D20 Dark•Matter (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786943491/qid=1147459239/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-7681895-7652655?s=books&v=glance&n=283155)?
Could it be true? Wolfgang Baur and Monte Cook don't work for WotC anymore and yet they're listed as authors of the book. They were the authors of the original book. Looks suspiciously like a phony to me.
NEVER trust any Amazon.com product information - Some info gets entered from the strangest sources - some Steve Jackson and Palladium products that were NEVER EVEN WRITTEN (just the title announced) have ended up being input - even showing SALES OF USED PRODUCT - through Amazon's system of sellers.
That said, this looks slightly more legitimate than most those cases, with the big "if" here being that the official WotC page for D20 modern only showing its releases through July at this point. But I wouldn't bet on it being real, either.
On Montes boards he stated he and Baur are only listed because they did the original design, but aren't related to the d20 conversion. I think he neither denied nor affirmed there actually was a conversion.
Who knows? Maybe it's possible. It sure won't be written by Baur and Cook though.
Quote from: goldOn Montes boards he stated he and Baur are only listed because they did the original design, but aren't related to the d20 conversion. I think he neither denied nor affirmed there actually was a conversion.
Well, it looks like Baur at least
is confirming now. This makes me all tingly inside.
http://hofrat.blogspot.com/2006/05/interview-mit-wolfgang-baur.html
QuoteLikewise, Dark*Matter was ham-strung mostly by the Alternity rules set, which never did as well as we hoped it might. The setting itself is still active and will ship as a d20 Modern book later this year. So, I consider that a creative success; very, very few campaign settings ever get a second chance.
How cool is that! You are quoting...my blog :).
Glad you liked the interview.
So what is Dark Matter? I wasn't buying games when Alternity came out, so I missed all of those games.
Quote from: GunhildaSo what is Dark Matter? I wasn't buying games when Alternity came out, so I missed all of those games.
Dark*Matter was a modern-day setting which owed a lot to TV shows like the X Files and games like Dark Conspiracy and Delta Green. Very similar in theme to all these, with a dash of Lovecraft here and there. Very pretty book.
That sounds pretty cool. The new World of Darkness book has that feel -- actually, the fiction in that book hints at a setting a hell of a lot more interesting than the Vampire, Werewolf, and Mages games actually are. :heh:
I just got my copy of Dark*Matter out of storage in my parent's garage, where it was stored since I moved to California. I like that WotC decided to do a d20 Modern version, though they'll be hard-pressed to make it as pretty as the Alternity book. Anyway, d20 Modern has needed a strong setting/milieu book; Urban Arcana wasn't as bad as many make it out to be, but it was nowhere near as focused and compelling as Dark*Matter. Had they released d20 Dark*Matter instead of Urban Arcana, we might've seen d20 Modern make an even bigger impression than it did.
Quote from: ColonelHardissonI just got my copy of Dark*Matter out of storage in my parent's garage, where it was stored since I moved to California. I like that WotC decided to do a d20 Modern version, though they'll be hard-pressed to make it as pretty as the Alternity book. Anyway, d20 Modern has needed a strong setting/milieu book; Urban Arcana wasn't as bad as many make it out to be, but it was nowhere near as focused and compelling as Dark*Matter. Had they released d20 Dark*Matter instead of Urban Arcana, we might've seen d20 Modern make an even bigger impression than it did.
I agree. Although, there's a part of me that would love to see a Star Drive book imediately following Dark Matter. There's no denying DM would've been far more appropriate for core D20 Modern though.
Star Drive would be interesting to see for d20 Modern/Future. It's too bad both settings came out so soon before 3e came along. Both had promise, and I see no reason to scrap them just because a new game came along. Especially in the case of d20 Modern, which is more of a toolbox game than one with its own particular milieu (as D&D is). d20 Modern would have benefited from having a few more models of what could be done with it. At least, I think so.
This rocks! Dark Matter is my favorite campaign setting to run, Killing Jar is a classic. Heck, most of the baddies and critters from Dark Matter (and Stardrive for that matter) are already in the Modern Menace book.
If/when DM comes out for d20 modern, I'll be buying it. same goes for star drive.
And, it's official! :D
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/d20m/107697200
W00t!! The only Alternity product I loved is coming to d20 modern. YES!
Yes, I will be getting this bad boy when it hits the shelves.
The only problem I see is that their information is incorrect. I think it's safe to say Monte and Wolfgang aren't writing the books and yet they're listed as the authors even at WotC. So, what information can we count on being correct? Is it even coming out in Sep? Will it really be 160 pgs? I need some accurate intel damnit!
It may be their fluff text with another author's crunch text. That's my guess at least. If the other designers only changed the crunch then attributing it to them may well be accurate.
It would also mean a lot of redundancy with the current book, but I don't care. I want my Dark*Matter
Quote from: AcinonyxThe only problem I see is that their information is incorrect. I think it's safe to say Monte and Wolfgang aren't writing the books and yet they're listed as the authors even at WotC.
On the other hand, wouldn't it be rude to take stuff they created and use it without crediting them?
Quote from: PookaIt would also mean a lot of redundancy with the current book, but I don't care. I want my Dark*Matter
Can I get a hallaluhyah on that! Woot.
Meh. If I'm going to run Dark Matter, I'm going to use the Alternity system instead. It's a LOT better at modern-day stuff than d20M.
I don't agree. Alternity is clunky regardless of what you use it for.
But not as strange and off-putting as d20Modern. My main beefs with Alternity is the lack of scaling beyond the human scale (it would be hard to do Cthulhu properly), and the cosmetic bit about "plus" modifiers being bad and "minus" modifiers being good.
I don't know, I kind of wish D20 Modern had a similar damage system, Stun/Wound/Mortal, instead of hit points. Maybe leave out the 3 different damage types though.
At it's most basic though, roll D20 +/- another die, it was pretty similar to D20.
I'll be getting the d20 modern DM to make it easier to convert to True20, which IMO will be better than d20 modern and alternity both.
This is great to hear - I'm sure I'll be picking up a copy when it comes out.
Quote from: AcinonyxI don't know, I kind of wish D20 Modern had a similar damage system, Stun/Wound/Mortal, instead of hit points. Maybe leave out the 3 different damage types though.
I like both types of distinction: Stun/Wound/Mortal and Low-impact/High-impact/Energy. The latter allows me to, for example, make a setting where personal force fields exist that protect very well against bullets but not so much against blades or lasers, thereby creating a fertile ground for sword duels.
Quote from: DackeI like both types of distinction: Stun/Wound/Mortal and Low-impact/High-impact/Energy. The latter allows me to, for example, make a setting where personal force fields exist that protect very well against bullets but not so much against blades or lasers, thereby creating a fertile ground for sword duels.
Oh I liked it too. Only, I also like quicker combats.
One thing I'll agree is a little wonky, though, is the initiative system. Especially the way it works out that most of the time, you will only get one or two actions (depending on init roll) in a 12-second round.
RAWK! I love that setting and I'm glad it's getting another shot at life.
Quote from: PookaIt may be their fluff text with another author's crunch text. That's my guess at least. If the other designers only changed the crunch then attributing it to them may well be accurate.
It would also mean a lot of redundancy with the current book, but I don't care. I want my Dark*Matter
TOC is up. It looks like there will be a lot of reprint, hence the Baur/Cook author deal. They're even using stuff from the Shades of Gray article. I'm really looking forward to seeing it.
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/d20m/107697200