Hivesworn @hivesworn - Tumblr Blog

Sorry for missing some posts lately!

Sorry for missing some posts. We have a lot going on in the background due to the kickstarter and working on some things for the first stretch goal. a lot of the material you’ve seen here thats not in the main book will be featured in the bonus issue we’ve got planned.

The pebblekin are like modern day isopods. They can curl up into a ball for protection and to disguise themselves as stones. Due to having so many legs, damage to those limbs do not cause any movement restrictions.

onenicebugperday

Blue Cloud Forest Millipedes, Pararhachistes potosinus

Photo credit from top: eduardo_axel, guillermo89, poncho, kkacheltje, barbs, itamarriosruiz, and alan_rockefeller

hivesworn

Beautiful!

100% funded!

Thanks to everyone who made the kickstarter a success. we are 100% funded in the first 24 hours. please continue to spread the love and share with anyone who might want a cool quirky rpg!

A bug sized RPG with big adventure.

We have launched out first kickstarter!

Soon!

We launch the kickstarter on monday and i am super nervous. my hope is that this helps us gauge interest for the game and start building a community. i’m excited to get the game rolling and get people playing. i hope people love it and start helping me build out this world i’ve been living in the past few months.

Upcoming kickstarter

Starting next week we will launch a kickstarter for Hivesworn. What kind of rewards would you like to see?

the start

My name is Mike and all my life i’ve built worlds but lacked the confidence to share them with our world. I’ve created heroes and villains, adventurers and monsters and never believed in myself enough to share them. When i was diagnosed as bipolar it suddenly became clear why these projects dreamed up in a manic state never survived the depressive dip and saw light again. Hivesworn is the first project where i didn’t let depression win. It is the project the co-creator Zach overcame crippling perfectionism and a phobia of bugs to create.

Originally Zach came up with the idea of a mini DND kit that could fit in a small tin so you could game wherever you went. I mentioned that if we were going to make a gaming kit then we should make our own game for it and if we were thinking small, it should be about bugs. We toyed around with the idea of converting DND classes and races to be bugs but had a brainstorming session and started to build an entirely new system aimed at being able to start playing and run games quickly. We tailored the gameplay around the perspective of being a bug.

Hivesworn: Queensfall, To Fill and Empty Throne

Word has spread thru the HIVE about the Queensfall but nobug is sure what befell the Queen. The throne is empty with no clue as to Her whereabouts. Sickness or assassination. Desertion or dire plot. Nobug knows what has happened but many have ideas about what to do now. Her attendants are torn between replacing Her or searching for Her. There is no body but the connection the entire HIVE shares with Her is gone. All that remains is either panic or denial.

A council is quickly formed. Attendants and elates come together with representatives of each bug house within the HIVE. Bugs have been sent to neighboring HIVEs to check on their Queens. Others have been sent to search for Royal Jelly in hopes of growing a new Queen. More still have been sent to the Queenless settlements for help navigating a Queenless world.

Hive: Queensfall, The Leapspring and the Strongbacks.

Your HIVE finds a familiar leapspring on the side of the path, weak and starving. He is a local hiveless bug who sometimes trades with your hive. If you share some food with him he tells his tale.

Having spent the summer playing his music, as most leapsprings do, he did not notice his food stores were low approaching the cold season. He happened across a group of strongbacks carrying copious amounts of food.

The leapspring flagged them down and politely asked for a bite to keep him going. Instead of offering food, or even polity declining to share their haul, the strongbacks grew cruel and surrounded the leapspring. They mocked him for his laziness and attacked him, stealing what little food he had left. They told the leapspring that all food in this area belongs to their queen and he had better leave if he didn't want to become food himself.

Do you attack the strongback and take back the stolen food and some extra for the leapsprings trouble? Do you attack the strongbacks and keep the food for yourself? Do you investigate this Queen of Bullies?

If you find the strongbacks they could lead you to their Queen. But no Queens you know of could order such cruelty as these strongbacks seem to possess. Is this Queen the usurper you've heard rumors about? Is there a True Queen left after the Queensfall?

Strongback Brute

Cruel and uncaring, these strongbacks care only for gathering resources for their new Queen.

Difficulty: [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Reaction table:

1-2: The strongback attacks, roll on the retaliation table.

3-4: The strongback is cautious. Observes you.

5-6: The strongback ignore you, focused on their work. Free attack without retaliation.

