An expansion for the Curseborne tabletop roleplaying game, full of roleplaying advice and new mechanical content for players.
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Hello Accursed,
We're in the Final Days countdown for this Kickstarter campaign. Curseborne finishes the Kickstarter campaign on Friday, October 31st at 2:00 PM EDT. There's still time to curse others to join our Family, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over these final three days to make sure everyone has the information they need to support this project in the way that works best for them.
Whether you're just starting to decide on a Lineage Path or have hit Entanglement 4, these are some good topics to review over these final days to make sure we all end up where we want to be.
(An aside, if you're a new backers, make sure you check out the Final Week Countdown / Resource update. It has links to the manuscript previews, videos, interviews, Reddit AMAs, and other helpful information).
Like it says right at the top of the campaign page, we've come together to help create a fully-developed PDF and hardcover version of the Curseborne Player's Guide. Full of additional options for your characters to explore and great advice and suggestions in creating a history for your character, the Player's Guide is the next exciting chapter in the developing Curseborne game line.
To borrow an analogy that I've used in past Kickstarter campaigns, this process we're a part of works similar to the "Viewers Like You" support campaign from your local Public Broadcasting Station (for those who get American television channels or watched Sesame Street in the pre-Netflix era): There are various levels of support that you can pledge to, and these come with various levels of rewards offered as a thank you. Like getting a tote bag or t-shirt when you give money to public broadcasting to fund them doing their thing, you can get rewards for helping Onyx Path work on this project.
Let's review the Backer Reward Tiers to ensure that you've pledged to a Reward Tier that provides all the rewards you wish to receive.
The main rewards offered in this campaign is, of course, the main goal of the entire proposition: the Curseborne Player's Guide book. The first decision you need to make in figuring out your reward tier is whether you want to receive the PDF version, the standard hardcover, or the limited edition deluxe hardcover.
While the world of the Accursed is challenging and full of hidden perils and intrigue, we've tried to keep supporting this project as simple and straightforward as possible. To pledge support to this project, select one of these pledge path tiers:
If you're really excited about Curseborne and want to take things up a notch, we're also offering a special limited edition Deluxe Curseborne Hardcover Book option.
Need the Curseborne Core Rules as well? They form the system upon which the Curseborne Player's Guide is built. We've set up these one-click pledge options to get you started! If you don't already have a copy of the Curseborne corebook, you soon will by choosing any of these reward paths.
In addition to these primary reward pledge paths, we also offer the following options:
After the campaign is over we'll launch our BackerKit Pledge Manager and invite the backers to set up their rewards via survey. This allows you to confirm your pledge and add on anything that you might have missed, as well as possibly increasing your pledged reward tier, should you choose to expand your reward selection. This option will give international backers additional time to investigate shipping options, should they choose, knowing they can confirm a physical reward at a later date. We will also use BackerKit's Pledge Manager to charge actual shipping costs for orders when we're approaching order fulfillment. Funding collected by BackerKit after the crowdfunding campaign does not count toward any campaign Stretch Goals, however.
After the Kickstarter campaign, in the Pledge Manager, you 'll be able to:
An important reminder at this stage:
You'll note that two rewards - Access to the Manuscript Previews and Participation in Post-Campaign Pledge Manager - are included in ALL reward tiers. That's just one of the perks of participating in this Kickstarter campaign!
OPTIONAL DISCOUNTED PoD VERSION – For this Curseborne Player's Guide campaign, you will have the option of using DriveThruRPG.com’s Print-On-Demand service to purchase a physical, printed copy of the PDF directly from their PoD partners at discounted cost (this cost is not included in your pledge, and you do not need to increase the cost of your pledge to use this option). When the PoD versions are available to order (which may be some time after the books have gone to print), you will receive links to purchase these versions of the books from DriveThruRPG.com. You DO NOT need to take advantage of this PoD offer as it does not affect in any way your pledge rewards.
