Exclusive: Chris Pine Calls 'Dungeons & Dragons' Movie a Mix of ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Princess Bride’

 

Every Dungeons & Dragons player knows that a good adventure must have its fair share of thrills, surprises, and good laughs. And according to star Chris Pine, that’s exactly what we are getting in Paramount’s upcoming film adaptation of the beloved RPG franchise. During an exclusive interview for All the Old Knives with Collider's Steve Weintraub, Pine talked about what fans can expect from the highly-anticipated film, revealing the unexpected influences that directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein are using in their take on the franchise.

Starring top-class Hollywood adventurers such as Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Justice Smith, Sophia Lillis, and Regé-Jean Page, the new Dungeons & Dragons film is sparing no expense to bring the beloved RPG franchise back to the big screen. As it should, since the Dungeons & Dragons adaptation starring Jeremy Irons, Marlon Wayans, and Thora Birch was a complete flop, despised by critics, the audience, and players alike. When asked if he could give some more details about the new adaptation, Pine did his best to keep the movie’s plot a secret. The star, however, revealed some exciting details about the film’s tone. In Pine’s words:

“Oh man. Well, what I will say is we had a hell of a fun time making it. There was a lot of laughs. The way that I've been describing it, it's like Game of Thrones mixed with a little Princess Bride, just a smidge of Holy Grail; it's somewhere in that ballpark. It's a lot of fun. It's got a lot of thrills. It's poppy, it's eighties heartfelt, there's a bit of Goonies in there. My character, he's the ultimate party planner. I think it's going to be really good. I mean, who fucking knows, but I think we got a good shot and John and John are killer guys. They know comedy and they know heart and we had a great cast and we had a good time making it. And that's all you can ask for.”

It makes sense for the new Dungeons & Dragons to be inspired by The Goonies. The tabletop RPG was first published in 1974 but had its biggest boom in the 1980s. So it’s no wonder productions set in that decade, such as Stranger Things, tend to use the game to reproduce the period’s trends correctly. It’s also somewhat expected that the new film has drawn some inspiration from Game of Thrones, as the dragons are the true A-listers of the cast. Besides that, a good Dungeons & Dragons campaign always features distant kingdoms, wars, betrayals, and everything in between.

Now, the reference to Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a little surprising. Even though the British comedy group’s film is a classic medieval adventure, Holy Grail is also a collection of sketches using the absurdity of King Arthur’s journey to make the audience laugh. We were not expecting the new Dungeons & Dragons film to be a comedy. However, if you want to make jokes, you can’t go wrong by mimicking Monty Python. Finally, there’s the Princess Bride inspiration. And that one is wacky! We are unsure how the Dungeons & Dragons film will mix romantic comedy, family-friendly adventure, and epic war drama. But we are indeed intrigued to see the result of this bold multiclass project.

Dungeons & Dragons is set to premiere on March 3, 2023

LIVE YOUR LEGEND IN 'BARDSUNG'

 

New Dungeon Explorer from Steamforged Games

The players' journey begins with a single tile.  From there, they build a branching, labyrinthine dungeon of dangerous enemies, wandering monsters, challenging puzzles, and valuable treasure.

Today, we'll be catching up with Steamforged's Lead Designer, Sherwin Matthews, to learn more about Bardsung, and the long journey that led to its creation.

Hey Sherwin!  Tell us about yourself and the inspiration behind Bardsung: Legend of the Ancient Forge?
My name is Sherwin Matthews, and I worked with Mat Hart, Richard August, and Fraser McFetridge to design and bring Bardsung: Legend of the Ancient Forge to life.

Bardsung is something we’ve wanted to create for a long time: an idea that bubbled away in the background over the years as we worked on other projects.  Our inspirations would probably be too many to mention.

We wanted to not only celebrate the old games we enjoyed when we were first discovering tabletop games, such as the Fighting Fantasy choose-your-own-adventure books, and tabletop games like HeroQuest, Key to the Kingdom, and Dark World, but also our shared love for roleplaying games and the universes they create.  Then we added a sprinkle of tabletop miniature game mechanics to really polish off the experience with exciting and impactful gameplay.

