Mappa Mundi - An Exploration + Ecology RPG

Update 8 - Production Begins!
3 days ago – Tue, Mar 11, 2025 at 05:58:12 AM

Hello, Chroniclers, and welcome to the first proper post-campaign update! It has been a week, now, since the campaign for Mappa Mundi - An Exploration + Ecology RPG finished, and what a week it has been.

This is the first of our regular post-campaign updates on the project. In these updates, I'll share with you our progress towards fulfillment, keep you up to date on how printing and production is going, make you aware of any significant milestones that we're approaching or have achieved, and also share some additional materials from the final game with you.

I'm sure that I'll settle into a nice and familiar structure with these updates, but for now I'm just seeing what feels right. So let's get down to it.

Printing and Production

I am happy to report that not only have all the files (book, box, and cards) been sent to our printing partner and that 95% have been approved already! 

Our printers, MegaPrint, based in Istanbul, Turkey, have been incredible throughout this process and have continued their support as we start the printing process. All book files (end pages, internal pages, and covers) have been approved and pre-print work continues. This is the same with the box.

This morning we've been finalising the files for the cards. All that needs changing is some bleed margins and we'll be all approved there, too. (See below for some card reveals -- you haven't seen any of our Monster cards yet!)

We have set a tight but achieveable deadline for the printing and I'm happy to report that we're on track to hit that deadline. I'll have more information for you in my next update.

Production Status: On Target

Fulfillment

As you know, we have set an ambitious deadline to have Mappa Mundi printed, fulfilled, and in your hands. Our current aim is to have the game in your hands by June 2025.

At the moment, as printing is on schedule, this target definitely looks achievable. Of course, we have the vagaries and complexities of international shipping to consider, but at the time of writing, our target definitely seems achievable.

The next big step is to start the Pledge Management stage. We are using Backerkit as our pledge manager and I have been hard at work this last week getting everything sorted for it.

Backerkit advise waiting until Kickstarter funds have been released to us before launching the pledge manager and so we're following this advice. I plan to have everything sorted for the pledge manager this week so that we'll be ready to go live as soon as Kickstarter have released the campaign funds.

For those who haven't used a pledge manager before: this process allows us to collect your address information, allows you to upgrade or add items to your pledge, and -- finally, and most importantly -- allows us to charge for shipping and any relevant taxes just before we start sending out your orders. I'll provide more information on this when we launch the pledge manager, but I encourage all of you to ensure that your address information is added and up to date as soon as possible, as we're looking at a relatively short pledge manager period.

I'll have more information for you all in an update next week, but for now, we're looking good.

Fulfillment Status: On Target

Additional Materials - PDF copy, Chronicles of the Wilds + Solo Supplement

While Mappa Mundi is being printed, we are still hard at work getting our free backer rewards -- Chronicles of the Wilds, Volume 1 and the Solo Supplement -- ready for you all.

Of course, as we've gone to print, the PDF copy of Mappa Mundi is ready to go. However, we've taken the decision to release the PDF copy of the game alongside the additional digital materials all at the same time. Our aim is to have all digital materials to backers in early May 2025.

This last weekend, we conducted our layout testing for Chronicles of the Wilds, Volume 1 and I'm happy to say that its in a really good place. I'm currently digesting the feedback from Jeremy and will be spending this week getting the layout design fixed in place. 

Jeremy has finished the revised edition of Root and Branch, which some of you will have already played or read. Kat Southern, otherwise known as the Lore Mistress, has delivered her manuscript for His Smile, as Sharp as Briar's Edge, a dark adventure taking place in Domolov's Koenigswald, and I'm going to be editing it to fit our layout as soon as we've settled on a final version. Meanwhile, Jeremy is working on the remaining two adventures and I'll keep you updated on those as they develop.

Playtesting has finished on the Solo Supplement and I'll be beginning the layout process for that later on this month!

Additional Materials Status: On Target

News and Reveals

2025 is going to be an incredibly busy year for Three Sails Studios. Not only have we successfully funded Mappa Mundi and will be focused on supporting it throughout the year to come, we're also attending a number of conventions and -- at one of them -- revealing our brand new game!

While I can't share any more information on the new game yet, we're all very excited to reveal it and share it with you. While different to Mappa Mundi in tone, it shares the same DNA of hope, of everyday people standing up to change the world, and even develops the Shaping mechanic in very interesting ways.

