My latest game, Danger Cubed, is currently funding on Kickstarter. You play as a gelatinous cube who has grown tired of guarding and cleaning the dungeon. You have decided to escape, but you’ll need to consume friends and foes alike to escape.
A wrymling, a goblin, and an Owlbare walk into a tavern…
The game uses a simplified d20 system that players will find familiar and intuitive. As you explore the dungeon and defeat foes, you will engulf them and gain powers. Beware though, adventurers can be found skulking about the dungeon too. However, once engulfed, adventurers provide powerful bonuses to help you in your quest for freedom.
A cleric, a fighter, and a wizard
What about the Treasure? After defeating a monster or an adventurer, you can choose to loot the chest, but you’ll need to keep an eye open for mimics. Those shapeshifting troublemakers can ruin your day for sure.
I hope you’ll take a look at my silly little game. If it looks fun, please consider backing (it’s $15), but if it’s not your cup of tea, still consider sharing the campaign, it will help me tremendously. Thank you! -Andy
I had the pleasure of talking with Zac Goins from Snapback Game Studio about his newest project, Raptor Ruckus!
Can you give us a quick overview of the game, and what makes it unique? Sure! Raptor Ruckus is a survival horror RPG set within a collapsing island park filled with dinos, CIA operatives, eco-terrorist organizations, and other pleasantries. You’ve survived the initial chaos, but actually finding a way off the island is another thing altogether. It’s a d20-based game, like D&D, but much simpler, deadlier, and more chaotic. If you’re familiar with the Mork Borg system, we started there and then twisted things till they fit what we envisioned.
What inspired the game? You’ve probably already guessed, but Jurassic Park is at the top of the list. Secondary inspirations are the Alien RPG from Free League, Deathmatch Island RPG from Evil Hat Productions, and the novel Primitive War.
What is your favorite dinosaur? Can I give you three for different categories? The most terrifying is the Quetzalcoatlus. Nothing more awe-inspiring than a flying dino larger than a giraffe with a beak that’s longer than I am. The coolest is the Baryonyx. It has the vibes of piss and vinegar, it could swim with the best of them, and pops up in a bunch of JP releases. And then my favorite dinosaur that’s not a dinosaur is the Dimetrodon. It’s the alligator looking fellow with the big sail on its back and the short legs. It’s not a dino, it’s not even a reptile. What’s crazy is that it’s classified as basically a mammal, which breaks my brain every time I think about it.
Will Raptor Ruckus feature only real dinos, or will there be mutant dinos (mutadons, etc.) too? The core book only features “real” dinos and megaufauna, but there’s a build-your-own dino section for you to go nuts with, and some of the adventure pamphlets get weird real quick.
Were there any specific design challenges you had to overcome? 100%. This game sat on the back-burner for like 6 months because I wanted an elegant, simple system for chase scenes and escaping dinos in general. I absolutely abhor almost all chase mechanics, stealth modes, and things like that in most games, so it was a long process of research, revision, and playtest to find something that I was really happy with.
What part of the game are you most proud of from a design perspective? Definitely the chase mechanics. That’s all bundled up into Maneuvers, which are things characters can do inside combat other than attack the dinos (usually a bad idea). All dinos and NPCs have Hit Points, so you could kill them, but they also have a Tenacity score, which functions like Morale but is burned down by successfully evading, hiding, or otherwise outmaneuvering your opponents.
What can you tell us about the Raptor Ruckus team? It’s definitely a project with heavy collaboration. Once I had the bones of the system together, I brought in 3 of my best friends and dino enthusiasts. Frank Tedeschi is a real-world geneticist and board game / adventure designer that has been invaluable. He’s written a large chunk of the game, including our hacking mini-game. Zack Allen has added a lot to the setting and the overall flavor of the game. He’s the one that pushes us into strange territory and you need someone like that on the team. Eric Lillard is a friend of mine that’s one of the greatest GMs known to man. He’s also a Borg-fanatic, and he wrote our quickstart adventure. We also snagged Derrick Nau as our lead artist. You can see his work on our GM screen currently. Matthew Myslinski is doing more of our art and the books’ layout. He’s also tackling Chainsaw, Rangaborg, and Wasteland Degenerates in the Borg space. John Baltisberger is a horror fiction writer who also works in games. He’s doing a novel for us and a set-piece in the campaign book. We also have Cory Holman and Daniel Fox contributing set pieces, and Daniel is our Dev Editor. Finally, Brian Colin of Vast Grimm fame is our publisher and the last piece of the artist team.
