I'm not a very good interviewer, but I thought something fairly short and to the point could be nice here.
The Proof Is In the Fun
Showing posts with label Part-Time Gods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Part-Time Gods. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Six Questions with Eloy Lasanta
Eloy Lasanta took the time to answer six questions from me about AMP: Year One, AMP: Year Two and Third Eye Games in general. And don't forget, the Year One giveaway is still going on!
Thursday, January 5, 2012
The Honorable Mentions
After compiling Tommy's Top Six, I did have a few other books that I felt needed special mention, so I'm going to do that here.
In alphabetical order:
Agents of Oblivion by Reality Blurs: This horror-espionage mash-up gives you the tools to run almost anything from James Bond to the X-Files to Men in Black. You can even amp it up further, making the PCs mutant super agents. It even meshes easily with Realms of Cthulhu for as much, or as little, crossover as you like.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: Timing. If I had reviewed this in a separate year than Realms of Cthulhu, this would almost certainly have made it into the Top Six, but I have a "one book per publisher" limit that I impose on the Top Six, and at the end of the day, I feel Realms just brings more to the table.
Caladon Falls by Savage Mojo: Caladon Falls is a fantasy setting/campaign for Suzerain, taking a grittier and more warlike approach than you typically see from fantasy games. In fact, it is largely Band of Brothers meets Lord of the Rings, and it's a very impressive campaign that takes full advantage of the Savage Worlds strengths, namely the ease in PCs commanding NPCs and the Mass Combat rules.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: Timing. Fact is, I had to choose between this and Savage Suzerain and as great as THIS book is, THAT book lays all the framework for the awesome twist on Savage Worlds that is Suzerain.
Hellfrost by Triple Ace Games: One of the coolest (no pun intended) fantasy settings that I was very much "late to the party" for, Hellfrost is a dark fantasy setting for Savage Worlds in a world that is freezing quickly. With some great setting rules and a gorgeous bestiary, Hellfrost won me over nearly as soon as I sprang for my copies.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: Notice that I said "Hellfrost", which isn't a single book, but three books: The Hellfrost Player's Guide, The Hellfrost Gazetteer and the Hellfrost Bestiary. Honestly, I came very close to nominating both the Player's Guide (because the bulk of the setting is right there) and the Bestiary (because I love monster books, and this is a very well done monster book), but I ultimately split the difference and went with the Top Six that you saw on January 1st.
Horror Show by Bedrock Games: Bedrock Games impressed me with Terror Network and Crime Network, their anti-terrorism and mafia RPGs, neither being subject matter I'm particularly enthusiastic about. In 2011 they took their skill based system and applied it to cinematic horror, in a combination that probably shouldn't have worked as well as it did. In fact, Horror Show wound up being a very pleasant surprise for me, a well-researched horror RPG with a tested system and a lot of love behind it.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: The biggest reason is that it is essentially a horror toolkit, and there are horror toolkits out there. It came THISCLOSE to making the Top Six, but I ultimately decided that Ghostories had the more unique hook that would sway someone into trying it even if they already had a go-to horror game, whereas Horror Show seems less likely to sway someone who is already pleased with their horror options.
Part-Time Gods by Third Eye Games: The third corebook by Third Eye Games covers all new territory for the small, but impressive, company: Playing Gods. Sure, this isn't unheard of in RPGs, at all. Where this one is unique from those is that the Gods are still bound to their mortal lives, and have to strike a balance between being Gods and being humans. Utilizing a simplified version of the Dynamic Gaming System to bring the over the top powers of the Gods to life, Part-Time Gods is a worthy addition to the Apocalypse Prevention Inc. and Wu Xing line-ups.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: Part-Time Gods was a HUGE success on Kickstarter, which led to a few top tier donors making it into the back of the book as characters. The "vanity buy-ins" just kind of annoy me. I'd prefer the page count being used for things I'll actually use...but I did only pay cover for the book, while they shelled out more. The other thing was that, for maybe the first time, I read an RPG that has multiple PC "factions" (Theologies in this game) and not one of them really GRABBED me. I can usually find a clan, tribe, group, whatever that "speaks" to me, but not this time. Kinda left me feeling like the White Wolf-esque clan approach worked against the game instead of for it this time.
