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 starter set is built around the Tales of the Valiant universe, a high-fantasy setting that invites participants to explore a world of magic, heroism, and danger. Whether taking on the role of a legendary hero or guiding the story as the Game Master, players are encouraged to immerse themselves in tales of epic battles, daring escapes, and unexpected triumphs.

Rather than relying on the traditional 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons system, the set utilizes Kobold Press’s Black Flag Roleplaying Rules.

This starter set emphasizes making roleplaying games approachable and intuitive, focusing on teaching fundamental skills through engaging and easy-to-follow adventures.

Monster Vault 2 introduces over 300 new monsters, including various demons and undead. The book also introduces “monster bundles”, which are groups of related creatures (such as frost giants and winter wolves) designed to create balanced encounters for any tier of play.

Backers at the $29 level or higher will receive the Field Guide to Monster Harvesting, a companion volume detailing how to gather and use materials from creatures featured in Monster Vault 1 and 2. These materials can be used to enhance spells and provide benefits during gameplay. Examples include using void essence to increase a spell’s effectiveness or a unicorn horn to improve healing. Additional stretch goals will expand the guide with more materials and items.

Monster Vault 2 will be available in print, PDF, and virtual tabletop (VTT) formats. Both regular and limited editions are offered. Additionally, backers will receive an STL file to 3D print a Sporeborn monster from the original Monster Vault.

The Game Master’s Guide includes resources for creating encounters, custom monsters, artifacts, and other mechanics for both new and experienced Game Masters. It also offers a range of templates, random encounter tables, and expanded options for crafting and managing game sessions. A 10-page preview of the guide, featuring templates for undead creatures such as skeletons and dragon liches, is available for download.

In addition to the guide, Kobold Press has released a Game Master’s Map Folio, containing double-sided maps for various game scenarios. The maps are designed for tactical combat and can be used with wet-erase, dry-erase, or permanent markers.

Kobold Press also introduced an online Encounter Builder, which allows Game Masters to create custom encounters using creatures from various Kobold Press publications, including the Tome of Beasts and Monster Vault.

The Tales of the Valiant Game Master’s Guide is now available in the Kobold Press store and on DriveThruRPG.

The Labyrinth Worldbook provides a detailed setting with new options for players. It introduces new lineages and heritages, along with additional subclasses, spells, magical items, and vehicles. These elements aim to enhance existing campaigns, while the Labyrinth itself acts as a gateway to new adventures. The Labyrinth Adventures book features a series of interconnected adventures, suitable for characters from levels 1 to 8. These adventures can be played in sequence as part of a larger campaign or used independently, offering flexibility for both players and Dungeon Masters.

A notable addition to this Kickstarter campaign is the partnership with Beadle & Grimm to create a custom GM Vault. This vault includes props, maps, handouts, and a custom GM screen designed specifically for the Labyrinth. Limited edition versions of the books, including a handbound leather set, are available for collectors.

The Kickstarter campaign for Labyrinth offers additional digital support across multiple platforms, including Fantasy Grounds, Foundry, and Demiplane, making it accessible for both physical and digital play. Backers also have the opportunity to add exclusive rewards like a set of Labyrinth-themed dice and a dice tray from Fanroll Dice.

The Labyrinth Kickstarter campaign has already surpassed its funding goal, with $135,411 pledged by 1,085 backers. The campaign ends on October 23.

Baur explained that Kobold Press’s policy is straightforward: no AI-generated art or text is used in their products. This approach, which has been in place since 2022, is based on concerns about the ethics of AI tools, particularly those trained on copyrighted materials without proper consent from creators. Kobold Press believes that relying on human artists and designers is key to maintaining the quality and originality of their games.

Art director Marc Radle and the Kobold Press creative team continue to work with artists and cartographers to produce all visuals for their publications. The team values the talent and vision of these professionals and has chosen to avoid AI-generated content, ensuring that all the maps, creatures, and artwork featured in their game books are created by humans.

The company’s stance also extends to game design. Baur emphasized that the heart of tabletop roleplaying games lies in the interaction between players, game masters, and the stories they create together. Kobold Press believes that AI-generated content does not enhance this experience and instead focuses on tools that empower players and game masters to develop their own stories.

Kobold Press remains committed to producing human-generated content for their games, with no plans to incorporate AI in the future. They encourage those who support their position to sign in support of the pledge.

Initiated in January 2023, the BFRD offers a comprehensive, free resource for gamers. It includes tools and guidelines necessary for creating characters, crafting adventures, and publishing personal gaming materials.

