And Here It Is - Wil Wheaton's TABLETOP RPG Show Is TITANSGRAVE: THE ASHES OF VALKANA

Wil Wheaton has made the official announcement! As we already know it's Green Ronin's Adventure Game Engine (AGE) which powers Dragon Age and the upcoming Fantasy AGE. The show is called Titansgrave: The Ashes of Valkana, and starts on June 2nd 2015.

Interestingly, Wil mentions that he worked together with Green Ronin to develop the Fantasy AGE system.

The world is written by Wil and his son Ryan, and is inspired by the 1978 Heavy Metal movie (I haven't seen it, sadly) and the 1980 cartoon show Thundarr the Barbarian (which I have also sadly never seen). Goblins with laser rifles, that sort of thing.

Watch the video below. And see here for all our fun, exciting clue-gathering and speculation which led to us figuring out eveything but the name in advance!

[video=youtube;4Er6gDch9Lc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Er6gDch9Lc[/video]
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[am181d]

The whole thing looks like a marketing gimmick. Even from the point that Dragon Age was on Tabletop with one of the designers of it being the GM. That would totally be fine, if they were upfront about it and if this show wasn't Kickstarted.

The whole point of the Tabletop brand is that they promote games that they like. That's like saying their Settlers of Catan episode was a cheap marketing gimmick to sell more copies of Settlers of Catan.

 

[Morrus]

Not that I think Wheaton & co are doing anything other than just making a show they think will be cool and which they can make part of their living doing, even if it were marketing, what on earth is wrong with marketing? If companies didn't tell you about their wares, you wouldn't know about them. As long as you're not being spammed or cold-called or anything, marketing is perfectly fine and dandy.

 

[JonathanV]

Hank Green, of the VlogBrothers, on the set of TitansGrave in this Youtube video called "Snap Questions: On the Set of Titansgrave!": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie-drkpj6p4

 

[variant]

The whole point of the Tabletop brand is that they promote games that they like. That's like saying their Settlers of Catan episode was a cheap marketing gimmick to sell more copies of Settlers of Catan.

If it was just them promoting games they liked, that is different. When it goes into the realm of marketing, money is changing hands for brand awareness. It looks like marketing, when the game designer is the GM for the game they have on it. It's also the only RPG they've ever had on Tabletop.

Not that I think Wheaton & co are doing anything other than just making a show they think will be cool and which they can make part of their living doing, even if it were marketing, what on earth is wrong with marketing? If companies didn't tell you about their wares, you wouldn't know about them. As long as you're not being spammed or cold-called or anything, marketing is perfectly fine and dandy.

Marketing is perfectly fine, if they are upfront about it.

 

[Von Ether]

If it was just them promoting games they liked, that is different. When it goes into the realm of marketing, money is changing hands for brand awareness. It looks like marketing, when the game designer is the GM for the game they have on it. It's also the only RPG they've ever had on Tabletop.



Marketing is perfectly fine, if they are upfront about it.

Just to clarify, you think that GR paid TT to promote Adventure Age? Just like Martha Stewart and Ophra are paid to promote the kitchenware and books they "like" on their shows. And if that was true, you'd like full disclosure, though you think it's bad form that they took money from a KS to get the show up if that's the case. All based on the fact that Pramas ran the game for them? Does that mean SJ Games paid for Munchkin to be on the show? Or that AEG gave them half a day rate for supplying custom player mats?

I think if they were in the market to that, we'd be watching either DnD, Pathfinder or even more likely FFG's Star Wars. I also think that would be a much tamer show with all the suits watching.

I could be wrong, but I think that it mostly evolved from established friendships. Mostly because if this was a sponsorship gig, they're doing it wrong and most game companies have a lot less money than you think for a gamble like this.

If Wil and his kid got something for their writing efforts for the campaign book, it would be a pittance compared to sponsorship.

And even if you want to waggle your finger than Wil got a game writing gig based on already having a book out and who he knew, then you don't know the industry.

A lot of guys, ones that I personally admire, got their start with an English degree and friend in the biz. Some had to start up their own company in order to get published. Wil at least got a book out first.

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

Oh good, more people for my ignore list.

On a more positive note, I am really happy for Chris [MENTION=995]Pramas[/MENTION] and the Green Ronin team. This is great news for them and for a company that has done a great job putting out good products for 15 years. I hope this proves to be an even bigger success for them.

 

[variant]

Just to clarify, you think that GR paid TT to promote Adventure Age? Just like Martha Stewart and Ophra are paid to promote the kitchenware and books they "like" on their shows. And if that was true, you'd like full disclosure, though you think it's bad form that they took money from a KS to get the show up if that's the case. All based on the fact that Pramas ran the game for them? Does that mean SJ Games paid for Munchkin to be on the show? Or that AEG gave them half a day rate for supplying custom player mats?

I think if they were in the market to that, we'd be watching either DnD, Pathfinder or even more likely FFG's Star Wars. I also think that would be a much tamer show with all the suits watching.

