Growing Up in the Gilded Age: An In-Depth Look at ‘Castles in the Air’

In the vast, ever-evolving landscape of tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs), there exists a persistent trend toward high-fantasy combat and dungeon crawling. However, a new project from Storybrewer’s Roleplaying is pivoting sharply away from swords and sorcery, looking instead toward the poignant, intimate narratives of the 19th century. Castles in the Air, the latest title from the studio behind the acclaimed Jane Austen-inspired RPG Good Society, invites players to step into the shoes of children growing up during America’s Gilded Age, offering a masterclass in collaborative storytelling and emotional character development.

The Core Concept: A Journey Through Time

Castles in the Air is a tabletop RPG designed to facilitate the re-enactment of classic coming-of-age literature. The game’s primary objective is to take a group of characters from the innocence of childhood through the tumultuous transitions of adolescence, finally culminating in the complexities of adulthood.

Set against the backdrop of the American Gilded Age (1870–1890)—a period defined by rapid industrialization, burgeoning economic inequality, and massive social shifts—the game serves as a mirror to the timeless struggles of finding one’s place in the world. Much like the literary works that inspired it, such as Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women or L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, the game focuses on the interior lives of its characters. It is less concerned with "winning" in a traditional sense and more focused on the communal construction of a life story.

Chronological Progression: From Farmlands to Futures

The gameplay structure of Castles in the Air is distinctly chronological, mirroring the natural progression of human life. The experience is broken down into distinct phases, each carrying its own mechanical weight and narrative focus.

The Innocence of Youth

The game begins with the "Childhood" phase. Players establish a tight-knit group of young characters who occupy a relatively protected, albeit emotionally charged, world. During this stage, the gameplay emphasizes discovery. Players describe their characters engaging in quintessential activities of the era: exploring rural farmlands, swimming in hidden lakes, and sharing secrets under the vast, uncaring night sky. The narrative focus here is on "wonders and fears"—the small, local stakes that feel world-ending to a child but appear as nostalgic vignettes to the adult eye.

The Threshold of Adolescence

As the campaign progresses, the "Adolescence" phase introduces the friction of growing up. This is where the game’s mechanics begin to lean into the drama. Characters encounter the stirrings of first love, the bitterness of schoolyard rivalries, and the weight of familial expectations. It is here that the game mirrors the intensity of Victorian-era period dramas, where a glance or a whispered word can hold as much narrative weight as a climactic battle in other systems.

The Divergence of Adulthood

Finally, the "Adulthood" phase forces the group to confront the reality of their changing dynamics. As the characters pursue their individual ambitions, the bonds that once held them together face the strain of distance and time. The game masterfully simulates the bittersweet sensation of drifting apart, forcing players to decide whether their characters will remain in contact, reconcile old differences, or embrace the life they have built outside of their childhood circle.

Character Construction: Archetypes and Aspirations

One of the most robust features of Castles in the Air is its character creation system. Drawing from classic literary archetypes, the game allows players to build a foundation for their narrative identity before the story even begins.

Players choose from roles such as the "troublesome scamp," the "studious bookworm," or the "spoiled princess." However, the system goes deeper than simple tropes. Each character must define:

• A Dream: The singular ambition that drives them through the years.
• Childhood Relationships: The foundational bonds that define their early worldview.
• Family Background: The socio-economic status that dictates their opportunities during the Gilded Age.
• A Bosom Enemy: A necessary foil to their own character, ensuring that conflict remains personal and deeply felt.

By layering these elements, players can recreate iconic figures from literature or craft entirely original characters that feel authentically rooted in the 19th-century setting.

Design Pedigree and Creative Vision

Castles in the Air is the brainchild of designer Melia Carraway. Her work on this project is bolstered by the expertise of Vee Hendro and Hayley Gordon, the co-founders of Storybrewer’s Roleplaying.

The studio has previously established a strong reputation for "GM-less" or low-conflict, high-narrative systems. Their prior success with Good Society—which effectively captured the social maneuvering and wit of Jane Austen’s novels—serves as the mechanical blueprint for Castles in the Air. By utilizing the experience gained from navigating the rigid social structures of Regency England, the team is well-equipped to handle the complex, evolving social hierarchies of the American Gilded Age.

Implications for the TTRPG Market

The emergence of Castles in the Air signals a broader shift in the tabletop industry. For years, the market was dominated by games that focused on combat mechanics and resource management. However, there is a growing segment of the gaming population that is hungry for "story-first" experiences.

This game suggests that there is a viable, sustainable audience for TTRPGs that function as collaborative novels. By focusing on the "human element"—heartbreak, growth, nostalgia, and the passage of time—Castles in the Air is positioning itself to attract a demographic that may have previously felt alienated by the "dungeon-crawling" genre. It validates the idea that a high-stakes dramatic arc does not require a dragon; it only requires a character’s internal conflict and a group of friends willing to explore it.

Supporting Data and Kickstarter Logistics

The project is currently seeking funding through a Kickstarter campaign that concludes on June 9th. The pricing structure is tiered to accommodate various levels of engagement:

• Digital Tier (AU$ 34 / £18 / $26): Grants access to the digital version of the rulebook, ideal for players who prefer online play or want to get started immediately.
• Physical Tier (AU$ 99 / £52 / $77): Includes a physical copy of the rulebook, expected to ship in March 2025.

The campaign has garnered significant attention from the indie RPG community, fueled by actual-play videos (such as the "A Golden Dawn" series) that demonstrate the game’s mechanics in action. These videos are crucial, as they allow potential backers to witness the tone of the game—which oscillates between lighthearted childhood antics and the heavy, reflective tone of impending adulthood.

Conclusion: A New Standard for Narrative Play

Castles in the Air is an ambitious project that dares to treat the emotional maturation of a character as the central "mechanic" of the game. By grounding its narrative in the historical context of the Gilded Age, it provides a rich, textured world for players to inhabit.

Whether you are a fan of classic literature looking to live out the stories of Jo March or Anne Shirley, or simply a TTRPG enthusiast looking for a system that prioritizes deep, character-driven storytelling, Castles in the Air represents a significant addition to the tabletop landscape. As the campaign nears its conclusion, the anticipation surrounding the title suggests that the hunger for emotional, grounded, and collaborative roleplaying is stronger than ever. For those looking to craft a story that spans a lifetime, this is a journey worth taking.