It’s late! It’s May already. I also started a large project over the Christmas break to list tens of thousands of TTRPG publishers and assign them to a country, and I’m still not finished. I’ll share the results this month.
Let’s get going with the summary of the summaries!
- The tabletop community will miss Jodi Black. It’s heartbreaking news.
- Wizards of the Coast employees are unionising.
- There’s an official Justice League TTRPG on the way.
- ChatGPT’s internal instructions forbid it from mentioning goblins and other monsters.
- Shannon Appelcline announced FTB Origins.
As it’s the start of the month, Geek Native’s heroic patrons get to vote on who we will spotlight this month. As usual, there are five candidates. Did you know that anyone can nominate anyone? Just get in touch.
To cast your vote, visit this patrons-only page.
On with the TTRPG news!
Spotlight: ndvamps.
RPG news from Geek Native
- Geek Native took a look at The CarlRPG effect: How BackerKit is rewriting the roleplaying games rulebook.
- Bronwen wrote up her encounter with a Warforged dino rider and HeroForge Pro.
- It’s a tech post as I speculate whether Acer’s new portable projector could/should be used for TTRPG battle mats.
- In another weird tech post, we also speculate why ChatGPT is banned from goblins.
- Modiphius released an official solo TTRPG for Fallout with Wasteland Wanderer.
- Following all that warehouse drama, Infinite Black officially announced Doomsday.
- Kobold Press sails the seas of crowdfunding with Pirates & Plunder.
- In the UK, physical pre-orders are open for the 50th anniversary set of Call of Cthulhu.
- In Humble, there’s a megabundle for the Dune TTRPG.
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RPG news from around the web
- Very sadly, Clint has shared the news that there’s no hope for tabletop games superhero Jodi Black.
- ICv2 has published a piece on Union Organized at Wizards of the Coast.
- Christian Hoffer, at EN World, details Official Justice League TTRPG launching on Gamefound in July.
- Shannon Appelcline has announced his next project will be Free Trader Beowulf Origins.
- Over at Bell of Lost Souls, the team writes up GURPS Is Back With A New Book – ‘Ring Of Fire’.
- Dungeons and Dragons Fanatics delivers a breakdown of Official D&D Terrain is Coming Soon from Archon Studio.
- Mollie Russell, at Wargamer, spotlights D&D’s new official actual play is no Critical Role, but maybe that’s okay.
- Mollie also explains PackMule’s vast D&D inventory system is the best luxury accessory I’ll never use.
- You can read about The Inaugural Canada Roles Awards Celebrates Canadian RPGs over on Rascal.
- Rich Johnston explains Free Comic Book Day: Mordenkainen Gets A Dungeons & Dragons Series? over at Bleeding Cool.
- ICv2 discusses ICv2: Q-Workshop Reveals ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Dice Details.
- Chaosium has published a piece on ‘When I applied to be a counselor for the Game Design merit badge, I simply listed ‘Chaosium’ in the qualifications section!’ – Rick Meints’ foreword for Call of Cthulhu: Campfire Tales.
RPG reviews and interviews from around the web
- Over at Reviews from R’lyeh, Pookie reviews Mansters and Tales from the Locker.
- Dice Monkey reviews Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 3rd Edition (2009).
- The Kind DM shares a review of Adventuring Family: A Family Therapy Role Playing Game.
- TTRPG Insider has published an interview about Daggers and Hearts in Space: Adapting Critical Role’s New Game System for Sci-Fi Games.
- RPGDrop interviews Chris Haskins, the CEO at Nord Games.
- Variety has an interview with Dungeon Masters host Jasmine Bhullar on Running D&D Without Licensing Restraints for New Actual-Play Show: ‘We Can Call Everything by Its Right Name’.
RPG new releases
- QuasiReal House released MythCraft Core Rulebook | PDF + Roll20 [Bundle].
- Eddystone Gameworks published OTHR Starter Book.
- Tyler Draisin published SkillWeaver Core Rulebook.
- Guild of Blades has published the Heroes Forever RPG Handbook 2nd Edition.
- Available now is Sean McCormick’s Dragonbane Supplement: The Monster Bible.
- NRM Books published Twisted Wishes: A Dark Fantasy Campaign Setting.
