This week saw some big news in the PDF market when it was revealed that WotC is reentering the PDF marketplace…or are they? Apparently their reentry announcement may have been a bit premature as nothing has been confirmed by them and nothing has been released into the current PDF marketplaces. However, that has not stopped people from getting excited that WotC may be releasing a lot of the older material soon as PDFs, something for which people have been clamoring for years. You can be sure we’ll be announcing such actual releases here as they come out. Until that happens we still have a bunch of new PDFs being released every week and this week is no different.
Angels, Daemons, and Beings Between
The hype leading up to the release of the DCC system was huge and even after its release DCC continues to generate a huge buzz with frequent releases both from the parent company and from third party publishers. (Dare we call it the break-out game of 2012?) This newest PDF offers us patrons, new spells and new game mechanics spread out over 106 pages. You can make use of the things you like for your DCC game.
Heroes Forever Billionaires Handbook
This PDF is for the d12 system of which, I will admit, I know absolutely nothing. However, the subject matter is something I do know about and until seeing this PDF remained an issue for me. This 61 page ebook is all about those characters that are rich. Most game systems that include advantages-disadvantages include an option for a character to be wealthy. However, other than saying that the character is rich, these systems do not include much in the way of how this can impact an adventure or campaign. Too often a rich character can ride rough-shod over a campaign negating challenges with money…or the reverse of this occurs, wherein a GM negates the use of the money to the point of it becoming useless. This PDF seeks to bring a balance to these issues.
Simple 2d6
One of the watchwords of the OSR movement is simplicity in system. Keep the system simple and let play define the game instead of the rules. However, most retroclones are mired in early D&D (which is not a bad thing but can at times be contrary to the concept of a simple system). This rule set looks to create its own system with the goal being simplicity of rules. The rules are consistent no matter what task is being attempted and the concepts are basic enough to allow for growth and diversity of action. Does Simple 2d6 accomplish what it sets out to do? There’s only one way to find out.
Legend: The Spider God’s Bride
Recently Mongoose Publishing left the Runequest system and adapted it to their own system Legend. Since then they have released quite a few supplements for it. This PDF is a book of 10 adventures spread over 170 pages, all with a pulp/sword & sorcery feel to them. If Legend/Runequest is your system of choice or you just like the genre this may be a PDF worth checking out.
Ultimate Roman Legions Guide
This Savage Worlds book takes an intimate look at the Roman Legions of history. It relates their equipment, tactics and organization. Then it gives them Savage Worlds stats, character options and even some adventures. This offering is excellent if you are looking to run a game in this time frame either as a historical epic or as part of an alternate history. Also, it could be used as a guideline for creating a culture similar to the ancient Romans for your own world/campaign.
Leverage Companion
They may have canceled the TV series but new stories for Leverage can continue to be told through rpgs. This newest supplement from Margaret Weis Productions is all about Hollywood Hacking vs the Real World; how telling a story and using hacking to help with the narrative can run contrary to reality. This short piece (17 pages) answers the question of how to strike a balance between the story/fun and reality.
Star Frontiersman #19
Star Frontiers was a science fiction, spare-faring rpg put out by TSR beginning in 1982, with the last official published material for it appearing in 1985. The beauty of PDFs is that even older games like this one can still be supported. Star Frontiersman is a magazine style PDF with the focus squarely on Star Frontiers. This one is 52 pages long and includes adventures, setting backgrounds, stories, and new character options. If you liked Star Frontiers, or just space opera games, this free PDF is for you.
Champions Complete Addendums
Not too long ago Champions Complete was released in PDF form. This is the venerable Champions superheroes game in one complete package. This week they released two new PDFs for it but neither is the usual type of release. First is Freebies and Errata; this has errata from the previous book and also notes on how to convert characters from earlier editions, how Talents are created, combat examples and notes on animal creation. The second is Hero In Two Pages, which is the Hero System core mechanics on…two pages. Both of these are free releases meant to make playing their game easier. The second offering is one people who are curious about the system may want to take a look at before they invest in the full product.
The Trollmanac
Tunnels & Trolls gets some loving this week with a compilation magazine of previous on-line articles. This PDF gives us 53 pages of new character options, new monsters, new magic items, assorted rule suggestions and 2 mini-adventures. I like how PDFs can provide affordable new content for the older systems. Of course Tunnels & Trolls has a huge Kickstarter ongoing so having more Tunnels & Trolls material can only be a good thing.
Adventures
The Old Absinthe House Blues – Deadlands Noir/Savage Worlds.
Fall of House Rodow – Pathfinder. Level 1.
Menagerie of the Ice Lord – 1E/OSR. Levels 3-5.
Voyage to Plague Island – 1E/OSR. Levels 4-7.
Krishna’s Riddle – Savage Worlds. Heroic.
The Blessing of St Agnes – Generic/Fantasy.
Creatures of the Night – Generic/Fantasy.
Day of the Rat - Generic/Fantasy.
Rescue Mission – Tunnels & Trolls. Levels 1-3, Solo.
The Gibbering Tower – Labyrinth Lord.
Spotlight: Most Interesting PDF of the Week
Bandits and Battlecruisers
This is an OSR science fiction/space opera game. It is based on the quiet Bandits & Basilisks, a fantasy retroclone, and Terminus Space, a very well-received science fiction supplement for 1E. This brings it all together in a new book that provides everything you need for a science fiction game. There is a serious old school vibe with this game and if you are looking space opera, this might be the one for you.
