Mortismal Gaming looks back at Morrowind:

TES: Morrowind - Retrospective Review

DSOGaming reports that the mod-expansion The Tempest Isle is now available:

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim just got a new DLC-sized expansion mod with a fully scripted/voiced storyline

Modder ‘Cryptdick’ has just released a new DLC-sized expansion mod for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, called The Tempest Isle. This mod packs a fully scripted/voiced main storyline arc with multiple quests and interesting characters.

According to the modder, the mod was built to feel like a true Skyrim expansion. It’s also said to be highly immersive and lore-accurate. Moreover, it has hand-sculpted worldspace and various dungeons to explore and loot. Players can also expect to find new items, spells, enemy variants, environment objects, and more. So, this is pretty much a full free DLC. It will most likely be rough around the edges, but it’s cool nonetheless. At least in my opinion.

[...]

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The Early Access version of No Rest for the Wicked has been released:

Early Access Launch Trailer

Some launch issues are known.

VG247 thinks Dragon's Dogma 2 is the Morrowind of the current generation:

Dragon's Dogma 2 is Gen-Z Morrowind and I love it

A barnstorming AAA fantasy adventure that pointedly refuses to hold the player's hand? More of that, please.

Dragon's Dogma 2 is an early but solid contender for GOTY – we said that might be the case during preview, and we’re certain of it now. It’s a game of uncompromised vision, and where the original looked at the likes of Fable and Oblivion and asked “what does Capcom’s version of that look like?”, the sequel responds: “why don’t we make Capcom’s version of Dragon’s Dogma instead?”.

The original game is full of compromises. Content cut short for time or RAM. An entire planned beast race that never made it in. Only two inhabited settlements, one of them a tiny tutorial village. And squeezed onto creaking hardware that could barely run it. Well, the more things change, etc. To anyone with an interest in the original game and its development, it’s clear that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a labour of love, and a hugely successful do-over for an idea that didn’t quite materialise on the first attempt.

Which is why, as explained in the video above, I’m not convinced by the circulating idea that Dragon’s Dogma 2 is some kind of cynical money-grab. Yes, the microtransactions are stupid, pointless, and opportunistic. But if they’re a dealbreaker, that’s a whole lot of baby getting thrown out with the bath water.

[...]

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Couchpotato spotted developer diary #11 for VtM: Bloodlines 2:

Developing Banu Haqim

Developer Diary #11

Let's now leap into Banu Haqim, another captivating Vampire clan that the players will encounter in Bloodlines 2. The essence of the Banu Haqim is defined by their mastery of stealth, precision, and a moral code that guides their hidden hand of justice. Our team had a lot of fun in reflecting these properties in their subsequent departments.

Designing modern Banu Haqim for Tabletop
The Banu Haqim (“Assamites” at the time) were one of the first clans to be added to the original assembly in 1991. As such, they were less connected to a vampire archetype out of fiction and instead modelled on the Hashshashin — the Order of Assassins — out of Alamut. In time, they were expanded upon in the setting and incorporated new elements of mysticism and religion, but the core stereotype — the “arab assassin-cultist as vampire” — regrettably remained. Needless to say, they needed some work to align with the design principles of Vampire: The Masquerade’s latest edition.

The concept of a hunter of hunters driven by strong principles or a deep-seated sense of justice does resonate with powerful elements of vampire and vampire-adjacent media. Blade, Angel, and (for those that remember it) Forever Knight all feature vampires seeking redemption by taking the fight to their own, while the very vampire-esque Dexter is a poster child for the concept, as is the Caped Crusader. It is no fluke that the internal shorthand for the Banu Haqim was “clan Batman”.

Thus, while their origins are still the same, the shift in focus has provided the Banu Haqim with a role more easily applied to characters of any background or conviction. Cursed with a hereditary thirst for vampire Blood, the so-called Warriors shackle their impulses to strict codes of conduct, derived from mortal religions, vampiric tenets, or personal creeds. These traits, along with their feared reputation, makes them sought after as soldiers, lawbringers, and — occasionally — assassins in the societies of the night. Yet, the siren song of Kindred vitae perpetually tempts them, and more than one Judge has been tasked with the destruction of one of their own. To be Embraced into the Banu Haqim clan means walking an eternal tightrope, with no end and with nothing to catch you when you fall.

