The Weekly LIVE 259 – PHB Orders Cancelled, Paul Sawyer Charity, Gold Teeth, Vanguard: Normandy, The Expanse: Transport Union Edition and Elfquest Reissue

Posted on September 22, 2024 by upturnedtable_sx8obi

Many fans of Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) who preordered the 2024 Player’s Handbook recently had their orders canceled without a clear explanation. Customers reported receiving emails stating their payment didn’t go through, even though some had been charged. The issue primarily affected those who paid via PayPal, particularly for the physical copies of the game. Wizards of the Coast (WotC), which had promoted preorders for months, is aware of the problem. DnD community manager LaTia Jacquise asked affected customers to file support tickets, and some have received emails promising to resolve the issue. With the release date of September 17 fast approaching, many fans are anxious about whether they will receive their books on time or if they’ll lose their preorder discounts.

A fundraiser has been set up for Paul Sawyer, a well-known figure in the wargaming community, who was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma. His family is seeking to make his final months as comfortable as possible by raising money for necessary disability aids and home adaptations. Paul, a legend in the wargaming world, is widely remembered for his contributions to White Dwarf magazine and his role at Warlord Games. The GoFundMe page, created by his daughter, Holly Sawyer, has received overwhelming support, with many sharing fond memories of Paul’s influence on their hobby.

The creators of the popular tabletop RPG TEETH, Jim Rossignol and Marsh Davies, have announced their next project, GOLD TEETH. This piracy and occult horror-themed RPG is set in the Caribbean in 1781, blending supernatural dangers with naval combat and adventure. With its Kickstarter launching soon, GOLD TEETH promises to be a visually engaging and grotesque addition to the tabletop gaming world.

Warlord Games has announced the launch of their first board game Kickstarter, Vanguard: Normandy, set for release on October 1st. Developed by the Bolt Action team, the game offers a one-to-four-player World War II experience. With a dice activation system and epic-scale miniatures, the game brings variety through its hex-map-based battlefields. Players can enjoy a dedicated solo-play mode, making it ideal for both solo and multiplayer sessions. While the miniatures don’t require assembly or painting, some players expressed disappointment with prototype quality, particularly with the infantry and tank models. Fans are looking forward to seeing improvements as the campaign moves forward.

The Expanse Roleplaying Game: Transport Union Edition by Green Ronin Publishing is a new edition that expands the RPG universe set between Babylon’s Ashes and Persepolis Rising. The campaign offers an updated core rulebook, additional supplements, miniatures, and accessories. Newcomers can enjoy easy-to-learn gameplay, while veterans will find enhanced character options, spaceships, and adversaries. The 30-year gap between novels provides rich material for storytelling. The campaign includes early backer bonuses, and various pledge tiers offer everything from physical books to virtual tabletop (VTT) support. Green Ronin also introduced miniatures, expanding the immersive RPG experience with customizable Expanse crew and spaceship models.

Chaosium Inc. has announced the return of ElfQuest: The Roleplaying Game, in collaboration with the comic series’ creators, Wendy and Richard Pini. First released in 1984, the RPG uses the Basic Roleplaying System (BRP) and will be reissued as part of Chaosium’s Classic series. The re-release will include the original artwork by Wendy Pini and all the 1984 supplements. A Kickstarter campaign will launch in October 2024 to commemorate the game’s 40th anniversary, aiming to reintroduce ElfQuest to both old and new fans.

#boltaction #theexpanse #teethrpg #elfquest

Paul Sawyer GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/make-dads-remaining-months-happy-comfortable

The Expanse Roleplaying Game: Transport Union Edition

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/green-ronin-publishing/the-expanse-roleplaying-game-transport-union-edition

Vanguard: Normandy Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/warlordgames/vanguard-normandy

Gold TEETH Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1499900830/gold-teeth-the-tabletop-rpg-of-piracy-and-occult-horror

Elfquest Classic Kickstarter:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/chaosium/elfquest-classic

Submit to Wharf Rat Games:

https://wharfratgames.com/submissions

Alien 2E Kickstarter Campaign URL:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192053011/alien-rpg-second-edition-and-rapture-protocol

4-Hour Dune RPG Review:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/review-dune-in-106781242

Humble Bundle (affiliate link):

https://www.humblebundle.com/?partner=upturnedtable

Check out our new shirts on Red Bubble:
https://www.redbubble.com/shop/ap/161648028?ref=studio-promote

Try Fantasy Grounds VTT (affiliate link):

http://affiliates.fantasygrounds.com/360148/15958

Outgunned RPG – Action Hero Pledge UNBOXING:
https://youtu.be/IYDyzNvQQKo

Shop at Noble Knight Games (affiliate link)
https://www.nobleknight.com/affiliate/aw.asp?B=3&A=1312&Task=Click

