A Tragic Situation And A Call To Arms

The larger roleplaying game community tends to do a pretty good job of pulling together when it needs to, and word came out recently that an acquaintance of mine suffered a horrible, horrible tragedy.

On February 18th, Jonathan M. Thompson of Battlefield Press suddenly lost his girlfriend Tammy Mansfield. He is currently struggling to gather the funds to pay for her funeral expenses. Well, a number of wonderful gaming industry professionals pulled together and donated product to a charity bundle to raise money for the expenses:

One of our own suffered a Critical Hit recently, and this bundle is our way of trying to give him a hand up.

Jonathon Thompson, owner of Battlefield Press, lost his girlfirend a few days ago to an unexpected heart attack. Not only is this a devastating blow, but it is also an extremely expensive one. We're going to help soak up some of that damage.

Almost $400 dollars worth of fantastic gaming products for a mere $30! From Shaintar and Suzerain to the world of the Tarnished Souk, and Tunse'al there are realms and adventures and add ons guaranteed to kick your game up a notch. Just take a look at the companies that have come together in suport of Jonathn in his time of need:

Stygian Fox, Savage Mojo, Rite Publishing, Rogue Genius Games, Miskatonic River Press, DSL Ironworks, Arc Dream Publishing, Applied Vectors, Obatron Productions, and Evil Beagle Games!

The entirety of the royalties from this bundle will help defray the unexpected costs of Tammy's funeral.

So grab a bundle, step up your game, and help one of our community through a really rough patch. How can you lose?

You can find that bundle here: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/144869/In-memory-of-Tammy-Mansfield-BUNDLE

Additionally, Brandon Blackmoor has said that anyone who provides proof of purchasing this bundle can receive a free PDF of his superhero RPG, Bulletproof Blues.

Additionally, the Amarillo Design Bureau has released a special edition of their Prime Directive d20 Modern rulebook, whose proceeds are also going to assist Jonathan with his girlfriend's funeral expenses.

Some great deals on some great games for a great cause. Let's help a guy out.

New Year, New Game Sale - What Should You Buy?

RPGNow, in conjunction with some wonderful RPG publishers, is launching the New Year, New Game Sale once more, providing a toooooooooon of corebooks for half off their normal price.

And that's all well and good, but WHAT should you BUY?

Weeeell...I have some experience with some of the games, and I thought I'd call those out to you.

Age Past: The Incian Sphere - I wrote two pieces of short fiction for this fantasy RPG. Very fun if you like having powers to tinker with.
Don't Rest Your Head - One of the first RPGs I ever reviewed, actually.
Epoch - This unique horror RPG is actually being reviewed on my blog tomorrow, so stay tuned for that!
Heaven's Shadow - I obviously think highly of this RPG, naming it one of my Top Six of 2013. Speaking of...the print version of this is now on sale until the end of the month, in honor of being named one of my Top Six!
ICONS - I've ran it once, and I own a lot of books for it, but I've never review IT. Tons of support.
Leverage - A previous Top Six pick, based on one of my favorite TV shows.
Part-Time Gods - Another previous Top Six pick, playing mortals suddenly imbued with Godlike powers.
Savage Suzerain - Another previous Top Six pick. I've contributed to a few Savage Mojo projects because of my high opinion and reviews of their products.
Savage Worlds Deluxe Explorer's Edition - It's my favorite RPG. Ever.
School Daze - A very cool and unique school-based RPG.
Shainter: Legends Arise - The new version of the awesome fantasy setting for Savage Worlds.
Stormrift - Another RPG I reviewed very highly, featuring an alien invasion and the freedom fighters that would stop them.
The Mutant Epoch - Another Top Six pick, featuring some of the craziest, over the top, post-apocalypse fun one can find.

RPGs for sale here that I haven't had hands on experience with, but are on my "to-read" pile include:

Astonishing Swordsmen & Sorcerers of Hyperborea - I'm not a big OSR fan, but this looks great.
Bulletproof Blues - I have a fondness for supers, what with being a comic book writer and all.
Dead of Night - Because I also like horror.
Dungeon Crawl Classics - I got to play a short PBEM game of this, and I looooove the 0-level character funnel and magic system. It's on my "review list".
King Arthur Pendragon 5.1 - I've had this for a few years, but not yet ran it. It may well be on the agenda soon, with the Great Pendragon Campaign.
Rapture - I bought their big charity bundle recently.

And there are those that I DON'T yet own, but I have my eye on. Namely...

