RPG & WARGAME NEWSLETTER #82
RPG & WARGAME NEWSLETTER #82
October 28, 2024
Greetings, Gamers!
I know we all have our FLGS (Favorite Local Gaming Store), and I do, too. Right now, I’ve been looking for a new board game that released after its Kickstarter and I’ve been completely out of luck with local stores. So… I reached out to a few out of state stores and found one in California that had the exact tier version of the game I wanted. I reached out to them about 3 weeks ago and they responded that they had a copy and would be happy to ship to me. Then… crickets. Nothing. And this was NOT a cheap game, either… it’s a big box game, very heavy, and not exactly a game that is in hot demand right now. So, I emailed them again (after 3 weeks). Crickets.
Now, here’s the thing. I don’t NEED this game. I’m happy to let it pass me by as I never have a shortage of games to play. But this one really bugs me because I know gaming stores often operate on thin profit margins. Every year I hear from gaming friends about local gaming stores going out of business.
So, this is a heads-up to gaming stores out there. When someone wants to buy something from you, that’s not a time to dawdle. I have a small business, and when someone reaches out to me about a purchase, I respond. And quickly. I don’t know much about this gaming store in California other than I’m very unlikely to ever reach out to them again. And I suspect that if how they handle customers willing to spend money is by ignoring them and not responding to requests for an invoice… they may not be long to survive. Tell your gaming stores, my friends, that customers are the life of business. Sales are what keep doors open. As for the California gaming store… I'll be looking elsewhere.
Okay… on to the fun stuff!
RPGs
A new PDF/digital zine (I don’t see an option for a print version) has appeared for OSR/Shadowdark gamers called Righteous Vow. From the product description:
Includes:
• A Hex map of the Land of Ul including rumor and encounter tables.
• New Monsters: A variety of new skeletal enemies and an evil Lich King.
• New Magic Items: Several new weapons, armor and artifacts to combat the undead threat.
• A New Adventure for levels 1-5 featuring seven detailed map locations.
• Fantastic old school art by talented new artists!
WARGAMING (FREEBIE)
Go ahead and grab yourself the FREE copy of the rules for Tom Tullis’ new sci-fi starship wargame called Battlefront Valkyrie. If you like what you see, you’ll want to invest in the Battlefront Valkyrie Starter Set that includes the files needed to 3D print the starships. For a short time, Fat Dragon Games has the Starter Set at 50% off, so don’t wait too long.
You can get the newest expansion book for Relicblade called Guild Champions here. It’s a digital only product, so you’ll have to print out the included card files.
If you’re a fan of Five Leagues from the Borderlands, the newest PDF was released recently - Paths in the Wilderness. From the product description: This huge 97-page PDF expansion is full of new options for your Five Leagues from the Borderlands games:
+ New origins! Deep Kin, Dwarfs, Elriki, Felids, Gnawlings, Kobolds, and Skysworn.
+ New mystical paths! Stone Mage, Shade, Trickster, Prescient, and Path Watcher.
+ Optional rules including Heroic Mode, Hit Points, Enemy Infiltration, and Weather.
+ New Enemies! Dare you face vampiric Bloodstained, lawless Outlaw Bands, the deathless Silent Battalion, or the Retinue of the Wolf Prince!
+ Optional World Rules including Journeys, Inhospitable Map Terrain, Roaming Aberrations, and Sea Travel.
+ New Activities such as Fishing, Bounties, Caravans, and Lore Research,
+ And a whole chapter on Scenario Creation for players who enjoy creating their own adventures either for their solo games or as Game Master for another player.
MINIATURES
Diehard Miniatures is preparing to release a new Kickstarter called Scum & Villany, and I’m in. I have WAY TOO MANY of their sci-fi minis already, but Diehard makes such great metal minis that I always find a way to incorporate the new ones into my current games. (They also have fantasy miniatures.) Sign up to get notified on the new Kickstarter here. It launches on October 29th.
TERRAIN
If you missed out on the Maladum expansion called Beasts of Enveron, Battle Systems UK is currently taking pre-orders for the extra content here.
CROWDSOURCING (FREEBIE)
I’m really looking forward to getting the files for this new Kickstarter for Trading Card Storage System. I often make my own storage systems for the various games I play, but I don’t have a lot of options for card games. I like the styles they are showing (especially that Egyptian one), and I’m waiting to see glimpses of the superhero and eldritch themes as those are something I’ll likely 3D print for my games. Check out the KS here - it ends on November 8.
This new game caught my eye and I just had to share it because it looks and sounds like something PERFECT for young kids. Slay the Dragon! is a simplified dungeon crawler for multiplayers with simple combat rules. I’ve downloaded the FREE rules preview (that includes an adventure) and I must admit it does look fun. There’s a LOT that comes with the basic game, and I love that they’re adding more content in a zine format item as the project goes higher in funding. As with many Kickstarters, though, I do have one major problem with it and that’s its fulfillment period — 1 year away, and we all know that most KS slip the longer they go… so I don’t expect to see this one out until 2026. I won’t be backing, but I might pick it up in retail if it makes it to the stores. Check it out here.
LOVECRAFT MYTHOS
I just got my copy of Chants for the the Old Ones… I’m hoping to have a few playthrough videos up in the coming weeks, but I have to say… I am LOVING this game. It has both solo and multiplayer rules, and the solo rules aren’t based on you trying to reach a certain total score… it’s summon an Old One or die trying. If you’re into Lovecraft-themed games, this one is definitely a fun one. The artwork is awesome, and the game board itself is quite eye catching. Very happy to have backed this one. More info on the game here. (Not sure when it will hit retail, though.)
GASLANDS VEHICLE OF THE WEEK
This week’s amazing toy car conversion for Gaslands is from Renaud RhiNo Thomine. I’ve seen taxis done before, but not as a team of cars. I really like the weathering, but also the fact that the cars have stuck with the traditional yellow.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I’ve got about two weeks until I head over to Charlotte, NC for MythicCon 2024. This is one of the conventions I look forward to the most. It’s small, but very friendly. Lots of games are played and lots of chances for dropping into games, too. I’m getting my stuff together (running some Alien-themed games) and double and triple-checking all my rulebooks to make sure it’s all there. If you’re in the area, I highly encourage you to check it out. It’s a true gem of a convention.
See you all next week!
Jim
TO MY SUBSCRIBERS
If you know of a local and/or independent gaming convention, email me at jimsworkshop@fastmail.com to get it listed.
You can find my zines and laser-cut terrain at thetabletopengineer.bigcartel.com - 10% off to newsletter readers with code RPGWGNEWS.
Digital copies of all my zines can be found on DrivethruRPG.
My game play-through videos can be found here.
The YouTube Channel name is The Tabletop Engineer Plays