Tag Archives: 2024

The Fifine SC3 is the Best Budget Mixer on the Market

July 12, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent the Fifine SC3 Gaming Audio Mixer to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review.

What’s in the Box?

The mixer comes neatly and safely packaged in a plain box. Inside, you get a copy of the instruction manual, a USB-C to USB-A cable, an aux cord, and the mixer. The instructions are easy to read, but the device is even easier to use with very little guidance. The USB cable and Aux cord are a decent length, but you might want to invest in a better aux cord if you want better sound.

Sound Quality

The SC3 Mixer is going to elevate your setup. You will get better sound than plugging your headphones into the motherboard, but most importantly, you’re getting amazing voice recordings out of the box. I used the mixer with the Fifine H9 gaming headset and am very impressed with the sound quality I got. You can use something like a voice meter to get a more professional sound, but I don’t think you need to. If you’re looking for the easiest and cheapest way to upgrade your sound for streams, the SC3 is what you need. I’ll leave a sample of the sound below:

https://churapereviews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/sc3voicecheck.mp3

Voice Changer Feature

The SC3 comes with a voice changer feature. This feature includes six easily toggleable presets: male, female, robot, monster, baby, and elder. This feature isn’t great, but it is fun. The male, female, and elder presets are the most usable of the batch. I’ll leave samples of the different profiles below.

Other Features

There are volume-controlling sliders for the mic, line-in, headphones, and line-out with corresponding mute buttons for each. There is also an autotune feature. I can’t sing to save my life and didn’t mess around too much with me. It feels a little basic, but it’s a fun and silly feature like the voice changer.

Of course, the SC3 wouldn’t be a gaming accessory without any RGB. The mixer has a solid collection of light profiles so you can always have a matching setup. The soft underflow is a very nice touch. I like the fact that I can toggle off the RGB if I need my desk to look less busy.

My favorite feature is the four programmable soundboard buttons. Each button can easily record and store your favorite sound bite to play during your stream or podcast. I already have my profiles loaded and ready for D&D silliness.

Quality

The SC3 mixer looks cheap, but the construction is sturdy. The sliders make the device feel cheap. I never had any issues with the sliders, but it feels like they will break after extensive use. That said, the SC3 will survive enough normal wear and tear to be worth the money you spend on it.

The buttons feel good and make up for the quality of the sliders. All buttons are easy to read, responsive, and soft. I like that the buttons glow white when they are in use, and make great use of their RGB lighting effects when not.

You are getting what you pay for, but it won’t break after a week of use.

Review

The SC3 mixer has become my daily driver for my home setup. It not only looks good on my desk, but it is also practical. The SC3 provides a decent soundstage. I would have liked a little more bass, but there is enough of it to make it an enjoyable experience. Most people who aren’t audiophiles will be content with the sound.

Voice recordings through the mixer is a fantastic experience. You aren’t getting studio quality, but the quality you’re getting is good enough for most cases. Without any tinkering or third-party software, you’re getting a good sound recording. The experience will vary based on the mic, but I did feel like I was getting a better-sounding recording from my Fifine H9 gaming headset. You can use something like voicemeter to make it sound more professional, but I don’t think it’s necessary. The SC3 mixer is an upgrade out of the box.

Quality isn’t an issue. The build looks solid, and it looks fine on the table. It does feel cheap, but I am not afraid of it breaking any time soon. This isn’t a buy-it-for-life situation, but it is a quality budget-friendly option. This is the device you buy while you save up for the expensive upgrade.

The SC3 is a very user-friendly and responsive mixer. Setup is easy, but there are some quality tutorials out there if you need them. I appreciate how responsive the controls are, especially if you’re using it for commercial purposes.

My only real complaint is that having your phone connected with the included aux cord sounds bad. There was a lot of static. A better AUX cord might fix this, but I wasn’t able to test one.

If you’re looking for a quality mixer that isn’t going to break your bank, check out the Fifine SC3. This mixer is a fantastic option for those looking to get into streaming or podcasting. You’re getting a decent amount of features for a good device that will hold you over till you’re ready for the upgrade. It doesn’t offer much customization in terms of equalizers, but you don’t really need them yet. While I do see some everyday use, this might be a bit overkill for everyone else. Unless you need the features, I would go with the Fifine H9 Gaming headset if you’re looking to upgrade your mic and sound. I am happy with the SC3, and recommend it to anyone in the market for a mixer.

