Am I just returning from a beer and music festival in the Leith docks? Is it midnight? Aaanyway, it’s the week before Gen Con, so let’s see how busy the news is.
Let’s start with the TTRPG summary of summaries!
- It’s still Christmas in July (especially if you’re an Italian RPG dev).
- Wizards of the Coast dumps IDW for Dark Horse
- The Expanse is getting a new(ish) TTRPG.
- The publisher of both The Witcher and the original Cyberpunk TTRPG will release a new RPG.
- The D&D LEGO minifigs are on pre-order.
- The early reviews of the Stormlight are in and mixed
We’re gearing up for festival and convention season. It’s not just Gen Con, but Tabletop Scotland is bigger than ever and has moved to Edinburgh. From September 6th to 8th, the Royal Highland Centre will host thousands of gamers.
Here’s a nice touch, Tabletop Scotland is sponsored by UK Games Expo. UKGE could have seen Tabletop Scotland as a cheeky wee competitor but, instead, they’re doing what they can to support it.
Other sponsors include the indie darling All Rolled Up, the local games stores Ancient Robot Games and Mox in the Hole plus… bloomin’ the mighty Disney Lorcana brand itself.
We’ve already mentioned the high octane / high pressure / no sleep month that is August as a festival of festivals comes to Edinburgh. Wish us luck!
On with the news and we’re totally not jealous of Gen Con goers.
Support: Patreon.
RPG news from Geek Native
- The big sale Christmas in July is still on and have you seen how well Italian publishers are doing?
- While we’re here, have you seen how well TTRPGs are doing in the DriveThruCOMICS sale?
- Geek Native has an exclusive look at shady corporations in Parable’s ION Heart.
- Green Ronin will launch a new edition of the sci-fi hit The Expanse TTRPG.
- R. Talsorian’s Games of The Witcher and Cyberpunk have a new game on the way called Shadow Scar.
- Award-winning actor Jon Hamm is in a true crime D&D podcast.
- We’ve spotted a (potentially last chance) way to get the LEGO D&D Mimic Dice Box.
- Fantasy Grounds goes live with the G.I. Joe VTT.
- Carrie Linden and Snowbright will run the Nonbinary Tabletop Awards again (with cash prizes).
- In the Bundle of Holding, there’s an offer on the vampire cyberpunk TTRPG The Gaia Complex.
- Humble has an MIT Press deal on books All About Gaming.
Spotlight: The OG GM Adventures
RPG news from around the web
- After 14 years, IDW has bad news as Wizards of the Coast has moved the D&D and MTG comic book license to Dark Horse.
- Good news, LEGO fans, as the D&D minifigures pack is out.
- In more D&D news, ComicBook covers Dungeons & Dragons’ Lead Designer Explains Philosophy Behind Rules Changes.
- Tara McCauley at The Escapist goes with Dungeons & Dragons Stage Show The Twenty-Sided Tavern Announces National Tour.
RPG reviews and interviews from around the web
- Strange Assembly reviews Wizard of the Coast’s Quests from the Infinite Staircase and the 50th anniversary special The Making of the Original Dungeons & Dragons 1970-1977.
- Over at What Do I Know?, Jared finishes up with Quests from the Infinite Staircase with a part seven review and a whole write-up for Conclusion (Appendix A, B).
- Adam Harrison, writing at the Bell of Lost Souls, reviews Arkham Horror: RPG – ‘Hungering Abyss’ Starter Box.
- Grognardia pens a retrospective on Star Frontiers: Dark Side of the Moon.
- ComicBook looks at the TTRPG for the Stormlight Archive novels and concludes Stormlight Roleplaying Game First Impressions: A Familiar Game System That Faithfully Captures Spirit of Cosmere.
- However, at Wargamer, Mollie Russel isn’t so keen; The Stormlight RPG tries too hard to be ‘not DnD’ .
- TechnicalRPG pens a review of Forge of Foes.
- At RPG.net, Andrew Hind writes a quick look at Whispers from the Alley.
- Aaron T. Huss reviews D&D’s Vecna: Eve of Ruin.
- Throat Punch Games has a review of Death Metal.
- Reviews from R’lyeh wries up Numenera’s Destiny.
