I know that this is often the "lull" period for games, the early part of the year; and many companies wait to release products or supplements for the Origins/Gencon circuit. But surely there's new shit coming out right now that people are looking at.
So, got any new gamebook recently, or supplement, or adventure, that's cool and worth mentioning?
RPGPundit
If I say Mouse Guard, are you going to move the thread?
Nope, I'll just think you're an idiot. But that's nothing new.
RPGPundit
Oh, well then, Mouse Guard is very nice. Swishest production values you could hope for, and a great intro RPG text. The comics make excellent supps. My daughter is gagging to play it.
(http://www.daradja.com/titles/mouse_guard/Mouse_Guard_RPG_Cover.jpg)
I have to admit, MG left me cold, even though I'm interesting in Burning Wheel and Burning Empires.
For my part, I'm finally catching up on all the Shadowrun 4e stuff now that my group is playing it. I'm also waiting pretty eagerly for Arcane Power for D&D 4e, for when my group goes back to it.
That looks lame.
I've been looking over the sword & sorcery comic supplement for Mutants & Masterminds: Warriors & Warlocks or something like that.
It's interesting, but I think I'd ultimately just use True20 for fantasy gaming in that vein, since all the work is done for me and I don't usually go for comic book style fantasy.
Quote from: shalvayez;294000That looks lame.
Your mom looks lame!
Oh, and I more or less ignored the Song of Ice and Fire RPG, despite how much I like the books. From the preview, there just isn't anything in it that says "SoIaF" to me.
Quote from: Pseudoephedrine;293999I have to admit, MG left me cold, even though I'm interesting in Burning Wheel and Burning Empires.
I'd rather play BW myself, but MG is such a good intro game.
I'll say that Mouse Guard looks good, aesthetically speaking, but the system is Burning-whatever, which I'm not a fan of, so it's a pass for me.
Borrowed a copy of Whispering Vault (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Whispering_Vault) for a read.
Recently I have bought Dungeon Designer 3 (http://www.profantasy.com/products/dd3.asp) to spec out a traditional dungeon crawl game/campaign that will be in Rolemaster Standard System that will be starting tomorrow.
For my usual group, that is kicking it almost old school since we started with RM2.
Legends of Steel.
It's pretty cool.
Quote from: jswa;294001I've been looking over the sword & sorcery comic supplement for Mutants & Masterminds: Warriors & Warlocks or something like that.
It's interesting, but I think I'd ultimately just use True20 for fantasy gaming in that vein, since all the work is done for me and I don't usually go for comic book style fantasy.
True20 is really great for S&S- I've used it that way extensively. I think savage worlds might be just a touch better though, especially with the Soloman Kane variant.
Whispering Vault is great.
MouseGuard in on the way. I'm not sure about the system but some of my players think we could play a cool Secret of N.I.M.H type campaign. I'm not opposed to the idea.
Right now, I'm reading WoD Innocents. I like it but the sections on child psych is a tad, precious. After watching Let The Right One In, I see the possibilities of a short term campaign.
Regards,
David R
I like Mouse Guard, but I think something more in the lines of Red Wall would make a richer RPG as you have a greater diversity of races to choose from. If I did run it, I would make it a rule that when anyone role plays, they would have to talk in little squeaky voices. :D
I don't know if I would want to play The Burning Wheel on a regular basis, but the concept of running zero level/pre first adventure PC's is very interesting to me. Maybe there's some good ideas within the system that could be incorporated into one's campaign.
Playtesting Stone Horizons, and enjoying the heck out of it. :D
-clash
Just recently got done with an IHW:StarCluster play test that went down in flames like no play test in recent memory. Had nothing to do with the system (which is great) but with my choice of players. My bad entirely. Still, I think clash has a good niche he could fill here. Troupe play for sci-fi that works well with military sci-fi. Good stuff.
I like Mouse Guard. It's gritty. I still think the system--as lightened as it is--is a little heavy on the back end for what it does.
It still over-produces scenarios, even as it presumably breaks them down into smaller, snappier pieces. It spends a lot of time on meta-game issues, defining objectives, conflicts, goals, twists--all in the service of character development. Now--I have never really found this stuff to get in the way in BW. It's a fun game with roleplayers whose experience has taught them what kinds of things they enjoy concentrating on, and what they like to gloss over. On the other hand--I've also never found this stuff to be helpful putting together an engaging adventure for the players. I don't want to debate BW's relative merits as a "player's game" as opposed to a "gm's game" or anything like that. I simply want to point out that like or hate BW, even the lightened version for Mouse Guard is going to be difficult for inexperienced roleplayers to run.