Adventures Under The Laughing Moon
Against The Darkness - I have almost pulled the trigger on this a dozen times, but the timing is never right.
Atlantis: The Second Age - It looks REALLY cool.
Crimson Exodus - Comes highly recommended from a friend.
Eldritch Ass Kicking
Eternal Contenders
Hoodoo Blues
Little Wizards
Modern Day Gladiators - Being an ex-pro wrestler has me curious about this one.
Noir - Because I like noir.
Numenera
Shattered Moon
Sojourner's Quest
Sorcery & Super Science!

(Of course, I'm open to review copies of these or any other games on the sale. *cough*)

So try a new game, and use my affiliate link so I can get store credit and try a new game of my own, that I will then review on this blog!

Christmas in July!

Yeah, RPGNow/DriveThruRPG is doing the Christmas in July sale again!

This means that a crap ton of stuff is marked down 25% until July 30th, including lots of Savage Worlds stuff (like Suzerain, Interface Zero, Deadlands, Beasts & Barbarians, Wellstone City), the Cortex+ games (Smallville, Leverage and Marvel Heroic), the BASH series of games, Scaldcrow's great generic supplements and a LOT more.

May RPG Deals at RPGNow

Hey folks...been crazy busy with multiple projects, but I did want to take the moment to drop a line and point out that you can get a slew of PDFs at RPGNow for 20% off using the code DriveThruApril (yes, they have been told that it is, in fact, May). These offers are good until June 14th.

Savage Worlds Fantasy Companion [Pinnacle Entertainment] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/64257/Savage-Worlds-Fantasy-Companion&affiliate_id=15975)

Realms of Cthulhu [Reality Blurs] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/77953/Realms-of-Cthulhu&affiliate_id=15975)

Karma Roleplaying System Core [Bards and Sages] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/58683/Karma-Roleplaying-System-Core-Rules-Book&affiliate_id=15975)

FantasyCraft [Crafty Games] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/63884/Fantasy-Craft-Second-Printing&affiliate_id=15975)

Fat Dragon's Dragonshire Deluxe [Fat Dragon Games] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/64254/DRAGONSHIRE%3A-Deluxe-Edition&affiliate_id=15975)

Paths of Power (Pathfinder System) [4 Winds Fantasy] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/65792/%5BPFRPG%5D-Paths-of-Power&affiliate_id=15975)

Spycraft: Real American H.E.R.O.es [Crafty Games] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/65785/Real-American-H.E.R.O.es&affiliate_id=15975)

Fellowship of the White Star Campaign Book [Thenodrin Presents] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/59997/Fellowship-of-the-White-Star-campaign-book&affiliate_id=15975)

Ninja Burger RPG (2nd Edition) [aetherial FORGE] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/11881/Ninja-Burger%3A-The-RPG-2nd-Edition)

Heavy Gear Blitz! Locked & Loaded [Dream Pod 9] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/12646/Heavy-Gear-Blitz%21-Rulebook&affiliate_id=15975)

Hero's Handbook: Dragonborn [Goodman Games] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/59034/Hero%27s-Handbook%3A-Dragonborn&affiliate_id=15975)

Splicers RPG [Palladium Books] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/64205/Splicers&affiliate_id=15975)

Noir Knights (Savage Worlds) [Savage Mojo] (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product/80633/Noir-Knights-%28Savage-Worlds%29&affiliate_id=15975)

I particularly recommend Noir Knights, Realms of Cthulhu and the Savage Worlds Fantasy Companion.

Working on some new reviews to share with you over the next week, so look for those!

The RPGNow GM's Day Sale

A little late to the party, as I meant to post this a couple of days ago, but RPGNow is running their Annual GM's Day Sale, with a crap ton of publishers discounting their items 25% (or more, in the case of Adamant Entertainment).

This is a fantastic opportunity to pick up a number of great titles on sale, like Savage Worlds Deluxe Edition, Marvel Heroic Roleplaying, Wu Xing, Savage Suzerain, Realms of Cthulhu and over 8,000 more titles. In the interest of full disclosure, using links off of this site to buy your products nets me store credit...which I then use to buy products that I turn around and review on this site for your reading enjoyment.

So take advantage of the sale!

The Walking Dead Brings War of the Dead Sale!

To celebrate the beginning of The Walking Dead Season 2, from now until the end of the month, you can get War of the Dead Chapters 1-3 half off at RPGNow!

War of the Dead is an epic zombie apocalypse campaign for Savage Worlds that is building to a head in Chapter 4 next year, and exploding into the Savage Setting World of the Dead! You should get caught up now, before Chapter 4 comes out.

Chapters 1 and 2 were reviewed by me, and Chapter 3 edited by me!