- Jenny Melzer interviews Critical Role’s Nick Marini and hits on D&D Shines When It Sparks On The Universal Part of Humanity.
- Jenny, on a roll, also pens “New Options Are On The Horizon:” D&D’s Jeremy Crawford On 5e’s 2024 Player’s Handbook Updates.
RPG new releases
- Critical Kit publishes a solo player 5e adventure called Once We Were Gods.
- In a busy week, Critical Kit also expanded their award-winning Be Like a Crow solo RPG with Tales from The Crow’s Nest.
- Game Machinery’s adult RPG of supernatural royalty gets an expansion with Defiant Reign.
- Fargone released their 2240-era Verdant Toxic Ruins: A Midwestern Biopunk Roleplaying Game.
- Oddplan! casts you as a clone of the world’s greatest superhero in this OSR Hellsquad.
- James McLellan has released their 15-page RPG system Crunchy Core.
- Hugh Lashbrooke invites you to pay what you want for their new Roll Up! TTRPG System.
- Star Anvil Studios has a new Savage Worlds adventure with The Secret World – Stoneward Bound.
- Loot Tavern Publishing releases their digital asset bundle for Heliana’s Guide to Monster Hunting.
- Laurie O’Connel Games thrusts us into a high-stakes battle for survival in Death Game.
RPG bundle deals
- Save $2.00 (13%) with Thaloranth Publishing’s Taleweaver Basics bundle.
- Save $0.41 (6%) with the DMsGuild’s Expanding Quests from the Infinite Staircase bundle.
- Save nothing but clicks in the DMsGuild’s bundle of The Throne of Bone PDF and Roll20 bundle.
- On Fantasy Grounds, there’s a bundle for Shadow of the Demon Lord.
RPG ideas, tips and discoveries
- Noah Thrappas argues It’s Actually OKAY To Fudge Your Dice Rolls – Here’s Why.
- Sly Flourish Mike puts it into words with Understanding 5e’s Core Interaction.
- The Gamer publishes Best Roleplay Tools For Dungeon Masters.
RPG Crowdfunding
You can see those Kickstarters and other crowdfunding campaigns that caught Geek Native’s attention over at Kickstarter watch. Here are some industry projects worth mentioning;
- Wizards & Wi-Fi – The Mind-Failer Menace from The Blind Beholder crowdfunds “A crazy and parodic setting for 5e that combines the most classic fantasy with today’s reality”
- Gemstone Dice sets!! from Digital Minerals LLC submits “This Project is to bring real mineral knowledge to the dice community.”
- Bark & Roll – Doghouse Dice Tower and Storage from RC Craigo kickstarts “Adorable 3D Printed & Printable TTRPG Dice Accessories”
- Candelamonicon #1: Blackout from Three Quill Publishing nominates “A Candela Obscura oneshot featuring Mr. Nightfall from the Core Rulebook. Also includes new support specializations, gear, and more!”
- Beyond the Wall, A Post Apocalyptic D&D 5e Adventure from Matthew David suggests “Venture into a post-apocalyptic wasteland to find water, cross a mile high wall, and uncover hidden secrets. Survival awaits!”
- Twilight of Agnium: Izidium Quarter from Konstantin Velikikh introduces “3d printable tabletop terrain for DnD, Pathfinder, wargames, RPG and more. Fantasy scenery, Agnium series”
- TORC: A Tabletop Fantasy Roleplaying Game from Rellinkath pitches “TORC is a fantasy TTRPG designed to combine the strength of classic roleplaying and modern systems, using a modular design approach”
- Custom Dice Book Boxes and Hex Dice Dishes from Stephens Woodworks introduces “Custom engraved dice boxes that look like books and hand made ceramic dice dishes.”
- Echoes of Olympus: A 5e Guide to Greek Mythology Settings from Belazan Games proposes “Bring the Gods of Olympus to your 5e campaign along with new races, classes, legendary artifacts, mythological creatures and much more!”
