Archived News - March, 2001
T5 Update
010330 - If you haven't been following the discussions over on Citizens of the Imperium (that's Traveller's official message boards over at Far Future Enterprises), it looks like Traveller's fifth edition will use T4's task system. But the good news is that Marc Miller is working on a draft of an alternate rule that will do away with the funky "half-dice."
Hero Software Announcement
010330 - Hero Games announced a new software utility called Super Hero ArtBuilder. The program allows you to create high-resolution super hero character artwork quickly and easily. The software works for both Macintosh and Windows computers, and will be released in May 2001 on CD-ROM.
The Super Hero ArtBuilder features a wide variety of artwork, including some taken from Hero Games' popular superhero RPG Champions: New Millennium. The utility program generates artwork for use in any roleplaying game, but can also be used to create costume designs for comic book characters, or just to create fun illustrations.
The Super Hero ArtBuilder uses high-resolution 3D character poses as the starting point. Users then select from hundreds of different pieces to layer on to the characters, such as masks, capes, gadgets, weapons, and energy effects. Each piece also has a variety of textures that can be added to it. Users can also control the transparency and the color of each individual piece. All of the artwork has been 3D modeled and pre-rendered in high resolution. The Super Hero ArtBuilder exports pictures in JPEG format for use with most art programs. Users can import their own background art, and the output can be optimized for web use, use with Hero Games' popular Creator software, or even for use as miniature size character standups.
Planned for a summer release is Fantasy ArtBuilder, which will generate character art for fantasy roleplaying games and other uses.
The full press release can be found here.
ftp Down
010329 - I've been unable to make my ftp connection to update today's stories. Let's hope for the best...
Make a Planet
010329 - Wizards of the Coast has posted an online Planet Generator for use with their Star Wars RPG.
Realms Sneak Peek
010329 - Wizards of the Coast has posted excerpts from the upcoming Forgotten Realms product line. One is about the Emerald Enclave, and the other is the Cult of the Dragon.
Online Alignment Test
010328 - Another one from the "it's been out there for a while, but..." file:
Wizards of the Coast has an online alignment test here. All these years I thought I was chaotic good, and it turns out I'm really lawful neutral...
D&D Home Video Update & Promotion
010328 - New Line Home Video has released the Dungeons & Dragons movie to normal rental channels. The DVD will be available for purchase on May 22.
The DVD features two commentaries, one with Courtney Solomon, Cinematographer Doug Milsome and Dave Arneson (the original creator of D&D). The second commentary is by Courtney Solomon and Dave Arneson, plus actor and Associate Producer Justin Whalin. Also included are two documentaries, "Let the Games Begin," a profile and history of adventure gaming and "The Making of Dungeons & Dragons," a behind the scenes documentary. There are 11 deleted scenes with optional Director commentary and a Special Effects "Deconstruction," which includes four multi-angle scenes. The DVD features a widescreen version of the film, 5.1 surround sound, 2.0 stereo surround sound, animated menus and the theatrical trailer. The DVD-Rom content includes "Fast Play," a printable Dungeons & Dragons Adventure based on the movie, provided by Wizards of the Coast, and Interplay's "Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn" Demo as well as the original theatrical website.
New Line Home Video will be partnering with Interplay and Wizards of the Coast to conduct a multi-faceted promotion. Consumers who enter the online Dungeons & Dragons sweepstakes at www.seednd.com/contest may "Win a Trip for 4 to Prague," as well as Limited Edition Baldur's Gate II: Shadow of Amn games, signed and numbered lithographs and other Dungeons & Dragons merchandise.
The Dungeons & Dragons DVD will have an on-pack coupon booklet featuring a $10 rebate offer when a consumer purchases the DVD and one of two Baldur's Gate II games from Interplay, a coupon for $5 off the Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook and $2 off any Dungeon & Dragons Adventure Game.
Ogre Contest
010328 - Continuing our "non-RPG" content, Wounds Unlimited and Steve Jackson Games have announced a Ogre Scenario Design Contest. The prize, which they retain the right not to award, is $100 worth of Ogre miniatures. Full details can be found by clicking the "contest" link above.
