Jan 26th update: The Kickstarter is now live!

I'm delighted to tell you about Mottokrosh Machinations' upcoming book, Capes and Cloaks and Cowls and a Park. It's a system neutral, self-contained adventure setting, perfect for Hypertellurians or other fantasy games. For the first time, we're hoping to launch the book through Kickstarter, scheduled for late January.

Check out the Pre-Launch page, and register to be notified of the launch!

Book mockup.
Book mockup.

Story

Riblerim the Unsure, Master Diviner, created a wondrous and whimsical theme park in an ultradimensional realm in his cloak. He filled it with staff and actors, and soon also seamstresses and tailors, who had all been accused of and persecuted for sorcery. Their magical inclinations turned out true, but that's neither here nor there, the important part is that Riblerim gave them refuge in his new realm.

And then he promptly disappeared, by now some fifty years ago, leaving the eldritch flora and fauna to evolve unchecked, the ensorceling costumiers to vie for power, and the complex magical threads from which the realm was woven, to... unravel.

Now Cambros, an awakened, ancient war machine turned fashionista, has decided it is time to assemble a group of specialists to search every corner of the realm for its creator, and bring back peace and stability.

Book spread showing Mustafo the sentient automaton tailor.
Book spread showing Mustafo the sentient automaton tailor.

About

Capes and Cloaks and Cowls and a Park is a sandbox setting, with several themed islands floating in a golden sky, connected by a winding monoriver (think monorail, but with cute boats instead) and Giant Flying Galapagos Turtles.

Each island contains 3 or more adventure sites, including 5 ones with intricate isometric maps by Diogo Nogueira. The islands are home to one or more enchanting couturiers who have risen to power and put their mark on their slice of the ultradimensional pie.

But beyond the witchy dressmakers and remaining actors (or their descendants), the islands are full of weird and wonderful creatures and plants, some fun, some dangerous, all marvelous.

Book spread showing the island of Avalon.
Book spread showing the island of Avalon.

Garments and Treasures

With a title like Capes and Cloaks and Cowls and a Park, it is no surprise that the book is stuffed with astounding items of clothing. As well as concise but evocative descriptions, and beautiful illustrations by Katie Wakelin, the garments have tags, giving them game-able properties, whether they're magical or not.

Of course no Mottokrosh Machinations book would be complete without a list of wonderful treasures, and for this one we have assembled a list of 100 of them, all relevant to Riblerim's miraculous realm or its inhabitants. The first 10 are grand treasures that could easily be the subject of individual adventures alone.

Book spread showing several of the marvelous garments included.
Book spread showing several of the marvelous garments included.

Kickstarter

The book is illustrated, written and laid out, and currently undergoing editing. Our printer is ready to go as soon as we hand them the final files.

We are running a crowd funding campaign to recoup some of the cost that has already gone into the book, and pay additional folks for work like editing, statblock creation, and perhaps even a stretch goal adventure site or two.

This is our first Kickstarter, so we are somewhat nervous, and hope that you might help us spread the word of it far and wide. Together we can make an awesome book (playtesters' words) even better!

Book spread showing the Museum of Divination map from the Island of Special Interests.
Book spread showing the Museum of Divination map from the Island of Special Interests.

Next

Stay tuned for the Kickstarter launch later this month, and in future updates we'll go deeper into some of the islands, their landmarks, and people!