Teach Your Kids to Game Week is well underway, and I have to say that I remain very proud of my part in creating and launching it as an annual event. Sure, it's a sales opportunity for my friends at DriveThruRPG*, but it's also a very worthy idea that we should all take to heart. Stirring the imaginations of young kids is always a powerful tool in their development, and there's honestly no finer way for adults to engage their kids across the spectrum of best-practices - educationally, emotionally, and creatively - than finding ways to play together. This week's Picks are a bunch of interesting gateways to reach everyone from toddlers up to your teenagers. (*) - Once again, as a matter of full disclosure, I am a former employee of DriveThruRPG/RPGNow, and my Belovedest, Carinn, remains employed by them. So, yeah, we think they're pretty awesome folks!
Battletech Combat Manual: Mercenaries BETA
The Battletech universe has long held an interesting place in the history of gaming, as well as the hearts of gamers. Though best known for the miniatures wargaming game play, the depth and intricacies of the setting draws the roleplayers and storytellers in as well. This latest offering from Catalyst goes right to the heart of what many gamers love to play in the universe – Mercenaries.
Have ‘Mech, Will Travel.
Some soldiers fight for king and country, some for honor and glory, others for liberty or loved ones. We’ll fight for that too, whatever your cause, as long as the check clears.
For over forty centuries, mercenaries have plied their trade and been instrumental in toppling empires or holding the tides of war at bay. And as mankind expanded to the stars, soldiers of fortune rose to new heights of power. Business is booming, yet along with those riches comes a dangerous life and the scorn of many who see only filthy lucre-warriors. It’s a dangerous life, but as long as you keep your ’Mech intact and your bottom line balanced, the universe is yours!
BattleTech Combat Manual: Mercenaries contains information on the soldier-for-hire trade and their place in the Inner Sphere. This manual takes a look at some of the most renowned mercenaries of the 31st century, detailing their histories, tactics, unit crests, paint schemes, and notable personnel. This Alpha Strike expansion includes special rules for unique character abilities, faction-specific rules, force-building, and a mini Technical Readout—everything you need to field your favorite mercenary command on the tabletop or create your own.
Beasts of Legend: Coldwood Codex
No equivocation, I use this space often to promote the efforts of friends. Here’s a really good one from my buddies at Legendary Games, a D&D Next-compatible bestiary that flows from an entire line dedicated to expanding your library of latest-edition material. I particularly dig the at-the-table utility approach, featuring handouts and paper minis!
A fantastical 5E bestiary of fey and undead!
A good game can never have enough monsters, and the Coldwood Codex brings you 10 brand-new creatures suitable for use in any 5th Edition campaign, especially if your heroes are wandering in search of their fortune through the cold, desolate woods of the northern wilds. These creatures add a delightful bit of novel menace equally split between fey spirits bursting with the raw and wild energies of life and vile undead seething with the power of death. Drawing upon real-world folklore, classic fantasy tropes, and the design skills of the top creative minds in the business, the Coldwood Codex is an indispensable addition to any GM’s monster toolkit. This 42-page monster product includes not only full-page color player-friendly handout portraits but also foldable paper miniatures for every creature!
Future installments of the Beasts of Legend series will continue introducing richly detailed monsters carefully tailored to specific campaign themes, like the wintry menaces in the Boreal Bestiary, the pitiless creations of the Construct Codex, and the wide-ranging Asian adversaries in Beasts of the East! These are terrific additions to our existing 5th Edition product line, including horror adventures like The Fiddler’s Lament and The Murmuring Fountain, the overland expedition Road to Destiny, and upcoming adventures like the witch-haunted The Baleful Coven, the desolate fey wilderness of Cold Mountain, and the pirate shenanigans of Spices and Flesh!
We hope you enjoy using it as much as we enjoyed making it, and that you’ll keep coming back again and again to Make Your Game Legendary!
Today’s Pick is driven primarily by one thing – the rather excellent letter sent out to folks by the creator. I am sharing that instead of the usual product page text.
