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A Time Traveler's Guide to Dinosaur Hunting

Created by Darryl Jones

Face colossal dinos, mutated monsters, and alien horrors in the largest dinosaur bestiary & adventure collection ever released for 5e! Note: Shipping will be charged separately once production is complete and fulfillment is about to begin.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Next Project: Tome of Beasts & Beyond! 🚨🔥😍
6 months ago – Fri, Sep 19, 2025 at 02:30:11 PM

Player's Guide v2 Delivered

This might be old news at this point, but we sent the second version of the player's guide to all backers who pledged for a digital reward. 😃 The Player's Guide is one step closer to completion. 

If you read it and have feedback to give, please let us know! We made a feedback form for you to provide your thoughts.

Link to form: https://forms.gle/Xd8Cyb575nMWfL2q8

Update on Adventures! 

While editing and revisions for the player's guide took its fair share of attention, editing and art continue to dominate progress on the other books. Still, how about a short excerpt or two?

Showing off some Swwweeeeeeeet Art!

Here are a couple of different art pieces from our adventures! We have one from and In the Dome. We're excited to see the art come to fruition! It takes a lot of our ideas and stories we've written and had them come to life! I mean just look how awesome they are! 😃 

Big Announcement: Tome of Beasts & Beyond! 🚨🔥😍 

We are excited to announce our next project, RPG Essentials 2: Tome of Beasts & Beyond! 

TTRPG Tokens For Every Adventure!

That's right, Kobold Press's Tome of Beasts is coming to tabletops as top-down acrylic tokens. 

Tome of Beasts 1 is the world's best-selling third-party 5e bestiary! From reality-devouring Void Dragons to the legendary Flame Dragons that command elemental destruction, from the savage Millitaur warriors to the apocalyptic Demon Lord Qorgeth. This book delivers 400+ creatures that will transform your campaigns. Challenge your players with unique foes they've never faced before, each one finally coming to your tabletop in stunning acrylic! 

RPG Essentials II: Tome of Beasts & Beyond offers beautifully illustrated, top-down tokens, perfect for every RPG. We are producing all 400+ Monsters from Tome of Beasts 1. We've curated 4 sets for you to choose from:

Pack 1: Shadow Courts, Fey Wilds & Mystical Dragons 
Enter a realm where shadow meets starlight, where the fey courts dance between dream and nightmare. Command the power of the void itself with dragons that devour reality.

Pack 2: Elemental Dragons, Ancient Titans & Mechanical Marvels 
Witness the collision of primal elements and arcane engineering! From dragons that command fire and storm to clockwork legions and titans that shaped the world.

Pack 3: Infernal Legions, Ghoul Empires & Deep Wyrms
Descend into the abyss where empires of the dead wage war against the legions of Hell. From the Ghoul Emperor's hungry courts to demon lords that herald the apocalypse.

Pack 4: Sea Serpents, Savage Swarms & Legendary Beasts 
From the darkest ocean trenches to primal hunting grounds, unleash nature's most fearsome predators. Command legendary beasts, overwhelm with savage swarms, and rule the seas with ancient serpents. 


Each pack features 100 unique tokens, many of the horde-style creatures having multiple copies and variants. Each pack will have approximately 180 total tokens

And we're going to reprint the SRD tokens from this Kickstarter. 400+ classic D&D monsters from the 5e. They will also be organized into 4 curated sets.

We even have custom binders to store and easily transport the tokens. The binders come with specially designed sleeves that fit the tokens perfectly! 

Video showing off the binder & sleeves: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMTHORSs6XL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The Incentives

It just wouldn't be Kickstarter without a few bonus goodies, right?

Returning Backers: First, as a returning backer, you will automatically get a set of bonus tokens! We'll reveal more in the next few weeks. They will be exclusive to returning backers of any Splattered Ink Project. That means ONLY YOU can get them! So follow the Kickstarter page now, so you don't miss out!

VIPs: Become a VIP and get the exclusive Shoggoth enamel pin, shown below.

Have Questions?

