Thank You From Alessio, 85% of Pledges Complete and Rulebook Feedback
Welcome back, Agents!
Thank you for your support. Over 85% of you have now completed the Pledge Manager and should have received the Rulebook PDF. We hope you're already enjoying exploring the world of The Ghost in the Shell Tabletop RPG!
As a reminder, if you are a Pay Over Time backer, you will receive your Pledge Manager survey once all four payments are completed; however, if you'd like to access the Rulebook PDF early, we can manually send it to you. Please send your details and request to [email protected].
This is a huge passion project, and game designer Alessio Cavatore wanted to share a short thank-you video now that the campaign has finished, before we get our heads down to finalise all the files.
Rulebook Feedback
A number of you have very kindly asked to provide corrections and feedback on the Rulebook PDF, so we've created a form to help us capture this information.
This feedback form is to help us correct typos, grammatical errors, unclear rules or any contradictions before the rulebook goes to print. Please note that we cannot make any substantial changes to the rulebook as The Ghost in the Shell Rulebook has already undergone a rigorous approval process with Kodansha and Shirow Masamune to reach this stage.
Feedback is open until September 23rd - Thank you!
What's next?
This is just the first part of the journey, but we're well underway on the next stages. The team is already hard at work on the Bonus Missions. Over the next few months, these missions will be finalised and sent to you as mission PDFs as they're completed.
The first bonus mission, "Puppets on a Wire", is the closest to being finished, at around 32 pages across its 8 parts. We'll share more about its progress once we're able!
This project has been a new process for us, both in delivering a Rulebook PDF immediately after the campaign ended and sending mission PDFs as they are written. Our goal was always to let you get to the fun of play faster, with the rest of your rewards following on the usual timelines. We've already had messages from the community about playing, and we hope many more of you will be able to jump into Section 9 and start playing over the coming months.
Moving forward, campaign updates will now be sent monthly. This will ensure each update gives you real insights into our progress and lets you know about exciting milestones passed. I'll still be checking the comments, but if you have any urgent questions, please send them to [email protected].
Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
Yesterday we sent the smoke test, and as it appears to have gone smoothly, we've now sent survey invites to everyone. Section 9 awaits!
Surveys take a little while to go out, so I'd allow 24 hours for them to show up in your inbox.
For those who receive the email today:
You do not need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the survey invite email, click the survey link to respond. Answer the questions about your reward preferences, provide shipping information, and purchase add-on items if you like. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be available soon via email!
Your Rulebook PDF is available to download on the confirmation screen once you confirm your pledge.
After you complete your survey, you can go back and change your responses at any time before we close the surveys and finalise our counts.
We plan to enter & charge backers for shipping closer to fulfilment when we have better estimates of what it will cost to ship backers' rewards. We will alert backers when shipping costs are finalised & before we charge your cards in your BackerKit survey. We will keep you informed all along the way!
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://the-ghost-in-the-shell-tabletop-roleplaying-game.backerkit.com/
If you used your Facebook credentials to log in to your crowdfunding account, the BackerKit survey is sent to the email address associated with your Facebook account. If you prefer to use a different email address, please contact support at https://the-ghost-in-the-shell-tabletop-roleplaying-game.backerkit.com/faq.
After all surveys are sent, if you did not receive the email and you signed in with Apple ID, your email address might be a private relay email address. We can help locate your survey and update your email address. Please message us or post a comment with your Backer ID or Pledge # found on your confirmation. You can learn more about hiding your email for your Apple ID here.
If you Paid Over Time, your Pledge Manager survey arrives after your final payment has cleared. However, we know many of you are excited to get playing, so if you want to access your Rulebook PDF earlier, send us an email with your backer details to [email protected] and we can get that sent out to you manually. Just allow us 24-48 hours to resolve your query. Unlike other backers, we have to manually step in to make this happen before your payment is completed.
This is a new process for us, so we appreciate your patience. If you have any questions, let me know!
Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
Soon, a lucky 5% of you will receive an email from us with a special link to your BackerKit survey. It’s essential to respond to your survey as quickly as possible since we need this information to fulfil your rewards and, more importantly, ensure the Pledge Manager is working correctly.
This process, known as a smoke test, allows us to verify that everything is set up correctly before we send the surveys to the remaining 95%. If you haven't received an email, don't be alarmed; if all is good with the smoke test, you should receive your invite tomorrow.
For those who receive the email today:
You do not need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the survey invite email, click the survey link to respond. Answer the questions about your reward preferences, provide shipping information, and purchase add-on items if you like. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be available soon via email!
Your Rulebook PDF is available to download on the confirmation screen once you confirm your pledge.
