End of March Update
7 months ago
– Fri, Apr 03, 2026 at 07:28:15 PM
Greetings Fellow Deadites!
April is here, which means it is time for a proper update on where things stand with the Evil Dead 2 5.5e book.
The good news is that the writing and editing are complete. The book is fully prepared and moving into its final layout stage.
The only thing holding us back is approval from the licensor. Until we receive the green light, we are unable to move forward with the final steps. We hope this won't take too long and we'll be sure to let you know once we've got the go-ahead to finish up!
While we wait, we want to give you a taste of what is coming by sharing previews of some of our favorite highlights from the book to get you excited for what is just around the corner. (Writing not yet final and subject to change)
Shemps
Let's be honest; sometimes the characters in your favorite horror flick aren't exactly fully fleshed-out. They may even feel a bit one-dimensional. But that's okay! Not everyone needs a richly-drawn "backstory" or a pesky thing like "motivation." Sometimes we just need to run up that potential body count. In games where lower-powered characters fit the themes and goals of the session, where you would be dropped into the story cold, Shemps help get players playing quickly. There's still opportunity to roleplay and get into character, but Shemps are by design slightly shallower, easier to pilot, and, perhaps more grimly, easier to kill off and replace. And you can't have a horror movie without some casualties.
Shemps are sub-level 1, grab-and-go characters intended for one-shots or short multi-session games. They're lower powered and virtually unequipped, but such is the horror genre. Using Shemps is entirely optional, but doing so would generate a different energy than standard heroic characters usually provide, and this system aims to encourage the feelings of desperation that accompany being thrust into a situation you're totally unprepared for.
Subclass
Monk: Warrior of the Phantom Limb
Warriors of the Phantom Limb are cartographers. Acupuncture and dim mak points may seem like hokum, but these Monks have mapped how energy flows through channels in a body. Finding, striking, and controlling these lines can have great sway over the rhythms of combat. A well-timed jab that moves the pieces on the board may be more prudent than a kick to the head, and few weapons strike harder than those of the enemy itself. When their strike lands true, they can channel a pulse of Focus into their target, seizing control of its body and making it unable to stop hitting itself.
Species
Hexidermy
A Hexidermy is a chimeric monstrosity, made from a haphazard collection of various animal bits, sewn together and animated by the dark magic of the Necronomicon. Because of the manner of their creation, no two Hexidermies are the same, each one being a uniquely grotesque patchwork of incongruous chunks. Having shuffled off the chains of servitude, many now wander the land in search of adventure, meaning, and new parts to stitch on.
Necronomicon Incantations
Power Word: Liquify
You compel the tissues of an enemy to lose their structural integrity.
Skeletal Emancipation
A powerful bolt of wicked energy encourages a creature's skeleton to go it on its own.
Magic Items
Chicago Typewriter
Thompson Automatic, recovered Feb 14, 1929, Chicago, IL. Sometimes a foul kind of energy clings to a weapon as a result of the evil deeds it was used for. One might go so far as to say this gun has a bit of bloodlust, often firing off more bullets than seemingly possible, if the mood strikes it.
Headcannon
From the front, this thing just looks like your regular, average severed head. 'Round back, though, you'll find a few interesting modifications, like a walnut stock and a hair trigger, which when pulled, fires an eyeball out of the mouth. Weird, wild stuff, man.
Walk-A-Miles
They say to know a person, you must walk a mile in their shoes. This takes on new significance when they're shoes that look like feet, because they're made of human feet.
Adventures
Dread By Dawn
Shemp to Level 1
Survive the night in the legendary cabin in the woods.
Night of the Evil Dead
Shemp to Level 4
Uncover the source of the shadow over Campbell's Cove.
The Witch of November
Level 5 to 10
Attempt to rewrite history aboard the doomed Edmund Fitzgerald.
Betrayal at Helsford House
Level 11 to 16
What starts as a simple ritual soon becomes a voyage through the belly of the beast.
Next Steps
The next steps involve opening the pledge manager to collect shipping details and final numbers. We will open the manager on Backerkit next Friday, April 17th (pending Licensor approvals), and it will remain open until the physical goods are sent to print.
By that time, we expect to have all files prepared, approved, and ready for print. Once we hit the "print" button, we will be one step closer to completing this project.
For all the Deadite lovers out there: once the files are finalized and licensor approved, we will release the PDFs to all backers who pledged for them. This way, you can enjoy the Evil Dead 2 content while you wait for your physical goods to arrive.
Additionally, for those familiar with
Lynnvander’s previous RPG work, we are sending all outstanding books to print and shipping them together near the end of this month. This includes
Thundercats and Imaria: Pillars of Power.
If you are looking for more D&D 5.5e compatible products, please check out the "
Imaria: Beyond the Veil" project during the final days of its "last chance to back" campaign.
Please keep in mind that all Lynnvander designs are created with cross-world mechanical compatibility in mind; in fact, many of the mechanics in Evil Dead 2 were inspired by the foundations of Imaria.
Status Report & Imaria Backerkit
7 months ago
– Wed, Mar 18, 2026 at 11:17:41 AM
Hello all,
We are hard at work pushing toward our production goals of having the book ready for print at the end of March. Right now, we’re in the final stages of approvals, and once those are complete, we’ll move into finishing the layout. Barring any unexpected snags regarding the approval process, we’re confident we’ll hit our target.
While you wait for the groovy action coming your way, we’d love for you to check out our latest 5.5e Backerkit for Imaria! If you’ve enjoyed the previews for Evil Dead 2 5.5e, you’ll love what we’ve created in our own world. Be sure to check it out and see if anything catches your eye!
If you have not yet done so, we encourage you to check out our previous update for more details on our projected release timeline. It provides a deeper look at where things stand and what lies ahead.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We cannot wait to get this book into your hands!
Getting Closer - Table of Contents Sneak Peek!
9 months ago
– Fri, Jan 16, 2026 at 02:06:34 PM
Hello all!
We’ve been heads-down in the book making sure everything is groovy and gruesome before we send it off to layout. The manuscript is very close to being ready, and right now we're focused on the final polish. Tweaks, flow edits, balancing chapters, tightening up encounters, and double-checking every gnarly detail from cover to chainsaw.
While we’re finishing that up, we wanted to give you something fun to chew on. Below is a sneak peek at the Table of Contents, so you can see exactly what’s lurking inside the book and start getting hyped for what’s coming.
Important Note: Layout is not yet final. Page numbers and some section ordering may also shift slightly as we fine-tune things.
We’re really excited about how it’s shaping up, and we think you’ll love the breadth of material packed into this thing from lore and mechanics to new threats, curses, and campaign tools tailor-made for surviving until dawn.
Thanks again for your continued support and patience. We’ll be sure to update you again once layout has begun!