When the creation of this game inevitably becomes a movie, who will play you? I guess in the movie adaptation, the closest the writer gets is a cameo or serving as the narrator. So if it’s a cameo, I’ll play myself. And if it’s “me” as the narrator, maybe Andrew Scott?
What items will be offered in the Kickstarter? The core book (plus a special edition), a campaign book (10-12 sessions of play), GM Screen, 4 pamphlet adventures, a Kickstarter-exclusive adventure zine, T-Rex, Spinosaurus, and Raptor minis, the tie-in prelude novel, a hacking deck, and probably something else I’m forgetting.
What can backers expect as far as stretch goals? Some of this is still getting sorted, but we’re looking at a lot of physical book improvements (multiple robbons, custom endpapers, Spot UV cover, etc.) and then maybe a smattering of extra dinos, minis, and the like.
A hungry raptor has picked up your scent. Will you survive the encounter? Only if I’ve got a beaker full of some larger dino’s urine. I don’t have the charisma to woo a raptor, and I’m about as athletic as Dr. Malcolm with a cane.
About Zac: Zac has written for dozens of publications, including the Marvel Multiverse Starter Set, the Zweihander RPG core book, and dozens of supplements for Mork Borg, Mothership, D&D 5e, OSE, and more. In another realm, he is the Director of Marketing for Limithron and the former god of death.
If you play MtG, and Commander format in particular, you will have seen the updates to the banned and restricted list. ICYMI:
So why were these cards banned? According the committee:
Commander Rules Committee Explanation of Bans
The philosophy of Commander prioritizes creativity, and one of the ways we have historically reflected that in the rules and ban list is to encourage a slower pace of game than traditional formats. This gives decks time and space to develop and do different things. We have a goal to make it easier for players who enjoy slower, more social games to have an environment for them to explore.
Commander has always had the potential for someone to get out to a fast start and be the first arch-villain in the game, but that advantage has been balanced by having multiple players gunning for them once it happens. In the past few years, notably since Strixhaven: School of Mages, we have seen a pattern of stronger mid-game cards that allow the player who skips past the early game to snowball their advantage straight through to the win. Occasional games like that are fine, but it shouldn’t be common, and we’re taking steps to bring that frequency down a bit by banning three of the most explosive plays in the format.
Mana Crypt – Coming down for no mana on turn one, it’s quite possible to have the explosive start of Mana Crypt into a Signet or Talisman, land, and another Signet, leaving that player untapping five mana on turn two. In games going over twelve turns, the accumulated threat of damage from Mana Crypt provides a reasonable counterbalance for its explosive effect, but when you are snowballing to a turn-six to -eight win, it’s a meaningless drawback.
Jeweled Lotus – Another card that can give you five mana on turn two, Jeweled Lotus does it without even needing a good hand. Though you’re restricted in what you can do with the mana, four- and five-mana Commanders can pack a significant punch nowadays, often drawing cards to make up for the one-shot mana, and defensive abilities such as ward can’t be interacted with that early in the game.
Dockside Extortionist – Dockside isn’t normally quite as explosive in the early game as the other two cards, but it can still go mana-positive on turn two and start generating substantial Treasures after that. It’s been on the border for years, and we’ve shied away from acting in the past because the card has scaled well with the power level of the table, but it’s a frequent contributor to the more egregious snowballing starts.
We should also talk about the elephant in the room. We’re not banning Sol Ring and have no desire to. Yes, based on the criteria we’ve talked about here, it would be banned. Sol Ring is the iconic card of the format, and it’s sufficiently tied to the identity of the format that it defies the laws of physics in a way that no other card does. Banning Sol Ring would be fundamentally changing the identity of the format. We aren’t trying to eliminate all explosive starts—it happening every once in a while is exciting—and removing the other three cards geometrically reduces the number of hands capable of substantial above-curve mana generation in the first few turns.
There’s another ban here, and it’s explosive, but in a different way. Given that Nadu, Winged Wisdom has been ejected from multiple formats at this point, it’s no surprise that we took a close look at it for Commander. Sometimes, hugely problematic cards in other formats (Oko, companions) are fine for Commander, but our observations of Nadu suggest its inherent play pattern is going to cause problems.
Part of the problem is the way in which Nadu wins, where it takes a really long time to do non-deterministic sequences that can’t be shortcut and might eventually fizzle out. These aren’t dedicated combo lines that you have to build a deck around; dropping Nadu into a “normal” Simic shell still runs the risk of grinding the game down to a slog of resource accrual. It interacts badly with cards that are staples of casual play, most notably Lightning Greaves , meaning that decks it gets thrown into without abuse intent can still create a situation where the player is monopolizing all the time in the game. That’s not an experience we want to risk, so Nadu gets itself another ban.
