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News Digest for the Week of May 20
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<blockquote data-quote="Abstruse" data-source="post: 8640589" data-attributes="member: 6669048"><p>Hello everyone, Darryl here with this week’s gaming news! <em>Monsters of the Multiverse </em>released, D&D Beyond gives away two <em>Dungeons & Dragons </em>books, a new <em>Pathfinder 2nd Edition </em>Adventure Path, <em>Critical Role </em>prequel series details, new <em>Star Trek Adventures </em>releases, and more!</p><p></p><p>For a quick summary of the week’s news, Jessica Hancock will bring you up to speed with <em>This Week in TTRPG.</em></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[MEDIA=youtube]nGOnu89ieU8[/MEDIA]</p><p></p><p>Don’t forget, you can keep up with all the week’s gaming news in detail with <em>Morrus’ Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk</em>! This week was the big 200th anniversary special live streamed on EN Live with viewer Q&A!</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[MEDIA=podbean]pzmby-1227057[/MEDIA]</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248616[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>In case you missed it elsewhere on EN World this week:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">EN Publishing announced details of <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/introducing-dungeon-delver%E2%80%99s-guide.688582/" target="_blank">the upcoming Kickstarter for <em>Level Up: Advanced 5e </em>with an art preview from <em>Dungeon Delver’s Guide</em></a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You can find out more <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRZ00OCl8l8" target="_blank">about <em>Dungeon Delver’s Guide </em>and other releases from EN Publishing with the archive of the live stream of the EN Publishing May Update</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">EN Publishing also posted <a href="https://www.lifepathrpg.com/" target="_blank">a new game, <em>Lifepath RPG</em>, available completely for free with full rules, character sheet, and character builder</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">EN5ider #454 is an <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/en5ider-454-adventure-burning-bitterpeak.688524/" target="_blank">adventure for 5th-6th level characters, <em>Burning Bitterpeak</em>, placing the characters at the center of a horrifying crisis in a mining town</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The startup company <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/pro-gm-finder-site-startplaying-raises-6-5m-funding.688509/" target="_blank">StartPlaying received $6.5 million in venture capitalist funding to expand its site connecting professional and hobbyist gamemasters and players</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Beth Rimmels scoured the internet to gather <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/strixhaven-review-round-up-%E2%80%93-what-the-critics-say.688512/" target="_blank">reviews of the recent <em>Dungeons & Dragons </em>release based on the <em>Magic: The Gathering </em>setting, <em>Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos</em></a><em>.</em></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Charles Dunwoody interviewed <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/kong-skull-island-for-everyday-heroes-an-interview-with-dave-scott.688383/" target="_blank">Dave Scott of Evil Genius Games about their current Kickstarter for <em>Everyday Heroes</em>, the 5e reboot of the D20 Modern system</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Egg Embry spoke with <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/modern-age-cyberpunk-slice-%E2%80%93-an-interview-with-malcolm-sheppard-and-troy-hewitt.688151/" target="_blank">Malcolm Sheppard and Troy Hewitt about <em>Cyberpunk Slice</em>, the new cyberpunk sourcebook from Green Ronin for <em>Modern AGE</em></a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Rob Wieland reviewed <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/a-review-of-death-in-space.688213/" target="_blank">the OSR-inspired survival horror RPG distributed by Free League Publishing, Death in Space</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A Twitter account <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/does-tsr3-have-nazi-connections.688528/" target="_blank">reportedly belonging to a developer involved in the <em>Star Frontiers: New Frontiers </em>release from “TSR LLC”</a> was discovered with a large amount of racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic content.