Black Flag Project Black Flag Reveal Its Official Title: 'Tales of the Valiant'!

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Kobold Press' 5E-replacement game, up until now only known by its codename, Black Flag, now has an official title--Tales of the Valiant. And it's coming to Kickstarter next month, joining existing games like Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition and Cubicle 7's upcoming as-yet-untitled C7d20 system which provide open, independent alternatives to Dungeons & Dragons using the same rules system.

COMING TO KICKSTARTER MAY 2023
Be bold. Be brave. Be Valiant.

Tales of the Valiant (ToV) is a Core Fantasy Roleplaying game that builds on the Creative Commons foundation of 5th Edition.

Project Black Flag has taken bold steps to keep 5th Edition vibrant in an evolving industry. Since January, Kobold Press and the growing 5E community have worked together to create an open, independent version of 5th Edition. Today we reveal the name of the bold future for Kobold Press.

We are writing ToV now. When it’s done, it will be based on the new Core Fantasy Roleplaying rules. (If you’re just joining us, Kobold Press is committed to releasing Core Fantasy Roleplaying to everyone under an open, perpetual, and irrevocable license. It’s like the SRD, but more thorough.)

ToV rules will be available in two books: The Player’s Guide and Monster Vault.

The Player’s Guide includes 13 base classes, lineages and heritages from classic fantasy roleplaying, and the rules you need to play or GM, all between two covers. The Monster Vault includes every dungeon-crawling and fire-belching fantasy creature you need to craft compelling fantasy encounters.

And that’s only a start! Tales of the Valiant goes to Kickstarter in May 2023 and ships to backers in 2024. During development, Kickstarter backers get an inside track with two additional sets of playtest material. Sign up now to be notified when the Kickstarter launches and become one of the Valiant.

 

[Micah Sweet]

This will w the 1st KP Kickstarter I haven’t backed in like 7 years. I just don’t se how I can combine this with the current 5E and the 50th anniversary changes. It would be too complicated. I think 5E and the 50th anniversary changes will be challenging enough to use together.

One answer is to go with Valient  instead of 2024 WotC D&D.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Whatever they release, I hope they've truly playtested it. A lot of Kobold's 3pp stuff for 5e is too powerful, or just useless, or out of line with 5e design in general. (I think a lot of it was originally designed for Pathfinder, then quickly and awkwardly converted to 5e).

I know they're releasing playtest packets for Black Flag, which is a good sign. If they do this right it could be great. But their quality control will need to be better.

See, I don't care one wit how "in line" 3pp is with WotC's design. That gives WotC more clout than they deserve. Everything, included WotC, should be reviewed equally and on its own merits.

 

[Nightfly]

See, I don't care one wit how "in line" 3pp is with WotC's design. That gives WotC more clout than they deserve. Everything, included WotC, should be reviewed equally and on its own merits.

But the phrasing of the rules needs to be in line with 5e, rather than Pathfinder or something else, or else it's a muddle. I'm not saying Kobold's stuff can't be more complicated or explore a different design space, but if it's called "5e compatible" then it does need to fit. Some of their previous material has been shaky on that front.

 

[Micah Sweet]

But the phrasing of the rules needs to be in line with 5e, rather than Pathfinder or something else, or else it's a muddle. I'm not saying Kobold's stuff can't be more complicated or explore a different design space, but if it's called "5e compatible" then it does need to fit. Some of their previous material has been shaky on that front.

Can I get an example? I use 3pp literally all the time in my games, and need very little tinkering to make it work with the rest of my stuff.

 

[Nightfly]

Can I get an example? I use 3pp literally all the time in my games, and need very little tinkering to make it work with the rest of my stuff.

Kobold's book Beyond Damage Dice has some powerful abilities for weapons that use your entire action to do normal damage but also do other things such as stun. These abilities are incredibly good for fighters for the first four levels, then become dramatically worse once fighters get extra attack. Whereas for melee clerics, who never get extra attack but do get their one attack buffed at 8th level, these abilities just keep getting better. That's just poor design that seems oblivious to how 5e works.

Worse, some powers don't make it clear whether their special attack replaces one attack roll or uses your entire action. Since other abilities do specify one or the other, that seems like a basic failure of proofreading.

I don't mean to drag Kobold Press. Some of their stuff is great, and I hope this project succeeds. But they've let some iffy material hit the printing press, honestly.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think there will be tremendous pressure on Kobold Press and Cubicle 7 (and everyone else doing something similar) to get their core books right. As a foundation on which to sell ongoing 5E material, it's what the rest of the lines going forward will both be judged by and balanced around.

I am confident both companies are well aware of this.

 

[Marc Radle]

I think there will be tremendous pressure on Kobold Press and Cubicle 7 (and everyone else doing something similar) to get their core books right. As a foundation on which to sell ongoing 5E material, it's what the rest of the lines going forward will both be judged by and balanced around.

I am confident both companies are well aware of this.

Well, I know Kobold Press certainly is!

 

[CommodoreKong]

There's a long running JRPG series "Tales of"
TTRPGs and JPRGs aren't the same thing but do have some crossover audience. Honestly I'm a bit surprised they would go with a name that could be easily be mistaken for being another entry in a long running videogame series

 

[Nightfly]

Well, I know Kobold Press certain is!

I did mention that some of your stuff is great, right? (hides under blanket)

 

[Marc Radle]

I did mention that some of your stuff is great, right? (hides under blanket)

Very much appreciated!

I can absolutely promise that the folks working extremely hard on this truly love the game and are striving mightily to get it right - we all want Tales of the valiant to be as amazing a game as everyone else does!