This week we are met with the sad news that MWP has given up the Marvel Comics license. Following this intro message there are links to the PDFs for the rpg, but keep in mind that after April 30th the PDFs will no longer be available. The good news for the week is that we have another excellent batch of new PDFs spanning new systems, useful supplements and ready to use adventures. Check them out and see what might help your game.
One of the bright spots of the rpg industry recently was the return of a Marvel Comics RPG. Margaret Weis Productions put out a slick looking book with a system, Cortex, people liked. However, not enough people liked it, at least not enough to sustain the line. While the initial sales were strong, sales dropped off for later supplements, enough that they have discontinued the line and have given up the license. To go along with this, they will no longer be able to offer the PDF versions of the game after today (April 30th). If you were putting off getting the PDFs of this game or one of its supplements, this is literally the last minutes to get them.
Basic Game
Annihilation Event: Premium or Essentials
Civil War Event: Premium or Essentials
Civil War X-Men
Civil War Young Avengers/Runaways
Civil War Fifty State Initiative
Universal Adventures Event Deck
One bit of advice I once read was about creating a list of events and putting them on index cards. During an adventure you could then draw them to throw in when things bog down, need some shaking up or just for a bit of chaos. I wrote up about 10 cards and never did it again. Now, however, there is this ready made deck of events for a dungeon adventure. It has 54 events you can randomly add into any fantasy adventure.
Map of Arthur’s Britain
As most gamers, I love maps. This product is a downloadable map of Britain for the Age of Arthur rpg that runs with the FATE system. However, the map is free and really sharp looking. Even if you don’t play the game it’s meant for, you can probably use it in any historically based game.
Fiasco- Hard Time Blues
I’ll admit I don’t know much about the Fiasco system other than it has its fair share of fans. One thing I do know is that the adventures/settings for the game sure do sound fun. This one has the player characters as prison convicts on the eve of a prison escape. Complications are sure to ensue and this could be a tense and fun night of gaming.
Lamentations of the Gingerbread Princess
Lamentations of the Flame Princess is a retro-clone that polarized the old school community. Some enthusiastically embraced its approach and some were driven off by its changes and style. However, since its release there has been a stream of people writing for it with various supplements and modules. This is an adventure that attempts to recapture that childlike innocence we all grew up with and helped motivate many of our imaginations. It is for character levels 1-4. They also note that despite their playing on childhood tropes, this is “not suitable for children of any age”.
Spellpoints Compilation
Vancian magic or not, that is the question asked by many. For 3E and Pathfinder the default is Vancian. However, there are groups out there that prefer a spellpoint or more flexible system for spells. This supplement provides a spellpoint system for Pathfinder (which can likely be adapted for any 3E/d20 system). If you are one of those groups looking for more, this may be it.
Heroes of the Jade Oath
The Far East has long been a favorite setting for those looking for something a bit different with their fantasy games. The culture is close enough to what we already know but different enough to keep it interesting. This supplement looks like an exhaustive book, 176 pages, for adding the Far East to your Pathfinder game. It provides a complete setting along with new races, classes, feats, and rules for adding more Oriental tropes. If you are looking to add the Far East to your game this looks like a product that can fill all your needs.
Razor Coast
A couple of weeks ago we covered the PDF release of Razor Coast for Pathfinder. This week we see the release of the setting for Swords & Wizardry. This is the Pirates/Polynesian setting and adventure. Also this week they released Freebooter’s Guide (character options) and Heart of the Razor (an additional adventure) for the setting for Swords & Wizardry as well.
WotC Classic PDFs
WG4 The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun (1E)
DMGR3 Arms and Equipment Guide (2E)
PHBR6 The Complete Book of Dwarves (2E)
Expedition to Undermountain (3.5E)
Adventures
Wrath of the Orc God – Basic Pathfinder. Level 3-4.
B12 The Right to Arm Bugbears – Pathfinder. Level 5-7.
B14 The Battle for Bridgefort – Pathfinder. Level 6-8.
Spotlight: Most Interesting PDF of the Week
DC Adventures Universe
Along with the end of the newest Marvel Comics rpg, we are seeing the end of the latest DC Comics rpg material coming out this week. Green Ronin Publishing, the makers of the seminal Mutants & Masterminds, got the DC license some time ago. However, their license was only for 4 books and this is the last one. This one wraps everything up by covering the DC universe in one large book, 224 pages. It looks exhaustive by adding in stats for over 200 characters from DC Comics, details on every major DC city, and a look at heroes from space and the future. If you want to play an rpg in the DC setting, or are looking to supplement your M&M material, this is the book for you.
One of the bright spots of the rpg industry recently was the return of a Marvel Comics RPG. Margaret Weis Productions put out a slick looking book with a system, Cortex, people liked. However, not enough people liked it, at least not enough to sustain the line. While the initial sales were strong, sales dropped off for later supplements, enough that they have discontinued the line and have given up the license. To go along with this, they will no longer be able to offer the PDF versions of the game after today (April 30th). If you were putting off getting the PDFs of this game or one of its supplements, this is literally the last minutes to get them.