You can pick up the Fifine SC3 Gaming Mixer for $49.99 using my Amazon Affiliate link.

gaming news

Drakantos Gets Closer to Release and a Solid Gameplay Teaser

July 10, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

This month’s Dev log was a little late, but it was juicy. While we don’t have a firm release date, we do have a time frame. Drakantos plans its release for 2025. This seems like a long time, especially for those of us following from the beginning, but I’ve made it this far, what is a couple of more months. I rather have a finished game than a rushed one. Make sure you check out the official log for all the details, and don’t forget to Wishlist!

In a bit of sad news, dev logs will be moved to a three-month schedule. This means longer waits between devlogs, but it also means we’ll be getting juicier ones. There will be a consistent stream of teasers on the official Drakantos Discord, so make sure you join up and check regularly. I’ll try to do a monthly update of the teasers of they are juicy enough.

Liam Teaser

This month’s teaser was fantastic. We not only got to see Liam gameplay, but we got to get a good look at how the world of Drakantos works. We get a peak at the player hub and how questing works. I like the clean UI and the guild hall has a fantastic vibe to it. Most importantly, we got to see group combat. I love the art and am always impressed with how good they make the attack animations. I can see it being a little too busy for some folks, but I find it the perfect amount of world-shattering chaos without it ever being too distracting. I am curious to see how it things will work with busier instances like PvP and World Bosses.

I wasn’t too impressed with Liam’s gameplay, but I don’t tank. He seems too slow for my taste, but in the right hands, he can be a menace. Liam has a solid taunt, access to valuable debuffs, AOE, and he can close gaps quickly when needed. The cherry on top is his cool animations and voice acting. If you are looking to tank in Drakantos, you definitely need to consider Liam.

Game Info

Drakantos will be an MMO with dungeon-crawler elements. It will have an open world to explore, quest, and make friends in. There will be an overarching story which I am very excited to dive into. The game already has a solid amount of lore, I can’t wait to see what they do with it. There will also be a traditional player market. As long as players aren’t allowed to sell real money items, I’m cool with a player-run economy.

Drakantos will include character-specific prologues that will eventually lead to the starting zone. This will include a character story, a great way to start the game. The devs talk about moving away from the traditional linear system of questing in the hopes of giving the system purpose. Quests will reward players with gold and experience, but it will also unlock new systems, shops, and areas for the players. Some side quests will be class-specific, requiring players to use a character that knows magic for example. Most importantly, these types of quests will offer horizontal progression, which means completing a mission counts for the entire account. I like that the game isn’t forcing a tedious grind with their unique system.

The Dungeon Crawl

We got to see a bit of the Adventurer’s Guild in the Liam teaser above. The Guild is the main player hub where players can gather and queue for instances. Instances will take players to over 120 different maps and have them complete different quests. The intention is to always have players complete a different quest every time, even if they queue up for the same map. This is a very cool feature. While I do find comfort in repetition, the grind can get soul-crushing and monotonous. I can’t wait to see how this system is implemented. There will also be a random secondary objective or rare event to make things extra spicy. This can be a random encounter or a golden gnome for example. Completing side quests will net you more rewards, but they are optional.

Matchmaking

Matchmaking for an instance is tied to a player’s power level. There is no lobby. Instead of waiting for others to join, the game jumps you to the instance as it continues to look for other players. Difficulty scales based on the number of players in an instance (max 3), and rescales if someone drops suddenly. This is fantastic for a mobile game where internet connection can be spotty. Premade groups can be up to four for when you eventually join your guild and make your friends.

Conclusion

I continue to get hyped for the Drakantos release because this game looks fantastic. I’ve been waiting for an MMO to fill the void PSO left behind, and I am hoping this will be it. I love the art, the flavor, and the fact that this thing is portable. I can play it anywhere! Each month brings us closer to a release, and I’m just waiting for a beta. Make sure you join the official Drakantos Discord to stay up to date on all the news, and don’t forget to add the game to your Wishlist.

