Beadle & Grimm’s Unleashes “Skullduggery”: The Highly Anticipated 5E Urban Fantasy Companion Hits Kickstarter Soon

Gaming News is thrilled to announce that Beadle & Grimm’s, renowned for their unparalleled 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons accessories and immersive campaign experiences, is preparing to launch their first original 5E book onto Kickstarter. This groundbreaking release, titled “Skullduggery: The 5E Urban Fantasy Companion,” promises to be a comprehensive toolkit for Dungeon Masters and players alike, offering a fresh and dynamic approach to integrating urban fantasy elements into any existing or new 5E campaign. Prepare yourselves for a deep dive into a world where magic intertwines with the mundane, and shadowy alleys hide ancient secrets.

The Dawn of a New Era for Beadle & Grimm’s: Expanding Horizons Beyond Accessories

For years, Beadle & Grimm’s has set the gold standard in high-quality tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) accessories. Their meticulously crafted “Platinum Editions,” “Pandora’s Boxes,” and custom dice sets have become coveted treasures for Dungeons & Dragons enthusiasts. These offerings consistently deliver an elevated level of immersion, providing players with tangible, in-world items that breathe life into their adventures. However, with “Skullduggery,” the company is boldly stepping into a new territory: the creation of original, standalone 5E content. This marks a significant evolution for Beadle & Grimm’s, demonstrating their commitment to not only enhancing existing 5E experiences but also to actively contributing new, innovative material to the 5E ecosystem. This transition is a testament to their deep understanding of the D&D player base and their desire to provide richer, more diverse storytelling opportunities.

What is Skullduggery? Unveiling the Urban Fantasy Core

“Skullduggery: The 5E Urban Fantasy Companion” is not a pre-packaged adventure module in the traditional sense. Instead, it functions as a versatile and adaptable supplement designed to empower Dungeon Masters to seamlessly weave the captivating genre of urban fantasy into their 5E campaigns. Imagine a world where cobblestone streets are patrolled by arcane investigators, where ancient pacts are struck in smoky back rooms, and where mythical creatures walk among us, hidden in plain sight. This is the essence of urban fantasy, and Skullduggery provides all the necessary tools to bring this vibrant and intriguing setting to life within the familiar framework of 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons. The supplement is meticulously designed to be system-agnostic in its thematic application, meaning it can enhance a high-fantasy setting, introduce a splash of supernatural intrigue to a grimdark world, or serve as the foundation for an entirely new urban fantasy campaign.

The Pillars of Urban Fantasy in Skullduggery

• Mystical Underworlds: Discover the hidden layers of your favorite cities, where guilds of sorcerers operate from clandestine speakeasies, where ancient fey courts hold sway in forgotten parks, and where deals with otherworldly entities are struck in the dead of night. Skullduggery provides extensive lore and mechanics to flesh out these secret societies and their influence on the mundane world.
• Modernized Magic: Experience magic re-imagined for a contemporary setting. Learn how spellcasters might adapt their arcane arts to fit within the technological landscape, utilizing enchanted smartphones, casting illusions in crowded plazas, or channeling elemental energies through the city’s power grid. New spell lists, spell variations, and magical item concepts tailored for an urban environment are a cornerstone of this supplement.
• Supernatural Encounters: Populate your urban campaign with a diverse array of fantastical beings. From cunning shapeshifters and manipulative vampires to mischievous sprites and formidable gargoyles, Skullduggery offers detailed stat blocks, lore, and roleplaying tips for creatures that thrive in the shadows of civilization. The supplement explores how these beings interact with, and often prey upon, the human population.
• Investigative Intrigue: Embrace the detective noir sensibilities often associated with urban fantasy. Skullduggery provides mechanics and suggestions for running compelling investigative scenarios, where players must piece together clues, interrogate suspects (both human and supernatural), and navigate a web of conspiracy and deception. This includes new skills, tools, and encounter types that cater to investigative gameplay.

A Comprehensive Toolkit for Every 5E Dungeon Master

Beadle & Grimm’s has a reputation for excellence in detail and presentation, and “Skullduggery” is no exception. This 5E supplement is packed with a wealth of original content, meticulously crafted to provide Dungeon Masters with everything they need to run engaging urban fantasy adventures. The scope of the content is impressive, aiming to be a definitive resource for GMs looking to explore this popular genre.

