Latest news with #DungeonsAndDragons
Digital Trends
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 underrated Netflix movies you should watch this weekend (May 30-June 1)
Even as the streaming service continues to churn out original content for you to check out, Netflix is also home to some pretty fantastic movies. Some of those movies are native to the streamer, but others flit onto and off of the service almost at random. If you're looking for an underrated movie to check out this weekend on Netflix, though, we've got you covered. We've pulled together these three titles well worth your time. Recommended Videos We also have guides to the best new movies to stream, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. Pig (2021) Nicolas Cage is an Oscar winner, but there was a period in his career when that was pretty easy to forget. Pig is a reminder of everything the actor is capable of and might be the best performance of his career. The film follows a former chef (Cage) living outside of Portland who ventures back into the city after the kidnapping of his truffle-hunting pig. Along the way, we learn more about who he is and why he left his life behind and also come to appreciate the role that cooking played in his life. Pig masquerades as John Wick, but the movie is more sensitive, humane, and lovely than that and might just leave you in a puddle when it's over. You can watch Pig on Netflix. Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) Blockbusters don't have to be depressing, and Dungeons & Dragons is a great reminder of how fun movies can be. Telling the story of a bard who escapes from prison to find his daughter, the movie is all about why so many people play this role-playing game to begin with. Filled with several discreet adventures, many great jokes, and Chris Pine being hugely charming, Dungeons & Dragons was one of the most surprising movies of 2023 and remains one of the most rewatchable blockbusters of the last few years. It's sweet, funny, and above all else, hugely entertaining. You can watch Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves on Netflix. May December (2023) Loosely adapted from true events, May December tells the story of an actress who is tasked with playing a middle-aged woman who slept with a teenager and then eventually married him. Although the movie is frequently high camp and features a trio of great performances, what's most remarkable about May December is how devastating it can be. Ultimately, this is a story about a man in his 30s who slowly begins to realize that he's been taken advantage of for decades. May December is one of Netflix's great, unheralded releases. You can watch May December on Netflix.
Geek Girl Authority
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
How Game Nights Became the New Group Therapy for Nerds
With so many distractions from phones and screens these days, people are looking for ways to actually connect with others. Game nights that involve tabletop RPGs like Dungeons & Dragons, storytelling games, or cooperative board games aren't just about rolling dice or winning points anymore. For many in geek and gaming circles, these gatherings have become a way to hang out, share stories, and even unwind emotionally. Why Structure Matters Unlike casual get-togethers, game nights offer something uniquely grounding: structure. That structure— like a rulebook, a mission, or a character sheet—creates a shared context. It gives everyone at the table a reason to be present, participate, and contribute. In a group setting, this form of structured interaction lowers social barriers. It provides introverts a defined role, extroverts a safe spotlight, and everyone else a reliable rhythm for interaction. This kind of order and predictability can be oddly comforting—much like how some people find routine in everyday habits such as checking the morning weather, scrolling through news headlines, or even taking a moment to check out Keno results online. These small rituals give a sense of control and anticipation, similar to the way structured game nights build shared expectations and engagement among players. Emotional Skills in Play When players assume the roles of characters—complete with backstories, goals, fears, and flaws—they begin to exercise emotional muscles that aren't always used in everyday life. They make decisions based on empathy, develop conflict resolution skills, and explore emotional depth through their characters' arcs. For example, when a player role-plays a character going through grief or making peace with a rival, they may process their own feelings in a safe, fictional context. Game masters often create scenarios that push emotional buttons—intentionally or not—and players react in ways that feel real. This improvisational storytelling builds emotional awareness and promotes a nuanced understanding of others. Healing Game Nights TTRPGs and cooperative board games are increasingly used in both casual and community-building settings. While not therapy in the clinical sense, many participants