Tag: kickstarter

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

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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

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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:

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Liquid Steel on Backerkit:

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/melsonian-arts-council/liquid-steel

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The Weekly LIVE 269 – UK Copyright Reform, Vallejo Strike, Wyrmwood Layoffs and Doomsong

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The UK government’s proposal to reform copyright laws to accommodate artificial intelligence companies has sparked significant controversy. The suggested opt-out system allows AI firms to use copyrighted material for training unless creators explicitly request otherwise, raising concerns about undermining intellectual property rights. Critics, including creators and industry leaders, argue that this system unfairly burdens creators while favoring large tech companies. They emphasize the logistical challenges and inefficiencies of opting out, which could result in widespread exploitation of creative works without proper compensation or control. Prominent figures, such as Sir Paul McCartney and Getty Images CEO Craig Peters, warn that the changes could severely harm the UK’s creative industries, which contribute over £126 billion annually to the economy. Opponents are calling for alternative approaches, such as requiring explicit licensing, to protect creators’ rights and uphold international copyright standards.

Meanwhile, workers at Acrylicos Vallejo, a leading Spanish paint manufacturer, have gone on strike, demanding higher wages, improved safety conditions, and better protocols for handling workplace harassment. The strike reflects broader labor unrest, as employees voice frustration over stagnant wages and deteriorating working conditions following the company’s acquisition by private equity firm Proa Capital. Workers report unsafe factory conditions, outdated equipment, and insufficient amenities, such as showers, despite working with hazardous materials. They also cite issues with workplace harassment and stress caused by authoritarian management practices. The union, CGT, accuses the company of neglecting both workers’ rights and safety, escalating the protest to a complete shutdown. While public support for the strike grows, Vallejo has yet to address the workers’ demands, leaving the future of the labor dispute uncertain.

Wyrmwood, the gaming furniture and accessory company, recently laid off nearly 50% of its workforce, reducing staff from 170 to 90 employees due to declining sales and order backlogs. CEO Doug Costello addressed the situation in a speech, stating that annual revenue dropped from $30 million during the pandemic to $15 million currently, while their once lengthy order backlog dwindled to just two weeks. Costello admitted his strategy for improving service to boost sales had failed, prompting the drastic cuts. The company, known for its Wyrmwood Modular Table and Kickstarter campaigns, has faced criticism for posting the speech online, eliciting sympathy for affected employees and backlash against Costello.

Modiphius Entertainment has launched Doomsong, a dark fantasy tabletop RPG set in a medieval world on the brink of a Biblical apocalypse. Players assume the roles of gravediggers navigating a haunting land plagued by undead and heretical forces. The game features innovative mechanics like character creation using a die and coin, a 300-page deluxe rulebook with intricate artwork, and an engaging combat system. Its companion volume, Lord Have Mercy Upon Us, offers a rich campaign in the cursed plaguescape, combining narrative flexibility and ominous storylines. The game appeals to fans of horror and medieval myth, blending storytelling, strategy, and moral dilemmas.

#aiart #vallejo #wyrmwood #doomsong

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The Weekly LIVE 238 – Maggot Machine, Monolith Acquires Rackham, Infinite Kickstarters, WotC CEO Resigns and Yes And… Delayed

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Maggot Machine is a new RPG from Nightfall Games, featuring a rules-light system called V6, set in a world of lost technology and mutated monsters. Written by Dave Allsop, the game offers a blend of weirdness and wonder. The quickstart guide provides an introduction to the system, including character stats, combat mechanics, and a scenario to start playing quickly. The game’s setting is a post-apocalyptic world where Guild Knights venture into dangerous territories to retrieve forgotten treasures. The game is available as a hardback book with 128 full-color pages.

Monolith gains the intellectual property rights of Rackham, potentially reviving old games like Confrontation and AT-43. This decision was made by the Paris Commercial Court and clarifies ownership of the Rackham IPs. Previously, Monolith gained the rights to the Conan The Barbarian RPG. 

Kickstarter introduces a new feature allowing creators to collect money indefinitely after their campaigns end, similar to Indiegogo’s “forever funding” model. This is similar to what companies have been doing off-site or in pledge manager with late pledges.

