Thoughts of an Inn Keeper: How Tariffs Are Reshaping the TTRPG Industry

If you've been keeping an eye on your favorite indie RPG publishers lately, you may have noticed something unusual: delayed Kickstarter fulfillments, price hikes on hardcovers, and a wave of publisher statements about something that feels decidedly un-fantastical — import tariffs. It turns out that geopolitics rolls a natural 20 whether we want it to or not, or, to put it in Daggerheart terms, always succeeds, usually with Fear, and the sweeping US trade policy changes of 2025 have landed squarely on the tabletop gaming hobby we all love.

The "Liberation Day" Shockwave

In April 2025, a sweeping new US tariff plan introduced import duties of 10% on all goods, with significantly higher rates — sometimes exceeding 50% — on products from specific countries, including China. For an industry that relies heavily on overseas printing and manufacturing, the timing couldn't have been worse. A huge portion of TTRPG physical products — from hardcover rulebooks to dice sets to miniatures — are produced abroad, meaning nearly every publisher in the space was suddenly staring down an enormous, unplanned cost increase.

The Game Manufacturer's Association (GAMA) didn't mince words, calling a 54% tariff on Chinese products "dire news for the tabletop industry and the broader US economy." Publishers across the board echoed the alarm.

Publishers Sound Off

Some of the most respected names in the TTRPG space were unusually candid about their situation. Kobold Press put it plainly: each hardcover printed outside the US would cost between 20% and 54% more to produce — an increase, they said, that companies like theirs simply cannot absorb and stay in business. Chaosium announced it would need to raise book and board game prices, while also warning of potential delays as it explored new manufacturing locations and supply chains.

Atlas Games described being caught in genuine uncertainty — afraid to even place print orders because, between placing an order and receiving the goods, tariff rates could change dramatically. Some publishers began delaying reprints of beloved titles entirely, opting to wait for clearer skies rather than risk being hit mid-shipment.

The Indie Squeeze

The pain hits hardest at the indie level. Tabletop publishing has always operated on notoriously thin margins — it's a passion industry where a $50 book might net a small publisher just a few dollars of profit per copy after printing, shipping, and retailer cuts. A sudden 10–54% increase in production costs doesn't just hurt — for many small creators, it's existential.

Black Armada Games co-owner and designer Becky Annison summed up the year by saying that geopolitical developments "much bigger than our tiny industry created uncertainties that cost us time, money, and opportunities." That quiet resignation is telling. These aren't faceless corporations — they're often two- or three-person studios run by people who genuinely love this hobby.

The ripple effects are visible in crowdfunding too. Kickstarter and Gamefound campaigns in the second half of 2025 showed a notable slowdown, with a TTRPG Insider analysis pointing to fewer big players and more cautious backers. Some platforms began adjusting their policies to better protect backers from tariff-driven fulfillment failures, a sign of just how systemic the issue had become.

The Silver Lining: A Digital and Zine Renaissance

Not all of the fallout has been grim. If necessity is the mother of invention, the tariff crisis has been surprisingly generative for certain corners of the hobby. Publishers are increasingly pivoting toward digital-first releases, print-on-demand (POD) models through services like DriveThruRPG, and small-format zine products that are cheaper and easier to produce domestically. These formats have lower overhead, sidestep import costs entirely, and — bonus — often embrace the kind of experimental, DIY aesthetic that many players love.

There's also a renewed appreciation for PDFs and VTT-compatible products. If anything, the past year has accelerated a shift that was already underway: physical books as premium collectibles, with digital as the primary access point.

What This Means for Players

For those of us sitting at the table (physical or virtual), the practical takeaway is straightforward: physical TTRPG products are going to cost more, at least in the near term. A hardcover that was $55 last year may creep toward $65 or $70. Shipping on international orders — especially for those who order directly from smaller publishers based abroad — may include new surcharges that can run $80 to $200 per package in some cases.

The best thing fans can do right now is support their favorite publishers directly when possible.

The best thing fans can do right now is support their favorite publishers directly when possible. Buy PDFs. Back Kickstarters early. Leave reviews. Spread the word on your podcast (hint hint). The indie TTRPG scene is resilient, creative, and deeply community-driven — but it needs that community to show up.

Rolling for the Future

Just as this piece was being drafted by our Inn Keepers, the landscape shifted dramatically. On February 20, 2026, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that the sweeping IEEPA tariffs exceeded the powers given to the president by Congress — a major rebuke that sent shockwaves through the trade world and, by extension, the TTRPG industry.

For publishers who spent all of 2025 scrambling to adapt, the ruling is genuinely welcome news. The "Liberation Day" tariffs that sent production costs soaring are now struck down. But before anyone starts celebrating with an extra set of polyhedral dice, there's an important caveat: within hours of the decision, Trump announced new across-the-board tariffs of 10% under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 — and the next day raised them to 15%. The Section 122 tariffs come with a clock attached, expiring in 150 days unless Congress votes to extend them, but the broader uncertainty is far from resolved.

In short: the worst of the tariff storm may be over, but we're not in clear skies yet. The Supreme Court's decision removed one instrument from the tariff toolkit, but experts warn it has done nothing to make US trade policy more predictable — if anything, it may herald even greater volatility.

For TTRPG publishers, the practical impact is still unfolding. The structural changes forced by 2025 — the pivot toward digital-first releases, zines, and print-on-demand — aren't going away, nor should they. Many of those adaptations turned out to be genuinely good for the hobby. But there's cautious optimism that physical production costs may stabilize, and that the existential dread hanging over small publishers may begin to lift.

As always with tabletop gaming, the outcome depends on what happens next. The dice are still in the air — but for the first time in a while, there's a real chance they land in the industry's favor.

Have thoughts on how tariffs have affected your buying habits or your favorite publishers? Let us know in the comments.

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-The Inn Keeper-

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