Tag: Evil Genius Games

The Weekly LIVE 273 – Fate of the Fellowship, McCullough 2025, Evil Genius Games and Bitter Chalice

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The upcoming release of “The Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship”, a cooperative tabletop game by Matt Leacock and Z-Man Games, brings the world of Middle-earth to life this June. Players will work together as heroes to protect Middle-earth’s havens from advancing enemies while helping Frodo evade the Nazgûl on his journey to destroy the One Ring. With gameplay designed for 1-5 players, the game features 13 characters, 14 event cards, and 24 objectives, alongside stunning artwork and a detailed 11-inch replica of Barad-dûr as the game’s centerpiece. Leacock adapts the system from his renowned Pandemic board game, which has already been reimagined in various settings, such as Star Wars and the Cthulhu mythos. This new game holds special significance for Leacock, as his cooperative game design journey began with Reiner Knizia’s “The Lord of the Rings” in 2000. Now, 25 years later, Leacock shares his personal take on Tolkien’s epic tale. He will be providing design insights leading up to the game’s release and signing early copies at the U.K. Games Expo in May.

Joseph McCullough’s 2025 releases from Osprey Games include a mix of fun, imaginative, and adventurous titles. “Hairfoot Jousting,” a whimsical game about tournament competition, focuses on humor and sportsmanship. The “Stargrave: Death Vector” expansion introduces cyberpunk hacking mechanics and deadly cyborg enemies in a campaign set within the Outlaw Technology Sector. “Frostgrave: Advanced Spellcraft” adds critical spellcasting mechanics and a competitive campaign to celebrate the game’s 10th anniversary, while “The Silver Bayonet: Britain – Bones of Albion” expands its supernatural battles to the British Isles with a full campaign and undead enemies.

Evil Genius Games (EGG), publisher of the Everyday Heroes tabletop roleplaying game, has been under scrutiny for its business practices and leadership issues, as detailed in investigative articles published in 2024. These articles, based on court documents, internal communications, and interviews with former employees, revealed ethical concerns and alleged retaliation against staff who spoke out. Recently, EGG’s CEO, Dave Scott, contacted a Reddit user, asking them to remove a link to one such article, claiming it was harming the company. This request backfired, reviving interest in the article and invoking the “Streisand Effect.” Despite financial backing and recent product launches, including the digital platform “Sidekick,” EGG has faced criticism for its previous use of controversial Web3 technologies and its treatment of employees. Critics argue the company’s struggles stem from leadership decisions rather than external commentary.

Finally, “Bitter Chalice,” a Soulslike fantasy TTRPG, offers players a dark and immersive journey through the cursed Blighted Lands. Inspired by games like Bloodborne and Elden Ring, the game is structured as a meticulously crafted campaign with unique classes, areas to explore, and a dynamic map. Aimed at delivering a challenging yet narrative-driven experience, it avoids the repetitive death mechanics typical of Soulslike video games. The game’s launch promises early bird bonuses and exclusive content for backers.

#pandemic #frostgrave #evilgeniusgames #bitterchalice 

ENWorld’s reporting on Evil Genius Games:

https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-rise-and-fall-of-evil-genius-games.702617/

Evil Genius Games Digital Platform:

https://sidekick.evilgeniusgames.com/

BItter Chalice:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theworldanvil/bitter-chalice

ch Crusade Late Pledge on MyMiniFactory:

https://www.myminifactory.com/frontier/trench-crusade-late-pledge-3423

Painting Contest Page:

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The Weekly LIVE 270 – 2024 Postmortem

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Matt and Jeremy talk about their best and worst of 2024!

ACTUAL PLAY GAMES OF 2024

ALIEN RPG Destroyer of Worlds

ALIEN RPG Chariot of the Gods

Outgunned: Indy Heat 1985 

Ironsworn by Shawn Tomkins 

Outgunned Adventure RPG (Dune break)

Dune 2d20 RPG (16 sessions)