MageKnight Trading Cards
010328 - WizKids announced that it has licensed the rights to produce MageKnight trading cards to Upper Deck Entertainment. Each box of Mage Knight cards will contain 24 packs, with a suggested retail price of $2.99 per pack. The trading cards are not a CCG but a limited-edition Mage Knight miniature will be inserted into each box of trading cards, ready for game play. This miniature will not be available anywhere else.
The cards should be available the summer.
San Angelo Moves
010328 - Gold Rush Games has sold its San Angelo: City of Heroes property to Hero Games. Included in the deal are all copyrights and trademarks, existing inventory, internet domains and mailing lists associated with the San Angelo product line.
Both Patrick Sweeney and Mark Arsenault are expected to remain involved with the development of future San Angelo products, as Continuity Editor and Development Assistant, respectively.
The full press release can be found here.
Vanguard: A Free RPG
010326 - So this one isn't quite breaking news... I still like to give a nod to free RPGs when I come across them. This one is from Vanguard Games, and is a hard science fiction game set on a future world, where civilization is about to step off into space...
Anyway--check it out. Even if you don't like it, it didn't cost you anything!
White Wolf Seeks Macs
010326 - White Wolf
is looking for Macintosh users with printers who are willing to beta test
an upcoming project. Interested Mac users should e-mail their Mac System info,
computer type and printer type to
bugs@white-wolf.com. The company is quite
clear that they have all the Windows users they need.
Wizards Article
010326 - It's been all the buzz in many places, but I wasn't sure that I wanted to cover it. Salon.com ran a story about Wizards of the Coast. In many ways it seemed to be a former employee's nostalgic look back on happy days, but in other ways it struck me as "telling tales out of school."
It was the tale-telling part that had me concerned, because I generally don't think that people need any help being mean to each other, and I generally don't like to help them do it. So I decided to wait for the second part of the story before I decided. Having read the whole thing now, I think that the author had no malice of heart and was simply tramping though his memories of the early days at the Coast.
Read it, if you want. You can find it here.
The Nominees Are...
010322 - The Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design has posted the list of Origins Award Nominees on their website, following formal announcement at the GAMA Trade Show. In the catgories that we care about:
Best Roleplaying Adventure:
| Product | System | Publisher |
| Another Fine Mess | Fudge | Grey Ghost Press |
| Death in Freeport | The d20 System | Green Ronin Publishing |
| Shiki: An Epic Adventure Anthology for Sengoku | Sengoku: Chanbara Roleplaying in Feudal Japan | Gold Rush Games |
| So, We Have... an Obelisk? | Big Eyes, Small Mouth | Guardians of Order |
| Three Days to Kill | The d20 System (Penumbra line) | Atlas Games |
Best Roleplaying Game:
Best Roleplaying Supplement:
| Product | System | Publisher |
| GURPS Steampunk | GURPS | Steve Jackson Games |
| Hot Rods and Gun Bunnies | Big Eyes, Small Mouth | Guardians of Order |
| SAXONS! Wolves in the fold of Arthur's Britain | King Arthur Pendragon | Green Knight Publishing |
| The Keeper's Companion | Call of Cthulhu | Chaosium |
| Triamore | Ars Magica | Atlas Games |
| Lost Worlds: KoDT | Flying Buffalo |
Decipher Acquires RPG License for Lord of the Ring
010321 - Decipher announced that it has acquired the role playing games license for the Lord of the Rings. The company had previously announced that it had acquired the trading-card and digitial playing card licenses.
The RPG license has been granted to Decipher by New Line Cinema and by Tolkien Enterprises. New Line Cinema is the producer of the screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy epic.
The licensing agreements for the RPG, as well as for the trading card game, exist through 2006, with renewal rights for an additional five years.
The full text of the press release can be found here.
RealmsCrafters announces Maestro
010320 - RealmsCrafters announced that it is developing adventure construction and game management tools software for the Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. The project is currently codenamed Maestro. They're obviously aware of my birthday gift, because they also announced that their Palm OS product, RPG Companion, will be able to access, modify and update all of the data used in Maestro.
Master Tools Release Date Set
010320 - Wizards of the Coast and Fluid Entertainment, along with Troika Games, announced plans to release the Dungeons & Dragons Master Tools software in early August.
It was also announced that the initial print run will include a unique Blackguard pewter miniature.
More details about what Master Tools will do is included in the press release.
