Gilmoril is a tabletop role-playing game combining the monster hunting, mystery, and aesthetics of The Witcher and Bloodborne, with a few twists of its own.
Join the Venerer in the fight against the terrifying Technocyte Plague!
Pledge in the first 48 hours to receive a Badge of Office Enamel Pin and a Personal Letter of Acceptance written by Adam Thatcher, the mentor of the monster hunters of Gilmoril. Included in the Silverguard Tier or higher.
Gilmoril is a brand new tabletop role-playing game for 1-6 players. It focuses on the finer points of hunting monsters, rather than just fighting them. You'll need to prepare traps, carefully select weapons, brew alchemical concoctions, and ensure you understand the weaknesses of your prey before you strike. And you can be sure that the monsters will do the same.
But don't fret: If you're looking for a fight, you'll find one before the hunting is done.
An image depicting a fierce battle between a rapier wielding monster hunter and a terrifying Techno-vampire!
You and your allies have been given the opportunity to join the foremost experts on monster hunting... The Venerer.
As experts, you are each session tasked with hunting down a particular monster, learning it's habits, traits, and vulnerabilities, and attempting to destroy it before the trail goes cold. Regardless of if you succeed or fail, you will be called upon to report your findings. The contents of this report represent the truth from that point onwards.
Thus continues the cycle of hunting. With your reports coming to tell the story of your monster hunter over their career. Will your honesty lead to ruin? Will your lies come back to haunt you? Are some tales better left... untold?
An image of the letter V within a circle stylised to look like a rising sun.
Using a step-die system, with effects-based combat, and shared rules between yourself and the monsters you face, the entire system was designed from the ground up to emulate the feeling of being an expert monster hunter. With tomes of knowledge related to Alchemy, Herbalism, Cooking, Gear Maintenance, Explosives, Traps, Myths, and Magic, you will find myriad ways to approach every situation. But what's more, you'll find space left open for you to add your own knowledge, collected over your long career.
Core offerings of this game include:
Creating Expert Hunters – Every Venerer has their own history, contacts, traits, weapons, and style of hunting. The only thing they share is being damn good at what they do.
Encountering Unique Monsters – Much like the Venerer, no two monsters are the same. Indeed, the same monster encountered again may have gained additional behaviours and traits since your last meeting. Best to destroy them quickly, before they have a chance to learn from you...
Defending A Beautiful World – Gilmoril is a region worth fighting for. Crystal clear rivers, fields that practically glow in the sunshine, mountainous vistas stretching past the horizon. The Technocytes threaten it all, are you going to let them take it?
Building A Legend Together – By submitting your reports at the end of each hunt, your team of Venerer adds to the story and world of Gilmoril. At the end of your career, you may fondly look back on all of your adventures with those you met along the way. It doesn't have to end there of course. After all, there will always be another budding monster hunter waiting for their chance to make history. And they'll need a guide...
Tools of the Trade. An image depicting a hardcover and pdf version of the game whose cover reads "Gilmoril: Technogothic Nightmare". Also depicted is an additional book whose cover reads "Gilmoril Artbook: Behind the Scenes".
Everything you need to play the game and more!
Note: Many products are still being prototyped and finalised. We'll be sharing frequent updates as samples arrive and quality is assured.
Including;
Gilmoril: Technogothic Nightmare – Hardcover - All the rules, lore, and assistance you need to play.
Digital Bundle - Fully illustrated and accessible pdf with a separate ePUB file optimised for all brands of e-readers + Access to Hedron VTT integration for Gilmoril.
Hedron Integration - Fully function virtual tabletop experience so you can play with your friends anywhere, anytime.
Gilmoril Artbook - An extended look at all of the art found in the game, as well as concept art, sketches, short stories, and deep lore that didn't make it into the core book.
Gilmoril 12-Die Set - A great set of dice to add to (or start) your collection! Best part, it's a double trouble set. That's right, 2 each of: D4, D6, D8, D10, D12, and D20. 12 dice total!
Field Journal - Custom made to keep all of your Venerer notes, concoctions, recipes, spells, diagrams, sketches, etc in one place. The perfect companion during a Hunt.
Pledge Levels. An image of a monster hunter posed similar to the classic Uncle Sam depiction. Text reads "I Want You, Join The Venerer".
Supporter
You want to give back to the Venerer that help keep your family and home safe from the Technocytes. Supporters receive: - Our appreciation and love! - Add-Ons of your choice!
