Fading Suns: New Frontiers

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I long to see the Church’s light
Shining through stained glass windows splayed
With vigils in the catacombs of night
Where long my sires’ souls are laid
All gone, all done, in memory forlorn
Amidst a people who to idols pray
The vermillion holy writ I mourn
Between feet of brass and forms of clay
Now alone I look to deepening skies
For Wolf’s Lament in twilight lies

—Father Effild Brixton (captured by the Vuldrok and taken to Wolf’s Lament, 4686)

Humanity’s dream of attaining the stars came true. Using the jump gates left by a mysterious alien race, we spread out across many worlds and built a grand republic of high technology and universal rights — and then squandered it, fought over it, and finally lost it. In the aftermath of utopia, a new dark age descended and even the stars grew dimmer. Noble houses now rule the Known World, vying with greedy tech guilds and haughty priests. Amidst these factional games of power, a rare few individuals will question things and strive to reignite our destiny among the stars.

Every empire has its borders ...

... beyond which lies anarchy and the Unknown, peopled by barbarians who aren’t like us, who aren’t blessed by our enlightened ways. Beyond the Known Worlds stretch the planets of the Vuldrok Star Nations, outlaw worlds that have long been the bane of House Hawkwood and the Church. Its pagan raiders enrich themselves by plundering the hard-won wealth of the Known Worlds and then disappear back into their own lawless systems. No more — the Emperor has now claimed one of their worlds as his own and married one of their own: Empress Freya, the Vuldrok shield-maiden. Through this foothold on Hargard, the Known Worlds’ Questing Knights, merchants, and missionaries now flood into Vuldrok space, seeking to civilize the forsaken realms.

The New Frontiers wave of products for Fading Suns tells the tale of this culture clash and civilizational conflict. Players can play the parts of Known Worlders venturing into the precarious planets of the Vuldrok, or they can play characters from the six Star Nations, resisting — or welcoming — the new invaders/visitors. They might even form a mixed troupe trying to accomplish a common goal amidst the factional fighting of the powers-that-be. New Frontiers delivers in-depth details about the Vuldrok people, their culture, worlds, tech, and their strange magics, including the reality-warping powers of runecasting, based on ancient alien glyphs.

The Vuldrok Star Nations ...

... were initially formed by outcasts, rebels, and colonized cultures who refused the dictates of the Second Republic and headed for the fringe to claim worlds of their own where they could make their own laws and live free from the Republican technopolis. A great leader arose and led a large coalition of clans that almost toppled the noble houses’ rule over the Known Worlds. Only the great Vladimir turned them back, soon crowning himself first Emperor as reward. Since that time, no single leader has been able to unite the diverse and contentious Star Nations, leaving them vulnerable to the empire now led by Alexius, heir to Vladimir.

New Frontiers provides everything needed for players to play these “space Vikings”. Rules present their unique tech and weaponry — splinter guns and sabot pistols, bows and crossbows, and even starships, from the Myrkwyrm explorers to the Possum freighters. There are new callings: the animal-bonded Beastfriends, frenzied Berserkers, elite Fheykrig warriors, stoic Shamans, boisterous Skalds, and fearsome Runecasters. And there are pagan magical rituals and full rules for wielding the awesome powers of the Ur-runes — glyphs so alien that unlocking their secrets levies physical and mental costs.

The gateway to the Vuldrok worlds is the planet of Hargard. New Frontiers provides gamemasters with many meaty dramas set there, as well as additional information on its most contested territory. Last, but not least, the alien tentacled-mollusk nizdharim are revealed — a longtime fan favorite.

New Frontiers isn’t just about Vuldrok — it’s also about the Known Worlds explorers who seek to test themselves on the frontier, such as the Charioteers Guild of star pilots and traders — the first to seek new opportunities and provide the pilots to fly others to the frontier — and the Brother Battle order of warrior monks, the elite fighting force tasked with protecting the borders from all threats mundane and supernatural.

The following products will be available in this crowdfunding:

To see what products are included in each reward level, please check the reward description.

Vuldrok Space

Before the Fall of the Second Republic, many outlying worlds created a variety of cultural experiments. Some brought ancient traditions with them, altered by time and distance, while others intentionally created their own lifeways, utopian experiments standing against the monoculture of the core worlds. To the feudal society of the Known Worlds, these other star-faring cultures beyond their borders are “barbarians.” This book reveals their side of their story: how they claimed their worlds, forged their own unique cultures, and managed to thrive despite the widespread collapse of techno-industrial society.

