Hey Castle Whiterockers, I bet you didn’t predict this!
After some internal discussion about how cool our backers are, we decided to reward your faith in us and call the Tarot Card Deck stretch goal achieved! Even though we haven’t hit that goal (yet), we’re making the tarot deck an add-on. Backers can upgrade their pledges to include this cool addition to the Castle Whiterock campaign, featuring stellar art by the Goodman Games artists you know and love. Pretty cool, right?
But, as the TV used to tell us, that’s not all! With some begging and pleading and a promise to mop out the gongfarmer enclosure at the warehouse, Joseph decided to replace the $550k tarot card stretch goal with—wait for it—Mike’s Big Ass GM Screen!
Mike with the album used for the "BAGS" template.
Long rumored, this screen will be vinyl double album sleeve-sized, perfect for dominating any table at conventions plus providing ample protection from hurled potato chips, dice, and anything else your players might have within reach during a game session. We’re using a four-panel Yes album as the template (see photo), but we’ve still got to finalize the details with the printer. But if all goes well, I will finally be able to retire my well-loved Yessongs album sleeve for something equally cool, if not cooler. So start adding those tarot card decks to your pledge and help me realize my dream of a Big Ass GM’s Screen so I can share it with you fine backers.
Lastly, as another way of saying “Thank you” to all of you, we’re giving you foil accents on the Book of Bonus Adventures. You know we love to play around with different foil colors and patterns here at Goodman Games and the Book of Bonus Adventures will be much more eye-catching once we’re done with it. This foil-accented cover is exclusive to Backerkit backers and will not be available from retailers. Consider it a small token of our appreciation for everyone helping build Castle Whiterock with this campaign.
As you know, this project launched as part of Megadungeon Month, an awesome cross-publisher effort to help bring the world more megadungeons!
Today we'd like to encourage you to check out Castle Zagyg by Troll Lord Games. In fact, if at least 30 new backers pledge to Castle Zagyg in the next 24 hours, Troll Lord Games is going to give them the DCC core rulebook in PDF. Yes, really!
And if at least 30 new backers pledge to Castle Whiterock, we'll give all of you the Castles & Crusades players handbook PDF for free.
Steve and I apparently have been doing this for way longer than we even remember. He found this photo on his phone. This is DunDraCon 2006:
I think that was the time we did an April Fool's joke and announced we were merging to create Good Lord Games.
Then I found this one on my phone from Gary Con 2015. Apparently the angelic lights were shining on me that day:
I don't even remember what joke that was for in 2015, but I guess these jokes get better the more times you forget them and think you're inventing it again!
We'd like to share this photo that a fan sent in. Yes, he really lives at #1 Whiterock Avenue! We'll let the fan share additional info in the comments below if he so chooses. We think this is really cool and appreciate the photo!
Dungeon Con + Warehouse Sale is This Weekend!
It's a busy time here at Goodman Games! Most of us are headed to Indiana for Dungeon Con 2 this weekend.
On Friday & Saturday, we're opening the Goodman Games warehouse to the general public for our once-a-year warehouse sale.
Then Saturday & Sunday, we're at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in downtown Fort Wayne for the gaming convention. Who knows what wonderful things will be announced at the What's New With Goodman Games seminar?
As we enter the final days, this is a great time to review your pledge. Don't forget the add-ons - that might be what pushes us to the next stretch goal!
Happy Monday, backers! In previous updates we have provided detailed views of the cover images by Peter Mullen, Sanjulian, and Hydro74. For today's update, let's take a look at the cover by Doug Kovacs.
I think we've mentioned that Castle Whiterock has a dragon at the end. Actually there is more than one dragon in the dungeon, but that's a tale for another day. Here is Doug's cover in full... and look at that dragon!!
Pretty awesome, huh? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!
Returning Backer Stickers
In case we forgot to mention it - returning backers will receive another of our fun chevron stickers. These loosely interlock with the chevron stickers from prior projects. If you're on the fence, this is one more bonus item that's included with your pledge!
Indie Whiterock Projects
In other related news, make sure you check out the indie Whiterock projects. The Madness of Metronax is a fun one - a giant anthill connected to Castle Whiterock, with magical giant ants! Or if you're unsure, watch this 20-minute video where we discuss 5 of the other indie projects.
Voting - And Stretch Goals
Voting is still open for the name of the resin tinsel dice. Cast your vote below!
And we're closing in to the $500k stretch goal. Getting closer every day!!
TGIF and let's get you ready for the weekend with some fun dice discussion - plus your feedback on the tarot deck stretch goal!
A week ago we unveiled the resin tinsel dice as a new add-on. First, let's show you an awesome new video of these dice rotating on a nice sunny day. Isn't that tinsel effect great?