New Recruit Program
You have chosen to sign up to the New Recruit Program. New Recruit positions will open up when Baroness, Keeper, or Seer tiers are purchased. New Recruits will receive: 1 x PDF 1 x ePUB 1 x Hedron Integration
Runner (Digital Bundle)
Delivering mail in the city of Mornewaith has its perks. You've managed to read many secret reports of the Venerer as you deliver them, and the Venerer are none-the-wiser. Runners receive: 1 x PDF 1 x ePUB 1 x Hedron Integration
Silverguard
The Silverguard use the knowledge provided by the Venerer to kill monsters quickly and effectively. However, they are not privy to the deeper secrets of the Venerer, nor given access to their tools of the trade. Silverguard will receive: 1 x Digital Bundle 1 x Hardcover 1 x Gilmoril 12-die Set - Add-Ons of your choice!
Venerer
Alongside your tools of the trade and the knowledge of your predecessors, Venerer gain access to a tome of ancient secrets, helping you research the Technocytes with great effectiveness. Venerer will receive: 1 x Digital Bundle 1 x Hardcover 1 x Artbook 2 x Gilmoril 12-die Set - Add-Ons of your choice!
Navigator
Navigators travel the length and breadth of Gilmoril alongside the Venerer. Learning much from their travelling companions, and seeing more in a year than most would see their entire lives. Navigators will receive: 1 x Digital Bundle 1 x Hardcover 1 x Artbook 2 x Gilmoril 12-die Set 1 x Collectible Coin Set 1 x Wax Seal – Venerer & Mornewaith 1 x Field Journal - Add-Ons of your choice!
Baroness
Being family of the Baroness, you have access to untold information and knowledge of the Technocytes from decades of reports. You see the threat of these monstrosities, not just to your city but to the whole of Gilmoril. You have the resources to supply the Venerer with sharp tools and sharper recruits. Baroness will receive: 1 x Digital Bundle 1 x Hardcover 1 x Artbook 2 x Gilmoril 12-die Set 1 x Emberpine 12-die Set 1 x Collectible Coin Set 1 x Wax Seal – Venerer & Mornewaith 2 x Field Journal 3 x New Recruits Funded - Add-Ons of your choice!
Keeper
The Keepers are responsible for keeping the reports of the Venerer. You know all their secrets, all their failures, and all of the monsters better left forgotten... Keepers will receive: 1 x Digital Bundle 1 x Hardcover 1 x Artbook 2 x Gilmoril 12-die Set 1 x Emberpine 12-die Set 1 x Collectible Coin Set 1 x Wax Seal – Venerer & Mornewaith 2 x Field Journal 3 x New Recruits Funded 1 x Custom Monster Entry 1 x Public Acknowledgment (your name in the book!) - Add-Ons of your choice!
Seer
Keepers look to the past, Seers look to the future. But no matter how far forward you look, one thing remains constant: There are always monsters in need of hunting. Seers will receive: 1 x Digital Bundle 2 x Hardcover 1 x Artbook 2 x Gilmoril 12-die Set 2 x Emberpine 12-die Set 1 x Collectible Coin Set 1 x Wax Seal – Venerer & Mornewaith 1 x Wax Seal – Keepers & Admiralty 2 x Field Journal 6 x New Recruits Funded 1 x Custom Monster Entry 1 x Public Acknowledgment (your name in the book!) - Add-Ons of your choice!
Merchant
You provide the Venerer with the tools of their trade. While you have no formal membership, you are valued highly among their ranks. Merchants will receive: 5 x Hardcover – Wholesale
Group Essentials
You're getting the team together. You're going to need some tools. Group Essentials contains: 3 x Hardcover 3 x Field Journal 6 x Gilmoril 12-die Set - Add-Ons of your choice!
*Please understand that this is a crowdfunding effort, not a pre-order service. While we strive to fulfil, there is always a chance that certain items may change in design or material between now and final delivery. Updates will be provided frequently to all backers as information becomes available.
Stretch Goals. An image of a small gremlin-like monster perched on a shops sign holding a recently stolen fancy hat. Text reads "With greater funding, comes greater rewards!"
More Hunts, More Traits, More Goodies!
25K - 2 New Collectible Coin Designs (People already receiving or added coins to their pledge will receive these automatically when goal reached).
30K - New Hunt: The Ashenfort, and More Traits for characters to use in game.
35K - More Items and Equipment to choose from when on the hunt.
40K - 2 New Collectible Coin Designs (People already receiving or added coins to their pledge will receive these automatically when goal reached).
50K - Physical Artbook* and Keep Safe Box (*Physical Artbook is only available for those already receiving a physical item with their pledge).
60K - New Hunt: Stepstone Pass, and More Traits for characters to use in game.