Grand Archive TCG

I Took Fire Zander and had a Blast, but it Needs Some Tweaks

July 9, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I came into Grand Archive with the intention of being a collector because the art for the game is beautiful. After watching a few competitive streams, I decided to build a deck and head to locals. After my first bout, I was hooked. Over the weekend, I went to my second event with a better understanding and a better deck. While I didn’t perform as well as I could have, I am getting better and can’t wait to go back for more.

The Deck

After a bit of research, I decided to go with an Agro Fire Zander deck because I had most of the cards and I thought the added card draw was nice. You can find all the lists to Ascent Taipei on the official Omnidex event page. The list is as follows (I’ll leave affiliate links to the singles for those who need them):

Main Deck

Main Deck
1 Spirit of Fire
1 Zander, Prepared Scout
1 Zander, Deft Executor
1 Assassin's Ripper
1 Blinding Orb
1 Quicksilver Grail (Original Deck uses Grand Crusader's Ring) 
1 Mercenary's Blade
1 Poisoned Dagger
1 Backup Charger (Original uses Safeguard Amulet)
1 Smoke Bombs
1 Tariff Ring
1 Varuckan Soulknife

Main Deck
3 Gawain, Chivalrous Thief
4 Kingdom Informant
4 Sable Remnant
4 Stalwart Shieldmate
4 Arthur, Young Heir
4 Blazing Throw
4 Captivating Cutthroat
3 Clumsy Apprentice
4 Corhazi Courier
4 Creative Shock
3 Cremation Ritual
3 Hasty Messenger
2 Innervate Fury
3 Mark the Target
4 Planted Explosive
4 Rending Flames
3 Rococo, Explosive Maven

What I learned

While I did like the original list, most people run Quicksliver Grail as their divine relic. You want your turn one to be Quicksilver Grail to hide Poison Dagger so you can have it ready for your big wombo combo. The idea is to pop the grail at your opponent’s end phase so you can use the dagger on your turn. Instead of the GCR, I opted for Backup Charger. Poping the charger before recollection means you get a GCR and get to scoop up the cost.

After playing my matches, the deck felt very slow with too much drawing power. Oftentimes, I was left with a hand that was too big to use up my Rococos, or it took too long to set up my combo. This deck needs to win by turn 5 or else it becomes a very steep uphill battle. Some of the changes I’ll be making for the future of this deck:

Removing Gawain. She did nothing. My opponent rarely had cards they needed in their memory and often I was sacrificing for no reason. She felt like a waste of resources.

Removing Kingdom Informant. I love the permanent stealth and floating memory, but it didn’t have enough of an impact. I would have like something like a Lurking Assasin instead for my stealth.

Removing Stalward Shieldmate. I like Shieldmate in slower decks, but she slowed the deck down a little too much for my liking. The floating memory is nice and I guess she could attack with Arthur in later turns, but it doesn’t fit the playstyle I am looking for.

Creative Shock/Cremation Ritual. Unfortunately, this deck ended up having too much draw power. I did prefer Creative Shock to Cremation Ritual because it let me discard fire cards for Veruckan Soulknife,

but the deck already has better options. I definitely don’t want Cremation Ritual in this deck. It was never useful because there was never a moment I wanted to sacrifice an ally.

This isn’t a bad deck, it made it to top 32, but it didn’t vibe with my play style. While I definitely lack the experience to effectively pilot this deck, it wasn’t aggressive enough for my tastes. I like the deck and will continue to make my tweaks. I have a few ideas I want to try. Unfortunately, everyone at my locals seems to know how to counter this deck. While I don’t think I’ll be taking top spots at any events, everyone was nice enough to give me tips and pointers on how to make it better.

Conclusion

If you want to get into Grand Archive, you should do it. You should note that this is an awkward time in the game’s history because the cost of singles is expensive. There will be reprints and the market will cool, but entering the scene now means you’re buying expensive singles. I would argue that you don’t need a meta deck to have fun, but you will need a meta deck if you want to do well. My local scene is very competitive and anything that isn’t meta isn’t placing. That said, the player base is full of passionate fans who want to see the game grow and will help you out when you need it.

