This week there’s yet another RPG to TV announcement, with a show based on the Exalted RPG headed to the small screen. ICO Partners looks at games on Kickstarter in 2021. Meanwhile, controversy surrounds two figures in the industry accused of sexual harassment.
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ICO Partners releases a report on the performance of games on Kickstarter in the first half of 2021.
The report finds that tabletop games continue to grow on Kickstarter, while video games are stagnating. It would be nice to see to what extent RPGs have matched the behaviour of tabletop games in general— especially when it says that there is a trend of fewer, but generally larger, projects.
This might be less clear in the case of RPGs: smaller RPG projects have been less affected than board games by manufacturing & shipping problems (caused by COVID and the global freight crisis). Smaller RPG projects have also been boosted by initiatives like ZineQuest.
Magic the Gathering is now sponsoring League Two football club, Leyton Orient.
I suppose that’s one thing you can do with an increased marketing budget. — Amy
The Irish Independent profiles tabletop RPG publisher, Cubicle 7.
Controversy
D&D streamer, Arcadum, has been accused of grooming and manipulation.
Upheaval continues at Broken Token, following allegations of sexual harassment being levelled at its CEO.
New & Upcoming
Last week, we learned about a Blades in the Dark TV series coming. This week, it’s Exalted’s turn.
Bundles & Deals
Bundle of Holding is offering a bundle of Numenera books, two bundles of Delta Green books, a bundle of City of Mist books.
DriveThruRPG is running a sale on RPG starter sets.
Crowdfunding
Noteworthy New Projects
Herbalist’s Primer: An illustrated guide to real-world magical plants, by Exalted Funeral (The Ultraviolet Grasslands, Old-School Essentials: Advanced Fantasy, ARC: Doom Tabletop RPG). So far this project has raised $411,000 from 11,000 backers. Ends September 24th
I love these kinds of books. My pick of the week. — Amy
Tanares RPG: A 5e campaign and setting, written by a cast of famous figures in the RPG industry, by Dragori Games (Arena: the Contest — Tabletop Miniatures Board Game, Tanares Adventures + Arena: the Contest 1.5). So far this project has raised $1.3 million from 6,600 backers. Ends October 1st
An interesting couple of projects to kick off the week. Tanares is a by-the-book 5e project with some celebrity big names which has managed to leap straight into the $1 million club, mainly by offering a ton of add-ons and different tiers. The other is a systemless book about herbs which has managed to accrue 11,000 backers — more backers than any project in 2020. So the answer to the question “are you better off joining the 5e bandwagon or going your own way” is: yes. — James
Super Powers Companion: A superhero supplement for Savage Worlds Adventurer Edition, by Pinnacle Entertainment. So far this project has raised $61,000 from 1,200 backers. Ends September 22nd
It’s interesting to see Savage Worlds using their own website to crowdfund this one. I have to say I approve, especially as Kickstarter is increasingly emphasising that the platform is for “creative projects” and that rewards are not guaranteed — despite a whole host of established commercial companies treating it as a pre-ordering system (and earning Kickstarter a pretty penny in the process). Pinnacle has the infrastructure to manage its own crowdfunding projects and should do so. I hope others will follow suit. — James
Stars Without Number RPG: An offset print run for sci-fi tabletop RPG, Stars Without Number, by Kevin Crawford (Godbound: A Game of Divine Heroes, Stars Without Number: Revised Edition, Worlds Without Number). So far this project has raised $108,000 from 1,100 backers. Ends October 1st
Closing Soon
Tome of Heroes is a compendium of PC options for 5e. So far this project has raised $311,000 from 5,500 backers. Ends September 9th
Delta Green: The Conspiracy is a revised version of the original Delta Green book, along with a variety of other materials. So far this project has raised $374,000 from 3,000 backers. Ends September 11th
Tiny Library is a deck of 50 one-card micro-RPGs. So far this project has raised AU$51,000 ($38,000) from 2,000 backers. Ends September 13th
Nice to see such an experimental project do so well. — James
XDM: X-treme Dungeon Mastery, 2nd Edition is the revised edition of a classic guide to gamemastering. So far this project has raised $95,000 from 1,500 backers. Ends September 10th
Demon-Bone Sarcophagus is an adventure for Dungeons & Dragons with an Old School sensibility. So far this project has raised £33,000 ($44,000) from 1,200 backers. Ends September 11th
5e
At the Shrine of Othrys: A 5e adventure for levels 1–4, by Skrimisher Publishing LLC (‘Swords of Kos’ Fantasy Campaign Setting, City Builder: Platinum Edition) — September 16th
Horror
Rane in Blood: A supplement for the Mothership RPG, by Eric Alsandor | Spider00x — October 1st
Investigation
The Dee Sanction: Adventures: A collection of five adventures for The Dee Sanction softcover print collection of five adventures for Elizabethan investigation RPG, The Dee Sanction, by All Rolled Up (The Dee Sanction) — September 15th
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