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Posts by Mage Hand Press

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3 weeks ago 1 0 0 0
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You Can Finally Play As A Gunslinger In Baldur's Gate 3 And, of course, it comes with a lot of guns.

Well, time to start a new Honor Mode run
www.thegamer.com/baldurs-gate...

4 weeks ago 4 0 0 0
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Update 18: Your PDFs are here! Ā· Dark Matter Mega Box: Sci-Fi 5E The first wave of PDF fulfillment is complete! Dark Matter (legacy and 5.5) Grax’s Club, and an early print-and-play version of Contractor Corps are live in your Mage Hand Press account!You are only p...

Your weekend sci-fi 5E games are clear for launch! The first wave of PDF fulfillment for the Dark Matter Mega Box is complete. All the details are here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mag...

1 month ago 2 0 1 1
A life-sized statue of a warrior owl holds the hardcover print proof of Dark Matter.

A life-sized statue of a warrior owl holds the hardcover print proof of Dark Matter.

Final 24 hours for the Dark Matter Mega Box! Every backer gets Humbledark, the crossover setting guide for Humblewood by @hitpointpress.bsky.social. Don't wait!

1 month ago 23 5 0 1
A hero image showing a small lizard-like humanoid with angular features. It wears a space suit fit to its body and carries a futuristic, glowing harpoon gun. The text reads "Space Kobold: Asteroid dwellers and starship scavengersā€

A hero image showing a small lizard-like humanoid with angular features. It wears a space suit fit to its body and carries a futuristic, glowing harpoon gun. The text reads "Space Kobold: Asteroid dwellers and starship scavengersā€

A banner ad for the Dark Matter Kickstarter asks you to learn more at scifi5e.com

A banner ad for the Dark Matter Kickstarter asks you to learn more at scifi5e.com

Lore and statistics for the Space Kobold. Like their terrestrial counterparts, space kobolds make up for in cunning what they lack in physical strength. Asteroid fields that play host to space kobold colonies are death traps for spacers, minefields crisscrossed by steel wires and waiting harpoon guns to ensnare any unsuspecting ship that comes near. Once a ship or spaceborne creature is immobilized, a force of space
kobolds springs into action, dismantling it with old-fashioned tools and a force of graphids, a domesticated species of asteroid-dwelling beast. Warrens of space kobolds also inhabit the hoard planetoids of eternal dragons or are enthralled by creatures such as cyber liches. Any  powerful creature makes an ideal ally for space kobolds, but they prefer overlords that deter spacesharks and other predators.

Lore and statistics for the Space Kobold. Like their terrestrial counterparts, space kobolds make up for in cunning what they lack in physical strength. Asteroid fields that play host to space kobold colonies are death traps for spacers, minefields crisscrossed by steel wires and waiting harpoon guns to ensnare any unsuspecting ship that comes near. Once a ship or spaceborne creature is immobilized, a force of space kobolds springs into action, dismantling it with old-fashioned tools and a force of graphids, a domesticated species of asteroid-dwelling beast. Warrens of space kobolds also inhabit the hoard planetoids of eternal dragons or are enthralled by creatures such as cyber liches. Any powerful creature makes an ideal ally for space kobolds, but they prefer overlords that deter spacesharks and other predators.

Kobolds are GM favorites for swarms of low-level foes and dungeons full of fiendish traps. Dark Matter’s space kobolds transform asteroid fields into elaborate traps intended to capture stray spaceships and strip them of parts in minutes. Add them to your game here: magehandpress.com/2026/02/spac...

1 month ago 4 0 0 0
A hero image showing a desiccated corpse wearing a cracked space suit and shambling toward the viewer in the cramped metal hallway of a spaceship. The text reads "Husks: Suffocated space undead for Dark Matterā€. Art by Augustine Marceillac.

A hero image showing a desiccated corpse wearing a cracked space suit and shambling toward the viewer in the cramped metal hallway of a spaceship. The text reads "Husks: Suffocated space undead for Dark Matterā€. Art by Augustine Marceillac.

A banner ad for the Dark Matter Kickstarter asks you to learn more at scifi5e.com

A banner ad for the Dark Matter Kickstarter asks you to learn more at scifi5e.com

Lore and statistics for the Husk appear in this square graphic. Husks represent the grim fate of countless spacers who have been stranded in deep space without hope for rescue. Though a husk might at first resemble a spacer in distress, its cracked grey skin and ruptured Life Suit reveals its Undead nature.

Lore and statistics for the Husk appear in this square graphic. Husks represent the grim fate of countless spacers who have been stranded in deep space without hope for rescue. Though a husk might at first resemble a spacer in distress, its cracked grey skin and ruptured Life Suit reveals its Undead nature.