Basic Game
Annihilation Event: Premium or Essentials
Civil War Event: Premium or Essentials
Civil War X-Men
Civil War Young Avengers/Runaways
Civil War Fifty State Initiative
Universal Adventures Event Deck
One bit of advice I once read was about creating a list of events and putting them on index cards. During an adventure you could then draw them to throw in when things bog down, need some shaking up or just for a bit of chaos. I wrote up about 10 cards and never did it again. Now, however, there is this ready made deck of events for a dungeon adventure. It has 54 events you can randomly add into any fantasy adventure.
Map of Arthur’s Britain
As most gamers, I love maps. This product is a downloadable map of Britain for the Age of Arthur rpg that runs with the FATE system. However, the map is free and really sharp looking. Even if you don’t play the game it’s meant for, you can probably use it in any historically based game.
Fiasco- Hard Time Blues
I’ll admit I don’t know much about the Fiasco system other than it has its fair share of fans. One thing I do know is that the adventures/settings for the game sure do sound fun. This one has the player characters as prison convicts on the eve of a prison escape. Complications are sure to ensue and this could be a tense and fun night of gaming.
Lamentations of the Gingerbread Princess
Lamentations of the Flame Princess is a retro-clone that polarized the old school community. Some enthusiastically embraced its approach and some were driven off by its changes and style. However, since its release there has been a stream of people writing for it with various supplements and modules. This is an adventure that attempts to recapture that childlike innocence we all grew up with and helped motivate many of our imaginations. It is for character levels 1-4. They also note that despite their playing on childhood tropes, this is “not suitable for children of any age”.
Spellpoints Compilation
Vancian magic or not, that is the question asked by many. For 3E and Pathfinder the default is Vancian. However, there are groups out there that prefer a spellpoint or more flexible system for spells. This supplement provides a spellpoint system for Pathfinder (which can likely be adapted for any 3E/d20 system). If you are one of those groups looking for more, this may be it.
Heroes of the Jade Oath
The Far East has long been a favorite setting for those looking for something a bit different with their fantasy games. The culture is close enough to what we already know but different enough to keep it interesting. This supplement looks like an exhaustive book, 176 pages, for adding the Far East to your Pathfinder game. It provides a complete setting along with new races, classes, feats, and rules for adding more Oriental tropes. If you are looking to add the Far East to your game this looks like a product that can fill all your needs.
Razor Coast
A couple of weeks ago we covered the PDF release of Razor Coast for Pathfinder. This week we see the release of the setting for Swords & Wizardry. This is the Pirates/Polynesian setting and adventure. Also this week they released Freebooter’s Guide (character options) and Heart of the Razor (an additional adventure) for the setting for Swords & Wizardry as well.
WotC Classic PDFs
WG4 The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun (1E)
DMGR3 Arms and Equipment Guide (2E)
PHBR6 The Complete Book of Dwarves (2E)
Expedition to Undermountain (3.5E)
Adventures
Wrath of the Orc God – Basic Pathfinder. Level 3-4.
B12 The Right to Arm Bugbears – Pathfinder. Level 5-7.
B14 The Battle for Bridgefort – Pathfinder. Level 6-8.
Spotlight: Most Interesting PDF of the Week
DC Adventures Universe
Along with the end of the newest Marvel Comics rpg, we are seeing the end of the latest DC Comics rpg material coming out this week. Green Ronin Publishing, the makers of the seminal Mutants & Masterminds, got the DC license some time ago. However, their license was only for 4 books and this is the last one. This one wraps everything up by covering the DC universe in one large book, 224 pages. It looks exhaustive by adding in stats for over 200 characters from DC Comics, details on every major DC city, and a look at heroes from space and the future. If you want to play an rpg in the DC setting, or are looking to supplement your M&M material, this is the book for you.
/QUOTE]DC Adventures: Universe is a comprehensive guide to the ultimate superhero setting, taking you on a journey from the famous cities and hidden places of Earth to out amongst the stars and even to parallel realities and "elseworlds." In its pages you will find:
-History! From the dawn of time to the present day, including famous historic DC characters like Arion, Lord of Atlantis, the Enemy Ace, and Sgt. Rock.
-Locations! From Gotham and Metropolis to Atlantis and Gorilla City, exploring every part of the modern day world of the DC Comics.
-Characters! DC Adventures write-ups of over two hundred additional characters, including the New Gods, Batman Beyond, the Time Trapper, and the Amazing Zoo Crew!
-Space! Out beyond the Earth to distant worlds with the Lantern Corps, to the Vega System of the Omega Men, and the realms of the Khunds and the Dominators.
-Time! Into the future, from the Legion of Super-Heroes in the 31st century to the Justice Legions of the year One Million to the Vanishing Point at the end of time itself!
-...And Beyond! Across the Bleed to alternate Earths, the higher planes of the Fifth Dimension, the realms of the Endless, and the gates of Heaven and Hell.[
