This week on TableTop Weekly…

Jason and Peter ease into a quieter, holiday-season episode with a mix of indie highlights, industry shifts, and thoughtful commentary on where tabletop gaming culture is heading as the year winds down.

The show opens with a spotlight on Hey Ho, Let's Go Home, a new punk-infused holiday zine from Ham and Egg Publishing. Written by John Maguire and Gio Colazzo, the short story reimagines A Christmas Carol through the lens of DIY punk, following a teenage runaway visited by the ghosts of the Ramones. The hosts praise its warmth, sincerity, and strong connection to tabletop-adjacent storytelling culture.

Next, the conversation turns to New Game Master Month, an annual January initiative designed to help first-time GMs overcome anxiety and run their first sessions. With support across multiple systems, the hosts highlight its hands-on structure and argue that mentorship and encouragement matter more than endless GM advice videos.

Creators take note as Meta quietly tests limits on link posting for Facebook professional accounts. Jason and Peter unpack what this means for small publishers, the creeping pay-to-be-seen model of social media, and why modern promotion feels more complex and less effective than traditional magazine advertising ever was.

On a lighter note, the long-awaited second edition of Toon finally arrives. With original artist Kyle Miller returning, full-color interiors, and a renewed focus on fast, slapstick play, the hosts celebrate Toon as a perfect convention and one-shot game that understands comedy is hard and supports it with strong design tools.

The episode wraps with industry news as GMT Games welcomes Candace Harris to its team. Known for her years at BoardGameGeek, Candace's move signals a push to make deep, logistics-driven wargames more accessible. The hosts close by musing about the untapped potential of wargaming as spectator media and why someone really should turn it into a sports-style broadcast.

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This week on TableTop Weekly… 

Jason and Peter open the show with a heartfelt thank-you to the community as the Top Secret: Tradecraft Manual Kickstarter continues to outperform expectations. With five days to go, strong backer numbers, and solid momentum in what is traditionally a difficult launch window, the hosts reflect on what this says about the Top Secret community and why expansions only matter if people are actually playing the game.

The first news story covers Evil Hat Productions opening its annual game submission window. The discussion breaks down what Evil Hat is looking for, why 5e is explicitly excluded, and what creators should realistically expect from a traditional publisher relationship, including ownership, royalties, crowdfunding partnerships, and legal protections around unsolicited submissions.

Next, the hosts tackle controversy in Magic: The Gathering, where players destroyed cards over allegations of AI-generated art. While no proof has emerged, the conversation widens into a thoughtful examination of broken trust, corporate pressure, artist reputation, and the uncomfortable reality that human-made art is now sometimes required to prove itself as human.

The tone shifts with a look at the newly launched Black Company RPG playtest from Arkdream Publishing. The hosts praise the open playtest model, old-school percentile mechanics, and the grounded, military-forward tone inspired by Glen Cook's novels, calling it a promising system worth attention.

Personnel news follows as Wizards of the Coast promotes Justice Ramen Armen to Game Design Director for Dungeons & Dragons. While congratulatory, the discussion also raises questions about experience, institutional knowledge, and the weight of stewarding the world's most influential RPG.

The episode closes on sobering industry news as Mythic Games officially enters liquidation, leaving millions in unfulfilled Kickstarter pledges. The hosts analyze what went wrong, why scale increases responsibility, and how failures at this level damage trust in crowdfunding as a whole. To end on a positive note, they spotlight community projects, including Tomb of the Ancient Mor King from Orange Cat Games, and circle back to the ongoing success of Tradecraft Manual as an example of doing it right.

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This week on TableTop Weekly...

Jason and Peter are joined by Amy and Bert from House of Books and Games to talk about their upcoming mini-convention HBGCon, taking place October 18–19 at Lupalto Brewing in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. They discuss how the shop began as a weekend passion project and grew into a thriving community hub for roleplaying games—especially small-press and indie titles from publishers like Free League, Modiphius, Goodman Games, and Solarian Games.

The news this week starts with New Holland Brewing's "Dragon's Milk D20 Dice Tower" set, a bourbon-barrel stout packaged with a dice tower and custom D20s. Then it's on to Modiphius' Star Trek Adventures: 23rd Century Guide, a supplement that captures the classic Kirk-era feel with new rules for free traders, redshirt survival, and the formative years of the Federation. The hosts also cover Robert Wardhaugh's 43-year Dungeons & Dragons campaign, officially recognized by Guinness as the longest-running game in the world, featuring more than 500 characters and 30,000 painted minis. They talk about the new Stranger Things: The Hellfire Club Starter Box, a beginner-friendly adventure inspired by Eddie Munson's final campaign, and end with a heartfelt mention of Rebecca Heineman, the legendary programmer and Bard's Tale designer, who's fighting cancer and has raised over $100,000 through GoFundMe.

