Did the world change this week? There’s certainly been no shortage of trade concerns, and we see that in the TTRPG news this week.
Speaking of which, here’s the RPG news summary of summaries!
- The creative director behind D&D, Chris Perkins, has retired.
- The gaming world reacts to the tariffs; with GAMA against them, there is hope that RPG books are exempt.
- The marcoms boss at GAMA quit, calling the organisation broken and siloed.
- Let’s hope it’s not an error, but Dream Realm Storytellers has a 100% off offer on a nearly $100 Svilland Full bundle.
Keith DEdinburgh won the RPG Publisher Spotlight. Thank you to our patrons and those who voted. The next poll is up at the May Spotlight private link. The short list is;
On with this week’s news!
Spotlight: Keith DEdinburgh.
RPG news from Geek Native
- Chris Perkins, the creative director for Dungeons & Dragons, has retired.
- Aussie gamers spend more than Americans on the hobby and other quirky stats from this Compare the Market survey.
- Geek Native reviewed The Dungeonmeister RPG Sticker Book.
- GAMA, the North American-based game maker association, has come out against the Trump tariffs.
- Ahead of UK Games Expo, Geek Native has an interview with Vortex Verlag on Serenissima Obscura.
- In Bundles, the Bundle of Holding has a deal on Stillfleet.
- If you’re curious, you can still read one of our (two) April Fools with ArcaneTech Connect.
Support: Patreon
RPG news from around the web
- Rascal’s Chase Carter explains Tabletop publishers believe RPG books are exempt from Trump tariffs, for now.
- ICv2 has the story that GAMA’s Marketing and Communications, Amy Lowe, has resigned saying the organisation was siloed and in many ways, broken.
- Como Magazine’s Kelsey Winkeljohn write up how D&D became entertainment in Telling Stories, Slaying Dragons.
- As ComicBook covers Arby’s Dungeons & Dragons Dice Keep Selling Out Over and Over Again.
- PC Gamer’s Harvey Randall does not hold back It’s clear Hasbro, the custodians of D&D, have no idea what to do with Baldur’s Gate 3’s success—but that’s nothing new, it’s spent the past 10 years fumbling the bag.
RPG reviews and interviews from around the web
- Alphastream pens Assessing the Revised DMG for D&D 5E.
- The RPG Gazette writes up The (almost) Perfect RPG: A Review of Realms of Peril.
- At the Indie Game Reading Club, Paul Beakley shares thoughts on Lovecraftesque: The Deep Dive.
- Reviews from R’lyeh looks at Kavlov’s Sanctuary, Monte Cook’s Numenera: Weird Discoveries and the Second Edition of the Star Trek Adventures starter set.
- MJR RPG has a No Breaking Off Review – Call of Cthulhu (Cthulhu 2020).
- Ill Met by Morrslieb reviews Wrath & Glory Gamemaster’s Screen Booklet.
- Grognardia has a retrospective on Dark Conspiracy.
- At EN World, Charles Dunwoody spotlights Agrella – City of Eternal Euphoria.
- Sparky McDibben also shares thoughts on The American Crisis: War In The North.
- TTRPG Insider has an interview about Resistance is Required with Daniel Baker-Zakala.
- Aaron T. Huss at the Roleplayers Chronicle reviews the Alien RPG Building Better Worlds.
- ICv2 has an interview with Luke Gygax and Stephen Chenault.
RPG new releases
- Ted Bushman has released the cars and aliens Forged in the Dark powered The Last Caravan.
- Star & Flame Games has released Lord of the Rings meets The Muppets with Land of Eem RPG.
- Greater Than Games has released a $1 one-shot for Sentinel Comics: The RPG called Dawn of the Shardborne.
- Aaron A. Reed published the second edition of Downcrawl.
- Dark Dice Adventures has published Sküllbasher: The Ultimate Shadowdark Overhaul.
- Catalyst Game Labs released the Shadowrun Deadly Arts.
- Onyx Path Publishing released Trinity Continuum: With Great Power.
- In physical books, before the trade wars begin, shops like Forbidden Planet have;
- Call Of Cthulhu: Cthulhu By Gaslight: Keeper’s Guide.
- Daggerheart: Core Set.
- Giant Book Of Battle Mats: Streets, Sewers & Cemeteries.
- Lord Of The Rings: Roleplaying Game: Keepers Of The Elven-Rings.
- Tales Of The Valiant: Player’s Guide: Limited Edition.
- Tales Of The Valiant: Player’s Guide & Monster Vault.
- Warhammer 40K: Roleplay: Imperium Maledictum: Starter Set.
RPG bundle deals
- Save $92.99 (100%) with Dream Realm Storytellers’ Svilland Full bundle.
- Save $8.17 (25%) in Matt Belcher’s The Realms Of Sabres Bluff .
- Save $7.50 (10%) through Star & Flame Games’ Land of Eem: Deluxe Set.
- Save $1.00 (29%) with Rivivify Games’ A Stinking Suspicion + Inside the Everflowing Curtain bundle.
RPG ideas, tips and discoveries
- Kobold Press pens Game Changer—Advice for new GMs! How do I take notes?.
