RPG Evolution: Reviewing My 2025 Goals

Looking back at the goals I set twelve months ago, while it was not without challenges, the spirit of transformation was alive and well. And I succeeded on most of my goals too!

Campaign Status: Leaving Hellspire Peak (Partial Success)​

My long-running campaign, which started years ago, has finally reached a major inflection point. I am happy to report that the latest adventure, 5E Quest: Hellspire Peak, is finished. My players reached the finish line last night, though I admit we skidded across it! Conflicting player schedules, health issues, and overall adult responsibilities made consistent meetups a significant challenge for us. To address this, the campaign will enter a period of pause as I’ve recently begun an in-person game. However, I am leaving the door open to pick up another adventure in this series if schedules align and my amazing players are interested. We achieved the goal of writing the complete adventure, and that is a victory in itself.

Social Media Shift and Genuine Connections (Success)​

Last year, I spoke about pivoting away from the toxicity and algorithmic frustration of older platforms. My goal was to build a community and reach 1,000 connections on Bluesky: goal achieved! I hit the 1,000-follower mark and successfully shifted the focus of my page to actively connecting players who want to jump into D&D online. This new methodology—focusing on quality engagement over post-and-pray—makes for a much warmer and tightly knit community.

Spreading the Love and Professional Transition (Success)​

The goal to spread love of the game and provide positive outreach through the Committee for the Advancement of Role-Playing Games (CAR-PGA) continues. The organization has flourished, and it is now time for me to begin transitioning away from my role as Chair after seven years. While I am stepping down from the primary leadership role, I will remain on the board to ensure a smooth transition to whoever takes the reins next. The progress we’ve made is a testament to the dedication to all the volunteers in the organization.

The Great Revision Project Begins (Success)​

Anticipating the changes in the latest edition of Dungeons & Dragons, I set a goal to convert and update my work. While I initially thought simple conversions would suffice, customer interest (or lack thereof) suggested a deeper revamp was necessary. I leaned into this challenge, using the rules revision as an opportunity to completely overhaul several books with better art, fresh editing, and comprehensive rule updates. I revised and updated three major products to the 2024 ruleset this year: 5E RPG: Italia Bestiary, 5E Foes: Fearsome Critters, and 5E Foes: Celtic Bestiary. Here's hoping these books will stand up well in the new edition landscape.

What’s Next: 2026, Year of the Fire Horse​

2025 was a year of profound change. The year ahead is the Year of the Fire Horse, embodying high energy, dynamic action, and fierce independence. My goals for the Fire Horse year will be focused on focusing more on in-person play. More to come in the next article.

I hope whatever goals you set for yourself in 2025, you achieved most of them. Here's to a successful2025 (however you define it) and new beginnings in 2026!