The Weekly Podcast no.291 – Catalyst Price Hike, Free RPG Day, Warhammer Oops and Neon City Outlaws

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The Weekly LIVE 290 – Whizkids Refunds, Modern AGE May, Slam Throne and Daggerheart New Classes

Posted on May 26, 2025May 26, 2025 by upturnedtable

Wizkids recently released pre-painted miniatures of the Baldur’s Gate 3 characters in partnership with Wizards of the Coast, and the results were catastrophically poor. The miniatures featured severely distorted faces, misplaced features, and in some cases missing parts entirely (one customer reportedly received a headless Shadowheart). The quality was so abysmal that Wizkids issued a public apology and offered full refunds to all customers, acknowledging that the final product “did not meet our expectations or that of our Wizards of the Coast partner.” The controversy highlights broader issues with pre-painted miniatures in the tabletop gaming industry. At $50 for seven figures (roughly $7.10 each), these miniatures were priced at the low end for pre-painted products, making high quality unlikely from the start. Pre-painted miniatures face an inherent trade-off between cost and quality, as skilled painting requires significant time and labor. However, Wizkids particularly drew criticism for misleading promotional materials that showed much higher quality products than what customers actually received.The miniatures disaster represents a broader pattern of Hasbro’s mishandling of Dungeons & Dragons over the past decade. Despite D&D’s massive success, including the acclaimed Baldur’s Gate 3 and growth in popularity, Hasbro has consistently fumbled opportunities. The article points to several failures: the OGL controversy that alienated creators, losing Larian Studios after Baldur’s Gate 3’s success, the underperforming D&D movie despite its quality, the cancellation of Project Sigil, and the minimal innovation in the 2024 rules update. The author argues that Hasbro fundamentally misunderstands its own product and lacks the vision to capitalize on D&D’s unprecedented cultural moment.

Celebrate “Modern AGE May” as part of Green Ronin’s 25th anniversary, highlighting the seven-year journey of the Modern AGE roleplaying game. Developer Malcolm Sheppard reflects on the game’s development since 2017, praising its flexibility and the collaborative efforts with various writers and designers. The company has released a free PDF with core rules updates based on improvements learned over the years, and the game line has influenced other successful titles like The Expanse and Cthulhu Awakens.

The return of 90s nostalgia with “Slam Throne,” a new game that resurrects the concept of Pogs for modern audiences. Players use Hero Slammers to flip health caps in their opponent’s stack, with each slammer having unique passive and catch abilities. The game emphasizes simple, fun mechanics over deep strategy, appealing to gamers who remember the original Pogs phenomenon from the 1990s.

Daggerheart, a Dungeons & Dragons rival from Darrington Press that launched on May 20, 2025. Remarkably, just one day after release, the company introduced playtest material for two new classes: Warlock and Fighter. The Warlock uses a Favor system tied to patron relationships, while the Fighter specializes in melee combat with subclasses like Juggernaut and Martial Artist. This rapid release of additional content demonstrates the company’s commitment to expanding the game system quickly after launch.

#whizkids #modernAGE #SlamThrone #Daggertheart

Slam Throne:

https://shop.dicethrone.com/pages/fr-slamthrone

Daggerheart “The Void”:

https://www.daggerheart.com/thevoid/

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The Weekly LIVE 289 – Tariff Talks, GW Sues Sellers, Riverbank RPG and Mantic Goes Full Kickstarter

Posted on May 18, 2025 by upturnedtable

The United States and China have reached an agreement to reduce their additional tariffs on each other’s imports. China will cut its extra levies on American goods from 125% to 10%, while the US will reduce its additional tariffs on Chinese products from 145% to 30%. Some of these reduced tariffs will be suspended for 90 days while the two countries continue negotiations, with import duties set at 30% during this period. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed a desire for more balanced trade and increased Chinese openness to American goods. The agreement aims to end the escalating trade conflict between the world’s two largest economies.In a separate development, President Trump fired Shira Perlmutter, the head of the U.S. Copyright Office, shortly after her office released a report suggesting that Big Tech companies’ use of copyrighted materials to train AI systems constitutes copyright infringement. The report acknowledged that some AI training uses might be “transformative” but stated that commercial use of copyrighted works that competes with original content “goes beyond established fair use boundaries.” Critics have called the firing an “unprecedented power grab,” while noting that tech companies are seeking copyright exceptions they’re unlikely to get through Congress. Some suggest Elon Musk’s influence in the White House may have contributed to the swift dismissal.

