Hasbro has decided to step back from financing films based on its toys, following financial disappointments from movies like Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves and Transformers One. While these films were critically appreciated, their box office returns fell short, prompting Hasbro to leave the movie-making business. The company is now open to licensing its brands for others to adapt into films but will no longer co-finance such projects. This decision is ironic given the massive success of 2023’s toy-based Barbie film, which became a global phenomenon. Under CEO Chris Cocks, a gaming-focused leader, Hasbro plans to shift its resources toward interactive entertainment, including a potential push into video game development. However, this pivot likely means fans won’t see sequels to movies like Honor Among Thieves, despite its creative take on classic D&D themes.

Fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth can now access The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying sourcebook on D&D Beyond. Created by Swedish publisher Free League, this adaptation tailors the award-winning One Ring RPG for Dungeons & Dragons’ fifth edition ruleset. The 240-page guide features six classes, 12 subclasses, 14 species, and 42 unique feats designed to capture the essence of Tolkien’s world. It also includes adventure paths for levels 1–10, complemented by compatible maps for D&D Beyond’s virtual tabletop. While the physical book costs over $50 on Free League’s website, the D&D Beyond edition is available for $29.99, offering players a seamless way to explore Middle-earth using modern tools.

Wizards of the Coast’s Archetype Entertainment has announced Exodus: The Traveler’s Handbook, a tabletop RPG tied to its upcoming sci-fi video game Exodus. Created by James Ohlen, a veteran designer of classics like Baldur’s Gate and Knights of the Old Republic, this TTRPG invites players to lead “Travelers” on perilous missions involving alien artifacts and time-dilation consequences. The tabletop game is offered as a limited pre-order for “founders” who subscribe to the game’s email list before December 10. While details about gameplay mechanics remain scarce, speculation suggests a possible adaptation of D&D’s 5E rules. Both the game and TTRPG aim to expand the Exodus universe, blending space exploration with rich storytelling.

Tabletop role-playing game enthusiasts can find numerous Black Friday deals this season. Key highlights include discounts from Goodman Games (15–40% off), Paizo, and Exalted Funeral (25–50% off). Magpie Games is running month-long promotions, while Dungeon Alchemist offers 20% off its map-making software on Steam. Fans of smaller publishers can explore sales from Elf Lair Games and Arken Forge, among others, for a wide range of deals on adventures, supplements, and tools to enhance their gaming experience.

#lotr #dndbeyond #exodusrpg #blackfriday

BLACK FRIDAY SALES

Goodman Games:

https://goodman-games.com/store/ (15-40% off)
https://goodman-games.com/blog/2024/11/26/black-friday-is-early-save-up-to-40-on-5e-adventures/ (15-40% off)

Coupon codes goodhaul2024 and indiehaul2024 will be automatically applied to qualifying orders at checkout.

Paizo https://paizo.com/store/sale/blackFriday2024

Exalted Funeral https://www.exaltedfuneral.com (25-50% off)

Magpie Games https://magpiegames.com/ (month long sale)

City of Mists https://cityofmist.co/pages/shop

Elf Lair Games https://www.elflair.com https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/publisher/3869/Elf-Lair-Games

Arken Forge https://arkenforge.com

US$17.50 $35.00

Dungeon Alchemist -20% on Steam

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1588530/Dungeon_Alchemist/

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It appears that NuTSR, a company owned by Justin LaNasa, has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which involves the liquidation of the company’s assets. According to documents filed in North Carolina, NuTSR’s gross revenue for 2023 is $621.93, while its total liabilities amount to over $384,000. The company gained attention in 2020 when Justin LaNasa and Stephen Dinehart registered the defunct TSR trademarks and launched a new venture involving Ernie Gygax, son of D&D co-creator Gary Gygax. However, NuTSR faced various controversies, including an attempted lawsuit against D&D publishers Wizards of the Coast, and in March 2022, they were sued by Wizards of the Coast.

On a different note, the game Heroscape, a wargaming classic, is set to return despite a failed crowdfunding campaign in the past. Renegade Game Studios has taken up the reboot of the miniatures game after the project called “Age of Annihilation” did not reach its funding goal. Heroscape is known for its accessible hex-based terrain, Lego-like fantasy miniatures, and beginner-friendly rules.

Additionally, Embracer Group, a major gaming publisher that owns studios such as Gearbox (known for Borderlands), Crystal Dynamics (known for Tomb Raider), and the rights to The Lord of the Rings, has announced a restructuring program. This program aims to make the company leaner, stronger, more focused, and self-sufficient. As part of this restructuring, layoffs, studio closures, and game cancellations are expected.

In a separate announcement, Privateer Press, a company known for its WARMACHINE, HORDES, and Riot Quest models, has stated that it will halt manufacturing for its Legacy models. This decision is in preparation for an upcoming facility move. Manufacturing of models cast in metal and resin will cease at the end of the week, and afterward, the company will fulfill online store orders only with remaining stock. Privateer Press has assured customers that the online store will be promptly updated to reflect available and out-of-stock items.

