It’s April’s Fools.
I’ve tried my best not to include any pranks in this news summary. I am stupid, though, and may have been tricked. I don’t think so…
That means R. Talsorian Games’ 640-page Elias von Drexel’s Treatise on the Lost Arts of Witchery with the Trout school of Witchers, Aardvark, Mule and Snail isn’t included despite there actually being a download teaser for it with rules (non-cannon) that you can use.
That also means Geek Native’s Patrons have a new RPG Publisher Spotlight poll to vote in.
The candidates are;
Who won the April title? That honour goes to Outland Arts, not to be confused with Outland Entertainment. Don’t worry; the latter features twice in this weekly RPG summary.
Righty! Time to get cracking with all that promised RPG news.
Win: Tree spirit t-shirt
RPG news from Geek Native
- Wizards of the Coast leaves the Sanatic Panic miles behind and signs off on an official Dungeons & Dragons tarot set.
- Geek Native spoke to James Kerr about the diceless martial arts RPG with heart; Fight to Survive.
- Fandom Tabletop launches The Dragon Prince: Tales of Xadia RPG and a new Cortex License.
- Knight Errant Media release a new Savage Worlds & Super Powers Companion version of Titan Effect.
- Free League announce a publishing deal with Stockholm Kartell for the Death in Space RPG.
- Outland Entertainment has bought the rights to a failed Kickstarter computer RPG and announced the Scarlet Republics tabletop RPG.
- Monte Cook Games announces a new Cypher System RPG based on the podcast Old Gods of Appalachia.
- Nightfall Games release the quickstart for the forthcoming StokerVerse RPG.
- On DriveThruRPG, Fainting Goat Games and others put together this impressive Savage Worlds bundle for charity.
- Hardy Tales has released a quick start for a Savage Worlds game in which the spiders have won. It’s the Empire of Venom & Silk.
- Paizo have a free to download Outlaws of Alkenstar Player’s Guide.
- In the Bundle of Holding, there’s a Tianxia deal, a 3e Victoriana offer and a flash sale on Third Eye’s Part-Time Gods RPG.
- Humble and Cubicle 7 have a significant deal on the Warhammer Soulbound RPG.
Spotlight: Outland Arts
RPG news from around the web
- In great news, Humble has raised over $20m for Ukraine humanitarian relief.
- Dicebreaker reports the sad news that D&D and World of Warcraft writer Scott Bennie has died.
- Gamefound, the Kickstarter rival, announced it is now open to all creators.
- Roll20’s Operation Firebolt sped up game loading time by 57% and improved stability.
- Outland and Pinnacle’s first Rippers: Resurrected novel will be Soul Changers.
- Bully Pulpit Games hired Kristine Hassell as Social Media Manager.
- Monte Cook Games joins RollVsEvil.
RPG reviews and interviews from around the web
- Pen Paper Dice’s Rene Kremer reviews Legends of Avallen.
- Bell of Lost Souls says ‘Tales Of Xadia’ Is The ‘Dragon Prince’ RPG Experience Of Your Dreams.
- Grumpy Wizard reviewed RPG historian Jon Peterson’s The Elusive Shift: How Role-Playing Games Forged Their Identity.
- OnTableTop asks Should You Give “Doom Metal” Fantasy RPG Mork Borg a Go?
- Jared Rascher shares first impressions on Star Trek Adventures Player’s and GM’s Guides.
- Rob Wieland writes up Steal From The Vampires And Give To The Poor In Brinkwood.
- Ronald Gardner gives us Science Fiction 40 Years in the Making: The Traveller Core Rulebook Update 2022 Reviewed.
- Andrew Peregrine reviewed the Vampire: The Masquerade sourcebook The Black Hand.
- These Old Games’ Phil Viverito reviews Serenity from 2005.
- Reviews from R’lyeh takes a look at the other OSR Kuf.
- Handiwork Games interviews the prolific Gareth Hanrahan.
- Dicebreaker’s Alex Meehan gave us “I built a world where people were rebels”: Cyberpunk creator Mike Pondsmith on why the tabletop RPG continues to endure and then gets promoted.
- CBR’s Sam Stone writes up The Dragon Prince: Tales of Xadia Team Invite Fans to an Immersive RPG Game.
RPG new releases
- Vivid Worlds completes a successful Kickstarter with the launch of How To Start Cults And Sacrifice People.
