BIG UPDATE! Playtest PDF Now Available!
about 1 year ago
– Tue, Sep 09, 2025 at 04:32:32 AM
Dia dhaoibh a chairde, hello friends, and happy September!
We have a very exciting update this month — the Beyond the Woods playtest PDF is now available to download! The download includes the Beyond the Woods Core Rulebook (with 8 out of the 10 chapters), the gorgeous hex map of Tír Nasath, and both colour and printer friendly versions of our custom character sheets.
Keep in mind that this is not the final version of the book! The playtest PDF has been fully edited but hasn’t been proofread yet, and is missing a few pieces of art (those nice bright pink blocks you see on some pages!). There's also a few @@s instead of page references for the chapters that aren't included. All of this will be sorted in the final release, don’t worry!
Downloading the PDF
By now you should have received an email from DrivethruRPG with a link to redeem your free copy of the Beyond the Woods playtest materials. If you don’t have one already, I recommend creating a DrivethruRPG account. This will make it easier to access your PDFs in the future.
‘I didn’t get a download link!’
If you can’t find your download link, be sure to do the following:
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Check your spam folder — sometimes emails from DrivethruRPG can get lost there!
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Make sure you check the right inbox! The complimentary copies are sent out to the email address tied to your Kickstarter account that backed the project, so be sure to check that inbox! Folks who use a private Apple ID will need to reach out directly so we can resend the link to an alternate email address.
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Get in touch! If you still can’t find the download link, drop us a DM here or contact [email protected]. Let us know the email address to use and we’ll get you a new link as soon as we can.
We Want Feedback!
It has been a massive amount of work to get here and I am beyond excited to share the playtest PDF with you all. But I want to hear from you! What do you love, what do you hate, and did we miss anything. You can send feedback to [email protected] or, better yet, join the Discord and share your feedback directly with me and other players!
Book Update
A quick update on progress on the two books:
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Core Rulebook: We only have one and a bit chapters left! The Bastions and Outpost chapter is now complete and ready for editing, and we just need to add a few more spells to the Magic chapter and then that will be put to bed too. This month I’m working on the final chapter, The Unknown World, and that should be ready for editing next month.
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Tír Nascath Setting Guide: Unfortunately, due to other commitments, Elaine Lithgow will no longer be able to write an adventure for the setting guide. However, in her stead, Gareth Hanrahan has stepped up to write not one but two extra adventures!
New Art
You’ll find a lot of lovely new art in the Core Rulebook PDF, including two stunning new pieces from Siman Vlaisavljević on pages 36 and 99, as well as a gorgeous piece by Laura Galli on page 25 which you can see below.
What Next?
The Core Rulebook is almost done, so work will start in earnest on the Tír Nascath Setting Guide next month!
Once again thank you all for your incredible support — I literally couldn’t have done this without you! I’d love to hear your feedback on the playtest PDF so be sure to drop comments below or join the Discord and come chat with me and other fans.
Until next month, sláinte!
August Update
about 1 year ago
– Mon, Aug 11, 2025 at 06:49:09 AM
Happy August folks,
I hope everyone is having a great summer. The unusually good weather has continued in Ireland, but the work on Beyond the Woods continues! I mentioned last month that we were hoping to get text into editing this month, and we are doing just that. The wonderful Ben Doherty is taking a scalpel (or, at times, a hatchet) to the writing, and we’ve even started to get some chapters into layout (which you can see below!). Here’s where things stand at the moment:
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Chapter 1. The Known World: Writing and editing complete, now in layout.
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Chapter 2. Character Creation: Writing and editing complete, now in layout.
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Chapter 3. Species: Writing complete, now in editing.
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Chapter 4. Classes: Writing complete, now in editing.
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Chapter 5. New Rules: Writing complete, now in editing.
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Chapter 6. Talents: Writing complete, now in editing.
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Chapter 7. Equipment: Writing complete, now in editing.
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Chapter 8. Bastions and Outposts: Writing in progress.
