Blog Archives - Evil Genius Games

NachoConline 2026, February 7-8

Welcome everyone to our second annual NachoConline, the online convention for Everyday Heroes and the E.G.O. program! We are excited to share with you what we have planned for NachoCon 2026 and a bit about what to expect over two days filled with games, conversation, contests, and fun!

What is NachoConline?

NachoConline is an annual convention held to support the Evil Genius Organized-play (E.G.O.) program by Evil Genius Games. We will have scenarios from the first season of Redemption, our monthly releases on Sidekick, and the Cinematic Adventures from your favorite movies on tap. Additionally, there will be panels discussing topics of interest about the industry, from creating your own adventures and settings to news about upcoming cinematic licenses and our own Evil Genius Games IPs such as Intergalactic Heroes, the Throneworld Saga, and Redemption.

Since the convention is online, we have planned events to accommodate as many timezones as possible. In fact, over the 36 hours that NachoCon is running, over 30 of those hours have something going on. So, make sure you have Discord downloaded and your virtual dice ready to roll!

What Games and Scenarios are available?

Everyday Heroes is the system that the entire convention revolves around. But there are tons of different ways to enjoy our action-hero RPG. These include Season 1 of the Redemption storyline, where an evil organization is working to dismantle the efforts of Redemption to protect our world. You can experience the world of Kong or Pacific Rim through specific Cinematic Adventures. And you can even play in the various alternate settings released through the monthly Bonus Features released by Evil Genius Games on Sidekick, such as The Final Hero (Slashers), Rough Ridge Riders (Wild West), or Bridge to Nowhere (Lost World), or No Expense Spared (Jurassic).

Do I Need to Make My Own Character?

Custom Redemption characters are always welcome, but all tables will have pregens available that fit the scenario. Want to hop in and stop some cattle rustlers? We have characters ready for that! Ready to save the world from Kaiju in your Jaegar? We have characters for that! Want to enter the Cybersphere and battle megacorporations? We have characters for that! We want you to enjoy playing as many or as few games as you have time for across the weekend. Everyday Heroes is made for everybody!

What About Panels?

Panels are a mainstay of every good convention, and NachoConline is no different. To minimize the impact on the gaming, panels are held during specific times, either on Saturday afternoon for most of them or Sunday Evening for the final panel.

The Saturday panels are about writing adventures, creating worlds, and what is going on in Cinematic Adventures. The final panel on Sunday is all about Redemption: what the organization has been going through in the game world, and a preview of what is coming. There may be a few spoilers, but we will mostly focus on generalizations and not specifics.

Join Us!

Evil Genius Games would love to have you join this free event. All of the details are on the Nachoconline Discord server here: https://discord.gg/yn4GDBpSGQ

E.G.O. and Redemption

Curtis Baum, Organized-Play Manager

E.G.O stands for “Evil Genius Organized-Play,” the organized-play program in which GMs and players share their stories and characters in an ongoing community and its evolving setting, Redemption. Characters created in the E.G.O. program’s Dispatch app can be shared with friends and played online, at gaming stores, at conventions, and even with massive groups working together to beat epic villains.

This program relies on the coordinated efforts of GMs and Volunteers across the globe. We are always looking for more Everyday Heroes to help us spread the joy of gaming. Currently, we have Redemption “Handlers” (GMs) running games, both online and in person, on three continents and seven countries.

The E.G.O. Organization

E.G.O., like other organized-play programs, is managed and supported by several kinds of staff and volunteers.

At the forefront of the Volunteers are our local Redemption “Handlers” (GMs), who run games for Agents (players) to go on their Assignments (season adventures) and Operations (side adventures). Supporting Handlers are the Operatives (local organizers) and Field Agents (area organizers), who also help organize and advertise local games and conventions. And overseeing larger regions and the program overall is the Board of Directors.

Each Director oversees one of five regions. North America makes up three of the regions, split among West, South-East, and North-East. One Director supports our overseas operations, and one our online presence. In addition, the Directors regularly organize and support conventions (especially large conventions in their areas) and work with the Organized-Play Manager to implement necessary changes and address problems that have come to their attention.

The Organized-Play Manager is a staff position that works directly with the volunteer organization and Evil Genius Games to keep the E.G.O. program. This includes working to develop new materials and content as well as to make sure that the EGO program delivers necessary support for conventions as well as local game stores and online games. And, as the needs of the GMs and players continue to grow and change, the Organized-Play Manager addresses those needs. This includes keeping things up to date and running smoothly with Dispatch, Sidekick, Warhorn and other systems. As new material is created by Evil Genius Games, the Program Manager reviews which new rules and hero options will be included for Agents of Redemption.

