Surveys Sent - Section 9 Awaits
1 day ago
– Thu, Aug 27, 2026 at 12:41:08 PM
Welcome back, Agents!
Yesterday we sent the smoke test, and as it appears to have gone smoothly, we've now sent survey invites to everyone. Section 9 awaits!
Surveys take a little while to go out, so I'd allow 24 hours for them to show up in your inbox.
For those who receive the email today:
You do not need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the survey invite email, click the survey link to respond. Answer the questions about your reward preferences, provide shipping information, and purchase add-on items if you like. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be available soon via email!
Your Rulebook PDF is available to download on the confirmation screen once you confirm your pledge.
After you complete your survey, you can go back and change your responses at any time before we close the surveys and finalise our counts.
We plan to enter & charge backers for shipping closer to fulfilment when we have better estimates of what it will cost to ship backers' rewards. We will alert backers when shipping costs are finalised & before we charge your cards in your BackerKit survey. We will keep you informed all along the way!
After all surveys are sent, if you did not receive the email and you signed in with Apple ID, your email address might be a private relay email address. We can help locate your survey and update your email address. Please message us or post a comment with your Backer ID or Pledge # found on your confirmation. You can learn more about hiding your email for your
Apple ID here.
If you Paid Over Time, your Pledge Manager survey arrives after your final payment has cleared. However, we know many of you are excited to get playing, so if you want to access your Rulebook PDF earlier, send us an email with your backer details to
[email protected] and we can get that sent out to you manually. Just allow us 24-48 hours to resolve your query. Unlike other backers, we have to manually step in to make this happen before your payment is completed.
This is a new process for us, so we appreciate your patience. If you have any questions, let me know!
Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
- Ross and Team Mantic
BackerKit surveys are coming - Smoke Test!
3 days ago
– Wed, Aug 26, 2026 at 12:57:21 PM
Welcome back, Agents!
Soon, a lucky 5% of you will receive an email from us with a special link to your BackerKit survey. It’s essential to respond to your survey as quickly as possible since we need this information to fulfil your rewards and, more importantly, ensure the Pledge Manager is working correctly.
This process, known as a smoke test, allows us to verify that everything is set up correctly before we send the surveys to the remaining 95%. If you haven't received an email, don't be alarmed; if all is good with the smoke test, you should receive your invite tomorrow.
For those who receive the email today:
You do not need to create a BackerKit account to fill out your survey. When you receive the survey invite email, click the survey link to respond. Answer the questions about your reward preferences, provide shipping information, and purchase add-on items if you like. You don’t have access to this survey link yet, but it will be available soon via email!
Your Rulebook PDF is available to download on the confirmation screen once you confirm your pledge.
After you complete your survey, you can go back and change your responses at any time before we close the surveys and finalise our counts.
We plan to enter & charge backers for shipping closer to fulfilment when we have better estimates of what it will cost to ship backers' rewards. We will alert backers when shipping costs are finalised & before we charge your cards in your BackerKit survey. We will keep you informed all along the way!
After all surveys are sent, if you did not receive the email and you signed in with Apple ID, your email address might be a private relay email address. We can help locate your survey and update your email address. Please message us or post a comment with your Backer ID or Pledge # found on your confirmation. You can learn more about hiding your email for your Apple ID
here.
Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
- Ross and Team Mantic
Campaign Epilogue + Next Steps
16 days ago
– Thu, Aug 13, 2026 at 11:42:10 AM
Welcome back, Agents!
What a wild last day. Between the 35C/95F heat and that 8 hour backer train taking us into overtime, today has been one heck of a ride. As this campaign closes, I wanted to send a huge thank you from myself and the whole team. We've really appreciated your enthusiasm, curiosity and kindness during this campaign. It's been a wonderful one to be a part of.
I've named this update Campaign Epilogue, but really it's a prologue to the stories yet to come. Your journey into Section 9 is just beginning. More on that below!
Whether you're new to crowdfunding or not, now is a great time to go through the next steps so you know what to expect and can ask any questions you need to in the comments below.
A common question during the campaign is when and how can you get the Rulebook PDF. This ties directly into the Pledge Manager process that everyone needs to take, so let's go through those steps below.
- Once the campaign ends, your pledge is fully charged (Pay Over Time is taken in instalments).
- BackerKit processes these payments and gives you time to fix declined or failed cards. This process will take around 14 days. After this, we receive the campaign funds.
- At around 14 days, you will receive a Pledge Manager survey (via email, but I'll share an update too) where you will:
- Confirm your shipping address
- Finalise your pledge
- Purchase add-ons or extras
Note: Shipping will be charged closer to the fulfilment of physical items
- Once you've completed the Pledge Manager, you'll receive the Rulebook PDF!
- After this we'll share the bonus missions as they are finished. These will be sent via BackerKit and I'll be sure to post an update incase you miss the email.
The above is great for knowing when to expect the Pledge Manager, Rulebook PDF and missions, but let's zoom out a little further to view the fulfilment of all other items. Here is our estimated timeline at this stage.
2026
AUG: Crowdfunding ends. Late Pledges become available.
AUG: Physical refunds can be issued at 90% (due to platform fees). Digital PDF is non-refundable once downloaded.
AUG: Pledge Manager opens.
OCT: Pledge Manager closes.
DEC: Order confirmed with the factory. No refunds are available beyond this point.
2027
JAN: Pre-production Feedback
FEB: Manufacturing begins.
APR: Shipping addresses are now locked in the Pledge Manager.
APR: Pledges are shipped to regional hubs.
