Initiated in January 2023, the BFRD offers a comprehensive, free resource for gamers. It includes tools and guidelines necessary for creating characters, crafting adventures, and publishing personal gaming materials.

Wolfgang Baur, founder of Kobold Press, commented on the release, saying, “We are pleased to release the BFRD to the gaming community. It represents our commitment to support the ongoing enthusiasm for 5th Edition gaming by providing a resource that enhances and expands player and creator experiences.”

The development of the BFRD was supported by extensive playtesting and community involvement, including significant crowdfunding support from Kickstarter, where over $1 million was raised.

The BFRD also serves as an introduction to the upcoming Tales of the Valiant RPG, another addition to the 5th Edition RPG lineup. This game is scheduled for a digital release on May 10, 2024, as part of the first annual KoboldCon online convention, which will include live streaming and organized play sessions.

The BFRD is currently available on the Kobold Press website, as well as on BFRD.net from RPGBOT and for download on DriveThruPRG. Information about the ORC license, which allows for the free and open use of the document, is also provided.

With a legacy spanning 17 years, Kobold Press has established itself as a significant contributor to the roleplaying community, especially noted for its third-party Dungeons & Dragons content. The company has recently expanded its portfolio with the Black Flag Roleplaying rules and the Tales of the Valiant roleplaying game. Steamforged Games, known for its Epic Encounters range and celebrating its 10th anniversary, brings a track record of producing immersive gaming experiences. The partnership focuses on expanding and enhancing the accessibility of tabletop roleplaying games.

Mat Hart, Co-founder and Creative Director at Steamforged Games, detailed the initiative’s objective to develop fundamental roleplaying skills for beginners in an intuitive manner. The collaboration aims to gradually build players’ confidence and competence, ensuring they enjoy the roleplaying experience.

Wolfgang Baur, founder and CEO of Kobold Press, expressed his company’s enthusiasm for partnering with Steamforged Games. He highlighted the starter set as an ideal way for new participants to engage with the hobby, emphasizing the ease of access and the enjoyment it aims to bring to beginners.

Details on the Tales of the Valiant Starter Set are yet to be fully disclosed, but the partnership signals a significant effort to make tabletop roleplaying more approachable for new players. For those interested in following the development of this project, updates will be available through the Steamforged newsletter.

The convention is poised to showcase a selection of Tales of the Valiant RPG projects, offering attendees a preview of what Kobold Press plans for the latter part of 2024 and potentially insights into 2025 projects, depending on the discretion of publisher Wolfgang Baur.

Kobold Con will commence with the Kobold Showcase, a live-streamed event that will introduce announcements and provide first looks at the Tales of the Valiant RPG virtual tabletop and digital offerings now available for online purchase. This initiative reflects Kobold Press’s efforts to enhance its digital presence and make its products more accessible to a wider audience.

The event will also feature the first official Tales of the Valiant online Organized Play event, spotlighting partnerships with VTT platforms like Shard, Alchemy, and Foundry. This includes the introduction of the official Valiant 6 characters, aiming to enrich the gaming experience for participants.

Kobold Press is inviting game masters and players to sign up for the event, with additional information accessible through their official Discord channel. This approach aims to foster community engagement and participation in the convention’s activities.

A notable aspect of Kobold Con will be a live stream charity actual play session to conclude the event, aimed at raising funds for the Kobold Press Gaming Scholarship. This new scholarship intends to support students entering collegiate studies in pen and paper game design, with Kobold Press matching donations throughout the event to encourage support for aspiring game designers.

Wolfgang Baur, Kobold Press’s founder and publisher, shared his enthusiasm about the convention, stating, “We are thrilled to announce Kobold Con and bring the Kobold Press community together to celebrate our upcoming projects and release schedule. We can’t wait for everyone to join us for a weekend full of discounts, partnership reveals, sneak previews, and charity fundraising.”

With the Alpha Release, RPG enthusiasts can now play Tales of the Valiant months before the full rules are officially published. Contained within a 160-page PDF, players will find all the essential rules needed to create characters and begin their adventure.

The Alpha Release features four character classes, each playable up to level 5. The game also comes loaded with equipment, spells, talents, and much more to immerse players in the rich world of Tales of the Valiant.

Kickstarter Backers will be the first to get their hands on the Alpha Release, with delivery scheduled for Monday, July 17th. Included with the Alpha Release is the introductory adventure, Caverns of the Spore Lord. Subsequently, the Alpha Release will be available for purchase and download on the Kobold Press website as well as DriveThru RPG.