The show wraps with Amy and Bert unveiling the full HBGCon lineup, featuring Top Secret: New World Order, Weird Heroes of Public Access, Star Trek Adventures, and Call of Cthulhu, all beginner-friendly and ready to play.

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This week on TableTop Weekly...

Jason and Peter kick things off with a look at Analog Union, the new cross-publisher indie RPG newsletter featuring updates from Arcane Sword Press, Get Haunted Industries, Carian Games, and others. Then, it's on to ModCon, the first convention dedicated to modern-era RPGs, coming to Northampton, Massachusetts in May 2026, plus a preview of Jason's upcoming Top Secret sessions at HBGCon in Connecticut and GailCon in Ireland.

News stories this week include the Strong Museum's virtual D&D history exhibit (developed with Google Arts & Culture), Starbreeze canceling its D&D co-op video game, and the Kickstarter workers' strike over a proposed 32-hour work week and livable wage demands. The hosts unpack what it means for creators and why supporters shouldn't boycott the platform.

They close with a discussion of the Gary Gygax Memorial Kickstarter, a proposed bronze sculpture of Gygax running a game by the lake in Lake Geneva. The duo cover its design, funding challenges, and why it deserves to exist—no matter the past controversy.

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This week on TableTop Weekly…

Jason, Peter, and special guest Tim Brannan from The Other Side blog take a trip through gaming history, convention chaos, and the strange economy of vintage D&D.

They kick off with a wrap-up of ShireCon, the cozy New England convention "in the land of no cell service and no hotels," before announcing ModCon, the first convention dedicated entirely to modern-era tabletop gaming. Set for May 30 in Northampton, Massachusetts, ModCon will focus on games set in the 20th and 21st centuries—spy thrillers, cyberpunk, and post-apocalyptic adventures included.

Next, they dive into the Heritage Auctions Dungeons & Dragons sale, where shrink-wrapped red boxes are hitting $900 bids and Descent Into the Depths of the Earth is somehow fetching nearly $200. The hosts debate grading, "slabbing," and how collector speculation could distort the hobby's history.

Finally, Tim joins them to discuss his article In Search of Castle Greyhawk, exploring how Gary Gygax's original dungeon evolved from a shared play space into a mythic symbol of old-school gaming. The crew swaps stories about Gygax, the Troll Lords, and what a true "Castle Greyhawk of today" might look like—complete with a fantasy designer draft list from Kelsey Dionne to Ed Greenwood.

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This week on TableTop Weekly...

Jason and Peter dive into D&D "by the numbers," damn good minivans, and a new indie publishing alliance.

They start with EN World's massive breakdown of every official Dungeons & Dragons product from OD&D to 5E: 1,253 releases, roughly 124,000 pages, and about $23,000 if you'd bought everything at cover price. That leads into a history lesson on how 2E's product glut, setting overload, and the infamous Random House deal helped sink TSR and set the stage for Wizards of the Coast to step in.

Next up is "Damn Good Minivan," a new Top Secret adventure Jason is running at Gailcon in Dublin. Agents pose as PTA parents in Des Moines, Iowa, juggling undercover suburban life, weaponized gene drives, and a line-up of fully statted, mission-ready minivans.

Then the hosts spotlight designer and educator Anna Anthropy's one-hour-at-a-time RPG history course, touching on Vampire LARP, diplomacy roots, and why RPGs are cultural artifacts worth preserving.

They wrap with Analog Union, a new shared newsletter for indie RPG publishers like Solarian Games, Arcane Sword Press, Get Haunted Industries, Saltar RPG, Severed Books, and more. The first issue highlights old-school box set Barrows & Borderlands, the bizarre baking grimoire How to Bake a Breadling, Saltar's Book of Z quickstart, Severed Books' Sickest Witch coven box, and updates on Top Secret and upcoming missions.

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This week on TableTop Weekly...

Jason and Peter unpack a handful of big tabletop stories, starting with Chaosium's gorgeous new Call of Cthulhu collector's editions. These leatherette seventh-edition reprints aren't cheap, but they're built for fans who want their mythos with a side of luxury. From Masks of Nyarlathotep to Pulp Cthulhu and the Grand Grimoire of Mythos Magic, the guys debate whether these belong at the table or on the art shelf.

