In 2021, Conor Alexander is set to publish the world’s first tabletop role-playing game, imagined and written by Native American and First Nations authors. In 2022 he gave with coyote and crow, the basic rulebook that underlies the entire RPG universe. The reception was positive beyond his wildest dreams, and he is continuing that momentum in a new compilation of adventures: Coyote and Crow: Stories of the Free Land Now live on Bakerkit, with deliveries to take place later in 2023.
coyote and crow presents an alternate history in which the colonists never set foot in North America. The Mississippian city of Cahokia was never abandoned. Instead, Downstate Illinois became the centerpiece of a thriving civilization of indigenous peoples, who have spread across the continent. At their disposal are magical powers brought about by a remarkable celestial event. The best part is that the game is open and welcoming to native and non-native players alike.
“Things are better than I imagined,” Alexander said in an interview with Polygon. he is referring to the fact that coyote and crow Was recently nominated for a Nebula Award – but also because of a letter he recently received.
“The reaction has blown me away,” he continued. “I’ve had so many people reach out to me and tell a very personal story about how the game has affected them, or about the things they’ve done in the game, and have fun with them already. about the time.”
Sikandar said that he is working hard to get coyote and crow In libraries – including indigenous libraries on reservations around the US and Canada. Sikandar wants to supercharge his community (of which there are a dedicated part of non-native players) free land storiesThe first published set of adventures available since the original rulebook was first released.
“This thing is a stack of 10 stories from 10 different indigenous authors, paired with 10 different artists,” Alexander said, all taking place around the primary city of Cahokia. […] We wanted to give people a taste of what you can do with the main book and how to advance their stories. ,
The anthology transcends the “monster of the week” format that the system collapses so easily, Alexander said.
“I asked for a wide range of thematic settings,” Alexander said. “Let’s do the murder mystery. Let’s spy. Let’s do political intrigue. Let’s do stuff that isn’t just the monster of the week. And the writers came back with some really great stuff. I’m excited.”
One of the stories, written by Cherokee author, Rianna Elliott, will see players tasked with protecting a bridal party as it sets off to celebrate the reunification of two fractious families. Another, written by Alexander himself, will put the spotlight on the future site of a geothermal power plant – and the mysterious cult that worships the land where the power plant is to be built.
“We touch on a lot of water conservation issues out there very lightly, a lot of science versus spiritual,” Alexander said. “But the question becomes, ‘Does this cult have anything to do with the disappearance?’ And reconciling those two things, and keeping those two opposing groups from going at each other’s throats, is the kind of tension where there’s tension for the characters.”
Beyond those adventures, Sikandar is pretty tight-lipped about what’s included in the anthology. He wants the players to be surprised by what they find inside. The campaign now runs through October 12th, and stretch goals, including additional pay for everyone involved in the project, will be revealed on Backerkit over the next several weeks.