– Karim Muammar, Designer of Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition and Brand Editor for the World of Darkness

[...]

The Final Fantasy Union discusses the potential of a Final Fantasy VI Remake:

The Curious Case of Final Fantasy VI Remake

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The DLC Dead Island 2: SoLA has been released:

Dead Island 2 - Official SoLA Launch Trailer

Feel the beat pulsating through the heart of SoLA, the ultimate Californian music festival set against the backdrop of ancient grounds.

But as the night sky ignites - with its neon hues and bass drops - a malevolent presence awakens, plunging the festival into chaos. Amid the wreckage, an insatiable hunger lurks in the shadows, craving more than just the rhythm of the night.

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The modding tool REDkit for the Witcher 3 can be tested:

The Witcher 3 REDkit Playtest

Help us test the upcoming modding software!

If you can't wait to get your hands on the editor for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, we have some great news for you! Starting today you can sign up to try it out yourself in the official Playtest on Steam.

The Witcher 3 REDkit is a comprehensive modding tool for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt we're currently developing. It is based on the same set of tools that were used by our developers to create the game and should allow for nearly limitless freedom in modding it. REDkit will be available free of charge for all owners of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on PC and it's scheduled to release later this year.

In order to sign up, simply navigate to the store page of The Witcher 3 REDkit on Steam and request access.

[...]

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Gamerant checked out No Rest for the Wicked:

How No Rest For The Wicked Blends Dragon's Dogma 2 and Diablo 4

No Rest for the Wicked is an exciting new take on the RPG genre that includes elements that may attract Dragon's Dogma 2 and Diablo 4 fans.

HIGHLIGHTS

• No Rest for the Wicked brings a fresh perspective and genre change from the Ori series, promising exciting class customization in an RPG world.
• With an isometric perspective and focus on exploration and loot, No Rest for the Wicked aims to immerse players in a beautifully crafted world with similarities between it and Dragon's Dogma 2 or Diablo 4.

No Rest for the Wicked is an exciting new project from Moon Studios, the developer responsible for the Ori series. Moon Studios is stepping away from the established 2D perspective featured in the Ori games and opting for both a new viewpoint and genre altogether. As the launch date for No Rest for the Wicked's early access draws closer, there are several elements featured in the game that some fans of Dragon's Dogma 2 and Diablo 4 may find exciting.

[...]

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Couchpotato spotted the Nova Arizona mod for Fallout: New Vegas on Screenrant:

Massive Fallout: New Vegas Expansion Adds New Location, Makes The Legion "More Believable"

Fallout: New Vegas just got even bigger thanks to a massive fan-made expansion that adds an entirely new area that further fleshes out the main story.

SUMMARY 

• The Nova Arizona mod aims to expand Fallout: New Vegas by adding quests and lore to improve Ceaser's Legion.
•  The expansion focuses on Southern territories like Dolan Springs, Solitaire Big Stop, and Newt.
•  Players should expect a significant delay in completion due to the project's scale and volunteer team.

Fallout: New Vegas is already a massive game, but fans who want to take the experience even further by expanding on the game's story and factions are in luck because a new mod is aiming to do just that. Over the course of The Courier's adventure across the Mojave Wasteland, they'll encounter all kinds of colorful NPCs, many of whom belong to some sketchy groups vying for control of the post-apocalyptic United States. One of the more barbaric is Ceaser's Legion, and while they may come across as pure villains in the base game, Nova Arizona wants to improve them.

[...]

Kickstarter has added the possibility for late pledges:

First Look: Late Pledges on Kickstarter

Now, backers have a way to support great projects, post-campaign right here on Kickstarter.

Every project that has launched on Kickstarter since 2009 is a testament to what’s possible when creators can tap into community support to bring their ideas to life. 

Today, we're excited to share a glimpse into the future of supporting creative projects on Kickstarter with a new feature we're introducing: Late Pledges.

Say Hello to Late Pledges
The end of a campaign shouldn't mean the end of support. Whether you’ve just stumbled upon a project where the funding period has already ended or you’re a creator looking to keep the momentum going, we believe the spirit of support and discovery should continue even after the campaign clock runs out.

That’s why, starting today, we’re introducing Late Pledges to a select group of creators. The Late Pledges feature allows creators who successfully meet their funding goal to continue collecting pledges after their campaign officially ends. It’s our way of keeping the door open for more support, more backers, and more success for the incredible projects that make Kickstarter what it is.

