Boss Jellybean, the creative studio led by Jenel Lawson, has successfully surpassed its funding goal for Safe Mode: Disabled, a narrative-driven roleplaying game currently funding on Kickstarter. Based in Concord, North Carolina, Lawson has designed a system using the Powered by the Apocalypse engine to explore the psychological friction between our physical lives and the digital personas we inhabit. The campaign, which remains open until 5 June 2026, coincides with a period of heightened interest in “isekai” anime, in which characters are transported into fictional or virtual worlds.
The project addresses the evolving relationship between gamers and their online identities, a theme increasingly relevant as virtual tabletop platforms and digital social spaces become central to the hobby. By focusing on the tension between “real” and “virtual” selves, the game provides a structured framework for exploring identity, connection, and the emotional weight of escapism.
Mechanics of Digital Duality
The core of Safe Mode: Disabled is its dual-playbook system. Every player maintains two distinct sheets: an IRL Archetype and an Avatar Role. The IRL Archetype represents the character’s social and emotional foundation in the real world, such as a perfectionist streamer or a lonely individual seeking visibility. In contrast, the Avatar Role dictates their capabilities within the game world, often acting as a mirror or a transformative version of their physical self.
This duality is reinforced by asymmetrical relationship mechanics. Unlike many roleplaying games where bonds are mutual, this system allows for one-sided dynamics. A player may feel “Protective” toward an ally who views the relationship as “Competitive” or “Broken.” These mechanics are designed to mimic the complex, often messy social interactions found in modern online communities, where digital masks can complicate genuine connection.
Mirrored Settings and Corrupted Code
The narrative unfolds across “Paired Settings,” where a mundane reality is intrinsically linked to a virtual realm. The core rulebook includes eight to twelve of these worlds, produced in collaboration with several tabletop authors.
Safe Mode: Disabled is designed for fans of collaborative storytelling who want an easy to pick up and play system that explores the fragile boundaries between reality and fantasy.”
Current settings include Utopia/Corefall, where a pastel-perfect reality hides emotional decay while its digital counterpart collapses under corrupted code. Other environments include Hollow Earth / Revenant Network by Jayden King, a cosmic-horror survival setting, and Bravo / Zeta by Dennis Fleming, which explores a corporate dystopia where augmented-reality stakes have lethal real-world consequences. For those wishing to create their own worlds, the book provides a customisable framework for building settings around themes such as Surveillance versus Freedom or Decay versus Growth.
Reward Tiers and Specialist Bundles
The campaign offers a wide range of entry points, from digital-only access to high-value physical bundles. While the standard digital and physical editions provide the core rules, the premium tiers offer unique opportunities for deeper involvement. The Ultimate Deluxe Special Edition includes custom 24mm chonky resin dice by Maise Designs, featuring three distinct colourways: Pastel Utopia, Neon Corefall, and Cross-Dimensional. The most exclusive tiers allow backers to participate in a private online session led by Lawson, or even to have their own character concept professionally illustrated and immortalised in the core rulebook.
- Pledge $20 (approx. £15): PDF. A digital version of the core rulebook and all digital stretch goals.
- Pledge $39 (approx. £29): Digital Bundle. Includes the PDF, Roll20 VTT support, digital journals, and digital class cards.
- Pledge $49 (approx. £37): Hardcover + PDF. A physical copy of the core rulebook and the digital version.
- Pledge $139 (approx. £103): Home Game Bundle. Includes the hardcover, physical class cards, three player journals, and a sticker set.
- Pledge $239 (approx. £177): Ultimate Deluxe Special Edition Bundle. A deluxe hardcover with a limited edition dust jacket, sprayed edges, and custom 24mm resin dice.
- Pledge $280 (approx. £207): Ultimate Deluxe + Game With Creator. All deluxe physical rewards plus an online session with Jenel Lawson.
- Pledge $445 (approx. £329): Illustrated Character Tier. All deluxe rewards plus a custom character illustration featured in the book.
The Safe Mode: Disabled campaign is an all-or-nothing project, meaning it will only be funded if it reaches its goal by the deadline on Friday, 5 June 2026. Physical products are currently estimated to begin shipping in April 2027, with digital rewards expected to arrive earlier.
