LionWing and Japanese Publishing Giant Arclight Team Up to Bring Kedamono Opera to Western Audiences

Posted by Bradly Halestorm · March 12, 2024

Cincinnati, Ohio (March 12, 2024) – LionWing, a pioneering force in the tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) space, today announced they will be translating Arclight’s hit Japanese tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) Kedamono Opera for the English market, with a crowdfunding campaign launching on Kickstarter later this year!

Kedamono Opera is a tabletop roleplaying game that revolves around a dark fairytale world. In this game, humans who are desperate and weak seek the help of powerful and immortal monsters. These monsters are only interested in consuming human souls and satisfying their own desires. The ultimate goal of Kedamono Opera is not to resolve matters efficiently nor to save humans, but to weave a beautiful tale, be it a tragedy or comedy, of your own making.

The whimsical and mystical world of Kedamono Opera is yours to define. However, there are a few guidelines that must be followed. First, the kedamono, which are creatures that include beasts, monsters, and fables, must exist. For them to exist, the Dark Forest must be present in their world. Secondly, humans exist, and they all worship a single god, regardless of who that might be. Lastly, the time period and location should be appropriate for a fairy tale, which is roughly Middle-Age Europe. Beyond these guidelines, the way humans view kedamono (some with hope, others with fear) and how the world enhances your story is at the heart of what matters most in Kedamono Opera.

In Kedamono Opera, players do not play the frail humans seeking aid but rather the kedamono themselves. Designed for 2-3 people, one person will take on the role of the gamemaster, the facilitator of the story, while the others pick from a list of kedamono, like classes or playbooks, each offering a unique set of tools to shape the story to come. Play as a fierce and vicious bear, a lonesome wolf, a sly spider, or even a shark. Each kedamono comes with highly evocative art from Nagabe of both the kedamono's true form and the person-shaped "lure" they use to speak to humans with.

Although the game's mechanics are simple, they offer great depth due to the Portents system. Using skills or failing trials can apply phrases or sentences to a Kedamono, which *must come true* by the end of the story. Though the GM has final say over how a Portent can be enacted, players are encouraged to come up with unique ways to weave their Portents into the story--or to find ways to rid themselves of them.

LionWing is launching a crowdfunding campaign for Kedamono Opera on Kickstarter later this year. You can head to the game's BackerKit landing page here to see more of the game: https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/82d02330-0f4b-4372-868f-0add5bfb450e/landing

For more information on Kedamono Opera, please check out the “News” section on lionwingpublishing.com, subscribe to the LionWing Newsletter and join the LionWing Discord server to interact directly with the team, and follow along on X @LWingPublishing.

About LionWing

LionWing is a highly specialized localization and publishing company committed to bringing captivating and imaginative Japanese tabletop games to the global audience. Founded in 2018, the company’s keen focus on quality and authenticity has made it a leader in the tabletop localization industry, bringing expertly translated and highly sought-after tabletop games from Japan to the English-speaking market.

LionWing believes that tabletop games should be accessible to everyone, regardless of language barriers. Their team of professional translators, editors, and designers work tirelessly to ensure that each game is accurately translated and beautifully presented.

For more news and information about LionWing, please visit https://lionwingpublishing.com.