RPG Print News – Mongoose, Cubicle 7, Evil Genius, and More

Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition gets adventures, a new setting, and giant gorillas and robots. Traveller gets new tools, Warhammer Fantasy gets another city, and Shiver debuts a 10-part story to play through.

Note: RPG Print News covers new RPG releases and some classics, reprints, and sales available from retailers. It does not cover products that are only available directly to customers only through kickstarter or as print on demand.

Tools for Frontier Living by Mongoose Publishing

• SYSTEM: Traveller 2300AD
• PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement
• RETAIL PRICE: $49.99
• DESCRIPTION: Every single world outside the Core is trying to kill the Travellers. Native life, climate, geography, even the air and water can be dangerous. To brave the Frontier, the Travellers need a selection of equipment that enables survival on alien worlds. There are five sections, covering a range of goods and services from deep space suits to the famous Foot-Long Egg, and including robots and drones, exploration and survival gear, medical equipment, along with weapons and surplus armor. Inside: space technology, exploration and survival gear, industrial equipment consumer goods and services, medical technology, and security and police equipment.

Salzenmund - City of Salt and Silver by Cubicle 7

• SYSTEM: Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)
• PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement
• RETAIL PRICE: $39.99
• DESCRIPTION: Salzenmund promises opportunity and excitement to adventurous souls. Explorers depart from the city to trade with fur-clad Norscans or brave the wide sea to Lustria. But the ruling Gausser family, newly installed and ambitious, threaten the stability of the Empire. The head of the family talks of a reconquest of the Wasteland and defiance of their old masters in Middenheim. In the taverns by the docks, vicious and crooked folk conspire in smuggling and piracy. Worse still, the honeyed whispers of forbidden cults entice the truly desperate into the worship of Chaos. Covers how to manage smuggling operations and mining concerns, the mysterious Spites that haunt the forests of Nordland, the Goblins who infest abandoned mines and tunnels, and has options for PCs from the city and surrounding region.

Kong - Skull Island | Pacific Rim by Evil Genius Games

• SYSTEM: Everyday Heroes
• PRODUCT TYPE: softcover adventures
• RETAIL PRICE: $24.99 each
• DESCRIPTION: Kong - Skull Island is officially licensed and set in the world of the film. Skull Island is the domain of the mighty Kong and is a land of unparalleled danger, adventure, and discovery. PCs are among the first to step foot on its shores, to explore its untamed wilds, to face the monstrous beasts more dangerous than anything previously known to mankind. Includes: the monster hunter class, the profession of mercenary soldier, monsters such as titans and superspecies, and the adventure Sliver of the Skull. In the adventure, the PCs must unravel a plot that poses a serious threat to the Skull Island ecosystem and save the island from ecological disaster with the help of mighty Kong. In Pacific Rim, the PCs pilot giant mechs to try to kill skyscraper-sized monsters called Kaiju which continue to invade from another dimension seeking to destroy Earth. PCs are Rangers, matching the Kaiju in size and strength with titanic robots called Jaegers; machines so powerful that they require the mental fortitude of two pilots to operate. In the included adventure a powerful new prototype Jaeger lies scattered at the edge of a deep ocean trench, its pilots still alive. The PCs must fight the Kaijus, rescue the pilots, and get home safely. Also includes: lore about the world of the film, the Bonded Twins class, the Jaeger Pilot profession, and rules for creating new Jaeger mechs.

Secrets of Spireholm | Secrets of Spireholm (Special Edition) by Parable Games

• SYSTEM: Shiver
• PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplements
• RETAIL PRICE: $49.99/$74.99
• DESCRIPTION: A grimy city setting of gothic horror. Also contains a huge 10 part story to play through as well as an additional one-sbot adventure. A high profile murder brings the unlikely group of PCs together to investigate. The PCs must fight their way through ghoul infested abandoned buildings, sleuth out a murder mystery, pull off a grand heist and fight werewolves, vampires, and monsters galore. Includes a new set of rules for long form stories which ties multiple Doom Clocks together into a terrifying Doom Calendar, seven new monstrous archetypes such as Vampires and Frankenstein's Monster , the Slayer Archetype, new Gothic themed backgrounds like Urchin and Plague Doctor, and a collecti on new items and monsters.

