Plenty of sci-fi support this week as well as horror in both WWII and today along with a couple of D&D supplements. The world of Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game expands greatly with a new option for PCs to play humans and Replicants in rebellion against the status quo. Paranoia gets more secret societies, Mothership gets a new tower to add to A Pound of Flesh along with a heist, and in Achtung! Cthulhu the PCs have to stop Azathoth cultists from getting a nuke. A supplement adding the past through lineages drops for Hunter the Reckoning. Finally, Dungeons & Dragons 5.5 gets not only a monster book and but also a new frozen setting.
Note: RPG Print News covers recent RPG releases and some classics, reprints, and sales available from retailers. It does not cover products that are available directly to customers only as print on demand.
Replicant Rebellion by Free League Publishing
Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game: Asset Pack
SYSTEM: Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement/GM extras
RETAIL PRICE: $39.99 each
DESCRIPTION: Free League was kind enough to send me review copies of these new RPG products. See my mini-review after this article below*. In Replicant Rebellion, PCs are members of the Replicant Underground, a decentralized network of independent rebels resisting Blade Runners and opposing Wallace Corp in five adventures. The Underground includes both human and Replicant smugglers, street rats, grizzled vets, off-grid ghosts, and even a few rebels born yesterday. Quite literally. In a neon-noir city of dazzling lights and moral contradictions, the PCs walk the streets on a razor’s edge between reform and revenge and bearing the burden of having too much to lose for a cause calling on them to sacrifice it all. Features: character archetypes and new specialties, new rules for Heat and maintaining a cover, and gear and weapons. Supporting Replicant Rebellion, the Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game: Asset Pack includes: three Independent Sentinel front pages filled with news and leads from 2037 Los Angeles, 20 action maps covering locations ranging from apartments to LAPD headquarters, 18 cardboard character standees for use in the action maps, 28x mugshot cards, 10 data sheets of key individuals, eight crime scene photos with hidden clues, two Esper surveillance photos, a Heat Meter showing just how hot the streets are right now, and a solo mode booklet (no Game Runner required).
Powers That Be by Mongoose Publishing
SYSTEM: Paranoia
PRODUCT TYPE: box set
RETAIL PRICE: $49.99
DESCRIPTION: Details on all eight service groups and all 13 secret societies, including the return of the Illuminati. While some lore is included such as possible origins and different departments/cells, most of this book is dedicated to helping the GM mess with the PC Troubleshooters. Includes: scenes to drop into any mission including flimsy excuses for what triggered those scene drops, weird mini games for more scenes such as sticking forks into outlets to see if they have power, power struggles between leaders and those who want to usurp those leaders, Favours the PCs can buy with Moxie to get each other PCs in trouble including printable small handouts, and multiple mission for PC Troubleshooters to screw up.
Death Pays All Debts by Octopus Ink Games
SYSTEM: Mothership A Pound of Flesh
PRODUCT TYPE: softcover zine supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $20
DESCRIPTION: More support for the adventure, A Pound of Flesh, and soon to be joined by the upcoming Bombs Bursting In Air. Features a heist on Prospero’s Dream and adds a new tower in the depths of Prospero’s Dream loaded with loot and danger. PC crews robbing the tower will either walk away made for life or perish in the attempt. Also includes allied and rival factions interested in finding what the tower holds or keeping intruders out, NPC contractors with skills for heists, loot, monsters, NPCs, and more.
The Norway Projekt by Modiphius Entertainment
SYSTEM: Achtung! Cthulhu
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $54.99
DESCRIPTION: Skis, snow, and a superweapon. The PCs find a simple mission to rescue captured resistance fighters escalating into a desperate race against a vast conspiracy that threatens to rain atomic fire upon Allied cities. In late 1942 the tide of war turns against Germany. Desperate for a breakthrough, the Nazis try to build a nuke in Norway. However, the Nachtwölfe turn to a darker source: arcane knowledge to unlock a new generation of atomic superweapon. Includes a guide to Norway with new vehicles and equipment, a three-part campaign featuring nine linked missions, and a sinister cult, the Flokk of the Allfather, plus the terrifying Spellbook of Azathoth. Wow, the stakes are really high in this one.
