RENEGADE LEGION UNIVERSE RPG

BUDGIE SMUGGLER GAMES TO BRING RENEGADE LEGION RPG TO TABLES

Newly-Imagined Universe to Be Designed for Diverse Storytelling

SYDNEY, Australia | TAMPA, Florida, February 16, 2022 – Prepare for launch: a role-playing game set in the newly imagined Renegade Legion Universe will soon open for players to tell in-depth, mature, diverse stories in humanity’s galactic future.

Create and share with other players stories of adventure, mystery, exploration, romance, horror, and more in the vast future, set in the middle of a titanic war for galactic control. XENOVITA will be the official RPG for the updated Renegade Legion Universe (RLU). Part of BSG’s multi-game interconnected vision for the RLU, XENOVITA will provide players and gamemasters vast opportunities to create epic and personal stories in nearly every genre.

Originally, BSG planned on a crowdfunding campaign for CENTURION, a tabletop miniatures wargame complete with finished miniatures, dice, cards, and more. “Due to the current volatility of the international manufacturing and printing industries because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” says Joshua Perian, one of BSG’s founders, “we made the hard decision to put our CENTURION game on hold, in part to keep costs down for backers and future players.” Preliminary work had already begun on XENOVITA for a 2023 funding campaign, so the projects were switched.

“We started building momentum for our universe with VOICES OF VARUNA, an anthology we put out last May to start introducing the setting to the public,” says Matt Alexander, another of BSG’s founders. “After reviewing the rising costs of shipping and materials, we discussed it and realized we could really take advantage of the situation and move the RPG to the front.” The move made further sense when the development team all indicated they were available to shepherd the project along in 2022.

The XENOVITA RPG project will be helmed by Ben H. Rome, Kelli Fitzpatrick, and Derek Tyler Attico. “We’re really excited to have these three talented authors and developers heading up XENOVITA,” says Josh. “Their range of experience and creativity is already moving the game into exciting places.”

Kelli Fitzpatrick is a science fiction and fantasy author, freelance editor, and contributing writer to the Star Trek Adventures role-playing game from Modiphius. Her Star Trek story “The Sunwalkers” won the Strange New Worlds 2016 contest, and her essays on pop culture media appear online at StarTrek.com and Women at Warp, and in print from Sequart and ATB Publishing. She is a strong advocate of the arts, public education, and gender rights and representation. “Creating unique and compelling science fiction worlds is my passion, in both fiction and RPGs,” Kelli says, “so I’m excited to help craft XENOVITA into a game of nuance and possibility. I’m thrilled to get to work with Ben and Derek, whose imaginations are unparalleled.”

Derek Attico is a science fiction author and essayist from New York City. He is a winner of the Excellence in Playwriting Award from the Dramatist Guild of America and a two-time winner of the Star Trek Strange New Worlds short story contest. Derek is also a contributing writer to the Star Trek Adventures role-playing game from Modiphius Entertainment. "It’s not every day you’re invited to create a new universe, and to do it with people you know and respect," Derek commented. "Working with the incredible talent of Ben and Kelli is going to be an amazing creative and collaborative endeavor. I’m looking forward to venturing into the unknown and creating a game that will thrill, challenge, and entertain the diverse RPG community!"

Ben H. Rome is a science fiction author, game designer, content strategist, and worldbuilder. He spent 17 years as a contributing writer, editor, and developer to Catalyst Game Labs’ BattleTech property, including eight years (2008 – 2016) as assistant line developer. Ben has received two Origins Game Awards for Best Miniatures Game Supplements and nominated for a third, as well as the recipient of more than 25 marketing and content awards in the nonprofit association space. He has published 15 short stories and was lead editor of VOICES OF VARUNA, BSG’s first anthology for the RLU, published in 2021. “I’m excited to partner with Kelli and Derek on this project,” says Ben. “The potential for diverse storytelling in this universe is incredible, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this game will inspire amazing stories from all kinds of players the world over.”

BSG will be sharing development blogs from the dev team through the company’s RLU Patreon. The company is currently releasing “Renegade Insights” to subscribers, providing short fiction, development notes, and in-universe articles. “We’re also planning a steady stream of social media content, too, as we build towards the Gamefound campaign,” says Ben. “It’s the best way to stay up-to-date on info about XENOVITA, as well as opportunities to join our Alpha and Beta playtest groups.” BSG plans on a few rounds of internal and select-group playtests of the RPG rulesets prior to the campaign, so potential funders can get a taste of the game as it develops. A call for XENOVITA writers and artists will happen around the time of the Gamefound campaign.

XENOVITA is tentatively planned to hit Gamefound in late 2022.

ABOUT BUDGIE SMUGGLER GAMES
BSG is a diverse array of tabletop, design, and gaming industry veterans dedicated to creating fun, easy-to-play gaming experiences. BSG content creators have produced official gaming content for industry legends like Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, Leviathans, BattleTech, and more. BSG firmly believes gaming is a place to make friends and tell stories, some of which will last a lifetime. Sharing this passion for games and interesting stories with others is the most enjoyable part of what they do.

PRESS CONTACT
Name: Ben H. Rome
Email: submissions @ budgiesmugglergames.com
Patreon: Renegade Legion Universe
Website: budgiesmugglergames.com