Smallville High School Yearbook by Margaret Weis Productions: A fantastic resource for not only refocusing your Smallville games for a high school setting, but a great snapshot of "TV American High School". In fact, if you have the extra money and are running any kind of game set in modern American high school and need a refresher on things, I'd recommend picking it up.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: In this case, I think the focus was specialized enough that if it were a complete game (like Tough Justice), I would have given it a nod. I couldn't quite do that given that it's a very specific (though well written) sourcebook for another game. Fantastic book, limited in scope, but incredibly useful for that scope.
In alphabetical order:
Agents of Oblivion by Reality Blurs: This horror-espionage mash-up gives you the tools to run almost anything from James Bond to the X-Files to Men in Black. You can even amp it up further, making the PCs mutant super agents. It even meshes easily with Realms of Cthulhu for as much, or as little, crossover as you like.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: Timing. If I had reviewed this in a separate year than Realms of Cthulhu, this would almost certainly have made it into the Top Six, but I have a "one book per publisher" limit that I impose on the Top Six, and at the end of the day, I feel Realms just brings more to the table.
Caladon Falls by Savage Mojo: Caladon Falls is a fantasy setting/campaign for Suzerain, taking a grittier and more warlike approach than you typically see from fantasy games. In fact, it is largely Band of Brothers meets Lord of the Rings, and it's a very impressive campaign that takes full advantage of the Savage Worlds strengths, namely the ease in PCs commanding NPCs and the Mass Combat rules.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: Timing. Fact is, I had to choose between this and Savage Suzerain and as great as THIS book is, THAT book lays all the framework for the awesome twist on Savage Worlds that is Suzerain.
Hellfrost by Triple Ace Games: One of the coolest (no pun intended) fantasy settings that I was very much "late to the party" for, Hellfrost is a dark fantasy setting for Savage Worlds in a world that is freezing quickly. With some great setting rules and a gorgeous bestiary, Hellfrost won me over nearly as soon as I sprang for my copies.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: Notice that I said "Hellfrost", which isn't a single book, but three books: The Hellfrost Player's Guide, The Hellfrost Gazetteer and the Hellfrost Bestiary. Honestly, I came very close to nominating both the Player's Guide (because the bulk of the setting is right there) and the Bestiary (because I love monster books, and this is a very well done monster book), but I ultimately split the difference and went with the Top Six that you saw on January 1st.
Horror Show by Bedrock Games: Bedrock Games impressed me with Terror Network and Crime Network, their anti-terrorism and mafia RPGs, neither being subject matter I'm particularly enthusiastic about. In 2011 they took their skill based system and applied it to cinematic horror, in a combination that probably shouldn't have worked as well as it did. In fact, Horror Show wound up being a very pleasant surprise for me, a well-researched horror RPG with a tested system and a lot of love behind it.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: The biggest reason is that it is essentially a horror toolkit, and there are horror toolkits out there. It came THISCLOSE to making the Top Six, but I ultimately decided that Ghostories had the more unique hook that would sway someone into trying it even if they already had a go-to horror game, whereas Horror Show seems less likely to sway someone who is already pleased with their horror options.
Part-Time Gods by Third Eye Games: The third corebook by Third Eye Games covers all new territory for the small, but impressive, company: Playing Gods. Sure, this isn't unheard of in RPGs, at all. Where this one is unique from those is that the Gods are still bound to their mortal lives, and have to strike a balance between being Gods and being humans. Utilizing a simplified version of the Dynamic Gaming System to bring the over the top powers of the Gods to life, Part-Time Gods is a worthy addition to the Apocalypse Prevention Inc. and Wu Xing line-ups.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: Part-Time Gods was a HUGE success on Kickstarter, which led to a few top tier donors making it into the back of the book as characters. The "vanity buy-ins" just kind of annoy me. I'd prefer the page count being used for things I'll actually use...but I did only pay cover for the book, while they shelled out more. The other thing was that, for maybe the first time, I read an RPG that has multiple PC "factions" (Theologies in this game) and not one of them really GRABBED me. I can usually find a clan, tribe, group, whatever that "speaks" to me, but not this time. Kinda left me feeling like the White Wolf-esque clan approach worked against the game instead of for it this time.
Smallville High School Yearbook by Margaret Weis Productions: A fantastic resource for not only refocusing your Smallville games for a high school setting, but a great snapshot of "TV American High School". In fact, if you have the extra money and are running any kind of game set in modern American high school and need a refresher on things, I'd recommend picking it up.
