June Update
about 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!
about 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.
IMPORTANT! Pledge Manager Update
about 1 year ago
– Mon, May 19, 2025 at 09:09:33 AM
Dia dhaoibh a chairde, hello friends!
Today we have some exciting news — we have finished all the necessary prep in the backend, so the Backerkit Pledge Manager will be opening this week! Here’s how it works:
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Smoke Test: Today, we will send surveys to a random 5% of backers from each pledge level. This helps us catch any errors or issues.
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Pledge Manager Opens: Assuming the smoke test goes well, we will send surveys to all backers this week. We’ll post another update when this happens!
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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. We will keep you updated! You can keep making changes to your pledge, including changing your shipping address, right up until the pledge manager closes.
Shipping and Taxes
IMPORTANT! 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.
Questions
Thank you for your understanding and support! If you have any questions, please comment here, message us on Kickstarter, or email us at [email protected]
Adventurers Guide to Alchemy
Our friends at Misfit Hobbies have just launched their new Kickstarter for The Adventurer’s Guide to Alchemy, a beautifully illustrated cocktail and mocktail book designed especially for fantasy TTRPG fans!
The Adventurer’s Guide to Alchemy blends storytelling, worldbuilding, and real-world drinks into one unforgettable game night experience. Alongside the drink book, backers will also receive a companion adventure book, packed with system-agnostic encounters, enemies, and one-shots tied to the recipes, so every drink you serve at the table becomes part of the story.
With over 30 fantasy-inspired drinks like the Shadowstep Martini, Potion of Vitality, and the legendary Dwarven Fire, this is one project that’s made to be shared around the table.
Click here to back it now!
Fury of the Forsaken
From acclaimed designer Richard Pett and award-winning editor and art director Lou Anders comesFury of the Forsaken, a brand-new adventure for 4th level characters forTales of the Valiant and Dungeons & Dragons.
Discover the land of Norrøngard, a cold, inhospitable country inspired by Norse myth and Scandinavian folklore. Here, you and your fellow adventurers must traverse a snow-covered landscape to reach Frekrheim, an ice-bound lake town built upon the frozen waters of a fjord. In Frekrheim, your party uncovers a dark and tragic mystery, while simultaneously working to fortify the town against a siege of draugar—the vile, malevolent undead known as “after walkers.”
Fury of the Forsaken is an intense, moody, atmospheric tale with a dark mystery at its heart and a dramatic battle at its finish.
Click here to back it today!
New Art and New Stuff!
about 1 year ago
– Fri, May 02, 2025 at 01:58:34 AM
Hello everyone!
I hope you all have had a great week. Today I wanted to share some sketches for some new art, and share some news about two much requested new add-ons!
New Art
First up, the art. Below you can see sketches of a Baloran Channeller and an Aos Sí Draoi, illustrated by the amazing Clara-Marie Morin. These will appear in the Species chapter of the book, where we get into the nitty gritty of each of the new species you’ll be able to play. We also shared some early concept work in a previous update, which you can check out here.
New Add-ons
During the campaign we got lots of requests to add the cloth map as an add-on, and also to offer additional copies of the fold-out map and sticker sheets. We couldn’t get these live during the campaign as I needed to speak to our print partners, but now that everything is settled down I’m glad to say that we can offer both! Once the pledge manager opens (likely in a week or two) you’ll be able to add both the cloth map and the fold-out map (plus a set of three sticker sheets) to your order — at a discounted price!
Thank you so much for your enthusiasm for both these add-ons, I’m delighted to be able to offer these to all of our backers.
We’ll be back next week with another update. In the meantime, check out some of these awesome projects from some of our friends. And remember, be sure to join the Discord to chat with other backers — and me!
Scepter of the Lightbringer
Our friends at Elderbrain are in the final hours of their latest Kickstarter for the amazing Scepter of the Lightbringer campaign! Check it out here.
Scepter of the Lightbringer is a 700+ page D&D 5e campaign, live now on Kickstarter, blending urban investigation with sandbox exploration. As a supernatural heatwave sparks chaos across the city of Drayl, players are drawn into a deadly struggle between a vampire-led underworld and the fanatical cultists of a fallen theocracy.
The massive world features three richly developed cities, hundreds of NPCs, encounters, and locations, plus new urban-themed dungeons, monsters, items, poisons, tools, subclasses, feats, and spells. It’s fully written, edited, and ready for quick fulfillment—including VTT support for Roll20 and FoundryVTT, free downloads, and an Elderbrain Soundscapes app.
Higher tiers include the chance to become an NPC in the adventure, which was shaped by the input of over 3,000 community members.
Dungeons and Naggins
If you’re a fan of all things Irish (and I’m guessing you are!), check out the latest Kickstarter from Steve Bennett, another amazing Irish creator. Steve just launched an expansion for his award winning Dungeons and Naggins party game. Check it out here!
