Latest news with #TTRPG
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Following The Witcher 3, CD Projekt Red wants to ensure it doesn't "copy our own tricks all over again and again"
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is a mammoth success judging by most metrics. It's not only one of the most acclaimed games of its decade, it's also sold a whopping 60 million copies and passed Super Mario Bros. on the all-time charts. But CD Projekt Red doesn't want to rinse and repeat the formula for its future games. Joint CEO Adam Badowski said as much in a new podcast looking back on a decade of the generational RPG. "At the very beginning of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, we decided to combine those two things: water and fire," Badowski said. "We would like to continue with this approach with all our next games." Speaking on upcoming CDPR games, the co-studio head explained they "have to add something" in every new release. "We have to add something that changes the consensus. We don't want to copy our own tricks all over again and again. So every game should consist [of] something new." Badowski acknowledges that CDPR games do tend to follow a loose formula, sure - they're usually "open world, story-driven, quality" RPGs - but, still, "every new game has to bring something new. So this is the general rule for the company." That should bode well for The Witcher 4, which has had Ciri in the driver's seat ever since 2014, and Cyberpunk 2, which will apparently go beyond Night City with a second area that's like "Chicago gone wrong," according to the original TTRPG's creator. Elsewhere in the interview, the developers revealed one of the biggest arguments they had while making The Witcher 3 was about just how naked Geralt should be in that infamous bath tub scene. CDPR devs are so locked into The Witcher 4 that they're apparently using its new control scheme by accident while playing other games
Geek Girl Authority
5 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
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Critical Role's Matt Mercer says the new game 'Daggerheart' is a 'major part' of the business's future
Critical Role launched "Daggerheart" — its own tabletop roleplaying game system — on May 20. The team's eight cofounders are going all-in for a splashy promo for the game, "Age of Umbra." There's a lot riding on "Daggerheart's" success — and CCO Matt Mercer says it'll be a "major part" of the team's future. Critical Role, the nerdworld business that has sold out stadium shows in and outside the US, just launched its new game, "Daggerheart," after more than a year of beta testing. The team's cofounders rolled out the game on-stream on May 20, kicking off a new era for the business's game-making arm, Darrington Press. "Daggerheart" plays like a sophisticated, modern answer to the 50-year-old "Dungeons & Dragons" — the Hasbro-owned game that first made CR nerdworld-famous. Now, the eight CR cofounders run a multi-division business that spans live shows and streaming, podcasting, Amazon-backed animations, gaming, and publishing. The "Daggerheart" starter kit comes with a 366-page rulebook, around the same length as the main "D&D" rulebook. The core set comes with 279 player cards. Unlike "D&D," CR's "Daggerheart" involves the use of a card system that outlines each character's backstory and history. Matthew Mercer, CR's chief creative officer, told Business Insider that the process of creating Daggerheart has been a "wild and rewarding journey." "The scale of collaboration between both studying what elements of TTRPG gaming we've all been drawn to, and then implementing those lessons into a new game system has been a whole host of new challenges and unexpected revelations along the entire process," Mercer said. "There's still so much more to come, and Daggerheart will most definitely be a major part of CR's future and content alongside everything else we've been working on," he added. The eight cofounders are using other arms of the company to promote "Daggerheart." They're releasing an eight-part miniseries where they'll all be at the table, playing the game. It's titled "Age of Umbra," a dark fantasy-themed adventure that premieres on May 29. Mercer told BI "Age of Umbra" is a marked departure from Exandria, the high fantasy setting that CR has been streaming in for its main campaign for 10 years. Mercer said guiding the seven other cofounders, who've been playing "D&D" on-stream for a decade, was easier than he expected. "We intentionally designed the game to be quite intuitive, and while there's always a learning curve to any new system — especially if you're having to unlearn habits from other game systems — everyone ultimately slipped into the game rapidly and comfortably," he said. Spenser Starke, the lead game designer for "Daggerheart," told BI that the game has been built for narrative-focused play, but it also has the latitude for "cinematic combat." "The most challenging part of designing the game for me was trying to ensure all the mechanics felt balanced and locked together at every level to create a cohesive game," Starke said. The player cards, Starke said, were a high-priority item for the development team, particularly the ancestry, community, and subclass cards — elements that go into character creation. CR's Darrington Press created "Daggerheart" in-house, meaning Starke and his crew of designers built the book to the final stages of production, overseeing everything from art to the last edits. One of the later additions to the rulebook that Starke and his team made was campaign frames, a quick-start method for new players to get their home games going. "The design team spent so much time, effort, and energy putting that chapter together, and I'm really proud of what we created," Starke said. "We're truly so excited for people to take the format for campaign frames and start building their own." Starke and Mercer also teased that there'll be more updates coming down the pipe soon. "We can't announce anything officially, but know we are working every day on new, exciting stuff for 'Daggerheart,'" Starke said. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
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.
Geek Girl Authority
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
Tavern Talk Thursday: Everything We Know About Critical Role's AGE OF UMBRA
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. We love playing tabletop role-playing games, and we love watching other people playing tabletop role-playing games. And who better to watch play than a group of nerdy ass voice actors? We love the crew at Critical Role and the worlds and stories they bring to life. And the team is back with another adventure, Age of Umbra . Here is everything we know about the live-play series. RELATED: 5 Things We Love from Critical Role Age of Umbra So, what will Age of Umbra be about? The eight-part mini series takes place within the Daggerheart world. Created by Critical Role, Daggerheart is a new fantasy TTRPG game built on friends coming together to tell heroic stories in beautiful worlds. It features elements similar to other TTRPGs but also includes unique ones like the Hope and Fear mechanics and using cards to bring characters to life. Age of Umbra will be a chance for Critical Role to showcase everything they love about the game before it hits shelves on May 20, 2025. The story itself takes place within the Halcyon Domain. It is lethal, foreboding and absolutely abandoned by gods. So, the perfect place for an adventure to take place. Within this place, a fiendish monstrosity, Umbra, wanders and corrupts anything it touches. But all hope isn't lost as small communities form near places known as Sacred Pyres to keep it at bay. RELATED: Keep up on The Legend of Vox Machina with our recaps! This exciting story begins here. In session zero, which will air on May 22, 2025, at 7 pm PST, Matthew Mercer will lead fellow Critical Role co-founders Sam Riegel, Marisha Ray, Taliesin Jaffe, Travis Willingham and Ashley Johnson to create their characters, adventure hooks, locations and elements that will appear throughout the series. You never know what you will get with this crew, but we know one thing for sure: it will be an incredible ride. Age of Umbra 's series premiere will air on Thursday, May 19, 2025, at 7 pm PST and then weekly on Thursdays. Viewers can enjoy the action live on Twitch, Beacon and YouTube with VODs available the Monday following each episode. You can also join the action with the Daggerheart Beta 1.5. Check out the teaser trailer below and let us know in the comments and on social media how excited you are to dive into the action. Tavern Talk Thursday: CRITICAL ROLE One-Shots to Binge