- Tome Of Maps: A Forest Battlemap Book for your TTRPG Games! from Snowy’s Maps offers “A book containing 100+ unique forest battlemaps for TTRPGs. Available for FoundryVTT, Roll20, and physical format. (DnD5e/PF2e)”
- Wyvyrn: The TTRPG Ecosystem from Kenny Schank kickstarts “A comprehensive suite of digital tools for TTRPG players, GMs, and content creators. Build your world. Play your hero. Tell your story.”
- RPG Maps – Underwater – The Sunken Treasure Maps from Benjámin Weisz introduces “A short campaign where you can acquire a small add-on for my recently released Underwater Campaign.”
- High Level Adventures: Five Exciting Adventures for D&D 5E from Morrus kickstarts “A collection of short adventures ranging from 10th to 16th level–dragons, kobolds, giants, even the dreaded River Styx!”
- Easier Solo Mystery Play from Peter Rudin-Burgess crowdfunds “A book of tips, advice, suggestions, and oracles to help make solo playing mystery adventures easier to run and more fun to play.”
- Papa Boogie – 3d printable DnD 5e compatible character from Necropolis of Sakkara raises funds for “Miniature STL files in 30mm + 75mm scale + busts for painters, collectors and dioramas. Including D&D 5e compatible character sheet”
- Sword Wastelands Of Arakk from Armana submits “A reimagined OSR TTRPG where you are a risen undead warrior on an old battlefield littered with swords.”
- Thick Skull Archive System: By Charlie Victor Products from Charlie Victor Products submits “A premium solution for your miniature storage needs.”
- Mega D&D Map Bundle | 350 Tiles & 85 Maps | DND 5E TTRPG from Tyler Mackenzie introduces “Collection of battle maps & seamless map tiles for your 5E D&D, Pathfinder & other TTRPG campaigns! Print and VTT!”
- Hexagram #13, an Old-School Zine for The Fantasy Trip RPG from Steve Jackson Games pitches “A retro-style collection of articles for The Fantasy Trip roleplaying game.”
- Dungeon Race RPG – Earth After the Melt from Dungeon Race RPG suggests “A faction race RPG where teams race against time, and each other, to save their community from a drowning world.”
- Sea Monsters for 5E, ToV, PF1, PF2, plus Pirates & Plunder! from Legendary Games introduces “Doom rises from the depths with 60+ savage sea creatures for 5E, Black Flag, Pathfinder 1E & 2E, plus nautical adventure & pirate loot!”
- SHOTGLASS ADVENTURES: 3 ONE-SHOTS for DnD 5e & OSR! from Laidback Dungeon Master offers “3 Shotglass Adventure PDF One-shots for $6 AU! DnD 5e & OSR Adventures, Gridded & Grid-less Maps, 5e/1e Monsters & Magic Items!”
- Pew Pew: Bounty Hunters in Space for Savage Worlds from Mike Lafferty introduces “A micro-setting for Savage Worlds Adventure Edition with that cheesy 1970s scifi feel”
- D6 System: Second Edition from Gallant Knight Games submits “The classic West End Games ruleset returns in an updated and licensed new multi-genre rulebook!”
- Audiobook of The Marches Adventures 1-5 for Traveller from AudioRPG kickstarts “A complete professionally narrated audiobook of The Marches Adventures 1-5 for relaxed familiarization, preparation, and enjoyment”
- Epic Gamer Notebooks and Journals – More than 50 designs! from GamerGoodies raises funds for “Unleash your ideas for RPG adventures, characters, settings, or outline that warband or army for wargames with these themed journals!”
- City, Coastal and Desert RPG Supplements from The Oracle raises funds for “Finally in print. These three supplements are the missing issues from The Oracle back catalogue and are filled with great RPG content.”
- Into the Wilds from Bloodstone Press is working on “Monsters, Magic, and Hazards of the Jungle, Tundra, and Desert”
- 1€ DnD One-Shot | The Lament of the Lambs from Lynx Projects submits “A DnD 5e Investigation One-Shot where the culprit hides among the innocent, the nights are long and the blood flows generously”
- Debt to Corruption from Ardann Creative suggests “A 5e Compatible Heist Adventure”
- The Phoenix’s Call – 5e D&D from Anthony David introduces “High Fantasy 5e D&D campaign”
Do you know of an RPG news source that we don’t? Let us know, or leave a comment below.
