Hi everyone! Quickie update from us today, since a few cool things have happened in the last 24 hours 🤘🏼
New Pledge Levels!
Reminder: Share for our Lore Blooper Cards
World Building and Breaking Livestream today at 2:30PM ET
You want it all?
You've got it all! The CONJURE and DEVOUR tiers are here! The new CONJURE Pledge Tier is perfect for anyone who already has The Story Engine Deck and Deck of Worlds and wants to pick up the new decks, accessories, and collectibles to fill out their collection. 👉🏽 Find out more here.
The DEVOUR Pledge Level, on the other hand, is for newcomers who are ready to go all-in with The Story Engine. This tier includes everything in the CONJURE Tier, along with The Story Engine Deck and Deck of Worlds, all 15 of their respective Expansions, and all 12 Story Engine Boosters. You'll also get all three playmats, since you'll be getting our Tell Your Story and Build Your World mats with our Weave Your Lore mat to complete the set.
This is the tier for you if you've never purchased one of our products and want to get caught up on everything you missed. The DEVOUR Pledge Level is the best price we've ever offered for our entire collection, so you don't want to miss this opportunity!
Wanna see the prompts that didn't make it? Help us spread the word! We'll release a FREE outtake PDF if 500 backers share the BackerKit campaign before we end on Friday, and we're almost 20% of the way there already!
Every backer gets us closer to another stretch goal, and we will make fools of ourselves (in writing) to provide a little extra incentive!
TODAY we'll be live at 2:30pm ET! We'll be joined by special guest Jordan Shiveley, who will be helping us build a new world - and then demonstrating how you can use Lore Master's Deck to break that world to unlock a better story!
You'll be hearing from us lots this week! The countdown is on to our Wrap Party this Friday, starting at 9PM ET! Bring your confetti poppers! 🎉🎉🎉 See you soon!
We will release an add-on expansion for connecting The Story Engine Deck to Deck of Worlds, completing the Bridge Expansion Trio. We will also release a collector's Bridge Expansion Set Storage Box to hold the complete set.
Goal: $400,000 reached! — We did it! This project reached this goal!
Our Lore Master's Deck campaign passed $400,000 overnight - and that means we've unlocked our final Bridge Expansion! The Story & World Bridge will officially ship with our CONJURE and DEVOUR pledge tiers, and is available as an add-on for anyone who wants to complete their card collection!
Getting to $400,000 means that you've unlocked all of the cards we had planned for this campaign. We can still add awesome link tokens to the deck (along with some other goodies) so keep spreading the word to help us run up the score!
Who wants to see a snake deity get chased by a God-reviewer critic?
Right this minute, we're live with artist Megan McKay who is bringing her amazing, adorable art style to create doodles in live-time with the community based off prompts from Lore Master's Deck. Join us now on the main page!
We will release an add-on expansion for connecting The Story Engine Deck to Deck of Worlds, completing the Bridge Expansion Trio. We will also release a collector's Bridge Expansion Set Storage Box to hold the complete set.
Goal: $400,000 reached! — We did it! This project reached this goal!
We will release an add-on expansion for connecting The Story Engine Deck to Deck of Worlds, completing the Bridge Expansion Trio. We will also release a collector's Bridge Expansion Set Storage Box to hold the complete set.
Goal: $400,000 reached! — We did it! This project reached this goal!
Livestream schedule update: upcoming streams on worldbuilding/worldbreaking, live-drawing lore prompts, and a huge wrap party marathon stream
Gen Con update: we'll be in booth block 1237 next to Nomnivore Games
New Community Goal
We want to pull out all the stops in our final 5 days, so we've created a new Community Achievement.
If 500 backers share our project during the final 5 days using the share button from our new Community Achievement, we will release a free PDF Master of Lost Lore Expansion featuring outtakes from the main deck!
We just added 16 more cards to the main deck, making the deck a whopping 300 cards with 2,400 cues and billions of potential combinations!
Next up: unlocking the Lore Master's Journal and Story-Bridge Expansion!
Going 🔴LIVE in 1 Hour
At 2pm ET we'll be discussing how to create great tabletop RPG settings with game designer Connor Alexander (Coyote & Crow) and artist Eren Angiolini (ArtVenturing Guild, Justice League, Critical Role)! We'll also be using the deck to quickly live-create a setting and discuss what aspects would make for the best basis for roleplay storytelling.
