OgreCave

Guardians of Order has updated its release schedule for early 2002, which among other things revealed the delayed release date of Tekumel: Empire of the Petal Throne under the Tri-Stat system. Now coming in May, the book has swelled to an estimated 304 page and increased its pricetag to at least $44.95. I hope it’s good… and in hardcover.

Canting Crew Preview
Troll Lord Games has posted a nine page preview of their RPG sourcebook The Canting Crew by Gary Gygax. The preview “includes… criminal classifications, the cant, the medieval city, and crimes and punishments,” as well as the Vanguard, a new prestige class. I was surprised to hear it would also have a new “Optional Order” for Gygax’s Lejendary Adventure system, showing that while the book “is usable in any game system,” it favors two above all others. Coming out any day now according to TRG’s site, the hardcover sourcebook clocks in at 200 pages, and will likely be priced at $34.95.

After the all-too-busy holidays, I finally got around to checking out the new Wheel of Time RPG page on the WotC website. Some interesting stuff, especially if you’ve read the books. I’ll be interested to see if the page gets updated regularly. It’d be nice to see a new game receive the support it deserves instead of giving up on it prematurely.

Open Call For Fading Suns D20 Creature Book
Holistic Design is looking for submissions for its upcoming release, Lord Erbian’s Stellar Bestiary. As a collection of creatures for both Fading Suns and Fading Suns D20, the book will have dual stats for each creature presented. If you’ve got a handle on both game systems, head over to Holistic’s site for more details.

Dragonstar Preview At FFG
Fantasy Flight Games has posted some preview materials from their science-fantasy D20 RPG Dragonstar. Written by Matt Forbeck and Greg Benage, the game is now due to come out in late December. This game line seems far more likely to thrive than TSR’s ill-conceived Spelljammer line. But then again, it’d be hard not to.

SJ Games March Releases Announced
The word on the street — well, on the SJ Games website, actually — is these products should show up in stores next March:

• Fire Zone, the second expansion for Frag. Watch for Frag: Deadlands to come along soon as well.

• Robin’s Laws of Good Game Mastering. I’m guessing it’s by Robin Laws.
• GURPS Vehicles Expansion 2
• GURPS Mars
• A couple of Ogre and Car Wars sets.
• A lovely book of R.K. Post’s Artwork.

Looks like next March will be a good month.

Pipes In Your Pocket
Or are you just happy… no, I can’t do it. Sorry.

Cheapass Games has added a second game to their Hip Pocket Games product line, but fans of Cheapass will recognise the game as an old friend. Yep, The Very Clever Pipe Game is back from the depths of out-of-printness, is slightly more compact, cheaper, and has a few new cards. Grab a copy.

Deep7 has announced the availability of their latest 1PG, Dime Heroes. The pulp action mini-RPG is only $3.95 to download, and as a special bonus you can get the Jungle Adventures supplement for only a dollar more. If you’ve been going through 1PG withdrawal during the last year or so, now’s your chance to overcompensate!

Penguins Race Through Maze
Yet again, Invisible City Productions has churned out a free monthly game. For November, the release is Penguin’s Night Out, a domino-based racing game for two to four players in which each player controls a penguin dodging various obstacles (like thin ice and the dreaded Polar Bear Gang) in order to make it into town and party the night away. Learn about the secret lives of penguins! Find a new use for your domino collection! Play a game without actually paying for it!

The all-too-quiet folks next door to my office have posted several PDF scenarios for Call of Cthulhu. There’s quite a few to check out.

Spanning the Atlas
The Last Dance, the latest D20 adventure to come out of Atlas Games’ Penumbra line, has shipped. Accompanying it to market is At Your Service, a supplement for Over the Edge.

Eden Studios has been hinting lately that they may be doing a licenced Buffy the Vampire Slayer RPG sometime next year. Keep your eyes peeled for an announcement in the weeks to come.

Issaries Revises Product Schedule
Siting the unavoidable delay caused by their layout artist’s emergency Cesarean section (she’s fine), Issaries said the release of Barbarian Adventures for Hero Wars has been pushed back a month to November. Further releases are thereby pushed back a month as well, with cash flow determining the final release date. Next in line is Orlanth is Dead! followed by Hero’s Book, though Issaries still hopes to release Hero Wars: Second Edition early next year. I’m getting a small taste of 2nd Ed. already, since the guys I work with are already using many of the new rules in our campaign. Looks good so far.

Pinnacle announced that The Way of the Huckster has released for Deadlands D20. The book brings new feats, prestige classes, skills, and other tasty morsels to the game, thanks to author Fred Jandt.

Ain’t Got Money For Leads? No Problem…
Dragon Scale Counters has made its presence known to the world, and has begun selling plastic counters with images of various D20 monsters printed on them. They already have a decent selection, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Purple Alert. Purple Alert. Not As Serious As A Red Alert…
Deep 7 has ventured into the depths of British sci-fi comedies, and emerged with the licence to produce a Red Dwarf RPG. The hardcover rulebook “will premiere … with supplements added to cover the complete eight series, culminating with a deluxe edition to support the Red Dwarf feature film.” The game won’t be out until December 2002, but when it arrives, I expect to see gamers everywhere doing their best Cat imitations: “This is mine, and that is mine, and all this is mine.” I’m surprised it took so long for someone to get around to this, since I know a few fanatical BBC enthusiasts who will be clamoring to join my gaming group next winter. Be you later.

Tyranny Games has announced the March 2002 release date of The End, Deluxe Edition. The post-apocalyptic RPG is based on the Book of Revelations, and the original version received critical acclaim. Preview art, fiction and other preview material will be posted on Tyranny’s webstie in the months to come. In the meantime, have a look at the tentative product release schedule, and plan your monetary expendatures accordingly:

• Salvation’s Tears adventure – March 2002
• The Boston Massacre adventure – March 2002
• Cry Havoc, Washington D.C. After The End sourcebook – August 2002
• The Dark Arts, Magic in the New World sourcebook – October 2002
• The Digger’s Guide, Scavenging the Scraps sourcebook – December 2002

Roleplaying Tips Weekly #98
The latest issue of Roleplaying Tips Weekly is filled with tips from readers. Specifically, the new tips include musings on world building, high level campaigns, and more.

Gallowglass Games Becomes Glastyn Games
Due to weird legal stuff, Galloglass Games has now become Glastyn Games, with a new domain, new email, and all that stuff. You have been warned.

This coming February, Mongoose Publishing will continue their Collector’s Series D20 supplements with The Quintessential Rogue. Written by Mike Mearls, the 128-page book will be “crammed with new options, new rules, and exciting new twists to existing game mechanics.” So, I’m thinking this could be Third Edition’s Complete Book of Thieves, aren’t you? Except, wouldn’t that be WotC’s Song and Silence? Guess we’ll see which one’s more useful.

Looks like foul thievery has delayed the release of Green Ronin‘s Spaceship Zero RPG. Go read the sordid tale of the sketchbook theft if you’re curious.

The Mists Seep Slowly
While we’re on the subject of product delays, The Kargatane has announced some minor delays of Ravenloft products. Secrets of the Dread Realms is now due to release on December 17, as is Denizens of Darkness.

West End Games has shipped the Gamemaster Screen for their Metabarons game. Not only does the screen provide GMs with something to hide behind that has useful charts on it, but it includes an 80-page companion book. Now, I’ll be honest: I haven’t played this game, nor have I read it. But I bought it. Why? Because the book is gorgeous, dammit. And that’s why I’ll buy the screen, too. I’m sure I’ll get around to playing it one of these days, but until then, I’ve got the eye candy.