An independent creator based out of Troy, New York, has launched a crowdfunding campaign for Flintlock & Fog, a brand-new and entirely standalone Victorian tabletop roleplaying game. Seeking to fund the Official Players Manual and introductory campaign module by Friday, the 22nd of May 2026, the project offers a dedicated ruleset specifically engineered for gothic horror storytelling.
Rather than adapting a pre-existing engine, Flintlock & Fog introduces an original framework built around tactical survival in the fog-drenched streets of 19th-century London. Characters are defined by unique core attributes such as Sensibility and Knowledge, while combat is governed by Perception-based initiative and unforgiving death dynamics. Weapon proficiencies extend far beyond the physical, incorporating psychological categories for handling curses, esoteric arts, and supernatural phenomena.
Living the Gothic Classic
The included starter campaign, A Study in Indigo, promises to intertwine players with iconic literary figures like Dracula and Frankenstein’s Monster, blurring the lines between formidable adversaries and unlikely allies. Character classes within the game are segmented into academic and esoteric pursuits, such as Investigation and Spiritualism, reflecting the era’s fascination with both emerging sciences and the occult.
The creator emphasises the specific design philosophy behind the project:
Flintlock & Fog is not a reskin or hack of any existing ruleset, it is a completely original tabletop RPG system designed specifically for Victorian gothic storytelling and tactical horror.”
Backing the Campaign
Instead of presenting an exhaustive menu of minor variations, the campaign smartly structures its rewards around compelling tiers suited for different levels of table investment. For those seeking immediate digital access to the new system, the entry-level option provides the core materials, whilst premium tiers offer highly limited physical artefacts for dedicated collectors.
- Pledge $18 (approx. £14): The Jekyll. Includes digital downloads of the Official Players Manual, the “Study in Indigo” campaign module, printable maps, and a one-month subscription to Eldritch Unlimited.
- Pledge $58 (approx. £43): The Helsing. Grants access to physical Print-on-Demand copies via DriveThruRPG (with printing and shipping paid separately by the buyer), alongside all digital rewards.
- Pledge $320 (approx. £236): The Dracula. A highly limited tier offering signed physical copies, a custom set of seven dice, a trading card, a signed poster, and all digital assets.
The project operates on an all-or-nothing funding model, requiring the campaign to meet its financial goal by 1:14 AM BST on Friday, 22 May 2026. Successful backers can expect their digital and physical rewards to begin fulfilling around August 2026, although the creator notes this is a conservative estimate with hopes to deliver by June.