You can also check out our panelists' original tabletop creations live on Kickstarter and BackerKit.
Eren's Arcane Compendium of Characters: Take the story into your own hands, with this system-agnostic deck of TTRPG characters at https://bit.ly/arcanecompendium
Connor'sWolves: Pledge the latest game from Coyote & Crow currently on Kickstarter. Learn more and back it at https://bit.ly/3Oe2kCV
Livestream Schedule Update
We have so many great streams happening this week!
We'll have The Story Engine at Gen Con as part of booth block 1237! Find us next to Nomnivore Games, the creators of the tabletop RPG EMBERWIND (from whom all of our beautiful box art comes)
That's all for now! We'll see you live in 1 hour to talk about tabletop RPG setting creation!
For this achievement, we'll release a free PDF expansion of 60 outtake lore cards. Click below to visit our sharing portal with quick share buttons and further details.
For this achievement, we'll release a free PDF expansion of 60 outtake lore cards. Click below to visit our sharing portal with quick share buttons and further details.
Clovis rolls a purrsuasion check. It’s a 16. Blaze rolls a panic check (wisdom save). It’s a 15.
“Woah woah woah. Hold up here!!!” Clovis yelps. Normally he’s the one to leap into battle without question – but this clearly wasn’t a monster after all. “We’re just here looking for a unicorn we mean you no harm!”
Blaze wiggles her paw, and a small flame appears in it – she’s debating if she should prepare another spell. Clovis’ words seem sincere, he hasn’t raised his great axe or made any sudden moves towards her. Maybe they can be trusted. Then again – the arrow damage from Kirkle has thrown her off.
“How do I know I can trust you?” Blaze states with a hiss.
“You don’t, just as we don’t know if we can trust you.” Kirkle whispers.
“We are adventurers, we’ve come here from Purrth on search of the most beautiful creature in all the land. I’m Clovis and my hooded friend over there is Kirkle. What else do you want to know? I’m an open book!” Clovis says with a grin. Kirkle looks disgusted, he’s too trusting what’s to say Blaze won’t just use that flame to burn the fur right off his backside?!
“What do you want with my unicorn?” Blaze demands.
“Your unicorn? How is it your unicorn? You can’t own a unicorn!” Kirkle puts down his crossbow and crosses his paws under his cloak.
“We’ve heard stories of their majesty and want to see it with our own eyes! We’ve also heard of treasure hidden within their den. Treasure means more nip – more nip means more fish. More fish means – well no that’s where it ends, I’m in it for the fish.” Clovis winks at Kirkle catching his distraught gaze.
“I’m Blaze. I’ve been here trying to reach the unicorn for the last fortnight. I feel I’m hot on its trail – but I fear this ruckus may have scared them away. I’ve heard the first to befriend this unicorn will be given Ring of Shooting Stars. If they have this treasure who knows what else a unicorn den may hold.”
The three move together dropping their weapons, Clovis offers a small bundle of catnip as the sun sets in the sky. If they wait until nightfall, they’ll be less likely to spook the unicorn as they spooked Blaze. Each player loosens up a bit, and they share more about themselves. Clovis talks of his family, whom he hasn’t seen in many moons, and the call to adventure. In his village he stopped a fiery beast from destroying them all. That beast has vowed revenge and Clovis worries he could be lurking around any corner. These adventures help him feel like he’s stronger so someday he won’t be afraid to return home.
Blaze lives amongst the wildlife, she’s befriended the woodland creatures around her and helped many out of a jam. She has lived off the land for as long as she can remember, her tribe roams the planes on the Isle of Ocelot. If she brings home this protection her tribe can roam further than ever before.
Kirkle is a little more reserved in his answers – he follows Leira the lady of Deception. He worships her and hopes to someday join the ranks of her Mistcallers. Until then, he goes where the mist takes him and that is here with Clovis.
“What was that?” Kirkle ends his words abruptly – convinced he’s heard something.
Blaze and Clovis roll a perception check – do they hear the sound? Blaze rolls a 12, Clovis rolls a 19.
Blaze isn’t sure she’s heard anything – she looks around suspiciously maybe it was just the wind. Clovis’ ears perk up, he’s sure it came from the main path – just on the other side of these trees.
Should our party check out the sound, maybe it’s the unicorn? Or remain hidden – maybe Blaze knows more about where this unicorn is?
All 10 adventurers are unlocked and will be available to select in your post campaign survey!
