The Weekly LIVE 212 – AI Stealing Jobs, Magic Kills Druids & Shaman, Dark Horse Publishes Lancer, Alkemy 2E and Dragonbane Bestiary

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The increasing use of AI in the creative industry, particularly in the field of digital art. It highlights a case where an advertising company considered using AI tools instead of hiring an experienced artist. The article raises concerns about the impact of AI on artists’ livelihoods and suggests that art may become a hobby for the wealthy rather than a profession. The BBC also outlines its principles for using generative AI in journalism, focusing on transparency and respecting artists’ rights. Getty Images CEO claims to have developed an AI tool that respects artists’ copyrights and rewards them for their work.

The possibility of removing the Druid and Shaman creature types from the game Magic: The Gathering (MTG) due to their association with real-world religions that practice druidism and shamanism has come up on a designer’s blog. The head designer of MTG, Mark Rosewater, hinted at the potential removal in response to a question about the exclusion of the “witch” creature type. Wizards of the Coast, the company behind MTG, has been actively removing content to avoid accusations of racism and intolerance. Some players argue that the representation of druids and shamans in the game provides balance against Christian symbolism, and they express a desire to keep these creature types. However, there are no plans to remove angels or demons from the game at this time.

Dark Horse Comics and Massif Press are collaborating to release the LANCER Tabletop Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. Originally funded on Kickstarter with over $400,000, the game is set in a far-future science fiction world where players pilot unique mechs. The rulebook, set to be released on June 11, 2024, features a deep and story-rich setting with lore attached to every choice and weapon. Preorders are available for $59.99 through various retailers.

The second edition of Alkemy, a 28mm tabletop skirmish game with unique rules such as guessing the range for ranged attacks and models becoming less effective as they take damage, is currently crowdfunding. Despite changing hands multiple times over the past 10-15 years, the game has a strong cult following in France and is attempting to break into the English-speaking market once again.

Free League has announced the upcoming release of a bestiary for their recently released fantasy RPG, Dragonbane. The book includes 63 creatures, nine of which are new playable kin with unique abilities, and is available for pre-order in standard and premium collector’s editions with immediate PDF access. The full-color hardcover book is illustrated by Johan Egerkrans and David Brasgalla. A complete cardboard standee set for the creatures in the bestiary will also be available separately. Additionally, Free League will release a hardback version of the Dragonbane rulebook with an added introductory adventure. Dragonbane is a fast-paced tabletop RPG designed for mirth and mayhem roleplaying, and players are invited to design and publish their own supplements using the third-party license for the game.

Confessions of a Wee Tim’rous Bushi Podast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/0NF1sMhWGIllBFS2u2w14G

Alkemy 2E on Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/alkemy/alkemy-version-2-in-english

Pre-order Hardcover Dragonbane Rulebook and Bestiary:
https://freeleaguepublishing.com/en/store/?collection_id=600088576323

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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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Dragonbane Core Set:
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The Weekly LIVE 211 – Netflix Sued by Evil Genius, Backerkit Bans AI, Undaunted Goes Scifi, Random House Drops D&D and Art by Nohr

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Evil Genius Games is suing Netflix for allegedly backing out of a deal to create a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) based on Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon movie. Evil Genius Games claims they delivered the game and related materials but Netflix canceled the contract and asserted ownership of the intellectual property without fair compensation.

BackerKit, a crowdfunding platform, announced a policy against AI-generated content on its platform, citing concerns about fair compensation and permission issues. The policy will restrict solely AI-generated content, but AI-assisted tools in editing and refinement will still be allowed. Essen Spiel, the world’s largest board game expo, admitted to using AI-generated artwork in promotional material for its 2023 event. The admission follows public criticism of other companies using AI-generated art, such as FryxGames and Stronghold Games for Terraforming Mars.

Osprey Games announced a new entry in the Undaunted board game series called “Undaunted 2200: Callisto,” moving away from World War II settings to sci-fi mech battles on Jupiter’s moon Callisto.

Penguin Random House will cease distributing Dungeons & Dragons products in mainstream bookstores from 2024. The distribution responsibility will shift to other distributors like Alliance, Diamond, and GTS.

Johan Nohr, the artist behind MÖRK BORG, launched a Kickstarter campaign for an art book containing over 300 illustrations, annotations, and behind-the-scenes content. The book will showcase Nohr’s artwork since the release of MÖRK BORG in 2019 and will be a large coffee table book with high-quality printing.