After you complete your survey, you can go back and change your responses at any time before we close the surveys and finalise our counts.
We plan to enter & charge backers for shipping closer to fulfilment when we have better estimates of what it will cost to ship backers' rewards. We will alert backers when shipping costs are finalised & before we charge your cards in your BackerKit survey. We will keep you informed all along the way!
If you need to review your information or pledge status, you can return to your survey by clicking the link in your survey email or requesting your survey link under "Lost your survey?" on our BackerKit project page at https://the-ghost-in-the-shell-tabletop-roleplaying-game.backerkit.com/
If you used your Facebook credentials to log in to your crowdfunding account, the BackerKit survey is sent to the email address associated with your Facebook account. If you prefer to use a different email address, please contact support at https://the-ghost-in-the-shell-tabletop-roleplaying-game.backerkit.com/faq.
After all surveys are sent, if you did not receive the email and you signed in with Apple ID, your email address might be a private relay email address. We can help locate your survey and update your email address. Please message us or post a comment with your Backer ID or Pledge # found on your confirmation. You can learn more about hiding your email for your Apple ID here.
Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
Welcome back, Agents! What a wild last day. Between the 35C/95F heat and that 8 hour backer train taking us into overtime, today has been one heck of a ride. As this campaign closes, I wanted to send a huge thank you from myself and the whole team. We've really appreciated your enthusiasm, curiosity and kindness during this campaign. It's been a wonderful one to be a part of.
I've named this update Campaign Epilogue, but really it's a prologue to the stories yet to come. Your journey into Section 9 is just beginning. More on that below!
Whether you're new to crowdfunding or not, now is a great time to go through the next steps so you know what to expect and can ask any questions you need to in the comments below.
A common question during the campaign is when and how can you get the Rulebook PDF. This ties directly into the Pledge Manager process that everyone needs to take, so let's go through those steps below.
Once the campaign ends, your pledge is fully charged (Pay Over Time is taken in instalments).
BackerKit processes these payments and gives you time to fix declined or failed cards. This process will take around 14 days. After this, we receive the campaign funds.
At around 14 days, you will receive a Pledge Manager survey (via email, but I'll share an update too) where you will: - Confirm your shipping address - Finalise your pledge - Purchase add-ons or extras Note: Shipping will be charged closer to the fulfilment of physical items
Once you've completed the Pledge Manager, you'll receive the Rulebook PDF!
After this we'll share the bonus missions as they are finished. These will be sent via BackerKit and I'll be sure to post an update incase you miss the email.
The above is great for knowing when to expect the Pledge Manager, Rulebook PDF and missions, but let's zoom out a little further to view the fulfilment of all other items. Here is our estimated timeline at this stage.
2026 AUG: Crowdfunding ends. Late Pledges become available. AUG: Physical refunds can be issued at 90% (due to platform fees). Digital PDF is non-refundable once downloaded. AUG: Pledge Manager opens. OCT: Pledge Manager closes. DEC: Order confirmed with the factory. No refunds are available beyond this point.
2027 JAN: Pre-production Feedback FEB: Manufacturing begins. APR: Shipping addresses are now locked in the Pledge Manager. APR: Pledges are shipped to regional hubs. MAY: Fulfilment of pledges from hubs to backers.
If anything changes with these timelines, we'll be sure to keep you up to date.
Thanks to everyone who has voted so far on which VTT platform you want to see The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG on. Over 300 of you have voted, so I've extended the poll by a few days to give all the new backers a chance to participate. Please have your say below.
Your support of this campaign and participation in this vote have made us think that VTT for this game IS POSSIBLE. While we're not quite ready to guarantee this will happen (yet), we've been speaking with all the relevant people to understand the landscape, platforms, and costs involved. Just to set expectations for development, it takes around 12 weeks, so if we did proceed, this wouldn't happen overnight.
We'll be making decisions on this very soon and will, of course, keep you all updated.
Expect monthly updates big and small, as we continue to work on the project. Our next update will focus on the Pledge Manager (and perhaps more news on VTT), but whatever the news we'll stay in touch until your pledges are finalized.
Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
Last 48 Hours + Actual Play Ep 3 | The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG
Welcome back, Agents!
They say that time flies, and it really has, as somehow we're now entering the final 48 hours. Whether you've been with us since day one or are one of the many people just arriving, thank you for supporting our work in creating this game and making this such a fun campaign to run.
In our last update, we asked you which Virtual Tabletop platform you'd want to see this game appear on. If you're a VTT player, be sure to have your say.
