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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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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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 US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has warned board game reviewers and influencers about the importance of properly disclosing their relationships and any free products they receive from companies. Failure to disclose such information could be considered an “unfair or deceptive” act, leading to potential court action. The FTC’s updated guidance extends to online influencers on various social media platforms, emphasizing the need for clear disclosure, even if they are not explicitly asked to mention the products. This applies to content creators showcasing board games on social media or in videos, as these actions could imply endorsement without using words.

Critical Role, a popular gaming company known for introducing people to tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons, has removed numerous videos from its YouTube channel. Most of these videos featured Brian Foster, the former host of the series “Talks Machina,” where cast members were interviewed after each episode. The removal comes after leaked court documents revealed instances of verbal abuse and threats against main cast member Ashley Johnson during her engagement with Foster. Additionally, videos featuring Foster hosting “Behind the Sheets” and participating in other shows have also been taken down, except for one episode of “Honey Heist,” which can still be found on Geek & Sundry’s YouTube channel.

The Gloomhaven Grand Festival has finished by raising $5,053,380 with 34,691 backers It included Gloomhaven: Buttons & Bugs, Gloomhaven: The Role Playing Game, Miniatures of Gloomhaven, Gloomhaven: Second Edition and was run on Backerkit. The campaign contained no exclusive offerings eliminating FOMO and allowing their $1 pledge to give people time to decide.

“Horror on the Orient Express,” a famous campaign for the Lovecraftian RPG “Call of Cthulhu,” is being transformed into a cooperative board game. Designed by Adam Kwapiński and Michał Gołąb Gołębiowski, creators of “Nemesis” and “Frostpunk: The Board Game,” respectively, the board game will follow the 1991 Call of Cthulhu adventure set aboard a train during the 1920s. Players act as investigators navigating through the eerie Dreamlands, encountering cosmic horrors and cultists. The game offers a complete RPG-like experience, allowing players to customize and progress their characters, gather clues, interrogate passengers, and protect the train from monstrous threats. The board game is described as “challenging” and will be launched through a Kickstarter campaign in the first half of the following year, with an expected release in 2025. A prototype will be showcased at the upcoming Gen Con convention in the US.
#freeleague #warlordgames #gamesworkshop #startrekrpg.

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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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The text discusses various gaming-related topics. Firstly, it mentions the immense financial success of the Call of Duty franchise, which has generated over $1 billion in sales from a single game, Modern Warfare 2. Despite this success, a Kickstarter campaign has been launched to raise funds for Call of Duty: The Board Game. The campaign aims to showcase the uniqueness of the project and gather financial support from backers.

The text then shifts to the announcement of the Open RPG Creative (ORC) License, which is a system-agnostic, perpetual, and irrevocable open gaming license. This license provides a legal framework for sharing rules mechanics in tabletop gaming, promoting collaboration and innovation. The final version of the ORC License has been published on the website of Azora Law after receiving feedback and suggestions from the community.

Moving on, the Pendragon Starter Set is introduced as an adventure-filled game related to the world of King Arthur. It utilizes Traits and Passions to drive dramatic storytelling and offers a unique experience for each player. The game released on June 29, accompanied by a Pendragon Quick-Start.

Finally, Bugs & Buttons is a solo play game designed by Joe Klipfel and Nikki Valens. It features strategic combat similar to Gloomhaven but in a smaller, more accessible format. The game provides a valuable addition to the Cephalofair Games line, thanks to the collaborative efforts of its designers.

ORC license (PDF link)

ORC Answers and Explanations (PDF link)

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Gloomhaven Grand Festival on Backerkit:
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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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After releasing the Mutant Chronicles license following the delayed Siege of the Citadel boardgame production, they are now releasing the Conan the Barbarian license and Monolith, makers of the Conan boardgame, are picking it up. What does this mean for the role-playing game? Will we see a new ruleset?

Last year Cephalofair announced plans to crowdfund a fantasy miniatures line to complement our catalog of boardgames – providing highly detailed sculpts for each of our in-game enemies, bosses, and summonable creatures typically represented by 2D cardboard standees and tokens. Now, we’re excited to reveal that we’re planning so much more than just miniatures with our brand new product—Gloomhaven: The Roleplaying Game! 