WHY IT DIDN'T MAKE THE TOP SIX: In this case, I think the focus was specialized enough that if it were a complete game (like Tough Justice), I would have given it a nod. I couldn't quite do that given that it's a very specific (though well written) sourcebook for another game. Fantastic book, limited in scope, but incredibly useful for that scope.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Tommy's Take on Part-Time Gods
Part-Time Gods has been a bit of a success story for Third Eye Games, absolutely demolishing its Kickstarter goals and then some...but how does it stack up against other "God" games, or its sister games, Apocalypse Prevention Inc. and Wu Xing?
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Part-Time Gods is a completely stand-alone RPG using the Dynamic Gaming System-Lite, a more cinematic version of the same system that powers Wu Xing and Apocalypse Prevention Inc...(think Cinematic Unisystem vs Classic Unisystem). The basic mechanic is 1d20+Stat+Skill versus a Target Number. The premise is that, ages ago, beings battled The Source and harnessed its power to become Gods. Now, the Source is surging again, filling the world with mythological creatures as well as creating a slew of new gods (the PCs), who have to balance their new Godly responsibilities and powers with their old mortal responsibilities and powers.
The book itself is a 212 page RPG available in PDF for $14.99 and soon to be in print for $29.95. The book is black and white, but still the most visually impressive Third Eye Games book released thus far, showing a noticeably step-up in layout and production values.
The background chapter does a nice job laying out just how Divinity works in the Part-Time Gods universe, from the first Gods, whose hubris got the better of them, to The Source (implied to be *God*) lashing out with the Outsiders, and why Gods are now divided more along ideological lines rather than cultural lines. It also provides the rationale for Gods being less powerful (but still really powerful) and introducing a kind of Godly insanity that can be fended off only by clinging to mortality...thus making the PCs Part-Time Gods (see what they did there?).
Eight theologies are presented, with the introduction chapter noting that these are the eight most influential in the world, opening up future books to the likelihood of more theologies being included. Ascendants want to restore the Part-Time Gods to the level of the old Gods, the Cult of the Saints prostrate themselves before a Higher Power, The Drifting Kingdoms build empires and then abandon them, the Masks of Jana prevent the existence of the Part-Time Gods from being exposed - one way or another, the Order of Meskhenet are devoted to ensuring their individual lineages continue on, the Phoenix Society are completely devoted to humanity, Puck-Eaters are brutal cannibals and Warlock's Fate are the thinkers.
One of the first areas where Part-Time Gods departs from API and Wu Xing is that occupation is an important part of character creation, with several sample occupations provided which determine starting wealth, bonus points and skill modifiers. In fact, 35 occupations ranging from the likes of Blue Collar to Detective to Kid to Sex Worker and Soldier are present. Part-Time Gods also have to select their Bonds (which can be people, groups or places) as well as the strength of the bonds and how they are connected to the God (such as the God being devoted to the subject of the Bond or the Bond even being a rival). If the Bond is weakened or severed, the God takes on a Failing as they lose that link to humanity.
Character creation from there is standard Third Eye Games point buy, with Power, Agility, Vigor, Intellect, Insight and Charm attributes. Skills are mostly streamlined in regards to combat skills, like Fists being used for unarmed combat and melee weapons covered under, er, Melee.
Gifts and Drawbacks also carry over from API and Wu Xing, with a new category of each (Divine) and some very specific to the setting (like Bad Boss, which curses you with a very inflexible schedule). One new aspect unique to Part-Time Gods is Spark, which is a measure of their divine energy and can be used to heal, provide boosts and so on.
Whereas the ninjas in Wu Xing have Wushu, Part-Time Gods have Divine Powers, which come include basic abilities that all Gods have include sensing the Spark in other beings, and 100 years of immortality. In fact, a God that is "killed" becomes a ghost for three days and is vulnerable to being destroyed and absorbed by another God, which can have...disasterous effects as the two Sparks combine.
The next level of Godly powers are Entitlements, which are a step above the "basic" but still aren't the HEAVY HITTERS. A God of the Seas, for instance, would be Aquatic and wouldn't have to make any special effort in order to breath under water.
