Tag: tabletop

The Weekly Podcast no.325 – Napoleonica, En Garde. Black Library, Asmodee 2026 and Legitimate Salvage

Posted on by upturnedtable

 

Napoleonica: Steel and Magic is a new high fantasy miniature wargame that reimagines the Napoleonic War with elements like Napoleon Bonaparte riding a Hippogriff. The miniatures are noted for their stunning, large-than-life resin casts from Signum Games. Mechanically, the game utilizes a system of drawing random Order Tokens and Maneuver Cards to activate units, which injects friction into army control reminiscent of games like *Memoir ’44*. Additionally, a bid for the Leader role determines the round’s intensity via an Escalation Card, which controls the number of Orders and Maneuver Cards drawn.

En Garde is a forthcoming fast-paced, one-versus-one duelling game in the 54mm scale, set in a Low Fantasy world of swashbucklers and brigands. Conceived by John Blanche and Tuomas Pirinen, the game will feature hand-sculpted miniatures from artists like Paul Hicks, with an initial release via a crowdfunding campaign called Vanguard. The setting includes a twist with vampires being the “good guys,” and the core design aims to make duels dynamic and engaging beyond simple combat.

The sunsetting of the BlackLibrary.com website and the Black Library Audio app will happen on August 31st. They are to be replaced by a single new Black Library app launching on March 18th that will feature an inbuilt eReader and MP3 player. Current account holders are urged to link their accounts and download older, unsupported content before the cutoff date. Community concerns are noted regarding the new app being a closed ecosystem with no integration for external eReaders or content from third-party sellers like Amazon and Audible, which ties into the ongoing DRM and “own versus license” debate among consumers.

Asmodee made two major announcements, acquiring the Sheriff of Nottingham IP from CMON and striking a second deal with Netflix for Ticket to Ride. The Sheriff of Nottingham acquisition, following previous deals for CMON IPs like Zombicide, is attributed to CMON’s ongoing financial difficulties. Sheriff of Nottingham will join Asmodee’s Z-man studios. The Ticket to Ride deal with Netflix is similar to the Catan deal, granting a license for multiple shows or films. The first project will be a Ticket to Ride film, with Ben Mekler and Chris Amick attached to write the script. No premiere date has been set.

Legitimate Salvage is a new game in the Forbidden Psalm line, a tabletop miniatures game about “corporate space horror” that is inspired by and compatible with the MÖRK BORG TTRPG. In the game, you control a crew of four working for the R&R company, whose business is rescuing people lost in space and who refuse to pay hazard pay unless someone dies, forcing your crew to work off their debt in the great uncaring void. The game features new mechanics, including debt, stress, and rules for zero gravity combat, alongside new monsters and equipment, all compatible with other Forbidden Psalm games like 28 Psalms and Killsampleprocess.

#Napoleonica #EnGarde #BlackLibrary #Asmodee  #legitimatesalvage

Napoleonica: Steel and Magic Rules:

https://signumgames.com/napoleonica-steel-and-magic

Legitimate Salvage Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/impioussaint/legitimate-salvage-a-forbidden-psalm-sci-fi-game

Dragonbane Trudvang:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192053011/dragonbane-trudvang-the-legend-returns

Fallout MEGA Bundle:

https://humblebundleinc.sjv.io/L0aArV

Warmachine on MyMiniFactory:

https://mmf.io/upturned

Mantic Companion App:

https://companion.manticgames.com/

Use our Referral code: MCTXEE

Support us by Shopping at Miniature Market (afilliate link):

https://miniature-market.sjv.io/K0yj7n

Support Us by Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link):

https://www.drivethrurpg.com?affiliate_id=2081746

Matt’s DriveThruRPG Publications:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?author=Matthew%20Robinson

https://substack.com/@matthewrobinson3

Chris on social media:

https://hyvemynd.itch.io/​​

Jeremy’s Links:

 http://www.abusecartoons.com/​​
http://www.rcharvey.com

​​Support Us on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/upturnedtable

