Welcome home. This is Audio EXP, the weekly podcast from Geek Native. I am your host, Girdy, and we have a very busy end to April to cover.

https://soundcloud.com/geeknative/audio-exp-podcast-april-25th

[The following is a transcript of Audio EXP: #330]

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We are looking at a rough week for physical conventions, a significant restructuring of a dark fantasy classic, and a cinematic victory for a film that almost never saw the light of day. Let us get right into the news.

Before we dive into the headlines, I want to say a huge thank you to all our patrons. Your continued support is what makes the site possible. As we close out the month, it is your absolute last chance to vote for the May Roleplaying Game Publisher Spotlight. Your candidates this month are:

If you are a patron, please make sure you head over to the Patreon page right now to cast your vote.

Transparency concerns as WizardCon 2 shuts down days before opening

Starting with the events sector, it has been a deeply frustrating week for the community and vendors alike. We have seen transparency concerns explode as WizardCon 2 shut down just days before its scheduled opening. Fans and traders who invested significant time and money have been left scrambling for answers. Compounding the bad news for physical events, the London Film and Comic Con has officially cancelled its 2026 convention, blaming flight costs. The organisers highlighted the severe economic pressures currently facing large-scale fan gatherings.

London Film and Comic Con cancels 2026 event, blaming flight costs

Moving over to the tabletop, Free League Publishing is celebrating a major milestone. The acclaimed dark fantasy roleplaying game Symbaroum is returning, with the publisher restructuring the product line for its 10th anniversary. The updated format is designed to streamline the entry point for new players wanting to explore the treacherous, corruption-filled forest of Davokar, consolidating rules while keeping the deadly, atmospheric mechanics entirely intact.

Symbaroum returns: Free League restructures dark fantasy RPG for its 10th anniversary

Staying with the business of tabletop publishing, we are seeing a significant shift in how games are funded. We are looking at the CarlRPG effect and how BackerKit is rewriting the roleplaying games rulebook. The platform is increasingly challenging the traditional dominance of Kickstarter by offering robust tools tailored specifically for tabletop creators, and this recent campaign is proving exactly how lucrative that alternative ecosystem has become.

The CarlRPG effect: How BackerKit is rewriting the roleplaying games rulebook

Over in the world of cinema, there is a lot to discuss. First, we are asking if blue skin, dark humour, and British grit can help Rogue Trooper conquer the global box office. The adaptation of the legendary 2000 AD comic character has a lot of cultural weight behind it, and bringing that specific brand of British science fiction to a broad international audience is a bold move.

Blue skin, dark humour, and British grit: Can Rogue Trooper conquer the global box office?

Speaking of bold cinematic moves, Will Forte takes on the Acm...

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