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News Digest for the Week of July 23
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<blockquote data-quote="Abstruse" data-source="post: 8351540" data-attributes="member: 6669048"><p>Hello everyone, Darryl here with this week’s gaming news! Details on the new 2021 <em>Dungeons & Dragons </em>releases, all D&D novels declared non-canon, new <em>Critical Role </em>campaign setting book, and more!</p><p></p><p>Don’t forget, you can get all the news every week with <em>Morrus’ Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk</em>! <a href="https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hdkhq-108fbfe" target="_blank">This week, Morrus and Peter are joined by James Berry to talk about <em>Cursed Captains of Cthulhu</em></a><em>.</em></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[MEDIA=podbean]kbw2e-ff1b3d[/MEDIA]</p> <p style="text-align: center"></p> <p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141048[/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 is <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/return-to-zeitgeist-in-death-of-the-author.681505/" target="_blank">returning to the world of ZEITGEIST with the new adventure <em>Death of the Author</em>, a stand-alone adventure for 3rd level for D&D 5e</a> with additional options for the upcoming <em>Level Up Advanced 5e</em> available on Kickstarter now.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">You can catch up on <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/zeitgeist-returns-plus-mephits-shakespearian-figures.681532/" target="_blank">all the news from EN Publishing for <em>Level Up, Judge Dredd and the Worlds of 2000 AD, WOIN, </em>and more with the weekly news round-up</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Egg Embry interviewed <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/call-of-cthulhu-classic-an-interview-with-rick-meints-chaosium.681388/" target="_blank">Rick Meints, President of Chaosium, to talk about their current Kickstarter for <em>Call of Cthulhu Classics</em></a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Charles Dunwoody <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/war-is-hell-in-wrath-glory%E2%80%99s-bloody-gates-and-on-the-wings-of-valkyries.681297/" target="_blank">reviewed <em>Bloody Gates </em>and <em>On the Wings of Valkyries</em>, two new adventures for <em>Warhammer 40,000: Wrath & Glory</em></a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dragonlance Nexus, the fansite for all things <em>Dragonlance, </em><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/dragonlance-nexus-posts-tasslehoffs-pouches-of-everything.681448/" target="_blank">released a free homebrew PDF for 5e, <em>Tasslehoff’s Pouches of Everything </em>that updates the setting to 5e</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Egg Embry also <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/vast-grimm-from-infinite-black-an-interview-with-brian-colin.680962/" target="_blank">talked to Brian Colin about the <em>Mörk Borg</em> compatible sci-fi horror RPG <em>Vast Grimm</em>, currently crowdfunding on Gamefound</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Modiphius is taking pre-orders <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/homeworld-revelations-rpg-for-pre-order.681552/" target="_blank">for <em>Homeworld: Revelations</em>, a new science fiction RPG based on the <em>Homeworld </em>series of real time strategy video games</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mike Schley made <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/you-can-now-buy-mike-schleys-ravenloft-maps.681563/" target="_blank">high-quality versions of his maps for <em>Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft </em>available for purchase in digital format, posters, or art prints</a>.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lewis Pulsipher’s newest <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/worlds-of-design-active-vs-passive%E2%80%94part-2.681132/" target="_blank">Worlds of Design goes deeper into the differences between active and passive players</a> and how to accommodate the needs of each type at your table.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Mike Myler’s newest Epic Monster is <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/epic-monsters-catoblepas.681467/" target="_blank">the Catablepas, the toxic gas breathing bull that inspired the confusingly named gorgon from D&D</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-vast-grimm-squeaks-in-the-deep-dreampunk-and-more.681451/" target="_blank">the newest RPG crowdfunding projects ending soon with Egg Embry’s RPG Crowdfunding News</a> and keep up with <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-print-news-%E2%80%93-chaosium-arc-dream-publishing-modiphius-and-more.681450/" target="_blank">all the new print RPG releases with Charles Dunwoody’s RPG Print News</a>.