Then it's Wizards of the Coast's new president, John Hight, who's cleaning up the post-OGL mess, rebuilding trust, and hinting he'd love to see a modern D&D MMO. With his World of Warcraft background, he might be the first exec who actually understands digital integration—and his promise to keep AI out of D&D's creative work gets a nod of approval.

Kobold Press drops Monster Vault 2, packed with hundreds of new creatures for both 5E and Tales of the Valiant. Doom Points, streamlined stat blocks, and GM tools for tougher, smarter encounters make this one worth watching.

Next, Black Armada's Extenebris brings gothic sci-fi horror to the stars—a Powered by the Apocalypse game of cosmic dread and creeping corruption that's already killing it on Kickstarter.

And finally, the guys unveil Analog Union, a new joint newsletter from indie publishers including Arcane Sword Press, Get Haunted Industries, Severed Books, Salt Heart RPG, and Solarian Games. It's free, weekly, and packed with news, downloads, and community highlights at analogunion.com.

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This week on TableTop Weekly...

Jason and Peter are joined by actor, author, and filmmaker Pat Kilbane to talk about his new documentary The Dreams in Gary's Basement—a stunning look at the birth of Dungeons & Dragons and the life of Gary Gygax. They dive deep into the early days of TSR, the origins of roleplaying from Dave Wesley's Braunstein to Gary's creative explosion, and the challenges of telling a true story when everyone remembers history a little differently.

Pat shares stories from the decade-long journey to make the film, revealing how he balanced fact, myth, and human drama to capture the heart of Gygax's "hero's journey." The crew swaps thoughts on dice lore, archival treasures, lost TSR locations, and the enduring soul of classic D&D art.

Whether you're a lifelong gamer or just curious how a basement in Wisconsin changed the world, this episode celebrates the legacy, the arguments, and the imagination that made tabletop history.

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This week on TableTop Weekly...

Jason and Peter dig into a mix of oddities, business shifts, and a touch of chaos in the world of tabletop gaming. Chaosium is preparing a massive monster compendium uniting decades of beasts from RuneQuest, Call of Cthulhu, and beyond—finally giving BRP fans a unified "Monster Manual" under the ORC license. They discuss how percentile systems remain elegant, how Chaosium pioneered open engines before GURPS, and why this release may inspire a new wave of homebrew creators.

Then it's time for some D&D craftiness with Dungeons & Dragons: A Book of Many Patterns, a crochet pattern guide featuring beholders, mimics, and the Hand and Eye of Vecna. Jason and Peter joke about "D&D croquet" and imagine crocheted owlbears as perfect handmade gifts for gamers.

Next up, Fallout: New Vegas expands Modiphius' post-apocalyptic RPG line just as the TV series prepares to revisit the irradiated city. They chat about ghouls, caps, Pip-Boys, and how Fallout carries the spirit of Gamma World better than Wizards ever did.

Paizo announces the end of its monthly Pathfinder Adventure Path softcovers after 222 months, moving to quarterly hardcovers—cheaper for fans, easier for the company, and probably better shelf material.

Then things get thorny with tariffs back in the headlines. The sudden rollback of the de minimis exemption is hammering small publishers abroad, blocking shipments from dozens of countries, and cutting off indie creators. It's "another hole in the boat," as Peter puts it, and they wonder if this industry can keep weathering policy waves.

To end on a lighter note, they explore Dungeons & Dragons: The Immersive Quest, a Canadian-made live adventure coming to Dallas that mixes escape room puzzles with theme park theatrics. It's True Dungeon's "Disney cousin," offering a fast, flashy, IP-filled experience for fans and newcomers alike.

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This week on TableTop Weekly...

Jason and Peter welcome writer and historian Michael Witwer to talk about his newest Dungeons & Dragons release from DK Books—Dungeons and Dragons, The Book of Dragons —a lavish, full-color deep dive into dragons, monsters, and lore across editions. The conversation winds through Easter eggs in Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, the origins of in-jokes like "EGG" and the legacy of TSR artists who shaped the early look of D&D.

Mike shares what it was like seeing the finished book for the first time, praising DK's stunning production values and new artwork by concept artist R. J. Palmer. They discuss how gem dragons were reimagined, the soul and imagination behind early art from David Sutherland and Dave Trampier, and why sometimes imperfect art captures magic in ways hyper-polished pieces never can.

They close with a few stories about growing up on classic monster manuals, Mike's son asking for a 1st Edition copy for his birthday, and a quick tease of his next (still secret) fantasy projects. It's an episode for anyone who's ever stared too long at a monster illustration and wondered what music the artist was hearing in their head.