describe game nights as cathartic, affirming, and restorative. They offer a break from daily responsibilities and an invitation to experience joy, challenge, failure, and success in a welcoming environment. This change has been especially noticeable in geek communities, where shared interests and emotional safety often go hand in hand. Actual-play podcasts and livestreams have helped normalize vulnerability, creativity, and emotional expression at the gaming table. What Your Group Says About You Group chemistry at the table often mirrors real-life, sometimes more closely than expected. Is there a natural leader who takes charge during every mission? A quiet observer who comes through in clutch moments? The class clown who keeps things light? These roles can reflect how friends interact outside the game—and sometimes challenge them to grow. A hesitant speaker might find their voice in-character, while a dominant personality might learn to step back and listen. The game world becomes a space where social roles can be explored, tested, and even rebalanced. The Real Power of Play What starts as a night of fun often becomes something more: a shared ritual. At their best, game nights offer more than entertainment—they create a dependable time and space where players can show up, contribute, and connect. Book Review: STAR TREK ADVENUTRES 2E TECHNICAL MANUAL
Geek Girl Authority
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Tavern Talk Thursday: Kickstarters To Keep an Eye on in June
Welcome to Tavern Talk Thursday! We are expanding! What started as a column dedicated to chatting with members of the TTRPG community is growing to talk about all things TTRPG. We aim to continue sharing all the things we love about the community and all the content within. So, consider this a little peek into our favorite worlds and creators as we explore everything we love. As we head into warmer months, we can't forget all the tabletop games waiting for us to fall in love with them. And while our picks on Kickstarter might not be availble for a few months, we think it's crucial to get invested early. Whether you are looking for a fun board game to pass the time or a dark adventure in a new TTRPG, we have a few picks we know you will love. The only question is – where will your adventure begin? City of the Black Rose Kicking off our list of Kickstarters to keep an eye on in June, we have Roll & Play Press' City of the Black Rose . This is a campaign setting filled with gothic horror, dark comedy and tons of drama. The team is marketing it toward fans of The Great Gatsby , Sin City , Arcane or Nosferatu. While those four don't usually get rolled together, we can't help but be excited about the potential story hooks, world and chaos this setting will unfold. It is designed to work within the confines of Dungeons & Dragons 5e , as well as Daggerheart and other TTRPG games. Learn more about City of the Black Rose on the official Kickstarter page. RELATED: 5 TTRPGs You Need to Check out for Your Next Game Session Sleddy's Lost Tapes Next, our second pick is Key Enigma's Sleddy's Lost Tapes . This is a co-op, creepypasta-themed escape game that combines puzzles, narrative, and technology to create a challenging experience. If you have ever played Hunt a Killer or similar games, this one will be right up your alley. Players will work together to sift through evidence-filled envelopes to uncover the truth before it's too late. The gameplay is the perfect blend of tabletop elements and current technology. This makes the game accessible to players of all skill levels. Learn more about Sleddy's Lost Tapes on the official Kickstarter page. Top Frog Our final pick for Kickstarters to keep an eye on is YadCo Games' Top Frog . This is a fun card game that will have players hopping around the swamp to try and stack up fashionable frogs for points. It's a quick-paced game where all players' moves occur simultaneously, keeping everyone on their toes. We love it when games built to create chaos are wrapped up in adorable artwork. We can't wait to see who is able to build the tallest stack of frogs wearing the best hats at a future game night. It's a great game to challenge long-time gamers, but perfect for those new to the table. Learn more about Top Frog on the official Kickstarter page. Tavern Talk Thursday: Everything We Know About Critical Role's AGE OF UMBRA
CNET
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNET
Daggerheart Is the Most Accessible TTRPG I've Ever Played. Here's What I Love About It
