Drakonym - A Narrative-First Dragonbonding TTRPG

Created by Crossed Paths Press

Drakonym is a tabletop RPG set in Akeroth, features players bonding with dragons. Narrative choices drive character & dragon development in a world rediscovering its secrets, with tactical combat, storytelling. Playable as a group or as a Solo RPG!

Latest Updates from Our Project:

🎁 We’ve added something to your pledge!
10 months ago – Tue, Aug 26, 2025 at 07:27:32 AM

Greetings Dragon Riders!

Your hands brush slowly across the stone, attuned to the subtlest of details. Mind + Shadow won in the last poll - intellect guided by an understanding of the hidden…

And it paid off 🥳🎉

Fingertips trace an almost invisible seam in the wall. With a careful push, a section of masonry shifts and slides open, revealing a dark alcove thick with dust. The mechanism groans loudly as it unlocks, echoing down the corridor. Something out there definitely heard… but the treasure is yours.

Inside, nestled in the shadows, you find it:


Every physical backer (your pledge needs to include at least one core rulebook) will receive a custom Narrative Token coin - a tangible piece of Drakonym you can hold in your hand and bring to your table!



✨ What’s a Narrative Token?

In Drakonym, Narrative Tokens are player-driven storytelling tools that let you shape the story alongside your Herald. They allow you to introduce twists, recall past knowledge, or influence the world - without disrupting the balance of play.

Narrative Tokens give players the chance to step deeper into the tale. They let you lean in alongside the Herald to shape the world around you - weaving your backstory into the unfolding narrative, adding emotional weight to discoveries, and enriching the shared world with history and connection.


They aren’t used to bypass challenges, cancel danger, or override the Herald’s narration. Instead, they invite surprises, deepen the action, and reward player agency.

When you spend a token, you might…

  • Recall a forgotten memory or lore detail that suddenly becomes relevant.

  • Introduce a helpful NPC, ally, or contact who appears at just the right moment.

  • Flash back to a scene from your past that adds meaning to the present.

  • Trigger a personal moment of fear, joy, or revelation that shifts the stakes.

Tokens refresh after downtime rests, encouraging you to use them often. And with a physical coin in hand, the act of sliding it across the table becomes a vivid reminder that you hold the power to shape the story.

Want extra coins for the rest of your table?
 
👉 Add some extra Narrative Token coins to your pledge!



✨ Three Reasons to Pledge Today

Have you been following for a while but haven’t jumped in yet? Here’s why now’s the perfect time to back Drakonym:

1. BE PART OF CREATING DRAKONYM

Before the campaign even began, you already helped us create our community character “Fizzbin”, a  Ferrovox Mage Artisan and their Astral Dragon!

Fizzbin met their Astral Dragon nursing a shattered claw under a violet sky, tools already in paw. With brass joints, crystal channels, and a healthy dose of reckless brilliance, they forged a magi-mechanical prosthetic claw that shimmered with starlight.

The moment the dragon flexed its new limb, the two were bound together - tinker and starborn soul, partners in invention ever since.


Everyone who followed the project before launch will receive this adventure for free as a thank you for shaping the campaign from the very start. ✨💜

But the story doesn’t end there. Every backer gets to help shape Drakonym through playtesting and feedback, where your voice helps refine mechanics, polish lore, and ensure the final game is the best it can be. By pledging, you step directly into the creative process with us!


2. CARRY YOUR LEGACY FORWARD

At Crossed Paths we want to help you create stories that grow with you. If you’ve backed Brambletrek, Ashes, or Covens, you’ll automatically receive an exclusive background that will let you seamlessly bring a character from any of our games directly into the world of Drakonym on the back of their very own dragon.


New to Crossed Paths? You can still join in! By adding one of our previous titles to your pledge, you’ll also gain access to these exclusive legacy backgrounds - giving you the chance to create a hero whose story spans worlds!