Redemption–Setting and Secret Organization

Redemption is the name for both Evil Genius Games’ organized-play setting, and the fictional organization of Everyday Heroes within that setting that exists to save the world from threats beyond the capabilities or desires of governments. Redemption is a secretive organization, founded and funded by various benevolent groups and individuals from around the world, and run by a mysterious Board of Directors, whose identities generally remains unknown.

The best known of Redemption staff is the warm and friendly “country boy” Walt DeWalt, Redemption’s Chief Recruiter and Field Agent. In Redemption games, Walt often briefs and debriefs the heroes and their Handlers as they take their adventures, but there are also other Field Agents directing heroes throughout the world.

“Nacho Haus: It’s Na-cho-haus, but You’ll Feel Right at Home.”

Meetings with Walt and Handlers generally take place at a Nacho Haus, a successful international restaurant chain of German-Mexican fusion restaurants that provides bases from which Redemption collects intelligence and Agents operate on their missions. Filled with people and cheesy iconography of sombreros and lederhosen, the fanciful menus and receipts provide important codes to the heroes all while providing nutritious, filling, and fun food at great prices. Near the end of Season One of Redemption, many Nacho Haus restaurants were destroyed by enemies of Redemption and a traitorous Director, Maxwell Heisenberg. The Redemption organization is rebuilding and reestablishing its presence across the globe once again, getting ready for Season 2, which is being molded now by the incredible writers at Evil Genius Games. Stay Tuned!

Evil Genius Games’ Lost Worlds Adventure: Bridge to Nowhere

11/20/2025 Curtis Baum, Evil Genius Organized-Play (E.G.O.) Manager

Bridge to Nowhere, written by Jonathan Connor Self-Gonzalez, is the latest adventure released by Evil Genius Games for the Everyday Heroes system on their digital platform, Sidekick. Bridge to Nowhere delves deep under the Earth and focuses on the Lost Worlds Bonus Feature material released earlier this month. For those unfamiliar with these releases, every month Evil Genius releases a concept “Bonus Feature” with hero options and assets for Everyday Heroes, and then follows the Bonus Feature with an adventure that puts those options and assets into action.

Each of these monthly adventures is designed to take 3–4 hours to play and is written for specific character levels. They always include a full party of level-appropriate pregenerated heroes for anyone who just wants to grab a character and dive in. However, players can also play or create their own level-appropriate characters and they can use characters that they have created as part of the Evil Genius Organized-Play (E.G.O.) program.

Content for All

Evil Genius Games has taken a strong stance in making sure all players and Game Masters feel empowered to enjoy their gaming session. Part of that commitment shows in each adventure coming with a content advisory and options, such as using the “Fade To Black” tool, to allow GMs and players to moderate or slide over any content that makes players uneasy, exacerbates traumas, or triggers phobias (such as a fear of spiders, claustrophobia, and the like). In effect, a “fade to black,” when called for, cinematically fades the action to black and leaves whatever needs to be skipped over to the imagination, allowing the adventure to continue with the next opening scene.

Additionally, the publishing team at Evil Genius Games has made the conscious decision to create pregenerated heroes for their games that all players can identify with and enjoy playing. Pregens are identified only by first initial and surname (such as Dr. F. Wheeler) and have histories that avoid specifying gender so that all players can adapt and make each pregenerated their own.

Adventure Summary—Spoiler Alert!

Bridge to Nowhere explores a common fantasy concept in literature and cinema: an unknown subterranean world beneath our feet. It begins with the heroes being sent to find a missing geo-physicist that was exploring alternate fuel options. Tipped off, they descend deep into the Earth, searching for clues and signs of the missing scientist’s presence, and stumble across a subterranean sun. Blinded by the light, the party is attacked by a creature that should not exist!

Exploring this seemingly impossible and strange world, the heroes stumble across additional wonders, such as other extinct creatures, and encounter unexpected allies and enemies. Finding and recovering the missing scientist becomes a struggle of life and death—and much more time sensitive. Will you make it out alive and back to the surface? Come find out!

It’s Easy to Become an Everyday Hero

Getting involved in Everyday Heroes is easier than ever! Check your local convention schedule to see if our games are on the program. Become part of the E.G.O. program and find games at your local gaming store or online. You can also take on the mantle of becoming an Everyday Heroes GM at conventions or as a “Handler” (GM) for REDEMPTION (our E.G.O. setting) and you will have the full support of the Evil Genius Games staff to help you excel.

