A light hearted Lovecraftian game of urban destruction, for two to four players. By Lee Moyer, Keith Baker and Paul Komoda.
The End Is Very Nigh! Pledge now to get bring Doom to the planet Earth!
We've been watching the project with KickTraq and you can too.
Reality Shattering Quick Links:
History of the Game | Mechanics Walkthrough | Latest Updates
FAQs are at the bottom of this page.
No more building, a lot more smashing...
Once people came to Atlantic City to seek their fortune, to construct fine hotels and establish powerful monopolies. But you’re not here to build, you’ve come to destroy!
You’re one of the Great Old Ones – beings of ancient and eldritch power. Cosmic forces have held you at bay for untold aeons, but at last the stars are right and your maniacal cult has called you to this benighted place. Once you regain your full powers, you will unleash your Doom upon the world!
There’s only one problem: you’re not alone. The other Great Old Ones are here as well, and your rivals are determined to steal your cultists and snatch victory from your flabby claws! It’s a race to the ultimate finish as you crush houses, smash holes in reality, and fight to call down The Doom That Came To Atlantic City!
The Architects of Your Doom...
The Doom is a labor of love and terror from three exceptional talents. It is the brainchild of artist Lee Moyer, inspired by his love of the Cthulhu Mythos and disdain for a certain board game that shall not be named. Game designer Keith Baker is best known for the Origins Award winning card game Gloom, and he brings the same dark sense of humor to the devastation of Atlantic City.
Keith and Lee have enlisted the help of their friend Paul Komoda to design some of the more eldritch visual elements of the game. His talents can be seen on-screen in the prequel to John Carpenter's The Thing and Cabin In The Woods. He brings that vision and long association with H. R. Giger to his designs of the Great Old Ones.
Paul intensely focused on Juliette for the 2011 prequel to The Thing
In the box:
- 1 Game Board
- 2 Dice
- 4 Reference Cards
- 8 Plastic figurines of Paul Komoda's sculpts
- 8 Mythos Role Cards
- 16 Dooms
- 24 Gate Cards
- 40 Gate Markers
- 45 Chants Cards
- 45 Providence Cards
- 50 Wooden Cultists
- 60 Wooden Houses
And now also included thanks to your help in reaching our stretch goals:
- 8 Wooden Hotels
- 16 Tome Cards
- 8 Wooden Claws to track Doubles Rolled & Gates Opened
Backers who invest at least $75 receive a set of eight playable pewter miniatures sculpted by Paul Komoda in addition to the base game.
Be Rewarded for Your Sacrifice...
By backing this project you'll be bringing The Doom That Came to Atlantic City to retail shops, game tables and frothing cultists around the world. With your contribution we'll be able to go a long way towards the development of an expansion or two.
We have fantastic rewards for our backers:
- Copies of the game
- Pewter Paul Komoda sculpted game pieces
- Monochrome Inkodye shirts and hangable pop art style canvas prints
- Signed Lovecraftian art packs by Lee Moyer
- Original concept art by Lee Moyer
- An afternoon of gaming with Lee and Keith
- A custom, playable Old One role card based on your likeness
Shirt sizes, art preferences and shipping details will be sorted out via a post-campaign survey.
How The Old Ones Roll...
While elements of Doom are reminiscent of a certain real estate trading game, the gameplay is completely different. Instead of playing a puny mortal building a city or closing gates to save the world, you play one of the Great Old Ones, seeking to tear down the city, open gates, and destroy the world.
As an Old One, you have mutable traits reflected by Providence cards. So Hastur begins as The King In Yellow, but as the game progresses he could gain Flabby Claws and Membranous Wings. When you begin the game, your primary resources are your cultists, who keep you anchored to the world; however, certain actions call on you to sacrifice your cultists, and you can beat up other Old Ones to steal their cultists. Should you lose your last cultist, you will be banished until you can build up enough followers to return.
The second resource in the game are houses. As you move around Atlantic City, you destroy houses. The power you gain in this process allows you to perform the rituals known as Chants. When you destroy the last house on a space, you open up a gate on it. Gates add additional movement options and also grant their owner an additional power (though using this power requires the sacrifice of houses or cultists). Beyond this, opening gates is the key to victory. When you open your sixth gate, you win the game.
Image is of a prototype board and does not represent quality of final product.
However, every Old One also has a unique path to victory: Their doom. This is a strategic shortcut you can take that gives you a reason to use specific tactics in your choice of Providence and Chants cards, and something that adds replay value to the game. So there are houses on Boardwalk - but your goal is to destroy them, open a gate to Yuggoth, and ultimately to pull off the Ultimate Sacrifice.
