James Maliszewski has a new article up over at WotC's website.
http://www.wizards.com/DnD/Article.aspx?x=dnd/4alum/2012May#80014
Well worth the read.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Eldritch Skies
Eldritch Skies is the new SF/Lovecraft/alt-history game from Battlefield Press.
A few disclaimers are in order first I think.
1. I have worked with John Snead in the past ("The Magic Box" for Buffy) and personally think he is a great guy. 2. I reviewed a playtest copy of this several months ago to "check the math" on the Unisystem rules. 3. I have a project coming up with Battlefield Press.
So what can I say about Eldritch Skies?
Let's go basic. Certainly there is the feel of Aliens here more than say Avatar. One thing though for certain, this is not Star Trek, Star Wars or anything like that. Though to be fair, Trek did have a story by Robert Bloch and it was very Lovecraftian in tone. Also if that is what you want (SW or ST) then the rules will support that. This book is Lovecraft as SciFi (dark SciFi to be sure), but not so much as horror.
Chapter 1 deals with the recent history and the present day, 2030. The history of the world here is slightly different. Think of it as if all those Lovecraft stories were true and humanity found a way to start using some of that alien tech/magic to get to the stars. There is a history and the changes start out subtle till we get to the 90s. We get to the present day and now we are stepping out into the reaches of space and we find wonders and horrors.
Chapter 2 is Character Creation and Chapter 3 is Game Rules. The game system is Cinematic Unisystem. The same system that powers my own Ghosts of Albion and other games like Army of Darkness, Buffy and Angel. So if you are familiar with those games then you will be familiar how this one works too.
Like other CineUnisystem games there are three "levels" of characters, Civilians, Operatives and Veterans. Unlike other CineUnisystem this game uses the Secondary Attribute Speed, from Classic Unisystem.
For Qualities and Drawbacks there are all the expected ones, Fast Reaction Time, Nerves of Steel, etc. But there are also a lot of "Ab-Human" abilities, such as Deep One Hybrid and Sorcery (it is not the same as Buffy's) and some augmentations.
The rules are same as other Cine Unisystem games with some additions to support the game, ie lots of gear.
Chapter 4 is Arcane Secrets including the secrets of hyperspace. Not just how to travel, but the biggest issue of the hyperspace madness. This is the keystone of the game. What separates this from other Unisystem games and it from other Mythos games.
Chapter 5 deals with the Realms of the Mythos. These are the worlds known to humankind. This also includes the psychic Dream Realms. This is a very cool chapter that had to be a lot of fun to write. Tons of new worlds ready for you to use and have adventures on.
Chapter Six: Eldritch Threats and Wonders: The monsters and creatures of the settings. Includes the mythos creatures, humans and ab-humans. If you have any passing interest in mythos monsters or expanding your CineUnisystem games with more creatures, then this chapter is worth the price of the book alone. Yes, you can play it as is. Or use it in your Buffy, Army of Darkness or Ghosts of Albion games.
Chapter Seven is the Director's section on how to run a game. This includes setting the tone and what to do.
The Appendix has rules for using the Classic Unisystem and a bunch of tables for your ease. No character sheet though.
I think one of the troubles about playing games like D&D and even to a degree Call of Cthulhu is we have tended to categorize the mythos creatures as well, Mythos Creatures. They often times are "Stated up" as gods or some other similar sort of being. We tend to forget that while humans may have worshiped them in cults most were not in fact gods at all. Powerful alien beings yes, but not so much gods. Looking at them again as aliens is a deft move and this change of the point of view makes this book less Buffy-doing-Aliens and more Armageddon/ConspiracyX-doing-Event-Horizon.
What I really, really like about this is it treats the Mythos Creatures as aliens and magic as advanced science. The Thing is a good example of Lovecraft as SciFi story.
Also this book remembers that Lovecraft's stories were also not all about tentacle monsters and evisceration. Sure we have the Mi-Go, but this more about the madness that lies between the stars. Honestly to get a better feel of what you can do here, take the Sam Rockwell movie Moon and assume there are outside alien influences on the whole thing. We never see the aliens, except for maybe when Sam's character sees a Mi-Go with a brain tube at the very end.
