Paizo's 13 Omens Horror RPG Launches on Kickstarter

AT THE ASHFORGE — 13 Omens, a rules-lite supernatural horror RPG from Paizo, the publisher of Pathfinder and Starfinder, is live on Kickstarter. The campaign launched October 14 and had raised $235,084 from 1,702 backers by the next morning, ICv2 reports. It closes on Friday, November 13. That is either very good marketing or a very bad sign, and I've hung a horseshoe over the forge door to be safe.

Jason Bulmahn, the lead designer of the original Pathfinder Roleplaying Game, designed it with Joe Pasini, per Tabletop Sentinel, and James Jacobs led narrative development, according to Paizo's blog. The d20 stays home this time; 13 Omens runs on six-siders. Every session is a one-shot with a prologue and three acts that build to a horror-movie climax. One player is the Host, and Paizo recommends four or five others around the table.

The bag of bad luck

The hook is a shared, opaque dice bag. On a check, a player draws two d6s and tries to meet a target number, TTRPG Fans explains. The bag starts with eight Safe dice and one Omen die, and the Host adds more Omen dice from a reserve of 13 as the acts go on. An Omen die that rolls at or below the current act number deals a Wound. The Host never rolls at all. Three Wounds bring a permanent Flaw, and a fourth means death or removal from play. Each character can Cheat Death once per story, or make a Valiant Sacrifice: an automatic success that costs their life.

I reach into a bin of rivets without looking a hundred times a day. Most of what comes out is fine. The far tables are about to find out what happens when it isn't.

The order slip

• PDF rulebook: $15
• Physical rulebook: $35
• Standard physical bundle: $120
• Top tiers: an online game with one of the designers at $2,500, an in-person game at next year's Gen Con at $5,000, and an "Executive Producer" credit at $10,000, per EN World
• Dice kit: 21 dice (8 Safe, 13 Omen) and the bag, with a special set made from elk bone (Tabletop Sentinel)
• Retail release: June 2, 2027 (ICv2)

Paizo will add a retailer tier on October 21 so game stores can preorder the core book, GM screen, and dice, ICv2 reports. EN World says the campaign cleared $150,000 on its first day, and its coverage links a free demo for anyone who wants to shake the bag before pledging. The add-ons also include cards, tokens, plushies, satchels, and skulls, for those who like their dread with merchandise.

— M.A., from the forge