Hello everyone, Darryl here with this week’s news. Wizards of the Coast requiring background checks for volunteers and store employees, details on classic Dungeons & Dragons 5e updates of classics, important Gen Con information, and more!
Wizards of the Coast updated the terms of the Wizard Play Network, the governing body for stores and conventions that participate in organized play and promotion for Wizard of the Coast games such as Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. The new terms require that all stores and conventions must perform background checks on all staff members and “those you engage with that interact with the public”, which means Magic: The Gathering certified judges, tournament organizers, and others. The new policy does not specify what kind of background check, only that stores may not employ or otherwise engage staff who “appear on a sex offender registry” or “have been convicted…for a violent sexual offense or a crime against children.” These changes were announced on January 12 and will become effective on February 9.
This action comes in response to a retaliation from YouTuber Jeremy Hambly of Unsleeved Media following his lifetime ban by the DCI. Hambly posted a list of DCI certified judges on social media with DCI numbers, full names, city, and state to encourage his fanbase to search for judges with criminal records and “reporting” them by posting their information publicly. Official confirmation of the events came through a pair of announcements from Judge Conduct Committee Lead Johanna Virtanen and from Regional Coordinator Jack Doyle, both on January 11, though Hambly was not named directly in either announcement. The incident was also referenced in a post “Making Magic Spaces Safer” by Elaine Chase, Vice President of Global Brand Strategy and Marketing for Magic: The Gathering on January 12.
The new policy angered many in the community as a background check would require providing personal information to store and convention employees who, themselves, may or may not have been properly vetted. In particular, women and members of the LGBT community have objected as this will increase the potential of harassment and further endanger those who are harassed as it requires providing personally identifying information such as full legal names, addresses, and more. Several Level 2 Judges have already stated via social media their intent to resign rather than submit their personal information to administer events.
Goodman Games released information about their licensed Dungeon & Dragons line of classic adventures with the first release, Into the Borderlands. The book is less a simple reprint and more a love letter to the original adventures they’re updating to Fifth Edition. Confirmed so far are two restored scans of B1: In Search of the Unknown (the second and sixth printings) complete and as originally presented, a “pure conversion” into Fifth Edition rules, three monster and treasure listings for the previously “empty” sections of the original, and a new chapter for the Caverns of Quasqueton for Fifth Edition. There will also be two restored scans for B2: The Keep on the Borderlands (the second and fourth printings), a conversion for Fifth Edition, and a chapter with additional encounters for use in the adventure. Additionally, a brand new chapter will be included with introductions, essays, and testimonials about the modules. The layout is still in progress, but is currently at 368 pages and is estimated to be over 380 pages when completed. The MSRP of the hardcover book will be $49.99, but no release date has been announced yet.
Gen Con badges went on sale this past Sunday. All passes are currently available with the exception of VIG (Very Important Gamer) passes. A full four-day pass is $110, Thursday and Friday passes are $60, Saturday passes are $70, and Sunday passes are $15. Trade Day passes for Librarian/Educator or Retailer tracks are available for $200 and include a four-day pass, and a proof of employment is required. The “Family Fun Package”, a four-for-one pass just for Sundays, is discontinued as of this year, but wristbands are available for children age 10 or under to attend for free when accompanied by a parent or guardian with a badge. At this time, a limit has not been announced for pass sales this year (2017 was the first year Gen Con capped attendance).
Additional deadlines were announced as well. Applications for press passes are now open for news outlets, podcasters, bloggers, and other gaming media. Event submission is also currently open to submit an application to host an event, panel, or game. Film Festival submissions open on January 19 for films and webseries from gaming genres. Early registration for housing beings February 11 at 12 noon Eastern time and requires a badge purchase to purchase a room. If you’re thinking of booking a room using the system, it would be best to look over the updated Housing and Travel page as, in an attempt to manage that which is unmanageable, the system has been updated once again with new requirements and limitations in order to better and more fairly distribute discounted rooms in Indianapolis. The convention itself will take place from Thursday, August 2 through Sunday, August 5.
Infinity The Roleplaying Game from Modiphius released this past Tuesday. The production of the game funded on Kickstarter in 2015 with a final funding of £346,330 (about US$479,000 based on current conversion rates) and released on PDF with a hardcover release shipping next month. The system uses the Modiphius 2d20 system combined with the setting and worldbuilding of the Infinity skirmish miniature game from Spanish company Corvus Belli, set in an anime-influenced space opera/transhumanist cyberpunk world. This release has been plagued with setbacks including an entire chapter needing to be rewritten from scratch after an upcoming storyline from the wargame contradicted it and a break-in at the Modiphius offices delaying the release for almost two years. The 529-page core rulebook is available in PDF for $24.99, with the 148-page Player’s Guide available for $12.99. No preorder information is available for printed books, and it’s unlikely any will be released until after fulfillment of the original Kickstarter is complete.