Planegea Deluxe Set | The Star-Shaman's Song of Planegea (Standard Edition) | Planegea GM Screen | In the Lair of the Night Thing by Atlas Games

• SYSTEM: Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition
• PRODUCT TYPE: deluxe set
• RETAIL PRICE: $124.95/$59.95/$19.95/$19.95
• DESCRIPTION: Planegea Deluxe Set includes: premium dino-green embossed leatherette cover Planegea core book a version exclusive to the deluxe set, the Planegea GM Screen, and In the Lair of the Night Thing adventure all bundled together inside a deluxe slipcase. The Star-Shaman’s Song of Planegea is primal fantasy roleplaying set in a world of bone and fire. Elves are shimmering dream-walkers, dwarves are half stone, and dragonborn are just a heartbeat away from their draconic ancestors. There is only a patchwork quilt of local deities with powers that are bought with offerings and strange favors. The planes of existence have not yet separated, and a warrior can travel by foot from the Sea of Stars to the infinite, volcanic peak of Blood Mountain; but every step of the journey is plagued with danger and death. Includes: four all-new kinships like starlings and saurian, new sub-classes, 20 primeval backgrounds, equipment and trade, adapting treasure to the Stone Age, new spells, and new options for spellcasters. The Planegea GM Screen is a landscape three-panels hardcover stock which also comes with an eight page full-color reference booklet. In the Lair of the Night Thing, the PCs answer the call of dwarf chieftain Skarna Two-Axevto pursue and kill the monster that attacked her clan and killed her son. Starting at the chieftain’s clanfire, the characters uncover mysteries about the creature that can only be fully solved by tracking the awful Night Thing to its lair, which is full of frightening apparitions. The PCs may uncover an even deeper menace: a plot to overthrow the chieftain.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

I am disappointed that the most important release for this week is not even mentioned: Marvel Multiverse RPG Core Book.

 

[Charles Dunwoody]

I am disappointed that the most important release for this week is not even mentioned: Marvel Multiverse RPG Core Book.

I don't actually agree with your premise, and it took a while for me to even find it at a hobby store. Atomic Empire has a copy: Marvel Multiverse RPG. I do want a d616 to roll however.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

I don't actually agree with your premise, and it took a while for me to even find it at a hobby store. Atomic Empire has a copy: Marvel Multiverse RPG. I do want a d616 to roll however.

Marvel is distributing it through the comic book channels, not the gaming book channels, so it is at Walmart, Target, Barnes & Noble, etc, along with probably any comic shop that ordered copies of it.

 

[Charles Dunwoody]

Marvel is distributing it through the comic book channels, not the gaming book channels, so it is at Walmart, Target, Barnes & Noble, etc, along with probably any comic shop that ordered copies of it.

That doesn't fit with this column then. And not offering a new RPG through game stores is not something I would support if that is the case.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

That doesn't fit with this column then. And not offering a new RPG through game stores is not something I would support if that is the case.

You understand that a lot of us are both Comic AND Game stores.

 

[Charles Dunwoody]

You understand that a lot of us are both Comic AND Game stores.

That statement is not actually something I completely understand.

I assume "us" in your quote above means stores and not posters. Therefore my response is based on that interpretation.

Are you saying if a comic store also sells TTRPGs you are okay with Marvel cutting out stores (if that is actually the case, just going from the quote above, I don't know that for a fact) that only sell TTRPGs? Because I don't support cutting out stores that only sell TTRPGs from actually receiving stock of a new TTRPG. Since Atomic Empire has the Marvel RPG I'm okay posting it here, but the Marvel RPG is far from the most important RPG release this week especially if many game stores can't even get a copy.