Angels, Daemons, and Beings Between
The hype leading up to the release of the DCC system was huge and even after its release DCC continues to generate a huge buzz with frequent releases both from the parent company and from third party publishers. (Dare we call it the break-out game of 2012?) This newest PDF offers us patrons, new spells and new game mechanics spread out over 106 pages. You can make use of the things you like for your DCC game.
Heroes Forever Billionaires Handbook
This PDF is for the d12 system of which, I will admit, I know absolutely nothing. However, the subject matter is something I do know about and until seeing this PDF remained an issue for me. This 61 page ebook is all about those characters that are rich. Most game systems that include advantages-disadvantages include an option for a character to be wealthy. However, other than saying that the character is rich, these systems do not include much in the way of how this can impact an adventure or campaign. Too often a rich character can ride rough-shod over a campaign negating challenges with money…or the reverse of this occurs, wherein a GM negates the use of the money to the point of it becoming useless. This PDF seeks to bring a balance to these issues.
Simple 2d6
One of the watchwords of the OSR movement is simplicity in system. Keep the system simple and let play define the game instead of the rules. However, most retroclones are mired in early D&D (which is not a bad thing but can at times be contrary to the concept of a simple system). This rule set looks to create its own system with the goal being simplicity of rules. The rules are consistent no matter what task is being attempted and the concepts are basic enough to allow for growth and diversity of action. Does Simple 2d6 accomplish what it sets out to do? There’s only one way to find out.
Legend: The Spider God’s Bride
Recently Mongoose Publishing left the Runequest system and adapted it to their own system Legend. Since then they have released quite a few supplements for it. This PDF is a book of 10 adventures spread over 170 pages, all with a pulp/sword & sorcery feel to them. If Legend/Runequest is your system of choice or you just like the genre this may be a PDF worth checking out.
Ultimate Roman Legions Guide
This Savage Worlds book takes an intimate look at the Roman Legions of history. It relates their equipment, tactics and organization. Then it gives them Savage Worlds stats, character options and even some adventures. This offering is excellent if you are looking to run a game in this time frame either as a historical epic or as part of an alternate history. Also, it could be used as a guideline for creating a culture similar to the ancient Romans for your own world/campaign.
Leverage Companion
They may have canceled the TV series but new stories for Leverage can continue to be told through rpgs. This newest supplement from Margaret Weis Productions is all about Hollywood Hacking vs the Real World; how telling a story and using hacking to help with the narrative can run contrary to reality. This short piece (17 pages) answers the question of how to strike a balance between the story/fun and reality.
Star Frontiersman #19
Star Frontiers was a science fiction, spare-faring rpg put out by TSR beginning in 1982, with the last official published material for it appearing in 1985. The beauty of PDFs is that even older games like this one can still be supported. Star Frontiersman is a magazine style PDF with the focus squarely on Star Frontiers. This one is 52 pages long and includes adventures, setting backgrounds, stories, and new character options. If you liked Star Frontiers, or just space opera games, this free PDF is for you.
Champions Complete Addendums
Not too long ago Champions Complete was released in PDF form. This is the venerable Champions superheroes game in one complete package. This week they released two new PDFs for it but neither is the usual type of release. First is Freebies and Errata; this has errata from the previous book and also notes on how to convert characters from earlier editions, how Talents are created, combat examples and notes on animal creation. The second is Hero In Two Pages, which is the Hero System core mechanics on…two pages. Both of these are free releases meant to make playing their game easier. The second offering is one people who are curious about the system may want to take a look at before they invest in the full product.
The Trollmanac
Tunnels & Trolls gets some loving this week with a compilation magazine of previous on-line articles. This PDF gives us 53 pages of new character options, new monsters, new magic items, assorted rule suggestions and 2 mini-adventures. I like how PDFs can provide affordable new content for the older systems. Of course Tunnels & Trolls has a huge Kickstarter ongoing so having more Tunnels & Trolls material can only be a good thing.
Adventures
The Old Absinthe House Blues – Deadlands Noir/Savage Worlds.
Fall of House Rodow – Pathfinder. Level 1.
Menagerie of the Ice Lord – 1E/OSR. Levels 3-5.
Voyage to Plague Island – 1E/OSR. Levels 4-7.
Krishna’s Riddle – Savage Worlds. Heroic.
The Blessing of St Agnes – Generic/Fantasy.
Creatures of the Night – Generic/Fantasy.
Day of the Rat - Generic/Fantasy.
Rescue Mission – Tunnels & Trolls. Levels 1-3, Solo.
The Gibbering Tower – Labyrinth Lord.
Spotlight: Most Interesting PDF of the Week
Bandits and Battlecruisers
This is an OSR science fiction/space opera game. It is based on the quiet Bandits & Basilisks, a fantasy retroclone, and Terminus Space, a very well-received science fiction supplement for 1E. This brings it all together in a new book that provides everything you need for a science fiction game. There is a serious old school vibe with this game and if you are looking space opera, this might be the one for you.
On its 140 pages you will find:
- Detailed character creation rules;
- Monster creation aids (plus 18 monsters - not the well-known monsters from the Original Game);
- Complete rules for creating star sectors, star systems, planets, moons and space stations;
- Five 100-keyword tables, helpful in designing monsters, robots, civilizations and planets;
- 100 random space encounters and 100 random space stations;
- Tools helpful in creating treasure hoards and artifacts (plus 16 sample artifacts);
- Over thirty random tables;
- Chapter with a detailed starship creation sequence and starship combat rules (plus over twenty sample spaceships).
