OSR News From The Underdark Gazette - Saturday, August 28, 2010

Matthew Finch and Bill Webb join forces to bring us the next wave of Swords & Wizardry

From the Swords & Wizardry Forums, posted by Bill Webb:

"Frog God Games, the successor to Necromancer Games, is pleased to announce that effective immediately, Mythmere Games, headed by award-winning author Matt Finch, will be joining up with the Frog God Publishing team to produce even more of the true old-school gaming resources that Necromancer Games and Frog God Games have always been known for.

"Matt explained one of the reasons for the agreement as “"There is a large and active community of gamers playing various out-of-print editions of fantasy role-playing games. This alliance is going to be a big leap forward in terms of providing new resources and adventures to those of us who prefer an older-school type of game. It doesn't matter if you're an old-school grognard, a brand-new player, or an experienced gamer trying out this whole 'old-school' thing the internet keeps talking about. You're going to like this".

"As a result of this merger, Frog God Games will be publishing the Complete version of the old school, ENnie Award-winning Swords & Wizardry™ fantasy role-playing game, which will be released in November."

Mr. Finch expounded upon what will be included in the Complete version, in the above linked thread:

"It includes the ranger from SR, the paladin, thief, druid, assassin - character classes from the supplements. Still no illusionist, though, which was disappointing, but the SR illusionist just couldn't legally be duplicated. The game still runs on the 0e rules, not 1e. It includes two optional alternative order of combat systems in addition to the standard one from the WhiteBox era: the one from the Holmes Blue Book and one that's based on the EW system. Those are the main differences, although there are little things like adding strength modifiers to the amount of weight that can be carried, ala Supplement 1, etc. Virtually all of the additions are in the player section, not the referee section. It's compatible with the Core Rules, and the Core Rules will stay in place as the archetypal "three class" system."

Mr. Finch also had this to say:

"There is a huge number of modules being written for this. Huge."

From the Publisher's site:

"Most previously existing products created by Mythmere Games, including Knockspell Magazine™ will continue to be produced and distributed by Black Blade Publishing.

"Distribution and publication of the Swords and Wizardry Core Rules will continue through Black Blade and other sources, and will be compatible with the Swords & Wizardry Complete Rulebook to be released in November by Frog God Games along with a full supporting line of adventure modules and other resources for the game."

And:

"Estimated Retail Price: $39.99, limited edition signed, numbered, hardcover (100 copies) and pdf, $19.99 perfect bound softcover and pdf (200 copies only of the first printing), $9.99, pdf only.

"Estimated Page Count: 128

"Authors: Matt Finch

"Scheduled Release: November 2010"

While there have been some concerns expressed over this development, I'm choosing to be optimistic. A major push for Swords & Wizardry would be a very good thing indeed and Necromancer Games' 3e products were awesome. I still have my 3 volume Rappan Athuk set, which I was fortunate enough to be able to run, incorporating it into the campaign I was running at the time. The party chose to not attempt daring the lower levels. Wisely, I might add. I killed my wife's PC in Rappan Athuk!:) I'd love to see a version released for S&W.

New Releases

Timothy Lowell has released Voyage to Plague Island, available in PDF for $5.00.

"While sojourning in a nameless village on the Parched Coast you must have been slipped sleeping powders. You awoke on board an oared galley in chains, and forced to row. Your mind numb and unable to recall much, you rowed for what seemed like days. Talk among the other slaves was that the ship was bound for Plague Island. Your cruel captors, when not whipping you and your oar mates told you how wealthy you would make them once they sold you, and of how well you would die in the arena at the Jade Palace... Voyage to Plague Island is an adventure module for fantasy role playing games. It is a wilderness adventure for characters level 4-7, a ship wreck and survival scenario set on a deadly island. It is written in the "Old-School" style and is fully compatible with games such as Swords & Wizardry, Labyrinth Lord, Osric, OD&D and other retro-clones of the most famous and first ever fantasy role playing game. 48 pages. Artwork by Brian "Glad" Thomas and Jason Braun.- SOON AVAILABLE IN PRINT-"

Expeditious Retreat Press has released Creatures Below the Shattered Moon - Volume 1 by Joseph Browning. Available from RPGNOW in PDF format for $3.00. 7 pages.

