Daniel D. Fox, who created the grimdark roleplaying game Zweihänder, has warned that he may take legal action against his former publishing partners, World of Game Design (WoGD). On 1 May 2026, Fox posted a public statement that ramps up a long-running dispute over the still-unfulfilled Zweihänder Reforged Edition Kickstarter, which has yet to be delivered to backers as of 9 May 2026. WoGD have said they will deliver.
The dispute began in October 2024, when Fox bought back the rights to Zweihänder from World of Game Design and started his own studio, SLLSWRD Games. Even though he now owns the game, WoGD was still in charge of making and shipping the books from the $166,000 crowdfunding campaign. Fox says repeated delays and a lack of clear communication from WoGD have left him no choice but to consider legal action to protect the game’s community.
This situation highlights the problems with World of Game Design’s publishing group model. The company, based in West Lafayette, says on its website that it can help creators finance, Kickstart, make, and distribute their games. But with Zweihänder, that promise has so far fallen through. Fox still manages the Kickstarter page, but he can’t force WoGD to produce or ship the books, so thousands of backers are left waiting.
WoGD can’t control printer delays, tariffs, or blockades of shipping routes and has told Fox that they do have a plan to deliver the books.
This tension is especially noticeable as Gen Con 2026 approaches in Indianapolis this August. World of Game Design is just an hour away from the convention, so not delivering a big project before the world’s largest tabletop event could seriously hurt their reputation. Fox, who lives in Kansas City, has never shied away from powerful communications as a tactic. Going public with a possible lawsuit shows just how far the relationship with WoGD has broken down.
For backers, the big question is who’s responsible now. If World of Game Design still has the money and manufacturing deals, Fox owns the game but doesn’t control how it’s made. By threatening legal action, Fox is likely attempting to trigger a contractual default that would allow him to seize control of physical assets or force a settlement to finish the project under the SLLSWRD Games banner. Or, at least, not be blamed if the physical books fail to arrive
As independent geek news, we have published 5 articles on zweihander: reforged.
Latest entry: May 2026