</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141049[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The floodgates are open on information about the new <em>Dungeons & Dragons </em>releases for 2021. <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/fizbans-treasury-the-dragon-book-now-has-a-description-and-a-feat.681399/" target="_blank">First we have <em>Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons</em></a> where those who haven’t read the original <em>Dragonlance Chronicles </em>trilogy of novels but intend to may want to avoid even the product description due to spoilers.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/check-out-fizbans-alternate-cover.681406/" target="_blank">We’ve also got a preview of the alternate cover, which is only available from hobby stores</a> (though many hobby stores will list the alternate cover on Amazon, eBay, and other mass market outlets as third-party sellers if you don’t have a store near you). It’s possible the book may answer a decades-old question <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/is-paladine-bahamut-is-takhisis-tiamat-fizbans-treasury-might-reveal-the-answer.681407/" target="_blank">about the identity of <em>Dragonlance’s </em>Paladine and Takhsis and their <em>Forgotten Realms/Greyhawk </em>counterparts Bahamut and Tiamat</a>. And if you’d like more pictures of dragons and a look at the new design for Fizban, <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/look-at-all-this-draconic-fizban-art.681417/" target="_blank">there’s a preview of some of the interior art available as well</a>. For those wanting a more in-depth preview, <a href="https://www.enworld.org/Issue%2038%20of%20Dragon+%20has%20a%20chapter-by-chapter%20breakdown%20of%20what%20to%20expect%20from%20the%20book" target="_blank">Issue 38 of <em>Dragon+ </em>has a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of what to expect from the book</a>.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/2UHmiwX" target="_blank">The hardcover for <em>Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons </em>releases on October 19, 2021, with a retail price of $49.95</a>.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141050[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The second upcoming release (though the one we’re getting first of the three) is <em>Wild Beyond the Witchlight</em>. <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/wild-beyond-the-witchlight-features-warduke-more.681403/" target="_blank">A more detailed product description came out giving us more details about the game including an interesting cameo</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>If you’re unsure who Warduke, Strongheart, and Kelek are, you’re likely not alone as they were characters originally introduced through the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Action Figures line by LJN released in 1983 and 1984. <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/everything-you-need-to-know-about-witchlight.681409/" target="_blank">Todd Kenrick posted a video summarizing what to expect from <em>Witchlight</em></a>, including background for The Witchlight Carnival and its status as a “Domain of Delight” in the feywild (in contrast to <em>Ravenloft</em> and the Domains of Dread in the shadowfell). <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/so-much-witchlight-art.681425/" target="_blank">And there has been a lot of art from the book previewed. A lot.</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3y6eK5u" target="_blank">The hardcover for <em>The Wild Beyond the Witchlight </em>releases on September 21, 2021, with a retail price of $49.95</a> and <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/beadle-grimms-platinum-and-silver-editions-of-the-wild-beyond-the-witchlight.681420/" target="_blank">two different deluxe versions are available for pre-order from Beadle & Grimm</a>.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141051[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>The third release for 2021 will be the <em>Magic: The Gathering </em>tie-in setting <em>Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos</em>. <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/strixhaven-pre-order-details.681411/" target="_blank">We’ve now got a full product description and cover art</a> along with <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/hydro74-cover-for-strixhaven-a-curriculum-of-chaos.681430/" target="_blank">the alternate cover art</a> for the setting inspired by magical universities and schools from across the history of the fantasy genre:</p><p></p><p></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3iz2i7A" target="_blank">The hardcover for <em>Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos </em>will be available on November 16, 2021, with a retail price of $49.95</a>.