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This week on TableTop Weekly...
Jason checks in from a New Jersey Turnpike rest stop and Peter is dodging a thunderstorm, but the show must go on. First up, they talk about Igniting the Spark: The Story of Magic: The Gathering, a new feature-length documentary that tracks how Peter Adkison's basement operation, Richard Garfield's "cheap little card game" idea, and a very risky launch turned into a global hobby and the first real "intellectual sport." From the early cash-flow panic to the rise of the Pro Tour, they dig into why it is lighter on drama than D&D docs, but still a must-watch for Magic fans, and where you can stream it.

From cards to airwaves, the guys move on to Welcome to Night Vale: The Roleplaying Game, a boxed RPG based on the beloved surreal community-radio podcast. Built on Renegade's Essence20 take on d20, the set includes a Visitor's Guide, Host's Guide, a five-part mystery, pregens, dice, and everything you need to get weird in the desert town when it lands September 9, 2025. They then cheer the reprint of Shadowrun 1st Edition from Catalyst, complete with its gloriously 1980s vision of the far-future year 2050, and talk about how much this cyberpunk-meets-urban-fantasy classic shaped the genre. Greenhorns gets the "weird space" spotlight next, a trippy, rules-light d20 game with auto-hit combat, OSR-style lethality, uncanny classes, a pile of missions, random tables, and a free quickstart to test drive. Finally, they recap a weekend at Catfest in Baltimore, a small brewery con run by Justin Sirois of Severed Books, packed with indie comics, RPGs, great beer, a dangerous food truck, and friends like Terrible Games, Levi Combs, Rising Phoenix, Feral Press's gorgeous mega-dungeon Anox, and top-tier art from Chad Mitton.

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This week on TableTop Weekly...
Jason and Peter crack open the news—literally—with a look at the new Dungeons & Dragons x New Holland Brewing collaboration: Dragon's Milk Coconut Rum Barrel Reserve. It's an Imperial Stout aged in rum barrels with a hint of coconut, inspired by the Dragon Turtle of D&D lore. Peter calls it "the emperor of stouts," and Jason's on board—if cautiously—after hearing it packs 11% ABV. The two swap stories about their favorite heavy beers and debate whether "coconut" and "stout" can really live happily ever after.

Then, things turn serious with the death of the de minimis tariff exemption. Jason explains how ending the $800 import limit means gamers and small publishers alike will now pay steep taxes—up to 40%—on overseas orders. It's complicated, confusing, and expensive. Peter sums it up with a single word: "Woof."

Next, they talk about the new official D&D gaming table from Game Theory, a Vegas-based furniture maker. It's beautifully made, packed with features like hidden DM compartments and player trays—yet the guys can't help laughing when they reach the price tag: $3,899 retail, or a "discounted" $3,119 preorder. As Peter puts it, "Or you could just use your dining room table."

The spotlight then turns to Sword World RPG, Japan's homegrown fantasy system that once outsold D&D and invented the concept of "actual play." Jason recounts how Record of Lodoss War inspired it after TSR snubbed Japanese publishers in the 1980s, and how Sword World's serialized "replay" magazines created an entire genre of storytelling. With an official English release on the way, the hosts agree: Sword World could become a major hit in the West.

They also highlight a roundup of 5E-compatible indie releases from Bell of Lost Souls, including The Pirate Queen's Wrath (a cursed nautical epic), Strange & Wondrous Potions (chaotic, hilarious magic brews), Constellation Descent (cosmic dungeon adventure with printable miniatures), and 100 Unexpected Children to Meet in a Village—a creepy, heartfelt NPC generator that both hosts call "brilliant."

Finally, they close on NPR's piece declaring D&D has entered its "stadium era." With Dimension 20 selling out Madison Square Garden, Jason and Peter reflect on tabletop gaming's rise from basements to global phenomenon. They muse about storytelling as humanity's last true art form, the analog backlash among Gen Z, and why the world needs dice more than ever.

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This week on TableTop Weekly… 

Special guest Kai Schaefer, creator of Gamers Online, joins Jayson and Peter to talk about a better way to organize tabletop conventions and events. Before the main segment, the crew rolls out a TableTop Weekly holiday gift guide, blending practical gaming tools, clever accessories, and a healthy dose of humor.

Gift highlights include DIY gaming tokens, D&D-themed ornaments, 3D-printed dice trees and towers, compact GM screens, fidget-friendly dice spinners, gamer backpacks designed for books and minis, novelty ice molds shaped like polyhedral dice, and offbeat party favorites like Butts on Things. The discussion focuses on gifts that enhance play at the table without feeling disposable or overly gimmicky.