That said, I like it. I love the comics, I like the gritty, small-scale world, and i'm experienced enough to spin a yarn within the game's framework that will be fun and satisfying for the players.
Quote from: stu2000;294028That said, I like it. I love the comics, I like the gritty, small-scale world, and i'm experienced enough to spin a yarn within the game's framework that will be fun and satisfying for the players.
So what exactly is the difference between Mouse Guard and the Redwall books? Just grittiness?
I've not read the comics but when I saw the website for the game I just thought, oh, Brian Jacques rip-off. Am I wrong?
Quote from: noisms;294037So what exactly is the difference between Mouse Guard and the Redwall books? Just grittiness?
I've not read the comics but when I saw the website for the game I just thought, oh, Brian Jacques rip-off. Am I wrong?
Well. It is medieval mice. So it can't help but bear some resemblance. But it's much more sparse. The story focuses on the muse patrol--guardsmen, outriders, mailmen, highway patrol--rather than building a comprehensive picture of life in the abbey. It's partly that the artist takes plenty of time to slowly build a serious, suspenseful story, so it doesn't cover as much ground as the Redwall novels. It's also the different tone. Mouse Guard is heavier than Redwall. Existence feels precarious.
I agree that Redwall is a more varied and colorful gaming milieu. But Mouse Guard is grittier and more down to business. I can see some gamers being more comfortable developing a persona to coexist with the characters in the Redwall books. But my group and I would find it easier to play characters specifically in the mouse patrol. It's a paradigm we enjoy. It would be easier to come to consensus on what kind of story we were doing and what our guys were about.
Group concept cohesion is good in BW.
I would play Redwall with Fudge or something else light, flexible, with easy rules for scale.
Man, I really didn't mean to make this thread about Mouse Guard. Life's so weird.
I'm another who is reading The Whispering Vault and it's supplements.
Kind of a revisitation because I've been a fan of the game for a while, but I'm noticing all sorts of interesting setting stuff I missed when I originally read it years ago.
Last night I stayed up late with the Wayback Machine looking for old web articles about it... mostly seeking the good stuff Julie Hoverson wrote for Serendipity's Circle.
I'm trying to wrap my brain around the more campaign-oriented aspects of the setting... what do Stalkers do when they aren't on a Hunt? There is some implication of intrigue regarding the Citadel... maybe interactions with other circles of Stalkers... some hierarchy of favor with the primal powers?
I'm even mining old episodes of Sapphire And Steel for inspiration.
Probably a waste of time since I don't think I'm gonna find anyone to play it with.
Since I'm currently running a Beatrix Potter game of for my GF Mouse Guard interests me too... though I wonder how the game goes about stressing that you are playing a mouse... rather than a regular human who looks like a mouse.
Sorry about the thread hijack Droog :o
I agree, Mouse Guard is much darker and not catered to young adults the way RedWall is. I'm just saying I would prefer a wider variety of races to be included in a similar PRG genre---I'm all about the gritty! :biggrin:
I really do like this idea of forming a PC before they start going dungeon delving and all that fun stuff. Not so much as a full-on campaign, but as sort of a precursor or mini pre game when your creating a new character. For myself, I always write a little bio and backstory for my 1st leveler and encourage it with my players so being able to take it a bit farther and "game it out" a little could be quite fun and maybe help with thinking up new story hooks then the conventional tired old ways such as an Inn or a old wizard in need of a magic item:rolleyes:. Maybe this week I'll pick up the core rules.
.
Quote from: jswa;294007Oh, and I more or less ignored the Song of Ice and Fire RPG, despite how much I like the books. From the preview, there just isn't anything in it that says "SoIaF" to me.
Is the Song of Ice and Fire rpg already out? I've never read the novel, but the game looks interesting, and I wanna pick it up.
Quote from: flyingmice;294024Playtesting Stone Horizons, and enjoying the heck out of it. :D
-clash
Cool! :)
I haven't bought anything new for a little while 'cos the pennies don't be there, but i'm making my way through IHW:Starcluster with a view to a playtest.
I've also just downloaded Fate 2.0 and am working my way through that with a view to a job or two down the line.
The newest thing I'm reading is GURPS Thaumatology. It's interesting, well put together, but... so far, not at all what I was hoping it to be.
I've actually sold about half of my RPG collection this year and I'm trying my best not to add to it till things become a bit more stable for me.