Bardsung is exactly what you might expect from such a heady mix.  A tabletop game with deep gameplay where players explore sprawling dungeons in search of fortune and glory, and an immersive story that offers meaningful decisions that will shape the course of the campaign and evolve the game.

Bardsung: Legend of the Ancient Forge is packed with hours of gameplay and miniatures.  What are you most excited for players to experience?
This is a really tough question — there’s so much for people to enjoy!  I think for me it’s definitely the story.  Not just the main narrative, but all of the smaller side quests and interactions.

Bardsung’s scope is massive.  There are four different endings and over thirty separate locations to explore in the core game alone.  And because the game evolves based on player decisions, each playthrough will be completely unique, with the players encountering different characters, enemies, events, and locations each time.

If players want to see every enemy and location, they’ll have to play through the campaign several times over.  Each time they do, they’ll learn something new about the Ancient Forge and Bardsung world.  There are a lot of easter eggs and hidden narratives in there to find!

What do you recommend for players picking up their first big box game like Bardsung?
I think my best advice would be to just buckle up and enjoy the ride.  Bardsung and other games like it are best enjoyed as a journey, where the players can lose themselves in immersive worlds and tell the stories of their characters.

That journey begins from the moment you open the box and read the cover sheet, then builds as you attempt your first encounters and the narrative text sinks its hooks into you - and doesn’t let go until the final dice lands, and the final word is read aloud.

There’s a real magic and sense of reward with that type of experience — it’s what keeps players coming back to their favorite games and the genre, time and time again.  I’ll admit that I’m actually envious that I don’t get to experience Bardsung myself for the first time!

​During playtesting, do you have a favorite memory or moment that stood out for you?
Phew — there are a lot that come to mind!  I think it might have to be some of the interactions we had when we were creating the heroes.

Each hero in Bardsung belongs to a set path, which is like a martial discipline, or a class in a traditional roleplaying game.  This informs the type of gameplay they specialize in, and helps focus players who might not be too familiar with how to build a character.

But one of the most exciting parts of Bardsung’s experience system is that characters are free to develop skills from any path they want, giving players complete freedom to customize their character how they see fit.

For a while during playtesting, we didn’t share this with the external groups, while we were getting the core abilities locked — and then, when we were ready, we dropped the bomb and told our testers that they didn’t have to stay on path when levelling up.

The emails and gameplay experiences we received immediately after that update were quite the sight to see, I assure you!

What can you tell us about working with guest authors?  How was it bringing their ideas and stories into the game?
Working with our guest designers was a privilege — they’re all extremely talented people, and each brought a wealth of different ideas and experience to the table.  Adapting their concepts to Bardsung’s game engine was very enjoyable, and never once felt like a challenge; partly because of the flexibility of the engine, but also because each guest designer was so versatile.

I think our audience is going to have a lot of fun exploring the universes that we’ve created together. Each adventure really feels like it captures the essence and presence the guest designer is known for, and will be a completely unique experience!

What can players expect for the future of Bardsung?
Bardsung: Legend of the Ancient Forge is only the first entry in the Bardsung series.  It establishes the world and its inhabitants, and teaches the players a little about its cultures and history, but there’s so much more to discover.

Like any good series, we’re extremely excited about building on these foundations and exploring this universe some more.

Players should definitely be looking forward to where our path leads us next, meeting new heroes and villains, and finding out more about not only the setting’s ancient world and history, but also how the new world is emerging and changing around their characters…

Inspire the songs.  Live your legend.  Become Bardsung.

CORVUS BELLI ANNOUNCES 'WARCROW'

 

CORVUS BELLI ANNOUNCES 'WARCROW'

Corvus Belli announced Warcrow, a new fantasy miniatures game line, which will feature a two product types coming out starting in Fall 2022.

Warcrow is a fantasy universe that has different nations that must decide what part they will play in shaping the world. It is a new IP and will have its own background and rules. Thus far, Corvus Belli has announced two product types: Warcrow Adventures and Warcrow Wargame. Warcrow Adventures is a dungeon crawler and Warcrow Wargame is a miniatures battle game that will premiere at Gen Con 2023.

