Why You Should Back Jungles of Kuauhtla

Expected read time: about 4 minutes

I probably don’t need to really say anything about the troubles the TTRPG industry saw about half a year ago. There’s been plenty of discourse about the OGL debacle, and I’m sure there’ll be plenty more! But one really neat effect of the kerfuffle is that it stirred things up, and now all sorts of wonderful and inspired creators are showing up. They’ve got unique ideas, artistic passion, and the courage to share it all with the world.

I haven’t made a habit of writing articles about other creators’ things, and truth be told, I haven’t proved consistent even with writing about everything Unraveled Archives is doing. But sometime something comes along that really speaks to me. Jungles of Kuauhtla: The Campaign Guide is just that special.

Here’s why.

Latin American Roots

I’m not Latin American, but I did live in South America for a few years. In Uruguay, to be exact. I know not all Latin American countries are the same! But in Uruguay I fell in love with the people, their language, and their heritage. Just earlier today I was working on Spanish translations of some of Unraveled Archives’ subclasses, and my mind just flooded with memories of walking the streets of Montevideo, visiting a small ice cream vendor in Paysandú, and hopping across the frontera libre between Rivera and Livramento, Brazil.

Again, I’m not Latin American, but I feel like Latin America is part of me. It’s helped to shape who I am, how I think, how I see the world. Even 14 years later, part of my heart is still there, sustaining a kinship that isn’t less real for lack of ancestral connection. So when I saw some promotional material for Jungles of Kuauhtla and how it explicitly called out its sources of inspiration, I just had to click and know more.

And now I know more!

The creators of Jungles of Kuauhtla (kind people!) have taken every care to make sure that they respect their source of inspiration. Even the members of their team who aren’t Latin American are determined to move forward with passion and care for the source material.

On their Kickstarter page they also point out that they’re using only Latin American illustrators for these themes, which is another sign of their commitment to doing things the right way, and also provides a spotlight for those illustrators and artists.

A Densely Rich World

If you haven’t seen their promotional material yet, I strongly recommend you head over to their Kickstarter page and check out their video that artfully showcases what the project is about! I’m inspired by the gorgeous artwork and the professional voice acting that help to depict the world of Kuauhtla. It’s all very well done! But it wasn’t until I saw the world map that I was struck with an immense desire to venture forth and explore, to meet the characters of the world, face its dangers, and unearth mysterious treasures.

This team of creators is putting together an evocative, detailed world. Instead of following the usual trend of giving just enough lore to entice DMs and players in and then expecting the DM to make up the rest, they’re putting a phenomenal amount of effort into providing extensive lore and adventure hooks throughout the entire book.

I know I want to run a campaign set in Kuauhtla one day, but from everything that I’m learning about the setting and the project, I’m also looking forward to just settling down with the book and a bowl of cereal and just immersing myself in all that it has to offer.

Grounded in Logical Fantasy

Fifth Sun Press has pointedly shown off in the art some of the technology available to the people of Kuauhtla, set right alongside Latin American fantasy themes. This is not the Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk, or even Eberron; it’s something all its own!

Everything’s connected logically, all based on the history and natures of Kuauhtla and the various peoples that live there. The world is full of people that have their reasons for being the way they are, living where they live, and for the choices they make.

The reality it’s based on makes sense and feels genuine, and the fact that it’s so similar and yet so different to our own helps build Kuauhtla into an inspiring setting that stands on its own.

Wrapping it Up

I could go on writing at length about this Kickstarter project, but the creators themselves have explained it all much better than I can. Of course there will be options galore for players and DMs, with unique monsters, subclasses, races, and more, but I just wanted to touch on some of the themes that stick out to me, and then serve as a voice saying “Yes, this is good stuff. Yes, you should back it. Yes, it’s worth the cost.”

The only complaint I have is that the book can’t be delivered sooner! But just like anything in life, doing things right takes time, and I can’t fault Fifth Sun Press for giving themselves lots of time to make the best product they can.

So go check out Jungles of Kuauhtla: The Campaign Guide on Kickstarter and check out all of this stuff for yourself! Of all the many great projects and creators you can support today, these guys really stand out. Don’t miss the chance to support them and get yourself a campaign book capable of giving you and your friends hundreds of hours of enjoyment.

And that’s all that I’ve got for today. Thanks for reading!

Happy gaming, and see you in the Archives!