- Wargamer’s Mollie Russell shares How to DM when your DnD party totally derails your plans.
- The Grinning Rat wrote up Building Dungeons (the Tetris Way).
- At How-To-Geek, Dan Helyer shares Everything I Learned From My First Experience as a Dungeon Master.
- Roleplaying Tips publishes Under the Big Top: More Circus Ideas.
- Mike, at Sly Flourish, pens Shadowdark House Rules.
- Derek Garcia argues After 20 Years, It’s Time For D&D To Launch An Original Setting Again.
RPG Crowdfunding
There’s more! You can catch up with Kickstarter campaigns we’ve written up in more detail at Kickstarter watch. Here are some noteworthy industry projects to mention:
- Dice Coins 2025 from Goliath Coins raises funds for “An evolution of dice and coins that offers a more immersive gaming experience! New coin designs for D&D, Pathfinder, & Fantasy RPG’s.”
- Magica Vallee – RPG Adventures from Crimson Studies Creations raises funds for “TTRPG Adventure Modules compatible with 5E, Pathfinder 1, I Signori del Caos and any B/X-Based RPG”
- Twilight Requiem: Relics of the Black Flame from Gerry is working on “A 5e campaign of rift-born weapons, hidden truths, and world-breaking power—where city streets lead straight into the dungeon.”
- Riposte: A Fully-Featured RPG System from Caleb Morrill raises funds for “A deep, mechanically rich RPG system with lore and a setting to match.”
- STRIKERS: An Espionage TTRPG about █████████ from Hatch is working on “A love letter to fun exciting titles, such as Metal Gear and Hitman, STRIKERS aims to bring that to the tabletop community!”
- Wizard of Wisteria: Board Game from Zach Gregoire offers “Take on the role of aspiring wizards competing for the prestigious title of “Grand Wizard of Wisteria.””
- Battleforce Chronicles RPG from Battle Worlds Gaming Studio is working on “Battleforce Chronicles is an epic science fiction tabletop RPG using the 5th Edition of the Battle Worlds Gaming system.”
- Creature Dice Set Collection – Reissue And New 38mm Jumbo from Foulebo offers “Hi everyone! After a successful first campaign, I’m back to allow those who missed it to support me now with a brand-new 38mm Jumbo D20”
- Flat Hard Pressed Cardboard TTRPG DND Miniatures (D&D Minis) from Wanderer’s Emporium submits “Another HUGE collection of minis from Wanderers Emporium! The “Otherworldly Mega Pack” will come with over 120 miniatures!”
- Hellfire Dice – The Ultimate RPG & DnD Dice from Hell! from samuel submits “Hellfire & Mystic Moos Dice – Epic RPG Dice Sets of Fire and Nature!”
- HELLWORLD EARTH from Gavriel Quiroga is working on “A brutal, old-school TTRPG setting fully illustrated in traditional black & white artwork by Austin DuRivage.”
- Adventure & Hobbyist Annual 2025 from Unwritten Earths Symposium pitches “System-adventurous, genre-spanning TTRPG scenarios, maps and more from the Unwritten Earths Symposium”
- Legendary Strongboxes for D&D from Jerry Joe Seltzer nominates “Does your party have what it takes to unlock these cleverly guarded treasures?”
- The Bad Patch: A Book of Monstrous Plants for 5e from BlackVault is working on “A 200+ page tome for 5th Edition. Brave the dark forest filled with over 120 monstrous, wicked, and whimsical plant creatures.”
- The Herbalist’s Grimoire for DnD5e from Chaotic Neutral Visionary crowdfunds “A digital herbalism guide for D&D 5e featuring illustrated ingredients, narrative-rich lore, and balanced natural remedies for fantasy.”
- Orobos Championship Tournament from Nicholas Robinson offers “A new skirmish RPG system/guidebook inspired by original character tournaments.”
- Yggdrasil Burns from Nordic Skalds raises funds for “A viking setting Mörk Borg-ish RPG. Cursed skalds in a cursed world trying to survive while everything around them is dying…”
- Machines in the Deep – Mechanical Wonders for D&D 5E from Morrus kickstarts “War machines, clockwork mechanical wonders, and sci-fi inspired magic items for a DnD 5E fantasy setting”
- Eyes of Basirah 5E from Eric Bleney introduces “A Desert 5E Adventure of Ancient Magic and Moral Choices for 4-6 players, levels 5-8.”
- Chronicles of Ivria : The Demise of Vivalon – 5E Supplement from Galandir’s Pit proposes “D&D adventure from the chronicles of Ivria. New homebrew gothic campaign from level 1! Great for TTRPG lovers like DnD and else!”
- STARBREAKER: STAR MARINES FOR SAVAGE WORLDS from Star Anvil Studios pitches “Expand your Starbreaker setting with Star Marines and explore a new, richly detailed sector of space, the Siren Belt!”
- The World’s Greatest Screen – The Half Screen from Danny O’Neill – Hammerdog Games introduces “Everything you love about our legendary product, at half the size.”
