A perilous adventure unearthing the dark arcana behind Sword & Sorcery’s iconic tabletop roleplaying game
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Writing & Concept Art & Some More Occult S*%#
about 2 years ago
– Tue, Oct 25, 2022 at 10:11:37 PM
Back Online!
Thank you all again for the incredible support during our campaign. After it ended I was really fried from all the adrenaline, social media posting, Discord communicating, and project managing. I unplugged for almost two weeks and retreated to a farm in rural New England to sleep, read, write, and recover. It also gave me time to reflect on how deeply grateful I am for all the support, and get excited again about building-out the contents for this project!
BACKERKIT& ADD-ONS
A quick reminder: we will use Backerkit for pledge management, add-ons, and collecting shipping. Once the Backerkit page is set up, you will receive a link to your survey. More on that in the near future! We are working out some manufacturing details before we send out surveys so that you can make the most informed decisions possible when managing your pledge.
THE WORK BEGINS AGAIN
I need to catch up on a number of direct messages and questions from backers. If you're waiting to hear from us, you can expect that soon.
Peter Bebergal and I have begun meeting multiple times a week to work on the RPG materials together.
Jog has picked up the multi-level mapping for the Hellsgarde stretch goal module.
Saprophial has been getting settled into her new home after making an international move at he end of the project, and just recently finished detailing the concept art for the Jirel mini:
Concept art for Jirel miniature
What's Next?
We've got a LOT of work to do over the next 5-6 months to get this project into the manufacturing pipeline. We will try to keep you posted on updates every week or two, but if we are quiet just know it's because we are working hard.
Back in 2019, I had the incredible privilege of doing an improvised performance with cellist Lori Goldston—who has played with a number of premiere musical acts including Nirvana and Cat Power, as well as Earth (whose music I often listen to when I'm creating my own work). The one-of-a-kind event was recorded live at All Pilgrims Church in Seattle, and is now being released by Neurot Recordings in 2023.
The performance was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Mell Dettmer—who has engineered albums for other acts such as: Built To Spill, Earth, Sunn O))), Master Musicians of Bukkake, and Wolves in the Throne Room, among many others. The artwork for the album is by David V. D’Andrea, who has done art for so many amazing bands that have influenced me: Sleep, Earth, OM, and Godspeed! You Black Emperor. Meanwhile, the record itself is being expertly produced by Third Man Pressing—the record-manufacturing division of Third Man Records & Books, who published my book upon which the performance is lifted from: Ascend Ascend.
There are some early bird rewards, and tons of limited edition, exclusive ephemera—from colored vinyl to art prints to t-shirts to live performances. I hope you'll at least go check it out!
The End ⚔️ THANK YOU 🖤 What's Next? 👀
about 2 years ago
– Thu, Sep 29, 2022 at 11:17:27 PM
Thank You!
YOU GUYS! It's incredibly exciting that over 1,300 people backed to get a copy of the gorgeous box set we are developing. Seriously, from the bottom of our collective hearts, thank you to everyone who made a pledge, helped us promote, and cheered us on past the finish line. Special thanks to our friends & partners who gave us feedback on branding & stretch goals, or just put up with the past few months of our incessant Kickstarter-talk.
Back in June, when we had our first team meeting, we had no idea there would be so much enthusiasm for this box set. We were very excited about it, but wondered how the concept might be received by others. We spent a lot of time figuring out how to effectively and succinctly market a box set that not only contains material for two separate RPG systems, but also contained a standalone game with its own rules, plus fantasy fiction from the early 20th century author that inspired it all. Thanks to you all, it looks like we figured it out!
Stretch Goals
Due to the fantastic number of people backing this project, we've unlocked lots of great extras for everyone:
Black God’s Shadow: This allowed us to license a second C.L. Moore short story to publish and adapt for use in the RPG materials—resulting in an additional story book and an additional RPG book, as well as an extension for the standalone microgame.
Soundtrack: We will now create a doom-laden ambient soundtrack for gameplay as a digital download.
Character Sheets: There will now be printable 5e and OSE, illustrated by Saprophial, available as a digital download.
