Wasteland Degenerates: a hardcover TTRPG

Update #17: The Wasteland that was my Expectation
29 days ago – Tue, Mar 03, 2026 at 06:50:43 PM

Hey Degenerates.

I know my updates have been few and far between lately, and that's on me.  I meant to get this out on Sunday, but I got sick enough that all I could do was sleep and play Mewgenics (aka the Mork Borg of cat breeding simulators) for like two days.

Real talk for a second: Living in Minneapolis as a civil servant during the last few months has been... difficult to say the least.  It is hard to concentrate on creative endeavors when the entire community is on edge due to a massive influx of Federal "law enforcement."  I did what I could for people and avoided getting shot.

I'm not going to lie; between that, trying to find a new job, and family obligations, Wasteland Degenerates suffered.  Since I am not an artist, I also have to abide by the availability of my art and layout person, and, judging by his last CHAINSAW update, I can't blame him for wanting to prioritize his sick kid a bit.

That said, I got some of my responsibilities resolved, and Matthew and I talked over the weekend: we will be cranking out more content more quickly now; we owe it to you.  

It's pretty clear we aren't releasing "First quarter, 2026), but I will not give a new expected date, because I now realize I simply do not control when this gets done. When I announced the original date of August 2025, it was under the expectation that work would proceed at the same rate that it would for the Jumper Cable Edition; clearly 2025 laughed at my naive planning.

All that said, I won't be caught slipping again. I'll keep you in the loop, and stay on my artists to get things resolved once and for all.

The heavy stuff aside, here's some more art.

Going Postal

Consistently one of people's favorite aspects of Wasteland Degenerates has been the Postalist religion.  What started as a joke about a terrible Kevin Costner movie made from an excellent David Brin novel became a fundamental aspect of the Wasteland's precarious political balance: the Post Office betrayed the Federal Remnant and now they war over the last remaining resources.  

True to its Borg roots, there are no good guys in the Wasteland, but few icons fill degenerates with more mixed feelings than a Postalist Deliverance Truck; they could rip your arm off seconds after selling you stamps. 

Next update will include the Gas Hogs faction, which is featured in Reaver's Rhapsody, which you all SHOULD have in your email boxes.  If you don't, reach out (or just download it for free from my Itch page).

And again, I just wanted to thank you all for your patience.  I promise you we will get there.  

Scott

Update #16: Reaver's Rhapsody (Belated)!
4 months ago – Tue, Dec 16, 2025 at 07:39:57 AM

Hey Degenerates,

Been awhile since I rapped at ya, and I apologize for that.  Life just keeps on lifin', and I got caught up in health issues, the U.S. government shutdown, and scheduling.

That said, I'm pleased to announce that everyone who backed should be getting a digital copy of both the Wasteland Degenerates Jumper Cable Edition and a sneak peek at the introductory adventure, Reaver's Rhapsody, in their email today!

The adventure was modeled on classics like Rotblack Sludge and Lucky Flight Takedown, with multiple ways of completing the mission.  Please come to our discord and report on your adventures!

Tunguska recommends that you not fail the Gas King.

More to come as we rampage towards completion of the Kickstarter rewards!

Oh, and some folks were asking about the Wasteland Degenerates Third Party License, so you can make your own content for the Wasteland.  I'll work on getting it put up on the website, but here is the text in full:

1.

If you adhere to these terms you are allowed to publish free or commercial material based upon and/or declaring compatibility with WASTELAND DEGENERATES without express permission from either Scott C. McDonald or a presiding officer of Wasteland Degenerates LLC.

2.

Art and text from our books may not be reused or translated, unless you have our explicit permission. You can use the names of creatures, locations, characters, cataclysms, and organizations of the game world. You are free to use maps found in the core WASTELAND DEGENERATES rulebook and organizational iconography for the factions.

3.

The mechanics and game rules of WASTELAND DEGENERATES may be reused and referenced freely.

4.

Your product cannot claim to be affiliated with Wasteland Degenerates LLC or Scott C. McDonald or use the WASTELAND DEGENERATES logo unless you have our explicit permission.

5.

You’re not allowed to give the impression that this is an official WASTELAND DEGENERATES product or that we endorse or sponsor you in any way unless we’ve made special arrangements with you.
6.

You are allowed and encouraged (but not required) to use the WASTELAND DEGENERATES compatibility logo.

7.

Neither Scott C. McDonald nor Wasteland Degenerates LLC take responsibility for any legal claims against your product.

8.

Any legal disputes, controversies or claims related to this license shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota and the nation of the United States of America, and will be adjudicated in the State of Minnesota.

9.

The following text must be included in the legal text, somewhere visible in the publication, and on the website or storefront where you promote the product:

[Product name] is an independent production by [Author or Publisher] and is not affiliated with Scott C. McDonald or Wasteland Degenerates LLC. It is published under the WASTELAND DEGENERATES Third Party License.

10.

This copyright text must be legibly included somewhere in the product and on the storefront:

WASTELAND DEGENERATES is copyright Scott C. McDonald and Wasteland Degenerates LLC. 

Okay, that is all for now.  Matthew and I are back to the content mines, extracting that content.  Stay safe out there!

