Shadow in the Stars: A Solo Tabletop Roleplaying Game
Created by Paul Vincent
Secure your copy of Shadow in the Stars! Take the role of a starfighter pilot on a difficult journey of destruction and self discovery.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Some Slightly Bad News and Some Good News
18 days ago
– Wed, Oct 21, 2026 at 07:55:42 AM
Greetings Pilots,
I had written a post about how I had the books and I was going to start shipping very soon. Except....
I opened the boxes to find that every single book had been printed wrong.
Do you see all that white stuff on the borders? That's fun pretend wear to make it look like a vintage video game box. When I designed it, I put a bunch of it on the outside as bleed in case the book trim was a little off. If it is, it'll still retain an appropriate color and not look weird. However, there's not supposed to be THAT much of a shift in the margins. It was wrong on every single book.
After speaking with the printer, they realized that the mistake was that they cut the book to the wrong trim size. They're ever so slightly larger than they're supposed to be.
The good news for all of us is that they're going to correct them. I have to send them back to do the fix. The downside of that it could take a couple of weeks before I get them back.
Worse things have happened, but I was hoping to be able to share that I was about to send you the books. As always, I'll keep you updated as things progress.
Another bit of good news is that the interiors looked great.
If you have any concerns or questions, please leave a comment in the update post or in the comments section.
In other news...
Shadow in the Stars at Gamehole Con
I just wanted to share that I had the opportunity to demonstrate Shadow in the Stars at Gamehole Con in Madison, WI this last weekend. I was able to talk to a bunch of folks about it.
I had a thematic card deck, I printed off some tokens, the character sheet, the mission log, and I used the physical map. It was a great opportunity to show off the game. You can see what it looks like in physical form if you haven't played it that way yet.
The Score Board Awaits Your Score!
If you've played Shadow in the StarsI want to hear about it! Just tell me about it and/or submit your high scores. You can find details (and the score board) over here at the Table Cat Games website.
Project Status List
Digital Release - Complete
Physical Release - In Progress (ish) - Waiting for printer fix
Physical Sector Map - Complete - Waiting for the physical books
Problem with Fulfillment?
If you have an issue with getting your stuff through Backerkit you can use the Backerkit help desk.
Or if you would like to contact me because of some other issue, you can do so through Kickstarter or via my email support [at] tablecatgames [dot] com.
Quick Plugs
Ope! Pardon me, but I just have a couple of plugs to get out of the way here.
Titan Effect: Zero
My pal Christian Nommay has done an excellent conversion of his game Titan Effect into the Year Zero Engine system. Titan Effect is a Metal Gear Solid like action/spy game that's super cool. Christian has been an inspiration for me as I've developed games, so it's great to see him continuing his work on Titan Effect. He's crowd funding it right now and you can check it out here!
Street Wolves: Zero Hour
My next game is Street Wolves: Zero Hour. It takes place in an alternate 1987 featuring heroes living on the edge fighting a powerful conspiracy, drug cartels, and more while they struggle to maintain their relationships and fight against their own inner demons.
It's powered by the Year Zero Engine by Free League (used in games like Alien, Vaesen, Blade Runner).
I'm working on a quick start that will give you a really good idea of how the game is going to work and all the fun you can have playing it. In the meantime, please follow along at Backerkit!
More Updates
If you'd like more updates on this game and other stuff I've got in the works, please follow along at any of these places:
A Pretty Pretty Good Update: Print progress, itch fulfillment, and more
about 1 month ago
– Thu, Oct 08, 2026 at 07:22:59 AM
I have an update for you that's pretty good! No, I don't have the physical books yet (read below), but there's been progress!
Book Printing
I'd had hoped to been a little further than we are right now with the status of the physical books. They were sent to the printer and the printer was doing all kinds of background stuff. Just a couple days ago I finally got a digital proof of the print (I had expected to at least get the physical proof by now). I did find one big mistake in the layout that I corrected. Sigh. Well, at least it wasn't printed with an embarrassing and annoying error on every page.
The good news the update took far less time than the original proof process. They sent an updated digital proof a day later and I approved it. It's now in their hands now to print. They've given me an estimated date of being done mid-October. I'm guessing then that I'll get them delivered a couple weeks after that, but that's a huge guess. I'm really hoping to have them in the mail by end of October. I'll update you as soon as I have a more solid estimate.
Printed Maps
In other news, the printed maps are in! I think they look great. I hope if you got one you'll love it too.