If you have any specific questions, please contact me, Devin - Community Manager. Additionally, you can message us on Discord. We would love to help you, so don't hesitate to ask! 😊

You can chat with me in the following ways:

Discord: https://discord.gg/STEnbRQasw 

Email: [email protected] 

Darryl & Devin

The Players Guide (alpha digital version) has been Delivered! ✅
7 months ago – Sat, Sep 06, 2025 at 11:36:48 AM

Player's Guide Is In Your Inbox

Over the weekend, Darryl sent out the alpha version of the Player's Guide! All backers who pledged for a digital reward should have received it. If you didn't, you can access the digital reward on your Backerkit survey! 😃

Opening page of the Cyborg Class in the "Player's Guide"

Feedback Wanted! 😎 

We're super pumped up to get the Alpha version in your hands and to see the community's reaction. Please remember that this is the Alpha Version. We will continue to work on the Player's Guide. 

If you have any feedback to give or have seen a mistake, please let us know. (In fact, we've already corrected a couple of spelling errors.) We've made a Google Form for you to fill out. You can find the link below! 

Feedback form: https://forms.gle/oqn2AiS5qjFGiViY8

Work Continues

In other news, there is no news. 😂 Everything else is coming along well. Art is continuing to be drawn, and adventures are being edited. We will continue to keep you in the loop if anything changes.

Until next time, adventurers! 

Have Questions?

If you have any specific questions, please contact me, Devin - Community Manager, or Darryl. Additionally, you can message us on Discord. We would love to help you, so don't hesitate to ask! 😊

You can chat with me in the following ways:

Discord:  https://discord.gg/STEnbRQasw

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Devin, Community Manager

Darryl, Creator, A Time Traveler's Guide to Dinosaur Hunting

Gen Con 2025 Success + Card Charging Saturday + Timeline Update
8 months ago – Thu, Aug 07, 2025 at 11:07:45 AM

We just wrapped up an incredible Gen Con 2025, and I'm buzzing with excitement to share what happened!

Gen Con 2025: Our First Public Demo Was AMAZING!

Cody, one of our GMs, brings the energy!

Running our first public sessions of A Time Traveler's Guide to Dinosaur Hunting was an absolute thrill. Watching players face down prehistoric predators and seeing their genuine excitement as they strategized their hunts? That's exactly why we're making this game.

The highlight? Those acrylic dinosaur tokens we've been working on got their first field test - and wow, they look even better on the table than we imagined! Check out the photos below to see them in action. 😃 

P.S. We used samples of the dino acrylic tokens during our games, and we're providing a sneak-peak to you in the pictures below. I think you're going to love 'em! ❤️ 

Roger dishing out damage!
Players Taking Down Big Monsters!

Important: Card Charging on Backerkit 

Moved to Saturday, August 9th

Quick update on timing: We're pushing the card charge date from August 7th to Saturday, August 9th.

Why? Many of you get paid on Fridays, and we want to make sure everyone's ready. Here's what you need to know:

What's being charged: Add-ons and pre-orders only
What's locked: Your items and shipping address
What's NOT charged yet: Shipping (that comes later)
Can you change your address later? Yes! You'll have time to update before we ship

Timeline Update: We're On Track!

Here's where we stand:

August 2025

  • Digital rewards begin! Player's Guide drops first
  • Adventures will follow as we complete them

October 2025

  • Layout wraps up
  • Manufacturing begins

December 2025 - January 2026

  • Overseas freight shipping

January - June 2026

  • Physical begin fulfillment!

We've always given ourselves a January-June window for delivery, and I'm happy to report we're tracking right in the middle of that range.

Behind the Scenes: The Art Challenge

"I see no harm in letting you live...  if you're willing to enter the Great Tooth Arena!" 

Here's the honest truth: We still have a significant amount of art to produce. I've expanded my search for artists, but I won't compromise on quality. Every piece needs to be:

  • Hand-crafted (no AI)
  • Beautiful enough to inspire your adventures
  • Worth the wait

If that means taking a bit more time to get it right, that's what we'll do. You deserve nothing less.