Scott

Update #15: Evidence of Progress!
7 months ago – Sun, Sep 14, 2025 at 09:22:24 PM

Hey Degenerates,

I know this update is overdue, but I wanted to work some things out with Matthew before we reached out again.  

New Class!

First things first, you guys are owed some content, so here's the Genetic Desperado, one of the two bonus classes in the hardcover edition of Wasteland Degenerates! (note this is not final artwork... the writing is finished, however!)

I had some bad writer's block while working on the Rad City Music Brawl stretch goal bonus zine, but I'm happy to say that the resolution hit me like a meteorite infected with space fungus and I'm back to writing regularly.  This one is going to be hilarious and fun, and I expect to hear a lot of wacky rock & roll adventures when it finally comes out.

Fulfillment Expected First Quarter 2026

No, you haven't missed shipping.  I know, the original Kickstarter said August 2025, and in an ideal world without global shipping chaos and domestic American job market chaos, I might have been able to make that deadline.  But we live in a world with both of those things; both Matthew and myself have obligations and requirements that we really could not have imagined at the start of all this.

You guys have been patient and very cool about all this so far, so I'm going to ask for further patience.  In the meantime...

Reaver's Rhapsody Intro Adventure Expected Soon!

My next update will be to release the Reaver's Rhapsody introductory adventure packet through BackerKit.  I know an official Wasteland Degenerates adventure in the style of Rotback Sludge is long overdue, but everyone who backed any level of the Kickstarter will receive a free download of the adventure.  Heck, let's also say that folks who backed last year's BackerKit campaign for the Jumper Cable Edition will also get it.  Why not?

Shout Outs!

Rustborn Bastards

I mentionedRustborn Bastards last time, but the project has now launched, and I definitely wanted to get people's eyeballs on the Wasteland Degenerates Expanded Universe!  This is looking really great, a mix of Cy_Borg, Wasteland Degenerates, and Water World.  Go check it out and then tell me you don't want Wasteland Degenerates, But Boats.

Torque Borg

Speaking of the Wasteland Degenerates Expanded Universe, I wanted to let you know that you can now bookmark Torque Borg, which is launching October 7th.  I categorically reject any suggestion that there isn't room for more than one Mad Max-inspired installment in the borgosphere; after my conversations with the author, our vehicle systems, while compatible, are different enough to justify separate projects... being able to mix and match is one of the strengths of 'borgs!

Elementalysm

Finally, Elementalysm is a really beautiful-looking Mork Borg-compatible project that seems to have slipped under folks' radar.  There's still a week left to get in on this gorgeous and unusual project that gives me Avatar: The Last Airbender vibes.  Here it is, just in case that would scratch an itch you might have.

Aside from those three, I'm also looking forward toRagnaBorg (Matthew's working on it!) and I've of course already pledged for Zac Goins's Raptor Ruckus.  

Anyway, that's all for now.  Looking forward to getting back to work! See you later!

Update #14: Matthew is at Gen Con!
8 months ago – Fri, Aug 01, 2025 at 06:07:16 PM

Hey Degenerates,

Happy Gen Con!  I'm not there, but project artist Matthew Myslinski is, and can be found over at Brian Colin's Vast Grimm booth (#1949)!  Look at this devastatingly Mörktacular fellow:

Go check them out!  I'm told we're selling out of the Jumper Cable Edition, Enter the Dismal Armory, and Blood on the Bleak Road fast, so don't delay!

Not much else to say right now.  We're in production on the hardcover.  I know my initial estimate was that the product would be one in August, but there have been numerous unexpected delays, so I don't have a good release date yet.

Oh right, ONE MORE THING.

We have a logo for our 3rd party license.  

Expect text by the next update, but it's basically the same thing as you'd expect from the Mörk Borg or Pirate Borg licenses... don't be a bigot or way into sexual violence.

Shout Outs

First up is Rustborn Bastards by Dan Frederick, which I HAVE to push, because it's the first product that will probably use the aforementioned 3rd party license (in addition to Cy_Borg).  I just got DEAD FLESH from Dan 

What's the idea?  What if Wasteland Degenerates, but with BOATS?

Rustborn Bastards is launching in September, so bookmark it!

One more this time: TORQUE BORG by Matthew DeMino, a post-apocalyptic game after my own heart.  Wasteland, hot rods, scavenging... the whole radioactive enchilada!

I haven't talked to Mr. DeMino about it yet, but it looks like this is a lower-tech wasteland than Wasteland Degenerates features, which I'm definitely into.  I can't wait to see his rules on vehicular combat, because I'm a nerd about that sort of thing!

I'm not sure when Torque Borg is launching, but I'm definitely paying attention!

Anyway, keep on trucking and I'll have more for you soon.

Update #13: Dice Drops and Origins Stops
9 months ago – Sat, Jun 28, 2025 at 10:37:03 AM

Hey Degenerates,

Not too much to talk about today.  Matthew and I have been working with the international printer to make sure we're providing the needed formats, and I've been writing Rad City Music Brawl... I expect to send Brian Colin some pages to start laying out in a couple weeks.

Zac Goins sent me some of his frankly very cool text for his pages in DUMPSTER DRIVERS.  He had some very cool ideas about "Dice Drops" that I was previously unfamiliar with.  I had basically no notes... the man knows his craft and I am lucky to have him on the team for six whole pages.

Shout Outs