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Huckleberry: A Wyrd West RPG

Created by Huckleberry RPG

Huckleberry is a TTRPG about tragic cowboys in a world doomed to calamity… unless you save it. Take on the profession of a Maverick: a grizzled bounty hunter who rides out beyond the bounds of civilization with nothin’ but a big iron on their hip.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Get FREE Playing Cards Added to Your Pledge & New Playing Card Reveal!
6 months ago – Sat, Oct 11, 2025 at 09:56:07 AM

Howdy, pardner!

Our Huckleberry marathon starts RIGHT NOW with three streams tackling bounties in the Wyrd Frontier. Two of these streams are hosting giveaways, adding a free deck of playing cards to the winners' pledges (S&H still applies). There are multiple chances to win- for every 25 people that join each stream, we'll be giving away another deck! Come hang out and celebrate Huckleberry's success with us. :)

12 PM Central - Garblag Games is kicking us off on YouTube Live as you read this! Aaron is running his Mavericks through our free Showdown at High Moon scenario, blazing through from start to finish in a rip-roaring session. Aaron knows how to keep his players on their toes and you don't want to miss it.

3 PM Central - Jump over to Twitch with Tales of Myth and Mayhem! Marc is finishing up his run of Showdown at High Moon that he started last week and buildings are gonna burn. Tales of Myth and Mayhem is hosting GIVEAWAYS! If you've pledged to the BackerKit, you can win an extra deck of our Huckleberry themed playing cards. This is a great way to pad out your Aces and allows you to "stack the deck" if you want to tinker with the odds. S&H still applies.

5 PM Central - Stick with the raid for the marathon's finale with Adventures in Lollygagging! Jeff (Huckleberry's editor) is running Veils & Vengeance with the same team of Mavericks from Lolly's run of The Divine Comedy last year. They may have survived their trip down the Huckleberry river, but will they survive their journey deep into the mountains of Pemberlee Ridge? Adventures in Lollygagging is hosting GIVEAWAYS! The more people in chat, the more cards we'll give away!

I will be in chat during all three streams, talking about the scenarios, answering questions, hyping our Mavericks up, and making sure y'all get plenty of free loot! Come join us and see how three master Trailbosses run the system. :D

Major Ignacio, the Queen of Clubs

For a long time, Major Ignacio Salazar struggled to find a way to return to the Fourth World. But as the years went by with no progress, he had to acknowledge it was a foolish errand. Now nearing sixty, Salazar doesn't know how much time he has left. He is determined to lay the foundation for Fort Águila to one day become the center of the Fifth World’s first federal government

Huckster Spotlight!

Nathan D. Paoletta, Huckleberry's layout designer, is funding a reprint of World Wide Wrestling, for the first time ever in a hardcover format! NDP has a true passion for helping new indie designers (like myself) break into the industry. When working on the mechanics that would go on to become Huckleberry, I was listening to his and Will Hindmarch's Design Games podcast on repeat. Both of his RPG Design zines live within arms reach of my desk for easy reference. Nathan continues sharing his game design experience on another favorite podcast of mine- the Unwritten Earths Symposium with Epidiah Ravichol (creator of Dread).

And that's not even getting into just how damn fun World Wide Wrestling is. I'm not even a pro wrestling fan, but still loved every moment of the game. WWW walks you through the kayfabe, requiring no knowledge of the sport, while still delivering a great experience. I honestly can't recommend it enough- a top tier game from a top tier designer. You've only got 2 days left to back it, so go show NDP some love!

World Wide Wrestling on Kickstarter.

Playing Card Reveal, Huckleberry Marathon, & New Stretch Goals :D
6 months ago – Fri, Oct 10, 2025 at 07:34:15 AM

Tomorrow, October 11th, we're holding a marathon of Huckleberry sessions! We have three amazing casts of Mavericks and Trailbosses, each ready to tackle the Wyrd.

Garblag Games will kick us off on YouTube at high noon. Also known as 12pm Central time. Aaron will be running his Mavericks through our free Showdown at High Moon scenario! They'll be blazing through from start to finish in a rip-roaring session. Aaron knows how to keep his players on their toes and you won't want to miss it.

Next, we're jumping over to Twitch with Tales of Myth and Mayhem at 3pm Central. Marc is finishing up his run of Showdown at High Moon that he started last week and knowing each of these Trailbosses, it'll be fun to see how wildly different each scenario ends. Buildings will be burning at the very least. Tales of Myth and Mayhem is also hosting GIVEAWAYS! If you've pledged to the BackerKit, you can win an extra deck of our Huckleberry themed playing cards. This is a great way to pad out your Aces and allows you to "stack the deck" if you want to tinker with the odds. S&H still applies.