- Ill Gotten Games has released CRUX Universal Roleplaying.
- At Itch, GG has published EFE Role-Playing System: Core Rules & Excendri’s Tomb.
- In physical releases, Clarkson Potter Publications and Andrew Wheeler have another with Dungeons & Dragons: The Player’s Workbook Of Epic Adventures: An Official Companion To The Player’s Handbook.
RPG bundle deals
- Save $4.97 (42%) in Nomadic Delirium Press’ The Divided States of America bundle.
RPG ideas, tips and discoveries
- Charles Dunwoody helped us explore Danger at Darkshelf Quarry.
- Dice Monkey details What Happened to the Big Shared RPG Conversation?.
- Backwards Tabletop reflects on SPINE and The Problem with Production Value.
RPG Crowdfunding
There’s more! You can catch up with the Kickstarter campaign we’ve written up in more detail at Kickstarter watch. Here are some noteworthy industry projects to mention:
- Crit Cats- Cat-themed Dice for Fun Felines and Cool Critters is a project by the evergreen burrow that features “Dice sets and singles with a cute cat theme!”
- The Coven, A Folk Horror Adventure for 5th Edition from Laurie kickstarts “The Coven is a gothic folk horror adventure for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, designed for four to six characters of 3rd to 5th level”
- Egyptian Subclasses & Monsters for DnD 5e / 5.5e is a project by Fool’s Hand Studio that features “Two mythic subclasses and five monsters inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology bringing ancient gods and eternal sands to your table.”
- Feudal Japan Battle Maps from Alex1805Kings kickstarts “320 RPG Battlemaps for Feudal Japan Adventures — Castles, Villages, Temples, Wilderness, Interiors, Bridges & Mountain Paths”
- Machine Gods of the Noxian Expanse by Alex T. is offering “Reclaimer Edition, written for Mörk Borg!”
- The Campaign Sleeve: A Leather TTRPG & 5e Journal Sleeve from Saiko Works seeks funding for “A handmade leather notebook sleeve, designed for D&D players, worldbuilders, and Game Masters.”
- Zoologist’s Primer: Birds from Hunters Books has introduced “From the majestic, soul-rescuing albatross to the tiny, cunning wren, this system agnostic book brings you over 100+ Birds of folklore.”
- 🛸 TTRPG Maps — 450 Alien Planet Maps 🌌🛰️ by Benjámin Weisz is an upcoming supplement for “Rule the stars! 🪐 450 maps of alien ruins, derelict ships & orbital hubs. Claim your sector in the deep black. 🚀🌌”
- The Dragon Slayer’s Toolkit from Ready to Play is working on “Subclasses, Feats, Spells and more for slaying Dragons in Dungeons & Dragons 5.5 (2024) for Players and DMs”
- The New Unknown | a sci-fi role playing game is a project by EuryDice – Echoes of Ink that looks at “Fully Daggerheart Compatible TTRPG Core Rulebook for adventures exploring the vastness of space…”
- Prophet of The Drowned Valley and A Guide to Vitamancy is a project by Grimcraft Games that invites players to explore “A Dark adventure of dismay and a complete guide to the practice of fringe medicine in your 5E games and beyond!”
- FatesEnd Tomes REFORGED from Kim Bourrie is nominating “3D Printable Modular Library — Reforged to Open Like Real Books (but still support-free!)”
- Nomad Series Portable Folding Game Tables is a project by Game Theory Tables that is described as “Solid wood, space-saving professional game tables with recessed vaults and magnetic modular rails. Built for homes and venues.”
- Dungeons & Pharaohs: Game Assets for DnD 5.5e from Paolo Alberto Pinna offers “Two game manuals inspired by ancient Egypt: a book of game assets and a book with a complete bestiary”
- FAST Core Gold RPG 2026 Adventure Bundle #3 by Scott Taylor is now live, described as “Enjoy multi-genre adventures within the D10 universe of the FAST Core Gold RPG!”
- Smaller Paul’s Goblin Archers from Jonathan Brodsky is crowdfunding “A set of hand sculpted, metal cast 28mm miniature goblin archers.”