Lord of the Rings Product Line
010320 - Games Workshop has released a list of the entire projected product line for their Lord of the Rings table-top battle game. Details can be found here.
Happy Birthday to Me
010320 - It's my birthday today. We just did the cake, card, and gift thing. This year's gift was a Palm Handheld, so maybe I'll get to review some of those Palm gaming applications before the year is through.
"Z" Marks the Spot
010319 - Gold Rush Games announced that it has signed a multi-year licensing deal with Zorro Productions to produce official Zorro adventure games.
The first product in the planned line of Zorro products is The Legacy of Zorro, an introductory adventure game using the simplified Instant Fuzion game system, set for release June, 2001, followed by several support products through the year.
The World of Zorro Adventure Game and Resource Book, using the Fuzion game system, is scheduled for release this Fall.
You can read the press release or you can visit http://ZorroRPG.com.
Madness in Freeport Ships
010319 - Green Ronin has finished off their Freeport Trilogy by shipping Madness in Freeport for the D20 System.
Budget Battlefield Army Packs
010319 - MicroTactix Games is releasing the first two Budget Battlefield Army Packs. Available now are an Orc and a Dwarf army.
Chainmail Returns
010319 - Life, it seems, has come full circle. Dungeons & Dragons evolved from the table-top battle game Chainmail. Now Chainmail is back, this time based on the third edition of D&D. The official press release will tell you everything you want to know!
It's GAMA Time
010319 - The Game Manufacturers Association, known as GAMA, is holding their annual trade show this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. The convention traditionally marks a number of announcements from the industry.
Guardians to Publish Anime Fan Guides
010316 - Guardians Of Order announced that it has entered a multi-year venture with Pioneer Entertainment to produce licensed anime fan guides for many of their popular titles including Fushigi Yugi, Serial Experiments Lain, NieA_7, and Soul Taker. Guardians will publish these upcoming reference books under its new "Ultimate Fan Guide" production line. The books will contain game stats for each major character in the specific anime series that are compatible with its Tri-Stat System RPGs.
The official press release gives more details.
CEGA's Shadow
010316 - Dream Pod 9 has sent In the Shadow of CEGA, their latest Jovian Chronicles sourcebook, to the printer. The book, which details way of life of the non-aligned nations of Earth.
Trek RPG Update
010316 - Decipher announced that it has hired the former staff of Last Unicorn Games, creators of the former Star Trek series of role-playing games. The seven-person team hired by Decipher includes Christian Moore, LUG's former president. Christian will head up Decipher's new RPG and miniatures division. The team's first task will be, of course, the development of the next Star Trek RPG.
More information can be found in the official press release.
Digitally Enhanced Hârn
010316 - Auran announced plans to develop Hârn DE. The "DE" means "digitally enhanced" and refers to a series of 3-D interactive fantasy adventure modules on CD-ROM designed to enhance tabletop play of your Hârn RPG session. The modules will enable the players to view and hear live 3D environments featuring terrain, buildings and other items critical to the adventure.
Hârn DE will suit both d20 and HârnMaster 2nd Edition rule sets.
The first range of Hârn DE products will be The Tapestry Saga and will contain a series of complete adventure modules, in chronological order.
Gazette is Back
010316 - Sorry about the lack of updates over the last couple of days--I was really feeling under the weather, as they say. I'm feeling better now, so here goes!
RPG Realms acquires JG Traveller Line
010313 - QuikLink Interactive/RPGRealms has acquired ownership of Judges Guild's line of Traveller supplements. Check out the long list of the acquired titles.
The company says that the material will be updated to conform to changes made in the star locations and UWPs of the sector data after the material was 'removed from Canon' long ago. They will work closely with Traveller creator Marc Miller to ensure that this material is brought up to the current standards set for Traveller material by Far Future Enterprises.
D20 Harn
010313 - Columbia Games has a 71 page .pdf on their website that details how to play in Harnworld using the D20 rules.
Dragon Lords of D20 Arrives
010313 - Chaosium has finally received it's print run of Worlds of the Eternal Champion: Dragon Lords of Melnibone, their Young Kingdoms worldbook for the D20 system. It goes to the distributors tomorrow, and should be in your friendly local game shop starting next Friday (March 23rd).
The company has posted the table of contents to entice the prospective buyer!