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141052[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/wotc-novels-non-5e-lore-are-officially-not-canon.681553/" target="_blank">Jeremy Crawford stated in a media briefing that tie-in fiction, novels, comic books, video games, movies, etc. are not considered “canonical” for the D&D RPG</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>This mirrors the approach to canon that many other media franchises have taken, from <em>Star Trek </em>to <em>Star Wars </em>to the DC and Marvel comic book universes – they may draw on tie-in material, but anything but the core product (be it television, movies, or comics) are not canon until they’re made canon. Crawford stated the specific reason for this choice was to alleviate the pressure some DMs feel running games in published settings who feel the need to read all tie-in material in order to play the game.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141053[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>In other D&D novel news, <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/ra-salvatore-wants-to-correct-drizzt%E2%80%99s-racist-tropes.681562/" target="_blank">R. A. Salvatore stated his desire to correct the racist tropes surrounding Drizzt and the Drow</a>. In an interview with Polygon, Salvatore said:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The Drow were first presented as always-evil worshipers of the evil spider goddess Lolth in the adventure series <em>G1-3 Against the Giants</em>, <em>D1-3 Descent into the Depths of the Earth</em>, and <em>Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits</em> set in the Greyhawk setting. Salvatore further popularized the Drow and their culture in the <em>Forgotten Realms </em>starting with his breakout character Drizzt Do’Urden and further expanded on the culture of with his origin story in the <em>Dark Elf Trilogy</em>, establishing the society of Menzoberranzan. Wizards of the Coast announced they would be changing how the Drow are presented in <em>Forgotten Realms </em>by <a href="https://dnd.wizards.com/story/legend-of-drizzt" target="_blank">introducing two additional Drow cultures</a> – the Aevendrow and the Lorendrow to contrast with Menzoberranzan’s Udadrow. These new cultures will be detailed in the <a href="https://amzn.to/3kUJgLw" target="_blank">first of the <em>Way of the Drow </em>novel trilogy by R. A. Salvatore, <em>Starlight Enclave</em>, coming on August 3, 2021</a>.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141054[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/cubicle-7-announces-victoriana-for-5e.681401/" target="_blank">Cubicle 7 announced a new edition of <em>Victoriana</em>, the steampunk fantasy roleplaying game originally published by Heresy Games in 2003</a>. Described by Shannon Appelcline as “Victorian <em>Shadowun</em>”, the game is set in an alternate 1887 where magic and tradition are losing ground to science and industry. The setting draws heavily from 19th and early 20th century pulp novels so much so that adventures for the game are called “penny dreadfuls”. This new fourth edition of the game will be based on the OGL 5e rules system. There’s no release date yet for the new edition, but <a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/cubicle-7-shares-victoriana%E2%80%99s-new-cover.681561/" target="_blank">the cover has been revealed along with some details about what to expect from its eventual release</a>.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141055[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/tal%E2%80%99dorei-reborn-from-critical-roles-darrington-press.681560/" target="_blank">Critical Role’s publishing arm Darrington Press announced a reboot of the Tal’Dorei campaign setting, <em>Tal’Dorei Reborn</em></a>. Originally published by Green Ronin in 2017 and the basis for the first season of <em>Critical Role</em>, the updated Tal’Dorei campaign setting book will double the size of the book to 280 pages and advances the timeline of the setting by twenty years. The book will feature details on each major region of the setting, nine new subclasses, five new backgrounds, new magic items, new creatures, and updated character sheets for the members of Vox Machina. The site states that there will not be a stand-alone PDF version available at launch with a digital version only available with a purchase of a hardcover edition. The release date is listed as “late 2021/early 2022”.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141056[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/top-5-tabletop-rpgs-spring-2021-cyberpunk-gains.681499/" target="_blank">ICv2 released their quarterly sales statistics for the hobby game industry for Q2 2021</a>. These sales numbers are tracked via surveys of hobby game stores, sales information from participating distributors, and tracking crowdfunding projects and only tracks physical product sales, not PDFs or other digital sales. Number one, as expected, is <em>Dungeons & Dragons</em>. However, the number two spot is a bit surprising with <em>Cyberpunk </em>pushing <em>Pathfinder </em>down to third place. <em>Alien </em>maintains its spot at number four, with the nebulous “5e Compatible” catch-all category taking the fifth spot. For those curious about the history of sales across the years, <a href="https://www.enworld.org/wiki/top_rpgs/" target="_blank">EN World maintains an archive of sales charts going back to Q3 2004</a>.