New Player Options: Define Your Urban Persona

For players, “Skullduggery” introduces exciting new avenues for character creation, allowing them to embody the unique archetypes of urban fantasy. These options are designed to be flexible and flavorful, offering distinct gameplay experiences.

Races and Lineages Reimagined for the Cityscape

• Urban Fey: Discover lineages of fey creatures who have adapted to life in the metropolis, perhaps descended from ancient forest spirits who found new domains in city parks or have forged pacts with urban elementals. These characters might possess innate abilities related to illusion, charm, or control over nature within the urban jungle.
• Touched by Shadow: Explore characters who have a connection to the supernatural underworld, whether through bloodlines, accidental exposure, or deliberate pacts. This could include individuals with shadowy ancestry, those marked by curses, or those who have made deals with entities from other planes, granting them unique powers and often a significant curse.
• Constructed Beings: Delve into the possibility of artificial life infused with magic. From clockwork automatons powered by arcane energies to bio-engineered creatures with innate magical capabilities, these options provide unique mechanical and narrative possibilities for players seeking to play something truly distinct.
• Augmented Humanity: Characters who have enhanced themselves through magical means, perhaps incorporating enchanted prosthetics, using alchemical serums for temporary boosts, or even undergoing ritualistic modifications to commune with spirits.

New Subclasses: Specializing in Urban Arcana

“Skullduggery” introduces several new subclasses that are perfectly tailored for the urban fantasy setting, offering specialized roles and unique mechanics.

• College of the Street Performer Bard: A bard whose performances don’t just entertain but can subtly weave enchantments, gather information through whispered rumors, and even inspire desperate acts of defiance in the heart of the city. Their magic is rooted in public spectacle and the pulse of urban life.
• Oath of the Vigilant Paladin: A paladin dedicated to protecting the innocent from the hidden supernatural threats that lurk in the city’s underbelly. Their divine power might manifest as enhanced senses, the ability to see through illusions, or the capacity to purge corrupting influences from their surroundings.
• Circle of the Concrete Jungle Druid: A druid who finds their connection to nature not in ancient forests, but in the tenacious weeds pushing through asphalt, the stray animals that survive the streets, and the elemental spirits that inhabit the city’s infrastructure. They might call upon swarms of rats, animate refuse, or command the very stone and metal of the city.
• Ranger: Urban Tracker: A ranger specialized in navigating and surviving the concrete wilderness. They excel at tracking targets through crowded streets, finding hidden passages, and utilizing the environment to their advantage, be it through rooftop ambushes or utilizing the city’s sewer systems.
• Rogue: Shadow Broker: A rogue who operates in the clandestine world of information and illicit goods. They are masters of infiltration, negotiation, and leveraging secrets, often dealing with supernatural clients and navigating the complex webs of power in the underworld.
• Wizard: School of Occultism: A wizard who dedicates their studies to the esoteric and forbidden knowledge found within the urban landscape. They might focus on divination through divinatory tools, abjuration spells to ward off malevolent spirits, or conjuration spells to summon denizens of the otherworld.

Expanded Skill Proficiencies and Feats

To further enhance the player experience, “Skullduggery” includes new skill proficiencies that reflect the unique demands of an urban fantasy world. These might include skills like Urban Navigation, Streetwise Negotiation, Cipher Understanding, or Shadow Blending. Furthermore, a robust selection of new feats will allow players to further customize their characters, granting them specialized abilities such as the “Arcane Tuner” feat to manipulate citywide magical energies, the “Ghost Whisperer” feat to communicate with spirits, or the “Alchemical Alchemist” feat to craft potent urban-themed elixirs.

New Monsters and NPCs: Populating Your Metropolis with Menace and Mystery

A compelling urban fantasy setting is defined by its inhabitants. “Skullduggery” delivers a rich bestiary of new monsters and non-player characters (NPCs), ensuring your campaigns are filled with unique challenges and memorable personalities.

Factions and Organizations: The Power Players of the City

The supplement details various factions and organizations that vie for power and influence in the urban landscape. These groups provide plot hooks, potential allies or enemies, and a dynamic backdrop for your adventures.