I didn’t do as well as I would have liked, but I was getting better as the day progressed. I liked that my opponents and players around me would stop to give me tips and pointers, even during a match. I appreciate that my opponents would give me the chance to undo a move when I made a mistake, even if I never took them on it. They were more than happy to help me out because they want to see their hobby grow. The community is the reason I’ve gotten so invested in the hobby, and it should be the reason you start it as well. Till next time, thanks for reading!

Other TCGs

Wixoss TCG: Concord Diva Set List is out and it is Good

July 7, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

This game isn’t going to be for everyone because of how waifu-centric it is, but I’ve been enjoying the art, and the anime, and the game isn’t too bad. I preferred the art and flavor of Dissonance Diva better, but there are some cards in this set I wouldn’t mind adding to my collection. Make sure you always support your LGS, but you can always get Concord Diva on TCG Player using my affiliate link.

Other TCGs

Kryptic TCG Returns Under New Management and Motivation!

July 4, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

Last week, the people behind Kryptic announced the end of the TCG and their plans to move to the LCG model. After a bit of feedback and a weekend to ruminate, Kryptic TCG isn’t dead! Fans of the TCG now wait as the company takes the steps to continue the TCG.

The Announcement

Tanner has announced on the official Kryptic Discord that he will be stepping down as CEO of the company and handing the company over to Chris Tesorio. The message reads:

The loyal Kryptic comunnity came together in full force for the game that they loved and now with a new name and newly found motivaition, Kryptic Studios LLC will work continue making the TCG.

The new CEO, Chris Tesorio, also made a statement:

It makes me happy to see Kryptic getting its second life. I can’t wait to see what is to come. Congradulations to Chris Tesorio on his new role, I wish him the best in his endevours.

What this Means for Kryptic

We are still waiting for more news from the new company, but plans for Kryptic as a LCG have been cancelled and new plans for the TCG are in the works. While I am a little sad about not seeing what an LCG in the the Kryptic universe would look like, I am happy to see that fans will get to continue to enjoy the game they love. I am hopeful for the future of this game and can’t wait to see what this new leadership and motivation will produce in the future.

Attonement

As a reminder for anyone who missed it, 100 boxes of Attonement Wave Zero will release on July 4th 12AM CST. Attonment was Kryptics cancelled set before the name change. The box will include single copies of the entire set, with a few random foils to mix things up. Sales will be limited to hopefully prevent scalping. It be nice to buy a box and have the complete set. I’ll be trying to get a box, I hope the fans who want one can get theirs too.

You can pick up your box of Attonement Year Zero on the Speedprobogames website for $119.99. Good luck!

video game reviews

Noreya: The Gold Project is a Solid Metroidvania

July 2, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

I was sent a free copy of Noreya: The Gold Project to review for my blog. While I am very grateful for the opportunity, I won’t let it sway my opinions. This will be my honest review. If you enjoy my reviews, please leave a like, comment, and share this with your friends. If you’re looking to upgrade your gaming setup, check out my reviews for Fifine H9 Gaming Headset and the AM8 Streaming Microphone if you are looking for high-quality, budget-friendly peripherals.

What is Noreya: The Gold Project?

Noreya: The Gold Project is a 2D-pixel art dark fantasy Metroidvania game out now on PC.

Salluste, the God of Avarice, has taken over the city of Lemia and imprisoned the Goddess of Light. Once a glowing city, Lemia now stands as a twisted and tortured version of itself. Its inhabitants, smitten by greed, have sold themselves to Salluste and now roam the city as twisted shadowy creatures. Kali, with nothing left to lose, travels to Lemia in search of answers.

Travel through the City of Gold, battle creatures of shadow and gold, and pledge your allegiance to the god of your choice. Where will your devotion take you?

Gameplay

Noreya is your typical 2D action platformer. What makes this game unique is that you can use the gold you collect to heal at any time, and the god you devote yourself to controls your narrative. Choices do matter in this game, which may give the game replayability if you become invested enough in the story.

