Huckleberry is a TTRPG about tragic cowboys in a world doomed to calamity… unless you save it. Take on the profession of a Maverick: a grizzled bounty hunter who rides out beyond the bounds of civilization with nothin’ but a big iron on their hip.
Huckleberry is a game about tragic cowboys in a world doomed to calamity… unless you save it. Take on the profession of a Maverick: a grizzled bounty hunter who rides out beyond the bounds of civilization with nothin’ but a big iron on their hip.
Your job: hunt down and slay monsters spawned by the mysterious, ever-present force, known simply as “The Wyrd”. Its chaotic energies twist and corrupt everything in its wake, making a rough life all the more uncertain. But the form you take, the weapons you wield, and the monsters you slay are up to you.
Huckleberry is an accessible TTRPG that can be learned in 20 minutes and easily converts any system’s scenarios. It's always fast, always cinematic, and always a wild ride!
Western Horrors: From top to bottom, Huckleberry was inspired by iconic Westerns like “Tombstone” and “A Fistful of Dollars” mixed with the folkloric dread of “Hellboy” and “Lord Baltimore”. Track down and investigate horrifying aberrations all while navigating bar fights, train robberies, and high-noon showdowns!
Cinematic Adventure: Huckleberry avoids tracking tedious details and simulationist structures. Mechanics linger in the background as the thrilling narrative takes center stage, allowing players to live as daring, tough-as-nails heroes who rise… or fall… with every big moment.
Flexible Storytelling: Your next adventure is just a few days' ride away. Choose which monsters to hunt and stories to explore with the unique "Bounty" system. What you do, and how you do it, determines how you will be remembered for generations to come.
Meaningful Downtime: As “Seasons” pass, the world around you changes. Characters grow and mature during downtime in their familiar dusty town. As you explore the Wyrd Frontier, feel the consequences upon your homestead with each bounty you take or ignore.
If you’d like to check out Huckleberry’s game system, download the free Quickdraw edition. It introduces all of the rules you need to get started playing in the Wyrd Frontier, including pre-generated characters and a full scenario.
Oasis cacti are sentient plants known to dance around bodies of Wyrd Water, creating the illusion of a thriving watering hole from a distance. These plants are able to separate most of the Wyrd out of the water, purifying it in the process, and they redirect it into their spines and small, golden fruits.
$22,000 -UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Shrieker Bats.
Eyeless bats with translucent fur that looks off-white in the sunlight. While a single Shrieker Bat’s echolocating call is an audible but bearable screech, a whole group of them can together emit a sound harsh enough to make your ears bleed.
$23,000 -UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Bones That Should Not Be.
A scattering of bones in the shape of a spider or a scorpion. Created by a Bone Collector as minions, they can wander beyond their normal limits and attack anyone that crosses their path.
$24,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: The Bone Collector.
A warlock that lives in the mountains. He collects the bones of animals, humans, and supernatural creatures as materials for his abominations.
$25,000 - UNLOCKED - New Cover Art: A Season of Avarice.
Currently, A Season of Avarice's cover is a reused spread from the interior pages of Huckleberry. But you've seen George's art (it's gorgeous, right??) and the book deserves a unique look of its own. At this tier, we'll commission a new cover from George that reflects the sin of the season.
$26,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Charro Negro.
The spirit of an infamous outlaw who relinquished crossing over to the otherworld. He roams the land looking for a good target, someone he can offer anything they desire if they beat him in a challenge of their choosing. To this date, no one has beaten him once and he grows stronger with each soul he wins.
$27,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Nightmare.
A horse from your very worst dreams. Wreathed in infernal fire, the Nightmare gallops across the cracked earth leaving behind a wave of destruction and terror.
$28,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Nahual.
Folks that can turn into a big coyote with human eyes and paws that resemble hands. They usually are respected members of their communities who secretly hunt their neighbors slowly but surely. Clever and dangerous.
$29,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Darkness at the Lake.
A giant axolotl dwells in a lake in the middle of the desert, embodying a primal power of rejuvenation. Many seek to claim its powers for their own, but none have been successful.
