I'm also neck-deep in The Aquarium, which I think I'll do a full post on in a week or so. I think it's going to end up much larger than I had anticipated.
Fulfillment
Digital Updates
Several files have gotten face-lifts over the past few weeks, and as that's happened, we've been updating the downloads on Backerkit.
Perhaps the biggest news is that there's a few versions of the island map that are now available!! Actually, you can now access these versions:
Blank Map (like below) for Web
Blank Map for Print
Campaign Map for Web
Campaign Map for Print
Campaign Map, as printer-friendly as I can make it!
Manufacturing Update
No major details for this update. Things are still with the manufacturer, and they've found a few minor issues with some of the files, which we've addressed and sent back to them.
Missing Backerkit Surveys
About 80 people still need to complete their survey. If you can't find your Pledge Manager survey when you login to Backerkit, here are some things to try:
Search your email for "Response Needed — Get your reward for Raptor Ruckus", orÂ
Check your login, some folks end up with two different Backerkit email profiles, or
Hopefully what you get from all this is that we're (a) just as eager as you to get this thing over the finish line, and (b) not sitting on our hands. Even when the bulk of the project is currently out of our control with manufacturing, we're still excited to make more content for the game.Â
Expansive cargo tables, ship name generators, & more
Tons of designers, including some of the finest Harbourmasters and proven 3rd-Party publishers.
Arcane Scrollworks: Pirate Rituals
SkeletonKey Games, and specifically Ed Bourelle, are who got me into the world of MÖRK BORG originally. I remember boothing next to him at a convention and seeing his impressive Masticator Gate campaign book. At the time, I had purchased the core MÖRK BORG book a while back and had flipped through it, but couldn't quite parse what it was trying to accomplish. Thus, it had sat on my bookshelf for probably a year, largely untouched.Â
I asked Ed if he could help me understand what I was looking at, and his exact words were, "You've got to understand that it's 100% style and zero substance. You might be looking too hard. It's a really simple system."
He went on from there, but by the end of that chat, I had a better understanding. Within a few weeks, I had fallen in love, and within a few months, I was writing my first adventure for it.Â
FREE PDF & Manufacturing Update
about 1 month ago
– Tue, Sep 15, 2026 at 06:10:07 PM
Hello there,Â
Zac here. A quick, good update for this month:
FREE Digital Content
As we mentioned in last month's update, from here on out, you get free content every month until we start shipping. This month's release is a short PDF called Raptor Ruckus: The Aquarium, which gives you a handful of new aquatic dinos to toss into your game. It very well may turn into the beginnings of next year's Free RPG Day release.\
We've started the process of getting the digital files cleaned up and re-uploaded to your downloads. First up, several of the Set Piece Scenarios got face-lifts. You can download new versions of Bloodwork, Frillseeker, Playing God, and Spoiled Meat in the same Backerkit downloads section.Â
Once all the items are digitally ready, we'll start the process of updating/resending the items of DriveThruRPG as well.
Manufacturing Update
The factory has been reviewing all of our files, and while they're not done yet, they've gone through a bunch of them and only caught a couple of very minor items. So far, we're in the clear! Hopefully in the next couple of weeks they'll be able to give me a good timeline for production.
Missing Backerkit Surveys
About 80 people still need to complete their survey. If you can't find your Pledge Manager survey when you login to Backerkit, here are some things to try:
Search your email for "Response Needed — Get your reward for Raptor Ruckus", orÂ
Check your login, some folks end up with two different Backerkit email profiles, or
I don't know if you saw Brian and I's Shadowdark: Deck of Crawlers that released last year, but we've got something similar in the works for Raptor. The Deck of ??? will contain 36+ pregen characters that you can use as either ready-to-go PCs or NPCs.
Tarot-sized, double-sided, detailed pregens
Equipment sheet tear pad for tracking inventory
8 pre-sharpened pencils
All in a custom-designed, portable, toploading box
I think Brian will be announcing a landing page for them before too long.Â
PIRATE BORG: The Harbourmaster's Manifest
Finally, if you're into pirates...which is like the second coolest thing next to being into dinosaurs...I worked alongside Will Tramp to make The Harbourmaster's Manifest, which is basically the only book you'll ever need for encounters on the high seas!
140-page, premium hardcover
48+ original Faction-based ships
Crews, cargo, rumors, and plots for every vessel
70+ monster and NPC stat blocks
New ship types and templates
New naval combat actions and items
Expansive cargo tables, ship name generators, & more
Tons of designers, including some of the finest Harbourmasters and proven 3rd-Party publishers.
Files Sent Off, New Digital Assets, & Bonus Stuff
2 months ago
– Sat, Aug 15, 2026 at 06:00:24 PM
Hello there,Â
Zac here. Big news all around! We've handed off files for manufacturing!! Here's the process from here:
1. Manufacturer reviews the files for any potential issues. 2. We provided any revisions (likely minor), then they send us a round of basic proofs. 3. We approve the proofs (or make minor changes), then they go into full production. 4. They send us a final proof, just before binding the books. 5. Unless something truly tragic goes down, we approve the proofs. 6. They bind the books, wrap up production, and begin boxing/crating things for shipment to our two warehouses. 7. Product arrives in port, goes through the customs process, then hits the warehouse. 8. Everything gets organized, we charge for shipping, and things start going out!