If you missed getting a map and still want one, I'll be bringing them around to conventions and I'll likely also have them on my website after the book is fulfilled.
Itch.io Fulfillment
To get your Shadow in the Stars copy on itch.ioclick on this link. You should be able to log into your account and claim your copy.
Sorry it took a bit, I wanted to give everyone a good amount of time to fill out their surveys so I could send the bulk of them out at once. And also the back end distribution stuff on itch is confusing as heck for me.
Problem with Fulfillment?
If you have an issue with getting your stuff through Backerkit you can use the Backerkit help desk.
Or if you would like to contact me because of some other issue (like an issue with itch), you can do so through Kickstarter or via my email support [at] tablecatgames [dot] com.
The Score Board Awaits Your Score!
If you've played Shadow in the StarsI want to hear about it! Just tell me about it and/or submit your high scores. You can find details (and the score board) over here at the Table Cat Games website.
Project Status List
Digital Release - Complete
Physical Release - In Progress - Working through print preprocess
Sorry, but I have to point out a couple of other things going on to help keep the lights on at Table Cat HQ!
Street Wolves: Zero Hour
Street Wolves: Zero Hour is the next big game from TCG. It takes place in an alternate 1987 featuring heroes living on the edge facing off against a powerful conspiracy, drug cartels, and more while they struggle to maintain their relationships and fight against their own inner demons.
This is a new spin on Street Wolves, which began life as a Savage Worlds setting. This time it's going to be a full game (no need to buy someone else's rule book) powered by the exciting Year Zero Engine by Free League (used in games like Alien, Vaesen, Blade Runner), Street Wolves: Zero Hour is a grittier, more grounded, and intense take on the world of Street Wolves.
I'm working on a quick start that will give you a really good idea of how the game is going to work and all the fun you can have playing it. In the meantime, please follow along at Backerkit!
Conventions
I'll be at the following events next week, so if you're in Wisconsin for either stop by and get a look at the printed map and I'll demo or the book (I just plan on printing off a bunch of pages, not the actual book, because I don't have one...). But still, it would be cool to see you and chat!
The biggest ttrpg con in Wisconsin that's growing every year. I got a table in the demo row (which is usually located in the lobby). More Gamehole Con info here.
More Updates
If you'd like more updates on this game and other stuff I've got in the works, please follow along at any of these places:
Shadow in the Stars is Out Now in Digital Form!
about 2 months ago
– Thu, Sep 10, 2026 at 07:53:25 AM
Pilots! Shadow in the Stars is out now in digital form. If you've filled out your survey and your card payment went through, then you should have it in your Backerkit rewards. Drive Thru RPG rewards are (hopefully) linked to it, but if you have a problem with that, let me know. Itch.io fulfillment is upcoming.
There is a good portion of folks that haven't gotten to their survey. If that's you, take care of that and you can get your copy!
I Need Your Help!
As an indie ttrpg publisher I give you a new mission: If you enjoy Shadow in the Stars, please leave a review or rating on Drive Thru RPG or itch.io. Also tell a friend. Tell many friends!
If you have some sort of a media outlet and would like to talk to me about Shadow in the Stars send me a message. If you want to do an actual play, let me know and I'll support you however I can!
Find Mistakes?
If you spot any typos or other mistakes in Shadow in the Stars, feel free to send them to support [at] tablecatgames [dot] com.
Problem with Fulfillment?
If you have an issue you can use the Backerkit help desk. Or if you would like to contact me, you can do so through Kickstarter or via my email support [at] tablecatgames [dot] com.
A Small Update
If your looking forward to Shadow in the Stars in physical form, I've been working with the book printer and the printer of the maps. Hopefully I'll have more to add soon! But the wheels (space jets?) are in motion.
More Updates
If you'd like more updates on this game and other stuff I've got in the works, please follow along at any of these places:
Digital Release - In Progress - Itch.io copies forthcoming
Physical Release - Beginning print preprocess
Physical Sector Map - Working with printer
Smoke Tests and Surveys Coming Soon, digital release imminent!
2 months ago
– Fri, Sep 04, 2026 at 10:28:10 AM
Big News!
Pilots, the proofreading is done and Shadow in the Stars is on the verge of digital blast off.
That means we're ready to move forward with sending out the surveys to collect necessary information and give you a chance to pick up any add-ons that you may have missed. And then once survey info is collected, we can move forward with the digital release and getting the book printed.