Foil Stamping: We'll add premium, metallic silver foil stamping to the lettering of the box.
Hellsgarde: We are licensing a third Jirel story by C.L. Moore, the supernaturally thrilling "Hellsgarde," to publish it as another story book alongside an additional one-shot adventure for 5e and OSE based on the work. The RPG materials will involve new hooks, new creatures and a multi-level map of the haunted fortress of Hellsgarde! This will be published as both a PDF and a physical book.
Jirel Miniature: All pledge levels will receive a free STL file for a Jirel miniature. The option to add-on a physical resin mini of Jirel will also become available in Backerkit once the pledge manager is open (and we have a 3D render to show you).
What About the Full Digital Album?
We didn't reach the $120K stretch goal for the full digital album ... BUT WE'RE DOING IT ANYWAY! After the team started reviewing mockups of the cassette tape, when it looked like this stretch goal was within reach, we all got super excited about it. So Sam is going to move forward with working on the album (which will be available as a free digital download to all reward levels) and I'll be talking to some manufacturers about making the cassette available as an add-on for those who'd like to order a copy. We'll keep you posted on that in a future update!
Next Steps: Pledge Manager and Add-Ons
About a month from now, we'll be sending out email links to the pledge manager (BackerKit) where you'll be able to do a few things:
Select any add-ons that may lure you farther into the Black God's realm, including: additional box sets, the GM Screen, VTT tokens, the Encounter the Architects module, the Black God and Jirel physical miniatures, the custom dice set, as well as Blazing World's previously funded monster manual, Ekphrastic Beasts. We will make sure to have more detailed mockups of the dice and the Jirel mini before the pledge manager opens so that you can make an informed decision on those.
Let us know the postal address you want your rewards sent to.
Pay the associated shipping fees.
Digital Rewards
All digital rewards will be sent out as links to download at a later date, once they're ready. You can expect them sometime around April 2023.
When and How?
We'll be announcing more details on fulfillment and the pledge manager in updates soon. We're sure there are lots of questions about how exactly this is all going to work, but please hold tight until theannouncements, where we'll provide full details. In the meantime, here's how you can find us online outside of Kickstarter:
$110K Stretch Goal Unlocked + 1 Hour Left!
about 2 years ago
– Thu, Sep 29, 2022 at 06:50:57 AM
Sixth Stretch Goal Unlocked! ⚔️🖤🔥
The JirelMiniature stretch goal allows us to create a Jirel miniature (full art and 3D render forthcoming)! All pledge levels will get an STL file for the miniature to print their own. A physical miniature will also be made available as an add-on in Backerkit, during pledge management after the campaign is over. We don't have a 3D sculpt yet, but here's some concept art for it from Saprophial:
Honestly, when I went to bed last night I did not think we would hit $110K before the campaign ended. I know many of you were hopeful and excited to make this Jirel mini a reality so I'm really happy to see us hit this goal.
Round Two of Other Projects We're Excited About!
about 2 years ago
– Wed, Sep 28, 2022 at 09:26:10 PM
Hey All!
In these final 24 hours we are taking a short coffee break to highlight a few other projects we are really excited about:
Ascend Ascend: Vinyl Double LP (+ digital download): Ok first up is a *forthcoming* non-RPG project from our Black God's Kiss project lead, Janaka Stucky. Over the past 7 years, between weekly gaming sessions Janaka has had two books published by Jack White's Third Man Books. In 2019, Janaka gave a special series of multimedia ritual performances sponsored by Atlas Obscura. One of those performances involved a collaboration with cellist Lori Goldston (Nirvana, Earth, Cat Power, etc.). That performance was recorded live and is now being released as a vinyl double LP by Neurot Recordings. The record is happening either way, but you can click "notify me on launch" to get some cool stuff like the exclusive 'marigold' vinyl copies, limited edition art prints and t-shirts by iconic doom metal artist David V. D'Andrea (Sleep, OM, etc.), and an advanced digital stream of the album.
Dark Places & Demogorgons: Also forthcoming, this 1980s-themed RPG setting in a small town where "strange things" occur may sound familiar to some... It was previously published as an OSR HC book and is now about to launch as an OSE reskin.