For more details, explore the website at www.evilgeniusgames.com

This article was written by Curtis Baum, Evil Genius Organized-Play (E.G.O.) Manager.

Each day over the last week, I have been giving you reasons why you want to support the Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook Kickstarter, and here we are at the last day before launch. But, before I get to the last reason, let’s review the reasons why you should pledge in the countdown:

7…Because Trioxin zombies are not your regular zombies and your heroes need to be prepared to face this kind of menace.

6…Because the Kickstarter has a bunch of cool rewards and zombie-themed swag and collectible add-ons.

5…Because the original art and custom soundscape are awesome and created by awesome people.

4…Because there’s a tier just right for you, depending on your needs.

3…Because if the positive reviews, excited previews, and fun liveplays aren’t enough, you can always download the free preview adventure, Typical Army Fuck-Up, for yourself and take a look.

2…Because whether you love or hate zombies, the Cinematic Sourcebook contains great stuff that you can use in a wide variety of Everyday Heroes games, scenarios, and settings that go beyond zombies and horror.

And, finally…

1…Because, in addition to all of the above, when you pledge to the Kickstarter, you not only get the Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook, the rewards and add-ons you want, and an annual subscription to Sidekick (which gives you access to lots more content and cool features for your Everyday Heroes play), you support the ongoing work of Evil Genius Games to bring you even more great Everyday Heroes content. You help us complete The Armory, keep on track to deliver the truly awesome Intergalactic Heroes, and let us finally dive into the much-anticipated and requested Everyday Arcana.

Besides the six incredibly dedicated and talented folks who comprise Evil Genius Games, there are a bevy of tech teams, freelance writers, artists, layout designers, printers, editors, volunteers, and other partners that, together, bring you great games, adventures, services, and an Everyday Heroes community that is truly special. Your support makes all that possible, and our grateful commitment to you is to continue to bring you the very best that we possibly produce in return. So, sure, pledge to get a great sourcebook and cool stuff, but do it also for what pledging makes possible down the line. Then you really will be a true Everyday Hero.

See you tomorrow.

There are two kinds of people that may want the Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook in their game collection(s). These two kinds are:

People who love zombies and/or Horror and/or Return of the Living Dead.
People who hate zombies and/or Horror and/or Return of the Living Dead.

Now, if you fall into the first camp, I don’t have to convince you. But if you fall into the second camp, my job is a lot harder. I got to thinking about this from a Facebook conversation: what would someone who doesn’t like or isn’t interested in zombies and/or horror get out of this book? I think it comes down to this:

If you create your own scenerios and campaigns, there are many interesting scenarios across genres where there is a threat that a) cannot be destroyed (at least initially) and b) progressively takes over some aspect of our body, mind, or soul. Threats like the White Walkers and wights of Game of Thrones, the mutant Family of The Omega Man, the power of the One Ring. Trioxin. The threat might be a plant, disease, chemical, magic, or parasite. It might arise from something that happens on Earth, or it might come from an alien planet or another dimension. Trioxin zombies are only one permutation of this trope.

You might want to use a similar trope in your own setting. So, one of the reasons that you might want to buy this book–even if you will never face zombies in roleplay–is that Nick and Goober did an amazing job in creating rules and character options that could go into analogous scenarios in other genres and settings. For example, the way that they deal with “Zombification” could be adapted to apply to any process (like a disease or a parasite) that progressively takes over characters and turns them into something that is not themselves. The rules for how to contain, immobilize, and even control zombies could be similarly adapted to allow for heroes to combat analogous challengers in other genres.

I also like the fact that Nick and Goober provided a way for PCs to play a character that is progressively affected by the [insert cause here] or as one who has become a [insert foe here]. And I particularly like that they have given these PCs ways to resist the bad parts of whatever has affected them or what they have become (a struggle faced by many superheroes and vampires). I could see these rules being used as a model, adapted and/or expanded to provide really interesting opportunities for character development, especially over longer campaigns, in other genres.

So, even if zombies and horror are not your thing, your thing might benefit from our thing in ways that make both our things happy. So check out the kickstarter and give it some thought. You can always get in the Pledge Manager, sign up for Evil Kid at a buck, and pick up a digital ($15) or physical ($30-$50) copy of the Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook as an add-on. It may just turn out that, after reading it through, you’ll think, “Well, maybe I don’t hate all zombies….”