The big stuff comes in the form of Manifestations, which are dictated by their Dominions. For instance, a God of Death could use the Shaping Manifestation to Transmutate someone into appearing as a corpse. There are eight manifestation skills (Aegis, Beckon, Journey, Minion, Puppetry, Oracle, Ruin and Shaping) each with three effects, though how each effect works with each Dominion are up to the GM and players to work out, though several examples are listed.
The biggest areas affected by DGS-Lite are money and combat, with money abstracted into a Wealth score and combat doing away with the Fighting Styles of API and Wu Xing, though it is worth noting that there are a slew of combat maneuvers and modifiers, again reminding me a lot of Cinematic Unisystem and how it handled combat for Buffy and Angel.
The "bestiary" not only includes a smattering of normal animals and generic people (like cultists, gangsters, etc), but also includes God-Killers (dark Champions that kill Gods and give their Dominions over to their masters), Skin Walkers, Cloaks (agents of Death ala The Grim Reaper), elves and dwarves, minotaurs, Pucks (little Goblin-like creatures that can take on Dominions) and even Giants. Puck-Eaters can eat many of these creatures and gain special attributes and abilities, not unlike the Harrowed from Deadlands.
The Gm chapter provides a list of inspirations (notably the TV show Dead Like Me and the Percy Jackson novels, as well as American Gods by Neil Gaiman), and - thankfully - a good number of plot hooks for a wide range of themes. As well, tips on forging your own pantheon are provided, using the eight signature characters provided in the Theologies section of the book. A handful of other characters are included, based off of higher-donation Kickstarter backers.
WHAT WORKS: Again, the art and layout are a step beyond anything Third Eye Games has produced to date, and maintaining the same cover price as the previous two corebooks. The Manifestations cover a wide range of standardized effects, with details from Dominions being used to keep them from all being identical. The backstory is crazy, but cool, and does a nice job of explaining WHY the Part-Time Gods need their humanity. The Source being the fueling power behind The Outsiders also pretty much provides any excuse to use any kind of monster you want, really. Once more, Eloy Lasanta sets up a great premise without a metaplot driving it.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: Not a fan of the cover art. Something about the artist's style just didn't click with me. Interior stuff? Fantastic. Exterior? If I wasn't a big fan of Third Eye Games already, I'd probably overlook this just looking at the cover. Also, I'm not a fan of the "buy your way into the game" thing that's so common in Kickstarter. I get WHY it's there, but it's my least favorite part of the book, easy. Cool for the people represented in the book, I'm sure, though. None of the Theologies really "jumped" out at me the way they were presented. I don't mind the concept, but in "faction" RPGs, I can usually find something that would REALLY appeal to me as a player, and none of the eight did that.
CONCLUSION: If I had to go to a deserted island with just one Third Eye Games book, it would still be Wu Xing. That's not a knock against Part-Time Gods, that's just how awesome I think Wu Xing is. That said, Eloy's distinctive voice as an author again hits a home run, this time believably humanizing Gods in an RPG setting, and providing new mechanics that reinforce the need for the newly Divine to hold onto their mortal ties for as long as possible. He has now released a trifecta of great corebooks, each with a similar feel but still very much distinct from one another, and the streamlining of the Combat should go a long ways towards swaying some folks who found the other two games too cumbersome in combat.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: Part-Time Gods is a completely stand-alone RPG using the Dynamic Gaming System-Lite, a more cinematic version of the same system that powers Wu Xing and Apocalypse Prevention Inc...(think Cinematic Unisystem vs Classic Unisystem). The basic mechanic is 1d20+Stat+Skill versus a Target Number. The premise is that, ages ago, beings battled The Source and harnessed its power to become Gods. Now, the Source is surging again, filling the world with mythological creatures as well as creating a slew of new gods (the PCs), who have to balance their new Godly responsibilities and powers with their old mortal responsibilities and powers.
The book itself is a 212 page RPG available in PDF for $14.99 and soon to be in print for $29.95. The book is black and white, but still the most visually impressive Third Eye Games book released thus far, showing a noticeably step-up in layout and production values.
The background chapter does a nice job laying out just how Divinity works in the Part-Time Gods universe, from the first Gods, whose hubris got the better of them, to The Source (implied to be *God*) lashing out with the Outsiders, and why Gods are now divided more along ideological lines rather than cultural lines. It also provides the rationale for Gods being less powerful (but still really powerful) and introducing a kind of Godly insanity that can be fended off only by clinging to mortality...thus making the PCs Part-Time Gods (see what they did there?).