Games Workshop has initiated a massive legal action against approximately 280 online sellers worldwide, freezing their assets and accounts in a sweeping crackdown on alleged counterfeits and trademark infringements. While many targeted sellers were producing knockoffs, some legitimate businesses were caught in the crossfire for minor infractions like mentioning “Warhammer” in product descriptions or using the word “Citadel” for brush holders. The company posted a $10,000 bond per seller (potentially $2.8 million total) to cover damages for wrongful actions, with a preliminary injunction hearing scheduled for May 27, 2025.

Kobold Press is launching a new cozy roleplaying game called RiverBank, which offers a stark contrast to traditional combat-focused games like Dungeons & Dragons. Written by award-winning author Kij Johnson, this “tea, poetry and total disaster” game features anthropomorphic animals in a peaceful riverside setting and will begin crowdfunding in April 2025, catering to a growing trend of cottagecore tabletop experiences.

Mantic Games has announced an exclusive partnership with Kickstarter through 2026, making the platform their sole crowdfunding venue for upcoming projects. The UK-based studio, known for games like Worms: The Board Game and Hellboy: The Board Game, has already revealed plans for Assassin’s Creed: Animus – The Board Game and DreadBall All Stars, a reboot of their sci-fi sports miniatures game. This partnership allows Mantic to focus on game development while leveraging Kickstarter’s established community.

#tariffs #warhammer #koboldpress #riverbankRPG #mantic

Riverbank RPG:

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/kobold-press/riverbank-a-cozy-rpg-of-elegant-animals-chaos-whimsy

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The Weekly Podcast no.288 – Tariff Wars, Citizen Sleeper: Spindlejack, Gamefound RPG Party and Liquid Steel

Posted on May 11, 2025 by upturnedtable

Denver-based game creator Luke Stratton, a former concert lighting designer, developed a pirate-themed tabletop RPG called “Pirate Borg” during the pandemic. However, his business is now facing significant challenges due to new import tariffs that have more than doubled the cost of manufacturing game components in China from $50,000 to $125,000. With limited alternatives, Stratton may need to seek additional investment or increase the game’s price.

The TTRPG industry is experiencing shifts in convention attendance, as UK publisher Rowan, Rook, and Decard announced they won’t attend Gen Con this year due to safety concerns related to the U.S. political climate. While their booth will be operated by U.S. representatives, there will be no UK staff presence for events or meetings, following a trend of international creators canceling U.S. appearances.

New game releases continue to generate excitement, including “Citizen Sleeper: Spindlejack,” a free solo tabletop RPG adaptation of the popular indie video game where players use dice to survive as an airbike courier on a space station.

The crowdfunding platform GameFound has partnered with DriveThruRPG and publishers like Magpie Games and Chaosium to launch “RPG Party,” an initiative supporting independent TTRPG creators with resources, mentorship, and marketing assistance.

The Melsonian Arts Council is crowdfunding “Liquid Steel,” a project that translates Eduardo Mazzitelli and Enrique Alcatena’s classic Argentinian science-fantasy comic series into English for the first time, alongside a tabletop RPG adaptation compatible with the TROIKA! gaming system. The campaign offers both books separately or together, with manufacturing planned in Europe to avoid U.S. tariff complications for American customers, and estimated delivery by October 2025.