Things of note:
We have gone with the new design of our sorcerer - changing to be able to see her fur through the magic swirls. Thank you all for your votes earlier in the campaign.
I'm working on selecting pantone colors as we speak so you may notice some minor changes in colors.
I will be moving across the country during the first few weeks of August - I may not have any updates while on the road but I will be pushing production to begin before leaving!
Clovis points in the direction he heard the noise and crawls to peek his head through the greenery. Blaze and Kirkle follow his lead.
Group stealth check- Clovis rolls an 18, Blaze rolls a 21 and Kirkle rolls a 19.
All 3 are quietly peering out, and in front of them they see a faint swirly glow around a small brown creature. At the tip of its head sat the perfect horn. This was no normal unicorn, but rather a Almiraj! Blaze scurries forward excited to see this beast. She casts speak with animals and bows deeply.
"Your majestic beauty has captured our attention! I have been searching far and wide for a creature of such grace." Blaze says.
The Almiraj appears frightened but the sudden appearance of another. Not to mention by the fact they speak his language.
"H..h..hello" he manages to whisper. "Our? Are you trying to harm me"
"No no of course not! We've heard tales of you and this island - we wanted to come see it for ourselves." Blaze motions to Clovis and Kirkle to come out of their hiding places. She wants to be clear they have no bad intentions.
"What have you come for? Clearly just seeing me is not worth this adventure." The Almiraj is skeptical.
Blaze doesn’t want to ruin her chances of receiving the Ring of Shooting Stars – she hesitates.
Deception Check. Blaze rolls a 15.
“We would just like to see the island and hear of your mystic past. We only hope to befriend you – and any others of your kind.” This isn’t technically a lie – so Blaze comes off sincere and the Almiraj lets down his guard ever so slightly.
“Come, see my home. Deep under the island lies a cave of wonders. But be weary, some corners have gone unexplored for millennia and who knows what danger is lurking there.”
The Almiraj turns with a leap and heads north. The adventurers struggle to keep up as they wind through the trees ducking under branches and around bushes until they come to an abrupt halt and watch the Almiraj dive down a dark hole.
With two weeks left of the campaign, how incredible it is to be passing the $300,000 mark, unlocking 12 stretch goals. BUT WAIT! There's more! What, you ask? Prepare for a massive update!
New community achievements/stretch goals revealed
New add-ons available
Storage system update
Updated livestream schedule
New Community Achievements (Stretch Goals!)
We've had a LOT of questions about the community achievements beyond the $350,000 horizon, and we wanted to share our newest stretch goals with you!
Currently available as an add-on, this journal will be unlocked once we pass $375,000. Designed to support any Lore Master, this tabbed journal with moveable pages is the perfect companion to keep detailed records of the incredible depths of lore that you create using the deck. Pages can be organized by card type, or clustered together to assemble elements that below to the same lore web or setting.
You all asked and we've revealed the final Bridge Expansion to complete the trinity! The Story-World Bridge Expansion helps creators combine prompts from The Story Engine Deck and Deck of Worlds to create threads and connections linking story prompts and worldbuilding prompts.
The Lore Master's Journal, Story-World Bridge Expansion, and limited-edition Bridge Expansion Collector's Box are all currently available as add-ons.
You can currently add them to your pledge. If we do not reach the goal that unlocks them, we will remove them from your pledge before the campaign and you will not be charged for them.
As your lore webs grow, you may want to link back later prompts to early prompts, or create links between separate webs of lore. Perhaps a seemingly disparate piece was part of the web all along. How do you keep track? With handy tokens! With this stretch goal, physical wooden tokens will be included in every copy of the main Lore Master's Deck for free.
New-Add Ons
In addition to add-ons being released through the stretch goals, we are also adding some new add-ons that do not need to be unlocked.
When your web grows to encompass more and more lore clusters, it can help to block off the unused text on your primary cards so you can focus on your chosen cue. Focus Sleeves are printed with an opaque pattern to block out the unused text, but a keyhole-shaped window to highlight the card type and primary cue, allowing you to weave your lore with enhanced focus.
Storage System Update
We've listened to your feedback, and have released some new storage add-ons!
First up is a continuation of our folding box line. We've added 2 new Lore Master's Deck-focused designs to the collection, which already contained 2 Deck of Worlds designs and 2 Story Engine designs. As requested, the folding boxes are now available as singles or as a set.
