Gravediggers Command Starter: A 30-Point Cygnar Force

The highlight of this week’s update is the Cygnar Gravediggers Command Starter, which will be available for pre-order next week and is scheduled for release at AdeptiCon. This starter set provides a 30-point force, making it suitable for smaller-scale games or for players new to Warmachine.

The set features Captain Buck Hasker, a Trencher warcaster known for his stealth tactics and use of explosive traps. Hasker’s crew includes Plugger, a versatile unit equipped with a Storm Cannon capable of handling both infantry and larger targets. The force is rounded out by the Rowdies and Ramjaw, each bringing unique abilities to the battlefield.

Full rules for the Gravediggers Command Starter can be accessed through the free Warmachine app under the ‘Cards’ section.

New Doubles Gameplay Scenario: “Two Hearts That Beat as One”

A new seasonal gameplay scenario, “Two Hearts That Beat as One,” has been introduced for Warmachine app subscribers. This scenario utilizes the Duos format, allowing players to build forces with two Leaders instead of one. While standard force-building rules apply, players must manage two Leaders during each turn, with each Leader only able to allocate focus or reave fury from their own Cohort models.

The Duos format is designed to offer a fresh gameplay experience and can also serve as an introductory tool for new players. By assigning a portion of the force to a novice, experienced players can help them learn the game in a collaborative setting.

Shadows & Scum Pre-Order Now Available

The Shadows & Scum two-player set, which was announced last Friday, is now open for pre-order. This set is tailored for Khymaera and Southern Kriels armies and is intended for two players, making it an option for those looking to split the set with a friend or build their own force ahead of its AdeptiCon release.

Lylyth, Raven Vengeance Releases Tomorrow

Lylyth, Raven Vengeance, a new warcaster for the Khymaera faction, is set to release tomorrow. Formerly associated with Everblight, Lylyth returns to lead Shadowflame Shard armies. Players are invited to share their painted Lylyth models in the community group and on Discord for a chance to be featured in Steamforged’s #paintmachine spotlights.

The 2025 Monster Manual includes 85 new monsters and a total of over 500 monsters, each accompanied by detailed illustrations, including a striking cover by artist Tyler Jacobson depicting a green-eyed beholder facing off against Minsc and Boo.

The revised core rulebooks have proven highly popular, with reprints already underway to meet demand.

The 2025 Monster Manual is available for purchase at various retailers, including D&D Beyond, Amazon, DM’s Guild, local game stores, and Barnes & Noble. For those looking to fully embrace the revised editions, D&D Beyond also offers a 2024 Digital & Physical Core Rulebook Bundle for $179.97, which includes hardcover and digital versions of all three books along with exclusive digital bonuses such as the Dragons of D&D digital art book.

In Solar Gardens, players take on the role of visionary architects specializing in carbon-neutral engineering. The goal is to design and build the most impressive rooftop garden by strategically drafting and placing tiles. Players must balance efficiency, beauty, and sustainability as they compete to create the best garden on the block. With a shared pool of resources, every decision counts, whether focusing on renewable energy, artistic design, or a harmonious blend of both.

The game supports 2-5 players and features 90 illustrated tiles and an easy-to-learn rulebook.

RiverBank RPG transports players to a world of anthropomorphic animals navigating a society filled with tea parties, garden strolls, grand balls, and village fairs. Players take on the roles of elegant Animals, balancing their characters’ Animality and Poetry as they embark on curious quests. The game emphasizes storytelling and character interaction, with decisions influencing the unfolding narrative.

Unlike Kobold Press’s previous d20-based systems, RiverBank RPG introduces a new game system optimized for 3 to 5 players. It uses standard dice (d4, d6, d12) to resolve actions, focusing on narrative mechanics rather than combat-heavy gameplay.

Kij Johnson, the game’s designer, and a Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author, expressed enthusiasm for the project. “I am so excited to see RiverBank RPG happening,” Johnson said. “I have loved every minute of designing the game, and I feel so lucky that Kobold Press is doing it. I can’t wait for players to join us on the River Bank.”

Fans can sign up for updates and be notified when the BackerKit campaign launches by visiting the official website at https://riverbankrpg.com/.

The first book, Svilland: Lost Lands of Orfhal, introduces a new region called Orfhal, described as a harsh and dangerous landscape. Players will explore a desolate area abandoned by the gods, where the Hersir of War, Sevvi, seeks to unite the tribes of Orfhal while facing the return of their former leader, Odd. The book will provide details on Orfhal’s locations, inhabitants, and history, along with over 50 new monsters inspired by Norse mythology. It will also include two new D&D 5E classes—the primal warrior Hamramr and the mystical guide Herald—as well as new archetypes and heritages for character customization.