The main interview dives into Gamers Online, a platform designed to improve how gamers find groups and how conventions manage schedules, sessions, badges, and communication. Kai walks through the system's attendee-facing and organizer-facing tools, including visual schedules, mobile-friendly badge management, session submissions, real-time updates, and messaging that instantly notifies players about changes. The emphasis is on reducing friction for players, volunteers, and organizers alike.

The hosts discuss how Gamers Online compares to existing tools like Tabletop Events and Warhorn, why usability matters as much as features, and how conventions can transition without disrupting existing plans. The episode wraps with a broader conversation about community-building, accessibility, and giving gamers more control over their convention experience.

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John Kovalic Looks Back On Over Two Decades Of Munchkin.

Magpie Games Unveils Temeraire TTRPG, Teases Masks The Next Generation Update at GenCon - The Fandomentals.

Starfinder Afterlight CRPG announced by Paizo and EpicTellers | TheSixthAxis.

Free League's new TTRPG is like Zelda Breath of the Wild, with ripped penguins.

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Thundercats RPG is on the way.

MAC Attack: a Sci-Fi Enginebreaker.

D&D's October Product Revealed to Be Stranger Things Tie-In.

Warhammer The Old World RPG Cubicle 7 has produced Warhammer the Old World RPG, set 100 years before the events of the Warhammer RPG.

Open Ended Games begins playtesting Against the Starmaster.

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GAMA prepares for a class action lawsuit vs Diamond.

Popular Book Series Dungeon Crawler Carl gets a Webtoon.

The One-Page RPG Jam is back for 2025.

D&D In a Castle Organizer to Launch D&D Dungeon Master University.

Eberron: Forge of the Artificer Delayed Until December.

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Dungeons & Dragons Group Shifts to 'Franchise Model' Internally, Will Be Led by Ex Halo Veteran.

Wizards VP Jess Lanzillo takes over Vampire: The Masquerade.

Green Ronin launches GoFundMe to defend against Diamond distributor.

Pets & Sidekicks, a New book from ENWorld Publishing.

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Diamond goes out of business, independent publishers bound to lose all their physical stock.

We interview XXX about his new book Gathering of Gamers. This is an excellent book about the history of GenCon.

Ever & Anon publishes their first issue.

Gary Gygax's lost castle.

Diagetic Advancement - what is it?

Museum of D&D planned for florida.

D&D faces a real rival in Critical Role as a true TTRPG showdown begins.

Dark Horse reveals first Dungeons & Dragons comic.

Board game manufacturing giant Panda expands production outside of China for first time.

Tomb Raider RPG cancelled for creative differences.

We interviewed Craig from Black Oak Workshop and artist Chet Minton.

Black Oak Workshop
https://blackoakworkshop.com

Chet Minton Artist
https://www.chetmintonartist.com/

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Chaosium Names New CEO, Mike Mearls Departs Company​
https://www.enworld.org/threads/chaosium-names-new-ceo-mike-mearls-departs-company.713707/

New D&D Video Game Looks a Lot Like Sigil
https://www.polygon.com/dnd-dungeons-dragons/603537/dungeons-dragons-new-video-game-demeo-battlemarked-project-sigil

Jason Carl on White Wolf's Return​
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKAmW0JBCpz

Dimension 20 hosts Battle at the Bowl​
https://www.slashfilm.com/1880314/dimension-20-live-episode-recording-experience

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Weird Heroes of Public Access Hardcover Released​
https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/get-haunted-industries/weird-heroes-of-public-access

Dungeon Traps Done Right​
https://www.tribality.com/2025/05/25/dungeon-traps-done-right-a-guide-to-smart-interactive-trap-design/

Rodney Thompson to Make Neon City Outlaws
https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-and-star-wars-designer-rodney-thompson-turns-his-hand-to-cyberpunk-in-neon-city-outlaws.713578/

Troll Lord Games Buys 5 Acres to Build a Factory
https://trolllord.com/worlds-of-gary-gygax/

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This week on TableTop Weekly… 

The headline story is the Top Secret: Tradecraft Manual, the first major expansion for Top Secret. Written by Scott Kongable, the book deeply expands every Tradecraft skill with narrative examples, clearer mechanics, difficulty guidance, and tables, all drawn from hundreds of campaign sessions. It also introduces new Tradecraft, streamlined chase rules, and early steps toward what will eventually become Top Secret's next edition, while remaining fully backward compatible.

The discussion continues with Operation Backfill, Kongable's massive 283-page third-party mission for Top Secret, and a broader look at the growing ecosystem of licensed and community content supporting the game.