I am terrible at platforming, but found it very manageable in this game. Enemies are cool, but they will get repetitive. The game will spice things up with special events and boss fights. Special events change the flow of the game. In one instance, a giant snake chases Kali through the map, and it is up to you to navigate through the city and find her sanctuary. Boss fights are creative, but not unrelenting. I didn’t feel like I ever needed a guide to beat the bosses, I just needed to be better. That said, this game feels like a very casual entry to the genre, perfect for those newbies trying to find their start in the genre.

Combat feels fine, but I found the skill tree customization limiting compared to other titles. The skill tree can only be accessed at shrines throughout the city. Players can buy levels of their skill tree with gold at shrines around the city. The skill tree is expansive and gives players the freedom to build toward their play style. I don’t think the build matters in normal mode. I built towards what I thought would be fun and never felt I needed a guide. However, harder difficulties and speed runs will probably need a more efficient build.

Impressions

I like Noreya: The Gold Project. I love the art, the mechanics are manageable, and the flavor is neat. Choosing between Light and gold and the god you worship is a very cool idea. That said, Noreya isn’t the best Metroidvania on the market. After a while, it starts to feel stale. While I enjoyed the environment and music of each level, it started to feel repetitive. I understand repetition is somewhat expected, but the more I played, the less I wanted to keep playing. There just wasn’t enough to hold my attention.

Noreya isn’t a bad game. The game runs fine and has a few good moments, but you have better options. If you’re looking for a new Metroidvania game to add to your rotation, Noreya: The Gold Project is a solid choice, but I would wait for a sale.

You can pick up Noreya: The Gold Project on Steam for $24.99.

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive Releases Statement Regarding Game Accessibility

July 2, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

If you’re getting into Grand Archive or have been following for a moment, you’ve probably the outrageous pricing for singles. We’re in the moment of Grand Archive history where the demand for cards is higher than the supply. This is frustrating for those trying to onboard into the competitive scene but is priced out of important staples. On one hand, I understand the frustration, but I also understand the need for appropriate scaling. No one wants to be left with a wear house full of merch they can’t move.

Fortunately, there are plans for reprints of staples in future sets and possibly reprints of sets already on the market, possibly in an altered edition. A Statement Regarding Game Accessibility was posted today on the game’s official X account. The statement reads:

Thus begins the waiting game. The key takeaway is that future sets will reprint key staples like Dungeon Guide, which hopefully means the market will stabilize. While Grand Archive is nowhere near as expensive as some of the other big TCGs, it is expensive for new folks trying to enjoy some games at their LGS. I hate that I can’t support my LGS because they don’t have any stock.

I hope this announcement means more reprints, a bigger community, and a more accessible price point for entry. We will have to wait and see, but I have faith in a company that has been doing everything right so far.

If you’re mad about singles pricing, I would save up for future sets and reprints. You can enjoy games on TTS on the official Discord in the meantime. If you don’t want to wait to get into the competitive scene, I’m sure you can justify the premium with all the fun you’re about to have. Whatever you decide, welcome to Grand Archive!

Grand Archive TCG

Grand Archive TCG: Full Supporter Pack 2 Card List Revealed!

July 2, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

The full card list for the Supporter Pack 2 has been revealed, and you’re going to want to add these to your collection. Supporter packs will only be available for purchase at official or partnered events, like the upcoming Anime Expo or Ascent tournaments. While I am sad that it makes these beautiful cards unattainable for some of us, it is cool to see that they aren’t trying to take money away from the hard-working LGSs. You can check out the full announcement on the official website.

Collector Super Rares (CSR)

Super Rares (SR)

Rares (R)

Uncommons (UC)

gaming news

The Sun Sets on Kryptik TCG, but the Journey is far From Over

June 29, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

EDIT: Since this post, the company has revamped its goals and will continue as a TCG. Click here for more information.

The Kryptik Trading Card game will no longer be in production. The upcoming Atonement set has been canceled, and anyone who has preordered will be refunded. It is a sad day for fans of the trading card game, but the journey is not over. The creator of the game still has plans for the IP and lore, and I will be following its development closely.

