Two days ago, on March 22^nd, subscribers to the Drivethrurpg.com newsletter received an email entitled “My Sincerest Apology.” The apology was for the Archetype of the Week feature of the latest newsletter, which, according to the email, “contained a racially insensitive passage.”

We at Hex Games contributed that Archetype of the Week entry and, as you might expect, we’ve gotten some questions about it. First, we’d like to make it clear that we would never intentionally write a piece that was racially insensitive. Secondly, we’d like to explain the thinking that led to the offending passage.

The passage in question, in the Noble Savage archetype, referred to the concept of the “Magical Negro.” This concept was popularized by Spike Lee and is explained in more detail here. This concept is in itself a criticism of a particular type of racism in movies and television. The author of the piece referenced this trope to point out the potential racism that can come along with the Noble Savage archetype.

Unfortunately, the explanation was not clear enough. The piece assumed a familiarity with the trope, which is clearly not as well-known as we thought it was, and did not adequately communicate the intent of including it. Some people understood what we intended, but some did not, and read the passage as racist. We apologize for this failure on our part.   

Racism exists, sexism exists, classism exists, ableism exists, privilege exists, and  these things are important to talk about. It's hard to do, and maybe we don't always do it as well as we would like, but we keep trying and we will keep on trying.  Those who we offended deserve both our apology and our effort to keep trying to have better conversations.

As a special holiday gift for you, the role-players of the world, Hex Games has released its latest product, All-Stars: Vice Squad, for free. That’s right: for zero dollars and zero cents, you can download 12 pages of full-color hilarity.

Over the years Paradigm City has been plagued by the worst of the worst--mad scientists, alien invaders, super-powered thugs, killer robots, gorilla gangsters, and more. As diverse as these villains are, they all have one thing in common: they are cooler than the Vice Squad. Led by Johnny Cigarette, the Vice Squad includes such D-list super-criminals as Timmy Too-Much-Bacon, Penny Slots, and Intra-Venus DeMilo. These hugely dysfunctional and (kinda sorta) super-powered individuals have joined together to revenge themselves on the world . . . or at least knock over the convenience store down the street and get some beef jerky, frozen burritos, and a few of those sandwiches that come in boxes.

This entirely free PDF gives you everything you need to insert the Vice Squad into your super-hero game, including stats of all seven Vice Squad members, plus their secret origins and backstories; the history of the Vice Squad’s hidden crime lair, with descriptions of some of the notable holes on the mini-golf course; and Dumb Tables, including random allies, capers, and convenience store loot.

Though you can use these characters in any game world, with any system, the Vice Squad is designed for use with All-Stars, the game of low-budget superheroics, and the QAGS rules system. Depending on the power level of your PC group, the Vice Squad can be used as comic relief or as the heroes’ (kinda sorta) archenemies. Or you can just use the Vice Squad as PCs. If you’re honest with yourself, you know that’s what you really want to do.

All-Stars—as well as the QAGS rulebook, Leopard Women of Venus, Edison Force, and more—can be purchased at www.hexgames.com and at the finer PDF sales sites. Vice Squad, as mentioned previously, costs no money at all.

For those who would like to sample QAGS before they buy it, the QAGS Qik Start Rules, which include everything you need to play, are available for download at www.hexgames.com, absolutely free (like Vice Squad.)

All-Stars: Vice Squad is written by Steve “All-Stars” Johnson, Leighton “Laser Ponies” Connor, Josh “J.I.N.G.O.” Burnett, and Carter “Hobomancer” Newton, with a cover by Jeffrey Johnson.

Be bad guys. Have more fun!

There's been a bunch of stuff going on lately. Here's a sampling:

• Hobomancer is turning out to be a lot bigger than we originally planned (in a good way), so we're pushing back the release date to early 2012. Trust us, it's worth the wait. To keep up with the latest Hobomancer news and cool hobo-related music and links, follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
• We recently met up for a planning meeting for the new edition of M-Force, which we'll be releasing in mid-2012. M-Force also has its own Facebook and Twitter feeds, if you'd like to keep up with the latest news on the project. You can also learn more about M-Force at www.kickmonsterbutt.com.
• While we were in Louisville for the M-Force meeting, we were interviewed by the All Games Considered crew. You can listen to the interview here.
• Hex Games picked up 3 Gold and 3 Silver Oggie Awards, including a sweep of the Artist of the Year Category by Hex artists Jeffrey Johnson and Katie Staffiera.
• All-Stars, Roller Girls Vs., and Fratboys Vs. are now available in print format through Drivethrurpg.com.

There's probably other stuff we're forgetting, but those are the highlights. For up-to-the-minute Hex news, like the QAGS Second Edition page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Happy Holidays!

Hex Games has just released Sindbad and the Sword of Kingship, a swashbuckling Arabian Nights adventure.

The world is of full of wonder--and danger--and Sindbad is about to find out just how full because, even on shore, he can’t keep out of the way of adventure. Sindbad and the Sword of Kingship takes our hero and his crew first into the highest halls of power and then across the seas in quest of a singular treasure. 

Sindbad and the Sword of Kingship is an adventure for Hex Games’ The Adventures of Sindbad that uses the QAGS Second Edition rules. It includes colorful characters, magical artifacts, secrets of the Island of Mystery, and new sailing rules.
Sindbad and the Sword of Kingship—as well as the QAGS rulebook, The Adventures of Sindbad, Mountains of the Moon: Sindbad in East Africa, Sindbad and the Demon Pumpkin, and more—can be purchased in PDF form at www.hexgames.com and at the finer PDF sales sites for just $2.99.

For those who would like to sample QAGS before they buy it, the QAGS Qik Start Rules, which include everything you need to play Sindbad and the Sword of Kingship, are available for download at www.hexgames.com, absolutely free.

Sindbad and the Sword of Kingship is written by Hex's scholar of all things Arab and Arabian, Ian Engle, and illustrated by Joshua LH Burnett and Leighton Connor.

Live Bigger Legends. Have More Fun!