Eldritch Escape: Tokyo is a duet tabletop RPG with one GM and one player. In the game, the player’s character dies often and almost immediately because they’re an ordinary Jo trying to take down a monster.
The PC has a spirit ally, though, who brings the character back after death, and each time, the would-be monster slayer is a bit stronger. LionWing has guided the game to success on Kickstarter, and there are just under two weeks left.
Eldritch Escape: Tokyo is an RPG set in contemporary Tokyo, and there are no guns, heavy firepower, or elite soldiers. The people risking their lives to fight these monsters were, until recently, ordinary, everyday people. Because of this, the first time you play the game, you will probably die almost instantly. Even after you get used to things, you will probably still die a lot.
But that’s okay.
Because in Eldritch Escape, you have a partner who will revive you each time the monster kills you. You will be brought back to life, whether you want to come back or not, and sent out to fight the beast again. As you keep dying and coming back to life, you will learn more about the monster that killed you, eventually finding the monster’s weak points and how to defeat it.
But don’t trust your partner too much.
And remember, after coming back to life so many times, there’s no guarantee you’ll be the person you were before all this started.
Tempted? There’s a free and Google Drive hosted sample.
Ascension
Each time you die, the Bellwether will bring you back to life. But not everything will be like it was before. Your body will become stronger, and you’ll also start seeing things you were never meant to see. Your Bellwether says that they, and others like them, are fighting the Eldritch, and they want you to ascend and join them…
You can support the quirky indie RPG by telling the world about it. Those backers who pledge $15 or more to Eldritch Escape: Tokyo will get the core PDF rules, the fillable digital session sheet and unlocked stretch goals.
Backers at $35 also get the Eldritch Escape: Tokyo hardcover.
Then, at $100, there’s a Hunters Edition box set, which has a deluxe edition of the book with a leatherette, foil-stamped hardcover, a black ribbon marker, black endpaper, full-page and full-colour art and translation notes from the original Japanese. There are also custom dice, a leatherette dice tray, a cycle 1 campaign pass, a mini-soundtrack, a signed postcard, the box and your name in the credits.
LionWing Publishing estimates the RPG will ship in June 2024, with the digital edition in March. The Kickstarter closes on the 17th of November.
What do you think? Measured observations are welcome and you can leave them in the comment section below.