While a handful of creators are testing it out, we’ll get their feedback, explore the feature’s possibilities, refine its functionality, and ensure it’s everything our community needs it to be before we roll it out to all creators worldwide.

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With patch 1.5 SpellForce: Conquest of Eo gets mod support:

Free SpellForce: Conquest of Eo Patch 1.5 Unleashes Mod-Support!

The latest patch for SpellForce: Conquest of Eo isn't just about fixes and tweaks; it's a journey into customization and creativity. With over 80 enhancements, balance tweaks, and bug fixes, this update not only enriches the base game and its first DLC, Demon Scourge, but it also introduces modding support on PC, empowering players to shape their adventures.

[...]

Watch the Demon Scourge Trailer on YouTube:

To start creating their own mods, players can now dive into the Mod Developer Guide and the Mod User Guide, conveniently provided as PDFs in the game's installation folder or accessible through the Steam Forum. From crafting new items and status effects to designing unique unit promotions, the only limit is your imagination.

In a twist of fate, we've also made it easier than reciting an incantation to create localized versions of the game. Our modding guide makes it as simple as casting a spell! With the newly added modding tools, SpellForce: Conquest of Eo invites you to embark on a journey of limitless enchantment. We cannot wait to see what kind of magical mods the community will brew in their cauldrons!

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GameSpot thinks that it's time for Fallout 1 & 2 remakes:

It's Time To Remake Fallout 1 & 2

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Couchpotato spotted an accolades trailer for Outcast - A New Beginning:

Outcast: A New Beginning - Official Accolades Trailer

Learn more about the factions of Crown Wars: The Black Prince:

Crown Wars | Factions Overview

The Kingdom stands divided, with numerous factions vying for supremacy. To emerge victorious, one must remain vigilant, understanding every adversary's motives, while never overlooking the presence of the Order. Amidst the chaos, they lurk as the greatest threat, ready to exploit the discord for their own gain.

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Couchpotato spotted a trailer for the roguelike Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade:

Yasha: Legends of the Demon Blade - Official Trailer

Rogueliker checked out MythForce after the recent update:

MythForce Updated – the ’80s throwback gets harder, better, faster, and stronger

I’ve been tracking MythForce since the first time I clapped eyes on it. You see, I’m an old git, an elder millennial if you prefer, and the MythForce aesthetic is aimed squarely at me – I am this game’s core demographic (and that doesn’t happen so much anymore). Yet the game was first released to very mixed feedback, and at the time I decided to skip it so I could focus on other games.

More recently I noticed that this roguish first-person shooter/brawler had been given a huge mechanical overhaul, and I decided that now was the time to take another look. And you know what? I’m glad that I did, because I think that MythForce is in pretty good shape now thanks to the aptly named Harder, Better, Faster, Story Update.

[...]

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StarCrawlers Chimera is launching May 13 on Steam and GOG:

StarCrawlers Chimera - Launch Detected - May 13th 2024 on Steam and GoG!

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Couchpotato spotted a launch trailer for the action RPG No Rest for the Wicked - the game will be released into Early Access on April 18:

No Rest for the Wicked - Official Steam Early Access Launch Trailer

The tactical RPG Capes will be released on May 29:

Capes | Release Date Reveal

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Mortismal Gaming presents five post apocalyptic CRPGs:

Five great post apocalyptic CRPGs

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:02 ATOM RPG
02:09 Wasteland 2/3
03:24 UnderRail
04:44 Space Wreck
06:14 Encased
08:15 Honorable Mention
09:37 Wrap Up

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Exputer reviewed Achilles: Legends Untold:

Achilles: Legends Untold Review – A Greek Legend Rough Around The Edges

Live the legends of a warrior that becomes stranded between the fabric of life and death

The Achilles: Legends Untold is a game based on ancient Greek mythology. It is an open-world ARPG that allows you to roam aimlessly around the map, exploring dungeons and slaying mythical creatures. Although my experience with the game was quite admiring, it has some tedious mechanics and UI features that I hope ultimately improve.

[...]

Achilles: Legends Untold is a great narrative of Greek mythology, but its gameplay dynamics contradict an ARPG’s. If we overlook that it belongs to a certain genre, I believe the game stands its ground in being a marvelous action game.