So, there’s only three days to go until our Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook Kickstarter goes live. And maybe you’re still on the fence. Maybe you’re wondering:

“Would I really like playing in one of the most iconic, influential, and popular zombie IP settings of all time?” or,
“Would I really want to play against (or as!) an incredibly hard-to-defeat zombie?” or,
“Would I really want to expand my Everyday Heroes play with a new origin, three classes, four backgrounds, six professions, zombie stat blocks, cool new rules, and awesome premade adventures?”

That’s okay. We’re here for you. That is why we have a free adventure, Typical Army Fuck-Up, that you can download from the kickstarter site or get on Sidekick once the kickstarter begins. In it, you are not only introduced to the world of the Return of the Living Dead and its Cinematic Sourcebook, but you get to partake in the real origin story of the zombies, the one that George Romero was forced to change so that the true events could be covered up.

Or, you could, right now, watch others having a blast trying out Typical Army Fuck-Up. Like this liveplay from the Untold Stories Project or this one from Dreamslayer Studios:

Or, you could also watch some of the many positive previews and reviews, like this one, this one, this one, this one, this one, or this one from 5D Pop Culture:

Or listen to an interview with Nick Lowe, Lead Designer…

Or, you could just use your brain (while you still have it) and follow (for the RotLD pin) and then pledge early (for the Tarman pin) to the kickstarter, grab some cool add-ons, and be ready when the Living Dead return.

Seriously. It’s a no-brainer!

I don’t know about you, but I spend a lot of time wringing my hands and fretting over which kickstarter tiers, add-ons, and stretch goals I want to choose from because, well, I’m cheap…but I still want cool stuff.

However, there are two basic reasons for pledging to a kickstarter: first, you want great stuff and the extras that go with it and, second, you want to support the people who make the great stuff that you want so they can make more of it. It’s both a purchase and an investment. And in this time of uncertainty and instability in the gaming industry, the second reason is becoming a more important consideration for me than ever. For a small company like Evil Genius Games, every dollar counts and the success of this kickstarter will have a direct impact on our ability to secure licenses to keep producting cinematic adventures and on the production of highly anticipated games such as Intergalactic Heroes and Everyday Arcana.

Nevertheless, whenever I pledge to a kickstarter, I want the biggest bang for my buck and parsing through the tiers and add-ons can be a pain. So, in an effort to save you from the stress that comes from the paralysis of tier analysis and to help you prepare for our Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook kickstarter, here’s a breakdown of our reward tiers, for whom each tier was designed, and the add-ons that you can choose from.

Now, bear in mind that there are also enamel pin bonus rewards for following and pledging early, and for pledging as a Sidekick subscriber and as a former backer of our previous projects:

Follow the kickstarter before it launches and get the Return of the Living Dead pin.
Pledge within the first 48 hours of launch and get the Tarman pin.
Pledge as a Sidekick subscriber and get the zombified Evil Genius Mascot pin.
Pledge as a Previous Backer of our other campaigns and get the Tioxin Barrel pin.

You have four days to prepare…

Although rules and mechanics underpin and guide how a game is played, and adventure design and writing establish the story arc and key components of the particular adventure on which the heroes embark, the aesthetics of the game–the elegance of the rules, the clarity and beauty of the writing, the impressiveness and appropriateness of the art, the rightness and detail of the maps, the tenor of the soundscape—go a long way toward creating the sense of vivid immersion that folks love when playing RPGs.

And yeah, you can have a great game with a great GM, an adventure outline with some notes, a schematic map scratched on a notepad, and players who, together, can enter into the world that the GM brings to life. But you can’t publish that. When people lay down good money for a game, they expect the aesthetics to evoke and enhance their enjoyment of it, both as an experience and as a product in and of itself.

That’s why we are thrilled to have outstanding artists on board for the Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook.

First, we have Christopher P. Tyner of Dreamslayer Studios, creating the art. You may have seen Dreamslayer’s liveplay of the preview Return of the Living Dead adventure,Typical Army Fuck-Up, which you can download for free from the kickstarter site and try for yourself. I will be doing an interview with Christopher after the launch, so keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, scroll down through his gallery and you will get a sense of the range and quality of his work and why we’re thrilled to have him on board.