Demon Codex: Lochs is currently on sale

Just a quick post to let everyone know that Eloy Lasanta and Third Eye Games has put Demon Codex: Lochs for Apocalypse Prevention Inc on sale for half off at their website. API is pretty great stuff, and the Lochs really come alive in the Demon Codex. Pop on over here for my full review, then on to the Third Eye Games website to order.

Good Golly, I Hit 200 Posts

With this post, in fact.

I was gonna try to come up with something cool here, but when my 200th post wouldn't have hit until July...if I'm lucky.

So, what's been going on?

- For some reason, my birthday (March 6th), tends to fall on or around GM's Day (or vice versa, really). In this case, apparently, GM's Day is March 4th. RPGNow is running a big sale in which a lot of companies are participating...a bunch of products at 25% off until March 8th or so. You can check that out here.

- In theory, I am still a comic book writer. In practice, it has all become very depressing. I have three completed scripts, art finished and everything, that are stuck in limbo and awaiting the colorists and letterers. I am unofficially boycotting Con Season until we have product ready to sell again, because I can't muster the energy necessary to pimp something that was due out six months ago and has no new release date in sight.

- We had a meeting about a new communication device for my daughter Faith, who is autistic. Durable communications devices are some high end stuff, apparently, and can get pretty pricey. For those interested in following the saga and milestones of our life with our autistic daughter and her incredibly supportive big brother can read my wife's blog here.

- I still plan to do "Scaling Savage Supers", hopefully very soon. I also have something for War of the Dead that I want to post before Chapter Three starts, which is likely to be delayed due to Lee over at Daring Entertainment breaking his wrist, unfortunately.

- The next book on the review queue is Invaderz by Post Mortem Studios, followed by the Chronicles of Ramlar Player's Guide and World Guide, WizKid: The Cheapening, The New Gods of Mankind Handbook and Caladon Falls.

- This economy sure sucks...still working two jobs (and making less than I did a couple of years ago). I'd sure like to go back to working one job again and make even what I am right now. I would probably write much more, to be honest.

- For readers who like irreverent humor, I highly recommend looking up C.L. Bevill, specifically Bubba and the Dead Woman...I have been laughing out loud for days over this, and you can get it at Smashwords (or Barnes & Noble and maybe even Amazon) for free (in e-book format, of course).

- I am really interested to see Eloy Lasanta's new game, Part-Time Gods. In that respect, at least, the end of the year cannot come soon enough.

- I've reviewed some great, but low profile, games this year...and it kinda saddens me to see how few the hits are for some of those games...mostly because I think gamers are doing themselves a serious disservice by not checking some of these games out.

- Fun facts: According to Blogger, the most read post on this site, ever, is my Walking Dead post...and most people find it because of the Emma Bell picture. The most read game review I have ever posted is Smallville. For some inexplicable reason, the Ninja Turtles/ICONS stuff is incredibly popular as well.

- I'm pretty disappointed at my lack of productive output over the last year. Hopefully I can change that this year.

- OH! I won $50 just for FAILING TO QUALIFY for a survey. That's easily the coolest rejection I have ever received.

Keep readin', and I'll keep writing! Hopefully 200 posts is just the beginning.

T.

DriveThruRPG Sale and Blog Update

Hi peeps...just a few things:

1) Snow absolutely sucks.

2) This month's RPGNow Sale code is FebChatterTwenty11, and is good for a 20% discount on the following:

Weird War II Player's Guide [Pinnacle Entertainment]

Wu Xing: The Ninja Crusade [Third Eye Games]

The Echoes of Heaven Bestiary/The Tainted Tears (OGL Version) [Final Redoubt Press]

USHER Dossiers (ICONS) [Vigilance Press]

The Floating Vagabond BarFly Bundle [Reality Cheque]

Of course, I have went on at length about Wu Xing and my love for it (my POD copy is sitting at the post office right now, thanks to the snow). USHER Dossiers is pretty great as well. I have no experience with the others, although I just added the Floating Vagabond BarFly Bundle to my wishlist.

3) My next article series will be "Scaling Savage Supers"...rather than taking a group from Novice to Legendary over a series of posts, I will take a character and scale them up, in one post, from Novice to Legendary, and see how certain iconic comic builds look in the Savage Worlds system.

4) The games in my IMMEDIATE review queue are Tools of Ignorance (a baseball game by Flying Mice Games), Demon Codex: Spectrals for Apocalypse Prevention, Inc., Zeeks for Interface Zero and Stormrift by Precis Intermedia Games. Immediately following that are Terror Network and the Agency Handbook, The Chronicles of Ramlar Character and World Guides, The New Gods of Mankind New Gods Handbook, Caladon Falls for Savage Suzerain and Invaderz...February should be pretty packed, review-wise.

