February Progress Update! 👋🥸 Artwork, Writing, and More!
about 1 month ago
– Sat, Feb 28, 2026 at 02:53:15 PM
Howdy, Adventurers!
Writer & Art Director Meg, here! I hope you all have had a glorious month since our last update, full of gaming and good vibes and far less snow shoveling than me and a few of Nord's other employees have done... cries in Massachusetts
As usual, the team and I have been hard at work on all four of these books as they progress at various stages! Let's get right into it ❤️
🐉 CONTENT PREVIEWS 🐉
Items, locations, and dragons galore! 😱
Things are trudging along in the art department, with 16 artists currently at work between all four books! For your viewing pleasure this fine February, we have above:
- The Coat of Shadows, which allows the wearer to go invisible in the dark, or remain visible and simply look way cooler (I may have added the last part myself, oops)
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Dyo Nostra, a point of interest in the Campaign Setting within the strange underground realm of The Nexus. Legends say this sprawling maze was created by the ancient dragon Dyonia, who stored all of her magical essence in a crystal at the maze's center. Apparently anyone brave and clever enough to reach that crystal without the help of magic would be deemed worthy enough by Dyonia to inherit her long-dormant powers... 🤔
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Patchwork Dragon Leather Armor, a legendary armor piece that grants the user four random draconic traits in accordance to the elements of the dragons it was pieced together from!
- The Seafoam Dragon, a playful and mischievous water dragon that is as bubbly and unpredictable as the seafoam they produce! Unlike normal seafoam, the foam of this dragon has incredible healing and de-aging qualities. As a sort of joke or taunt for the aged humanoids that fascinate them so, Seafoam Dragons like to don unique foamy brows and facial hair that makes them appear "old".
- The Soul Dragon, a spirit dragon that can be born when a soul is not successfully restored or is beyond the normal bounds of revivification magic. Though almost all Soul Dragons are have True Dragon morphology (four limbs and two wings), their appearances vary greatly depending on what the creature originally looked like in life. Knowing this, do any eagle-eyed readers (and/or folks with good zoom on their phones!) have a guess as to the story behind the Soul Dragon key art? ✨
- And lastly, the Whisper Dragon, a sinuous five-headed air dragon that is drawn to secrets: confessions never spoken, letters never sent, or memories carried quietly by those afraid to revisit them. Whisper Dragons almost never mingle among mortals, preferring to quietly listen from the lairs they make in echoing spaces like abandoned bell towers, drifting cloud-wrapped spires, forgotten libraries, or cavern hollows.
We've also been working on a little surprise that both GMs and players should find particularly interesting...
CHARACTER OPTIONS! 🥳
The Elemental Dragons: Campaign Setting will feature loads of new character ancestries for players adventuring in Ouros (or whatever other fantasy worlds you want to carry them into!) Above are sneak previews of the Crystalkin, Icekin, and Earthkin, though other folk of the ten elements (including Ouros' unique take on dragonborn, and a few other surprises...) are in the works as well! We can't wait to see the characters you make with them!
🐉 GENERAL UPDATES 🐉
Hello from having just returned from TotalCon 2026! 🎲
Lead Writer Tom Knauss & I had an absolute blast getting to game with the folks in attendance! We met some very kind Nord fans, played loads of TTRPGs, and I set a personal record for the fastest character death I've ever had 🤣 I'd say "rest in peace", but seeing as she died by dire wasp poison while drowning in a cursed swamp... maybe we should just be glad she's resting at all. Poor Bartalia, we hardly knew ye.
Most notably, Tom got the chance to GM a few tables of Four Adventurers and a Baby (Dragon), which is the intro one-shot that will be featured in Elemental Dragons: Quests & Lairs! Though our party had a few close calls, you can rest assured that Puff the baby dragon (also pictured above) was protected, sufficiently burped, and safely delivered where she needed to go ❤️
Nord Games will be at a few other cons throughout the year, so come say "hi" and snag a seat at one of our tables, if you get the chance!
