Tag: Dungeons & Dragons 5E

The Weekly Podcast no.283 – Farewell Paul Sawyer, WotC DMCA, Free5E and Alien RPG Evolved

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Paul Sawyer, a co-founder of Warlord Games and a prominent figure in the wargaming community, passed away on March 27, 2025, after a long battle with brain cancer. His passing was announced by both his family and Warlord Games, who expressed their deep sorrow and appreciation for his contributions. Sawyer was described as a man of great character who maintained bravely until the end, surrounded by his loved ones. The company pledged to continue building upon the strong foundations he established at Warlord Games. Sawyer was widely recognized for his work with Games Workshop and as an editor of White Dwarf magazine. Many in the wargaming community fondly remember his contributions, including his involvement in the “Tale of Four Gamers” and various battle reports. His role in launching Warlord Games further cemented his legacy, bringing historical and tabletop wargaming to a broader audience. Fans and colleagues have expressed their condolences, sharing their memories of Sawyer and his impact on their gaming experiences.

Wizards of the Coast (WotC) mistakenly issued a DMCA takedown notice against the Baldur’s Village mod, a Baldur’s Gate 3 -inspired Stardew Valley mod, but quickly reversed the decision after backlash from the community. The mod, which had received public approval from Larian Studios’ CEO Swen Vincke, allows players to romance Baldur’s Gate 3 characters within the Stardew Valleycharacters within the Stardew Valley world. Fans remain skeptical due to WotAfter issuing an apology, WotC clarified that the takedown was an error and promised to restore the mod. Despite this quick resolution, fans remain skeptical due to WotC’s history of similar takedown incidents, such as the 2024 controversy surrounding Dungeons & Dragons content creators. The incident highlights ongoing concerns about corporate overreach in the gaming community and raises questions about how companies handle fan-created content.

Wyrmworks Publishing has announced the launch of Free5e , an open-source, fully compatible alternative to Dungeons & Dragons 5e . Unlike traditional TTRPG systems, Free5e is completely free to access ,is entirely free to access, with three core books—the Player’s Guide , GM Handbook , and Free Range Monsters —available for download. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY), Free5e allows creators to modify, adapt, and distribute content without corporate restrictions. Free5e is diverse The project prioritizes accessibility with dyslexia-friendly PDFs, digital braille, and other formats to ensure inclusivity. It also introduces new mechanics for disability representation, aiming to reflect diverse experiences within the gaming community. Additionally, Free5e is designed for global play, enabling easy translation and cultural adaptation. The project is currently raising funds via Kickstarter to finalize editing, layout, and artwork while keeping the system free for everyone.

Free League Publishing has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the ALIEN RPG: Evolved Edition , an updated version of their critically acclaimed tabletop roleplaying game set in the ALIEN universe. The new edition refines mechanics such as stealth, panic rolls, and zero-gravity gameplay while incorporating updates from ALIEN: Romulus.The campaign offers a variety of content, including a revised core rulebook, a new starter set, an adventure scenario titled Rapture Protocol, and a miniatures pack. Fans of the ALIEN franchise can look forward to a game that stays true to the horror and action of the films while allowing for flexible storytelling in both one-shot and long-form campaign formats. The Kickstarter is currently live, offering various pledge tiers for backers.

#paulsawyer #wotc #free5e #alienrpg

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The Weekly LIVE 241 – D&D Beyond Changes, 13th Age 2E, Edgerunners Starter Kit and The Sassoon Files 2E

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D&D Beyond, the official digital service for Dungeons & Dragons 5e, recently underwent a major redesign. However, the removal of the option to purchase individual content has sparked outrage among players. Previously, players could buy specific elements from official sourcebooks at a cheaper price than buying the entire book. But with the recent update, players must now purchase the full book to access its content, leading to increased costs and restrictions on customization. This change has drawn criticism from the community, with players expressing concerns about limited character options and higher prices, potentially discouraging new players and increasing costs for existing ones. Some players speculate that these changes are motivated by financial gain, but it’s uncertain how they will ultimately impact the game and its community. 