"After the cracking of the moon and before the rise of Atlantis the world was a place strange to the thoughts of honest men. The death throes of science amid the birth of magic sculpted new generations of conquerors who strode the lands forging civilizations of steel, sinew, and sorcery from the decrepit hulks of the ones that fell before. Tyrannical wizards, amoral super-scientists, charismatic catalysts, and multifarious mutants battled for wealth, power, and honor. It was ten thousand years of barbarity; ten thousand years spent in the shadowy shells of past glories, hiding from horrible creatures that scratched and skittered for blood; ten thousand years of tyranny and injustice, ten thousand years of Sorcery & Super Science!

This short PDF provides a harried GM with 17 new creatures, suitable for various power levels and certain to bring additional life to the world under the shattered moon.

Don't forget to pick up the Sorcery & Super Science! Core Rules as well as download The House of Blue Men, a free adventure featuring quickstart rules drop by our Sorcery & Super Science Blog for additional Sorcery & Super Science goodness!"

Free Downloads

Check out the Alpha version of Lord Kilgore's Wizards & Warriors.

Blair from Planet Algol turned us on to the Doomed Wasteland and some cool Random Tables he found. 

Jim Pacek of Carjacked Seraphim has a Death, Dismemberment and Dangerous Damage table, for your enjoyment.

Head over to Havard's Blackmoor has some Blackmoor Freebies!

Media Releases

I Hit It With My Axe: Episode 24: Politics, Shopping and Intermediate Demonology.

bighara has episode 3 of his Video Blog up.

Re-Releases

Initial Guidelines Booklet M from Judges Guild is available as a $3.00 PDF from RPGNOW. 16 pages.

"The first peek at what would become the Legendary Sea-side City of Modron, as published in 1977. Authored by Bob Bledsaw with the help of Bill Owen, this is Guildmember Campaign Installment M, prior to the expansion made with Gary Adams. Contains descriptions for the various taverns, shops and open markets of the village, shark and sea monster tables, the Temple of Mitra, underwater encounters, Brain-Basher Boulevard, and non-player characters galore. There are special conditions on each street, which can generate special en.other great characters, with illustrations by Pixie Bledsaw. 16 pages of gaming history."

Four Gloranthan Classics titles are now available in PDF from RPGNOW. Pavis & Big Rubble, Griffin Mountain, Cult Compendium and Borderlands & Beyond. They're currently $20.00 each, or you can get all four for $60.00

Reviews From Around the Blogosphere

Matthew James Stanham of Silver Blade Adventures has a review of AA6 - Chasm of the Damned by James C. Boney. Check out Matthew's site for several more Advanced Adventures Reviews as well.

James Maliszewski of Grognardia has a series, reviewing the LotFP Weird Fantasy Role-Playing Game. Tower of the Stargazer, Weird New World,  Part 1 of his review of the Rules, as well as Part 2.

Scott of Huge Ruined Pile has his Initial Impressions of Mr. Raggi's game, posted here.


Events & Happenings

Chris Creel of The Polyhedral Dicebag has created some badges for an Encounter Critical Blog Ring.

Goblinoid Games now has a Facebook Page!

In Other News

scottsz has his Cold Text File C1 - Part 5 up on Lord of the Green Dragons. The author's Cold Text series is fantastic and if you've missed it, I urge you to check it out! The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan is the subject of his current investigation.

What I'm Pimping This Week

The Spire of Iron and Crystal by Matthew Finch. Black Blade Publishing. Available in PDF for $5.00 and in Print for $11.00. 36 pages.

"Deep in the wilderness stands the legendary Spire of Iron and Crystal, a bizarre structure of twisting iron and four enormous crystals that seem to grow from the very ground itself. The fabled riches of the Spire have never been plundered, for no entrances have ever been found.... Until now. Your party of adventurers has discovered the long-hidden secret of entering the Spire.

"A Swords and Wizardry (Core Rules) adventure for 4-6 characters level 5-6. Tournament scoring and characters are included."

Matt Finch month continues! The Spire of Iron and Crystal will be featured in my What I'm Pimping This Week widget, until Friday night, as usual.:)

About The News

Unless otherwise noted, all links to products and files are to the individual authors sites, pertinent posts, or sales pages. I don’t link directly to files, unless that is the only link available. The OSR News is produced as a service to the community and is entirely a non-commercial endeavor on my part. I have received no remuneration for advertising, reviewing or reporting on any of the items appearing herein. Please feel free to send me information on any new releases, events, or other items of interest, which you would like to see mentioned.

As always, the What I’m Pimping This Week section of the OSR News and its accompanying blog widget, feature products which I have purchased (or items which are available for free download) and wish to support. No one has asked me to spotlight their material in this section and I have received no payment of any kind for doing so.