As a part of the ongoing campaign, the Backer Kit will be opened to the public next week. During this pre-order process, the Alpha Release and the Caverns of the Spore Lord adventure will be available as add-ons.

Fans can also look forward to the first open playtests of Tales of the Valiant at Gen Con in three weeks, marking the game’s public debut.

This revision is the result of an extensive process that has been underway for some time, bringing to light a harmonious blend of changes while maintaining the essence of the original version. Despite the significant alterations, the revised Tome of Beasts continues to fit well with the Core Fantasy Roleplaying (CFR) rule set and the Tales of the Valiant (ToV) RPG. The revised monsters can seamlessly integrate into any 5E or CFR game.

One key change in the refresh is the redesigning of the rift swine, a chaotic boar-like creature known for its exposure to chaotic magical energy. Previously, the game master selected a mutation for the swine before combat began, but this approach was limiting. The updated version introduces a dynamic change, allowing a new random mutation at the start of each of the rift swine’s turns, thus better encapsulating the chaotic essence of the creature and making the gameplay more engaging for both the game master and players.

The announcement also addressed several questions around the new edition. The 2023 version of Tome of Beasts is considered a separate product due to the extensive revisions and addition of new monsters. Therefore, owners of the original ToB would need to purchase the new version separately. The 2023 edition will also be available on Virtual TableTop (VTT) platforms, with the digital version treated as a separate product. Finally, while the revision was not specifically created for the ‘Tales of the Valiant’ game, its compatibility is ensured, as ToV is designed to be backward compatible with any 5E content.

The revised Tome of Beasts offers game masters and players a more dynamic, engaging, and immersive role-playing experience. Fans of Kobold Press are advised to keep an eye on the official website for further updates and the VTT launch.

“Tales of the Valiant keeps all the best of 5E D&D and adds a Kobold Press spin to the well-loved game,” the creators stated on their Kickstarter page. “It combines the Creative Commons foundation of 5th Edition with new elements to create a powerful Kobold-style 5E with teeth.”

The ToV game includes a variety of new 5E options that broaden gameplay and diversify player choices. Classic characters such as fighters, wizards, rogues, dwarves, and elves, feature prominently in ToV. However, the game also introduces novel aspects such as the Mechanist class, kobold, outsider, and beastkin character lineages.

One of the highlights for Kickstarter backers is early access to exclusive playtest packets. These packets offer new classes and creatures unavailable to the general public until later.

Tales of the Valiant emphasizes the ability to create and share in the expansive 5E global community, thanks to its foundation on the Creative Commons and Open Roleplaying Content licenses. “Tales of the Valiant is built so the core rules are available for everyone to expand on,” says Kobold Press.

In terms of compatibility, ToV maintains a close relationship with the tradition of 5E, allowing players to integrate any 5E adventure with creatures and spells from Tales of the Valiant.

Interested players can gain insight into the upcoming game via the Tales of the Valiant website and the 64-page preview PDF, which details lineages and heritages, classes, subclasses, spellcasting rules, and monster previews.

The Tales of the Valiant Player’s Guide offers a comprehensive resource for creating legendary heroes and running games. Simultaneously, the Monster Vault is an expansive compendium of creatures of high fantasy, ranging from familiar orcs and red dragons to all-new foes like star crows, husk demons, and mechadrons original to Tales of the Valiant.

Kobold Press promises many more details on both the Monster Vault and Player’s Guide in future updates. In the words of Kobold Press, “Tales of the Valiant strengthens those mechanics and enriches their story potential, to make your next campaign your best campaign!” With this exciting launch, the world of high fantasy gaming awaits an adventurous new chapter.

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One of the highlights of the recent developments is the unveiling of the new ToV sword and shield mark, which will serve as the logo for all Tales of the Valiant products. Designed by Kobold Press’ Art Director, Marc Radle, and Addison Rankin, this emblematic symbol will bring a cohesive and recognizable look to all ToV materials, whether they are displayed on bookshelves or digital platforms.

In a move to foster community engagement, Kobold Press is also working on creating a version of the logo for public use. This means that fans and creators alike will have the opportunity to mark their own books and PDFs as compatible with Tales of the Valiant, similar to the beloved 5E logo but with a unique Kobold Press flair.

To celebrate the new designs and upcoming Kickstarter, Kobold Press has launched a range of fresh merch featuring the ToV logo and sword and shield. Fans can now proudly display their support with t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and more. Additionally, for those who purchased Black Flag merch earlier this year, there’s an exciting surprise waiting at GenCon 2023. Attendees wearing any Black Flag or ToV merchandise at the convention can visit the Kobold Press booth to receive a free gift as a token of appreciation.