Game designer Alessio and friends gathered to record their exploration into the world of The Ghost in the Shell Tabletop RPG. We've shared their successes and mishaps as they navigate the rulebook mission Lost Patriot in an Actual Play series!
If you are a GM, or someone who simply wants to get a better look at the game, this series will give you great insight into the experience of play. We hope you enjoy!
Thanks to our GenCon players for all of their feedback.
Episode 1 - The Story Begins
In Episode 1, the group are creating their characters, gearing up and taking the first steps into part one of the 8-part story arc of Lost Patriot; the mission included with all copies of The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG. For those of you looking to avoid any spoilers, be sure to stop watching at around 49 minutes, when the mission truly begins.
Thanks to our GenCon players for all of their feedback.
Episode 2 - The Rescue Attempt
In episode 2, the group jump into part two (of eight) of the Lost Patriot as they are assigned their first mission, rescuing a high-ranking politician's daughter. If you want to laugh, shout, and question the tactics of this team of new recruits as they attempt an action-packed hostage rescue, this video is well worth watching.
Thanks to our GenCon players for all of their feedback.
Episode 3 - Trickle Down Tinderbox
In the final episode, the group jump into part three (of eight) of the Lost Patriot as they are sent out into the field to investigate the spread of black market weapons in Newport City. The team are beginning to find their rhythm, exploring this cyberpunk world for leads in their own very particular style. Are you team Ghost or team Shell?
Thanks to our GenCon players for all of their feedback.
Thanks for all your Support
If you did want to support this campaign further, consider sharing the image above with friends and family as we enter this final stretch. Every pledge helps us support the future of the game, and our goal to keep writing missions and content for you all.
Don't forget to vote in the trivia poll below! Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
Virtual Tabletop + Bonus Mission 3 | The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG
Welcome back, Agents!
As we enter our final week we've passed another landmark, with 3000 agents ready to enter the world of Section 9. As we look to the future of the game, there's one topic we've kept returning to, Virtual Tabletop. In this update, we'd love to hear your thoughts on that subject.
What is Virtual Tabletop? VTT is software that lets people play traditional tabletop games, especially RPGs, online. VTT's let you connect through a digital platform that provides things like maps, character sheets, dice rolling, and communication tools.
Why should I be interested? There's a whole bunch of reasons (like communication tools, automated dice, character sheets), but the biggest reason is that you can organize and play games with people anywhere in the world.
How do I share my thoughts? Please vote for the platform you'd love to see The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG on most.
If we did proceed, this would most likely be offered as an add-on, priced appropriately. Would you be interested? Have your say below. The more votes we get, the more likely this is to happen, now, or in the future.
ALL BACKERS GET THREE BONUS MISSIONS
We're incredibly grateful for your support bringing this project to life. To thank you, we're increasing the number of missions included in every pledge from ONE MISSION to FOUR MISSIONS!
Rulebook Mission: Lost Patriot
Bonus Mission 1: Puppets on a Wire
Bonus Mission 2: The Cruise
Bonus Mission 3: Cell Island Syndrome
All backers, from the PDF tier upwards, will now be sent THREE BONUS MISSIONS as digital PDFs once they are finished and approved by Kodansha. Backers with the Collector's Edition Hardback, will also have these included included within their printed book.
Find out more in the "Missions" section of the campaign page.
BONUS MISSION 3: Cell Island Syndrome
Cell Island Syndrome is intended for a group of player characters who have played at least one other mission and can follow on directly from the rulebook mission Lost Patriot.
Mission Brief: Section 9 infiltrates a remote island following a crisis and communications blackout. Inside, rival factions and covert operatives struggle for control. The team is free to explore the island and interact as they see fit, forming alliances as they navigate shifting power dynamics and unknown threats, ultimately deciding the fate of an isolated society.
Backers will receive 'Cell Island Syndrome' mission as a separate digital PDF as soon as it's ready.
Thanks for all your Support
Tomorrow we'll return with the to follow the team into the final chapter of The Ghost in the Shell Actual Play series! Missed the story so far? Get started with Episode 1 below!
Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
We hope you had a fantastic weekend. Since our last update, over 400 new agents have joined. Welcome all to the start of your journey as a fully trained recruit at Section 9.
While we're not doing stretch goals, we have already planned three daily reveals. On day four, we shared that all backers will receive "Puppets on a Wire", a new bonus mission, as a free digital PDF. Today, we're excited to reveal this was just the beginning.
ALL BACKERS GET THREE BONUS MISSIONS
We're incredibly grateful for your support bringing this project to life. To thank you, we're increasing the number of missions included in every pledge from ONE MISSION to FOUR MISSIONS!