The second book, Svilland: At the Heart of Frost, is an adventure book designed for characters ranging from level 3 to level 12. The story revolves around two rival warbands—one from Svilland and one from Orfhal—engaged in a series of conflicts. Players will experience the narrative from two distinct perspectives, allowing for multiple playthroughs before the storylines converge in a climactic finale. This structure aims to offer varied gameplay experiences for different groups.

DRS Publishing’s announcement follows their recent ENNIE Award nomination for Corpus Malicious, a supplement in their Corpus series for D&D 5E. The company is also collaborating with Hero Concept on a Svilland video game, further expanding the setting’s reach.

To support the release of Lost Lands of Orfhal and At the Heart of Frost, DRS Publishing will launch a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign on March 18th. Backers will have the opportunity to purchase the new books, as well as existing titles in the Svilland series. Those interested can sign up now for updates on the campaign.

The adventure is set in the Inn of Ill Omen, a struggling establishment facing an unusual crisis: a mysterious and overwhelming stench that is driving away customers. Players take on the role of an adventuring party tasked with uncovering the source of the odor. Their investigation leads them through dark forests, deep caves, and into the midst of a goblin cult that worships a dismembered but still-living troll.

The adventure offers multiple paths for players to resolve the situation. They may choose to confront the troll’s semi-sentient limbs, negotiate with the goblin cult, or even reassemble the troll and form an alliance. The outcome depends on the choices made by the players and the creativity of the game master.

Something Rotten is a 48-page, full-color A5 zine that includes tools and resources for both players and game masters. It features creature profiles, mechanics for handling the troll’s limbs, and tables for generating unique goblin cults. The zine also contains side quests, hidden secrets, magic items, and additional content to extend the adventure beyond the main storyline. The adventure is designed to last between two to five sessions, depending on the level of exploration and interaction pursued by the players.

The project is currently seeking funding on Kickstarter until March 5th. Backers can choose between a digital PDF version or a physical zine, with all physical copies including a free digital download. The creators have indicated that the writing and most of the illustrations are complete, with a planned release in summer 2025 if funding goals are met.

Troll in the Well, the team behind Something Rotten, is a writer-illustrator duo based in Leeds, UK. Their shared interest in quirky fantasy and TTRPGs has led to the development of this debut project, which they hope will appeal to both new and experienced players.

A new Beginner’s Guide video has been released to help players learn the game’s mechanics. Grave Trigger introduces innovative features like a dynamic movement system, diceless combat, and the ability to summon and animate living terrain. Weapons and armor also evolve during battle, adding strategic depth.

Further updates will be shared in the coming weeks, offering more insights into factions and gameplay. The March 4th launch marks the start of what promises to be an evolving game experience.

Fans of Free League Publishing’s award-winning dark fantasy RPG, Symbaroum, have reason to celebrate as two major releases hit shelves and digital platforms this week. The highly anticipated campaign book, Agrella – City of Eternal Euphoria, and the collaborative Epic Encounters: Ruins of Symbaroum sets from Steamforged Games promise to immerse players in the mysterious world of Symbaroum like never before.

Agrella – City of Eternal Euphoria: A Festival of Danger and Intrigue

Free League Publishing has unveiled Agrella – City of Eternal Euphoria, a 176-page hardcover campaign book that takes players to the vibrant and perilous city of Agrella. Written by Erik Hylander (Symbaroum: Adventure Pack 4) and co-written by debutant Marco Zamorano-Tóth, the book is brought to life with stunning illustrations by Gustaf Ekelund (Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game) and cover art by Grant Griffin.

Agrella, a city known for its eternal festivities, is on the brink of its most exciting festival season yet. However, beneath the surface of revelry lies a web of conspiracies and threats. Enemies of the Crown are secretly plotting to wreak havoc, and it’s up to adventurers to uncover the dangers before catastrophe strikes.

The book features The Outrage of Betrayed Brethren campaign, a three-part adventure series that plunges players into the chaos of Agrella’s festivals. It also includes a thorough overview of the city’s history, factions, and conflicts, designed for both players and Game Masters. A freestanding double-sided color map of the city, along with over a dozen interior maps and adventure locations, provides a vivid backdrop for gameplay. Game Masters will find a wealth of resources, including hidden conspiracies, plot hooks, and a variety of establishments for players to explore.

Agrella – City of Eternal Euphoria is available now on the Free League website, hobby stores, and digital platforms like DrivethruRPG.

Epic Encounters: Ruins of Symbaroum – A Collaboration with Steamforged Games

Free League Publishing has teamed up with Steamforged Games to bring Symbaroum to Steamforged’s acclaimed Epic Encounters series. The new sets, The Gem in the Barrow and The Corrupted Coloss combine the dark storytelling of Symbaroum with the convenience of Epic Encounters.

Designed to be compatible with both the Symbaroum system and Dungeons & Dragons 5E, these sets include miniatures, maps, and ready-to-play scenarios that capture the strange beauty of Symbaroum.

