The Mystery Flesh Pit National Park RPG

Conventions and Sneak Peeks
about 1 year ago – Sat, May 17, 2025 at 09:28:50 PM

CONVENTIONS

This year I can be found at three conventions, on online and two offline. For the meat space venues, I’ll be happy to sign any MFP books as well as share any Park Ranger/Guide cosplay photos in our future KS updates.  Remember last year?

GEN CON

The biggest convention I’ll be attending, Gen Con (July 31st to August 3rd) will be crazy as I’ll be helping Skydawn Game Studios* over in the Studio 2 alley. In addition, I’ll be dropping by the Monte Cook Games room to meet up with the MCG team.

*I will probably demoing the upcoming Phantasy Star ttrpg.

CYPERCON

If you want to run or play Mystery Flesh Pit anywhere in the world, the Cypher Unlimited Discord is hosting CypherCon online from Sep 18th to 21st, but GM registration is open now. I’ll be running a couple of games as well.

GAMEHOLE CON

  At GameholeCon in Madison, Wisconsin, October 16th - 19th, 2025, you will find me at the Monte Cook Game lounge. I will be running MFP games and playing some Cypher myself. If you are running your own MFP games at Gamehole, though, reach out to me as I’ll have a prop/swag by then that you can probably use!

SNEAK PEEKS

We have two sneak peeks for you on this update for both Cypher and 5e. We are just into editing for the stretch goal PDF, however, so advance apologies for the raw nature of the content for both games. We just wanted to share the cool things coming to you soon.

CYPHER

Our peek into the Cypher Stretch Goal PDF is the Manhunt Check. These are the essential rules, we’ve cut out the examples and finer details coming in the PDF.

Manhunt check (Optional Rule)

The Special Contingency framework is where the PCs are fugitives with cursed powers and on the run. The Manhunt check reflects when PCs might be attracting too much attention when they should be keeping under the radar.

At the start of the campaign your overall group has a Manhunt Level. It often starts at level 9 or 8. Though if the PCs just escaped from the government or an Anodyne facility, it could start as low as level 6.

Contact. Whenever one of the PCs interacts with authority, the GM rolls a d3, reduces the manhunt level by that amount, A successful manhunt check indicates the authority figure knows the PCs are on the run.

Cool Down. If any of the PCs can avoid interacting with those in authority for three days, their group’s Manhunt score goes up to one level per day up to the campaign’s current Manhunt level before contact was made. If the group makes a sacrifice to keep under the radar or off the grid, the decreased Manhunt score may go up two levels.

That is the core of the Manhunt check. The PDF has additional details including more things to decrease and trigger your Manhunt level, major effects and GM Intrusions.

5E

Here is probably one of the things 5e gamers have been waiting for, stats for the Abyssal Copepod!

Abyssal Copepod, Documented

Medium Aberration, Non aligned

Armor Class 17 (natural armor

Hit Points 119 (14d8+56)

Speed 35 ft./Burrow 30 ft.

STR      DEX     CON     INT      WIS      CHA

16(+3)  16(+3)  14(+4) 13(+1   7(-2)   10(+0)

Saving Throws Dex +8, Int +3

Skills Acrobatics +11, Stealth +11

Vulnerabilities Bludgeoning

Senses Blindsight 30 Ft., Darkvision 120 Ft., passive Perception 13

Languages -

Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)

Ambush Predator. During its first turn, the assassin has advantage on attack rolls against any creature that hasn't taken a turn. Any hit the Abyssal copepod scores against a surprised creature is a critical hit.

Elusive (Bonus Action). This creature takes the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The Abyssal copepod deals an extra 17 (5d6) damage when it hits a target with a bite attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 ft. of an ally of the Abyssal copepod that isn't incapacitated and the Abyssal copepod doesn't have disadvantage on the attack roll.

Actions

Multiattack. The dragon makes three attacks: one with its bite and two with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 13 (2d10+3) piercing damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6+3) slashing damage.

I hope you enjoyed the these excerpts and I also hope to be seeing you soon! 

Previews: The Gastric Whale in the Cypher Bonus PDF and 5e!
over 1 year ago – Sun, Feb 02, 2025 at 12:40:04 PM

Work continues apace on both projects and we have a preview from both the Cypher bonus PDF and the upcoming 5e rule and it is a big one, the gastric whale. 

The creature is slightly different between the two systems, much like two variants from different universes. For example, the Cypher gastric whale is a majestic creature but tread (swim?) lightly when you encounter one.