I would not suggest the game to players expecting an offhand ARPG experience. But, if you are eager to try out a new perspective of an ARPG, then the game will somehow keep you entertained. 

Apart from its misplaced fundamentals of gameplay mechanics, the game can offer a delightful walkthrough to players who wish to pursue the main questline. 

Score: 3.5/5

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Couchpotato spotted that the Centre of Nirn Mod has been released:

Journey to the Centre of Nirn

"Look not to the Heavens but to the ground beneath your feet
For there the Gods have sown the makings of deceipt"

Follow in the steps of a famous explorer as you follow the clues to the location of a long lost city.
Travel through vast magma chambers and dark caverns solving puzzles, riddles and intriguing mazes before finally discovering the fate of a lost Ayleid city.

About this mod.

I took 2 years out from the nexus to develop this huge mod based on Jules Vernes famous story which has always entranced me. There are distinct parallels with his story and of course being a fantasy game, I have added much more.
There are over 80 locations and I wrote over 100 scripts for it in order that it is not just a pure cave trawl. 
It contains models by other creators of content that I will mention here..

Learn more about the Romans of King Arthur: Legion IX:

Meet the Romans! - Praetorius

Ave!

We have finally revealed the release date of our upcoming tactical RPG, King Arthur: Legion IX, but we haven't unveiled everything about the game yet. Today we will be looking at a character that we did not mention so far, probably because he wouldn't want the fame and glory anyway. All he wants to do is serve eternally!

As the tribune of the Ninth Legion, Gaius Julius Mento is an important figure in the grand hierarchy of the soldiers under Emperor Sulla. While he is an excellent fighter, he was still given an unflinching bodyguard. This bodyguard is a loyal Roman soldier, Octavius Remus.

He is, in fact, a praetorian, an elite guard of military praetors. Despite his prowess, he won't try to steal the spotlight, that's just not in his character. In fact, he is a very enigmatic person, and undead legionary proudly bearing the weight of his role of a defender. He is loyal, as evidenced by the fact that he appears beside Gaius when he emerges from the Underworlds.

He wields a massive shield and utilizes skills around the theme of defense, such as Wall of Blades and Bulwark, but he is a fairly good melee fighter as well, capable of using his shield as a weapon (Shield Bash). When things get tough in the magical land of Avalon, you might want to turn towards a more defensive tactical approach until the balance shifts - the praetorian will be very useful in these moments.

It would mean a lot to us if you would put King Arthur: Legion IX on your wishlist before the release date (May 9th, 2024), and if you own King Arthur: Knight's Tale, be on the lookout for a little token of gratitude when this new game launches.

Onwards to Nova Roma!

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The RPG Codex looks back at Neverwinter Nights – Darkness Over Daggerford:

RPG Codex Review: Neverwinter Nights – Darkness Over Daggerford

Last month, we published a review of Ossian Studios' Tyrants of the Moonsea module for Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition by our resident Neverwinter Nights expert Gargaune. I'm happy to report that Gargaune decided to follow that up with a review of Ossian's other Enhanced Edition DLC module, the Baldur's Gate-ish adventure Neverwinter Nights: Darkness Over Daggerford. Unlike Tyrants of the Moonsea, the original free version of Darkness Over Daggerford was basically complete when it was released following the cancellation of the NWN premium module program back in 2006. Its 2018 Enhanced Edition rerelease offered mainly audio/visual improvements and bugfixes, which normally wouldn't be significant enough to merit a review. However, since we never actually published a review of the original module, it's a fine opportunity to finally give it the attention it deserves. Without further ado:

Per Ossian themselves, their ambition for Darkness over Daggerford was to recreate a Baldur’s Gate-like experience, referring to the BioWare title’s open-world structure in particular. And to that end, Miranda’s little studio delivered a feature that was sorely lacking in the original release and one that remains among NWN’s standout post-launch additions – a true and proper world map! Indeed, DoD is the most “open world” NWN module I’ve played to date and Ossian genuinely succeeded in recapturing that original BG feeling of roaming the countryside looking for trouble. After being set loose from Daggerford itself, situated in the northern part of the map, you’re free to explore a large, semi-contiguous region stretching out to the south, along the Trade Way heading to Baldur’s Gate. The world map in DoD isn’t just a nice visual flourish on your destination list like in the later TotM, but consistently involves discovery – e.g. to reach the Wild Hills for the first time, you’ll have to travel in its direction from the Western Farmlands, Gillian’s Hill, or the Wild Pastures, but you can’t just hop over from the Eastern Farmlands unless you’ve already visited the Wild Hills before. Quest destinations will reveal some major locations on the map, while others you’ll discover as proximate to your current location.

