Anthony Valterra showed me a 36-page-or-so preview of the upcoming 192-page Book of Erotic Fantasy. From that small sample, I can say that the book seems about 50% relatively lame fan service (a Command Orgasm/Masturbation spell, with color photo illustration. Did the world need that? I’m thinking not), and 50%
Month: June 2003
Price tag for WizKids: $29.5MM
More details on the WizKids deal and the rest of Topps’ financial picture.
Live from Origins 2003: Samurai Communist Assault!
When I saw the Kanji and the black and red motif, I thought Tenjo had a booth again and got all excited, but instead, it’s another intriguing board game with a samurai theme. Senjutsu, from a startup publisher called Salvador Games, puts your samurai guys on little octagonal bases that
Live from Origins 2003: we can make a game out of anything, even pickles
Couple of quick D20 bits: OtherWorld Creations has Mercenaries: Born of Blood (I think that’s the title) new at the show; it includes rules for making a mercenary out of virtually any creature in the Monster Manual. I’m thinking shambling mound. Mystic Eye has a new Foul Locales book, Behind
Live from Origins 2003: the rock precedes the roll
Played Creepy Freaks. Some folks don’t know that John Kovalic did some of the better character designs for this game, as well as Bazooka Joe-like comics for the boosters. I was surprised – this game has real meat to it, while still being totally approachable for its target market. Wiseman
Live from Origins 2003: a spy in the house of Wa
Yes, I actually did go to the WotC booth and look at the D&D3.5 books. I’m not intimate enough with D&D to be able to say what’s changed – I can verify they still have lots of rules in them – but the new covers are nice. Also for sale
Live from Origins 2003: see, there are these dots, and they hack enemies
Decipher announced this game what, a week ago? And they’re running demos here at the show. This newest salvo in the .hack multimedia assault (anime TV, anime features, PS2 games and now a CCG) has gameplay that will be familiar to players of, well, anything in the medium, but most
Live from Origins 2003: Turns out that Vanna-ing is a career with a future
A little late-breaking news from the awards ceremony: Nicole Lindroos has been named the new chair of the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts and Design. Congratulations, Nic!
2003 Origins Awards winners
I was going to be all smooth and post the Origins Awards results live as they happened from the ballroom, but you can’t get signal in the ballroom… I’d have to sit in the hallway to be online. Well, OK. Game Aid/Accessory: Gamemastering Secrets, Gray Ghost Press Play-By-Mail: Button Men
OgreCave Review: Highthrone
Cedric’s survived his finals, and now that he can concentrate on more important matters, has sent in his review of Highthrone by Mongoose Publishing. What grade did he bestow upon the intriguing city supplement? I ain’t tellin’. Find out for yourself.
Live from Origins 2003: speaking of mad kung fu skills…
Here at the show: Munchkin Fu. Day-amn. The money train keeps a-rollin’ for the Munchkin franchise. This one looks especially sweet to combine with the other two.
Live from Origins 2003: You can change the ending!
Testament: Roleplaying in the Biblical Era is the big new deal from Green Ronin. It’s the first book in their Mythic Vistas line, which is all d20 settings in a not-typical-D&D-at-all-but-still-fantasy vein. The next book in the line, Skull & Bones, is in layout hell right now, but Mindshadows, about
Live from Origins 2003: stock update
Diet Evil Games is doing this thing kind of like Flying Buffalo’s Origins Metagame last year, wherein one buys some play-stock in various participating game companies, and participating in those companies’ events will get them more stock, et cetera. People are only allowed to make one trade a day, because
Live from Origins 2003: No playing volleyball with Hamtaro!
A couple of quick bits: If anyone at the show is reading this, you might want to go to the booth that’s selling all the old booster boxes? With the pink tags on them? Yeah. They have Z-G figures for $5 each. Buy all three and check out an ass-kicking
Live from Origins 2003: When dark twilight creations go to hell
Twilight Creations have yet another When Darkness Comes set at the show, as well as Dante’s Inferno, a boardgame about scraping sinners out of the ninth circle of hell and heading in to fight Lucifer. Each tile on the board has a color that corresponds to a resource, which you