Here Be Monsters Coming to Kickstarter
What is Here Be Monsters?
Here Be Monsters is a NEW and exciting pirate themed *TCG (TCG in this case standing for Treasure Card Game) in which 2+ players take the role of swashbuckling sea-captains attempting to assemble strange crews of pirates, sink enemy ships, and search for treasure at the opportune moment all while exploring the Monster Coast. HBM was designed on a foundation of fun and accessibility with multiple formats, streamlined rules, a yearly release cycle, and a focus on community over competitive play.
Unlike traditional trading card games Here Be Monsters does not use a resource system. This means no worrying about managing mana, ink, energy, etc. By removing a traditional TCG resource system, a unique gameplay loop is created that allows players to jump right into the action from turn one. HBM has also made the decision to use limited keywords, so that the game remains approachable to all. And though these streamlined rules may sound “basic”, actual gameplay is filled with deep decision-making and strategic planning that has each turn feeling like a proper pirate sword fight that increases in intensity as they are passed back and forth.
The Captains At the Helm
Here Be Monsters creators. Phil (on the port side) Carson (on the starboard side)
In truth Here Be Monsters is much more than a *TCG. It is the culmination of a passion project that has been worked on by friends Carson Einarsen and Phil Oxnard for over 5 years. HBM started on a whim, as an excuse for the two friends to stay in touch during the pandemic. And over time the project evolved into a game all about bringing friends together.
“Being a pirate is all about assembling a good crew... a good group of friends. And what better way to do that than to play a few games together.”
The inspiration for Here Be Monsters originates from their shared love of TCGs…but also their inability to get into TCG scenes when they were younger. They find great enjoyment in the personal expression that can come from deck building (deciding how you liked to play, what characters resonate with you, what kinds of experiences you want to have), but feel that most TCGs focus too much on winning. These meta heavy card games tend to alienate casual players by forcing them to the outskirts. They also found it hard to financially keep up, especially as children, with overwhelming release cycles that see new sets released every three months. So when creating HBM, these were issues they focused on tackling. And in the end crafted a game in which casual players can piece together complex strategies or simply build a deck comprised of their favorite characters and have a fighting chance regardless.
Neither Phil nor Carson has any prior experience in game design. They first approached the design process as players; and for years, every Wednesday, would spend countless hours in online calls refining the game. They would walk away always asking ‘Was that fun? What wasn’t?’, before making changes and playing again the next week. And somewhere along the journey they learned valuable lessons such as game theory, player psychology, and most importantly…what it means to be a pirate.
Since then, the pair have gone on to found Super Pirate Industries, who now teaming up with Team Covenant, are thrilled to welcome players to the Monster Coast. They are even offering FREE Here Be Monsters demo decks (only cost is shipping) so that you can test the game out for yourself.
Click the button above to check out the Kickstarter Campaign
The Art!
Just so we are all on the same page…
Carson Einarsen is insane!
Though too humble to admit it, one of the biggest selling points of HBM is arguably the art. Carson has done all the artwork himself (outside of alt art cards that will be discussed later). He has single handedly illustrated 200+ cards! And did we mention he has done all of this using Apple Keynote.
The team once said, “…we want Here Be Monsters to remind you of watching Saturday Morning Cartoons”. Mission Accomplished! Bright popping colors, wacky characters, and clever word play work seamlessly together to evoke a nostalgic childlike sense of adventure.
Ways to Play
Here Be Monsters offers two separate modes of play: Armada and Renegade.
Armada acts as a standard constructed deck format where both players come to the game with decks of their own design, following deck constructing rules. The rules being that each player needs a 50-card Poop Deck, a 15-card Shipyard, and can only have up to 3x copies any card in their deck and 1x copy of any card in the Shipyard. Notice that we did not mention anything about faction or color restrictions? That’s because in Here Be Monsters you have the freedom to mix and match whatever pirate crew you dream of. This format is perfect for newcomers and those already familiar with TCGs.
Renegade on the other hand is suited more for those interested in board games, as it transforms HBM into a TCG - board game hybrid with drafting mechanics. There is no need to build constructed decks ahead of time, as players will be using a shared deck of cards to draw from.