Next, the hosts cover major VTT news, including Fantasy Grounds and Alchemy RPG shifting to free-to-play models, lowering barriers for online play and prompting debate over usability, cost, and the future of virtual tabletops.

The episode then revisits Twilight Sword, an anime-inspired RPG drawing from JRPG traditions like Zelda and Final Fantasy, now exceeding $550,000 in funding. Its d12-based CAT system, elemental interactions, and strong visual identity spark a lively breakdown.

In a surprising detour, the show highlights two major nerd collectibles heading to Christie's: J.R.R. Tolkien's writing desk and John Blanche's original Warhammer cover art, prompting discussion about nostalgia, art valuation, and generational fandom.

The episode closes with a look at How to Dungeon Master Parenting, a well-reviewed book that applies tabletop RPG principles to raising kids, blending humor with practical insight.

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Jim Ward Sets the Record Straight on Deities & Demigods
https://deltasdnd.blogspot.com/2015/03/james-ward-on-deities-demigods.html 

D&D's The Book of Dragons Comes Out in August​
https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-ds-the-book-of-dragons-comes-out-in-august.713498/ 

Judges Guild Muddies the Waters​
https://www.enworld.org/threads/judges-guild-makes-statement-about-goodman-controversy-updated.713499/

Two Little Mice Release Memento Mori
https://www.nobleknight.com/P/2148301130/Memento-Mori---Codex-Gigas

White Wolf Returns
https://www.paradoxinteractive.com/games/world-of-darkness/news/white-wolf-announcement

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On this episode of "Tabletop Weekly," the partners of Solarian Games discuss current events in the tabletop gaming industry. They are joined by Ron, an organizer of the Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo. The episode covers multiple stories, including a new sci-fi political thriller tabletop RPG called Vesta Mandate, Whiz Kids' refund policy for a poorly manufactured miniatures set, an expansion for Cyberpunk Red introducing new martial arts, and a humorous discussion on a typo that led to an absurdly overpowered Pathfinder monster. 

The hosts also delve into collectibles, gaming nostalgia, and discuss plans for Page Three, the upcoming Philadelphia Area Gaming Expo. They reveal new special guests, talk about planned events like a massive Shadowdark campaign featuring terrain from Dwarven Forge, and highlight their charity initiative to support gamers in need.  

Vesta Mandate: A Sci-Fi Political Thriller TTRPG​ 

https://storygameschicago.itch.io/vesta-mandate​ 

Interface RED Volume 4​ 

https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2025/05/rpg-interface-red-vol-04-wants-you-to-do-cyber-kicks-with-its-many-cyberpunk-martial-arts-rules.html​

PAGE 3 Convention

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The Tabletop Weekly episode covers several key topics in the RPG industry, featuring guest Kevin Borup from Salthart RPG.  

The episode dives into Goodman Games' licensing controversy, new horror-themed subclasses for D&D, and the return of half-elves in Eberon. The main event is a deep dive into The Book of Z, an expansion for Burn 2D6, featuring three settings: Zombie Road, Zany West, and Zero Punk. 

D&D Announces Horror Subclasses Unearthed Arcana​ 

https://www.enworld.org/threads/dungeons-dragons-announces-horror-subclasses-unearthed-arcana.713247/​ 

Half-elves are back! (sort of)​ 

https://www.wargamer.com/dnd/eberron-half-elf​ 

The Book of Z 

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This episode of Tabletop Weekly focuses on the end of Alarums & Excursions, a tabletop gaming magazine that ran for 50 years. The hosts discuss its history, its impact on the gaming community, and its unique format as an amateur press association (APA) publication. They highlight Lee Gold's contributions as its longtime editor and the reasons behind its closure, primarily due to her declining eyesight. The main part of the episode includes an interview with Lee Gold, where she shares insights into the early days of tabletop RPGs, the evolution of gaming fandom, and her experiences in science fiction and role-playing communities. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alarums_and_Excursions  

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This episode of Tabletop Weekly covers several major stories in the tabletop gaming industry.  

The hosts discuss an interview with Mike Mearls, where he explains how D&D 5E was designed to reclaim players lost to Pathfinder but later shifted toward more technical mechanics, potentially alienating casual players. They also cover the controversy around whether "D&D" can be used under Creative Commons, the lawsuit against tariffs affecting tabletop publishers, and highlights from the Rising Phoenix convention, including a charity event honoring James Carpio. 

DnD's Lead Designer Explains How 5e Fell Apart​ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeQOVk-FDPI  

Stonemaier Games is Suing the President​ 

https://stonemaiergames.com/we-are-suing-the-president/​ 

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This episode of Tabletop Weekly covers several major stories in the tabletop gaming industry.  