STRETCH GOAL #1: $55,000 HAS BEEN HIT!
The Shadow over Boardwalk goal went into effect when we reached $55,000. The components of the base game have been expanded to include 8 wooden hotels and 16 tomes.
STRETCH GOAL #2: $75k HAS BEEN HIT
For our next trick we announce The Gate and The Key, a stretch goal for $75,000. In the original base game all doubles rolled and gates opened were tracked using a spare wooden house at the top of your role card. Now that this new goal has been reached we'll add custom wood "Claws of Doom" to help you keep track of the destruction.
To top it off we're also including shiny custom dice with our Beauty & The Tentacle logo where the single pip would be. All backers (of a tier including the base game) will receive the gate counters, custom dice, plastic figurines and our previous stretch goal, The Shadow Over Boardwalk.
STRETCH GOAL #3: $100k HAS BEEN HIT
We thank you for your ongoing involvement in your Doom and we are pleased to announce your selections from the dusty Archives!
For everyone backing at $100 or above, you will receive these three stickers of DOOM!
All backers at 200 and above will additionally receive this signed and numbered limited edition print of The Call of Cthulhu called 'Cthulhu Rising'.
You can declare your love of the game right now on BoardGameGeek.com.
With twenty years of gestation, play testing and reworking, The Doom has become a sharply honed work of fun-to-play satire.
Huge thanks to Coilhouse, io9, Wired's GeekDad, Quarter to Three, The Gaming Gang, Geek.com and Nerd Approved for notifying the masses of their impending Doom!
This card is not included in the game. It's an example of our custom playable Role Cards, from the $1k tier, as a "thanks" to Nadya Lev of Coilhouse!
"Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn."
FAQ
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After launching the campaign and starting a dialogue with the community, here and on BoardGameGeek, we realized that having pewter figures only for $100 was asking too much of our backers. To top it off we never really wanted to do cardboard markers in the base game but felt that including plastic pieces wasn't cost effective. We want everyone to have a chance to play and share the game, so we took a look at costs and made a few decisions:
1) The base game will now come with plastic figures instead of cardboard character markers. This does cost us more but not to the point where it will harm the project. The retail cost of the game will be around $60, so at $50 our backers are getting a nice discount for preordering.
2) We always intended the pewter versions to be a separate package. They are a $25 upgrade. The original reward tiers were meant to show this but we got caught up in the overall project and didn't fix them before launch. Now $75 will receive the base game & the pewter set. The $100 will get the base game, pewter set and a Beauty & The Tentacle t-shirt.
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We were shocked to learn that you lovely people could not read all of our credits in the movie.
So here for your convenience and viewing pleasure ~ our list of credits:
KEITH BAKER EBERRONEberron Campaign Setting
Eberron Campaign Guide
City of Stormreach
Dragonmarked
Dragons of Eberron
Player’s Guide to Eberron
Races of Eberron
Secrets of Sarlona
Secrets of Xen’drik
Shadows of the Last War
Sharn: City of Tower
OTHER ROLEPLAYING GAMESAt Your Service
Blood of Dragonscar
Blood of the Valiant
Classic Fey
The Complete Guide to Beholders
The Complete Guide to Doppelgangers
The Complete Guide to Wererats
Creatures of Freeport
Crime & Punishment
Denizens of Freeport
Descent Quest Compendium
The Ebon Mirror
En Route
En Route II
En Route III
Forgotten Lives
Friends of the Dragon
Living Lore
Occult Lore
Pathfinder Campaign Setting
The Penumbra Bestiary
Seven Civilizations
Touched By The Gods
CARD GAMES:Gloom
Gloom: Unhappy Homes
Gloom: Unwelcome Guests
Gloom: Unfortunate Expeditions
Cthulhu Gloom
Cthulhu Fluxx
COMPUTER GAMES