- Dark Realm Maps published a game set in an alternate reality and a Cold War with War Within RPG.
- SPC is hit “go-go-go” on the GM-less RPG about the Tattoo.
- Urania Games pokes fun at Task Rabbit and the Souls games with Duty! Hare.
- Basilisk Online published an RPG inspired by Xenozic Tales and the cartoon Cadillacs and Dinosaurs called Diesel and Dinosaurs.
- Ronwise Gamgee released the Quick & Dirty RPG System.
- Clawhammer Games publish the horror RPG about death and survival with Gravemire.
- Vaynor released the Gun&Slinger based RPG about two people in Stranger & Danger.
- Adventures Await Studios gives us Adventures Await: A Collection of 40 5e Compatible Adventures.
- Based on Dread and about Dredd, Epidiah Ravachol and Rebellion Unplugged release Dread: Dredd.
RPG bundle deals
- Save $11.64 (49%) with the DMsGuild’s A Mimic bundle.
- Save $5.75 (25%) with the Son of Oak Game Studio community content Storm Surge bundle.
- Save $2.50 (50%) with the DMsGuild’s The Slayer Collection.
RPG ideas, tips and discoveries
- Ben and the Genre Police look at how best to follow up after finishing a good campaign. It’s time for New Horizons.
- OpenD6.net is a free web-based toolkit for the OpenD6 system.
- Sea of Stars put together Ceramic Soldier for 5e.
- Kobold Press share Deep Magic: Pestilent Cleric Spells, Part 2.
- D&D Beyond put their spell spotlight on Find Familiar.
- The Alexandrian dips into Forgotten Realms lore with A Textual History of the Yawning Portal.
RPG Crowdfunding
You can see those Kickstarters and other crowdfunding campaigns that caught Geek Native’s attention over at Kickstarter watch. Here are some industry projects worth a mention;
- Noisms Games has funded a zine of curated content for OSR and fiction. Explore In the Hall of the Third Blue Wizard
- Postworldgames and Jim Pinto have success with The Biggest Praxis Kickstarter.
- It’s Wave 6, complete with elves, demonkin and angelkin, for the Adventurers & Adversaries Modular RPG Miniatures.
- Questing Tools are funding 8 themed dice sets based on NPCs from an adventure setting. It’s the Town of Click Clack Dice.
- Virtual Tabletop Journey have funded the 3d The Unofficial Castle Ravenloft 5e – TaleSpire Edition.
- Diego Pisa Artworks have 5e and other system compatible NPCS AND LOCATIONS.
- Space Legatas have funded diorama appropriate Fantasy adventures – STL models for 5e campaigns.
- VW Khmbatta is inspired by games like Kult, SLA and Delta Green with their interdimensional horror RPG S.H.E.A.R.
- Squid Ink Games has a solo and co-op suitable adventure for Death in Space. It’s Station XENO – A Sci-Fi Horror RPG Module.
- Robin’s Nerd Supplies returns with The Revenge: Hollow Pirate Dice (Relaunch).
- Orcs Unlimited bring back the Flufamancer with Escape from Teddy Bear Island 2nd edition.
- Duke Marlar has a one-shot and add-on scenario with TRAPPED SOULS – Mork Borg Compatible.
- Cassidy Percoco has funded a regency RPG set in England. It’s time for Dandies & Dandyzettes.
- James Shield is offering STL files for Uncommon Monstrosities.
- Key Capas’s fantasy terrain is suitable for RPGs and wargames with Hobbit Holes #2 – Pay what you want.
- Rusu Adrian Andrei has an RPG based on local folklore and stories in the shape of Project Transylvania.
- 9d10 are raising money for hand-crafted sold ash, stained and suede-lined Heirloom Vault ♦ An RPG dice box made with love.
- Fabio Attoli has smashed targets for a game based on the feudal period, except with fantasy. It’s Kamon: Japanese Fantasy Setting for 5e.
- Omar Schrayter has an ambitious target for the d12 powered 2096 | A POST APOCALYPTIC SCI-FI RPG.
- Louis Hoefer has funded an MCC and DCC compatible adventure called The Time-Lost Citadel.
- Luca Galimberti has nine fantasy STL files on offer and is designed for RPGs with Incontri: Dames of the woods.
If there’s a source or news you think is worth monitoring, please get in touch or leave a comment below.