Blade Runner RPG – Case File 02 Fiery Angels

Magnagothica: Maleghast

WEEKLY PODCAST TOPICS 224-269  

Bryan Ansell and Jennell Jaquays Pass, Halo Wargame, New MtG Art and The End Deck of Sexy Things, DCC on Roll 20, Jaquays Tribute Dungeon and Ars Magica Evil Genius v. Netflix, Old World RPG,  Fall of the Imperium and Guildball PnPTencent Buys DnD, CMON Rescue, Rogue Trooper Movie and Tabletop KS Declines Starfinder 2E, Free League 2024, Free RPG Day,  Skirmish Games and Dragonlance DnD 2024 Revision Late, Epic Warpath, OpenAI Wins and The Purple Planet Return to Perinthos, Evil Genius Demise, CMON Exclusivity and Pathfinder OSTs StarTrek Adventures 2E, UltraPro D&D 50th, Paranoia 25th Anniversary Bundle & Life in ReterraChaosium Challenge, Dune Bundle, Grimdark CoD, Mass Effect & AIien Nexus Tales of the Valiant, Ninja Division, Daggerheart, Puerto Rico and Heroscape Edgerunners, Enemy Within, D&D LEGOs, Coriolis: The Great Dark & RIP Jim Ward Best of Magpie, Mystic Punks RPG, New AoS, Hasbro AI and Cairn 2nd Edition Blackmilk D&D, Sundered Isles, Doppel Mini, TROIKA! Bundle and Ed Piskor RIP Astroprisma, The Black Company, Dimension 20 at MSG, Gummy Quest & ChampionsOM Maggot Machine, Monolith Gets Rackham, KS Late Pledges, WotC CEO & Yes And MEKBORG, Embracer Divides, Zone Wars Retail, This is FreeTrader Beowulf and Roll20 CMON /Japon Brand, Miku:The Gathering, Hasbro Videogames, Goblinko Video Game & STA 2E D&D Beyond Changes, 13th Age 2E, Edgerunners Starter Kit and The Sassoon Files Darkness at the Brink of Ohio, One More Multiverse RIP, Greyhawk and Solomon Kane  Replicant Rebellion, Battletech 40th, Adobe Diss and Outgunned Adventure Andy Chambers Heads Konflikt ‘47, Endless Horrors, Wallet Games and Mork Borg Roll20/Demiplane, Steamforged/Warmachine, Instagram AI and Fantasy Grounds Electric State Movie, Delta Green Bundle, DC20 Breaks $1 Million and WacomWarhammer 5E, Grey Knight for Pendrangon, Evil Genius Games and Free RPG Day Modiphius + Strato Minis Studio, CRIT Awards, Caverns of Thracia & Rascal News Roll20 Security Breach, Modiphius UK, Helluva Town and Five Parsecs Tactics Publishers Scammed, Phantasy Star TTRPG, Etsy Now Sells AI and Sexist D&DGURPS 4E, Lancer 2nd Printing New Cover, Actual Plays and Eldritch Automata Alchemy VTT Bundle, D&D VTT This Year, Pirate Borg Expansions and WotC Credits Cosmere TTRPG, 2024 ENNIES, D&D Video Takedowns and Mantic Deadzone Frontier Welcome to Nightvale RPG, William King Konflikt’47, Free League PDFs on Alchemy and AI Paizo Giveaway, Golden Demon AI, Amazon 40k and Star Trek 1E Bundle D&D Beyond Debacle, Gav Thorpe Joins Konflikt 47, Start Here RPG & Konflikt’47 Paul Sawyer, Plasmodics RPG, More D&D Spirits and Barbarians of Lemuria+ Cyberpunk 2077, Faster Purple Worm the Book, Wharf Rat Games and AI in D&DPHB, Paul Sawyer, Gold Teeth, Vanguard: Normandy, Expanse RPG, Elfquest & 2LM More Alien 2E, D&D Help Wanted, Dropfleet Commander 2E and Horizons Magazine Super Hero Trademark, Darktide Card Game, Mythic Dissolves and Mothership RPG  Lone Wolf RPG, PHB 2024 Reprint, Bolt Action Intro Set and Fighting Fantasy, Trench Crusade, Baldur’s Gate 3 AP, Mythic Carpathia for Vaesen and Bludgeoon Stay Frosty, Deep Cuts, Black Powder and Brimstone and Ashes Without Number, Household Bundle, Star Trek 2E Starter Set, N5 Delayed and Higher Tariffs, Sony to Buy Kadokawa, New Grimdark , Household Volume II and Elf Creek Games No More Hasbro Movies, LotR on D&D Beyond, Exodus TTRPG and Black Friday Sales, PAX Unplugged, Amazon Warhammer Deal, Elves for One Ring and Free League & 2LM UK Copyright Reform, Vallejo Strike, Wyrmwood Layoffs and Doomsong

 

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The Weekly LIVE 247 – Warhammer 5E AP, The Grey Knight for Pendragon 6E, Evil Genius Games Heel Turn and Free RPG Day 2024

