$70K Stretch Unlocked and Looking for Stretch Goal Feedback
over 5 years ago – Wed, Mar 31, 2021 at 02:30:05 PM

Welp, that didn’t take you long! Now that you’ve pushed the Kickstarter to over $70K, everyone whose pledge includes the Anime 5E Game Screen – whether through a reward level, or as an add-on – will also receive a free PDF pre-gen pack of six characters they can use with the adventure scenario bundled with the screen.

Next Up at $80K: Traps!

Everyone loves a good trap. Well, maybe just DMs who inflict them with glee on the player character adventurers. But still, traps are a fun and essential part of all good Fifth Edition adventures.

If campaign funding reaches $80K, Anime 5E designer Mark MacKinnon will create five original traps across the difficulty spectrum, with Anime 5E stat blocks and brief descriptions. These traps will be available as a free bonus PDF download for all backers pledging at least $13 in the Kickstarter.

Feedback Request: Stretch Goal Thread

If you've been following along with the campaign, you'll see that amazing backers (like you!) are blowing through stretch goals at a rapid pace. So we are asking campaign backers to join a stretch goal thread on the Anime 5E Facebook Group, since Facebook posts allow for better threading and conversation. You can still provide your thoughts in the Kickstarter comments, of course, though the platform isn’t optimised for such conversations.

Our Stretch Goal Philosophy

Companies have vastly different ways of approaching stretch goals on Kickstarter, and our approach may be different than many RPG publishers. All the Anime 5E books and products offered here are fully developed, illustrated, laid out, and nearly ready for printing after some final checks and edits. That’s why we have promised the PDFs in May and printed copies in September.

With this in mind, you can see why we are hesitant to introduce stretch goals that physical change the parameters of the offered products. The exception is cosmetic changes during printing, such as UV spot coatings, bookmark ribbons, etc. Changing the physical product – such as adding pages of content – will delay their production. That’s not to say that we couldn’t add 16 more pages to the core book (the minimum signature amount needed at our printer) or add extra story parts to the Game Screen adventure (and thus increasing the page count), just that we shouldn’t.

Here are the important elements of our stretch goal philosolosphy:

✅ A stretch goal can’t require a lot of money to implement. Some expenditures are fine, of course, but since the purpose of crowdfunding is to generate funds from a crowd of backers, the costs should be modest.

✅ A stretch goal shouldn’t require too much time either. Partially since time = money, but also because we don’t want to delay the campaign fulfilment. PDF stretch goals avoid the second concern, which is why we have unlocked many of them in the campaign already.

✅ Stretch goals should be made available for a wide variety of pledge types. You’ll notice that we have some goals that are specific to a single product (like physical book upgrades), while others are offered to anyone pledging the minimal tier amount of $13+. Some physical goals need to be shipped, and so it only makes sense to include them with physical rewards. And yes, some goals are only offered at higher pledge amounts to encourage backers at lower levels to have faith and make the leap to the $100 Adventurer level or above (or equivalent amount, through add-ons). We want to offer bonus stretch goals across the backer spectrum.

So once again, we turn to you as a valued backer. Please join our community in the stretch goal thread on the Anime 5E Facebook Group (you’ll need to request access through Facebook if you’re not already a group member), and let us know what you think. Or post in the comments section if you prefer.

Thanks for your help making this campaign as awesome as it can be!

Artefacts, Pre-Gen Pack, and Omissions, Oh My!
over 5 years ago – Wed, Mar 31, 2021 at 11:53:03 AM

This campaign is like a runaway freight train! Over 800 amazing backers pledged $60K in just over 24 hours – which is by far the most successful crowdfunding campaign Dyskami has hosted. And now, you have collectively unlocked the five original magical artefacts stretch goal, which will be a free bonus PDF for all backers pledging $13+.

Next Up at $70K: Pre-Gen Character Pack for Game Screen

As indicated in the product write-up, the Anime 5E Game Screen also comes with a bonus 32-page adventure for 2nd-4th level characters called “Carry on Wayward Son”. The adventure provides general guidance concerning the types of characters that would fit well with the scenario, but does not include ready-to-go player characters with it. If this campaign reaches $70K in funding, every backer whose pledge includes the Game Screen will also receive free PDF pre-gen character pack of six adventurers tailored for the adventure.

Purposefully Omitted From Anime 5E

Yesterday, we started a discussion about the foundational objectives behind Anime 5E. Today, we want to reveal what was purposefully omitted. Naturally, it’s impossible to replicate the incredibly vast amount of information from all other Fifth Edition game books in this single volume. Anime 5E is a complete game unto itself, though there are several aspects that we specifically did not include.