Art by Nohr:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jnohr/art-by-nohr

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The Weekly LIVE 210 – AI Art Backlash, Tainted Grail RPG, Ad Astra and Cohors Cthulhu

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FryxGames CEO, Enoch Fryxelius, defends the use of AI in the Terraforming Mars project on Facebook. The company’s next board game, “Fates,” will not include AI, addressing concerns raised in an interview transcript by Polygon. Fryxelius emphasizes that AI was used for artwork in Terraforming Mars but assures that no jobs were lost, though he acknowledges potential impact on illustrators. The next game, “Fates,” will feature exclusively human-made graphics, with a focus on paying a living wage to illustrators.

Tainted Grail, a dark fantasy board game, is getting a tabletop RPG adaptation called “Tainted Grail: Song of a Dying World.” The RPG, based on the Shadows of Esteren system, explores the world of Avalon and introduces new characters known as Guardians of Avalon. The game system emphasizes roleplaying, character progression, and includes mechanics from the original board game. The RPG is being developed by Studio Agate, with a crowdfunding campaign planned for November.

Free League announces the expansion “Ad Astra” for the Mutant: Year Zero tabletop RPG. The expansion takes players from Earth’s surface into orbit, introducing a space-themed campaign. A pre-order for Ad Astra is available, offering early access to a full PDF ahead of the physical release next year. In addition to the expansion, there is a reprint of all Mutant: Year Zero core books, including Mutant: Mechatron.

Modiphius Entertainment introduces Cohors Cthulhu, a game using the 2d20 system, set in ancient Rome. Changes to the system include the addition of the attribute “Gravitas” for serious and dignified actions. The focus shifts from firearms to melee weapons, with a robust combat system and hidden facets of player characters. Cultural and caste choices play a crucial role in character development within the context of ancient Rome.

 #strongholdgames #taintedgrail #adastra #YZE #cohorscthulhu

Cohors Cthulhu Kickstarer:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/modiphius/cohors-cthulhu-tabletop-roleplaying-game/

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The Weekly LIVE 209 – Dungeon Scrawl, Warzone Eternal Beta, Final Fantasy XIV TTPRG and Authors Sue OpenAI

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Roll20, a popular online tabletop gaming platform, is integrating Dungeon Scrawl, a real-time map-making tool, into its features. This integration allows Dungeon Masters to create and incorporate custom maps into their online Dungeons & Dragons campaigns. Players can also create maps in real-time as they progress through the game, offering dynamic storytelling opportunities. Dungeon Scrawl provides various customization options, including grid shapes, furniture, and viewing perspectives. While many DMs already use Dungeon Scrawl maps, this integration streamlines the process, making it more accessible. Roll20 also has plans for further enhancements, such as easier map exports and a shared library of user-made maps, though no official timeline is provided.

Rez Nova has released the beta rules for Warzone Eternal. They contain everything needed to try the wargame including stat lines for units. The pledgemanger for the crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter is also open and isn’t set to close until the end of this year. Warzone is back and the miniatures are coming next year!

Square Enix is releasing a Final Fantasy XIV tabletop RPG starter set in May 2024, allowing players to recreate characters and adventures from the MMORPG in a tabletop format. Additionally, Nagahama Roman Beer Company is launching three Final Fantasy XIV-themed whiskeys inspired by the game’s starting cities.

OpenAI faces a lawsuit from The Authors Guild and several prominent authors, including George R.R. Martin and John Grisham, for copyright infringement. They allege that OpenAI used their copyrighted works to train large language models without permission, potentially harming their livelihoods by enabling the creation of derivative works. Other authors have also filed similar lawsuits against OpenAI for copyright infringement, creating a legal challenge for generative AI companies.

#dungeonscrawl #roll20 #warzone #ffxiv 

Matt’s DriveThruRPG Publications:
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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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The Weekly LIVE 208 – Highlander RPG, Stronghold Games Defends AI, Monsters! Monsters! 2.7, Larry Elmore Volume 3 and Fables in Public Domain

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Highlander Cinematic Adventure: Evil Genius Games has released a “Cinematic Adventure” for its Everyday Heroes RPG, based on the Highlander movie franchise. Written by Sigfried Trent with an adventure designed by Ree Soesbee, the adventure focuses on the first Highlander film and introduces a few subclasses and a unique dueling mechanic for Immortal characters. While it doesn’t delve deeply into the lore of Highlander, it offers a fun RPG experience.

Terraforming Mars AI Art Controversy: Publisher Stronghold Games has faced some backlash from fans after using AI-generated content, such as artwork, in an upcoming board game expansion for Terraforming Mars. Some backers were surprised by the use of AI tools for art creation, and Kickstarter now requires creators to justify their use of AI in projects. Concerns are raised about the potential impact of AI-generated art on artists’ job opportunities in the industry.

