Welcome home. This is Audio EXP, the weekly podcast from Geek Native. I am your host, Girdy, and it is time to catch up on the latest tabletop news. This week, we are looking at an incredibly ambitious science fiction adaptation from a major British design studio, a return to boutique roots for a beloved publisher, and the dark arts of the trading card market.
We also have updates on a staggering eight thousand dollar vampire event, a revival of a classic comic, and some fantastic coverage from local game shops across the country. Let us get right into the news.
[The following is a transcript of Audio EXP: #326]
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Before we get to the main headlines, I have a quick update regarding our RPG Publisher Spotlight. As you know, Open Sesame Games won the community vote for this month. We have been reaching out to arrange an interview, but we have not yet heard back from them. While this lack of communication is a bit of a concern, we absolutely want to celebrate their work. We are going to push on and produce the spotlight feature without the interview, ensuring it goes live in time for the end of the month, so you can still discover the fantastic games they have been publishing.
Our lead story this week is a massive announcement for fans of hard science fiction. Adrian Tchaikovsky has officially partnered with the Sheffield-based independent powerhouse Rowan, Rook and Decard to create the Children of Time roleplaying game. This is a staggering project. Tchaikovsky’s Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning series is not your typical adventure story. It spans thousands of years, tracking the desperate remnants of humanity aboard decaying ark ships while simultaneously following the accelerated evolution of non-human species on terraformed worlds. Adapting that immense scale into a playable tabletop experience is a monumental design challenge.
Rowan, Rook and Decard are stepping up to that challenge with a phenomenal design team. Minærva McJanda, Grant Howitt, and Elaine Lithgow are spearheading the mechanics. They are moving away from the grim dark fantasy of their previous hits like Spire and Heart, instead taking us to a sprawling cosmic stage. The game utilises a highly ambitious twinned society mechanic. Players are tasked with managing the ailing human ark ships while also nurturing the newly uplifted species on the planets below. You are not just playing a single pilot. You are acting as the authors of an entire exodus.
The system draws heavily on the multi-generational storytelling found in Legacy Life Among The Ruins, allowing groups to switch focus between large-scale societal shifts and sudden flashpoints of intimate character drama. The beloved fallout mechanics from their previous games also return, ensuring that a failed dice roll does not stall the story but rather acts as a dramatic narrative engine. We know that Tchaikovsky has been looking for the right publisher for this project since 2023, and it seems he has found the perfect home. The sheer ambition of bridging micro and macro storytelling makes this one of the most exciting upcoming releases in the independent scene.
This week on the site, we have been running some fantastic features focusing on local game shops, stretching all the way from the north of the country right down to the south. Physical retail spaces are the absolute lifeblood of our hobby, but running them presents unique challenges. We sat down for an extensive interview with Loaded Dice to talk about exactly how they are preparing the Waaaghhouse for the arrival of Warhammer 40,000 11th edition.
Edition changes in massive wargaming systems bring an enormous amount of logistical friction. Store owners have to navigate the clearing of old inventory, the updating of community tournament rules, and the management of player expectations. The team at Loaded Dice provided a brilliant, transparent look at how a dedicated venue handles the transition to a brand new era of grim dark warfare.
Sticking with the realities of physical gaming spaces, we also published a fascinating piece featuring Stuart Robb. Titled Beyond the Foil, this feature lifts the lid on the dark arts of trading card manipulation. The trading card game market has become heavily financialised in recent years, drawing in speculators and bad actors. Robb guided us through the frustrating world of scalping, the weighing of booster packs, and deliberate market manipulation. These practices are a genuine problem for local communities and players who simply want to enjoy their games without competing against aggressive financial speculation. It is a sobering read, but understanding these tactics is the first step in protecting the local store ecosystem.
Looking at the wider publishing industry, we have a story of corporate restructuring and a deliberate return to independent values. Ivan Van Norman has returned to lead Hunters Entertainment, and the studio is actively pivoting back to its boutique roots. Hunters Entertainment is a fascinating company. They built their reputation on highly innovative, creator driven roleplaying games like Kids on Bikes and the silent, text message-based masterpiece Alice is Missing. However, they also waded into massive licensed properties like Altered Carbon and navigated close ties with the Critical Role ecosystem.
