The award-winning tabletop roleplaying game of political urban fantasy returns with a bold new edition!
Latest Updates from Our Project:
The Witch
10 months 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
about 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
about 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!
Shipping Updates & The Angel
over 1 year ago
– Mon, Dec 30, 2024 at 01:18:21 PM
Hey all!
While the larger Magpie Games office is closed until January 6th, we’re back with a quick end of the year update on shipping and an updated version of The Angel! Let’s get to it!
Shipping Updates
As a brief reminder, we are waiting on a reprint of the Deluxe Edition books due to a printing error with the invisible ink. You can read more about this error in our update from October. Here's where everything stands at the end of 2024:
USA - Shipping for all non-Deluxe packages is complete!
Canada - Shipping for all non-Deluxe packages is complete!
Rest of World - Shipping for all non-Deluxe packages is complete!
EU/UK - Shipping is ongoing, but should be finished soon!
Australia - Shipping is ongoing, but should be finished soon!
If you ordered a non-Deluxe set of reward, please contact us at [email protected] if you don’t receive your package by January 10th. Everything should be in the mail and to you by that time!
Deluxe Edition books: We have approved the final proof for the Deluxe Edition book reprint. Our printer is doing everything they can to get us the books, and we expect them to arrive in our various fulfillment centers by late January. We expect everyone who ordered a Deluxe Edition book to receive their copy by February 10th. Thank you so much for your patience!
The Angel Revamped
We’re so excited to release the next revamped stretch goal playbook to you: the Angel.
The Angel was never officially released for US1E, but it did have a limited release in an Indie+ publication years and years ago. The updated version takes many of the core themes and builds them into something much more driven—you are an angel sent by your choir to defeat a faction that has transgressed against the divine that you must now destroy, an Enemy worthy of celestial attention.
And yet… if you choose the path of the sword—invoking your own powers to destroy and humiliate the Enemy—you will quickly find yourself lost in a sea of corruption, an angel more attuned to vengeance than justice. Only by recruiting allies, valuing wisdom over might, and nurturing relationships will you find an end to the Enemy that does not destroy you as well.
Obviously, there are many influences for the angel, including archangels presented in film (Legion, The Prophecy, Constantine) and the main characters from The Satanic Verses, but another important inspiration is Gandalf from Lord of the Rings! After all, if one needs to defeat a great Enemy who has arisen to threaten all that is good, what better role model to follow than Mithrandir, the Wielder of the flame of Anor, the Grey Rider who knew that it was hope—not power—that can truly defeat tyrants.
We’d love any feedback you have on the Angel, especially playtesting feedback. Please email your feedback to [email protected] and put US2E Angel Feedback as the subject line! We can’t wait to hear what you think of the revamped playbook!
You can get your copy of the Angel 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:
Once again, thank you all for an amazing year. This project is so incredibly special to everyone at Magpie Games, both because it’s such a huge part of our story as a company and because we’re incredibly excited for folks to get a chance to play the game. Many of us here at Magpie Games HQ have been playing urban fantasy RPGs since the 90s, and it’s an incredible feeling to be a part of that tradition at this level. Thank you again for making it possible!
The official street date for Urban Shadows is March 6th, 2025, so stay tuned for more Urban Shadows news in 2025! In addition to delivering all the Deluxe Edition books, we’re also on track to deliver all the remaining stretch goals by mid-2025, including the four new City Hubs. We can’t wait to bring you even more Urban Shadows goodness next year!
