I just perused the Free RPG Day 2021 site again and it looks like as the weather is cooling, the preparations for the October 16 event are warming up. Of the 22 Publishing Partners – who provide the free scenarios and other goodies you can receive – 19 have a Sneak Peek popup, as of this writing. I am sure the others will show up in the next couple weeks, since in past years the Sneak Peeks were rolled out over time. I did find it odd that no Sponsors are listed yet.
There is very little information in the popups, a picture and a title for the most part. Naturally, many of the freebies are one-shot scenarios designed to introduce a game system to new players and/or provide new material for fans if the system has been out for a while. In addition, there are a few accessories, including dice from two different companies. One of those sets (the other doesn’t picture the dice), Q Workshop’s Steampunk Clockwork, has very pretty dice, with intricate designs on each face. Alas, there is so much scrollwork and other details that I suspect they will be hard to read during gameplay. On the other hand, if you play games that have a “wild die” mechanic, these might be just the thing, to distinguish them from the regular dice. Plus, Pretty!
If you prefer minis, Dave Taylor Miniatures and Mantic Games (Armada, Hellboy: The Board Game), have teamed up to offer a whole pile of treasure for you! Yes, it’s one mini prop for you to paint, plus a how-to painting guide for your boss fights. WizKids also has love for the minis lovers, the D&D Frameworks Grim Cottage. It looks like it includes a hag mini as well as the cottage!
What are some of the modules? Paizo has two, one a Starfinders 2e scenario. The other isn’t, alas, for We Be Goblins; it’s a Pathfinder 2e adventure, which is also cool. (And I mustn’t be greedy.) Goodman Games also has a pair, for 5e and their own Dungeon Crawl Classics line. I can’t tell from the popup or the linked GG webpage (one of the few to offer more information) if there is one module for each system or both modules have DCC plus 5e stats. I was a little disappointed that Green Ronin’s freebie is the Blue Rose quickstart, which has been out a while. But only a little, as Blue Rose seems like a fun setting that deserves more fans. The one I most want to pick up this year is Need Games’ tabletop version of Japanese video game RPGs, Fabula Ultima. It looks like a good fit for me, a late(est)-to-the-party anime fan.
That’s a lot to look forward to. But, we still need to be extra careful of everyone’s health and safety. So please, please follow whatever altered plans your FLGS has had to put in place to provide a fun event that isn’t going to risk people’s health. Maybe that means getting there early (or taking advantage of pre-registering, if offered) to make sure you have a slot because there are fewer tables or smaller numbers of players per table allowed. (My FLGS has all three precautions in place.) Or maybe it means not complaining because a retailer is holding a curbside-only or virtual event for the second year in a row.
However the event is conducted at your FLGS, go grab some goodies, perhaps meet some new gaming buddies or discover a new game, to keep the fun going.
Linda Whitson
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