Righteous Vow 3: A RPG Zine for Old School Gaming

Surveys sent to all backers!
6 months ago – Fri, Sep 19, 2025 at 03:12:24 PM

All systems are go!

The Pledge Manager is live. Please check your emails as your link to the pledge manager should reach you soon!

If you have any questions about anything do not hesitate to contact us via the Backerkit or at [email protected] and we can help! If you lose your pledge manager link you can retrieve it by using the survey recovery page found here:
https://righteous-vow-3.backerkit.com/

Don't forget to add your physical copies of Nazulgrath!

The companion adventure to Righteous Vow: Volume 3 is available in print here and nowhere else! Get your copies of Nazulgrath: The Depths of the Mountain as an add-on inside of the pledge manager.

We'll have this up for a while. So don't worry.

Lastly I just wanted to avoid any panic from anyone who may be worried about the pledge manager process if this is their first time locking in a Kickstarter pledge on Backerkit. We will wait for a couple of weeks before we lock all of the pledges, and will only lock pledges finalized and submitted by those of you who have completed the process. We will absolutely 100% send another update before we lock all of the remaining pledges and begin physical fulfillment. And during this time you can send us questions if you have any. It is of the utmost importance to us that we respond to you and make this process as pain free as possible. So thank you for your patience with us. We will absolutely return that kindness. :)

Have an excellent weekend everyone! More news soon. As we are nearing digital fulfillment.
You will not receive any digital rewards yet. So don't worry you didn't do anything wrong. We just haven't began sending those out yet.

But we will...soon!  Thank you again,
Bill Harvat and the Crawl Club Publishing team

Smoke Tests Soon! Pledge Manager Shortly After!
6 months ago – Wed, Sep 17, 2025 at 02:59:16 PM

We're just about ready to grace your inboxes with pledge manager links. The approval request has been sent to Backerkit and we're almost ready to start getting everyone's pledges put together for PDF distribution and shipping collected. Expect to see the pledge manager emails going out in the next week or so. And some of you hopefully sooner as the smoke tests go out.

During the pledge manager you will be able to pre-order any add-ons you would like to get in addition to your original pledge. You will also be able to pay for shipping (if you're a physical backer) to get everything ready to go once the books are in Jeff's hands over at RPG Ramblings. The books are all in the file submission process at this point, and we will have a few weeks to make last minute review changes on the PDFs before the books officially print in October. Then in November once the books are ready, we will ship them to you from Jeff's fortress of shipment excellence in Illinois. 

One big thing I'm excited about with this book is that we're releasing the PDFs a little less than 30 days before the book files will be locked in for printing. We have gone over the files with a fine tooth comb, and the books have been reviewed by editors, play-testers, colleagues, and content specialists to make sure we have things looking good. But that doesn't mean that a minor misspelling, or flub on our part isn't possible. So it'll be great to catch these if we can before the books go out to print. If you see anything in the PDF that needs a change, let us know! We'd love to know before it's too late.  Hopefully we did a great job for you all. But yeah. The opportunity is there should we need it!

Next. International shipping! We have poured over shipping costs and made sure we did everything we could to factor in the best cost-effective shipping materials, pricing, and solution for everyone. We are going to make sure we do a great job of getting you the books and extras from your pledges in a timely manner, and with the best possible results. Digital backers will still be getting some super cool PDFs with copies of the Art/Handout pack to print out at home. And everyone will get the VTT token pack digitally as well.

Speaking of the VTT token pack. That will be the only part of the digital rewards that will not be sent out right away. As we're still working on it. The art and handout pack will be sent, just stay tuned for the VTT token pack. As it will be sent soon. We just want to make more tokens. Because they're fun to make, and it's taking a little while. Because we're focused on the books first.

Finally. Thank you everyone! You are all the original gamesters (the OGs!) who make this whole project possible. So, hopefully it has been communicated thus far that we do appreciate you. This labor of love is so much fun to make, and you all make it worthwhile with your positivity and support. Please, please, please do tell your friends who haven't backed yet about the Pre-Order store which will go LIVE right along side the pledge manager for anyone who might want to pick up a book or bundle. 