Supergerm Mousepads
010313 - Mousepads must be the hip thing this week. Flying Buffalo is offering a "limited edition" Supergerm mousepad. It's a hard plastic mousepad with a solar-powered calculator built-in. The surface has the anti-missile and population charts from Nuclear War printed on it, along with the face of Supergerm.
All Flesh Mousepads
010313 - Eden Studios is doing the Cafe Press thing and is now offering All Flesh Must Be Eaten merchandise, such as mousepads, coffee mugs, and t-shirts.
Gnomes: 100; Dragons: 0
010312 - Better late than never, Wizards of the Coast has finally made the classic DragonLance solo module "Gnomes-100, Dragons-0" available for free download. Go to their Classic Downloads page to get it!
Note: I'm not complaining about the 20-day delay--beggars can't be choosers, after all--it's just the sound of relieved anticipation that you hear in my voice!
DC Magic
010312 - West End Games has announced that Magic Handbook for the DC Universe is at the printers. This supplement expands upon the magical powers defined in previous products and also includes information on magical item creation, magical beings, magical places, and various magical items. It is scheduled for an end-of-March release.
Metabarons Ships
010312 - West End Games also announced that The Metabarons Roleplaying Game is now shipping. Metabarons is a space-opera genre game using the D6 System. The game is based on the Metabarons graphic novels of Moebius and Jodorowksy.
Critter Sparks
010312 - Cumberland Games has a new breed of Sparks available! This latest litter of true-type font miniatures is Critters, a group of 26 animals and monsters waiting to hatch forth from your printer. The company is offering a sheet of bugs as a free preview.
Prepare to Weep
010312 - Atlas Games has announced two new gaming supplements to be available in June. Coming soon are Weep (for Unknown Hours) and At Your Service (for Over the Edge). Check out the links for more information!
Crystal Caste Combat Mats
010311 - Crystal Caste is introducing a new line of double-sided combat mats. One side will be a square grid, and the other side will be a hex-grid. Details can be found here.
Hero e-Bestiary
010311 - Hero Games has released their long out-of-print Hero Bestiary as a .pdf electronic book that contains all the information and graphics of the original print version. You can buy it from Hero's web-store for $9.95.
Classic Traveller GM Screen
010308 - RPG Realms announced that they are finishing up production on a brand new referee's screen for "Classic" Traveller. The screen will be a four-fold, heavy stock screen. The referee's side will feature information related to Patron Encounters, Random Person Encounters, Reactions, Animal Encounters, Gun and Blade Combat Tables vs. any Armor at any range (Book 1 and Book 4 weapons/armor), Psionics, Starship Encounters, Starship Combat (Book 2), Software, Starship Malfunctions, Passengers and Cargo, and Trade and Speculation from Book 2.
The players' side will include an Equipment and Price List, Trade and Speculation from Book 2, Gun and Blade Combat Tables vs. any Armor at any range from Books 1 and 4.
The screen is scheduled for an April, 2001, release at $12.95.
Dirt Cheep Starships
010308 - MicroTactix has gleefully annouced the availabilty of Dirt Cheep Starships, their modular 3D starship construction set. The Basic Set comes with 47 pages of building components and instructions to allow you to construct starships, starbases and other high-tech installations. For $18.00 you get a .pdf file that allows you to print and build all the components you want! The set includes a bridge, engine room, navigation area, quarters, mess hall, sick bay, elevators, brig, a shuttlecraft bay (complete with a heavy modular shuttlecraft with removable cargo pod), and more.
Los Vagos Preview
010308 - Alderac Entertainment Group has posted a preview of Los Vagos, a secret society sourcebook for 7th Sea.
Warhammer 40K CCG
010308 - Sabertooth Games has acquired the license to make a collectible card game based on the universe of Warhammer 40,000 from Games Workshop.
D&D DVD
010308 - New Line Home Video announced a May 22 release date for the DVD version of the Dungeons & Dragons movie. Features are said to include anamorphic widescreen, Dolby Digital 5.1, a commentary track, and a number of featurettes.
Billy Dee at GenCon
010308 - Wizards of the Coast is rolling out Billy Dee Williams, known to Star Wars fans as Lando Calrissian, for an appearance at this year's GenCon.