CURSEBORNE PLAYER'S GUIDE PDF VERSION - The digital version of the Curseborne Player's Guide, fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com. Kickstarter backers will receive redemption links for an early version of this book before it goes on sale to the public. This initial "Backer Version" will be used to get feedback from the fans to make the final version the best that it can be. When it has been updated to the final version, it will automatically be added to your DriveThruRPG library and available for download at your convenience.
CURSEBORNE PLAYER'S GUIDE HARDCOVER BOOK - The main goal of this campaign is to fund the creation, production, and print run of a hardcover edition of this book. Note that all Pledge Paths that include the physical hardcover version also include the digital PDF version as a bonus. Shipping costs ARE NOT included in the cost of your pledge. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager.
CURSEBORNE PLAYER'S GUIDE DELUXE EDITION HARDCOVER BOOK - A deluxe version of the Curseborne Player's Guide hardcover book with a leatherette cover featuring a foil stamp logo on the front and inset silk bookmark.
There has been some churn over this past week - a few Reward Tier adjustments and changes by backers, as budgets changed and people have read the manuscript previews. In these final days it's best to ensure that you've selected the Reward Tier that offers you the options and rewards you want to receive and are ready to lock down. This timing - before the campaign ends - is the absolute most affordable and inclusive these rewards will be, and will save headaches and heartbreaks if fully considered now.
This is just the first step, however, in completing your pledge for this campaign. Funds for additional extras can be added to your pledge by selecting Add On options and increasing the overall funding and maybe getting us closer to a Stretch Goal.
To summarize the first part of this post, the absolute best way to ensure that you're getting the primary rewards you want from this crowdfunding campaign is to ensure you've selected the appropriate Backer Reward Tier. Selecting the right Reward Tier covers about 95% of the options available to you. If you want a PDF only, make sure you've selected the correct reward. If you want the hardcover version, double-check your reward tier to ensure the proper option is featured. If you're going digital now but want the option of getting a discounted Print-on-Demand copy later, make sure you've got a reward tier that includes it.
Once you've completed that important step, you're going to want to look at the Add On rewards for any reward "bits" that don't automatically fall into your reward tier. That takes us to the Add On step.
Once you've chosen your pledge tier, you've likely already included the main rewards you want. In addition to the rewards offered as part of the Reward Tier configurations, there are a few other possible rewards you may wish to add. All Add-On rewards are described in our Add On menu below.
You can select an Add On option, which will increase the amount of your pledge by the listed amount. Add on options will be selected and confirmed again in the Pledge Manager when that's up and running.
CURSEBORNE Add-Ons include additional redemptions for your Curseborne Player's Guide Backer PDF code when the time comes, additional copies of the standard or deluxe hardcover book, the Curseborne corebook PDF, the Curseborne corebook hardcover book, as well as
Orders for recent campaigns. You can get the PDF from these recent Onyx Path games built using the Storypath Ultra System. Aside from The World Below, these are all in Pre-Order phase, so you'll get the Preview Draft Manuscript to review and the Backer PDF for the book once it's released.
You can add or update your Add On choices right up until the campaign ends on October 31st at 2:00 EDT. If you've already pledged, you just have to hit the Manage Your Pledge button on the top of the campaign main page.
Once you've decided to Pledge to the campaign, or to Manage your Pledge if you've already backed, you either Confirm or Change Your Pledge on the first menu.
Once I select my pledge, I'm given the opportunity to click a green "Pledge" confirmation button. Once confirmed, I am taken to the second part of the Pledge process, where I can further Configure my reward. There are many optional Add Ons, not just those visible at the top of the page. It pays to scroll down.
Once you've selected your Pledge, and then picked any Add On options, you press continue and review one final time before confirming your pledge.
Using myself as an example, I've pledged for the Sphinx Path hardcover reward tier. During the Add On option review, I decided to add the Tasty Bit Compilation PDF to my rewards list.
Once I click Confirm, my reward tier and add ons are set for my pledge. Note that I've included my shipping destination, but no shipping charges have been calculated. Those will be handled and charged in the Pledge Manager when the books are preparing to ship.