Gastric Whale 6 (18)

Considered gentle giants among parasitic wildlife, Gastric Whales are immense filter feeders which roam the expansive gastric seas within the Mystery Flesh Pit. Gastric whales are not true whales, however, being amphibians instead of mammals. Beginning life as a small larva, they grow to enormous adult size over several decades. Their diet consists primarily of floating colonies of fungal moss which grow like algae. Gastric whales feature an unusual “two-stage” mouth: the first “chamber” is lined with baleen-like filter teeth similar to those of a true whale, while the second “chamber” neutralizes the digestive acids of the gastric environment with alkaline chemicals produced by the whale’s body so that it’s food source may safely pass into the whale’s own digestive system. Like all wildlife native to the digestive biomes of the Mystery Flesh Pit, Gastric Whales constantly secrete a thick mucus which protects them from the digestive enzymes of their environment.

Health: 30

Armor: 2

Damage Inflicted: 7

Movement: Short

Conformity: Eased/Hindered. When not agitated the grace of the gentle giant causes a serene effect. An angered gastric whale, however, is a terrible sight. 

Modifications: Speed defense as Level 4 due to size and slow moving.

Combat:  These peaceful beasts do not retaliate unless startled, injured, or confused. The creature’s “attack” to being startled is a reflexive thrashing towards the target. A gastric whale’s unintentional slam easily damages nearby divers and Anodyne property. Once the creature feels safe, the thrashing decreases and it swims away from the unsettling stimuli.

Big Boi: These slams inflict double damage on vehicles.

Interaction: The team is assisting a crew on a gastric research submersible as they come upon a gastric whale swimming erratically.

Use: Providing a harmless, even noble,  beast that leans more into the wonder than the horror of the MFP universe. The creature is still a danger for those foolish enough to spook the creature.

GM intrusion: The PC accidentally drops a possession or vital part of their ventral EVA suit into the caustic sea.

Meanwhile, the 5e gastric whale is a noble creature best appreciated from afar -- or your whole world can be turned upside down. 

Gastric Whale

Gastric Whales are immense filter feeders which roam the expansive gastric seas within the Mystery Flesh Pit. Gastric whales are not true whales, however, being amphibians instead of mammals. Beginning life as a small larva, they grow to enormous adult size over several decades. Their diet consists primarily of floating colonies of fungal moss which grow like algae. Gastric whales feature an unusual “two-stage” mouth: the first “chamber” is lined with baleen-like filter teeth similar to those of a true whale, while the second “chamber” neutralizes the digestive acids of the gastric environment with alkaline chemicals produced by the whale’s body so that it’s food source may safely pass into the whale’s own digestive system. Like all wildlife native to the digestive biomes of the Mystery Flesh Pit, Gastric Whales constantly secrete a thick mucus which protects them from the digestive enzymes of their environment.

Gentle Giants - From A Distance

These placid beasts peacefully roam, filter feeding until something comes too close. Highly territorial, the creature brooks nothing Medium sized or larger getting close to it. Their attack is a body slam that easily damages nearby divers and Anodyne property. If the intruder moves away, the creature stops the attack and does not pursue. 

Strange Defense

Some gastric whales have exhibited a strange defense mechanism, regurgitating their emesis to create a thick fog partially digested of fungus to hide from what it perceives as an attack. Very often the fungus emits hallucinogenic properties that permeate everything in range, even through scuba and environmental  protective gear. It is an effect that fascinates Anodyne R&D, the department has authorized a bonus for those who can collect samples. R&D has clarified several times the bonus will not be awarded posthumously. 

Gastric Whale

Gargantuan monstrosity, unaligned

___

Armor Class   17  

Hit Points   193 (9d20+98)  

Speed   swim 60 ft.  

___

STR 22 (+6) | DEX  11 (+0) | CON 25 (+7) 

INT 3 (-4) | WIS 10 (+0) | CHA 20 (+5) 

___

  Damage Immunities acid  

  Senses   blindsight 60 ft.,  passive Perception 10  

  Languages   -  

  Challenge  14 (11500 XP)  

___

TRAITS

Amphibious. The gastric whale can breathe air and water.

Siege Monster. The gastric whale deals double damage to objects and structures.  

Calming Aura. A target within 10 ft. making a successful DC 12 Wisdom saving throw loses the Frightened condition.   

Legendary Resistance (2/Day).  If the gastric whale fails a saving throw, it can choose to succeed instead.

___

ACTIONS

Multiattack  The gastric whale makes four slam attacks.  