Cynthia Williams, President of Wizards of the Coast, resigns, leaving the company to search for her successor. Is this the Chance Kyle Brink has been waiting for?

Adventure Time’s official tabletop RPG is launching with a 5E version first, with plans for a later release of the original ‘Yes And’ system developed by Forever Stoked. The campaign is live on Kickstarter and we will have to wait and see if both systems will be published. 

Maggot Machine

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/m/product/470848

Adventure Time Kickstarter’
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cze/adventure-time-the-roleplaying-game

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The Weekly LIVE 227 – Tencent Buying DnD, CMON Dungeon Rescue, Rogue Trooper Movie and Tabletop Kickstarter Down

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Hasbro, the owner of Dungeons & Dragons, is reportedly in talks with Tencent for various rights, including electronic game adaptations. The report suggests a potential sale of the Dungeons & Dragons IP, but there are conflicting details. The success of Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3 might have influenced Tencent’s interest in investing in similar projects.

Mythic Games, a crowdfunding-focused board game publisher, faced financial woes and outsourced its remaining projects to CMON. HEL: The Last Saga and Anastyr were sold to CMON due to challenges in completing the projects without additional funding from backers. The backlash from Kickstarter backers, the death threats received by Mythic Games’ co-founders, and the future of the company are all part of the difficulty.

Duncan Jones is working on an animated Rogue Trooper film based on the 2000AD comic strip, using Unreal Engine 5 for animation. The film has finished principal photography, and it is a collaboration between Rebellion, Liberty Films, and Treehouse Digital. A star-studded cast includes Aneurin Barnard, Hayley Atwell, Daryl McCormack, Matt Berry, Sean Bean, and Diane Morgan.

A report from Tabletop Analytics indicates a decline in Kickstarter funding for tabletop games in 2023 for the second consecutive year. The data suggests a 30% decrease in earnings for individual tabletop creators compared to the pre-COVID year of 2019. Kickstarter has not publicly disclosed its data for the first time in almost a decade, and the decline is attributed to factors like crowdfunding fatigue and increased competition. The importance of community management tools and concerns about Kickstarter’s permissive stance on AI generative art are highlighted.

#tencentl #CMON #roguetrooper #kickstarter

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The Weekly LIVE 219 – Salvage Union, Flesh and Blood Documentary, Dark Souls Redux and Roll20 Jumpgate

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Leyline Press announced the launch of Salvage Union, a post-apocalyptic Mech tabletop roleplaying game, on December 1st, 2023, which raised £110,000 in Kickstarter. Salvage Union is launching with three full adventure modules. We Were Here First! By ENNIE award winner Diogo Noguiera (Hall of the Blood King, Primal Quest ), Rainmaker by ENNIE award winner Luke Gearing (A Pound of Flesh, Fever Swamp), and False Flag by Panayiotis Lines and Aled Lawlor of Leyline Press. 

Flesh and Blood crowned a new world champion in Barcelona on November 17th, 2023, with Alexandros Argyriou winning a $100,000 prize. The have also self-produced a documentary about their four years of business and success in the TCG industry. Store to Stage: The Evolution of Flesh and Blood TCG is a 17-minute video shot and produced by the LA-based MYLES and currently available on YouTube. It tracks the last 12 months of the TCG’s history by following members of the community who are active in the pro play circuit, fan events and the general culture surrounding Flesh and Blood.

Steamforged Games announced a new cooperative game titled Dark Souls: The Board Game – The Sunless City with refreshed rules driven by community feedback. 

Roll20 announced the Roll20 Jumpgate project, which is a major reworking of the lowest level of the engine code that powers the VTT platform.