Eight theologies are presented, with the introduction chapter noting that these are the eight most influential in the world, opening up future books to the likelihood of more theologies being included. Ascendants want to restore the Part-Time Gods to the level of the old Gods, the Cult of the Saints prostrate themselves before a Higher Power, The Drifting Kingdoms build empires and then abandon them, the Masks of Jana prevent the existence of the Part-Time Gods from being exposed - one way or another, the Order of Meskhenet are devoted to ensuring their individual lineages continue on, the Phoenix Society are completely devoted to humanity, Puck-Eaters are brutal cannibals and Warlock's Fate are the thinkers.
One of the first areas where Part-Time Gods departs from API and Wu Xing is that occupation is an important part of character creation, with several sample occupations provided which determine starting wealth, bonus points and skill modifiers. In fact, 35 occupations ranging from the likes of Blue Collar to Detective to Kid to Sex Worker and Soldier are present. Part-Time Gods also have to select their Bonds (which can be people, groups or places) as well as the strength of the bonds and how they are connected to the God (such as the God being devoted to the subject of the Bond or the Bond even being a rival). If the Bond is weakened or severed, the God takes on a Failing as they lose that link to humanity.
Character creation from there is standard Third Eye Games point buy, with Power, Agility, Vigor, Intellect, Insight and Charm attributes. Skills are mostly streamlined in regards to combat skills, like Fists being used for unarmed combat and melee weapons covered under, er, Melee.
Gifts and Drawbacks also carry over from API and Wu Xing, with a new category of each (Divine) and some very specific to the setting (like Bad Boss, which curses you with a very inflexible schedule). One new aspect unique to Part-Time Gods is Spark, which is a measure of their divine energy and can be used to heal, provide boosts and so on.
Whereas the ninjas in Wu Xing have Wushu, Part-Time Gods have Divine Powers, which come include basic abilities that all Gods have include sensing the Spark in other beings, and 100 years of immortality. In fact, a God that is "killed" becomes a ghost for three days and is vulnerable to being destroyed and absorbed by another God, which can have...disasterous effects as the two Sparks combine.
The next level of Godly powers are Entitlements, which are a step above the "basic" but still aren't the HEAVY HITTERS. A God of the Seas, for instance, would be Aquatic and wouldn't have to make any special effort in order to breath under water.
The big stuff comes in the form of Manifestations, which are dictated by their Dominions. For instance, a God of Death could use the Shaping Manifestation to Transmutate someone into appearing as a corpse. There are eight manifestation skills (Aegis, Beckon, Journey, Minion, Puppetry, Oracle, Ruin and Shaping) each with three effects, though how each effect works with each Dominion are up to the GM and players to work out, though several examples are listed.
The biggest areas affected by DGS-Lite are money and combat, with money abstracted into a Wealth score and combat doing away with the Fighting Styles of API and Wu Xing, though it is worth noting that there are a slew of combat maneuvers and modifiers, again reminding me a lot of Cinematic Unisystem and how it handled combat for Buffy and Angel.
The "bestiary" not only includes a smattering of normal animals and generic people (like cultists, gangsters, etc), but also includes God-Killers (dark Champions that kill Gods and give their Dominions over to their masters), Skin Walkers, Cloaks (agents of Death ala The Grim Reaper), elves and dwarves, minotaurs, Pucks (little Goblin-like creatures that can take on Dominions) and even Giants. Puck-Eaters can eat many of these creatures and gain special attributes and abilities, not unlike the Harrowed from Deadlands.
The Gm chapter provides a list of inspirations (notably the TV show Dead Like Me and the Percy Jackson novels, as well as American Gods by Neil Gaiman), and - thankfully - a good number of plot hooks for a wide range of themes. As well, tips on forging your own pantheon are provided, using the eight signature characters provided in the Theologies section of the book. A handful of other characters are included, based off of higher-donation Kickstarter backers.