My question for you is, was the ban necessary? We all knew that Nadu was going to get the axe, the designer has admitted that the card was a mistake, but what about the other cards? Let me know what you think.
Today, we sit down with Matthew Sargent to talk about his new DnD supplement that brings ska to your 5e game.
How did the College of the Third Wave come about? This project was the perfect storm of inspiration and timing. I’d been looking to start a new personal project for a while, but most of my ideas were a bit too ambitious for the time I had between freelance illustration gigs. Being a busy freelancer is great for paying rent, but it sure makes pursuing your own work tricky! I needed something that was small enough to finish on a tight timeline and personal enough to be creatively fulfilling.
It was at Gary Con that the seed was planted. Walking around the dealer hall, I was noticing how many products displayed a clear heavy metal influence. Nothing wrong with that, of course – metal is great! It just has a bit of a musical monopoly in TTRPGs (and fantasy in general). That got me pondering how I could combine my favorite music genre – ska – with my favorite games. The wheels were turning!
The work of artist and game designer Steve Conley helped give those wheels a direction. He’s Kickstarted several humorous, yet playable 5e subclasses as zines. That was exactly the kind of project I was looking for! It was small enough to do between freelance jobs and rooted in things I love – plus, it would be a great way to try my hand at crowdfunding.
In short, I needed a project, stumbled into some thematic inspiration, then found/stole a mold to put it in just as I was finishing up some major client work. College of the Third Wave was born! It was like finding out I’d been training for something for decades without even knowing it. Is that what destiny is?
You once mentioned that you play bass guitar. Does your experience as a musician shape this supplement? And if so, how?
My first instrument as a child was actually the trumpet, which I’m sure gave me a built-in bias towards ska when I was introduced to it a few years later. I picked up bass in high school, but never managed to get a ska band going with either instrument. Playing any kind of music is fun, though, and I’ve kept up with the bass, playing mostly in church and occasionally with the acoustic rock band Hugs & Proxy. I don’t know if any of that directly shaped this supplement, but being a musician has absolutely enhanced my appreciation and understanding of music as a whole. Without that, who knows if this project would have ever even occurred to me?
Who are your favorite ska bands?
That’s a hard one! There are so many great ones out there. If we take a look at my phone, Rancid, Reel Big Fish, and Streetlight Manifesto are the most heavily-represented bands out of all the music on there. All three were instrumental in developing my musical tastes. Keep an eye out for references to them (and a ton of other bands) in the zine.
Is there any aspect of life that wouldn’t be enhanced by adding a horn section?
Absolutely not! A good horn section can pump you up, lull you to sleep, and even guarantee your band is big enough for a good D&D game!
What is it about ska that excites you as a designer?
Mostly that it’s such an untapped source of inspiration and something I feel uniquely qualified to add to the TTRPG world. Ska has an upbeat, joyful sound and an often critical, irreverent outlook, and I think that contrast has great potential in terms of gameplay mechanics and storytelling. Plus, there are so many opportunities for great puns in naming all the abilities, spells, and monsters!
You’ve shared the Really Big Fish; can you share another cool element from the product?
As the old saying goes, “ska is what plays in a 13-year-old’s head when he gets extra mozzarella sticks.” So, naturally, I had to include the magic item Fingers of Gold, which are basically potions in the form of mozzarella sticks. The name is, of course, a pun on the ska-punk band Goldfinger.
Have you created a playlist for your DMs and bards to use in-game?
I made a Youtube playlist for the Kickstarter page to help explain ska to anyone who wandered in and wasn’t familiar with it. That playlist could absolutely be used as an in-game resource for Bard players. I imagine DMs would prefer something more instrumental, which is definitely doable. (I might have to include that if we unlock the final Stretch Goal: a ska-themed one-shot adventure!)
This is your first Kickstarter; what is something you’ve learned during the process that could aid other new creators?
I started knowing almost nothing, so this whole process has been a big learning experience. The most helpful thing I did was to ask advice from friends who’d had successful TTRPG Kickstarters in the past (huge thanks to you, Steve Conley, Darryl from Splattered Ink, John from 321 Action RPG, Levi from Planet X Games, and Mosey, who I worked with on Quest for Owlbear Milk). The second-most helpful thing was being married to a marketer (thanks, Raquel!), so shoot for that if you can!