#pirateborg #citizensleeper #gamefound #liquidsteel

Citizen Sleeper: Spinlejack

https://jump-over-the-age.itch.io/citizen-sleeper-spindlejack

Gamefound RPG Party Application:

https://forms.office.com/e/FwS2T832iH

Liquid Steel on Backerkit:

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The Weekly Podcast no.287 – Tariffs Lawsuit, Warmachine Mk4, Roll20 & Demiplane and Halo App

Posted on May 4, 2025 by upturnedtable

The Pacific Legal Foundation has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Stonemaier Games and other small business plaintiffs challenging the legality of recently applied tariffs on Chinese imports. The lawsuit, detailed in an April 30, 2025 article, argues that President Biden’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose these tariffs exceeds presidential authority, as the 1977 law makes no mention of tariffs and has historically been used only for economic sanctions. The plaintiffs, including tabletop game publisher Stonemaier Games, children’s clothing company Princess Awesome & Boy Wonder, art gallery Quent Cordair Fine Art, and metal treatment company 300 Below, seek refunds for tariffs already paid and aim to “restore the proper limits of presidential authority” by reasserting that tariff authority is constitutionally granted exclusively to Congress, not the executive branch.

Steamforged Games is rejuvenating the Warmachine franchise, which previously competed closely with Warhammer 40K in the miniature wargaming sector. Following a challenging period, Warmachine is set to make a strong comeback in 2025, and to generate excitement, the senior team at Steamforged will host a live Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on Discord. Scheduled for May 8, 2025, this event will feature key figures from the company who will address questions about the game’s revival, new model releases, and future plans, creating direct engagement opportunities for fans. The AMA will not only provide insights into the development of the Warmachine universe but also includes promotions such as giveaways of starter sets for beginners, designed to help newcomers engage with the game. Attendees will have the chance to interact via video and chat, making this a dynamic platform for community building. Additionally, ongoing support for the game will be featured, including updates on expansions and exclusive content available through the Warmachine app.

Roll20, which acquired the Demiplane rules compendium platform in June 2024, has launched a public beta integrating the two systems. This integration allows users to seamlessly link their Demiplane characters to Roll20 campaigns without exporting or rebuilding, with both platforms now offering cross-platform sync and shared subscription benefits active since February. The public beta currently supports character sheets for six game systems (Alien: RPG, Candela Obscura, Cyberpunk RED, Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game, Pathfinder 2e, and Vampire the Masquerade 5e), with over 2,000 data fields available for use in Modscripts and Macros. This integration represents another step in Roll20’s strategy to become a comprehensive tabletop gaming platform, following previous acquisitions of DriveThruRPG and Dungeon Scrawl.

Mantic Games has launched the Halo: Flashpoint app to facilitate gameplay and event management for players. This app will provide users with access to full rules, gameplay content, and a free list-building feature, enabling players to create their army lists conveniently. The app supports both free and subscription-based functionalities, allowing for organized play and the ability to run tournaments. Covering a range of features, the app aims to enhance the gaming experience for Halo: Flashpoint fans, making it a comprehensive tool for both casual and competitive play.

Andrew Clayton, creator of Foundry Virtual Tabletop (VTT), has taken a strong stance against the use of generative AI in the tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) industry, calling it a “betrayal” of the artists, writers, and designers who built the space. In a recent interview, Clayton described AI-generated content as “soulless and derivative,” arguing that it exploits creative work without consent. This view sharply contrasts with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks, who has openly embraced AI for Dungeons & Dragons development. While Foundry as a company opposes AI integration, some user-created modules do include AI tools, but Clayton emphasizes that Foundry itself will not support AI, now or in the future. This puts Foundry at odds with Hasbro’s vision, despite its official partnership with D&D.

#warmachine #roll20 #demiplane #halo #foundryvtt

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The Weekly Podcast no.286 – Stonemaier Games Sues, Deep Cuts in Print, Heroes of Might & Magic and WTF Kickstarter

Posted on April 27, 2025May 1, 2025 by upturnedtable

Stonemaier Games, a major US-based tabletop game publisher known for hits like Wingspan and Scythe, has joined a lawsuit against former President Donald Trump in response to new US tariffs on Chinese imports. These tariffs, which have soared to 145%, are dramatically impacting the board game industry, which heavily relies on Chinese manufacturing. Stonemaier’s president, Jamey Stegmaier, explained that the company faces nearly $1.5 million in upcoming tariff costs on pre-produced inventory. With no grace period for goods already in production, the publisher is now storing stock in China and selectively shipping to the US to avoid unsustainable costs, while also encouraging other affected companies to join the lawsuit.