The complete set of 6 folding storage boxes is now large enough to hold all of our cards from all sets, sleeved or unsleeved.
And now the most hotly anticipated storage update: the Leviathan Storage Box!
This massive storage box holds up to 1440 cards from any of our deck systems. The box interior comes with 24 vertical trays in 3 rows of 8 molded plastic compartments. Each compartment holds 60-70 cards (1 full expansion). Compartments are spaced and have finger grooves to make identifying and drawing cards easy. Cards can be sorted by expansion, card type, or a combination of both. The box lid and bottom fit together like a standard 2-piece game box.
The 2 Leviathan Boxes are large enough to hold all cards from all our decks unsleeved together with room to spare and freedom to sort cards in a variety of ways. If you sleeve your cards, the Leviathan Boxes are designed to be the same length as the original Story Engine Deck or Deck of Worlds, and either one of those main deck boxes should be large enough to hold any overflow while fitting on a shelf of the same depth.
Left: overhead view of the vertical tray setup. Right: front view of the interior tray,
Check out these add-ons when you pledge!
Livestream Schedule Update
Two more weeks? Let's pack it with all the fun! We're ready to dive deeper into the Lore Master's Deck, and its expansions with you, including some special guest appearances. What's more, learn how to create settings for TTRPGs and many more cool activities. Save the dates!
We livestream right from the campaign page, which is the best way to link new potential backers to the stream and our project! You can also sign up to be notified when a stream starts on our YouTube Live page!
Missed our streams this week? No worries! You can always catch the reply on our YouTube Live page!
Okay, phew, that's everything! Told you it was a big one!
Captain Blackbeard casts off and steers the ship around the island. The vessel skirts the coastline as the sun slides across the sky. Hours must have passed, our adventurers tummies rumble – it must be lunch time. Who are we kitten – it’s always lunchtime they’re cats. They pull out their rations and enjoy a meal on the deck.
The S.S. Fish Sticks rounds a protected outcropping and pulls in to drop anchor. “Okay boys, I’ll meet you back here sunset tomorrow – I expect a treasure, or I’ll feed you to the Tuna.”
Clovis and Kirkle cast off in the dingy to the shore of Unicorn Isles. A tropical green paradise from the outside with a mysterious mist hanging within. What will they find on the island? Can they bring the treasure they promised?
Only one path leads from the shore into the densely packed greenery. “Well, I suppose that’s the way to go” Clovis states, guiding the dingy to the shore and scurrying ahead.
Kirkle jumps to follow, ready to blend into the tree line.
Roll an investigation check – what do you see within the trees? Clovis rolls a 21, Kirkle rolls a 2.
Kirkle sees a crab and jumps in fear huddling under his cloak between two tree trunks. He’s forgotten why they’ve come and pretends he’s back home in his nice warm cat bed. Why does he agree to these things?
Clovis, see’s unicorn tracks leading further up ahead. Wow, this easy already! He thinks. He follows them forward 10 paces. He scans the area when his eye catches a small rustle within the leaves. Looking back Kirkle is right where he left him at the edge of the sand. What is that? He wonders.
Clovis rolls a nature check, what is it? He rolls an 8.
“Kirkle come on – I see something!” Clovis whispers walking back to pull along his companion. He doesn’t know what it is but assumes it’s dangerous. The two tiptoe towards the rustling, as quiet as they can to get a better look.
Stealth Check! Kirkle rolls a 9, Clovis rolls a 16. Kirkle’s dice clearly aren’t having it.
They sneak around a bush and notice a large orange tail slightly twitching, leading into the base of the bush. Kirkle steps back startled and steps on a fallen twig, snapping it in half. The sound echoes and he rushes to hide. Clovis stiffens – the tail pulls into the bush and out of view.
Introducing Blaze – the Druid. [Enamel pin unlocked!]
Roll for initiative. Clovis rolls a 12, Kirkle rolls a 19. Blaze – rolls a Nat 20.
A medium sized, orange creature with large antlers jumps out of the bush with a hiss. Claws drawn, ears back. She conjures an Ice Knife and flings it at Clovis.
Blaze rolls a 21. That hit. Clovis makes a dexterity save and rolls a 6.
Clovis’ arm is grazed, he takes 2 damage. Before he knows what hit him, the ice knife explodes, and he takes 10 damage from the shards.