$30,000 - UNLOCKED - New Mechanics: Expanded Player Traits.
The most common feedback I have for Huckleberry is that everyone loves the traits, but they want more of them! Who am I to deny the people what they want? At $30,000, we'll design and playtest new Blood, Flesh, Disposition, and Calling Traits.
$31,000 - UNLOCKED -New Hostile: Living Rock.
Camouflage is a common tactic in both mundane and Fifth World canyons, but being Wyrd-touched gives it a whole other layer. Living Rocks aren’t rocks at all, though you wouldn’t be faulted for mistaking them. At least, until the giant scorpions unfurl themselves from where they were sleeping and turn their irate stingers on you.
$32,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Ahuizotl.
Feral quadruped creatures who stalk wells and other water sources, lying still beneath the surface, waiting to pounce on folks who approach to drink. They can mimic human voice and have a tail that ends in a clawed hand they use to grasp their prey.. They relish the taste of drowned, bloated corpses.
$33,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Whisper Tree.
A gnarled juniper tree with branches that rattle without wind. Chitters echo from its hollow, dried trunk.
$34,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Nocturnal Axe.
A headless corpse with its chest slit apart, each side opening and closing like a door to reveal its entrails. It prowls the night in search of people to cut off their heads. For some unknown reason, it prefers to haunt those who harbor fear and doubt.
$35,000 - UNLOCKED -New Interior Art: More Spreads!
George is gonna be busy enough as it is, but I think we can press him for a few more goodies, don't you? If we hit $35,000, we'll commission additional full page spreads to make Huckleberry even prettier than it already is!
$36,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Alebrije.
Living hallucinations pulled out from a bad dream. Chimeric creatures that feed on people’s minds when they are sleeping. Their presence causes people to get drowsy and may even overtake entire towns, where the villagers go to sleep and never wake up, succumbing to hunger and thirst eventually.
$37,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Bruja.
Women with bird legs they keep hidden with long skirts. They brew potions, weave curses, and turn into large birds or fireballs to fly through the night sky. They feed on children and torment young women to make them join their ranks.
$38,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Anklebiter.
A crustacean that shelters in the sun bleached skulls found scattered in the wilderness. The Anklebiter’s claws contain a toxin with a strong numbing effect. Once snipped, you may find yourself stumbling over an unresponsive limb for the better part of an hour.
$39,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Sanguine Swarm.
The fluttering of hundreds of leathery wings fills the air, followed by deafening sonic screeches and the gnashing of sharp fangs as this bat colony descends on you.
$40,000 - UNLOCKED - New Chapter: Holes-in-the-Wall
A Maverick's Hole-in-the-Wall is almost sacred ground. It's where they rest, where they train, and where they call home. At $40,000, we'll be expanding the book with a whole new chapter dedicated entirely to Holes-in-the-Wall. Generating them, expanding them through play, and how they change with each Bounty the Mavericks complete or ignore. This chapter is being designed by Dylan Grinder and Kienna Shaw, two fantastic game designers that I'm very excited to have on board!
$45,000 - UNLOCKED - New Bounty: A Season of Avarice
At this goal, Eren Ahn brings their considerable talent for storytelling to Huckleberry: A Season of Avarice. Eren has previously worked on Huckleberry's corebook, creating several hostiles and some of our "wyrdest" bits of the setting. This all-new scenario will bring the total Bounties in Avarice to 8.
$50,000 - UNLOCKED - New Bounty: A Season of Avarice
Jaime Reyes Mondragón has created several incredible Hostiles for Huckleberry, as well as contributing to various chapters in the corebook. At this goal, he offers his unique vision to Huckleberry: A Season of Avarice, with an all-new scenario and raise the total Bounties in Avarice to 9.
$55,000 - UNLOCKED - New Bounty: A Season of Avarice
A true renaissance man, Jeff Baker is the primary editor for Huckleberry's corebook as well as the writer of Huckleberry: Veils & Vengeance. If this goal is unlocked, he'll return to the writing chair for a standalone "sidequel", bringing us back to the same swamps and foothills explored in V&V. This all-new scenario will bring the total Bounties in Avarice to 10.