Rebuilding a studio is never simple, but this move feels incredibly positive. They have secured a brand new warehouse facility and are stepping away from the exhausting cycle of massive corporate licensing. The goal is to refocus entirely on the boutique, high quality roleplaying games that made them famous in the first place. Ivan Van Norman stepping back into the leadership role brings a clear, passionate vision to the company. In an industry that often prioritises endless growth and massive intellectual property acquisitions, it is highly refreshing to see a successful studio actively choosing to scale their operations to focus on pure creative output and independent design.
If you are looking for an unparalleled level of immersion and happen to have a massive budget, you will want to hear about our next story. The price of immortality has been set, and it is eight thousand dollars. Jason Carl, widely beloved for his work on LA by Night, and industry legend Mark Meer are leading a hyper premium Vampire The Masquerade experience in Los Angeles. This is an exclusive, highly curated live action roleplaying event that blurs the line between tabletop gaming and luxury immersive theatre.
The staggering eight thousand dollar price tag covers a multi-day narrative experience, complete with high-end accommodation, bespoke costuming guidance, and interactions with a cast of professional actors. It highlights a growing trend of ultra luxury geek tourism, where deep pocketed fans can buy their way into a fully realised fictional world. While this specific event certainly prices out the vast majority of the community, it is a fascinating milestone for the hobby. It proves that the narratives we create at the kitchen table have the cultural cachet to command premium, high society experiences. Lower priced tickets are available.
Returning to the traditional tabletop, we recently spoke with Ryan Loos about his highly unsettling new project. He has created a 1950s dystopia called Serenity Springs. Designed as a setting for 5e, it leans heavily into suburban horror, hiding terrifying realities behind forced cheerfulness and pristine picket fences. What makes this setting truly brilliant is a unique mechanical system called censored violence.
In Serenity Springs, the horror is heavily regulated by an in-universe television broadcast aesthetic. Players are mechanically constrained in how they can describe their actions and the damage they inflict. A brutal sword strike cannot be described with gore; it must be framed through the lens of a heavily censored, family-friendly sitcom. Blood becomes a mere spill, and grievous injuries are glossed over with a disturbing, mandatory smile. It is a phenomenal psychological technique that makes the underlying violence feel so much more oppressive and terrifying. By forcing players to adhere to strict social rules and censored mechanics, the setting completely redefines how a standard 5e combat encounter feels.
For fans of classic British comics, we have some brilliant news regarding a long awaited revival. Michael Carroll and Tom Foster have officially teamed up to revive The Trigan Empire for 2026. This legendary comic originally captivated readers with Don Lawrence’s breathtaking painted artwork, blending science fiction technology with the aesthetics of the Roman Empire. Rebellion has been doing incredible work preserving the archives of British comics, and this new graphic novel finally explores the promised fall of the empire. Michael Carroll is an absolute veteran of the industry, and Tom Foster’s highly detailed art style is the perfect fit to honour the massive legacy left by Don Lawrence. It is a wonderful burst of nostalgia that introduces a foundational piece of British science fiction to an entirely new generation of readers.
Finally, we wrap up this week with some incredible digital deals and a chance to win a physical prize. If you want to explore a darkly comedic, dystopian future where the computer is your friend, you must check out the Paranoia XP Roleplaying Game Collection. Currently available as a massive Fanatical bundle, this offers an enormous library of rulebooks and missions for one of the most brilliantly chaotic games ever designed. Remember to trust the computer.
Alternatively, if you prefer your worlds filled with magic and monsters, Studio Agate has launched the Fateforge Megabundle. This is a colossal haul of 5e dark fantasy material, providing everything you need to run deep, atmospheric campaigns in a beautifully illustrated setting.
We also have a brand new competition running on the site. You can enter to win a physical copy of Dungeons and Dragons Crochet: A Book of Many Patterns. It is packed with fantastic guides to craft your very own beholders, displacer beasts, and dice bags. Make sure you head over to Geek Native to get your entries in.
That is it for this week. Thanks for listening to Audio EXP. For all the links and full stories, head over to Geek Native. Until next week, stay geeky.