MAY: Fulfilment of pledges from hubs to backers.
If anything changes with these timelines, we'll be sure to keep you up to date.
Thanks to everyone who has voted so far on which VTT platform you want to see The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG on. Over 300 of you have voted, so I've extended the poll by a few days to give all the new backers a chance to participate. Please have your say below.
Your support of this campaign and participation in this vote have made us think that VTT for this game IS POSSIBLE. While we're not quite ready to guarantee this will happen (yet), we've been speaking with all the relevant people to understand the landscape, platforms, and costs involved. Just to set expectations for development, it takes around 12 weeks, so if we did proceed, this wouldn't happen overnight.
We'll be making decisions on this very soon and will, of course, keep you all updated.
Expect monthly updates big and small, as we continue to work on the project. Our next update will focus on the Pledge Manager (and perhaps more news on VTT), but whatever the news we'll stay in touch until your pledges are finalized.
Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
- Ross and Team Mantic
Last 48 Hours + Actual Play Ep 3 | The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG
18 days ago
– Tue, Aug 11, 2026 at 10:54:40 AM
Welcome back,
Agents!
They say that time flies, and it really has, as somehow we're now entering the final 48 hours. Whether you've been with us since day one or are one of the many people just arriving, thank you for supporting our work in creating this game and making this such a fun campaign to run.
In our last update, we asked you which Virtual Tabletop platform you'd want to see this game appear on. If you're a VTT player,
be sure to have your say.
Game designer Alessio and friends gathered to record their exploration into the world of The Ghost in the Shell Tabletop RPG. We've shared their successes and mishaps as they navigate the rulebook mission
Lost Patriot in an Actual Play series!
If you are a GM, or someone who simply wants to get a better look at the game, this series will give you great insight into the experience of play. We hope you enjoy!
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Episode 1 - The Story Begins
In Episode 1, the group are creating their characters, gearing up and taking the first steps into part one of the 8-part story arc of
Lost Patriot; the mission included with all copies of The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG. For those of you looking to avoid any spoilers, be sure to stop watching at around 49 minutes, when the mission truly begins.
Episode 2 - The Rescue Attempt
In episode 2, the group jump into part two (of eight) of the
Lost Patriot as they are assigned their first mission, rescuing a high-ranking politician's daughter. If you want to laugh, shout, and question the tactics of this team of new recruits as they attempt an action-packed hostage rescue, this video is well worth watching.
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Episode 3 - Trickle Down Tinderbox
In the final episode, the group jump into part three (of eight) of the
Lost Patriot as they are sent out into the field to investigate the spread of black market weapons in Newport City. The team are beginning to find their rhythm, exploring this cyberpunk world for leads in their own very particular style. Are you team Ghost or team Shell?
Thanks for all your Support
If you did want to support this campaign further, consider sharing the image above with friends and family as we enter this final stretch. Every pledge helps us support the future of the game, and our goal to keep writing missions and content for you all.
Don't forget to vote in the trivia poll below! Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
- Ross and Team Mantic
Virtual Tabletop + Bonus Mission 3 | The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG
19 days ago
– Mon, Aug 10, 2026 at 06:55:52 AM
Welcome back,
Agents!
As we enter our final week we've passed another landmark, with
3000 agents ready to enter the world of Section 9. As we look to the future of the game, there's one topic we've kept returning to,
Virtual Tabletop. In this update, we'd love to hear your thoughts on that subject.
What is Virtual Tabletop?VTT is software that lets people play traditional tabletop games, especially RPGs, online. VTT's let you connect through a digital platform that provides things like maps, character sheets, dice rolling, and communication tools.
Read this beginners guide to find out more.
Why should I be interested?There's a whole bunch of reasons (like communication tools, automated dice, character sheets), but the biggest reason is that you can organize and play games with people anywhere in the world.
How do I share my thoughts?
Please vote for the platform you'd love to see The Ghost in the Shell TTRPG on most.
If we did proceed, this would most likely be offered as an add-on, priced appropriately. Would you be interested? Have your say below.
The more votes we get, the more likely this is to happen, now, or in the future.
ALL BACKERS GET THREE BONUS MISSIONS
We're incredibly grateful for your support bringing this project to life. To thank you, we're increasing the number of missions included in every pledge from ONE MISSION to FOUR MISSIONS!
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Rulebook Mission: Lost Patriot
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Bonus Mission 1: Puppets on a Wire
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Bonus Mission 2: The Cruise
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Bonus Mission 3: Cell Island Syndrome
All backers, from the PDF tier upwards, will now be sent THREE BONUS MISSIONS as digital PDFs once they are finished and approved by Kodansha. Backers with the Collector's Edition Hardback, will also have these included included within their printed book.
Find out more in the "Missions" section of the campaign page.
BONUS MISSION 3: Cell Island Syndrome
Cell Island Syndrome is intended for a group of player characters who have played at least one other mission and can follow on directly from the rulebook mission Lost Patriot.
Mission Brief: Section 9 infiltrates a remote island following a crisis and communications blackout. Inside, rival factions and covert operatives struggle for control. The team is free to explore the island and interact as they see fit, forming alliances as they navigate shifting power dynamics and unknown threats, ultimately deciding the fate of an isolated society.
Backers will receive 'Cell Island Syndrome' mission as a separate digital PDF as soon as it's ready.
Thanks for all your Support
Tomorrow we'll return with the to follow the team into the final chapter of The Ghost in the Shell Actual Play series! Missed the story so far? Get started with Episode 1 below!
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Until next time, thank you for joining us on this great adventure.
- Ross and Team Mantic