I could be wrong, but I think that it mostly evolved from established friendships. Mostly because if this was a sponsorship gig, they're doing it wrong and most game companies have a lot less money than you think for a gamble like this.

If Wil and his kid got something for their writing efforts for the campaign book, it would be a pittance compared to sponsorship.

And even if you want to waggle your finger than Wil got a game writing gig based on already having a book out and who he knew, then you don't know the industry.

A lot of guys, ones that I personally admire, got their start with an English degree and friend in the biz. Some had to start up their own company in order to get published. Wil at least got a book out first.

I have a feeling people think that what Wil Wheaton is doing with shows like Tabletop is solely motivated out of wanting to have fun or love of the hobby. However, he's getting paid and Geek & Sundry is owned by Legendary Pictures, a large motion picture company who produces blockbuster films.

I certainly don't think all the games they played are paid for, their goal is to increase viewers. However, I have suspicions when it comes to Dragon Age and now this new show. Green Ronin even released a press release. Though when suspicions are raised on one, it would be natural to wonder about the rest of the games they played.

The whole thing simply sounds like promotional material, and with its production paid for by Kickstarter backers at that. Even if it's some friendships that led them to promote Dragon Age and now the Adventure Games Engine, is it any better? He had a lot of spiel about why he chose this particular RPG and it would all be lies, and again more marketing.

 

[Morrus]

And Here It Is - Wil Wheaton's TABLETOP RPG Show Is TITANSGRAVE: THE ASHES OF...

I have a feeling people think that what Wil Wheaton is doing with shows like Tabletop is solely motivated out of wanting to have fun or love of the hobby. However, he's getting paid and Geek & Sundry is owned by Legendary Pictures, a large motion picture company who produces blockbuster films.

So? No, G&S is not a charity. That doesn't make them *corrupt*.

We're talking about the same thing here, right? A guy who is going to play a game on a YouTube video?

 

[TarionzCousin]

... and Ophra are paid to promote ....

Uh oh. You misspelled Her name. She's going to come after you, probably with
[sblock]

[/sblock]

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I think if the people at Table Top were going to let money make the choice, they could have gotten more money from a bigger publisher. I think what Green Ronin did provide is a lot of support with the game system and probably even let the people at Table Top have some input into the Fantasy Age core.

I also think that people are using marketing to mean different things. [MENTION=41293]variant[/MENTION], I feel like you are saying that marketing is paying people to promote your product who wouldn't otherwise, while other people people are using it more broadly to mean ways that companies communicate. (I subscribe to the belief that "Everything is Marketing," so I would say of course it's marketing)

Finally a couple of minor nitpicks. It was an Indigogo campaign, not a Kickstarter. Also Dragon Age wasn't the only RPG, there was also Fiasco and Dread is on schedule for later this season.

 

[Henry]

"Ariel! Ookla! We Ride!"

I freakin' LOVED Thundarr as a kid.

Word of warning for all who have not seen it, though -- It is very much a 1980's cartoon, so it might feel a bit silly to 2010's sensibilities who aren't watching it with rose-lenses intact.

That said, I didnt realize that DVD set was still available -- I REALLY want a copy for home, because the writing was a heck of a lot of fun (though damned if i cant find any quotes online but for the obvious ones!) Ariel was the closest thing to an audience stand-in for that show.

 

[Stacie GmrGrl]

I doubt that they are using the AGE system just because of marketing reasons or anything like that... I really feel that Wheaton does what he does because he enjoys it and he likes to roleplay. He's a gamer. It's what he loves to do. I doubt he does much from a motivation of getting more money... and he is simply probably really good friends with the folks at Green Ronin, which is a much smaller company than the likes of Hasbro and he probably didn't want to deal with the headache of working with a large company. It's also possible that he wanted to create and release a campaign setting for all of us to enjoy, and Green Ronin was cool with the setting idea he has come up with. It's a definite win-win-win for all of them and us.

 

[Veander]

Still not sure why he would choose this system. Is there really thatch red tape with any of the D&D systems? I mean seriously why would Hasbro/WotC provide problems for good press like a YouTube show with Wil Wheaton? I will have to finish watching session 1 but so far I feel like this isn't at all like the D&D I play and presenting it this way will only disappoint any new people. But at the end of the day it's better Wil's doing anything than nothing for the hobby.

 

[Veander]

Still not sure why he would choose this system. Is there really thatch red tape with any of the D&D systems? I mean seriously why would Hasbro/WotC provide problems for good press like a YouTube show with Wil Wheaton? I will have to finish watching session 1 but so far I feel like this isn't at all like the D&D I play and presenting it this way will only disappoint any new people. But at the end of the day it's better Wil's doing anything than nothing for the hobby.

And yeah that was my first post since 2009... Lol

 

[Morrus]

Still not sure why he would choose this system. Is there really thatch red tape with any of the D&D systems? I mean seriously why would Hasbro/WotC provide problems for good press like a YouTube show with Wil Wheaton? I will have to finish watching session 1 but so far I feel like this isn't at all like the D&D I play and presenting it this way will only disappoint any new people. But at the end of the day it's better Wil's doing anything than nothing for the hobby.