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Chapter 9. Magic: Writing in progress.
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Chapter 10. The Unknown World: Chapter outlined, writing due to begin in September.
New Art
We have some awesome new art in from the amazing Siman Vlaisavljević, who has just delivered pieces for the Avartach (Irish vampire) and the Bean Sí. Check it out!
What Next?
As it stands, we are on track to deliver the playtest PDF in September. However, a lot can happen in 30 days so we’ll be sure to keep you updated if anything changes. In the meantime, be sure to join the Discord and let us know what you’re excited about.
Sláinte!
Road Rage
Our friends from down under, Daggerwood Games’, post-apocalyptic TTRPG Road Rage is hitting Backerkit Crowdfunding soon!
In a wasteland ruled by mutant warlords, toxic dust, and jury-rigged machines, you'll play as animal-folk Battlers scrapping for glory, gear, and survival. A d6 dice pool system with unique fail forward mechanics. The rules are light. The action is loud.
- Full-Color Rulebooks
- Custom Toxic Dice
- GM Screens, Venture Decks, Gear Cards & More
Follow the Pre-Launch Page on Backerkit to be first in line when the campaign goes live. Early backers get exclusive Day 1 rewards. Don’t miss out!
You'll also get the Quick Start PDF rules FREE as a thank you for following.
You can Play Today!
July Update
about 1 year ago
– Mon, Jul 14, 2025 at 06:32:40 AM
Dia dhaoibh a chairde, hello friends!
We’re back with the July update! I’m not sure how the weather is everywhere else but Ireland has been suffering through an oppressive heatwave for the last week, and everyone’s brains are fried. Luckily, it hasn’t stopped work on Beyond the Woods, so let’s get into it and see how things are progressing. As always, if you’d like to stay more up to date or chat with me or any of the other Beyond the Woods fans, be sure to join the Discord.
Writing Update
We’ve made a big dent in the corebook over the last month, and it's now over 75% text complete! Here’s a breakdown on the progress of each chapter. Any chapters not listed are in outline stage:
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Chapter 2. Character Creation: Done!
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Chapter 3. Species: Done!
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Chapter 4. Classes: Done! BONUS: The subclasses for the Draoi are based on the major Gaelic/Irish festivals, so it only felt right to add an extra one! We now have four: Imbolc, Bealtaine, Lughnasadh, and Samhain.
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Chapter 5. New Rules: Done!
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Chapter 6. Talents: Done! (This was a surprise one, it wasn’t even on the schedule for last month!)
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Chapter 7. Equipment: Done!
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Chapter 8. Bastions and Outposts: Outlined and work is starting this week. These rules will help you set up a new base out in the wilds of Tír Nascath.
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Chapter 9. Magic: Complete spell list for the Channeller, Draoi, and Mage, plus a list of Rare and Lost spells. We also have a handful of new spells written, with more to come.
As we mentioned last month, the Tír Nascath Setting Guideis fully outlined with some adventures coming in, but is in the queue for after the corebook is complete.
Art Update
We continue to get some amazing art from our artists. We have some incredible pieces cooking but they're not quite ready just yet. However, Clara-Marie has finished the stunning illustrations for all of the Species, which you can see below!
What Next?
With over 75% of the core rulebook done, we are now going to try to get a playtest PDF into your hands so you can start playing as soon as possible! Editing will begin on any locked chapters at the start of August, with the aim to get chapters into layout by early September — but we’ll have more on that next month.
Until next time!
June Update
over 1 year ago
– Fri, Jun 13, 2025 at 05:03:53 AM
Hey folks,
With the pledge manager open and the books well into production, we’re going to be moving to monthly updates. We’ll use these to share progress on the books, new art, and anything else we think you might wanna see. If you’d like to stay more up to date or chat with me or any of the other Beyond the Woods fans, be sure to join the Discord.
