Necrotic Gnome and Exalted Funeral take the Old-Schools Essentials’ Dolmenwood Kickstarter through a million

The Old-Schools Essentials RPG inspired by the dark whimsy of British folklore Dolmenwood, which has a free preview, is on Kickstarter.

The project from Necrotic Gnome and Exalted Funeral has attracted over 8,000 backers and more than $1m in pledges. There are still about three weeks left on the crowdfunding campaign.

Dolmenwood is a fantasy adventure tabletop RPG set in a world inspired by the fairy tales and folklore of the British Isles. It has dark forests, mossy glades, and ancient ruins. In Dolmenwood, players will find fairies, goblins, trolls, and other creatures, both wondrous and weird.

The Dolmenwood rules are streamlined, based on Old-School Essentials, and will be familiar to D&D 5e players. The Dolmenwood core books include everything you need to start playing, including a setting guide, a rulebook, and a bestiary. The campaign also offers a range of delectable extras, such as maps, handouts, and miniatures.

There are three books in the campaign, although stretch goals have unlocked more, and they are;

• The Dolmenwood Player’s Book is a 192-page hardcover rulebook that contains the complete game rules for Dolmenwood and all character options. It is Smyth-sewn for durability and includes a ribbon marker for easy reference.
• The Dolmenwood Campaign Book is a 464-page hardcover setting book that presents a lavishly detailed campaign setting ready for years of adventure. It is Smyth-sewn for durability and includes two ribbon markers for easy reference.
• The Dolmenwood Monster Book is a 128-page hardcover bestiary that details the creatures that lurk under Dolmenwood’s eaves. It is Smyth-sewn for durability and includes a ribbon marker for easy reference.

Rife with intrigue, secrets, and magic, Dolmenwood draws travellers of adventurous spirit, daring them to venture within.

Explore the wild places of the Wood, travelling through bramble-choked dells, fungus-encrusted glades, and foetid marshes, bedding down among root and bracken amid the nocturnal babbling of strange beasts.

Backers who pledge at least $50 in support unlock the core rulebooks in PDFs and get access to the pledge manager for add-ons.

At $95, the Standard tier, the books are printed and the PDFs are included.

There’s a limited $125 tier with the limited edition slipcase set and the digital soundtrack.

At $150, the rewards bundle drops back to the standard books but adds minis, dice, a patch, and a player’s cloth map and keeps the digital album. The $190 tier swaps back in the limited edition slipcase.

However, except for a retailer tier, the highest level is for $350 backers and adds in a vinyl album, t-shirt, pin badges and both print options (standard and limited).

The Dolmenwood digital offerings are expected in March 2024, while the print tiers have an estimated delivery of September 2024.