Dungeons & Dragons’ new virtual tabletop platform, Sigil, has launched with high expectations but demonstrates significant shortcomings, feeling incomplete and more akin to a pre-alpha version than a polished product. While it boasts aesthetically pleasing 3D graphics and ties to D&D Beyond for character integration, the app struggles with functionality, lacking essential features for game management and customization, which detracts from the user experience. Many users report frustrating bugs and inconsistencies with character imports and game mechanics, suggesting the need for manual oversight. Critics note that despite its visual appeal, Sigil does not adequately compete with established virtual tabletops, and its current state casts doubt on its potential for future improvement. Additionally, feedback from the community reflects skepticism about its overall viability as a go-to platform for D&D sessions, particularly given the limitations on customization and gameplay integration.
The newly launched crowdfunding campaign for the Western Reaches setting, designed for the Shadowdark roleplaying game by the Arcane Library, is rapidly gaining traction, having surpassed half a million dollars within hours of its start. With a goal to reach the million-dollar mark, this sandbox environment includes new classes, ancestries, and themed areas like the Gloaming Forest and Djurum Desert. The offering comes in two hardcover editions, priced at $129 and $149 for a premium version, with fulfillment anticipated by December 2025. As it stands, The Western Reaches already ranks as one of the highest first-day funded tabletop RPG projects, indicating significant interest from the gaming community.
DriveThruRPG has issued a warning to publishers about impending increases in Print on Demand (POD) costs, which could rise significantly—by 20-50%—starting April 1st due to escalating supply costs. This increase primarily affects black and white printing, including both hardcover and softcover formats, attributed to issues such as tariffs and supply chain disruptions. While DriveThruRPG has stated they won’t adjust selling prices immediately, the heightened publishing costs may lead to price increases for customers, particularly impacting smaller publishers who might face reduced profitability. Publishers are encouraged to consider purchasing POD products soon to avoid the upcoming price hikes.
Chris Cocks, Hasbro’s CEO, who has played Dungeons & Dragons for 40 years, emphasizes the importance of trust and collaboration in both gaming and corporate leadership. He has been focusing on a “pivot back to play” strategy at Hasbro, moving away from a previous emphasis on storytelling to enhance product design, innovation, and customer engagement. Cocks has reduced the company’s content spending significantly and shifted its approach toward capital-light licensing to maintain profitability, while also exploring new markets to address emerging challenges. He highlights the need for adaptability within the supply chain and aims to capture a broader customer base by creating affordable toys for emerging markets. Cocks is also an advocate for integrating artificial intelligence into gaming, arguing it can enhance creativity and engagement in Dungeons & Dragons. While he perceives AI as a tool that can democratize content creation, he acknowledges current platforms often fail to compensate creators adequately. He envisions future offerings that could enable parents to customize popular brands like Peppa Pig and enrich D&D campaigns, framing AI as a beneficial addition to the brand. Despite potential challenges related to tariffs and manufacturing costs, Cocks maintains a hopeful outlook for reaching more consumers and evolving Hasbro’s product lines to meet changing demographics and preferences.
D&D Beyond Sigil:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/sigil
The Western Reaches Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/shadowdarkrpg/western-reaches
Chris Cocks Interview’
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After some technical difficulties, we discuss San Diego Comic-Con 2021 being inevitably cancelled following the cancellation of their WonderCon. They will hold Comic-Con@Home on July 23rd-25th and also announced Comic-Con Special Edition. Special Edition is a scaled-down version of the live event scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend. Should be interesting. Marvel Comics announced they will be ending their 27 year-old exclusive relationship with Diamond Distributors. They signed a new exclusive world-wide deal with Penguin Random House. Later on the day of this announcement Diamond Distributors sent a letter to comic retailers telling them that they will still be carrying Marvel books. A non-exclusive exclusive deal? Your guess is as good as ours. Also, after fallout of the cancellation of the Perfect RPG Kickstarter, Luke Crane will be departing his position at Kickstarter as community head. Finally, we discuss the evolution of the GM from their tribal beginnings to the more recent role of another kind of player, inspired by the article at Cannibal Halfling Gaming.
Free League is releasing a starter set for their 2015 RPG Symbaroum. Will this bring new players to this dark nature fantasy setting beautifully illustrated by Martin Grip? The official conversion for Pathfinder to the Savage Worlds system is now available on Kickstarter. We also discuss what D&D 6th edition may look like and the Dungeons and Dragons Singularity prophecized in Tasha’s Cauldron.