The Portal is Closing
almost 3 years ago – Mon, May 31, 2021 at 12:25:55 AM

Hello Kultists!

This update presents our roll-out roadmap and the closing of BackerKit for backers and pre-orders.

BackerKit closing and charging credit cards

Your orders/pledge in BackerKit will be locked on Sunday the 13th of June. This affects both backers and pre-orders. Please make sure your orders are complete and credit card info is up to date. Credit cards will be charged the week commencing 14th of June. Once your orders are locked, you can’t make any changes other than your shipping address (which will be locked at a later stage a few weeks ahead of shipping).

Beta PDF and preparing for printing

We will make available a beta PDF of Screams and Whispers on Monday the 31st of May via Backerkit. We would appreciate feedback (instructions how are in the PDF) when it comes to proofing, factual errors, layout strangeness or similar. please note that we will disregard suggestions that would constitute major rewrites at this stage.

Beta versions of the rest of the digital material, Beyond Darkness and Madness, Labyrinths and Secret Chambers, Deck of Traits and Weapon Cards, will be released Monday the 14th of June.

The Beta version will be open to feedback until the end of June (exact date TBD), after which we will make final updates and edits, and then send everything to the printers.

Once the digital materials have been confirmed for print, final version PDF’s will be made available to backers and pre-orders.

The Frozen Soul thaws in the bleak Sunrise
about 3 years ago – Fri, Apr 30, 2021 at 09:00:06 PM

Kultists!

This is our April update on the status of the progress of our Kickstarter.

We have good and bad news. The good news is that after some internal delays (mainly getting layout up to speed) the production of the items is completed or next to completed. Our goal as of now is to deliver the PDFs for Screams and Whispers, Labyrinths and Secret Chambers as well as the two sets of Cards by the second half of May. The PDF for Beyond Darkness and Madness will be delivered in June.

The bad news is that some of our fears from the last update have become a reality. Our printers cannot today confirm a printing date, and on top of this, logistics (the transport from the printers to our distribution hubs in the US, UK and EU) is also unconfirmed at the moment. The global pandemic has put strain on the transport sector world wide as e-commerce has increased a lot this last year, and securing delivery slots takes a lot longer nowadays.

What we do know is that we will start printing sometime during the summer and our target is to have the books delivered in August or September. We will continue to work towards getting this resolved as quickly as possible though, and have continuous talks with our partners. 

Individual status on the items in the Kickstarter

Screams and Whispers

The last two scenarios are awaiting final layout, one image is to be updated (since it was subpar in quality), otherwise all the texts are finished and proofread.

Beyond Darkness and Madness

All texts finished and delivered. Is being proofread and has some final tweaks and edits. All artwork finished.

The Forbidden

The scenario Tapestry of Suburbia is out for rewrites in the final act. Materials delivered and awaiting layout.

Labyrinths and Secret Chambers

All maps finished, all descriptions finished and since this part is locked down we are adding some extra goodies that we feel will be usable for the GM.

The Weapon Cards and Deck of Traits

Both are completed, and are going through final proof.

The Courier Navigates the Plague before Dawn
about 3 years ago – Sun, Feb 28, 2021 at 01:25:33 AM

Kultists!

Things are moving forward according to plan. The release date in May looks like it will hold. We have added two layout staffers to help with our many products. Our editors are tweaking the texts and we are adding more art to really create a set of impressive and dark books for you to enjoy. The biggest risks to this date are external, for instance if the expected third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic hits harder and causes logistical shutdowns or illness to key personnel.

Some specific product updates as follows:

Screams and Whispers

This Scenario Collection will have something for everyone. All scenarios in this book, even if they touch upon the supernatural, are close to the human and personal drama. It contains the whole span from extremely close and Bergman-esque to pure Slasher and Cronenberg Body Horror. We have used the extra time polishing the scenarios and we are still tweaking some after external feedback.

We are also adding extra art so many scenarios will have their own look and feel. His Last Hope with the flashback scenes will have the vibe of old polaroid photos. Downfall, where we follow a deranged writer, will give the sense of blood spattered pages with his passionate writing. Seven Sisters, set in Berlin and the end of World War II, will have illustrated weapon cards that are matched with the time period, etc.

Beyond Darkness and Madness

This book will be a massive toolbox for horror roleplaying in the KULT universe. We believe it feels new and fresh when comparing it to other books about Horror in RPGs. 

The author Jason Fryer has done a great job lifting up a multitude of elements that a Gamemaster can add to her stories. It is also this book where we are lagging a bit behind. The text is almost completely done, but some things have been changed after feedback and it still needs proofreading, edits and layout. 

The positive thing is that we are continuing producing visual content for it so it will be filled with grotesque and beautiful art that ties to each chapter.