We're also just weeks away from the launch of our next Kickstarter, featuring our BIGGEST COLLAB EVER: Oracle RPG: Monster Mania!!!
Access all of your favorite third party TTRPG content from Nord Games, Hit Point Press, Loot Tavern, Grim Moon Studio, and more via our flagship app! Click below to get notified on launch:
👉 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nordgames/oracle-rpg-monster-mania
Don't wait to try Oracle RPG for yourself! Just download the app or head to the website below!
👉 oraclerpg.com
🐉 HANGIN' IN THERE 🐉
Since I have a bit of less fortunate news to share at the end here, my hope is that the photo above can help provide a bit of levity as I shout out our CEO & Professional Doofus, Chris Haskins. He owes me many thank you's for including a picture where he looked delightful, instead of one of the dozens of nightmare-fuel convention photos I'm saving for future blackmail 😏
Unfortunately, Chris and his family experienced two sudden deaths over the holidays that have led to a lot of difficulty and heartache over the last few months. This is part of the reason that I've jumped into a few new roles, and is also part of the reason why progress is going a bit slower for the Elemental Dragons books than initially planned.
Though we were originally looking to get the final files to the printers by late April for on-time Kickstarter delivery, we're now looking at end of July for an estimated file delivery date. This would push book delivery to December 2026. We'll work our dragon-y patooties off to keep trudging and mitigate delays as much as possible, but we'll also be transparent the whole way in case other complications arise.
In the meantime, however: if you're reading this and have a moment to spare, please consider helping to brighten Chris's Nordic spirit by leaving some love and well wishes in the comments below. Chris has been Nord Games' founder and fearless leader for almost 15 years now (!!!), and as his coworker and friend (and current thief of his Kickstarter updates), it'd be great if we could use this opportunity to send a bit of support his way ❤️ Thank you in advance to those who do!
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That's all for now! As usual, thanks a million for your support in both this project and for Nord Games as a company. Stay safe out there, be kind to one another, and we'll see you in March with another update! 🐉
Happy adventuring!
- Megan & the Nord Games Team
Happy New Year! 🐉 Content Sneak Peeks, Art Reveals & More!
3 months ago
– Mon, Jan 12, 2026 at 04:31:24 PM
Howdy, Adventurers!
Megan here, for a change – nice to meet you all! 👋🥸
Though I’m Nord Games’ Community Manager by day, I’m also the Art Director for this Elemental Dragons book series, as well as Lead Writer for the Campaign Setting and Contributing Writer for the Bestiary & Crafting Guide, Quests & Lairs, and Treasure Hoard books 🐉✨
The team and I have been hard at work chugging away on this project over the holidays and into the new year! Every week something new and beautiful takes shape that has me positively buzzing to share with you all (which is why Nord CEO Chris very kindly let me commandeer this Kickstarter update 😆)
So, grab a snack and buckle your seatbelts as I take you on a (long-winded) tour of the Elemental Dragons series as it currently stands – only possible thanks to your incredible support! ❤️
🐉 BESTIARY & CRAFTING GUIDE 🐉
DRAGONS!!! Aren’t they looking gorgeous?! 🥰
Our main dragon artists Mitch Mueller, Leonardo Giordano, and Lucas Melo are hard at work bringing the creatures from this bestiary to life. Above is a sneak preview of four new dragons, each from a different element. From the crystal element, we have the wise and illusory geode-born Amethyst Dragon. From the water element, we have the angler-fish-inspired Depth Dragon with a siren for a lure (terrifying). From the light element, we have the ceremonial Dawn Dragon that symbolizes beautiful beginnings. And from the air element, we have the brilliantly-plumed preyer-upon-birds-of-prey, the Sky Dragon!
