A Game of Thrones RPG

[Herremann the Wise]

Hi Everyone,

I just found this and thought I should post it up. While I have no affiliation with White Wolf or Guardians of Order, I am a huge George R.R. Martin fan and felt the need to share. I'm sure there are others out there who are eagerly awaiting this too.

Remember that thread about whether you would buy a $100 book. I replied in that thread that it depends on the book. The deluxe edition of this... consider it pre-ordered.

Best Regards
Herremann the Wise

White Wolf and Guardians Of Order Join Forces to Publish "A Game Of Thrones RPG"
Guelph, Ontario and Atlanta, Georgia; 13 June 2005 - White Wolf Publishing, Inc. and Guardians Of Order, Inc. announced today that they have reached an agreement to publish the A Game of Thrones Roleplaying Game, based on the bestselling "A Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy novel series by critically acclaimed author George R. R. Martin.

White Wolf will publish and distribute the game under its Sword & Sorcery imprint, while Guardians Of Order remains in charge of creation and design. The A Game of Thrones Roleplaying Game will be available in hobby and bookstores in the fall of 2005, in time for the release of Martin's A Feast For Crows, the much-anticipated fourth volume in the series.

"We look forward to working with White Wolf in this joint venture," said Guardians Of Order's President, Mark C. MacKinnon. "The exceptional reputation of the Sword & Sorcery imprint and White Wolf's extensive distribution network together mean we can get this magnificent game to many thousands more of George R. R. Martin's fans than we could have reached on our own. Creating the A Game of Thrones RPG has been a massive undertaking for Guardians, and we have found the ideal publishing partner in White Wolf."

"We've long admired George R. R. Martin's novels and Guardians Of Order's games," said Mike Tinney, White Wolf's President. "As fans, we've been looking forward to this release along with everyone else. That we can help bring it to market is a real treat."

George R. R. Martin's epic series "A Song of Ice and Fire" began in 1996's A Game of Thrones, and continued in 1999's A Clash of Kings and 2000's A Storm of Swords, both of which appeared on the New York Times' bestsellers list. Detailing the lands of Westeros and the warring noble families who rule it, Martin's epic has garnered legion of fans, been called "extraordinary" by Publisher's Weekly and "brilliant" by Robert Jordan. A Feast For Crows is already the #3 fantasy title on Amazon.com based on pre-orders.

This series gets the high-quality treatment it deserves in two gorgeous editions of the A Game of Thrones RPG: a mammoth 576-page deluxe limited edition and a 496-page standard edition. Both of these authoritative reference guides and roleplaying games include full-color printing on premium-quality paper, hardcover binding, a poster-sized color pull-out map of the continent of Westeros, and a host of stunning artwork and graphic design by a team of exceptionally talented artists. The standard edition includes full rules for playing A Game of Thrones under the Open Gaming License (using the "d20" game mechanics developed for Dungeons & Dragons).

The deluxe edition contains two distinct game systems: the same rules as the standard edition and Guardians' own popular Tri-Stat System. It also includes an abundance of upgraded features, such as a foil-embossed leatherette cover, an exquisite dust jacket with art by Mike S. Miller (The Hedge Knight graphic novel), an oversized cloth bookmark, silver gilding on all edges, and an exclusive interview with George R. R. Martin.

"This will be one of the most talked about RPGs of 2005," added MacKinnon, "and we are all thrilled to present this exquisitely comprehensive guide to 'A Song of Ice and Fire' to roleplayers and George's many fans worldwide. We spared no expense in its creation and worked closely with George to ensure accuracy and authenticity, adding additional background information from his personal notes when appropriate. Every fan of 'A Song of Ice and Fire' will want this gorgeous tome adorning his shelf."

A Game of Thrones Roleplaying Game - Deluxe Edition (OGL/Tri-Stat)
WW08346; ISBN 1-58846-941-7; MSRP $99.95 US
Full-color deluxe 576-page hardcover available in September of 2005


A Game of Thrones Roleplaying Game - Standard Edition (OGL)
WW08345; ISBN 1-58846-942-5; MSRP $49.95 US
Full-color 496-page hardcover available in October of 2005


George R. R. Martin, A Feast For Crows
(A Song of Ice and Fire, Part 4)
Bantam Books; ISBN 0-55380-150-3; MSRP $28.00 US
Hardcover available in November of 2005

 

[BiggusGeekus]

That sounds like a good solution. Seperate the d20 rules from the (insert system here) rules and offer both up as a deluxe version that you expect only the true fans to pick up.

I like it.

 

[Captain Tagon]

Tri-Stat, yummy. Though, if I had a really really good job I'd probably get the deluxe edition.

 

[woodelf]

That sounds like a good solution. Seperate the d20 rules from the (insert system here) rules and offer both up as a deluxe version that you expect only the true fans to pick up.

I like it.

Sure, if it were $40 vs. $50. Problem with the existing solution: fans of the book who want Tri-Stat *have* to buy the $100 book. Fans who want the fancy book but are only interested in D20 System get 80pp of stuff they don't want. And casual gamers who aren't interested in D20 System get to choose between a $100 book and D20 System.

And, while it could be argued that tri-stat customers are getting the preferential treatment, with the fancy book, it feels like D20 System customers are getting the preferential treatment: they have choices, and there's an affordable option. And it bugs me when the publisher of another system seems to be friendlier to D20 System than the system that i know and love them for.

I've never read the books (i'd never heard of them until the RPG was announced), but have heard good things about them. At $40, i might check it out. At $100, i'm not even gonna look at it. So they've probably lost me as a customer (for this book).

 

[Crothian]

It should be noted a tri stat only version is coming out by GoO later this year, like a month or two after these. It is not through White Wolf though so is noty in that announcement.

edit: in December the tri state version is coming out. So, you can get the deluxe for true zany fans, or d20 or tri stat. GoO did a good job of having options for the people that want them.

 

[woodelf]

edit: in December the tri state version is coming out. So, you can get the deluxe for true zany fans, or d20 or tri stat. GoO did a good job of having options for the people that want them.

Cool. I wonder why WWGS is interested in publishing some, but not all? I mean, i sort of understand (they do Storyteller and D20 System), but sort of don't (they're publishing Pendragon and Zir'an--why not Tri-Stat?). Or maybe it's why is GoO interested in splitting the profits on some of them, but not all?

So, why is this setting so cool, or why will the game be so cool? Why this and not Black Company, Blue Rose, or whatever else is out there? [remember, i've never read the books]

 

[Crothian]

So, why is this setting so cool, or why will the game be so cool? Why this and not Black Company, Blue Rose, or whatever else is out there? [remember, i've never read the books]

Because people like the books. Frankly, I was not as thrilled with Black Company as others were though I really like Blue Rose. My excitemtn really comes more from the fact that it is GoO that is writing this. They do some really great work and just don't seem to get the recognition of some larger yet not as good companies.

 

[Nifft]

/me carefully sets $100 aside, plus $20 more for express shipping...

-- N

 

[Ryltar]

After experiencing delays, delays, setbacks and more delays ...

I still can't quite tell you which book I am more looking forward to: AFFC or the GoT RPG ... but the previews have looked nothing short of brilliant thus far. I think the steep price will be well-justified. Especially when you consider the fact that they will offer a full pdf version of the book along with the print run for preorders ... Smart move.

Ryl "199/500" tar

 

[Nifft]

I still can't quite tell you which book I am more looking forward to: AFFC or the GoT RPG

Oh, I can... AFfC, hands down. But even more than that, ADwD, because everyone I like will be in that book. *sigh*

-- N