Just realized there’s a bunch of genre books from MCG, but there’s no steam punk themed book. I mean, it’s not super necessary, but it kind of surprised me. It’s not even a genre in the second edition. Again, it’s easy enough to make one just by using the fantasy resources, but I’m just surprised it didn’t get its own book or genre.

I know there have been what feels like a lot of Cypher fundraisers this year, but as a fan (and frequent backer of Cypher campaigns) I think this one is special.

Headed by a Native designer Kenna Alexander (creator of the Coyote and Crow rpg), based on a Hugo-award winning fantasy series by Rebecca Roanhorse, the setting is inspired by Pre-Columbian American civilizations. Shanna Germain from MCG is also a designer, and she'd got a great track record helping shepherd Old Gods of Appalachia into the Cypher RPG universe, among other favorites of mine.

We have SO MANY fantasy RPGs based in quasi-European traditions, so I think this is going to be and exciting departure for those of us white and other non-indigenous gamers willing to step out of our comfort zones. The system is based in the new Cypher, but there's also going to be an emphasis on "prophecies" that drive the story of games in this setting that I haven't seen done in other MCG games.

I run a Strange game, and plan to make this new setting a recursion, complete with thematic cyphers and powerful NPCs, so while I'm not all-in (I do have a budget to stick to), I am backing at the PDF levels.

I really encourage you to check it out. I think it's going to be really cool.

Oh, one last thing; if you're hesitant to pick up a game where you would be playing someone very much not resembling your own heritage, they're even publishing a booklet on how we can play in settings like this one. We don't get a ton of RPGs written by non-white people, so this one feels especially interesting. I'm excited for it!