3. UNLOCK A HOARD OF EXTRAS FOR FREE

Thanks to your incredible support, Drakonym has already grown into something far bigger than we ever expected! Together we’ve unlocked 10 stretch goals and 4 follower goals, adding new content, tools, and treasures to your pledge at no extra cost!


From lore compendiums and soundtracks to upgraded book finishes, maps, and play tools -  your pledge is now bigger than ever! Take a look at what you’ve unlocked so far in our recent update.


And we’re less than £2k away from our next big milestone: the Character Deck at £250k. This physical deck will make it even easier to create characters at the table - and every backer helps push us closer.


From Fizzbin’s tinkering to the treasure hoard you’ve already unlocked, Drakonym is growing every day because of you…

Thank you 💜

See you in the skies,
The Crossed Paths Team ⚔️

⏰ Don’t Miss Out - The Final Countdown Has Begun!
10 months ago – Sat, Aug 23, 2025 at 07:18:30 AM

Greetings, Dragon Riders!

It’s hard to believe, but the campaign is almost at the finish line - less than a week to go! 🐉



We’re beyond grateful for your support and couldn’t be more excited to play Drakonym with you. You’ve helped us build something truly special, and now it’s time to celebrate everything we’ve achieved together.

If you haven’t joined the adventure yet, now’s the time!

✨ Catch Up on Combat & Companions

Missed our live stream last week? No worries - you can watch the full VOD right here 👇



One highlight you don’t want to miss is The Shared Road - a brand-new demo that guides you through creating your first Level 1 Companion, discovering their motivation, and testing them in combat.


This demo is the perfect way to try out companions before the full game - dive in, create your first ally, and see how they fight by your side.

(If you’ve already downloaded our earlier demos, it’s waiting for you in the same folder alongside the other parts.)


✨ Wrap Party Live Stream!

Speaking of live streams … we’re throwing a wrap party to mark the end of this incredible campaign - and you’re invited!


📅 Thursday 28th August
🕘 11:30pm BST / 3:30pm PST / 6:30pm EST

Join us live as we celebrate and count down the final hours of the Drakonym campaign! 🎉 Expect games, giveaways, behind-the-scenes surprises, and more!

Speaking of surprises, there’s something super exciting that we’ll be adding to the campaign during the stream…


✨ Overtime Add-On: The Radiant Grimoire


During the wrap party, we’ll be releasing something brand new - The Radiant Grimoire, a magic item and spell supplement filled with unique in-world treasures and exclusive spells from mystical mages. A perfect addition to any Drakonym playthrough!




If you’re new to how Overtime works:

  • When the campaign timer hits zero, it doesn’t have to end right there.
  • As long as pledges/add-ons continue, the campaign stays alive in 10-minute bursts.
  • Every new pledge resets the clock - creating what’s known as the Backer Train.
  • The moment 10 minutes pass without a pledge, the campaign officially closes.

That means this new add-on will only be up for grabs while the Backer Train is running. Once the train stops, the campaign ends and the grimoire will be closed forever! 🚂 

So if you want to snag this add-on, be ready to hop on board during Overtime - and keep the train going!



✨ Treasure Awaits... But We Need You!

Ancient treasure waits in the dark - uncover it, and it’s yours (and we’ll add it to your backer rewards too!)

The air is damp and heavy. Stone walls close in around you as the torchlight flickers across old carvings. Somewhere in this chamber lies a treasure whispered about in every tavern from Hyhill to the coasts of Batesian. Knox, the Gnawborn bartender, swore it was here - but the chamber is silent, empty, unyielding.

The question is - how will you find it?


In Drakonym, when your character attempts something with an uncertain outcome, you make a Check. You roll a pool of d6s using two of your six Attributes, depending on how your character tackles the challenge:

  • Body - physical might, resilience, endurance

  • Gods - divine awareness, prayer, mythic presence

  • Mind - intellect, perception, analysis

  • Shadow - agility, finesse, subtlety

  • Soul - inner strength, willpower, emotional insight

  • World - instincts, wilderness knowledge, bond with nature and people

Every action in Drakonym is shaped by how you combine these forces.

