EGG EMBRY (EGG): Let’s begin with the apparent query, what’s Unnatural Choice?
BUNNI DANIEL (BUNNI): In fact! Unnatural Choice is possible the primary a premium third social gathering complement to the Shadowdark RPG [UPDATED 2023-09-15 to emphasize that this project is an offering among many premium 3rd party supplements]. It provides two main facets – the untamed wilds of nature and the underbelly of society. The e book brings 6 new courses, together with a necromancer class known as the Grave Warden, a druid class known as the Ovate, a Beastmaster, Plague Physician, the Fiend, and the Shaman. It expands on every part you want to run campaigns and one-offs in each of these worlds, together with animals, monsters, a gauntlet journey, weapons and equipment, magic objects and even new carousing guidelines.
EGG: This sourcebook might have been for any system. You selected Shadowdark, an RPG that reached over a million {dollars} in funding and is out in digital however not print (must be out in October). What about Shadowdark spoke to you?
BUNNI: First, my associate and I desire OSR guidelines techniques, and we had performed numerous Primary Fantasy and unique AD&D. Shadowdark simplified the principles even additional, and but added simply the correct quantity of the intuitive trendy guidelines (like rolling with benefit and drawback) and utilized them to a, “You can die at any second” system. We additionally fell in love with the torch guidelines as a result of we each WANT to really feel afraid. We need to really feel like we’re out of our component and treading in deep and foreboding territory. The torch guidelines* NAIL that feeling.
*NOTE: The torches rule is “torches solely final one hour of actual time.”
EGG: You talked about the brand new class, the Grave Warden. What are you able to share about this class?
BUNNI: Tons! You’ll be able to truly obtain a Quickstart Guide from my web site, however the gist is that it’s a necromancer class with an emphasis on utilizing corpses as the key spell part. There are guidelines that favor the usage of a scythe to incentivize gamers to characterize the creepy aesthetic of a basic necromancer.
EGG: That matches the thought of Shadowdark completely. On the marketing campaign pitch web page, you point out “guidelines for all new parts.” What is going to these choices entail?
BUNNI: Crafting your personal torches, the brand new carousing that I discussed, and chanting are excellent examples of those. Since one in every of our courses is the Shaman, there are guidelines for taking your social gathering on a plant medicine-induced imaginative and prescient quest full with all the purging and transformation you may anticipate. The Shaman additionally introduces a brand new sort of spellcasting; chanting. On this case, you might be drumming, chanting, and utilizing a shaker to forged spells that enchant your complete social gathering or have an effect on your whole foes. It leads to the last word assist class.
EGG: You’re including 65 monsters. What are among the massive bruisers that can make the gamers worry for his or her character’s survival?
BUNNI: I believe we’re nearly as much as 100 new creatures by now. However, we’re filling in for any monsters not included within the unique sourcebook, together with blink canine and shriekers. Then we’re filling in all the main animals, large bugs, a large kong-like ape, large bugs queens, and plenty extra in order that our ovate and beastmaster have every part at their disposal. However we’re additionally including a few of our personal monsters and fearsome foes just like the tumble maw, tentacle worm, vinewraith, and the felwraak which is a race of depraved wolf-like creatures with uncovered skulls. You’ll be able to see one such beast on the quilt of the Particular Version of Unnatural Choice, particularly Vaelthar the Untamed, father of the night time!
EGG: Wow, over 100! That’s superior! Let’s discuss the place the is likely to be put to make use of. What’s the plot of the zero degree gauntlet?
BUNNI: Within the gloomy metropolis of Blighthaven, the destitute residents survive on scraps, and there at all times appears to be a plague gripping the area. However, there’s an underground trial that provides a really faint glimmer of hope. Via a lottery, residents willingly enter a labyrinth of dying for a distant probability to flee and win sufficient gold to start out a brand new life. The rich place high-stakes wagers on the fates of the members, and the chosen few will even encounter crowds of onlookers as they make their manner via the dungeon.
EGG: Who’s engaged on this with you?
BUNNI: My associate, Kevin Sheller, handles nearly all of the writing and e book format. He’s a 22-year online game trade veteran, so he is aware of sport design. Greg Spanier is the creator of the intelligent and entertaining gauntlet journey. He has owned a sport retailer for over 10 years and is a fabulous DM. Then our artists are prime notch! A grasp of the OSR model, Mark Lyons, has created art work for Outdated-College Necessities and the unique Shadowdark RPG sourcebook. Others embrace Marvel legend Mark McKenna, Ian MacLean, John Muller, Rick Hershey, Cameron Maas (maps), and Martin Zavala.
EGG: This e book has wonderful art work. How a lot of the artwork is by you?
BUNNI: Thanks! I’ve finished quite a lot of the items which have been showcased thus far, together with the quilt of the black e book, the Grave Warden, Beastmaster, the 2 Shaman photographs, and a few spot artwork. The wonderful drawing of the unique six ancestries was by Mark Lyons, who additionally did the quilt of the Particular Version e book. We’re very pleased with all the artists who’ve contributed (and are persevering with to create!)
EGG: Layouts have taken on a brand new degree of significance in TTRPGs together with the Origin Awards added a “Graphic Design” category began in 2023 and the Ennie Award for “Greatest Format and Design” since 2019. Along with your eye for artwork, what are your objectives for the layouts on this e book?
BUNNI: We’re adhering to the unique format and design from the Shadowdark RPG as a lot as attainable in order that readers really feel the seamless transition between ours and the sourcebook. Nevertheless, we’re additionally increasing this to characteristic the abilities of our artists wherever attainable.
EGG: You’re crowdfunding this on Backerkit. Why that platform over Kickstarter or IndieGoGo?
BUNNI: We had the chance to satisfy up with the Backerkit of us at Gen Con and we had been very impressed. From the beginning, we knew we wished to work with Backerkit on advertising the product anyway. It didn’t make sense to make use of Kickstarter when every part may very well be dealt with in a single place. Not solely that, however with Backerkit you might be assigned a consultant who’s at all times accessible via e mail to reply any questions. Since this was one in every of our first crowdfunding campaigns, it was invaluable to have that useful resource all through the method. Does Kickstarter even supply a service like this? Not that we’ve heard of…
EGG: Past Unnatural Choice, what else are you engaged on?
BUNNI: Isn’t this sufficient!? Simply kidding. We’re very targeted on this mission; being Dungeon Damsel’s very first publication. Nevertheless, we’ve got recognized what our subsequent initiatives will probably be, and we’re excited to unveil them, however that unveiling most likely gained’t occur till 1Q 2024.
EGG: For followers enthusiastic about studying extra about your work, the place can they discover you on the net?
BUNNI: They will obtain the Quickstart Information right here. Additionally, my YouTube channel. And naturally, try our Backerkit.
Unnatural Choice: A Complement to be used with Shadowdark from Dungeon Damsel Creations
- Finish Date: Sep 21, 2023 at 9:00pm EDT.
- “A complement of courses, ancestries, adventures and extra to be used with the Shadowdark RPG”
Egg Embry participates within the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, Noble Knight Video games’ Affiliate Program, and is an Amazon Affiliate. These packages present promoting charges by linking to DriveThruRPG, Noble Knight Video games, and Amazon.