#NuTSR #privateerpress #heroscape #embracer

Full Glorious History of NuTSR:
https://www.enworld.org/threads/the-full-glorious-history-of-nutsr.684697/

Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC9u841QuXM

Dragonbane Core Set:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/418106/Dragonbane-Core-Set

Dragonbane Free Quickstart:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/409397/Dragonbane-Quickstart

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The Embracer Group has acquired the rights to Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. by purchasing Middle Earth Enterprises. This is one of five acquisitions that cost the Swedish company a reported SEK 6 billion ($576 million). Middle Earth Enterprises was a division of The Saul Zaentz Company, which had stewarded the intellectual property rights to author J. R. R. Tolkien’s worlds for more than 50 years. What does this mean for Amazon’s rights and how will this affect the destruction of established characters from this setting?

To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Call of Cthulhu we are getting a new release of the Starter Set. This will include updated booklets and handouts. This set also includes the solo adventure that will teach you the rules of the game in a choose-your-own-adventure style booklet. After the fulfillment of Call of Cthulhu Classic (which is actually second edition) this amazing digital restoration of Call of Cthulhu history should also be available.

Warner Bros. Discovery has removed the “comics” from the DC Comics website. Now the URL is simple DC.com. This may be a product of restructuring and streamlining the properties, but it may also be an indication of a future move where Warner Bros. Discovery holds the license and the comics are created elsewhere. That has always been the biggest difference between Marvel and DC comics. The DC characters all have identifiable and trademarked logos on their chests that probably make as much money in licensing as the comics ever did.

Cults3D has posted a statement about a takedown request they have received from Games Workshop. Cults is a 3D printing marketplace that sells user uploaded STL files and also offer a certain amount for free. 200 models were listed as violating trademarked IP with some of these possible being only filenames. Cults is working with the artists on the website to eliminate the offending names, logos or deigns so that they can be re-uloaded. They are also coming back at GW over the free models, saying that the constitute “fan art” and should be left alone. Cults shared the list of infringing terms that reinforces the GW strategy to de-Tolkien-ize their naming to make it legally defensible in situations exactly like this.

#lotr #tolkien #dcomice #cults3D

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Cubicle 7 is excited to announce a new Warhammer 40,000 roleplaying game! Imperium Maledictum is the spiritual successor to the beloved series of roleplaying games started by Black Industries over ten years ago. Imperium Maledictum is a d100 based system for roleplaying in the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, and builds on previous Warhammer 40,000 d100 roleplaying games, as well as Cubicle 7’s own award-winning Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition.

Hasbro and Avalon Hill Games announce the new Age of Annihilation expansion pack for the long-dormant cult classic tabletop title Heroscape. Debuted and distributed by Milton Bradley in 2004, Heroscape was a sort of scaled-down take on wargaming that appealed particularly to younger audiences. Discontinued in 2010, it was recently announced that Heroscape will return in the near future with the Heroscape: Age of Annihilation expansion.

We also review the results of the 2021 Ennies. Thirsty Sword Lesbians took both Product of the Year and Best Games. The path to Middle-earth will soon open for new adventurers.

Free League is thrilled to reveal that the acclaimed second edition of The One Ring™ roleplaying game is coming soon in a 5E adaptation, entitled The Lord of the Rings™ Roleplaying. The new edition of The One Ring™ RPG, set in the world of The Lord of the Rings™ by J.R.R. Tolkien and designed by Francesco Nepitello and Marco Maggi, became the most successful tabletop roleplaying core game ever on Kickstarter when it ended March 4, 2021. Now the time has come to open Middle-earth for even more roleplayers with a brand new 5E adaptation.
#ennieawards #heroscape #cubicle7 #lotr5e

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The original first version of Twilight 2000 is on sale at DriveThruRPG as part of their Post-Apocalyptic sale. Also, Posthuman Studios is discounting a of their premium color print on demand books for the rest of June. Warhammer World restricts the use of Third-party and 3D printed conversions of their miniatures for events. And finally, there will be a Lord of the Rings anime directed by Kenji Kamiyama, titled The War of the Rohirrim.
#lotr #posthumanstudios #drivethrurpg

Posthuman Studios Print on Demand:
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/3228/Posthuman-Studios-LLC/subcategory/5532_25643/Print-on-Demand

Updated Warhammer World Model Requirements:
https://warhammerworld.warhammer-community.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2019/10/Updated-Model-Requirements.pdf

Twilight 2000 ver.1
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/411/T2000-v1–Twilight-2000?cPath=21_23

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NMITY Stories: https://nmitystories.buzzsprout.com/

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Intro song is “Chips” by Kokoro No Me
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The lawsuit for nonpayment is settled by Wizards of the Coast with Gale Force Nine following another settlement of the Dragonlance lawsuit. Is the conspiracy over or just beginning? The 2nd Edition of the One Ring by Free League, previously produced by Cubicle 7, is now on Kickstarter. For context, we take a look at the history of licensed Lord of the Rings TTRPGs.
#freeleague #oneringrpg #lotr #galeforce9

The One Ring 2E Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192053011/the-one-ring-roleplaying-game-second-edition

Tales of Xadia RPG:
https://www.talesofxadia.com/

After a holiday break, we are back with our best of TTPRGs in 2019. There may also be some upcoming gaming hopes for 2020. This first part is a discussion with Chris. Next week Lyal and I will continue our reminiscing, which may or may not include more Alien RPG talk. #alienrpg #freeleague #dnd5e #modiphius #johncarter

Beneath a Cursed Moon RPG:
https://karrius.itch.io/beneath-a-cursed-moon

Order the Alien RPG direct from Free League:
https://frialigan.se/en/store/?collection_id=133130387504

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