For example, you might press your ear against the stone and feel along the seams with deft fingers, listening for the hollow echo of a hidden door. (Mind + Shadow), or you might grit your teeth and start pulling at loose stones, testing the structure with brute strength and instinct for weak points. (Body + World).

Each story is different, and each method uses a different Attribute pairing.



Now it’s your turn - how would your character search for the treasure?

👉 Tell us in the comments what your character does to search the room. How are you looking for the treasure? What story do you tell?

👉 Then, in the poll below, “roll the dice” by choosing which Attribute pair you think best matches your approach.

If enough of you succeed on your checks… we’ll reveal the treasure in the next update. ✨

May your dice roll high,
The Crossed Paths Team ⚔️

⚔️ Enter the Fray - Combat in Drakonym!
10 months ago – Thu, Aug 21, 2025 at 07:41:51 AM

Greetings, Dragon Riders!

You’ve explored the world, bonded with your dragon - now it’s time to see how it all comes together when danger strikes… ⚔️


Drakonym's combat is fast, cinematic, and player-driven, utilising a d6 dice pool system that emphasises teamwork, player agency, and creative storytelling. While dealing damage is one option, players are encouraged to be creative in how they choose to resolve conflict during their turn. It's fundamentally viewed as another narrative scene to be played with a little more order, rather than just a process of reducing hit points.


✨ Here’s how combat in Drakonym works:

  • Players act first - a freeform initiative system that streamlines combat. Instead of rolling for initiative, the heroes always act first by default. Players act in the order that best fits the story.

  • Action Points fuel everything - every attack, spell, or reaction comes down to how you spend your pool of AP. Save them up for a big hit or spread them out for quick responses.

  • Magic bends to your choices - spells can be tweaked on the fly. Spend a little extra mana to add targets, increase damage, or enchant your ally’s weapon for the perfect setup. 

  • Teamwork shines - whether you’re flanking an enemy, setting up combos, or handing an ally a boost, the system rewards clever coordination.

  • Wounds carry weight - instead of hit points, injuries are tracked as Light, Heavy, or Deadly Wounds. Every blow feels like it matters, and the story of the fight stays written on your character.



Want to see it in action? Check out our video, where a party takes on crystalline shard wolves deep in the Mines 👇



✨Scars That Tell a Story

In Drakonym, scars are the lasting marks of battle. When you take enough harm in combat, you risk gaining a scar - a lasting mark that changes your character going forward.


Scars can be physical (a fractured rib that makes it harder to defend), magical (an arcane burn that makes your spells unstable), or mental (lingering dread that makes you hesitate when the shadows move). Some are just narrative flavour, while others come with mechanical effects that shift how you fight or cast in the future.

Maybe your ribs still ache from a wolf’s lunge, or the spark of a spell leaves a faint crackle in your skin. These scars aren’t punishments - they’re storytelling tools, reminders of what your character has endured and will carry with them long after the fight ends.


✨ Stretch Goal Unlocked - Printable Character Cards!



At £350k, you unlocked printable character cards, complete with card builder tool support to make creating and customising your heroes easier than ever. 🔥

Next Up 👇


At £250k, you’ll unlock Physical Character Deck (physical pledges): a full printed deck of classes, backgrounds, kin, and paths!

👉 Pledge now to help unlock the Character Deck


✨ Combat and Companions Live Stream

Want to see more of Drakonym in action? Tomorrow, Friday 22nd August, we’re going live to dive deeper into combat and companions. We’ll be breaking down how fights flow at the table, showing off more mechanics in play, and answering your questions as we go.


🗓️ When: Friday 22nd August
⏰ Time: 3pm BST | 10am ET | 7am PT | 4pm CEST
📺 Where: Watch on Twitch or our Project Page!

Come hang out, bring your questions, and get a closer look at Drakonym’s combat system!