Partly because he has a good relationship with Green Ronin, and partly because he likes the system, I imagine..

I don't know about the red tape aspect, but I don't think that you actually need permission to play someone's game on video. He probably just wanted a company he could work with easily as some of the publishing side of the project isn't done by him (getting WotC to publish Titansgrave is probably difficult).

 

[Von Ether]

Still not sure why he would choose this system. Is there really thatch red tape with any of the D&D systems? I mean seriously why would Hasbro/WotC provide problems for good press like a YouTube show with Wil Wheaton? I will have to finish watching session 1 but so far I feel like this isn't at all like the D&D I play and presenting it this way will only disappoint any new people. But at the end of the day it's better Wil's doing anything than nothing for the hobby.

I'm not speaking for Wil, but if I was him I'd weigh these two factors. I can do this project with either ...

Personally working with the president of the company that I have a friendship and understanding with (and hopefully is a straight shooter that I will listen to with an open mind) and use a product that his is hungry to promote "You'll turn my homebrew setting into an official product, you don't say?" And it doesn't hurt that the president is one of the best in the biz and a former WotC employee.

OR

Working with the best in the biz, but you and them constantly have to get approval from suits that are one to three step removed from the market and the audience. And God forbid they decide they want to influence the project. Wil's been in Hollywood all of his life. He's seen what the suits can do to a creative project.

Spoilers for Episode 1 *****
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Seeing as how the first mission is to save a beer caravan, I can guess that I wasn't too far off the mark.

 

[Veander]

I'm not speaking for Wil, but if I was him I'd weigh these two factors. I can do this project with either ...

Personally working with the president of the company that I have a friendship and understanding with (and hopefully is a straight shooter that I will listen to with an open mind) and use a product that his is hungry to promote "You'll turn my homebrew setting into an official product, you don't say?" And it doesn't hurt that the president is one of the best in the biz and a former WotC employee.

OR

Working with the best in the biz, but you and them constantly have to get approval from suits that are one to three step removed from the market and the audience. And God forbid they decide they want to influence the project. Wil's been in Hollywood all of his life. He's seen what the suits can do to a creative project.

Spoilers for Episode 1 *****
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*
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Seeing as how the first mission is to save a beer caravan, I can guess that I wasn't too far off the mark.

This is the part of the show I'm enjoying so far - beer caravans. My current D&D group essentially does this. Lol

 

[nightwind1]

Still not sure why he would choose this system. Is there really thatch red tape with any of the D&D systems? I mean seriously why would Hasbro/WotC provide problems for good press like a YouTube show with Wil Wheaton? I will have to finish watching session 1 but so far I feel like this isn't at all like the D&D I play and presenting it this way will only disappoint any new people. But at the end of the day it's better Wil's doing anything than nothing for the hobby.

Who the heck cares if it's "like D&D"? It's NOT D&D. There are many, many more games than just D&D.

I, for one, am glad it's not D&D, because I think (IMHO) that D&D is overblown. It's an okay game, but there are many better ones available.

Again, IMNSHO.

 

[Herobizkit]

I missed a LOT of cartoons in the 80's, which is odd, given that I was 4 years old in 1980 and I watched cartoons every Saturday that I could.

That said... I never saw Thundarr the Barbarian. I think I had a bias against "people" cartoons and dismissed them like "bleh people, let's see cool things!"

That said... I watched Heavy Metal in my early 20's and I thought it was just awful. I watched Heavy Metal 2010 and still think it's awesome (largely because of Michael Ironside's performance - he has the best lines in the movie).

THAT said, I watched Wil's science fantasy production and I have a sincere feeling that science fantasy is going to be the next go-to theme in RPGs for the next short while as a result. Pathfinder already beat him to the punch with Iron Gods, and Monte Cook has TWO sci-fantasy worlds on the go.

Never underestimate the power of celebrity endorsement or marketing... could you imagine a world where the ONLY way we knew about new products/services was by word-of-mouth?

 

[aramis erak]

I doubt that they are using the AGE system just because of marketing reasons or anything like that... I really feel that Wheaton does what he does because he enjoys it and he likes to roleplay. He's a gamer. It's what he loves to do. I doubt he does much from a motivation of getting more money... and he is simply probably really good friends with the folks at Green Ronin, which is a much smaller company than the likes of Hasbro and he probably didn't want to deal with the headache of working with a large company. It's also possible that he wanted to create and release a campaign setting for all of us to enjoy, and Green Ronin was cool with the setting idea he has come up with. It's a definite win-win-win for all of them and us.

I recall seeing a video of him running the Dragon Age RPG... and reading that he really enjoyed it.

(Note: I don't watch his vids. I generally don't do gaming videos. Sometimes, I'll listen to "Main Man" rants - they're a hoot, with good ideas too... )