Legacy of Defiance by Renegade Game Studios
SYSTEM: Hunter the Reckoning Fifth Edition
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $50
DESCRIPTION: R-rated options: a four-part adventure and eight lineages of Hunter traditions complete with secrets and grueling trials. The PCs can follow in the footsteps of the Hunters who came before, inherit their wisdom, avoid their mistakes, and build on a living legacy. Also features: 12 Cell Types, two Drives, two Cell Advantages, 10 Perks, eight Loresheets, six Quarries to Hunt and seven Locations at which to Hunt.
Monsters of Drakkenheim by Ghostfire Gaming
SYSTEM: Dungeons & Dragons 5.5 Drakkenheim
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $60
DESCRIPTION: Over 150 eldritch horrors, mutated creatures, and deadly bosses found in the dark fantasy world of Drakkenheim. The monsters, from twisted mutants and warped beasts to powerful epic bosses, are shaped by the mysterious delerium contamination that destroyed the city of Drakkenheim. In addition to the monsters, it includes rules for a monster harvesting tied to a crafting system, epic bosses with unique lairs, and deadly conditions.
Northlands Worldbook by Kobold Press
Northlands Worldbook (Limited Edition)
SYSTEM: Dungeons & Dragons 5.5
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover setting supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $49.99/$79.99
DESCRIPTION: In the Northlands, a land bound in ice and ruled by fate, the PCs roam the mountainous halls of the jotun, slay dragons, repel bloodthirsty raiders to gain glory and fame, sail dragonships through icy seas, and share the hearth with cunning gods. Includes eight subclasses like the Nornbound Cleric or Trickster Warlock, five species such as the giantkin and bearfolk, 50 monsters, nine factions, and over 80 weapons, spells, and magic items. GMs get fully realized drop-in locations, including the Realm of Bear and the Kingdoms of the Giants. Finally, there are rules for sailing, ship combat, rune magic, fate, and earning a reputation.
*Mini-review of Replicant Rebellion and Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game: Asset Pack:
Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game is already a roleplaying challenge, with PCs playing judge, jury, and executioner of Replicants. Replicant Rebellion takes things to the next logical level, either playing a rebel against the status quo or play a Blade Runner deep undercover who plans to get the goods on their rebellious friends and ultimately betray and arrest/kill them.
But the level of possible betrayal doesn’t end there. Each rebel has a cover and if the cover is comprised and becomes a threat to the rebellion, the rebellion itself will order the comprised rebel to be killed by their fellow rebels which includes the other player characters.
And on top of all that, the players themselves may come up with code to discuss the game in front of the Game Runner without the GR knowing the code and getting kept in the dark. The level of misdirection and distrust in this game is next level.
Adventures revolve around sci-fi action, political intrigue, defiance of the system, character drama, and moral conflict. Adventures are called Operations instead of Case Files. An adventure doesn’t require an Operation, but the structure provides direction and a framework that is highly useful. Themes of Operation include work done for the rebellion, inside jobs working
The five Operations in Replicant Rebellion have supporting hand outs and extras in the Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game: Asset Pack. The GR has plenty of help in getting a campaign kicked off.
I highly recommend this next chapter in the Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game line for mature groups with a high level of trust and well developed communication skills. It could come as both a refreshing change from and quite a shocking change from playing Blade Runners. Should be quite an epic campaign with no one at the table quite knowing what is happening and what will happen next. An amazing RPG work.
Charlie does not use AI in any of his writing. The first two stories by Charlie featuring the questing soldier Hart and his biomechanical partner Hollow now available for Kindle on Amazon. He is a participant in the Noble Knight Affiliate Program and the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, both of which are affiliate programs that provide a means for participants to earn money by advertising and linking to Noble Knight Games and DriveThruRPG respectively. Charlie on Facebook. Posts and articles posted here by others do not reflect the views of Charlie Dunwoody. If you like the articles at EN World please consider supporting the Patreon.
