The Ravens Nest

Three Releases You Should Be Checking Out.

I’m gonna kick this off by saying two of these releases are on Kickstarter and one is on Bandcamp but I think these are releases that you really should check out as all three were released by personal friends of mine. Let’s get into it.

First, I wanted to give some press to a Kickstarter that I don’t think has really gotten any and should see some love here.

I’ve talked about Dystopian Dawn: 2526 which is a post-apocalyptic, sci-fi & fantasy game that combines the themes from Mad Max, Cyborg, Thundarr: The Barbarian and, of course, D&D. If you missed out on Dystopian Dawn’s initial Kickstarter, which was successful and delivered early, then Tony Garcia at Fractured Brain Studios isn’t going to let you down. More to come in just a moment. Dystopian Dawn: Secrets of Sacred Mountain is a full adventure for the core game and this one mixes Native American lore, culture, and history woven into the post apocalypse setting. Set in The Black Hills, and with tribes facing extinction, the elders of the various tribes select the best and brightest to form a singular, united nation of tribes for survival purposes. This project was heavily researched and it’s authenticity verified, ensuring that the culture is respected and handled well.

As I’ve stated, if you missed out on the initial release, it’s not a problem. In the Kickstarter campaign there are bundle deals including Dystopian Dawn dice sets, core books, GM screens and even the first adventure Danger Zone available for purchase with your backing. At present, Garcia and crew at Fractured Brain Studios are only seeking to raise $1,500 to make this release happen. The book itself is so reasonably priced that as of this article on 9/19/2023, there are still 18 days left to get yours in. Anyone who’s a fan of Gamma World, Mutant Crawl Classics or other Post-Apocalyptic games should enjoy this. Check it out today.

Next up is another game that I first heard about a year or two ago and, when I heard about it, my curiosities were instantly piqued.

Jon “The Basic Expert” Torres brings us his game, Macuahuitl, a game set during the days of The Aztec Empire prior to the Spanish Conquest. It uses the rule set from the Original D&D and makes use of a rich and vivid history, setting and lore. Jon did yeoman’s work researching and playtesting this particular game. This game is complete at nearly 200 pages. You’ll find a full bestiary, magic system, calendar and zodiac system, classes, monsters and all in an authentic historical setting.

It’s focus is going to be sword & sorcery, with an emphasis on the realistic and gritty.

As an aside, Jon was asked on Facebook if he had ancestral lineage to write this game and he does have ancestry from both the Aztecs and Spanish but that’s not what qualifies him to write this game or even present it. In fact, his research doesn’t shy away from the sometimes brutal practices of The Aztecs and this game may not be for younger players due to elements like human sacrifice and the violence it can contain. It’s a Digest-Sized book but to get it in that spectacular-looking red and black cover, you’ll have to back it on Kickstarter as the Print On Demand and PDF versions will feature a white background with the Calendar and font in red.

Though already funded in a week, I still highly recommend this game because, it’s not a “heartbreaker” game, meaning, this isn’t just another medieval fantasy game with a classic D&D rule set under the hood. This is unique in that it presents accurately and allows you to immerse yourself in history of a people that have been barely represented and have been watered down with what few releases there were such as Maztica for AD&D. The price on this game is also very reasonable at $44 shipped for the Hardcover, offset print, the PoD & PDF. Go and get your copy today!

Finally, this one isn’t a game but a sequel to a soundtrack to a game. I’ve talked about The Chronicles of Aeres before but what you may not know is that The Chronicles of Aeres, The Chronicles of Aeres: The Doom That Came To Astreas (for 5th Edition D&D) and even Wilderkind for Castles & Crusades, actually has a soundtrack. While I recommend all three of these games, and they are linked, naturally, I also recommend grabbing these soundtracks as they’ll prove truly immersive.

Many of you who watch my live-streams or my tarot videos know that I use the music of Darkrune as my opening and closing themes. Those songs are on their album Book of The Black Rose which serves as a companion to The Chronicles of Aeres settings but now, the sequel to that album Nocturnes & Nightmares has officially dropped and it does not disappoint.

Staying true to the roots of fuzzy, atmospheric dungeonsynth music, you’ll find tributes to the Ridley Scott movie, Legend as well as a tribute to the old video game Dragon Warrior. Honestly, just putting the music on and kicking back and listening to it while I have my cup of tea and writing this article is one of the bright spots in my day. The album Book of The Black Rose is still available on MP3 Download and Cassette from Bandcamp and their new album is a modest $3 for MP3 Download with Cassette format coming soon.

I do recommend getting them on cassette as there’s nothing quite so old-school as hearing that underlying hiss as the tape plays the music. Go grab your copies today.

Naturally, there are tons of indie producers out there making great games, accessories and merchandise but these are three I highly recommend you check out and give your support to today because, these fine folks are doing it all themselves, no corporate backing and everyone involved will appreciate your business.