But I know you all want to hear and see more about Mappa Mundi, and I won't deny you that!

During the campaign, you will likely have seen a number of Journey Deck reveals. All of these were our landscape based cards (of which there are 37 in the final product). But what you didn't see were any of our Monster cards. These were the final pieces of artwork that Joel was working on during the campaign and I am really happy to say that 1) they are excellent and 2) to reveal some to you today!

These are just six of the THIRTY Monster cards you'll be receiving in the final box and they are beautiful complements to the landscape cards.

Signing Off

Well, that's it from me for this week's update! I don't have fixed days I'll be releasing the updates just yet -- not until we've started the pledge manager process -- but once we have, I'll set a fixed day of the week and a regular schedule to keep you updated.

Until then, thank you for reading, thank you for backing, and don't forget to share the campaign with your friends as late pledges are still open!

Until next time, Chroniclers,

George
Mappa Mundi creator and designer

Update 7 - The Journey Begins. Welcome to the Wilds!
10 days ago – Tue, Mar 04, 2025 at 12:10:51 PM

Thank you, Chroniclers. In 28 days (and a few hours), 1838 of you have helped us to raise £75,943 -- that's a total of 607% funded!

This is an incredible achievement, and we are grateful to each and every one of you. You have made the dreams of three people come true and from this foundation we can build our studio, bring Mappa Mundi - An Exploration + Ecology RPG out into the world, and continue to bring the game's world to life.

I'll keep this update short and sweet, as I've got a few more files to get ready to send to our printers. We deliver all our files tomorrow and printing will begin as soon as possible thereafter. But expect another update from me later on this week/early next as I walk you through what comes next!

And don't forget: if you haven't backed already, you can take advantage of Kickstarter's Late Pledge system. Late Pledges are available RIGHT NOW on the Digital, Physical, and Cartographer's tiers :)

From myself, Jeremy, and Joel:

Thank you!

In solidarity,

George, Mappa Mundi creator and designer

Update 6 - Last few days - Art update, pledge levels, and add ons!
12 days ago – Sun, Mar 02, 2025 at 03:35:42 AM

Hello Chroniclers, and welcome to update number six!

Mappa Mundi - An Exploration + Ecology RPG is entering its last few days. At time of publishing this update, we have 56 hours left to go on the campaign. So far, 1,493 of you have backed the game, raising a total of £63,733!

This is a magnificent total so far, and we're so very grateful to you all! But in these last few days, we'd like to see how much more we can improve the total and secure the future of Mappa Mundi and Three Sails Studios.

So, today, I'm here to talk to you about considering upgrading your pledge if you are able and/or adding some art prints to your pledge level. Every new pledge or improved pledge gets our small team that one step closer to full-time work and helps us make the foundations of our passionate indie company that much firmer.

I'd also like to let you know that ALL of the artwork for the book is now complete! Joel delivered the last pieces of Monster and Creature artwork on Friday and is now spending the weekend and the remaining few days before the campaign finishes completing the final few Monster cards for the Journey Deck!

Without futher ado, let's get into it!

Upgrading Your Pledge

Right from the outset, when we began planning Mappa Mundi back in late 2023, I was fixated on the price point of the game.

Price is a huge point of accessibility for me, both personally (as a passionate TTRPG player and reader) and as a publisher. We have striven to ensure that Mappa Mundi is priced at a point that is fair to our customers and community members, even if it means tightening our own belts.

At £50 for a 220-page book, 70-card Journey Deck, and a beautifully illustrated and well-made box to contain both components, I think we have definitely achieved this. And we sought to deepen our commitment to price accessibility by providing the Low Income Pledge Level, which allows any backer to receive the digital version of Mappa Mundi at a discount, no questions asked. 

So, in these last few days, I would ask you to consider, if you can, increasing your pledge level! 

The Kickstarter price is also the lowest Mappa Mundi will ever be on sale for, so the time to upgrade is now!

If you're a Digital Pledge backer, give some thought to upgrading to the Physical Pledge. The final version of Mappa Mundi is not only an excellent and thoughtful game but a beautiful product that will take pride of place on your shelf and your table for years to come.

As always, we would rather you back at whatever level you're comfortable with rather than feeling unable to support the project and receive a game we have worked incredibly hard on. What is most important to us is people playing and enjoying Mappa Mundi, but if you feel able to increase your pledge, we would certainly appreciate it.

