The folks at Humble Bundle have become a great resource to help players build electronic libraries full of tabletop games. They make it very easy to explore games outside of Dungeons & Dragons that appeal to different genres and player types. Plus a portion of the proceeds benefit a charity selected by the publishers who put their games on offer.
Right now they have an offer for one of the most unusual role playing games on the market. Invisible Sun is a surreal game of modern magic and mystery where players leave our fake reality for the mystical Acuality. I’ve talked about this game before but now the barrier of entry is at an all time low.
What Is Invisible Sun?
Invisible Sun proposes that the so-called “real world” is an illusion. The vislae, beings who know the truth of reality, come here to forget about their troubles and take up simple lives full of worrying about mortgage payments instead of a spell they cast centuries ago is still out there looking for revenge on its creator. Some vislae never shake off the lie while other occasionally return to the strange city of Satyrine.
Every player in the game has access to some sort of magic. Much like its Cypher System sibling, characters are defined through a sentence with specific elements unlocking game mechanics. These are powerful beings from the start and the game offers plenty of suggestions for strange quests they can attempt with the help of their friends.
Invisible Sun Humble Bundle
The Humble Bundle offers a huge collection of PDFs for a very low price. The PDF of the core set alone is normally $99. The bundle offers that core set, plus several expansions to the game, for $18.
The core set contains all the materials needed to play Invisible Sun. Rules, characters, story suggestions, printable props and more come in the main set. It’s a great experience for a dedicated group of role playing game fans in a surreal setting that someone like David Lynch or David Bowie would love.
The supplements burrow deeper into the Acuality and expand the stories the game can tell. Secrets of Silent Streets offers more information on the heart of the game called Satyrine. The Nightside provides a look at powers, beings and spells that even the powerful vislae might consider to be too far into the darkness.
The game suggests that sometimes the vislae can bring pieces of the Actuality into the real world. The bundle contains prop documents that can be customized to players stories. Printing them out at home can make the game seem even more real.
Invisible Sun Black Cube
For gaming groups who get this bundle and fall in love with the game or for ones who prefer a fully physical experience. I recommend checking out the Black Cube. It can be an investment for gamers used to paying $50 for a Player’s Handbook but it has one of the most unique presentations I have every seen. The folks at Monte Cook Games sent one home with me after attending GameHole Con this past November.
The cube has slots for all the books, cards, dice to go securely rather than rattle around like many boxed sets. Opening the box gives the game an amost ritualistic moment that signals to everyone that the time for ordering pizza and sharing memes is over. The artifacts within the box get players into the mood for their intrigues.
This era of gaming offers luxury priced experiences for those who can afford it. The Black Cube stands with things like the Legendary Edition of Curse of Strahd for unique experiences that I never thought I would see as a lifelong tabletop gamer. I’m glad I have it in my library now to tempt my players the next time we’re looking for a new campaign.
The Invisible Sun Humble Bundle runs through January 30th. Sales of the bundle benefit Direct Relief which provides medical benefits around the world.