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Michael Tresca continues <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/who-are-you-reviewing-for.688374/" target="_blank">his series on how to write a review of RPGs by discussing how to determine your audience and tailor your review to them</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Don’t miss out on <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-crowdfunding-news-%E2%80%93-die-kalymba-mutants-in-the-next-and-more.688536/" target="_blank">the newest RPG crowdfunding projects ending soon with Egg Embry’s RPG Crowdfunding News</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Keep up with <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-print-news-%E2%80%93-cubicle-7-phillip-reed-games-and-more.688380/" target="_blank">all the new print RPG releases with Charles Dunwoody’s RPG Print News</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Find the big TTRPG <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-bundles-freebies-and-sales-news-may-15-2022.688463/" target="_blank">sales, bundles, and charity fundraisers with the RPG Bundles, Freebies, and Sales News</a>.</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248617[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/monsters-of-the-multiverse-releases-a-day-early.688522/" target="_blank">The newest <em>Dungeons & Dragons </em>sourcebook hit shelves both physically and digitally this week, in some cases a full day earlier than expected</a>. The book, which reprints and updates material from <em>Volo’s Guide to Monsters </em>and <em>Mordenkianen’s Tome of Foes</em>, was scheduled for a release on Tuesday, May 17, but was available for purchase on D&D Beyond on Monday, May 16, with some reports of physical copies arriving a day early as well. The hardcover was originally published as part of <a href="https://amzn.to/3LxCzbY" target="_blank">the <em>Dungeons & Dragons Rules Expansion Gift Set </em>in January as a slipcover boxed set</a> with <em>Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything</em>, and a DM screen. The book is currently ranked <a href="https://amzn.to/39zFJPk" target="_blank">on Amazon sales charts</a> as the #10 release in all Books, the #1 release in the <em>Dungeons & Dragons </em>and “Dragons and Mythological Creatures Fantasy” categories, and surprisingly <a href="https://amzn.to/3G3ub39" target="_blank">the #1 Best Seller in the genre of “Romantic Fantasy”</a>.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248618[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-beyond-giving-away-acquisitions-inc-and-phandelver-for-free.688510/" target="_blank">D&D Beyond released two free books this week, <em>Acquisitions Incorporated </em>and <em>Lost Mine of Phandelver</em></a>. <em>Acquisitions Incorporated </em>is based on the campaign from <em>Penny Arcade </em>creators Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik in a series of podcasts, live shows, and streamed events and approaches a D&D adventuring company like an actual company. <em>Lost Mine of Phandelver </em>is an introductory adventure set in the <em>Forgotten Realms </em>meant to take characters from Level 1-6 that was originally included as part of the <em>Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set </em>which launched in advance of the release of <em>Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition</em>. You can pick up <em>Acquisitions Incorporated </em>for free until May 26, while <em>Lost Mine of Phandelver </em>will be free for everyone from now on.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248619[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>In miniature news, <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-cartoon-character-miniatures-are-coming.688578/" target="_blank">we’ve got yet another release focusing on the <em>Dungeons & Dragons </em>cartoon from the 1980s with a miniature line from WizKids featuring five of the protagonists</a>. Maybe? They’re not listed as such but rather as <em>D&D Icons of the Realms: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle</em>. The set of five pre-painted miniatures features a Wizard, Fighter, Paladin, Rogue and Cleric that look suspiciously like adult versions of Presto, Hank, Eric, and Diana from the animated series along with the same cleric seen in <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/is-dragons-of-stormwreck-isle-based-on-the-80s-d-d-cartoon.687403/" target="_blank">promotional art for the <em>Dragons of Stormwreck Isle </em>starter set</a>. The original animated series did not feature a cleric character due to broadcast Standards and Practices policies at the time. The set will be available in June with a retail price of $29.99.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248620[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>But that’s not the only new miniature coming <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/check-out-this-demogorgon-mini.688534/" target="_blank">as WizKids also previewed a new premium miniature for the Demogorgon</a>. Sales solicitations for the miniature are slim on details, focusing more on the lore surrounding the Prince of Demons than information on the miniature. However, other premium releases in the Icons of the Realm line have come pre-painted so it’s safe to assume this will be as well. What we do know for sure is that the figure will be available this September with a retail price of $89.99.