Slam. Melee Weapon Attack: +15 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. *Hit*: 28 (4d10)+ 6 bludgeon damage.  

___

LEGENDARY ACTIONS

The gastric whale can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The kraken regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn.

Slam. The creature makes one slam attack.

Retreat. This gastric whale moves their speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

Emesis Discharge (Costs 3 Actions). (Recharges after a Short or Long Rest): A 40-foot-radius cloud of emesis extends all around the gastric whale while it is underwater in the Gastric Sea. The area is heavily obscured for 1 minute, although a significant current can disperse the discharge.  A target exposed to the cloud must succeed on a DC 17 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The poisoned target is incapacitated while it hallucinates. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Enjoy the preview and thank you again for your support. 

5e and Pre-Order Update
over 1 year ago – Tue, Dec 31, 2024 at 03:33:44 PM

Personally, December was a tad rough and I am on a second round of antibiotics. I blame myself as our families had holiday plans and I traveled when it would have been much smarter to stay home. Needless to say, I went to bed early every night for most of the month.

Regardless, I apologize for not being as communicative about the confusion our Backerkit pre-order store has caused for the 5e rules set. 

To remind everyone, the 5e ruleset is a KS stretch goal while the Cypher System ruleset is the original funded project. Thus the 5e rules are still in development while the Cypher System books, POD Discount Links, and PDFs were delivered. We are in the cleanup phase of connecting Cypher customers to missing books and missing links.

What we discovered, though, is that when we processed the Cypher products from the Backerkit Pre-Order Store, it also processed some of the 5e pre-orders as well, adding to the understandable frustration.

The Pre-Order Store

Lessons were learned. For our project, using Backerkit as a pre-order store for both rulesets was not the best fit and we are sorry for the confusion it caused.  

We think going forward, it is best we stop taking 5e pre-orders to avoid any more confusion.  We are also hoping 5e will be available around Q1, 2025. Sneak peaks forthcoming. This will also let us focus on catching up with customer support and finishing our stretch goals (the bonus Cypher System PDF and the 5e rules.)

Again we apologize for the frustration and greatly appreciate your support. 

We are also very humbled you have made the Mystery Flesh Pit National Park Cypher RPG #2 on DriveThru RPG for several days now. It has already earned an electrum best seller badge!

Final Wave out for Cypher System, now hunting down loose ends
over 1 year ago – Sat, Dec 21, 2024 at 07:49:22 PM

Happy holidays from the Mystery Flesh Pit National Park!

For the Cypher System, we have sent all the POD books, PDFs (KS and pre-order), and Discount POD links (which was a pre-order item only) have been sent. 

For the digital rewards, please check your inbox and spam folder for a DriveThruRPG email. If you still can not find a link to your reward, please contact us via the KS Page, simply click on my name on the main page and then "Contact Me" on the dialogue box. 

Please let us know if you are a pre-order backer. 

We are still working on the stretch goal PDF and the 5e rules (the same rules engine running the upcoming Phantasy Star RPG!)

We will provide some sneak peeks in late January! 

Until then, stay healthy (I am still a bit under the weather), spend time with the family of your choice, and enjoy your deep dive into the Permian Basin Superorganism! 

Merry Bronchitis and something in your inbox!
over 1 year ago – Fri, Dec 13, 2024 at 08:50:53 AM

We ran had to iron out some technical printing issues around the same time I caught a bout of bronchitis that sucked every bit of energy out of me. 

We apologize for the resultant delays but KS supporters who are due the Cypher PDF should have a DriveThruRPG email in their inbox. Even better yet, those who have a KS pledge for books should have them on their way!

 (And, yeah, shipping is still a killer in this industry if you were curious.)

 What next? The next wave of deliverables will be those who pre-ordered Cypher system PDF discount links and Cypher System PDFs!

Stretch goals!

For 5e/Esper Genesis: We are doing some playtesting on these rules and so far, nothing is breaking except for the sanity of several PCs! We are aiming to have those rules in PDF/Discount POD links by Q1.

Next month we will start showing some familiar critters in these new rules!

The bonus Cypher PDF: This is getting a second pass. It will have more adventures, more monsters, and new locals for the MFP universe or any horror/modern cypher game – like abandoned malls and trailer parks.  

Thank you again from the bottom of my hear for your patience and understanding during this crazy time of year. 

Please enjoy your own holiday and the precious time you have with loved ones. And remember to keep it all organic this season with approved Anodyne products!