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

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
https://twitter.com/abusecartoons

Support Us on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/upturnedtable

Give us a tip on our livestream:
https://streamlabs.com/upturnedtabletop/tip

Intro song is “Chips” by KokoroNoMe
https://kokoronome.bandcamp.com/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:09 — 46.8MB) | Embed

Subscribe to Upturned Table RSS | More

The Weekly LIVE 224 – Brian Ansell and Jennell Jaquays Passing, Halo Wargame, New Year New MtG AI Art and End of the TTRPG Golden Age

Posted on January 14, 2024 by upturnedtable_sx8obi

Bryan Ansell, considered the grandfather of Warhammer, has passed away at the age of 68. Ansell played a significant role in transforming Games Workshop from a hobby game retailer to a miniature wargame manufacturer, with Warhammer becoming a central focus. Ansell co-founded Asgard Miniatures in 1976, which caught the attention of Games Workshop founders. In collaboration, Citadel Miniatures was established in 1978, becoming a profitable part of Games Workshop. Ansell’s leadership saw a shift towards the production and sale of miniatures, and Warhammer Fantasy Battle, co-authored by Ansell, played a crucial role in this transformation. Ansell bought out Games Workshop founders in 1985 and remained involved in the wargames industry. He started Wargames Foundry in 1983, a separate miniature manufacturer. Ansell stayed connected with the ‘Oldhammer’ community until his passing.

Jennell Jaquays, a significant figure in the development of Dungeons & Dragons and the tabletop roleplaying game industry, has passed away at the age of 68. Known for her contributions to games like Dark Tower and Caverns of Thracia, she worked as a game designer and artist, creating RPG covers, including Dragon Mountain. Jaquays was associated with TSR, Judges Guild, Chaosium, and various video game companies, contributing to titles like Quake and Age of Empires. Beyond her professional achievements, she was an activist for trans rights and played a crucial role in legislative changes as the creative director for the Transgender Human Rights Institute. Her recent years were marked by struggles with Guillain-Barré syndrome. The industry mourns the loss of this legendary figure, remembering her impact on both gaming and the advocacy for trans rights.

Mantic Games, developers of Kings of War, will partner with 343 Industries to create a new Halo tabletop miniatures game based on the Halo videogame franchise, set to launch in September 2024. The game will feature 40mm Spartan miniatures and will be suitable for both newcomers and veterans.There will be no crowdfunding campaign as the game is going direct to market.

Wizards of the Coast and AI: Wizards of the Coast (WotC) denies using AI in recent Magic: The Gathering images, emphasizing that the art was created by humans. The denial follows accusations from fans who believed AI was involved in a promotional image. WotC acknowledges the need for better transparency and disclosure regarding AI use in creative processes. Lawsuit Against OpenAI and Microsoft: The New York Times has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI, claiming the unauthorized use of millions of its articles to train large language models. The lawsuit seeks damages in the billions of dollars, alleging systematic and competitive infringement. Wacom and Wizards of the Coast Controversy: Wacom and Wizards of the Coast face criticism for allegedly using AI-generated images in their recent ad campaigns. Artists accuse Wacom of using AI in a dragon illustration, and Wizards of the Coast issued an apology for using AI-generated elements in an ad. The controversies raise concerns about the impact on creative professions and trust in companies within the creative community.

A D&D historian and writer, Ben Riggs, claims that the Golden Age of tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) is coming to an end. Riggs argues that the peak, brought in by the popularity of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) in the 2010s, is declining due to the aftermath of the Open Gaming License (OGL) controversy. He suggests that the emergence of new RPG systems, while successful in crowdfunding, is a sign that the industry has peaked rather than grown. Riggs predicts that the upcoming 6th edition of D&D may not match the success of its predecessor, leading to layoffs at Wizards of the Coast. He contends that the diversification of RPG systems will result in a fractured community, making it harder for businesses to thrive. Riggs draws parallels with the 1990s, citing TSR’s downfall due to splitting the fan base among various settings. Criticism of Riggs’ viewpoint comes from D&D Twitter, with some arguing against his D&D-centric perspective and pointing out inaccuracies in his claims. Despite Riggs’ warnings, TTRPG creators seem undeterred, with figures like Matt Colville dismissing the idea of a decline, suggesting that the so-called Golden Age was primarily beneficial for investors and D&D’s owners. Riggs concludes with predictions of a less successful 6th edition, decreased crowdfunding success for TTRPGs, plateauing attendance at gaming conventions, and a less diverse and interesting TTRPG landscape, unless significant changes occur in the industry.

#BryanAnsel #JennellJaquays #mantic #AIart