[...]

Bottom line, DoD caters to some RPG fans more than to others. If you're looking for a dungeon crawl, this isn't the module for you. If you're in it for a grand, sombre plot, it ain't that either. But if you want something to recapture that Baldur's Gate-like sense of exploration, of roaming the countryside in search of adventure and curiosities, it doesn’t get much better than Darkness over Daggerford for NWN or many other contenders. It’s a charming and lively open-world adventure, which is equally true for the new EE revision with its polished production values (for sale on GOG, Steam, or directly from Beamdog) as it is for the old PM release (available at the Neverwinter Vault). Either package is well worth checking out if that speaks to you, but the EE version will certainly yield the best experience if it’s within your budget, and if one good turn deserves another, Ossian absolutely did NWN fans a solid back in the day.​

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Joel RPG recommends some turn-best games:

Top 15 Best NEW Turn Based Strategy-Tactics-RPG Games That You Should Try | 2024 Edition

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
01:53 #15. No Plan B (PC)
02:30 #14. Slice & Dice (PC, Android)
03:07 #13. Solium Infernum (PC)
03:42 #12. Dominions 6 - Rise of the Pantokrator (PC)
04:19 #11. LONESTAR (PC)
04:53 #10. Headquarters: World War II (PC)
05:26 #9. Tendryll (PC)
06:00 #8. Dark Deity 2 (PC)
06:40 #7. ARC SEED (PC)
07:15 #6. Guild Saga: Vanished Worlds (PC)
07:52 #5. Sandwalkers (PC)
08:26 #4. Demonschool (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch)
09:03 #3. MENACE (PC)
09:40 #2. ZEPHON (PC)
10:16 #1. Spear Song (PC)

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Shacknews interviewed Night Dive Studios about remastering:

Nightdive Studios On Common Misconceptions Of Remastering 90s Games & Future Projects

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C4G checked out the demo of Outward 2:

So I Played Outward 2 Early!

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GamingBolt reviewed Broken Roads:

Broken Roads Review - The Final Verdict

Broken Roads is an ambitious debut game by Australian developer Drop Bear Bytes. Inspired by classics like Wasteland, Broken Roads feels like a fresh take on the genre with how it tackles certain aspects of those games in its own way. The best example of this is in the morality system, which is handled by a moral compass instead of a linear good-or-evil line.
The only real let down in Broken Roads is its combat system, which can often end up feeling overly simplistic. However, thanks to its unique post-apocalyptic Australian setting, the game manages to make exploring its broken world quite interesting.

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Fextralife summarizes this week's gaming news:

Gaming News – Remnant 2 DLC, Darkest Dungeon 2 Free Content, PoP Sands of Time Remake and MORE!

Timestamp
0:00 - Top RPG News of the Week
0:04 - Star Wars Outlaws Release Date
1:09 - Albion Online Europe Open Beta
2:23 - Final Fantasy Rebirth Platinum Trophy Bug Fix
3:05 - Darkest Dungeon 2 New Free Game Mode
4:18 - Dredge File Adaptation Announced
5:27 - Prince of Persia Sands of Time Remake
6:26 - Remnant 2 The Forgotten Kingdom DLC
7:40 - Destiny 2 The Final Shape 
9:23 - Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Trailer

The Turn Based Lovers assembled news and lists for their favourite genre:

EVERYTHING TURN-BASED – WEEKLY RPG NEWS AND RELEASES 13 APRIL 2024

TOP 15 MOST ANTICIPATED TURN-BASED RPGS OF 2024

TOP 10 GRIM-DARK TURN-BASED RPGS & STRATEGY GAMES

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The Turn Based Lovers reviewed Broken Roads:

BROKEN ROADS – REVIEW

Broken Roads has been awaited by fans as a post-apocalyptic CRPG in the vein of classic Fallout. Now that it’s here, the game may not be quite as deep as players were hoping, but there’s a beauty in its simplicity that makes it a memorable experience regardless.