Give us a tip on our livestream:

https://streamlabs.com/upturnedtabletop/tip​

Donate or give us  a tip on Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/2754JZFW2QZU4

Intro song is “Chips” by KokoroNoMe

https://kokoronome.bandcamp.com/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:48 — 34.7MB) | Embed

Subscribe to Upturned Table RSS | More

The Weekly Podcast no.323 – Blades 68, Pathfinder Beginner Box & STLs, Avatar Card Game and Hasbro Loves AI

Posted on by upturnedtable

 

Blades ’68 is an official 450-page expansion for the TTRPG Blades in the Dark. This supplement advances the timeline 100 years to the “Swinging Sixties” in the city of Doskvol, an age of electroplasmic fusion and “Bluetime” spy games. The expansion introduces new playbooks, crews, and a revamped setting, alongside new rules for Harm, Resistance, Keys, Deadlocks, and an adapted Trouble Engine. The campaign has been overwhelmingly funded, with an expected delivery date of August 2026.

Paizo, the publisher of Pathfinder, announced the new Pathfinder Beginner Box: Secrets of the Unlit Star, an all-inclusive entry point to Pathfinder Second Edition set for release on May 6th, 2026. The box set features a solo adventure, a 72-page Hero’s Handbook, an 88-page Game Master’s Guide, and updated rules for character options and adventure scenarios. Additionally, Paizo confirmed its commitment to the Pathfinder 2E Remaster with the release of Dark Archive Remastered and the announcement of Season of Ghosts Remastered. The company also partnered with One Page Rules to launch Paizo Printables, a new line of 3D printable wargaming miniature STLs compatible with the Age of Fantasy system, starting in Spring 2026.

Maestro Media unveiled Avatar: Pandora’s Power, a two-player asymmetric lane-battling card game based on the Avatar films. The game pits the resource-extractive RDA against the adaptive, land-rooted Na’vi factions, with the goal of reaching 30 points to decide Pandora’s fate. CEO Javon Frazier emphasized that the core experience is the asymmetry, with each faction playing a distinctly different game. Designed for ages 12 and up, the game plays in approximately 20-45 minutes and includes 170 Faction Cards, 18 Location Cards, and various tokens.

Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks touted the company’s AI integration as a “clear success” during a recent earnings call, though he primarily referred to its deployment in non-creative, operational workflows such as financial planning, supply chains, and general productivity. Cocks stated that AI, in partnership with platforms like Google Gemini and OpenAI, is expected to free up over 1 million hours of lower-value work within the year. While he maintains a “human-centric creator-led approach,” Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has an explicit policy prohibiting its artists and writers from using generative AI for final D&D products, a stance that aligns with a user survey indicating over 60% of consumers would not buy D&D products made with AI.

#blades68 #pathfinder #paizo #hasbro

Blades ‘68 on Backerkit:

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/evil-hat/blades-68

40-page Preview on DTRPG:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/ja/product/553040/blades-68-preview?affiliate_id=2081746

Empire of Bones on Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thepaintedwastelands/empire-of-bones

Preview:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/554430?affiliate_id=2081746

Call of Cthulhu Bundle:

https://humblebundleinc.sjv.io/Xmz13G

Warmachine on MyMiniFactory:

https://mmf.io/upturned

Mantic Companion App:

https://companion.manticgames.com/

Use our Referral code: MCTXEE

Support us by Shopping at Miniature Market (afilliate link):

https://miniature-market.sjv.io/K0yj7n

Support Us by Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link):

https://www.drivethrurpg.com?affiliate_id=2081746

Matt’s DriveThruRPG Publications:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?author=Matthew%20Robinson

https://substack.com/@matthewrobinson3

Chris on social media:

https://hyvemynd.itch.io/​​

Jeremy’s Links:

 http://www.abusecartoons.com/​​
http://www.rcharvey.com

​​Support Us on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/upturnedtable

