D&D (2024) OAR 10 City State of the Invincible Overlord

[Cordwainer Fish]

Perhaps they’ll find a new market though, and do well with OAR11: Empire of the Petal Throne?

OAR12: F.A. -

...

Sorry. I don't know what came over me.

 

[Metroido]

I don't think you can automatically say that every follow is because someone agrees with a page. People follow pages when loved ones go down rabbit holes, trying to figure out what's going on with them. They follow pages when they're trying to see both sides of an argument -- "what is this person actually saying, compared to what I'm hearing about them?"

Is it true most of the time that people follow pages they agree with? Absolutely.

But I don't think -- and I say this as someone who is absolutely not a Candace Owens fan -- that you can automatically equate following with agreement without more datapoints.

If one of the Troll Lords was hitting like one everything Owens posted, that would be conclusive. But I don't think following gets us there yet.

This is true. I'm always reminded of this quote from the movie about Howard Stern, "Private Parts:"

Researcher: The average radio listener listens for eighteen minutes a day. The average Howard Stern fan listens for - are you ready for this? - an hour and twenty minutes.
Kenny: How could this be?
Researcher: Answer most commonly given: "I want to see what he'll say next."
Kenny: : All right, fine. But what about the people who hate Stern?
Researcher: Good point. The average Stern hater listens for two and a half hours a day.
Kenny: : But... if they hate him, why do they listen?
Researcher: Most common answer: "I want to see what he'll say next."

I know a lot of people that follow controversial people (I do it myself, especially for so-called "important" people that have an effect on my life). It's not that we like them. We want to see what crazy thing they're going to say or do next.

 

[jasper]

Judges Guild: Revised City State of the Invincible Overlord (1981–1983, three printings), 96-page book.
i still have this copy. I need to look through again.

 

[Metroido]

nevermind.

 

[EthanSental]

Wow, missed the 2020 issue and surprised GG decided to make this after their 2020 statement near the end says - “After this final volume, we have no plans to release future Judges Guild titles.”

I’m not backing this and feel a negative way for future purchases from them. 745 people have signed up for the backer kit link, but I’m out on it. Thanks for sharing as I wouldnt have known of the junk Bledsow posted.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I know a lot of people that follow controversial people (I do it myself, especially for so-called "important" people that have an effect on my life). It's not that we like them. We want to see what crazy thing they're going to say or do next.

And thus crazy prospers and spreads.

 

[Belen]

I am glad that I kept my d20 versions. The old Necromancer Games stuff was some of the few that I kept and those came out, I think, when the original creator was still around.

 

[Argyle King]

I'll probably back it.
It is scheduled to launch in about 40 days on Backerkit. (Today is 08MAY25.)

If it is being licensed, I imagine most of the money already changed hands to acquire said license. (I don't know that for sure nor do I have any evidence for it.) So, I would like to continue supporting Goodman Games because they, as a company, create products that I like. I also find that there is a preponderance of evidence to suggest that they are typically a good company.

Aside from that, there is currently no other way for me to get this product. So, ultimately, how do I measure my ability to use the product to provide joy to myself and others (of all walks of life) versus one person at Judges Guild (which isn't even the company making the product) saying objectionable things? Do I give that one person the power to have control over what I am allowed to enjoy (even via a different company)?

I can respect the personal choices made by some people who will not back the product.

I will most likely back the product and at least pick up the Dungeon Crawl Classics version.

If I were playing more D&D, I might get both the DCC and 5E versions, to save myself the work of converting from one system to the other. I may still consider it as a gift to friends who do still play a lot of D&D.

 

[Morrus]

Official news thread here:

Thread 'Goodman Games Revives Relationship With Anti-Semitic Publisher For New City State Kickstarter [UPDATED]'

May 8, 2025

City State of the Invincible Overlord was a 1976 game setting from Judges Guild--indeed, it was the first game setting for D&D, albeit from a third party. It features a dwarven stronghold called Thunderhold, which operates as a base of operations for D&D campaigns.

• UPDATE--Scroll down to the end of this post to see the statement posted by Goodman Games.

Judges Guild, founded by Bob Bledsaw and Bill Owen, sold City State until it was licensed to Mayfair Games in the 1980s, before returning to Judges Guild with a new printing in 1999, and collectors...

• Morrus
• Replies: 1,103
• Forum: *TTRPGs General

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I'll close this one so as to not confuse folks. I have reached out to Goodman Games.