Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page – Product (1st Edition Premium Player’s Handbook)

Posted in Dungeons and Dragons with tags on January 20, 2012 by boccobsblog

For Wizards.com:

1st Edition Premium Player’s Handbook

Gary Gygax

In 1974, the world changed forever when Gary Gygax introduced the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. The legacy of his innovative ideas and the extensive reach of his powerful influence can be seen in virtually every facet of gaming today.

To help honor his work and his memory, we created limited-edition reprints of the original 1st Edition core rulebooks: the Monster Manual, Player’s Handbook, and Dungeon Master’s Guide. These premium versions of the original AD&D rulebooks have been lovingly reprinted with the original art and content, but feature an attractive new cover design commemorating this re-release. Available in limited quantities as a hobby channel exclusive in North America.

Your purchase of this monumental book helps support the Gygax Memorial Fund—established to immortalize the “Father of Roleplaying Games” with a memorial statue in Lake Geneva, WI.

Item Details

Item Code: 02410000

Release Date: April 17, 2012

Format: Hardcover

Page Count: 112

Price: $34.95

ISBN: 978-0-7869-6243-3

via Dungeons & Dragons Roleplaying Game Official Home Page – Product (1st Edition Premium Player’s Handbook).

Very cool. I may have to run a 1st edition game.

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D&D 5th Edition?

Posted in Dungeons and Dragons, Gaming News with tags , , , on January 9, 2012 by boccobsblog

Wizards of the Coast is moving forward with the next edition of D&D. As seen in several places, to include The New York Times, The Escapist, and WotC’s website, the next edition of D&D will be a collaboration with fans of the game. Mike Mearls, new Senior Manager of D&D, (congrats to Mike on the promotion) writes that weekly adventures featuring new material will be released each week to participating game store (much like the weekly D&D Encounters) and gamer feedback will be taken into account.

Mearls is the greatest resource that WotC has at its disposal and I feel confident the next edition of the game will be strong. Mearls has played every edition of D&D and intends to make the next version something any D&D gamer will recognize.

Also, Monte Cook has been re-hired. This is a great move of Wizard’s part, as Cooke is one of the most imaginative D&D writers/DM’s working today.

I know many people (myself include) have become jaded with D&D in the last few years, but I truly believe the next version will be the best yet.

Now lets hope they bring back Dave Noonan.

Read up:

Times Article

Mearl’s Article

Escapist Article

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Midwinter Gaming Convention

Posted in Conventions with tags , on December 19, 2011 by boccobsblog

January 19-22 2012

The Midwest Gaming Convention is moving to downtown Milwaukee this year.

Some Highlights:

  • Starkid Productions will be in attendance
  • A huge selection of LARPs, to include: Vampire, Call of Cthulhu, Shadowrun, Paranoia, and many more
  • Several Magic the Gathering tournaments by Extreme Games

It is a long time until August so get your fix at the Midwinter Gaming Convention.

Their Site

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D&D Classic Anthology Video Game Drops Next Week

Posted in Dungeons and Dragons, Video Games with tags , on November 9, 2011 by boccobsblog

I’m glad Wizards and Atari settled their feud, because this is pretty cool. You get eight D&D video games in this bundle.

According to the Amazon Page:

The Dungeons & Dragons Anthology: The Master Collection packages 6 of the most beloved classic RPG video games of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise and their expansions into a single SKU – the ultimate RPG package for the ultimate D&D fan.

The pre-order price is 19.99 and the game will be available on Nov. 15th

 

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True Dungeon 2012 Update

Posted in Conventions, Dungeons and Dragons, Gaming News with tags , on October 31, 2011 by boccobsblog

In a recent press release, True Dungeon Ltd. announced it will expand its fantasy world with NPCs, magic item crafting, and meals; all without breaking character. Also, by the sound of it, the tavern is back. Here’s an excerpt of the release:

“Gen Con Indy 2012 will be our 10th annual True Dungeon™ event, as well as Gen Con’s 45th anniversary, and I am incredibly excited about how our new location will help us celebrate these important milestones,” said Jeff Martin, CEO/Owner of True Adventures, Ltd. “True Dungeon will be an exciting celebration of Gen Con’s 45th anniversary as True Dungeon expands with an immersive story-scape area that players can enjoy before and after each two-hour adventure.”

“It will be possible for a group of gamers to spend an entire day immersed inside True Dungeon. They could arrive in the morning, speak with some NPCs for useful rumors, and then attempt to make magic items, gather information and obtain protective magic with a new event called “Truecraft,” noted Martin.

“After that, they could enjoy one of our famous two-hour adventures, and then they can sit down for a nice lunch.  A little later they could take on the epic challenge of True Grind, and then they can enjoy a round of adult beverages as they boast of their incredible victory.  Next, they could delve into a different two-hour adventure that would bring them back into the story-scape area at dinner time.  A quick meal and more drinks could then be enjoyed – as well as another session of “Truecraft”.  In short, gamers can spend the entire day immersed in True Dungeon’s fantasy setting.” said Martin.  Washroom facilities will be available inside the event space.

