Beyond The Barrier- An RPG Web Series By Initium

When Dead Gentlemen Productions gave us The Gamers we all sat up and took notice. While the project was a little silly, more than a little campy, and definitely under-funded, there was a soul behind it. Something that made gamers of all backgrounds smile, nod, and think yeah, I've been there.

Thanks to Youtube, quality camera phones, and free editing software it's become easier than ever to make your own web series about your campaign. Also, while a lot of people have tried to follow in the footsteps of what Dead Gentlemen have done (the flip-flopping between the world we live in and the world the campaign is happening in), it's a hard formula to get just right. While they haven't perfected it, Initium is certainly aiming for the right stride and the right spirit.

Seriously, check this out...

For those of you who didn't watch it, or who were distracted by trying to figure out what part of the world the cast's accents are coming from, that's the pilot episode of Beyond the Barrier. In case you were wondering the thespians portraying their gaming selves are from the Netherlands. So now you know, and you can stop searching Youtube for how to capture that accent at your own gaming table.

Now, as I mentioned, this is just the pilot episode. While the Initium crew has a full plot arc they want to finish out, they're looking for a little help. That's why if you want to see the potential this campaign has come roaring to life you should check out their current Kickstarter campaign! It's got everything I just told you about, along with additional information, stretch goals, and what you can expect from this new, level 3 campaign.


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The Demon Hunters RPG, From Dead Gentlemen, is Back!

Most gamers know Dead Gentlemen Productions as the hilarious filmmakers responsible for movies like The Gamers and its sequel, The Gamers 2: Dorkness Rising. However, what my fellow tabletop enthusiasts might not know is that Dead Gentlemen has hooked up with a team of RPG professionals to produce a new roleplaying game. Demon Hunters RPG: A Comedy of Terrors.

Wait a second... what the hell is Ned doing here?

Hold On A Minute... I've Seen This Before!

Yes you have, and no you haven't. You see Demon Hunters began, like so many great things, at a college. The film achieved some serious regional success, and Dead Gentlemen Productions got straight to work on the sequel Dead Camper Lake. It took until 2008, but Dead Gentlemen partnered with Margaret Weiss Productions to release the first Demon Hunters Roleplaying Game.

The game managed to bring together both fun and laughter, and it made a splash with some gamers. Though it didn't become the new standard that everyone had to play, it got more than a little bit of press.

So Where Does The New Part Come In?

Well you see in April 2014 Demon Hunters was turned into a webcomic (didn't know that, did you?). The webcomic, which is located right here, reset large parts of the story's canon and changed many of the previous world rules. So since the story is changed it only makes sense to change the rest of the game too.

The new game will follow the new canon, but more than that it will also be using rules inspired by the Fate System, as opposed to what the previous rulebook had. It will be handy, dandy, and portable with a bible-sized book that will make double-checking rules look more like reading the forbidden text of an ancient grimoire.

Or at least it will, once Dead Gentlemen reach all of their Kickstarter campaign goals (go here to help!).

You can click the link in the last sentence to get all of the details, but Dead Gentlemen Productions have already wrapped up shooting for a new film that will be part of the upcoming RPG. So if you want to see more from this group the least you can do is spare a dollar to help them reach their goal

And if you can spare more than a dollar you can get killed in action! The highest honor a Demon Hunter could ask for.

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Dark Dungeons, The Movie!

That's right devil-worshiping RPG fans, one of Jack Chick's most well-known comics is being immortalized in film! Dark Dungeons, arguably one of Chick's most famous pieces, warned children and parents alike of the danger of Satan lurking behind garishly painted dragons and complicated character sheets. For those of you who have been waiting all this time, the trailer is now available for your viewing pleasure!

Whew! I didn't know I had that much sarcasm in me.

For those of you unfamiliar with Dark Dungeons (I'm assuming ALL of you have seen it at some point in time, being RPG fans), it was a Christian pamphlet drawn by infamous artist Jack Chick in 1984. If you want more information about who Chick is and what he does, check out this article here. However, before you get too upset about a movie dedicated to one of the biggest lies to come out of the Satanic Panic of the 1980s (namely that roleplaying games lead players to worship Satan and commit murder, suicide, or both), read the fine print on this movie's homepage here. You'll notice that the site is adamant that it is not making a parody, but is instead attempting to capture the feeling and message of the original Jack Chick comic.

You'll also notice the movie is being made by the same people who made The Gamers, Dorkness Rising, Hands of Fate, and Journey Quest. So I think we can safely say that this production will be extremely accurate to the source material, as there is no way to parody Chick tracts. All you can do is read them with a straight face, and let the laughter commence.

For more information on the Satanic Panic of the 1980s (perhaps the most embarrassing witch hunt in America's long history of witch hunts), check out this article. Also remember that Dark Dungeons is due for an August 14th release, so stay tuned and try to offer your support if you want to witness the resurrection of this little piece of history.


As always, thanks for stopping by Improved Initiative and checking out our Moon Pope Monday feature! To keep up with everything we're throwing out there, be sure to follow us on Facebook or on Tumblr.