The Announcement

On June 27th, Tanner announced on the official Kryptik Discord that they will no longer be partnering with SpeedRobo games for the manufacturing of their game, effectively cancelling the TCG. The announcement reads:

This is an official announcement that Kryptik TCG will no longer be working with SpeedRobo Games on the design and manufacturing of future products, including Wave 1 Atonement. While we are thankful for his enthusiasm and drive to get Atonement completed we feel that our team’s vision and his vision for the game are just a bit too far apart. We want to be clear that there is no bad blood or negative feelings associated with this decision. In fact, we had a great conversation today regarding the situation and both parties are in agreement that it is just not a good fit. We wish him well in all future endeavors. He will be selling his remaining 30 or so Wave 0 Atonement boxes online to recoup costs. I included the link to the product, so grab yours if you would like when they go live. He will also be issuing refunds for any Wave 1 pre-orders that were placed. Please reach out to SpeedRobo with any issues regarding your refund. This does unfortunately mean that as of right now, the future of the TCG component of the Kryptik Universe is on hold. Though a healthy TCG is extraordinarily difficult to cultivate given how the market functions, we still love making games and we still love Kryptik and our community. Our team definitely still has designs and plans for the lore and other projects related to the Kryptik Universe. We will be using this Discord to serve you guys updates in the coming weeks/months, so stay tuned. Thank you all for your support through the highs and the lows of this process. We love you all and hope that you’ll stay with us through this Tabula Rasa. Best, The Kryptik Team (Tanner, Connor, Chris, & Rikki)

Why was Kryptic Cancelled?

People with access to the numbers did the math and it was no longer feasible to continue production of the TCG. Alternative avenues like crowd-sourcing or even operating at a loss aren’t going to achieve enough of a return to save the game. While the game has earned its collection of loyal and dedicated fans, there isn’t enough of them to generate profit. This is the cold reality of a space with an incredibly volatile market, especially for a game no longer carried by the LGS.

There were a few factors that brought us to this outcome that I will attempt to summarize as best I can.

Kryptik came out of the gate wanting to be the American-made TCG that would revolutionize the space. It promised high-quality American-made cardboard, innovative gameplay, and rich expansive lore. The made-in-America sticker is an awesome idea, but this means more overhead and less profit when compared to something printed overseas. Unfortunately, the early product of the game featured poor-quality card stock. Players and Game Stores dropped the product because of this quality. With the game no longer in stores and lacking confidence in future quality, Kryptic’s fate as a TCG was pretty much sealed. A failed anime, a few bad hires, and other logistical miscalculations also played their part in this spiral.

Unfortunately, the TCG community isn’t patient. While the team learned from the mistakes made along the way, it wasn’t quite fast enough. Kryptic still has its dedicated fans who hold out hope for the game, but hope doesn’t pay the bills. Kryptic shut down because there is no money to keep it running, and no amount of loans, crowdfunding, or donations can give the revival it needs to keep going.

The Future of Kryptic

Kryptic may no longer exist as a physical TCG, but this isn’t the end of the IP. The creators will hold on to the IP as they continue to expand the lore and work on different projects to keep Kryptic alive.

If you enjoyed playing the card game, or want to start playing, the official Kryptic Tabletop Simulator mod will continue to get updates. There will be new cards and mechanics. Art will be tricky because it is expensive to pay the artists, but they said they will try to find a solution. If you want to play some Kryptic, get TTS (on sale for $9.99 until July 11) and ask around on the official Discord.

The company currently owes no money, so it won’t need to liquidate or sell the IP. Those passionate about Kriptic will continue with other projects to keep its rich and expansive lore alive, and other projects to conserve its gameplay.

The lore will continue to be made and is planned to be released as a book in the future. No further details have been released, but people lurking in the discord on the day of the announcement got to listen in on a solid rundown of the lore. It was awesome.

Kryptic as a card game will continue as a Living Card Game (LCG). The intention is to turn Kryptic into a tabletop game that is a fusion of Betrayal at The House on The Hill and Gloomhaven. The devs want a game with procedurally generated maps that allow players to make choices that permanently change the game. How they go about this is still in production, but I am excited to see the result. Kryptic has some fantastic lore, and I could always use another board game. There was also mention of a D&D 5E setting for Kryptic, but that is on the back burner. I wish them luck on their new endeavor. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.

