You Heard it Here Last S3E11

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Welcome to you heard it here last where we talk about news, you’ve already heard.

Well it’s finally happened. 

I don’t want to talk about it. I said you can’t make me talk about it. But I guess when I started down this podcast road it kinda became my job to talk about it. So here we go.

Tariffs.

https://www.enworld.org/threads/do-tariffs-apply-to-rpg-books-maybe-maybe-not.712908/

EN World posted an article titled Do Tariffs apply to RPG Books? Maybe, Maybe Not.

The article discusses an official exemption list which declares that "printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter in single sheets, whether or not folded" and "printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, other than in single sheets" are exempt from Tariffs.

This of course made people excited.

But then the other shoe dropped.

US Customs and Border Protection, in November 1989​ said

“In our opinion, heading 9504 provides the more specific description of the merchandise in issue. The modules enhance fantasy game play; they were not designed for passive reading.”

There are additions to this statement that basically define that rulebooks used for TTRPGs are not books, but games and therefore subject to Tariffs.

The rulings are 35 years old and have everyone confused. Many companies are looking for clarification and hoping that their may be more rulings on what is subject to Tariffs, specifically the 145% Tariffs regarding China.

To make this even more confusing I give you the landmark decision on June 28, 2024, In which the Supreme Court overruled the 40-year-old precedent of Chevron deference, which required courts to defer to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes.

In laymans terms the Supreme Court said that only the Legislative Branch of the Federal Government can make Federal Law. And only the President can issue and executive order. Laws cannot be made by agencies within the federal government.

In other words, the ultimate decision regarding TTRPG tariffs doesn’t lie with the US Customs, but with the President and the United States Congress.

The article ends with an excellent statement and what I believe is the key to all of this. “Whatever the tariffs, what is necessary for trade is stability.”

It’s kinda hard to plan for the future when the future changes everyday.

And now for something completely different (I hope I don’t get sued for that)

https://www.belloflostsouls.net/2025/05/rpg-travellers-new-campaign-the-singularity-evokes-sci-fi-grandeur-on-kickstarter-now.html

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jtas3/traveller-rpg-the-singularity-campaign?ref=discovery&term=Traveller&total_hits=85815&category_id=34

Traveller, the Sci-Fi roleplaying game currently published by Mongoose Publishing has just launched a Kickstarter for their new massive campaign “singularity”. It’s been a minute since we have had one of these huge, multibook campaigns for Traveller and this one looks to be pretty cool. The RPG will take you to the Throneworld of the 3rd Emperium, let you peruse the archives of Reference, chart the Sylean Main. And, put charted space in your wake.

I only hope it’s organized better then Pirates of Drinax.