So what if you're already backing at the level your most comfortable with, or perhaps you'd like a couple of extras? Well, I have the answer for you. Why not consider...

Mappa Mundi Art Print Add Ons

One of our greatest strengths at Three Sails Studios is the quality of our art and illustrations. We are incredibly lucky to have Joel Kilpatrick as not only our lead artist, but also one of our co-owners (alongside myself and Jeremy).

I cannot adequately describe to you the level of work that Joel has committed to Mappa Mundi. At our count, when you combine all Monster and Creature illustrations with the Journey Deck and the interstitial illustrations throughout the book, Joel has produced around 160 individual illustrations. That is a lot of work by anyone's count!

To celebrate Joel's work, we've made 8 by 10 inch prints of his work available for backers to add on to their pledge. Some of you might not have seen these in detail, or might not know the names of the ones you want to add to your pledge, so I'm going to share the complete artwork with you below and name them. 

If you want to add art prints to your pledge, a single print is £15, but we also provide bundles for those looking for more. A bundle of two random prints is £25, a bundle of five prints is £60, and a bundle of all ten prints is £100. 

Believe me when I say that these are even more beautiful when printed out, and even Jeremy and myself keep discovering hidden elements we've never noticed before.

Barbecia Art Print Illustration

Domolov Art Print Illustration

Lechnitsa Art Print Illustration

Tiahakim Art Print Illustration

Aishamet Art Print Illustration

The Kikal Rift Art Print Illustration

The Muten Steppe Art Print Illustration

Zoumung Art Print Illustration

Garugoma Art Print Illustration

Phuondi Art Print Illustration

Last Few Days - Help us spread the word!

Thank you all so much for reading this far down, and I hope you enjoyed this display of Mappa Mundi's artwork!

As we approach the last 48 hours of our campaign, we're relying on you -- to help us spread the word about Mappa Mundi to everyone you know, to consider upgrading your pledge or adding some art prints to your basket, and to help us make the future of Three Sails Studios and Mappa Mundi even more secure.

Thank you, everyone, for supporting us. We cannot wait to get these books into your hands. Printing starts next week!

In solidarity,

George, Mappa Mundi creator and designer

Update Five - One Week to Go + Tiahakim Monsters!
17 days ago – Tue, Feb 25, 2025 at 05:07:54 AM

Greetings, Chroniclers! As of 8pm GMT this evening, Mappa Mundi - An Exploration + Ecology RPG will have only one week left on Kickstarter! 

The campaign has exceeded our wildest expectations so far. At the time of writing, the campaign has raised £58,738 from 1331 backers, for a total of 469% funded! With a week still left to go, the sky is truly the limit!

Thank you, everyone, for your support. As we enter the last week, anything you can do to spread the word about Mappa Mundi to your friends, communities, and gaming groups would be very appreciated.

Tiahakim - The Crossroads of Evasu

After just how much everyone enjoyed our deep dive into Garugoma in Update 3, I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you the Monsters from one of my very favourite regions in Evasu: Tiahakim.

Tiahakim is Mappa Mundi's equivalent to the Middle East, stretching from Turkey and the Black Sea in the north down to the bottom of the Arabian Peninsula in the south. Tiahakim's environments are varied, ranging from lush fertile zones around the region's two major rivers -- the Buranun and the Pras Ziwa -- and the inland Sea of Zalpha in the north down to scorching Golden Desert in the south.

In this update, I'm going to introduce you to our three Garugoman Monsters and also share some cards from the Journey Deck that you're likely to see associated with them. Let's begin!

Tiamat - The Mother of Salt

Tiamat is one of the most ancient beings in Ecumene. Tiahakimi scholars believe her to be one half of a pair, sharing responsibility for the Song of Creation that brought the world into being.

Old beyond measure, Tiamat patrols the depths of the great Southern Sea. Most of the few reports from those who have witnessed her talk only of a vast shadow beneath the waves and the air drying around them. 

Known as the Mother of Salt, Tiamat embodies the briny waters of the world's oceans. Her counterpart, Balhut, the Lord of Waters, was her opposite, born from and master of the fresh life-giving waters of the land. In a time beyond time, Tiamat and Balhut sang together, their music weaving together in the formless waters and creating images of a perfect world. 

Over countless aeons, these visuals gave rise to a third being who hovered above the ocean, spinning a tapestry on a loom. This was Fate, and her contribution was to transcribe the Song of Creation, weaving its images into physical form. 

