The guiding principle of ENnie-nominated Dominic Covey‘s Medieval Tales is that is if medieval people believed it to be true then it’s real in the game. Cue demons, ghosts and goblins.
The game is set in the twilight of Middle Age France, a country besieged by war. There’s a long run on the crowdfunding campaign with a goal of $6,000 to make by October 6. You can see progress on the pitch page.
Dominic Covey is the RPG designer and writer who’s worked on games like Darwin’s World, Abandon All Hope and Aralsk-7.
“Medieval Tales” departs from Dominic previous games in many ways, but it shares a common thread: a fascination with apocalyptic eras.
Anyone familiar with the 15th century in Europe recognizes the first half as a time of profound turmoil. The Little Ice Age and the devastation of the Hundred Years War brought about widespread famine, social unrest, and a sense of impending doom. The freezing seas, failed crops, and seemingly endless winters created an atmosphere of despair as if God had abandoned humanity.
Amidst this bleak backdrop, France teetered on the edge of collapse. The brutal defeats inflicted by the English had shattered the kingdom’s morale. The once-proud nation was now a shadow of its former self, its people gripped by fear and uncertainty. The stories of “Medieval Tales” unfold within this crucible of hardship and desperation, inviting players to explore a world teetering on the precipice.
Gamers who love classic fantasy roleplaying will likely find much to enjoy in Medieval Tales. The game incorporates many elements that draw people to RPGs, including mythical creatures, folklore, fairy tales, medieval weaponry and combat, castles, wars between nobles, and a romanticized portrayal of the medieval era.
The 15th century is also something of a sweet spot in terms of military technology, arms, armor, and warfare. The sword was still an important symbol of knighthood and war itself. Men still wear chain mail and plate into battle, these being iconic to medieval soldiery. Many weapons familiar to gamers, such as maces, axes, pole arms, and bows are as natural to this era as the ironclad knights and men-at-arms who wield them.
Backers who pledge $20 will get the 404-page basic rules as a PDF. That means an introduction to the Hundred Years War, France and famous tales from the era plus the game mechanics.
At $40, backers also get the Bestiarium Vocabulum as well which includes 140 folklore monsters, more fairytales, items and generator tables.
Then, at $60, and still digital only, the Grand Grimoire of magic is added with discussions and 300+ spells.
There will be hardcovers but only of the core rules, limited to 100 only and to the US only. That’s the pledge tier at $80.
Dominic Covey estimates a November delivery.
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