I. Six Days Earlier…
The mad duke in his campaign for control, covetous riches, and mindless glory had wreaked havoc on the treasury, blocking ships from approaching the shores and extorting their crews for tribute. Every conceivable good had become a luxury. Merchants in the city of Dregodell hiked their prices in the struggle to prevent themselves from shuttering their doors, and the laborers found once affordable items inaccessible.
The sage, thief, and paladin met at their established spot, the Lazy Flea Tavern, sharing stories of those beleaguered, and expressing their own financial woes.
We have a shorter issue for you today!
Over the past couple weeks, Trump Tariffs have threatened to capsize countless businesses that depend on trade partners and overseas manufacturing. The tabletop gaming industry will be hit especially hard, and we may see a number of companies downsize, change strategy, or go out of business entirely.
For now, some exceptions are carved out for the RPG sector which may help some TTRPG creators and publishers get by. Rascal News did a piece about this exception and how it might help in some cases.
After decades of rise in the board gaming industry, the tariffs will wipe away much of that progress in a very short time. More on this from Aftermath!
Across the board, tabletop games will become more expensive, and the Game Manufacturers Association (GAMA) state the impacts of the tariffs are nothing short of a disaster, as quoted on this Polygon article.
Read what game publishers are saying themselves about the tariffs in ENWorlds posting here! … It truly highlights just how interconnected our world of publishing and game manufacturing is.
In all, we’re headed into dark waters, and it is now more than ever that we support our favorite creators and creations. Board games, tabletop games, and RPGs share a common goal; to bring people to the table together. It’s a social pillar in so many communities and households.
Dungeon Delve will continue covering the results of these tariffs, and deliver advice on how we can best support our community.
Lets delve this dungeon tavern!
II. The Bulletin Board
RPG Sales and Deals
Fight for trans rights! With over 400 games, TTRPGs for Trans Rights Bundle is available for purchase with the money going towards the ongoing battle against anti-trans legislation in the state of Ohio.
For the 3D Printing geek, we have the Adventurers & Adversaries STL Bundle filled with glorious fantasy miniatures you can print and paint!
Sounds for Adventure: a TTRPG Audio Bundle features incredible tracks from Monument Studios. We did a review about their Fantasy+ product here!
Have 50 cents to spare!? Celebrate a late April Fools with Fools of April, a collection of system-neutral jesters and jokers. Fantastic additions for political intrigue, or just to spice up the court!
About to Expire:
[4 DAYS LEFT] Last chance to grab Heroic Hoard of 5E Power by Kobold Press, covering 5E spells, items, adventures, and more!
$441$25/PWYW[2 DAYS LEFT] Delta Green RPG, VTT, and Fiction Collection has everything needed to play agent in this modern horror game!
$681$25/PWYW
II. Opening the Treasure Chest!!
Black Lillies is a 4th level 5E adventure that takes you to the frightened town of Sirraen. A grisly attack on the guard captain plunges the town into chaos. It's up to the party to uncover the mystery and find the culprit before it strikes again.
Created by Viktor "Navypink" Sych (@ciaraerenai.bsky.social)
Black Lillies is Pay what you want! … Remember to support fellow TTRPG creators!
Want to see YOUR project mentioned? … Click on this link to learn about how you can submit your ad to Dungeon Delve!
IV. Markings on the Wall
Latest rumors, discoveries, and puzzling finds in the RPG world and beyond!
Gameable Advice
Looking for a new way to build out your dungeons? Grinning Rat wields the power of the retro-arcade and helps you assemble them in segments with Building Dungeons - The Tetris Way.
Has your table ever tried to manage a settlement? Did you know they can be treated like dungeons, with entrances, rooms, treasure, dangers, etc? Among Cats and Books recites a model for managing settlements in Sandbox Settlements: Prep, Run, and Thrive.
A Maniacs Insight (Where I quote an adjacent Substack blog) x3
The tavern is a busy place, and many a conversation is happening!
During the combat, I remember checking the time and realizing that I was getting to take a turn every 45 minutes. The rules weren’t even that complicated. … As time has gone by and I’ve played with more groups and tried more systems (especially at conventions), I’ve come to believe that slow play is likely the most common problem in bad games.
In the hectic atmosphere of Unpub you may only have just a few minutes to ask questions of multiple players. Some players have a lot to say and may try to dominate the feedback time, giving you less time to ask questions.
What if you only have time to ask one question? Which questions are the most valuable? It’s tough!
Everything that exists in your world—every crater in the landscape, every diverted river, every cultural norm or superstition—has a reason for being. Something happened to cause it, be that a volcano eruption, the needs of a new settlement, or a societal shift. There’s a cause, and there’s an effect.
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