The Gauntlet (tabletop games producer)

Last updated
The Gauntlet
Industry Tabletop role-playing games, Podcasting
FounderJason Cordova
Website https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/

The Gauntlet is a publisher/producer of tabletop role-playing games and podcasts. Their publications include Trophy RPG and Brindlewood Bay. In addition to game books, they publish a monthly game zine called Codex to encourage experimentation in indie role-playing games and OSR. [1] Their games and podcasts have won multiple ENNIE Awards. As of November 2024, The Gauntlet has raised over one million dollars USD on Kickstarter and BackerKit combined.

Contents

Publishing/Production History

Games

The Between was written by Jason Cordova and crowdfunded on BackerKit in November 2024, raising $289,681. The Between is a Victorian era monster-hunting game based on the Brindlewood Bay rules. It is scheduled for digital release in April 2025 and physical release in November 2025. [2]

Trophy RPG was written by Jesse Ross and published in 2022. It is a dark fantasy game [3] [4] and was funded on Kickstarter with $210,141 from 2,543 backers. [5] Trophy won the 2023 Silver ENNIE Award for “Best Game,” and was nominated in 2 additional categories: "Best Rules," and "Product of the Year." [6] Trophy is designed for both one-shot games via Trophy Dark and ongoing campaigns though Trophy Gold. [3] Gauntlet has published a related campaign setting book titled Trophy Loom. [7]

Brindlewood Bay was written by Jason Cordova and published in 2022. It is a murder mystery game [8] [9] and was funded on Kickstarter with $477,518 from 7,748 backers. [10] It won the 2023 Gold ENNIE Award for "Best Electronic Book." [11]

Hearts of Wulin was written by Agatha Cheng and Lowell Francis and published in 2021. It is a Wuxia game that uses the Powered by the Apocalypse framework [12] and was funded on Kickstarter with $38,262 from 1,332 backers. [13] Hearts of Wulin was featured on One Shot Podcast Network. [14] [15]

Podcasts

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References

  1. Codega, Linda (2021-12-22). "Small but mighty: Independent TTRPG presses work toward equity in game design". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  2. "The Between". BackerKit. 2024-11-03. Retrieved 2024-11-19.
  3. 1 2 Theel, Charles (2022-10-24). "Trophy Dark is the role-playing game that offers doom instead of glory". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  4. Carter, Chase (2022-01-06). "10 most anticipated new tabletop RPGs coming out in 2022". Polygon. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  5. "Track Trophy RPG's Kickstarter campaign on BackerTracker". BackerKit. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  6. "2023 Nominations – ENNIE Awards" . Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  7. Marks, Aaron (February 12, 2020). "The Independents: Trophy". Cannibal Halfling Gaming. Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  8. "Beyond D&D: The 12 TTRPGs you're not playing, but really should be". SYFY Official Site. 2021-08-02. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  9. Wieland, Rob. "Five More Standout Powered By The Apocalypse Games". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  10. "Pre-order Brindlewood Bay: Cozy Murder Mystery RPG on BackerKit". BackerKit. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  11. "2023 Nominations – ENNIE Awards" . Retrieved 2023-07-08.
  12. Gailloreto, Coleman (2021-03-22). "Tabletop RPGs Set In The Chinese Wuxia Genre". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  13. "Track Hearts of Wulin's Kickstarter campaign on BackerTracker". BackerKit. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  14. Represent, Asians (2019-04-25). "Hearts of Wulin ft. Agatha!". The One Shot Podcast. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  15. Cast, Character Creation (2019-05-06). "Series 16.1 – Hearts of Wulin with Lowell Francis [The Gauntlet] and Agatha Cheng [Asians Represent] (Creation)". The One Shot Podcast. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  16. "2018 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards" . Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  17. "2021 Nominees and Winners – ENNIE Awards" . Retrieved 2023-04-17.