Corvus Belli also recently announced Infinity: Raveneye, a new rulebook book for Infinity miniatures game (see "'Infinity: Raveneye'").

ASMODEE WILL RELEASE 'AZUL: QUEEN'S GARDEN'

 

Asmodee will release Azul: Queen's Garden, a new board game, into U.S. retail on April 15, 2022.

In Azul: Queen's Garden, players are headed back to the palace of Sintra. King Manuel I has commissioned the construction of an extraordinary garden for his wife, Queen Maria of Aragon, and the players must be up to the challenge of arranging plants, trees, and ornamental features. This is another game in the Azul series (see "'Azul: Stained Glass of Sintra'") that features its unique drafting mechanics. The player with the best garden will win the Queen's blessing at the end of the game.

The game box contains 4 Garden boards, 4 Storages, 4 Fountains, a scoring board, a rotary wheel, rotary wheel center parts, a screwable pin, an evaluation marker, 4 scoring markers, 108 colored tiles, 24 joker tiles, a first player tile, 36 Garden expansions, a Shield token, a Tower, and 8 points tokens. This game is for two to four players, ages 10 and up, and plays in 45-60 minutes. It will retail for $44.99.

WIZARDS OF THE COAST REVEALS NEW ANTHOLOGY OF STANDALONE 'D&D' ADVENTURES

 

Wizards of the Coast revealed Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel, a new anthology of standalone D&D adventures, for release on June 21, 2022.

Journeys through the Radiant Citadel features 13 short, stand-alone D&D adventures for character of level 1 through 14. The adventures all tie-in to the Radiant Citadel, a magical city on the Ethereal Plane. This book also debuts 11 new monsters, and can be run as part of a larger campaign in the D&D multiverse.

This hardcover book will retail for $49.95.

WotC also recently released D&D Critical Role: Call of the Netherdeep campaign book (see "'Critical Role' Campaign").

WIZKIDS UNVEILS NEW FOUR FANTASY 'DEEP CUTS' MINIATURES PACKS

 

WizKids unveiled four new fantasy Deep Cuts miniatures packs for release into retail in July 2022.

This latest wave of WizKids Deep Cuts packs feature staple figures for fantasy encounters such as skeletons and zombies. These packs come with highly detailed figures that are primed and ready to paint. As usual, the miniatures in these packs include deep cuts for easier painting, and are packaged in a clear and visible display format.

The packs in this wave include:

• WizKids Deep Cuts: Zombies (MSRP $4.99)
• WizKids Deep Cuts: Skeletons (MSRP $4.99)
• WizKids Deep Cuts: Giant Spider (MSRP $8.99)
• WizKids Deep Cuts: Rowboat & Oars (MSRP $14.99)

WizKids also unveiled D&D: Daern's Instant Fortress Table-Sized Replica for release into retail in July 2022 (see "'D&D: Daern's Instant Fortress Table-Sized Replica'").

PENDRAGON GAME STUDIO UNVEILS 'ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK'

 

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Pendragon Game Studio unveiled Escape From New York, a new board game based on the John Carpenter cult film, which will be released pending a successful crowdfunding campaign.

Pendragon Game Studio is back at it again with a brand-new Carpenter movie turned board game, after their success with The Thing (see "'The Thing - The Boardgame' Kickstarter"). This time, Snake Plissken is on the scene and looking to rescue the President from the perilous prison city of New York. The game features some of the classic characters, including Snake, "Brain," Maggie, and Ernest Borgnine's loveable Cabbie character. The goal of the game is to beat the clock and return the President and his tape to safety.

The crowdfunding campaign for this game will kick off in Q4 2022.

Preview do Jogo de Tabuleiro da Funko REAR WINDOW - JANELA INDISCRETA

 

Rear Window Board Game
Publisher: Funko Games
Release Date: Summer 2022
MSRP: $34.99
Format: Boxed game with board and cards
Number of Players: 3-5
Playing Time: 40-mins.
Item #: 60501
UPC: 889698605014
Age Rating: 13+

Publisher Description.  Experience Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Rear Window in this game of deduction and suspense. Carefully observe strange clues and ominous patterns in the things going on in the apartments across the way. There are parties, knives, a saw, bickering, laughing, music... and a mysterious trunk. Do you detect a murder? Or is the secret, private world of the neighbors planting frightening ideas in your mind?

