Tag: Mythic Games

The Weekly LIVE 261 – Super Hero Trademark Defeated, Darktide Card Game, Mythic Dissolves and Mothership Collaboration

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Marvel and DC Comics have lost their joint trademark for the term “super hero” after decades of holding it. Initially, the trademark was obtained in collaboration with Ben Cooper, Inc., a costume maker who had licensed Marvel and DC characters in the 1960s. After a series of legal disputes involving companies like Mego Corporation, Marvel and DC became joint owners of the “super hero” trademark in 1977, solidifying their control over its use across various media. Over the years, both companies aggressively defended this trademark, opposing various businesses that tried to use the term. However, this year, after Marvel and DC failed to respond to legal challenges, a U.S. court invalidated their trademark, allowing other entities like Superbabies to use the term without restriction.

“Darktide: The Card Game,” a new Warhammer 40,000-themed card game coming in 2025. Meanwhile, Mythic Games, a company plagued by crowdfunding controversies involving delays, miscommunication, and unmet promises, has dissolved, marking the end of its turbulent existence in the tabletop gaming industry.

Mythic Games, a tabletop role-playing and board game company, has filed for liquidation due to a series of controversies and financial difficulties. The company, known for its crowdfunding campaigns on Kickstarter, faced backlash for significant delays in delivering games, poor communication with backers, and unmet promises regarding stretch goals and content quality. Notably, games like Reichbusters: Projekt Vril and Solomon Kane suffered extended delays, while backers of Super Fantasy Brawl and Joan of Arc were disappointed by missing or lower-quality content. Financial mismanagement became a concern as backers speculated that funds from newer campaigns were being used to fulfill older projects, a practice dubbed “Kickstarter juggling.” Rising production costs, shipping challenges, and the global economic climate exacerbated these problems. A lawsuit over the Time of Legends: Joan of Arc campaign and unexpected increases in shipping costs further damaged the company’s reputation.

The indie RPG “Mothership” is back with a new collaborative funding effort on Backerkit, featuring a variety of new projects from different creators. This “collab-funding” initiative seeks to expand the sci-fi horror universe of “Mothership” with new content, including modules that explore bounty hunting and mystery-driven adventures.

#superhero #darktide #mythicgames #mothershiprpg

Unboxing D&D Expert Set:

https://youtu.be/l1Pef7vq-EQ

High School Cthulhu:

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/gear-games/high-school-cthulhu-roleplaying-game

Submit to Wharf Rat Games:

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Alien 2E Kickstarter Campaign URL: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1192053011/alien-rpg-second-edition-and-rapture-protocol

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Outgunned RPG – Action Hero Pledge UNBOXING:

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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:

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Dragonbane Core Set:

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The Weekly LIVE 242 – Darkness at the Brink of Ohio, One More Multiverse, Greyhawk 2024 and Soloman Kane RPG

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“Darkness at the Brink of Ohio” is a new solo tabletop roleplaying game designed by Banana Chan. The game follows the transformation of a late-night radio DJ into something horrific and otherworldly. Set in Akron, Ohio, players choose one of three characters (a clinical lab tech, a gas station attendant, or a security guard) as they listen to a horrific event involving DJ Mike from 106.6: The Brink. The game includes a soundtrack released for free on YouTube. Themes in this solo RPG include parasocial relationships and hypervisibility within a small fanbase. The book will be approximately 100-125 pages with a cover illustrated by Michael Croteau.

One More Multiverse, a virtual tabletop app, is closing down after four years. It offered pixel-art sprites and a user-friendly interface for playing RPGs online. The app supported games like Blades in the Dark and Yazeba’s Bed and Breakfast. Despite efforts, sustainability became an issue. Assets and verses created by players will remain accessible for 90 days. The closure announcement precedes the official release date for Yazeba’s. Players have 90 days to download or screenshot their creations. A well-crafted alternative to platforms like Roll20 and D&D Beyond, it’s unfortunate to see it go.

The 2024 edition of Dungeons & Dragons will feature Greyhawk as a sample setting in the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Greyhawk, one of the original D&D campaign settings created by Gary Gygax, will be showcased with a double-sided poster map including the City of Greyhawk and the Flanaess. The setting is presented as a template for Dungeon Masters to create their own worlds, with enough detail to bring Greyhawk to life but also leaving room for customization. The release is part of D&D’s 50th-anniversary celebration, highlighting Greyhawk’s classic fantasy elements and its potential for new adventures. The Dungeon Master’s Guide is set to release on November 12, 2024.

The Savage World of Solomon Kane RPG is based on the works of Robert E. Howard and allows players to embark on adventures as Solomon Kane, a hero battling evil in the 17th century. The game emphasizes themes of good versus evil and encourages gamemasters to create a grim setting where players can fight against darkness. The Savage Worlds Adventure Edition (SWADE) system is used for its simplicity and ease of play. The content for this RPG is Kickstarter Exclusive and will not be available through retail.