And finally, we're raiding into Adventures in Lollygagging at 5pm Central for the marathon's finale. Jeff (Huckleberry's editor!) is running Veils & Vengeance with the same team of Mavericks from Lolly's run of The Divine Comedy last year. They may have survived their trip down the Huckleberry river, but will they survive their journey deep into the mountains of Pemberlee Ridge? Adventures in Lollygagging is also hosting GIVEAWAYS! The more people in chat, the more cards we'll give away! S&H still applies.

I (Steven) will be in chat during all three streams, talking about the scenarios, answering questions, and hyping our Mavericks up. Come join us and see how three master Trailbosses run the system. :D


STRETCH GOALS!

Y'all cracked $35,000 already! With this overwhelming support, y'all are turning Huckleberry into the best possible version it can be. Tons of new hostiles are unlocked, new player traits, and now we're going to be adding all new interior art! And not just spot art, but the high-end full page spreads. Y'all deserve the top shelf and that's what y'all are getting. George is going to be busy for the next few months, that's for sure.

$36,000 - UNLOCKED -  New Hostile: Alebrije.
Living hallucinations pulled out from a bad dream. Chimeric creatures that feed on people’s minds when they are sleeping. Their presence causes people to get drowsy and may even overtake entire towns, where the villagers go to sleep and never wake up, succumbing to hunger and thirst eventually.

$37,000 - UNLOCKED -  New Hostile: Bruja.
Women with bird legs they keep hidden with long skirts. They brew potions, weave curses, and turn into large birds or fireballs to fly through the night sky. They feed on children and torment young women to make them join their ranks.

$38,000 - UNLOCKED -  New Hostile: Anklebiter.
A crustacean that shelters in the sun bleached skulls found scattered in the wilderness. The Anklebiter’s claws contain a toxin with a strong numbing effect. Once snipped, you may find yourself stumbling over an unresponsive limb for the better part of an hour.

$39,000 - UNLOCKED -  New Hostile: Sanguine Swarm.
The fluttering of hundreds of leathery wings fills the air, followed by deafening sonic screeches and the gnashing of sharp fangs as this bat colony descends on you.

$40,000 - UNLOCKED -  New CHAPTER: Holes-in-the-Wall
A Maverick's Hole-in-the-Wall is almost sacred ground. It's where they rest, where they train, and where they call home. At $40,000, we'll be expanding the book with a whole new chapter dedicated entirely to Holes-in-the-Wall. Generating them, expanding them through play, and how they change with each Bounty the Mavericks complete or ignore. This chapter is being designed by Dylan Grinder and Kienna Shaw, two fantastic game designers that I'm very excited to have on board!


PLAYING CARD: Jacqueline the Queen of Hearts

Pejoratively known as "Rattlesnake Jake", Jacqueline is by far the most refined of her gang and resents the hard camp life she is often forced into after a heist foiled by an outfit of Mavericks.


Much obliged, pardner.
- Steven

This HYPE Train Ain't Over Yet! Q&A with Steven Tonight
6 months ago – Thu, Oct 09, 2025 at 01:53:05 PM

We're going full steam ahead! Huckleberry has been popping up in videos and articles all over the internet lately. If you're looking to learn more about our spooky cowboys system, I'll drop a few links below. There's a ton of great insights into the design and creation of the game, along with talk about our inspirations.

And tonight I'll be moseying on over to the Randomworlds TTRPG Discord for an open Q&A. I'll be talking about the mechanics and setting of Huckleberry, along with anything else people are interested in. If you have any burning questions for me, swing on by and give us a "Howdy". Starting at 7:30PM Central time.

Cool people talking about Huckleberry lately:

  • Video Interview: I spoke with Manny from Really Dicey about many of my inspirations for the game. He's one of the kindest people I've talked with and deserves all the love.

  • Review: Jimmi from Domain of Many Things had eeriely accurate insights into Huckleberry's design goals from his review. Does he have my laptop bugged?

  • Actual Play: The good folks over at Tales of Myth and Mayhem started their run of Huckleberry last week. The got through the first half of Showdown at High Moon- to be completed this Saturday.

  • Podcast: Tabletop Talk is one of my go-to TTRPG design podcasts, so being able to sit with Craig was a dream come true. The guy knows his stuff!

Much obliged, pardner.
- Steven

P.S. Do you have a show or channel and want to cover Huckleberry? I'd love to talk with you!

STRETCH GOALS! Hurtling towards $35k!
6 months ago – Wed, Oct 08, 2025 at 09:48:25 PM

OK, I'm cheating a bit!