"I'm pretty sure these tunnels are totally safe." ~ famous last words

Projects We Love: Raptor Ruckus RPG (MorkBorg RPG)


One of our writers, Zac Goins (Siege of the Dreadoughtus), is making a dino supplement for his RPG, MÖRK BORG! MÖRK BORG is a pitch-black apocalyptic fantasy RPG about lost souls and fools seeking redemption, forgiveness, or the last remaining riches in a bleak and dying world.

I can't wait to see how dinosaurs fit within MÖRK BORG, and in fact, Darryl is writing for one of the adventures in Raptor Ruckus! The scenario is titled "The Red Float," which is in the lair of a four-ton Dunkleosteus, an ancient armored predator that shouldn't exist but does and is lurking and hunting its prey! 

Raptor Ruckus is coming to Kickstarter soon! Follow the Kickstarter page here!

If you're interested in MÖRK BORG, check out their website here. 

---

Until next time, keep those time machines calibrated!

Have Questions?

If you have any specific questions, please contact me, Devin - Community Manager, or Darryl. Additionally, you can message us on Discord. We would love to help you, so don't hesitate to ask! 😊

You can chat with me in the following ways:

Discord:  https://discord.gg/STEnbRQasw

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Devin, Community Manager

Darryl, Creator, A Time Traveler's Guide to Dinosaur Hunting

 

Gen Con Bound & Digital Releases Coming Soon! July Update
8 months ago – Tue, Jul 22, 2025 at 12:11:05 PM

Happy July, Dinosaur Hunters! 

Summer is in the home stretch and Gen Con is Just Around the Corner!

July has been an extraordinarily busy month here at Splattered Ink! Both Devin and I have been out of the office for work and personal reasons. On a personal note, my wife and I celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary! It was a beautiful time, and I'm incredibly blessed to have such a loving, caring, dedicated, compassionate, and understanding spouse. Being a game designer certainly has its ups and downs, requiring a great deal of endurance and perseverance.

My wife and I on our special day!

Because of our recent absences, we know we've been slower to reply to messages and emails. We see your requests and will be addressing each one in the coming days.

If you're attending Gen Con, be sure to find us and say hi! We won't have a dedicated booth, but we'll be running a lot of games in various locations around the convention, so you're likely to run into one of us.

For a list of games and locations at Gen Con, click here.If the link is wonky, search for Splattered Ink Games in the Gen Con Event Finder.

You can also watch our social media for live updates! Instagram, X, and maybe Facebook.

August Update: Roaring Towards Completion!

Things are going incredibly well here, and we're mostly on track for A Time Traveler's Guide to Dinosaur Hunting! We're putting the finishing touches on the writing for the Player's Guide, and only 3 of the 15 adventures still need their final words.

Our dedicated artists have been working non-stop since the Kickstarter launched, and while a lot is done, there's still a significant amount of incredible art to bring to life. The initial layout of the book is on track to be for September, but there are a few more months of art ahead of us.

You know my feelings on art: it must be done by hand and by humans. Quality art takes time, and we're sure you share our belief that it's absolutely worth the wait for a truly immersive experience!

In the meantime, we're thrilled to share some of the awesome art we've been working on with you all!

WIP - In the Dome opening scene
WIP - Raptors in the service tunnels

Speaking of dinosaurs and adventures, if you're playing in one of our Dinosaur Hunting adventures at Gen Con, you'll get an exclusive preview of the top-down acrylic tokens! They're looking incredibly sweet!

If that Siege Dreadnoughtus was fully stretched out, he'd be over 16" long. That's 90' in DnD spacing. 

Digital Release: What's Coming in August?

We're excited to announce that the first of our digital releases in August should be the Player's Guide! This comprehensive guide includes:

  • 13 Playable Lineages
  • 3 Classes
  • Cybernetic Enhancements
  • Supplemental Dinosaur Taming Rules
  • 2 Feats, Spells, and Equipment
  • ...and probably some other cool goodies we're sneaking in!
Spinosaurid lineage concept art. Any guesses as to their favored profession?

