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Welcome to you heard it here last, where we talk about news, you’ve already heard.

https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/parable-games/ion-heart-multiplayer-a-lo-fi-mech-ttrpg/launch_party

The fantastic Ion Heart a solo roleplaying game from Parable Games where you take on the role of a mech and it’s pilot is making the leap to multiplayer. Christina and I reviewed the Ion Heart Solo game for Pop Geeks last year and we are getting ready to dive in and give this one a review as well so look for that review to drop in the next month or so. I am looking forward to seeing how the quirky and fun game translates into a multiplayer platform and I really love everything that’s coming out of Parable Games right now.

Christina, I know you haven’t seen the game, but any thoughts?

[Kick to Christina]

Mike, while you didn’t review the game you have a lot of history with solo roleplaying games, you wrote one yourself with the Radiance Engine. What are your initial thoughts on taking a solo game and turning it into a multiplayer game.

[Kick to Mike]

Ion Heart dropped to Bakerkit on March 24th, so check it out.

Next up we’ve got an upcoming tabletop roleplaying game covering one of my favorite anima films, Ghost in the Shell.

https://www.enworld.org/threads/a-second-ghost-in-the-shell-ttrpg-is-on-its-way.718020/

Mantic Games has announced that the new Ghost in the Shell TTRPG will be based solely off of the acclaimed manga. The plan to publish the TTRPG in 2026. The game uses an all-new system created by Alessio Cavatore of Games Workshop fame and Zak Barouh a writer, editor, and game designer. While I am not very familiar with the manga, I was a huge fan of the 1995 film. That film and Akira opened my eyes to Japanese animation. There have been attempts at turning the source material into a game before and this one isn’t the only Ghost in The Shell game planned for 2026. Mana Project Studio has raised over 500,000 dollars on their kickstarter for a Ghost in the Shell project.

I’m not familiar with Mantic Games, but I do own Mana Project Studios Cowboy BeBop game and lets just say I don’t plan on picking up their version in the future so this one might be a great alternative.

Christina, what do you think about Ghost in the Shell and Mantic Games diving into this source material for a ttrpg?

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J.R.R Tolkien famously argued in his landmark essay “The Monsters and the Critics” that the monsters in a story aren't just obstacles; they are the externalization of the impossible odds that make a hero’s victory meaningful.

Christopher Vogler in his book The Writer’s Journey said, "Every villain is the hero of his own story." And George R. R. Martin has said many times that the most compelling villains are those who believe they are doing a heroic act on Tuesday and something horrible on Wednesday.

Villains are arguably the most important part of any story which means, they are an important part of your game.

In this episode Mike, Christina and I are going to talk about Villains. We are going to share some of our favorite villains from films and books and we are going to talk about some of our favorite villains from roleplaying games.

Christina, kick us off with the first villain that made you realize how important villains were to the story?

[Kick to Christina]

Mike, I know you are going to say Darth Vader at some point in today’s episode, so I decided to say it first. But seriously same question, who was the first villain that made you realize the importance of villains.

[Kick to Mike]

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Welcome to you heard it hear last, where we talk about news, you’ve already heard.

Well, I guess it was only a matter of time.

Deadline announced that Balder’s Gate 3 is coming to TV.

https://www.enworld.org/threads/there%E2%80%99s-a-baldur%E2%80%99s-gate-tv-show-coming.717787/

Deadline Hollywood, the entertainment news site has reported that Balder’s Gate 3 is coming to HBO and it is being run by the co-creator of the Last of Us, another TV show adapted from a game.

Craig Mazin will “create, write, executive produce and showrun” the TV adaptation. Other executive producers include Hasbro's Gabriel Marano, plus Jacqueline Lesko and Cecil O'Connor.

Chris Perkins—who used to work at WotC but now works at Darrington Press—will be acting as a consultant for the show.

Larian Studios, which made the bestselling video game, is not involved with the TV show.

Ok, So the company that made the game has nothing to do with it. The co-creator of the Last of Us that had an incredible first season and an abysmal second season is putting it together, and Chirs Perkins is climbing back into bed with Hasbro as a consultant.

To quote another favorite movie of mine, “It’s a trap, get an axe.”

Christina what do make of this announcement.

[Kick to Christina]

Mike, What about you.

[Kick to Mike.]

Next up we have some news that’s a little closer to home, and unlike most of our news, this will be the first time you’ve heard of it.

Leviathan Rising will debut at GenCon 2026.

Leviathan Rising is a brand-new tabletop roleplaying game designed to simulate disaster films and specifically those creature features like Godzilla. It’s got an inventive new mechanic that incorporates the chaos that happens when everything around you is coming apart. And to make it all sweeter, the game is written by our very own Dr. Christina.

The game won’t be available for sale yet, but you will be able to sign up for games being run and demo’d by Christina herself.

Christina, give us some details about the demo’s you will be running at GenCon this year.

[Kick to Christina]

Mike, you’ve seen the game, what are your thoughts?

[Kick to Mike]

So, if you are going to GenCon this year look for Leviathan Rising and sign up for a demo from Christina.

And that’s all the news you’ve already heard.