Accessible Entry
Bridging the gap between TCGs and board games, Here Be Monsters is designed as a casual kitchen table card game. And a guiding principle of designing HBM was to make sure the game is accessible to new players and won’t be a massive drain on their wallets.
For people who aren’t sure about the game yet, they offer the previously discussed 54 card FREE Demo Decks, to explore and test out uncharted waters. They also maintain financial accessibility by setting an affordable price point for their other products. Take the Stowaway Chests for example. Each Stowaway Chest contains 6 packs of cards and is priced between $20-30. Similar products from other TCGs typically start at $50+.
And gone are the days of ripping way too many packs in search for a specific card or having to turn towards TCGPlayer to purchase singles. HBM has designed a model is which they. “…allow players to access all cards right from the start so that they can build all of the exciting decks they want!”
Stowaway Chests
Here Be Monsters also protects wallets and drives home accessibility by maintaining a yearly release cycle. The team is aware that not everyone has the time or resources to keep up with a TCG. By having only one release a year, HBM ensures that even busiest of players can enjoy and experience the game without fear of falling behind.
Unique Collecting
Just because Here Be Monsters has given the option to purchase a Full Playset right from the beginning, does not mean that collecting opportunities do not exist. Remember, this is a Treasure Card Game. And like any good pirate tale, that means treasure hunts!
One way in which HBM is implementing “Treasure Hunts” is with the addition of Alt Art Cards. These cards statistically won’t have any advantage in gameplay over their base counterparts. But for the dedicated players/collectors who would prefer to rip packs, or simply want something to chase, the Alt Art cards can be found in Stowaway packs within Stowaway Chests and Booster Boxes.
In October of 2025 when I asked Carson about Here Be Monsters’ strategy when it comes to these Alt Art cards, this is what he had to say.
“Originally the alternate art cards were conceived because there were so many artists that inspired me over the years that I wanted to work with on the project, but over time I also wanted to do some alternate art cards myself (it's so much fun to show characters in a different light). And so now the alternate art cards are broken up into [multiple] buckets: (1) Alternate Art done by me that focuses on the lore of the characters (that's like the Feral version of characters or younger versions of characters or them from a specific event in their lives) then (2) Alternate Art done by other artists. There are so many amazing artists out there that we are so excited to work with …”
And lucky for the other artists who may lend their talents on this project, Carson has assured us that they will not be forced to illustrate in Keynote.
Below you can see 3 different versions of the Pirate - Sword Beast:
the base card, the Feral version also illustrated by Carson, and an Alt Art version illustrated by artist Meredith McClaren.
The treasure hunts don’t stop there, as Here Be Monsters has a few more surprises for collectors. The rarest and most sought-after cards in HBM aren’t super-secret chases in packs. They’re cards that you can only get through participating in activations actually called treasure hunts. So how do these treasure hunts work? Throughout your packs you will find Buried Treasure cards! Each Buried Treasure card will include a unique set of three images. If you are lucky enough to find the alternative art cards that match the images on the Buried Treasure card, you can mail them in to Super Pirate Industries to receive one of eight special cards. This unique and playful touch is reminiscent to old school magazine and cereal box sweepstakes, that further reflect a sense of nostalgia.
Product Lineup
• FREE Demo Deck - for just the cost of shipping you can get a 54 card Demo Deck that’s perfect for two players to play a quick introduction game!
• Stowaway Chest - A box of 6 packs that’s perfect for draft! Pair this with the Demo Deck and it’s a great introductory product for a new player!
• Booster Box - Each Booster Box comes with four Stowaway Chests (for a total of 24 packs). This is a great way to explore a wide set of cards and get a few alt arts and holos while you’re at it (and maybe even a Buried Treasure card)!
• Full Playset - If you just want to play the game, then you can purchase a full playset of every card!! This is great if you just want to dig into the mechanics of the game and create some amazing crews!!
• Deluxe Accessories - We will have a set of neoprene playmats, a wooden Firepower tracker and metal coins to purchase as well.
We would like to give a special Thank You to our maties Carson and Phil for allowing us the opportunity to play a role in their journey,
and to share the exciting news about Here Be Monsters