The compelling gameplay brings Hitchcock's classic movie to life using cooperative deduction and decision-making.  Featuring beautiful illustrations and design, the game transports players to the era of 1950s murder mysteries with packaging featuring eye-catching likenesses of Hollywood legends Jimmy Stewart (as L.B. "Jeff" Jeffries) and Grace Kelly (as Lisa Carol Fremont).

#jogosdetabuleiro

#boardgames

#cinema

#movies

#classicos

#classics

#rearwindow

#janelaindiscreta

BRAND-NEW WAVE OF 'MONSTERPOCALYPSE' UNITS INCOMING

 

Privateer Press will release another wave of Monsterpocalypse miniatures into retail in June 2022.

There will be two First Guardians miniatures packs released in this wave: Warden of Teocali and Gargoyle Monoliths and Temple Monoliths. The Warden of Teocali is a monster that focuses on Support and Positioning, and is used to hold board positions. Gargoyle Monoliths and Temple Monoliths are used primarily for defense and fortify buildings they are assigned to protect. The Warden of Teocali pack will retail for $32.99 and Gargoyle Monoliths and Temple Monoliths will retail for $22.99.

The other two miniatures packs in this wave revolve around Ancient Ones forces. God of Vemana uses  her primordial energy to Transmute foes into her minions. Shambler and Bramble Hunters are units that are focused on Recursion and Support. Shamblers move across the front lines as fodder and can morph in Savage Growth if not dealt with. Bramble Hunters stalk their prey in order to rain a shower of thorns upon them. God of Vemana pack will retail for $32.99 and Shambler and Bramble Hunters pack will retail for $22.99.

Privateer Press also revealed four new Monsterpocalypse miniatures sets for release into retail in May 2022 (see "'Monsterpocalypse' Miniatures Sets").

CATAN STUDIOS TEASES 'DAWN OF HUMANKIND'

 

CATAN Studios teased Dawn of Humankind, a new CATAN board game, for release in 2022.

This new title sends CATAN back to prehistoric times, similar to Settlers of the Stone Age, which won a Gamer's Choice Award at Origins 2003 for Best Historical Board Game (see "2003"). In this new game, players will explore the human family tree, starting from its roots in Africa and then, expanding throughout the world. Thus far, there has been no word on MSRP for this game.

WIZKIDS UNVEILS 'MARVEL: REMIX'

 

WizKids unveiled Marvel: Remix, a new card game by Bruce Glassco, for release into retail in July 2022.

In Marvel: Remix, players build a team of heroes and allies to take on infamous villains. They are dealt a hand of seven cards that will contain characters, items, or locations from throughout the Marvel Universe. Then, players go about can arming their characters with powerful equipment or maneuvers and use their cards to pull off epic combos. The player that has the most points at the end of the game wins.

The game box comes with 61 Remix cards, 18 Villain cards, a score pad, and a rulebook. This game is for two to six players, ages 12 and up, and plays in 20 minutes. It will retail for $19.99.

WizKids will also release a Marvel HeroClix: X-Men X of Swords set in June (see "'X-Swords' Set").

RENEGADE ANNOUNCES 'HUNTER: THE RECKONING CORE RULEBOOK'

 

Renegade Game Studios announced Hunter: The Reckoning Core Rulebook, a new RPG core book for the World of Darkness, which will release in Q2 2022.

Hunter: The Reckoning Core Rulebook allows players to become hunters and other humans looking to smite the vampire scourge. It explores the role mortals in the World of Darkness and the supernatural threats they encounter. The book has everything players need to create a character and play a few sessions or create a campaign. Hunter: The Reckoning Core Rulebook will retail for $55.00.

Alongside the new core rulebook, Renegade will also release a Hunter: The Reckoning  Dice Set and Hunter: The Reckoning Character Journal. The dice set come with 10 custom orange d10's and 5 custom black Desperation dice, and will retail for $20.00. Hunter: The Reckoning Character Journal is a hardcover, foil-stamped book with character-building prompts, history pages, and an expanded character sheet. It will retail for $21.99.