Give us a tip on our livestream:

https://streamlabs.com/upturnedtabletop/tip​

Donate or give us  a tip on Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/2754JZFW2QZU4

Intro song is “Chips” by KokoroNoMe

https://kokoronome.bandcamp.com/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:41 — 58.7MB) | Embed

Subscribe to Upturned Table RSS | More

The Weekly Podcast no.322 – Crows by MCDM, Undergoblin Heist, Magic Secret Lair and Orcs & Crafts Zine

Posted on by upturnedtable

 

The official announcement of Crows by MCDM Productions, a new dungeon-crawling RPG led by James Introcaso appeared on Patreon. The game uses D6s and D10s, features a health system tied to inventory slots similar to Knave, and determines experience points based on the value of loot collected. It differs from a previous project, Draw Steel, by including potential negative results on the “power roll” but allows unlimited circumstantial bonuses for good planning. Crows also includes a base-building component where players develop their headquarters town and is set in a world where Archmages, corrupted by their magic, disappeared after warring as Necromancers.

Undergoblin Heist by Hit Point Press is a hardcover adventure available with six accompanying miniatures. This wild sandbox goblin adventure is compatible with both Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Edition and Dungeon Crawl Classics. The players take on the role of the “Grotty Jacknives,” expert sneak-goblins tasked by Boss Soot to steal three magical artifacts from a cabbage goblin village. The adventure includes pre-generated characters, new species/class rules, a new spell, and a goblin Critical Hits table, and is written by Thom Denick with art and design by Bee Ho.

The “Magic: The Gathering’s newest Secret Lair” drop, titled ‘Prints Charming,’ was released on February 2 as a “Chaos Vault” experiment by Wizards of the Coast. The collection is a quartet of green spells with different illustration styles, but its unusual aspect is the variable pricing tiers. Instead of a fixed price, the drop was offered at multiple points, ranging from a low of $9.99 up to $39.99 (and a foil version up to $49.99), ostensibly to test how much fans value the product. Despite the secondary market value of the cards being around $6, the experiment yielded bizarre sales results, with the most expensive $49.99 foil edition selling out earlier than the cheaper $29.99 foil edition, indicating some buyers were voluntarily paying more. The article speculates this could be due to hopes for a secret bonus card, automated bots, or individuals opting for a higher price to leave cheaper options for others.

Orcs & Crafts Zine, a Kickstarter project focused on miniature terrain building rather than a game itself. The zine aims to teach the basics of creating miniature worlds, with the first 60-page issue focusing on cardboard foundations and requiring only basic tools like scissors and a hobby knife. The project emphasizes accessibility, creative control, and using everyday materials. It is supported by a team of “Orc assistants” like Crathar (Chief Crafting Officer for advanced tips), Painscar (focused on safety), and Bob (providing basic tips). The zine includes planning guides, technique breakdowns (e.g., wood planks, hills), step-by-step building instructions (e.g., Simple Cardboard Tree, Ruined Gnomish Distillery), and even unique movie recommendations from Martin for background crafting entertainment.

#crowsrpg #undergoblin #eeldenring #orcsandcrafts

Undergoblin Heist – 5e D&D (Hardcover) – Hit Point Press 

https://hitpointpress.com/products/under-goblin-heist-5e-d-d-hardcover

Orcs and Crafts Zine:

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/game-machinery/orcs-crafts-zine

Call of Cthulhu Bundle:

https://humblebundleinc.sjv.io/Xmz13G

Free Guild Ball Starter Set:

https://steamforged.com/products/guild-ball-starter-kit

Warmachine on MyMiniFactory:

https://mmf.io/upturned

Mantic Companion App:

https://companion.manticgames.com/

Use our Referral code: MCTXEE

Support us by Shopping at Miniature Market (afilliate link):

https://miniature-market.sjv.io/K0yj7n

Support Us by Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link):

https://www.drivethrurpg.com?affiliate_id=2081746

Matt’s DriveThruRPG Publications:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?author=Matthew%20Robinson

https://substack.com/@matthewrobinson3

Chris on social media:

https://hyvemynd.itch.io/​​

Jeremy’s Links:

 http://www.abusecartoons.com/​​
http://www.rcharvey.com

​​Support Us on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/upturnedtable

