Official Third-Party Creator Resource Kit

Planning to publish an adventure for The Broken Empires RPG? Download the official Third-Party Creator Resource Kit, containing the Third-Party "Adventuring" License, the comprehensive Third-Party Creator's Guide, and the required compatibility logo in SVG and transparent PNG formats. The guide provides the information and guidelines you need to develop and publish your own adventures for The Broken Empires RPG.

Use of these materials is subject to the Third-Party Adventuring License below.

 

The Broken Empires RPG® Third-party Creator License

(Version 1.0)

Nov 1, 2026

Black Cradle Press LLC

1. License Grant.

Black Cradle Press LLC (“Black Cradle”) produces The Broken Empires tabletop role-playing game (“The Broken Empires RPG®” or the “Game”). Subject to the terms of this license agreement, Black Cradle hereby grants you a worldwide, non-exclusive right to create, sell, publish, and distribute tabletop role-playing game supplements that are explicitly compatible with The Broken Empires RPG® (your “Supplement” or “Supplements”). A Supplement is defined as a publication that includes adventures, setting material, rules additions within the scope permitted herein, or other content designed for use with and requiring the Game’s core rules. A Supplement cannot be a standalone product.

Supplements may be published and distributed in printed form and as PDF files (collectively, “Permitted Formats”). All other formats and media are expressly excluded from this license, including without limitation video games, NFTs, digital adaptations, software applications, virtual tabletop modules (“VTTs”), and any other electronic or digital media not expressly permitted herein.

Supplements may be distributed free of charge or commercially, at your sole discretion.

So long as you comply with the terms of this agreement, this license is irrevocable. If you breach the terms of this agreement, this license may be terminated, subject to the cure provisions set forth in Section 13.

1. Scope of License.

This agreement permits you to create Supplements based on The Broken Empires RPG® ( rules, but not to include a copy of those rules or to reproduce wholesale portions of the Game’s text in any Supplement. You may reference the Game’s rules, terminology, creature names, and locations in your Supplement. You may include page, table, of figure references to official Broken Empires RPG® publications in your Supplement.

You may not use “The Broken Empires” or any variation thereof in the title of your Supplement.

You may explicitly state that your publication is a third-party Supplement for The Broken Empires RPG®, for example, on the back cover, on sales platforms, and in promotional material.

1. Official Canon and Setting.

“Official Canon” means the setting, lore, characters, history, geography, factions, events, and world-building elements as established in the Core Rule Book, the Starter Set, and any other publications officially designated by Black Cradle as canonical. “Core Rule Book” means any edition of The Broken Empires RPG® core rule book.

All Supplements must be set within the world of The Broken Empires as defined in the Official Canon. You may not contradict, alter, or redefine any element of the Official Canon, including but not limited to established characters, historical events, geographic features, political structures, factional allegiances, or metaphysical rules of the setting (e.g., the limitations on gunpowder and firearms established in the Game).

You may develop areas of the setting that are not yet detailed in Official Canon (including areas such as the Shroud), provided such development does not contradict existing Official Canon. All third-party setting content is unofficial and Black Cradle reserves the right to publish official content addressing the same areas of the setting at any time, which will supersede any third-party content.

A Supplement’s content existing prior to publication of superseding Official Canon does not constitute a breach of this license by the affected creator and does not give rise to termination of this license with respect to the affected Supplement. You acknowledge that Black Cradle’s publication of official content covering areas previously developed in a third-party Supplement does not give rise to any claim by you.

1. Maps and Official Materials.

You may reproduce, unmodified, official maps made available by Black Cradle through The Broken Empires RPG® website or any officially designated creator’s kit or resource page (the “Creator’s Kit”). Maps must be reproduced as-is, without alteration, modification, or derivation.

You may not reproduce maps, artwork, or other materials from the Game that are not expressly made available by Black Cradle for third-party use.

Black Cradle may, from time to time, make additional materials available for licensed use through its website or Creator’s Kit. Such materials shall be governed by the terms of this license.

1. Rule Modifications.

The purpose of this license is to encourage third-party Supplements that are compatible with the Game’s core rules as published. To preserve rules integrity and cross-compatibility among Supplements, rule modifications are restricted as follows.You may not:

1. replace, modify, or alter the official core rules, in whole or in part;
2. add to or modify the Game’s core attributes;
3. add to, eliminate, or modify any of the Game’s core skills (the 39 enumerated skills in the Core Rule Book);
4. introduce new Talents.

You may:

1. introduce new “-wise” skills, which are expressly contemplated by the Game’s rules as open-ended;
2. introduce new creatures and monsters that do not modify core rules;
3. create new adventures, scenarios, NPCs, organizations, and setting content consistent with Official Canon.
1. Compatibility Logo and Trademark Use.