Vuldrok Space presents the Vuldrok Star-Nations and their worlds. You can use this book to create Vuldrok characters; run an epic with a Vuldrok troupe; send a troupe of Questing Knights and Cohorts to explore Vuldrok space; or as a resource for creating NPC allies and rivals — the stories are limitless. Includes new callings, perks, equipment, and rules for magic (pagan theurgy) and runecasting — scavenging the power of the Anunnaki.

St. Paulus Field Guide to Spacecraft

The Society of St. Paulus provides a host of benefits for its wayfaring members, including a series of field guides on all manner of topics of interest to explorers. Herein we find their Field Guide to Spacecraft, with advice and inside information on a variety of starships for those who would ply the stars, whether as merchants, scouts, lawgivers, or — Pancreator forbid! — pirates. From interior features, such as mess halls and secret smuggling caches, to variant models (turning a hauler into a pilgrim transport), the Guide helps you choose the craft that best fits your interstellar schemes.

St. Paulus Field Guide to Spacecraft features deckplans and descriptions for 12 civilian ships, including explorers, raiders, escorts, and haulers. In addition, you’ll find rules for ship construction and how to run space encounters with troupe members taking the roles of captain, pilot, navigator, and engineer.

Hard Times on Hargard

Hargard is the newest jewel in Emperor Alexius’s crown — if he can pacify it. The local Vuldrok populace is divided between those loyal to their new Emperor and the rebellious thanes who seek to send the invaders back through the jumpgate. There is intrigue and conflict aplenty, from plots to unseat local rulers, heists against impossible odds, and secret artifacts of the Anunnaki. On Hargard, nothing is what it seems and everyone’s allegiances are tested.

Hard Times on Hargard provides gamemasters with a series of dramas set on the conflicted planet. Also included are traits for the alien nizdharim and detailed background on the Nalda Plateau, the rebel Vuldrok region of the planet, and its creatures.

Imperial Dossier Brother Battle

The Known Worlds’ most elite soldiers are also its most pious. Supremely disciplined training regimes and constant conflict forges these warrior monks into living weapons, the defenders of the Faith and the last line of defense against the Dark.

Includes: Threats Assessment, a report on the Known Worlds border conflicts, from Hargard to Hira to the Stigmata Garrison and the borders of the Vau Hegemony.

The Imperial Dossier series examines in-depth the main factions of the Fading Suns universe. Each book serves as a primer on a single faction, commissioned by the empire for its diplomats, bureaucrats, soldiers, star-sailors, Questing Knights, and their Cohorts, with commentary from the Imperial Eye. Each book also includes a “factbook” about a topic closely related to the dossier’s faction, and a rules section that includes new callings, perks, equipment, and even alien creatures.

Imperial Dossier Charioteers Guild

The guild of merchants and pilots is renowned for its gaudily dressed hagglers and its intrepid space jockeys — as well as its monopoly on the production of jumpkeys needed for travel through the jumpgates. Star travel would be crippled without this efficient guild’s contributions, despite the cut it takes every step of the way. Charioteers are always the first to go beyond the borders of the known — and the first to figure out how to profit from it.

Includes: Star Travel, a primer on spacecraft life and what to expect when taking a celestial voyage.

The Imperial Dossier series examines in-depth the main factions of the Fading Suns universe. Each book serves as a primer on a single faction, commissioned by the empire for its diplomats, bureaucrats, soldiers, star-sailors, Questing Knights, and their Cohorts, with commentary from the Imperial Eye. Each book also includes a “factbook” about a topic closely related to the dossier’s faction, and a rules section that includes new callings, perks, equipment, and even alien creatures.

New Frontiers Spacecraft Deckplans (12 plans)

12 folded, double-sided posters featuring the spacecrafts from St. Paulus Field Guide to Spacecraft. One side reveals deckplan maps, the other side features art for the ship.

Lifewheel & Ammo Box

A set of cardboard lifewheels for tracking character info:

• 10 large wheels for Vitality (featuring Saint Amalthea)

• 6 small wheels for tracking ammunition (featuring the emblem of the Weaponsmith Guild).