‘Spansion Packet for Dungeons and Naggins! More Cards, more Craic, more Chaos! The award-winning Irish Comedy Board Game is back!
As living costs increase, more and more young people are getting into board games for a great value night in or out. Connecting with friends by putting down your phone, picking up some dice, and having a laugh together.
Dungeons and Naggins, quenches the thirst for an authentic Irish comedy board game. With gorgeous art, and a hilarious Irish theme, Dungeons and Naggins is designed to be simple for new players and non-gamers.
Up to 8 players can fight together as mighty heroes like The Pintman and new Bartstaff, to battle fearsome enemies like the TV Licence inspector and Faeries! Survive new hilarious encounters such as Inflation or Mass, and gather enough items like Spice Bags and tasty pints to survive the dungeon!
Steve is launching the new ‘spansion packet on Kickstarter, where you’ve got a second chance to get the game cheaper and faster by supporting it early. The new expansion to the game has more cards, chaos dice, and 2 new hero cards (now for 2-8 players). You’ll also get extra rewards and add-ons including: tote bags, colouring books, and badges!
So, grab your friends and embark on an epic journey filled with quests, challenges, and maybe a few drinks!
Sláinte!
A Closer Look at the Setting Guide
about 1 year ago
– Fri, Apr 25, 2025 at 03:13:43 AM
Hey all, hope everyone is having a great week.
After we took a look at the core rulebook last week, today I wanted to give you all a look at what's coming in the Tír Nascath Setting Guide. Let us know what you’re most excited about below!
Tír Nascath Setting Guide
Learn the history and secrets of the lands of shadow with the Tír Nascath Setting Guide. It has everything you need to run games in the world of Beyond the Woods! Here's what's inside:
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1. Keeper of the Old Lore: This chapter gives the GM advice on running the game, including the core tenets of Beyond the Woods to get player buy-in, advice on running your first session and prepping future sessions, and guidance on building a campaign.
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2. Céad Darach: This is a chunky chapter that gives over 25 pages of information on the city of Céad Darach. What is daily life like, who runs the city, how do people live, what do they do for entertainment, plus dozens of locations throughout the city.
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3. Beyond the Woods: This chapter gives the GM insights and secrets about the world, the threats and hazards the players will face, and information on gateways to the Otherworld. It also includes over 20 unique locations that you can drop anywhere in the world.
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4. Chance Encounters: This chapter expands on the encounters presented in the corebook, breaking them down by terrain. It brings the total count up to 90 encounters! (30 in the core, 60 in the setting guide)
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5. Treasures of the Past: Advice for the GM on rewarding players, including a collection of tables to roll on for treasures and equipment found while exploring. This chapter also includes 5 ancient artefacts, each with their own adventure outline that can be used as a focus for an entire campaign!
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6. Bones of the Earth: Tír Nascath is filled with forgotten dungeons and abandoned villages, and this chapter gives the GM tools to create their own ancient ruins. It offers dozens of tables to let you create a new location on the fly and suggestions for how to include them in your game.
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7. Lost and Damned: The land is filled with spirits and monsters, and this chapter presents a collection of creatures from Irish myth, including the Sluagh, the Avartach (Irish vampire), and the Olliphéist (sometimes known as the Irish dragon). Future books will add even more Irish monsters to Beyond the Woods!
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Adventures: Thanks to your overwhelming support, the Tír Nascath Setting Guide will include 7 ready to play adventures! We’ve already started to get pitches in from our guest writers, and we can’t wait to share more.
So that's what you can expect from the Tír Nascath Setting Guide, if you want to know what’s in the Core Rulebook, check out this update. What are you most excited about in each book? We’d love to hear from you. And if you want to join the discussion, be sure to join the Discord to chat with other backers — and me!
Thanks again for all your support. We’ll be back next week with another update. In the meantime, check out some of these awesome projects from some of our friends.
The Gunslinger’s Guide to Rexfald
The kind folks over at Gneiss Games have reached their goal on their Kickstarter The Gunslinger’s Guide to Rexfald, a Wild Western fantasy campaign setting and adventure for 5th edition full of guns, grit, and glory!
Ride across an endless frontier as you engage in winner-take-all showdowns, bond with Mount Companions, and sling over 100 new Frontier Firearms each with custom art. It has Wild West subclasses, it has dozens of new mounts to ride, it has spells and frontier diseases and bounties and so much more!
They’ve already hit 5 stretch goals! Check out their next stretch goal for More Diseases! We’d love to see them hit it! Click here to check it out.
The Lord of the Rings Fountain Pen & Ink Collection
Our friends at Ferris Wheel Press have launched an amazing campaign celebrating Middle-earth with The Lord of the Rings Fountain Pen & Ink Collection. Explore this collection of high-quality fountain pens and inks created to commemorate The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Practice and perfect your Tengwar calligraphy with this collectible stationery set, crafted by a company with 15 years of history.
Click here to check out the campaign before it ends!