LEGO Universe
Dragonshard
Untold Legends: Dark Kingdoms
DC Universe
Everquest II
Icebreaker
FICTIONThe Dreaming Dark Trilogy
City of Towers
The Shattered Land
The Gates of Night
The Thorn of Breland Trilogy
The Queen of Stone
Son of Khyber
The Fading Dream
“Death at Whitehearth”
“Principles of Fire”
“And Weave The Spider’s Web”
“Shadows of Stormreach”
Eye of the Wolf
LEE MOYER
ONLINE GAMESMythos
Legends of Norrath
Sanctum
Sanctum: Bloodlines
Sanctum: Oppositions
Sanctum: Whispers
Sanctum: Revolution
Star Chamber: Origins
Star Chamber: Incursions
Star Chamber: Rebellions
Star Chamber: The Atok Incident
Star Chamber: Descent
Star Chamber: Maelstrom
CARD GAMESAge of Empires
Deadlands: Doomtown
Gloom: Unhappy Homes
Event Horizon
Legend of the Five Rings
Mark of Heroes
Mythos
Mythos: The Dreamlands
New Aeon
Over the Edge
On the Edge: Shadows
On the Edge: Arcana
SuperNova
World of Warcraft
Xeko
ROLEPLAYING GAMES13th Age
An Adventurer's Guide to Eberron
The Ascension of the Magdalene
At Your Service
Crime Scene
Ebon Mirror
Eberron Campaign Guide
Eberron Player's Guide
Eberron: Magic of Eberron
Eberron: Players Guide to Eberron
Eberron: Secrets of Sarlona
Eberron: Eye of the Wolf
Dungeons & Dragons: Storm Wrack
Dungeons & Dragons: Divine Power
Dungeons & Dragons: Adventurer's Vault
Dungeons & Dragons: Player's Handbook
Dungeons & Dragons: Dungeon Master's Guide
En Route
En Route II: By Land Or By Sea
Feng Shui
Game of Thrones
Gamma World
Hero Quest: Hero's Book
Hero Quest: Roleplaying in Glorantha
Hero Wars: Roleplaying in Glorantha
Hero Wars: Narrator's Book
Legend of the Five Rings 3rd Edition
Legend of the Five Rings: The Four Winds
Marin County New Age Society Cocktail Party
Nobilis
Nyambe
Occult Lore
Occult Magic
Rules to Live By
Rules to Live By: Supernatural
Runebearer
Shadowrun: Seattle 2072
Shadowrun: Jet Set
Thieves' Guild 7
Game of Thrones
OTHER KINDS OF GAMES:Axis & Allies
Dreamblade
Lost Worlds: Winged Gargoyle
Spellcasting 301: Spring Break
Star Trek
Starfire
Treasures of the Smithsonian
FICTIONCaitlín R. Kiernan. Confessions of a Five-Chambered Heart
Tad Williams. A Stark and Wormy Knight
Mark Hodder. A Red Sun Also Rises
Ethan and Malachai Nicolle. Ax Cop: President of the World
Ethan and Malachai Nicolle. Ax Cop vs. Everyman
M. K. Hobson. The Warlock’s Curse
Michael Bishop. The Door Gunner and Other Perilous Flights of Fancy
Caitlín R. Kiernan. Two Worlds and In Between: The Best of Caitlín R. Kiernan (Volume One)
Kim Newman. Mysteries of the Diogenes Club
Jake McDevitt. Cryptic: The Best Short Fiction of Jack McDevitt
Philip José Farmer. Two Hawks From Earth
Laura Deriu, Virginia Ayliffe, Cathy Hooke, and Richard Yaxley. Shakespeare Unplugged: Introduction to Shakespeare
Elaine Lee. Starstruck A Lovecraft Retrospective
Michael Swanwick. The Best of Michael Swanwick
Kim Newman. Secret Files of the Diogenes Club
Jonathan Maberry and David F. Kramer. The Cryptopedia: A Dictionary of the Weird, Strange & Downright Bizarre
Jonathan Maberry. Vampire Universe: The Dark World of Supernatural Beings That Haunt Us, Hunt Us, and Hunger for Us
Andrew Migliore and John Strysik. Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H.P. Lovecraft
Edgar Pangborn. Davy
Iain M. Banks. The Algebraist.
Elaine Lee. Starstruck: The Expanded Universe
Michael Swanwick. A Geography of Unknown Lands
Marion Zimmer Bradley. The Colors of Space
Raymond Chandler. Raymond Chandler's Marlowe: The Authorized Philip Marlowe Graphic Novel
PAUL KOMODA
I Am Legend
The Thing 2011
Cabin in the Woods
We would give you more of Paul's credits but certain unscrupulous Hollywood agents would have us killed.
And we really don't want that.
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Need another copy of the game to gift to a fellow cultist or keep locked away in mint condition? Simply adjust your pledge to the cost of two (or as many as you'd like) copies but keep your reward level where it is. In the post-campaign survey note the exact quantity of copies and figurines you've pledged on.
