Are you ready to run a Moonited Kingdom? Leave the barnyard in your past, because there is nothing that an intelligent cow can’t achieve. The only thing standing between you and becoming Prime Minister is the farmer. He’s mean and he’s watching you… Your goal is to escape, infiltrate society, and be the most successful cow you can be in Moo, a cow-based Solo/Multiplayer TTRPG from Driftforge Games and Critical Kit.
The game utilizes a standard deck of cards to control gameplay, with each card having a distinct effect on both the cow(s)/player(s) and the farmer/GM. Which is interesting. I’m sure it’s been done before, but I’ve never encountered that sort of dual system before. Using cards as a sort of AI Gamemaster is becoming increasingly common for solo games. But I’ve never seen it used in the way Driftforge describes it here.
They describe the game as “a game of disguise, sabotage, manipulation, betrayal, and a surprising amount of emotional nuance for something built around hoof-based espionage.”
“Each cow has their own stats, like Moo-nipulation, Graze Anatomy, and Udder Nonsense, which sounds like a joke but isn’t. The stats are real, and they matter when you’re trying to sneak into a town council meeting dressed as a small horse.”
“You’ll climb through five narrative tiers; escaping the farm, blending in, gaining influence, entering politics, and finally ruling the country. There’s even a win condition called Bovine Ascension. Yes, it’s as ridiculous and dramatic as it sounds.”
Pledge levels start at £15 for the PDF version of the book. For £28 you’ll get the paperback or £35 for the hardback version of the book. For £65 or £95, it adds playing cards, a set of dice and a t-shirt to your book, and £130 also adds stickers, a “MOOnifesto”, and a PDF.
Digital rewards are planned to arrive within a few weeks of the campaign closing. Physical books will ship in 3-6 months, which is honestly a pretty good turnaround. Stretch goals haven’t been announced, but are only hinted at, including custom cards and dice.
With the campaign half over, they are just shy of funding. While that might be a concern for some, the exemplary record of Critical Kit should alleviate any worries. I’m excited for the sort of ridiculousness that this game will bring to the table, and I hope to bring you more coverage in the future.