Monsters! Monsters! 2.7 on Kickstarter: Ken St. Andre and Steven Crompton have launched a Kickstarter campaign for “Monsters! Monsters! Rules 2.7 & Crystal Caves Challenge solo,” an expanded RPG rulebook and adventure. The project offers various books, standees, maps, and adventures, exploring the world of Zimrala with a focus on monsters. It’s the latest installment in the Monsters! Monsters! series, offering a comprehensive rulebook for fans of the RPG.

Larry Elmore’s Complete Elmore Volume III: Larry Elmore, a renowned fantasy artist, has announced the third and final volume of his career retrospectives, titled “The Complete Elmore III: Highlights of a Path Well Traveled.” This hardcover book will feature over 300 pieces of art, some previously unpublished, and will put the artwork front and center with minimal commentary. It’s available exclusively through Kickstarter and includes limited-time offers for previous volumes and additional artwork.

Bill Willingham, the creator of the popular comic series Fables, has made a surprising announcement by releasing the entire franchise into the public domain. This decision stems from a deteriorating relationship with DC Comics, with whom he had a long-standing agreement for Fables. Willingham cites various issues with DC, including disputes over contracts and creative control, as reasons for this move. While his contracts with DC remain in force, he believes he can legally relinquish his ownership of Fables, allowing anyone to create new works using the series’ characters and settings. This decision reflects his desire for more equitable intellectual property laws and his frustration with DC’s practices. It also adds to the ongoing discussion about how major comics publishers treat their creators, highlighting issues of compensation and creative control in the industry. The impact of this bold move on Fables’ future and how DC will respond remains uncertain.

Monsters! Monsters! 2.7 Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stevecrompton/monsters-monsters-rules-27-and-crystal-caves-challenge-solo

Larry Elmore Volume 3 Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/larryelmore/larry-elmore-the-complete-elmore-volume-iii-hardcover-book

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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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The Weekly LIVE 207 – Artists Suing AI, Mines of Moria, Coffee & Chaos, Dreams & Machines and They Grow Up So Fast

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Visual artists are taking legal action against AI companies for using their artwork without consent. Artists like Kelly McKernan are concerned that AI-generated images similar to their styles are being created using their names without permission. They are suing AI companies for copyright infringement. The U.S. Copyright Office is seeking public input on AI and copyright issues, including how AI models use copyrighted data, whether AI-generated material can be copyrighted, and how copyright liability works with AI.

There is a tabletop role-playing game (RPG) called “Coffee & Chaos” by CobblePath Games, where characters run a café instead of going on traditional adventures. It uses a cutlery-based system and focuses on storytelling and humor. Instead of creating new characters, Coffee & Chaos walks players through the process of translating their fantasy hero’s abilities, spell, stats and weapons into food service-apporpriate talents. The wizard can levitate ingredients from the top shelf, the bard can calm the rush of customers impatiently waiting for the fighter to subdue the mimic masquerading as a milk steamer.

Modiphius Entertainment is releasing pre-order items for their TTRPG “Dreams and Machines,” including player guides, game master guides, toolkits, dice sets, and collector’s slipcases.

A new campaign for the RPG “Tales from the Loop” called “They Grow Up So Fast” is released, offering a magical year of adventures in an alternate 80s setting. The campaign consists of four adventures and takes place in the UK Loop of Norfolk Broads.

Mines of Moria for the One Ring Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192053011/moria-through-the-doors-of-durin

Coffee and Chaos on Itch.io:
https://cobblepath-games.itch.io/coffee-chaos

Late Pledge for Coffee and Chaos:
https://gamefound.com/en/projects/cobblepath-games/coffee-chaos

Get the PDF for They Grow Up So Fast on DriveThruRPG (affiliate link):
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/426744/Tales-from-the-Loop-They-Grow-Up-So-Fast?affiliate_id=2081746

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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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The Weekly LIVE 206 – Luna City Blues, Magic Cards Recovered, Magic Bans Tribal and Eat the Reich

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“Mutant Chronicles: Luna City Blues” is an upcoming tabletop RPG that revives the classic Mutant Chronicles IP. It takes place in a dystopian setting on the moon’s colony, Luna City, known for crime and corruption. The game focuses on detective-based adventures and mysteries. Designers Mikael Bergström and Gabrielle de Bourg, along with licenser Necromakina, are modernizing the rules and mechanics while still paying homage to the original game. The crowdfunding project will launch on Kickstarter in 2024.