- Dice Art – Forged Mokume Dice Collection is a project by Cristobal that promises “Real metal. Forged patterns. Machined with precision. Designed to Roll.”
- Dungeon Daddy’s Technos & Titans – Tabletop Roleplaying Game by Dungeon Daddy is touted as “A Cyberfantasy TTRPG Quick Start Guide, with an innovative gaming system!”
- InitiatiV — The TTRPG Platform That Puts Your Game First is a project by InitiaitiV LLC that is “Built by GMs. For Everyone at the Table.”
- 100 Encounters on the Road: 5e Travel Encounters from GM’s Satchel brings us “A drag-and-drop toolkit of 100 unique roleplay, combat, and puzzle encounters to cure boring travel sessions in D&D 5e.”
- 100 & 100 Consumables and Enchanted Trinkets for D&D 5e! from Paws for Effect shares “A DnD 5e supplement featuring a wide variety of consumables and enchanted trinkets, ready to drop into any campaign!”
- Roll for Outfit 1: D&D Adventuring Magical Clothes from Vault of ManyThings is working on “The ultimate TTRPG character wardrobe! 50+ enchanted, non-armor medieval clothes designed specifically for your DnD 5e adventures.”
- Regal Rollers: Second Sharp Edge Dice Collection by Regal Rollers is offering “Handcrafted sharp edge dice that use shiny inclusions, mist, and a splash of love to tell beautiful stories.”
- Rising Sun : Falling Shadows from David Elodi seeks funding for “An alternative TTRPG using a D20 based system, but inspired by eastern culture. (shinobi, martial arts, etc) For gritty/realistic play.”
- Shadow Fables is a project by Rod Waibel that features “Bringing historical folklore and mythology from around the world to your Shadowdark game!”
- Split Infinities by Scott W is a new roleplaying games project for “A collection of Campaign Frames designed explicitly for the Daggerheart system. Unleash your game.”
- Tahlvaen: A New D&D 5e Setting of Horror, Hope, and Legacy is a project by John Eisenberg that is “Tahlvaen is a darkly beautiful tabletop setting where fate is a song, magic is rare, and the world will remember what you dared to do.”
- 5e Horror Bestiary: Tome of Dark Horrors from Elven Foundry seeks funding for “A complete guide into 100 horror creatures and aberrations.”
- Meanders RPG Maps: Tactical Enhancements from Kris McDermott brings us “A suite of tactical overlay mini-maps to customise your Meanders RPG Battlemaps with exciting new features.”
- Hell House LLC: Feats of Fright by John McDonald is offering “A ttrpg based on the Abaddon Hotel’s ghoulish found footage franchise “documentary”.”
- Nat20:27 Fest – A Fantasy & Tabletop Gaming Festival! from Josh & Mike shares “A weekend festival for TCGs, D&D, tabletop games, cosplay, music & community.”
- Vanguard is a project by Mickey Weddington that looks at “Age of Heroes”
- RonCon 2026! by Ron Dobyns is now live, described as “Come play board games with us on October 23rd through the 25th at Carson City’s one and only RonCon board game convention!”
- D100 Town Events – List for 5E by Laura MCL is a new roleplaying games project for “Intrigue, Danger & Urban Adventure”
- The Leyfarer’s Chronicle, a 5E Campaign & Setting from TPK Brewing Co. offers “Unravel the mysteries of Val’Ruvina with the first two chapters of TPK Brewing Co.’s hit post-cataclysmic 5E campaign.”
- Xarax’s Guide to Glyphs & Components for 5e is a project by Voidborn Games that promises “A D&D 5e supplement to expand magic with new mechanics and spells!”
- Petmon from K Arroyo is developing “The Diceless, “Digimon Inspired” TTRPG”
- Stronghold of the Mad Dwarf. from Ian Hickey offers “A classic dungeon crawl into madness. An Adventure for AD&D 2e, 5e, and Shadowdark RPGs.”
- Tallest Tower: A Solo Play RPG by Mia Johnson is an upcoming supplement for “A single player 5th edition (5e) compatible adventure made for gamers of any experience level.”
[What’s this chart? We use Kickstarter Heat to measure how busy the crowdfunding season is.]
Do you know of any RPG news sources we might not know? If so, please let us know or leave a comment below.