Retaliation table:

1 Strongback attacks back, attacking bug loses a limb.

2. Strongback throws a rock at the attacking bug, close or nearby range.

3. Strongback pins you. You cannot move or act next turn other than trying to escape. Escape on a roll of 5 or 6.

4. Strongback knocks you back to nearby range.

5. Strongback punches you in the thorax, winding you. Lose next turn.

6. Strongback is dazed, does nothing.

Interrogation or conversation leads to the Strongbacks telling you of their Hive. They may even lead you there, though you might not be too welcome if the information was coerced. Their Hive entrance is found underneath an old leafless tree and winds down a bit. Depending on you welcome you will be lead to the throne room. Along the way you notice the Hive consists of mostly Strongback and many larger than most.

At the back of the throne room sits a large strongback being attended to by smaller bugs, fussing here and there. There are no eggs in the room and the Queen does not smell right? Bugs with heightened senses may even say she is a false Queen.

The Queen will speak to or interrogate your Hive. If talks go well you may end up with some extra food for your journey. If they do not go well or if you confront her as a false Queen she will trigger the floor to give way!

As you and your fellow bugs drop to the cavity below the strongbacks above you scramble to form a dome over the opening. Something doesn’t smell right! You notice a rat in the corner, perched upon a nest of animal bones and bug chitin. It seems like you have a fight on your hands.

Rat

Usually content to feast off the refuse of a forgotten society, Rats find bugs a tasty treat.

Difficulty: [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Reaction table:

1-2: Whips its tail, nearby bugs lose their next action.

3-4: Loudly hisses, disorienting all bugs. -1 die to their next roll.

5-6: Rat is curious and only observes.

Retaliation table:

1. Rat turns and kicks attacking bug, sending them out of nearby range

2. Bites attacking bug. Lose one Body.

3. Whips its tail, nearby bugs lose their next action.

4. Loudly hisses, disorienting all bugs. -1 die to their next roll.

5. Bites attacking bug. Lose one Body.

6. Hip checks all nearby bugs, sending them out of nearby range.

7. Bites attacking bug. Lose one Body.

8. Kicks dirt and dust at nearby bugs, disorienting them. -1 die to their next roll.

9. Loudly hisses, disorienting all bugs. -1 die to their next roll.

10. Rat rolls over, crushing nearby bugs. They each lose a body part of their choice.

11. Swipes a claw at attacking bug. Lose one Body.

12. Rat pins down attacking bug. Roll 1d6. On a success the bug is freed. Otherwise lose a body part.

Rage threshold:

2: Whips its tail, nearby bugs lose their next action.

4: Lashes out, roll twice on the Retaliation table.

5. The Rat gets more aggressive. Switch to 2d6 for retaliation tables.

7. Rat snaps at a random nearby bug, it loses a body part.

10. The Rat is defeated.

After the rat is defeated the bugs of the enemy Hive are cowed and lets you out of the hole. You may confront the Queen one final time. Desperate to maintain her Queendom she will try to secure your discretion about what you have found here or even join her as her champions. She may even be convinced or bullied into sharing her last stores of Royal Jelly.

HIVE: Queensfall, Leafcutter's Quest

Finding your way to Stumptown, you come across a leafcutter strongback selling tools and gear he creates out of leaves and foliage (see Stumptown). If you get him chatting he tells you of his teacher. A master leafcutter who can craft even mighty weapons out of leaves and silk. They had gotten separated in the chaos following the Queensfall but there have been stories of and old strongback defending the weak with blade and skill. The leafcutter is sure this is his master.

One rumor suggests he is on the trail of a corrupted hive, enslaved to some unknown force. If you dare follow his trail there is no telling the horrors you will face. (see Fungicide)

Another rumor says he was seen defending a partially submerged harbor town from hungry finches. Home to water adapted bugs and leaf boat pilots, Bugnautica is a rare site. These gatherings of Queenless into towns were not common in the Plentiful age, but are becoming necessary after the Queensfall. (see Aquapolis)

He may have retreated to his secluded home to meditate and practice his art. The leafcutter can point you to the path only if he really trusts you.

If you manage to catch up to him in any of these adventures he will offer to allow you to challenge him in a duel. If you succeed he will teach you to use the wonders he has wrought from twig and leaf. Each bug who participates will be allowed to choose on item. (See list below)

Master Leafcutter

This strongback is a seasoned warrior and artisan clad in his wares. Armed with a leafblade sword and his mandibles, sheathed in bark armor, he strikes a formidable form.