We haven't quite cracked $30k, but we're close! We'll likely hit it in the wee hours, so I'm announcing the $35k Stretch Goal a bit early! But first things first. Let's talk a bit about what we've unlocked before we talk about what's to come.

Hitting $30k means we're expanding the number of Traits in the corebook. Traits are the foundation of any Maverick. Each category represents a unique facet of your character- the abilities that make your Maverick wyrd-er than all the other regular folk. There are four categories to choose from when creating your Maverick:

BLOOD
Blood Traits represent a Maverick’s heritage or ancestry. Mavericks can have the blood of demons, descend from powerful witches, or be touched by eldritch power. Blood Traits grant powerful abilities but can also have drawbacks, like odd compulsions or weaknesses.

FLESH
Flesh Traits are physical characteristics that provide Mavericks with advantages in combat and other challenges. For example, a Maverick might have a strong back that allows them to carry heavy loads, or a quick tongue that lets them talk their way out of difficult situations.

DISPOSITION
Disposition Traits represent a Maverick’s personality and influence how they interact with the game world. For example, the Maverick might be an intellectual that enjoys studying ancient texts and solving puzzles. Or, they might be a hot-tempered gunslinger who is quick to draw and even quicker on the trigger. Disposition Traits provide bonuses to certain Skills or Abilities and give extra opportunities to earn Aces. Mavericks can gain Aces from their Disposition once per Stretch.

CALLING
Calling Traits are talents that a Maverick has learned over their lifetime. This category includes things like public speaking, cooking, or medical training. These Traits are especially useful when Mavericks need to perform specific tasks, such as surgery or tracking.

What new Traits would you like to see in Huckleberry? Leave a comment and let me know. We might be able to make it happen! ;)



$31,000 - UNLOCKED -  New Hostile: Living Rock.
Camouflage is a common tactic in both mundane and Fifth World canyons, but being Wyrd-touched gives it a whole other layer. Living Rocks aren’t rocks at all, though you wouldn’t be faulted for mistaking them. At least, until the giant scorpions unfurl themselves from where they were sleeping and turn their irate stingers on you.

$32,000 - UNLOCKED -  New Hostile: Ahuizotl.
Feral quadruped creatures who stalk wells and other water sources, lying still beneath the surface, waiting to pounce on folks who approach to drink. They can mimic human voice and have a tail that ends in a clawed hand they use to grasp their prey.. They relish the taste of drowned, bloated corpses. 

$33,000 - UNLOCKED - New Hostile: Whisper Tree.
A gnarled juniper tree with branches that rattle without wind. Chitters echo from its hollow, dried trunk.
 
$34,000 - UNLOCKED -  New Hostile: Nocturnal Axe.
A headless corpse with its chest slit apart, each side opening and closing like a door to reveal its entrails. It prowls the night in search of people to cut off their heads. For some unknown reason, it prefers to haunt those who harbor fear and doubt.  
 
$35,000 - UNLOCKED -  New Art: More Spreads!
George is gonna be busy enough as it is, but I think we can press him for a few more goodies, don't you? If we hit $35,000, we'll commission additional full page spreads to make Huckleberry even prettier than it already is!

Much obliged, pardner!
- Steven

STRETCH GOALS! Part Deux
6 months ago – Wed, Oct 08, 2025 at 06:12:06 AM

Wow! I expected to have a bit more time before announcing the next batch of stretch goals, but y'all are hunting them down like they killed your favorite horse! Here's what's on the docket next:

$26,000 - New Hostile UNLOCKED - Charro Negro.

The spirit of an infamous outlaw who relinquished crossing over to the otherworld. He roams the land looking for a good target, someone he can offer anything they desire if they beat him in a challenge of their choosing. To this date, no one has beaten him once and he grows stronger with each soul he wins. 

$27,000 - New Hostile UNLOCKED - Nightmare.

A horse from your very worst dreams. Wreathed in infernal fire, the Nightmare gallops across the cracked earth leaving behind a wave of destruction and terror.

$28,000 - New Hostile UNLOCKED - Nahual.

Folks that can turn into a big coyote with human eyes and paws that resemble hands. They usually are respected members of their communities who secretly hunt their neighbors slowly but surely. Clever and dangerous.

$29,000 - New Hostile UNLOCKED - Darkness at the Lake.

A giant axolotl dwells in a lake in the middle of the desert, embodying a primal power of rejuvenation. Many seek to claim its powers for their own, but none have been successful.

$30,000 - New Content UNLOCKED - Expanded Player Traits.

The most common feedback I have for Huckleberry is that everyone loves the traits, but they want more of them! Who am I to deny the people what they want? At $30,000, we'll design and playtest new Blood, Flesh, Disposition, and Calling Traits.

Thanks, y'all!
- Steven