Weird Tales Magazine was founded in 1922 and published the early work of H.P. Lovecraft – including Call of Cthulhu in 1924 – and several of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian stories.
Now, with Ravendesk Games (Vurt and Herald: Lovecraft & Tesla RPGs) there’s a Kickstarter to turn James Aquilone’s Dead Jack series into an RPG called Pandemonium Noir.
Geek Native has an extensive gallery of the weird art from the game to show you, but you can also go directly to the campaign page here.
The game is powered by the Cypher System, from Monte Cook, which has already got a good track record with noir. Say, Shotguns and Sorcery or perhaps even Carnival Row.
We’re told to imagine the capital city of the dimension of Pandemonium to be a bit like New York City of the 1950s as if imagined by Hieronymus Bosch. I can just about do it… and it’s awfully curious.
The Noir tropes are here; back-stabbing allies, nosy but well-meaning reporters, strong dames, sneaky loan sharks and crime bosses.
Except, you know, supernatural. That’s the Leprechaun Mafia you’ve just gone up against.
A pledge of $20 is enough for the core book in PDF and all digital stretch goals. Whereas you need to step up to 35 to add in the soundtrack and other digital rewards.
Happy with print-on-demand? That’s $40. If not; $50 and that’ll get your 4 Weird Tales Games Zines in digital format in your inbox too.
Pledges go up to $200 and, do you know what, they’re selling. That’s just as well, Weird Tales Presents: Pandemonium Noir is asking for $19, 500 to fund. It’s only a few days into the campaign, and $8,000 has been found from 125 backers.
Pandemonium Noir colour art gallery
Pandemonium Noir black and white art gallery
There’s a lot more to read over at the official Kickstarter page.
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