Renegade Game Studios also recently announced Shadows & Shrouds, a new expansion for the Vampire: The Masquerade - Rivals Expandable Card Game (see "'Shadows & Shrouds'").

OGRE WARBAND' PLUNDERS 'D&D ICONS OF THE REALM'

 

WizKids will release D&D Icons of the Realms: Ogre Warband miniatures set into retail in June 2022.

This set is part of WizKids' latest fantasy miniatures series, Monster Warbands. The Ogre Warband contains four staple Ogre figures for adventurers to battle in encounters.  It comes in non-blind packaging, and the miniatures are pre-painted. The box comes with an Ogre, an Ogre Female with Javelin, an Ogre Female with Axe, and an Ogre Howdah.

It will retail for $64.99.

WizKids will also release Pathfinder Battles: Rusty Dragon Inn Box Set, a new miniatures collectors box (see "Rusty Dragon Inn Box Set").

Novos Títulos do Jogo de Tabuleiro Unmatched da Restoration Games

 Lançamento em Breve de 2 novos Titulos da Série Unmatched da Restoration Games.

Esta série de Jogos Unmatched tem ganhado grande destaque pela qualidade e jogabilidade.

Confira mais novidades no nosso site!

www.giantheroes.com.br

Unmatched Battle Breaks Out on the Raft!

Unmatched is the critically acclaimed, best-selling game of tactical combat between unlikely opponents. Redemption Row brings three of Marvel’s most tortured heroes into the arena. Moon Knight, Luke Cage, and Ghost Rider.

• Moon Knight shifts through three identities, leveraging the power of each.
• Ghost Rider channels Hellfire to further fuel his deck.
• When you come at Luke Cage, you best pack a punch if you hope to get through his titanium-like skin.

Unmatched Battle Breaks Out in Hell’s Kitchen!

Unmatched is the critically acclaimed, best-selling game of tactical combat between unlikely opponents. This time, it’s a classic, all-out brawl in Hell’s Kitchen featuring Daredevil, Bullseye, and Elektra.

• Daredevil is at his strongest when he pushes himself to the brink of exhaustion.
• Bullseye unleashes deadly strikes from anywhere on the board.
• Strike down Elektra, and she returns more powerful than ever.

Arcane Tinmen Lança Acessórios do filme THE BATMAN

 

Impactful 'The Batman' black & red artwork on the back of black matte sleeves with an ultra-clear front. Black frame around the artwork and black interior inside the sleeve, making these sleeves look excellent with black bordered cards!

The Batman licensed art sleeves are made with the same quality as Dragon Shield, which means the art is printed directly on the sleeve and doesn't peel or split. The matte texured back ensures an incredible shuffle feel.

The sturdy cardboard box fits 75+ single sleeved cards or 65+ double sleeved cards.

Every box has a label at the top of the box for personalization.An impactful playmat featuring 'The Batman' movie logo.

The Batman licensed art playmats provide an excellent playing surface while protecting your cards from unwanted scuffs. Each playmat has a soft fabric surface and a black rubber non-slip back. The edges are rounded and stitched for an elegant finish which prevents fraying. The included circular tube is perfect for transporting the playmat. Playmats also make excellent oversized mousepads.

Impactful 'The Batman' red & black artwork on a black Card Codex Zipster Binder.

The Batman licensed art Zipster Binder. For the collectors; a Zipster binder that can hold both pocket pages and A4 pages. The binder features a soft, padded cover with a zipper closure, making sure your cards never leave the Zipster Binder unintentionally. We have added a hard acrylic board inside the covers for reinforcement, making it damage resistant yet flexible. Free samples of Dragon Shield 16 and 18-pocket pages in both non-glare and ultra clear are included. Every Zipster Binder comes with a tab that can be placed in the pocket on the spine for personalisation. Made by Arcane Tinmen - the producers of Dragon Shield.

