Independent card game developer Diving Dragon Games is looking for a little monetary love to print its next two sets and reprint its Beta Edition set.

If you want more opponents, and you’re anywhere near Charlottesville, Virginia (USA), check out ColumbiaCon, held February 22 through 26, 2012. Here’s why…

In a move that stunned and amazed role playing gamers everywhere, Wizards of the Coast (WoTC) announced a re-release of the original three hardcover Advanced Dungeons and Dragons books: the Monster Manual, the Player’s Handbook, and the Dungeon Master’s Guide. Just like in the old days, the Dungeon Master’s guide is a bit more expensive at $45 (it was $15 when it was released), with the others at $35 (original price was $12).

The first big box wargames came from a series by Milton Bradley almost 30 years ago. Axis and Allies, the most popular game in the series by far, spawned an entire line of related games, now from Hasbro. A somewhat distant second was Fortress America, set in the near future when America is invaded on three fronts by forces from Europe, Asia, and South America.

Each of those continents fields an army as big as America’s, and in any fair fight, America would stand little chance.

The fifth edition of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) is in development ends months of heated speculation.

Buying a computer game as a surprise for someone else is a snap: Find something with top reviews, plunk down $50 and you’re set.

Granted, “find something good and give it” works in theory but, when it comes to buying for tabletop gamers, there’s a hidden risk: You might have to actually play the game.

This year’s lineup focuses on stuff that you can be comfortable giving, and you stand a real chance of having fun even if you normally want nothing to do with funny dice games:

Title: Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Beginner BoxPrice: $34.99Release Date: 2011Publisher: PaizoAge: 10 and olderPros: Gorgeous glossy artwork, many examples, solid introduction, minimal start-up timeCons: Only 4 blank character sheets included, no pencilOverall Score: Two thumbs up, 96/100, A, ***** out of 5

Wizard Kings is a fantasy wargame from Columbia Games. While scenarios vary, players generally control a fantasy race or faction, led by – you guessed it – a wizard king capable of casting battle-altering spells.

ePawn, a company based in Paris, France, is set to reveal a very interesting product at CES 2012 next month. It’s called ePawn Arena, and it hopes to become another primary way in which we interact with games. ePawn Arena is hoping to capture success due to the very positive reaction to toy-dependent games such as Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. It’ll do this by offering a 26-inch tablet-like display along with real game pieces.

There have been a few Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) movies, hordes of D&D computer games, and uncountable fantasy knock-offs clearly influenced by D&D, so it’s high time for a documentary on the origins of the game that spawned the entire genre of role playing games.