There’s many interesting items to be found on Kickstarter, but these are the coolest ones this week.
Polyhero Dice: Wizard Set
I backed the Warrior dice and got them shortly before I left for GenCon. And these dice are really cool. I love that they are so uniquely shaped and the colors are really great. I don’t generally play magic users, but I want these really interesting dice in my collection as soon as possible. I mean, you’ll be able to roll a magic missile shaped die for your magic missile damage. Does it get any better? (Well, probably, but you have to admit it’s pretty cool)
“Last year we ran a Kickstarter to produce a set of imaginative dice, the Warrior Set, and thanks to 2000+ supporters they are now a reality! Now it’s time to get together and summon a series of special dice for spell-casters! The Wizard Set is once again the classic 7-piece set of RPG dice (plus a special Kickstarter bonus – see below), and this time we are also going for fancy and fittingly magical looking materials.”
Kid Sized Giant Robot Arms
These oversized arms are amazing. They would be fun just to play around with, and would be even better as part of a costume. Plus when you back, you get the plans to make them yourself, so if they break you can easily make more! And I don’t even have to be sad that this one is only for kids, there’s kits for adult sized arms as well as combo packs for parents and kids to build their tools of destruction together.
“Giant Cardboard Robot Arms are exactly what they sound like. Giant arms, made of cardboard, that make you look like a robot. We make easy-to-assemble kits, so that anyone can have their very own pair! We’ve been making arms that are great for grown-ups, and we now want to offer kid-sized kits – which lots of people have been asking for. The kits include cut pieces of cardboard, cardboard tubes for the elbows and forearms, all the hook & loop fasteners you’ll need to put them together, and instructions on how to assemble them. They even fold down for easy storage!”
King of Storms
GM-less gaming is a lot of fun, as everyone has a lot of control over the story and where it goes. I like the idea of the semi-competitive nature of Praxis, and I’m really interested in seeing how it plays out. King of Storms is the main release in this kickstarter, which focuses on titans and descendants of the gods fighting for ascendency. The other settings that have been announced (and will be released) are a scifi search and rescue game, zombies trying to become humans, a strange fantasy game about immortality, and people who believe they speak for their god and need to bring about their will. All use the Praxis engine and look interesting to explore.
“King of Storms utilizes an innovative game system called Praxis. In Praxis, players take on the roles of characters and authors of the story, but with one twist. Praxis characters want what’s best for them, allowing for semi-competitive play in a GMless game.
Players creates scenes for the characters to push their own agendas. The core mechanics revolve around three things: dice, milestones, and trepidation. Dice determine the outcome of dramatic conflict, in a way that may surprise everyone. Milestones and goals shape the story. Trepidation is all the bad things that can happen when a character fails. Each character has a list of five milestones and trepidations that are specific enough to provide flavor, but vague enough to not pigeon-hole play.”
21st Cthulhu Film Festival
The HP Lovecraft Film Festival always looks like a great event I wish I could attend. Unfortunately I seem to keep moving further away from Portland. This year they’re focusing on 1930’s Chinatown, and they’ll even be an exclusive tour in the tunnels under the city.
“In the past we’ve taken you on a trip to ancient Egypt and an expedition to R’lyeh, and this year we’re bringing the cultists home to Portland, OR! Delve into the shadowy past of our beloved city’s underground with the decadence of 1930s Chinatown as a backdrop.”
