Cult Crafter is a fully-illustrated card game for 2-4 players that brings you into the world of the Order of the Dark Wheel, where you'll compete with other Head Cultists to raise the most tribute ($) and join the Council of Shadows.
Cult Crafter is filled with 90+ illustrations of demonic gods, occult idols, eldritch rituals, and plenty of devoted cultists. The object is to maximize the tribute your cultists donate to the dark cause. Don't like your cultists? Sacrifice them to replace them with more followers more devoted to the cause. Just be warned that nothing really stays dead, and cultists culled from your flock might join a rival cult...
While all campaigns have the message of "I can't do this without you," I really can't do this without you - I've purposefully held back on illustrating 40 of the individually-named cultists cards. For those looking to become part of the Order of the Dark Wheel, there are only 40 spots for the "Become a Cultist" pledge tier - where you will not only get a copy of the game, but you'll also get to name a cultist AND have your portrait illustrated on one of the cultist cards. Make sure you act fast, though, as the earlier you back, the better choice of cultists cards you'll get to choose from!
Cult Crafter is a 2-4 player card game where you play as a Head Cultist setting off to start their own branch of the Order of the Dark Wheel.
In the game, you'll take turns drawing, drafting, and playing cards to build the most profitable cult possible - all while your opponent(s) are trying to do the same. Beware, as sacrificed cultists might be resurrected to join other cults, or your hierophants might be assassinated! Additionally, Conspiracy Theorists may clog up your sects, or Saboteurs might infiltrate to drain you of your resources!
The game is simple to play, but challenging to master, and there's always the luck of the draw to keep things interesting.
Players will choose a dark god to worship, and will busy themselves with recruiting cultists to three different sects. There are also Resource cards that either are permanent buffs (dark idols your cult worships and hordes) or events that shift and change the flow of the game. Finally there are Cultists that will provide you tribute - and the player with the most tribute wins the game!
There are seven demonic aspects that you'll try to find synergy with between your god, your idol(s), and your cultists.
The seven aspects (clockwise from top): Madness, Pain, Blood, Flesh, Bone, Rot, and Darkness.
Each player will have three sects they are aiming to fill with cultists. Each sect has a spot for one hierophant and multiple followers. Players must first play a hierophant before they can play a follower at any given sect.
Cultist cards each have an aspect (or aspects). You'll maximize your tribute score by making sure you have alignment (aka matching aspects) with your god, any idols you have in play, and as many cultists as possible.
Each cultist can be played either as a hierophant or a follower, with different values for each placement. The cultist cards are designed to easily stack on top of each other for space saving and also clarity of the role its playing in your cult.
Each turn you'll either draw or draft cards from the various decks (Cultists, Resources, Gods), and take an action. Actions include playing cultists, playing resource cards, or replacing your god with a new one and making the necessary sacrifice to do so. Once either the cultist deck is depleted or a player has filled up all their sects, the game ends, and whomever has the most tribute wins and gets promoted to the Council of Shadows!
If you'd like to watch a walkthrough using Tabletop Simulator, you can check out this video.
We've simplified things - we've only got five pledge tiers to worry about (but some good stuff in the add-ons once you pledge - see below).
You can pledge to get the game (and all unlocked stretch goals) in various quantities - a single copy, five, ten, or even twenty copies (hello friendly game store owners!)
Please note: shipping will be charged separately from your pledge + add-ons. It will be charged once the games have arrived and are ready to be shipped out.
There is also a limited pledge tier - Become a Cultist
With this pledge tier, you'll get to name one of the cultists and then have your portrait painted as the card art! If you've ever wanted to be a game character, this is your chance. There are only 39 spots total, and the earlier you back, the higher on the waiting list for getting to choose what cultist card you'll get to be on. Sorry backer #39, you'll get whatever's left!
If you're interested in this tier, please make sure you've learned more about this tier in the FAQ below.
Besides the game itself, we've got a bunch of fun add-ons to make your Cult Crafting experience even greater. Each can be added-on when you make your pledge to the base game, and they all help to build out the world of the Order of the Dark Wheel.
There is a full-color zine with lore, art, and the history of the Order of the Dark Wheel, a logo enamel pin, a postcard pack with art from the game, a collection of short horror stories, and a divination/coaching session with the All-Seeing Oracle and her Assistant over Zoom. Oh yeah, and of course you can pick up an extra copy of the game, or if you back to become a cultist, you can snag extra spots to bring in your pets or friends.
Once we fund the game, we'll be in bonus mode. Each new funding goal unlocks something that benefits all backers! $5,000 - FREE sticker pack with every copy of the game!
$5,500 - FREE postcard set with every copy of the game! Get a set of 7 postcards with some of your favorite pieces of art from the game for FREE with every copy of the game you pledge for!
$6,500 - FREE sigil enamel pin with every copy of the game! Get a FREE enamel pin with the sigil of the Order of the Dark Wheel shipped with every copy of the game you pledge for!
$7,500 - Upgrade to rule booklet! Instead of a folded instruction sheet, get a fancy instruction booklet instead!
$8,500 - Upgrade to a telescope box! Who needs a paltry folding tuck box when you can upgrade to a fancy two-piece box!
$10,000 - FREE alignment enamel pins! We'll make 0.75" enamel pins for all of the alignments - for every copy of the game, you can choose two!