All copies of the base game come with plastic figures for $50. For additional sets of plastic figurines add $20. If you have pledged at that level you can only order additional plastic figurine sets. If you have pledged at $75 you may order additional pewter sets for $30 per additional set. You may also opt to change your pledge to the new $105 level which offers the base game with plastic pieces and two sets of the pewter figurines. International shipping applies per additional copy as well, so please calculate that in accordingly.
1,246
Backers
$122,874
pledged of $35,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
May 7, 2012 -
Jun 6, 2012
(30 days)
- First created · 5 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: theforkingpath.com
Pledge $25 or more
20 backers
Our undying appreciation and a high resolution digital download of "Cthulhu Risen", a great desktop background, by Lee Moyer. Access to all backer updates. A t-shirt with the game's logo, Beauty & The Tentacle, on the front. (For international shipping add $10.)
Estimated delivery: Oct 2012Pledge $50 or more
163 backers
A copy of the core game shipped out as soon as we get them from the printer. Figures not included, comes with printed cardboard character markers. (For international shipping add $25.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $75 or more
602 backers
A copy of the game with Paul Komoda's figures in pewter. The Beauty & The Tentacle shirt has been moved up to the $100 tier and will not come with this level. See the FAQs for details on the change.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $100 or more
145 backers
A copy of the game with Paul Komoda's figures in pewter. (For international shipping add $25.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $105 or more
181 backers
A copy of the game with Paul Komoda's figures in pewter. Plus an ADDITIONAL set of of all 8 pewter pieces. (For international shipping add $35.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $150 or more
45 backers
A copy of the game, with Paul Komoda figures in pewter and t-shirt with your choice of Old One concept art in Inkodye. No two shirts will be exactly the same. (For international shipping add $25.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $200 or more
10 backers All gone!
The game, Paul Komoda's figurines in pewter, and a pack of signed Lovecraftian art prints by Lee Moyer. A "Thanks To..." credit in the printed rulebook. (For international shipping add $35.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $205 or more
13 backers
BY BACKER REQUEST: A copy of the game, with Paul Komoda figures in pewter and t-shirt with your choice of Old One concept art in Inkodye. No two shirts will be exactly the same. One Beauty & The Tentacle shirt. THIS TIER AND HIGHER ALSO GET: The sticker pack from our 3rd stretch goal plus a signed and numbered limited edition print of The Call of Cthulhu called 'Cthulhu Rising'. (For international shipping add $25.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $250 or more
17 backers Limited (3 of 20 left)
A copy of the game with pewter figurines by Paul Komoda. A piece of original game card art from Lee Moyer, signed and mounted on thick card stock. A "Thanks To..." credit in the printed rulebook. (For international shipping add $35.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $375 or more
9 backers
For brick-and-mortar retail stores only! You get 6 games with pewter sets. Each game will come with a personalized card overlay for one street of your choice on the board. This street card can be personalized with the name of your store or the street your store is located on, with an logo or image of your store, to be used in place of one of the street names on the board. Plus 6 Beauty & The Tentacle shirts and 1 large Inkodye canvas for you to hang in your store. We will be verifying the existence of an actual store. If we can not verify this you will only get 4 copies of the game with pewter pieces, at full retail price.
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $500 or more
7 backers
You'll get a copy of the game with the pewter Old One pieces, signed Lovecraftian art prints by Lee Moyer, a Beauty and the Tentacle t-shirt and your choice of Old One concept art printed in Inkodye on a hangable canvas. A "Special Thanks To..." credit in the printed rulebook. (International shipping included in this and higher tiers.)
Estimated delivery: Nov 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
3 backers Limited (17 of 20 left)
Custom art for a Great Old One role card from game artist Lee Moyer and YOU. This card can be based on your likeness or on any real or fictional character of your choice. Lee says: "I'll create the portait you want and match it with any existing Old One Power!" Plus the game, the figures in pewter, the Beauty & The Tentacle shirt and "A Special Thanks to..." credit in the rulebook.
Estimated delivery: Jan 2013Pledge $2,500 or more
1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)
Game designers Keith Baker and Lee Moyer will host an afternoon of gaming for you and your BFF and then will take you both to dinner at a fancy restaurant in Portland, Oregon. Lee will design a custom, playable Great Old One role card for you both. You will get the game with pewter figures, an additional game for your friend with pewter figures, t-shirts for you both and "A VERY Special Thanks to..." credit in the rulebook. (Travel and other room and board not provided.)
Estimated delivery: Mar 2013
