The beloved analog horror mystery TTRPG, Public Access, is getting a printed release. The Gauntlet’s Public Access Kickstarter campaign will provide a formal, book printing of the game alongside a new expansion and accessories.
The Public Access Kickstarter Campaign
According to the campaign page, the Public Access Kickstarter is for an extended edition of the original TTRPG released in 2023. It was released on DrivethruRPG as a Pay What You Want product and was heavily inspired by 80s and 90s’ nostalgia, analog and found footage horror movies, and some contemporary creepypastas.
The game’s set up is the players are all adults returning to their hometown of Deep Lake, New Mexico. Specifically, they have all bonded over a public access show from the town called TV Odyssey. But the locals of Deep Lake don’t talk about TV Odyssey, some even write it off as an urban myth. But tape recordings of the show exist. Mysteries abound.
The unique selling point is Public Access uses a modified version of the Brindlewood Bay system, which emphasizes shared worldbuilding and collaborative storytelling over concrete answers. This means that, while the game has several mysteries for you to solve, the conclusions your group reach can drastically shape the narrative, leading to endless potential replayability.
If you’ve played the game before, the Public Access Kickstarter does have some welcome additions. The game’s rules and text have been refined and contains new rules for guiding play. The campaign also includes a new expansion, Signals From The Other Side, which introduces new mysteries and materials. Finally, there are “Odyssey Tapes” cards, handouts that can further enhance the horror atmosphere.
The pledge tiers for the Public Access Kickstarter are as follows:
- Digital Collection for $20: PDFs of the core rulebook and Signals From The Other Side and all digital stretch goals
- Public Access for $40: Everything in the Digital Collection tier and a physical copy of the core rulebook
- Public Access + Signals for $70: Everything from the Digital Collection tier, and physical copies of the core rulebook and Signals From The Other Side
- TV Odyssey for $100: Physical and digital copies of the core rulebook and Signals From The Other Side expansion, and a set of Odyssey Tapes cards
At the time of writing, the Public Access Kickstarter campaign has raised $279,958, completely dwarfing its initial funding goal of $10,000. As a result, several major stretch goals have been unlocked. This includes upgraded production materials for the books: bookmark ribbons, thick paper, and glow in the dark ink, alongside additional mysteries and a companion app for smartphones and tablets.
The campaign ends on April 12.