Udabest. No joust. -Bill

P.S. My buddy Will MB (I think the MB stands for Major Badass) wrote another cool Shadowdark book and his new Kickstarter is up now. You should go check it out because he's a great dude that makes great stuff. And also because I'm in a good mood. 

The Shadowfinder Player Guide

Be the Hero! Presenting the Shadowfinder Player Guide, Shadowfinder’s conversion of PF 1st Edition (PF 1E) player books. The best of the Core Rulebook, Advanced Player's Guide, Ultimate Magic, Ultimate Combat, Advanced Race Guide, and Ultimate Equipment Guide, converted for Shadowdark RPG. Shadowfinder is compatible with the Pathfinder 1st Edition Role-Playing Game.

It's Nearly Time! Print Dates Locked in! AND Pledge Manager/PDFs coming soon!
6 months ago – Wed, Sep 10, 2025 at 02:36:09 PM

First things first. The amazing Will from Runeforged Fantasy Gaming had me on his channel to talk about Righteous Vow Volume 3. We also talked about the OSR and writing third party adventures for Shadowdark RPG. Thanks Will! 

This is also the first look at the Nazulgrath adventure, available as an add on in PDF and print. Those of you who backed the Kickstarter within the first 48 hours will see this adventure added as a digital PDF for FREE. (It will show up in your pledge manager). Those of you who added it on as a PDF or print version will see it there as well. Also, fear not! If you haven't already added your copy of the Nazulgrath adventure you may do so during the pledge manager. Not required, but it turned out pretty great and will add some extra fun to your adventures in the two kingdoms.

Late pledges and add-ons will be available once we launch the pledge manager in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more details. We're putting the finishing touches on Volume 3 and have only a few small layout changes left before the PDFs are ready.

Hardback and softcover printing is ordered and file uploads have already begun! We're going to have all books printed in October with delivery dates set for November. So as long as everything goes according to plan, everyone will have their physical pledges before Thanksgiving. Woohoo! (All dates subject to change if something holds us up. But we're hoping for the best.)

That's all on the news front with Righteous Vow for now. Thanks so much for your continued support. Once the pledge manager launches we will be very close to sending out PDFs. So digital backers will be fulfilled very soon! And everyone will get their digital rewards at the same time. So physical backers will receive their digital rewards before the physical books ship. GET EXCITED! :)

Next I wanted to say thank you to everyone who continues to support us and the other amazing Shadowdark RPG creators out there. Here are a few of the projects going on right now in the OSR space that have us excited:

Handbook of Fighting & Dying for the Shadowdark RPG

Whether you’re slaying a fearsome dragon, or backflipping into a gelatinous cube, Crawl Breakers handbooks will stand by your side in the darkness! Featuring an all new adventure, the Undying Vault of the Lich Lord, the Handbook of Fighting and Dying is packed with adventure, tools, and tips that will make your Shadowdark adventures more exciting, impactful, and memorable than ever before!

Crawlbreakers looks to be one of those cool Shadowdark RPG third party supplements I need in my life. Go get your copy here!

Get Ready for Druskara: A Twisted Fantasy World Setting for use with Shadowdark RPG

Our friends Bunni and Xane are working on their next book/setting called Druskara! We couldn't be more excited to share this project compatible with Shadowdark RPG. Check it out here.

The Dungeon Damsel duo returns, their dark imaginings more potent than ever. After the resounding success of Unnatural Selection, they unveil their next creation: Druskara. This is no ordinary campaign setting—it is a massive detailed sandbox! A living, breathing world with kings, emperors and factions with their own goals and ambitions, where their world-altering choices are powered by dynamic random tables, ensuring the campaign is never predictable. 

RAPTOR RUCKUS A Jurassic x MÖRK BORG Survival Horror TTRPG on Kickstarter NOW!

The gates were never meant to open. Now the jungle's screaming, the fences are down, and you're desperate to get out alive. From Zac Goins and crew comes RAPTOR RUCKUS, an adrenaline-soaked reimagining of the Borg system. It's survival horror in a doomed 90s-era dino-park with plenty of car chases, smirking billionaires, and terrible lizards to go around! The Kickstarter campaign includes: 
​ 144-Page Core Rulebook (Standard & Collector’s Editions)
  72-Page Fragmentation Campaign Book 
4+ Vicious Pamphlet Adventures 
​ A Beast of a 5-Panel GM Screen 
A Prequel Fiction Novel 
Titanic Original Miniatures 
And loads more! 
Back Raptor Ruckus on Kickstarter here! 