$65,000 - LOCKED - New Reward: Alchemy License
At this reward, everyone who pledges for a physical book of Huckleberry will receive a license for Huckleberry's upcoming Alchemy RPG module at no additional cost. Alchemy is a virtual tabletop platform focused on creating an immersive, cinematic experience for tabletop roleplaying games – whether it’s playing games, creating game worlds, streaming and watching actual plays, or simply discovering new content, Alchemy has the tools you need.
Huckleberry originally released in August 2024 as an Early Access game. In the past year, our team has more than doubled the size and content of the book. The game is now fully complete and ready to go to print. On top of expanding the core book, we also completed a half-dozen standalone bounties. There's no need to worry about whether Huckleberry will ever be finished. It already is!
You don't even need to take our word for it. Since its digital release, the game has accumulated consistently excellent reviews. Huckleberry is sitting at 5 out of 5 stars on DriveThruRPG right now!
Here's what people have been saying:
"Huckleberry isn't just an inventive Wyrd West setting. The mechanics add a unique, immersive approach to the theme, keeping combat and story hand-in-hand."
- Dillin Apelyan of One Shot Podcast and HUNT(er/ed)
"Huckleberry is an RPG that stands out, not only for its inclusiveness and sensitivity, but for bringing to the table a game experience that balances tactical, tactile, and unpredictable play with a Theatre of the Mind and narrative focus."
- Colin Chapman of Atomic Highway: Post Apocalyptic Roleplaying
"I’ve seen a lot of novel dice mechanics at this point, but it’s clear that Huckleberry’s has been playtested, polished and proven. This is my go-to Weird West RPG because of that."
- Dave Thaumavore of Dave Thaumavore RPG Reviews
"Huckleberry is right up my street. it's all gunsmoke, ghost stories and great ideas. It's lean and mean, and crucially; it does what so many games forget to: it gets out of it's own way so that you can actually play the damn thing!"
-Jimmi Taylor of Domain of Many Things
"The game understands and resonates with much of it’s source material, and knows exactly what kind of experience it wants to deliver. Fans of the Wyrd West will probably find a lot to like about this game."
- Mint of There's a TTRPG For That!
"This is the type of work that inspires me and my writing here on the Ars Fabula newsletter and I would happily recommend you give Huckleberry a fair shake."
- Gradacious of Ars Fabula
Overall it's a great piece of work, and if you're interested in weird western games that run quick and have a solid gameplay loop, definitely look up Huckleberry. I'm very excited for what else we'll be seeing from Steven Alexander and his team.
- Jay Anyong of Life and Times of a Philippine Gamer
We’re eager to put physical books into your hands, but we can’t do it alone. With your help, we can get Huckleberry into print and plan for future expansions and adventures. Saddle up for one more ride, partner; we're headed to the Wyrd Frontier.
Physical rewards will go to press and manufacturing in Q1 '26. Fulfillment will begin in Q2 '26.
Digital rewards will be delivered as they are completed. The PDF of Huckleberry: A Wyrd West is already completed and will be delivered as soon as funds are collected.
Pay Over Time
This project has Pay Over Time enabled. If your pledge is over $150, after you select a pledge and go to Checkout, you'll be given the option to pay 4 equal interest-free monthly installments of your pledge total over the course of 4 months.
Please note that if you select Pay Over Time, you acknowledge that:
You understand that your rewards will not qualify for shipment until you have paid in full.
You understand that any partial payments made are not eligible for a refund.
You understand that you will not be able to access the pledge manager survey until after you have paid in full.
Shipping
We are working with fulfillment partners to ensure costs remain reasonable across the board. Shipping will be charged after surveys are locked down.
US orders will originate from a US shipping location.
UK/EU orders will originate from a UK shipping location.
Other regions will ship via the most economical method.
This project is Human made! All of the content in Huckleberry was crafted by the following creatives. Generative AI has never and will never be used to create content for Huckleberry.