Deluxe Play Mat: House Hawkwood (add-on product)

This neoprene (mouse pad material) play mat features House Hawkwood. You can use it instead of the paper playmats if you want to game in absolute comfort.

This product was made available through the $50.000 stretch goal. It is not automatically part of any reward level but can be added as an add-on.

Deluxe Play Mat: Reeves Guild (add-on product)

This neoprene (mouse pad material) play mat features the Reeves Guild. You can use it instead of the paper playmats if you want to game in absolute comfort.

This product was made available through the $50.000 stretch goal. It is not automatically part of any reward level but can be added as an add-on.

Deluxe Play Mat: Urth Orthodox (add-on product)

This neoprene (mouse pad material) play mat features the Urth Orthodox. You can use it instead of the paper playmats if you want to game in absolute comfort.

This product was made available through the $50.000 stretch goal. It is not automatically part of any reward level but can be added as an add-on.

Deluxe Play Mat: Brother Battle (add-on product)

This neoprene (mouse pad material) play mat features the Brother Battle. You can use it instead of the paper playmats if you want to game in absolute comfort.

This product was made available through the $75.000 stretch goal. It is not automatically part of any reward level but can be added as an add-on.

Deluxe Play Mat: Charioteers Guild (add-on product)

This neoprene (mouse pad material) play mat features the Charioteers Guild. You can use it instead of the paper playmats if you want to game in absolute comfort.

This product was made available through the $75.000 stretch goal. It is not automatically part of any reward level but can be added as an add-on.

Deluxe Play Mat: Vuldrok (add-on product)

This neoprene (mouse pad material) play mat features the Vuldrok. You can use it instead of the paper playmats if you want to game in absolute comfort.

This product was made available through the $75.000 stretch goal. It is not automatically part of any reward level but can be added as an add-on.

Important notes

Final design may vary
The final products may differ visually from the product images shown here due to the display possibilities (e.g. due to color deviations) and for production-related reasons.

Updates on this crowdfunding
In order for you as a backer to not only see news and updates about our crowdfunding here on the site but also to receive them as an email, you must have checked "I would like to be informed by email about news regarding the project." in your profile. You can also do this afterward in your profile.

Expansion for Fading Suns
The products presented in this crowdfunding are expansions to the role-playing game Fading Suns. To play them you require the three core books, which can also be selected as an add-on in this project.

In GameOnTabletop it is also possible to choose several Reward Levels - after you decided on a level you will be able to add more Reward Level in the add-on section.

Each stretch goal contributes to the sum of this project and helps to unlock even more stretch goals. The more successful this crowdfunding is, the bigger gets your Reward Level.

• Raider For $ 50

  

  Just like your predecessors you desire only one thing: the Vuldrok Space book!

  This pledge level contains

  • Fading Suns - Vuldrok Space + PDF
  • All unlocked Strech Goals marked with the Symbol
• Starfarer For $ 65

  
  The dark space inbetween the stars is your home, the mysterious jump gates are your road and this pledge is your tool!

  This pledge level contains:

  • St.Paulus Field Guide to Spacecraft + PDF
  • Fading Suns - New Frontiers Spacecraft Deckplans (12 plans) + PDF
  • All unlocked Strech Goals marked with the Symbol
• Technosophist For $ 80

  
  To gain knowledge you do not rely on simple books. This pledge provides you all the new books of this project as PDF files.
  
  This pledge level contains:

  • Fading Suns - Vuldrok Space (PDF)
  • Fading Suns - Hard Times on Hargard (PDF)
  • Fading Suns - St. Paulus' Field Guide to Spacecraft (PDF)
  • Fading Suns - Brother Battle-Imperial Dossier (PDF)
  • Fading Suns - Charioteers Guild-Imperial Dossier (PDF)
  • Fading Suns - New Frontiers Spacecraft Deckplans (12 plans) (PDF)
  • All unlocked Strech Goals marked with the Symbol

• Gray Face For $ 150

  

  As a member of the Reeves Guild, you have no use for gimmickry and shiny pictures. This pledge brings you all the books and nothing more!