Thanks all! Have a great week. More updates coming soon!
-Bill

Revision 3 is in progress. Nazulgrath is off to editing soon!
7 months ago – Tue, Aug 19, 2025 at 08:00:51 PM

Editing has begun on revision 3 of Righteous Vow 3! This means we're another step closer to getting this tome of goodness to your doors. Things are going incredibly well and we're still on target for a September release of the PDFs. Printing is scheduled for October 15th and shipping will begin in November. We're on schedule! Woohoo!

Nazulgrath: The Depths of the Mountain is also coming along great. We're planning on printing this right alongside the other books in October. So expect to get a PDF in September if you purchased this add-on. (Or you backed in the first 48 hours.)

Those of you who want to add the Nazulgrath adventure onto your pledges, or upgrade your PDF purchase into a physical+PDF purchase you can do so once our Backerkit opens in the coming weeks. We will also be allowing late pledges for anyone who may have missed the Kickstarter. The first print run of hardcovers and softcovers is limited. And we will have a cap on how many can be sold. So those of you who backed are already winners because you have secured your copies from the first edition print run. Thank you again for making this all possible. You are pretty great. No joust.

Here's a sneak peek from my laptop right now. This is Vermeskoul. A rather evil purple wyrm that lives underground. Drawn by Righteous Vow artist DeWayne Rogers! He will be one of several new monsters in the Nazulgrath: The Depths of the Mountain adventure.

Last Chance to Back ShadowCity

If you haven't seen it yet, our friend Greg Christopher AKA Chubby Funster has a pretty awesome Kickstarter for a new rules light Vampire RPG out now. It's ending very soon! You should go back it before it ends! Get yours here!

New Temple of the Bone Mongers Just Launched!

Jeff Stevens. Another friend of the Crawl Club, just launched a new Kickstarter today called the Temple of the Bone Mongers for Shadowdark RPG.

A religious group who believes the best way to honor a deceased creature is to utilize its bones to create items, armor, and weapons, Bone Mongers are typically a peaceful group. However, there was once a Chaotic group of Bone Mongers whose creations were built to instill fear and destroy. 

What's Included

• A New Class! The Bone Monger - bone clad religious liaisons who honor the dead by re-utilizing their bones
• Two mapped areas totaling 20 rooms
• New magic items and weapons (many created from bone, of course)
• New creatures

That's all for now! Thanks again for being awesome. -Bill

It's the Final Countdown! (Duna na nah! Duna na na naaaah!)
8 months ago – Wed, Aug 06, 2025 at 09:21:17 PM

We've Done It.

Over 500 backers and $30,000 later. We have unlocked every single stretch goal put in the way. Every single one of you have our utmost thanks, and we couldn't be more thrilled to be in a place where we can finally do a real offset print run on these books.

•  $5,000.00 ✅ | Added Adventure (The Nord Ruins, Increases to 160+ Pages!) 
•  $6,000.00 ✅ | Interview Video with Dungeons & Dyslexia
•  $7,000.00 ✅ | A5 Cover Art Print (By Andrew Beckwith)
•  $8,000.00 ✅ | A5 Battle of Tuin Art Print (By Matt Morrow)
•  $9,000.00 ✅ | A5 Gausst the Dragon Art Print (By Andrew Beckwith)
•  $10,000.00 ✅ | Add-On: Player Handout Pack (Printed on Cardstock Paper)
•  $12,000.00 ✅ | Exclusive Righteous Vow 3 Chrome Gloss Sticker 
•  $15,000.00 ✅ | A5 Hex Player Map Handout (Printed on Cardstock Paper)
•  $17,000.00 ✅ | A5 Dwarf Guards Art Print (By Andrew Beckwith)
•  $20,000.00 ✅ | A5 Gausst's Lair Art Print (By Uriah Groves)
•  $23,000.00 ✅ | Smyth Sewn Binding Upgrade for all Hardcovers
•  $25,000.00 ✅ | Ribbon Bookmark Upgrade for all Hardcovers
                           and VTT Token Pack for all backers!
•  $30,000.00 ✅ | Printed Version of Nazulgrath available as an add on.