Note: RPG Print News covers recent RPG releases and some classics, reprints, and sales available from retailers. It does not cover products that are available directly to customers only as print on demand.
Replicant Rebellion by Free League Publishing
Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game: Asset Pack
SYSTEM: Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement/GM extras
RETAIL PRICE: $39.99 each
DESCRIPTION: Free League was kind enough to send me review copies of these new RPG products. See my mini-review after this article below*. In Replicant Rebellion, PCs are members of the Replicant Underground, a decentralized network of independent rebels resisting Blade Runners and opposing Wallace Corp in five adventures. The Underground includes both human and Replicant smugglers, street rats, grizzled vets, off-grid ghosts, and even a few rebels born yesterday. Quite literally. In a neon-noir city of dazzling lights and moral contradictions, the PCs walk the streets on a razor’s edge between reform and revenge and bearing the burden of having too much to lose for a cause calling on them to sacrifice it all. Features: character archetypes and new specialties, new rules for Heat and maintaining a cover, and gear and weapons. Supporting Replicant Rebellion, the Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game: Asset Pack includes: three Independent Sentinel front pages filled with news and leads from 2037 Los Angeles, 20 action maps covering locations ranging from apartments to LAPD headquarters, 18 cardboard character standees for use in the action maps, 28x mugshot cards, 10 data sheets of key individuals, eight crime scene photos with hidden clues, two Esper surveillance photos, a Heat Meter showing just how hot the streets are right now, and a solo mode booklet (no Game Runner required).
Powers That Be by Mongoose Publishing
SYSTEM: Paranoia
PRODUCT TYPE: box set
RETAIL PRICE: $49.99
DESCRIPTION: Details on all eight service groups and all 13 secret societies, including the return of the Illuminati. While some lore is included such as possible origins and different departments/cells, most of this book is dedicated to helping the GM mess with the PC Troubleshooters. Includes: scenes to drop into any mission including flimsy excuses for what triggered those scene drops, weird mini games for more scenes such as sticking forks into outlets to see if they have power, power struggles between leaders and those who want to usurp those leaders, Favours the PCs can buy with Moxie to get each other PCs in trouble including printable small handouts, and multiple mission for PC Troubleshooters to screw up.
Death Pays All Debts by Octopus Ink Games
SYSTEM: Mothership A Pound of Flesh
PRODUCT TYPE: softcover zine supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $20
DESCRIPTION: More support for the adventure, A Pound of Flesh, and soon to be joined by the upcoming Bombs Bursting In Air. Features a heist on Prospero’s Dream and adds a new tower in the depths of Prospero’s Dream loaded with loot and danger. PC crews robbing the tower will either walk away made for life or perish in the attempt. Also includes allied and rival factions interested in finding what the tower holds or keeping intruders out, NPC contractors with skills for heists, loot, monsters, NPCs, and more.
The Norway Projekt by Modiphius Entertainment
SYSTEM: Achtung! Cthulhu
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $54.99
DESCRIPTION: Skis, snow, and a superweapon. The PCs find a simple mission to rescue captured resistance fighters escalating into a desperate race against a vast conspiracy that threatens to rain atomic fire upon Allied cities. In late 1942 the tide of war turns against Germany. Desperate for a breakthrough, the Nazis try to build a nuke in Norway. However, the Nachtwölfe turn to a darker source: arcane knowledge to unlock a new generation of atomic superweapon. Includes a guide to Norway with new vehicles and equipment, a three-part campaign featuring nine linked missions, and a sinister cult, the Flokk of the Allfather, plus the terrifying Spellbook of Azathoth. Wow, the stakes are really high in this one.