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police recovered around $300,000 worth of stolen Magic: The Gathering cards from Gen Con 2023. Two designers, Thomas J. Dunbar and Andrew Pearson Giaume, were identified as persons of interest in the theft. The stolen cards were taken from the convention center, and New York State Police assisted in their recovery. Users on BoardGameGeek responded with mixed reactions, review-bombing the designers’ board game while others countered with positive ratings.

Magic: The Gathering (MTG) is renaming the “Tribal” mechanic after 30 years. The term “Typal” will replace “Tribal” due to concerns about negative connotations associated with the latter. This change aims to maintain a positive public image for the game’s developer, Wizards of the Coast. Players can choose whether to adopt the new terminology.

“Eat the Reich” is a gory RPG created by Grant Howitt and comics illustrator Will Kirkby. Players take on the roles of vampire commandos during World War II, fighting against Nazi soldiers. The game offers a unique and gruesome adventure, allowing players to embody various types of vampires with distinct abilities. The game uses the Havoc System to resolve conflicts using six-sided dice. The Kickstarter campaign for “Eat the Reich” runs through September 14th, offering both physical and digital editions, with an Alchemy VTT digital version also included. #lunacityblues #eaththereich #mtg

Eat the Reich:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gshowitt/eat-the-reich

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The Weekly LIVE 205 – Asmodee Loses Billions, D&D Whiskey, Dolmenwood Kickstarter and Night Vale RPG

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Asmodee, the tabletop publishing company known for games like Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Pandemic, faced a setback as its corporate owner, Embracer Group, lost a $2 billion investment deal with Saudi Arabian partner Savvy Gaming Group. This deal was reportedly tied to a Saudi government investment fund. Asmodee’s parent company Embracer Group had previously been purchased by Sweden-based Embracer group. The failed deal led to stock price drops and cost-cutting measures. Despite this, Asmodee performed well in the first fiscal quarter of 2023, with increased sales and organic growth. The company also mentioned various upcoming releases and highlighted its successful performance despite the parent company’s challenges.

Matthew Lillard, known for his roles in movies like “Scream” and his involvement in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), launched a new line of game-inspired spirits called Quest’s End through his company Find Familiar Spirits. Lillard also discussed his passion for D&D and his involvement in TTRPG-related ventures like Beadle & Grimm’s. He’s also part of an improv and live gameplay series called “Faster, Purple Worm! Kill Kill!” that blends D&D and improv comedy. He highlighted the joy of playing with family and friends and emphasized the positive impact of tabletop role-playing games in his life.

The Dolmenwood Tabletop Roleplaying Game by Gavin Norman, after 10 years of development, offers an immersive fantasy adventure set in a richly crafted world inspired by British Isles folklore. Seamlessly blending the eerie and whimsical aspects of fairy tales, players embark on journeys through enchanting woods and mystical landscapes. The game provides streamlined rules suitable for both beginners and experienced role-players, introducing novel magic and creatures. The setting, available on Kickstarter since August 9th, 2023, includes three core books: the Player’s Book with comprehensive rules, the Campaign Book detailing the expansive campaign world, and the Monster Book featuring an array of creatures. Characters can be diverse, from goat-headed breggles to capricious woodgrues, each with nine unique classes. The open sandbox world encourages exploration across a detailed map, while the intuitive Old-School Essentials rules system ensures easy adaptation. Modern formatting enhances gameplay, and a range of extras such as adventures, miniatures, maps, and a soundtrack album further enrich the experience. A 76-page preview PDF offers insights into the game’s core content, promising an extensive world with engaging features across its three books.

Finally, the popular fiction podcast “Welcome to Night Vale” is set to be adapted into a tabletop RPG by Renegade Game Studios. The RPG will allow fans to explore the strange and eerie town of Night Vale in a tabletop setting. The game is expected to use Renegade’s Essence20 system, which incorporates a 20-sided die and skill dice for resolving challenges and obstacles.

#dolmenwood #nightvale #questsend #asmodee

Dolmenwood Tabletop RPG Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/exaltedfuneral/dolmenwood-tabletop-rpg

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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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he Weekly LIVE 204 – GenCon Magic Heist Update, Daggerheart RPG Details, Fire & Ice Boardgame and Joyride by Rebellion Unplugged

Posted on by upturnedtable_sx8obi

Gen Con Alleged TCG Thieves Identified as Board Game Designers:The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department has identified two individuals, Thomas J. Dunbar and Andrew Pearson Giaume, as persons of interest in the theft of $300,000 worth of trading card game (TCG) cards from Gen Con 2023. Dunbar and Giaume are board game designers and had reportedly attended Gen Con, possibly to promote their original board game, Castle Assault. Security footage showed them carrying TCG cards out of the convention center.

