Last week I took a look at the top D&D news stories of the past year. Here, I'll be listing the most-read general RPG news stories of 2017. As before, the most-read stories are listed in order, ending with the most popular story of the year. There were thousands of news stories posted on EN World this year; I've narrowed it down to the top twenty!
20. Is Evil Hat Republishing TSR's Star Frontiers?
Last year, Sasquatch Game Studio announced that it had acquired the trademark for TSR's old Alternity science-fiction game. At the time, it was mentioned that they did not have the Star*Drive, Dark*Matter, Gamma World, StarCraft Adventures, or Star Frontiers, properties owned by WotC. This may be changing, though - because Evil Hat Productions has applied for the trademark to Star Frontiers.
19. Star Wars 30th Anniversary RPG Announced!
In a case of ‘very much didn’t see this one coming’ Fantasy Flight Games have today announced the Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game 30th Anniversary Edition – a limited edition two book set of the original West End Games Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game and The Star Wars Sourcebook from 1987.
18. Cubicle 7 Wants You To Speak, Friend, Then Enter
Cubicle 7 has teased a deluxe boxed Moria set for its The One Ring RPG. There's not much to know, yet - just a short teaser video showing the title. "A deluxe boxed set for The One Ring and Adventures in Middle-earth.Written Gareth Ryder Hanrahan with Francesco Nepitello." Anyone feel like crossing the Bridge of Khazad-dûm?
17. Who's Playing What On Fantasy Grounds? Final Stats For 2016!
You love stats (this isn't the only stats entry in this list!), and early in the year we posted the final 2016 stats for Fantasy Grounds.
16. Looking Back At Chaosium's Stormbringer Role-Playing Game
After some online conversations on social media, I decided that I should talk about a few older games and supplements in my column here. I ran a Twitter poll with some options, some of which I may visit in future pieces, and Stormbringer came out as a pretty dominating choice. The game took the lead, and kept it throughout the duration of the poll. So, I hauled a couple of Stormbringer pieces out of my library: the second printing of the first edition Stormbringer boxed set put out by Chaosium, and the "third edition" book put out by Games Workshop in the UK.
15. Monte Cook Games Announced Numenera 2: Discovery & Destiny!
Monte Cook Games has just announced - live at Gen Con in their first panel of the convention - it's latest Kickstarter, set to launch next month. And it's a big one - Numenera 2, consisting of two core books called Discovery (which revises player character options) and Destiny (which has systems for base building). It will be fully back-compatible with the original (2013) Numenera. More info as I hear it!
14. Trudvang Chronicles Preview Part 1 - Setting
RiotMinds' Trudvang Chronicles was voted the Most Anticipated RPG of 2017 by EN World Readers earlier this year. Part of the ongoing Swedish Invasion Trudvang Chronicles was translated into English after an incredibly successful Kickstarter that wrapped in October 2016. Now the game is finished and about to be released to the masses and we’ve managed to get some sneak peeks of the game courtesy of RiotMinds Theodore Bergquist and Magnus Malmberg. We’ve split the preview in to two parts. This first part looks at the world of Trudvang…
13. CONAN Is Finally Here!
After appearing three years running in the 10 Most Anticipated RPGs of the Year list, it seems that Conan's streak has come to and end - because Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of has been released! You can get it right now from Modiphius' web store, and will be able to get it elsewhere from tomorrow. PDF only, for the moment. You can also grab a book of six adventures, Jewelled Thrones of the Earth. Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed of is based on Modiphius' own 2d20 system (which also powers their upcoming Star Trek Adventures game). The book is now available for review in the reviews area.
12. Explore the Worlds of 2000 AD With New JUDGE DREDD & THE WORLDS OF 2000 AD Roleplaying Game!
This year, EN Publishing will be launching the official Judge Dredd & The Worlds of 2000 AD Tabletop Adventure Game! Starting with a full-colour hardcover core rulebook, the many worlds of 2000 AD will be explored - starting, of course, with the most famous character from the pages of the iconic comic book, Judge Dredd! Work is already underway on the game, which will be powered by the WOIN (What's OLD is NEW) rules engine. 2000 AD is Britain's longest running and most celebrated anthology comic, known for its cocktail of explosive sci-fi and fantasy and its mean streak of irony and black humour covering genres such as future war (Rogue Trooper; The A.B.C. Warriors), action/adventure (Judge Dredd; Strontium Dog), fantasy (Sláine; Nemesis the Warlock), steampunk (Stickleback; Brass Sun), horror (Fiends of the Eastern Front; Absalom), and humour (DR & Quinch; Zombo).
11. Congratulations to the 2017 Gen Con EN World RPG Award Winners!
Tonight, at Gen Con in Indianapolis, the 17th Annual Gen Con EN World Awards (ENnies) ceremony took place. Congratulations go to all the nominees, and to this year's award winners! The ENnies are an annual award program celebrating the best that tabletop roleplaying games have to offer, created in 2001.