Over the past couple months, I’ve gleaned a lot of little tidbits on running a crowdfunding campaign. I think one of the most important things for a Kickstarter (and one of the things many of them do poorly) is clear communication. You need to be able to explain your project simply and briefly – no one wants to read giant walls of text to figure out what you’re selling. Having a bunch of art to accompany the text helps with that and also proves that you’re actually working on the project.
Perhaps the most important lesson is to create something YOU want to see in the world. People can see the passion, and you’ll be surprised how many of them will show up to support something super niche. I had no idea so many folks were in the middle of the Ska/TTRPG Venn diagram with me!
Now that you’ve got a taste for TTRPG design, what’s next for you?
If this project goes well enough, I might have to follow it up with the Colleges of Traditional Ska and Two Tone! I also have an idea for a comic/game guide combo based on a home-brewed Fantasy-Western campaign I ran a few years ago. It would be a pretty ambitious project, but I think it’s got potential. Aside from those, I’m always collaborating with other TTRPG creators and publishers, so you’re sure to see more of my work soon!
Gen Con announced today via email that the new 2024 One D&D PHBs will be available for sale at Gen Con. According to WotC:
“Get hyped, Gen Con attendees! You’ll be the first fans in the world to take home a copy of the 2024 Player’s Handbook! Limited quantities will be available for sale at Gen Con 2024. We’re shipping them straight off the press right to Indianapolis because we can’t wait for you to start your next adventure with this revised and expanded book! If you’re attending the show and would like to buy a physical book at our exclusive sales area, please read the information below.”
How to Obtain a Ticket to Purchase
At 7:00 a.m. EDT on each sales day (see below), tickets to reserve an opportunity to purchase will be released in the Gen Con event ticketing system as an event. The event will be listed as a free ticket and will be titled “D&D 2024 Player’s Handbook Early Release Sale.” A Gen Con attendee may claim one digital ticket for that day, subject to availability. The digital ticket serves as your access to purchase for that day only.
Once you have your digital ticket, you will show up at the sales location during the sales hours listed for that day (see below). Sales will not be processed outside of those hours. You must be in line by the end of the sales window to ensure you are able to purchase for that day.
Where to Buy
The 2024 Player’s Handbook will be available at Lucas Oil Stadium, Northwest Concourse. It is in the shared sales area with the USPS D&D Stamps.
Sales Hours
Thursday, August 1: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. EDT
Friday-Saturday, August 2-4, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. EDT
Pricing
The 2024 Player’s Handbook is $49.99 plus tax. Credit card sales (Discover, Mastercard, Visa) only.
Rules and Restrictions
Only one digital ticket will be redeemable per person per day. Upon redemption, we may issue you a wristband to denote that you have been checked in for your purchase, even while in line – this means you no longer need to show your digital ticket. There will be no sales to non-ticket holders (e.g., no “walk ups”).
One book per redeemed ticket only. All sales are final.
Accessibility
If you have accessibility needs, we will have an accessibility area with chairs set aside. We will priority process the accessibility area, in accordance with the other sales restrictions outlined above.
FAQ
Why is Wizards of the Coast selling books using this method?
To ensure the safety of attendees, we have worked on this plan with Gen Con. We are using an open space in the stadium to help with line control and provide easy access for accessibility. Using the digital ticketing method ensures that everyone has a fair chance to get a ticket without waiting long hours in a line.
How early should I show up to get my book?
Your digital ticket will be your confirmation of your opportunity to purchase. All you need to do is be in line with your ticket during sales hours for that day. You should not line up before sales hours—please enjoy your day at Gen Con before the sales hours listed!
How many books are being sold?
We anticipate selling approximately 750 books a day, with a little less on Thursday.
Is the alternate art cover being sold?
No. That cover is a game store exclusive and will be available via early access in the U.S. and Canada starting on September 3.
What else will be available for sale at this location?
The only item to purchase is the 2024 Player’s Handbook physical book, one per ticketed attendee. There will be no other items for sale at that sales station, but the new USPS D&D Stamps are available on the opposite side of the sales area in a separate queue. In addition, other Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro products will be sold in the Indiana Convention Center Event Hall at E501.
What if I have pre-ordered the Player’s Handbook or a Core Rulebooks bundle already?
Purchasing a Player’s Handbook at Gen Con will not affect your pre-order in any way. To ensure fairness to all fans at Gen Con, there is no way to transfer any digital pre-orders to on-site sales at Gen Con.