Caprine, my half-faun rogue, ducks behind a barrel as she tries to hide in the shadows from the guards. I hold my breath, roll two dice for a success, then grin at the GM as the guards pass me by without noticing. A moment later, I sneak into the guard room to steal a letter, and then run to get back to the rest of the party before anyone notices I'm here. This is Daggerheart, and it might be the simplest tabletop roleplaying game I've ever had a chance to sit down and play. I've loved TTRPGs since I was a kid, thanks to parents who played Dungeons & Dragons, and an excellent local game store. However, I was never really into D&D itself, due to the crunchy numbers-heavy system that pulled me out of the narrative experience. Over the years, I've played in systems like Savage Lands, World of Darkness and Dungeons & Dragons itself, but I play these games for the story I'm telling, not because I'm a fan of the mechanics. It seems like I'm not alone either. TTRPGs have boomed in popularity thanks to high-quality streaming shows with hundreds of episodes. The people behind Critical Role, the most famous of these shows, are behind Daggerheart and they aren't just leaning on their popularity either. Daggerheart, which is available to order now from the CritRole shop (it says "shipping spring 2025") or from Amazon starting June 3, delivers an accessible, less math-intensive option for new and veteran players alike. Each class in Daggerheart has two subclasses that let you fine-tune your play style. Jen Karner/CNET Everything you need in one place Daggerheart is a narrative-driven fantasy game, with plenty of combat, but it isn't the crunchy rules-heavy system of behemoths like Dungeons & Dragons. Instead of being spread across multiple books like D&D's Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master Guide and Monster Manual, everything you need to play Daggerheart is contained in a single core rulebook and the accompanying cards. It's built to be accessible for new and returning gamers, delivering everything you need to play in an easy-to-read format. The core rulebook is broken out into five chapters, and while game masters will have extra reading, players won't need to read everything. While the book is hefty at 363 total pages, that's because publisher Darrington Press has made everything easy to access. Each page walks you through everything you need to know, from class options to how combat works, to premade campaigns in a variety of different environments. No aspect of gameplay or character creation has been overlooked, making it easier to jump into Daggerheart than any other system I've played in. The cards in Daggerheart tell you about skills and abilities you can use during gameplay. Jen Karner/CNET Along with the rulebook, Daggerheart uses cards to make it easier to keep track of everything. The accompanying cards fall into one of several categories: spell, ability, grimoire, ancestry, community or class. Every player will start with community, ancestry and class cards, but spells, abilities and grimoires will depend on the character you've built. The cards display information about the different options you'll have as a character, including specific spells or abilities that vary wildly. While there is a lot going on, the information is easy to read and parse. Each card tells you the level of the ability or spell, along with its cost, and how it works. This means you never need to memorize everything -- you can simply thumb through your cards before making a decision. As you level up over the course of the adventure, you'll also get access to new spells, abilities and grimoires, allowing your character to access even more powerful actions. Built with accessibility in mind The combat wheelchair mechanics are just one example of the way accessibility is baked into the heart of Daggerheart. Jen Karner/CNET One of the biggest standouts when I was reading through the book and building my first character was how accessibility was baked into the core design of Daggerheart. Along with examples, tips and drawings, there is an entire section dedicated to telling stories that include disability. This includes both a section at the back of the character creation section with examples of how to respectfully portray a disability, and two pages dedicated to the combat wheelchair. The accessibility isn't limited to the player side either. Chapter 3 covers running an adventure and is stuffed full of tips for GMs, including things to avoid and how to better pace your game to keep everyone at the table engaged. The chapter includes information about running a Session 0 and incorporating safety tools into your play as well. Sitting down with everyone in the party for Session 0 lets you outline the concept and tone of the story, while also discussing what themes or storylines players want to avoid. By incorporating these early, you can ensure everyone at the table is on the same page, making it easier to tell a great story. These concepts aren't new, and the rulebook credits the original sources, but it's refreshing to see them laid out so clearly in a game's core rulebook. Whether you're a veteran game master, or this is your first time running an adventure, the GM tools have you covered. Jen Karner/CNET The GM tools extend well beyond getting started, making Daggerheart an excellent place for new GMs to start. It includes tips for running a one-shot, in case a longer campaign feels too intimidating. The rulebook also walks through sketching out the scope of your campaign with story beats, integrating player backstories