The award-winning tabletop roleplaying game of political urban fantasy returns with a bold new edition!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
The Anointed & The Docks
9 months ago
– Fri, Aug 29, 2025 at 09:29:51 AM
Hello friends!
We have returned from the city streets of Indianapolis with some new stretch goals for you! If you joined us for Gen Con, we hope you had a fantastic time. If you weren’t able to join us, we hope your August was easy going and filled with games.
As we move through the final stretch goal material, we aim to have everything to you as soon as possible. We had hoped to finish everything by the end of summer, but it looks like we’ll have it wrapped up in September instead. Almost there!
Read on for a new playbook, the first stretch goal city hub, and news about a brand new city guide on Gamefound!
The Anointed & The Docks
We’re so excited to the final new stretch goal playbook to you: the Anointed.
The Anointed is a revision of an US1E playbook (the Hallowed), but it’s been virtually reworked from the ground up. Rather than focus on an anonymous collection of followers, the Anointed instead refocuses the playbook onto the leadership—you’ve been anointed by someone to remake a faction, and you might have to break a lof that faction to do it.
The Anointed is modeled after a number of real life organizers and rabblerousers, but it’s also based on Deacon Frost from Blade—a vampire so eager to change things that he turned himself into a blood god. We hope you enjoy a similar journey when playing the Anointed (minus Blade getting in the way of all of your plans)!
We’re also excited to release the first stretch goal city hub to you: the Docks.
The Docks is a Wild city hub—like the Art District—so it’s filled with opportunities to connect with the outsiders that have found their way into the city. Rather than focus on dreams and expression, the Docks are focused on transport and passage—smuggling, immigration, and more.
We’d love any feedback you have on the Anointed or the Docks, especially playtesting feedback. Please email your feedback to [email protected] and put US2E Anointed Feedback or US2E Docks Feedback as the subject line! We can’t wait to hear what you think of the new playbook and city hub!
You can get your copy of both releases via Backerkit’s digital download system. We’ve already pushed out the files to your account, and you should have received an email letting you know that the files are ready for download. If you didn’t, you can access them directly from Backerkit here:
Besides the new city hub and playbook, we’re very excited to announce Urban Shadows: Algiers & Angels. Urban Shadows: Algiers & Angels supplement is a 30+ page, softcover booklet, 8.5" x 11" full-color expansion for the second edition of Urban Shadows, featuring a new city guide (Algiers), a new playbook (The Angel), and a new City Hub (the Memorial District).
The supplement will include a full write up on playing the Angel, much like the playbooks have in the core book. This part of the book will be sent to you as a free PDF to thank you for your patience for all the delays this project saw. The majority of the book is a full city guide to Algiers and the city hub—the Memorial District.
If you’re excited about a brand new city guide in a beautiful printed booklet with an extra City Hub, Algiers and Angels will hit Gamefound on September 16th. You can follow along here:
As we head toward the final stretch goals and explore Algiers, we’re excited to begin finalizing the playtesting playbooks we’ve released to you and sending back the final versions. We’ll be back next month with more stretch goals and updates on how Algiers & Angels is going. Till we meet again…
The Witch
about 1 year ago
– Thu, May 29, 2025 at 03:08:50 PM
Hey all!
It’s that time! We are back with another update—now that shipping is done, our focus if full on the remaining stretch goals!
The Witch
We’re so excited to release another new stretch goal playbook to you: the Witch.
The Witch is one of our most-anticipated playbooks—she’s the Mortalis answer to the Wizard, a magic user who prioritizes the health of her community over some grand quest for power. Alongside her coven, the Witch is caught up in her obligations and duties not to an order or idea, but to the people who live where she lives.
One of the key concepts for the Witch is a vastly different understanding of magic as a function of the natural order. Small, benign spells, like a temporary love potion or scrying ritual, exist alongside nature without disrupting things too much, but dangerous magic—like a real love potion or a charm that would allow you to teleport—must always come with a serious sacrifice. And, of course, there may be forbidden magic that lies even beyond that…
We’d love any feedback you have on the Witch, especially playtesting feedback. Please email your feedback to [email protected] and put US2E Witch Feedback as the subject line! We can’t wait to hear what you think of the new playbook!
You can get your copy of the Witch via Backerkit’s digital download system. We’ve already pushed out the files to your account, and you should have received an email letting you know that the files are ready for download. If you didn’t, you can access them directly from Backerkit here:
We’re still looking for amazing GMs to run Urban Shadows (and other amazing games) with us at Gen Con! Team Magpie will be headed to Gen Con in Indianapolis Indiana this coming August! If you joined us last year, we hope to see you again this year!
All our GMs get an awesome swag package that includes a game of their choice from Magpie Games. And if you run 4 or more games, you’ll also get a badge to the convention! If you’re up for volunteering, and want to join Team Magpie, please fill this form out:
Now that shipping is complete, we’ll be updating you regularly with new play materials for the stretch goals. We’ll be back when the next stretch goal (either the final playbook or a city hub) is complete! See you in the dark heart of the city…
Shipping is Complete! & The Ancient
about 1 year ago
– Mon, Mar 31, 2025 at 04:44:00 PM
Hey all!
We have returned after a brief reprieve with another playbook and the final shipping updates! Let’s dive in!
Shipping Updates
Shipping is complete! Shipping for backers and for late pledges has completed. If you are still waiting for your package, or your package arrived damaged, please let us know by filling out this form:
Please let us know if you have any issues! Our customer service team will work diligently to make sure you get your game!
