Tabletop publishers rally to support Ukraine with RollVsEvil initiative

To support Ukrainian citizens, a group of publishers and tabletop game designers are joining forces. RollVsEvil has launched its inaugural event, which was announced by Rita Birch (founders of Modiphius Entertainment) on Mar. 26. Private equity firms will match donations.

The announcement comes 27 days after Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, drawing international condemnation and displacing one-quarter of the country’s population. In a news release issued Wednesday, organizers said the goal was to “support small groups and charities working directly on the ground” providing “verifiable immediate results and […] changing lives.”

Joining in support of the inaugural event are other like-minded organizations, among them Chaosium, Cubicle 7, The Game Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA), Green Ronin Publishing, Magpie Games, Mantic Games, Mythic Games, Para Bellum, Paizo, Q-Workshop, R. Talsorian Games, Roll20, Steve Jackson Games, Steamforged Games, Titan Forge, and the UK Games Expo.

From today’s announcement:

The first event aims to keep it simple, asking interested gamers to “Just play a game” online or in-person on Saturday, March 26. The group suggests that each player commits a few dollars for playing, and during play, think up interesting ways to encourage donations — maybe pay a few dollars to re-roll the dice or draw another card! It’s up to you — keep it fun and simple, then pay your donations in to our fundraising page at www.rollvsevil.com.

Roll20 will be giving away a set of video games for free. It also gave examples of organizations that it currently supports.

• Funding for a group who are helping vulnerable persons — such as the disabled, LGBTQ+, or senior citizens with pets — to evacuate Ukraine.
• Help for Lviv, Kyiv and other cities in order to obtain specific medical supplies direct from the international producers.
• A group that works with Polish hostels, home to more than 3 million Ukrainian refugees fleeing the country for safety and security needs funding.
• Funding for the A21’s charity campaign on the borders to help combat human trafficking.
• Find supplies to donate such as food and camping equipment and ship them to the team in Ukraine.
• Supporting the work at icanhelp.host by Belarusians who fled persecution in Belarus.

RollVsEvil promises transparency as they move forward, and is offering “with evidence, photos, videos and testimonials to demonstrate the effect” of the donations it collects. Paul and Linda Wedgwood, Supernova Capital, will match any RollVsEvil donations up to $130,000