• The Arcane Syndicate: A clandestine organization of powerful mages who control the flow of magical resources and dictate arcane law through fear and influence.
• The Children of the Umbra: A secretive cult dedicated to an ancient, forgotten entity, seeking to subtly corrupt the city and pave the way for their deity’s return.
• The Fey Courts of the Concrete: Descendants of ancient fey courts who have adapted to the urban environment, maintaining their own territories within parks, abandoned buildings, and forgotten subway tunnels, often engaging in subtle manipulation of mortal affairs.
• The Enforcers of the Veil: A specialized group, perhaps drawn from various supernatural races, tasked with maintaining the separation between the mortal world and the hidden supernatural realms, often acting as shadowy law enforcement.
• The Alchemist’s Guild: Masters of potion-making and exotic elixirs, this guild operates in a highly competitive and often dangerous market, with their creations ranging from miraculous cures to devastating poisons.

A Bestiary of Urban Horrors and Wonders

“Skullduggery” introduces a diverse array of new creatures, from terrifying predators to enigmatic entities, all designed to thrive in the urban environment.

• Gargoyle Stalkers: Animated stone guardians that blend seamlessly with city architecture, striking from above with brutal force.
• Whisper Wraiths: Spectral entities that feed on secrets and manipulate memories, leaving their victims disoriented and paranoid.
• Lamia of the Subway: Serpent-like creatures that lair in the depths of the city’s underground, luring unsuspecting victims with hypnotic songs.
• Clockwork Sentinels: Automated guardians, often built by secretive artificers, programmed to protect specific locations or individuals with tireless efficiency.
• Shadow Puppeteers: Beings who can manipulate shadows to create illusions, ensnare victims, or even animate them as temporary servants.
• Urban Dryads: Nature spirits who have found new domains in the city’s green spaces, such as parks or rooftop gardens, capable of controlling plant life in unexpected ways.
• The Siren of the Docks: A creature that uses its enchanting voice to lure sailors and dockworkers to their doom in the murky waters of the harbor.

New Magic Items and Spells: Enchanting the Everyday

The supplement is also a treasure trove of new magic items and spells, designed to fit seamlessly into an urban fantasy narrative.

Everyday Objects with Arcane Power

• The Encrypted Smartphone: A magical device that can store spells, communicate across planar boundaries, or even project illusions.
• The City Watchman’s Charm: An amulet that grants enhanced senses and the ability to perceive hidden dangers within a specific urban district.
• The Alley Cat’s Lucky Coin: A seemingly ordinary coin that bestows uncanny luck and the ability to evade notice.
• The Subway Ghost’s Locket: An artifact that allows the wearer to phase through solid objects for a short duration, mimicking the passage of spirits.
• The Neon Sign of Divination: A magical sign that, when activated, provides cryptic clues or visions related to ongoing events.

Spells for the Modern Mystic

• Charm Person (Street Vendor Variant): A subtle manipulation spell that makes the caster’s wares irresistible or their arguments persuasive on the street.
• Misty Step (Graffiti Jump): Allows the caster to teleport between patches of magically infused graffiti.
• Detect Magic (Rooftop Scan): A version of the spell that can be cast from a high vantage point to scan a wider area.
• Summon Minor Elemental (Gutter Slime): The caster summons a small, amorphous creature composed of city detritus and residual magical energy.
• Prestidigitation (Street Art Manifestation): A versatile cantrip that allows for the creation of temporary illusions or minor enchantments on urban surfaces.
• Scrying (News Feed Scry): Allows the caster to scry on a target by observing their recent activity through magically accessed public information or social media feeds.

Kickstarter Launch: Be Part of the Skullduggery Revolution

The announcement that Beadle & Grimm’s is bringing “Skullduggery: The 5E Urban Fantasy Companion” to Kickstarter is met with immense excitement from the 5E community. This crowdfunding campaign represents not only a chance for fans to get their hands on this groundbreaking supplement but also an opportunity to support a company that consistently delivers premium quality and innovative content.

Why Back on Kickstarter? Exclusive Content and Community Engagement

Kickstarter campaigns often provide unique opportunities for early backers, including exclusive content, discounted pricing, and the chance to influence the direction of future releases. Beadle & Grimm’s is known for its generous reward tiers and its active engagement with its community. Fans can expect a campaign that reflects their dedication to providing exceptional value and a truly collaborative experience. Potential reward tiers could include early access to digital versions, exclusive dice sets themed around urban fantasy, unique in-game items not found in the main book, or even personalized elements for specific pledges. The Kickstarter platform is the ideal venue for a company like Beadle & Grimm’s to connect directly with their audience and ensure that “Skullduggery” meets and exceeds the high expectations of the 5E player base.