</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-market-grew-31-in-2020.681400/" target="_blank">This comes along with the 2020 sales estimations for the game industry, which indicates yet another year of growth for tabletop roleplaying games</a>. Tabletop RPGs grew more than thirty percent from $80 million in gross sales in 2019 to $105 million in 2020. Again, this comes from ICv2’s estimates which include sales surveys from hobby games stores for physical product sales, information from select distributors, crowdfunding tracking, and other sources but does not include digital sales via PDF or virtual tabletop bundles. <a href="https://www.enworld.org/wiki/hobby_game_market_size/" target="_blank">The market for roleplaying games has grown year-on-year every year since ICv2 began tracking in 2013</a>, when the market was only $15 million in gross annual sales. This jump marks the largest percentage gain for the market since 2015 and the launch of <em>Dungeons & Dragons 5e </em>late in the previous year.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141057[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.geeknative.com/133240/nightfall-games-buy-the-stokerverse-rpg-s5s-system-and-kickstarter-planned/" target="_blank">Nightfall Games announced the purchase of the rights to the <em>StokerVerse </em>roleplaying game</a>. The “StokerVerse” was created by Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of author Bram Stoker, and creates a shared universe across multiple media platforms including novels, comics, board games, and audio dramas centered on not just Dracula but other works of Bram Stoker. From the announcement:</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>The game will use the S5S System also used in Nightfall’s version of <em>SLA Industries </em>and their licensed <em>Terminator </em>roleplaying game. The core rulebook is planned to be 240 pages long and a Kickstarter project is planned for 2022.</p><p></p><p style="text-align: center">[ATTACH=full]141058[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.humblebundle.com/software/treasure-maps-adventures-software?partner=gamerstavern" target="_blank">Humble Bundle and Pelgrane Press released the <em>13th Age </em>Treasure! Maps! Adventures! Bundle this week featuring a full library for the <em>13th Age </em>fantasy roleplaying game</a>. At the lowest $1 level, you get the Quick Start and System Reference Document plus a 1st level adventure, two sourcebooks, and a map. The $20 level upgrades that with eleven more books with more maps, adventures, treasure, and more, the “beat the average” (currently at $23.67) gets you the <em>13th Age Bestiary, GM Screen and Resource Guide</em>, plus four more books, and the top $25 level gets you all of that plus the <em>13th Age Core Rulebook</em> and more for a total of 34 books and map packs. This bundle benefits Oceana – Protecting the World’s Oceans and runs until Thursday, August 19.</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<em>,</em></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/meetinatavern" target="_blank">subscribe to Gamer’s Tavern 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: 8351540, member: 6669048"] Hello everyone, Darryl here with this week’s gaming news! Details on the new 2021 [I]Dungeons & Dragons [/I]releases, all D&D novels declared non-canon, new [I]Critical Role [/I]campaign setting book, and more! Don’t forget, you can get all the news every week with [I]Morrus’ Unofficial Tabletop RPG Talk[/I]! [URL='https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-hdkhq-108fbfe']This week, Morrus and Peter are joined by James Berry to talk about [I]Cursed Captains of Cthulhu[/I][/URL][I].[/I] [CENTER][MEDIA=podbean]kbw2e-ff1b3d[/MEDIA] [ATTACH type="full" alt="zhead.jpg"]141048[/ATTACH][/CENTER] In case you missed it elsewhere on EN World this week: [LIST] [*]EN Publishing is [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/return-to-zeitgeist-in-death-of-the-author.681505/']returning to the world of ZEITGEIST with the new adventure [I]Death of the Author[/I], a stand-alone adventure for 3rd level for D&D 5e[/URL] with additional options for the upcoming [I]Level Up Advanced 5e[/I] available on Kickstarter now. [*]You can catch up on [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/zeitgeist-returns-plus-mephits-shakespearian-figures.681532/']all the news from EN Publishing for [I]Level Up, Judge Dredd and the Worlds of 2000 AD, WOIN, [/I]and more with the weekly news round-up[/URL]. [*]Egg Embry interviewed [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/call-of-cthulhu-classic-an-interview-with-rick-meints-chaosium.681388/']Rick Meints, President of Chaosium, to talk about their current Kickstarter for [I]Call of Cthulhu Classics[/I][/URL]. [*]Charles Dunwoody [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/war-is-hell-in-wrath-glory%E2%80%99s-bloody-gates-and-on-the-wings-of-valkyries.681297/']reviewed [I]Bloody Gates [/I]and [I]On the Wings of Valkyries[/I], two new adventures for [I]Warhammer 40,000: Wrath & Glory[/I][/URL]. [*]Dragonlance Nexus, the fansite for all things [I]Dragonlance, [/I][URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/dragonlance-nexus-posts-tasslehoffs-pouches-of-everything.681448/']released a free homebrew PDF for 5e, [I]Tasslehoff’s Pouches of Everything [/I]that updates the setting to 5e[/URL]. [*]Egg Embry also [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/vast-grimm-from-infinite-black-an-interview-with-brian-colin.680962/']talked to Brian Colin about the [I]Mörk Borg[/I] compatible sci-fi horror RPG [I]Vast Grimm[/I], currently crowdfunding on Gamefound[/URL]. [*]Modiphius is taking pre-orders [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/homeworld-revelations-rpg-for-pre-order.681552/']for [I]Homeworld: Revelations[/I], a new science fiction RPG based on the [I]Homeworld [/I]series of real time strategy video games[/URL]. [*]Mike Schley made [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/you-can-now-buy-mike-schleys-ravenloft-maps.681563/']high-quality versions of his maps for [I]Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft [/I]available for purchase in digital format, posters, or art prints[/URL]. [*]Lewis Pulsipher’s newest [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/worlds-of-design-active-vs-passive%E2%80%94part-2.681132/']Worlds of Design goes deeper into the differences between active and passive players[/URL] and how to accommodate the needs of each type at your table. [*]Mike Myler’s newest Epic Monster is [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/epic-monsters-catoblepas.681467/']the Catablepas, the toxic gas breathing bull that inspired the confusingly named gorgon from D&D[/URL]. [*]Don’t miss out on [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-crowdfunding-news-%E2%80%93-vast-grimm-squeaks-in-the-deep-dreampunk-and-more.681451/']the newest RPG crowdfunding projects ending soon with Egg Embry’s RPG Crowdfunding News[/URL] and keep up with [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-print-news-%E2%80%93-chaosium-arc-dream-publishing-modiphius-and-more.681450/']all the new print RPG releases with Charles Dunwoody’s RPG Print News[/URL]. [/LIST] [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="DnD_FTD_Alt_Cover.jpg"]141049[/ATTACH][/CENTER] The floodgates are open on information about the new [I]Dungeons & Dragons [/I]releases for 2021. [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/fizbans-treasury-the-dragon-book-now-has-a-description-and-a-feat.681399/']First we have [I]Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons[/I][/URL] where those who haven’t read the original [I]Dragonlance Chronicles [/I]trilogy of novels but intend to may want to avoid even the product description due to spoilers. [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/check-out-fizbans-alternate-cover.681406/']We’ve also got a preview of the alternate cover, which is only available from hobby stores[/URL] (though many hobby stores will list the alternate cover on Amazon, eBay, and other mass market outlets as third-party sellers if you don’t have a store near you). It’s possible the book may answer a decades-old question [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/is-paladine-bahamut-is-takhisis-tiamat-fizbans-treasury-might-reveal-the-answer.681407/']about the identity of [I]Dragonlance’s [/I]Paladine and Takhsis and their [I]Forgotten Realms/Greyhawk [/I]counterparts Bahamut and Tiamat[/URL]. And if you’d like more pictures of dragons and a look at the new design for Fizban, [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/look-at-all-this-draconic-fizban-art.681417/']there’s a preview of some of the interior art available as well[/URL]. For those wanting a more in-depth preview, [URL='https://www.enworld.org/Issue%2038%20of%20Dragon+%20has%20a%20chapter-by-chapter%20breakdown%20of%20what%20to%20expect%20from%20the%20book']Issue 38 of [I]Dragon+ [/I]has a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of what to expect from the book[/URL]. [URL='https://amzn.to/2UHmiwX']The hardcover for [I]Fizban’s Treasury of Dragons [/I]releases on October 19, 2021, with a retail price of $49.95[/URL]. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="twbtw-bothcovers-1623014646892.jpg"]141050[/ATTACH][/CENTER] The second upcoming release (though the one we’re getting first of the three) is [I]Wild Beyond the Witchlight[/I]. [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/wild-beyond-the-witchlight-features-warduke-more.681403/']A more detailed product description came out giving us more details about the game including an interesting cameo[/URL]. If you’re unsure who Warduke, Strongheart, and Kelek are, you’re likely not alone as they were characters originally introduced through the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Action Figures line by LJN released in 1983 and 1984. [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/everything-you-need-to-know-about-witchlight.681409/']Todd Kenrick posted a video summarizing what to expect from [I]Witchlight[/I][/URL], including background for The Witchlight Carnival and its status as a “Domain of Delight” in the feywild (in contrast to [I]Ravenloft[/I] and the Domains of Dread in the shadowfell). [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/so-much-witchlight-art.681425/']And there has been a lot of art from the book previewed. A lot.