Rulebook Mission: Lost Patriot
Bonus Mission PDF: Puppets on a Wire
Bonus Mission PDF: The Cruise
Bonus Mission PDF: Revealed on Day 14.
All backers, from the PDF tier to the Collector's Bundle, will now be sent THREE BONUS MISSIONS as digital PDFs once they are finished and approved by Kodansha.
Sessions in The Ghost in the Shell Tabletop RPG are built around missions undertaken by Section 9 agents. These operations may last one long session or several. Player characters can continue their stories through multiple missions to create an ongoing campaign.
FREE BONUS MISSION: The Cruise
The Cruise is intended for a group of player characters who have played at least one other mission and can follow on directly from the rulebook mission Lost Patriot.
Mission Brief: At the grand opening of a luxury high-rise hotel designed as an immersive “cruise,” Section 9 goes undercover to monitor suspicious activity. When a sudden crisis locks the building down, Section 9 is cut off from support and must adapt to a rapidly escalating situation.
Backers will receive 'The Cruise' mission as a separate digital PDF as soon as it's ready.
THE COLLECTOR'S EDITION IS EXPANDING
Crafted for fans and collectors, this premium edition hardback comes complete with stunning full-height cover art, silver page edging and an integrated ribbon bookmark. The page count between the standard retail hardback and the Collector's Edition was the same, until now...
The Collector's Edition has now been expanded to include all three bonus missions, printed and bound within the book, available together in a single definitive edition. All rewards that include the Collector's Edition will now feature all three bonus missions, pending approval from Kodansha*.
A note on approvals: All bonus mission briefs are already approved by Kodansha, but the full missions are still being written. Although we have every confidence in the missions and expanded Collector's Edition being approved, Kodansha can only officially approve them once these missions are completed and submitted in full.
CREATE YOUR OWN AGENT
Thanks to the folks at UniNerd, the free Character Sheet is now updated with editable text fields, allowing you to digitally create your characters without needing to print the file.
Thanks for all your Support
Once again, thanks for all the positivity and support since launch. The team really appreciates it. Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
Recently, game designer Alessio and friends gathered to record their exploration into the world of The Ghost in the Shell Tabletop RPG!
During this campaign, we'll be sharing their successes, mishaps and adventures in an Actual Play series! Apologies episode two arrives a little late in day, it took over 5 hours for my small laptop to process!
Episode 1 - Meet the Characters
In Episode 1, the group are creating their characters, gearing up and taking the first steps into the 8-part story arc of The Lost Patriot, the mission included with all copies of The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG. For those of you looking to avoid any spoilers, be sure to stop watching at around 49 minutes, when the mission truly begins.
Episode 2 - Hostage Rescue
In episode 2, the group jump head first into the mission contained in all rulebooks, "The Lost Patriot". If you want to avoid all spoilers, then consider skipping this video. If you want to laugh, shout, and question the actions of this team of new recruits, the below video is well worth watching.
To find out more about character creation and game mechanics before watching this video, be sure to check out our designer diary series with Alessio.
Try to keep the comments spoiler free, but on a scale of 1-10, how do you think the team did? Whose tactics had you cheering and whose had your face in your hands?
Tomorrow I'll be revealing something new, but my lips are sealed for now. Until then, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
Feeling a bit fan boyish here but, I haven't enjoyed playing and running a system as much as this for a long, long time. We are playing online weekly and it is just sooooo much fun.
I must admit I didn't really know how it was going to feel - even after watching the lifestream - but it is great.
Can't wait to actually play it 'over the table' as I think that would make it even better. So if there are any London UK folks out there that fancy maybe a 'Stand Alone Mission' in a games cafe/shop in London then let me know !!
1) this one is more of a personal gripe than feedback but I kinda wish Pazu/Paz had a stat sheet. i know he's not exactly a fan favorite and barely exists in the manga continuity but it still feels weird not having him listed alongside the rest of the team.
2) Are there rules for transformable cyberware? Like a cyber arm that transforms into a shotgun or has a blade that can extend out of it? I haven't had a chance to do a deep dive into the rulebook yet but I didn't see anything mentioned so far. I guess I could just say a weapon is arm-mounted for flavor but wanted to make sure.
I've created a section on my multi-RPG Discord server for The Ghost in the Shell RPG by Mantic. Please fee free to join up to discuss the game, find GMs and players to play online, etc.
I'm in U.S. EDT time, so this will be a great spot for finding games if you are in the U.S. If you are not in the U.S, feel free to still join up, as some of us have pretty flexible times we can play.
https://discord.gg/YP9pYpRxmb