For those wondering at specifics for content, we have great news! The Bestiary & Crafting Guide will feature 8 dragons of each element for 80 dragons total. Each dragon will then feature four stat blocks for the Wyrmling, Young, Adult, and Ancient variants of that dragon (or equivalent, since not all dragons age the same or are categorized as such). Lastly, the “Other Dragons” chapter will feature 20 miscellaneous dragons, which will have one or more stat blocks each.
That means, in total, the Elemental Dragons: Bestiary and Crafting Guide will feature 100 unique dragons, and a minimum of 340 stat blocks! Not to mention the Elemental Dragons you might create using the Dragon Generator included in the back… 😍
Writers Tom Knauss and Matthew Lastimosa are swift approaching a level-up as Draconic Sorcerers with all the writing and stat-blocking going on for these dragons, so rest assured that they remain in skilled (and increasingly scaly) hands 🙌
🐉 CAMPAIGN SETTING 🐉
Welcome to the world of Ouros! 🔮
Since the Campaign Setting is ✨my writing baby ✨, please know that it took concerted effort to keep this segment (relatively) brief… However, though I am wildly biased, this book is looking fabulous so far! Over 100 pieces of brand-new artwork will be featured in this book to depict its fantastical locations, strange inhabitants, and even some new ancestries/subclasses… 😏
For those who didn’t get the chance, you can find a preview of Zyrkan, the Shifting Expanse (one of the regions of Ouros) in our fourth Kickstarter update!
👉 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/nordgames/elemental-dragons/posts/4507796
As for the layout & content of this book: the world of Ouros is divided into four main realms (Northern, Eastern, Southern, and Western), which are separated by stark magical barriers that arose at the end of an ancient war. To cross between these realms, one must bypass those barriers by braving the dangerous underrealm called The Nexus (which was unlocked via our $100,000 Stretch goal – thank you! 🥳)
Each cardinal realm contains three regions, which all feature different biomes, creatures, lore, and occasionally even optional game mechanics. Each region will also feature eight points of interest – settlements, landmarks, dangerous destinations, characters/creatures, organizations, etc. – and each of those will come with their own unique artwork, descriptions, and a few adventure hooks for GMs & players who find themselves there. The Nexus works a bit differently, but will still be chalk-full of its own mysteries and dangers… 😈
So, for those counting at home: this book will feature 12 main regions, 96 points of interest, and almost 200 adventure hooks full of elemental and draconic goodness – and that’s not even including the Nexus! This world is shaping up to be a truly magical one, so I hope you all enjoy adventuring in it as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it ☺️
🐉 QUESTS & LAIRS 🐉
Who’s ready for some adventures?! ⚔️
Quests & Lairs is well underway, spearheaded by the incredible Tom Knauss! For those who don’t know Tom by name, you may still know his work, which has been featured in dozens of TTRPG publications over the last 25 years. He is both an incredible wealth of knowledge, and a fountain of surprising and hilarious ideas, both of which are present in his bestiary entries and adventures. Someday, when you all meet Slonk the potato-obsessed goblin, you will swiftly understand… 🥔
This book will feature 10 adventures for parties of various levels and gaming interests (roleplay-centric vs. combat-centric, darker themes vs. lighter themes, etc.) Because pre-written adventures can sometimes be difficult to learn (especially for new GMs, or for people like me who don’t possess functioning attention spans), we’re doing our best to make these adventures skimmable, intuitively organized, visually interesting, and full of advice for GMing each adventure to the fullest. Each adventure will also feature recommended starter hooks to lead players into the quest’s inciting events, as well as recommended ending hooks, for tables who aren’t ready for their journey to end just yet 💪 Though there will be options provided for those who want to play in the Elemental Dragons: Campaign Setting, all adventures function as stand-alone experiences, and will feature all the maps, stat blocks, and info you need to run the games!