Now, though, only Tiamat remains, her presence a direct link to the Song of Creation and the formation of all things, living and dead. Her shadow has been seen once again, coming closer than ever before to the cliffs and coasts of southern Tiahakim. Is her coming a portent, a warning of things to come? Or does she simply check on her beloved creation, seeking yet another glimpse to add to her endless memories?

Shadhavar - Music Given Form

The herds of Shadhavar that gallop along the southern shores of the Sea of Zalpha are a contradiction in terms. Peaceful and curious Monsters, they -- unlike other equine cousins -- are carnivorous. But their singular horns are one of the wonders of the world.

The Tiahakimi hold the Shadhavar in a special kind of reverence. Living, feeding, and playing in the coastal plains along the inland Sea of Zalpha in the north of the region, the people of the region see their equine neighbours as the closest living embodiments of the Sacred Form.

It is perhaps surprising that it is not their size -- standing 20 feet tall at the shoulder -- not their skin -- covered in shifting, irridescent geometric patterns -- that are the most striking features of the Shadhavar. Instead, it is their horns, a single growth prodtruding forth from their heads, that these giant horses are most known and loved for.

Filled with a variety of small holes and taking a range of shapes, when the wind blows, these horns produce a beautiful, solemn music. Shedding their horns once every five years, the Tiahakimi prize these gifts from the Shadhavar as instruments. Each majmae, a Tiahakimi choir that can be found in every settlement, regardless of size, possess one Shadhavar horn, and the music played on it is used to accompany the nightly songs performed all across the region that seek to reclaim the Song of Creation from the depths of memory.

Afrit - Devilish Prisoner

Deep in the scorching sands of the Golden Desert, beyond the areas that even the Tiahakimi will dare to dwell for long, stands an ancient stone citadel, long ruined by time and erosion. And from within rises a dark plume of smoke, seeming to reach out for anything around it.

None are sure of the origins of the Monster known as Afrit. The scholars of Sulhawa's House of Knowledge have only one reference to this most mysterious of Monsters, and none have had the courage or ability to confirm or deny its presence.

Deep in the Dune Sea, as this record tells, there once lived a civilisation whose name has been lost to time. These people had an ancient enemy, a being made of living smoke and fire. For centuries the Monster tormented them, lied to them, played with their lives for its own amusement. 

But one day, a hero emerged. A young woman learned the true name of the Monster: Afrit. Taking up a spear made of light, she named the beast to its face, temporarily breaking its power, and she cast it down into the depths of the nation's most secure fortress. There she chained it, and there -- the record states -- Afrit remains.

None have ever verified this account. Most scholars believe it to be an exaggeration or a metaphor, a retelling of some cataclysmic event. But some believe, and they seek to send out an expedition to verify the facts.

The End Is In Sight

Well, Chroniclers, we have only one week left in our campaign! I'll be publishing updates a little more frequently as we come to the end of our Journey, sharing some more amazing artwork with you and highlighting our art prints, which are available as add ons.

I also want to share with you some other projects -- two currently ongoing and two launching soon -- that you might be interested in.

Beside the Lesser Travelled Road - Hive Mind Games

Beside the Lesser Travelled Road is an incredible project run by two friends of mine, Josh and Josh, that provides system-agnostic scenarios to develop your rest periods during TTRPGs.

Featuring a whole host of amazing indie talent from the UK and beyond, BtLTR is well worth backing if you want to deepen the experience of rest in your games. You can find it here, and it ends tonight, so don't hesitate!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/hivemindgames/beside-the-lesser-travelled-road?ref=64r42f

No Mercy for Monsters - Unplaytested Presents / Jess Pendley

 No Mercy for Monsters is a currently crowdfunding zine project by Jess Pendely. I've been following this project really closely for a while now and I was very happy to be Backer number 1! 

NMfM is likely looking at Mappa Mundi through a mirror darkly. It tells a story of obsession and revenge and I recommend it to anyone!

Tales from the Spectral Sea - Sam Armstrong

Tales from the Spectral Sea launches later today and looks to be a deep, emotional, and rich take on one of my favourite genres: pirates!

While I haven't played the game myself, yet, I've been keeping up with designer Sam Armstrong's updates on it and will be backing it when it goes live later today!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/sam-armstrong/tales-from-the-spectral-sea

Zamanora: Ballad of the Witch - Eren Chronicles

Launching next week, on March 4th, Zamanora is a really exciting new project from Eren Chronicles drawn from Balkan and Slavic folklore. While folklore is normally a reason for me to back any game, I am especially interested in the Eren Chronicle's teams' take on these regions of Europe as we are playing in similar spaces when it comes to two of Mappa Mundi's regions: Domolov and Lechnitsa.