Give us a tip on our livestream:

https://streamlabs.com/upturnedtabletop/tip​

Donate or give us  a tip on Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/2754JZFW2QZU4

Intro song is “Chips” by KokoroNoMe

https://kokoronome.bandcamp.com/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:24 — 35.0MB) | Embed

Subscribe to Upturned Table RSS | More

The Weekly Podcast No.302 – Meow Wolf TTRPG, Wares Blade, Matt Mercer Steps Down and Draw Steel!

Posted on by upturnedtable

 

Surreal art collective Meow Wolf is partnering with Exalted Funeral to create “Tavers: The Meow Wolf Roleplaying Game,” launching on Kickstarter in February 2025. Players will take on the role of “tavers” who can rip portals through reality to explore different worlds, encountering elements like immortal cybernetic hamsters and sentient pizza while solving five mysteries across Meow Wolf’s psychedelic multiverse. 

LionWing is bringing the beloved 1986 Japanese TTRPG “Wares Blade” to Western audiences for the first time, blending swords and sorcery with mecha anime aesthetics reminiscent of classics like Magic Knight Rayearth and Visions of Escaflowne.

Critical Role revealed that Brennan Lee Mulligan (Dimension 20’s DM) will helm Campaign 4 starting in October, marking the first time Matthew Mercer won’t be the primary DM for a core campaign. Instead, Mercer will step into a player role alongside both new and returning cast members. This significant change represents Critical Role’s evolution from a group of friends playing D&D to a multimedia corporation, though it has generated mixed reactions from fans concerned about preserving the show’s original chemistry and intimate feel.

MCDM’s “Draw Steel,” which raised $4.6 million on BackerKit, represents a complete departure from D20 systems rather than attempting to “fix D&D.” The game focuses on making players feel like “big damn heroes” from level 1, with tactical grid-based combat that emphasizes movement and cinematic action. Its core mechanic uses 2d10 power rolls with three-tier results, ensuring players always accomplish something meaningful rather than wasting turns on failed rolls, while resource management through class-specific points adds strategic depth.

#meowwolf #waresblade #mattmercer #drawsteel

Alchemy Call of Cthulhu Bundle:

https://humblebundleinc.sjv.io/aOQ64N

3-Month FREE Patreon Access:

https://www.patreon.com/upturnedtable/redeem/ACFB8

Dragonbane miniatures:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/titanforgeminis/dragonbane-rpg-miniatures-northern-beasts

Green Ronin GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-green-ronin-in-critical-legal-defense

Warmachine on MyMiniFactory:

https://mmf.io/upturned

Mantic Companion App:

https://companion.manticgames.com/

Use our Referral code: MCTXEE

Support us by Shopping at Miniature Market (afilliate link):

https://miniature-market.sjv.io/K0yj7n

Support Us by Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link):

https://www.drivethrurpg.com?affiliate_id=2081746

Matt’s DriveThruRPG Publications:

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse.php?author=Matthew%20Robinson

https://substack.com/@matthewrobinson3

Chris on social media:

https://hyvemynd.itch.io/​​

Abusecartoons Weekly Cartoons:

http://www.abusecartoons.com/​​

https://www.twitch.tv/abusecartoons

​​Support Us on Patreon:

https://www.patreon.com/upturnedtable

Give us a tip on our livestream:

https://streamlabs.com/upturnedtabletop/tip​

Donate or give us  a tip on Paypal:

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/2754JZFW2QZU4

Intro song is “Chips” by KokoroNoMe

https://kokoronome.bandcamp.com/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:04 — 44.5MB) | Embed

Subscribe to Upturned Table RSS | More

Unboxing Bristol 1350 Deluxe Edition by Facade Games Plus a Look at the Dark Cities Series

Posted on by upturnedtable

We take a look at the Kickstarter deluxe version of Bristol 1350 by Facade Games. Designed by Travis and Holly Hancock with wonderful illustrations by Sarah Keele. The deluxe edition contains some upgrade metal components and an Alms expansion using six metal coins.

