The tabletop roleplaying publisher Pelgrane Press has officially launched the crowdfunding preview phase for Merryshire Detective Club, an upcoming standalone game designed by Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan and developed by Robin D. Laws. Described as a playful blend of Agatha Christie and J.R.R. Tolkien, the project relocates traditional investigative crime drama into a bucolic, halfling-dominated fantasy setting known as the Riding.
A free 18-page sampler document has been released simultaneously on DriveThruRPG to showcase the modified ruleset, giving players an immediate look at character generation and core setting lore. The publication is spearheaded by Pelgrane Press co-owners Simon Rogers and Cathriona Tobin, with visual design contributions from cover artist Amy Nagi and cartographer Jog Brogzin.
The mechanics are built entirely upon the established GUMSHOE system, utilising a single six-sided die. True to the system’s design philosophy, characters possess automatic Investigative abilities such as Common Sense and Eavesdropping, ensuring that players who look for evidence in the correct location will always secure the necessary clues without risking a failed dice roll. The game introduces high-fantasy options for investigators, letting players build characters as stalwart dwarves, eccentric subterranean boggarts, or mischievous, talking animal pooka alongside the native halfling populace.
To support the launch, the publishers announced their first digital community milestone focused on world-building. Backers and community members are being asked to submit names for the local village pub, the central social hub for the amateur investigators. Following the conclusion of the crowdfunding campaign, eight selected community suggestions will be permanently integrated into the final core book as a randomised table for game masters.
Quick Links
- Free to Download: Merryshire Detective Club preview
- BackerKit: Merryshire Detective Club
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