The printer’s proof of the Torchbearer GM screen came in the other day. Here are some pictures!

As you can see from the first picture (with a die balanced on top of the screen), this sucker is super heavy-duty. Also, note the numbers on the inside of the screen. You can use sticky flags or paper clips to keep track of turns. I recommend using flags of different colors to represent light sources. Place the flags on the turn the light will go out; when the turn flag reaches the light flag, the light goes out!

Hello friends!

Today marks one year since the end of the Torchbearer Kickstarter campaign, and what a year it’s been!

With your help and support:

• We’ve made a gorgeous book and a beautiful set of cards
• We’ve released two new classes, the Paladin and the Thief
• We’ve built active communities of players at both the Burning Wheel forums and the Google+ Torchbearer Community
• We’ve released the Dread Crypt of Skogenby adventure
• We’ve partnered with David Petersen to release The Petersen Bestiary Vol 1 and Vol 2
• We’ve designed the Torchbearer Dungeoneers & Dragonslayers and Torchbearer Sagas licenses to make it simple to create and share or sell your own Torchbearer adventures, classes and more.

We couldn’t be more thrilled, and we owe it all to you, our backers and those who’ve joined us since. Thank you!

We have a lot more plans for Torchbearer in the coming year. We’re still hard at work on the Middarmark setting gazetteer. And there are plans for other offerings as well, including adventures and more.

But right now, we’re ready to announce the newest Torchbearer product: the Torchbearer Game Master’s screen!

Impenetrable Defenses

The Game Master’s screen is with the printer right now. It features a huge, full-color illustration on the front face by one of our favorite fantasy illustrators, Russ Nicholson himself! We think this is one of the best pieces of fantasy RPG art we’ve ever seen. Click here to decide for yourself. But those dragons dare you to disagree…

The GM Screen in action!

The version in the photos below is a mock-up; the final version will feature super heavy-duty cardstock. There are a number of useful tables and a handy turn-tracker along the top.

Can Dwarves Forge a GM Screen?

Designing a good GM screen has been a surprisingly challenging endeavor. Like the cards, we wanted to be sure to consider how you would actually use the thing in play. Therefore, we tested it a lot and tweaked details that we hope you appreciate. Not only did we consider what information to include on it, but getting the shape of it just right was of paramount importance to us.

For example, the central panel of the screen is nine inches wide, just wide enough for you to lay a piece of paper—your notes, or a map—inside the screen. We also made the wings—the left and right panels—extra long so you can configure it to conceal hidden information to the side, but also to open out and still remain stable. Neither did we want this to become a barrier to you and your players, so we kept the height to just seven inches.

The Wait Is Over, the Waiting Has Just Begun

We can’t wait for you get your hands on it and start playing with it. Nor should you have to. We’re making the printed screen available for preorder today. Those who preorder the physical version will also get a print and play version at no additional cost. The physical screens will ship in August.

You guys are the best. Here’s to another great Torchbearer year!

—Thor & Luke

Today marks a year since we launched the Torchbearer Kickstarter. It’s been a wild ride and there’s much more to come! For now though, we just want to say thank you to all our Kickstarter backers and those of you who have bought and played the game since it became available. You’re the best. Thanks!