[/URL] [URL='https://amzn.to/3y6eK5u']The hardcover for [I]The Wild Beyond the Witchlight [/I]releases on September 21, 2021, with a retail price of $49.95[/URL] and [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/beadle-grimms-platinum-and-silver-editions-of-the-wild-beyond-the-witchlight.681420/']two different deluxe versions are available for pre-order from Beadle & Grimm[/URL]. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="strixhaven.jpg"]141051[/ATTACH][/CENTER] The third release for 2021 will be the [I]Magic: The Gathering [/I]tie-in setting [I]Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos[/I]. [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/strixhaven-pre-order-details.681411/']We’ve now got a full product description and cover art[/URL] along with [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/hydro74-cover-for-strixhaven-a-curriculum-of-chaos.681430/']the alternate cover art[/URL] for the setting inspired by magical universities and schools from across the history of the fantasy genre: [URL='https://amzn.to/3iz2i7A']The hardcover for [I]Strixhaven: A Curriculum of Chaos [/I]will be available on November 16, 2021, with a retail price of $49.95[/URL]. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="dragonlance-chronicles-books.png"]141052[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/wotc-novels-non-5e-lore-are-officially-not-canon.681553/']Jeremy Crawford stated in a media briefing that tie-in fiction, novels, comic books, video games, movies, etc. are not considered “canonical” for the D&D RPG[/URL]. This mirrors the approach to canon that many other media franchises have taken, from [I]Star Trek [/I]to [I]Star Wars [/I]to the DC and Marvel comic book universes – they may draw on tie-in material, but anything but the core product (be it television, movies, or comics) are not canon until they’re made canon. Crawford stated the specific reason for this choice was to alleviate the pressure some DMs feel running games in published settings who feel the need to read all tie-in material in order to play the game. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="starlightenclave.jpg"]141053[/ATTACH][/CENTER] In other D&D novel news, [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/ra-salvatore-wants-to-correct-drizzt%E2%80%99s-racist-tropes.681562/']R. A. Salvatore stated his desire to correct the racist tropes surrounding Drizzt and the Drow[/URL]. In an interview with Polygon, Salvatore said: The Drow were first presented as always-evil worshipers of the evil spider goddess Lolth in the adventure series [I]G1-3 Against the Giants[/I], [I]D1-3 Descent into the Depths of the Earth[/I], and [I]Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits[/I] set in the Greyhawk setting. Salvatore further popularized the Drow and their culture in the [I]Forgotten Realms [/I]starting with his breakout character Drizzt Do’Urden and further expanded on the culture of with his origin story in the [I]Dark Elf Trilogy[/I], establishing the society of Menzoberranzan. Wizards of the Coast announced they would be changing how the Drow are presented in [I]Forgotten Realms [/I]by [URL='https://dnd.wizards.com/story/legend-of-drizzt']introducing two additional Drow cultures[/URL] – the Aevendrow and the Lorendrow to contrast with Menzoberranzan’s Udadrow. These new cultures will be detailed in the [URL='https://amzn.to/3kUJgLw']first of the [I]Way of the Drow [/I]novel trilogy by R. A. Salvatore, [I]Starlight Enclave[/I], coming on August 3, 2021[/URL]. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="victoriana.jpg"]141054[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/cubicle-7-announces-victoriana-for-5e.681401/']Cubicle 7 announced a new edition of [I]Victoriana[/I], the steampunk fantasy roleplaying game originally published by Heresy Games in 2003[/URL]. Described by Shannon Appelcline as “Victorian [I]Shadowun[/I]”, the game is set in an alternate 1887 where magic and tradition are losing ground to science and industry. The setting draws heavily from 19th and early 20th century pulp novels so much so that adventures for the game are called “penny dreadfuls”. This new fourth edition of the game will be based on the OGL 5e rules system. There’s no release date yet for the new edition, but [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/cubicle-7-shares-victoriana%E2%80%99s-new-cover.681561/']the cover has been revealed along with some details about what to expect from its eventual release[/URL]. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="cr.jpg"]141055[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/tal%E2%80%99dorei-reborn-from-critical-roles-darrington-press.681560/']Critical Role’s publishing arm Darrington Press announced a reboot of the Tal’Dorei campaign setting, [I]Tal’Dorei Reborn[/I][/URL]. Originally published by Green Ronin in 2017 and the basis for the first season of [I]Critical Role[/I], the updated Tal’Dorei campaign setting book will double the size of the book to 280 pages and advances the timeline of the setting by twenty years. The book will feature details on each major region of the setting, nine new subclasses, five new backgrounds, new magic items, new creatures, and updated character sheets for the members of Vox Machina. The site states that there will not be a stand-alone PDF version available at launch with a digital version only available with a purchase of a hardcover edition. The release date is listed as “late 2021/early 2022”. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="cyberpunk.jpg"]141056[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/top-5-tabletop-rpgs-spring-2021-cyberpunk-gains.681499/']ICv2 released their quarterly sales statistics for the hobby game industry for Q2 2021[/URL]. These sales numbers are tracked via surveys of hobby game stores, sales information from participating distributors, and tracking crowdfunding projects and only tracks physical product sales, not PDFs or other digital sales. Number one, as expected, is [I]Dungeons & Dragons[/I]. However, the number two spot is a bit surprising with [I]Cyberpunk [/I]pushing [I]Pathfinder [/I]down to third place. [I]Alien [/I]maintains its spot at number four, with the nebulous “5e Compatible” catch-all category taking the fifth spot. For those curious about the history of sales across the years, [URL='https://www.enworld.org/wiki/top_rpgs/']EN World maintains an archive of sales charts going back to Q3 2004[/URL]. [URL='https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-market-grew-31-in-2020.681400/']This comes along with the 2020 sales estimations for the game industry, which indicates yet another year of growth for tabletop roleplaying games[/URL]. Tabletop RPGs grew more than thirty percent from $80 million in gross sales in 2019 to $105 million in 2020. Again, this comes from ICv2’s estimates which include sales surveys from hobby games stores for physical product sales, information from select distributors, crowdfunding tracking, and other sources but does not include digital sales via PDF or virtual tabletop bundles. [URL='https://www.enworld.org/wiki/hobby_game_market_size/']The market for roleplaying games has grown year-on-year every year since ICv2 began tracking in 2013[/URL], when the market was only $15 million in gross annual sales. This jump marks the largest percentage gain for the market since 2015 and the launch of [I]Dungeons & Dragons 5e [/I]late in the previous year. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="stoververse.jpg"]141057[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.geeknative.com/133240/nightfall-games-buy-the-stokerverse-rpg-s5s-system-and-kickstarter-planned/']Nightfall Games announced the purchase of the rights to the [I]StokerVerse [/I]roleplaying game[/URL]. The “StokerVerse” was created by Dacre Stoker, the great-grandnephew of author Bram Stoker, and creates a shared universe across multiple media platforms including novels, comics, board games, and audio dramas centered on not just Dracula but other works of Bram Stoker. From the announcement: The game will use the S5S System also used in Nightfall’s version of [I]SLA Industries [/I]and their licensed [I]Terminator [/I]roleplaying game. The core rulebook is planned to be 240 pages long and a Kickstarter project is planned for 2022. [CENTER][ATTACH type="full" alt="13thagehumble.png"]141058[/ATTACH][/CENTER] [URL='https://www.humblebundle.com/software/treasure-maps-adventures-software?partner=gamerstavern']Humble Bundle and Pelgrane Press released the [I]13th Age [/I]Treasure! Maps! Adventures! Bundle this week featuring a full library for the [I]13th Age [/I]fantasy roleplaying game[/URL]. At the lowest $1 level, you get the Quick Start and System Reference Document plus a 1st level adventure, two sourcebooks, and a map. The $20 level upgrades that with eleven more books with more maps, adventures, treasure, and more, the “beat the average” (currently at $23.67) gets you the [I]13th Age Bestiary, GM Screen and Resource Guide[/I], plus four more books, and the top $25 level gets you all of that plus the [I]13th Age Core Rulebook[/I] and more for a total of 34 books and map packs. This bundle benefits Oceana – Protecting the World’s Oceans and runs until Thursday, August 19. 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[I],[/I][/URL] [URL='https://www.youtube.com/user/meetinatavern']subscribe to Gamer’s Tavern 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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