This Week's TTRPG News: Play Like A King

Here’s to another week down, and another start to the weekend. Now that it’s officially Fall, we can break out the spooky sessions and horror games! The start of the pumpkin spice times also happens to coincide with Hispanic Heritage Month, and StartPlaying is celebrating by highlighting some of our wonderful Hispanic and Latinx GMs. Many of them have horror games with open seats, so check out their profiles and get the best of everything from this season! 

In TTRPG news, it was a great week for new options. A beloved recent book series is getting a game, an epic Pathfinder adventure is expanding its scope, and a new twist on Session Zero makes collaborative storytelling easier for everyone. Let’s dive in and check it all out! 

Gabe Hicks Details How Session Zero System Works

An upcoming Kickstarter by Dimension 20 GM and designer Gabe Hicks turns Session Zero into a game in and of itself. A TTRPG Session Zero can take many forms, but usually it involves players and GMs discussing details of the world, how character backstories fit in, and which safety tools most benefit the game. The Session Zero System will use tarot-style cards and rollable tables to make these decisions the result of branching prompts and the will of the dice/cards.

Hicks went more into detail on a Twitter thread, showing how NPC bonds can be fleshed out with card draws. The results can also give the players ideas on how their characters know one another before the adventure begins. 

Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archives To Get TTRPG In 2024

Stormlight Role Playing Game is the tentative name of a newly-announced TTRPG based on Brandon Sanderson’s hit Stormlight Archive novels. Stormlight will be produced by Brotherwise games, but no word was given on how the system will work. The announcement was made during one of Sanderon’s YouTube livestreams. With the tentative 2024 release still a ways away, the only other bit revealed is that crowdfunding for the game might be used in 2023. There will also be a miniatures line based on the characters of Stormlight Archives. 

You Can Now Pre-Order Pathfinder 2E Kingmaker

One of the most well-known Pathfinder Adventure Paths of all time is back and bigger than ever. The Kingmaker Adventure path is being re-released with a full suite of products that contain every map, figure, and subsystem you could possibly want. Kingmaker sees the party building a kingdom from the ground up in an epically sandbox campaign. This rerelease is designed to fit with Pathfinder 2E and will incorporate characters and quests from the Kingmaker video game to create something even more expansive than the original. 

If that wasn’t enough, there will also be separate Bestiaries that enable the GM to run this updated Kingmaker for Pathfinder 1E or D&D 5E. Getting every product will cost a pretty penny, but those who do invest can supplement their games with layered NPC companions from the video game, a Kingdom Tracker, and more. The Paizo announcement for pre-orders contains all the details on the separate products, pricing, and release dates. 

Ironsworn: Starforged Partners With Modiphius For Hardcover Release

Coming off of a highly-successful Kickstarter and multiple awards, Ironsworn: Starforged is finally getting a physical retail release. The game made a big impression with its solo play and co-op rules that allow you to play without a GM. Seeing the potential demand for Ironsworn: Starforged in larger markets, Modiphius announced that it is working with designer Shawn Tomkin to create a hardcover rulebook. The physical release will also include a wire-bound reference guide and character asset cards. 

As always, if you’re looking to get into a game this weekend, StartPlaying has plenty of open slots in a variety of systems and genres!