70K - Limited Edition Hardcover for backers only! (Includes polls and open design sessions for backers to help make something truly unique).
Shipping. An image depicting a character looking out towards a riverboat, ready to sail off into the sunset.
We're hard at work ensuring we'll be able to get everything to you as quickly as possible. With our stretch goals effecting what kind of physical products we need to manufacture, we are still in the process of locking in shipping rates at this time. As such, shipping costs will be calculated and collected in the Pledge Manager after the campaign ends.
This project will not feature any AI images, text, or other output. Nor was AI used in the creation of this game or any of it's associated products.
For transparency, one artist we commissioned was revealed to have used AI tools for at least some of their artwork. All of their submitted work has been removed from the project and we have since hired new artists to replace it. This was a costly setback, but Gilmoril is a game about destroying mechanical imitations, and we feel that alone should make clear our thoughts on the use of AI.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns about a particular part of this project.
Our Team
Bradley Smith, Writer and Designer. Kirsty Painter-Smith, Earliest Supporter, Proofreader, Editor, Wife, Etc.
Varun Singh, Publisher at Hedron. Josh Simons, Head of Brand at Hedron.
Dr Hagen Ashley, Producer, Gameplay Consultant. Zachary Alexander Christoforou, Playtester, Early Supporter, Player Behaviour Model.
Austin Brook, Has Opinions, Will Travel. Thomas Trindall-Welsh, Playtester, Early Supporter, Player Behaviour Model.
Sage, Early Supporter, Idea Filter-er.
We've made great strides to have the game as ready as possible before bringing it to crowdfunding. As such, all that remains for the game itself is the final edit and layout. Even then, much of that is already complete. Most of the remaining time will be dedicated to formatting for the different versions (we aren't just exporting the print version as a PDF and ePUB and calling it a day).
The following dates and timeframes are estimations. While care has been taken to be as conservative as possible, events may transpire such that these estimations are no longer possible. Updates will be given as information becomes available.
May 16th 2026 – Pledge Manager and Late Pledges. Make additions or alterations to your pledge, calculate shipping, pay for your pledge.
June 2026 – Finalise Order Quantities. Estimate required quantities based on number of pledges and late pledges.
July 2026 – Late Pledge Cut-off and Finalise Backer Submissions. Last chance to pledge and to submit any information required in the pledge manager.
July 2026 -August 2026 – All Products Ordered. Place any remaining product orders, or make additional orders to meet demand.
September 2026 - December 2026 – All Products Received. Timeframe to have received all products at both distribution locations. Prepare orders for shipping.
October 2026 - January 2027 – Begin Order Fulfilment. Timeframe to start sending orders to backers in batches. Digital Bundle released when first order ships.
December 2026 - March 2027 – All Orders Fulfilled. Timeframe to have sent and confirm delivery of all orders. But the jobs not done yet.
All of 2027 – Complete and Release Stretch Goals. Any stretch goals not included with the initial orders, such as additional Hunts, will be finalised and released throughout 2027.
December 2027 – Cut-off date for reporting defects and ordering replacements. By the end of 2027, anyone who requires replacement products will have received them.
We're happy to be able to provide you with good news on this front. We already handled most of this! Playtesting? Done! Game? Done! Art? Done! Product Specs? Done! Budgeting? Done!
Effectively this means that the game is going to be released digitally regardless. What you're funding is the ability for it to exist in physical form, with a higher quality than Print-on-Demand services can provide. Nevertheless we are approaching the remaining challenges with the proper attention.
Shipping. Times are tough and things are changing rapidly, but being based out of Australia means actually receiving the products will not be an issue. Getting them out into the world is slightly harder. However we have partnered with the wonderful people at Hedron to help with distribution in the US and beyond.
Quality Control. While we have quotes from multiple manufacturers for all the different products we wish to make, the process of getting and reviewing samples, then going back and forth until we have something we're happy with can be lengthy. Then checking our bulk orders for issues and sorting replacements and refunds can add to that time drastically. Good quality control takes time, so time is what we'll need.
Currency Conversion Rates. Manufacturing prices are usually handled in USD, but due to the rules for crowdfunding this project needs to be done in AUD. You might be paying in a different currency again, which leads to further conversion fees. All of this has been accounted for already. However the real challenge is that the currency exchange rate today is not necessarily going to be the exchange rate tomorrow, or next week, or whenever we are paying for all of the items being made. Because of the state of the world, these rates might change in unprecedented ways between now and then. We've done everything we can to prepare ahead to ensure you get everything you pay for at the quality you deserve, all we ask is some understanding should forces beyond our control make doing so impossible.
