Indigenous RPG Coyote & Crow is a hit, and a new anthology of adventures is on the way
In 2021, Connor Alexander set out to publish the world’s first tabletop role-playing game conceived and authored by Native American and First Nations writers. In 2022 he delivered with Coyote & Crow, the core rulebook that underpins an entire RPG universe. The reception was positive beyond his wildest dreams, and he’s carrying that momentum forward into a new anthology of adventures: Coyote & Crow: Stories of the Free Lands is live now on Backerkit, with delivery set for later in 2023.
Coyote & Crow posits an alternate history in which colonizers never set foot in North America. The Mississippian city of Cahokia was never abandoned. Instead, downstate Illinois became the centerpiece of a thriving civilization of Indigenous people who have spread all across the continent. At their disposal are magical powers brought on by a remarkable celestial event. Best of all, the game is open and welcoming to Native and non-Native players alike.
“Things are better than I could have imagined,” Alexander said in an interview with Polygon. He’s referring to the fact that Coyote & Crow was recently nominated for a Nebula Award — but also because of a letter that he recently received.
“The response is what’s blown me away,” he continued. “I’ve had so many people reach out to me and tell a very personal story about how the game has affected them, or about the things they’ve done in the game, and the fun times they’ve had with it already.”
Alexander said he’s working hard to get Coyote & Crow into libraries — including Indigenous libraries on reservations around the U.S. and Canada. Alexander is looking to supercharge his community (a dedicated portion of which are non-Native players) with Stories of the Free Lands, the first published set
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