#darksouls #salvageunion #jumpgate #fabtcg

Pre-order Dark Souls: The Boardgame Sunless City Core Set:

https://steamforged.com/products/dark-souls-board-game-sunless-city

Dark Souls: Sunless City Kickstarter Post:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/steamforged/dark-soulstm-the-board-game/posts/3932333?lang=zh

Salvage Union:
www.leyline.press

Roll20 Jumpgate Blog:

https://blog.roll20.net/posts/announcing-jumpgate-our-modern-overhaul-of-the-roll20-vtt/

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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:
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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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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

Shop at Noble Knight Games (affiliate link)
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10% off First Purchase from Modiphius:
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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:
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Intro song is “Chips” by KokoroNoMe
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The Weekly LIVE 190 – BrikWars, Battletech Essentials, Rainbow Six Needs More Funding, Star Wars Unlimited TCG and Rebellion Acquires Tunnels and Trolls

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Designer Mike Rayhawks initially created BrikWars in 1995 as a legally-distinct clone of Eric O’Dell and R. Todd Ogrin’s playful brick-based Warhammer 40,000 parody, before the game swiftly grew into its own evolving ruleset separate to Lego Wars ahead of its first ‘definitive’ release in 1997.In the decades since, BrikWars has gone through a number of revisions and editions released for free online, as well as spinning out into the faster, simpler QuikWars. Its latest ruleset was released in 2020. While past iterations of the game have been released as printable PDFs, BrikWars’ upcoming physical rulebook will mark the first time that the ever-changing ruleset has been solidified in an official retail release. Publisher Modiphius rather knowingly describes the upcoming RPG as “absolutely, definitely the definitive” edition of BrikWars.

Target stores are set to welcome a new addition to their shelves, as Catalyst Game Labs introduces a new BattleTech boxed set, BattleTech: Essentials. This Beginner Box experience provides new players with everything they need to join the world of BattleTech, including two of Solaris’ most iconic ’Mechs, the Legend-Killer and Yen-Lo-Wang, a mapsheet depicting a Game World arena, and quick-start rules to get players right into the action. Available exclusively through Target stores and on Target.com, BattleTech: Essentials can be pre-ordered now, with an estimated shipping date of Sunday, June 18. The boxed set will also be available in Target’s more than 1,900 U.S. stores nationwide on that day.

Board game publisher Mythic Games caused controversy this weekend, when it asked Kickstarter backers to pay an additional contribution of up to $129 for the 6: Siege board game. An update explains that extra funding is needed to cover the unexpectedly high costs of making the game.According to the publisher, the unanticipated crises of Covid and the war in Ukraine have caused exploding prices for everything from energy to labour, “and the estimates on which we based ourselves before and during the Kickstarter campaign are absolutely no longer relevant.”

Fantasy Flight Games is stepping into the ring with a new Star Wars-themed trading card game,  Star Wars: Unlimited TCG, to go up against Magic: The Gathering and Disney Lorcana. Called Star Wars: Unlimited, it will launch in 2024 with a full, 200-plus card set and all-new art based on the original trilogy — alongside a full slate of organized play events. Speaking with Polygon ahead of Tuesday’s reveal, co-designer Jim Cartwright readily acknowledged that he and his team would be fighting an uphill battle to earn the hearts of potential players, especially those burned by past experiences with Fantasy Flight’s card game franchises.

Tunnels & Trolls has been picked up by Rebellion, the British publishing house and video game developer behind cult comic book 2000 AD, the Sniper Elite series and its in-house tabletop studio Rebellion Unplugged, which has released multiple board games and RPGs. As well as Tunnels & Trolls, Rebellion acquired all of Flying Buffalo’s roleplaying games, including the Citybook fantasy businesses supplements, Grimtooth series – known for its collections of traps – and the Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes series of contemporary-setting RPGs. Rebellion confirmed its plans to release a new edition of Tunnels & Trolls’ rules and other additional releases, “bringing [the RPG] into a new era”. The studio added that it was “very early on” in development.

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

BrikWars Coming Soon page:
https://www.modiphius.net/pages/brikwars

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech Essentials Promo Video:
https://youtu.be/Esx-7Mkk5W0

Support Us by Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link):
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Chris on social media:
https://hyvemynd.itch.io/​​
https://twitter.com/hyvemynd​​
https://twitter.com/ConanSalaryman​​

Abusecartoons Weekly Cartoons:
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https://www.twitch.tv/abusecartoons
https://twitter.com/abusecartoons

​​Support Us on Patreon:
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