SJG Seeks Steamy Submissions
010308 - Steve Jackson Games is seeking submissions for its upcoming GURPS Steampunk Catalog, a collection of fantastic Steam-Age devices for GURPS Steampunk. Read the submission guidelines for further information!
White Wolf Adventure Writer
010307 - White Wolf announced the addition of author Warren Ellis to the cast of writers for Adventure, its pulp-genre RPG. Ellis is best known for writing the comic books The Authority, Planetary, and Transmetropolitan. Adventure is slated for release in August, 2001. Read the press release for more information!
El-Hazard, the RPG
010307 - Guardians Of Order announced that it will release the El-Hazard RPG AND RESOURCE BOOK. Release is scheduled for July, 2001. The game will be based on the seven-part 1995 Original Animated Video Japanese series that details the adventures of a high school student who is pulled into the fantasy world of El-Hazard. Read the press release for more information!
Foglio Covers Dragon
010307 - Rumor has it that Phil Foglio, my most favorite light fantasy artist, is doing the cover for the April issue of Dragon magazine! I can't wait to see it!
Monster Contest
010306 - Dark Portal Games is hosting a monster design contest. Details can be found here.
Build a Shrine
010306 - WizKids has posted some instructions on how to build a miniature shrine for you tabletop gaming needs. It looks very neat, if you're crafty enough to build it!
Magic 7E Preview
010306 - Wizards of the Coast is offering a preview of the new artwork used in the Seventh Edition of Magic: The Gathering.
SJG Ships Items
010306 - Steve Jackson Games has shipped a lot of items, including: GURPS Low Tech, a source book for the GURPS system covering technology from the days before gun powder and the printing press; Deck Plans 2: Modular Cutter for GURPS Traveller; GURPS Pyramid 1 which is sort of a "best of" from the old print issues of the now electronic Pyramid magazine; and Chez Geek 2: Slack Attack, which is a 55 card expansion for their Chez Geek card game.
HackMaster Lives!
010305 - Kenzer and Company, publishers of the amazingly funny Knights of the Dinner Table, have posted two HackMaster teasers! Look HERE and HERE. Now!!!
The site is teasing us with a Summer, 2001 release.
Note: If those covers don't look familiar to you, ask an old gamer if you can peek at the original covers to the first edition of AD&D.
White Wolf Freebies
010305 - White Wolf Games is offering two .pdf books at their website. Available are quick start guides for Werewolf and Mind Eye Theater.
Tide of Years Ships
010305 - Atlas Games has shipped their Tide of Years adventure for the D20 system.
Tribe 8 Release
010303 - Dream Pod 9 has released Harvest of Thorns, a supplement for their Tribe 8 RPG.
More Mystery News
010303 - Mysterious teaser announcements seem to be the rage these days. The latest one comes from Gold Rush Games, who announced that they signed a licensing agreement with someone and have begun developing a new product. More information is promised around, March 19th and the GAMA Trade Show. When one sees two mystery announcements like this (and Far Future Enterprises', below), one is forced to wonder if they're related, but my guess is that they're not.
Wizards of the Fault Line
010301 - The offices of Wizards of the Coast were damaged by Wednesday's earthquake. Fortunately, though, no one was injured and the office will reopen on Friday.
Upcoming Traveller Mystery!
010301 - Far Future Enterprises announced that they're planning a promotion for Traveller some time in the next 90 days. What, exactly, the promotion is remains something of a mystery. All Marc Miller would say is "Sorry to be so mysterious; the announcements require some last minute confirmations and arrangements before we go public."
Trek CCG Online
010301 - Decipher now allows you to play the Star Trek CCG online. Personally, my system is doesn't meet the minimum system requirements, but don't let that stop you...
Metal Mage Knights
010301 - WizKids announced a new metal line of Mage Knight collectibles. Mage Knight Metal features all the figures from the Mage Knight Rebellion set, re-cast in lead-free pewter. These miniatures are "traditional" pewter figures, which mean you have to do your own assembly and painting. The Mage Knight Metal figures are for collectable purposes only. They ship with a standard base that does not include a statistical combat dial. There will be 64 miniatures in all, priced between $3.95 and $9.95. The expected release date is this April. Details can be found here.
Stories older than this are in the RPG Gazette Archives.