The tariffs have already led to significant disruptions within the industry, including layoffs and halted operations. Greater Than Games, another respected publisher behind Spirit Island and Sentinels of the Multiverse, has been forced to reduce staff and suspend all new projects due to the rising costs. Parent company Flat River Group cited “economic pressures” as the reason, and although in-stock products remain available, the company’s future projects—many crowdfunded and long-awaited—are now uncertain. Industry insiders warn that these tariffs could deal a blow worse than COVID-19, threatening the survival of small publishers and disrupting supply chains across the US tabletop gaming community.

Evil Hat Productions has announced the launch of a crowdfunding campaign to produce a print edition of Blades in the Dark: Deep Cuts, an expansion to the popular indie tabletop RPG created by John Harper. Previously released in digital form, Deep Cuts introduces a wealth of new material to enrich the game’s setting, Doskvol. It features 27 new factions, over 100 background and heritage packages, technological innovations, and the introduction of “Catalysts”—campaign-altering events. It also updates core mechanics, offering a streamlined advancement system, alternative action mechanics, and new rules for downtime and harm, making it a robust “director’s cut” of the original game.

The Heroes of Might and Magic TTRPG distinguishes itself in the crowded fantasy RPG space by focusing on epic, large-scale battles where players act as commanders of armies. Set in the iconic world of Enroth, the game adapts the 2d20 system and includes dramatic campaigns like “The Restoration of Erathia.”

Kickstarter recently suspended Don Simpson’s crowdfunding campaign for Megaton Man: Multimensions, a 214-page comic anthology, due to the inclusion of four pages by Iranian artist Milo Trent—sparking outrage from creators and supporters. Simpson, a veteran of the indie comics scene, refused to remove Trent’s work, criticizing Kickstarter’s vague and unaccountable policies, which appeared to reject the project based solely on Trent’s nationality. Despite the project’s diverse and celebrated lineup, which includes major names like Alan Davis and Stephen Bissette, and its readiness for publication through Cosmic Lion, Kickstarter cited “safety and trust” concerns without clear guidance or opportunity for appeal. Contributors and colleagues have condemned the decision as censorship and discrimination, with many rallying behind Simpson and seeking alternative funding platforms. The incident highlights growing concerns about algorithmic overreach and opaque decision-making by major crowdfunding platforms.

#heroesofmightandmagic #stonemaier #deepcuts #megatonman

Deep Cuts PDF:
https://johnharper.itch.io/deep-cuts

Heroes fo Might and MagiKckstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lmpublishing/heroes-of-might-and-magic-ttrpg

Heroes of Might and Magic Quickstart:

https://modiphius.net/pages/heroes-of-might-and-magic-rpg?srsltid=AfmBOoohwAL1AZms9DWOw0CL0NLnFtwE2h5DvaOWwkaMVHgD9L8oCAzX#quickstart

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The Weekly LIVE 285 – Jeremy Crawford Retires, Space Gits, CMON’s David Preti and Battletech RPG Bundle

Posted on April 20, 2025April 20, 2025 by upturnedtable

Jeremy Crawford, long-time Game Director for Dungeons & Dragons, is officially stepping down from Wizards of the Coast later this month, joining fellow veteran Chris Perkins, who recently departed as Creative Director. Both Crawford and Perkins have been instrumental in shaping the game’s highly successful Fifth Edition and have served as the public faces of D&D for over a decade. Their departures come on the heels of completing a revised set of core rulebooks, marking the end of a major chapter for the franchise. According to WotC’s VP Jess Lanzillo, their exits were planned and on their own terms, with leadership succession already in place. While no direct replacements have been named, experienced designers like James Wyatt, Wes Schneider, and Justice Arman will step into expanded roles. WotC has emphasized that the D&D roadmap remains unchanged, and the transition signals a generational handoff as the team moves forward with confidence in its future.