#thebatman

#cardgames

#supplies

#acessóriosparacards

Alien: Fate of the Nostromo - Jogo de Tabuleiro da Ravensburguer

 

ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo

 A perfect organism, ending the crew members of the commercial starship Nostromo one by one. Players can now recreate the tension of the classic 1979 thriller “Alien” on their tabletop! In ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo by Ravensburger, players take on the role of one of the Nostromo’s crew members and work together to move through the ship, gather supplies, and craft items while evading the Alien. To win, they’ll need to complete all starting objectives plus one final mission before their morale is completely depleted, or the Nostromo self-destructs.

 

Recreating a Thriller in Tabletop

In the time since its release, “Alien” has achieved sci-fi horror classic status with good reason. Its themes still resonate with audiences, and its utilitarian aesthetic has achieved a timelessness that other futuristic films have not. The Alien’s appearance and speed are uniquely spine-chilling, providing plenty of jump-scares throughout the film. It was this combination of attributes that allowed Ravensburger to identify a great opportunity to make a game where players could work toward a common goal while recreating a stressful environment. The objectives ensure that players move across the ship while knowing that the Alien could be just beyond the next bulkhead.

 

Immersive Gameplay

ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo provides an immersive experience by allowing players to take on the role of one of the Nostromo’s crew members – Brett, Dallas, Ripley, Lambert, or Parker. While some crew members like Ripley are more popular among fans of the film, each character is well-balanced. If they have fewer actions that they can take, their special ability makes up for this. For example, Brett has the fewest number of actions, but his special ability lets him reduce the cost of crafting items, and he does not have to spend an action to craft them.

 

One of the biggest victories in this game’s design is that while it offers plenty of strategy, players still feel on edge while taking their turn. There are two phases in a player’s turn: The Crew Action Phase, and the Encounter Phase. During the Crew Action Phase, players move through the Nostromo, gather supplies, and craft or use items. During the Encounter Phase, players draw an Encounter card. Encounter cards can move the Alien closer to crew members and place more “concealed” tokens on the board. These concealed tokens are flipped over when a crew member enters a room with them and may result in a surprise encounter.

 

As the crew moves around the ship to complete objectives, they’ll need to consider their actions carefully. The Alien will always take the shortest route to the nearest player as it moves during the Encounter Phase. Players must be mindful of which actions will be most effective during their turn, and what routes will be most efficient as they move around the ship. In addition, as the game goes on, more Encounter tokens are placed, which makes an encounter more likely. This makes it more challenging to choose a completely “safe” location, so working together to quickly achieve starting objectives before crew morale is completely depleted will be paramount.

ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo has a great variety of items that players can use to their advantage, like Grapple Gun, Flashlight, and even a Cat Carrier to capture Jonesy! While all are useful, it helps to plan ahead and decide which items will be most beneficial in completing objectives. It’s important to craft these as soon as possible, so players will need to remember to pick up scrap during their turn. Some items prevent the crew from losing morale too quickly and are great to have on hand. The Electric Prod reduces morale lost if players encounter the Alien, and it does not cost an action to use. While the Incinerator costs the most scrap to craft, for the cost of one action, it will send the Alien back to its nest if it is within three spaces of the player.

With ten different starting objectives and five final missions, ALIEN: Fate of the Nostromo has great replay value as no two games will be the same. In addition, once players have figured out different strategies to achieve victory, they can add Ash to create a more challenging game. Ash makes it more difficult to gather the scrap necessary to craft items and will even reduce morale if he is unable to take scrap from any crew he encounters. While this game supports up to five players, it is also a great one-player experience, as a single player steps into Ripley’s shoes and takes on the Alien on their own.

G.I. Joe The Roleplaying Game - Lançamento da Renegade Game Studios

 

Making a Real American Hero

Whether you want to be a stealthy espionage master, a blow-in-the-door heavy weapons specialist, or a high-flying fighter ace, the first step is always character creation. In the G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game, character creation starts with the initial concept. If you were a fan of the G.I. JOE action figures, you probably remember the ubiquitous file card included with each. These detailed each trooper, with information like their real name, hometown, military rank, and serial number, but also some text that usually encapsulated the chosen Joe’s way of thinking and fighting. 