10. Want to Playtest Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition (V5)?
White Wolf has just announced the Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition "pre-alpha" playtest, which you can download and play right now! The company also has an attached survey for playtest feedback. "Today we are sharing with you the Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition (V5) pre-alpha playtest kit, which includes the V5 pre-alpha rules and a special V5 pre-alpha scenario, The Night After. We invite you to download the kit and try it out: invite a few friends to play through the scenario together, talk about it, and then share your opinions with us through the online survey. We appreciate your feedback and value your input."
9. Congratulations to the 2017 ENnie Award Nominees!
It's that time of year again - the time where we announce the year's nominees for the Gen Con EN World RPG Awards! The judges have deliberated, and selected their nominees for each of the below categories. Congratulations go to all of the 2017 ENnie Award Nominees. Public voting will take place this year from July 11th - July 21st, and the awards will be presented as always at Gen Con!
8. How big's the RPG market?
Back in July I took a look at the size of the RPG market, and everyone showed how much they love stats! How big is the RPG market? Pretty damn tiny, is the answer. As of 2016/2017 it's about $35m in size, according to ICv2. That's of a Hobby Games market currently worth just over a billion dollars. The RPG segment is a mere 2.9% of the overall Hobby Games market, which includes boardgames, miniatures, hobby card games, and collectible games. Of course, the competition for RPGs isn't just boardgames or card games, it's entertainment; and on that scale, the RPG market is a tiny niche of the Hobby Games market, which is a tiny niche of the global entertainment market. Note that these figures are US and Canada only, and include Kickstarter sales.
7. Starfinder Preview Looks At The Mystic Class
We have an exciting new preview of the Starfinder Roleplaying Game direct from Paizo Publishing and features an introduction from James L. Sutter that is exclusive to EN World. This preview is a couple of spreads from the upcoming core book. It gives us a look at what the layout of the book will look like, and some clues about will be in the book as well.
6. Inconceivable! The Princess Bride RPG Is Announced
We haven't heard anything since, but the initial announcement captured your attention. Toy Vault Inc have announced that Princess Bride will be becoming a Tabletop Roleplaying Game in 2017! The popular fantasy film has been a favourite among gamers since its release in 1987, and now designer Steffan O’Sullivan (FUDGE; GURPS Bunnies & Burrows; GURPS Swashbucklers) has the task of bringing it to our gaming tables.
5. [UPDATED - With Cubicle 7] Games Workshop Concluding Deal For Licensing Rights To Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
When it slipped out that Cubicle 7 was the publisher of WFRP4, people took note! It was just confirmed to Grim & Perilous Studios last night by Games Workshop’s licensing department that they are in the process of concluding a deal with a major European publisher for world-wide distribution rights to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. While no other details were shared, we can only speculate which major European RPG publishers may have acquired the rights. [Update - it appears that the publisher in question is Cubicle 7, publisher of The One Ring, Doctor Who, and more!]
4. [EXCLUSIVE] A Look At The Planet Castrovel From The Upcoming Starfinder RPG
Welcome to the first of a number of exclusive previews from the upcoming Starfinder game from Paizo. We are going to look at the planet Castrovel, one of the worlds that will be a part of the game's setting. All of the text is read is written by Paizo creative director James Sutter. All of the images are being seen here for the first time.
3. Starfinder Blasts Off!
Paizo's new sci-fantasy RPG definitely made an impact, as it appears again in the list! Starfinder is here, and it is everything that you would expect from a science fantasy hack of Paizo's popular Pathfinder rules. Paizo dropped the embargo on reviews of the game early, so we're going to talk some about the Starfinder game and share some early thoughts on it. The game is an evolution of everything that you've seen to date in the Pathfinder line, cleaned up and consolidated with a cool science fantasy paint job.
2. Harassment At PaizoCon 2017
Sadly, the second most-read item of the year was bad news. In our post-Harvey Weinstein world, more and more people in the various entertainment industries are coming forward with allegations of abuse and harassment, both sexual and psychological. The tabletop gaming industry isn't isolated from this wave of revelation as incidents surface, and will likely continue to surface about professionals, and fans, within the gaming communities.
View attachment 92073
1. And Here Are The Official 10 Most Anticipated RPGs of 2017!
Great timing, as this week we're announcing the Official 10 Most Anticipated RPGs of 2018! The most popular article of the year, thousands voted and then swung by to check the results. We took nominations. We held a massive poll, and nearly 5,000 people voted. And now we have the definitive list of the Top 10 most anticipated tabletop roleplaying games for 2017. For more information, click on the big pretty cover images below, and you'll be instantly transported by magic to the websites of each of the listed products. What are people awaiting with baited breath? Science fantasy? Swedish folklore? Swords & sorcery? Lovecraftian horror? All of these things and more!
