About this project

HonorBound combines a role playing game’s character creation and adventures with a collectible card game’s simplicity and standardization. We have slowly evolved the mechanic at the base of the game over the last three years and finally believe it is ready for the next step, getting the game ready for production. To accomplish this we are gearing up for a massive Beta and must move forward with the commissioning of 200 art pieces that will depict the items, locations, abilities, and creatures of this world.

Game Mechanic

HonorBound revolves around the basic idea that your deck is your character. Each character card is an adjective, so character creation is as simple as deciding how your character would be described. This one deck is used to play in three distinct games, each representing a different type of conflict resolution- Combat, Social, and Skill. The game is designed to be flexible, with a basic mechanic that can appeal to casual players but offering depth through card interaction for complex strategies that can please hardcore gamers. Play itself can range from simple player versus player combat to lengthy and complex campaigns that would satisfy any role player.

To empower your character, or Knight, you must acquire items to bolster their abilities. Items are found in adventure packs, small boosters filled with everything you need to have a totally new experience- creatures, locations, and of course, loot. During the course of an adventure the game master, or Lord, uses these new cards as well as the ones he already has to craft an adventure based on the many scenarios offered in our book. Since the item flow is controlled your campaign character can easily be picked up and pitted against any other character without fear of imbalance.

To advance, your character you must accumulate honor. Unlike experience in traditional role playing games, honor is a fluid value. You may use your honor to wager for items, requests, and more honor during player vs. player interaction. Honor can also be earned by completing quests for the Lord.

Setting

The setting of the game is fantasy, turned on its head by preceding it with science fiction. Magic is just the word one might use to describe technology beyond their comprehension. The items of great power are but relics of a forgotten age in human history. Impossible beings designed for some ancient agenda now roam free. Philosophically we are attempting to ask the many questions that seem so prevalent today about humanity’s relationship with their creations. How do our creations shape us in turn? If we lost the knowledge to create how would we treat the remnants of the past?

The world of HonorBound is a designed paradise given to the Chyld, humanity’s direct descendants, by the forefathers they know only as the Ancients. Thousands of planets were terraformed for a populace who were no longer interested in progress but the infinite ephemeral experiences of living. So perfect was their environment that humanity forgot its former achievements and settled into an eternal adolescence. Villages grow from the earth, plants bear nutritious food year round, wounds heal instantly, and death is just a few seconds inconvenience before rebirth.

This blessed existence is not all the forefathers left. Many of the sins of the ancient empires remain to haunt the Chyld. Terrible weapons of war, immortal machine intelligences, and human subspecies now see their opportunity for power. The Ancients knew of these threats and created the HonorBound system to protect their decedents. It was decreed that the habitable regions of every planet would be divided into small domains, with a powerful command center known as a Spire at the center of each. Whenever the Chyld needed a protector, they would elect one of themselves to become Lord of the spire. The Lord could monitor the lands around the spire and create powerful Knights to serve and protect the Chyld.

This time, three thousand years after the end of the empire, things are different. The non-human factions have begun to gain power and the Chyld have forgotten the gifts they have inherited. Few of the Chyld remember the purpose of the Spires and how to select a Lord, but some intrepid individuals have stumbled upon the answers and taken control of one in hopes of restoring order to their near-perfect existence. Their newly created Knights find themselves in a broken world where they are the only ones with the power to restore it. They must find the tools of their creators, unite the Chyld in their domain, and rebuild the old empire to begin a new age of man.

Funds and Rewards

The funds we raise here are but a first step towards release. Every cent donated here goes towards the massive undertaking of adorning each card with a beautiful and unique illustration. We have gathered a large group of fantastically talented artists, featured in our video and links, who we believe must be compensated for their tireless efforts. As this money is not intended for manufacturing purposes we are not able to offer pre-orders for the game just yet. Instead we offer spots in our public beta, game art, and the chance to collaborate with us for your generosity.

Our hope is to have the game ready for printing by the coming spring, and printed and ready for sale for the 2011 convention season. With your help we can realize our dream, and hopefully meet at your regional con next summer! Stay tuned for more information as our closed beta gains speed. We will be posting concept art, videos demonstrating game play, and bits and pieces of story to tickle you appetite.