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The upcoming D&D actual play series, “Heretic Hunt,” merges the worlds of Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer 40,000, promising a unique blend of medieval fantasy and grim futuristic themes. This series features former Games Workshop presenters Louise Sugden and Chris ‘Peachy’ Peach, alongside Dungeon Master Daniel Saye, actor Greg Jones, and producer-performer Jamila Hall. Set to premiere later this year, it will consist of eight 48-minute episodes featuring miniatures and terrain crafted by the players. Daniel Saye, inspired by Warhammer 40,000’s gritty universe and the street-level narratives of author Dan Abnett, orchestrates the story. The campaign kicks off in the hive city Serrix-2, with a team of Inquisitorial agents disrupting a heretical ritual. The diverse characters, some seasoned and others newly conscripted, focus on saving their immediate surroundings rather than the entire world. Sugden, leveraging her experience with the Necromunda franchise, integrates her multidisciplinary skills into the role-playing, bringing a depth of lore and creativity to her character.The series adopts the Dungeons & Dragons ruleset due to its familiarity and efficiency for storytelling, despite the availability of other RPG systems. Saye emphasizes that D&D’s shared language among players made it ideal for the series’ production. The rules are slightly modified to fit the Warhammer 40,000 setting, with elements borrowed from other RPGs to enhance the narrative. The miniatures and terrain, integral to the visual storytelling, are crafted with passion and precision by the team, providing a rich and immersive experience for viewers.

Chaosium’s release of Pendragon 6E includes the revitalized campaign “The Grey Knight,” a classic adventure newly updated for the sixth edition. The campaign spans generations and serves as an excellent introduction to the Pendragon system, featuring prominent Arthurian characters like Arthur, Guenevere, and Merlin. It combines the two prequel scenarios from the Starter Set with the full Grey Knight campaign, offering a comprehensive and engaging experience for new players and game masters.

Evil Genius Games (EGG), known for their Everyday Heroes TTRPG, is under scrutiny for potentially using NFTs and blockchain technology despite previous pledges against such technologies. After multiple staff resignations citing ethical concerns, EGG’s CEO Dave Scott assured the public that the company would avoid these controversial technologies. However, Scott’s recent pitch at Consensus 2024 heavily featured NFTs and blockchain, raising doubts about EGG’s commitment to its earlier promises. The pitch outlined a vision where NFTs would play a significant role in their TTRPG offerings, including character sheets and in-game objects, sparking further controversy and concern among fans and former staff alike.

Similarly, Embracer Group has adopted a new AI policy to enhance game production, aiming to increase efficiency and personalization in gameplay. The company believes that leveraging AI will allow for more engaging and dynamic gaming experiences. However, Embracer acknowledges the risks associated with AI, such as potential ethical and bias issues, and emphasizes a human-centric approach to the technology. The policy aims to empower developers and open opportunities for new hires, while ensuring compliance with comprehensive legal and ethical standards.

Free RPG Day is set for June 22, 2024, offering exclusive RPG adventures, previews, and accessories from top publishers. The event, held at hobby game stores worldwide, provides an opportunity for gamers to explore new games and enjoy a day of roleplaying celebration. Participating publishers will soon reveal the details of their offerings, promising a treasure trove of exciting content for attendees.

#warhammer #5E #Pendragon6E #EGG #FreeRPGday 

Grey Knight for Pendragon 6E (affiliate link):

https://www.chaosium.com/pendragon-the-grey-knight-hardcover?affiliate_id=2081746

Grey Knight Hardcover for Pendragon 6E:

https://www.chaosium.com/pendragon-the-grey-knight-hardcover/

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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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The Weekly LIVE 230 – Return to Perinthos, Evil Genius Demise, CMON Exclusivity and Pathfinder Official Soundtracks

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A group of RPG creators is crowdfunding a physical book for a memorial megadungeon called Return to Perinthos, dedicated to the late D&D designer Jennell Jaquays. The project aims to cover Jaquays’ medical and funeral expenses, featuring nearly 90 interconnected dungeon levels mirroring her classic Caverns of Thracia. The 200-page book, designed by Luke Gearing, includes a fresh setting and a previously unpublished Q&A with Jaquays. The crowdfunding campaign on Crowdfundr, licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0, allows contributors to use various RPG systems, resulting in an eclectic mix. All proceeds from retail sales will go to Trans Lifeline in honor of Jaquays’ activism. The campaign runs until February 26th, with shipping expected in May.