Some Honorable Mentions

I recently named my Top Six...but here were some honorable mentions that I reviewed from January 1st to December 17th that didn't make the list, and why:

Deadlands Reloaded Player's Guide and Marshall's Handbook: While I absolutely love Deadlands, I neglected to name these for two reasons. One, they would be two books instead of one, and to keep any one company from holding too much sway over the Top Six, I couldn't do that. Two, it wasn't "new to me", which is kind of an unofficial criteria for the Top Six, as I've had a ton of experience with Reloaded already.

Smallville the Roleplaying Game: As I mentioned in the Leverage entry, the Smallville game is great, but I don't really care for the show...so picking between Leverage and Smallville for the "one book per company" rule became really easy.

Misfit Studios Savage Worlds Mini-Supplements: Misfit Studios jumped into the Savage Worlds ring last year with a line of mini-supplements. Unfortunately, I wasn't terribly diligent with my tagging of the review posts, but every one of these ranged from "GREAT" to "Really Good". It would have been incredibly difficult to narrow it down to just one, but I *really* love the Expanded Professions.

Vigilance Press' World War II Supplements: Vigilance Press made me learn to love World War II Supers...the only downside is that I'm not completely sold on ICONS...which knocked the chances of me picking any one of these supplements way down. Combined with the Misfit Studios problem of "How do I pick just one?" and well...that said, there were a few Battlescenes that were easily adaptable to any era, so that's pretty great.

Iron Dynasty: Iron Dynasty is very cool and very Savage Worlds...it just didn't GRIP me in quite the same way as the Top Six did, especially Wu Xing, which covers similar ground (though from a radically different lens). Still well worth checking out.

Spite: Spite is cool...but borders on the offensive pretty easily. Hard for me to make a "general" recommendation. Plus, the sales go to charity, so there's that.

Wild World Wrestling: One of the best d20 games just got better...and it is different enough to fall under the "new to me"...the main reason I didn't recommend it is that it is a niche product within a niche genre...gamers who are also wrestling fans is a very small group, unfortunately.

Apocalypse Prevention Inc.: Literally the only reason I didn't pick this as one of the Top Six is because it was made by Third Eye Games, who also made Wu Xing, and Wu Xing is completely amazing instead of just really, really great. API is awesome, Wu Xing is just a hair better.

You still have time to get your entries in for the Birthday Blog contest, as the deadline is this weekend. Plus, we have a couple of sales to pass along for those interested:

RPGNow is running their New Year, New Game sale, which features over 20 RPG books for $11 each. My personal recommendations are Buffy the Vampire Slayer Revised, Monsters and Other Childish Things, Little Fears Nightmare Edition and Savage Suzerain...and there are at least three or four there that I hope to pick up (if I can beat the sale). That sale ends in just over a week.

Also, using code BlogPodJan2011 at checkout, you can get the following titles for 20% off at RPGnow:

One Night Stand: The Warren of the Death Spider (Pathfinder) [Otherworld Creations]

Script Crypt Volume 2: Four Damned Scripts [Crucifiction Games]

Volunder (Mega Dungeon; D&D/OGL) [Stainless Steel Dragon]

QUEST CARDS Game Set 3 [Fuller Flippers]

Incorporated Volume 1 [Brutal Games]

Deadlands: Reloaded Player's Guide [Pinnacle Entertainment]

Enjoy!

Tommy

August Awesomness from DriveThruRPG

Thanks to the fine people at DriveThruRPG and their affiliated publishers, we are very much pleased to offer some special deals on items available at DriveThruRPG through the month of August and into September!

From now until September 10th, you can use the code DTRPGAugust2010BlogPCast at checkout to save 20% off of any purchases by a number of publishers available on the site:

• A Terrible Idea - Makers of the tongue in cheek zombie game Shambles.
• Aethereal Forge
• Bailey Records
• Crucifiction Games - Makers of the offbeat humor/horror game Horror Rules.
• Dream Pod 9
• Fantasy Games Unlimited - Home of recent retro best seller Villains & Vigilantes
• Final Redoubt Press
• Gold Rush Games
• Goodman Games
• Highmoon Games
• Morbid Games
• OtherWorld Creations - Who released the Savage Setting Strike Force 7.
• Palladium Books - Makers of RIFTS and After the Bomb
• Rogue Games - Creators of Colonial Gothic, a horror game set during the American Revolution
• RPG Objects
• Savage Mojo - Makers of Suzerain, available as a Savage Setting as well as its own RPG.
• Tricky Owlbear
• Vigilance Press - Creators of the modern Arthurian retelling Arthur Lives! for True 20.

Again, just enter the above code at checkout, and save 20%.  As always, any purchases made through this blog helps support it and me, so happy shopping!