In an industry grappling with the controversial rise of AI, some publishers are drawing a firm line in the sand. Battlefield Press is one such company, making a clear “No AI” commitment for their new Kickstarter, Tales from Whitechapel. But behind this principled stance is a powerful story of legacy and resilience, as the company forges ahead after the passing of co-founder Jonathan.
I spoke with Adam Thompson about carrying that torch, what this new fiction anthology means for the future of their Gaslight roleplaying game, and why championing new writers is at the heart of their mission.
The Tales from Whitechapel Kickstarter
The campaign is for Tales from Whitechapel, a new fiction anthology set in the world of the Gaslight Victorian Fantasy roleplaying game. The project has already successfully surpassed its funding goal on Kickstarter, ensuring the book will be published.
The campaign runs until Thursday, 23rd October 2025.
Key backing tiers for the anthology include:
- A pledge of $10 to receive a digital PDF copy.
- A pledge of $25 to receive a physical softcover copy of the book, which also includes the PDF version.
Other reward tiers are available, including bundles that feature the core rulebook for the Gaslight roleplaying game itself, making it an excellent entry point for newcomers.
An interview with Adam Thompson
Hi Adam, thanks for taking the time to chat with us about Tales from Whitechapel. It’s great to see a new project from Battlefield Press on Kickstarter.
You recently told us that the William W. Connors cover “alone makes it worth backing.” For those who might not know his work, what is it about that stunning piece of art that you feel so perfectly captures the project?
We’re biased. William W. Connors wrote Masque of the Red Death for AD&D 2ndE. He’s been a supporter of the Gaslight universe and did the amazing art that is the cover for the new edition of the Gaslight RPG. The Whitechapel cover shows Inspector Edmund Reid, who investigated the Ripper murders and commanded H Division of the Metropolitan Police (Whitechapel) flanked by two Constables. A very fitting image for an anotholgy set in the Whitechapel district.
This is a fiction anthology set in the world of Gaslight Victorian Fantasy. What made you decide to explore the setting through short stories rather than, say, a new adventure module or sourcebook?
We have more sourcebooks and adventures coming, but putting the world into context in fiction helps those that are playing the game and is the reason so many RPG universes have fiction for them.
You’ve added reward tiers that bundle the Gaslight RPG itself with the anthology. Is the hope that these tales will serve as a great entry point for people who are completely new to your flagship setting?
Yes and to make the campaign appeal to gamers who may have missed the crowdfunding for the Revised Gaslight. We also added a bundle of older Gaslight versions as an addon.
Your FAQ makes a very clear and principled stand: “No AI”. In an industry where AI is a hot and often divisive topic, what’s the philosophy behind Battlefield Press’s commitment to human creators?
Battlefield Press has served as the starting platform for many people. Jonathan and I started this company because he was having a hard time getting published. First time writers have been published at Battlefield Press, some of them have become well known names in the gaming industry. Chris Halliday, Cameron Lyle and Stephen Miller all started with BPI and continue to write with us to this day. Whitechapel has new authors and experienced writers too. Talented writers should always be given a chance and we are happy to help them.
The Kickstarter updates mention that this is a new account for the company, following the passing of Jonathan. First, we’re so sorry for your loss. Could you tell our readers a bit about the challenges of carrying the torch for the company and what this project means for the future of Battlefield Press?
First off, thank you. It’s been almost three years and I miss my brother every day. While I cofounded this company, I was not involved outside of conventions and being his sounding board. He always thought I was too busy to deal with the business side of things. In the time since his passing I have been working to get the outstanding projects out. We have managed to get most of them
In one update, you touch on the interesting idea of whether these stories are ‘canon’ for the Gaslight universe. Could you expand on how you see fiction and gameable content interacting? How much should a GM feel bound by the stories in this book when running their own campaign?
GM’s should *not* feel bound by the actual events in these stories, full stop. The fiction gives you a picture of what the game world is like, it helps serve as an explanation of the setting if you need additional help visualizing the setting from how it is described in the RPG. As an added bonus it is entertaining for the non gamers that buy the various Tales books and other fiction that we may offer. We have offered a Dramatis Personae for the characters in this anthology as a stretch goal on this project. That will allow the gamers that back this project, or later purchase the book, the ability to see game stats on the primary characters of each story.
Victorian Fantasy is a popular genre. For someone who might have played other games in similar settings, what do you think is the unique flavour or “secret sauce” of Gaslight Victorian Fantasy?
Gaslight is a universe where Victorian Authors stand side by side with Victorian characters. We always use the example that instead of Doyle writing about Watson as the man he was and Holmes as the man he wanted to be. In the Gaslight Universe Doyle is the biographer of his friend John Watson and Watson’s business partner, Sherlock Holmes.
With Tales from Whitechapel successfully funded and heading towards its goal, what’s next on the horizon for Battlefield Press? Can we expect more fiction, or are there new RPG supplements in the works?
The first step is to wrap up projects by the end of the year. We have a couple of books outstanding that we would like to get in the hands of the backers and make available for retail. We also working on product maps so we know what comes next on the release schedule. More games, more fiction, more cards for our Savage Worlds settings. Frankly just more for people to enjoy.
Lastly, Battlefield Press has shown a great deal of heart and resilience. When people see the Battlefield Press name on a book, what do you hope they think and feel about the work you do?
I know it sounds campy, but I hope they think about how much effort we put into bringing a solid, viable and entertaining game to the market. I also want them to think about how much we appreciate everyone that buys our products and how much we love, especially how much Jonathan loved, delivering that joy and entertainment to game tables of people we may never meet.
Thanks, Adam!
