On the downside, it uses the 4ed ruleset, which I dislike. Having said that, however, it may work well as a board game and, presumably, the rules have been altered somewhat to fit into the board game niche. It’s also got a RRP of £50, which is pretty standard these days, but which is enough to make me want to make sure I get some use out of it!

You can see Mike mearls giving the sales blurb here:

D&D Essentials is being seen by many as 4.5 – essentially this box set includes a modified set of 4ed rules, collating existing errata and changes made to the game, with what looks like some new stuff thrown in for good measure. How compatible this will be with existing 4ed material remains to be seen, of course. Since 4ed was only released a few years ago, it raises some interesting questions. 3.5 was released under much the same guise – updating the rules to improve and streamline play. Of course, it was arguably more about the bottom line – 3ed PHB sales were flagging and 3.5 provided a timely boost. It will be interesting to see how different D&D Essentials is to 4ed and (if it is) whether it will become the de facto new ruleset.

Fortune Cards are controversial for an entirely different reason. This D&D product – a set of cards used to add ‘random’ elements to the game – will be randomized. So, whenever you buy a pack, you’ll never know what you’re getting – similar to the D&D miniatures line. Here’s what Mike Mearls had to say:

“Similar to Gamma World cards, we are going to be doing fortune cards for D&D. They are collectible cards that give the same kind of random dramatic element to the game. The player can alter the action a little bit by using a random benefit. As a whole they make the game a little more unpredictable and makes things work out in an interesting new way.

Also like the Gamma World cards, they aren’t designed to build an optimized deck to get a more powerful character. they are designed to be random and add chaos to the game.”

Randomized collectibles have never been popular with D&Ders, the vast majority of whom hated the random element of the D&D Minis boosters. Strangely enough, one of the accusations thrown at 4ed D&D before it was released was that it would be sold with randomized elements, something which was strongly denied and which, until now, had proved not to be the case. But here we are. I wonder how gamers will take to randomized cards and, if takes off, where that will lead the game long term?

Of course, all the above is half-arsed, ill-informed speculation from a 3ed grognard who has little to no interest in the current development cycle of D&D. But it will be interesting to see what these two products bring to the game. I thought that 3.5 was far superior to 3ed, so if D&D Essentials does turn out to be 4.5, then maybe 4ed will be improved. Or maybe it will be simplified and stripped even further, making it even less desirable to me than it already is. Who knows?

So anyway, I’ve picked up a few of the SWSE books – the core rules, Starships of the Galaxy and Threats of the Galaxy, and I intend to pick up a few more yet. I’ve also bought a bunch of Star Wars minis to go with my somewhat limited collection.

Of course, one of the difficulties with running SWSE is that it’s out of print. The other problem is that Wizards have entirely nuked their Star Wars website, including all the material on it. I’ve spent a good part of today going through the Wizard’s forums and various websites, collecting the errata, articles and adventures, and think I’m mostly there now. I managed to grab a copy of the Dawn of Defiance campaign arc, which takes characters from 1st through to 20th level and which I’m sure is going to be what I’m going to run first. Running a published adventure is a good way into the game IMO.

So, I think I’m pretty well equipped to get started now. Of course, there’s the small matter of the new 3.5 D&D campaign I’ll be starting in a few weeks (Paizo’s Curse of the Crimson Throne AP), but that gives me plenty of time to read through the SWSE rules and adventures, as well as to collect a few more bits along the way.

I must admit, I’m looking forward to running something new. Looking forward to giving d20 Modern a go, too

Unfortunately, he died relatively early, at the age of 47, but his influence will probably live on for as long people read or watch horror.

I think the time may be coming to pick up some Call of the Cthulu rpg stuff. I know one member in our group (Dave!) who is keen to run some, and I’d certainly be happy to play.

For more information on H.P. Lovecraft, try the wiki or the HP Lovecraft Archive.

I have to say this is one I’m really looking forward to. I loved the original Tron and really hope the new one is just as good. It was interesting to see that Jeff Bridges is in the new movie also, which bodes well (not because I’m a huge fan of Jeff Bridges, but because it acts as a good link between the two movies).

As for the RPG aspect, I’m only just beginning to put together a few ideas. But basically, it will be based around the conflict between the MCP (the Master Control Program) and Tron (the software intended to monitor the MCP). The PCs will stumble across some evil plan and it will go from there. As I said, I’m going to use the d20 Modern ruleset, including the Future and Future Tech supplements, and maybe the Cyberscape supplement as well.

I still need to do a little more research yet and decide how I want things to work. I’ll need to modify the rules to make them fit into digital world and make sure that the PCs actually feel like they are playing something a little different.

