Australian-made tabletop roleplaying game Good Society: A Jane Austen RPG – 2nd Edition from Storybrewers Roleplaying has become a major success on crowdfunding platform Kickstarter, eclipsing its funding goal within its first few hours.
With 17 days to go in its campaign, it has raised AUD $173,787, with no signs of slowing down yet.
‘It’s touching to see that Good Society resonates with so many people, and I think it goes to show that there is a desire for games like this with underrepresented themes like romance, drama, and scandal,’ creators Vee Hendro and Hayley Gordon tell ScreenHub.
‘We’re very grateful for the support from our community that allows us as a studio to keep making niche games about history, literature, and relationships.’
Against a backdrop of lukewarm news, it’s excellent to see a cosy game like Good Society succeed. It also speaks to a strong appetite for tabletop game experiences of unique flavour and creativity.
Good Society second edition hits crowdfunding goal – quick links
What to know about Good Society’s second edition
Good Society: A Jane Austen RPG is a tabletop roleplaying game where players embody a custom character inspired by the works of Jane Austen, ‘from a wealthy heir who falls in love with the aloof new arrival, to a charming socialite who dreams of making the perfect match.’
Players will need to exploit their position in society to their benefit, using their name and connections to stir up all sorts of drama and intrigue, all while ‘contending with society’s unending expectations.’
‘Take on the role of influential connections, turn mere whispers into the talk of the town, and spend tokens to orchestrate balls, carriage accidents, and even marriages.’
It’s a game great for those who dream of being part of fancy balls and dinner parties, who admire the look and feel of Bridgerton, and who love a spot of classical romance.
The second edition of the game, newly funded, includes updates and improvements on the original experience to ensure it’s more enjoyable, easier to understand and more welcoming for new players.
As shared, this edition includes the following improvements:
- Substantially reworked rules for reputation, and rumour and scandal.
- Streamlined and stress-tested revisions to other rules to reflect how you actually play.
- New advice, inspirational material, and usable tables for when you need an idea at the drop of a top hat.
It also includes new twists on the game’s desires and playsets, a new layout for the game book, character sheets and play materials, and a new box to house everything in.
‘We’re really proud of 2E,’ Hendro and Gordon say. ‘It represents the best version of this game based on years of player and community feedback.’
Good Society remains unique in the TTRPG space
Good Society is a unique experience that stands out in the world of TTRPGs with its cosier focus and intentional appeal to women, non-binary and queer players.
With a focus on traditionally femme experiences – attending balls, dressing up, hosting parties and managing societal expectation – it’s a rare game that speaks to an underrepresented group, and underrepresented life experiences, in a tabletop format.
Even so, it’s clear there’s an appetite and audience for Good Society, with passionate players turning up to support this new release and become involved in the ever-expanding world of the game.
Before the crowdfunding campaign for Good Society concludes, we expect it will continue to kick significant goals as it reaches a wide, global audience beyond its home country.
Also on ScreenHub: How Australian tabletop games makers are surviving a chaotic manufacturing landscape
After years of chaos, tabletop creators are now dealing with new challenges. Manufacturing and shipping has become significantly more expensive, while the added, unexpected costs of additional tariffs have also eaten into company profits.
Read more …