#bananachan #OMM #greyhawk #solomankane

Darkness at the Brink of Ohio:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gameandacurry/the-darkness-at-the-brink-of-ohio

The Sassoon Files Second Edition:

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

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

Dragonbane Core Set:
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The Weekly LIVE 227 – Tencent Buying DnD, CMON Dungeon Rescue, Rogue Trooper Movie and Tabletop Kickstarter Down

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Hasbro, the owner of Dungeons & Dragons, is reportedly in talks with Tencent for various rights, including electronic game adaptations. The report suggests a potential sale of the Dungeons & Dragons IP, but there are conflicting details. The success of Larian’s Baldur’s Gate 3 might have influenced Tencent’s interest in investing in similar projects.

Mythic Games, a crowdfunding-focused board game publisher, faced financial woes and outsourced its remaining projects to CMON. HEL: The Last Saga and Anastyr were sold to CMON due to challenges in completing the projects without additional funding from backers. The backlash from Kickstarter backers, the death threats received by Mythic Games’ co-founders, and the future of the company are all part of the difficulty.

Duncan Jones is working on an animated Rogue Trooper film based on the 2000AD comic strip, using Unreal Engine 5 for animation. The film has finished principal photography, and it is a collaboration between Rebellion, Liberty Films, and Treehouse Digital. A star-studded cast includes Aneurin Barnard, Hayley Atwell, Daryl McCormack, Matt Berry, Sean Bean, and Diane Morgan.

A report from Tabletop Analytics indicates a decline in Kickstarter funding for tabletop games in 2023 for the second consecutive year. The data suggests a 30% decrease in earnings for individual tabletop creators compared to the pre-COVID year of 2019. Kickstarter has not publicly disclosed its data for the first time in almost a decade, and the decline is attributed to factors like crowdfunding fatigue and increased competition. The importance of community management tools and concerns about Kickstarter’s permissive stance on AI generative art are highlighted.

#tencentl #CMON #roguetrooper #kickstarter

Game Jam for Jennel Jaquays:
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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

Support Us by Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link):
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Chris on social media:
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The Weekly LIVE 213 – Mythic Games Plays Catchup, Mistborn Leaving, TMNT TTRPG Returns and Candela Obscura Release

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Mythic Games, a board game publisher, faced criticism and backlash from the tabletop gaming community due to unfulfilled crowdfunding campaigns. The company, in response, cited internal sacrifices such as selling intellectual properties (IPs) and reducing staff to meet crowdfunding commitments. Backers of projects like “Rainbow Six Siege: The Board Game” and “Darkest Dungeon: The Board Game” were asked for additional payments to cover unexpected expenses attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The company has faced delays and criticism from backers and industry figures.

Mistborn Adventure Game, a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) based on Brandon Sanderson’s novels, will no longer be available digitally on DriveThruRPG after December 31, 2023. The Mistborn series is a popular fantasy franchise, and the TTRPG adaptation will be leaving digital stores, creating a time constraint for fans to acquire digital copies.

Palladium Books announced the return of the official Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT) roleplaying game, originally published in 1985, through a Kickstarter campaign. The classic TMNT RPG will be republished as two deluxe hardcover collections with new artwork and exclusive Kickstarter items. The campaign is set to launch on October 31, 2023, and will feature miniatures, dice sets, variant book covers, art prints, and other exclusives.

Critical Role’s publishing imprint, Darrington Press, announced the release date for “Candela Obscura,” a horror-themed tabletop roleplaying game. Co-designed by members of the Critical Role team, the game uses the Illuminated Worlds System and is set during the early 20th century. The core rulebook is scheduled for worldwide release on November 14, 2023, and includes rules, character options, campaign details, and exclusive editions. The game follows investigators operating in a world of occult occurrences and mysterious events, with a focus on horror elements.

TMNT and Other Strangeness Kickstarter:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/palladiumbooks/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles-and-other-strangeness

Shop at Noble Knight Games (affiliate link)
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10% off First Purchase from Modiphius:
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Dragonbane Actual Play Episode One:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jC9u841QuXM

Dragonbane Core Set:
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Dragonbane Free Quickstart:
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The Weekly LIVE 190 – BrikWars, Battletech Essentials, Rainbow Six Needs More Funding, Star Wars Unlimited TCG and Rebellion Acquires Tunnels and Trolls

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Designer Mike Rayhawks initially created BrikWars in 1995 as a legally-distinct clone of Eric O’Dell and R. Todd Ogrin’s playful brick-based Warhammer 40,000 parody, before the game swiftly grew into its own evolving ruleset separate to Lego Wars ahead of its first ‘definitive’ release in 1997.In the decades since, BrikWars has gone through a number of revisions and editions released for free online, as well as spinning out into the faster, simpler QuikWars. Its latest ruleset was released in 2020. While past iterations of the game have been released as printable PDFs, BrikWars’ upcoming physical rulebook will mark the first time that the ever-changing ruleset has been solidified in an official retail release. Publisher Modiphius rather knowingly describes the upcoming RPG as “absolutely, definitely the definitive” edition of BrikWars.