Difficulty: [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Special abilities: The Master has bark armor giving him 2 more body parts. He also has a hardened leaf blade allowing him to attack.

Reaction table:

No reaction table as he stands at the ready, waiting for your attack.

Retaliation table:

1 The Master counter attacks with his sword, lose a body part of Entomologist choice.

2. Deflects attack, no damage done. Do not count success of attack.

3. The Master attacks back. Lose a body part of your choice.

4. The Master uses his horned helm to throw you, moving you from nearby to close range.

5. He blocks your attack with a mighty blow, stunning you. Lose your next turn.

6. The Master sidesteps your attack. Do not count the success.

If you manage to defeat the Master leafcutter he reward you with one item from his equipment. An item will act like an equipable mutation, giving you aid to your attacks and abilities. They do not count against your mutation limit.

Leafcutter’s Blade: A blade of hardened leaf with a twig handle. Allows you to push dice when using it. Adds a dice to your dice pool when using it.

Horned Helm: This helm has a large and powerful horn. You may use your horn to attack, lift, and throw things. You can push successes.

Bark Armor: A protective shell of carved bark. Adds plus 2 to your body parts.

Hivesworn: Queensfall, Stumptown

Along your path you have been coming upon travelers. The frequency and amount of the travelers increase as you move along. Casual conversation and greetings reveal to you that most of these travelers are Freebugs or refugees heading to Stumptown. From what you can gather, Stumptown is a settlement of Queenless bugs making a go at a new type of society after the Queensfall.

As you arrive you see that Stumptown is a large rotted out stump that bugs are working hard to carry debris out of. Upon entering you see that they have been at it for a while. A large portion of the stump has been cleared and there is lodging, vendor stalls and even a tavern already set up.

At one of the vendors stalls you meet a Leafcutter, a strongback with special mandibles able to shape wears from leaves, grass and twigs. Win him over and he'll tell you that you where he learned his trade. He might even tell you where to look for his Master, who could fashion mighty weapons from a simple leaf.

(See Leafcutter's Quest)

The tavern is a cozy place full of tired workers enjoying fermented honey water after a long days work. Conversation and rumors flow, as they do in places such as these, and several sound interesting. Some tell of mindless bugs serving a false Queen (see the Voided). Others talk of cruel strongbacks robbing lone bugs to add to their food stores (see the Leapsring and the Strongbacks). If you talk to the tavern owner he might be persuaded to tell you where he gets his honey and rumors of a still living True Queen. (See To Fill a Vacant Throne)

This is an alternate logo i was working on due to my partner’s bug phobia but we ultimately decided to go with the old text book art aesthetic instead.

It’s coming!

Yesterday we did some recording for a video for our upcoming kickstarter. i’m super excited that we’ll be able to get this game out into your hands soon. We’re aiming out launch for a week from today so keep your eyes peeled.

pirably

Katzenkrake (…catopus? octocat? squidcat? …”eww”?).

I wanted to sew this since last october when I dreamed about Ford and this creature (inktober drawing here). The kraken’s eyes are noctilucent (not sure this is the right word, sry), the cat’s one are just big and sparkly. Aside from the eyes the creature is soft and squishy.

I would be very interested which side (cat or octopus) is prefered. And why. (Maybe both sides are “eww”). If you would like to comment, this would be great, thank you!

HIVE: Queensfall, Fungicide

Rumors can be heard on the road from the HIVE to Stumptown and even Aquapolis. Dark whispers of strange bugs on the borders of known trails. Bugs that do not behave like normal or proper insects. With dead eyes and strange growths, these bugs gather resources to take to their dark HIVE and have even been known to attack and swarm careless bugs.

A strain of fungus known as the Rot Queen has gained sentience and is enslaving local bugs to do it's bidding. Our HIVE must find the source of the infection and end it while avoiding becoming the fungus' new host.

The Infected act to gather food for the fungus and propagate by infecting others. the infected burn out leaving a corpse with a bulbed stem of spores protruding from the head.

Infected

Infected are zombified bugs with a spore stem protruding from their body, usually back or head.

Difficulty: [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Special ability: can Infect a Bug using the Retaliation table. If a Bug dies while infected, it becomes a zombie version of themselves with 3 Body Points and all the abilities that the Entomologist controls. Zombie Bugs cannot pass on has -1 to passing on traits. Zombie Bugs are not edible.