Evil Genius Games, a tabletop RPG company, experienced a rapid decline from over 20 staff members to just six within a few weeks. The company faced financial troubles despite initial success, with staff working without pay for months. A failed collaboration with Netflix on the Rebel Moon tabletop game, accompanied by a lawsuit and subsequent settlement, contributed to the company’s woes. Internal conflicts arose over the use of controversial Web3 technologies, including AI, blockchain, and NFTs, and disagreements led to resignations and layoffs. Allegations of a toxic work environment, broken promises, and unethical behavior by the CEO were raised by former employees. The company is now seeking to recover with a smaller team and scaled-down ambitions. A crowdfunding campaign for Military Heroes sourcebooks is underway, emphasizing a commitment to avoid using AI or blockchains in their projects.

Board game company CMON LTD and crowdfunding platform Gamefound have entered into an exclusivity deal for tabletop crowdfunding and pledge management. CMON will now host its crowdfunding and preorder campaigns exclusively on Gamefound, marking a significant shift from its previous use of Kickstarter. The move is driven by Gamefound’s features and a desire to enhance the consumer experience. CMON’s current A Song of Ice & Fire: Tactics campaign on Gamefound has already raised over $1 million. Meanwhile, Backerkit, a crowdfunding platform, is gaining traction in tabletop gaming by attracting disenchanted Kickstarter users. Backerkit aims to offer a more intimate and sustainable relationship between backers and creators. The platform has experienced success with tabletop campaigns, managing projects that account for a significant percentage of Kickstarter funds. Backerkit’s CEO, Maxwell Salzberg, envisions crowdfunding as a way for creators to turn their unique projects into a long-term career. 

Pathfinder RPG has partnered with Michael Ghelfi Studios to produce official soundtracks for upcoming Adventure Path releases. Paizo, the studio behind Pathfinder, will collaborate with Michael Ghelfi Studios to create full-length soundtracks for Adventure Paths, enhancing the ambiance of tabletop RPG sessions. The partnership aims to provide players with memorable music associated with key themes, characters, and story beats from their campaigns. The soundtracks will be available for download alongside the Adventure Path volumes and can be streamed on various platforms, including YouTube, Spotify, and Bandcamp. Paizo plans to list the music on popular virtual tabletop programs for online RPG sessions.

Return to Perinthos: A Memorial Book for Jennell Jaquays:
https://crowdfundr.com/perinthos?ref=ab_8XXPrtYbtpi8XXPrtYbtpi

Osprey Games February Flash Sale:
https://www.ospreypublishing.com/uk/discover/sale/osprey-games-february-sale-24/

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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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Dragonbane Core Set:
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The Weekly LIVE 226 – Evil Genius v. Netflix, The Old World RPG, Fall of the Imperium and Guildball Print&Play

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Evil Genius Games and Netflix have reached an amicable resolution regarding the canceled Rebel Moon roleplaying game. The lawsuit, which involved a breach of contract claim by Evil Genius Games after Netflix terminated their license, has been settled without disclosing details. Despite the resolution, the Rebel Moon game will not be released. Netflix expressed gratitude for Evil Genius’ work, and the latter assured fans of upcoming cinematic adventures and a new sci-fi project. Retailers who preordered the game will receive information on processing refunds.

 

Warhammer: The Old World, recently relaunched by Games Workshop, will have a tabletop RPG adaptation by Cubicle 7. While details about the RPG are pending approval, it is expected to explore a new era in the Warhammer universe. Cubicle 7 plans to support both Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition and the new Old World RPG. The lack of concrete information has left fans curious about the differences between the two game systems.

 

To coincide with the release of Dune: Part 2 in cinemas, Modiphius Entertainment is offering the pre-order for Dune: Fall of the Imperium, a campaign book for the Dune: Adventures in the Imperium roleplaying game. The book follows the events of Frank Herbert’s Dune and lets players experience the rise of Muad’Dib and the fall of the Imperium. The campaign is divided into four acts, each with three adventures, providing players with choices that impact their House’s fate.

 

Guild Ball, a fantasy football miniatures game by Steamforged Games, is making a return in the form of officially sanctioned print-on-demand files. Steamforged will release updated rules for free, and players can use STL files to print their own copies of the game components, including teams and terrain. The decision to support Guild Ball again comes after the game’s cancellation in 2020 due to reasons including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift in gameplay style in the competitive scene. The files will be available on Steamforged’s website soon.

