Back in January, Gehenna Games launched a Kickstarter campaign for the cosmic horror mecha TTRPG Eldritch Automata. Ultimately, the campaign fell short of its funding goal. Now, the studio has relaunched the campaign on Backerkit, where it reaches its funding goal in 36 minutes.
The Eldritch Automata Backerkit Campaign
According to the Backerkit campaign page, Eldritch Automata is a high-octane TTRPG set in a dark and dangerous setting. It is set in a recent-apocalyptic world packed with body horror, man-eating eldritch Horrors, and angelic Seraphs with mind-control powers. Your only weapon against them is your Automata, a monstrous mecha that slowly kills you.
For fans of mecha and cosmic horror, Eldritch Automata wears its inspirations on its sleeve. The campaign cites Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim, Sunrise Studios' The Vision of Escaflowne, and Hideaki Anno's iconic Neon Genesis Evangelion.
The inspiration for the latter is explicit in Eldritch Automata's character archetypes. Based on the Year Zero Engine, the game features twelve archetypes such as The Bound, The Control Freak, The Hedgehog's Dilemma, The Manufactured, and The Thanatos.
Players can customize their pilot and one of twelve different Automata. In addition to different attributes and skills, players manage their Ego. This represents the pilots consciousness and identity. It fuels your Automata's special abilities. If your Ego is fully depleted, it will cause you and your Automata to go berserk.
The Eldritch Automata Backerkit campaign contains several stretch goals. They include additional customization options, a physical deluxe edition core rulebook, as well as official enhanced support for Alchemy RPG, Its various pledge levels are as follows:
- Civilian for $35: A PDF copy of the core rulebook and Alchemy RPG access
- Automata for $55: A physical hardcover copy of the game and everything in Civilian level
- Horror for $100: Everything in Automata level, a quick launch guide, official dice, GM Screen, and Horror Dossier Pack
- Seraph for $200: Everything in Horror level, a Deluxe Edition physical copy, official metal dice, and Seraph Dossier Pack
- Architect (All-In) for $300: Everything from the Seraph level, Equipment and Armor cards, Seraph and Automata Metal Dice, and Legends Never Die Dossier Pack
At the time of writing, the Eldritch Automata campaign has raised $55,609, more than five times its initial funding goal. The campaign concludes on July 25.