If you would like to purchase the only booster box of Atonement that will ever exist, head over to the official speedrobogames. The sale will go live on July 4th 12AM CST and be limited to one box per customer. Get yours while supplies last.

Board Games and TCGs

Eldritch Automata Campaign is Live and Fully Backed on Backerkit

June 28, 2024 josechurape Leave a comment

The Eldritch Automata campaign has officially launched on Backerkit. The project was fully funded within the first 30 minutes of going live and continues to gain momentum. Most of the stretch goals have been unlocked which means excited fans will receive a generous amount of goodies. The campaign ends on July 25, leaving plenty of time to decide if you want to embark on this bleak adventure of survival featuring mechs. While Gehenna Gaming does have a solid record with their delivery, always be mindful of what you back on these types of crowdsourcing campaigns.

What is Eldritch Automata?

Eldritch Automata is a post-apocalyptic TTRPG powered by the award-winning Year Zero Engine.

Society crumbles under the weight of Eldritch invaders. Monsters and horrifying angels spread their rain and despair across the world. Humanity is pushed to the brink of extinction, but hope is not lost. Giant Mechs known as the Automata come to humanity’s salvation, but piloting them comes at a cost. Those brave and competent enough to pilot these mighty machines must risk their entire mind, body, and soul. Some will rise and become the shining pillars of hope and salvation, while others will lose themselves under the strain of piloting an Automata. How far can you push yourself to save humanity?

How to Play

Impressions

Pilots in Eldritch Automata must survive the strain of an unforgiving world. Infighting between factions, the stress of survival, the strain of piloting the Automata, and facing the endless waves of Eldritch horrors wear down their spirit. Eldritch Automata is a game where even the bravest and brightest can lose themselves in the madness.

The game does a decent job of creating systems that emulate the strain of surviving in its world. The game is set up where players are constantly having to push their limits while risking their sanity. Piloting an Automata is cool, but it can make you go crazy or leave you with a permanent, life-altering injury. Having a player lose control of their character due to a dice roll is bound to lead to some interesting roleplay.

Gameplay seems solid and easy to learn. I’ve ran a few Year Zero games, and my table is always content with how they run. It makes for a nice break from D&D without being too big of a shift.

Ultimately, you’re playing Eldritch Automata for its flavor. I love the dark hopelessness that will inevitably seep into every session, and I am sure my players will enjoy fighting in giant mechs. The combat system seems to involve enough strategy to make it engaging without being overly complicated while establishing its unique flare in the space. As a GM, I like the amount of tables and charts available for a healthy amount of chaos. I can’t wait to see how my players react when they have to roll to keep their sanity. It is going to get tense.

If you’re looking to run a bleak survival adventure full of monsters, chaos, and mechs, you’re going to want to go back Eldritch Automata on Backerkit. The art is cool, the flavor is fantastic, and what I’ve seen of the system is impressive. There is a free quickstart available from the publisher if you would like to see if the Eldritch Automata is right for your table. The Quickstart comes with a streamlined version of the rules and a small haunted house-style adventure for you to run. I’ll leave the files below, but you can get the quickstart and the pre-generated characters on the DrivethruRPG.

Quickstart

Eldritch_Automata_-_Quicklaunch_Guide Download

Pregenerated Characters

Eldritch_Automata_Quicklaunch_Pre_Generated_Characters Download

What’s in the Box?

Sound Quality

Voice Changer Feature

Male Preset

Female Preset

Robot

Monster

Baby

Elder

Other Features

Quality

Review

Liam Teaser

Game Info

The Dungeon Crawl

Matchmaking

Conclusion

The Deck

Main Deck

What I learned

Conclusion

The Announcement

What this Means for Kryptic

Attonement

What is Noreya: The Gold Project?

Gameplay

Impressions

Collector Super Rares (CSR)

Super Rares (SR)

Rares (R)

Uncommons (UC)

The Announcement

Why was Kryptic Cancelled?

The Future of Kryptic

What is Eldritch Automata?

How to Play

Impressions

Quickstart

Pregenerated Characters

Tiers

Official Liveplay

Gaming News and Review