A POST-APOCALYPTIC OUTBACK

Broken Roads takes place in Western Australia, some four generations after a nuclear war. The devastated world is less Fallout and more The Walking Dead, with survivors banding together in tight-knit communities or turning to banditry to survive. A feeling of tribalism and distrust pervades the setting since resources are scarce due to a fifteen-year drought, and anyone could be a spy or a thief.

At first, the world seems fairly grounded in reality, but some supernatural elements slowly start to creep in. A few hours later, characters with strange powers are introduced – not necessarily magic, but close enough for that to be the best term for it. Learning this power for yourself adds new builds and options in combat. There are also mutated animals roaming the Outback, from bloodthirsty dingoes to ravenous koalas and kangaroos.

The Australian setting is always front and center, and Broken Roads is clearly made by people who love their country and culture deeply and can poke fun at it. There are even tooltips to translate Australian slang for players who don’t hail from the Land Down Under.

[...]

The tree of possible outcomes isn’t anything revolutionary, and in most cases, boils down to whether you want to complete a quest this way or that way, but it’s executed well enough that consequences down the line feel organic. That’s really in keeping with Broken Roads as a whole; it doesn’t do anything that’s really new, but it also doesn’t try to overcomplicate things or reinvent the wheel. It’s not the second coming of Fallout 2, but rather a fun, contemplative RPG that’s more compelling in the quiet moments than in the midst of battle.

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Fallout London will integrate the Next-Gen-Update changes:

Fallout London - Next-Gen Update Announcement

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The deckbuilder Slay the Spire 2 has been announced for 2025:

Slay the Spire 2

The Spire Awakens
Civilization has waited 1,000 years for the Spire to reopen its doors...
Return to the Spire and face friends and foes in this sequel to the quintessential roguelike deckbuilder. How high will you ascend... and what truths lie at the top?

Deckbuilding Galore
New slayers join the fray with their own sets of cards, mechanics, and personalities. Try out more archetypes and master them at your own pace. The Spire forever awaits those who dare challenge it...

An Ever-Changing Spire
The Spire isn't what it used to be. New enemies, events, and treasures await as the rooms and items you discover change each time you play... Try risky builds or play it safe as you explore countless different strategies, find yourself in peculiar scenarios, and confront the Bosses of each Act.

New Ways to Play!
That aren't yet announced...

Rebuilt from the Ground Up
Slay the Spire 2 was completely rewritten from the ground up in a new game engine! We're bringing in modern features, incorporating all-new visuals, and expanding moddability.

Coming to Early Access. Again!
Slay the Spire's success comes from our community! It sounds corny, but the extra mile many of you went to report issues, translate content/announcements, create long video essays, make excellent (lol) tier lists, and draw goofy or gorgeous fan art is the reason we're doing it all again. We love our job!

The strategy RPG Age of Fear 5: The Day of the Rat has been released:

Age of Fear 5: The Day of the Rat

The adventure begins as the Undead King meets his end by Sir Edward's blade. Indulf Blackheart, mercenary leader in the Undead Legion, must balance his need for bloody revenge with his thirst for wealth and power. Together with the young witch Lexa, the dashing Black Knight Indulf sets out on a quest of infamy to plunder the realm's riches and build a criminal empire to call his own. With allies in short supply, a previously unseen faction lurking in the sewers may prove to be the key to the Black Knight's dark dream... sneak and backstab your way!

AGE OF FEAR is a long-running series of fantasy turn-based strategy games loved by fans for its tabletop wargame battle system and in-depth RPG customization (scroll down for a list of features).

STRATEGY GUIDE (200MB PDF) 
MODDING GUIDE (15MB PDF) 

FEATURE LIST
- NON-LINEAR CRIMINALITY - pick your assignments and loot King William's lands for all they're worth. Forge your way through a twisted plot into the realm's seedy underbelly!

- CRAFTING - collect ingredients from enemies and environment, and craft all the most powerful artifacts!

- INVISIBILITY - are you tired of enemies seeing all your moves? Cast a spell and whoop... you disappeared. However, the AI can do it too.

- HEX-FREE BATTLES - test your tactics with a novel movement system where size matters and units aren't constrained by artificial grids!