A Night in Seyvoth Manor is a 5e conversion of the ENnie nominated adventure originally published for D&D 4th Edition back in 2013. This update takes the original free adventure and expands it with updated content and new artwork. The design itself borrows its theme and some mechanics from the original I6: Ravenloft adventure with its horror/haunted house/mystery tone and the use of random cards for quests goals and item locations, while also feeling a lot like the S-series tournament modules as it is a true one-shot meant for highly optimized characters in a potential meatgrinder adventure. You can get the PDF version of this adventure for an $8 pledge, add on an at-cost print copy for a $15 pledge, or add an at-cost deck of the 112 item/quest cards for $20. This project is fully funded with more stretch goals to be announced as it runs until Thursday, February 1.
Highlander: The Board Game is a licensed dueling game between up to six immortals seeking the Prize based on the original film. While the game does include enough immortal characters for all six players to take control of one in order to claim the Prize. However, many of the characters are completely original and did not appear in the much-maligned sequel films nor the much more well-received television spin-off. Each character has a 32mm unpainted miniature with some coming with variants unlocked through stretch goals (so there’s a Renaissance Scottish MacLeod and a modern New York Russell Nash). The game is available for a £29 (about US$40 pledge) with price breaks for multiple copies and a high-cost backer levels for custom characters. This project has until Friday, February 2 to unlock all their remaining stretch goals for new characters (some of which are original to the board game).
After the launch of their successful Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of game, it was only a matter of time before they turned their attention to another big pulp-era property, John Carter of Mars. Not only will this Kickstarter cover the roleplaying game, but also a line of miniatures featuring John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Tars Tarkas, and more. The game itself is written and laid out so Kickstarter backers should get the first wave of shipment this summer (based on the Kickstarter statements) with a retail release this fall. You can get the core book in PDF for £15 (about US$21), the four-piece core resin unpainted miniature set for £25 (about US$34), all unlocked PDFs for £35 (about US$48), the core book in print for £40 (about US$55), the core book in hardcover plus all the PDFs for £60 (about US83), and other combinations from there. This Kickstarter has already unlocked several stretch goals for new books and more miniatures and runs until Sunday, February 11.
That’s all from me for this week! Find more gaming crowdfunding news at the EN World RPG Kickstarter News website, and don’t forget to support our Patreon to bring you even more gaming news content. If you have any news to submit, email us at news@enworldnews.com. You can follow me on Twitter @Abstruse where I’ve been pondering questions about the intersection of science and science fiction, follow Gamer’s Tavern on YouTube featuring videos on gaming history and Let’s Plays, or you can listen to the archives of the Gamer’s Tavern podcast. Until next time, may all your hits be crits! Note: Links to Amazon, Humble Store, Humble Bundle, and/or DriveThru may contain affiliate links with the proceeds going to the author of this column.
Wizards of the Coast updated the terms of the Wizard Play Network, the governing body for stores and conventions that participate in organized play and promotion for Wizard of the Coast games such as Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. The new terms require that all stores and conventions must perform background checks on all staff members and “those you engage with that interact with the public”, which means Magic: The Gathering certified judges, tournament organizers, and others. The new policy does not specify what kind of background check, only that stores may not employ or otherwise engage staff who “appear on a sex offender registry” or “have been convicted…for a violent sexual offense or a crime against children.” These changes were announced on January 12 and will become effective on February 9.
This action comes in response to a retaliation from YouTuber Jeremy Hambly of Unsleeved Media following his lifetime ban by the DCI. Hambly posted a list of DCI certified judges on social media with DCI numbers, full names, city, and state to encourage his fanbase to search for judges with criminal records and “reporting” them by posting their information publicly. Official confirmation of the events came through a pair of announcements from Judge Conduct Committee Lead Johanna Virtanen and from Regional Coordinator Jack Doyle, both on January 11, though Hambly was not named directly in either announcement. The incident was also referenced in a post “Making Magic Spaces Safer” by Elaine Chase, Vice President of Global Brand Strategy and Marketing for Magic: The Gathering on January 12.
The new policy angered many in the community as a background check would require providing personal information to store and convention employees who, themselves, may or may not have been properly vetted. In particular, women and members of the LGBT community have objected as this will increase the potential of harassment and further endanger those who are harassed as it requires providing personally identifying information such as full legal names, addresses, and more. Several Level 2 Judges have already stated via social media their intent to resign rather than submit their personal information to administer events.
Goodman Games released information about their licensed Dungeon & Dragons line of classic adventures with the first release, Into the Borderlands. The book is less a simple reprint and more a love letter to the original adventures they’re updating to Fifth Edition. Confirmed so far are two restored scans of B1: In Search of the Unknown (the second and sixth printings) complete and as originally presented, a “pure conversion” into Fifth Edition rules, three monster and treasure listings for the previously “empty” sections of the original, and a new chapter for the Caverns of Quasqueton for Fifth Edition. There will also be two restored scans for B2: The Keep on the Borderlands (the second and fourth printings), a conversion for Fifth Edition, and a chapter with additional encounters for use in the adventure. Additionally, a brand new chapter will be included with introductions, essays, and testimonials about the modules. The layout is still in progress, but is currently at 368 pages and is estimated to be over 380 pages when completed. The MSRP of the hardcover book will be $49.99, but no release date has been announced yet.