I found a rulebook called Horizon: Virtual, which is essentially a d20 version of Tron, but it’s out of print and hard to get, plus from the reviews it seemed more a case of fitting Tron to d20 rather than the other way around. Spells in Tron? Hmm, I’m not sure about that. Besides, I like the idea of using the d20 Modern rules and working it myself

So as I say, it makes you think. I decided 2010 would be a year of change. Not massive change, but a few small steps. I set myself three main targets for 2010. First, I wanted to read more. I’ve always loved reading, but somewhere along the line I stopped picking up novels and just read role playing stuff. It’s really not the same. So, I wanted to start reading novels again. Second, I wanted to write a book. Sure, who doesn’t! I used to write when I was at uni, but then just stopped. I can’t really say why. Life just happens like that sometimes. Third, I wanted to learn to drive. I’m 42 years old and it was time. I’m tired of buses or relying on other people or just plain not being able to get anywhere.

So, it’s now mid August 2010. How have those things panned out? Well here’s how:

Reading. I’ve got back into this big time and can’t believe I ever stopped. I love reading and try to read around forty or fifty pages every day. Here’s the list of books I’ve read so far this year (in order of reading):

The Magician (Raymond E. Feist)
The Shining (Stephen King)
Something Wicked This Way Comes (Ray Bradbury)
I Am Legend (Richard Matheson)
‘Saloms Lot (Stephen King)
On Writing (Stephen King), Bird Song (Sebastian Faulks)
The Outsider (Albert Camus)
On The Road (Jack Kerouac)
The Rats (James Herbert)
The Stand (Stephen King)
Beyond Evil (Nathan Yates)
The Road (Cormac McCarthy)
Black Swan Green (David Mitchell)
Man and Boy (Tony Parsons)
The Shrinking Man (Richard Matheson)
Ghostwritten (David Mitchell)
Talking with Serial Killers (Christopher Barry-Dee)
Lair (James Herbert)
All the Pretty Horses (Cormac McCarthy)
The Crossing (Cormac McCarthy)
Cities of the Plain (Cormac McCarthy)
The Bridge (Iain Banks)
Flashfoward (Robert Sawyer)
Somebody’s Husband, Somebody’s Son (Gordon Burn)
Blood Meridian (Cormac McCarthy)

That’s 25 books in, what, 30/31 weeks? I think it’s fair to say that I’m reading novels again…

Writing. As I said, I used to write when I was at uni and always enjoyed it. I don’t think I was very good back then, but I always fancied myself as a writer. Just lost the motivation somewhere along the lines. Got too drunk too often for too long, I guess. Gotta say, I regret this about as much as I regret anything in my life. Wish I’d just stuck with it. But there you go. Anyway, I decided I wanted to write a book this year, so I did. Finished it about a month ago. Over 100,000 words long. I have absolutely no idea whether it’s any good or total garbage. And no, it isn’t fantasy! I’m currently looking for an agent. Agents are said to be like gold dust, so I’m not holding my breath. Still, you never know!

Driving. For one reason or another I never got around to learning. When I lived in London I never needed to, and after that I had a problem with my hip, which in the end I needed an op on. I did actually try around 6 or 7 years ago, but it put my hip out so bad it was after that I needed the op. Anyway, it was another thing on the list of 2010 aims. I’m currently doing lessons and hopefully I’ll get this one under my belt sooner rather than later. I’m quite looking forward to it, too (even if all the other unwitting road users aren’t!)

So, that’s where I’m up to so far in 2010. Two out of three ain’t bad and hopefully I can accomplish the third one as well.

About the only disappointment this year, even though I didn’t particularly set it as an aim, is the lack of progress on the new Kyngdoms web site and campaign setting. There’s just so much to do. Every time I sit down to do it, it just reminds me of how much work I put into it in the first place! Still, it has been moving along, albeit at a snail’s pace. Hopefully I’ll have enough done at some point to launch the new site.

Well, here’s the complete list:

1.) Arcane Portal
(2.) Astral Giant
(3.) Bebilith
(4.) Bloodfiend
(5.) Brain in a Jar
(6.) Cloaker
(7.) Crownwing
(8.) C’tallum, Astral Hunter
(9.) Deva Fanatic
(10.) Dispater, Iron Duke of Hell
(11.) Draegloth Abomination
(12.) Dragonborn Elementalist
(13.) Dwarf Beguiler
(14.) Efreet Fireblade
(15.) Elder Blue Dragon
(16.) Elder Copper Dragon
(17.) Fettered Dracolich
(18.) Feymire Crocodile
(19.) Fomorian Painbringer
(20.) Heroslayer Hydra
(21.) Human Marauder
(22.) Human Town Guard
(23.) Iron Golem Juggernaut
(24.) Kalliroth, Githyanki Pirate
(25.) Kenku Warrior
(26.) Kenku Wing Mage
(27.) Kobold Slinger
(28.) Manshoon
(29.) Mephistopheles, Lord of Cania
(30.) Mind Flayer Noble
(31.) Minotaur Mangler
(32.) Nalfeshnee
(33.) Neogi Great Old Master
(34.) Neogi Slaver
(35.) Oni Night Haunter
(36.) Orc Archer
(37.) Orc Warchief
(38.) Rime Hound
(39.) Roc
(40.) Rot Grub Swarm
(41.) Rot Harbinger
(42.) Shadar-Kai Warrior
(43.) Shadar-Kai Witch
(44.) Shardmind Dominator
(45.) Skeleton
(46.) Spell Weaver
(47.) Stone Giant
(48.) Stormclaw Scorpion
(49.) Swordwing
(50.) Thri-Kreen Mantis Warrior
(51.) Trapped Chest
(52.) Trebuchet
(53.) Trihorn Behemoth
(54.) Water Archon Shoal Reaver
(55.) Will-o’-Wisp
(56.) Yeenoghu
(57.) Young Volcanic Dragon
(58.) Zhent Cavalry
(59.) Zhent Champion
(60.) Zhent Soldier

You can see pictures at DDM Spoilers. You can also see the latest official preview here.

