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Harlem Unbound, a Cthulhu roleplaying game sourcebook

Created by Chris Spivey, Darker Hue Studios

RPG sourcebook set in 1920s NYC, the Harlem Renaissance, delving into Mythos mysteries for either Call of Cthulhu or Gumshoe system.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

STRETCH GOAL UNLOCKED! 20 HOURS TO GO!
over 7 years ago – Wed, Jan 11, 2017 at 01:38:42 PM

Well, this is it. THE FINAL COUNTDOWN! (*cue music*)

With just about 20 hours to go, we've unlocked yet another stretch goal. To those who just found us, welcome! And to those who've been with us along the entire ride, hello again! 

Will you help us with a promotional push one last time? (*cue cast of Hamilton*) Please share Harlem Unbound with folks via social media, email, smoke signal...everything helps. We can all shine a light on the stories of the Harlem Renaissance. 

Thanks for helping turn my dream into a reality.

- Chris

Here are all the stretch goals we've unlocked during the campaign:

***FUNDED!*** $7,000 | Additional Scenario: Harlem (K)nights: An explosive campaign starter! A rabbi, a local Mafia boss, and a letter from labor activist Asa Philip Randolph set the investigators on a dangerous path. How can they hope to beat what cannot die that can eternally slumber as it stirs? Will it end in their doom? 

***FUNDED!*** $8,500 | Keeper's Screen: A 3-panel screen that holds rules, charts and other Keeper tips to challenge and guide your players.  

***FUNDED!*** $10,000 | Additional Art: We've got incredibly talented artists working with us, and we'd love to give them more work to do and add some dazzling eye candy for your gaming pleasure. 

***FUNDED!*** $12,000 | Additional Scenario: Dreams and Broken Wings, by Alex Mayo. Clayton Morris, a promising painter and rising star in the Harlem art community, has gone missing. While many dismiss his disappearance as a harmless circumstance, some believe foul play may be afoot. Discovering the truth will take players into the heart of Harlem’s art scene and possibly into worlds beyond. 

***FUNDED!*** $13,500 | 1,000 Additional Words on the History of Harlem. Harlem has a deep history, and the city's stories are endless. We'll augment the basics with some enhanced knowledge about Harlem's history for you to bring to your game. 

***FUNDED!*** $15,000 | Color-Printed Hardback Books: Now, wouldn't this be grand? Color will be used to enhance the rules, imagery, and graphics, making Harlem Unbound as easy to use at the table as possible. 

***FUNDED!*** $16,500 | 4 Horrific Harlem-Themed Mythos Creatures: The first creature will be (drumroll, please)... a new Great Old One: The Baron in Blues. 

***FUNDED!*** $18,500 | New Character Class: The Patron. We will add a whole new character class to the existing 6 currently written. 

***FUNDED!*** $22,000 | Additional Scenario: The Play Is More Than the Thing by Chris Spivey. A banned script writer, Reggie "Flip" Smith, flees home to Harlem after a nearly deadly incident in Hollywood. In one of his plays are the pages from a long forgotten book that shatters sanity if it is performed. Back in Harlem at the Dark Tower, he begs A'Lelia Walker for an unveiling of his latest play. (Available late 2017 as separate digital content for the Chick Webb Pledge Level or higher.) 

***FUNDED!*** $25,000 | Deluxe Hard Back Book. You know how sometimes you get a book and it is knock-your-socks-off beautiful? Well, that what we've just reached. The books will be of a higher quality than we could have done when we originally launched this Kickstarter including the paper selection and the printing itself. We are really excited that we can do this for Harlem Unbound. 

***FUNDED!*** $30,000 | 3 NPCs or Ready-to-Play Characters for easy replacement during scenarios. (Available as separate digital content for the Chick Webb Pledge Level or higher.) 

***FUNDED!*** $35,000 | 3 Full Scenario Hooks to quick-start an evening of play, and a random scenario generator chart.

NEXT STRETCH GOAL REACHED!
over 7 years ago – Sat, Jan 07, 2017 at 07:47:39 PM

I'll be honest here. In the last week, I doubted whether we would hit the $30K mark at all, but we did it with 4 days to go! Thank you to all our new backers who helped us jump this hurdle. VIRTUAL HIGH FIVE!


***FUNDED!*** $30,000 | 3 NPCs or Ready-to-Play Characters
for easy replacement during scenarios. (Available as separate digital content for the Chick Webb Pledge Level or higher.)

 

SHINING A LIGHT WITH 481
over 7 years ago – Fri, Jan 06, 2017 at 02:52:00 PM

We are so close to reaching $30K, 6 times our original goal! In addition to that big number, the most significant number to me is that 481 of you (as of this update) think Harlem Unbound is worth backing.  

As a supporter of Harlem Unbound, please share this project far and wide for these final 5 days. I think we all know representation matters, and that understanding starts with knowledge. I want to reach every gamer out there (and even some non-gamers) to shine a light on people of color in history. Gaming doesn't have to center around just white men and their stories. There are so many other stories to tell.  

- Chris

THE COUNTDOWN STARTS TOMORROW!
over 7 years ago – Sat, Dec 31, 2016 at 08:47:53 PM

As we countdown to the new year tonight, Darker Hue Studios is looking toward tomorrow for the countdown to the end of our Kickstarter campaign. Hard to believe that tomorrow marks 10 days until it closes.

We have shattered our original goals, but still have some stretch goals yet to reach. Have suggestions for where we can spread the word? Feel free to tweet at us (@darker_hue) or post a comment. 

Wishing everyone a happy new year full of gaming.

- Chris

TWO MORE STRETCH GOALS UNLOCKED! THIS JUST GOT WAY MORE EXCITING.
over 7 years ago – Wed, Dec 28, 2016 at 09:15:07 PM

It's a good day for all our project backers. Take a look at the new stuff coming your way!

Please continue to share. And don't forget! We still have a few nights left of our swag giveaway. See our Twitter feed for more details (@darker_hue).

- Chris

***FUNDED!*** $22,000 | Additional Scenario: The Play Is More Than the Thing by Chris Spivey. A banned script writer, Reggie "Flip" Smith, flees home to Harlem after a nearly deadly incident in Hollywood. In one of his plays are the pages from a long forgotten book that shatters sanity if it is performed. Back in Harlem at the Dark Tower, he begs A'Lelia Walker for an unveiling of his latest play. (Available late 2017 as separate digital content for the Chick Webb Pledge Level or higher.)  

***FUNDED!*** $25,000 | Deluxe Hard Back Book. You know how sometimes you get a book and it is knock-your-socks-off beautiful? Well, that what we've just reached. The books will be of a higher quality than we could have done when we originally launched this Kickstarter including the paper selection and the printing itself. We are really excited that we can do this for Harlem Unbound.