Gen Con badges went on sale this past Sunday. All passes are currently available with the exception of VIG (Very Important Gamer) passes. A full four-day pass is $110, Thursday and Friday passes are $60, Saturday passes are $70, and Sunday passes are $15. Trade Day passes for Librarian/Educator or Retailer tracks are available for $200 and include a four-day pass, and a proof of employment is required. The “Family Fun Package”, a four-for-one pass just for Sundays, is discontinued as of this year, but wristbands are available for children age 10 or under to attend for free when accompanied by a parent or guardian with a badge. At this time, a limit has not been announced for pass sales this year (2017 was the first year Gen Con capped attendance).
Additional deadlines were announced as well. Applications for press passes are now open for news outlets, podcasters, bloggers, and other gaming media. Event submission is also currently open to submit an application to host an event, panel, or game. Film Festival submissions open on January 19 for films and webseries from gaming genres. Early registration for housing beings February 11 at 12 noon Eastern time and requires a badge purchase to purchase a room. If you’re thinking of booking a room using the system, it would be best to look over the updated Housing and Travel page as, in an attempt to manage that which is unmanageable, the system has been updated once again with new requirements and limitations in order to better and more fairly distribute discounted rooms in Indianapolis. The convention itself will take place from Thursday, August 2 through Sunday, August 5.
Infinity The Roleplaying Game from Modiphius released this past Tuesday. The production of the game funded on Kickstarter in 2015 with a final funding of £346,330 (about US$479,000 based on current conversion rates) and released on PDF with a hardcover release shipping next month. The system uses the Modiphius 2d20 system combined with the setting and worldbuilding of the Infinity skirmish miniature game from Spanish company Corvus Belli, set in an anime-influenced space opera/transhumanist cyberpunk world. This release has been plagued with setbacks including an entire chapter needing to be rewritten from scratch after an upcoming storyline from the wargame contradicted it and a break-in at the Modiphius offices delaying the release for almost two years. The 529-page core rulebook is available in PDF for $24.99, with the 148-page Player’s Guide available for $12.99. No preorder information is available for printed books, and it’s unlikely any will be released until after fulfillment of the original Kickstarter is complete.
A Night in Seyvoth Manor is a 5e conversion of the ENnie nominated adventure originally published for D&D 4th Edition back in 2013. This update takes the original free adventure and expands it with updated content and new artwork. The design itself borrows its theme and some mechanics from the original I6: Ravenloft adventure with its horror/haunted house/mystery tone and the use of random cards for quests goals and item locations, while also feeling a lot like the S-series tournament modules as it is a true one-shot meant for highly optimized characters in a potential meatgrinder adventure. You can get the PDF version of this adventure for an $8 pledge, add on an at-cost print copy for a $15 pledge, or add an at-cost deck of the 112 item/quest cards for $20. This project is fully funded with more stretch goals to be announced as it runs until Thursday, February 1.
Highlander: The Board Game is a licensed dueling game between up to six immortals seeking the Prize based on the original film. While the game does include enough immortal characters for all six players to take control of one in order to claim the Prize. However, many of the characters are completely original and did not appear in the much-maligned sequel films nor the much more well-received television spin-off. Each character has a 32mm unpainted miniature with some coming with variants unlocked through stretch goals (so there’s a Renaissance Scottish MacLeod and a modern New York Russell Nash). The game is available for a £29 (about US$40 pledge) with price breaks for multiple copies and a high-cost backer levels for custom characters. This project has until Friday, February 2 to unlock all their remaining stretch goals for new characters (some of which are original to the board game).
After the launch of their successful Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of game, it was only a matter of time before they turned their attention to another big pulp-era property, John Carter of Mars. Not only will this Kickstarter cover the roleplaying game, but also a line of miniatures featuring John Carter, Dejah Thoris, Tars Tarkas, and more. The game itself is written and laid out so Kickstarter backers should get the first wave of shipment this summer (based on the Kickstarter statements) with a retail release this fall. You can get the core book in PDF for £15 (about US$21), the four-piece core resin unpainted miniature set for £25 (about US$34), all unlocked PDFs for £35 (about US$48), the core book in print for £40 (about US$55), the core book in hardcover plus all the PDFs for £60 (about US83), and other combinations from there. This Kickstarter has already unlocked several stretch goals for new books and more miniatures and runs until Sunday, February 11.
That’s all from me for this week! Find more gaming crowdfunding news at the EN World RPG Kickstarter News website, and don’t forget to support our Patreon to bring you even more gaming news content. If you have any news to submit, email us at news@enworldnews.com. You can follow me on Twitter @Abstruse where I’ve been pondering questions about the intersection of science and science fiction, follow Gamer’s Tavern on YouTube featuring videos on gaming history and Let’s Plays, or you can listen to the archives of the Gamer’s Tavern podcast. Until next time, may all your hits be crits! Note: Links to Amazon, Humble Store, Humble Bundle, and/or DriveThru may contain affiliate links with the proceeds going to the author of this column.