For example, “Recondo hates the cold. He loves hauling a rucksack through the bush and sweating through his cammies. When he’s in the jungle, he owns it.” Or for covert operations specialist Lady Jaye, “(she) doesn’t go in for that phoney wig and rubber mask brand of disguise like those jokers on Mission Improbable… She becomes the subject: body language, subtle gesture, correct shading of dialect…” This is a great way to think of your character concept! What will their chosen role be within the team? Do they favor a head-on approach or more subtle methods? Pick a code name, a hometown, and think about how you’d sell your character if it were an action figure. This concept can serve as a useful guidepost as you go through the rest of the character creation process.  

The G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game breaks character’s abilities into four Essences, Strength, Speed, Smarts, and Social. Strength is all about power and endurance. Speed covers agility, balance, and reflexes. Smarts is a must for techy characters, fueling awareness, intuition, and analysis. FInally, Social represents a character's confidence, charisma, and leadership, an important Essence for officers or commanders! Each of the four Essences starts at 2, representing an average Joe, and each level in an Essence will allow you to invest a Skill Point in one of that Essence’s associated skills. 

Now that you’ve defined your Joe’s stats, it’s time to look at how they got where they are today, with Influences and an Origin. Every Joe will have at least one Influence, and can have up to three. Each Influence bestows certain benefits, as well as great roleplaying potential, and any chosen beyond the first bring a Hang-Up as well. A Hang-Up represents a flaw or weakness of your Joe. The additional benefits given by Influences also mean more great roleplaying potential thanks to Hang-Ups! For example, a character who has an Athlete Influence has grown up learning to follow the rules of the game, and playing fair is an important value to them. If you take this as a 2nd or 3rd Influence, your Joe will gain a Hang-Up, suffering a Snag on Social and Smarts Skill Tests whenever they are knowingly breaking rules. 

Origins are the next step. Were you a line trooper recruited to the elite G.I. Joe team? You may choose Army as your Origin, but that doesn't restrict your past as being a typical soldier or even being in the U.S. Army. Perhaps you served in the Armée de Terre in France or served in the National Guard. Alternatively, you could have been a U.N. Peacekeeper or been enlisted in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. There are countless options within the choices of Army, Navy, and Air Force Origins, in addition to Origin choices for Non-specific Branch and Non-military options. Your Origin will boost an associated Essence, grant some new Origin-specific skill options, and determine your starting health and movement. 

Now, we know who your character is, and how they got that way. The final step is determining how they fit into the team your group is assembling, and for that we’ll choose a Role. Roles grant role-specific perks to set your character apart from the rest of the team and can help determine what sort of weapons and equipment they are able to utilize. Later on, you’ll be able to delve into Sub-Roles as well, but for now just choose a top-level one. For example, you may choose to take the Commando Role for your character at 1st level. As your character levels up, their Role can become a more specific type of Commando, with the Role Focus of Infiltrator, Sniper, or Spy, each serving a different and important function on the team. With just the basic options for Influence, Origin, and Role, there are hundreds of combinations, enough to suit any character you can come up with! 

All that’s left now is to describe your character and form your team. When describing your character, you can look at your Essence scores to get an idea of how they may appear. A Joe with high Speed Essence could be described as energetic or agile, while a low score may imply clumsiness or very laid-back. While of course you’ll also need weapons and equipment, you don’t need to worry about that at this point. In the G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game every mission will begin with equipment requisition to outfit you and your teammates. 

Speaking of teammates, the final step of character creation is to determine the bonds or even conflicts your character may have with their squad mates. Maybe one of the other members saved your life on a previous mission? Maybe you had an intense rivalry with one of them at Ranger School? These bonds will help frame character interaction and enhance your roleplaying experience so don’t skip out! 

Follow this guide and you’ll have a fully-fleshed-out G.I. Joe of your own, ready to take on Cobra and foil their schemes all over the world. The only limit to the adventures you and your squad can embark on is your own imagination, so pick up the G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game this March, and in the meantime, start thinking about your character concept! 

Matt Holland is a husband, father, gamer, industry veteran and Star Wars nerd based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Catch up with him at @pbpanchomatt on Twitter.

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