You should also be aware that any available Add On options will be made available in our Pledge Manager, so if you're unsure about adding on something at this point, you will be able to adjust your pledge in the post-campaign phase.
Pledging to the campaign also opens up the Stretch Goal rewards as thanks for your participation. We'll review our Stretch Goal accomplishments on Thursday, but it's important to note that backers who wait and Pre-Order the Curseborne Player's Guide at a later date will not have any Stretch Goal rewards automatically added to their rewards list. The Stretch Goal rewards will only automatically be added to the rewards for those who participated in this Kickstarter campaign.
All Add On and additional or extra hardcovers can only be added to a reward tier that already includes a hardcover version of this book (and has therefore established shipping parameters). The Guide Screen and Dice Sets must also be added to a hardcover reward tier, since it is a physical item that requires shipping. As with your pledge, shipping charges will be calculated in the Pledge Manager with all physical rewards sent in a single shipment once the Curseborne Player's Guide books are printed and ready to fulfill.
Don't fret if you had forgotten to select an Add On by the end of the campaign. These Add Ons will be available to select in our post-campaign Pledge Manager for those who participated in our campaign and have full access to the Pledge Manager. So, if you are undecided at this time, you will be able to hold off until we're closer to the final reward shipment goes out.
Again, your first step should involve your main reward selection, and your Add On Options will build upon that. If you selected the PDF-only tier, you will be presented with digital options. If you select a hardcover tier, you will be presented with the additional option to add an extra copy of the hardcover.
Note that all funds are expressed in US Dollars, although Kickstarter displays the approximate conversion rate.
That should explain the process of Selecting your Reward Tier and Add On options and confirming your TOTAL PLEDGE AMOUNT. Since increasing your pledge amount increases the overall funding level of the project, add-ons can help us achieve our Stretch Goal funding targets, so it benefits us all to suggest that you double-check to make sure you're getting all of the rewards you want.
Additionally, please review your personal budget and ensure you've selected the appropriate reward tier and add ons for your current financial situation. Kickstarter will begin charging your payment method once the campaign ends, so ensure you've budgeted correctly. Choose what works best for you now and is affordable at this time, knowing that you can upgrade your pledge level or choose Add Ons in the Pledge Manager at a late date.
As we move through these final days of the campaign, please ensure you've chosen the correct Reward Tier for the rewards you want (at least at this point). And beyond that - please make sure you've investigated and selected any add-ons you wish to receive. If you have any issues with the Pledge process, either selecting the reward tier or Adding On optional rewards, try a different browser or device. Kickstarter is always refining their processes, but sometimes things are a little sticky. Changing browsers often solves the issue.
On Friday, just before the campaign ends, I will send an update detailing the steps that occur after the campaign concludes, including notes about our Pledge Manager and the communication plan going forward.
So, just like always: Spread the word! Share your excitement on social media! Tell your friends! We're about to finish this epic adventure, so let's make sure that none of our friends miss out!
And I'll be back tomorrow with the FINAL manuscript section for the Curseborne Player's Guide, making the current draft text available for all backers to review before the campaign ends!
So, let's get ready for Venators! Let's invite more backers! Let's unlock another Stretch Goal! And get ready as we race towards the end!
This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.
Hello Accursed!
This Kickstarter campaign ends a week from tomorrow - on Hallowe'en, October 31st at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. As we head into that final week, I'll be sharing a handful of instruction and review-type posts about Reward Tiers & Add Ons, Stretch Goal reviews, and What Comes Next, so if you've got any process questions or are wondering about how the Kickstarter steps work, I'm hoping to clarify any remaining questions before we finish. Of course, if you're still wondering about something, please ask and I'll help as best I can.
The Curseborne Player's Guide Kickstarter will come to an end on Hallowe'en, naturally. That gives us plenty of time to gather some final backers and maybe unlock a final Stretch Goal, but not an unlimited amount of time. We will have to end eventually, so please ensure you've let all of your gamer friends who may be interested know about this campaign.