Again, I'm not stating that game stores cannot actually get the Marvel RPG as a fact, I was only replying to the quote above from Enevhar Aldarion: "Marvel is distributing it through the comic book channels, not the gaming book channels, so it is at Walmart, Target, Barnes & Noble, etc, along with probably any comic shop that ordered copies of it."

 

[FitzTheRuke]

That statement is not actually something I completely understand.

I assume "us" in your quote above means stores and not posters. Therefore my response is based on that interpretation.

Yes, that's right.

Are you saying if a comic store also sells TTRPGs you are okay with Marvel cutting out stores (if that is actually the case, just going from the quote above, I don't know that for a fact) that only sell TTRPGs?

What? No. Why would I be saying that?

Because I don't support cutting out stores that only sell TTRPGs from actually receiving stock of a new TTRPG. Since Atomic Empire has the Marvel RPG I'm okay posting it here, but the Marvel RPG is far from the most important RPG release this week especially if many game stores can't even get a copy.

I think it's pretty obvious that the other poster's line about it being the "most important" was speaking to their personal excitement for it. I doubt anyone expects that opinion to be universally held.

Again, I'm not stating that game stores cannot actually get the Marvel RPG as a fact, I was only replying to the quote above from Enevhar Aldarion: "Marvel is distributing it through the comic book channels, not the gaming book channels, so it is at Walmart, Target, Barnes & Noble, etc, along with probably any comic shop that ordered copies of it."

Ah. That's where your mistake lies. Marvel didn't "cut out" exclusive game stores. That's a strange take, honestly. They just distributed it through their normal channels - including Penguin Random House (which actually has MORE reach than your average game distributor). Heck, I got mine from Universal, which IS a game distributor.

I guess my point was twofold: 1) You have no reason to jump to conclusions regarding who gets "cut out"; and 2) Almost any game store could probably carry it if they want to.

It's possible that a game store might miss ordering it because it showed up in a place that they didn't expect, but it's more likely that if they didn't order it, it's because the didn't want it.

 

[Charles Dunwoody]

Yes, that's right.

What? No. Why would I be saying that?



I think it's pretty obvious that the other poster's line about it being the "most important" was speaking to their personal excitement for it. I doubt anyone expects that opinion to be universally held.


Ah. That's where your mistake lies. Marvel didn't "cut out" exclusive game stores. That's a strange take, honestly. They just distributed it through their normal channels - including Penguin Random House (which actually has MORE reach than your average game distributor). Heck, I got mine from Universal, which IS a game distributor.

I guess my point was twofold: 1) You have no reason to jump to conclusions regarding who gets "cut out"; and 2) Almost any game store could probably carry it if they want to.

It's possible that a game store might miss ordering it because it showed up in a place that they didn't expect, but it's more likely that if they didn't order it, it's because the didn't want it.

I think you read very different posts than I did.

As to point 1), I did not jump to conclusions. As you quoted from Enevhar Aldarion: "Marvel is distributing it through the comic book channels, not the gaming book channels...". And 2), Edit: I'm not sure that game stores can easily get it as it appears it is being distributed only as a book (to book sellers) and as an electronic RPG to online RPG sites. Game stores that can order books or comic books might be able to order it I'd think.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

I think you read very different posts than I did.

As to point 1), I did not jump to conclusions. As you quoted from Enevhar Aldarion: "Marvel is distributing it through the comic book channels, not the gaming book channels...". And 2), You are saying that Marvel is in fact distributing the Marvel RPG through gaming book channels likely via Penguin. Good to hear. That actually makes more sense to me.

I am still going by what Marvel said and did when they released the playtest, that whatever distribution methods they use for comics, they are using for the game. Yes, that includes Penguin. And yes, back when the playtest book came out, several gaming-only stores I spoke to had no clue it was out.