It’s nearly the end of August, and team Geek Native has just about survived the Edinburgh Festival season. We’ve taken some wounds, had a long rest, and now have Tabletop Scotland next.
Let’s catch up with the TTRPG summary of summaries!
- Yuck, there’s a Meguey Baker vs Cancer bundle. :(
- D&D Direct is on the 27th.
- Paizo reverses its fan and community use policy changes.
- R. Talsorian Games (Cyberpunk, The Witcher) is moving forward with its own IP and has released a starter for Shadow Scar.
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On with the news and let us know if you’ll be at Tabletop Scotland as well!
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RPG news from Geek Native
- Halloween? DriveThuRPG launch their Cosmic Horror sale.
- D&D (and Warhammer) are games in the made by Love, Death + Robots team for Amazon Prime’s Secret Level.
- Monte Cook Games released a free preview of Tidal Blades.
- Son of Oak Games Studio release a free :Otherscape cybershrine update.
- Readying up for a crowdfunder, the Ars Magic 5th Edition Definitive prelaunch is already booming.
- Geek Native has a preview of The Amethyst Dragon’s Hoard of Everything Volcanoes: More Than Just Liquid Hot Magma section.
- In the Bundle of Holding, there’s the World’s Largest Bundle.
Spotlight: Schwalb Entertainment
RPG news from around the web
- Wizards of the Coast have announced a D&D Direct for the 27th.
- Goodman Games announces that their Organised Play is coming soon.
- Paizo admits errors and u-turns on their Community Use and Fan Content policies.
- EN World notes that Wizards of the Coast’s D&D team are Hiring New Game Designer Months After Firing Many.
- Wargamer writes up that DnD’s new alternate cover Player’s Handbook delayed outside US. WotC confirms this is the case but we note Forbidden Planet still say they expect the alternative cover around the 17th.
- At Roll20, Michael O’Conner shares a Demiplane Update: Cosmere RPG Nexus + New PDF Export.
- Rochester First.com has a CGI image and news that Strong Museum shares details on ‘Dungeons & Dragons’ exhibit.
RPG reviews and interviews from around the web
- Reviews from R’lyeh give us Fanzine Focus XXXVI with Skull & Crossbones Classics #1 a
and #6 of Crawling Under a Broken Moon, the Free RPG Day 2024 Arzium Quickstart Guide and, phew, lastly, there’s a review of the Shadow Scar Starter Set (which is just out now). - Grognardia shares a retrospective of AD&S” The Lost Island of Castanamir.
- Throat Punch Games have a ring side report on Starfinder 2nd Ed playtest (Note the Humble bundle for this is still live.)
- The Alexandrian reviews the Ptolus campaign Banewarrens.
- On Gnome Stew, Jared Rascher reviews The One Ring’s Moria – Through the Doors of Durin.
- Frank Mitchell reviews Faster Than Light: Nomad.
- Referring and Reflection digs into The Primal Innovation of Mörk Borg.
- Otaku Magazine’s Kara Dennison covers Kedamono Opera TTRPG Lets You Weave a Dark Fairy Tale.
- Frederick Hees isn’t a fan of Jon Peterson’s The Invention of Dungeons & Dragons in a review The Fine Art of Making Dungeons & Dragons Really Boring.
- GamesSpot’s Jordan Ramee talks to Ginny in The Deck Of Boons And Banes, A D&D Aid By Ginny Di, Subverts TTRPG Mechanics In The Best Ways.
RPG new releases
- The Dungeon Coach’s Kickstarter broke $2.2m, and now you can buy version 0.8 of DC20 Core Rules.
- R. Talsorian Games’ latest IP is out with the Shadow Scar Starter Set.
- Thiagogomes has a game of a different flavour with A Cat RPG.
- EN Publishing publishes their Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition Starter Box.
- Renegade Game Studios release Hunter: The Reckoning 5th Edition Roleplaying Game Alma Maters Sourcebook.
- Labyrinth Adventures publish their OSR Enter the Labyrinth.
- In physical releases and preorders;
- Adam Lee and Random House have Dungeons & Dragons: Worlds & Realms: Adventures From Greyhawk To Faerûn & Beyond.
- Kyle Newman and Jon Peterson ready up Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes’ Feast: The Deck Of Many Morsels.
RPG bundle deals
- Save $206.72 (89%) in lumpley games’ Meguey Baker vs Cancer bundle. (Note: Geek Native’s tech adds affiliate codes; we will find a way to donate the commission.)
- Save $9 (25%) in Mammoth Factory’s Frostwilds bundle.
- Save $4.87 (15%) in the DMsGuild’s Kage’s Big Bargain bundle.
- Save $2.74 (25%) in the DMsGuild’s The Echo Series bundle.
RPG ideas, tips and discoveries
- EMP has exclusive D&D Merch.
- Grognardia discusses the lament for a lost age.
- GameRant argues Why Dungeons and Dragons’ 2025 Monster Manual is Sitting on a Powder Keg.
- At Pelgrane, Andrew Peregrine pens Peregrine’s Nest: Gaming with Strangers, Part 1.
- Sly Flourish share The Perfect Distance – 25 Feet (or 10 Meters).
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;
- GOLEM DICE TOWER – STL FILES – 3D PRINTABLE from DCAVE pitches “3D PRINTABLE- DICE TOWERS FOR BOARD GAMES – RPG – WAR GAMES – STL FILES – TABLETOP – FREE OF SUPPORTS”
- Leveloot: The Starter Kit from Blade nominates “Roll For Adventure!”