Kirkle’s turn. He takes steady aim and pulls out his hand crossbow. Sneak attack gives him 1 d6 of damage. He then attacks rolling a 15.
Kirkle hits the orange mass, hitting for 5 HP. He takes aim and hits again, taking another 5 hp. The orange mass lets out another large hiss spinning to face Kirkle.
What should Clovis do? Attack, she hit first after all! Or pursued there’s no reason to fight. We’re all cats here.
Clovis and Kirkle are startled awake, their surroundings unfamiliar to them. Somehow in their catnip induced stupor they’d found their way to the docks and fell asleep on a pile of nets. Adventure was calling – and where else could one find a ride to Unicorn Isle? The two adventurers rolled to their feet and stretched forward. Clovis’ tail was straight in the air his excitement had peaked. Kirkle had that sparkle in his eyes again. Clovis opened his mouth to ask if something was wrong as Kirkle yelped and jumped back hiding behind a small pile of fishing nets.
A shadow appeared over Clovis, he turned to face the most fearsome pirate in all the land…Captain Blackbeard. Rumor has it, she’s sailed the four seas of the Feline Realms and defeated beasts far and wide. Her pegleg and golden tooth served as her main defenses. Clovis could only dream of the adventures she had seen.
“Captain Blackbeard, It is an honor to stand within your shadow.” Clovis said with a deep bow. “Don’t mind my companion over there, we are hoping to secure passage to the Unicorn Isle. Would you happen to be headed that way?”
Captain Blackbeard lifted a lip in a half grin, sun glinted off her golden snaggle tooth. “I take payment in gold.”
Kirkle rolls a purrsuasion check, Clovis gives the help action. He rolls a 10, a bead of sweat forms on his face. They’re low on gold - this is their only hope. It’s a 13 this is not looking good.
Kirkle steps out from his hiding spot, mustering a brave face. “I heard there’s a treasure where the Unicorn lies. If you grant us passage, we will split the findings with you.”
Captain Blackbeard nods and beacons the adventurers to follow.
They scurry forward and take their place aboard the S.S. Fish Sticks – full speed ahead to Unicorn Isle.
Do our adventurers go the short way and dock on the rocky coast, or do they go the long way and dock in a protected cove?
And boy did we do it in style! We've achieved $300K in funding, unlocking the next goal to plant a total of 3000 trees. Leaving the world a little bit better has always been a part of our core mandate, and we're glad you're here to do it with us 🌱 Read to the end of this update for more info on our commitment to sustainability.
But like the weary adventurers you're about the meet in today's D&D Campaign Livestream (starting at 11AM ET!), the hard work is just beginning! We have more stretch goals, which include adding amazing writers to punch up our deck, and bringing the deck to a whopping 300 cards!
Psssttt...did we mention there are more stretch tiers yet to be revealed? 👀 Stay tuned!
🌬️ On the northmost tip of the world of Rimeway sits Skycrown Glacier, a massive ice field with aeons of secrets and stories frozen within its icy depths.
✨ An experimental new form of life-and-death magic has been discovered on the glacier’s barren slopes.
🚩 One opportunistic nonprofit, the Biotaktica Foundation, has risen to power and now holds exclusive research rights over the glacier.
🧝🏽 But just outside of the control zone, in the village of Whistling Falls, one brave defector from the foundation is assembling an expedition to journey into the heart of Skycrown and drag the glacier’s deepest and darkest secrets to light.
Are you ready to embark on this treacherous journey with this motley crew, venture into the depths of Skycrown and pull back the layers of dark secrets buried there? Tune in at 11AM ET!
Sustainability at The Story Engine
From stronger cardstock to resist wear and tear, designing our decks and storage for endless reusability, and for 100% recyclability should their lifespan ever come to an end, we are constantly trying to find ways to minimize our footprint on this planet. For where shall we play games and create stories if we don't have a home?
Tree-planting charities that focus on bulk-planting without long-term plans for biodiversity, fire prevention, forest maintenance, and adequate planning can actually contribute to deforestation. We've chosen Eden Reforestation Projects as our nonprofit of choice based on a strong set of criteria.
Check out our blog about Eden Reforestation from a previous fundraiser to learn more about how their methods and impacts differ from other tree-planting charities!
Have more questions, thoughts, ideas and story inspirations?
We always love hearing from you! Leave a comment, drop us a line on socials, or better yet, see you on our livestream today at 11AM!