WHAT WORKS: Again, the art and layout are a step beyond anything Third Eye Games has produced to date, and maintaining the same cover price as the previous two corebooks. The Manifestations cover a wide range of standardized effects, with details from Dominions being used to keep them from all being identical. The backstory is crazy, but cool, and does a nice job of explaining WHY the Part-Time Gods need their humanity. The Source being the fueling power behind The Outsiders also pretty much provides any excuse to use any kind of monster you want, really. Once more, Eloy Lasanta sets up a great premise without a metaplot driving it.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK: Not a fan of the cover art. Something about the artist's style just didn't click with me. Interior stuff? Fantastic. Exterior? If I wasn't a big fan of Third Eye Games already, I'd probably overlook this just looking at the cover. Also, I'm not a fan of the "buy your way into the game" thing that's so common in Kickstarter. I get WHY it's there, but it's my least favorite part of the book, easy. Cool for the people represented in the book, I'm sure, though. None of the Theologies really "jumped" out at me the way they were presented. I don't mind the concept, but in "faction" RPGs, I can usually find something that would REALLY appeal to me as a player, and none of the eight did that.
CONCLUSION: If I had to go to a deserted island with just one Third Eye Games book, it would still be Wu Xing. That's not a knock against Part-Time Gods, that's just how awesome I think Wu Xing is. That said, Eloy's distinctive voice as an author again hits a home run, this time believably humanizing Gods in an RPG setting, and providing new mechanics that reinforce the need for the newly Divine to hold onto their mortal ties for as long as possible. He has now released a trifecta of great corebooks, each with a similar feel but still very much distinct from one another, and the streamlining of the Combat should go a long ways towards swaying some folks who found the other two games too cumbersome in combat.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy 4th of July, and a General Update
Yeah, I luvs me some Captain America.
So I haven't been around much lately, and that is due in no small part to my new job. I went from working four days a week with my laptop and an internet connection with me, to five-seven days a week, 9-14 hours a day. I have a little less "free time"...but it is worth it, as my wife is now a stay-at-home Mom, and - especially with an autistic child - that's a good thing.
- The blog will be undergoing some changes, though what those changes are, are still up in the air. The fact is, I have less free time AND I have fewer review copies coming in, due to the changes in the review program at RPGNow...and frankly, I couldn't afford to purchase all of the products I'm reviewing, not at the rate I tend to review.
- One thing that will help is that I have been contacted by a potential guest blogger, and I feel fairly certain that we will work something out. They are a long-time gamer and blogger, but their blog is pretty focused, and in such a way that gaming posts would be a tad out of place, I'm sure.
- As I noted in the last review I posted, I have permission from Small Niche Games to post notes for running their products in Savage Worlds. I like what they have done, but I'm not a Labyrinth Lord guy, so I thought I would ask about that, and they agreed.
- I'm still hoping to release...something...for Halloween. Been trying to decide how ambitious to get with it, but I have basically ruled out applying for a publisher's license from Pinnacle.
- I have a short fiction piece appearing in the Age Past rulebook, which is up on Kickstarter right now. They are just shy of half-way to their goal, with 27 days left to go. Working on writing up the characters that appeared in said fiction and posting them here for your benefit.
- Also working on some Totems of the Dead (by Gun Metal Games) previews.
- You should all check out Beautiful Brains Books & Games as well. Jodi Black (wife of Pinnacle's Clint Black) runs this swell store, and every Thursday night in her chatroom gives away free shipping. Plus, you can use the code ILUVBRAINS to get an additional 10% off your order. I just picked up All For One: Regime Diabolique from Beautiful Brains. And yes, a review will be forthcoming.
- Eloy Lasanta's Part-Time Gods Kickstarter was a huge success, and he launched a new Wu Xing kickstarter, which hit ITS goal in just about 24 hours. And yes, a review will be forthcoming.
- Savage Worlds Deluxe Edition is out, and is awesome. There is no Smilin' Jack, Leadership Edges now affect Wild Cards, and much more. And yes, a review will be forthcoming.
I think that hits most of the basic points off the top of my head. Thank you for your continued support of the blog. Even with the last post of June being on the 19th, June was still my second highest traffic month since I opened the blog. That means a lot to me.
Take care, and I'll keep writing as long as you keep reading!
And God bless America!
T.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Weekend News Update
Caladon Falls Still Needs Your Help
Time is drawing near on the Caladon Falls fundraiser, and Savage Mojo still needs your help. A great campaign with a nice twist on standard fantasy that, I think, appeals to the Savage Worlds fans who also like stuff like Warhammer and Dragon Age.
The RPG Blog Alliance
I'm not usually a "joiner", but here I am, a member of the RPG Blog Alliance. After just a couple of days, we are already more than 100 blogs strong, and in addition to hosting a combined RSS Feed, the RPG Blog Alliance has their own centralized set of message boards.