Elric : Rise of the Young Kingdoms: Not an RPG but a really awesome tabletop game put out by French games publisher, Le Département, this is based on the iconic fantasy writing of Michael Moorcock. As big Elric / Moorcock fans ourselves we had to give this a shout-out (and backed it at its highest tier). Only 2 Days Left.
Secret of the Black Crag: This one has already been funded and the campaign is over, but you can still preorder this island hopping sandbox adventure centered around a perilous dungeon peak risen from the depths designed for OSE (we did!).
Meet the Creators: Sam Winnie
about 2 years ago
– Wed, Sep 28, 2022 at 10:18:18 AM
Throughout the rest of the campaign we will be posting spotlights on each creator who is contributing to the project, where we ask and answer some questions to help you get to know us and where we're coming from to the world of TTRPGs. This update is featuring Sam Winnie, composer of our Kickstarter trailer and gameplay soundtrack stretch goal which has been unlocked.
Q: How did you get into music writing and sound design?
A: It was the will of the goddesses that I was a kid right at the height of Poké-mania in the late 90s. The chip-tune music of my Blue version was always on loop in my head when it wasn’t coming directly out of my Gameboy's speakers…I went through so many AA batteries. When I was 8, this fascination demanded that I plead with my parents for a digital light-up keyboard for Christmas. Little did they know they’d opened the floodgates. At first, I just needed to figure out how to play those melodies, but in time, I would start writing my own. Other games from this time, like The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, cemented my interests in not only the music but in creating the atmospheres and sound effects that heighten immersion and make the player feel powerful like they are wielding the blade of evil’s bane.
Q: Aside from the writings of C.L. Moore, what other fantasy work—in any medium—inspires or excites you?
A: There are more than a few composers who have had a deep and lasting influence on my style, but perhaps the big three are Maurice Ravel, Arnold Bax, and Howard Shore, all of them have impressionistic qualities in their writing, but each has a unique approach, particularly in their orchestrations. Almost everything by Ravel features dreamlike qualities from its lilting melodies to its crystalline harmony—Une barque sur l’océan is a completely mesmerizing piano piece. Bax’s works are epic, chaotic, and mysterious, often writing pieces depicting Arthurian legend and the fae. Bax’s Nympholept is absolutely worth a listen. And Howard Shore, how could I not mention him? The score to The Lord of the Rings is easily among the greatest film scores and is always something I turn to when writer's block hits or cravings for spending some time in the Shire.
Q: Favorite gaming snack?
A: Yoghurt. All day, every day. It’s guilt-free, delicious and you can put soooo many things in it. My favourite brand is Siggi’s—it’s Icelandic yoghurt that is thick like greek yoghurt, but has a rich flavour with no artificial sugars. Siggi’s, find it at your local grocery store! (no, I am not sponsored)
Q: Has a game ever brought you closer to another person, or come between you?
A: My first D&D campaign in 2016 was a powder keg. At the time, I had just finished college and was starved for community. Gone were the days of having housemates that I could just start up a game of Munchkin with, no planning needed. That campaign brought me closer to my friends and family and later became a friend group centered on the unique joy of collaborative storytelling. I realize it’s cheesy and sentimental, but one of the threads throughout my life has been how games can be the common ground that starts relationships and how through playing and talking about them, communities can be born. That 2016 campaign lasted a couple of years and was one of the first stepping stones that paved the way to where I am now, working with Janaka and the team at Blazing Worlds.
Q: Favorite record(s) or track(s) to listen to while working on this project?
A: As a composer, one of my greatest struggles is that, unlike in other professions, I can’t listen to music while I work, no matter how much I wish I could. That said, in the days leading up to and during the writing of the trailer score, I spent a significant amount of time exploring the dark and beautiful Lands Between of Elden Ring. The rich orchestral pallets and dramatic counterpoint in the OST of that game– particularly in the scores for the main theme, Radagon of the Golden Order, and Malenia, Blade of Miquella, I found to be both horrifying and inspiring– even considering the several dozen attempts I needed to conquer the near-impossible bosses of that game.