Fellow Gamer,
Hi, I’m Bill Logan. Although I’m not a spy, nor do I play one on TV, I am a huge fan of espionage action and adventure. You’re receiving this email because through your download history at DriveThruRPG and RPGNow, you’ve shown interest in DwD Studios’ OSR (mostly Labyrinth Lord) and Covert Ops role-playing games. I wanted to reach out to you and let you know about our new lite offering, White Lies.
White Lies is an espionage action and adventure RPG. It embraces the Sword & Wizardry WhiteBox license and engine, creating a familiar and fully OSR compatible solution, all set in the fun shadowy world of spies. Due to this compatibility, you can play in or run any kind of campaign you can imagine. Use it alone for an experience like James Bond, Bourne Identity, Mission Impossible, Burn Notice, Man From UNCLE, Covert Affaire, A-Team, G.I. Joe, etc. Use it with your favorite OSR product for an experience like Men In Black, X-Files, Dresden Files, Underworld, Resident Evil, etc. Use it with White Star for an experience like Babylon 5, Star Trek Deep Space 9, or to add layers of espionage to any other space setting. The mix & match possibilities become endless.
I think you’ll really like the content, compatibility, and stylish appearance of White Lies. On its own or in conjunction with all the other OSR products out there, it’ll make a great addition to your OSR or modern espionage bookshelf. We’ve managed to keep the production costs low so the $8.99 title is affordable to any budget. The POD will be available soon as well, and will only be $13.99. As DwD Studios works diligently on Covert Ops 2nd Edition, FrontierSpace, Malevolent Domain, and other titles in development we have not yet disclosed, White Lies will be a parallel product line we’ll support and grow with.
And it’s all OGL-covered. That means YOU can make products for it and sell them. We’ve even made a nifty compatibility logo so you can show everyone it’s affiliation and usefulness to the product line by using our logo.
Whether you prefer your espionage action and adventure with d00’s or d20’s, there will be something for everyone in White Lies!
Kind regards,
Bill Logan
DwD Studios
Cartoon Action Hour: S3 Series Pack
OK, seriously – this is entirely too good a deal for you to ignore! Even if you don’t have the core rules for Cartoon Action Hour: Series 3 (and, really, why the heck not!?!), the wealth of awesome, fun material in this bundle – from some of the best writers and designers in our industry – is a total steal for the price of $16.95 (there’s well over $50 of material here)!
The entire Series 3 Bundle includes –
Crusaders of Sarillon by Steven S. Long
Punk Rock Saves the World by Matt Forbeck
Infinivaders by John Wick
Dark Brigade by Eddy Webb
The Mighty Mirror Masters by Jason L Blair
Hexslinger by Shane Hensley
Wasteland 2010 by Cynthia Celeste Miller
FLAG Force by Rob Wieland
Iron Wolves by Eddy Webb
Galactic Heroes by Cynthia Celeste Miller
Teach Your Kids to Game Week
When I first met Carinn, my Belovedest, her then-eight-year-old daughter, Samantha, expressed a very early interest in participating in the RPGs we played frequently in the home with others. We instructed Sammi that she would only be allowed to join in if she was willing to delve into the necessary math involved. Up to that point, Carinn had experience great difficulty getting her daughter to embrace math in any way, and the young girl struggled mightily.
Today, my teenage daughter Sammi is a top math student, also deeply enmeshed in S.T.E.M. programs with a keen interest in forensic science currently. All thanks to her desire to game with us, and her deep enjoyment of it once she got involved. I can think of no greater testimony to the power of getting the kids in your life to join you at the game table than that. I am very, very proud of the part I played in helping to create and launch Teach Your Kids to Game Week.
~~~~~
Well, there you go, friends! Lots of interesting Picks for all kinds of gaming, and a brilliant concept to remind us all that we regularly need to bring younger players into this beloved hobby of ours if we wish it to continue and to grow.
Tonight, #TheInterestedParties return to the front row of the NRW pro wrestling venue, as always with the full intent to torment our "old friend," the General Manager Titus Machiavelli. That means me - the Big Irish - and my dear friend, Donavin, - AKA the Big Don - in full regalia and having a grand time.
Tomorrow, I am part of the online gaming convention, Aethercon, where I will be a part of a panel about non-monster villains, and I'll also be running an online version of the Savage Rifts demo game I've been doing at cons all over the country.