Space Gits is a chaotic, dexterity-based miniatures skirmish game from designer Mike Hutchinson, centered around gangs of drunk, riotous space orcs wreaking havoc in the megacity of Gnork. Inspired by the comedic, rowdy spirit of Warhammer 40k Orks—particularly the 1990s aesthetic—this miniature-agnostic game encourages players to use any models they like, including those from Kromlech, who are also producing exclusive minis for the campaign. The gameplay is intentionally absurd, involving dice-based movement and combat, drunken stumbles, and even rock-paper-scissors brawling, all wrapped in a full campaign system with rules for vehicles, loot, injuries, and criminal records. With support for 2–5 players and sessions under an hour, it can even be played as a drinking game. The rules are freely available under a Creative Commons license, making Space Gits a hilariously anarchic and flexible game that embraces creativity, kitbashing, and pure orcish mayhem.

David Preti, a long-time senior manager at board game publisher CMON, has stepped down from his position as non-executive director, just seven months after resigning as Chief Operating Officer. Preti, who originally joined CMON as creative director in 2016 and rose to COO by 2018, cited “other work commitments” for his departure. His tenure saw major strategic changes, including a distribution deal with Asmodee, and licensing agreements with Mattel, Netflix, Marvel, and others. Under his leadership, CMON transitioned from Kickstarter to Gamefound for crowdfunding, a move that helped raise over $12 million in its first year on the new platform. Preti’s resignation comes amid turbulent times for CMON, which has warned of potential losses exceeding $2 million for 2024 and is grappling with delayed financial reporting, investor defaults, and rising tariffs on Chinese imports—threatening the board game industry at large. The company has over $22 million worth of crowdfunded projects still in production and is struggling to manage rising costs and logistical hurdles.

The Humble RPG Bundle: The BattleTech RPG Collection by Catalyst Game Labs offers fans of the BattleTech universe a comprehensive digital package packed with lore, rules, and campaigns set in the gritty, futuristic world of the Aurigan Reach. Available for as little as $1, with the full 20-item collection unlocked at $18, the bundle includes titles like BattleTech Universe, MechWarrior: Destiny, Total Warfare, and A Time of War: The BattleTech RPG. All items are delivered in PDF format and can be used on any device, with proceeds supporting the No Kid Hungry charity. With over 11,000 bundles sold and more than $21,000 raised for charity, this limited-time offer provides both an engaging RPG experience and a chance to give back.

#wotc #spacegits #cmon #battletech

Battletech RPG Humble Bundle:

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/battletech-rpg-collection-catalyst-game-labs-books

Space Gits Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/planetsmashergames/space-gits-miniatures-game

Space Gits Quick Start:

https://planetsmashergames.com/space-gits/downloads/quick-start/

Space Gits BETA Test Rules:
https://planetsmashergames.itch.io/space-gits

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The Weekly Podcast no.284 – Unclaimed Treasure, RPG Book Tariffs, Outgunned Superheroes and Chris Perkins Retires

Posted on April 13, 2025April 17, 2025 by upturnedtable

Wizards of the Coast has officially shut down its long-anticipated Sigil Virtual Tabletop (VTT), a project that consumed years of development and significant funding. With the closure came massive layoffs, and Sigil has now been relegated to a minor feature for D&D Beyond subscribers. Despite this, Wizards released the “Unclaimed Treasure Pack” containing two free Mimic-themed digital miniatures for Sigil users. These minis, one hidden and one revealed version of a Mimic, are compatible with the updated 2024 Monster Manual and are free for all D&D Beyond subscribers.

New tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump have created panic in the tabletop publishing industry. While fears grew that RPG books printed abroad might be subject to steep tariffs—especially those from countries like China and Vietnam—many publishers believe that RPG books may remain exempt. T While some publishers confidently categorize certain game components as “books” to avoid tariffs, ultimate decisions rest with U.S. Customs, leaving creators uncertain and anxious.The new trade policies are expected to increase prices across the board for tabletop hobbyists, especially in wargaming. Products from countries like the UK, China, and Spain—key manufacturing hubs for miniatures and painting supplies—will face up to a 54% tariff. Brands like Games Workshop, Corvus Belli, and The Army Painter may pass rising import costs down to consumers. Even hobbyists who 3D print models aren’t immune, as most 3D printing supplies are also imported. The interconnected nature of the industry means everyone in the ecosystem—from game stores to backers of crowdfunding campaigns—will feel the strain. In a twist, Trump announced a partial pause on global tariffs, sparing many countries while dramatically increasing duties on Chinese imports to 125%. This reversal led to a surge in financial markets but did little to restore long-term confidence. The unpredictability of Trump’s trade policy continues to rattle industries reliant on international production. Publishers and manufacturers remain on edge, waiting to see how these measures will play out once shipments start arriving under the new rules.