I've bought Call of Cthulhu 6e and am looking forward to running it. Yeah, it's not new... but it's new to me :)
Also discovering Donjon, thanks to a friend of mine. Again, not new...
I guess I'm not keeping up with new stuff that comes out as much as I'd like to. There are already more games than I could play if I were given another lifetime...
Playing Champions and D&D 4E and just bought a bunch of Champions adventures (since I am now running a campaign of it). I plan on reading through my Exalted books just to make a bunch of random tables for my personal shits and giggles.
I've been re-reading Car Wars Deluxe Edition Compendium (5e?). I found it unexpectedly when unpacking some of my things after a move. I'm trying to figure out if I want to sell it on e-bay or keep it for nostalgia. I can't imagine ever playing it again.
I've been playing in a Star Wars SAGA game since December. It's set after canon and (I suspect) the galaxy far far away will be attacked by tyranids. It's fun because our characters age at set intervals. So far we've done kids (level 1-2) and teens (levels 5-8). I painted up a WH40k fig with a EP IV Luke Skywalker yellow vest, but have since repainted it Jedi brown. I might finish him with a lightsaber, matching starfighter and/or some alternate costumes (invisible, in space suit and turning to the darkside) if I can find the bits.
I've been lurking on D&D 4e threads, just in case there's something game changing in the PHB2. Actualy, what most got me interested in it again is a WotC ball of flame mini my friend showed me. His wizard rolls around the field. It would be fun to have another excuse to kitbash some more minis.
I've been painting up my LotR minis because my 2.5 yr old daughter is crazy about them. Honestly I don't care for the smaller LotR scale. I find it tremendously difficult to work on and I'm unsatisfied with the way the fellowship's faces are turning out.
She doesn't know it yet, but her Easter eggs will be filled with pre-painted Noah's ark themed animal miniatures. I'm looking forward to seeing if she allows the animal minis play with LotR minis. The other toys never get to. :D
Quote from: droog;293997Oh, well then, Mouse Guard is very nice. Swishest production values you could hope for, and a great intro RPG text. The comics make excellent supps. My daughter is gagging to play it.
(http://www.daradja.com/titles/mouse_guard/Mouse_Guard_RPG_Cover.jpg)
Yesterday I was in a game store and I saw it, it is really pretty, I've got to admit Luke Crane makes beautiful books. I felt somewhat tempted to grab it (I was a little surprised when I saw the price, 24€, I expected way more), especially because it's supposed to be a lighter version of Burning Wheel, but not being sure how much lighter it is, I decided to leave it for another occasion.
What new stuff am I reading right now? The new Song of Ice and Fire RPG by Green Ronin, I bought the PDF. I am somewhat disappointed by it, penalties for using armor are too heavy, I know that if I intend to run it I'll have to houserule it, and I'm not very sure if combat will work very well, it feels as if damaging armored enemies were very easy.
I'd like to keep running Usagi Yojimbo, but I guess it's not new enough, so it doesn't count.
The new 3rd edition of Aquelarre is supposed to be published this very year, I'm really eager to get it!!
The Best of The Dragon, vol. 1 and 2.
Quote from: Aos;294012True20 is really great for S&S- I've used it that way extensively. I think savage worlds might be just a touch better though, especially with the Soloman Kane variant.
Savage Worlds is my other go-to system, but I haven't gotten the chance to pick up Solomon Kane yet (it's a little steep).
Whenever I have the spare cash, I definitely plan on grabbing it though.
I doubt you will be disappointed.
I'm not buying new stuff because I allowed a massive backlog of game books to grow, so I'm going through it.
Though I'm running a bi-weekly game of RQ Vikings, the missus and me are thinking on filling the empty sunday with some Esoterrists goodness, and give the GUMSHOE system a proper test.
Playing: Warhammer 40K, AT 43, a little Magic, and Call of Cthulhu.
Reading: Swords and Wizardry, Star Wars Saga & KOTOR Sourcebook.
Was reading: Call of Cthulhu Keeper's Companion 1&2, Trinity.
Buying: SW Saga, Call of Cthulhu, FASERIP Marvel, some Car Wars bits, AT 43.
Oh, and I'm prepping a BloodGames II campaign - Ghost With Guns.
Regards,
David R
Quote from: David R;294231Oh, and I'm prepping a BloodGames II campaign - Ghost With Guns.
Regards,
David R
Oooh! What's it going to be about, David?
-clash
Have Lulu prints of S&W and LL on the way right now. Very much looking forward to receiving them.
Quote from: flyingmice;294319Oooh! What's it going to be about, David?
