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If you’re a tabletop RPG fan and a fan of Neil Gaiman‘s novel Neverwhere, Pizza Games has a little something for you with their current Kickstarter project, On the Odder Side. Utilizing the “Mark of the Odd” system and drawing inspiration from Into the Odd by Chris McDowall, On the Odder Side beckons players to venture into a realm filled with bizarre horrors and Victorian aesthetics.
On the Odder Side takes place in the city of Carcosa (though it has many names), where adventurers either lose their way or daringly cross an invisible boundary, leading them to the “shadow side” of the City. This familiar yet unsettling place grows stranger the longer they remain. The laws governing this realm are as mysterious and intricate as ancient faerie tales. Regardless of how you happen into this uncanny dimension, you must navigate its oddities to survive or find your way back home.
Alongside Gaiman’s novel, On the Odder Side draws inspiration from Ray Bradbury‘s Something Wicked This Way Comes, and even Lewis Carroll‘s Alice in Wonderland. For tabletop RPG fans, the game is designed for both Old School Revival enthusiasts (aka those who appreciate the classic D&D mechanics of the 70s and 80s) and those who appreciate narrative-driven games with a strong atmosphere. There’s plenty of lore that ventures into Lovecraftian territory, just in case you wanted more cosmic horror to go with your fantastical.
The campaign has already been a success, earning 300% of its initial goal, with plenty of time before the campaign ends on December 5th. That being said, there are still several stretch goals available. The entire package for On the Odder Side will include “The Book of Souls”, a 48-page rulebook in PDF format containing all the rules for character creation and gameplay, “The Book of Bones”, a 48-page guide in PDF format filled with tips for setting the atmosphere and aiding the GM in crafting a diverse and eerie world, and “The Book of Madness”, a 48-page book in PDF format with a collection of tables and prompts for quickly generating adventures.
The package is enhanced with “The Book of Flesh”, a new PDF manual unlocked through a campaign stretch goal, offering prompts for adventures in the Stranger Side of the City. The next goal is to expand this substantial package with the Encyclopedia Rerum Innominabilium, introducing backers to the City’s darkest mysteries. PDFs of these additional manuals will be sent to anyone who has at least obtained The Book of Souls. Even a one-euro support pledge will net the PDF of the Almanac of Oddities, featuring thirty eerie prompts for any horror game.
As mentioned, On the Odder Side will be powered by a version of the “Mark of the Odd” engine, and emphasizes problem-solving and creativity. Characters have hit points and three primary attributes, and challenges are resolved by rolling a d20 and aiming to get a result under the relevant attribute. Combat is perilous, with attacks always successful. Leveling up is tied to specific in-game achievements. Equipment plays a pivotal role in defining a character’s capabilities.
