The Lore Component
about 1 month ago
– Fri, Jul 31, 2026 at 12:58:39 PM
[TRANSMISSION LOG: DAY 7] Subject: What Lies Beyond the Silence?
To the Society,
One week left. One week to decide how deep into the mystery we can go.
Space 1889: After takes place a decade after the worlds went dark. The ether-fliers are spinning up their engines again, but the solar system we left behind is not the one we are returning to. The political landscapes of Mars, the dangerous jungles of Venus - everything has shifted in the silence.
By backing this campaign, you are unlocking an era. Let’s keep pushing forward to ensure every single table has the lore they need to explore the dark!
Thanks for the support!
New Pledge Tier for Returning Explorers
about 2 months ago
– Tue, Jul 28, 2026 at 10:12:52 AM
To the Vanguard,
Our navigational charts confirm it: we have exactly ten days left before our current etheric window closes and the offset run officially moves into production.
Because of your incredible support, we’ve already locked in the core manual. But we have a few remaining uncharted territories - milestones that will elevate this project from a standard release to a true masterpiece.
Our next stretch goal unlocks at $50K! Once we hit that, the Space 1889: After official dice set will unlock!
One of the best parts of running a crowdfunding campaign is hearing directly from the community. Over the past few days, many longtime Space 1889: After fans have asked if there would be a way to pick up the new books without purchasing another Core Rulebook.
We're happy to say the answer is yes!
This tier was created specifically for returning supporters who want to expand their collection without purchasing a second Core Rulebook.
Thank you to everyone who reached out and shared your feedback.
Let’s Talk Stretch Goals
about 2 months ago
– Mon, Jul 20, 2026 at 08:37:07 AM
The response to Space 1889: After has been incredible, and thanks to your support, we've already unlocked our first stretch goals!
Because the Space 1889: After Core Rulebook and Adventure Anthology are already complete, every stretch goal is focused on adding even more value to your rewards. Instead of funding unfinished content, we're expanding the experience with premium upgrades, additional adventures, and bonus rewards.
✅ Unlocked So Far
🗺️ Expanded Map Book
Our first few stretch goals have already increased the Map Book, giving you even more tactical maps of key locations from the setting for your tabletop adventures.
📚 The Fifth Adventure
We've also unlocked an entirely new adventure for the Adventure Anthology, expanding the lore of the inner worlds and giving your crew another dangerous mission to undertake in the Great Dark.
Thank you for helping us reach these milestones so quickly!
Next Stop: $45,000
We're getting close to our next stretch goal!
🎯 At $45,000, every physical copy of the Space 1889: After Core Rulebook and the Adventure Anthology will also include a digital PDF copy at no additional cost.
And There's More Beyond the Horizon - we have planned out additional stretch goals that include additional lore, accessories, and more!
Take the Helm: How Ether-Fliers and Sky Galleons Fight
about 2 months ago
– Thu, Jul 16, 2026 at 11:34:34 AM
Hey all!
Thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign so far! We're less than $1K away from our next stretch goal - which will add 10 more maps to the map book!
Now - onto ship combat!
Ready for sky-ship dogfights? The Space 1889: After 5e core rules feature dynamic aerial combat rules where players take on essential crew roles (Captain, Pilot, Engineer, Gunner). Vehicles have full 5e stat blocks, targetable components, and specialized mechanics, while reworked skills like Physics and Engineering govern your high-stakes maneuvers and mid-battle repairs.
Dedicated Vehicle Statistics & Components
Vehicles are no longer just set dressing; they function with full mechanics. The Perfect Metal Beasts Chapter introduces specific stat blocks for air vehicles. Ships have their own hit point pools, armor classes, and functional
Components that can be targeted, as well as distinct
Drawbacks when damaged.
Character Careers & Essential "Ship Roles"
Instead of players just sitting back while the captain steers, vehicle combat is a highly collaborative effort. When you choose a Background (Career), it grants your character proficiency in specific Ship Roles. These roles are essential for aerial combat and traversing space:
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Captain / Officer: Commands the crew and coordinates actions.
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Pilot / Ethernaut: Manages the wheel and maneuvers the ship.
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Engineer / Worker: Keeps the engine room running and repairs components under fire.
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Gunner: Operates the ship's heavy artillery and range-finding equipment.
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Marine / Lookout: Handles defense against boarding parties and spots incoming threats.
Modification of Core 5e Skills
To make aerial dogfights feel authentic, standard 5e skills have been reworked to govern vehicle operations:
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Physics: Replaces Arcana and is used for equations, ether navigation, and Piloting checks. The Referee can also use a variant Dexterity (Physics) check to account for the split-second reflexes required to pilot a ship in active combat.
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Engineering: Also replaces Arcana and is used to fix, construct, or break machinery and ships. Under fire, a Referee might call for a Dexterity (Engineering) check to repair a failing engine room while dodging shots.