#guildball #oldworld #dunerpg #rebelmoon

Game Jam for Jennel Jaquays:
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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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The Weekly LIVE 211 – Netflix Sued by Evil Genius, Backerkit Bans AI, Undaunted Goes Scifi, Random House Drops D&D and Art by Nohr

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Evil Genius Games is suing Netflix for allegedly backing out of a deal to create a tabletop role-playing game (TTRPG) based on Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon movie. Evil Genius Games claims they delivered the game and related materials but Netflix canceled the contract and asserted ownership of the intellectual property without fair compensation.

BackerKit, a crowdfunding platform, announced a policy against AI-generated content on its platform, citing concerns about fair compensation and permission issues. The policy will restrict solely AI-generated content, but AI-assisted tools in editing and refinement will still be allowed. Essen Spiel, the world’s largest board game expo, admitted to using AI-generated artwork in promotional material for its 2023 event. The admission follows public criticism of other companies using AI-generated art, such as FryxGames and Stronghold Games for Terraforming Mars.

Osprey Games announced a new entry in the Undaunted board game series called “Undaunted 2200: Callisto,” moving away from World War II settings to sci-fi mech battles on Jupiter’s moon Callisto.

Penguin Random House will cease distributing Dungeons & Dragons products in mainstream bookstores from 2024. The distribution responsibility will shift to other distributors like Alliance, Diamond, and GTS.

Johan Nohr, the artist behind MÖRK BORG, launched a Kickstarter campaign for an art book containing over 300 illustrations, annotations, and behind-the-scenes content. The book will showcase Nohr’s artwork since the release of MÖRK BORG in 2019 and will be a large coffee table book with high-quality printing.

Art by Nohr:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jnohr/art-by-nohr

Shop at Noble Knight Games (affiliate link)
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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
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Dragonbane Core Set:
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Dragonbane Free Quickstart:
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The Weekly LIVE 208 – Highlander RPG, Stronghold Games Defends AI, Monsters! Monsters! 2.7, Larry Elmore Volume 3 and Fables in Public Domain

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Highlander Cinematic Adventure: Evil Genius Games has released a “Cinematic Adventure” for its Everyday Heroes RPG, based on the Highlander movie franchise. Written by Sigfried Trent with an adventure designed by Ree Soesbee, the adventure focuses on the first Highlander film and introduces a few subclasses and a unique dueling mechanic for Immortal characters. While it doesn’t delve deeply into the lore of Highlander, it offers a fun RPG experience.

Terraforming Mars AI Art Controversy: Publisher Stronghold Games has faced some backlash from fans after using AI-generated content, such as artwork, in an upcoming board game expansion for Terraforming Mars. Some backers were surprised by the use of AI tools for art creation, and Kickstarter now requires creators to justify their use of AI in projects. Concerns are raised about the potential impact of AI-generated art on artists’ job opportunities in the industry.

Monsters! Monsters! 2.7 on Kickstarter: Ken St. Andre and Steven Crompton have launched a Kickstarter campaign for “Monsters! Monsters! Rules 2.7 & Crystal Caves Challenge solo,” an expanded RPG rulebook and adventure. The project offers various books, standees, maps, and adventures, exploring the world of Zimrala with a focus on monsters. It’s the latest installment in the Monsters! Monsters! series, offering a comprehensive rulebook for fans of the RPG.

Larry Elmore’s Complete Elmore Volume III: Larry Elmore, a renowned fantasy artist, has announced the third and final volume of his career retrospectives, titled “The Complete Elmore III: Highlights of a Path Well Traveled.” This hardcover book will feature over 300 pieces of art, some previously unpublished, and will put the artwork front and center with minimal commentary. It’s available exclusively through Kickstarter and includes limited-time offers for previous volumes and additional artwork.

Bill Willingham, the creator of the popular comic series Fables, has made a surprising announcement by releasing the entire franchise into the public domain. This decision stems from a deteriorating relationship with DC Comics, with whom he had a long-standing agreement for Fables. Willingham cites various issues with DC, including disputes over contracts and creative control, as reasons for this move. While his contracts with DC remain in force, he believes he can legally relinquish his ownership of Fables, allowing anyone to create new works using the series’ characters and settings. This decision reflects his desire for more equitable intellectual property laws and his frustration with DC’s practices. It also adds to the ongoing discussion about how major comics publishers treat their creators, highlighting issues of compensation and creative control in the industry. The impact of this bold move on Fables’ future and how DC will respond remains uncertain.

Monsters! Monsters! 2.7 Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stevecrompton/monsters-monsters-rules-27-and-crystal-caves-challenge-solo

Larry Elmore Volume 3 Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/larryelmore/larry-elmore-the-complete-elmore-volume-iii-hardcover-book

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