20. Is Evil Hat Republishing TSR's Star Frontiers?
Last year, Sasquatch Game Studio announced that it had acquired the trademark for TSR's old Alternity science-fiction game. At the time, it was mentioned that they did not have the Star*Drive, Dark*Matter, Gamma World, StarCraft Adventures, or Star Frontiers, properties owned by WotC. This may be changing, though - because Evil Hat Productions has applied for the trademark to Star Frontiers.
19. Star Wars 30th Anniversary RPG Announced!
In a case of ‘very much didn’t see this one coming’ Fantasy Flight Games have today announced the Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game 30th Anniversary Edition – a limited edition two book set of the original West End Games Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game and The Star Wars Sourcebook from 1987.
18. Cubicle 7 Wants You To Speak, Friend, Then Enter
Cubicle 7 has teased a deluxe boxed Moria set for its The One Ring RPG. There's not much to know, yet - just a short teaser video showing the title. "A deluxe boxed set for The One Ring and Adventures in Middle-earth.Written Gareth Ryder Hanrahan with Francesco Nepitello." Anyone feel like crossing the Bridge of Khazad-dûm?
17. Who's Playing What On Fantasy Grounds? Final Stats For 2016!
You love stats (this isn't the only stats entry in this list!), and early in the year we posted the final 2016 stats for Fantasy Grounds.
16. Looking Back At Chaosium's Stormbringer Role-Playing Game
After some online conversations on social media, I decided that I should talk about a few older games and supplements in my column here. I ran a Twitter poll with some options, some of which I may visit in future pieces, and Stormbringer came out as a pretty dominating choice. The game took the lead, and kept it throughout the duration of the poll. So, I hauled a couple of Stormbringer pieces out of my library: the second printing of the first edition Stormbringer boxed set put out by Chaosium, and the "third edition" book put out by Games Workshop in the UK.
15. Monte Cook Games Announced Numenera 2: Discovery & Destiny!
Monte Cook Games has just announced - live at Gen Con in their first panel of the convention - it's latest Kickstarter, set to launch next month. And it's a big one - Numenera 2, consisting of two core books called Discovery (which revises player character options) and Destiny (which has systems for base building). It will be fully back-compatible with the original (2013) Numenera. More info as I hear it!
14. Trudvang Chronicles Preview Part 1 - Setting
RiotMinds' Trudvang Chronicles was voted the Most Anticipated RPG of 2017 by EN World Readers earlier this year. Part of the ongoing Swedish Invasion Trudvang Chronicles was translated into English after an incredibly successful Kickstarter that wrapped in October 2016. Now the game is finished and about to be released to the masses and we’ve managed to get some sneak peeks of the game courtesy of RiotMinds Theodore Bergquist and Magnus Malmberg. We’ve split the preview in to two parts. This first part looks at the world of Trudvang…
13. CONAN Is Finally Here!
After appearing three years running in the 10 Most Anticipated RPGs of the Year list, it seems that Conan's streak has come to and end - because Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of has been released! You can get it right now from Modiphius' web store, and will be able to get it elsewhere from tomorrow. PDF only, for the moment. You can also grab a book of six adventures, Jewelled Thrones of the Earth. Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed of is based on Modiphius' own 2d20 system (which also powers their upcoming Star Trek Adventures game). The book is now available for review in the reviews area.
12. Explore the Worlds of 2000 AD With New JUDGE DREDD & THE WORLDS OF 2000 AD Roleplaying Game!
This year, EN Publishing will be launching the official Judge Dredd & The Worlds of 2000 AD Tabletop Adventure Game! Starting with a full-colour hardcover core rulebook, the many worlds of 2000 AD will be explored - starting, of course, with the most famous character from the pages of the iconic comic book, Judge Dredd! Work is already underway on the game, which will be powered by the WOIN (What's OLD is NEW) rules engine. 2000 AD is Britain's longest running and most celebrated anthology comic, known for its cocktail of explosive sci-fi and fantasy and its mean streak of irony and black humour covering genres such as future war (Rogue Trooper; The A.B.C. Warriors), action/adventure (Judge Dredd; Strontium Dog), fantasy (Sláine; Nemesis the Warlock), steampunk (Stickleback; Brass Sun), horror (Fiends of the Eastern Front; Absalom), and humour (DR & Quinch; Zombo).
11. Congratulations to the 2017 Gen Con EN World RPG Award Winners!
Tonight, at Gen Con in Indianapolis, the 17th Annual Gen Con EN World Awards (ENnies) ceremony took place. Congratulations go to all the nominees, and to this year's award winners! The ENnies are an annual award program celebrating the best that tabletop roleplaying games have to offer, created in 2001.