  This pledge level contains:

  • Fading Suns - Vuldrok Space + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Hard Times on Hargard + PDF
  • Fading Suns - St. Paulus' Field Guide to Spacecraft + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Brother Battle-Imperial Dossier + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Charioteers Guild-Imperial Dossier + PDF
  • All Strech Goals marked with the and symbols
• Novitiate For $ 150

  

  The Novitiate pledge is the ideal starting point for your adventures in Fading Suns! It provides you with the three Core Books, that will enable you to create Characters, run the game as a GM, and learn about the fascinating background of Fading Suns. The sturdy, four-panel Gamemaster Screen displays useful charts and information to resolve the many dangers in the Known Worlds and also includes punch-sheet tokens for victory and wyrd points. The Play Kit serves as a tool kit with a large and detailed Jumbwep Map, more Token Punch Sheets, Player Mats, Character Sheets, and 16 illustrated characters to use as player or non-player characters!
  Additionally, the two digital books, Faction Book and Intrigues & Escapades allow an even more detailed look into the Known Worlds, describing the Minor Houses and Guilds and the conspiracy customs among nobles, priests, and merchants. They also include two detailed dramas (adventures) and a plethora of plot hooks to create your own storyline!

  This pledge level contains:

  • Fading Suns - Core books Slipcase (includes the Universe Book, the Character Book, and the Gamemaster Book) + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Gamemaster Screen + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Play Kit: Pax Alexius + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Faction Book (PDF only)
  • Fading Suns - Intrigues & Escapades (PDF only)
• Explorer For $ 220

  

  In your eyes curiosity is a virtue. And since you want to know everything you need all the books of this project!
  
  This pledge level contains:

  • Fading Suns - Vuldrok Space + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Hard Times on Hargard + PDF
  • Fading Suns - St. Paulus' Field Guide to Spacecraft + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Brother Battle-Imperial Dossier + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Charioteers Guild-Imperial Dossier + PDF
  • Fading Suns - New Frontiers Spacecraft Deckplans (12 plans) + PDF
  • Fading Suns - Lifewheel & Ammo Box
  • All Strech Goals marked with the and symbols

The stretch goals are additions to this crowdfunding that can get unlocked after the initial funding goal has been reached. This provides us the opportunity to realize add-ons, awards, and content that otherwise would not be possible.

All products listed above can also be added to your Reward Level (this also includes the PDF if available). If you want to add something for your friends or upgrade a smaller Reward Level this is the ideal way to go. These add-ons also add up to the funding sum of this crowdfunding and help to unlock stretch goals.

This crowdfunding is a great way to start your journey into the Known Worlds and fascinating universe of Fading Suns! Check out our Novitiate Reward that provides you with the right tools for this Far-Future Passion Play!

What is Fading Suns?

It is the sixth millennium and history has come to an end. Humanity’s greatest civilization has fallen, leaving ignorance and fear scattered among the ruins of many worlds. A new Dark Age is upon humanity and few believe in renewal and progress anymore. Now there is only waiting. Waiting for a slow death as the age-old stars fade to cinders and the souls of the sinful are called to Final Judgment. But not all believe in this destiny. A leader has arisen, an emperor sworn to unite the worlds together again under one banner. To ignite hope once more in people’s hearts.

Fading Suns is a game about heroes and the dramatic conflicts they encounter, from palace intrigues to cliffhanging combats. It provides a framework for players to create games from any perspective they desire. If they want to play soldiers who fight evil with guns and fists, the rules are here. If they want to play merchants who prefer diplomacy to violence, or priests wrestling with a metaphysical crisis, rules are also provided. Fading Suns is whatever the players want it to be.

It is primarily a science fiction game, which means that there are starships, blasters, powered armor, alien races, and weird science. But there are also many elements of traditional fantasy gaming: heroic characters and struggles, a feudal sociopolitical structure (noble lords, high priests, and headstrong merchants), powerful artifacts, and great mysteries. And there is horror: monsters and maddening discoveries revealing terrifying metaphysical truths.

In short, Fading Suns is a game that has everything a roleplaying universe needs in order to tell stories of such varied and exotic themes as can be found anywhere — in our very own world here and now.

If you want to learn even more about this fascinating universe, take a look at our Introduction to Fading Suns!

Shipping is calculated by your Reward Level and location. Click "Back This Project" and enter your information to see the total before you commit to the final Reward Level.

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