Anyone check out Radiance RPG yet?

Spatula · Sep 18, 2012

The download link actually loaded the PDF into my browser, which took forever. So it seems you should right-click and do a "Save Target As".

Anyway, thanks to [MENTION=86279]Stacie GmrGrl[/MENTION] for bringing this up. After skimming it, it looks like an interesting blend of various fantasy games.

AncientSpirits · Sep 18, 2012

Robyo said:
Greetings all. This is my first post on ENworld (though I've been reading, researching, here for awhile). I started playing rpg's when I was in grade-school in the early 80's. After high-school I got away from it for many years, but this year I started up again with some buddies from work. I've been playing C&C, pathfinder, 4e, and d20 future.

Lately, I've just started getting into Radiance with my gaming group and everyone seems to really enjoy it. Our GM has been looking for a decent d20-style steampunk game for years, until I turned him onto this game. The information and art in the book is top notch, the price of materials is excellent (already ordered a PHB). Personally, I think it's brilliant marketing to release free PDF's. Most gamers I know these days would rather "try-before-buy" so, I do appreciate their strategy.

Looking forward to checking out the Master's Guide and other expansions when they are released!

Thanks for sharing your experience, Robyo.
I too started in the early 80s (30 years ago this past summer). I still remember the whole adventure of first time I played. Never imagined such a thing as an RPG existed! And like you, I took a break, for me from 17-25. Too much else going on then.

We're still working on the Master's Guide. There are a few pages left free. If you all have anything you'd love to see.... Someone has asked, for example, for a 2-page GM cheat sheet that fills the same role as a GM's screen.

AncientSpirits · Sep 18, 2012

slobster said:
Thanks for making this game, and making it available for free! I've flipped through it and like what I see, now it's time to settle down and give it a more thorough read.

You're welcome. I did this as a philanthropic project of sorts. And these days, with our attention in ten directions at once, "Free" still has a certain allure.

AncientSpirits · Sep 18, 2012

TarionzCousin said:
Okay, I've failed too many times to download this game. If there is ever a zip file available, please let me know.

In the meantime, I will be checking out 13th Age.

Oh gosh.
You all can download it at:

Radiance Players Guide: A Complete Roleplaying Game in the Age of Electrotech - Radiance House | DriveThruRPG.com

I considered zip files, and then I worried some folks are unsure what to with those, even in 2012. Solution: 2 download options! I'll work on that. Thank you for reporting this obstacle.

slobster · Sep 18, 2012

AncientSpirits said:
You're welcome. I did this as a philanthropic project of sorts. And these days, with our attention in ten directions at once, "Free" still has a certain allure.

That is amazing. Where did you get the art? It's very nice, far far more than I would have expected from a philanthropic project.

Consider me a convert, and a proselytizer. For what it's worth. I'll mention it to my game group, anyway.

AncientSpirits · Sep 19, 2012

slobster said:
That is amazing. Where did you get the art? It's very nice, far far more than I would have expected from a philanthropic project.

Consider me a convert, and a proselytizer. For what it's worth. I'll mention it to my game group, anyway.

I run a publishing company for books and such unrelated to RPGs. That resource and experience really helped do something fun like this. Like any serious RPG outfit, I solicited the magic of professional game artists like Joe Slucher, Eric Lofgren, Chris Pritchard, and Frank Walls. I and a friend of mine who is a video/animation creative director did the interior and cover design. And so forth.

Yay, for converts to Baal. I mean Dagon. I mean Radiance.

Karak · Sep 19, 2012

Thanks for the links! Going to check this out right now.

AncientSpirits · Sep 19, 2012

Don475 said:
My PC has been attempting to download the free Players Guide for the past two hours. It gets stuck and needs to be nudged forward.

You can also download it at:
Radiance Players Guide: A Complete Roleplaying Game in the Age of Electrotech - Radiance House | DriveThruRPG.com

slobster · Sep 19, 2012

Well it's a pretty little book, and it's packed with ideas. I'm still reading through it. Yay for reading material!

Stacie GmrGrl · Sep 19, 2012

I like that if I make a Warmech + Shifter class equals Beast Wars Transformer.

It would be cool if the Shifter class could be expanded for more different animal forms... I could totally run a Beast Wars campaign that way using Radiance.