City of the Black Rose: A 5E & Daggerheart Horror Setting

Book Expanded to 164 Pages!
12 days ago – Tue, Mar 10, 2026 at 01:18:28 PM

Hey everyone,

We’re excited to share an upgrade to City of the Black Rose. The book will now be 164 pages instead of 156.

Because so many of you discovered this project through our friends at Darrington Press, and as more backers pledged for Daggerheart add-ons over the 5E versions, we'll be using those extra pages to include Daggerheart material in the front and back of the book.

If you're playing with DnD 5E, we've still got you covered, all backers will be getting all the 5E content we unlocked through stretch goals as a PDF as originally planned. Plus, if you’re using the book for any other system, the characters, locations and factions are still totally system neutral. 

So, to summarise, we're not changing any of the content, we've made extra space to add more!

What is the extra content?

The Daggerheart stat blocks for the Environments and Adversaries will now be printed in the back of the book. We'll also be boosting the campaign frame at the front of the book to include extra Daggerheart mechanics. We're working with Mike Underwood and Carlos Cisco, two of the designers who worked on the Daggerheart Core Rulebook, and we're so excited about how it's coming together!

This new content also means we can put “Compatible with Daggerheart” on the cover, so more Daggerheart fans can discover it when browsing the shelves of their local game stores once it goes into retail.

As the majority of the extra content that is being added to the book was already planned as part of the unlocked stretch goal content, this won't be adding any time to our schedule. The book is still on track to begin fulfilment in September 2026, and we're nearly done with writing!

What if I don't want the extra content?

We know some backers might have backed this Kickstarter campaign looking for something totally system neutral, and having the extra mechanics at the front and back may not be what they want. If that's you, drop us an email and we’ll refund your pledge – no questions asked.

Have a great week!

Sam.

Creative and Production Latest
about 1 month ago – Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 07:11:37 AM

Hey citizens,

Straight from my dimly lit desk*, here's the latest report, live from the City of the Black Rose.

* It's February, so everything is dimly lit here in the UK...

Timeline check-in

• 17th July 2025 – Pledge managers sent ✅
• 17th November 2025 – Pledge managers locked ✅
• 18th November 2025 – Pledge manager cards charged ✅
• 25th November 2025 – Existing Roll & Play Press digital products sent to backers who selected these add-ons ✅
• June 2026 – Fulfilment of City of the Black Rose digital products
• July 2026 – Pledge manager addresses locked
• September 2026 – Fulfilment of physical products begins 

Creative progress

We're into the home stretch on writing and illustrating the book. Once the book has been written and fully laid out, we'll then be spending time editing, proofreading and making any tweaks we need to.

I seriously can't wait to pull the curtain back and reveal the book. You're going to absolutely love it!

All the other supplies you'll need for an investigation in Mavros are also well underway. Here's a snapshot of the latest developments:

• The Mission Deck has been written, with 50 diabolical encounter ideas straight from the mind of GM Jeremy Cobb. These missions will throw everything at your players: hard choices, eldritch horrors, and endless opportunities for trouble.
• Designs for the Vinyl Sticker Collection have been sent to the manufacturers to create samples. They're the perfect souvenir for your travels around the city, from the enchanting Hotel Amarant to the toxic wasteland of the Slizz.
• The Pre-Generated Characters have all been developed, with options for both Daggerheart and 5E. We worked with Daggerheart designer Mike Underwood, to make sure these characters are perfectly balanced for your adventures, and artist Val Babayants to illustrate them. Check out these police sketches and let me know who you're most excited to play.

Production progress

The Dice Bag, Enamel Pin and Dice Set went into production last year, and we've already had samples to approve for the Dice Bag and Enamel Pin.

It's so great to see physical elements of the Kickstarter campaign at this stage! It's happening!!

Next in line to be sent to print are the Battle Map Pack, Mission Deck, Pre-Generated Characters, Tokens and Stickers. Watch this space for more updates on those.

For now, I'm off to chase another lead. Stay tuned!

Beth

P.S. Coming Soon

Far from the horrors of Mavros exists another world, one with its own epic potential for adventure. Follow us as we take to skies and soar into Altheya: The Dragon Empire. This is a high-fantasy, open-world DnD 5e campaign setting, where you get to be a hero in a world ruled by dragons.

If you're a fan of World of Warcraft, The Hobbit, Final Fantasy XIV or The Last Airbender, I know you're going to love running campaigns in this expansive, magical world. Click here to check it out!

Creative Update, and More Art!
3 months ago – Mon, Dec 22, 2025 at 08:43:37 AM

Hey citizens,

Happy holidays from the smoggy streets of Mavros. I hope you’re getting a well-earned break from the ore processing plants and run-down mines to celebrate.

Timeline Check-In

• 17th July 2025 – Pledge managers sent ✅
• 17th November 2025 – Pledge managers locked ✅
• 18th November 2025 – Pledge manager cards charged ✅
• 25th November 2025 – Existing Roll & Play Press digital products sent to backers who selected these add-ons ✅
• June 2026 – Fulfilment of City of the Black Rose digital products
• July 2026 – Pledge manager addresses locked
• September 2026 – Fulfilment of physical products begins 

Creative progress

Writing is going really well. Every time I sit down with this book it feels like the city gets stranger and more dangerous, which is exactly what we want. Whole districts are clicking into place, and the connective tissue between factions, locations and characters is getting wonderfully chaotic.

We’re also getting new art in almost daily, and wow. Seeing Mavros rendered in full detail is incredible – take a look:

Mapping Mavros

I’ve been working closely with Jeremy from 3 Black Halflings and cartographer Jog Brogzin to start commissioning something big: a map of every layer of the city. Lower City. Central City. Upper City. And beyond. This is one of those things that’s going to make running the city effortless at the table, and I can’t wait to show you more. Watch this space!