I mentioned the playtest files because I'll admit I was not initially a fan of this game when I first read it. But I was focusing on the crunch rather than the fluff. The Unisystem parts were (and are) fine. But since it's release I have grown to like it more for both the crunch and the fluff.
Now that I have come back to it I really like it. I Am not 100% sure I'll play the game "as-is", I might re-do it a bit and set it in 2130 so I can include some ConX or Armageddon background. Or I might just take Chapters 5 and 6 and use them with my Ghosts of Albion games.
Needless to say this thing screams "Use me with All Tomorrow's Zombies" and it would be right. Using the Classic conversion guide in back makes ATZ a perfect add-on for this game.
If you like SciFi, Lovecraft, the Mythos or Unisystem, or all the above, then this is a great game to get.
A few disclaimers are in order first I think.
1. I have worked with John Snead in the past ("The Magic Box" for Buffy) and personally think he is a great guy. 2. I reviewed a playtest copy of this several months ago to "check the math" on the Unisystem rules. 3. I have a project coming up with Battlefield Press.
So what can I say about Eldritch Skies?
Let's go basic. Certainly there is the feel of Aliens here more than say Avatar. One thing though for certain, this is not Star Trek, Star Wars or anything like that. Though to be fair, Trek did have a story by Robert Bloch and it was very Lovecraftian in tone. Also if that is what you want (SW or ST) then the rules will support that. This book is Lovecraft as SciFi (dark SciFi to be sure), but not so much as horror.
Chapter 1 deals with the recent history and the present day, 2030. The history of the world here is slightly different. Think of it as if all those Lovecraft stories were true and humanity found a way to start using some of that alien tech/magic to get to the stars. There is a history and the changes start out subtle till we get to the 90s. We get to the present day and now we are stepping out into the reaches of space and we find wonders and horrors.
Chapter 2 is Character Creation and Chapter 3 is Game Rules. The game system is Cinematic Unisystem. The same system that powers my own Ghosts of Albion and other games like Army of Darkness, Buffy and Angel. So if you are familiar with those games then you will be familiar how this one works too.
Like other CineUnisystem games there are three "levels" of characters, Civilians, Operatives and Veterans. Unlike other CineUnisystem this game uses the Secondary Attribute Speed, from Classic Unisystem.
For Qualities and Drawbacks there are all the expected ones, Fast Reaction Time, Nerves of Steel, etc. But there are also a lot of "Ab-Human" abilities, such as Deep One Hybrid and Sorcery (it is not the same as Buffy's) and some augmentations.
The rules are same as other Cine Unisystem games with some additions to support the game, ie lots of gear.
Chapter 4 is Arcane Secrets including the secrets of hyperspace. Not just how to travel, but the biggest issue of the hyperspace madness. This is the keystone of the game. What separates this from other Unisystem games and it from other Mythos games.
Chapter 5 deals with the Realms of the Mythos. These are the worlds known to humankind. This also includes the psychic Dream Realms. This is a very cool chapter that had to be a lot of fun to write. Tons of new worlds ready for you to use and have adventures on.
Chapter Six: Eldritch Threats and Wonders: The monsters and creatures of the settings. Includes the mythos creatures, humans and ab-humans. If you have any passing interest in mythos monsters or expanding your CineUnisystem games with more creatures, then this chapter is worth the price of the book alone. Yes, you can play it as is. Or use it in your Buffy, Army of Darkness or Ghosts of Albion games.
Chapter Seven is the Director's section on how to run a game. This includes setting the tone and what to do.
The Appendix has rules for using the Classic Unisystem and a bunch of tables for your ease. No character sheet though.
I think one of the troubles about playing games like D&D and even to a degree Call of Cthulhu is we have tended to categorize the mythos creatures as well, Mythos Creatures. They often times are "Stated up" as gods or some other similar sort of being. We tend to forget that while humans may have worshiped them in cults most were not in fact gods at all. Powerful alien beings yes, but not so much gods. Looking at them again as aliens is a deft move and this change of the point of view makes this book less Buffy-doing-Aliens and more Armageddon/ConspiracyX-doing-Event-Horizon.
What I really, really like about this is it treats the Mythos Creatures as aliens and magic as advanced science. The Thing is a good example of Lovecraft as SciFi story.
