''Ironclaw'' is a series of tabletop

role-playing game A role-playing game (sometimes spelled roleplaying game, or abbreviated as RPG) is a game in which players assume the roles of player character, characters in a fictional Setting (narrative), setting. Players take responsibility for acting out ...

s created by

Jason Holmgren Jason Holmgren is an American cartoonist, art director, and role-playing game designer. Career Holmgren first started as a cartoonist for ''Shadis'' Magazine, where his strip, ''Joe Genero: Adventures of the Average Man'', debuted in 1990. The co ...

of Sanguine Games, this series features

anthropomorphic Anthropomorphism is the attribution of human traits, emotions, or intentions to non-human entities. It is considered to be an innate tendency of human psychology. Personification is the related attribution of human form and characteristics to ...

characters in a setting inspired by class and religious conflicts during the Italian Renaissance. Additionally, ''

Jadeclaw ''Jadeclaw'' is a role-playing game set in the same world as '' Ironclaw'', in a far off kingdom called Zhongguo (lit: Mandarin for "China"), inspired by Chinese Mythology, where anthropomorphic fantasy creatures control the fates of both Heaven an ...

'' is a related game that is set in a concurrent East Asian setting.

Publication history

The first edition of ''Ironclaw'' was initially published in 1999 by the independent publisher Sanguine Games. In May 2002 it was voted the most-popular furry RPG in a public poll which included works of the same era such as '' World Tree'' and ''

Furry Pirates ''Furry Pirates'' is an anthropomorphic, historical fantasy, pen-and-paper role-playing game published by Atlas Games. It is set in a parallel universe, reminiscent of 17th-century Earth. The game was written by Lise Breakey, designed by Bruce ...

''. The second edition was published in 2010; it has since sold over 10,000 copies. As of 2019, the game has been in continuous publication, with various add-on books such as ''The Book of Monsters'' featuring

Ursula Vernon Ursula Vernon (born May 28, 1977) is an American freelance writer, artist and illustrator. She has won numerous awards for her work in various mediums, including Hugo Awards for her graphic novel '' Digger'', fantasy novel '' Nettle & Bone'', an ...

, and is run at

furry convention A furry convention (also furry con or fur con) is a fan convention, formal gathering of members of the furry fandom – people who are interested in the concept of fictional non-human animal characters with anthropomorphism, human characteristic ...

s such as Furry Fiesta,

Midwest FurFest Midwest FurFest (MFF) is a furry convention that takes place in Rosemont, Illinois, usually on the second weekend after Thanksgiving. First held in 2000, MFF is presented by Midwest Furry Fandom Inc, an Illinois Educational Not-For-Profit Corpora ...

and

Anthrocon Anthrocon (abbreviated AC) is an annual furry convention that takes place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, each June or July. It caters to furries, which are fans of fictional anthropomorphic animal characters in art and literature. The conventio ...

System

''Ironclaw'' uses a system where attributes of characters are matched to different

polyhedral dice In geometry, a polyhedron (: polyhedra or polyhedrons; ) is a three-dimensional figure with flat polygonal faces, straight edges and sharp corners or vertices. The term "polyhedron" may refer either to a solid figure or to its boundary surfac ...

. These attributes include a character's physical, mental, and social capabilities, in addition to the abilities associated with their species. This system was later used in Sanguine's other role-playing games, including ''Jadeclaw''.

Published books

1st Edition (1999-2004): * ''Ironclaw Anthropomorphic Roleplaying Game'' * ''House Rinaldi'' * ''House Avoirdupois'' * ''House Bisclavret'' * ''House Doloreaux'' * ''Phelan'' 2nd Edition (2010-present): * ''Ironclaw Omnibus: Squaring the Circle'' (2011) * ''The Book of Mysteries'' * ''The Book of Jade'' (2012) * ''The Book of Adventures'' (2014) * ''The Book of Horn and Ivory'' (2017) * ''The Book of Monsters'' (2019) * ''The Book of Corals'' (2020)

References

Role-playing games introduced in 1999 Indie role-playing games Fantasy role-playing games Furry role-playing games {{rpg-stub