While we're not D&D people (and Zamanora is compatible with both D&D 5e and D&D 2024), our whole team are very curious about the Legend in the Mist RPG, which I backed last year. With Zamanora being compatible with it, this might well be my first entry into the game!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/erenchronicles/zamanora-ballad-of-the-witch?ref=9lt8t8

Update 4 - Half way point + Stretch Goal reached + a week of content!
24 days ago – Tue, Feb 18, 2025 at 05:37:23 AM

Well, its official! We have reached the halfway point in our Kickstarter campaign for Mappa Mundi - An Exploration + Ecology RPG! To this point, as of time of writing, we have raised £52,061 from 1,160 backers, bringing us to a total of 416% funded! 

This feels like a colossal achievement. In the run up to the campaign, I speculated with the team that we maybe had an outside chance of hitting £50,000. But here we are, and you -- our amazing community and backers -- have broken us through that barrier and we stand poised to go even further. So, to everyone reading and everyone who has supported us, thank you!

Social Impact Stretch Goals - Donation Value Increase

Thanks to your support, we have unlocked a new level on our Social Impact Stretch Goals. For those who don't know, we at Three Sails Studios have chosen to support the Save Elephant Foundation in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in their amazing work rescuing, rehabilitating, and caring for Asian Elephants and a whole host of other animals in need. 

Now that we have surpassed £50,000 in total funding, we will be increasing our donation to a fixed £2,500! This amount of money is going to do incredible work supporting the foundation, so thank you for helping us achieve it.

Note: the funds for this donation are being taken from our own company funds, and not from any Kickstarter funds raised.

A Week of Content

As we push through the middle of the campaign, I am very happy to share a whole bunch of new content with you, including two reviews, two Actual Plays, two livestreams, and more to follow.

Let's start with what we already have available!

Renegade Rolls review

Rich from Renegade Rolls discovered Mappa Mundi quite by chance, just before we launched on Kickstarter. After playing three games with his Discord community, he put together an amazing review of the game. Give it a watch to find out why Mappa Mundi is already his choice for Game of the Year!

No Place Like Home - A Mappa Mundi One Shot by Science and Sorcery

The team at Science and Sorcery put on an absolute masterclass in running and playing Mappa Mundi just last night. Written and narrated by Dr Khalil Thirlaway, with S&S members Nicola and Sam, and RPGeeks member Emily, playing as our Chroniclers, No Place Like Home is a beautiful example of the stories that can be told with Mappa Mundi.

MORE Actual Plays! Off Balance: A Mappa Mundi Adventure by The RPGeeks

Emily, it seems, can't get enough of Mappa Mundi. Starting tonight, February 18th, at 7pm GMT (8pm CET / 2pm Eastern / 11am Pacific), The RPGeeks will be running an original adventure set in the region of Lechnitsa. Narrated by Emily, and with a whole bunch of new Monster and Creature reveals, Off Balance promises to be an excellent example of Mappa Mundi gameplay!

Part two follows at the same time next week!

Livestreams - The RPGeeks and The Rookery

I am a busy man this week! On Wednesday 19th (that's tomorrow) at 1pm GMT (2pm CET / 8am Eastern / 5am Pacific), I'll be joining the RPGeeks for a live streamed interview over on YouTube. You can submit questions in advance or ask them live and I'll do my best to get them answered!

Finally, on Saturday 22nd at 7pm GMT (8pm CET / 2pm Eastern / 11am Pacific), I'll be live with the Rookery Publications team on Inside the Rookery, talking all things social action in gaming, and -- of course -- Mappa Mundi!

Signing Off - and an artwork reveal!

Thank you all, again, for your support so far. This campaign has exceed all our expectations and we're so excited to see where we can take it. The foundation you have provided will not only ensure the delivery and future of Mappa Mundi, but also a firm basis on which Three Sails Studios can grow. Not to mention, of course, the increased support we can provide to the Save Elephant Foundation!

Before I leave you for this update, I wanted to share the artwork and book entry for my favourite Creature in Mappa Mundi: the Tyvini.

Until next time,

George - Mappa Mundi creator and designer