Skybound Entertainment has launched the Kickstarter campaign for Bloodstone, a PvP/PvE arena tabletop roleplaying game created by the company's Senior Director of Tabletop Games, James Hudson. In Bloodstone, players are pit fighters trapped in eternal combat on the whims of a tyrant, Vanira, who's been corrupted by the titular Bloodstone. Each battle ends in death, followed by resurrection, creating a truly eternal and violent loop.
Available exclusively to Kickstarter backers (with a possible, limited print run available in the Skybound Entertainment online shop after backers receive their rewards), Bloodstone is designed for 1-8 players and features a cast of characters with diverse stories behind how they ended up in the arena. Each one has a playstyle and custom dice that are specific to them, and players can opt for PvP bloodsport a story-driven PvE campaign.
Skybound Entertainment has provided CBR with exclusive reveals of two arena bosses from Bloodstone. Check out the game trailer below, then read on for information about Noctorix and the Twins.
Bloodstone players will face a variety of foes in the arena, including Noctorix and the Twins. Noctorix: Traitor in the Mist is described as, "An entity captured from the Magemire in the southern swamps. Noctorix is a remnant from the dungeons of old Namjadani and could be as old as the Summer of Ruin."
Meanwhile, the Twins are described as "Twins and warriors twisted by dark magic. Whirlwind and Reaper have become favorites with the blood-thirsty crowds in Vanira's arena."
Game creator James Hudson told CBR, "Noctorix is a nasty fight! Extremely puzzly and incredibly punishing....good luck with that one!" About the Twins, he added, "Many years of playing World of Warcraft have inspired a lot of these fun boss fights, for example, The Twins will ping some memories from AQ40 for the old schoolers out there."
You can see art for Noctorix and the Twins below.
Bloodstone features 40 miniatures, more than 100 custom dice, a combination of dice-based combat and card-based initiative, a full-color play board, character cards and more. Hudson aims to launch at least a three-game series, depending on the success of this first Kickstarter, and there are already tie-in novels in the works. The full story of Bloodstone follows:
The once-great Empire of Stormwrath has fallen to a coup. Now the priest-queen Vanira draws on the immense power of Bloodstone to destroy anyone that would challenge her authority. At the heart of the city, the fighting pits have been made into a monument to her strength. The most powerful champions from across the continent have been captured and made to fight as a warning to any would be rebels.
Every time the champions die, Vanira uses the necromantic powers in the Bloodstone to bring them back to life, and with every resurrection their grip on reality strains. But a rebellion is brewing, and the champions in the arena must put aside their grudges and begin planning their escape if they ever hope to win their freedom and free the Kingdom from Vanira’s iron grasp.
Bloodstone is currently available through Kickstarter. The campaign will be live for 24 days, and Skybound Entertainment aims to raise at least $150 thousand to complete production on the game. For more information, visit skybound.com/bloodstone.