You must display the official “Powered by The Broken Empires RPG®” compatibility logo (the “Logo”) on any Supplement created under this license. The Logo is available for download from The Broken Empires RPG® website or the Creator’s Kit.

The Logo must be placed on the cover of the Supplement in compliance with the size, positioning, and style requirements set forth in the style guide provided by Black Cradle. The Logo may not be altered, modified, recolored, or distorted in any way.

Except as expressly provided in this Section 6, you may not use any of Black Cradle’s trademarks, trade names, service marks, logos, trade dress, or other branding associated with The Broken Empires RPG®. Except as expressly permitted elsewhere in this agreement, you may not use any text, artwork, or other materials created or owned by Black Cradle.

You shall use the Logo and any other permitted marks only in a manner consistent with Black Cradle’s quality-control standards, as set forth in any applicable style guide. Black Cradle reserves the right to review any Supplement for compliance with its trademark usage and quality-control standards. You must promptly correct any non-compliant use upon notice from Black Cradle. All goodwill arising from use of the Logo or any other permitted marks inures exclusively to the benefit of Black Cradle.

7. Content Standards.

All Supplements must be consistent with the tone, themes, and spirit of the Game. Supplements may not contain content that is defamatory, obscene, or that promotes illegal activity, hatred, or discrimination.

Black Cradle reserves the right to require removal or modification of any Supplement that, in Black Cradle’s reasonable determination, is materially inconsistent with the standards set forth in this Section 7 or that could bring The Broken Empires RPG® brand into disrepute.

1. Ownership of The GAME.

You agree that Black Cradle (and its licensors) own all rights in the Game, including all copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights, and that you will not contest those rights. Black Cradle expressly reserves all rights not expressly granted in this agreement.

1. Ownership of Your Supplement.

You own all rights in the original content of any Supplement you create under this agreement. Black Cradle may not copy or use your Supplement without your permission.

You acknowledge that Black Cradle may independently create content similar to your Supplement and that Black Cradle is not prohibited from doing so unless it knowingly and intentionally copied your original work.

1. Notice and Disclaimer.

You must include the following notice on your Supplement, and on any website or advertising material associated therewith: “This product is not affiliated with, sponsored, or endorsed by Black Cradle Press LLC. This Supplement was created under Black Cradle Press LLC’s The Broken Empires RPG® Third-Party Creator License.”

1. Restrictions.

Except as expressly permitted in this agreement, you may not state or imply that Black Cradle endorses, sponsors, or is affiliated with your Supplement.

Supplements may not be used to develop a standalone game or to adapt the Game’s rules for use in a different setting, genre, or game system. This license is for Supplements to The Broken Empires RPG® only, not for the creation of new games based on the Game’s rules.

12. Representations and Warranties.

You represent and warrant that you have the capacity to enter into this agreement, that your Supplement does not violate or infringe the rights of any third party, and that your Supplement complies with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations in every jurisdiction in which it is distributed.

1. Termination.

If you breach any term of this agreement, Black Cradle shall provide written notice specifying the nature of the breach. You shall have thirty (30) calendar days from receipt of such notice to cure the breach. If the breach is not cured within the cure period, this license terminates automatically.

Upon termination, you must immediately cease all use of the Logo and any other permitted marks, cease distribution and sale of the non-compliant Supplement(s), and remove all non-compliant materials from any websites, platforms, or other channels within thirty (30) days of termination.

Termination does not affect any Supplement that was published in compliance with the terms of this agreement prior to the date of termination.

1. Disclaimer of Warranties.

BLACK CRADLE IS PROVIDING THE GAME “AS IS,” MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY STATED IN THIS AGREEMENT, AND DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE.

Black Cradle has no liability for your use of the Game. You expressly waive any claim for any indirect, punitive, special, exemplary, incidental, or consequential damages.

1. Governing Law and Venue.

This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this agreement shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Bexar County, Texas, and the parties consent to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

1. Miscellaneous.

This is the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof. You agree that you have not relied on any terms or representations other than those expressly stated herein.

Black Cradle recommends that you review this agreement with your own attorney, and you acknowledge that you have had an opportunity to do so.

Black Cradle may update this agreement at its sole discretion; however, any Supplement published in compliance with the terms of this agreement prior to publication of an updated version may continue to be distributed under the terms of this version or any subsequently published version, at your sole discretion.

No joint venture, partnership, employment, or agency relationship exists between you and Black Cradle as a result of this agreement.

Black Cradle’s failure to exercise any right or provision in this agreement shall not constitute a waiver unless expressly acknowledged and agreed to by Black Cradle in writing.

If any provision of this agreement is held to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

By creating a Supplement under this license, you agree to be bound by these terms.