Labyrinths and Secret Chambers

This book is a real treat. Seven different writers have been involved in writing 300 location descriptions that can be tied to the maps. The idea is that the gamemaster should be able to flip through the descriptions and be inspired to use it either as a set-piece in an ongoing campaign or when improvising a location. 

Since we have had more time with this one we have expanded the book even further with mood texts and advice for the Gamemaster. 

Fun fact - we realized that we had created 99 maps instead of 100 so now an extra map is being created by the main designer and map maker Andreas Ruu Viklund. 

We also have gotten a new cover by the Swedish artist Moa Frithiofsson.

Catching a Break in this God-forgotten Town!
over 3 years ago – Sat, Dec 26, 2020 at 12:10:42 PM

Greetings Kultists and a Merry Kultmas to you all!

Hope you are well in these strange times. Since it’s the time of the year when it’s appropriate to give gifts, Helmgast AB and Red Moon Roleplaying has something very special for you - Gallery of Souls. The classic KULT adventure has been translated and updated to KULT: Divinity Lost, refitted, and brought to new unholy life for you to take pleasure in.

Gallery of Souls was originally written by the RPG veteran Magnus Seter for the 2nd Swedish Edition of KULT. To our knowledge it has never been released in English. Mattiaz Fredriksson of Red Moon Roleplaying has translated it to English, and Petter Nallo has updated it to the era of Divinity Lost. 

We decided to expand the adventure into a proper quick play scenario, offer pre-made characters, add new scenes and new dangers, and change the setting from an anonymous city in the 1990s to Los Angeles in 1951. So be prepared to explore a grim and treacherous noir setting with smoky bars, and nights filled with shadows, rain and fog.

You may download the scenario here: Gallery of Souls 

Red Moon Roleplaying has made an Actual Play of the scenario that you can listen to here (as well as on alternative podcast platforms).

If you play the scenario, let us know how it went. Who survived? Who died? And who ended up in a state worse than death?

Memories and the Future
over 3 years ago – Mon, Dec 21, 2020 at 10:53:10 PM

Kultists!

Here is a general status update, in the year of the pandemic and darkness.

Screams and Whispers

This collection of gruesome stories and human drama is all but done. The scenarios that were added as stretch goals are finished and all except one of them are sent to the proofreader while we are making some final tweaks on the last scenario. The expanded scope means we are waiting for five pieces of art to be delivered. Then we are ready to layout it. Many of the scenarios have been tweaked, polished and reworked after feedback to make them even better!

Beyond Darkness and Madness

This impressive book will be a massive tome of horror and we are waiting for external feedback on the last section of the book (“Reflections”) and during this time the main writer, Jason Fryer, is adding final polish to the other chapters. When this is finished (by the end of December) it will be sent to the proofreader. The art is completely done for this book.

Labyrinths and Secret Chambers

The amount of maps and floor plans exploded from 50 to 100. But, the main map designer Andreas Ruu Viklund, with help from Fredrik Toreblad and Anita Siastra, has finished all of the maps. Andreas is now giving them the last touches of grit and mood, and writers are finishing up the texts. We have a good feeling of this product. It feels really solid and like a core item for any modern TTRPG.

The Weapon Cards and Deck of Traits

Both the art and the rules for this are finished and are awaiting layout.

The Forbidden

This limited Scenario Collection is near completion. After playtesting the main scenario: "Tapestry of Suburbia", it was decided to expand on it and change some parts after feedback so that it can be branched out and run in other settings/contexts. This rewrite is yet to take place but is expected to be finished in early January. Due to the expansion, the scenario also lacks two pieces of art.

New estimated delivery month

With all this said and done, we are sad to say that we expect a delay from the original estimated delivery in February to later in the spring - our new target delivery month is May. We are very sorry about this bad news but the extra time will make sure the quality is at the high level that you can expect from a KULT: Divinity Lost product, and dare promise you will get something really special in the end.

In memory of Ryan Northcott

Ryan Northcott, also known as Mechanoreceptor, was one of the pillars of the KULT community. He was a passionate fan of the game since the early days. A writer, creator, and musician that was, like many of us, seduced by KULT and its dark worlds.

He always strived to keep the game alive, to introduce it to new players, and sought to build an active fan base. Ryan has now passed to another existence, and we hope there are mysteries for him to solve and wonders for him to experience.

Based on his works and inspired by him as a person, his friends have created a memorial collection of scenarios, sourcebooks and inspirational NPCs for KULT: Divinity Lost.

This is a massive amount of free KULT material. So please share this link to anyone that has a passion for dark horror in general and KULT: Divinity Lost in particular.

There is also a link on the webpage where you can donate money (using GoFundMe) to his family. Link:  https://kult.tools/Memorial