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248621[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/pathfinder-publisher-paizo-has-a-new-president.688526/" target="_blank">Paizo announced a new President this week as Jim Butler will now step into the top job at the company</a>. Butler previously served as Vice President of Marketing for Paizo and will be replacing Jeff Alverez, who is stepping down “due to health reasons”. From the announcement:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248622[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>This hasn’t slowed Paizo down from <a href="https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6si1q?The-Abomination-Vaults-in-One-Big-Book" target="_blank">announcements as a hardcover collection of the <em>Abomination Vaults </em>Adventure Path is on its way</a>. The book will collect the entire adventure path in a single volume updated to <em>Pathfinder Second Edition </em>rules taking characters from 1st to 11th level. One chapter will detail the “home base” town of Otari while each level of the megadungeon will get its own chapter along with new spells, items, artifacts, archetypes, monsters, and more. <a href="https://amzn.to/39EWM2j" target="_blank">The <em>Pathfinder Second Edition </em>hardcover version is shipping now</a> with a retail price of $54.99 while the PDF <a href="https://paizo.com/products/btq02ajj?Pathfinder-Adventure-Path-Abomination-Vaults" target="_blank">will be available May 25 for $38.99</a>. A 5e conversion of the adventure path <a href="https://amzn.to/3wxvCUl" target="_blank">will also be available on November 29 for $59.99</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248625[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396518/Star-Trek-Adventures-Discovery-S3-Crew-Pack-PDF?affiliate_id=36142" target="_blank">Modipheus released a new digital supplement for <em>Star Trek Adventures </em>this week, <em>Discovery Season 3 Crew Pack</em></a>. Spoilers for the third season of <em>Discovery</em>, but this is the season where the <em>USS Discovery </em>travels to the far-future year of 3188 to a galaxy ravaged by The Burn that made the resources to travel by warp drive scarce. The set features character sheets for Captain Saru, Lieutenant Commander Paul Stamets, Captain Michael Burnham, Cleveland “Book” Booker, Ensign Sylvia Tilly, Ensign Adira Tal, Philippa Georgiou, Lieutenant Commander Hugh Culber, and Commander Jett Reno along with player rules for Kelpians and game statistics for the upgraded <em>USS Discovery-A</em>. <a href="https://www.modiphius.net/blogs/news/re-discovering-star-trek-part-1" target="_blank">Modiphius also posted not one blog post</a> talking about the design challenges of creating the characters, but also <a href="https://www.modiphius.net/blogs/news/re-discovering-star-trek-part-2" target="_blank">a second post talking about the updated design of the <em>Discovery</em></a> and the tech innovations of the 32nd century. <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396518/Star-Trek-Adventures-Discovery-S3-Crew-Pack-PDF?affiliate_id=36142" target="_blank">The 22-page PDF is available now for $4.99</a>.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248626[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396555/Star-Trek-Adventures-Tricorder-Edition-PDF-Collection?affiliate_id=36142" target="_blank">Also from Modiphius and also for <em>Star Trek Adventures </em>is the digital version of the <em>Tricorder Edition PDF Collection</em></a>. This digital version of the boxed set previously released in a TOS-era tricorder boxed set features two books, the <em>Star Trek Adventures Rules Digest </em>which is a 304-page compact version of the core rules for the game and the 44-page adventure <em>The Keyhole of Eternity</em> along with a collection of pre-generated characters for the crew of the <em>USS Lexington </em>and stats from the crew of the original series <em>Enterprise</em> plus reference sheets and tokens. The PDF collection is available now for $40.00, and those who want just the books without the tokens and character sheets, <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396529/Star-Trek-Adventures-Rules-Digest-PDF?affiliate_id=36142" target="_blank">the <em>Star Trek Adventures Rules Digest </em>is available for $20.00</a> and <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396531/Star-Trek-Adventures-The-Keyhole-of-Eternity-Campaign-Booklet-PDF?affiliate_id=36142" target="_blank">the <em>Keyhole of Eternity </em>campaign booklet for $11.00</a>.