- The Mechanized Wastelands – A Dieselpunk D&D 5E campaign from Professor Dudley Proose is working on “Brave the deadly expanse outside the city, littered with monstrous constructs and ancient ruins in this DnD adventure for level 5 to 9!”
- Advanced Fighting Fantasy System and Modules for Foundry VTT from Graham Bottley offers “Play AFF virtually using Foundry VTT with an enhanced experience for DM and Players!”
- The Deck of Divine Things – D&D 5e Supplement from Paper Quest introduces “A powerful deck of divine tarot cards for D&D 5e and a fantastic handout. Will fate bless you… or test you?”
- The Administration – Book 3: The Arclight Staff from Brian C introduces “The third D&D 5E campaign in the continuing ‘The Administration’ series set in an alternate universe London, England.”
- Meritorious – Claim the Throne (TTRPG, 4X, Roll & Write) from New Guard Studios nominates “Lead armies, manage citizens, and develop a hero to unite a medieval island in this cross-genre game.”
- D100 FRIENDS & FOES: 100 Unique Characters and Quests For 5E from Dominic M. pitches “A collection of not-so-stock NPC characters with ready to play Backstories, Relationships, Quests, Bonds & Flaws, Secrets, and more!”
- Hidden Folk of the Feywild from Bramble Heart Games nominates “A bestiary for 5e DnD with nearly 70 creatures from European folklore”
- Arcane Echoes: A Solo Prelude and 5e One-Shot Adventure from OneShotTPK is working on “Live your wizard’s life as a looming threat rises – then let your party unravel the secrets of your vacant estate in a 5e adventure.”
- Gamebox – The TTRPG Digital Tabletop web application from Jay crowdfunds “Gamebox is a TTRPG tool for any Game Master who uses a TV Tabletop to display their maps, with Fog, Weather, Spells, Effects and more!”
- Hearthkeeper’s Almanac: 5e+ Faewild Quests & Tavern-Builder from Mystic Tome Productions introduces “Run your own tavern or bakery, cast cozy spells, and adventure into the Fae Courts in this epic cottagecore 5e+ setting.”
- Ruins and Fallen Civilisations – TTRPG Battlemaps from That Dungeon Guy nominates “200 maps of ruined places/forgotten civilisations and 50 Monsters/NPC tokens for D&D/PF/TTRPG (VTT). Every Backer add 1 map to the pack”
- An Improper Guide to Barbarian Subclasses from Improper Perspectives pitches “4 New Barbarian Subclasses for 5th Edition D&D (both 2014 and 2024) and Tales of the Valiant”
- Dice Tower & Tower from stlworld kickstarts “I hope the dice tower and tower models will excite dnd and tabletop gamers.”
- Dungeon Domains: The Durance Forlorn (5e / OSR compatible) from Bart Wynants pitches “An endlessly expandable dungeon for Shadowdark, 5e, Mörk Borg, Pathfinder, Forbidden Lands & other fantasy tabletop role-playing games!”
- Battle Maps & Stat blocks from Aenarion’s Coven offers “Epic grid-based maps and deadly creatures’ stat blocks, ready for every fantasy battle!”
- Curse of Gloomshroud Marsh – A DnD 5e Adventure from Den of Dice Games raises funds for “Adventurers must travel into the murky expanse known as the Gloomshroud Marsh to cleanse the Heart of the Swamp!”
- Square RPG Puzzle Tiles – SEASON 2 from Hermann Hillmann suggests “Complete sets of RPG tiles, optimized for quick and hassle-free printing on FDM 3D printers.”
- side quest adventures – quick adventures for DND from strange arcade kickstarts “a collection of five side quest adventures for DND 5e”
- Fungal Campaigns: 24 Subclasses for 5E & One D&D from Josh Allington crowdfunds “A digital compendium of 2 new subclasses for every core class, fully compatible with 5th Edition and the 2024 One D&D update.”
- Constellations’ Descend: THE AWAKENING from Stars Aligned offers “Unleash your Zodiac Powers in Epic Celestial Adventures! Battle the Zodiac Signs and wield Celestial Magic items for D&D 5E!”
- Shamrock 3D from Nickolas Voss crowdfunds “Fantasy minis, dice & tabletop gear for D&D lovers.”
- Dungeon Dreamer: AI Familiar for Tabletop Storytelling from DungeonDreamerInc kickstarts “A friendly digital companion that transforms hours of stats tracking and rulebook scrolling into seconds.”
- Scepter of the Lightbringer from Elderbrain.com pitches “A DnD 5e urban investigation and exploration sandbox adventure and campaign setting taking characters from level 1 to 10.”
- The Realm of Wells: TTRPG Maps of Summer’s Sett Forest from Bryce raises funds for “Follow the wisps to Summer’s Sett Forest, a place as enchanting as it is dangerous. Walk the paths and find the source of your power.”
- Werwhales – Rorqual Skylder – World of Darkness from James Cameron Mccloy offers “A supplement for World of Darkness and Werewolf the Apocalypse, compatible with 5th and 20th anniversary – for playing as WEREWHALES”
Do you know of any RPG news sources we might not know? If so, please let us know or leave a comment below.