Second, we are ecstatic to have a variant cover for the book and a limited-edition, signed-and-numbered poster of the variant for the kickstarter created by the master of horror-film posters and covers, Graham Humphreys. Graham’s work is instantly recognizable and has been enormously influential on the horror genre. And his previous work on Return of the Living Dead has become iconic. You can see two previous Return of the Living Dead posters (one for the RIO Cinema and another for VHS) here and here, but do check out his gallery–it is amazing!

Third, what truly cinematic adventure would be complete without a great soundscape and sound effects? Soundscapes add background layers of tension, suspense, and resolution, and create emotional cues for scenes. And sound effects can come in right handy for heightening realism, creating shock or surprise, or crystallizing an image in the imagination. And doesn’t it seem like both those things could be mighty useful in a Return of the Living Dead adventures? You bet it does. So we are super-excited to have partnered once more with Syrinscape. Syrinscape’s kick-ass, punk-rock fueled (we are in the 80’s) audioscape and grisly sound effects are perfect accompaniment to the frenetic chaos of a zombie outbreak. Get it as part of a tier or an add-on.

Gaming, they say, is somewhat like dressing to impress: You need to have a solid base. And from there…it’s all about the accessories.

I love dark, irreverent, and clever humor. And that is why I love the 1985 classic, Return of the Living Dead. And it is also why I love the rewards and add-ons for our officially licenced Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook. Whether you are at the game table, on the street, at a convention, or just lyin’ around the shanty putin’ a good buzz on, your accoutrements will scream “Brains” to the world. I mean, really, look at this. We have:

Blood-spattered dice.

Because that’s how you roll in the face of a zombie outbreak.

A Trioxin barrel dice roller.

Because it’s a barrel of fun (and havoc) to use.

A dice tray with Tarman peering through his Trioxin barrel.

Because. Just because.

Return of the Living Dead Enamel Pins.

Because, when you strut strut proudly through the next con, you will be wearing your Evil Genius Zombified Mascot, Return of the Living Dead, Tarman, and Trioxin Barrel enamel pins.

A collector’s edition, 3” Tarman enamel pin by FiGPiN.

Because you like to stand out in a crowd.

A signed and numbered, 18”x24”, limited-edition print of the variant cover, created by Graham Humphreys, the master of horror-movie posters.

Because you have pizzazz. And you need to replace the picture of the dogs playing [that game] in the game room with something more tasteful and classy.

A soft and loveable Tarman plushie…with working jaws.

Because sometimes you just need an emotional support zombie.

Watch out.

In December 2025 the Living Dead return to the screen and to the game table for the 40th anniversarty of the iconic Horror cult classic, Return of the Living Dead. And your Everyday Hero better be ready for an outbreak of Trioxin zombies.

Why? Because Trioxin zombies aren’t the shambling, mindless, and (frankly) rather boring drones that you may picture from some films. No-no-no. These zombies are smart, fast, clever, and articulate. And they are utterly determined to EAT YOUR BRAIN.

“So what?” you say? “I’ll just have my hero pull out their trusty axe, shotgun, pistol, sword, grenade, or chainsaw…right?”

Wrong. Trioxin zombies are different. Shoot them: they don’t stay down. Decapitate them: you’re still not ahead. Blow them up: your problems explode. Burn them to a crisp: the crisps keep coming. Seriously, pull out pretty much any weapon that your hero carries and take a good look at it. It may buy you a bit of time, but it won’t save you.

That is why you and your Everyday Hero are going to need Evil Genius Games’ Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook, which goes live on Kickstarter June 3rd, for the December 40th anniversary of the 1985 cult classic, Return of the Living Dead. With an arsenal of new rules, hero options, and gear for dealing with these intractable foes, two new classes (Zombie Technician, Final girl) that help you survive them, and even the ability to control your very own zombie, you will at least have a fighting chance.

But maybe you’re wondering, “I wonder what it would be like to play an unkillable zombie?” Well, wonder no more: the Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook has a new origin (Living Dead) that lets you walk among the Living Dead and a new class (Rageful Dead) to help you control your raging craving for brains…until you can hunt one down.

So, be an Everyday Hero and give us all a fighting chance: get on over to our Kickstarter, follow and then back the project, and while you’re there pick up some of the coolest zombie swag that you will ever see (more on that tomorrow). You can even download and play Typical Army Fuck-Up, a 4-hour adventure based on the original Night of the Living Dead storyline, and discover the Living Dead’s true origin!

Follow and Back the Return of the Living Dead Cinematic Sourcebook Kickstarter–it’s a no-brainer! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/evilgeniusgames/return-of-the-living-dead-official-ttrpg

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