Cult Crafter is a game designed and illustrated by Rick Kitagawa(Hi, that's me!). I am the lead cultist of The Evil Pin Club, which is a somewhat misleading name for a store that has enamel pins, short horror fiction, soft vinyl toys, and other monster-focused merch.
I'm a short horror-fiction author, dark artist, and game designer that is often inspired by monsters, horror films, and especially feminist characters and themes in all of the above. I've dabbled in game design for years, and finally wanted to make my first tabletop game.
I've launched seven successful enamel pin campaigns before (and a soft vinyl toy campaign), so I'll be bringing all my product management knowledge, overseas manufacturing experience, and love of the macabre to this campaign.
When I'm not in full-monster mode, I also coach artists, executives, and leaders (including Fortune-50 executives), so I make a pretty good Attendant for the All-Seeing Oracle.
I'm new to crowdfunding. How does this work? When you pledge (or "back") this campaign, you're helping me bring this game to life! If you don't have a BackerKit account, you'll create one, and then your pledge will be collected from your credit card/PayPal at the conclusion of the campaign only if the campaign is successfully funded. This pledge does not include shipping.
After a few weeks, you'll get a backer survey where you can put in your shipping info. This campaign will charge shipping separately, once the game is ready to ship out. Shipping for a single copy of the game should be around $5-7 USD if you're in the US, and it's likely going to be around $25-35 USD if you're based someplace else.
When will you ship the game? What if I move? Because of the extended amount of time between the end of the campaign and when the game will be produced, shipping fees and your address will be collected shortly before the shipments begin. This is estimated to happen, at earliest, in October. Before I ship out the game, I'll "lock" the shipping address - and you'll get a 48-hour notice before I do. Until then, you can always update your shipping address.
How long do I have to fill out my survey? Once surveys go out, you'll have up to three weeks to fill it out. I'll send multiple email reminders before the last day to submit your surveys. After that, unsubmitted surveys will be seen as a donation to the Order of the Dark Wheel. Fulfilment of rewards for said pledges with surveys submitted after that date may or may not occur.
Can I get a refund? Once the campaign finishes and funds have been collected, since the funds from the campaign are all allocated towards production and packaging and shipping, there are no refunds available. Sorry!
How does the custom portrait thing work? You'll submit a photo of yourself (shoulders and above) to be painted in the style of the other game art, along with the name you'd like to have printed on the cultist card.
Here is an example of what that might look like:
Note the background color(s) will reflect the demonic aspect your cultist is affiliated with.
The earlier you back, the earlier you'll get to choose which cultist card you'd like to appear on and name. Basically I have a big spreadsheet I'll share with you, and you'll get to choose which one you want. Apologies in advance to the 40th Become a Cultist tier backer - you'll get whatever is left!
You'll also have to e-sign a contract giving me copyright of the painted portrait. You'll gain a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use the image in non-commercial capabilities (ie. digital avatars, profile photos, posting on social media, etc.).
Note - I've learned from Boaty McBoatface. Names for cultists must be reasonable names for human beings interested in the occult, although handles may be accepted. Inappropriate names will be rejected at my discretion and if we can't come to a reasonable, timely agreement, I'll either use your real name if given or I'll make one up for you.
Does the Order of the Dark Wheel really exist? What do you think?
How does the All-Seeing Oracle session work? You'll schedule a 20-minute Zoom session with the All-Seeing Oracle and her assistant, The Attendant. The Oracle will possess The Attendant and counsel you on your future. Remember, she's not great at giving specific answers about exact dates and certain outcomes, but she's pretty good at coaching people through difficult decisions.
I'm super stoked to be cross-collaborating with Mat from Terror Box Co! If you back both of our games at a physical reward tier (and both get funded), you'll get a bonus card from each of us that you can only get through the campaign.
The Last Bog Witch - bonus card illustrated by Mat Lorre
You'll get an alternative-art card from SHIFTED that I illustrated, and you'll get an alternative-art god card that Mat illustrated. So after you're done backing here, make sure to check out Mat's campaign!
The Shift - bonus card illustrated by me, Rick Kitagawa
Check out Shifted below!
🎲 WELCOME TO POCKETOPIA—a celebration of portable easy-to-learn tabletop games featuring 50+ creators launching together on BackerKit from March 13 - April 3!
🏆 Here’s how you can earn exclusive event rewards:
Cross-Collab Freebies: Look for projects marked as Cross-Collab partners! Back both projects to earn a FREE reward from each creator. The more pairs you support, the more freebies you collect!
Pocketopia Dice Bag: Back 6 projects or more to unlock this exclusive reward, surveyed and shipped by BackerKit.
⚔️ Rewards at a glance:
2 FREE rewards for every Cross-Collab pair you back (one from each creator!)
1 FREE limited edition Pocketopia 2025 Dice Bag when you back 6+ projects
⭐ PRO TIP: Maximize your freebies by supporting Cross-Collab pairs! For example, support 3 Cross-Collab pairs (6 projects) to earn up to 6 exclusive freebies while unlocking the Dice Bag!
*Only pledges to physical reward tiers or main digital offerings (if no physical items are offered) qualify towards earning these limited FREEBIES. Please refer to individual project pages for unlock requirements.