From the Kickstarter page:
“The dreaded Black Death has descended upon the town of Bristol. You are racing down the streets, desperate to escape into the safety of the countryside. If your cart is the first out of town you and your cart-mates win! Or do you? Some villagers on your cart may secretly already have the plague. If you leave town with a plagued villager on your cart, you will catch the plague and lose! What will you do to make sure that doesn’t happen? And who will you trust (or betray) along the way?”

Bristol 1350 is a social deduction and light strategy game for 1-9 players. Learn in 10 minutes and play in 20-40 minutes.

This game is part of the Dark Cities series:
https://facadegames.com/

#facadegames #bristol1350 #darkcities #kickstarter

Video: Actual Play: Alien RPG Cinematic Starter Kit “Chariot of the Gods” Part 3

Posted on by upturnedtable

The third, but not final session, of the Cinematic Starter for the Free League Alien RPG available for download with all pre-orders of the game. Cinematic adventures are one-shot scenarios with pre-generated characters that replicate the tension and high body count of the Alien movies.

After restoring the reactor and repairing the engines the Cronus is now up a running and auto-pilot takes over. Thank you, special order 966. We are down one player this session so Cham will be an NPC for now.

Our only complaint about the PDF is that it is not very printer-friendly being mostly light text on a black background. So we created a printer-friendly version of the character sheet and a player reference to help anyone interested in trying this adventure.

Check out Tabletop Audio for their amazing RPG sound effects: https://tabletopaudio.com/

#alienRPG #frialigan #ttrpg #actualplay

Pre-order the game: https://alien-rpg.com/

Idle Red Hands on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/idleredhands

Video: Actual Play: Alien RPG Cinematic Starter Kit “Chariot of the Gods” Part 2

Posted on by upturnedtable

The second session of the Cinematic Starter for the Free League Alien RPG available for download with all pre-orders of the game. Cinematic adventures are one-shot scenarios with pre-generated characters that replicate the tension and high body count of the Alien movies. We introduce the system and run through the characters and their relationships and talents. Our only complaint about the PDF is that it is not very printer-friendly being mostly light text on a black background. So we created a printer-friendly version of the character sheet and a player reference to help anyone interested in trying this adventure. #alienRPG #frialigan #ttrpg #actualplay

When we pick back up the party finds the remaining crew of a derelict ship coming out of cryo-sleep.

Our only complaint about the PDF is that it is not very printer-friendly being mostly light text on a black background. So we created a printer-friendly version of the character sheet and a player reference to help anyone interested in trying this adventure.

Download the printer-friendly character sheet and player reference:
http://www.idleredhands.com/2019/06/23/actual-play-alien-rpg-cinematic-starter-kit-chariot-of-the-gods/

Check out Tabletop Audio for their amazing RPG sound effects:
https://tabletopaudio.com/

Pre-order the game:
https://alien-rpg.com/

Video: Actual Play: Alien RPG Cinematic Starter Kit “Chariot of the Gods”

Posted on by upturnedtable

The first session of the Cinematic Starter for the Free League Alien RPG available for download with all pre-orders of the game. Cinematic adventures are one-shot scenarios with pre-generated characters that replicate the tension and high body count of the Alien movies. We introduce the system and run through the characters and their relationships and talents. Our only complaint about the PDF is that it is not very printer-friendly being mostly light text on a black background. So we created a printer-friendly version of the character sheet and a player reference to help anyone interested in trying this adventure. #alienRPG #freeleague

Pre-order the game:
https://alien-rpg.com/