Daggerheart is a tabletop RPG that combines defined rules with narrative flair. It features a two D12 dice system where players roll dice for Hope and Fear, with the higher roll determining the outcome. Characters have ancestries, hometowns, and classes with associated domains. The game promotes collaborative world-building, allowing players to contribute to the game’s setting. Death mechanics offer unique options, including going out in a blaze of glory or risking hope and fear dice rolls. The game focuses on mechanical crunch and narrative storytelling, offering a balance between the two.

Dynamite Entertainment has announced the Fire and Ice Miniatures Adventure Game, based on the animated film by Ralph Bakshi and Frank Frazetta. The game can be played as a board game or a roleplaying game and is set to release in May. Players take on the roles of heroes from the film’s storyline, battling against the forces of evil using miniatures, cards, and dice. The game includes customizable maps and aims to capture the fantasy world of the film.

JOYRIDE: Survival of the Fastest is a fast-paced racing board game where skillful driving takes precedence over pure speed. Up to four players hit the track, experiencing collisions, wacky items, and dramatic driver abilities. The game includes customizable maps and features interactions between players. The game system is designed to offer a balance between mechanics and narrative storytelling. The Kickstarter campaign offers various pledge levels, each with different game components and exclusives.

#joyride #fireandice #mtg #daggerheart

Joyride by Rebellion Unplugged Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rebellionunplugged/joyride-survival-of-the-fastest

Fire & Ice Boardgame Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/dynamiteent/fire-and-ice-the-miniatures-board-game

10% off First Purchase from Modiphius:

http://r.sloyalty.com/r/vhbUPnHm6tIp

Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC9u841QuXM

Dragonbane Core Set:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/418106/Dragonbane-Core-Set

Dragonbane Free Quickstart:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/409397/Dragonbane-Quickstart

Support Us by Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link):
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Chris on social media:
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Intro song is “Chips” by KokoroNoMe
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The Weekly LIVE 203 – D&D AI Artwork, Eve Online Boardgame, Card Heist at GenCon and ENnie Winners and GenCon News

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An artist who had contributed to a new Dungeons & Dragons book admitted to enhancing their artwork with AI tools. Wizards of the Coast, the company behind D&D, is having the artist resubmit the work and updating their guidelines to prevent future AI-enhanced art submissions. The controversy arose because the AI-enhanced art included in the book had not been previously disclosed to the publisher.

CCP Games, the company behind the online game Eve Online, is collaborating with Titan Forge to create a board game adaptation called “Eve The Board Game.” The board game aims to capture the essence of the complex spacefaring MMO, featuring 4X game mechanics (exploration, expansion, exploitation, extermination). The adaptation seeks to bring the intricate player-driven dynamics and themes of the original game into the board game medium.

There was a theft of over $300,000 worth of tabletop gaming cards at the Gen Con 2023 convention. Thieves used a pallet jack to steal a pallet of cards while vendors were setting up for the event. The specific cards stolen and the companies affected have not been identified. Authorities are seeking public assistance to recover the stolen items.

Finally, the ENnies awards ceremony at Gen Con recognized excellence in tabletop roleplaying gaming. Various products and content were awarded, including the Best Product of the Year and Best Setting awarded to “Vaesen RPG — Mythic Britain & Ireland” by Free League. The ENnies awards are a fan-based recognition of achievements in the tabletop gaming industry. The update also mentions various announcements and expansions related to games showcased at Gen Con.
#lorcana #titanforge #eveonline #gencon #mantic

Dragonbane Core Set Unboxing:
https://youtu.be/CZ58c4q2KSA

Get a digital copy of the Dragonbane Core Set (affiliate link): https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/418106/Dragonbane-Core-Set?affiliate_id=2081746

10% off First Purchase from Modiphius:
http://r.sloyalty.com/r/vhbUPnHm6tIp

Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC9u841QuXM

Dragonbane Core Set:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/418106/Dragonbane-Core-Set

Dragonbane Free Quickstart:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/409397/Dragonbane-Quickstart

Support Us by Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link):
https://www.drivethrurpg.com?affiliate_id=2081746

Chris on social media:
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https://twitter.com/hyvemynd​​
https://twitter.com/ConanSalaryman​​

Abusecartoons Weekly Cartoons:
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​​Support Us on Patreon:
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Intro song is “Chips” by KokoroNoMe
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:25 — 41.9MB) | Embed

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