Another good week for new releases of PDFs! Again we run a wide gamut of new rules systems and supplements for established games. This week we're also adding a semi-regular section that highlights one PDF from the past.Don't worry the focus of this column will always be new PDFs, but there are a bunch of old ones that I know I missed and that other people may have missed as well.
Retrocausality
Time travel has always been a tricky thing to add to a campaign or as the sole premise of a campaign. It also can be really cool. This new PDF is all about running a time travel campaign. How does it deal with paradox and all the tricky continuity issues? It doesn’t. This game is all about the fun parts of time travel and not the niggling issues therein. This PDF is designed to be an added rule system that layers over another system/campaign or can be run as its own campaign and rule set.
Lovecraft Memorial Bundle
Macabre Tales is another Lovecraft-based game system (other than Call of Cthulhu). It looks to follow the works of Lovecraft himself, without later influences or writings. On the anniversary of his death, Spectrum Games is releasing their core rule set and 3 adventures as a bundle set. Fans of Lovecraft, no matter the system they prefer should find something of value here.
Shadowrun
The release schedule for Shadowrun is still going strong, which is sure to please fans. This week sees three new PDF releases; two new and one old. Storm Front looks to cover the recent plotlines that have been ongoing within the current Shadowrun setting; at 202 pages it looks to be chock full of useful information. Sim Dreams & Nightmares is a short, 17 pages, PDF that focuses on simsense and all the permutations therein. The Neo-Anarchist’s Guide to North America is the PDF release of the 1991 book; those looking to complete their collection will want this, along with those looking for general info on North America.
Delving Deeper
This is version 2 of the rule set that is a retroclone, or “emulation”, of the original D&D. The original Delving Deeper was popular in certain OSR circles and now’s your chance to check it out. They have released The Adventurer’s Handbook, The Referee’s Guide and The Monster & Treasure Reference. In addition they have released a Bundle pack combing all three books in one download. And it’s all for free!
Maelorum
Solo rpgs have been around since the early days of rpgs, mostly in the form of choose your own adventure path books. This PDF is looking to up the bar on this sort of product. It is 440 pages long, includes three characters to choose from, old school maps and adventure, item lists, diverging storylines and random encounters to allow for more re-playability. Sounds like this is a cut above the normal choose an adventure book.
Tales of the Sleepless City
This 162 page book is a compilation of adventures for 1920’s Call of Cthulhu set in New York City. Included are 6 scenarios written by a variety of excellent authors. If Call of Cthulhu is your game or you are just looking for creepy adventures to run for your group, this will be of benefit.
Sub Rosa
In this rpg you play a character much like the old Inquisition, hunting down evil and using any tactics to accomplish your goals, ignoring morality on the way. With intrigue and mystery being the guiding concepts, this looks like it might be an interesting exploration on the nature of Good and Evil and what people will do to “make the world a better place”. This looks an a different game and could be good for a change of pace.
WotC Classic PDFs
UK4 When a Star Falls (1E)
UK5 Eye of the Serpent (1E)
DMGR1 Campaign Sourcebook and Catacomb Guide (2E)
PHBR2 Complete Thief Handbook (2E)
HHQ1 Fighter’s Challenge (2E)
Expedition to Castle Ravenloft (3E)
Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk (3.5E)
Complete Adventurer (3.5E)
Adventures
In the Prison of the Squid Sorcerer – Dungeon Crawl Classics.
DM1 The Secret of Eberon’s Manor – Labyrinth Lord. Levels 1-3.
Deep Where the Liche Lord Lies – Tunnels & Trolls.
Rewind PDF
One thing I learned from the recent PDF sale was how many PDFs are out there, how many I’ve never seen, and how many really cool ones there are. And I think other people might have missed them as well. So, we’re adding a new section that will take a look at one PDF that was released some time ago and we missed. We’ll run this section as long as we find something cool to share and/or we have room in the week’s article. This week we have…
Fantasia
Uploaded as a PDF in 2008 (though the game has been around since 2001), this is a fantasy rpg seeking to allow groups to play in an epic campaign similar to that of Middle Earth. The core rule book is 229 pages long and covers everything a group needs to play. For a game I had never heard of this is a highly supported game. Along with the core rules there are a couple of advanced rulebooks, multiple books to aid a DM, a setting book, and around 55 adventures/quests/modules. I am very intrigued.
Spotlight: Most Interesting PDF of the Week
Nova Praxis
At it’s most basic, this is a hard science-fiction space rpg. Mankind has left and forgotten Earth and moved out into the stars where they now make their home. A star spanning empire called the Coalition rules a utopia of the human worlds. However, corruption and danger now stalks the stars and the player characters are in the middle of it.
This game utilizes the popular FATE system, with its rules in the product so you won’t need to get any other book to run this game. The game has everything a group needs to play in it. In addition, the producers of the PDF have gone out of their way to create a PDF designed specifically for computer /laptop/tablet viewing. It’s nice to see designers reacting to how PDFs are actually used instead of simply throwing some text into a PDF. There is also a video showcasing the game up at the link that you can check out.
Retrocausality
Time travel has always been a tricky thing to add to a campaign or as the sole premise of a campaign. It also can be really cool. This new PDF is all about running a time travel campaign. How does it deal with paradox and all the tricky continuity issues? It doesn’t. This game is all about the fun parts of time travel and not the niggling issues therein. This PDF is designed to be an added rule system that layers over another system/campaign or can be run as its own campaign and rule set.