Two Little Mice has unveiled Outgunned Superheroes, a cinematic RPG inspired by iconic comic book stories and superhero films. The game allows players to become caped crusaders fighting evil in a chaotic world. It’s powered by the Director’s Cut system, which uses unique dice-pool mechanics. A free Quickstart Guide is now available ahead of the crowdfunding campaign set to launch in May. The game can function as a standalone experience or as an expansion to the original Outgunned RPG line.

Chris Perkins, a cornerstone of Dungeons & Dragons design for nearly three decades, has announced his retirement from Wizards of the Coast. Starting in 1997 and rising to Creative Director, Perkins helped shape iconic products like Curse of Strahd and led D&D through its 5th edition golden era. He was also the longtime Dungeon Master for Acquisitions Incorporated. With D&D celebrating its 50th anniversary and a successful new ruleset rollout, Perkins calls this a “fairytale ending” and looks forward to enjoying the game simply as a fan.

#projectsigil #wotc #outgunned #chrisperkins

Claim your free Mimic:
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Outgunned: Superheroes FREE Quickstart:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/518136/outgunned-superheroes-quickstart

Outgunned: Superheroes on Backerkit:

https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/b9acd29c-d775-4d20-a4e5-6ef6fb47923e/landing

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The Weekly Podcast no.283 – Farewell Paul Sawyer, WotC DMCA, Free5E and Alien RPG Evolved

Posted on April 7, 2025 by upturnedtable

Paul Sawyer, a co-founder of Warlord Games and a prominent figure in the wargaming community, passed away on March 27, 2025, after a long battle with brain cancer. His passing was announced by both his family and Warlord Games, who expressed their deep sorrow and appreciation for his contributions. Sawyer was described as a man of great character who maintained bravely until the end, surrounded by his loved ones. The company pledged to continue building upon the strong foundations he established at Warlord Games. Sawyer was widely recognized for his work with Games Workshop and as an editor of White Dwarf magazine. Many in the wargaming community fondly remember his contributions, including his involvement in the “Tale of Four Gamers” and various battle reports. His role in launching Warlord Games further cemented his legacy, bringing historical and tabletop wargaming to a broader audience. Fans and colleagues have expressed their condolences, sharing their memories of Sawyer and his impact on their gaming experiences.

Wizards of the Coast (WotC) mistakenly issued a DMCA takedown notice against the Baldur’s Village mod, a Baldur’s Gate 3 -inspired Stardew Valley mod, but quickly reversed the decision after backlash from the community. The mod, which had received public approval from Larian Studios’ CEO Swen Vincke, allows players to romance Baldur’s Gate 3 characters within the Stardew Valleycharacters within the Stardew Valley world. Fans remain skeptical due to WotAfter issuing an apology, WotC clarified that the takedown was an error and promised to restore the mod. Despite this quick resolution, fans remain skeptical due to WotC’s history of similar takedown incidents, such as the 2024 controversy surrounding Dungeons & Dragons content creators. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about corporate overreach in the gaming community and raises questions about how companies handle fan-created content.

Wyrmworks Publishing has announced the launch of Free5e , an open-source, fully compatible alternative to Dungeons & Dragons 5e . Unlike traditional TTRPG systems, Free5e is completely free to access ,is entirely free to access, with three core books—the Player’s Guide , GM Handbook , and Free Range Monsters —available for download. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY), Free5e allows creators to modify, adapt, and distribute content without corporate restrictions. Free5e is diverse The project prioritizes accessibility with dyslexia-friendly PDFs, digital braille, and other formats to ensure inclusivity. It also introduces new mechanics for disability representation, aiming to reflect diverse experiences within the gaming community. Additionally, Free5e is designed for global play, enabling easy translation and cultural adaptation. The project is currently raising funds via Kickstarter to finalize editing, layout, and artwork while keeping the system free for everyone.