We’re halfway through Zine Quest 2024 and there are more great project than you can shake a kobold’s spear at. Here are a few more projects:
In HIC:Tapestry, Toilet Roll Paper Game, players will draw, destroy and discover a Tapestry that tells the epic story of a pivotal moment in a lands history. It is inspired by the art and story of the Bayeux Tapestry which depicts the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and the Norman conquest of England. Draw crazy Medieval style art – weird creatures and noble rulers – on kitchen Roll using felt tip pens and tell stories of battles and betrayal. A low prep storytelling and drawing TTRPG for 1-4 players.
Mapazine is a collection of 9 colourful fantasy maps for use in tabletop RPG games. From kingdom maps of established provinces to exploratory hex maps of uncharted jungles. Each comes with either flavor information, rollable tables, ideas for adventures or descriptions of curios found within. Just the right amount to inspire game masters of any kind.
Million-Colored Sun is a sword & sorcery RPG that allows you to create characters quickly and leap into adventure. Climb a mile-high tower in the middle of a desert, only to discover its pulsing organs and realize the tower is alive; heft your axe and battle Lord Gorthanagon’s War-Pigs under a blood-red moon; squander your hard-won gold. The system is flexible and cinematic and, in the Old School RPG tradition, emphasizes rulings over rules. There are no complicated builds and no worries about optimization, just streamlined rules your gaming group can adapt to their needs.
Out in the Black Hack is a science fiction sitcom (situation comedy) roleplaying game. It uses a modified, old school, d20 based system with unique mechanics added to boost comedic aspects. It favors short, episodic play with hilarious outcomes. It’s inspired by many sci-fi movies, television shows and comedy classics, including Red Dwarf, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and Lost in Space, just to name a few.
Subterranean Fightin’ Freaks is a TTRPG where you play as mutants living it up in the fractured underground of Chicago. Team up with fellow freaks to fight off rival gangs, hunt for lost treasures, and discover weird technology. Be careful though, because if the Normies learn about what’s going on under their feed all hell will break loose. Gawkers may be a piece of cake to sneak by, but watch out for cryptid hunters and the dreaded Men in Black. It’s a gonzo world out there. Let the freak inside you out!
In this edition, you’ll discover 32+ A5-sized, system-neutral, pages brimming with divine wonders. Expect to meet curious gods and goddesses, explore intriguing rituals using the random ritual generator, build cults, and cross paths with odd NPCs that’ll bring a little more weirdness into your adventures.
Through fjords and mountains, through wondrous realms and rainbow bridges, between the mundane, the fantastical and the divine, From Midgard To Eternity is a solo roleplaying game about seeking glorious death after a life full of deeds that defy belief. This apocryphally biographical game will task you with journaling the life of a Norse adventurer throughout their remarkable life, challenged by the gods themselves to fulfill tasks and quests ranging from the intimate to the epic.
Experience a richly detailed narrative woven among unholy monsters, deadly traps, peculiar NPCs, and a haunting villain all boiled into a one-shot session. SPIREWITCH is a digest sized softcover 5E compatible adventure for 3rd to 5th-level adventurers, designed to be run in about one session. This adventure finds the players unraveling a mystery surrounding a broken spire filled with undead, witchcraft, and a whispering demon.
Each year in February, Kickstarter highlights TTRPG zines with an event known as Zine Quest.
What are zines?
“RPG zines emerged in the early 1970s, and were hugely influential in the early days of role-playing game fandom and publishing. These self-published projects included discussions of games, rules variants, reviews, interviews, game supplements, and even new RPGs. Today, RPG zines live on via a thriving community of DIY publishers from around the world.” -Kickstarter.com
What is Zine Quest?
“Zine Quest is our celebration of RPG zines and the community of people who make and love them. To participate, simply launch a project in February for an RPG zine. In the past, creators have used maps, comics, and more to create new or elevate existing RPGs.” -Kickstarter.com
So here are a number of excellent Zine Quest projects from my fellow indie creators:
WHAT IS COCAGNE?
Cocagne is a 28 pages wacky medieval social game, where you and your friends play as Lieges trying to conquer the fabled lands of Cocagne… in a group chat! You will play as the Liege of a kingdom constantly stuck between war, peace, and questionable negotiations with your friend’s lands. The game is played via group chat messages, and all you need to play Cocagne is at least 3 players, a copy of Cocagne, a messaging app where to create a Group Chat, a Kingdom Sheet, and a 20-sided die, often called a d20.
WHAT’S IN COCAGNE?
A rules light system to get in action right away, playable entirely with a d20.