The hosts discuss the uncertainty surrounding tariffs on RPG books, referencing past rulings that classified them as games rather than books. They also cover the bankruptcy of Final Frontier Games, the struggles of small tabletop creators due to rising costs, and the new Delta Green Dead Drops adventure collection. The episode wraps up with updates on D&D 5E errata, including changes to conjuring spells and shapeshifting mechanics. 

RPG games may not be exempt from tariffs​ 

https://icv2.com/articles/columns/view/59308/rolling-initiative-more-tariff-reactions-rpgs-may-not-be-exempt-cost-comparisons-lines-pulling-out  

​Final Frontier Games Declaring Bankruptcy​https://www.reddit.com/r/boardgames/comments/1jzorko/final_frontier_games_laying_off_and_declaring/  

Small Tabletop Creators Squeezed by the Tariff Era​ 

https://www.rascal.news/small-tabletop-creators-already-feeling-squeezed-by-the-tariff-era/  

Delta Green: Dead Drops​ 

https://www.rascal.news/delta-green-dead-drops-summons-your-agents-to-stunning-terrors/  

D&D 5E Errata​ 

https://www.enworld.org/threads/d-d-errata-nerfs-conjuring-spells-makes-other-changes.712949/ ​  

https://www.facebook.com/SolarianLLC/ 

https://solariangames.com/ 

​

Jeremy Crawford to Leave Dungeons & Dragons
https://www.enworld.org/threads/jeremy-crawford-also-leaving-d-d-team-later-this-month.712870/ ​

Stolen Magic: The Gathering Artist Proof​

Pivotal Magazines in RPG History​

Mongoose acquires the Dark Conspiracy RPG

www.solariangames.com​

Chris Perkins retires from WotC
​https://www.enworld.org/threads/chris-perkins-announces-retirement-from-dungeons-and-dragons.712726/ 

Tariffs – what do they mean for the game industry?​

Warhammer – The Old World
​https://www.warhammer.com/en-GB/the-old-world-lp

Pillage! A new medieval wargame
https://www.victrixlimited.com/en-us/pages/pillage 

New survey about tabletop gaming out from Compare the Market
https://www.comparethemarket.com.au/home-contents-insurance/features/the-tabletop-gamers-survey/

www.solariangames.com​

This week we talk to David Benevides about his time at GaryCon. We also reflect on our past times there. And we wrap up with some Solarian Games news.

www.garycon.com
www.solariangames.com

This week's stories:

Terraforming Mars Board Game Getting RPG Adaptation​

Wizards of the Coast shutters Sigil virtual tabletop project, lays off 30 staff​

WizKids Mr. Potato Head Beholder Toy​

World's Largest Dungeon Returns

This week on TableTop Weekly… 

We open with a quick Solarian update as Scott Kongable's Top Secret: Tradecraft Manual gets a sneak peek ahead of its upcoming Kickstarter. The book expands every core Tradecraft skill with real-world research, new options, and clarifications designed to deepen espionage play without changing the heart of Top Secret.

Next up is Brute Fort, a micro solo dungeon crawler packed into a double cassette case, complete with an actual cassette soundtrack. Designed by Alfred Valley with music by Gus BC, the game leans hard into analog nostalgia, punk aesthetics, and clever minimalism. With only 18 cards, a fold-out board, and grimy '80s synth, it's a standout example of form and function merging beautifully.

We then highlight an award-winning video essay on Kurt Vonnegut's lost board game GHQ, created by designer and historian Amabel Holland. The discussion digs into game preservation, Vonnegut's brief flirtation with game design, and why GHQ deserves to be played rather than treated as a novelty curiosity.

The crew also celebrates the announcement of two new Discworld board games, including a classic remake and the intriguingly titled Kill Sam Vimes, sparking a lively discussion on Terry Pratchett's legacy, social commentary, and which actor should play Vimes in an imaginary adaptation.