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248654[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/check-out-the-official-free-cowboy-bepop-playtest-document.688640/" target="_blank">Fans of the <em>Cowboy Bebop </em>sci-fi anime series don't have to wait any longer to get a look at what the RPG rules are because the playtest edition is now live on DriveThruRPG</a>. From the product description:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/397351?affiliate_id=36142" target="_blank">The PDF is available now for free</a>, though you'll have to supply your own "shitake" mushrooms. The full game is expected to launch a Kickstarter campaign later this year.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248627[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://critrole.com/hype-exandria-unlimited-calamity-premieres-thursday-may-26th/" target="_blank">Critical Role and Dimension 20 announced the new streaming miniseries, <em>Exandria Unlimited: Calamity</em></a>. The new series will feature gamemaster Brandon Lee Mulligan with players Lou Wilson, Marisha Ray, Luis Carazo, Sam Riegel, Aabria Iyengar, and Travis Willingham. From the announcement:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>This four-episode prequel series to <em>Critical Role </em>will air starting on Thursday, May 26, and run until Thursday, June 16, available on the <a href="https://www.twitch.tv/criticalrole" target="_blank">Critical Role Twitch</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/criticalrole" target="_blank">YouTube channels</a> at 7:00 PM Pacific (11:00 PM Eastern, 3:00 AM BST).</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248628[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The 2022 Eisner Award nominees are in celebrating the best of comic books and graphics novels are in, <a href="https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-current-info" target="_blank">and among the nominees is <em>Rick and Morty vs Dungeons & Dragons Deluxe Edition</em></a>. The graphic novel written by Patrick Rothfuss and Jim Zub with art by Troy Little and coloring by Leonardo Ito was nominated under the category Best Graphic Album – Reprint. The other nominees in the category include <em>The Complete American Gods, Locke & Key: Keyhouse Compendium, Middlewest: The Complete Tale, </em>and <em>The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: California Deluxe Edition</em>. Voting for the Eisner Awards is <a href="https://form.jotform.com/221146151922144" target="_blank">open to applicants until June 1</a> with a voting deadline of June 8 with the winners announced at a ceremony during Comic-Con International: San Diego on July 22. <a href="https://amzn.to/3sI7KLe" target="_blank">The collected edition of <em>Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons </em>was released in August 2021</a> and collects the two part story of Rick and Morty accidentally teleporting the entire family to the D&D world Painscape (no, that’s not a typo). <a href="https://amzn.to/3yQcFhe" target="_blank">The original release in 2019 had a tie-in starter set with the same name</a> featuring a 64-page rulebook annotated by Rick along with a 32-page original adventure for levels 1-3.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]248623[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/covid-rules-gencon-yes-origins-ukge-no.688511/" target="_blank">Convention season is ramping up and several conventions have run into controversy surrounding health and safety policies with COVID-19 precautions (or lack thereof)</a>.</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gen Con, scheduled for August 4-7 in Indianapolis, IN, announced that the convention will require proof of vaccination and that mask-wearing is mandatory.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">UK Games Expo, scheduled for June 3-5 in Birmingham, England, will not require any proof of vaccination, negative COVID tests, or masking at any event or on the convention center floor.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Origins Game Fair, scheduled for June 8-12 in Columbus, OH, announced they would drop mask mandates on April 29 then reversed the decision following a backlash from attendees and vendors both, <a href="https://twitter.com/originsgames/status/1526638918757646338" target="_blank">stating on May 17 that masks would be required at the convention</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">PaizoCon, scheduled for May 27-29 in Seattle, WA, is requiring proof of vaccination and mandating masks be worn in all convention areas.