Realm of Ink is an action roguelike coming to PC and consoles this year. The game features a unique brushed artwork, a neat isometric design, and promising gameplay. The art is what initially drew me to this game, but the story has me interested.
Red discovers she is a fictional character within the Realm of Ink short story collection. She must now travel through the depths of her story to discover the truth of her existence. Is her fate prewritten by some faceless author, or does she have the power and free will to write her own?
I am curious to see how Red’s story pans out. Players will also get to play as other characters as they are unlocked, and I am a huge fan of the spoiled character designs. I did get an early copy of the demo and will be posting my impressions as soon as the embargo is lifted. Until then, I recommend you watch the trailer and add Realm of Ink to your Wishlist.
The Final Shapereleases on June 4th, so I’ve started the grind in preparation. Full disclosure, I was sent the expansion for free to cover for my blog when the expansion on release.
It’s been a long time since I last played Destiny, so I’ve been slowly figuring out the type of content I enjoy. The Dawning event was very helpful in getting me to stick with the game because it gave me something to work towards. I ended the event reaching the soft cap with a few nifty exotics, and a couple of seasonal items.
I’ve mostly been making my way through the story, but I was losing interest. Thankfully, this week is Iron Banner and it forced me to play PvP. Destiny 2 PvP isn’t the greatest experience, but I appreciate the break it’s giving me. It also gives me something else to work towards while I figure out my long-term goals for the game.
Iron Banner will run until the 9th, so make sure you boot up Destiny this weekend and start doing the grind. There are a few rewards you’re going to want to chase, but you’re also going to be showered with loot. Make sure you talk to Lord Saladin at the tower to start the quest and pick up your rewards.
I’ve been following Drakantos‘ development closely for a while now because I can see the promise. Drakantos is a cute pixel art MMO that is very reminiscent of the classic era of the genre, but this time on mobile devices. I’ve written about it before, so I won’t get into too much detail.
The December Dev log just released, and while the month was short, there was a lot to be excited about. I’ll be summarizing it here, but make sure you go check out the official post, join the Discord, and add Drakantos to your wishlist.
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New Hero Teased!
The most exciting news from the dev log is the announcement of a 21st hero. The Devs are currently working on the last hero, but the identity remains a mystery. I’m hoping it’s another mage, but we’re going to have to wait for the official announcement.
Faendar’s Trailer
We also got a gameplay trailer for Faendar, and the gameplay looks sick! If you like playing Druids, you are going to want to main Faedar.
He can transform into animals, summon walls of vines for control, and summon trees to fight for him! They did a great job with the flavor of this hero, and he is going to be crazy in PvP. We also got some backstory.
The devs have finished the work on Ojore. Ojere gives me tanky earth bender vibes, and I love it. I am not a huge tank fan, but I am open to it. We got few animations teased to get you excited!
Artifacts
Drakantos will have an interesting Artifact system. Artifacts are equipable items that give players passive and active abilities across their heroes. This month they finished their active artifacts, leaving players the option of 160 new active abilities on top of a hero’s kit. I am very excited to see how this works in action and hope to see some of them teased next month.
Mount Animation
All 20 heroes now have their mount animation, and I appreciate all the detail put into it.
Conclusion
The game has made some promising progress. They’ve added new pets, locations and abilities. I just hope we can get a beta soon. Until then, I’ll be following it closely.
Back in November, Bandai released an odd and cryptic teaser about an upcoming project hitting the Digimon TCG.
Some fans were hopeful it was an announcement for an online client, while others threw around terms like NFTs. I thought it was going to be an anime or short because of the new characters featured in the trailer. There has been a lot of speculation since then, and today we got an official announcement.
Bandai has announced the Digimon Liberator web comic for next year. We didn’t get much information outside the trailer, some character design, and an official website, but there will be another update in January. I can only presume the manga is about kids playing the Digimon TCG.
Fans who were expecting an online client were rightfully disappointed. People who have no interest in lore or these online free projects share in this disappointment. I feel bad for the folks who stayed up late or woke up early to catch the announcement live to receive news that wasn’t worth the sleep deprivation.