Production update

And finally, some very satisfying progress – the Enamel Pin, Dice Set and Dice Bag have officially been sent to print. They look incredible. Dark, stylish, and exactly the kind of thing you’d expect to find when digging through evidence files. I'll share some photos when the advance copies arrive in the next few months.

More news soon. Until then, the Roll & Play Press team will be away until the new year – if you have any questions, we'll get back to you as soon as possible when we return.

Thanks again for backing City of the Black Rose, I know you're going to love it.

Sam.

P.S. Holiday D&D Adventures

And hey, if you’re looking to add some festive fun to your tables while you wait, check out the One-Shot Wonders: Holiday Adventure Pack on D&D Beyond. It’s got five ready-to-run seasonal one-shots, battle maps, wintry monsters, magic items and more to sprinkle some chaos into your holidays.

Locking Orders and Charging Cards
4 months ago – Thu, Nov 13, 2025 at 11:09:10 AM

Hey citizens,

This update has some important info about pledge manager deadlines, as well as some top-secret insights into what's been going on in Mavros lately.

Timeline Check-In

• 17th July 2025 – Pledge managers sent ✅
• 17th November 2025 – Pledge managers locked ⬅️
• 18th November 2025 – Pledge manager cards charged
• 25th November 2025 – Existing Roll & Play Press digital products sent to backers who selected these add-ons.
• June 2026 – Fulfilment of City of the Black Rose digital products
• July 2026 – Pledge manager addresses locked
• September 2026 – Fulfilment of physical products begins 

Locking Orders

We’re locking orders for this project on Monday 17th November. That means you only have a couple of days left to edit your pledge rewards or throw in extra add-ons. If you need a quick link to your pledge manager, CLICK HERE.

If you fill out your pledge manager after the deadline, you could miss out on campaign-exclusive products and might receive your items later than other backers. 89% of backers have filled in their pledge manager so far, thank you!

Why are we locking orders now?

Some items (like our Black Smoke Dice Set) have a longer production time than others. That means we need to confirm numbers and start making those now. It also means we can digitally fulfil add-ons of existing Roll & Play Press products, like One-Shot Wonders and the Map Library, asap.

Charging Cards

We’ll be charging cards on Tuesday 18th November. You will be charged for shipping and any items you added in the pledge manager.

If there are problems with taking payment, BackerKit will notify you and then try again a couple of days later. The most common issue that comes up is expired card details, so now’s a good time to check your saved card is up-to-date. 

(If you paid via PayPal, payment was taken immediately after you completed your pledge manager, so you won’t be charged again.)

Locking Addresses

Your choice of rewards will be locked next week, but you can still change your address for the next six months. So, if you’re moving soon, don't worry. We’ll let you know when we’re ready to lock addresses, likely in June/July 2026.

Creative Update

Progress on the City of the Black Rose book is well underway! Here are my highlights from the past few weeks:

• Finalising the book synopsis with 3 Black Halflings (including parts of the city that have never been explored before!) and writing content for the book.
• Commissioning new artwork of city districts, characters and factions. The book is looking grungy and dystopian, just like it should.
• Approving the art for the battle maps in the Mavros Map Pack. Venatus Maps is once again knocking it out of the park!
• Prepping the Enamel Pin, Dice Set and Dice Bag to go into production in a couple of weeks. The samples look awesome.
• Hanging out with Jasper from 3 Black Halflings at MCM London Comic Con (UK). If you missed it, you can still catch up on our GM Masterclass Panel!

I can hear whispers from the streets of Mavros calling me back... so I should get back to work! Watch out for another progress update soon, and don't forget to fill in your pledge manager before it's locked.

Catch you next time,

Sam

Synopsis and Battle Map Progress
6 months ago – Wed, Oct 01, 2025 at 10:21:36 AM

Hey everyone!

I wanted to give you a quick peek behind the curtain at how City of the Black Rose is shaping up. Let me tell you, this book is already bursting with content.

Synopsis Progress

Work on the book’s synopsis and structure is well under way. Beth and I have been working closely with Jeremy from 3 Black Halflings, and together we’ve been planning out each district of Mavros. Every area has its own unique flavour and feel.

We're really driving up the contrast between the grimy Lower City, the art-deco Central City, and the extravagant, glittering Upper City. Even within each tier of the city, the differences between each district are striking. For example, the decaying, polluted slums of the Slizz are completely different to the lively, rough-and-tumble casino district of Caintown – even though both have the same depressing Lower City feel.

Populating these districts with Jeremy has been an absolute blast. We’ve crammed so many locations, factions and NPCs into this book already. This campaign setting is going to be a joy to play in (and by joy, I mean a dark and twisted urban nightmare).

Oh, and exciting news: we’re commissioning our first batch of character artwork this week! As soon as we have sketches and finished pieces, I’ll share them with you here.

Map Progress

On top of that, the incredible Venatus Maps has started bringing our ideas for battle maps to life. Here are a couple of work-in-progress previews I just had to share:

The Arcane Laboratory

The Jazz Speakeasy

These are already looking fantastic. I can’t wait to see the whole set when it's finished.

That’s all for now! I'll be back soon with artwork previews, and some more updates on book progress and add-ons.

Stay safe out there... if you can,

Sam.

P.S. Check out our new project!

Our kickstarter campaign for One-Shot Wonders: Volume 2 just became our most-funded ever, and currently sits at $580,000 with 4,950 backers!! It's a sequel to our best-selling RPG adventure collection, One-Shot Wonders, and we smashed our 7TH STRETCH GOAL! You can get both books, and a ton of battle maps, by backing the campaign.

Click here to pledge now