</li> </ul><p>Concerns have been high across other areas of the gaming industry beyond tabletop as the video game convention <a href="https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/e3-2022-in-person-event-has-been-cancelled-due-to-covid-19-worries-3132223" target="_blank">E3 canceled the in-person event for 2022 due to COVID-19 concerns in January</a>, while PAX East, which took place from April 21-24 in Boston, MA, <a href="https://kotaku.com/pax-east-enforcer-covid-coronavirus-deestar-death-1848873690" target="_blank">had a convention volunteer die following exposure to the virus at the convention</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><p>That’s all from me for this week! Don’t forget <a href="https://www.patreon.com/enworld" target="_blank">to support our Patreon</a> to bring you more gaming news content. If you have any news to submit, email us at <a href="mailto:news@enpublishingrpg.com">news@enpublishingrpg.com</a>, and you can get <a href="https://morrus.podbean.com/" target="_blank">more discussion of the week’s news on <em>Morrus’ Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk</em></a> every week. You can <a href="http://twitch.tv/gamerstavernshow" target="_blank">follow me on Twitch to get notifications when I go live,</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/meetinatavern" target="_blank">subscribe to <em>Gamer’s Tavern</em> on YouTube for videos on gaming history, RPG reviews, and gaming Let’s Plays</a>, or you can listen to <a href="http://gamerstavernshow.com/" target="_blank">the archives of the <em>Gamer’s Tavern</em> podcast</a>. Until next time, may all your hits be crits! <em>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.</em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Abstruse, post: 8640589, member: 6669048"] Hello everyone, Darryl here with this week’s gaming news! [I]Monsters of the Multiverse [/I]released, D&D Beyond gives away two [I]Dungeons & Dragons [/I]books, a new [I]Pathfinder 2nd Edition [/I]Adventure Path, [I]Critical Role [/I]prequel series details, new [I]Star Trek Adventures [/I]releases, and more! For a quick summary of the week’s news, Jessica Hancock will bring you up to speed with [I]This Week in TTRPG.[/I] [CENTER][MEDIA=youtube]nGOnu89ieU8[/MEDIA][/CENTER] Don’t forget, you can keep up with all the week’s gaming news in detail with [I]Morrus’ Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk[/I]! This week was the big 200th anniversary special live streamed on EN Live with viewer Q&A! [CENTER][MEDIA=podbean]pzmby-1227057[/MEDIA] [ATTACH type="full"]248616[/ATTACH][/CENTER] In case you missed it elsewhere on EN World this week: [LIST] [*]EN Publishing announced details of [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/introducing-dungeon-delver%E2%80%99s-guide.688582/']the upcoming Kickstarter for [I]Level Up: Advanced 5e [/I]with an art preview from [I]Dungeon Delver’s Guide[/I][/URL]. [*]You can find out more [URL='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRZ00OCl8l8']about [I]Dungeon Delver’s Guide [/I]and other releases from EN Publishing with the archive of the live stream of the EN Publishing May Update[/URL]. [*]EN Publishing also posted [URL='https://www.lifepathrpg.com/']a new game, [I]Lifepath RPG[/I], available completely for free with full rules, character sheet, and character builder[/URL]. [*]EN5ider #454 is an [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/en5ider-454-adventure-burning-bitterpeak.688524/']adventure for 5th-6th level characters, [I]Burning Bitterpeak[/I], placing the characters at the center of a horrifying crisis in a mining town[/URL]. [*]The startup company [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/pro-gm-finder-site-startplaying-raises-6-5m-funding.688509/']StartPlaying received $6.5 million in venture capitalist funding to expand its site connecting professional and hobbyist gamemasters and players[/URL]. [*]Beth Rimmels scoured the internet to gather [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/strixhaven-review-round-up-%E2%80%93-what-the-critics-say.688512/']reviews of the recent [I]Dungeons & Dragons [/I]release based on the [I]Magic: The Gathering [/I]setting, [I]Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos[/I][/URL][I].[/I] [*]Charles Dunwoody interviewed [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/kong-skull-island-for-everyday-heroes-an-interview-with-dave-scott.688383/']Dave Scott of Evil Genius Games about their current Kickstarter for [I]Everyday Heroes[/I], the 5e reboot of the D20 Modern system[/URL]. [*]Egg Embry spoke with [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/modern-age-cyberpunk-slice-%E2%80%93-an-interview-with-malcolm-sheppard-and-troy-hewitt.688151/']Malcolm Sheppard and Troy Hewitt about [I]Cyberpunk Slice[/I], the new cyberpunk sourcebook from Green Ronin for [I]Modern AGE[/I][/URL]. [*]Rob Wieland reviewed [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/a-review-of-death-in-space.688213/']the OSR-inspired survival horror RPG distributed by Free League Publishing, Death in Space[/URL]. [*]A Twitter account [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/does-tsr3-have-nazi-connections.688528/']reportedly belonging to a developer involved in the [I]Star Frontiers: New Frontiers [/I]release from “TSR LLC”[/URL] was discovered with a large amount of racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic content. [*]Michael Tresca continues [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/who-are-you-reviewing-for.688374/']his