- The Blue Divide – A Modular D&D 5e Setting from Sage Fox Press raises funds for “A setting for D&D 5e that easily fits within others, including a short three act adventure for varying levels.”
- Kal-Arath: Sword and Sorcery by Castle Grief from Castle Grief kickstarts “A roleplaying game of high adventure for one or more players.”
- MAPS FOR FANTASY RPGs Old School Workbooks 3 & 4 from Laidback Dungeon Master is working on “Workbooks with hand-drawn, old school maps! Write notes & stock YOUR dungeons, on YOUR shelf! DnD 5e OSR OSE D&D Pathfinder Runequest”
- Savage Adventures 5E Anthology & Campaign from Tabletop Outfitter introduces “$1 One Shot: Cult of the Gnoll Lord”
- Town Builder 2 from Steven Chabotte raises funds for “100+ More Unique Drop-in Businesses and Trades for your TTRPG”
- Dungeon Treats: The Ultimate D&D Candy Kit from The 3D Food Company kickstarts “Bring your table-top RPG to life with magical, edible creations using this All-In-One Candy Kit”
- Fantasy+, the Future of TTRPG Audio from Monument crowdfunds “Highly customizable & copyright-free Hollywood audio for TTRPG Game Masters”
- Taverns & Stores for 5e Dungeons & Dragons from Ready to Play proposes “A collection of 10 taverns and 10 stores for the 5th edition of D&D”
- Halfjinks Roleplaying Game from Barrel Rider Games offers “A Family-Friendly RPG of Innocent Mischief”
- Killer of Giants: a DnD 5E adventure from greedygorgonpress offers “Any party can fight a giant. Can your party assassinate one?”
- Scourge of the Tyrant King, a Dark 5e Compatible Adventure from LunaBear Games nominates “A 100+ page 5e adventure & micro-setting: packed with epic locations, coveted magic items and grotesque monsters! End the Tyranny!”
- The Hobgoblin’s Fortress: a Module for D&D 5E and Pathfinder from Douglas Sun pitches “Drop your party in the middle of a simmering feud between goblin mercenaries and their officers. Which side will they choose?”
- Sidekicked: Season 1 from Matthew Allen introduces “Welcome to Sidekicked, A TTRPG actual play featuring rapper Nur-D and your new favorite team of teenage superheroes.”
- Ethereal Crystals Resin Dice from OniDice nominates “Unlock the magic of your game with the Ethereal Crystals Dice Set, beautifully crafted from crystal-like resin for a mesmerizing roll”
- Rats of Ul-Gol for D&D 5th Edition from William Murakami-Brundage introduces “A collection of adventures dealing with the rattish, long-tailed devotees of Ul-Gol. Compatible with Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.”
- Arcane Aides: Your D&D Adventure Allies from James Roberts introduces “Bringing the Magic of AI to Your D&D — Empowering DMs and players alike with incredible tools designed to enhance creativity.”
- Rolyn Dice Cases from RolynDiceLtd kickstarts “Original Iconic Designs In A Kickstarter Limited Edition”
- Chains of Fiend 5E: A “Wings of Dread” Sequel from Eric Bleney proposes “The Cult of the Black Wyrm weakens the barriers between planes and paves the way for the demon lord Xar’Thagus into the material world.”
- airlock 002: random-rolled resources for wardens & players from James Floyd Kelly crowdfunds “zine, props, patch and more for the Mothership RPG”
- Ascent of the Nimipeel: 5e Adventure from John Non introduces “From the depths of Craggy Lung, carry the Nimipeel to the surface so it can give birth to the Nimi that will save Elroidia.”
- Battle Box – 3D printable tabletop game organiser & storage from Battle Kiwi kickstarts “Upgrade your Grimdark tabletop gaming experience. Customizable 3D Printable (Support Free) STL Files hobby storage solution!”
- Dungeon Builder’s Toolkit: Modular Maps for TTRPGs and D&D from Adventurica crowdfunds “Design unique Dungeon Battlemaps for any TTRPG (e.g., D&D, Pathfinder) with 400+ modular tiles in two distinct themes!”
- Light & Shadow: The Adventurer’s Choice from AAW Studio offers “A pocket-sized combination of RPG, poker cards and adventure.”
- The Dungeon Builder’s Guide: Dungeon Design Made Simple from MiracleDungeons nominates “A Comprehensive Handbook for Creating Cohesive and Exciting Dungeons”
- Nightmare & Mythology collection DND 5E from KingOfGames kickstarts “30 DND 5E Monsters”
- Daerdan’s Evolving Wands for D&D 5e from Wyatt Trull kickstarts “A zine of magic wands of growing power for 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons”
- Bandit’s Lookout Tower | 3D Printable Terrain Miniature STL from Harkertects crowdfunds “Bespoke, modular, architectural STL of a rugged bandit outpost for resin or filament 3d printing for RPGs, tabletop and skirmish games”
- DnD 5e Tome of Terrors Vol 6: Monsters from the Deep! from The Eldorium Archives submits “A D&D 5e supplement containing new creatures from the Deep Sea, each accompanied by a Mini and a One-Shot adventure featuring them!”
Do you know of an RPG news source that we don’t? Let us know, or leave a comment below.
