City of the Black Rose: A 5E & Daggerheart Horror Setting
Created by Roll & Play Press
Enter a gothic noir metropolis where crime and corruption rule the streets! A campaign setting for DnD 5E, Daggerheart, and all RPGs.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Mavros AMA and 1 Week to Go!
9 months ago
– Thu, Jun 19, 2025 at 12:37:28 PM
"Down here, the Upper Levels block the light. Time blurs, and you soon forget whether it's night or day..."
Is someone messing with the city clocks? How are we already heading into the last week of the campaign?!
In case you missed anything, here's the latest headlines from Mavros:
CITY OF THE BLACK ROSE AMA - TOMORROW!
Join Jeremy and Candace from 3 Black Halflings as they answer all of your burning City of the Black Rose questions in a live Ask Me Anything (AMA)!
The AMA will be hosted over on the Darrington Press Discord server on Friday 20th June, 12:00 PST / 20:00 BST. Huge thanks to our friends at Darrington for having us.
The channel is already open to submit your questions early, so dive in now. Click here to join - https://discord.gg/kGrk5uSy9h
Sam and Kay from the Roll & Play Press team will also be in the chat, answering your questions about kickstarter rewards and add-ons.
We'll see you there!
DICE, DANGER AND DAGGERHEART
Avoid any risk of spoilers in the AMA tomorrow by catching up with the latest Mavros actual-play adventures today. Featuring Jeremy Cobb, Caldwell Tanner, Candace the Magnificent, Connie Chang and Luis Carazo.
Both parts of the Dice, Dangerheart and Daggerheart one-shot are now live and available on all your podcast apps, and the Darrington Press YouTube channel. [CONTENT WARNING: suspense, death, graphic violence, body horror, gore]
STRETCH GOALS UNLOCKED
We're so excited about all the stretch goals you've unlocked so far:
🌹 5E and Daggerheart stats for Monsters!! 🌹 Extra Book Content for the Boonies!! 🌹 5E and Daggerheart stats for Environments!! 🌹 Extra Book Content for the Burbs!! 🌹 Podcast Vignettes from Noshir Dalal AND Ify Nwadiwe!! 🌹 Podcast Vignettes from Johnny Chiodini AND Ginny Di!!
Will we also see our last one rose bloom before the campaign ends? There's only one stretch goal left:
🥀 THREE new Mavros-inspired background audio tracks.
Over 100 of you have signed up for the Mavros Investigator's Bundle – thank you for loving it as much as we do! Isn't it awesome??
Not only do you get to take on the coolest job in the city, you get to look stylish doing it.
As a reminder, the deluxe Investigator's Case is a super-limited campaign exclusive. So, if you're on the fence, go for it!
Each one will be numbered, come with a signed book plate, and your pledge will get you a special credit in the book as an Executive Producer. You'll be the toast of Mavros.
Did we mention it also comes packed with all this good stuff?
I could talk about so many more campaign highlights, but time is ticking on...
Keep watch for more breaking news from your intrepid Mavros reporter,
Beth.
STRETCH GOAL UNLOCKED: Even More Podcast Vignettes
9 months ago
– Fri, Jun 13, 2025 at 07:11:44 AM
"This case goes all the way to the top! More suspects, more victims, more chaos..."
Friday the 13th might be unlucky for some, but not in Mavros.
Sixth Stretch Goal: UNLOCKED!
It's AWESOMMMEEE to be ending the week with another stretch goal unlocked, bringing us to SIX in total. In the past few days, you also helped us smash past the 1,000 backer milestone!!
As always, Jasper sums up our reactions best...
We're stoked to be welcoming Johnny Chiodini (Oxventure; Dicebreaker) and Ginny Di (YouTube; LEGO Dungeons & Dragons Game Night) to Mavros. The two new audio vignettes will be told in collaboration with our not-so-friendly-neighbourhood game master Jeremy Cobb.
FINAL STRETCH GOAL: Tabletop Soundtrack
Want to bring the atmosphere and tension of the podcast's incredible musical score into your home games? Of course you do!
Our next stretch goal will deliver just that.
If unlocked, we'll be commissioning THREE new pieces of background music and ambient noise, inspired by the City of the Black Rose podcast. These will set the scene, whether your party is staking out an abandoned warehouse, blowing off steam in a speakeasy, or diving into gruesome combat in the mean streets of Mavros.
The Adventure Continues
Curious what an immersive City of the Black Rose game sounds like? Both parts of 3 Black Halfling's Dice, Danger, and Daggerheart one-shot are now available, wherever you get your podcasts. It's also featured on Darrington Press' YouTube channel.
See what Jeremy threw at Connie Chang, Luis Carazo, Candace the Magnificent and Caldwell Tanner in this two-part adventure below. [CONTENT WARNING: suspense, death, graphic violence, body horror, gore]
Please keep spreading the word about the project by sharing it with friends and other RPG players. Drop this link in your group chats, sub-Reddits and Discord channels and dare them to join you in the City of the Black Rose:
STRETCH GOAL UNLOCKED: 8 More Pages, Including The Burbs
10 months ago
– Fri, Jun 06, 2025 at 04:53:30 AM
"If you ask me, there's only one thing scarier than life in the city. And that's life in the Burbs."
You did it again! The city keeps on growing, and it's all thanks to you.
Fifth Stretch Goal: UNLOCKED!
That's right – FIVE stretch goals unlocked, over 900% funded, and coming up to 1,000 backers. That's in just over a week. We honestly are blown away by how quickly we've reached these incredible milestones.
To celebrate, we're adding 8 brand-new pages to the core City of the Black Rose book, including all new Burbs locations and characters.