into your game, how to construct story arcs that will engage your players and five different campaign frames you can experiment with. The campaign frames take up Chapter 5, and deliver everything you need to start your campaign. Each frame is several pages long, with details on everything from theme and tone to ancestry and an inciting incident. Inside of each there is even a page with tips for both players and game-runners to take into account when making characters, or engaging in play. These are a great tool for getting acquainted with the system. The five campaign frames vary greatly in theme and tone, letting you find a frame that fits the vibe you want when you start playing. Even better, the back of the book includes maps for each so you can spend less time prepping and more time rolling dice. In the very back of the book you'll find character sheets, sidebars with extra information as you learn the system and guides to help you with character creation or running an adventure. Daggerheart has everything you need to stop planning, and start playing. Jen Karner/CNET Start your adventure Along with the physical rulebook, Daggerheart also has easy downloads of a variety of materials. This makes it easy to print out character sheets and even a quick-start adventure. The quick start adventure includes premade characters, a new location and even a sheet for the GM to help teach the game to everyone. Daggerheart might be the newest TTRPG on the block, but it's decidedly one of the easiest systems to get involved in that I've ever seen. With free resources for download, tons of tips for play and a single book that holds everything you need to know, it's a great option for players new and old.
Digital Trends
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
3 action movies on Amazon Prime Video you need to watch in May 2025
Table of Contents Table of Contents The Last Witch Hunter (2015) Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) Looking to watch a cool action movie? There are three action movies on Amazon Prime Video to watch in May 2025. One is a biographical action drama, one is available for free even if you don't have an Amazon Prime subscription, and one is part of a massive franchise with one of the biggest action movie stars of this generation. Learn about these three movies and what makes them worth watching. Bookmark them for viewing when you have time and watch these badass characters do the heavy lifting. Recommended Videos Need more recommendations? Then check out the best new movies to stream this week, the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+. The Last Witch Hunter (2015) Vin Diesel stars in this fantasy action movie that's based on the Dungeons & Dragons campaigns of the character Melkor the Witch-Hunter. Kaulder (Diesel) in The Last Witch Hunter is immortal and on a mission to save the world from a fast-spreading plague. Despite receiving largely negative reviews, The Last Witch Hunter reportedly has a sequel in the works anyway. It performed well at the box office because who can resist Diesel in a cape as an angry knight-turned-witch cursed with eternal life? Watch and make a judgment call for yourself. Stream The Last Witch Hunter on Amazon Prime Video. Jack Reacher: Never Go Back (2016) It's not the best-reviewed Tom Cruise action flick, but the actor was still praised for his performance in Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, as were the fantastic action sequences. It's the plot that was met with criticism. Plot? Who needs a plot? It's all about the action, and Cruise never fails to deliver in this department. A sequel to Jack Reacher, based on the Lee Child novel and character, Never Go Back follows Reacher (Cruise) on the run with Army Major Susan Turner (Cobie Smulders), who has been framed. Together, the pair uncover a conspiracy while fighting to clear Susan's name. Fun fact: Child makes a blink-and-you'll-miss-him cameo in the film as a TSA agent. Stream Jack Reacher: Never Go Back on Amazon Prime Video. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story (1993) Jason Lee portrays martial arts icon Bruce Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, a biographical action drama about his life and career as a martial artist. Following his move from Hong Kong to the U.S., his career as a martial arts teacher, and his break into movies and TV, the film also touches on topics of racism. Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story was dedicated to Bruce Lee's son Brandon Lee, who tragically died weeks before the movie was released. Paying homage to the talented martial artist who starred in one of the best action movies ever, Enter the Dragon, Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story is a fitting tribute to the multi-talented man who tragically died too soon. The film, not surprisingly, was a massive commercial success when it was originally released, and it remains just as entertaining today. Stream Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story on Amazon Prime Video.