It’s a mixed bag. There’s some figures there I’ll definitely pick up, but probably around two thirds I won’t bother with. The painting looks a bit hit and miss, but that’s pretty standard for ddm these days. Still, it’ll be nice to fill out a few gaps in the collection.

The rarity breakdown is: 12 very rares, 22 rares, 18 uncommons, and 8 commons. There are 13 huges and 13 larges.

I also noticed that the new Beholder’s Collectors set was revealed at Gen Con, too. From the look of it, it appears to be a collection of all the previously released beholders, though potentially as repaints. For me that kinda sucks, though it will be good for those who don’t have some of them. I always thought the Deathknell beholder was far and away the best one produced.

Anyway. I finally picked up some new stuff I’ve purchased a few more 3.5 D&D books I didn’t own, as well as a few other bits. It actually feels quite good. I’m looking forward to running the new campaign after nearly four years of our old campaign (and which still isn’t finished, but which we’ve put on the back burner), plus I really like the idea of playing something other than D&D. I mentioned in this blog post I was looking to play some sci-fi, but I also like the idea of playing some modern games too. So, here’s what I’ve picked up:

d20 Modern Core Rulebook: I’ve played this before, though many years ago. It’s a good solid rule set which will allow me to run games in any era, past, present and future. I think it will probably be my next port of call when I run something new. There are just so many possibilities.

d20 Past: a supplement for d20 Modern, it is what it says on the tin – a book about running d20 Modern games set in the past. I’m still waiting for this one to arrive.

d20 Cyberspace: again, a supplement for the d20 Modern rules, for post-modern, cyberpunk games. Also waiting for this one (it’s part of the same order as d20 Past)

The Lost City of Barakus: classic Necromancer Games adventure for 3.5 D&D. I’ve been after this for a while, but the only place I’ve seen it is in the US and that would have cost me over sixty quid, which is more than I wanted to pay. Anyway, saw one on ebay in the uk for less than half that price, so bought it. Still a bit on the pricey side, but happy to finally own it.

Dead Man’s Chest: a ocean going sea-farers source book. It’s supposed to offer a lot more detail and options than Stormwrack, so I picked it up as it wasn’t too expensive. I’m still waiting for Sinister Adventure’s Razor Coast adventure to be released, and it looks pretty good too. I thought Dead Man’s Chest would be a good book for whenever I get round to running Razor Coast.

I’m still looking to pick up one or two pieces more, some sci-fi stuff and a few more d20 Modern supplements. Might even have to pick up a few modern looking minis too :/

From the photo it’s a little difficult to judge anything, but one or two pieces look interesting – namely the hydra and the Iron Golem Juggernaut, though both look a bit odd (the hydra’s teeth and the iron golems pose in particular). The chest may be useful for scenery I suppose, but the scorpion is very… purple! Or is that pink? It is a medium though, which might make it a worthwhile repaint I suppose.

Anyway, here’s the blurb and pic:

• Heroslayer Hydra (Very Rare)
• Stone Giant (Uncommon)
• Efreet Fireblade (Uncommon)
• Trapped Chest (Uncommon)
• Stormclaw Scorpion (Uncommon)
• Iron Golem Juggernaut (Uncommon)

Star War Saga Edition: d20 based, so I’ll be familiar with the rules. Also Star Wars – and you can’t go wrong with that! On the negative side, it’s out of print and not easy to get hold of anymore.

Traveller (Mongoose): Traveller is the de-facto sci-fi rpg as far as I can tell and Mongoose have released a new version. I don’t know anything about Traveller, so it’s difficult to make any judgements. Reviews are generally positive, however.

Serenity: playing a system based around the Firefly series sounds like a lot of fun, but I’ve generally heard bad things about the system. A lot of what I hear is people playing the Serenity game using a different system, but doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose of it?

Dark Heresy/Rogue Trader: I’ve heard a lot of good things about Rogue Trader. It’s a bit pricey, but at least it’s still in print. I believe (though may be wrong) that Rogue Trader is the replacement of Dark Heresy, of which I know nothing, other than it Warhammer 40k and uses d10s.

I suppose I could also add d20 Future to that list, but again it is out of print. I believe you could also use True 20 to run a sci-fi game.

I’m sure I’ve missed some, but they’re pretty much the ones I know about. The question is, which one?