We decided on a detour and I still think it was a wise choice, even if Fyrn and Sharpstone voted against it. We had time to spare and Genrik’s map didn’t have this cavern complex mapped. Isn’t this what the Union wants us to do?
Anyway, we found huge caves and tunnels wide enough to ride a ptera through them, three by three! What’s more, the walls are lined with strips of glowing blue rock. Have we stumbled into the sapphire stratum, or are these the World Below’s veins? Joanne thinks they could be Kaos rocks.
We’re going to take another vote on what quantity of these minerals to mine once we’ve mapped this place. It’s going to take some doing; hundreds of smaller tunnels branch off from here, with some looping back around to others and others narrowing to thin points.
Something strikes me though. A cave complex this big being completely uninhabited? Either it only opened up during the last Kalm, or there’s a reason nothing lives in here.
Hello Diggers,
I've got some video and audio bits to share with you today, stuff that goes over interesting things from The World Below: thoughts behind some of the elements that the writers have brought in; how to make characters; actual gameplay; and more.
I will note that these video links look a lot better on the website, so if you're reading this in your e-mail, it's sometimes worth it to click to come over to the Crowdfunding site and read it there for clarity.
Let's start with a video that is posted to the main page, but worth a re-post for sure! It's the Gentleman Gamer, Matthew Dawkins, introducing The World Below:
Matthew is the originator of many of the concepts used for this game and setting, and wrote and developed the manuscript that backers have been reading since day 1. We'll get more chapters throughout the campaign, and backers will have access to the entire draft of the game before any pledges are processed or payments collected. If you're reading this and curious about the game but haven't joined up yet - pledge now to gain access to the manuscript updates, knowing that you can cancel if this game turns out to not be your thing. But I'm sure once you start reading, you'll get as excited as the rest of us!
This next video is a bit older, a World Below panel from Onyx Path's Virtual Gaming Convention earlier this year. I was already excited about this game knowing that Dawkins and Evans were involved, but as an old gamer myself, seeing Ed Greenwood contributing to this project is almost beyond comprehension!
And a reminder that one of super premium reward tiers includes a slot in an online game session with the Dawkins and Greenwood superstar combo!
This next one is an amazing discussion about creating and developing roleplaying games and has scope beyond The World Below, but features a lot of thought that went into this setting. M.K. Anderson and Matthew Dawkins discuss whether TTRPGs should be political. Interesting stuff!
Actual Plays
I always say that one of the best ways to learn about a game is to see it in action. While many of the Onyx Path team are able to do that in person at GameHole Con this weekend, we can check out these actual plays available online and get a better idea of how The World Below comes together at the table.
First up, the Lore By Night team plays a World Below one-shot called Tomb of the Spyder!
And the amazing team at Red Moon Roleplaying have an actual play of The World Below called The Serpent God's Fangs. Check out this five-part series here...
Finally, after all of that, I'm excited to note that we have smashed our first Stretch Goal target and are on our way towards doing the same to our second!
ACHIEVED! - At $32,000 in Funding – WORLD BELOW T-SHIRT ON REDBUBBLE – A World Below-themed Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. Only backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.
At $34,000 in Funding – DELVING DEEP INTO THE WORLD BELOW – A starting scenario to play or serve as an example for a World Below Storyguide. Our first adventure concerns the most common field of play: venturing from the safety of one's settlement to explore, face dangers, and hopefully return with resources to strengthen one's communities. Expect some surprises in this one! This World Below Adventure Supplement PDF will be added to the rewards list of all backers receiving The World Below PDF as one of their rewards.
As you can gather from all of these discussions and play sessions, there's LOTS to explore in The World Below, and plenty of new things to delve deeper into with further Stretch Goals! So let's continue to rally - please share this campaign in your social circle and on your social media, and let's continue to explore The World Below!