Legacy of Defiance by Renegade Game Studios
SYSTEM: Hunter the Reckoning Fifth Edition
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $50
DESCRIPTION: R-rated options: a four-part adventure and eight lineages of Hunter traditions complete with secrets and grueling trials. The PCs can follow in the footsteps of the Hunters who came before, inherit their wisdom, avoid their mistakes, and build on a living legacy. Also features: 12 Cell Types, two Drives, two Cell Advantages, 10 Perks, eight Loresheets, six Quarries to Hunt and seven Locations at which to Hunt.
Monsters of Drakkenheim by Ghostfire Gaming
SYSTEM: Dungeons & Dragons 5.5 Drakkenheim
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $60
DESCRIPTION: Over 150 eldritch horrors, mutated creatures, and deadly bosses found in the dark fantasy world of Drakkenheim. The monsters, from twisted mutants and warped beasts to powerful epic bosses, are shaped by the mysterious delerium contamination that destroyed the city of Drakkenheim. In addition to the monsters, it includes rules for a monster harvesting tied to a crafting system, epic bosses with unique lairs, and deadly conditions.
Northlands Worldbook by Kobold Press
Northlands Worldbook (Limited Edition)
SYSTEM: Dungeons & Dragons 5.5
PRODUCT TYPE: hardcover setting supplement
RETAIL PRICE: $49.99/$79.99
DESCRIPTION: In the Northlands, a land bound in ice and ruled by fate, the PCs roam the mountainous halls of the jotun, slay dragons, repel bloodthirsty raiders to gain glory and fame, sail dragonships through icy seas, and share the hearth with cunning gods. Includes eight subclasses like the Nornbound Cleric or Trickster Warlock, five species such as the giantkin and bearfolk, 50 monsters, nine factions, and over 80 weapons, spells, and magic items. GMs get fully realized drop-in locations, including the Realm of Bear and the Kingdoms of the Giants. Finally, there are rules for sailing, ship combat, rune magic, fate, and earning a reputation.
*Mini-review of Replicant Rebellion and Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game: Asset Pack:
Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game is already a roleplaying challenge, with PCs playing judge, jury, and executioner of Replicants. Replicant Rebellion takes things to the next logical level, either playing a rebel against the status quo or play a Blade Runner deep undercover who plans to get the goods on their rebellious friends and ultimately betray and arrest/kill them.
But the level of possible betrayal doesn’t end there. Each rebel has a cover and if the cover is comprised and becomes a threat to the rebellion, the rebellion itself will order the comprised rebel to be killed by their fellow rebels which includes the other player characters.
And on top of all that, the players themselves may come up with code to discuss the game in front of the Game Runner without the GR knowing the code and getting kept in the dark. The level of misdirection and distrust in this game is next level.
Adventures revolve around sci-fi action, political intrigue, defiance of the system, character drama, and moral conflict. Adventures are called Operations instead of Case Files. An adventure doesn’t require an Operation, but the structure provides direction and a framework that is highly useful. Themes of Operation include work done for the rebellion, inside jobs working
The five Operations in Replicant Rebellion have supporting hand outs and extras in the Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game: Asset Pack. The GR has plenty of help in getting a campaign kicked off.
I highly recommend this next chapter in the Blade Runner The Roleplaying Game line for mature groups with a high level of trust and well developed communication skills. It could come as both a refreshing change from and quite a shocking change from playing Blade Runners. Should be quite an epic campaign with no one at the table quite knowing what is happening and what will happen next. An amazing RPG work.
Charlie does not use AI in any of his writing. The first two stories by Charlie featuring the questing soldier Hart and his biomechanical partner Hollow now available for Kindle on Amazon. He is a participant in the Noble Knight Affiliate Program and the OneBookShelf Affiliate Program, both of which are affiliate programs that provide a means for participants to earn money by advertising and linking to Noble Knight Games and DriveThruRPG respectively. Charlie on Facebook. Posts and articles posted here by others do not reflect the views of Charlie Dunwoody. If you like the articles at EN World please consider supporting the Patreon.