Design, Writing
Steven Alexander - Steven [he/him] is a part-time lollygagger and a full-time nerd. When he's not rolling dice or telling spooky cowboy stories, he's at the ocean. Literally! He lives on a boat with his wife, Leah, and their two dogs, Cricket and Maverick.
Art
George Sellas - George [he/him] is brand new to the world of TTRPGs, but is a lifelong gamer and game creator. He loves helping people achieve their vision with his illustrations, and creating games that bring people together. You can see more of his work at www.georgesellas.com.
Layout
Nathan D. Paoletta - Nathan [he/him] is an independent game designer, graphic artist and small press publisher. In addition to making games (like the World Wide Wrestling RPG) and helping other creators make their games (like Huckleberry), he's one of the Provosts of the Unwritten Earths Symposium, where he talks about game design. Games... are good! You can see more of his work at ndpdesign.com.
Editing
Jeff Baker - Jeff [he/him] runs the ttrpg actual play channel Adventures in Lollygagging, dabbles in game design with his own We're in Danger, and spends his days teaching writing to college students. You can find all things lollygagging here: thelollygaggers.com
Ginny Loveday - Ginny [she/her] is a professional tabletop gaming editor, designer, and chronic overcommitter. She's worked for Wizards of the Coast, Steamforged Games, and numerous other publishers, both large and small. When she's not working, you'll find her either at a convention or at home snuggling one of the beasties that reside with her (furry or otherwise). Find out more at www.ginnyloveday.com
Writing
Eren Ahn - Eren [they/she] writes things, sometimes for games. They can be found ill-advisedly jumping off of walls and reading the latest book off of their Libby holds somewhere in Chicago. You can find their full body of work online at erenahn.com.
Spencer Campbell - Spencer [he/him] is an award winning RPG designer publishing under the name Gila RPGs. Some of his best known games include Slayers, RUNE, NOVA, and the LUMEN system. Find him on Bluesky, and check out all his work at gilarpgs.com.
Morgan Eilish - Morgan [she/her] is a Canadian TTRPG designer, writer, artist, and cosplayer with a passion for telling queer, spicy and emotional stories with complex characters. She's worked on third party content for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, Monster of the Week, Spire, Heart, and Apocalypse Keys. You can find more of her work here.
Alastor Guzman - Alastor [they/them] is a Nebula finalist for Best Game Writing, Dianne Jones Award finalist for Excellence in Gaming, and ENNIE finalist for Best Setting and Best New Adversary. Alastor works at Axostories to bring Latin American games to the global market. They can be found at @alastorgv on most social media platforms.
Paul Ligorski - Paul [he/him] is a ttrpg writer, designer, and community organizer. He grew up in New York but moved to California in his late 20s where he fell in love with the enchanted Big Sur wilderness. He draws much of his inspiration from myth and folklore, and believes that playing ttrpgs together can be a form of modern myth-making. You can find him on Bluesky and learn about his monthly ttrpg events at www.heartofarcana.com.
Jaime Reyes Mondragón - Jaime [he/him] is a game designer, editor, and creative writer based in Mexico City. He has done freelance work for publishers such as Paizo and Renegade, and contributed to many indie TTRPGs, having even created some of his own. You can find his portfolio and social media at https://jaimerm.carrd.co/
Consulting
Maitreyi Viswanathan - Maitreyi [she/her] plays pretty much any game on offer and provides consultancy services around sensitivity in TTRPGs around disability, cultural and gender representation, and incorporating use of safety tools. She's the creator of the Maitreyi Plays Games YouTube channel, which focuses on the GM/Player experience in tabletops prioritizing how to navigate complexity with clear, empathetic actions and communication. She has consulted on sensitivity for a variety of TTRPG publishers, including Beadle & Grimm.
Huckleberry has also retained the services of a tribally enrolled Native American cultural consultant to advise on all aspects of our setting and all written and artistic representations of Indigenous-coded characters, as well as any thematic representations of colonialism. Huckleberry is dedicated to depicting the frontier in equitable and anti-colonial ways, and is committed to the inclusivity and fair-treatment of those who choose to play in our setting.