Rules for creating fully customizable Lieges, with traits, quirks and heritages.
Rules for creating your own Kingdom with its resources.
Random background tables to make unique (and annoying) Lieges.
Artworks from Novecento, and super talented artists Emanuele Parascandolo, Martina Chilardi, and V.A. Metheio.
A black tide of Blood & Night crashed down on Faelborg Keep an age ago and wiped away the people there. Now their cursed treasure returns home, and it’s up to you to stop it. Cursed treasure, tribal feuds, plentiful undead abound!
A micro-gazetteer of Sudrland and adventure zine for Old School Essentials. Explore the ruins of Faelborg Keep, the wilderness of Sudrland, and the dread mists of haunted Barrowmounds.
Shadow over Gloomshire is an adventure for Dragonbane that revolves around the remote village of Gloomshire, located in a dark forest valley with a terrible history. It is written by Robin Fjärem who is known for The Frozen Temple of Glacier Peak and Salthaven among other works.
Much is awry in Gloomshire. Find out what the deal is with the mansion on the hill, shop for your very own tombstone at Odd Ends, or go treasure hunting in the graveyard. But no matter what, do not enter the temple!
Seelie Court is a 3 player courtroom RPG about court cases brought against fantasy creatures from Scots folklore. Players build their case as a team, and then take on the roles of the prosecution, defense, and judge when the trial begins!
Fantastical Classes: Blobs vs. Blades is a collection of brand-new character classes for old-style fantasy roleplaying adventure games. Specially designed for use with Old School Essentials, this book contains six exciting character classes that you didn’t even know you needed! Play as a doughty swordmage, an enchanting dancer, a pugnacious blob, and more! All of them are lovingly written and illustrated by Joshua LH Burnett, the guy who brought you Crepuscular, Draugr & Draculas, and Them’s Monsters
Fast Action Hero is an exhilarating, rules-lite, tabletop RPG experience using the Black Hack system that captures the essence of the golden era of action movies. It is designed to deliver fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled gameplay, where players become larger-than-life heroes in a world of explosions, high-speed chases, and epic showdowns that pay homage to the iconic action movies of the era, celebrating their style, tropes, and unforgettable moments. Fast, furious, and full of adrenaline-pumping moments, it delivers high-octane experiences that will have you uttering classic one-liners and taking down bad guys with style.
January 1945 the writing is on the wall, and it is clear that the Nazis are going to surrender. The Thule society, through mysticism and technology, send all members they found relevant, back in time to the year 865 England. Their goal to ally themselves with the Great Heathen Army whom they idolize. Their presence is met with harsh resistance, and a new war breaks out.
H2O-Pocalypse: Surf Piracy in a Drowned World, a DCC–compatible zine where you play surf punk pirates in a post-apocalyptic future where the ice caps melted and drowned the earth; the rich saw it was coming and took advantage of the situation, leaving everyone else to fend for themselves. So naturally, you travel around, looking for remnants of the old world, raiding elite supply ships, and having surf-offs.
Did I miss an awesome Zine Quest project? Link it in the comments below! I’ll be posting more projects each week, so be sure to tune back in periodically throughout the month!
I recently had the pleasure of reviewing some new click clack math rocks from the fine folks at the UK-based, Mystery Dice Goblins.
Who are the Mystery Dice Goblins? According to their website:
“Attention, weary travelers and valiant adventurers! Behold, our sacred emporium, where the pursuit of the ultimate D&D Dice reaches its zenith. As guardians of destiny, we cater to a diverse fellowship – human bards, elven rangers, dwarven fighters, half-orc thieves, halfling clerics, and even immortal vampires.”
The Dice MDG offers a number of different dice, to include, but not limited to:
Resin and Acrylic Dice
Filled Dice (liquid core)
Sharp Edged
Metal
Mystery Bags
In addition to dice, MDG offers several gamer-related products like dice bags, dice trays, enamel pins, patches, jewelry, and more. Lastly, the folks MDG include a very helpful resource section filled with printable monster tokens, editable character sheets, and digital battle maps. They even maintain a gaming blog on the site, where you can find tons of interesting articles.
The Interview
The goblins, Lee & Lucy, were kind enough to sit for an interview and tell me more about their business.
1.) Tell me about Mystery Dice Goblins!
We are Lee & Lucy, founders of Mystery Dice Goblin – we are long time Dungeons and Dragons players and DMs. In 2022, we started our journey, with an aim to provide exquisite customer service, featuring a wide range of affordable dice and accessories.
2.) What was one thing that surprised you about the dice business?
We didn’t realize how inclusive and friendly the community really was, you don’t have to look far to find a friend or ally! – But sometimes finding a DM is problematic!
3.) How many possible sets are there?
I reckon about as many as a Sorlock has spellslots…
4.) What sets your dice apart from others on the market?
It has to be our customer-centric approach, we get told consonantly that we have the best customer service out there… and also the best dice sets, along with our carefully put together gift sets
5.) What is a non-dice product that you’re excited about/proud of?
We are about to partner with Mermaids charity who support young trans people and their families, we have a range of products coming out, with 50% of the profits going to the charity. (B3: You can donate to Mermaids HERE)
6.) Where can people buy your products?
We are currently stocked in Board Game Cafés in the UK (see map on our website) or you can get international shipping on our website, if you want to be a bigger Dice Goblin than us 😉
Conclusion The blind bags are a lot of fun. The dice I received looked great, rolled well, and were easy to read. Furthermore, I was happily surprised at the sheer amount of high-quality products I found on the MDG. Check them out, and you won’t be disappointed!
In 2024 Dungeons and Dragons will turn 50 years old, and it’s current incarnation, 5th edition, will turn 10. To celebrate this momentous occasion Wizards of the Coast will release revised core rule books and launch what they’re calling One D&D. The idea is that editions are over, and Chris Perkins put it, there is just D&D.
In the same way that 5th edition D&D was forged, One D&D will draw heavily on customer/player feedback to shape its revisions. The first such playtest materials revolve around Character Origins:
Ready to learn more about One D&D? According to their website, here’s the FAQ:
General
What is One D&D?
One D&D is the code name for the next generation of Dungeons & Dragons, bringing together three initiatives that will shape the future of the game:
D&D Rules. This takes what we love about fifth edition and updates the rules of the game to reflect the feedback we have heard from players and where the game is today.
D&D Beyond. This will be the platform for your digital D&D collection, content, and tools.
D&D Digital Play Experience. In early development, D&D Digital will offer an immersive player experience, rich creation tools for Dungeon Masters, and a connected space for DMs and players to get together and play D&D.
Our goal is to give you more D&D wherever you play, whenever you want.
Is One D&D introducing a new edition of D&D?
It’s bigger than that. One D&D will usher in the next generation of D&D with new and more comprehensive versions of the core rulebooks that millions of players have enjoyed for the past decade. The rules will be backward compatible with fifth edition adventures and supplements and offer players and Dungeon Masters new options and opportunities for adventure. The evolution of fifth edition has shown us it’s less important to create new editions of the game and more important to grow and expand the game you love with each new product.
What does backward compatible mean?
It means that fifth edition adventures and supplements will work in One D&D. For example, if you want to run Curse of Strahd in One D&D, that book will work with the new versions of the core rulebooks. Our goal is for you to keep enjoying the content you already have and make it even better. You’ll see this in action through the playtest materials, which you will be able to provide feedback on.
What is changing with the One D&D rules?
There will be many fundamental updates to D&D that we will collect your feedback on. In the upcoming Unearthed Arcana playtest content, you’ll see proposed updates to character backgrounds, races, classes, feats, information presentation, and more. Ultimately, the answer to what will change depends on what we hear from you throughout One D&D playtests.
When will the One D&D rules be released?
The new core rulebooks are expected to be released in 2024.
Where can I find out more and stay up to date on the latest One D&D news?
To keep up to date on One D&D, sign up for D&D Beyond. Then, hop into your account settings and update your email preferences to receive communications from D&D Beyond. You can expect news on One D&D roughly monthly.
Your Feedback and Playtesting
How do I access One D&D playtest materials?
Log in with your D&D Beyond account and head over to the One D&D claim page to unlock the Unearthed Arcana playtest materials. You will then see the One D&D compendium (found under the “Sources” menu) where you can download the latest playtest and respond to the latest survey.
How do I submit my feedback on One D&D?
You will be able to submit feedback via a survey link in the One D&D compendium. Surveys will be available roughly two weeks after a new playtest packet has been released and remain live for a period of two weeks. This is the same process we’ve previously followed for Unearthed Arcana.
What will I be providing feedback on?
Roughly every month new playtest content will release on D&D Beyond. Each new playtest will cover rules on a different subject, from player classes, to subclasses, to game mechanics.
How long will the One D&D rules be in playtesting?
We expect playtests to continue through at least the end of 2023. How long it ultimately lasts will depend on what we hear from you.
Where can I find people to playtest with?
If you want to playtest but don’t have a group to play with—or your current D&D playgroup isn’t interested—visit the D&D Beyond Discord and D&D Discord and post in the #looking-for-players or #looking-for-group channels.
Digital Play Experience
What is the D&D Digital Play Experience?
D&D Digital is in early development. It will be a virtual play space that allows Dungeon Masters to create truly immersive campaigns and players to enjoy a D&D experience where we offload a lot of the rules referencing. Our goal is to make D&D more immersive, faster, more fun, easier to play, and easier to create in.
What’s the difference between the D&D Digital Play Experience and D&D Beyond?
This is intended to be an immersive digital experience for your D&D sessions. It will be integrated with D&D Beyond, which will continue to offer tools for reference and play.
What about all the other digital tools I use today to play D&D?
Whatever tools you love using, keep using them. Our goal is to make the best digital play experience for D&D. And just like everything else in D&D, everything is optional.
When will the D&D Digital Play Experience begin playtesting?
This experience is still in early development. Everything we’ve shown is pre-alpha. We expect to start showing more to players with a closed beta later in 2023.
I have more questions about the D&D Digital Play Experience!
We know players have a lot of questions after getting an exciting first look at D&D Digital. What you saw is still a prototype and in early development. Expect us to share more details when they’re ready.
Digital & Physical Product Bundles
What are digital and physical product bundles?
We’re excited to offer our first ever selection of specially priced bundles that give you a physical copy and a D&D Beyond digital copy of the upcoming book Dragonlance: Shadow of the Dragon Queen. Our first offering is now live on dndstore.wizards.com.
Can I expect more D&D products to offer physical and digital bundles?
Yes! We want to deliver on this ask. Right now, we are in the test and learn phase. Join us on this first foray and expect more in the future. For now, we’re not quite ready to commit to every book getting a bundle.
You called this bundle a test. What are you testing?
We are testing everything from distribution method and quantities to bundle contents. We thought it was important to call this out as a test because you should expect things to change over the next two years while we work on bringing more D&D in more ways to more people.
Does the bundle come with preorder perks?
Yes, all preorder perks you would receive on D&D Beyond are included in this bundle. A preorder perk exclusive to this bundle is early access to Shadow of the Dragon Queen on D&D Beyond. Players who preorder the bundle will be able to access the D&D Beyond digital book starting November 22, 2022.
How do I redeem my product on D&D Beyond?
When you purchase a bundle, you will be asked to provide an email address at checkout. You will later receive instructions via that email to access a code that grants you early access to the product on D&D Beyond. Your code can be redeemed at: dndbeyond.com/marketplace/redeem-key.
If I have purchased a bundle on D&D Beyond that discounts products, will that discount apply to this bundle?
No, those discounts only apply to products purchased directly on the D&D Beyond website.
Is there a way to get this bundle and support my local game store?
We love our friendly local game stores and we know you do, too, but at present this test bundle is limited to online purchases directly from dndstore.wizards.com. It is not available through any other store or marketplace.
I already preordered my book physically or digitally on D&D Beyond. Can I swap it for the bundle?
We do not have any upgrade paths to the bundle at this time. You would need to work with that outlet to request a refund.
Mordenkainen astride his kirin Petey. Both are about to be lunch to an Astral Dreadnought.
According to wizards.com/dnd:
A bestiary of wondrous friends and foes for the world’s greatest roleplaying game.
Sparkling with the musings of the wizard Mordenkainen, this tome features a host of creatures for use in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Hailing from every corner of the multiverse, these creatures represent some of the most benevolent and malevolent forces that D&D heroes might face.
The book also gathers together fantastical peoples from many different worlds. Each of these peoples represents a race option when you create your D&D character, expanding on the choices in the Player’s Handbook.
Compiling and updating monsters that originally appeared in Volo’s Guide to Monsters and Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes, this book presents friends and foes for any D&D campaign, many of them accompanied by the comments of Mordenkainen. The wizard has faced many of these monsters and peoples on numerous wondrous adventures. Now it’s time for you to venture forth and face these creatures yourself!
Includes over 250 monsters. Updates to the monsters include making spellcasters easier for Dungeon Masters to run; giving many monsters more damage and resilience; and improving the organization of the stat blocks themselves.
Includes over 30 playable races. Brings all the game’s setting-agnostic races into one book, complementing the races in the Player’s Handbook.
A multiverse of lore. Includes updates to monster lore that refocuses the stories on the D&D multiverse, rather than on any particular world.
Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse is Available now!
Boccob's Blessed Blog 