-clash
Well it's kinda of a supernatural version of John Sayles
Men With Guns (
Hombres armados): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119657/
Set in an unamed Asian country, the PCs are members of a Buddhist sect who investigate the bizzare attacks of the so-called
Ghosts with Guns. During the course of the campaign/investigations, they discover the true otherworldly history of their country.
Regards,
David R
Quote from: David R;294328Well it's kinda of a supernatural version of John Sayles Men With Guns (Hombres armados): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119657/
Set in an unamed Asian country, the PCs are members of a Buddhist sect who investigate the bizzare attacks of the so-called Ghosts with Guns. During the course of the campaign/investigations, they discover the true otherworldly history of their country.
Regards,
David R
Sounds like it could be very cool! Buddhist ritual magic is not covered in the game*, so I assume you are adapting something? If so, I'd love to see your notes! :D
Are the PCs Path characters, or non-Path? The Paths in the book center on the People of the Book**, because I wrote it for a North American setting. I could see some of the Paths being adaptable to a Buddhist setting, though.
-clash
*But it's something I'd like to cover in the future - especially if I can work with someone who is familiar with these rituals.
**I would dearly love to set up some Buddhist Paths!
I have bought Qin – Shaolin et Wudang. It's the same game system as original Qin, but in 18th century China. I was very surprised to stumble upon this on amazon.fr as I didn't know something like this was even in production.
I also bought another French RPG I have wanted for a long time: Miles Christi, a game focussed on playing Knights Templar. Yet another interesting game I will never find any players for.
Unfortunately, having to move, I don't have much time for either of them at the moment.
Quote from: David R;294328Well it's kinda of a supernatural version of John Sayles Men With Guns (Hombres armados): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119657/
Set in an unamed Asian country, the PCs are members of a Buddhist sect who investigate the bizzare attacks of the so-called Ghosts with Guns. During the course of the campaign/investigations, they discover the true otherworldly history of their country.
Regards,
David R
Sounds very very cool.
I'm not buying much of anything currently, except for some AT-43 minis when I get money in my paypal account. I'm offloading a bunch of RPG stuff that I no longer use or will likely never use again. It is quite liberating actually.
My days of being a collector and/or completist are over.
I continue to run a good game of Star Wars Saga Edition, now going on the 14th session overall (this Saturday).
Recent purchases include Labyrinth Lord, Warriors and Warlocks, Dungeon Crawl (4E) and the WFRP Career Compendium. So far I'm enjoying all of them, with W&W and the CC really standing out.
Reading: Swords & Wizardry, and Philotomy Jurament's brilliant site.
Playing: Dragon Warriors.
Running: Nothing right now. S&W.PJ up next, I'm thinking.
Haven't bought a game in a long time. Which reminds me, how is the hard copy Swords & Wizardry? Assuming anyone here has that.
I'm currently more focused on buying non-RPG products which happen to mesh with games I've got in mind. I've been watching a lot of old action movies to help spice up my combats with interesting encounter locations/terrain ideas. I also repurchased the wolfenstein games on Steam both in anticipation of the new one, and for a Godlike/Wild Talents game I've got brewing in my head.
Playing: Dungeons and Dragons, WFRP
Reading: WFRP supps/novels, Godlike and Wild Talents.
The basic framework of the mythology of the setting - cinematic off course - is based on this : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_realms.
Quote from: flyingmice;294368Sounds like it could be very cool! Buddhist ritual magic is not covered in the game*, so I assume you are adapting something? If so, I'd love to see your notes! :D
Are the PCs Path characters, or non-Path? The Paths in the book center on the People of the Book**, because I wrote it for a North American setting. I could see some of the Paths being adaptable to a Buddhist setting, though.
-clash
Well Paths are a little more tricky. I've got some ideas and you have made it very easy to adapt your concepts to nearly any kind of game. Here's an example of the kind of "magic/philosophy/belief" that's in the game :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaisajyaguru
However I'm encouraging my players to wander all over the map in terms of the types of characters they create. So, although it's an Eastern setting, one of the players is toying with the character concept of a "Western" doctor with Doctors Without Borders, who manifest certain emphatic abilites associated with the above "belief" and who is recruited by the Sect.
'kay, sorry folks for the slight derail. Back to your regular show.
Regards,
David R
Hey, David, did you ever get anywhere with that HQ/Jorune hack?
Quote from: droog;294601Hey, David, did you ever get anywhere with that HQ/Jorune hack?