I am a little disappointed that it won’t be an animated series, but I’ll take another Digimon story in whatever form I can get it. After Pokémon: Path to the Peak, I am hopeful for a good story about playing the Digimon. The art is cool, and it might get adapted if it does well. I just hope that this gets a proper English translation.
We also got an announcement for the 25th Digimoncon happening in 2024. I’ll be covering both the event and the update on the web comic. Stay tuned for that. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee!
Our friends over at Free League Publishing have partnered with Titan Forge and MyMiniFactory to release a series of high-quality miniatures for their fantasy tabletop RPG, Dragonbane. If you have access to a 3D printer and need a way to spruce up your next adventure, you’re going to want to subscribe to The Adventure.
The Adventureis a subscription service by MyMiniFactory that offers players high-quality miniatures from the Fantasy TTRPG Dragonbane. Subscribers will get the STL files for the five pre-generated characters from the core rulebook’s prewritten adventure, and one printable monster or enemy file every month. The Makander mini alone should be enough to move this subscription.
Subscribers also get 10% off a purchase of Dragonbane content from the Free League Publishing store, 10% off other MyMiniFactory purchases or subscriptions, and story teasers for Dragonbane. The subscription is $9.99 a month, or you can pay for the whole year in advance for $89.88 ($30 savings). If you’re in the market for officially licensed minis, The Adventure is definitely worth looking into.
What is Dragonbane?
I recommend you check out the quick start guide before you buy anything. It gives players and DMs a nice taste of what to expect from the full version, and it’s free. I’ve written a post about my experience running the Quick Start guide for those interested.
If you’re ready to buy into this system, there are a few options. If you play online, you’re going to want the PDF. It’s searchable, and the most cost-effective way to get started. You can pick it up on DrivethruRPG for $24.99.
Now if you’re playing on a VTT, I always recommend Foundry VTT. I am not an affiliate. It’s just what I’ve been using, and I love it. I’ve written a post about why. You can pick up the official module for $27.87 and it has everything you need to get started. You don’t have to use the module to play on Foundry, but it makes things easier. Check out my previous post where if you want more details.
If you want to play in person, all you need is the core rulebook, some dice, and a pencil. You can pick up the core rulebook for $43.70 on the official website. Now there are other special items to spruce up your games like special edition books, the core set, and dice available, but that depends on how much you want to invest in the game. I’ve been having fun, I recommend you check it out as well.
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The folks at Alchemy RPG are hosting a free seminar to help onboard new players to the horror mystery RPG, Vaesen. This event is done in partnership with StartPlaying Games. StartPlaying games connect players to professional game masters. If you’re looking to join a game, or want to make some extra money DMing, check out the official website. The onboarding event is being held in preparation for January where they will be pushing Vaesen games on the platform.
These workshops give the perfect preview for the Alchemy VTT platform as well as the game of Vaesen, so make sure you sign up while there are seats available.
DATE
TIME
12/27/2023
6 AM
12/28/2023
10 AM
1/2/2024
2 PM
I woke up early to make the meeting, and have no regrets. The presentation is clear and concise, the presenters are friendly and helpful, and you get hands-on experience with the platform for free. It takes about an hour, but it goes by too quickly. They also stick around to answer any questions you might have about Alchemy VTT or running Vaesen. Make sure you sign up today! You will need an Alchemy account to follow along.
What Is Alchemy VTT
Alchemy VTT is a virtual tabletop that focuses on Theater of the Mind. Modules provide game masters with a simple and quick way to create and prepare a beautiful gaming experience. The platform boasts an expansive marketplace full of content that is sure to elevate your game to the next level. Partnerships with different publishers and creators help establish a special catered experience for whatever RPG you choose to run. You will need to purchase the content to play, but the quality is worth it.
Modules you purchase will include everything you need to play a game from special animated scenes for backgrounds, the notes and NPC’s to run prewritten adventures, and music and sounds to set the mood. Everything is easy to set up in Alchemy, but there are helpful guides available when you need them. The platform can also handle automated combat, skill checks, and everything else you need from a virtual table top. Some neat streaming features will go live in the upcoming weeks, so stay tuned for that.