series on how to write a review of RPGs by discussing how to determine your audience and tailor your review to them[/URL]. [*]Don’t miss out on [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-crowdfunding-news-%E2%80%93-die-kalymba-mutants-in-the-next-and-more.688536/']the newest RPG crowdfunding projects ending soon with Egg Embry’s RPG Crowdfunding News[/URL]. [*]Keep up with [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-print-news-%E2%80%93-cubicle-7-phillip-reed-games-and-more.688380/']all the new print RPG releases with Charles Dunwoody’s RPG Print News[/URL]. [*]Find the big TTRPG [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-bundles-freebies-and-sales-news-may-15-2022.688463/']sales, bundles, and charity fundraisers with the RPG Bundles, Freebies, and Sales News[/URL]. [/LIST] [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248617[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/monsters-of-the-multiverse-releases-a-day-early.688522/']The newest [I]Dungeons & Dragons [/I]sourcebook hit shelves both physically and digitally this week, in some cases a full day earlier than expected[/URL]. The book, which reprints and updates material from [I]Volo’s Guide to Monsters [/I]and [I]Mordenkianen’s Tome of Foes[/I], was scheduled for a release on Tuesday, May 17, but was available for purchase on D&D Beyond on Monday, May 16, with some reports of physical copies arriving a day early as well. The hardcover was originally published as part of [URL='https://amzn.to/3LxCzbY']the [I]Dungeons & Dragons Rules Expansion Gift Set [/I]in January as a slipcover boxed set[/URL] with [I]Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything, Xanathar’s Guide to Everything[/I], and a DM screen. The book is currently ranked [URL='https://amzn.to/39zFJPk']on Amazon sales charts[/URL] as the #10 release in all Books, the #1 release in the [I]Dungeons & Dragons [/I]and “Dragons and Mythological Creatures Fantasy” categories, and surprisingly [URL='https://amzn.to/3G3ub39']the #1 Best Seller in the genre of “Romantic Fantasy”[/URL]. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248618[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-beyond-giving-away-acquisitions-inc-and-phandelver-for-free.688510/']D&D Beyond released two free books this week, [I]Acquisitions Incorporated [/I]and [I]Lost Mine of Phandelver[/I][/URL]. [I]Acquisitions Incorporated [/I]is based on the campaign from [I]Penny Arcade [/I]creators Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik in a series of podcasts, live shows, and streamed events and approaches a D&D adventuring company like an actual company. [I]Lost Mine of Phandelver [/I]is an introductory adventure set in the [I]Forgotten Realms [/I]meant to take characters from Level 1-6 that was originally included as part of the [I]Dungeons & Dragons Starter Set [/I]which launched in advance of the release of [I]Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition[/I]. You can pick up [I]Acquisitions Incorporated [/I]for free until May 26, while [I]Lost Mine of Phandelver [/I]will be free for everyone from now on. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248619[/ATTACH][/CENTER] In miniature news, [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-cartoon-character-miniatures-are-coming.688578/']we’ve got yet another release focusing on the [I]Dungeons & Dragons [/I]cartoon from the 1980s with a miniature line from WizKids featuring five of the protagonists[/URL]. Maybe? They’re not listed as such but rather as [I]D&D Icons of the Realms: Dragons of Stormwreck Isle[/I]. The set of five pre-painted miniatures features a Wizard, Fighter, Paladin, Rogue and Cleric that look suspiciously like adult versions of Presto, Hank, Eric, and Diana from the animated series along with the same cleric seen in [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/is-dragons-of-stormwreck-isle-based-on-the-80s-d-d-cartoon.687403/']promotional art for the [I]Dragons of Stormwreck Isle [/I]starter set[/URL]. The original animated series did not feature a cleric character due to broadcast Standards and Practices policies at the time. The set will be available in June with a retail price of $29.99. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248620[/ATTACH][/CENTER] But that’s not the only new miniature coming [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/check-out-this-demogorgon-mini.688534/']as WizKids also previewed a new premium miniature for the Demogorgon[/URL]. Sales solicitations for the miniature are slim on details, focusing more on the lore surrounding the Prince of Demons than information on the miniature. However, other premium releases in the Icons of the Realm line have come pre-painted so it’s safe to assume this will be as well. What we do know for sure is that the figure will be available this September with a retail price of $89.99. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248621[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/pathfinder-publisher-paizo-has-a-new-president.688526/']Paizo announced a new President this week as Jim Butler will now step into the top job at the company[/URL]. Butler previously served as Vice President of Marketing for Paizo and will be replacing Jeff Alverez, who is stepping down “due to health reasons”. From the announcement: [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248622[/ATTACH][/CENTER] This hasn’t slowed Paizo down from [URL='https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6si1q?The-Abomination-Vaults-in-One-Big-Book']announcements as a hardcover collection of the [I]Abomination Vaults [/I]Adventure Path is on its way[/URL]. The book will collect the entire adventure path in a single volume updated to [I]Pathfinder Second Edition [/I]rules taking characters from 1st to 11th level. One chapter will detail the “home base” town of Otari while each level of the megadungeon will get its own chapter along with new spells, items, artifacts, archetypes, monsters, and more. [URL='https://amzn.to/39EWM2j']The [I]Pathfinder Second Edition [/I]hardcover version is shipping now[/URL] with a retail price of $54.99 while the PDF [URL='https://paizo.com/products/btq02ajj?Pathfinder-Adventure-Path-Abomination-Vaults']will be available May 25 for $38.99[/URL]. A 5e conversion of the adventure path [URL='https://amzn.to/3wxvCUl']will also be available on November 29 for $59.99[/URL]. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248625[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396518/Star-Trek-Adventures-Discovery-S3-Crew-Pack-PDF?affiliate_id=36142']Modipheus released a new digital supplement for [I]Star Trek Adventures [/I]this week, [I]Discovery Season 3 Crew Pack[/I][/URL]. Spoilers for the third season of [I]Discovery[/I], but this is the season where the [I]USS Discovery [/I]travels to the far-future year of 3188 to a galaxy ravaged by The Burn that made the resources to travel by warp drive scarce. The set features character sheets for Captain Saru, Lieutenant Commander Paul Stamets, Captain Michael Burnham, Cleveland “Book” Booker, Ensign Sylvia Tilly, Ensign Adira Tal, Philippa Georgiou, Lieutenant Commander Hugh Culber, and Commander Jett Reno along with player rules for Kelpians and game statistics for the upgraded [I]USS Discovery-A[/I]. [URL='https://www.modiphius.net/blogs/news/re-discovering-star-trek-part-1']Modiphius also posted not one blog post[/URL] talking about the design challenges of creating the characters, but also [URL='https://www.modiphius.net/blogs/news/re-discovering-star-trek-part-2']a second post talking about the updated design of the [I]Discovery[/I][/URL][I] [/I]and the tech innovations of the 32nd century. [URL='https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396518/Star-Trek-Adventures-Discovery-S3-Crew-Pack-PDF?affiliate_id=36142']The 22-page PDF is available now for $4.99[/URL]. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248626[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396555/Star-Trek-Adventures-Tricorder-Edition-PDF-Collection?affiliate_id=36142']Also from Modiphius and also for [I]Star Trek Adventures [/I]is the digital version of the [I]Tricorder Edition PDF Collection[/I][/URL]. This digital version of the boxed set previously released in a TOS-era tricorder boxed set features two books, the [I]Star Trek Adventures Rules Digest [/I]which is a 304-page compact version of the core rules for the game and the 44-page adventure [I]The Keyhole of Eternity[/I] along with a collection of pre-generated characters for the crew of the [I]USS Lexington [/I]and stats from the crew of the original series [I]Enterprise[/I] plus reference sheets and tokens. The PDF collection is available now for $40.00, and those who want just the books without the tokens and character sheets, [URL='https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396529/Star-Trek-Adventures-Rules-Digest-PDF?affiliate_id=36142']the [I]Star Trek Adventures Rules Digest [/I]is available for $20.00[/URL] and [URL='https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/396531/Star-Trek-Adventures-The-Keyhole-of-Eternity-Campaign-Booklet-PDF?affiliate_id=36142']the [I]Keyhole of Eternity [/I]campaign booklet for $11.00[/URL]. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248654[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/check-out-the-official-free-cowboy-bepop-playtest-document.688640/']Fans of the [I]Cowboy Bebop [/I]sci-fi anime series don't have to wait any longer to get a look at what the RPG rules are because the playtest edition is now live on DriveThruRPG[/URL]. From the product description: [URL='https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/397351?affiliate_id=36142']The PDF is available now for free[/URL], though you'll have to supply your own "shitake" mushrooms. The full game is expected to launch a Kickstarter campaign later this year. