ticking off stretch goals and Funnels are a famously fun way to start your characters off right in Dungeon Crawl Classics. As CROM Intended!!!
Wow, do we have some fun updates for you. We've received in a lot of printer proofs and the books are looking terrific. But first, just to get it off my chest, I finally got the #1 spot on the local T2 pinball machine. 138 million! Here's a photo:
My work here is done.
Now, on to more important things - like your amazing books! I've recorded a video showing off the latest proofs, including the Old School Adventures covers and the functional sound chip in the Pinball Crawl Classics clamshell box! Let's start with the video. This is an unlisted, private video on YouTube, so you won't be able to find it by searching. Only this link will take you there - it's only for you, backers:
Is that clamshell awesome or what? If you want to upgrade, do so while the pledge manager is still open!
Here are some still photos of various cover proofs that have come in. All are approved. The last batch will be the Pinball Crawl Classics proofs then it will be off to press!
Retail edition of Old School Adventures #1. You backers won't get this...
...because backers get this, the crowdfunding edition! Note the gold foil in place of yellow ink in sveeral spots on the cover.
Stefan Poag variant cover edition of Old School Adventures #1. Note the silver foil around the edge of the portal.
Close up showing the silver foil. It has a holographic quality so there's a slight rainbow effect at certain angles.
For the MCC fans, the Archive of Adventure Volume 1...
And the new thick MCC judge's screen.
DCC Dying Earth #11.
XCrawl Classics #7.
DCC #113.
The Book of Funnels Launches Tomorrow!
Yes, you read that right. If you're a DCC player, you do not want to miss The Book of Funnels!
The most entertaining part of DCC gets even more fun! 12+ 0-level funnels in the book, even more as we beat stretch goals, plus scratch-off sheets and a whole lot of earlybird specials. Follow the project now!
Launches tomorrow!
Scratch-offs make funnels even mroe fun - and now for XCC too!
The smoke tests went swimmingly, so I have sent surveys to the rest of y'all and cracked open the Pre-Order Store for late pledges on the Digital and Physical editions of the zine! These will be live for a good while, so let your friends know they can still get in on the heist of the century if they're keen!
US books are now in the correct state (ie, Tennessee. They have remained solid throughout). Fulfilment to USA & Canada is expected to begin this week once the books have been checked at the warehouse. All other fulfilment is complete, except for stragglers.
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Long awaited delays to US freight are nearing the end. We’re straining on our leash to get books out…
Americas
Transport around the USA was slow to materialise due to some excessive partying by the locals. Hangovers have been doused, and everyone has apparently remembered how to do their jobs now. So we have confirmation that goods will be delivered to the warehouse by truck in the next 48hrs.
The fulfilment team are ready to go - they have all our fulfilment lists for backers, retailers and cross-border parcels already, and have been working on the best methods for getting books out according to the deadlines we set last update. We want all USA Backers to have received their parcel or know the exact status of their delivery before Gencon at the end of July. For international orders, we’re aiming to have everything packed and in flight by the same deadline.
We worked with a new freight partner for this delivery, with the books beginning their journey in the EU, not the UK. This process has fallen short of our expectations, and we are assessing our options for future projects to ensure that we are not let down by the same people again. I realise this comes as cold comfort for those of you who have waited patiently for this project, but we want to reassure you that RRD takes this stuff very seriously. The end is now in sight.
Everywhere Else
These areas are now completed. If you haven’t heard anything, or haven’t received a tracking link for your order, please get in touch with Jim or myself in the Customer Service mines by emailing [email protected].
We are aware that a small number of backers in Australia are still waiting on their orders to arrive. We ran out of copies ahead of expected schedule, and have some extra copies of Ways & Means due to arrive on an airplane by the end of the week.
If you have finalised an order in the past 6 weeks then these will be picked up in our Stragglers sweep that is now underway…
Stragglers Sift
By the end of this week we will have sifted through and collected anyone in the BackerKit who has finalised their survey, has orders and addresses locked or had card payments declined since we processed our main fulfilment in each region.
We call this our stragglers sift, and it’s our opportunity to pick up any things that may have slipped through the cracks, as well as giving the small number of backers that we haven’t heard from since the campaign ended one last gentle poke [*poke*].
This was delayed by a week to allow the USA process to be finalised. We now expect that customers should have tracking links sent out by Friday 17th July.
Feedback & Community
If you’ve already had a chance to check out your delivery (perhaps even read through and share with your tables) why not head over to our website product page and leave a review that might encourage more people to buy it? Or join our Discord server and chat to other backers about it?
If you like your media social, you can always tag us on Instagram, Bluesky or Facebook to let us know what you’re doing with your games, we’re @rowanrookanddecard most places. Or you can still comment here on the project while it’s open.
Generally
Thanks enormously for your patience and support, folks - we couldn’t do any of this without you.
As always, there’s a risk things will get dinged, damaged or lost in transit. If that happens to you, we want to put it right. We recommend taking photos of your parcel and the products inside if you’re worried there may be damage to your items - this helps speed up the claims process and get replacements sent out quicker.
If anything goes wrong with your parcel, get in touch with Jim or myself in the Customer Service mines by emailing [email protected].
Greetings, Backers! Quick update for you this week!
90% Fulfilled!
By now, nearly all USA, UK and CAN backers who completed their survey by the deadline should have their books in hand, or a tracking number showing it's close! AUS backers, we are speaking regularly with our fulfillment partner there to get things back on track!
But that doesn't mean we're ignoring the pledge manager surveys received after the deadline! Chaos Lords are still continuing to craft your domestic packages, and we'll soon be coordinating the next wave of stock to our international partners.
Next week, you'll have a chance to get some totally maxed-out savings on long-coveted items for DCC, MCC, and XCC RPG in the new...
Chris Lindsay here... as Matt and his super squad of artists and graphic designers are putting the finishing touches on the art and layout for the main book, I haven't been idle. The first issue of the OG5E Journal has been assembled and is ready to jump into the queue for layout right behind the Dragon Rider's Primer!
Whether you opted in for a physical copy or you pick it up digitally later, here's a SNEAK PEEK of what you can expect from this glorious ZINE!
5E Before 5E A retrospective design diary on the origins of fifth edition D&D from the master Mike Mearls.
Sezrekan's Archive of Ancients Unearthed lore from the ancient archlich with a pair of artifacts newly converted from DCC to land squarely in your next 5E game by Jillian Downs.
Monster Mayhem: Ecology of the Buloki Featured on the cover of our issue, this ginormous larval land creeper and everything you ever wanted to know about it is brought to us by Taylor S. Hoch.
Tremors of Duskhollow A short adventure that sends your adventurers in search of the source of some strange seismic activity by Natalie Egan.
Eldritch Explorations: Contemplating Cosmology Ready to step off of the great wheel? Here's a new take on cosmology for your next campaign by Yours Truly!
![user avatar image for Nerdronomicon [Andy Edmonds]](https://images.backerkit.com/active_storage/backerkit_production/blob/8zdvnh9dugje7m2m4rp3vx9zt0r4?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&w=24&h=24&fit=crop&crop=center&auto=compress%2Cformat)
