Survive and thrive in the derelict spaces

"We thought we had it all figured out. We ventured out into the stars with a purpose. We sought to learn, to discover, to make contact with other forms of life. We were the ambassadors of humanity, the trailblazers of a new age of understanding and cooperation.

But we were wrong. We were so very, very wrong.

It started with a few strange signals, some strange readings on our instruments. We thought it was just some glitch, some interference. But then the attacks started. They came out of nowhere, these creatures, these monsters. They swarmed our ships, our stations, our outposts. They killed, they destroyed, they consumed. And we were powerless to stop them.

We lost everything, everything we had built, everything we had fought for. Our homes, our families, our friends. We were the lucky ones, the ones who managed to escape. But we were left with nothing, nothing but our skills, our training, and our determination.

So now we do what we do best. We explore the galaxy, but not for knowledge, not for diplomacy. We are in search of resources, technologies and opportunities. We delve into the derelict ships, the abandoned stations, the ruins of our peaceful missions. We scavenge for supplies, we salvage for weapons and riches, and we hunt for the monsters that destroyed the hopes of a better world.

We are the Derelict Delvers, the last hope of humanity. And we will not rest until every last one of those creatures is dead and every opportunity is seized"

Art: Image Portfolio © Louis Porter, Jr. Design. All Rights Reserved.

What is this game?

Derelict Delvers is a thrilling, action-packed sci-fi roleplaying game that immerses players in a struggle for survival and profit. The game takes place in a galaxy overrun by monstrous alien creatures, who have destroyed humanity's peaceful exploration and diplomatic efforts.

The players take on the roles of elite space troopers, scientists, and engineers who must explore derelict spaceships and space stations in order to scavenge for supplies, salvage for weapons and valuable resources, and ultimately, hunt down the monsters that threaten the very existence of mankind. They are a team of skilled specialists, who are on a mission to help humanity, but also themselves.

With a unique blend of fast-paced combat and challenging perils, players will have to work together (or alone!) to overcome the dangers of the derelict ships and outsmart the deadly aliens lurking within. They will also have to make difficult decisions that will affect the outcome of their missions, their potential profits, and their very survival.

Derelict Delvers is a journey of exploration, of discovery, and of opportunity. Join the elite team of Derelict Delvers, and see how far you can go after the fortune the galaxy has to offer.

Highlights

• Unleash your imagination and create your own one-of-a-kind character archetype and special powers using our easy-to-use and highly customizable character creation system
  
  
• Take on a unique "meta-role" that shapes your interactions with the game world, putting you in charge of bringing the scenario to life!
  
  
• Enjoy the freedom of solo or group play without needing a Game Master, thanks to our intuitive and dynamic gameplay system
  
  
• Take on the thrilling challenge of exploring derelict spaceships and space stations, a fresh take on the classic dungeon crawler genre
  
  
• Battle against a diverse array of monstrous alien creatures and overcome challenging threats
  
  
• Shape your own fate by making strategic decisions that impact the outcome of your missions, and potentially your own personal gain.

Download demo for free

== DOWNLOAD FREE 28-PAGE DEMO HERE ==

About the campaign

I envisioned this crowdfunding campaign as a very low-profile one. I want to raise some money while I finish writing it, and offer the game at a discounted price as I do so. As such, here's a quick rundown of what you can expect from it:

• The game will be released regardless of the campaign reaching its funding goal. You will get the game no matter what.
  
  
• There's a single reward tier: you get the PDF for the game and a coupon for an optional purchase of the print-on-demand version on Lulu at cost, by yourself. You can also contribute without a reward to generate community copies of the game.
  
  
• There are no stretch goals. I don't want to over-promise and under-deliver. The more I get from this campaign, the better I'll be able to cover my monthly expenses.
   
• There will be no extensive marketing. I want to focus on writing the game and avoid burn out from promoting it. So I'm counting on you guys to spread the word about it.

This campaign is part of Zine Month 2023 and Tabletop Nonstop. I'm excited to share Derelict Delvers with you, and I'm grateful for your support. I hope you'll join me on this journey and help me make the game the best it can be.

About the author

Cezar Capacle is a Brazilian tabletop game designer, currently based in Madeira Island. Creating since 2016, he has dedicated his full time to game design for the past two years, and has released more than 20 games since. His games are known for their light rules and quirky mechanics, offering singular gaming experiences. He has spoken in favor of creators of the Global South, and his claims ended up on article on Dicebreaker.

Career highlights

• Finalist as 'Designer of the Year' at the Tabletop Awards 2022
• Winner of the 18-card RPG Challenge by Button Shy, resulting in I guess this is it, a 2-player game about saying goodbye, featured on Dicebreaker.
• Named one of 10 Indie TTRPG Designers To Watch In 2022 by CBR
• Winner of the Solarpunk DIY Game with the game Scraps, on the SadPress Solarpunk Game Jam
• Author of Push SRD, a system with more than 1,600 downloads, 60 games made, and translated into 7 languages

This game was made possible by the support of my amazing patrons. Join today and get all my future games for free!

This game is based on the SRD of "That Dungeon Game with Dragons and Stuff", by Igor Moreno, and released under a CC-BY-SA 3.0 license.