Lovecraft Memorial Bundle
Macabre Tales is another Lovecraft-based game system (other than Call of Cthulhu). It looks to follow the works of Lovecraft himself, without later influences or writings. On the anniversary of his death, Spectrum Games is releasing their core rule set and 3 adventures as a bundle set. Fans of Lovecraft, no matter the system they prefer should find something of value here.
Shadowrun
The release schedule for Shadowrun is still going strong, which is sure to please fans. This week sees three new PDF releases; two new and one old. Storm Front looks to cover the recent plotlines that have been ongoing within the current Shadowrun setting; at 202 pages it looks to be chock full of useful information. Sim Dreams & Nightmares is a short, 17 pages, PDF that focuses on simsense and all the permutations therein. The Neo-Anarchist’s Guide to North America is the PDF release of the 1991 book; those looking to complete their collection will want this, along with those looking for general info on North America.
Delving Deeper
This is version 2 of the rule set that is a retroclone, or “emulation”, of the original D&D. The original Delving Deeper was popular in certain OSR circles and now’s your chance to check it out. They have released The Adventurer’s Handbook, The Referee’s Guide and The Monster & Treasure Reference. In addition they have released a Bundle pack combing all three books in one download. And it’s all for free!
Maelorum
Solo rpgs have been around since the early days of rpgs, mostly in the form of choose your own adventure path books. This PDF is looking to up the bar on this sort of product. It is 440 pages long, includes three characters to choose from, old school maps and adventure, item lists, diverging storylines and random encounters to allow for more re-playability. Sounds like this is a cut above the normal choose an adventure book.
Tales of the Sleepless City
This 162 page book is a compilation of adventures for 1920’s Call of Cthulhu set in New York City. Included are 6 scenarios written by a variety of excellent authors. If Call of Cthulhu is your game or you are just looking for creepy adventures to run for your group, this will be of benefit.
Sub Rosa
In this rpg you play a character much like the old Inquisition, hunting down evil and using any tactics to accomplish your goals, ignoring morality on the way. With intrigue and mystery being the guiding concepts, this looks like it might be an interesting exploration on the nature of Good and Evil and what people will do to “make the world a better place”. This looks an a different game and could be good for a change of pace.
WotC Classic PDFs
UK4 When a Star Falls (1E)
UK5 Eye of the Serpent (1E)
DMGR1 Campaign Sourcebook and Catacomb Guide (2E)
PHBR2 Complete Thief Handbook (2E)
HHQ1 Fighter’s Challenge (2E)
Expedition to Castle Ravenloft (3E)
Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk (3.5E)
Complete Adventurer (3.5E)
Adventures
In the Prison of the Squid Sorcerer – Dungeon Crawl Classics.
DM1 The Secret of Eberon’s Manor – Labyrinth Lord. Levels 1-3.
Deep Where the Liche Lord Lies – Tunnels & Trolls.
Rewind PDF
One thing I learned from the recent PDF sale was how many PDFs are out there, how many I’ve never seen, and how many really cool ones there are. And I think other people might have missed them as well. So, we’re adding a new section that will take a look at one PDF that was released some time ago and we missed. We’ll run this section as long as we find something cool to share and/or we have room in the week’s article. This week we have…
Fantasia
Uploaded as a PDF in 2008 (though the game has been around since 2001), this is a fantasy rpg seeking to allow groups to play in an epic campaign similar to that of Middle Earth. The core rule book is 229 pages long and covers everything a group needs to play. For a game I had never heard of this is a highly supported game. Along with the core rules there are a couple of advanced rulebooks, multiple books to aid a DM, a setting book, and around 55 adventures/quests/modules. I am very intrigued.
Spotlight: Most Interesting PDF of the Week
Nova Praxis
At it’s most basic, this is a hard science-fiction space rpg. Mankind has left and forgotten Earth and moved out into the stars where they now make their home. A star spanning empire called the Coalition rules a utopia of the human worlds. However, corruption and danger now stalks the stars and the player characters are in the middle of it.
This game utilizes the popular FATE system, with its rules in the product so you won’t need to get any other book to run this game. The game has everything a group needs to play in it. In addition, the producers of the PDF have gone out of their way to create a PDF designed specifically for computer /laptop/tablet viewing. It’s nice to see designers reacting to how PDFs are actually used instead of simply throwing some text into a PDF. There is also a video showcasing the game up at the link that you can check out.
…a table-top role-playing game featuring an evolution of the award winning FATE game system utilized in Strands of Fate; streamlined and tailored specifically for the Nova Praxis setting.
…self-contained. You do not need to own, or be familiar with, any other FATE game to play Nova Praxis.
…a relatively "hard sci-fi" setting that takes place in the aftermath of a short lived technological singularity.
…an exploration of the tropes of transhuman sci-fi. Mind uploading, resleeving, AI characters, and body augmentation.
…an exploration of the societal impact of a reputation based post-scarcity economy.
…a game in which players play characters who know how to slip between the cracks of civilization and perform the jobs their patrons would rather keep off the books.
... a setting full of conflict. The Houses wage a secret Shadow War against each other, purist and transhuman ideologies erupt in violence, and apostates lash out against the oppression of the Coalition government.
...home to rail guns, powered armor, star ships, security drones, bipedal war frames, swarms of nanomachines, kill-sats, and the horrors of accelerated evolution gone wrong.