Wolfgang Baur, founder of Kobold Press, commented on the release, saying, “We are pleased to release the BFRD to the gaming community. It represents our commitment to support the ongoing enthusiasm for 5th Edition gaming by providing a resource that enhances and expands player and creator experiences.”

The development of the BFRD was supported by extensive playtesting and community involvement, including significant crowdfunding support from Kickstarter, where over $1 million was raised.

The BFRD also serves as an introduction to the upcoming Tales of the Valiant RPG, another addition to the 5th Edition RPG lineup. This game is scheduled for a digital release on May 10, 2024, as part of the first annual KoboldCon online convention, which will include live streaming and organized play sessions.

The BFRD is currently available on the Kobold Press website, as well as on BFRD.net from RPGBOT and for download on DriveThruPRG. Information about the ORC license, which allows for the free and open use of the document, is also provided.

With a legacy spanning 17 years, Kobold Press has established itself as a significant contributor to the roleplaying community, especially noted for its third-party Dungeons & Dragons content. The company has recently expanded its portfolio with the Black Flag Roleplaying rules and the Tales of the Valiant roleplaying game. Steamforged Games, known for its Epic Encounters range and celebrating its 10th anniversary, brings a track record of producing immersive gaming experiences. The partnership focuses on expanding and enhancing the accessibility of tabletop roleplaying games.

Mat Hart, Co-founder and Creative Director at Steamforged Games, detailed the initiative’s objective to develop fundamental roleplaying skills for beginners in an intuitive manner. The collaboration aims to gradually build players’ confidence and competence, ensuring they enjoy the roleplaying experience.

Wolfgang Baur, founder and CEO of Kobold Press, expressed his company’s enthusiasm for partnering with Steamforged Games. He highlighted the starter set as an ideal way for new participants to engage with the hobby, emphasizing the ease of access and the enjoyment it aims to bring to beginners.

Details on the Tales of the Valiant Starter Set are yet to be fully disclosed, but the partnership signals a significant effort to make tabletop roleplaying more approachable for new players. For those interested in following the development of this project, updates will be available through the Steamforged newsletter.

The convention is poised to showcase a selection of Tales of the Valiant RPG projects, offering attendees a preview of what Kobold Press plans for the latter part of 2024 and potentially insights into 2025 projects, depending on the discretion of publisher Wolfgang Baur.

Kobold Con will commence with the Kobold Showcase, a live-streamed event that will introduce announcements and provide first looks at the Tales of the Valiant RPG virtual tabletop and digital offerings now available for online purchase. This initiative reflects Kobold Press’s efforts to enhance its digital presence and make its products more accessible to a wider audience.

The event will also feature the first official Tales of the Valiant online Organized Play event, spotlighting partnerships with VTT platforms like Shard, Alchemy, and Foundry. This includes the introduction of the official Valiant 6 characters, aiming to enrich the gaming experience for participants.

Kobold Press is inviting game masters and players to sign up for the event, with additional information accessible through their official Discord channel. This approach aims to foster community engagement and participation in the convention’s activities.

A notable aspect of Kobold Con will be a live stream charity actual play session to conclude the event, aimed at raising funds for the Kobold Press Gaming Scholarship. This new scholarship intends to support students entering collegiate studies in pen and paper game design, with Kobold Press matching donations throughout the event to encourage support for aspiring game designers.

Wolfgang Baur, Kobold Press’s founder and publisher, shared his enthusiasm about the convention, stating, “We are thrilled to announce Kobold Con and bring the Kobold Press community together to celebrate our upcoming projects and release schedule. We can’t wait for everyone to join us for a weekend full of discounts, partnership reveals, sneak previews, and charity fundraising.”

With the Alpha Release, RPG enthusiasts can now play Tales of the Valiant months before the full rules are officially published. Contained within a 160-page PDF, players will find all the essential rules needed to create characters and begin their adventure.

The Alpha Release features four character classes, each playable up to level 5. The game also comes loaded with equipment, spells, talents, and much more to immerse players in the rich world of Tales of the Valiant.

Kickstarter Backers will be the first to get their hands on the Alpha Release, with delivery scheduled for Monday, July 17th. Included with the Alpha Release is the introductory adventure, Caverns of the Spore Lord. Subsequently, the Alpha Release will be available for purchase and download on the Kobold Press website as well as DriveThru RPG.

As a part of the ongoing campaign, the Backer Kit will be opened to the public next week. During this pre-order process, the Alpha Release and the Caverns of the Spore Lord adventure will be available as add-ons.

Fans can also look forward to the first open playtests of Tales of the Valiant at Gen Con in three weeks, marking the game’s public debut.