- OPEN WORLD - are you bored with the main storyline? No worries, you can always take a side-quest or play procedurally-generated battles. Play this game as you want!

- GLOBAL EVENTS that occur while exploring the World Map, à la Battle Brothers. This feature is still being developed and could serve to provide more lore and fun unit interactions conditional on the player's party!

- FACTION BASES which can be upgraded as you explore the Age of Fear world. Investing in base upgrades will unlock additional recruitable units, skills and locations to explore!

- MERCENARIES - recruit your troops from multiple races and factions! Will a Dwarven Warrior work with a bloodthirsty Orc?

- ALIGNMENTS such as Evil and Holy. Units from opposite sides won’t like each other and may desert. A bit of diplomacy (or charisma!) is needed to manage such relationships.

- EXTENDED STORY including many sub-quests, optional events, alternative endings, more detailed lore, etc.

- FREQUENTLY UPDATED - we take our work seriously and patch our games often with new features and content. Also, whenever possible, those updates are back-ported to all our previous games!

- COMMUNITY-DRIVEN - we listen to our players and continuously improve! Go and check our forums, everyone has their say and we implement those suggestions.

- FULL OF JOKES - who said strategy games have to be serious? All the best fantasy jokes have a home here!

- PARTY CUSTOMIZATION - build and upgrade a custom army from more than two hundred unique units, skills and spells (but be aware of racial animosities!).

- DEEP BATTLE MECHANICS - learn the basics in a hurry, then develop new strategies around a huge variety of skills, spells and battle hazards like neutral factions and environmental effects (yes, you can anger bystanders!).

- EASY TO MOD - create your own missions, or even full-fledged campaigns, to be shared with the Steam community!

- FANTASY STORYTELLING - get wrapped up in a spectacular storyline featuring a motley crew of characters, globetrotting adventures and fantasy shenanigans galore. All hand-illustrated!

- PERMANENT DEATH - accept the grim realities of death where all units that fall in battle stay dead... unless an evil Necromancer raises them as Zombies.

- ARTEFACTS AND RELICS - discover numerous unique weapons, armours, potions and treasures, with the rarest granting powerful OP skills and stat bonuses.

- ADVANCED AI - our AI is built upon a self-organizing network of agents and meta-heuristics algorithms (yes, we are PhD-smart!). Discover one of the most sophisticated AI systems you've ever played against!

- LOW HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS - run the game even on that old potato laptop of yours. Your stone-age computer is good enough!

- COLOR-BLIND MODE - a special mode with higher contrast and outlined fonts.

- ...everything else we come up with! Purchase only if you want access to the latest features in the Age of Fear series, and please keep in mind that this is an evolving product.

If you're hungry for a no-nonsense, old school turn-based strategy game, you've met your match in the Age of Fear series. Enter the fantasy world of Age of Fear today!

Like every week the RPG Crawler sums up the computer and tabletop RPG news:

RPG News Roundup (4-13-2024)

Capsule Computers reviewed Broken Roads:

Broken Roads Review

Overview
When one thinks of the post-apocalypse, it almost always involves some form of nuclear destruction, plague, or even zombie threat as the survivors struggle to continue living in a world that wants them dead. Usually these are set in a North American city or greater region, sometimes in Europe, but what about a place where the wildlife wants to kill its residents even on a normal day? Few games take advantage of Australia and the unique aspects the continent provides, even less in a post-apocalyptic Australia. So when indie developer Drop Bear Bytes worked hard to put out a CRPG called Broken Roads, where players have a moral compass, choices to make, and a world to survive in all while exploring Western Australia, it seemed like a perfect chance for something new. If only the game’s name didn’t end up having a double-meaning in the end.

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Overall
As someone from a place with eternal road construction, seeing broken roads get patched is a common occurrence and often one that makes for smooth sailing after a while, but in the case of Drop Bear Bytes’ Broken Roads, some of these issues run deeper than the bug riddled experience, what with its lackluster combat, boring companions, and lacking quality of life features. Playing through the game the multiple times I needed to to actually see it through, it is evident that there is a lot of passion here and the writing does show it. The morality compass, the numerous ways things can develop and progress, and the unique Australian flavoring seeping from every crack in this broken road makes it an interesting game that we hope can get fixed in the future, even if some of its issues are far deeper than some patches can fix.

Score 4/10