10. Want to Playtest Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition (V5)?
White Wolf has just announced the Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition "pre-alpha" playtest, which you can download and play right now! The company also has an attached survey for playtest feedback. "Today we are sharing with you the Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition (V5) pre-alpha playtest kit, which includes the V5 pre-alpha rules and a special V5 pre-alpha scenario, The Night After. We invite you to download the kit and try it out: invite a few friends to play through the scenario together, talk about it, and then share your opinions with us through the online survey. We appreciate your feedback and value your input."
9. Congratulations to the 2017 ENnie Award Nominees!
It's that time of year again - the time where we announce the year's nominees for the Gen Con EN World RPG Awards! The judges have deliberated, and selected their nominees for each of the below categories. Congratulations go to all of the 2017 ENnie Award Nominees. Public voting will take place this year from July 11th - July 21st, and the awards will be presented as always at Gen Con!
8. How big's the RPG market?
Back in July I took a look at the size of the RPG market, and everyone showed how much they love stats! How big is the RPG market? Pretty damn tiny, is the answer. As of 2016/2017 it's about $35m in size, according to ICv2. That's of a Hobby Games market currently worth just over a billion dollars. The RPG segment is a mere 2.9% of the overall Hobby Games market, which includes boardgames, miniatures, hobby card games, and collectible games. Of course, the competition for RPGs isn't just boardgames or card games, it's entertainment; and on that scale, the RPG market is a tiny niche of the Hobby Games market, which is a tiny niche of the global entertainment market. Note that these figures are US and Canada only, and include Kickstarter sales.
7. Starfinder Preview Looks At The Mystic Class
We have an exciting new preview of the Starfinder Roleplaying Game direct from Paizo Publishing and features an introduction from James L. Sutter that is exclusive to EN World. This preview is a couple of spreads from the upcoming core book. It gives us a look at what the layout of the book will look like, and some clues about will be in the book as well.
6. Inconceivable! The Princess Bride RPG Is Announced
We haven't heard anything since, but the initial announcement captured your attention. Toy Vault Inc have announced that Princess Bride will be becoming a Tabletop Roleplaying Game in 2017! The popular fantasy film has been a favourite among gamers since its release in 1987, and now designer Steffan O’Sullivan (FUDGE; GURPS Bunnies & Burrows; GURPS Swashbucklers) has the task of bringing it to our gaming tables.
5. [UPDATED - With Cubicle 7] Games Workshop Concluding Deal For Licensing Rights To Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay
When it slipped out that Cubicle 7 was the publisher of WFRP4, people took note! It was just confirmed to Grim & Perilous Studios last night by Games Workshop’s licensing department that they are in the process of concluding a deal with a major European publisher for world-wide distribution rights to Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. While no other details were shared, we can only speculate which major European RPG publishers may have acquired the rights. [Update - it appears that the publisher in question is Cubicle 7, publisher of The One Ring, Doctor Who, and more!]
4. [EXCLUSIVE] A Look At The Planet Castrovel From The Upcoming Starfinder RPG
Welcome to the first of a number of exclusive previews from the upcoming Starfinder game from Paizo. We are going to look at the planet Castrovel, one of the worlds that will be a part of the game's setting. All of the text is read is written by Paizo creative director James Sutter. All of the images are being seen here for the first time.
3. Starfinder Blasts Off!
Paizo's new sci-fantasy RPG definitely made an impact, as it appears again in the list! Starfinder is here, and it is everything that you would expect from a science fantasy hack of Paizo's popular Pathfinder rules. Paizo dropped the embargo on reviews of the game early, so we're going to talk some about the Starfinder game and share some early thoughts on it. The game is an evolution of everything that you've seen to date in the Pathfinder line, cleaned up and consolidated with a cool science fantasy paint job.
2. Harassment At PaizoCon 2017
Sadly, the second most-read item of the year was bad news. In our post-Harvey Weinstein world, more and more people in the various entertainment industries are coming forward with allegations of abuse and harassment, both sexual and psychological. The tabletop gaming industry isn't isolated from this wave of revelation as incidents surface, and will likely continue to surface about professionals, and fans, within the gaming communities.
View attachment 92073
1. And Here Are The Official 10 Most Anticipated RPGs of 2017!
Great timing, as this week we're announcing the Official 10 Most Anticipated RPGs of 2018! The most popular article of the year, thousands voted and then swung by to check the results. We took nominations. We held a massive poll, and nearly 5,000 people voted. And now we have the definitive list of the Top 10 most anticipated tabletop roleplaying games for 2017. For more information, click on the big pretty cover images below, and you'll be instantly transported by magic to the websites of each of the listed products. What are people awaiting with baited breath? Science fantasy? Swedish folklore? Swords & sorcery? Lovecraftian horror? All of these things and more!
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