The 13th Age Second Edition Kickstarter campaign aims to refresh and modernize the popular tabletop RPG. Key features include revamped class powers and revitalized monsters, providing players with a wide array of options for effective gameplay. Character backstory plays a significant role, shaping the game’s narrative and providing bonuses to skill checks. Additionally, the game strengthens storytelling mechanics through icon connections, offering both narrative advantages and consequences. The second edition will consist of two reasonably-sized books: the Player’s Handbook and the Gamemaster’s Guide. These books will include updated rules, monsters, and setting materials. The campaign offers various pledge tiers, including options for digital and physical rewards, as well as limited edition items. Overall, the goal is to enhance the gaming experience while maintaining compatibility with previous editions and supplements.

Talsorian Games is releasing a Cyberpunk: Edgerunners Mission Kit for Cyberpunk Red, inspired by the anime and the Cyberpunk 2077 game. Priced at $35, the kit includes three books totaling 120 pages, providing instructions for new players, lore from Cyberpunk 2077, and backgrounds for characters from the anime. The set also contains a full-length mission titled “The Jacket” set after the events of the anime. The kit features themed dice, standees, tokens, and maps, along with artwork by the anime’s director, Hiroyuki Imaishi. The release is slated for mid-to-late June, available in physical and digital formats.

The Sons of the Singularity are launching a Kickstarter campaign for “The Sassoon Files, 2nd Edition,” a horror campaign for the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game set in 1920s Shanghai. Victor Sassoon leads a diverse team in defending the city against Mythos influence. The new edition doubles the content of the original, featuring expanded scenarios, campaign settings, and improved production. It explores Shanghai’s history and factions like Communists, Nationalists, Triads, and the Japanese, along with the secret Mythos history. The campaign will offer PDF and hardcover versions with scenarios, lore sheets, pre-generated characters, maps, and handouts. The development team includes writers, artists, and a cultural consultant. The Kickstarter launches on May 11th.

#dndbeyond #13thAge #edgerunners #sassoonfiles

13th Age Second Edition:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pelgranepress/13th-age-second-edition-storytelling-action-fantasy-game

The Sassoon Files Second Edition:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/singularity-sons/the-sassoon-files-second-edition

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The Weekly LIVE 176 – Fantasy AGE 2E, Pathfinder Sells Out, Black Flag Presses On, C7d20 5E Compatible System, Goodman Games Best Sales Ever and Gamefound Misses Goal

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The Fantasy AGE Core Rulebook will introduce the game’s second edition when Green Ronin Publishing releases it next month.

Paizo runs out of  core rulebooks until April 2023 after being bombarded with Weeks’ Worth of Orders During OGL 1.1 Battle.

Kobold Press thanks Wizards of the Coast for listening to the community and responding by releasing the SRD 5.1 into Creative Commons. This change ensures that 5E remains available to everyone, including Kobold Press.First, Project Black Flag is going forward. Their timeline is unchanged. The first phase of playtesting releases at the end of February 2023. 

Cubicle 7 are developing an upcoming tabletop RPG called Broken Weave, which will contain an early look at their newly developed rules system – C7d20, which will be compatible with Dungeons & Dragons 5E, or rather that edition’s System Reference Document (SRD) 5.1 that Wizards of the Coast released under a Creative Commons license. 

Goodman Games announced that January 2023 was the best sales month in its two-decade history. Sales through the Goodman Games online store reached an all-time high, exceeding even prior Black Friday and holiday special events, while other channels saw similar growth. Dungeon Crawl Classics core rulebooks moved at a brisk pace throughout the month, as several accessories and adventure modules sold out.

 Gamefound fell short of its goals in 2022, but still ate into Kickstarter’s lead in tabletop.

Marcin Świerkot, founder of the upstart crowdfunding platform Gamefound, set an ambitious goal for his company in 2022. He and his team hoped to bring in $67.5 million — 25% of competitor Kickstarter’s revenue from tabletop projects in 2021. In the end, he fell well short of that goal. The Poland-based Gamefound increased its revenue more than 45% last year, earning just $28.3 million for new projects.

 

#fantasyAGE #pathfinder #blackflagproject #c7d20 #gamefound

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