Heavy Artillery and Firepower
Aerial engagements rely on massive weaponry. Gunners have specialized training in range-finding and setting fuse timers for explosive shells. Characters with the Gunner career even get a unique feature called Careful Shot, which increases their Ammunition Die maximum by one step.
If you are planning an encounter, you will want to look directly at Chapter 5: Perfect Metal Beasts for the specific vehicle stat blocks and engagement phases, and Chapter 6: Traversing the Unknown for the rules governing travel through the deep ether.
How to Play - Character Creation & Careers
about 2 months ago
– Tue, Jul 14, 2026 at 10:16:35 AM
Hey all!
We're blown away by the support the campaign has gotten already. Thank you so much for supporting Space 1889: After!
We've already unlocked our first two stretch goals!
At 40K, we'll add another 10 pages to the Map Book! We're already very close! Now.. onto gameplay:
There are a lot of interesting characters roaming the ether in Space 1889: After. Because this setting adapts the classic steampunk space-opera into 5th Edition, your character’s background translates directly into their functional Career and Ship Role.
To help you and your crew master the skies before your books even arrive, we have put together a series of How to Play videos on YouTube.
These digestible guides walk you through the fundamentals of character creation and game play. Our channel also has a series of videos discussing overviews, villains, vehicles, and more. These videos offer a perfect primer to get your table table-ready. Head over to
our channel, subscribe, and let us know in the comments which mechanic you want to explore next!
Ancestries of the Ether
The planets and open space of Space 1889: After are populated by diverse peoples, each uniquely adapted to their home worlds. When building your character, your choice of ancestry shapes your perspective on the grand space race and grants distinct mechanical traits tailored for the 5th Edition ruleset.
The Character Breakdown
When designing a character for the skies of Mars or the deep ether, your background determines how you interact with a ship's components during high-stakes aerial combat:
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The Pilot / Ethernaut: Built for the quick-thinking characters who want to take the wheel. They utilize Physics checks to navigate treacherous thermal drafts or pull off tight maneuvers in a dogfight.
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The Engineer / Worker: For the hands-on characters who keep the gears turning. They rely on Engineering checks to patch ruptured steam pipes and repair targetable ship components mid-battle.
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The Gunner: Designed for the tactical sharpshooters. They are trained in heavy artillery range-finding, fuse timers, and possess features like Careful Shot to preserve precious ammunition.
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The Captain / Officer: Built for the leaders who coordinate the crew, direct actions, and keep the vessel operating as a unified front.
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The Marine / Lookout: For the defenders who excel at spotting incoming aerial threats and repelling enemy boarding parties.
Choosing Your Lineage: The Races of the Inner Worlds
In Space 1889: After, your character’s origin shapes how they navigate the high society of Earth, the ancient canal cities of Mars, or the wild, untamed jungles of Venus. Whether you are playing a human pioneer or a native of the inner worlds, your lineage provides distinct mechanical features and deep roleplay hooks.
Here are the primary lineages your crew can choose from:
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Humans (Earthborn): Resourceful, ambitious, and technologically driven. Driven by Victorian ingenuity, Earthborn characters excel at adapting to the harsh environments of space and mastering complex ether-flier mechanics.
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Martians: A proud people from a dying world of ancient, red deserts. Players can choose between three distinct cultures:
- High Martians: Nomadic, fierce, and possessing leathery wings capable of flight in the thin Martian air.
- Canal Martians: The urban dwellers of Mars, dedicated to commerce, bureaucracy, and maintaining the planet's vital, centuries-old water networks.
- Hill Martians: Reclusive and deeply traditionalists who live away from the cities, keeping ancient martial arts and survival skills alive.
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Automatons (The Mechanical Vanguard): Forged from brass, iron, and clockwork gears, these sentient machines are a testament to Victorian engineering. Originally built for heavy labor, factory maintenance, or deep-space boiler repair, many have developed a unique spark of consciousness during the ten-year silence. Mechanically, they offer built-in armor plating, immunity to psychological exhaustion, and a structural frame that doesn't need to breathe the thin ether - making them exceptional mechanics or front-line defenders on an ether-flier.
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Ogres (The Heavy Laborers): Towering, physically imposing, and possessing unmatched brute strength, Ogres represent the raw muscle of the inner worlds. Often found working the docks of Earth's sky-ports or hauling massive scrap metal from derelict Martian ruins, they are the ultimate anchors for any away team. What they lack in high-society etiquette, they more than make up for with high hit-point maximums, powerful carrying capacities, and a natural resilience to blunt trauma.
There are many interesting characters roaming the ether in Space 1889: After. What kind of character are you building first? A gritty sky-sailor or a re-engineered gadgeteer? Let us know in the comments!