Epic Encounters: Ruins of Symbaroum is available now from the Steamforged website and other retailers.

Not everything Elon acquires turns to shit, but its not for the lack of trying as he recently announced that he is turning his popular car brand Tesla into a cab company with the launch of the Cybercab, a very small and impractical car with no stearing wheel. This was an idea he got while playing the arcade game Crazy Taxi by himself in the $35M compound he bought for his 11 kids and their mothers after watching a documentary about the Waco Siege and thinking it looked cool. Elon is the number one ranked Crazy Taxi player on his Crazy Taxi arcade machine. He is also best Diablo 4 player in the galaxy, and its definitely him playing and not a team of SpaceX interns who are paid in meme coins and ketamine.

In Hasbro’s recent Q3 earnings report, it was revealed that Dungeons & Dragons isn’t performing well. Many speculate that the brand’s future will grow even bleaker once the Baldur’s Gate 3 hype fades and the final season of Stranger Things airs next year. Both properties contributed significantly to the game’s recent boom which got off to a flying start during the pandemic, but the momentum appears to be waning. It’s surely nothing that massive layoffs and AI can’t fix, two things that both Musk and leadership at Hasbro are very fond of. “Dungeons and Dragons fans also love AI, and there has never been any backlash against the use of AI in WOTC products,” said Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks while staring me rabidly in the eyes while holding a shank he made from compressed Magic: The Gathering cards and melted Monopoly game pieces.

It remains to be seen if Chris Cocks will give up his position as CEO of Hasbro in the case of an acquisition or if there is room for two Cocks in the company.

• DriveThruRPG Free Section: DriveThruRPG offers a vast selection of free TTRPG content, from full rulebooks to adventures and supplementary materials. It’s a great starting point for expanding your library without cost.
• Itch.io Free TTRPGs: A treasure trove for indie games, Itch.io has a wide selection of free and “pay-what-you-want” TTRPGs. It’s a great place to find innovative, community-driven projects.
• D&D Basic Rules: Wizards of the Coast offers the basic rules for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition for free on their website. Combine these rules with free fan-made resources and you won’t ever have to spend money on D&D.
• Pathfinder and Starfinder System Reference Documents: The SRD (System reference documents) for Pathfinder are Starfinder are available for free. These are the rules for the game and contain everything needed to play. Many other TTRPGs also offer SRDs.
• The Dungeon Master’s Guild (Free Section): Another excellent resource for D&D players, the Dungeon Master’s Guild has a wide selection of free adventures, supplements, and maps.
• Tabletop Audio: Perfect for enhancing the atmosphere of your game, Tabletop Audio provides free background music and soundscapes for a wide variety of settings, from fantasy taverns to sci-fi space stations.
• Dungeon Map Doodler: A free, easy-to-use tool for creating dungeon maps that you can use in your own campaigns. Great for GMs who want to create unique encounters without spending money on professional map-making software.

Free Miniature Game Resources

• One Page Rules: Offering streamlined rules for many different miniatures games, One Page Rules gives you everything you need to play, with rulebooks and army lists available for free.
• Terrain Tutorials: Many creators post free tutorials on how to build your own terrain pieces for wargaming using inexpensive materials. Channels like Black Magic Craft on YouTube can guide you through creating impressive terrain.
• Infinity (Corvus Belli): Infinity is a sci-fi skirmish game by Corvus Belli, and they provide free rules and army-building tools on their website.
• Mantic Games Free Rules: Mantic Games provides free downloadable rules for several of their games, including Kings of War, Deadzone, and Warpath. They also offer free army lists and scenarios to help players get started.
• Print Your Own Miniatures (Thingiverse): For those with access to 3D printers, Thingiverse has a huge collection of free, downloadable miniature files, from fantasy characters to sci-fi vehicles. This is a great way to expand your collection without spending on official models.
• Fan-Made Army Builders (BattleScribe): BattleScribe is a free, community-driven app that provides army-building tools for many miniatures games. While it doesn’t provide the rules themselves, it makes managing and building your armies a breeze.

Free Board Game Resources

• PnPArcade: With a regularly rotating selection of free print-and-play board games, PnPArcade is a great place to find unique, fun games you can print out and play at home.
• Board Game Geek Print-and-Play: In addition to user-made content, Board Game Geek has a thriving community of designers offering free print-and-play versions of their games. You can find a wide range of games, from simple card games to complex strategy titles.
• Print-and-Play Games on Itch.io: Just like with TTRPGs, Itch.io has a growing library of free or “pay what you want” board games. Many indie designers offer their games as print-and-play, allowing you to explore unique designs at no cost.
• Print-and-Play Dice Games: There are plenty of free, printable dice games out there that you can enjoy with just a few dice and some paper. Roll and write games have become especially popular, and many designers offer free versions online.