The Vaesen module is clean, easy to read, and brings the game to life. I love the art for this RPG, and what they’ve done for some of the scenes is truly breathtaking. The module comes with a copy of the core rule book, everything you need to run the prewritten adventures, and the sounds, scenes, and music you need to enhance your games. The module is still in beta, but I was impressed with what I got to see.
Vaesen is a horror mystery TTRPG that has players solve mysteries as they hunt for Vaesen. Vaesen is creatures from Scandinavian folklore that only a few people can see. They used to be peaceful, but time has made them unpredictable and now wreak havoc on humanity. It is up to a select few to hunt them down and stop them from doing evil.
The system is a bit roleplay-reliant, so keep in mind that the focus will be on the story you create rather than the combat. That said, the flavor is amazing, and the book is full of rich and fascinating lore. I flipped through the book and spent most of my time reading about different folk creatures. The art is fantastic, but I’ll need more time with the system before I can write more about it. If you want to run a ghost-busting game with a unique flavor set in 19th-century Scandinavia, pick up a copy of the Vaesen Core Rulebook.
You can pick up the core book from the official Free League Publishing website ($52.91 + shipping). You also get access to the PDF so you won’t have to wait to get started. The core book is also available on Amazon ($64 book only) and DrivethruRPG ($24.99 pdf only).
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The team at Alchemy VTTis holding 1-hour workshops to teach players how to play Vaesen. Alchemy VTT aims to create an immersive experience that is easy to use and even easier to stream to your favorite platform. With features like integrated video chat, automated NPCs, and animated spells and effects, Alchemy VTT is sure to be a spectacular hit at some tables. You will need to buy your content and pay a subscription for added features, but it might be worth it for the experience it provides.
The seminar will feature the official Vaesen module for Alchemy VTT. The team will go over how to get started with game and character creation, and showing off some of the immersive gameplay Alchemy is capable of. If you are interested in checking out Vaesen or Alchemy VTT, make sure you sign up for one of the available time slots. (As of writing this)
DATE
TIME
12/27/2023
6 AM
12/28/2023
10 AM
1/2/2024
2 PM
I was sent a book to review before this announcement, so I’ll be joining the seminar for the free overview. I also don’t mind looking into a new VTT. The trailer made it look like such a neat experience, especially with all the integrated features.
The event is free to join, all you need is an Alchemy VTT account and you must join the official discord. It is really cool to see a VTT work closely with developers to not only create a catered experience for their players, but to also onboard new ones. So if you have an hour to spare and want to check out a new game, make sure you check out the seminar! Seats are filling up fast!
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What is Vaesen
In dark forests, beyond the mountains, by black lakes in hidden groves. At your doorstep. In the shadows, something stirs. Strange beings. Twisted creatures, lurking at the edge of vision. Watching. Waiting. Unseen by most, but not by you. You see them for what they really are. Vaesen.
Welcome to the Mythic North – northern Europe of the nineteenth century, but not as we know it today. A land where the myths are real. A cold reach covered by vast forests, its few cities lonely beacons of industry and enlightenment – a new civilization dawning. But in the countryside, the old ways still hold sway. There, people know what lurks in the dark.
They know to fear it.
– From the Free League Publishing website
Vaesen is a horror RPG where players solve supernatural mysteries. The art is beautiful, and the flavor is fantastic. I’ll need to run a few games in the system to judge it even further, but it has my attention. The core book will have everything you need to get started, like the rules, pre-generated characters, and a prewritten mystery. If Vaesen appeals to you, make some time to join in on the seminar.
Where to Buy
You can pick up the core book from the official Free League Publishing website ($52.91 + shipping). You also get access to the PDF so you won’t have to wait to get started. The core book is also available on Amazon ($64 book only) and DrivethruRPG ($24.99 pdf only).
The Core Rule book includes:
Ten ready to use archetypes let you create a character in minutes – or use the included life path tables and let the dice decide.
Quick and flavorful rules for combat, investigations and horror.
