The Island of Dr. Moreau is a sci-fi classic. It’s an H.G. Wells in which, at the risk of spoilers, a shipwrecked man ends up on an island populated by Moreau’s half-animal-people.
Now, TTRPG publisher and medicial professional usducktape aims to publish a sequel as a horror-romance game that does away with the traditional GM role. The project is halfway to funding on Kickstarter.
usducktape describes the tabletop RPG as asymmetric and that the GM role is replaced by the megalomaniacal Dr. Moreau.
The game is designed to last a set number of sessions rather than become a long campaign. Each session is an event that brings the end closer, and players share 44 characters.
The Island of Dr Moreau uses cards, tarot or poker for action resolution and story.
If funded, the game will be a 300 page high-quality hardcover with human-created art.
Players will take control of characters with opposing goals or mixed romantic feelings, building a shared narrative of the island’s ultimate fate. Players can also play the game totally GMless, sharing the role of Dr. Moreau, or let a less experienced GM flap their wings by co-GMing in the roles of Dr. Lockheart or Dr. Duvert.
Backers at $15 will get a The Island of Dr Moreau PDF edition and all the stretch goals.
The hardcover is the backer reward at $35, which comes with the PDF.
There are higher tiers. At $45, there’s also a map/poster and VTT assets. While at $200, a tier with plenty of backers, extra doodles such as gender-swapped characters are included.
The limited $1,200 tier has sold out, a rare sight on Kickstarter.
usducktape estimates a September 2024 delivery and will run the Kickstarter until June 9th.
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