Feb. 22: An Unimpressive Quarter for Wizards

In This Edition

• Wizards of the Coast

• Major Publishers (Paizo and Co)

• Crowdfunding

• TTRPG Tech

• Hasbro reported its quarterly findings this week. Wizards of the Coast’s revenue went up 4% in Q4 2024, but tabletop gaming (which includes D&D and likely MTG) dropped 22%, reflecting a potentially significant decline. Mind you, the main book released then was the Dungeon Master’s Guide, which seems likely to sell less than the PHB. It could also reflect the alleged decline of interest in 2024 D&D, or it could be just the period and issues related to MTG as well considering the ongoing drama around that game. I’ll be curious to see how Q1 reflects sales the Monster Manual. WOTC, meanwhile, has insisted that they’ve sold the most copies of the PHB, DMG and Monster Manual so far. I will admit skepticism due to internal interests, but you never know.

• Wizards also teased a Magic the Gathering/D&D crossover supplement set in the world of Lorwyn-Shadowmoor, a plane of both light and shadow. There is no date and no details, but if it’s another supplemental book, then that’s the third setting book released in 2025 (if it comes out, then it could also just be a 2026 book.)

• Urban Shadows 2e, Magpie Games’ attempt at a Vampire the Masquerade/World of Darkness-type game, is now available to the public. This game is for you if you ever want a simple ruleset to run your complicated city of vampires and werewolves.

• Chaosium’s rules-light ruleset, known as QuestWorlds, got an updated release!

Steve Jackson Games teamed up with Games Workshop cofounders to bring the Fighting Fantasy solo adventures to Kickstarter. You can get some old-school adventure books there if you’re inclined.

Omen is a one-shot TTRPG on Kickstarter where players “come together, create a doomed world and do what you can to save it,” written by Spencer Campbell. Campbell makes a lot of delightful TTRPGs if you ask me.

The Quintessential Guide to Urban Encounters is a 5e book for developing city-based encounters. It’s written by a number of online creators, including Mr. Tarrasque, Wally DM and JVC Parry.

TTRPG Technology

Roll20 has attached Dungeon Scrawl, a startup it acquired years ago, to its VTT. This will let DMs to draw and make maps in Roll20 with ease. Good for improvised map-making.

Our Brilliant Ruin, the fantasy Victorian TTRPG about class warfare, the end-times and monsters, is now available on Alchemy’s VTT—big win for the publisher. I’m just waiting for it to also come to Foundry now.