Sunday sees me back at the table, game mastering for some fantastic players in my new Modern Gods/Prowlers & Paragons supers campaign, Storm Wardens: The Lighthouse.
I hope you all have some fun planned for the weekend as well, because as we all know -
The Adventure Continuess
~ Big Irish
Battletech Combat Manual: Mercenaries BETA
The Battletech universe has long held an interesting place in the history of gaming, as well as the hearts of gamers. Though best known for the miniatures wargaming game play, the depth and intricacies of the setting draws the roleplayers and storytellers in as well. This latest offering from Catalyst goes right to the heart of what many gamers love to play in the universe – Mercenaries.
Have ‘Mech, Will Travel.
Some soldiers fight for king and country, some for honor and glory, others for liberty or loved ones. We’ll fight for that too, whatever your cause, as long as the check clears.
For over forty centuries, mercenaries have plied their trade and been instrumental in toppling empires or holding the tides of war at bay. And as mankind expanded to the stars, soldiers of fortune rose to new heights of power. Business is booming, yet along with those riches comes a dangerous life and the scorn of many who see only filthy lucre-warriors. It’s a dangerous life, but as long as you keep your ’Mech intact and your bottom line balanced, the universe is yours!
BattleTech Combat Manual: Mercenaries contains information on the soldier-for-hire trade and their place in the Inner Sphere. This manual takes a look at some of the most renowned mercenaries of the 31st century, detailing their histories, tactics, unit crests, paint schemes, and notable personnel. This Alpha Strike expansion includes special rules for unique character abilities, faction-specific rules, force-building, and a mini Technical Readout—everything you need to field your favorite mercenary command on the tabletop or create your own.
Beasts of Legend: Coldwood Codex
No equivocation, I use this space often to promote the efforts of friends. Here’s a really good one from my buddies at Legendary Games, a D&D Next-compatible bestiary that flows from an entire line dedicated to expanding your library of latest-edition material. I particularly dig the at-the-table utility approach, featuring handouts and paper minis!
A fantastical 5E bestiary of fey and undead!
A good game can never have enough monsters, and the Coldwood Codex brings you 10 brand-new creatures suitable for use in any 5th Edition campaign, especially if your heroes are wandering in search of their fortune through the cold, desolate woods of the northern wilds. These creatures add a delightful bit of novel menace equally split between fey spirits bursting with the raw and wild energies of life and vile undead seething with the power of death. Drawing upon real-world folklore, classic fantasy tropes, and the design skills of the top creative minds in the business, the Coldwood Codex is an indispensable addition to any GM’s monster toolkit. This 42-page monster product includes not only full-page color player-friendly handout portraits but also foldable paper miniatures for every creature!
Future installments of the Beasts of Legend series will continue introducing richly detailed monsters carefully tailored to specific campaign themes, like the wintry menaces in the Boreal Bestiary, the pitiless creations of the Construct Codex, and the wide-ranging Asian adversaries in Beasts of the East! These are terrific additions to our existing 5th Edition product line, including horror adventures like The Fiddler’s Lament and The Murmuring Fountain, the overland expedition Road to Destiny, and upcoming adventures like the witch-haunted The Baleful Coven, the desolate fey wilderness of Cold Mountain, and the pirate shenanigans of Spices and Flesh!
We hope you enjoy using it as much as we enjoyed making it, and that you’ll keep coming back again and again to Make Your Game Legendary!
Today’s Pick is driven primarily by one thing – the rather excellent letter sent out to folks by the creator. I am sharing that instead of the usual product page text.
Fellow Gamer,
Hi, I’m Bill Logan. Although I’m not a spy, nor do I play one on TV, I am a huge fan of espionage action and adventure. You’re receiving this email because through your download history at DriveThruRPG and RPGNow, you’ve shown interest in DwD Studios’ OSR (mostly Labyrinth Lord) and Covert Ops role-playing games. I wanted to reach out to you and let you know about our new lite offering, White Lies.