I Have Seen Savage Worlds Deluxe And It Is GOOD.
As part of my work as a freelancer, on such projects as *redacted* and *redacted* (both coming soon), I have been allowed a prerelease look at Savage Worlds Deluxe. Honestly, from everything I had heard, I was incredibly skeptical about the need for Savage Worlds Deluxe, but those thoughts disappeared pretty quickly digging into the book. The return of *redacted* was surprising, but not unexpected, and very welcome. The section on *redacted* is really great, providing more *redacted* for players and GMs. As good as it is, the new *redacted* don't quite work for me as well as the old ones do, and I was kinda surprised at the complete removal of *redacted*. It's some really good stuff that will hopefully take Savage Worlds to that next level.
Part-Time Gods Shatters Another Benchmark
Eloy Lasanta's Part-Time Gods kickstarter just keeps on going, breaking the $6,000 mark...astonishing. He's been releasing regular updates over on the Kickstarter page, including art previews.
Development Issues
The Sekrit Projekt I mentioned last week is probably NOT going to be showing up around October after all, especially if I plow ahead with pursuing a commercial license and Pinnacle does approve it. I have been tapping some of my contacts for advice and aid, and I'm ultimately thinking I may need to go back to the drawing board. However, I will get SOMETHING out the door in time for Halloween, regardless.
Postmortem Video Trailers
Ian Warner of Postmortem Studios sent me links to all of these the other day, and while I had seen the Tough Justice one, the rest were new to me...behold, the YouTube trailers for four of Postmortem's games!
Time is drawing near on the Caladon Falls fundraiser, and Savage Mojo still needs your help. A great campaign with a nice twist on standard fantasy that, I think, appeals to the Savage Worlds fans who also like stuff like Warhammer and Dragon Age.
The RPG Blog Alliance
I'm not usually a "joiner", but here I am, a member of the RPG Blog Alliance. After just a couple of days, we are already more than 100 blogs strong, and in addition to hosting a combined RSS Feed, the RPG Blog Alliance has their own centralized set of message boards.
I Have Seen Savage Worlds Deluxe And It Is GOOD.
As part of my work as a freelancer, on such projects as *redacted*
Eloy Lasanta's Part-Time Gods kickstarter just keeps on going, breaking the $6,000 mark...astonishing. He's been releasing regular updates over on the Kickstarter page, including art previews.
Development Issues
The Sekrit Projekt I mentioned last week is probably NOT going to be showing up around October after all, especially if I plow ahead with pursuing a commercial license and Pinnacle does approve it. I have been tapping some of my contacts for advice and aid, and I'm ultimately thinking I may need to go back to the drawing board. However, I will get SOMETHING out the door in time for Halloween, regardless.
Postmortem Video Trailers
Ian Warner of Postmortem Studios sent me links to all of these the other day, and while I had seen the Tough Justice one, the rest were new to me...behold, the YouTube trailers for four of Postmortem's games!
Invaderz Pocket Edition
Tough Justice
Agents of SWING
Courtesans
I'm off this weekend, starting a new job on Tuesday...I plan on releasing reviews of Sword Noir, The Path of Kane and MACHO over the weekend, for your reading pleasure. Thanks!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Some End of the Week News
RPGNow Wants To Know About Your Character
I know, right? Well, RPGNow is holding a big honkin' contest with some great prizes for the person that not only impresses the judges, but the voting public. Click on through to check it out.
Pinnacle Gets Into The EBook Business
Pinnacle Entertainment, makers of Savage Worlds, recently announced that they are getting into the eBook business, with fiction lines based on their game worlds, such as 50 Fathoms and Deadlands. They followed that up by blocking my e-mails and phone calls so I couldn't bug them for work.
They were right to do so.
I'm excited about this...as you may recall, I purchased a Nook last year, and ePub is being supported by Pinnacle's new publishing efforts.
War of the Dead Chapter Three Goes On Sale 6/13/11
Daring Entertainment has made the release date official. I am particularly excited about this, because this is my first professional RPG gig (for those who missed the announcement, I was brought on as the editor) and I am gleefully enjoying the twists as turns as much as I know you will. Hurry up and take advantage of those pre-order deals, though...they are a freaking steal.