Our feature segment welcomes guests from Seal Rescue Ireland, spotlighting Angler Antics & Selkie Shenanigans, a tabletop RPG created to support real-world seal rehabilitation. Built around Irish selkie folklore, the game turns actual rescued seals into playable characters, blending mythology, conservation, and collaborative storytelling into a genuinely heartfelt fundraiser.

https://www.solariangames.com

https://www.youtube.com/@solariangames

This week's stories:​

• Shadowdark: The Western Reaches Kickstarter is Over $1.4m​

• DriveThruRPG POD Prices Going Up By As Much As 50% In The US​

• RPG Evolution: The Coming Social Collapse

This week we're looking at all the cool things we saw and bought at GameFace Con in Baltimore, Maryland

• WotC's 3D VTT "Sigil" officially released in beta
• Invincible RPG coming soon
• Look at these homemade dice coasters
• Broken Tales – A dark twist on classic fairy tales

This week's stories

• We talk about everything we saw at TotalCon 39 in Marlborough, MA 

This week's stories:​

• Matt Mercer has a new mini-series using Daggerheart ​

• This Quar's War​

• Chaosium refunds backers of 7th Sea: Khitai​

• Battletech Romance: Hungry Like the Wolf​

• John "Hambone" McGuire's new book Avon by the Sea

• Diana Jones Emerging Designer Program open for submissions​

• Project Sigil is no Longer Your D&D Companion​

• Are people being priced out of gaming?​

• H20-Pocalypse ​

• Broken Road – broken promises?

This week's stories:​

• Is WotC ripping off Traveller?​

• Goodman Games takes on the Dark Tower​

• Richard Garriott considers a tabletop version of Ultima​

• Blades '68 - A Groovy Spy Thriller​

• Darkspace RPG and Void Echoes

This week's stories:

Evil Genius games tries to block criticism with legal threats

Diamond Comics Distributors is bankrupt

Kobold Press' 'Monster Vault 2' Coming to Kickstarter

The Sickest Witch

The Devil in New Jersey

Peter & Jayson talk about some of their favorite moments from this year's Philadelphia Area Game Expo

This week's stories:​

• A New Call of Cthulhu Adventure​

• Top most 10 Anticipated RPGs – An EN World Survey​

• Ultraviolet Grasslands 2E

This week on TableTop Weekly…

We kick things off with a deep dive into Pioneer, a new near-future RPG built on the Traveller system. Designed by a former NASA engineer, Pioneer pushes hard sci-fi realism even further, focusing on plausible space exploration 10–20 years from now. The crew discusses what meaningful adventures look like without faster-than-light travel, touching on inspiration from The Expanse and Daniel Suarez's Delta-V novels.

Next, we break down comments from Shawn Levy regarding a potential live-action Dungeons & Dragons series for Netflix. The conversation centers on why D&D works better as an ensemble TV series than a single hero narrative, and why Honor Among Thieves succeeded where earlier adaptations failed.

We then unpack a troubling case of harassment on Kickstarter, where an unrelated creator's project was flooded with abusive comments by a disgruntled backer. The discussion highlights the risks of entitlement culture in crowdfunding and the need for stronger moderation tools to protect creators.

On the labor front, Kickstarter United ends its six-week strike with major wins, including a permanent four-day work week, cost-of-living salary protections, and safeguards against AI-driven job displacement. The hosts frame this as a rare but encouraging example of ethical tech-industry labor practices.

Finally, the main segment spotlights acclaimed mapmaker Jog Brogson, exploring his hand-inked isometric maps, convention layouts, and world-building collaborations. Jog walks through his creative process, from layered sketches to finished pieces, and discusses how maps shape player imagination and navigation at the table.

solariangames.com
https://www.youtube.com/@solariangames

This week's stories:​

• Neon Lords Wrestling Rules released​

• Goodman Games has a Bundle of Holding​

• New Dungeons & Dragons pinball game released​

• D&D slot machine announced​

• Tabletop Role-Playing Game Market Report​

This week's stories:​

• V the TV series comes back as an audio drama​

• New Monster Manual Details Released​

• The New Voltron RPG Kick Starter Wraps Up

This week's stories:

• D&D Releases Playtest for Updated Artificer​

• Cyberpunk 2077's Latest Patch includes a 'Cyberpunk RED' Bonus​

• Christmas gaming ideas​

• Last week to submit for Golden Fez awards

Links to games mentioned:

He Sees You When You're Sleeping

Santa's Secret Service

Spirit of the Season

Christmas in Barovia

Silent Night Squad

Hark! It's Santa!

Rooftops & Reindeer

Santa vs. Santa

Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

How Orcus Stole Christmas!

The Secret Lives of Gingerbread Men

Fae Hard

A Fluffy Wonderland can be found in Polyhedron #78

Flash Gordon - Twas the Night Before Crystal Fest

This week's stories:​

• ​

• Itch.io taken offline by AI-driven Funko complaint​

• Model Our Nations is an RPG based on Model UN​

• Henry Cavill's Warhammer 40K Show Is Happening​

• Grimtooth's Old School Traps for 5E shipping​

• Wyrmwood lays off 50% of their workers​

• Golden Fez judges announcement