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248627[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://critrole.com/hype-exandria-unlimited-calamity-premieres-thursday-may-26th/']Critical Role and Dimension 20 announced the new streaming miniseries, [I]Exandria Unlimited: Calamity[/I][/URL]. The new series will feature gamemaster Brandon Lee Mulligan with players Lou Wilson, Marisha Ray, Luis Carazo, Sam Riegel, Aabria Iyengar, and Travis Willingham. From the announcement: This four-episode prequel series to [I]Critical Role [/I]will air starting on Thursday, May 26, and run until Thursday, June 16, available on the [URL='https://www.twitch.tv/criticalrole']Critical Role Twitch[/URL] and [URL='https://www.youtube.com/criticalrole']YouTube channels[/URL] at 7:00 PM Pacific (11:00 PM Eastern, 3:00 AM BST). [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248628[/ATTACH][/CENTER] The 2022 Eisner Award nominees are in celebrating the best of comic books and graphics novels are in, [URL='https://www.comic-con.org/awards/eisner-awards-current-info']and among the nominees is [I]Rick and Morty vs Dungeons & Dragons Deluxe Edition[/I][/URL]. The graphic novel written by Patrick Rothfuss and Jim Zub with art by Troy Little and coloring by Leonardo Ito was nominated under the category Best Graphic Album – Reprint. The other nominees in the category include [I]The Complete American Gods, Locke & Key: Keyhouse Compendium, Middlewest: The Complete Tale, [/I]and [I]The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys: California Deluxe Edition[/I]. Voting for the Eisner Awards is [URL='https://form.jotform.com/221146151922144']open to applicants until June 1[/URL] with a voting deadline of June 8 with the winners announced at a ceremony during Comic-Con International: San Diego on July 22. [URL='https://amzn.to/3sI7KLe']The collected edition of [I]Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons & Dragons [/I]was released in August 2021[/URL] and collects the two part story of Rick and Morty accidentally teleporting the entire family to the D&D world Painscape (no, that’s not a typo). [URL='https://amzn.to/3yQcFhe']The original release in 2019 had a tie-in starter set with the same name[/URL] featuring a 64-page rulebook annotated by Rick along with a 32-page original adventure for levels 1-3. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full"]248623[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/covid-rules-gencon-yes-origins-ukge-no.688511/']Convention season is ramping up and several conventions have run into controversy surrounding health and safety policies with COVID-19 precautions (or lack thereof)[/URL]. [LIST] [*]Gen Con, scheduled for August 4-7 in Indianapolis, IN, announced that the convention will require proof of vaccination and that mask-wearing is mandatory. [*]UK Games Expo, scheduled for June 3-5 in Birmingham, England, will not require any proof of vaccination, negative COVID tests, or masking at any event or on the convention center floor. [*]Origins Game Fair, scheduled for June 8-12 in Columbus, OH, announced they would drop mask mandates on April 29 then reversed the decision following a backlash from attendees and vendors both, [URL='https://twitter.com/originsgames/status/1526638918757646338']stating on May 17 that masks would be required at the convention[/URL]. [*]PaizoCon, scheduled for May 27-29 in Seattle, WA, is requiring proof of vaccination and mandating masks be worn in all convention areas. [/LIST] Concerns have been high across other areas of the gaming industry beyond tabletop as the video game convention [URL='https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/e3-2022-in-person-event-has-been-cancelled-due-to-covid-19-worries-3132223']E3 canceled the in-person event for 2022 due to COVID-19 concerns in January[/URL], while PAX East, which took place from April 21-24 in Boston, MA, [URL='https://kotaku.com/pax-east-enforcer-covid-coronavirus-deestar-death-1848873690']had a convention volunteer die following exposure to the virus at the convention[/URL]. That’s all from me for this week! Don’t forget [URL='https://www.patreon.com/enworld']to support our Patreon[/URL] to bring you more gaming news content. If you have any news to submit, email us at [EMAIL]news@enpublishingrpg.com[/EMAIL], and you can get [URL='https://morrus.podbean.com/']more discussion of the week’s news on [I]Morrus’ Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk[/I][/URL] every week. You can [URL='http://twitch.tv/gamerstavernshow']follow me on Twitch to get notifications when I go live,[/URL] [URL='https://www.youtube.com/user/meetinatavern']subscribe to [I]Gamer’s Tavern[/I] on YouTube for videos on gaming history, RPG reviews, and gaming Let’s Plays[/URL], or you can listen to [URL='http://gamerstavernshow.com/']the archives of the [I]Gamer’s Tavern[/I] podcast[/URL]. Until next time, may all your hits be crits! [I]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.[/I] [/QUOTE]
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