Next Week, Postmortem Studios Takes Over The Blog
Well, not exactly...but I have reviews lined up for four of Postmortem Studios' games: Chav the Knifing, Bloodsucker the Angst, Tough Justice and Agents of S.W.I.N.G...and I'm planning an e-mail interview with Postmortem Head Honcho James "Grim" Desborough. I'm hoping to have a couple of other reviews in place over the weekend.
Caladon Falls Fundraiser Is Still Going On
Caladon Falls, which I hope to be running online very soon, is getting closer to the end of its fundraiser period, and still has a deficit to make up. Really, if you like Savage Worlds and fantasy at all, I STRONGLY encourage you to chip in. It's not like you don't get anything for it, and it's a tremendous book.
The Part-Time Gods Kickstarter Just Keeps Going
Third Eye Games' Part-Time Gods Kickstarter started strong and just will not stop. Indeed, with 24 days left to go, they have raised more than twice their goal and rising.
Everything's Coming Up Aces
On a personal note, I just landed a new job that I start at the end of the month, and things are falling in place for my Hellrazer webcomic with the amazing Johnnie Johnson. We hope to be in full-swing with it by summer. One way or another, I will have something special lined up for Halloween this year for Savage Worlds fans...I am looking into a commercial release, but am skeptical about being able to meet Pinnacle's licensing requirements...either way, I'm prepping a Savage Worlds horror release that will be available by mid-October, one way or another.
Thanks for reading!
T.
I know, right? Well, RPGNow is holding a big honkin' contest with some great prizes for the person that not only impresses the judges, but the voting public. Click on through to check it out.
Pinnacle Gets Into The EBook Business
Pinnacle Entertainment, makers of Savage Worlds, recently announced that they are getting into the eBook business, with fiction lines based on their game worlds, such as 50 Fathoms and Deadlands. They followed that up by blocking my e-mails and phone calls so I couldn't bug them for work.
They were right to do so.
I'm excited about this...as you may recall, I purchased a Nook last year, and ePub is being supported by Pinnacle's new publishing efforts.
War of the Dead Chapter Three Goes On Sale 6/13/11
Daring Entertainment has made the release date official. I am particularly excited about this, because this is my first professional RPG gig (for those who missed the announcement, I was brought on as the editor) and I am gleefully enjoying the twists as turns as much as I know you will. Hurry up and take advantage of those pre-order deals, though...they are a freaking steal.
Next Week, Postmortem Studios Takes Over The Blog
Well, not exactly...but I have reviews lined up for four of Postmortem Studios' games: Chav the Knifing, Bloodsucker the Angst, Tough Justice and Agents of S.W.I.N.G...and I'm planning an e-mail interview with Postmortem Head Honcho James "Grim" Desborough. I'm hoping to have a couple of other reviews in place over the weekend.
Caladon Falls Fundraiser Is Still Going On
Caladon Falls, which I hope to be running online very soon, is getting closer to the end of its fundraiser period, and still has a deficit to make up. Really, if you like Savage Worlds and fantasy at all, I STRONGLY encourage you to chip in. It's not like you don't get anything for it, and it's a tremendous book.
The Part-Time Gods Kickstarter Just Keeps Going
Third Eye Games' Part-Time Gods Kickstarter started strong and just will not stop. Indeed, with 24 days left to go, they have raised more than twice their goal and rising.
Everything's Coming Up Aces
On a personal note, I just landed a new job that I start at the end of the month, and things are falling in place for my Hellrazer webcomic with the amazing Johnnie Johnson. We hope to be in full-swing with it by summer. One way or another, I will have something special lined up for Halloween this year for Savage Worlds fans...I am looking into a commercial release, but am skeptical about being able to meet Pinnacle's licensing requirements...either way, I'm prepping a Savage Worlds horror release that will be available by mid-October, one way or another.
Thanks for reading!
T.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
The Part-Time Gods Kickstarter
Honestly, I haven't gotten behind a Kickstarter before, but there hasn't been a whole lot I would consider buying essentially sight unseen...but Apocalypse Prevention, Inc. and Wu Xing both fill me with a ton of confidence in Part-Time Gods.
In less than two days, they have crossed the $1,000 mark, which is very promising. While I doubt I am able to get myself written into the RPG ($100 or more), I plan on at least ensuring my copies of the RPG in PDF and print. Hit this link for more information, including an "in brief" PDF document if you'd like to learn more.
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