5 on Friday 12/12/25

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It’s Friday, and here on No Rerolls that means it’s time for an all-new 5 on Friday. We’re going to start with 5 exciting releases for this week before moving on to our usual digest of some of our favourite articles from the past week. Of course, we’re slow readers, so don’t be surprised if there are some articles that are a little older – these are just some of the great articles we happen to have actually read in the past week.

Releases & Previews

Every week there are many games, books, and miniatures released. This will probably be a mix of previews, preorders, and releases, and with release dates being the way they are in this industry, it’s always pretty approximate. Excuses out of the way, here are 5 of the releases that caught our attention this week:

Games Workshop releases Warhammer Quest: Darkwater – Games Workshop’s newest dungeon crawler, Warhammer Quest: Darkwater, plunges players into the corrupted Jade Abbey. Heroes must band together against Nurgle’s forces in a co‑op campaign that mixes tense exploration with brutal combat.

The box is packed with detailed miniatures, both grotesque daemons and desperate adventurers, alongside streamlined rules that make play accessible but still punishing. With replayable quests and campaign options, Darkwater continues the Warhammer Quest tradition of character‑driven stories in the Mortal Realms. I’ll be picking this up both as a game in itself, and for all those lovely Nurgle miniatures!

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Wizkids to release Proliferation expansion for Sidereal Confluence – Sidereal Confluence: Proliferation is the new expansion for the cult‑favorite trading and negotiation game, adding fresh alien civilisations and mechanics to the already chaotic interstellar marketplace.

With new factions, variant modules, and expanded options for deals and resource engines, Proliferation deepens the game’s wild economic diplomacy. It keeps the frenetic energy of the original while offering seasoned players more variety and replayability, making every confluence even more unpredictable and rewarding.

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Wizards of the Coast releases a new Forgotten Realms supplement for Dungeons & Dragons – Last week, we looked at the GM-centric Forgotten Realms book. Today, we look at the player-facing supplement. Whether you’re a Harper, a Zhent, or something stranger, this book lets you write your legend:

Inside the book, you’ll find 8 subclasses, 34 feats, 18 backgrounds, and a primer on 42 gods. Circle Magic adds a fresh twist to spellcasting, and faction play gets mechanical teeth. It’s Faerûn, but with player-first depth.

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Alion Games releases Tax the Rich – Alion Games’ Tax the Rich is a sharp, satirical card game where players compete to outwit billionaires, dodge loopholes, and redistribute wealth. Fast‑paced and irreverent, it turns economic critique into tabletop fun.

With mechanics that parody tax shelters, audits, and political influence, the game blends humour with biting social commentary. Tax the Rich invites players to laugh at the absurdities of wealth inequality while scheming their way to victory, making it both a playful party game and a pointed cultural statement.

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Preorders are up for Magic the Gathering’s Lorwyn Eclipsed set – Lorwyn Eclipsed is Magic: The Gathering’s long‑awaited return to the beloved Lorwyn–Shadowmoor plane, releasing in January 2026. The set revisits the whimsical yet eerie world of changelings, fae, and elves, now transformed under a new eclipse‑driven storyline.

Packed with hybrid mechanics, typal synergies, and returning keywords like Changeling, Evoke, Persist, and Transform, Lorwyn Eclipsed blends nostalgia with fresh design. Iconic characters such as Ashling and Sygg reappear in new forms, while showcase treatments and Commander decks expand the set’s reach across formats. For players who loved the original’s mix of light and dark, this expansion promises both a celebration of Lorwyn’s past and a bold new chapter for its future.

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Blog Posts & Articles

The meat of 5 on Friday, the articles are listed in no particular order, so let’s get into some recommendations: 

BGG Top Games – 1201 Through 1300 @ Dude! Take Your Turn! – From this section of the BGG list, I’ve only played 3 games and own a further one that I’ve not yet played. The games played were Tsuro, Ticket to Ride New York, and Smash Up. Merchant of Venice is one that’s been in the pile of shame for a long time.

Middenland Swordsmen @ Lair of the Lagomorph – Classic miniatures! Middenheim is one of the coolest cities in the Empire. I do like the cult of Ulric and their associated units. These swordsmen look great!

The High Republic: Cataclysm @ Spalanz– I don’t know much about The High Republic as an era. I’ve not read any of the books or comics. My only knowledge of it comes from The Acolyte, which I did enjoy.

Dragonmeet 2025 part 1: The numbers @ Lunarshadow Designs – I always enjoy these posts from Lunarshadow Designs. I appreciate the openness and transparency in understanding the finances behind indie publishers in this industry.

The Form Factor – alternatives to the 4 hour Session @ Burn After Running – This article argues that shorter, more flexible play structures could make TTRPGs more accessible, spotlighting formats like the 1–2 hour one‑shot, the four‑session “mini‑campaign,” the immersive weekend Longcon, and even campaigns built from linked one‑shots. These can all offer satisfying experiences without the burden of endless, unfinished epics. 

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There have been a few posts here since my last 5 on Friday:

No new miniatures this week. Current totals:

Purchased: 82
Painted: 180
Given Away: 29

Catch you next week!

3 Comments

  2. Pingback: 5 on Friday 19/12/25 – No Rerolls

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