Target stores are set to welcome a new addition to their shelves, as Catalyst Game Labs introduces a new BattleTech boxed set, BattleTech: Essentials. This Beginner Box experience provides new players with everything they need to join the world of BattleTech, including two of Solaris’ most iconic ’Mechs, the Legend-Killer and Yen-Lo-Wang, a mapsheet depicting a Game World arena, and quick-start rules to get players right into the action. Available exclusively through Target stores and on Target.com, BattleTech: Essentials can be pre-ordered now, with an estimated shipping date of Sunday, June 18. The boxed set will also be available in Target’s more than 1,900 U.S. stores nationwide on that day.

Board game publisher Mythic Games caused controversy this weekend, when it asked Kickstarter backers to pay an additional contribution of up to $129 for the 6: Siege board game. An update explains that extra funding is needed to cover the unexpectedly high costs of making the game.According to the publisher, the unanticipated crises of Covid and the war in Ukraine have caused exploding prices for everything from energy to labour, “and the estimates on which we based ourselves before and during the Kickstarter campaign are absolutely no longer relevant.”

Fantasy Flight Games is stepping into the ring with a new Star Wars-themed trading card game,  Star Wars: Unlimited TCG, to go up against Magic: The Gathering and Disney Lorcana. Called Star Wars: Unlimited, it will launch in 2024 with a full, 200-plus card set and all-new art based on the original trilogy — alongside a full slate of organized play events. Speaking with Polygon ahead of Tuesday’s reveal, co-designer Jim Cartwright readily acknowledged that he and his team would be fighting an uphill battle to earn the hearts of potential players, especially those burned by past experiences with Fantasy Flight’s card game franchises.

Tunnels & Trolls has been picked up by Rebellion, the British publishing house and video game developer behind cult comic book 2000 AD, the Sniper Elite series and its in-house tabletop studio Rebellion Unplugged, which has released multiple board games and RPGs. As well as Tunnels & Trolls, Rebellion acquired all of Flying Buffalo’s roleplaying games, including the Citybook fantasy businesses supplements, Grimtooth series – known for its collections of traps – and the Mercenaries, Spies & Private Eyes series of contemporary-setting RPGs. Rebellion confirmed its plans to release a new edition of Tunnels & Trolls’ rules and other additional releases, “bringing [the RPG] into a new era”. The studio added that it was “very early on” in development.

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

BrikWars Coming Soon page:
https://www.modiphius.net/pages/brikwars

Catalyst Game Labs Battletech Essentials Promo Video:
https://youtu.be/Esx-7Mkk5W0

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The Weekly LIVE 150 – Darkest Dungeon Dispute, RiotOnline Closes, Return to Dark Tower Second Printing and Expansion and Cthulhu App in Japan

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The Darkest Dungeon boardgame Wave 1, the English language core game, is printed and ready ship. Unfortunately for Mythic, the company that designed the boardgame, which is based on the PC game by Red Hook Studios, the costs of shipping have dramatically increased. They are now asking backers to contribute a small additional amount to help make up for the $875K difference after they have already added over a million themselves in cooperation with Red Hook. Of course the comments and criticism are flying. This is putting Mythic in a tight spot. These addition costs are unforeseen and as Kickstarter is NOT a preorder, it seems they are justified in asking for this additional funding. It is either that or just dump the whole thing in the China Sea so they can stop paying storage costs.

A surprise message from DriveThruRPG informed us that due to the closure of RiotOnline we are being sent complimentary codes for PDFs of all the materials we had on this digital platform. This situation comes hot on the heels of Astral announcing they are done. RiotMinds is selling their IP catalog to CMON games. This includes Trudvang Chronicles, LexOccultum, and the Ruin Masters brands. Who knows what CMON will do with them. They do have a studio dedicated to TTRPGs so let’s hope for the best.

Restoration Games is returning to their successful reboot of Dark Tower with a seconding printing of Return to Dark Tower. It will also include a new expansion called Covenant that will include new heroes and mechanics. They are already near $1 million on the second printing this time on Backerkit. If you missed it the first time around this gives you a chance to get the game and for those that pledge it offers the chance to get some of the premium upgrades offered in the first Kickstarter campaign.

Finally, Kadokawa the publisher of Call of Cthulhu in Japan has announced a new smartphone app tentatively named Cthulhu Myth TRPG Rulebook PLUS. It will offer for the first time a single place to access all the books produced over the past 40 years for Call of Cthulhu in Japan. It will immediately only be available to iOS on iPhones but that could change depending on popularity. The app allows users to mark pages and add notes. It is free and offers the books as in-app purchases.
#darkestdungeon #riotminds #returntodarktower #cthulhu

Return to Dark Tower on Backerkit:
https://www.backerkit.com/c/restoration-games/return-to-dark-tower

Article on Return to Dark Tower:
https://www.vulture.com/2022/07/return-to-dark-tower-board-game-making-of.html

Shopping on DTRPG (afilliate link):
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