Well, it really wasn't my project. This GM and long time
Jorune fan I know online, was doing most of the work. I think she has nearly completed it. I'll send you over the finished work when she gives it to me. I think you may find it interesting.
Regards,
David R
Quote from: David R;294599Well Paths are a little more tricky. I've got some ideas and you have made it very easy to adapt your concepts to nearly any kind of game. Here's an example of the kind of "magic/philosophy/belief" that's in the game :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaisajyaguru
Thanks, David!
On Paths, I asked because one of my players had recently asked me if his hitherto normal human - a Buddhist monk/martial artist - could become a Magus. I suggested that Bhoddisatvas were a reasonable analogue for Archangels. He picked Guanyin. I said work out the three areas Guanyin has power over. He did so, and I accepted it. I think it made a nice fit, actually.
As always I love what you're doing. I just with you lived in Boston or I lived in Malaysia... :D
-clash
Quote from: flyingmice;294692Thanks, David!
On Paths, I asked because one of my players had recently asked me if his hitherto normal human - a Buddhist monk/martial artist - could become a Magus. I suggested that Bhoddisatvas were a reasonable analogue for Archangels.
Right, that's what I was trying to get at. As usual what clash said.
Just so folks know,
BloodGamesII is flexible enough to run most types of horror games. From
Hellraiser to
Rosemary's Baby or y'know,
Ringu to
Audition.....QuoteAs always I love what you're doing. I just with you lived in Boston or I lived in Malaysia... :D
:emot-cheers:
Been sorta rediscovering Mutants & Masterminds, I played first edition for a while but it didn't quite please like it seem to everyone else. Picked up second edition when it came out, but only really paged through it, read it recently and I'm really digging it, and been picking up some of the supplements, looking forward to checking out Warriors & Warlocks when it comes to hard copy.
Also, while not new by a long stretch, I recently discovered the old Victory Games James Bond RPG, some pretty nifty and innovative stuff for its time. Been mining the various supplements for a super-spy based Mutants and Masterminds game I've been running for the wife.
I went into my FLGS, the Black and Read, and found a used copy of Alternity's Gamma World Campaign Setting for $10 USD. I am jazzed since this has been on list for while now.
Ah man, Alternity Gamma World? I was so disappointed when that first came out. I was realy looking forward to an edition of Gamma World that had the high production values of Alternity. Didn't quite work out that way.
I have no issues with Aternity as a system, but that did terrible, terrible things to the Gamma World setting.
Quote from: Soylent Green;295254Ah man, Alternity Gamma World? I was so disappointed when that first came out. I was realy looking forward to an edition of Gamma World that had the high production values of Alternity. Didn't quite work out that way.
I have no issues with Aternity as a system, but that did terrible, terrible things to the Gamma World setting.
Well, I'm going to dig into it tonight. At first glance, I like some of the art, and the cover picture. Hopefully it won't be quite a disappoint as the WotC version was for me.
Quote from: Drohem;295258Well, I'm going to dig into it tonight. At first glance, I like some of the art, and the cover picture. Hopefully it won't be quite a disappoint as the WotC version was for me.
The most fun new Gamma World attempt was with Omega World, a mini-d20 game that appeared in an issue of Dungeon Magazine. Bare bones and quick fun.
The stupid Geico commercials killed my fun in Gamma World though. I had a long running sentient gecko until they decided to make an obvious joke out of him. Sons of bitches! :D
Quote from: Idinsinuation;295259The most fun new Gamma World attempt was with Omega World, a mini-d20 game that appeared in an issue of Dungeon Magazine. Bare bones and quick fun.
The stupid Geico commercials killed my fun in Gamma World though. I had a long running mutant gecko until they decided to make an obvious joke out of him. Sons of bitches! :D
Hehehe... sorry about your gecko disillusionment now.
Yup, I picked up a PDF copy of that issue with Omega World about 4-5 months ago. I read about it a post somewhere and was surprised that I hadn't seen it before. I was not disappointed. Tweet does good stuff.
I picked up a bunch of old shit recently that's new to me.
Bard Games Arcanum - Reading this as part of long-range planning for a fantasy game sometime in the future. Love it, and I really want to get the Atlantis and Bestiary books along with it.
DragonQuest 1st Edition - I just like anything SPI. Interesting game system.
GameLords Traveller Books - Drexilthar(sp?) Subsector and Lee's Guide to Adventure are being culled for bits I can steal and use in my current game. Goes nicely with Startown Liberty and the Environment books, which I love.
StormBringer 5e - I've had this since it came out, just finished reading it for the same reason I'm reading Arcanum.