For sneak peeks, please kindly ogle the incredible key artwork above for One Final Violent Waltz, the adventure I’m writing for this book! In this three-act adventure, a series of disappearances are linked to a traveling cellist called "The Maestro", whose music lures desperate souls deep into the jungle toward an eternal freeing dance. But something sinister lurks beneath nature’s stage: an onyx dragon who hoards contradiction, feasting on her victims’ ecstasy and agony as they agree to dance until death… (insert evil laugh here)
Also, for those of you attending TotalCon in Marlborough, Massachusetts from February 19-22, feel free to snag tickets or come say hi as Tom runs this book’s introductory adventure, Four Adventurers and a Baby (Dragon), on Friday and Saturday! You can find more info about TotalCon below:
👉 https://tabletop.events/conventions/total-con-40
🐉 TREASURE HOARD 🐉
Magic items abound! 🪄
As mentioned in the Kickstarter, Elemental Dragons: Treasure Hoard will feature over 400 new items inspired by elemental dragons. These items will be split into 50 Common, 100 Uncommon, 100 Rare, 100 Very Rare, and 50 Legendary items, all of which we’re hoping will range from totally badass to downright strange (balance in all things, of course… 😎) The book will also feature 20 relics with more in-depth lore, abilities, and possibilities (and beautiful half page artwork!)
For a peek behind the curtain: this book is the least complete of the four thus far, since (a) that’s a lotta items, and (b) item creation, we’ve found for us, is best done in bright bursts of strange inspiration. As Chris, Tom, Matt & I work on the other three books, we all have “Eureka!” moments that lead to frantic note-taking and Discord messages. These ideas then receive feedback such as “I love this!” or “... what?”, which then informs whether or not that item gets developed further 🤷 A normal process, I’m sure. But it did also result in the upper right item: a Siren’s Singing Bowl, made from the resonant “skull” of the siren lure from that Depth Dragon shown above… 🎶
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And so ends a VERY long update! 😮💨 Thank you to everyone who made it to the end! For now, we’ll get back to the grind, and will be back in February with another update! ❤️
Happy adventuring!
- Megan & the Nord Games Team
Final Countdown Livestream +Shout Outs
5 months ago
– Thu, Oct 30, 2025 at 08:01:27 PM
Greetings Adventurers!
Join us for the Final Countdown Livestream!
Shout Outs
We have lots of friends with projects that are live or projects that are launching soon!
Role with Class - 5E Class Playmats
Designate your space at the game table with all your level data in one spot! Select 1-12 class mats made of durable 12 x 22 neoprene.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/criteffect/role-with-class-5e-class-playmats?ref=d1y2p4
Lords of the Jungle (5E)
EPIC Aztec-inspired 5E supplements packed with jungle lore, dinosaurs, Axolotians and Lizardfolks! Foundry VTT Available!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mojibakeminiatures/lords-of-the-jungle
The Hut of Baba Yaga
Welcome to the "Dancing Hut of Baba Yaga"...The classic 90's D&D module re-imagined for 5E and OSR! Are you ready to step inside?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/team-sidequest/the-hut-of-baba-yaga
Alya's Guide to Sailing the Stars: DnD 5E Supplement
Discover a universe of modular astral ship rules, fate-twisting mechanics, celestial lore, and high-stakes treasure hunting gameplay.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dusky-cat/alyas-guide-to-sailing-the-stars-dnd-5e-supplement?ref=8v7uy2
Erebus Mythos: Vampyr - Greek Folk Horror For Shadowdark RPG
A short horror campaign rooted in Greek folklore, inspired by traditional vampire myths and strange events reported in 1846.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/storymodeprod/erebus-mythos-vrykolakas-an-adventure-of-greek-folk-horror?ref=4uhcdy
Tome of Mystical Tattoos III for D&D 5e
Tome of Mystical Tattoos III is the trilogy’s epic finale: 200+ beautifully illustrated magic tattoos for 5e that enhance your games, storytelling, and character identity. If you love flavorful gear designed to be easy to run and unforgettable at the table, then Tome 3 might be just what your table needs.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/natwuns/tome-of-mystical-tattoos-iii?ref=dq8s18
Happy gaming!
-The Nord Games Team