ALL STRETCH GOALS UNLOCKED!

SUPER IMPORTANT INFORMATION PLEASE READ!!!

Now that we have unlocked the printed version of Nazulgrath I'm sure everyone has several questions on how this will work. The Nazulgrath adventure is an add-on. And many of you purchased it already as a digital version in PDF. More of you still backed us within the first 48 hours and received the digital version for free as a way of us thanking you as an early backer.

The Nazulgrath softcover printed version is an add-on that we unfortunately can't give away for free as a stretch goal because...well...it would decimate our budget to do so. But, We can make sure that we keep it affordable and easily obtainable as an add-on for everyone wishing to get a physical print. We will have it available here for $15 as an add-on. What does this mean for you?

• If you backed within the first 48 hours you will still get the PDF Digital version included with your pledge for free. But you will need to purchase a $15 printed version if you would like to have it in a physical format. (softcover only because it's 22 pages)
• If you added on the PDF/digital version as an add-on you can either stick with your digital add-on, OR you can change your add-on to a physical copy. Every single physical copy purchased WILL INCLUDE the PDF digital copy.
• If you're on the fence about making changes now, or you want to wait until after the Kickstarter is over to decide on this add-on. You can make pledge changes once the Kickstarter ends inside of Backerkit. If you want to change your digital pledge to a physical one at a later date this is possible. Don't worry, we've got you fam!

Hopefully this answers lots of questions ahead of time. But as usual, please do ask. We're here to answer questions and we want to make sure we're clear about things. (The stretch goal is live and can be added to your pledges now if you wish.)

What's Next?

In the final hours we appreciate everyone's continued support. We have accomplished a lot with this Kickstarter, and we are ready to finish the work to get these tomes of awesome out to you! Sit tight. We will have more communication in the days ahead. And once again, 
THANK YOU!

More Awesome Featured Projects!

Can't stop, won't stop! Go check out these great upcoming Kickstarter projects. Because we love seeing amazing creators do well with their creativity. We're not the only one's here making cool stuff. This community rules. Let's keep the positivity flowing and back these great projects.

Dark Forest is a new campaign setting for the Shadowdark RPG where furred and feathered animal heroes embark on daring quests in a realm tainted with ancient magic and plagued with evil. This is where your favorite storybook animals collide headlong with the high-stakes grit of old school sword-and-sorcery!

• Old-school hand drawn art Rich lore and world-setting 
• 13+ New Ancestries 
• 4+ New Classes 
• 30+ New Spells 
• 50+ New Magic items 
• 30+ New monsters 
• Lore, and a world to explore 
• Random encounter and NPC charts 

Escape into a world that feels wild, mysterious, and meaningful. The moody, primal atmosphere of Dark Forest offers a return to something raw and sacred—a mythic space where choices matter, death is real, and courage is earned.

Our friends over at Menagerie Press are at the end of their Kickstarter campaign as well. We love Will and the team at MP and want to always support their creativity. Can't wait to get my copy of this awesome book! Get yours here!

Sapphire Seas for Shadowdark RPG: Level 1-10 Adventure

Explore Phoenician-inspired isles, recover long-lost treasure, fight mythic battles, and sail the seas in this level 1-10 campaign.

What is Inside?

• The first complete level 1-10 adventure for Shadowdark
• 350+ pages, A5 (digest) softcover format
• 14 islands with detailed hex maps of each island
• 20+ unique dungeons
• 100+ encounter sites
• 10+ full-page interior art pieces
• 25+ new magic items
• 25+ new creatures
• Ships, sailing, crew, and travel rules
• Overland/sea-based hex map of the entire Sapphire Seas region
• Rules for crocodilians, beast-people, and other ancestries of the Sapphire Seas

Thanks again Crawl Club! You're the best. The absolute best!
Don't let anyone tell you different. Because they're wrong.
-Bill