MCDM Productions, known for its impressive fantasy RPGs, has made a surprising turn into the survival horror genre. They just released a public alpha playtest for a new game called Crows over the US Memorial Day weekend. This free playtest offers a look into a post-apocalyptic RPG where characters can easily meet their end, and players must focus on gathering resources from abandoned ruins to stay alive.
Pitched as a gritty alternative to the heroic action of their upcoming system Draw Steel, Crows challenges players to navigate harsh environments like the flesh-covered ruins of the Blood Library. Lead designer James Introcaso, known for his work on cinematic fantasy systems and the Arcadia magazine, is steering the studio into sharply different territory with this brutal release. Featuring art by Nick De Spain, the current digital packet contains core mechanics, character creation, village advancement rules, and a stark warning from the developers: expect your characters to die easily.
The core gameplay loop presents an interesting challenge. MCDM is promoting Crows as a high-lethality experience. Crows is a brutal game in which players must quickly roll up new characters when their current ones die. But alongside this throwaway character system, there’s a deep meta-progression system. If you manage to survive long enough to collect treasure, you can invest in your home village, upgrading things like the alchemist for better potions or the blacksmith for stronger weapons. It’ll be interesting to see how MCDM balances this contradiction. Will the economic upgrades make dungeon dangers feel less threatening, or will the challenges in the dark become even tougher as players gear up their village?
This initial release is deliberately raw. The alpha packet lacks final graphic design, deep editing, and comprehensive referee guidance, which is slated for a future booklet titled The Ref. However, it provides the necessary mechanical framework, creature statistics, and maps to complete a dungeon run. The studio is actively seeking critical feedback via a dedicated survey, which closes on the 29th of June at 8 AM Pacific time.
James, representing MCDM, said in a statement,
The release serves as a precursor to an upcoming BackerKit campaign, though logistical details regarding physical shipping and virtual tabletop compatibility remain unannounced.
Quick Links
- Download the playtest via MCDM Patreon
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