White Lies is an espionage action and adventure RPG. It embraces the Sword & Wizardry WhiteBox license and engine, creating a familiar and fully OSR compatible solution, all set in the fun shadowy world of spies. Due to this compatibility, you can play in or run any kind of campaign you can imagine. Use it alone for an experience like James Bond, Bourne Identity, Mission Impossible, Burn Notice, Man From UNCLE, Covert Affaire, A-Team, G.I. Joe, etc. Use it with your favorite OSR product for an experience like Men In Black, X-Files, Dresden Files, Underworld, Resident Evil, etc. Use it with White Star for an experience like Babylon 5, Star Trek Deep Space 9, or to add layers of espionage to any other space setting. The mix & match possibilities become endless.
I think you’ll really like the content, compatibility, and stylish appearance of White Lies. On its own or in conjunction with all the other OSR products out there, it’ll make a great addition to your OSR or modern espionage bookshelf. We’ve managed to keep the production costs low so the $8.99 title is affordable to any budget. The POD will be available soon as well, and will only be $13.99. As DwD Studios works diligently on Covert Ops 2nd Edition, FrontierSpace, Malevolent Domain, and other titles in development we have not yet disclosed, White Lies will be a parallel product line we’ll support and grow with.
And it’s all OGL-covered. That means YOU can make products for it and sell them. We’ve even made a nifty compatibility logo so you can show everyone it’s affiliation and usefulness to the product line by using our logo.
Whether you prefer your espionage action and adventure with d00’s or d20’s, there will be something for everyone in White Lies!
Kind regards,
Bill Logan
DwD Studios
Cartoon Action Hour: S3 Series Pack
OK, seriously – this is entirely too good a deal for you to ignore! Even if you don’t have the core rules for Cartoon Action Hour: Series 3 (and, really, why the heck not!?!), the wealth of awesome, fun material in this bundle – from some of the best writers and designers in our industry – is a total steal for the price of $16.95 (there’s well over $50 of material here)!
The entire Series 3 Bundle includes –
Crusaders of Sarillon by Steven S. Long
Punk Rock Saves the World by Matt Forbeck
Infinivaders by John Wick
Dark Brigade by Eddy Webb
The Mighty Mirror Masters by Jason L Blair
Hexslinger by Shane Hensley
Wasteland 2010 by Cynthia Celeste Miller
FLAG Force by Rob Wieland
Iron Wolves by Eddy Webb
Galactic Heroes by Cynthia Celeste Miller
Teach Your Kids to Game Week
When I first met Carinn, my Belovedest, her then-eight-year-old daughter, Samantha, expressed a very early interest in participating in the RPGs we played frequently in the home with others. We instructed Sammi that she would only be allowed to join in if she was willing to delve into the necessary math involved. Up to that point, Carinn had experience great difficulty getting her daughter to embrace math in any way, and the young girl struggled mightily.
Today, my teenage daughter Sammi is a top math student, also deeply enmeshed in S.T.E.M. programs with a keen interest in forensic science currently. All thanks to her desire to game with us, and her deep enjoyment of it once she got involved. I can think of no greater testimony to the power of getting the kids in your life to join you at the game table than that. I am very, very proud of the part I played in helping to create and launch Teach Your Kids to Game Week.
~~~~~
Well, there you go, friends! Lots of interesting Picks for all kinds of gaming, and a brilliant concept to remind us all that we regularly need to bring younger players into this beloved hobby of ours if we wish it to continue and to grow.
Tonight, #TheInterestedParties return to the front row of the NRW pro wrestling venue, as always with the full intent to torment our "old friend," the General Manager Titus Machiavelli. That means me - the Big Irish - and my dear friend, Donavin, - AKA the Big Don - in full regalia and having a grand time.
Tomorrow, I am part of the online gaming convention, Aethercon, where I will be a part of a panel about non-monster villains, and I'll also be running an online version of the Savage Rifts demo game I've been doing at cons all over the country.
Sunday sees me back at the table, game mastering for some fantastic players in my new Modern Gods/Prowlers & Paragons supers campaign, Storm Wardens: The Lighthouse.
I hope you all have some fun planned for the weekend as well, because as we all know -
The Adventure Continuess
~ Big Irish