Lore and statistics for the Forlorn Husk, a more dangerous and magical Undead monster, appear in this square graphic. Husks abandoned for too long become saturated with a sinister magic that dwells in deep space. They float uncannily in the air, even in artificial gravity, and suck the air out of the room like a hull breach.

Lore and statistics for the Forlorn Husk, a more dangerous and magical Undead monster, appear in this square graphic. Husks abandoned for too long become saturated with a sinister magic that dwells in deep space. They float uncannily in the air, even in artificial gravity, and suck the air out of the room like a hull breach.

Husks are ominous space zombies built for sci-fi horror 5E games. The vacuum of space not only strips bodies of air, it rips away the soul, leaving behind Undead husks. It's one of more than 120 sci-fi monsters in Dark Matter! Check out the plain text on our blog: magehandpress.com/2026/02/husks/

2 months ago 3 0 0 0

Let us know which one's your favorite, and if you like these sneak peeks into the development process! I'm happy to do more!

2 months ago 2 0 0 0
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Finally we have a cover that explains Dark Matter in a glance: it’s sci-fi, it’s fantasy, and it’s not too saccharine – a giant space skull means there’s peril and stakes! I could not be happier with Kirby’s work and thankful he’s stuck with us for all these years.

2 months ago 3 0 1 0
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After all these years, the Maw station’s skull is an iconic symbol of Dark Matter. Most recently, when I asked Kirby to return to the cover, he really wanted to show off the skull from a new angle, highlighting the space station behind it and the universe beyond. And wow! He was absolutely right.

2 months ago 2 0 1 0
An illustrated cover for the Dark Matter hardcover

An illustrated cover for the Dark Matter hardcover

Around our first Kickstarter, Kirby asked for another crack at it. I’m glad he did! This version zooms out to see the entire skull and adds splashes of red within the portal and burning out of the eyes. The teeth still act as a frame to the logo, but the perspective gives it better breathing room.

2 months ago 2 0 1 0

Already you can see the familiar Maw station, the Void portal, and the tech detail that remind you that it’s sci-fi. In this piece the teeth act as a wraparound frame on the page without much inside. It’s also greener than you might expect, which I believe bothered Kirby shortly after handing it in.

2 months ago 2 0 1 0
A cover illustration for Dark Matter

A cover illustration for Dark Matter

He’s also created the same cover for Dark Matter three times over the years, which neatly chart his development as an artist. It also serves to highlight the advantages of keeping the same art team and fostering their creativity over the long term.

2 months ago 2 0 1 0
Two illustrations of futuristic D&D characters.

Two illustrations of futuristic D&D characters.

His earliest pieces were the Space Marine fighter and Void warlock, which represent some of the things I love about the setting’s art: it’s high-tech, but not too harsh or angular; alien doesn’t need to mean tentacles and gore; and the characters should make you want to play them!

2 months ago 2 0 1 0
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Dark Matter Mega Box: Sci-Fi 5E A 5th Edition campaign setting set in a universe inspired by Mass Effect, Dune, and Star Wars. With maps by Czepeku!

I’d like to highlight the amazing work done by our artist, @kirbish.bsky.social, whose style has defined what Dark Matter has looked like for almost a decade. Let's take a look at what he's brought through the years! www.kickstarter.com/projects/mag...

2 months ago 6 2 1 0
A graphic showing a jagged, black-and-purple monster stretching into the frame

A graphic showing a jagged, black-and-purple monster stretching into the frame

You've unlocked another stretch goal for Dark Matter! Creatures of living gravity, void elementals arise at the edges of black holes, threatening to drag your crew to oblivion. Back the Kickstarter to explore and survive! www.kickstarter.com/projects/mag...

2 months ago 7 2 0 0
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A spaceship descends into a glade filled with medieval-esque knights and foot soldiers.

A spaceship descends into a glade filled with medieval-esque knights and foot soldiers.

James Gurney's canvas for the 1st edition of John Dalmas' Homecoming (1984)
#scifi #sciencefiction #art #artist

2 months ago 138 28 1 0
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Dark Matter Mega Box: Sci-Fi 5E A 5th Edition campaign setting set in a universe inspired by Mass Effect, Dune, and Star Wars. With maps by Czepeku!

Can you survive intergalactic corporate horror and escape the Form, or will you climb the ladder to victory? Bring the adventure to your table when you back the Dark Matter Mega Box! www.kickstarter.com/projects/mag...

2 months ago 2 1 1 0
A TTRPG battlemap showing a circular ship like a classic UFO with a central cupola.

A TTRPG battlemap showing a circular ship like a classic UFO with a central cupola.

Mothership Down. After an amoeboid mothership crash-lands on a Low World, the characters must rescue the crew and repair the ship. Soon the characters learn that the mothership has landed in Roswell, New Mexico, and that there’s far more deadly things aboard the ship than Low World soldiers.

2 months ago 2 0 1 0
A TTRPG battlemap showing a ship crowded with medical bays and equipment.

