RPG & WARGAME NEWSLETTER #111
May 26, 2025
Greetings, Gamers!
I got to play my first REAL game of Halo: Flashpoint a few days ago. So FUN! And so fast and easy to learn. I’m impressed and cannot wait to play again. It doesn’t offer solo play, but that’s okay… I’ll be hunting up players at my local game store in the near future to try and play again. I always enjoy finding a new game to play, and I love it even more when I realize it’s a game I want to play again and again. Those are rare, but they do exist. Even better? My youngest son wants to play now, so I can always play at home. Mantic is really pushing the Learn-to-Play kits and organized play events, so check your local gaming stores to see if they are participating. More info on their organized event stuff here.
Now, let’s get to the fun stuff.
RPGs (FREEBIE)
For a limited time, you can download a free scenario for the Mothership RPG. Written by Terry Herc, it’s called Commit to Memory. From the description:
Barbara Winters enrolled in an orbital tech school above a storm-wracked gas giant, and vanished. Now her family is paying a fortune to get her back quietly. But Cirrus Station hides more than shady instructors and cartel deals. Something ravenous lurks beneath the surface.
Shadowdark is an incredible game, and if you need any more evidence of the fact, just look at all the 3rd party products being released for it. Right now, I’ve just backed ShadowHack, a 200+ page book that will provide more classes, spells, monsters, etc. It looks great (the mockups) and I’m hopeful the August 2025 delivery date is accurate. You can get more details here.
I do like some Ghostbusters (my proton pack should be done for Halloween 2025), so a friend put me on to this little RPG that you can grab here. It’s called Inspectres… and it’s pretty slick! I’m thinking I might try to run a game at MythicCon this year.
WARGAMING
Black Site Studios has announced a new upcoming solo skirmish wargame that pits humans against dinosaurs. Called We Played God, think Jurassic Park. You’ll sneak around, try not to get eaten, fight varying threat levels of dinosaurs and discover secrets (via codes and a website) that can unlock lore, weapons, and more. STL files will also be available from BSS or you can use your own.
More details here - no release date yet.
A new wargame is fundraising and it’s called ZG: Zeo Genesis. The company is offering a Starter Set that contains a mix of minis in different sizes. The game is based on a 144 page rulebook but the site says it also comes with a 32 page Quickstart Guide. It looks like you’ll be able to buy digital versions of the minis or a physical collection. More info here.
Modiphius has just released the core rulebook for its Fallout: Factions skirmish wargame.
The 112-page hardcover (also available as a PDF) teaches you the core rules, introduces the campaign system, and showcases the iconic factions of the Fallout universe. Build your team - Brotherhood of Steel, Super Mutants, Raiders, or Survivors - develop your Leaders and Champions, and fight for dominance of the Wasteland!
TERRAIN
I don’t really need any more 3D printed terrain tiles (famous last words), so this one isn’t for me. But if you’re just getting started and are looking for another tile system to consider (along with a small game booklet with a unique rule system), take a look at PrintAQuest. I’m not sure about the walls that use these small slivers (you’d have to print a TON of them), but any FDM printer is going to have an easy job with these tiles that look like they require no supports of any kind. More info here.
MINIATURES (FREEBIES)
Grab the free STL for a REALLY cool alien miniature here! Thank you, Mr. Disintegrator! (And his first freebie in this series is here.)
If you play Five Parsecs, Modiphius is holding a crew painting contest on its Facebook page. Rules and details here, but winners get some pretty good prizes:
We’re awarding prizes in three categories: Best Paint Job, Coolest Crew, and Funniest or Most Creative Name. First prize includes a £100 store voucher, digital game bundle, and a mystery goodie box! Runners-up will each snag a £50 voucher.
CARD GAMES
Fantasy Flight just announced a new scenario pack for Marvel Champions called Trickster Takeover. It will feature Loki and Enchantress. From the announcement:
This 78-card scenario pack—guest designed by former Marvel Champions designer Michael Boggs—slinks into the scene with two brand-new scenarios featuring the Enchantress and Loki, two conniving villains with a ton of tricks up their sleeves. In addition to being able to play these scenarios in the traditional standalone way, the Loki, God of Lies scenario can also be played in a brand-new Epic Multiplayer Mode, a Marvel Champions first! Also included is a special modular encounter set featuring enthralled minions you can recruit to your side. Can you survive this brutal battle of wits?
More info here. Releases in August 2025.
A nice little video offering up 5 best heroes for beginners of Marvel Champions along with some thoughts on playing each deck. I play this game every week with a group and it’s one of my favorite social games to play.
YOUTUBE
I have a new daily video series that starts today (May 25, 2025) called The 3-Minute Wargame SitRep. I’ll be using it to answer questions from viewers/subscribers, talk about things that interest me in wargaming, and focus on news and new games related to wargaming. I hope you enjoy it, and I welcome questions or topics for future episodes at jimsworkshop @ fastmail-dot-com.
I love watching people who are GOOD at map-making do their thing. Check out this video and maybe find some useful advice. The final results look so good…
CLOSING THOUGHTS
I hope all of you in the USA have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day. My wife’s grandfather was a survivor of D-Day — although he didn’t speak of it until later in life, I was grateful to know him in his last days and hear some stories.
See you next week!
Jim, The Tabletop Engineer
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
Love your newsletters and looking forward to playing the Mothership scenario. Thank you.
I love Halo Flashpoint too! I set it all up to teach myself how to play. Painted my minis, and now enlisting my brother in law to play with me. As usual, fantastic newsletter! Always the best info.