Also this book remembers that Lovecraft's stories were also not all about tentacle monsters and evisceration. Sure we have the Mi-Go, but this more about the madness that lies between the stars. Honestly to get a better feel of what you can do here, take the Sam Rockwell movie Moon and assume there are outside alien influences on the whole thing. We never see the aliens, except for maybe when Sam's character sees a Mi-Go with a brain tube at the very end.
I mentioned the playtest files because I'll admit I was not initially a fan of this game when I first read it. But I was focusing on the crunch rather than the fluff. The Unisystem parts were (and are) fine. But since it's release I have grown to like it more for both the crunch and the fluff.
Now that I have come back to it I really like it. I Am not 100% sure I'll play the game "as-is", I might re-do it a bit and set it in 2130 so I can include some ConX or Armageddon background. Or I might just take Chapters 5 and 6 and use them with my Ghosts of Albion games.
Needless to say this thing screams "Use me with All Tomorrow's Zombies" and it would be right. Using the Classic conversion guide in back makes ATZ a perfect add-on for this game.
If you like SciFi, Lovecraft, the Mythos or Unisystem, or all the above, then this is a great game to get.
New Theme
Decided it was time for a change. Actually I had decided this months ago. I finally took some time today during lunch to finish it up.
The old theme was called "os_drgn42" this one is "os_drgn114". Been wanting to try this one for a while now.
What do you think?
Personally I think it is easier to read and I like the color palate.
The old theme was called "os_drgn42" this one is "os_drgn114". Been wanting to try this one for a while now.
What do you think?
Personally I think it is easier to read and I like the color palate.
Wayne Foundation
Tomorrow is the last day for the Wayne Foundation Charity RPG bundle at DriveThruRPG.
Please check out this worthy cause.
Please check out this worthy cause.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
White Dwarf Wednesday #16
First up we notice another step up in the cover art.
We have a few pages of ads and the editorial begins on page 7. Ian Livingstone talks about how WD was voted the best games magazine in the recent Game Day Awards. The questionnaire they did a few months back is reprinted here (later in the magazine) and they want to get feedback.
Lew Pulsipher has 3 pages on monsters from the Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever series for AD&D. I was always one of those people who stopped reading the book after the rape of Lena so I have no idea if these are on target or not. The monsters though look like they will work and there is quite a bit of them.
Andy Slack gives us more of the Traveller Universe with Social Class and Psionics. These articles, while neat, are all over the place. Maybe it is my modern sensibilities or just me in particular, but I would have enjoyed these more if there had been some organization to them.
A table of Boot Hill encounters is next from Dominic Beddow. This is generic enough to be used in any system dealing with the Wild West. I might try this in Ghosts one day, I have had a desire to have an adventure in America.
Dominic continues the Boot Hill love with an 8/10 review in Open Box. Also reviewed are GDW's Imperium (9/10) and Snapshot (8/10). The biggie is Don Turnbull's review of the AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide. The book is "Not Applicable" for a review since, by Turnbull's thoughts, this is a book everyone needs. So basically it got WDs first "11/10".
A mini-adventure "The Paths of the Lil" from James Ward is next. It deals with with some new mutants from the Gamma World game, the Lil, and an area they inhabit to investigate. It's an interesting little mix of Gamma World and D&D to be honest. The Lil are fae like creatures. The adventure could be used with D&D for low level character with no problems, even with kids.
The Fiend Factory is back with only two pages of monsters. The odd "Tenser Beast" which is a monster of Tenser's Floating Disk. The Man Scorpion, which is not the same as other creatures I have seen like it. The Ogress, the offspring of a male ogre and a female human with some disguise ability. The Wrecker, a specialized Iron Golem and the Plant Man, which is part plant and part man, natch.
Pictures from Games Day V are posted. Including White Dwarf winning the best Games Magazine. Letters follow that.
The questionnaire is printed on page 25. Typicall range, what do you like the best, what do you like the least. Favorite games, would you like to see a comic strip.
After that, more ads.
I certainly feel WD is lacking something at the stage that I saw in earlier editions and what I know I'll see in later ones. It seems kind of in a rut at the moment.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Talk to me about C&C
My son's group has moved from Pathfinder, to ACKs and now to Castles & Crusades.