The Bestiary: We also hope to release a few of the adventures digitally in August. Some of you have asked if the Bestiary will be released in August; probably not in its complete form. However, rest assured, we will provide the stat blocks for any dinosaurs and other creatures required for each adventure when released. Those stat blocks will all be collected into the final book's digital and physical releases before the final release!

And just to be appropriately realistic, we're talking about the end of August. :)

Backerkit Orders & Charges

There are still a number of months of development ahead of us, but we have reached the point While there are still a number of months of development ahead, we've reached the point of locking BackerKit orders and charging your credit cards. Here's what this means for you:

  • Your credit card will be charged for any Add-ons and Pre-orders you placed on BackerKit.
  • Your chosen items and shipping address will be locked.
  • You will be able to edit your address later if needed before shipping begins, so there's no need to worry about that just yet.
  • You will NOT be charged for shipping at this time. That will happen much closer to fulfillment.

We plan to process these charges on August 7th.

Have Questions?

If you have any specific questions, please contact me, Devin - Community Manager, or Darryl. Additionally, you can message us on Discord. We would love to help you, so don't hesitate to ask! 😊

You can chat with me in the following ways:

Discord:  https://discord.gg/STEnbRQasw

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Darryl & Devin
 



 


 

Playtest + Digital Fulfillment + Conquest of the Baird
9 months ago – Mon, Jun 23, 2025 at 07:14:27 AM

Playtesting Overview

We sent out playtesting materials for Dinosaur Lineages, and we have loved hearing the feedback from the community! We made a Playtester Discord channel where the playtesters are able to speak with each other and offer ideas. We have gleaned a lot already from your conversations in the channel and are excited to receive you final feedback. As a reminder to the playtesters of the dinosaur lineages, please turn in your final feedback by July 5th. 😃 

As we look forward, we'll be offering more playtesting opportunities in the near future. If you want to participate, then please fill out the Google Form serving as the playtesting application. 

Link: https://forms.gle/Jki1Y6JUGg2QDwCL9 

The Shard Mystic playtest coming soon!

Digital Fulfillment - How Fulfillment Will Occur

As we're getting closer to August, it's time to break down how digital fulfillment will occur! As promised, the digital fulfillment process will begin in August! 🙌 We want to clarify that doesn't mean all of the digital materials will be sent at one time. Instead, the adventures with their corresponding materials (i.e., virtual tokens, maps, etc.) will be distributed as we finish them. That means we will start distributing completed adventures in August, with more adventures being sent as they're completed. We will release what adventures will be sent in August, either next month or once we start the distribution process. 👍 

Conquest of the Baird - Sent to VIPs + Releasing it as a One-Shot? 

VIP Backers Conquest of the Baird is in your inbox now! 🙌 🎊 If you haven't received it within 48 hours of publishing of this update, then contact Devin at [email protected]. We'll take the steps necessary to get you Conquest of the Baird. 

For those who don't know what Conquest of the Baird is, it is a free, exclusive one-shot offer to our VIP backers. VIP backers are backers who followed the campaign before launch by pledging $1. Now that the Conquest of the Baird has been released to our VIP backers, we're wanting to offer it as a purchasable one-shot.

Before doing that, we wanted to ask both VIP and regular backers separate questions. 

For VIP backers, would you be okay if we released the Conquest of Baird as a purchasable one-shot? We wanted to ask because the Conquest was an exclusive reward for becoming a VIP. If the overwhelming sentiment is no, then we want to respect your decision. In saying that, we do feel comfortable offering the Conquest to the rest of the community; we delivered the one shot to VIPs before anyone else, and it was free.

For regular backers, how interested would you be in purchasing The Conquest of the Baird? If there is no interest, then offering the one-shot is a moot point. Either way, let us know in the comment section on the main KS page or below this update.  

Have Questions?

If you have any specific questions, please contact me, Devin - Community Manager, or Darryl. Additionally, you can message us on Discord. We would love to help you, so don't hesitate to ask! 😊

You can chat with me in the following ways:

Discord:  https://discord.gg/STEnbRQasw

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Darryl & Devin