Mech combat in D&D. That alone would get most tables talking, but Heliana and Ryoko's Guide to Mythozoology packs a lot more into its 1,000+ pages. The Kickstarter campaign from Loot Tavern and DnD Shorts (William Earl's D&D YouTube channel, with over 320,000 subscribers) has raised more than $2.7 million from over 10,000 backers, with 11 days still on the clock.
The project is a crossover between two established D&D 5E brands. Heliana's Guide to Monster Hunting raised $1.85 million in its original Kickstarter and has since landed on D&D Beyond. Ryoko's Guide to the Yokai Realms was another crowdfunding hit. This new campaign combines both settings into a dual-book set that's already well past both predecessors in funding.
Beyond the headline mech combat (which lets players pilot massive constructs), the books include 100+ new monsters, 26+ subclasses, 16+ playable species, a brand-new Maker class focused on crafting, expanded harvesting systems, and collaborative summoning mechanics. The Maker class is particularly interesting for groups who've always wanted crafting to feel like a core part of D&D rather than an afterthought.
The campaign hit $1 million on its first day, more than doubling the pace of the original Heliana campaign. Add-ons include dice sets, miniature STL files, and a companion board game.
If your game night doubles as a D&D night, this is one of the most ambitious third-party supplements heading to tables later this year.
Sources: Kickstarter | TTRPG Fans | Loot Tavern