Look at that effect as the translucent resin shows off the embedded tinsel. Very cool!
Now, we had a poll to name these dice, and there were a simply staggering number of great suggestions. So we've advanced some to the "final round," which you can vote on below. Please vote in this final round of dice-naming. You'll note there is no "other" category this time. We picked the top contenders based on "actual votes" and fan commentary. These are the true finalists, let the best name win!
When we first announced the tarot deck add-on at $550k, it seemed like a bit of a lark. I think some of us fully expected there to be more enthusiasm for "more handouts" or "more poster maps." But my goodness, there are a lot of people in favor of those tarot decks as an add-on.
So, question for you all: should we reshuffle the stretch goals a bit, to pull the tarot deck add-on up closer? Tell us in the comments!
The Quarryton Calamity
Finally, a mention of the Quarryton Calamity. It's part of the Castle Whiterock tie-in adventures - a zero-level horror-themed adventure! If you're trying to flesh out your Lost Level map for either DCC or 5E, you should give it a look.
The Gemstone Dice
Trying to be sensitive to the feelings of all the dice... gemstone dice, don't feel left out! The resin dice are beautiful. But let's remember that you can also add on those gemstone dice. Here's the video of beautiful gemstone dice in the sunlight:
Thanks everyone. Looking forward to seeing the votes to settle the dice name!
We're officially well over the hump of the Castle Whiterock campaign, but still have some distance to go (and stretch goals to reach) before Mega Dungeon Month is over. With just a little over a week remaining, we're hopeful we'll blow through the remaining two stretch goals before the end, adding more player handouts and the cool tarot deck to the treasure trove of Castle Whiterock gaming goodness headed you way.
Speaking of troves, remember it's not just Goodman Games producing cool Castle Whiterock material as part of Mega Dungeon Month. Our friends over at Gaming Honors have a little something called Siege on the Cerulean Spire detailing a time-traveling tower that arrives suddenly in the cavernous depths under Castle Whiterock. If that sounds like your jam (and it certainly does to me!) check out their Backerkit campaign here.
With that out of the way, let's hear from Bob Brinkman about his experience working on Castle Whiterock and some of the dangerous foes and locales you or your players might encounter in the dungeon:
Of Mummies, Dark Elves, and Devil Liches
By Bob Brinkman
While many of the designers involved in the project may be familiar with Castle Whiterock, I initially went into the project (enthusiastically) blind. This meant that, as I reviewed the adventure, I was free to consider how things would develop and expand into this newest incarnation, without the weight of nostalgia shaping my choices. There is something liberating about encountering a classic without any preconceptions. Nostalgia is great, but it isn’t the best of design choices after all.
Of all the monsters I worked on, I believe Anhkhotep to be my absolute favorite. This villain is no mere mummy, instead he is a primal undead being, outfitted with suitably powerful raiment that speaks to a history stretching back before living memory. While thoroughly befitting of the final threat of any adventure, here he is merely the menace confronted at the end of a single level, and he is a challenging foe indeed. That framing, a threat that is not the climax of the whole campaign, required careful calibration. He needed to be genuinely dangerous, while still leaving room for the escalating threats deeper in the dungeon.
One of the fun "fiddly bits" with Anhkhotep is that he may be encountered in one of two forms. The actions taken by the PCs as they journey through the level may leave him weakened, though still very much a threat, but should they miss a single step, they are confronted by the mummy at the fullness of his power. This rewards attentive play without punishing less thorough parties with an insurmountable wall. Both encounters are worth having; one simply leaves the players feeling clever, while the other reminds them just how dangerous it is to leave stones unturned beneath Castle Whiterock.
Of course, there is more to the adventure than monsters (no matter how diabolical) and the Inverted Tower of the dark elves is certainly a fun location. Why should intelligent races, living in massive caverns, simply dwell upon the floor level, where anything might stumble across them? No, the dark elves beneath Castle Whiterock are devious in ways that most players will not have encountered before, and discovering the location of the ancient outpost now home to the elves of House Forlorna carries its own particular satisfaction.
The history of the Inverted Tower ties in with Castle Whiterock while also intertwining with the legend of Chalychia, the Devil Lich. I was delighted that the events of Crypt of the Devil Lich tie into Castle Whiterock and, for those who have made that journey, there is an additional layer of lore waiting for them here. The world of Castle Whiterock is larger than any single level, and these connections are a reminder that there is always more adventure to be had beyond whatever new content sits before you.
If you are new to Castle Whiterock, you are in for a wild ride. If you are familiar with Castle Whiterock’s prior incarnation? Hang on to your seat!