The Future of 5E with Beadle & Grimm’s Original Content

The success of “Skullduggery” on Kickstarter could pave the way for Beadle & Grimm’s to become a significant player in the creation of original 5E content. This expansion of their business model promises a future filled with even more diverse and high-quality supplements, further enriching the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons experience. Their meticulous attention to detail, commitment to immersive storytelling, and deep understanding of what makes D&D so beloved suggest that their foray into original content will be a resounding success. Gaming News will be following the Kickstarter launch closely and will provide updates on this highly anticipated release. Prepare to delve into the shadows, for Beadle & Grimm’s is about to redefine urban fantasy in 5E.

Beadle & Grimm’s has long been associated with premium accessories that enhance the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons experience. Their meticulous craftsmanship and dedication to immersion have made them a beloved name among TTRPG enthusiasts. Now, they are embarking on an ambitious new venture: the creation of their first original 5E book, “Skullduggery: The 5E Urban Fantasy Companion.” This highly anticipated release is set to make its debut on Kickstarter soon, promising to equip Dungeon Masters with an unparalleled toolkit for weaving urban fantasy into their 5E campaigns.

The transition from producing accessories to developing original content marks a significant milestone for Beadle & Grimm’s. It demonstrates a clear commitment to expanding their influence within the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons landscape by contributing fresh, innovative material. “Skullduggery” is not merely an expansion; it’s a foundational supplement designed to empower GMs to explore the rich and compelling genre of urban fantasy within the familiar and robust mechanics of 5E. This means that whether you’re looking to inject a bit of supernatural intrigue into a high-fantasy world or build an entirely new urban fantasy campaign from the ground up, “Skullduggery” provides the comprehensive resources needed to do so with depth and flair.

The core of “Skullduggery” lies in its ability to seamlessly integrate urban fantasy elements into any 5E campaign. This genre, characterized by the juxtaposition of magic and modernity, the hidden supernatural world existing alongside the mundane, and often noir-inspired detective elements, is brought to life through a wealth of meticulously designed content. Players can expect a variety of new character options, including races and lineages that reflect the unique inhabitants of a magical metropolis, such as Urban Fey or those Touched by Shadow. Furthermore, the supplement introduces several new subclasses specifically tailored for this setting, including the Street Performer Bard, the Vigilant Paladin, and the Concrete Jungle Druid, each offering distinct playstyles and narrative hooks.

Beyond player options, “Skullduggery” boasts a comprehensive bestiary filled with new monsters and NPCs that populate the shadowy alleys and glittering skylines of an urban fantasy world. From Gargoyle Stalkers that blend into architecture to Whisper Wraiths that prey on secrets, the supplement provides a diverse array of creatures designed to challenge and intrigue. It also delves into the intricate social and political landscapes of the city, detailing various factions and organizations that vie for power, such as the clandestine Arcane Syndicate or the enigmatic Children of the Umbra. These elements provide rich opportunities for adventure, political intrigue, and complex moral choices for players.

The magical core of “Skullduggery” is further amplified by an extensive collection of new magic items and spells. Imagine wielding an Encrypted Smartphone that stores spells, or casting a spell to teleport between magically infused graffiti. The supplement reimagines familiar magic for a modern context, offering enchantments that feel both innovative and at home in an urban setting. This attention to detail in the magical aspect is crucial for immersing players in the urban fantasy experience, making the extraordinary feel tangible within the ordinary.

The upcoming Kickstarter launch for “Skullduggery: The 5E Urban Fantasy Companion” represents a pivotal moment for both Beadle & Grimm’s and the 5E community. By backing the campaign, fans not only gain access to this groundbreaking content but also support a company known for its unwavering commitment to quality and player engagement. Kickstarter rewards are expected to be generous, potentially including exclusive items, early access, and other benefits that foster a sense of community and co-creation. The success of this campaign could signal a new era for Beadle & Grimm’s, positioning them as a significant creator of original 5E content alongside their renowned accessory lines. Gaming News is eager to witness the launch and will be providing ongoing coverage of this exciting development in the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons world.