Press Release: Pioneer Already 325% Funded After Just Five Days
- Dirk Vandereyken
- Nov 4
- 2 min read
Only five days after launching its Kickstarter campaign for the near-future Pioneer tabletop roleplaying game by Mongoose Publishing, the project has already reached 325% funding. Adapting the immensely popular Traveller rules system, Pioneer lets players take on the roles of the first true space explorers, roughly 10 to 20 years into the future. Uniquely, this stand-alone TTRPG was designed by Dr. Sandy Antunes, a veteran game designer and graduate of Boston University with dual degrees in astronomy and physics, a master’s degree in astronomy from Penn State, and a PhD in computational astrophysics from George Mason University.
Dr. Antunes has contributed to NASA-related projects and published works on space science and astronautical engineering. He designed mission-scheduling software for NASA and served as the science scheduler for the NASA/ISAS ASCA mission from 1992 to 1994.
Kickstarter Link, Interviews & Review Copies
Of course, we would love for you to share the news and link to the Kickstarter campaign. We are also very much looking forward to arranging interviews and/or review copies for you to explore!
Already Included
While the stand-alone Pioneer Core Rulebook, the 12-mission book Mission Control, the fully-fledged campaign Ares Ascendant, and the Pioneer Referee’s Screen are already included in higher pledge levels, no fewer than six stretch goals have been unlocked so far — each showcasing the kind of stories players can expect to tell in their Pioneer adventures:
Selene Station – An automated space station in medium-Earth orbit (MEO) fails to deploy correctly. The Pioneers join a multinational task force to bring it online, but growing international friction threatens to compromise the mission.
Full Shadow – During a routine low-Earth orbit (LEO) mission, the Pioneers make a startling discovery: a stealth satellite of unknown origin. Their national intelligence agency orders them to investigate, but what they uncover could have far-reaching consequences.
Project Hecate: Part I – The Pioneers are dispatched to survey the Moon in preparation for humanity’s first lunar base. Several potential sites await exploration, and the team must determine which is most suitable for the monumental task ahead.
Project Hecate Mission Patch – Commemorate your role in Project Hecate with an exclusive cloth mission patch — perfect for your jacket or gear bag!
Project Hecate: Part II – Construction of the first Moon base begins, but unforeseen competition over lunar resources sparks geopolitical tension both on Earth and beyond. The Pioneers must oversee critical decisions on design, logistics, and survival.
Project Hecate: Part III – The lunar base nears completion and the Pioneers are honored for their contributions. Yet before the final module is installed, funding cuts and shifting alliances jeopardize the mission’s future, forcing the team to confront a new frontier of uncertainty.
Next Up – Retrograde Spin:
The Pioneers crew a prototype spinning-torus spacecraft bound for LaGrange Point 2 (L2). When the vessel’s AI malfunctions, they must overcome escalating technical and ethical challenges to complete their mission.
A 92-page preview of the game is available here:
Get in Touch
For interviews, articles, or review requests, please contact:
📞 +32 494 38 27 44
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