Saethor's Bane: Introduce folks to Powered by GURPS with a programmed solo adventure

[DouglasCole]

Saethor's Bane: A programmed/solo adventure for the Dungeon Fantasy RPG. Backerkit Crowdfunding through March 9.

One of the more challenging things about introducing new players to the Powered by GURPS ecosystem is that the game "front-loads" the complexity and choices. Games start a substantial chunk of points - which measure decision-agency rather than any universal measure of competency. This can be navigated in many ways, the usual one being getting a helping hand from an expert, often the GM.

Even so: there are newb-traps, and a lot of technical jargon. And many ways to get something done. Many campaigns stall there, even with a ruleset tuned to one particular aspect of gaming: the Dungeon Fantasy RPG and it's gleeful and self-aware embrace of hack-and-slash gaming.

Delvers to Grow was designed to answer what I perceived as a need for a faster on-ramp to the game. While yes, with help or experience, or a really clear character concept, a new player or GM could sit down and get it all done, frequently that isn't what happens. The best way to learn the game is to play the game, and that requires getting to the table.

We built Delvers to Grow around getting to the table fast, within the context of the DFRPG license, with enough choices to make a character meaningfully different. The Dungeon Fantasy RPG answers the "genre-focused example" part of the need.

And now, Gaming Ballistic presents the last piece of the puzzle: Saethor's Bane is a “programmed” adventure, originally written by David Pulver, playable solo or with a group, with or without a GM. It walks you through combat, choices, and advancement in a focused military style fightin’ campaign.

It funded within the first eight hours, and is now less than $3,000 away from achieving the stretch goal to make the interior full color. It runs through March 9. If you've ever been curious about how the Dungeon Fantasy RPG actually plays, there's never been a better time to try it and find out. If you've been looking for a way to introduce your friends and fellow gamers to Powered by GURPS, this is a fantastic opportunity.

Join the Campaign! Saethor's Bane on Backerkit Crowdfunding.


(As an aside: it's fairly cool that about one in seven pledges are opting for starter sets of one form or another. Basically 14% of the backers are trying this out for the first time. That's a nice pickup on future players!)

[namada]

Sorry Doug, I just realized this was a thing, so I just backed it. If you'll take my feedback seriously, for the love of God, keep communication to backers to an absolute minimum. You post too much, my man.

[Dalin]

Originally Posted by namada

If you'll take my feedback seriously, for the love of God, keep communication to backers to an absolute minimum. You expose too, my man.

I'm curious about the reasoning behind your feedback here. I have always felt that clear communication and transparency are desirable qualities and one of the distinguishing features of Gaming Ballistic's crowdfunding efforts.

[Farmer]

Originally Posted by Dalin

I'm curious about the reasoning behind your feedback here. I have always felt that clear communication and transparency are desirable qualities and one of the distinguishing features of Gaming Ballistic's crowdfunding efforts.

Yes, I understand the possible concern of oversharing at times, but I think Doug has this down just right with details and frequency.

[namada]

Originally Posted by Dalin

I'm curious about the reasoning behind your feedback here. I have always felt that clear communication and transparency are desirable qualities and one of the distinguishing features of Gaming Ballistic's crowdfunding efforts.

I honestly hate having two or three "updates" per day & Doug has a bad history of doing just that.

[Farmer]

Originally Posted by namada

I honestly hate having two or three "updates" per day & Doug has a bad history of doing just that.

I don't think this is accurate. If I look at all the updates from multiple projects in my email archives, it's in fact demonstrably not the case. There may have been odd days with more than one update, but there's generally a good reason like a correction.

[DouglasCole]

It's the last TWO DAYS for Saethor's Bane: A Dungeon Fantasy RPG Solo Adventure!

The project funded in the first eight hours and now stands just a bit shy of the $21,000 full-color-interior stretch goal. It ends at 9:30pm Central Time, Saturday March 9.

This solo adventure is a great way to learn or teach the Dungeon Fantasy RPG. It gives you a chance to try out new professions and rules with no time pressure.

Please jump on board before time runs out!


If you are in forums where you don't see me posting that would welcome such things, I'd appreciate a shout-out or helping spread the word. We only need about 40 new backers to hit the goal, and there should be lots of folks who would be willing to try out a game by themselves that might not have a group.

[Dalin]

We are precisely $648 from full color.

Don't mind my drool.

[Farmer]

Originally Posted by Dalin

We are precisely $648 from full color.

Don't mind my drool.

16 or 17 more backers at the current average - hopeful that once it ticks over even more folks will jump in knowing it's hit the colour target (getting there with 2 days to go could be really good).

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Dalin

We are precisely $648 from full color.

Don't mind my drool.

... and now $663. Drat last-moment pledge drops!