NEXT STRETCH GOAL: Even More Podcast Vignettes
Our next stretch goal sees two new souls get sucked into the dangerous world of Mavros...
That's right, 3 Black Halflings will record two MORE audio vignettes with brand-new guests. But who will game master Jeremy Cobb be telling tales with next?
Johnny Chiodini (Oxventure; Dicebreaker; Eurogamer; Call of Cthulhu Live)
Ginny Di (YouTube; LEGO Dungeons & Dragons Game Night; The Last Wardens; D&D in a Castle)
Soooo excited to see what Ginny and Johnny bring to Mavros. They're such amazing content creators and performers!!
These one-on-one, character-driven stories will showcase the city’s drama, danger and incredible music score. You can use the vignettes to spark inspiration for your next one-shot, or play them to your players as the dramatic opening scene that kicks off your campaign.
New Actual Play Drop
If you can't wait for more audio goodness from the City of the Black Rose – good news! The first half of a new Daggerheart one-shot just dropped wherever you get your podcasts and on Darrington Press' YouTube channel.
In this Lower City adventure, the owner of the famous Carnelian Casino is carrying out murders and doing something deeply sinister with the souls of his victims. A small band of heroes, haunted by ghosts of their past, will stop at nothing to bring him down. Starring Connie Chang, Luis Carazo, Candace the Magnificent, Caldwell Tanner, and, of course, game master Jeremy Cobb. [CONTENT WARNING: suspense, death, graphic violence, body horror, gore]
Please keep spreading the word about the project by sharing it with friends and other RPG players. Drop this link in your group chats, sub-Reddits and Discord channels and dare them to join you in the City of the Black Rose:
STRETCH GOAL UNLOCKED: Podcast Vignettes
10 months ago
– Tue, Jun 03, 2025 at 06:09:31 AM
“The radio crackles and two voices cut through the static. You've stumbled into a conversation you were never meant to hear...”
Can you believe it's been less than a week since this campaign launched?! Here's a quick round-up of the Mavros headlines over the past few days.
Fourth Stretch Goal: UNLOCKED!
This is a big one! You've unlocked not one but TWO brand-new audio vignettes set in Mavros. Two new special guests will be stepping into Mavros to tell an immersive and intimate one-on-one story with game master Jeremy Cobb.
I can't wait to see what horror, heartbreak and hilarity Noshir Dalal (Red Dead Redemption II, Critical Role: Thresher) and Ify Nwadiwe (Um Actually, Dimension 20) have in store for us.
If you've listened to City of the Black Rose season 2, you'll be familiar with the vignette setup. Here's a sample of Brennan Lee Mulligan's vignette:
You can use the vignettes to spark inspiration for your next one-shot, or play them to your players as the dramatic opening scene that kicks off your campaign.
Stay tuned for more info on how and when these audio vignettes will be available...
NEXT STRETCH GOAL: The Burbs
A strange liminal space. An unsettling hybrid of two worlds. We're heading out to the suburbs.
If we hit our next stretch goal, we’ll unlock 8 new pages for the City of the Black Rose book. That includes a section on the Burbs – an area just outside the city proper that is anything but comfortable and safe.
More Cool Stuff!
Smashing through four stretch goals isn't the only exciting news from the last few days!
AGE OF UMBRA
Did you spot the City of the Black Rose book mentioned on Critical Role's new Age of Umbra mini-series? Spoiler: Matt Mercer called the City of the Black Rose "F***ING AWESOME!" Thanks, Matt.
UK GAMES EXPO
We were also at UKGE this weekend. On Friday, we were joined by Jasper from 3BH – it was great to chat to so many of you about the campaign and show you the physical book cover!
Please keep spreading the word about the project by sharing it with friends and other RPG fans. Drop this link in your group chats, sub-Reddits and Discord channels and dare them to join you in the City of the Black Rose:
STRETCH GOAL UNLOCKED: Mavros Environments
10 months ago
– Sat, May 31, 2025 at 04:22:49 AM
“In Mavros, even the walls have stories to tell. Some whisper. Some scream...”
This is our third day, and our third stretch goal. WILD.
Third Stretch Goal: UNLOCKED!
Thanks to your incredible support, we've unlocked another stretch goal, the Mavros Environments PDF! Every backer will now receive this atmospheric add-on that features 10 Daggerheart environment stat blocks, and 10 DnD 5E lair effects.
You’ve made it possible to bring the shadowy alleys, skyscrapers and factories of Mavros to life. Literally. Your players will thank you later, no doubt.
And now… things are about to get even more interesting.
NEXT STRETCH GOAL: Podcast Vignettes
If we hit our next stretch goal, 3 Black Halflings are going to cook up something really special. Two brand-new audio vignettes set in Mavros, with two very special guests. These one-on-one, character-driven stories will showcase the city’s drama, danger and incredible music score like nothing else.
You can use the vignettes to spark inspiration for your next one-shot, or play them to your players as the dramatic opening scene that kicks off your campaign. Pleasepleaseplease let's hit this stretch goal!!
And the voices who will bring these tales to life with game master Jeremy Cobb?
Noshir Dalal (Red Dead Redemption II, Critical Role: Thresher, League of Legends, Marvel's Spider-Man 2)
If you've listened to City of the Black Rose season 2, you'll be familiar with the vignette setup. Here's a sample of Brennan Lee Mulligan's vignette. It still gives me the shivers...
Please keep spreading the word about the project by sharing it with friends and other RPG fans. Drop this link in your group chats, sub-Reddits and Discord channels and dare them to join you in the City of the Black Rose:
