Cool Mini Or Not (CMON) has recently announced the pre-order availability of its latest cooperative dungeon diving campaign game, “The Dead Keep,” on the crowdfunding platform Gamefound. This eagerly anticipated game is designed to accommodate 1-6 players, offering a thrilling adventure that combines strategic gameplay with a rich narrative.
At the heart of “The Dead Keep” lies the mesmerizing artwork inspired by the original designs of the renowned artist Paul Bonner. Known for his distinctive style that captures the essence of fantasy and adventure, Bonner’s contributions bring the game’s world to life, immersing players in a visually stunning experience that complements the engaging gameplay.
Players will assume the roles of fearless adventurers, venturing into the depths of the Dead Keep. Driven by the promise of untold riches offered by an enigmatic Patron, they will face numerous challenges and mysteries. The game’s narrative is enriched with legends and tales, creating an atmosphere of suspense and excitement. Will the adventurers manage to unravel the secrets lurking within the Keep, or will they be claimed by the mist?
The Dead Keep is not just any location; it is a place of legend, whispered about in taverns and around hearths. Many have dared to explore its depths, yet few have returned. This game offers players the chance to be among those few, to write their names in history as the ones who conquered the Keep’s dangers and uncovered its hidden treasures.
“Zander’s Guide to Zombie Hunting” has made a notable entrance on Kickstarter, targeting fans of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) 5th Edition with a focus on undead adventures. The campaign has successfully surpassed its initial goal, raising $40,218 against a $10,000 target, supported by 567 backers, with 27 days remaining until its conclusion on April 12.
Designed as a supplement for D&D 5E, the guide offers an array of resources for both Dungeon Masters and players interested in exploring a zombie-themed campaign. The content includes new subclasses tailored to fit various D&D classes with a zombie-hunting theme, a new class known as The Animist, a collection of spells, magic items, and an undead bestiary.
Among the subclasses introduced are the Barbarian’s Path of the Hidewalker, the Bard’s College of Farewells, and several others, each designed to enrich the thematic experience of combating the undead. The guide also introduces a unique magic system, “Graft Magic,” which involves spells that can be enhanced by grafting undead flesh onto the caster, offering powerful abilities with significant drawbacks.
Another innovative aspect of the guide is the introduction of a new lineage, “The Bitten,” for characters who have survived zombie attacks. These characters exhibit unique traits and abilities, reflecting their encounters with the undead, adding depth to character development and role-playing opportunities.
Redgrass has launched a Kickstarter campaign for the Definitive Edition of their RGG360° Painting Handle, a tool highly regarded within the miniature painting community for its ergonomic design and adaptability. The campaign has significantly exceeded its funding goal, with $83,138 pledged by 2,077 backers, surpassing the original target of $5,438. With 20 days left, the campaign is set to end on April 4th.
This latest iteration of the RGG360° Painting Handle is designed to enhance the miniature painting process, accommodating a wide range of miniature sizes and supporting sub-assembly work with its 360° rotation capability. It introduces swappable caps to cater to different miniature sizes, including a newly designed XL cap for larger miniatures and users with larger hands.
In response to feedback from the community, Redgrass developed the XL cap to offer a more comfortable grip for a wider range of users. Additionally, a new pinning cork insert has been introduced for detailed work on individual miniature parts. This insert, made from dense, resistant cork, can be attached to both small and XL caps, simplifying the painting process for intricate details.
The handle’s 360° Controlled Rotation feature allows for precise manipulation of the miniature, enabling easy access to all angles while minimizing unnecessary hand movements. The swappable caps system is designed to improve efficiency, particularly for batch painting, by allowing users to switch between miniatures quickly without overcrowding the workspace.
Backers of the Kickstarter campaign have the option to select bundles that include at least one RGG360° Painting Handle v2 to receive an exclusive Kickstarter bonus. The campaign encourages backers to engage in painting or playing “Baldur’s Gate 3” until the campaign concludes. Following the end of the campaign, the pledge manager is expected to open two weeks later, with rewards being distributed shortly after the completion of the pledge manager.
Cubicle 7 announces the release of “Broken Weave,” a tragic fantasy setting for the 5th edition, now open for pre-order. This new game setting introduces players to a world where the concepts of hope and community are essential for rebuilding and survival. “Broken Weave” encompasses a comprehensive suite of materials designed to enrich the gaming experience, including detailed character creation rules, an extensive guide to the game’s world and its inhabitants, and a selection of unique locations and monsters to encounter.
The Collector’s Edition of “Broken Weave” features a premium faux-leather cover in black, with the game’s logo and an image of a broken moon embossed in silver foil. The edition is further enhanced with silver-edged pages and three bookmark ribbons, aimed at facilitating an immersive and convenient reading experience.
Included in the “Broken Weave” offerings is a Gamemaster’s Screen, designed to aid Gamemasters in navigating the game world. The screen is adorned with artwork depicting the game’s setting and includes quick reference materials for the game’s unique mechanics, such as the Hope and Decay rules. Additionally, the screen comes with “The Titan’s March,” a 28-page introductory adventure that sets players against a formidable monster threatening their existence.
For Gamemasters looking to customize their adventures, “The Deck of Broken Things” offers a tool to modify existing 5e monsters or settings to fit within the “Broken Weave” world. The deck includes 52 cards, each providing ways to apply Decayed Transformations, introducing new abilities, mutations, and curses to enhance the gaming experience.
]]>Renegade Game Studios has officially launched “Shipwrights of the North Sea: Redux” and the “Explorers of the North Sea Collector’s Box”. These new releases invite players to immerse themselves in the challenges and adventures of the North Sea during the Viking era.
“Shipwrights of the North Sea: Redux” allows players to assume the role of Viking shipwrights striving to build the most impressive fleet. The game demands strategic resource management and negotiation as players gather materials and recruit craftspeople. It distinguishes itself from its predecessor with a completely redesigned gameplay experience, emphasizing streamlined rules and strategic depth. Features include quick game setup, an easy-to-teach framework, a solo mode with four unique opponents, and a competitive environment where players vie for advancement on three progress tracks.
The “Explorers of the North Sea Collector’s Box” caters to collectors and enthusiasts of the series, offering standardized box sizing and an insert with player piece trays from Black Magic Inserts. Set in the late Viking Age, “Explorers of the North Sea” challenges players to discover new lands, capture livestock, and construct outposts, encapsulating the spirit of exploration and conquest.
Osprey Games is set to release a new tile-based wargame titled Battalion: War of the Ancients in Autumn 2024. The game is a creation of designers Paolo Mori, known for Pandemic: Fall of Rome and Libertalia, and Francesco Sirocchi, associated with Pocket Battles. The artwork for the game is provided by Roland MacDonald, who has contributed to Shogun 2: Total War, Undaunted, and Final Girl.
Battalion: War of the Ancients is designed as a dynamic tile-based wargame that draws inspiration from ancient history’s epic battles. It offers players the opportunity to command armies from notable periods and regions, such as the Roman legions, the crossbowmen of the Han dynasty, the Greco-Bactrian cavalry, and the forces led by Hannibal, including mercenaries, elephants, and the Sacred Band of Carthage.
The game emphasizes strategic assembly of armies, management of unit ranks, and tactical deployment on the field. Players must carefully consider the composition of their units, utilizing the unique traits of each rank tile to strengthen their forces while avoiding unwieldy combinations.
Battalion: War of the Ancients supports two or four players and features gameplay that balances accessibility with strategic depth. The game includes four playable factions, each with distinct strengths, weaknesses, and faction-specific tactics cards. The objective is to effectively manage your forces, control the tempo of the battle, and secure victory.
Included components are 1 rulebook, 144 tiles, over 70 cards, 24 tokens, 2 boards, 6 dice, and 4 sector markers. The game is recommended for players aged 14 and up and has an estimated playtime of 20 to 45 minutes.
]]>Fantasy Flight Games has officially announced the addition of the Jubilee Hero Pack to Marvel Champions: The Card Game. This new pack introduces the character Jubilee, a mutant known for her ability to generate explosive energy, as a playable hero. The announcement highlights Jubilee’s backstory as an orphan who found refuge in a shopping mall before joining the X-Men, reflecting her resilience and adaptability.
The Jubilee Hero Pack includes the character as a new playable hero, accompanied by fifteen signature cards that showcase her unique abilities. The pack comes with a pre-built Justice deck, enabling players to use Jubilee in their games immediately after purchase. Her gameplay focuses on the strategic use of resources of different types, providing a fresh dynamic for players.
Additionally, the pack contains a modular encounter set featuring Arcade, a character known for his love of death traps. This encounter set introduces new challenges and side schemes, enriching the game’s variety and complexity.
Jubilee’s character in the game is distinguished by her versatile playstyle, emphasizing the combination of various resource types to activate her powers. Her alter-ego form, Jubilation Lee, reflects her history as a mall dweller, with abilities that allow her to search for essential items in her deck. These items, such as her Coat and Sunglasses, enhance her combat capabilities, further diversifying the strategies players can employ.
The inclusion of characters like Wolverine in the hero pack opens up additional gameplay strategies, encouraging teamwork and collaboration to overcome challenges. The Jubilee Hero Pack aims to add a vibrant and strategic option for players, offering a mix of fun and complexity to the game.
]]>The Pokémon Company International has announced the upcoming release of Scarlet & Violet—Twilight Masquerade, the latest expansion for the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG), set to be available from May 24, 2024, at participating retailers globally. This expansion introduces cards based on Pokémon found in The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero Part 1: The Teal Mask DLC from the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet video games, including notable entries such as Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti.
A significant feature of this expansion is the introduction of the Legendary Pokémon Ogerpon, represented as four distinct Tera Pokémon ex cards, each corresponding to one of its four masks and associated types: Grass, Fire, Water, and Fighting. This variety allows for a diverse gameplay experience. The expansion also introduces a new Item card, Ogre’s Mask, which provides players with the ability to swap any Ogerpon ex in play with another Ogerpon ex from the discard pile, adding a strategic layer to the game.
In anticipation of the expansion, six new cards featuring Ogerpon have been unveiled, highlighting its various forms and the new Item card: Teal Mask Ogerpon ex, Hearthflame Mask Ogerpon ex, Wellspring Mask Ogerpon ex, Cornerstone Mask Ogerpon ex, Teal Mask Ogerpon, and Ogre’s Mask.
Additional highlights of the Scarlet & Violet—Twilight Masquerade expansion include:
The expansion will be offered in various product formats, including booster packs, Elite Trainer Boxes, and special collections, ensuring a broad appeal to both collectors and players. Preorders for select products, like the Scarlet & Violet—Twilight Masquerade Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box, are already open at Pokémon Center in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. This special box includes extra booster packs and an exclusive illustration rare-style promo card.
Before the official release, Pokémon TCG enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience Scarlet & Violet—Twilight Masquerade at Prerelease tournaments. These events, part of the Play! Pokémon competitive program, begin on May 11 at participating independent retailers.
Furthermore, the expansion will be accessible digitally through the Pokémon TCG Live app for iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices starting May 23, 2024. The app allows players to collect new cards, engage in battles, and earn in-game bonuses, providing an early glimpse into the expansion’s features.
]]>Modiphius Entertainment has announced the availability of a new campaign for the “Star Trek Adventures” roleplaying game, titled “The Federation-Klingon War Tactical Campaign.” This latest offering is accessible in both print and PDF formats and is designed to enrich the core game experience with a focus on the conflict depicted in the first season of “Star Trek: Discovery.”
This campaign provides players with a narrative that runs parallel to the events of the Federation-Klingon War of 2256 and 2257, offering an opportunity to explore the broader implications of the war across the Federation. It introduces additional rules variations aimed at capturing the impact of war, allowing players to delve into the emotional and psychological challenges faced by their characters.
Highlights of the campaign include:
The print version of the campaign has begun shipping for those who pre-ordered, and the digital version is also currently available.
]]>Monte Cook Games has announced the release of Cypher Tools, a comprehensive suite of online tools aimed at facilitating gameplay for the Cypher System. Developed in partnership with Furious Collective, Cypher Tools is designed to streamline the game preparation and playing process, offering a variety of features free of charge to its user base.
The centerpiece of Cypher Tools is the Character Builder, an intuitive tool for crafting and managing TTRPG characters within the Cypher System framework. It provides users with multiple pathways for character creation: a guided process for ease of use, a manual option for those who prefer a hands-on approach, and a quick selection feature for immediate character generation based on user preferences. This inclusivity ensures that the tool caters to a wide range of needs, from detailed character customization to rapid character creation for immediate gameplay.
Characters created with the Builder can be saved for future modification and advancement. The tool also allows for exporting characters to a variety of formats, including form-fillable PDFs for online play or print, and direct integration with Virtual Tabletops (VTTs) like The Foundry, with Roll20 support anticipated to follow. This flexibility in character management and use aims to accommodate diverse gaming setups and preferences.
In addition to character-related features, Cypher Tools encompasses the Creature Index for GMs, facilitating the creation of engaging encounters by allowing for creature selection based on specific criteria. This feature is designed to draw from an extensive database, including upcoming additions like the creatures from the Cypher System Bestiary.
For those seeking inspiration or guidance on setting their games within the Cypher System’s versatile framework, the Setting Finder tool aids in identifying suitable genre and setting books from Monte Cook Games’ expansive catalog. This feature is intended to help players and GMs align their game’s theme with the appropriate resources.
Monte Cook Games plans to expand the Cypher Tools suite further, with additional features and enhancements slated for release over the course of 2024 and beyond. This commitment to development reflects the company’s dedication to supporting the evolving needs of the Cypher System community.
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