Rules for developing the player characters’ headquarters during campaign play.
A detailed gazetteer of the Mythic North setting and the town of Upsala.
A score of bloodcurdling vaesen to encounter, all beautifully illustrated by Johan Egerkrans.
An introductory Mystery called The Dance of Dreams.
The Final Shape releases on June 4th. I was sent a copy to cover the release. I haven’t played in a while, so I’ll be taking time to gear up and get ready for the expansion. With the Giving event and trying to regain my bearings, it’s going to be a busy week. Those of you thinking of hopping onto Destiny make sure you head over to Epic Games and grab the Legacy Collection. The collection is free until December 20 and includes The Witch Queen, Beyond Light, and Shadowkeep DLCs. That should be enough to keep you busy until the summer. If you have Destiny 2 on Steam, the DLC doesn’t carry over. You’ll have to play the Legacy Collection on Epic Games.
I am going to have to keep a calendar. With how much I need to catch up on, it is a bit of a daunting task. At the moment, I am working on collecting the Dawning Event while I go through the bits of the story I haven’t finished, and work on the Season Pass. The Season of the Wish just kicked off which means new rewards and cosmetics, but most importantly, a new raid and weapon. I am nowhere near ready for that yet, but I can still appreciate how cool the Wish Keeper looks.
I mean this bow looks sick, and the effects look like the best time! To obtain the Wish Keeper, Guardian’s must complete the newest Dungeon, Warlord’s Ruin. Guardian’s will travel to the Black Garden and uncover the remains of an ancient Ahamkara. The Raid is up, the bow is live, and there are already a ton of tutorials to get you ready! Go join a fire team and go get that bow!
Free League Publishing releases their Building Better Worldsmodule for their award-winning Alien: The Roleplaying Game on January 16th. You can preorder your copy of Building Better Worlds ($46.03) from the official shop today.
Build Better Worlds is the RPG’s second story module. It promises a new action pact adventure as players explore uncharted loss worlds and face never-before-seen Xenomorphic creatures. The module introduces new gear, ships, and character options to freshen up your next campaign.
Building Better Worlds is only an expansion. You’ll need to core the rule book in either physical or digital format to play the game. Keep in mind that buying any of the physical copies gives you instant access to the PDF version. You can pick up copies of the Core Rulebook ($54.70), Starter Set ($51.81), or any other expansions on the official Free League Publishing website.
I got an early copy of the book, and it looks amazing. I am always amazed at how full of authentic flavor these movie-themed games always turn out to be. I haven’t had a chance to play this game but will review it as soon as I can. Probably after all my Dragonbane content. Until then, if you’re a fan of the Alien franchise, or simply looking for a horror RPG to bring to your table, you should definitely look into Alien: The Roleplaying Game. Don’t forget to preorder your copy of Building Better Worldswhile you’re at it.
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The holidays have officially arrived on Aeos Island. Beginning December 7th, players can log into Pokémon Unite for some much-needed holiday cheer. This marks the return of the Snow Battle game mode, which is the only reason I’m logging back in. There are a few other events that you aren’t going to want to miss. Check out the schedule for all the details.
Meowscarada
Meowscarada is the first Paldean Pokémon to appear in Pokémon Unite, and it’s going to be a beast. Just check out that ability:
Meowscarada’s Ability, Overgrow, allows it to vanish into leaves for a short period of time after its max HP is reduced to half or less. Once triggered, Meowscarada’s movement speed and damage dealt increase for a short while, and it can even recover HP during this time by dealing damage to an opposing Pokémon.
You can pick up Meowscarada’s license through the special event happening from December 7th to January 9th. Players can complete missions to earn petals to unlock the license. You’ll need 100 pedals of the four colors to unlock Meowscarada.
Metagross
Metagross will be landing on Aeos Island on December 26th. There is no news on how we can unlock Metagross (probably with money), but we can still be excited. This is good news for those of you out there that like to play those tanky Pokémon.
I just wanted to highlight the bits I am most excited for, you can learn more in app when the events go live. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. Happy Holidays!