Writing Update
Writing on the Core Rulebook is progressing well. The entire book is outlined, which means various sections are in place, word counts are locked in, and any new systems have been sketched out. Here’s a breakdown on the progress of each chapter. Any chapters not listed are in outline stage:
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Chapter 2. Character Creation: This has been the main focus of the last few weeks. It’s now about 70% done and should be finished in the next two weeks. This chapter lets you create your character using a lifepath, and is filled with tables to generate your characters skills and abilities, and create a rich background that reflects their life before venturing beyond the woods.
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Chapter 3. Species: Outline and mechanical work is done. Needs to be filled up with juicy lore.
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Chapter 4. Classes: Each class is designed out to level 3, with some going beyond this. Also needs to be filled up with lore.
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Chapter 5. New Rules: Done. You can take a look at 90% of this chapter in the Quick Start.
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Chapter 7. Equipment: 80% done. Needs a few new pieces of gear, as well as details on trading, mounts, and so on.
The Tír Nascath Setting Guide is also fully outlined, with the majority of writing scheduled to kick off once the Core Rulebook is complete. BUT, excitingly, we’ve started to get adventures in from our guest writers! I’ll be reviewing two of these next week, and they’re looking very tasty!
Art Update
We have lots of amazing new art coming in from our incredibly talented artists. Clara-Marie, who did all the Class illustrations, has started work on some of the monsters you’ll find in the Tír Nascath Setting Guide and, hoo-boy, are they looking good! Below you can see her design for the Oilliphéist (oll-ih-fesht) and the Dúlachán (dool-och-awn).
The Olliphéist was a gigantic sea serpent from Irish myth. In Christianised versions of the story, the Oilliphéist fled when St. Patrick banished the snakes from Ireland, which is what created the river Shannon. In other tales, an Olliphéist named Caoránach (cow-rawn-och) was slain by a man named Conan, and the creature’s blood died the stones of Lough Dearg (darr-ig) red — dearg being the Irish for red. In Beyond the Woods, the Olliphéist appears in one of our guest adventures, The Beast of Black Loch.
The Dúlachán (or Dullahan) is a headless horseman, or coachman, from Irish myth that is said to be the inspiration for the rider from Sleepy Hollow. I wanted our Dúlachán to appear as far more monstrous and terrifying. Rather than being a human revenant, I wanted them to be a wicked fae creature that takes pleasure in tormenting travellers. Clara-Marie captured that perfectly, with the smearing grin, glowing eyes, and grotesque almost two-headed horse!
Thanks again for all your support. Be sure to let us know what you'd like to hear about or see and we'll try to include it in next month's update!
Pledge Manager NOW OPEN!
over 1 year ago
– Wed, May 21, 2025 at 07:32:24 AM
Hey folks,
BIG NEWS! Following a successful smoke test, the Backerkit Pledge Manager is now open to all backers! Here’s what happens now:
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Pledge Manager Opens: You will (or already have!) receive an email notifying you that the pledge manager is now open. Click the link to get to the pledge manager. If you can't find the email, be sure to check your spam folder or the "Promotions" tab if you're using Gmail.
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Manage Your Pledge: When you get access to the pledge manager, you’ll be asked to confirm your pledge and will have the opportunity to switch your pledge and add extra items. Don’t forget, we added the cloth map and additional fold-out map and sticker sheets as new options!
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Pledge Manager Closes: The pledge manager will remain open right up until we are ready to send out PDFs and ship the books. This means the pledge manager will be open until the end of 2025, or early 2026. You can keep making changes to your pledge, including changing your shipping address, right up until the pledge manager closes. We will keep everyone updated in the meantime.
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IMPORTANT! Shipping and Taxes: Due to fluctuating shipping rates, we will be charging for shipping and related taxes (if applicable) at a later date. We will keep you updated through Kickstarter and will notify you once shipping fees and any associated taxes are added to your pledge.
Once again, thank you all for your amazing support. If you have any questions or need help, please reach out to [email protected]
And if you missed the campaign, don't forget you can pre-order Beyond the Woods here.