➡️ Details on Fifth Edition Races and Classes

Anime 5E provides a point-based rebalancing of the standard Fifth Edition races (ie. Dwarves, Elves, Halflings, etc.) and classes (ie. Cleric, Fighter, Rogue, Wizard, etc.) for use in your Anime 5E adventures, but does not reproduce the information readily available in the PHB. Instead, this book details the 14 new race and 14 new class options.

➡️ Spells and Magic System

Fifth Edition includes a robust magic system with hundreds of spells that works well for their included races and classes. Anime 5E explores an alternative system for magical and paranormal effects called Dynamic Powers that can be used on its own or integrated with the existing Fifth Edition spells presented in the PHB and other 5E sourcebooks. Consequently, Anime 5E does not include any spells details.

➡️ Minor Rule Details

Anime 5E’s action and combat chapter provide the essential information for undertaking role-playing adventures. There are hundreds of rules and detailed minutia not reproduced from the PHB and other 5E sourcebooks, since they are not critical to the core elements of running anime adventures. This includes such sections as controlling a mount, underwater combat, spellcasting elements, map/grid-based combat, and more. Of course, gaming groups are welcome to integrate these materials into Anime 5E adventures as desired. Since Anime 5E approaches role-playing as a narrative framework for storytelling – rather than a tactical combat game – much of these small additional details are left to the discretion of the DM and players.

➡️ Campaign Setting and In-Depth World Building

The Fifth Edition DMG provides exceptional advice about building fantasy worlds and creating campaign settings. Much of what is written also applies to an Anime 5E game, and consequently those sections are not repeated in this book, though Chapter 12 does provide several pages of high-level background on example anime fantasy worlds that gaming groups can use for inspiration.

➡️ Monsters and Magical Items

Anime 5E includes a modest selection of companions, monsters, objects, and weapons that DMs can integrate into their games directly, or use as templates to create their own (14 monsters and 49 items, if you’re counting). The Fifth Edition core books contain hundreds of additional entries that easily integrate with Anime 5E campaigns and we don’t attempt to replicate them all in this volume.

Thanks for reading!

THREE Stretch Goals Unlocked Overnight!
over 5 years ago – Wed, Mar 31, 2021 at 07:57:26 AM

We may be headquartered in the Eastern time zone, but clearly the world keeps on moving even while we sleep. 😴

Overnight, backers like you worked together to unlock three stretch goals – including ones that we didn’t even have a chance to announce yet! We are thrilled to reward your pledge dedication, though, so let’s talk about what has now been added for Anime 5E Kickstarter backers.

✅ $40K Unlocked – Anime 5E Adventurer Scenario

A custom Anime 5E PDF adventure, written by designer Mark MacKinnon, will be sent as a free bonus to every backer who pledges $100 and above.

✅ $45K Unlocked – Extra Fifth Edition Monster Conversions to Anime 5E

Mark will also now convert an additional five monsters from the Fifth Edition MM to Anime 5E stat blocks, and we’ll make his work available as a free bonus PDF to all backers pledging $13+ after the campaign. These extra five monsters are in addition to the 14 that we detail in the Anime 5E core book (download the Table of Contents PDF if you haven’t already).

✅ $50K Unlocked – Triple Bookmark Ribbons for the Deluxe Limited Edition

Another convenient physical upgrade: we will now print the Anime 5E Deluxe Limited Edition with not just one bookmark ribbon, but with three bookmarks instead. That way, you can mark several important places in the book at the same time for quick reference during character creation or game sessions.

Unlocked Next At $60K – Magical Artefacts!

Although the Anime 5E core book provides descriptions and stats for nearly 50 fascinating items of power, legendary weapons, and adventuring gear, you can never have too many sweet, sweet magical items, amiright?!?

If campaign funding reaches $60K, Mark will create five new original magical artefacts across the power spectrum, with Anime 5E stat blocks and brief descriptions. These artefacts will be available as a free bonus PDF download for all backers pledging at least $13 in the Kickstarter.

In addition to your pledge, the best way to help the campaign unlock even more stretch goals is sharing the link with your gamer friends and social network. You can either share the Kickstarter link directly, or use our master link http://Anime5E.com which redirects to the campaign page.

Thank you all for your tremendous support! We’ll be in touch again later today.

We Have Bookmarks at $35K – And An Adventure in the Wings
over 5 years ago – Tue, Mar 30, 2021 at 07:14:35 PM

Clearly, you all have proficiency in the Pledging skill! 🤓

Thanks to your help spreading the word about the Kickstarter and crushing the $35K stretch goal, all backers of physical rewards will receive a free Anime 5E bookmark with their pledge shipment. With this plus the sewn bookmark ribbon unlocked at $25K, you’ll never lose your place again while flipping through pages.