Free League Publishing has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the ALIEN RPG: Evolved Edition , an updated version of their critically acclaimed tabletop roleplaying game set in the ALIEN universe. The new edition refines mechanics such as stealth, panic rolls, and zero-gravity gameplay while incorporating updates from ALIEN: Romulus.The campaign offers a variety of content, including a revised core rulebook, a new starter set, an adventure scenario titled Rapture Protocol, and a miniatures pack. Fans of the ALIEN franchise can look forward to a game that stays true to the horror and action of the films while allowing for flexible storytelling in both one-shot and long-form campaign formats. The Kickstarter is currently live, offering various pledge tiers for backers.

#paulsawyer #wotc #free5e #alienrpg

Free5E Manuscript(affiliate link):

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/513248/Free5e-Core-Rulebook-Bundle-BUNDLE?affiliate_id=2081746

Alien RPG Evolved:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192053011/alien-rpg-second-edition-and-rapture-protocol

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The Weekly Podcast no.282 – Battletech 40k, Kings of War Champions, StarCraft Wargame and Monster Apocalypse

Posted on April 1, 2025April 3, 2025 by upturnedtable

Catalyst Game Labs has announced BattleTech: Gothic, a standalone, themed-box expansion for the long-running BattleTech tabletop game. Departing from its traditional sci-fi roots, this new installment introduces a grimdark setting reminiscent of Warhammer 40,000, featuring biomechanical monsters known as “Abominations” and heavily ornamented mechs. This release is the first in the BattleTech Continuum, an initiative meant to explore alternative takes on the BattleTech universe, with future projects including Rockets and RayGuns and an anime-inspired installment. While BattleTech: Gothic retains the franchise’s core gameplay, it incorporates new aesthetics and mechanics to match its darker tone. Despite excitement from some fans, others remain skeptical about the shift, questioning its necessity and Catalyst’s allocation of resources.

Mantic Games has launched Kings of War Champions, a new 28mm rank-and-flank miniatures game designed for quick, accessible play. Set in the Kings of War universe, Champions simplifies army-building by offering pre-assembled “Company” boxes, making it an easy entry point for newcomers. The Faith and Fury starter set includes two opposing forces—one led by the demonic Bloody Cardinal and the other by the noble Alanis Sallustis—along with miniatures, rules, and gaming accessories. Additional army boxes expand the roster, including goblins, northern warriors, and shadowy Twilight Kin. While some players welcome the accessibility, others question its necessity in an already niche market. Nonetheless, Champions aims to attract new players and provide a structured alternative to the more flexible Kings of War Ambush.

Blizzard Entertainment’s classic real-time strategy game StarCraft is being adapted into a miniatures game by Polish publisher Archon Studio, with an initial release set for 2026 and a series of board games planned for 2027. The StarCraft franchise, known for its iconic factions—the Terran, Zerg, and Protoss—has had a lasting impact on the gaming world, especially in esports. Archon, a well-established name in the tabletop industry, has experience with high-quality miniatures and board games based on popular video game franchises. While details on the scale and mechanics of the game remain scarce, a livestream presentation on April 3 is expected to provide more information.

Privateer Press has provided a long-awaited update on the Monsterpocalypse miniatures game, outlining plans to transition its production to an on-demand 3D printing service following the failure of Mythic Games’ Monsterpocalypse board game Kickstarter. Despite the setback, Privateer remains committed to the game’s community by offering digital STL files and printable game components for players. Although no new content is currently planned for the miniatures game, the company is expanding the Monsterpocalypse universe through a planned Monsterpocalypsonomicon Kickstarter for 5e and exploring other gaming formats, including digital adaptations and fiction. While challenges remain, Privateer is dedicated to keeping the Monsterpocalypse experience alive and growing.

#falloutfactions #battletech #starcraft #monsterapocalypse

BattleTech Gothic Primer:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1duleZQjy4YksSm7Ev48Xu0Ypu42h3ihz?fbclid=IwY2xjawJQLTNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZiHzEJvVfgDAaFBL7EU3CVp1ntf6OzK6Puc-cCVKXDOB0SWfoeJdcA99A_aem_Km0dJFdc4ZHPeSgQOQft0Q

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