See you on the winds,
The Crossed Paths Team ⚔️

🥳 Your Pledge Just Got a Whole Lot Bigger (for Free!)
10 months ago – Tue, Aug 19, 2025 at 08:32:40 AM

Greetings, Dragon Riders!

With your incredible support, we’ve soared past stretch goal after stretch goal. That means every physical book pledge is now stacked with extra treasures - all completely free.


So if you’ve been thinking about upgrading to a physical tier… this is the moment. 🐲

✨ Physical Treasures You’ve Already Unlocked

Every milestone we’ve hit has stacked more treasure onto physical tiers. What started as a single dice pouch has grown into a full hoard - trays, lore guides, comic demos, maps, and more - all added to your pledge at no extra cost. (Aslong as you pledge for atleast 1 of 3 Books)



🔓 25k - Dice Pouch (pledges that contain the core dice only): a free pouch bearing the Drakonym sigil to protect your hoard.

🔓 £55k - Foldable Dice Tray: a tray to keep rolls contained and tables safe.

🔓 £85k - Guide to Batesian: your essential companion to the lands, lore, and secrets of Akeroth.

🔓 £120k - Origin Demo Comic: a printed rules-lite comic for all physical backers.

🔓 £130k - Fold-Out Map of Batesian: a beautiful map to chart your journeys.

🔓 £150k - Gilded Edges & Ribbons: luxe upgrades to all physical Core Rulebooks, Herald’s Guides, and Solo Rulebooks.

👉 Claim Your Full Hoard with a Physical Tier!


If you’re backing at a digital tier, upgrading to a physical tier (or adding 1 of the 3 rulebooks) will also get you all the physical stretch-goal rewards for free! Upgrading your pledge is simple: 

  1. Log in to BackerKit
  2. Go to Manage Your Pledge
  3. Select Edit Pledge
  4. Make your changes
  5. Click Confirm Your Pledge

⚠️ Don’t forget the last step! If you don’t click the Confirm button, your changes won’t be saved!

✨  A Video Guide is also available at the bottom of this update! ✨

✨ Digital Rewards

It’s not just the physical extras that have been piling up - every single backer has unlocked a stash of digital rewards too. Thanks to your pledges and the power of our growing community, you’ve already unlocked music for your adventures, lore guides for late-night reading, digital tools to level up your play, VTT support, and even a two-episode actual play with Natural Six!


Digital Extras You’ve Already Unlocked:

🔓 £40k - Original Soundtrack (29 tracks): a full score for your adventures, from soaring dragonflight themes to tense battle beats.

🔓 £100k - Guide to Batesian (PDF): the lore guide in digital form, packed with secrets and stories.

🔓 £120k - Origin Demo Comic (PDF): a rules-lite adventure told through story and art - quick to play, easy to share.

🔓 £130k - Printable Map of Batesian (PDF): explore Batesian at home, on your wall, or in your journal.

🔓 £200k - Two-Part Actual Play (Natural Six): a special Drakonym story, brought to life by the Natural Six crew.

🔓 4k Followers - Character Creation Video: a step-by-step guide to building your first Rider and dragon.

🔓 4.5k Followers - Animated Backgrounds: atmospheric scenes to set the mood for your digital games.

🔓 5k Followers - Full VTT Support (Alchemy, Foundry, Owlbear Rodeo, Roll20): ready-to-play assets for your favourite platform.

🔓 5.5k Followers - Sanctum - Character Builder + Spell Card Maker: an online tool to create Riders, dragons, and custom spell cards with ease.


✨ What’s Coming Up Next

And we’re not done! We still have more to come - we’re less than £4k away from our next stretch goal, with 10 days to go!
£230k - Printable Character Cards (all pledges): create and track perks with cards you can print at home or use in our upgraded Digital Builder.

£250k - Physical Character Deck (physical pledges): a full printed deck of classes, backgrounds, kin, and paths.


Every goal we reach adds more to your hoard at no extra cost - and we’d love to stack it even higher. Want to help unlock the next rewards?


Tell your party, drop the link in your group chat, or post about your demo playthrough on socials. Let’s see how vast this hoard can grow before the campaign ends!