$40K Stretch Goal: Exclusive Anime 5E Adventure

If the campaign raises enough pledges to reach the $40K funding goal, Anime 5E designer Mark MacKinnon will write a short introductory adventure for 1st level characters. The custom adventure PDF will be send as a free bonus to every backer who pledges $100 and above. At some point, the scenario will likely be available for sale on DriveThruRPG as well – but for now, it’s an exclusive reward for eligible backers during this campaign.

We are in the Eastern time zone, and it’s getting late here. Today has certainly been a wild ride, and we are thankful that you’re joining us on this journey. Check in tomorrow!

Free Adventure, Next Stretch Goal, and The Foundation of Anime 5E
over 5 years ago – Tue, Mar 30, 2021 at 03:39:05 PM

Have we thanked you recently for your continued support? 😉 Because you certainly deserve it!

You broke through another stretch goal, and now every backer pledging $13+ will receive a free copy of the Anime 5E adventure conversion for “Unrest in Syfia”.

Life in the town of Syfia is hard, but it’s the ideal slow pace for those who seek to get away from the larger disputes of the kingdom. Recently, there’s been unrest in Syfia, and someone must investigate it. The characters are all minor nobles or employees of an ancient outlier royal family with modest holdings – the Yubet Family. The primary Yubet ancestral estates are located at the foot of a mountain range a short distance from town.

$35K Stretch Goal: Printed Physical Bookmark

If the campaign reaches this threshold, we are pleased to offer this special gift to every backer who pledges for a physical reward: a printed 2” x 6” Anime 5E bookmark to keep your place in your favourite game book, novel, or magazine. We are still finalising the design since there’s lots of time before we send it to press, but rest assured it’ll be awesome!

Anime 5E’s Foundational Objectives

If you’ve read through the Kickstarter campaign page, you’ll have a good idea of what Anime 5E is all about. Presumably, that’s why you stepped up and pledged! Since Anime 5E was created as a hybrid approach between the traditional Fifth Edition fantasy RPG and a point-based flexible character creation system, the game design approach focussed on several distinct objectives.

Provide Effects-Based Rules For Fifth Edition

The 5E fantasy RPG is a powers-based system – character abilities are prescribed as stemming from a particular power sources such as magical ability, racial heritage, or class training. Conversely, Anime 5E introduces an effects-based system to the game. This means that the game rules provides the effects or outcome of an Attribute, and the players and DM define the specific application of those effects. For example, a character might achieve the capabilities of Flight using: wings, magic, anti-gravity fields, psionics, force of will, reality-warping techniques, thermal riding, or many other methods. Similarly, a Weapon inflicts damage that could take the form of a near-infinite number of sources, such as physical trauma, fire, electricity, cold, acid, mental, poison, etc. Adding an effects-based lens to character abilities in 5E provides a new and dynamic perspective to the game.

Offer Point-Based Character Options

Traditional 5E fantasy RPG races and classes acquire specific benefits as they gain Experience Points and progress through character Levels. Some benefits offer a meagre selection of options from which to choose, though the range is tightly controlled. Conversely, Anime 5E layers a point-based system of benefits and hindrances on top of the Fifth Edition foundation that give characters exceptional diversity regarding their special abilities, talents, and flaws. Points provide balance between characters of different races and classes, and empower the players to direct the creation and growth of their fantasy alter egos in exciting directions with unique combinations. Constructing characters from points unshackles the player’s imagination to progress beyond the Level-based approach to character advancement.

Explore Rule Alternatives

Over three core books (PHB, DMG, MM), the Fifth Edition RPG provides a solid rules foundation for playing and running fantasy RPG adventures. Anime 5E expands on this ruleset by providing alternatives and options to enhance gameplay. A few of the new sections you’ll find in Anime 5E include discussions concerning: called shots, tactical actions, combined attacks, critical hits and failures, wound difficulty penalties, and much more. Use what you like, modify ideas as appropriate for your gaming group, and discard what you don’t like.

Not Just Fantasy – Anime Fantasy

Although Anime 5E can be integrated with any standard high-fantasy Fifth Edition gaming campaign, the races, classes, options, and new rules present a game that evokes the best in fantasy anime and manga series. The artwork sets a strong visual tone, of course, and this book features some spectacular pieces by extremely talented illustrators. Also, some story and character elements that are common in anime and manga – but are not as common in Tolkien-esque high-fantasy settings – provide additional flavour, such as pet monster duels (the Monster Training Attribute), characters that attract a swarm of admirers (Magnet Defect), and more. Finally, Anime 5E provides excellent guidance for playing and running campaigns to help you create an evocative anime-style flavour in your adventures (Chapters 9 and 12).

PS. Have you downloaded the Anime 5E Table of Contents from the campaign page link yet?