Reaction table:

1-2: Infected are preoccupied, do not react.

3-4: Releases spores to alert other infected to the threat. Two Infected join the fight.

5-6: Attacks, roll on the Retaliation Table.

Retaliation table:

1: Bites the bug. on critical fail it infects the Bug.

2: Calls for reinforcements, add an additional Infected to the battle.

3: Infected is dazed, no action.

4: Flees to find an easier target.

5: Shoots a stun spore, -1 die to bugs next attack.

6: Shoots a wide spread stun spore at anybug adjacent, -1die to their attack.

Infected Attendant

The elite guard of the Rot Queen fungus. They are like common Infected but still possess the ability of their mutations.

Difficulty: [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Special ability: Roll on the random ability chart and add that mutation.

Reaction table:

1-2: Infected Attendant are preoccupied, do not react.

3-4: Releases spores to alert other infected to the threat. Two Infected join the fight.

5-6: Attacks, roll on the Retaliation Table.

Retaliation table:

1: Bites the bug. on critical fail it infects the Bug.

2: Calls for reinforcements, add an Infected to the battle.

3: Infected is dazed, no action.

4: Uses mutation to attack.

5: Shoots a stun spore, -1 die to bugs next attack.

6: Shoots a wide spread stun spore at anybug adjacent, -1die to their next attack.

Rot Queen

The Rot Queen is an Infected Queen fused atop a tendrilled mound of fungi. It contains the corrupted mind of the Queen and that of the sentient fungus that now infects her. Instead of protecting her brood of eggs, she now protect the fungal mound that sustains her.

Difficulty: [ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ][ ]

Special ability: The Rot Queen's chambers is populated by an Infected Attendant and two Infected.

Reaction table:

1-2: Calls an infected to the battle.

3-4: Rot Queen is cautions, only observes.

5-6: Attacks, roll from Retaliation table.

Retaliation table:

1: Tendril smack, one damage.

2: Spits glob of fungus at random ranged or adjacent bug. one damage.

3: Shoots a wide spread stun spore at anybug adjacent, -1die to their next attack.

4: Tendril swipe, knocks back all adjacent bugs, enemy and player alike. they loose their next turn.

5: Rot Queen is dazed, no action.

6: Attacks and infects random adjacent bug.

Rage threshold:

2: Calls infected to the battle.

4: Calls an Infected Attendant to the battle.

6: 2 Rolls on the reaction table.

The rewards for defeating the Rot Queen is a cache of royal jelly. Roll a 1d6 when consuming. On a roll of one, the bug is infected and gains a mutation at random.

The Big Picture

Man is it hard to blog everyday. So today i’m going to reveal the scope of the world i’m trying to create here. i see this world as a trilogy of settings that shift focus to round out the game.

The Hivesworn Trilogy:

Queensfall; the introduction to the world of Hivesworn. The queens go missing from their hives which serves as a push for all of these bugs to change the status quo. This is a universal reason for any player character to stop doing normal bug things and go out into the world to see why. Why is the queen missing? Where could she be? Do i care that she is missing? How will my hive survive without someone telling them what to do and organizing us and spawning new bugs? Queensfall shoves the players out the door and starts to teach them to think like a bug.

Queensrise; Opening up the world of Hivesworn. A strange queen returns and tells you of your old queens fate. She was summoned to a gathering of queens. A royal superhive. She was judged on if her hive would survive the coming threat and was found wanting. With the new queen comes some of her subjects. new bugs with new abilities to strengthen the hive. We also open the world to neighboring hives. You can visit Aquapolis, the floating city of water bugs or the Nest, a moving city kept aloft by the flying denizens taking turns on hover duty. Queensrise makes the world of Hivesworn larger in scope.

Queenswar; The coming threat is here! A sickening buzz is in the air and the earth below boils as ancient slumbering warriors rise from the ground! The risen warriors are the Cacophony. A hungry combination of a locust and cicada, the slumber underground for ages only to rise and devour any resource they can before returning to the earth to spawn the next generation to rise ages later. Each time they rise the world of Hivesworn is devastated. The beasts and Predators are whipped into a crazed frenzy by the sound of their legioned buzzing. No living bug has witnessed the Cacophony but the Queensrise council has foretold of their coming.

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