We’ve been loving all the pictures folks have been posting of getting their games! We can’t wait to hear all about your campaigns! Happy gaming!
The Ancient
We’re so excited to release another new stretch goal playbook to you: the Ancient.
The Ancient is an old god, a figure like Mr. Wednesday in American Gods or the Morrigan in The Alchemyst who has retained some portion of their ancient stature into the modern era. But while faeries and demons draw their power from other realms, the Ancient is obsessed with belief and faith, feeding on the meager worship mortals now offer in an age that has little use for gods.
While the Ancient might have strong ties to Wild—and can get Status-2 in that Circle with one of their playbook moves—they are ultimately a Power playbook, trying to carve out a future for themselves in the city by building a strong enough cult around them to eventually ascend and reclaim their original power as a god. And... the wolves are at their heels; if they don't find some way to secure their godhood, they will simply fade away.
To that end, the Ancient—like the Vessel—doesn’t have a corruption track. Instead, they have an ascension track that moves them closer and closer to the moment of restoration. Like the Vessel, they mark 1-harm (ap) when a move would have them mark corruption, but they only mark ascension when they can convince someone else to make a sacrifice in their name…
We’d love any feedback you have on the Ancient, especially playtesting feedback. Please email your feedback to [email protected] and put US2E Ancient Feedback as the subject line! We can’t wait to hear what you think of the new playbook!
You can get your copy of the Ancient via Backerkit’s digital download system. We’ve already pushed out the files to your account, and you should have received an email letting you know that the files are ready for download. If you didn’t, you can access them directly from Backerkit here:
Finally, huge thanks to Katarzyna Kuczyńska and Marcin Kuczyński (Game Machinery) for their work bringing The Ancient to life!
Thank You!
Thank you so much for being such an amazing part of the Urban Shadows journey! We’re so incredibly grateful for your kindness, support, and encouragement as we hit the finish line for the physical books! We’ll be back next month with another stretch goal!
Shipping Updates & The Restless
over 1 year ago
– Thu, Jan 30, 2025 at 12:16:29 PM
Hey all!
As promised, we’ve returned with more shipping updates and an exciting new playbook, the Restless! Let’s dive in!
Shipping Updates
The USA: Deluxe orders have gone out. We are now shipping late pledges! Shipping late pledges should be done before next week.
Canada: Deluxe books and late pledges are currently shipping! This should be complete by the end of next week.
EU/UK: Deluxe books and late pledges are now shipping! These should be sent by the end of next week.
Australia: Deluxe books and late pledges have arrived! Due to a few issues at our distribution center, such as warehouse capacity being taken up by large stock, Lunar New Year, extreme temperatures slowing down their packing team, and unforeseen project complexities, the completion time has extended. These orders will start shipping in early February!
Rest of World: Deluxe books and late pledges will begin shipping tomorrow!
Late Pledges: Please check your region above for information on shipping!
The Restless
We’re so excited to release the first new stretch goal playbook to you: the Restless.
In essence, the Restless is someone who did something truly awful, actions so damaging to the city that multiple Status-3 characters from different Circles came together to stop the Restless and punish them for their crimes. The judges destroyed the Restless’s body and condemned them to Limbo to suffer for eternity.
But… now the Restless is back, released out of Limbo into a new body by the very judges that once locked them away. But what kind of life can the Restless build in the ashes of the crimes they once committed? Who would trust them to be different now?
Playing the Restless means that you have to wrestle with the person you once were—like the Veteran—but also with your Dreams, the ideas that kept you sane in Limbo. Do you want to rebuild your friendship with someone you betrayed? Find a new place in the city to call home? Can you find yourself without becoming the person you once were?
The Restless is our first stretch goal playbook that isn’t a revamp or rerelease—it’s an all new playbook that introduces some exciting new ideas to Urban Shadows! Huge thanks to Alexi Sargeant his work bringing this new playbook to life!
We’d love any feedback you have on the Restless, especially playtesting feedback. Please email your feedback to [email protected] and put US2E Restless Feedback as the subject line! We can’t wait to hear what you think of the new playbook!
You can get your copy of the Restless via Backerkit’s digital download system. We’ve already pushed out the files to your account, and you should have received an email letting you know that the files are ready for download. If you didn’t, you can access them directly from Backerkit here:
Home stretch for shipping, dear friends! We are so grateful to see all your books arriving! We’re also so excited to be sending more stretch goals to you as this year progresses! Until next time, don’t forget to feed the city
Shipping Updates
over 1 year ago
– Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 10:40:44 AM
Hey all!
Happy New Year!
We are back from the break and diving into some shipping updates for you! Thank you for your patience as we checked with our shipping partners and got the most up to date information. Let’s dive in!
Shipping Updates
These shipping updates are only for people who have pledged during the Kickstarter:
The USA: Deluxe books have just arrived at the office and are beginning to ship out!
Canada: The Deluxe books are on their way to Canada! Things are slow crossing the border currently, but we expect shipping to begin in early February.
EU/UK: The Deluxe books were delivered to our reshipper on Monday! Orders will begin shipping on January 20th!
Australia: The Deluxe and regular books are still making their way to Australia/New Zealand. Both will begin shipping in early February.
Rest of World: Deluxe books will begin to go out to these regions early February!
Late Pledges: For folks who have pledged late, we will begin shipping your packages as soon as we finish with backers! These packages should begin rolling out mid-February!
We’ll continue to update you when new shipping information arrives! Thank you for your patience as we’ve gotten back into the office. We’ll return later this month with another update and another stretch goal!