Nightfall Games have partnered with Mantic to produce the Hellboy RPG. The 5e-powered tabletop RPG will be available from Nightfall at Dragonmeet this weekend, along with the dice and GM screens. The PDFs of the game will move to Nightfall’s virtual shelves at DriveThruRPG. Nightfall will create a discounted Hellboy RPG bundle and work with Mantic Games on new Hellboy RPG products. The companies will also combine forces on the upcoming Korhonen series, B.P.R.D. cases written by Benn Graybeaton and previous Hellboy RPG contributors.

CMON are going to be exploring the world of Android with a new graphic novel and also a range of miniatures that can be used with their board game collection. At the heart of the upcoming releases is Android: Run The Citadel which is a 120-page graphic novel where the Netrunner known as Chaos Theory has to hack a secure data system and solve the mystery of her friend’s death. This is an interesting collaboration between Fantasy Flight Games and Asmodee alongside the folks from CMON. The story comes from Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing with art by Guilherme Balbi. As well as the new graphic novel, pre-orders will also get access to the Run The Citadel miniatures which can be used in your CMON Games.
#modiphius #conan #gloomhaven #hellboy #android #cmon

Nightfall Hellboy RPG Bundle

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/418225/Hellboy-The-RPG-Starter-Set-BUNDLE

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Mantic Games has announced that they will launch a new Boardgames Division. This will focus on family-friendly and licensed-IP games. They want to be able to create projects that will be crowd-funded on Gamefound and will be one and done including expansions that are funded. The idea is to free them from one the wargaming space and also to make games that will lead players to the existing Mantic IPs.

BackerKit posts a surprise announcement that they are in beta as a full-fledged crowdfunding platform. They will officially launch in 2023 and already have over 30 companies committed to the platform. This includes Cephalofair Games, creator of the popular Gloomhaven and Frosthaven games. Isaac Childres, owner of Cephalofair, stated concerns over the announcement by Kickstarter to embrace blockchain technology that precipitated the move. BackerKit tools will still be available to Kickstarter campaigns.

We were contacted by Louis Simspon, managing director of Troll Trader, telling us that our discussion of the circumstances of the closure of Secret Weapon Miniatures was completely incorrect. He referred us to a statement posted by his company and the details when compared to the Secret Weapon Kickstarter update posted by Justin McCoy, nothing matches up. The truth lies somewhere in between. We under no circumstances want to damage the reputation of Troll Trader by our discussion. They are a company I have personally bought from in the past. The details are quite interesting so we will discuss them.

Following up on last week’s announcement, we get a statement from the CEO of Embracer Group explaining why Saudi Arabia is a good business partner and how they discussed difficult topics prior to this investment. So we have nothing to worry about and money is money so keep feeding that machine. Just remember to wipe off the blood and human rights abuses!
#manticgames #trolltrader #embracergroup

Interview with Ronnie Renton of Mantic:
https://youtu.be/SrPPn_TAFNs

TTCombat Statement about Secret Weapon Miniatures:
https://community.ttcombat.com/2022/06/10/secret-weapon-statement/

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Frosthaven, the sequel to Gloomhaven by Cephalofair Games, finished big on Kickstarter becoming the most funded boardgame ever. A well-deserved success. Kickstarter is laying off 45% of its staff due to the 35% decline in active projects on the platform and absolutely nothing to do with their recent unionization. Battlestar Galactica has a space battle miniatures game we will be trying. Critter Hug is a new series by some of the cast of Critical Role. A good thing for the hobby or just good old fashioned payola. Never Going Home by Wet Ink Games is a World War occult roleplaying game set during the Great War with art by Charles Ferguson-Avery. The game mechanics and the setting look excellent. Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History has an great series on World War One if you want some background for this game.  A YouTube channel, Filmento is worth checking out if you like movies. Into The Night, a Belgian Netflix series, may provide good inspiration for a roleplaying campaign.
#frosthaven #nevergoinghome #wetinkgames

Never Going Home by Wet Ink Games;
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/283637/Never-Going-Home

Frosthaven and Gloohaven website;
http://www.cephalofair.com/

The Artwork of Charles Ferguson-Avery:
https://www.artstation.com/superchives