Wolden is the current ongoing RPG series of Mottokrosh Machinations, released in zine installments. Issue 1 has all the rules you need to play plus the first two of eight secret societies that make up the classes of the game (called cults here). It is a rules-light, flavor-heavy game, and where Hypertellurians gave you the tools to build any character imaginable, Wolden gives you a setting defined by its creative, idiosyncratic cults. Combined with a unified mechanic that covers tests, extended challenges, combat, and downtime, it's the perfect game to focus on play rather than admin.
New Kickstarter
Many of you will already have seen the launch page for the next Kickstarter, which covers issues 2 and 3—a double feature. I had originally planned to launch it this year, but the Berlin International RPG Convention that I co-organize has been keeping me busy up until now, and I wanted to make sure I could dedicate the time to the Kickstarter that it deserves. And now with the seasonal holidays on the doorstep, I hope you'll agree that it makes sense to postpone it until the new year, likely February.
But let's have a look at what the upcoming issues have in store.
Issue 2
This issue is fully dedicated to Violent Nemorous Passage, a campaign that should last around 8 to 12 sessions. The party is on a mission to install a spy at the court of King Kashiel the Thrice Blessed, Titan of the Pyramid Gargantua. This powerful sorcerer-king has recently arrived in the region, and it behooves the Wolden Council to find out whether he might be an ally or a menace.
But to get to his demesne, the party must travel vast swaths of various forests, each with their own wonders and struggles, as well as a mighty rival party, and the sorcerer-king's patrols.
Issue 3
Here we introduce two new cults, present some additional advice, and have a new adventure called The Effulgent Configuration.
The Lion Sodality is a high society cult that values physical and mental acuity, fashion, etiquette, and the rarest—ideally forbidden—meats. Some of their numbers will go to great length to acquire and taste these, often at great peril or cost to themselves. But ultimately it is also what gives them strength.
The Enlightend Conclave of Ocultists are eye sorcerers, pure and simple. They love to dress royally to show off their potence and leave an impression on those who lack their... sight. Almost all of them are possessed of additional eye sockets, filled with mystical orbs that grant them visionary powers.
The Effulgent Configuration is a location adventure that plays in 1 to 3 sessions. Here the party are on the trail of a prior Wolden party that has apparently gone missing. To this end they need to infiltrate a tower that is an experimental frontier lab, and deal with the factions within.
Quickstart
Accompanying the Kickstarter is a free Wolden Quickstart containing the rules, pregenerated characters, and a starting adventure. This was originally planned to be The Effulgent Configuration from issue 3, but I have since changed my mind on that, since that adventure plays largely in a tower, and Wolden is ostensibly a Forest RPG. Thus, rejoice: yet another brand new adventure will be written and illustrated for the Quickstart!
So, while the Kickstarter will be slightly delayed, I hope you'll all find it worthwhile. Until then, why not head to the pre-launch page and click to be notified when it launches?