The winds grow stronger,
The Crossed Paths Team ⚔️


✨ How To Make a Pledge

🎲 Amethyst Dice Drop - Claim Yours Now!
10 months ago – Fri, Aug 15, 2025 at 08:56:35 AM

Greetings, Dragon Riders (and dice goblins)! 

We’re still buzzing from our Drakonym Dice Deep Dive stream! We rolled until our wrists ached, cracked open our Mystery Gemstone Dice, and chatted through the dice mechanics that are the engine of Drakonym. 

Watch the full VOD and explore the hoard for yourself 👇


✨ The Amethyst Gemstone Dice Set Is Back!

You asked. We listened. The Amethyst & Cat’s Eye Gemstone Dice are back! Last time we released these, all 15 sets sold out in under 10 minutes, so we’re releasing a batch of 35 more sets for you to snap up.


These are true collector’s pieces: A regal amethyst d12 paired with ten fiery red cat’s eye d6s, each etched in gleaming gold with numbers and Drakonym sigils. A set worthy of any dragon’s hoard.

👉 Add them to your pledge now



✨ So… what can you actually do with all these dice?

Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how dice rolls work in Drakonym - whether you’re scaling a crumbling wall, trying to sweet-talk your way past a suspicious guard, or doing that thing that you just know is going to be a bad idea! 

✨ Dice Pools



In Drakonym, you’re not shackled to a pre-written skill list. The system’s built for narrative flexibility - so instead of defaulting to set niches or tropes, you start with what you want your character to do.

The Herald will pick two of the Six Attributes that best fit your approach, then you'll roll a number of d6s equal to your score in each:

  • Picking a lock? That’s Shadow + Mind (finesse + intellect) 
  • Inspiring an army? Gods + Soul (divine presence + inner strength)

The more you develop an Attribute, the bigger your dice pool for any action that draws on it - so every roll reflects your strengths and choices, not a fixed skill list.

✨ Heralds Roll Less



In Drakonym, most of the rolling happens in the players’ hands. NPCs follow a d12 Action Table during combat, so the Herald doesn’t have to make attack rolls or hide behind secret numbers.

That means less time spent on behind-the-screen maths and more on keeping the story moving. When you succeed, it’s because you rolled it - nothing hidden, nothing fudged. Every victory feels earned.

✨ The Shadow Die



When things take a turn for the worse, you can gamble on the d12 Shadow Die to try and turn it around. But it’s a double-edged sword - it might save the day, but it also gives the Herald exactly what they need to make life more interesting.😈

Every time you invoke the Shadow Die after a failed check, it feeds the Herald’s pool of Shadow Marks - a resource they can spend to throw in complications, escalate a fight, or drop a twist that changes everything.

In solo and GM-less play, the die itself becomes the voice of fate! Every roll adds +1 to your Shadow Mark tracker, and as that tracker fills, the consequences grow - from strange whispers on the wind to losing the ability to dream, and eventually the Vortex claiming your character entirely.


✨ Looking for more dice?! 

We get it - there’s no such thing as too many dice. Here’s the full line-up so you can find the set that’s calling your name 👇


Drakonym - Core Dice Set (£15 / $20)

A full set of durable acrylic dice for Drakonym, including the Shadow Die. Stylish, sharp, and ready for any roll.

👉 Add them to your pledge now




Drakonym - Mystery Gem Dice Set (£50 / $66)

A surprise set of premium gemstone dice in a unique color and pattern. No two sets are the same. Includes a randomly selected gemstone Shadow Die to match or contrast.

👉 Add them to your pledge now



Drakonym - Amethyst Gemstone Dice Set (£65 / $86)

Crafted with a stunning star-cut design, this limited gemstone set blends deep amethyst with fiery red cat’s eye for a truly radiant finish. Includes a matching Shadow Die.

👉 Add them to your pledge now



May your Shadow Die treat you kindly,
The Crossed Paths Team ⚔️