Pitchfork Extended, a tabletop RPG that merges the serene aspects of daily life with the unsettling elements of folk horror, has launched on Kickstarter and reached its funding goal within the first 25 hours. This game invites players to step into the shoes of ordinary medieval villagers, such as blacksmiths, shepherds, and midwives, who strive to protect their community from an unnatural terror arising from warfare.
The gameplay intertwines the mundane moments of village life with the constant threat of a monstrous presence, creating a unique blend of survival and resilience. Originally conceived as a one-page RPG for Itch.io’s 2024 One-Page RPG Jam, it has been expanded into a 16-page A5 zine for ZineQuest.
Pitchfork Extended utilizes the OGREISH framework, a D6 dice pool system that emphasizes intuitive, conversation-driven gameplay. The mechanics are designed to be easy to grasp while supporting deep, immersive storytelling. Players navigate through a three-phase cycle: narration, challenge, and outcome. This structure allows players to describe their actions, confront challenges influenced by environmental factors known as “facets,” and determine outcomes based on dice rolls.
Set against the backdrop of the war-torn Lower Princedoms, the game explores themes of community, survival, and defiance. Players must identify signs of the lurking monster—such as tracks, missing livestock, and unnatural sounds—while facing the consequences of their decisions.
The zine includes expanded lore, core rules, village creation tools, monster design guidelines, and villager playbooks. Backers will also gain access to downloadable resources like village sheets and monster sheets. Stretch goals aim to enhance the zine to 20 or 24 pages, potentially introducing additional illustrations and content, along with a bonus playset titled Shadow of Salt.
With 27 days remaining in the campaign, there’s still an opportunity to support this innovative RPG and join its development journey.