I recall playing around with this game a little bit when it first came out. But now I see there are a bunch of new 4th printing covers that are green. Are they any different?
I have the Castle Keepers Guide and I have Tainted Lands. The C&C books that came with that are all that I have. For the record I was not thrilled with Tainted Lands. It just never really jelled with me I guess.
So tell me about it. What appeals to me is the 1st edition feel of it, but still taking advantage of the progress made in 3rd Edition.
This is what I have on my current "wish list", I think this could keep me set.
My son really loves it, but I have also suspected for some time that our next game is going to be either AD&D1 or a very modified version of 3.x (more modified that what I have now I guess).
So talk me. Tell me what you like, what you hate. If you are from Troll Lord then this is your chance to sell me and my readers on your game!
I recall playing around with this game a little bit when it first came out. But now I see there are a bunch of new 4th printing covers that are green. Are they any different?
I have the Castle Keepers Guide and I have Tainted Lands. The C&C books that came with that are all that I have. For the record I was not thrilled with Tainted Lands. It just never really jelled with me I guess.
So tell me about it. What appeals to me is the 1st edition feel of it, but still taking advantage of the progress made in 3rd Edition.
This is what I have on my current "wish list", I think this could keep me set.
- Castles & Crusades Players Handbook (4th) (how is this different than what came in my TL box?)
- Castles & Crusades Monsters & Treasure
- Castles & Crusades Classic Monsters The Manual (and how is this different than the one above?)
- Castles & Crusades Of Gods & Monsters
My son really loves it, but I have also suspected for some time that our next game is going to be either AD&D1 or a very modified version of 3.x (more modified that what I have now I guess).
So talk me. Tell me what you like, what you hate. If you are from Troll Lord then this is your chance to sell me and my readers on your game!
May DriveThruRPG May Sale
Here are the DriveThruRPG sales for May.
You can purchase any or all of these products for 20% off.
Please use the following code: DriveThruApril (yes, "April")
Savage Worlds Fantasy Companion [Pinnacle Entertainment]
Realms of Cthulhu [Reality Blurs]
Karma Roleplaying System Core [Bards and Sages]
FantasyCraft [Crafty Games]
Fat Dragon's Dragonshire Deluxe [Fat Dragon Games]
Paths of Power (Pathfinder System) [4 Winds Fantasy]
Spycraft: Real American H.E.R.O.es [Crafty Games]
Fellowship of the White Star Campaign Book [Thenodrin Presents]
Ninja Burger RPG (2nd Edition) [aetherial FORGE]
Heavy Gear Blitz! Locked & Loaded [Dream Pod 9]
Hero's Handbook: Dragonborn [Goodman Games]
Splicers RPG [Palladium Books]
Noir Knights (Savage Worlds) [Savage Mojo]
The winner of my contest this month was picked before I even got a chance to announce it.
In honor of my Mystic Locale Halfway, I wanted to pick the follower that is Halfway to Hell, follower #333.
That is Andrea from The Enchanted Writer. She gets a $10 gift code for DriveThruRPG!
Enjoy!
You can purchase any or all of these products for 20% off.
Please use the following code: DriveThruApril (yes, "April")
Savage Worlds Fantasy Companion [Pinnacle Entertainment]
Realms of Cthulhu [Reality Blurs]
Karma Roleplaying System Core [Bards and Sages]
FantasyCraft [Crafty Games]
Fat Dragon's Dragonshire Deluxe [Fat Dragon Games]
Paths of Power (Pathfinder System) [4 Winds Fantasy]
Spycraft: Real American H.E.R.O.es [Crafty Games]
Fellowship of the White Star Campaign Book [Thenodrin Presents]
Ninja Burger RPG (2nd Edition) [aetherial FORGE]
Heavy Gear Blitz! Locked & Loaded [Dream Pod 9]
Hero's Handbook: Dragonborn [Goodman Games]
Splicers RPG [Palladium Books]
Noir Knights (Savage Worlds) [Savage Mojo]
The winner of my contest this month was picked before I even got a chance to announce it.
In honor of my Mystic Locale Halfway, I wanted to pick the follower that is Halfway to Hell, follower #333.
That is Andrea from The Enchanted Writer. She gets a $10 gift code for DriveThruRPG!
Enjoy!
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