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Personal Effects: Dark Art

Posted in Gaming Culture, Product Review with tags , , , on October 24, 2011 by boccobsblog

I picked up a copy of this book over the summer and was really blown away by the premise. The book is a work of experimental fiction by J. C Hutchins and Jordan Weisman. It is no doubt that the book turned out so well, it has two amazing authors attached to it. J.C Hutchins is the writer of the 7th Son series, and Jordan Weisman is the creator behind Earthdawn (1993), Shadowrun (1989), Wizkids games, FASA games, and the several Mechwarrior projects.

This book takes place mainly as a set of doctor’s notes about a serial killer patient, but it also contains phone numbers, websites and documents (ID cards, crime scene photos, etc) that all add to a twist the plot. If you find a phone number in the book or on a prop, you can call it and get clues, listen to voice mail messages, etc. The same is true for the websites, they are all real sites that serve to answer and create questions, deepen the experience and lead you to the ending of the book.

Several months back in a post about props, we talked about the game Witness, this book has that feel by providing actual props. But the book goes even father with the phone numbers and websites. If you read a name or a business, google it and it will probably lead you to a website. This is very cool stuff, check it out.

Personal Effects Website

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Ninja: Legend of the Scorpion Clan

Posted in Product Review with tags , , , on October 17, 2011 by boccobsblog

Ninja: The Legend of the Scorpion Clan from AEG follows the Legend of the Five Rings product line. According to the AEG website:

The game centers around one very dangerous night at a castle in the provinces of the Lion Clan. Honorable Lion samurai stand vigilant watch around the castle, protecting it from harm. The Scorpion Clan sends one well trained ninja to infiltrate the castle for nefarious purposes… it may be to assassinate an imperial guest under the Lion’s protection, or poison the well, or steal the daimyo’s war plans for the coming season. Whatever the goal, the ninja has vowed to accomplish it, or die trying. Worse yet for the Lion Clan, the ninja has an accomplice: a traitor among the ranks of the Lion samurai whose true loyalty lies with the Scorpion.

The intruders move in secret, marking their positions on a small copy of the game board. They can move freely, but the faster they move, the easier they are to detect. Moats, walls, and most especially sentries all serve to hamper their movement. And if a guard stumbles across their position, the alarm will be raised!

I played this game at this year’s Gen Con and I have to admit it is a mixed bag.

  • The board looks amazing, great artwork
  • The miniatures are acceptable, nothing special (on par with Shogun minis)
  • The game is a bit too rules intensive. The rules could have been slimmed down and streamlined considerably
  • Once a ninja states that he/she is searching an area on the map the gig is up. You know that the ninja is adjacent to that square or very nearby and you can divert your guards to intercept. This meta-gaming seems like a huge flaw in the game design

It is a very cool concept, but I would wait for a second edition, allow AEG to iron out some flaws.

Game’s Website

Shots of the game demo:

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Gen Con and True Dungeon Sign Four-Year Contract

Posted in Conventions, Dungeons and Dragons, Gaming News with tags , on October 13, 2011 by boccobsblog

Gen con announced yesterday that they will be signing a four-year contract with True Dungeon Ltd. According to their press release:

After a record-setting show in Indianapolis this August with almost 120,000 turnstile attendance, Gen Con LLC is building huge plans for the next four years of Gen Con along with True Adventures, Ltd. Gen Con Indy 2012 is not only the 45th anniversary of North America’s largest game convention, it will also be the 10th year of True Dungeon. Long-term planning together between the two companies has yielded an unprecedented four-year agreement. True Dungeon is slated to run at Gen Con Indy through 2015! In a strategic move, True Dungeon will, for the first time, be hosted entirely within the Indiana Convention Center, directly in the heart of Gen Con.

TD claims that the move out of the hotel will allow for larger, and “more immersive” sets. Is it August yet”?

 

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X-Wing

Posted in Product Review with tags , , , on October 7, 2011 by boccobsblog

This game is still in its infancy, but they were demoing the beta rules at Gen COn and it looks beyond amazing. I truly hope the finished product is as good as it looks. Those of use that bought the Star Wars space game from Wizard’s a few years back need our faith in ship combat restored.

Here is a snipit from FF’s website:

X-Wing is a tactical ship-to-ship combat game in which players take control of powerful Rebel X-wings and nimble Imperial TIE fighters, facing them against each other in fast-paced space combat. Featuring stunningly detailed and painted miniatures, X-Wing recreates exciting Star Wars space combat throughout its several included scenarios. Select your crew, plan your maneuvers, and complete your mission!

The X-Wing starter set includes everything you need to begin your battles, such as scenarios, cards, and fully assembled and painted ships. What’s more, X-Wing‘s quick-to-learn ruleset establishes the foundation for a system that can be expanded with your favorite ships and characters from the Star Wars universe.

I will keep you updated on this game, until then here is a shot I took of the demo:

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BEARS!

Posted in Product Review with tags , , on October 3, 2011 by boccobsblog

You and your friends are on a relaxing camping trip. But as you hammer in the last stake, you hear rustling. Bears are romping through the campsite! Who will survive the rampage? And who will be eaten by bears?

Bears! is a fast-playing, competitive game in which you score points by pairing dice. Shoot bears and run from tents for a few points, or take a risk and score big by sleeping through the attack! But watch out! If Bears are left at the end of the round, your sleeping campers are done for!

I had a chance to demo this game at Gen Con, and it is easy and a lot of fun. It would be great to take on a hiking or camping trip.

The game was designed by Anne-Marie De Witt and is available from Fireside Games.

Here are some shots of the demo I took at the Con:

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