A TTRPG battlemap showing a ship crowded with medical bays and equipment.

Every Life Worth Saving. An S.O.S. from the hospital ship Caladrius sees the characters descending to the surface of Kiron, a planet infested with a swarm of deadly psi-worms. It’s a mad dash to find survivors aboard the ship and escape before the worms overrun the ship!

2 months ago 1 0 1 0
A TTRPG battlemap showing a ship built in the style of a 1950s diner, complete with check-patterned floor and windowed atrium.

A TTRPG battlemap showing a ship built in the style of a 1950s diner, complete with check-patterned floor and windowed atrium.

Heist at Squengis. To prove their worth to the Firm, the party must infiltrate a ship/diner named Squengi’s to raid its safe. Little do they know, other Contractors are hiding throughout the restaurant on the same job and willing to kill to secure the heist for themselves.

2 months ago 1 0 1 0
A TTRPG battlemap showing a prison ship.

A TTRPG battlemap showing a prison ship.

The Deal. In a prison ship en route for the distant colony of Blackpost, the characters must break free of their cells, find weapons, and make a break for the escape pods! But beware, the Bronze Skeleton ā€œScrewā€ stands between the party and freedom.

2 months ago 1 0 1 0

Each chapter of this campaign is a one-shot adventure built around a single battlemap by @czepeku.bsky.social. You can play as one large campaign, or play individual adventures as one-shots. Contractor Corps comes with 11 adventures! Here’s a rundown of some of our favorites.

2 months ago 1 0 1 0
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A hard-bitten male bartended covered in cyborg augmentations holds a burning cigarette in the futuristic bar known as Yokai Flux. Art by Lucas Ferreira CM.

A hard-bitten male bartended covered in cyborg augmentations holds a burning cigarette in the futuristic bar known as Yokai Flux. Art by Lucas Ferreira CM.

Escape a prison ship bound for the freezing edge of the ā€˜Verse, join the Firm and embark on criminal adventures in Contractor Corps, one of two hardcover campaigns in the Dark Matter Mega Box. In this criminal campaign, you play a crew of Contractors working for a crime syndicate known as the Firm.

2 months ago 5 0 1 0

Guardians of the Galaxy is a good touchstone for the 'Verse, yeah!

2 months ago 1 0 0 0
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Update 8: Touring 50 CzePeku Battlemaps Ā· Dark Matter Mega Box: Sci-Fi 5E If you’re not familiar with Czepeku, they make the highest-quality battlemaps in the world, bar none. In the Dark Matter Mega Box, Czepeku brings you a set of 50 – yes 50 – dry and wet-erasable sci-fi...

Check out the Kickstarter to see the full list of maps we're including and lock in your Dark Matter Mega Box: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mag...

2 months ago 1 0 0 0
A neon-soaked futuristic street viewed from the top down.

A neon-soaked futuristic street viewed from the top down.

Many of the other maps in the collection fall into two camps: urban sci-fi streets, or the floorplans of compelling buildings. Explore a bounty hunter’s tavern, a digital holodeck, or a film set for the moon landing (yes really!)

2 months ago 1 0 1 0
Crystalline boulders dot a landscape of sand dunes, seen from the top down.

Crystalline boulders dot a landscape of sand dunes, seen from the top down.

When your ship touches down on an alien world, pick a map and boom – instant adventure! But these aren’t ā€œgeneric desert #6ā€ and ā€œrocky outcropping #11.ā€ There’s a high-tech base built on that river, strange alien machinery within the crystals of the desert, or a crash site in the lake.

2 months ago 1 0 1 0
A battlemap showing a top-down view of a football-shaped spaceship dotted with green equipment.

A battlemap showing a top-down view of a football-shaped spaceship dotted with green equipment.

Dark Matter’s in-depth ship combat system lets every player participate with unique roles and build a home base unique to every party. The ship battlemaps included in the collection give you compelling maps for a home base, a derelict ship dungeon crawl, or a hostile boarding action!

2 months ago 1 0 1 0
A top-down view of a scaffolded rooftop in a futuristic city. The name Czepeku is just visible in the background, identifying the artist.

A top-down view of a scaffolded rooftop in a futuristic city. The name Czepeku is just visible in the background, identifying the artist.

@czepeku.bsky.social makes the highest-quality battlemaps in the world, bar none. The Dark Matter Mega Box includes a set of 50 dry- and wet-erasable sci-fi battlemaps by Czepeku, in print for the first time. Each is a beautiful and creative backdrop for whatever adventure you can imagine!

2 months ago 11 6 2 0
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Dark Matter Mega Box: Sci-Fi 5E A 5th Edition campaign setting set in a universe inspired by Mass Effect, Dune, and Star Wars. With maps by Czepeku!

Bring it to your table when you back the Kickstarter here: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mag...

2 months ago 1 0 0 0
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