2024 is here, and with it come new tabletop ideas. Recently, Gehenna Games launched its very first TTRPG Kickstarter for Eldritch Automata. It is a game that combines the mech pilot action of Pacific Rim and Neon Genesis Evangelion with psychological cosmic horror.
The Eldritch Automata Kickstarter
According to the campaign page, Eldritch Automata is set in a post-apocalyptic world filled with horror, drama, and psychological torment. Players take on the role of pilots, struggling to make sense of a world overrun by eldritch monsters called Horrors and angelic creatures known as Seraphs.
To fight these threats, the pilots control Automata. These massive machines are uncontrollable and a constant source of stress and anxiety. As you use these machines to fight, you will need to confront your own fears and demons. And if you fail, you may lose yourself to violence.
Can you hold on to your morals and ideals in the face of such bleakness? Will you navigate and nurture relationships with your fellow pilots and survivors? Will you be able to survive in such a harsh world?
Eldritch Automata's core gameplay uses the Year Zero Open License Engine provided by Free League Publishing. The game's influences include Pacific Rim, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Godzilla, Alien, Pandorum, and many other psychological horror and anime sources.
The Eldritch Automata Kickstarter also holds some promising add-ons. In addition to a core rulebook, there are custom dice, GM screens, and a starter set. The set contains premade character sheets, handouts, paper props, and a pre-written scenario.
The project is helmed by Gehenna Gaming, a company dedicated to making immersive and unique horror gaming experiences. They have worked with events in the past including PAX Unplugged, Gen Gon, and PAX East.
As for the talent attached, they include some very creative industry talent.
They include Ian E. Muller (Vampire The Masquerade), Nicholas Francia (Monsterhearts - The Forgotten Skins), Rue Dickey (Demiverse, HeroesWithoutLimits), KP Upadhyayula, Josh Domanski, Daniel D. Fox (Zweihander), and many others.
The stretch goals for the Eldritch Automata Kickstarter are as follows:
- Civilian for $30: A PDF of the core rulebook and all unlocked stretch goals
- Manufactured for $45: A PDF of the core rulebook, starter set, and all unlocked stretch goals
- Pilot for $55: A PDF and physical copy of the core rulebook as well as all unlocked stretch goals.
- Automata for $70:PDFs and physical copies of the core rulebook, starter set, and all unlocked stretch goals.
- Horror for $100: Everything from the Automata tier, plus a GM Screen, equipment and armor cards, and a Horror Dossier Pack
- Seraph for $200: A Seraph Deluxe Edition of the core rulebook,physical starter set, PDFs of core rulebook and starter set, equipment and armor cards, GM Screen, a Seraph Dossier Pack, special Seraph Zinc Alloy dice, and all unlocked stretch goals.
- Architect for $400: Everything from the Seraph tier, the Horror Dossier Pack, the Legends Never Die Dossier Pack, a set of Automata Scrap Iron Dice, and a Kickstarter-Exclusive Enamel Pin.
- Be The Automata for $800: Everything from the Architect tier, and a custom-designed exclusive weapon model.
At the time of writing, the Eldritch Automata Kickstarter campaign has raised $10,983, which falls short of its funding goal of $65,000. The campaign will conclude on February 1.