The Kobold Press team acknowledges and appreciates the unwavering support from the community. Whether individuals choose to raise the sword and shield or proudly wave the black flag, their involvement and enthusiasm are vital to the success of Tales of the Valiant RPG.

As the Kickstarter launch date approaches, the company is preparing to unveil special stretch goals for backers, including an Adventure Pack crafted by their official partners, as well as the opportunity for backers to submit their own ideas. The Tales of the Valiant RPG will be offered in two books: the Player’s Guide and the Monster Vault, both elegantly packaged in a slipcover that adds a touch of beauty to the game.

Simultaneously with the Kickstarter launch, Kobold Press will release the Alpha Release, previously known as the Quick Start Guide. This comprehensive PDF will contain playtest packets with exciting new content and edits based on invaluable player feedback.

For those eager to join the journey and support Tales of the Valiant RPG, Kobold Press invites them to sign up to be notified as soon as the Kickstarter goes live. With promises of thrilling adventures and the chance to shape the game’s future, the countdown to the Kickstarter launch has generated a buzz of anticipation among fans and role-playing enthusiasts worldwide.

ToV rules will be available in two books: the Player’s Guide and Monster Vault. The Player’s Guide includes 13 base classes, lineages and heritages from classic fantasy roleplaying, and the rules you need to play or GM, all between two covers. The Monster Vault includes every dungeon-crawling and fire-belching fantasy creature you need to craft compelling fantasy encounters.

The team behind the game, Kobold Press, has been working with the growing 5E community to create an open, independent version of 5th Edition. The new Core Fantasy Roleplaying rules will form the basis for Tales of the Valiant, which will be available to everyone under an open, perpetual, and irrevocable license.

During development, Kickstarter backers will get an inside track with two additional sets of playtest material. This provides an excellent opportunity for players to give feedback on the game and help shape its development. Those who sign up to be notified when the Kickstarter launches will be among the first to know about it and become one of the Valiant.

The playtesting process allows designers to receive feedback from players and make changes accordingly. In this latest packet, there are four new options being tested, including flat damage, low-CR hit points, doom points, and improved rules around stealth and perception.

Flat damage is a change that provides a single number for damage rather than variable/rolled damage. The advantage of this change is that it removes some burden from the Game Master (GM), providing quicker, cleaner combat when there are a lot of attack rolls. However, early feedback has suggested that some groups may not like this change, and the designers are still considering both flat and variable damage.

Low-CR hit points is a change aimed at making SRD monsters match the power curve of the Tome of Beasts, a book of monsters with higher challenge ratings. The goal is to make low-CR creatures more challenging, and experienced GMs are already familiar with adding extra hit points to standard 5E monsters to achieve this.

Doom points give powerful creatures and boss monsters a way to add drama and throw a wrench in heroic plans. They can improve a monster’s odds on the attack, provide disadvantage on a saving throw, or empower certain rare, one-time abilities. This mechanic is somewhat like ki points for monks combined with legendary actions, and it aims to work across monster design as a whole.

Finally, improved rules around stealth and perception aim to make these elements of gameplay easier and more straightforward for both monsters and heroes.

The playtest feedback form is open for another week, and players are encouraged to try out the new monsters, provide feedback, and let the designers know what hits, what misses, and what surprises them. Tales of the Valiant has been gaining popularity among RPG players, and with these latest updates, it looks like it will continue to offer exciting adventures and challenging encounters for years to come.

According to Kobold Press, “Tales of the Valiant” will be based on the new Core Fantasy Roleplaying rules, which will be available in two books: The Player’s Guide and Monster Vault. The Player’s Guide will include 13 base classes, lineages, and heritages from classic fantasy roleplaying, along with the rules needed to play or GM, all within two covers. The Monster Vault, on the other hand, will include every dungeon-crawling and fire-belching fantasy creature that players need to craft compelling fantasy encounters.

The game is expected to go to Kickstarter in May 2023, with the shipping date set for 2024. During the development of “Tales of the Valiant,” Kickstarter backers will receive an inside track with two additional sets of playtest material.

Kobold Press is committed to releasing Core Fantasy Roleplaying to everyone under an open, perpetual, and irrevocable license. It’s similar to the SRD, but more thorough. Fans who are interested in “Tales of the Valiant” can sign up now to be notified when the Kickstarter campaign launches.

“Tales of the Valiant” promises to be a bold and exciting new addition to the RPG landscape. Fans of Kobold Press and 5th Edition should definitely keep an eye out for this new game.