I'm sending out the "smoke test" survey today, so if you get a survey, please fill it out! It'll help me find any potential issues before we send out the rest of them.
To sum up:
Smoke tests go out.
Once I've had time to iron out any kinks, then the rest of the surveys go out.
Once you've filled out your survey, you'll get access to a digital copy of the game in Backerkit (and any other digital things you got as an add-on).
Drive Thru RPG copies SHOULD be available through Backerkit, but I've had issue with this in the past. If the connection doesn't work, I'll manually send the DTRPG copies out.
itch.io copies will come out shortly thereafter.
More Updates
If you'd like more updates on this game and other stuff I've got in the works, please follow along at any of these places:
Ope! Sorry, but I gotta slip in a plug in here. If you're feeling done with summer and looking forward to Halloween, check out the Hot Ghoul Halloween bundle. You can get 41 games and supplements for only ten bucks! That's terrifying savings, right there.
One reason for the plug is that there's a couple of my games in this bundle, but if you've already got them, the rest of the bundle is totally worth it!
Tons of Shadow in the Stars Updates!
2 months ago
– Tue, Aug 25, 2026 at 11:59:36 AM
Greetings, pilots! It's been a little bit, but we've returned with a ton of news and updates. Buckle up!
Game Status
Shadow in the Stars is very close to being done. That's the short version, but here's some more details:
Prompt Writers
As I got feedback from consultant Cassi Mothwin and from S. Kaiya J. (fellow creator who was playtesting), they both gave extremely helpful feedback. Part of it was that a chunk of the prompts needed some tweaking. I realized I was pretty much out of juice for completing them in a satisfactory way. The good news is that since the Kickstarter did so well, I was able to bring on two writers to help me. They are:
Savannah Dawn: Savanah is a friend and has worked on several Street Wolves projects as a proofreader. Savanah is also the author of The Company of Cats and I'm very excited to have her on the writing team!
Nathan Lurz: Nathan Lurz is a Chicago-based TTRPG writer, editor, GM, player, and producer for the award-nominated actual play podcast Reckless Attack and as the host/interviewer for its sister podcast, Reckless A-Talk. Nathan has also published several independent RPGs, including “Dream Investigator” and “Your Dog’s Shadow."
They both provided extra prompts and ideas that really injected some new life into the book. With their aid we were able to complete the initial draft of the book.
Book Progress
Right now the book is in the hands of the proofreader (Savannah who I mentioned earlier). I'm currently finishing the last of graphical assets.
The main thing I'm doing is taking a second pass on some of the things like the character sheet and map to make them a bit more in-universe looking. Here you can see that I beefed up the character sheet and this is what the color version looks like (there will be a printable black and white version included):
And while it's not "book progress" I have to finish setting up Backerkit for fulfillment, so stay tuned for updates on when surveys are out and all that business.
Release Date
I still don't have an exact release date yet, operating on a when it's ready, it's ready methodology. But it is getting close! I feel like we're only a couple of weeks off from a digital release. And once the digital version is out, I'll go back to the printer and work with them and they'll be able to give me a good date on a print estimate.
Launch Event?
I'm in talks of doing a physical launch event at a local game store (so Milwaukee, WI area). Stay tuned for further updates!
Pre-Orders
If you're seeing this update, you're probably a backer, but in case you missed it or have a friend that missed it, you can find the Shadow in the Stars Kickstarter pre-orders here.
Convention News
I recently bumped off the wait list into having a booth at Game Hole Con in Madison, Wisconsin October 15th through the 18th. If you'd like to say hi to me in person, please stop by the Table Cat Games booth in the demo row. If the book isn't printed by the time Game Hole Con rolls around, I plan to have a bunch of the pages printed to show them off as a demo of what they'll look like.
More Updates
As a reminder, I only update when there are significant things to talk about and when I'm ready to share them. I don't want to send too many updates. If I do, I risk annoying you and potentially having folks unsubscribing from the emails, so they miss the big stuff like survey deadlines and what not. That being said, I know we're down to the wire on the August progress update!
If you'd like to get more progress updates (and news on my other stuff) you can always follow along at these other spots where I share more frequently (especially on the socials):
Physical Release - Waiting for Digital version to be completed
Physical Sector Map - In progress
We use essential cookies and our own first-party analytics to run BackerKit. With your consent, we also use cookies to measure our marketing and share data with advertising partners to show you relevant ads. Accept to allow all cookies, or reject to turn off the optional ones.
Read our cookie policy.