You might ask, "How long will all that take?". The answer is we really don't know. It could fly by, with steps 1-4 taking a couple of weeks each, or if a lot of issues pop up (unlikely), it could stretch out. This is the part of the process where it's largely hands off for us, and it's up to the manufacturer to speed things along.Â
To that end, we recognize that we are behind in our delivery estimates, and there's really not a chance that we'll see product hit the warehouse before the last couple months of the year at best. So, we're going to hook you up in the meantime...
Enhanced/Extra Content
We don't intend to sit on our hands, but we realize that's what we're asking you to do, so for the next few months, with each monthly update,until we start shipping, we're going to be giving you extra FREE digital content.
This will be free to all backers, though there may be certain drops that only benefit certain books/expansions. We've got a thing or two in mind, but there's also a poll at the end of this that you can hit up if you want.
This all startstoday. I've uploaded a bunch of new stuff to Backerkit:
VTT Tokens for Fragmentation, the Stretch Goal Expansions, and an updated set for the core book
Maps & Assets including NPC and dino handouts, for the core book, Fragmentation, the 4 Stretch Goal Expansions, and the Quickstart
Fragmentation Expansion: Hermit of DinoIsland ready for download
PDF Updates for Fragmentation, the core book, bi-fold character sheets, and the Quickstart
We also have plenty to do going back into all the digital products and getting them 100% complete and "retail ready". This means doing stuff like:
Hyper-linked text on some of the books
Extra maps/assets where needed
Individual page and spread versions of each book
Finish out and kick out the island map
You'll get all those updates to the files as soon as I have them complete.Â
Gen Con 2026
This show is always insane, and it's no more so when I'm running the Limithron (Pirate Borg) booth, Eric is manning the Modiphius booth + running Raptor, Derrick's running Raptor, Frank's running both Pirate Borg and Raptor, and our publisher, Brian at Creature Curation, is fielding games of both Raptor and Vast Grimm with a selection of top-notch GMs.Â
Right around 200 people got to sink their teeth into the meaty haunch of Ruckus, which thrills us to no end.
(My view from the ship!)
All that to say, we're back home and will remain so for some time, so this is peek season for getting as much work done on this project (and the next expansions!) as possible.Â
Thanks for putting up with us.Â
Don't forget the poll!
TTFN,
- Zac G. & Team Raptor
PROJECTS WE LOVE
Oh! We also would love for you to check out a couple of projects. The first one, Dark Mythos for Shadowdark, I wrote a small adventure for and Frank wrote a bigger one. On the next one, it's Thomas, who's a friend of mine, putting together a killer looking Pirate Borg module.Â
Wanna See Something Cool?
3 months ago
– Thu, Jul 23, 2026 at 10:28:16 AM
Hello there.
Zac here.Â
Now, don't get too excited. These are just some "proofs" we got made from a local printer. The full print run isn't rolling yet...but this is the full book (on slightly thinner paper and without all the bells and whistles like the ribbons, spot gloss, etc.), and it looks GLORIOUS!
That's it. Just wanted to show you all.Â
If you're at Gen Con, swing by the Creature Curation booth #2245 or play in one of the games to see one of these proof copies firsthand.Â
TTFN,
Zac G.
July Update
4 months ago
– Wed, Jul 08, 2026 at 12:42:09 PM
Hello there!
Zac here. Lots going on!
We wrapped up Free RPG Day, which we worked on with Brian at Creature Curation. Turns out, several thousand of these bad boys were handed out at FLGS locations all across the country.Â
You can get resources for it here: https://creaturecuration.com/raptor-ruckus-downloadable-resources/. Additionally, Brian will be putting the digital files of this release on his site shortly, so even if you missed the physical copy, you can check it out digitally.
The Raptor scenario (Airborne) should be in your Backerkit downloads already.Â
Alternatively, if you want a physical copy, we'll have those to give away at the Creature Curation boothat GenCon. I think Brian also intends to have copies of the Quickstart and maybe some t-shirts as well. We're also running like....26 tables of games at the show, and there's still a very, very few seats left, mainly on Thursday and Friday: https://www.gencon.com/event-catalog?search=Raptor+Ruckus
What's still to do?
Fragmentation Campaign: last few pieces of art.
Final print reviews!
I swear to God, we're really at the final bits and bobs. It's always that last few percent that take the longest, but. we're. right. there!
TTFN,
Zac G. & Team Raptor
Projects We Love
Beneath Sacred Ground | Launching next week, this is a new scenario for my favorite RPG of 2025, and you'll be able to get the core book in the same project. It's 70s Italian Horror Cinema meets investigative mystery, it's gorgeous, and it's put together by one of our artists on Raptor, Nick Ribera! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chainassembly/beneathsacredground
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