A Kickstarter for a tabletop role-playing game based in the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender has already surpassed its initial goal of $50,000. After just twelve hours on the crowdfunding platform, Avatar Legends: The Role-Playing Game reached more than $1,000,000 in total donations. It’s long been a popular opinion that an Avatar: The Last Airbender tabletop RPG would be well-suited to the show’s universe, and it now looks like that marriage of source material and medium is becoming a reality.
The world of Avatar: The Last Airbender is broken up into four distinct nations, each closely linked to one of four elements: earth, water, fire, and air. Many of the inhabitants of these nations possess the ability to control the element connected to their place of origin, a practice known as bending. Peace between nations is maintained by the Avatar, an ordained individual with the ability to control all four elements. The conflict between these nations and the links drawn between the four elements and various spiritual or philosophical tendencies made the show’s worldbuilding stand out, especially against more straightforward cartoons. Thanks to such a rich fictional setting, many fans have been hoping for more interactive Avatar: The Last Airbender experiences.
If Magpie Games’ Kickstarter campaign for Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game is any indication, a new immersive Avatar experience is well on its way. After just a half-day on the popular crowdfunding site, the tabletop game, which allows players to engage with a variety of story paths during different eras of the show’s universe, rocketed past its modest goal of $50,000 to reach $1,040,000. At the time of writing, the Kickstarter is currently sitting at just under $2,400,000.
The Kickstarter has already met all of its stretch goals thanks to the contributions of more than 19,000 backers. Some of these stretch goals include a custom dice bundle, additional playbooks, and new NPCs like Princess Azula and Tenzin. These bonuses feature content from both Avatar: The Last Airbender and spin-off series Legend of Korra.
The campaign’s success so far mirrors other recent tabletop crowdfunding hits like the Assassin’s Creed Valhalla Orlog Kickstarter, which also quickly surpassed its initial goal. These successes could be due to a general desire from fans to see their beloved TV and gaming IPs translated into something they can inhabit in a gaming setting. Some hardcore fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender could simply be pushing for this tabletop game to bolster their memorabilia collections with a new official product, but there are likely many more who are eager to play an RPG set in the universe.
Even for those less familiar with the beloved franchise, Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game seems like it could offer up some deep gameplay and storytelling opportunities. For Avatar: The Last Airbender devotees, this upcoming release could serve as an exciting door back into the fantastical world of the Four Nations.
Avatar Legends: The Role-Playing Game will tentatively be available in February 2022.