Speaking of Stretch Goals...
We've reached another Milestone Marker!
Achieved! - At $55,000 in Funding - REDBUBBLE SHIRT - A Curseborne-themed Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. Backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.
We've got one final week to unlock our final new content goal:
At $60,000 in Funding - CURSEBORNE SCENARIO - We'll create a playable adventure that delves into Family drama both within and between multiple Families and Lineages to use in your Curseborne game. This Curseborne Scenario Supplement PDF will automatically be added as a bonus reward to all backers receiving the Curseborne Player's Guide PDF as one of their rewards, and backers receiving either hardcover reward will also receive a link to order a discounted print-on-demand softcover version.
Will we reach that funding target before the end? Will we cross 1,000 backers? Let's find out over the next week!
I know, this is something I've already said many times (and seem to say during every project!), but for this final week, you are officially an Accursed Ambassador for this Kickstarter project. It's time to share your excitement for the Curseborne Player's Guide! Basically, we want to recruit as many curious backers as possible to form our own Family of Kickstarter Backers over this final week.
I know I've ended many update posts with "Keep spreading the word! Invite others to join in!" - but what does that mean, and how do you do it?
Easy answer - don't stop talking about the Curseborne Player's Guide until 2:01 PM EDT next Friday October 31st (maybe even while getting costumes on for Halloween!) Yes, family and friends are tired of me talking about it. But what else have I got to talk about? And they've learned to tolerate me during a Kickstarter campaign. But here's the thing - there are others around who haven't heard or don't know about the campaign.
There are many, many Onyx Path and horror RPG fans who haven't yet heard about this campaign and would love to join in. We're right in the middle of a very busy season - tons of different things competing for our attention and a ramped up news cycle and more- so it's not surprising that new backers are just finding out about the campaign every day. If you have an opportunity to let someone know, please do and let's make sure they have a chance to join in before the end.
If you're inviting new backers, or if you are a new backer (hi new backers!), here are a few key resources to be aware of for this campaign.
Backers are able to review the (soon-to-be) complete manuscript for this book before the campaign closes and any pledges are processed. With the exception of the Appendix coming tomorrow and the Venators section coming on Tuesday, the entirety of the rules and options from this book are available for download and review by backers, along with all of the advice and guidance on building your Accursed characters!
Backers are able to make characters RIGHT NOW and you'll have everything you need to make a template-based character in minutes by Halloween!
Anyone who pledges to this campaign before the end can read the entire book now AND provide feedback directly to the developers to help guide the manuscript through the final phases of development and editing!
If you want to learn more about some of the topics covered in this book (in addition to reading the draft manuscript), check out these options:
The Onyx Path crew participated in a Reddit "As Me Anything" thread. While it covers a wide-range of topics, there are some Curseborne nuggets mixed in there. You can check it out <here>
Awkward GM Corbin, who's been talking about Curseborne on his channel for a while, has an interview with Curseborne developer Danielle Lauzon! Check that out <here>.
There are Curseborne conversations going on all around the internet. Here are a few key discussion zones.
1) Don't forget to share a link to the Kickstaerter page in any discussion you have (where appropriate) - and feel free to pass any of the long list of links above to those who may need more info (or, just point them to this post!)
2) Don't forget to tell us about any post or review or discussion you write! Come to the comments section and let us know so we can all go and contribute! I know I keep saying it, but really - this final week is key. Keep the enthusiasm high and keep on inviting others to join in, either directly ("Come see...") or just by setting an example of your enthusiasm and interest.
We've got one week to go, everyone! Thank you all so much for your support! We work together because it's the right thing to do, and because backers make it better! Let's finish strong! And let's continue exploring this new amazing game together, sharing our feedback with the writers and delving into the draft manuscript, and let's see if we can't get another Stretch Goal or two before we review next Wednesday!
Hello Accursed!
We're having a great week so far! We've passed 900 backers and are closing in on our next Stretch Goal!
We've got just over a week left - please continue to spread the word and let's see if we can't climb all the way to 1000 backers and maybe unlock that Stretch Goal and the big one sitting after it!
At $55,000 in Funding - REDBUBBLE SHIRT - A Curseborne-themed Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. Backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.
At $60,000 in Funding - CURSEBORNE SCENARIO - We'll create a playable adventure that delves into Family drama both within and between multiple Families and Lineages to use in your Curseborne game. This Curseborne Scenario Supplement PDF will automatically be added as a bonus reward to all backers receiving the Curseborne Player's Guide PDF as one of their rewards, and backers receiving either hardcover reward will also receive a link to order a discounted print-on-demand softcover version.
I've got another sneak peek from the Venator's section of the draft manuscript, available for backers to download next Tuesday. Before our peek, though, I've got a link to a video from Matthew Dawkins, the Gentleman Gamer, and his sneak peek at the Last Legion! Get the insight of one of the developers before you read the words from the book! Or, after... I won't control which order you check it out!
Our duty is to our contract.
If they’re monsters, we kill them. The bigger and badder, the better. If they aren’t monsters, we leave them alone. Who makes that distinction? Honestly, that’s above my pay grade. I take jobs to kill monsters. If you have enough money, and my boss liked the terms of the contract, then I guess they’re a monster.
We’re the best at what we do. Of course we are, as we’re the only remnants of the original group. When the hunters formed the Venators in Westphalia, the Last Legion was formed as the militant arm of the group. While the rest of the organization morphed into what you see today, we’re still an elite fighting force. No other Venator Operation is as professional, efficient, or versatile.
We make the best of shit circumstances. You might think we’re assholes to demand payment to hunt monsters who hurt innocent people. But good vibes and well-wishes don’t pay my hospital bills after the fact. Sure, you can look to the execs to pay your way, or you can make yourself an asset by being the cash flow. Who do you think supports those other bleeding hearts?
The job is the most important thing. If we take a job, we finish it, no questions asked. Our contracts are thorough, and if it ends up being a larger problem than initially budgeted for, we’ve got our bases covered. Look, we’ve all got personal projects we want to take care of. Just make sure you’re not letting it get in the way of your work.
There is no good or evil, there’s just us. Call me a Nihilist if you want, but I don’t lose sleep at night after I kill a mass-murdering vampire. I also don’t lose sleep if there’s some rat shifter in the neighborhood just trying to make a living. We all have good days and bad, and none of this shit matters in the end, so lighten up.
We hunt because we have to. Remember how I said we’re trying to make the best of it? Yeah, well I’d rather keep hunting than live in the dark with a nagging obsession, so I keep hunting. Maybe it means I’ll die a fast death. Or maybe it means I win the day, and get a little more time to enjoy sunsets. I’m good at it, and so are my crew, so this is what we do.
Relations
Others call us mercs, black ops, killers for hire. I guess we’re all that and more.
Within the Operation, we call each other legionnaires, friends, family. These people are my ride or dies, my always got you backs, and my no one left behinds.
We use magic to get the job done. None of us are particularly keen on it, but it’s a tool like any other. You pick it up to use it when you need it and set it back down again when it’s done. Don’t hold onto it too hard, or you might end up on the wrong end of my gun.
Last Legion Duty: Legionnaires believe that big monsters prey on small monsters, and the fastest way to the biggest quarry is through the little guys. To gain a new Accursed bond, you must take an action that helps an Accursed make meaningful progress toward an objective that would draw supernatural attention.
Play a Legionnaire if you want to:
OK, a couple of sneak peeks at two options from the Venators. We'll get the full manuscript section next Tuesday. Tomorrow, I'm going to prepare for our final week by building a list of resources and links so new backers will have everything in one place and I have an anchor point to link to as I let people know about the campaign in our countdown phase.
On Friday, we'll get one more manuscript section - the Appendix which contains all the new Family Major Path options, Torments, and every Trick published in this book. Nothing new reall, but a great reference point to have when reviewing the material (and in play!).
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