Kickstarter is on the Way

You can follow the prelaunch here. The plan is to launch in February. This post will be a “state of the game address”. I will be telling you all the behind the scenes work. I won’t really be talking about the game, but more about the business. If you are curious about how I operate or are looking to get into TTRPG publishing, maybe this post will help you.

Why Kickstarter?

Customers who play TTRPGs like to buy off Kickstarter. I think it gives the games an air of legitimacy and helps them feel secure in their purchases. Which is kind of strange because the premise of Kickstarter is that there is inherent risk, more than normal. But people are familiar with Kickstarter and a lot of people go there to find new games. I am hoping it does more for marketing than anything. No one knows about Along the Leyline yet. So if running a Kickstarter helps bring attention to Along the Leyline and gives people confidence that I actually have a cool thing for them, then it is worth it.

How is the game coming along?

The Player’s Tome and Referee’s Toolkit are all done. The Player’s Expansion is in the final stages of proofing. Each month I have been making a micro supplement for the game. If you want these sign up for the newsletter and get one each month in your inbox. I have a couple of other expansions to the game in the works. Followers and Estates will give players the option to build a home base, recruit hirelings, and it expands on how deities work in Along the Leyline. I was hoping to get it done by February but I think it will be a 2026 thing instead. I also have a bunch of spells lined up and ready to go into a stand-alone spell expansion. I’m just not sure if people want a book devoted to spells or not. Let me know if that’s something you’re interested in.

What challenges have you faced so far?

My main computer with a lot more processing than my laptop unexpectedly crashed which has set me back. I am no computer wiz so while I tried to fix it, replacing the power supply unit and the motherboard did not work. I guess I don’t really know how to read error signals or how to properly replace computer parts. Not sure whatelse I can do without sinking more money into it. I decided to put computer repairs on hold and instead use my funds toward advertising.

It should also be noted that this is not my day job. I work full time, have a family, and then build Along the Leyline on the side. I really like making this stuff and I hope it brings others joy, but some days it feels like screaming into the void. I am super proud of my work. Even if only a few people see it.

How is playtesting going?

I am running two campaigns at the moment. One with my family the other with my friends.

My eldest son, Levi, has been begging me to run a campaign for him. We were able to get my wife, Mary, on board and we have been playing after dinner on Tuesday. Their campaign is simplistic but fun. The setting is a world where humans, halflings, dwarves, elves, orcs, and fairies were all in contact and enjoyed a prosperous relationship. To celebrate they played gladiatorial type games and wore magic armor. Each species created armor that harnessed the power of the elements. Humans used lightning, halflings thunder, elves water, fairies wind, orcs earth, and dwarves fire.

The gladiatorial games have since stopped, as economic hardships hit the land, fewer folks travelled and the ancient elemental armors were mostly forgotten. Through disuse the armors found their way into the tombs of the ancient warriors that wore them. At present, a cult of elements has risen up, bent on conquering the world. The cult is seeking the elemental armors and are plunging into tombs to find them. The heroes must get there first, find the armors and use them to fend off the cultists.

I would like to eventually turn this setting into a campaign book with six different tombs each with four levels of difficulty so that the players can follow the story in a non-linear fashion. PCs could choose which tomb to go to, then complete the dungeon and get the armor. At the same time, the cult will attempt to get the armor for another dungeon, or maybe even the same dungeon! If the cult is at the same dungeon things would get really interesting!

The second campaign that I am running with my friends is set on Aerolith. Where they currently are is on a continent full of liches. The liches are a part of a Pax Lichdom where they trade knowledge and do not outright attack each other. But the power hungry liches can’t stay at peace forever. Each lich wants to be the last one standing and each one tries to hire the PCs to do their bidding. At present, my group is working for Draconikaster, a dragonkin lich whos goal is to make the most powerful dragon ever. Draconikaster has sent them to Nettlekaster, a water lich who wants to cover the world in water. The party has already defeated one lich. Only time will tell if they can conquer a second. I would also like to turn this setting into a campaign book as well. Players can choose which liches to align with, and which to attack, or ignore politics and play a dungeon game with a lich called Malikaster.

In Other News

I am working on setting up a print on demand service to get t-shirts, mugs, and other cool stuff with my art on it. I got a proof of the t-shirt and will be working out how to set up a storefront on this website, or if that doesn’t work, figuring out the best way to send you to a place you can order them. Stay tuned for more details. You can stay informed by joining the email list.

Final Thoughts

I have a lot of things I want to do. I will keep working hard to make sure they become a reality. I could really use your support though. If you like this work drop me a message, join the email list, or follow the Kickstarter. Thanks for reading. I hope your games are full of dread and laughter.