Archive for Monte Cook

Monte Cook’s Kickstarter: Numenera

Posted in Gaming News with tags , , on August 9, 2012 by boccobsblog

Monte Cook, one of the chief 3.5 architects has a new project in the works, a science fantasy game called, Numenera. What’s it all about?

From the Kickstarter page:

I’m really excited to announce that I’m working on a new game. It’s called Numenera, and it’s a far future, science fantasy, post-apocalyptic game with streamlined rules that prioritize the story, the action, and the wild ideas. If you’re a fan of outside-of-the-box gameplay such as that found in Planescape, Dark Space, or Chaositech, the far-future stories of Gene Wolfe, Michael Moorcock, or Jack Vance, or mind-blowing visuals like those found in the work of French artist Moebius, you’re going to love Numenera.

The setting sounds interesting:

Numenera is set a billion years in the future. Civilizations have risen and fallen on Earth. Even though the current inhabitants live at about a Medieval level of technology, the leftover remnants of these advanced societies lie all around them. Some of these are extremely helpful: advanced tools, valuable means of communication and learning, transportation, defenses, and weapons. Others are dangerous: genetically altered monstrosities, flesh-warping radiation, creatures transplanted from distant stars, and clouds of out-of-control nanobots, just to name a few. This setting, called the Ninth World, provides all manner of opportunities and challenges to those that call it home.

The game system that drives Numenera is meant to be fast-moving and simple, so that it facilitates the stories the group wants to create, the imaginative places and creatures the GM needs to describe, and the mind-blowing ideas the world encourages. Everything in the game is designed with these goals in mind.

If this game is anything like Monte’s 3.5 books, his Dungeon a Week site, or his Ptolus setting this game will be worth a look.

Cook’s Kickstarter page

Numenera website

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

Monte Cook’s Dungeon a Day

Posted in D&D 3.5, D&D 3.5e DM Content, Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, Product Review with tags , , , , , , , , , , on April 8, 2011 by boccobsblog

New 3.5e / Pathfinder Game Content

Whenever a new edition of a game system comes out you will have some holdouts that refuse to move on (myself being one of them). Perhaps they like the rules for the previous edition, maybe they’ve just invested too much time and money, or maybe they are just nostalgic. Whatever the reasons for not moving on, these players soon find themselves without new content which can be a serious bummer.

Well for those of you that still play 3.5e there are still options available to you. One such option is Dungeonaday.com. This site is written by gaming legend, Monte Cook. Cook was instrumental in the creation of third edition and co-authored the player’s handbook (among other titles).

As the name implies, Dungeon a Day adds new content daily to include new monsters, spells, items, feats, artifacts, etc. The site also offers quests, player handouts, and maps penned by Ed Bourelle.

It should be noted that Dungeon a Day comes complete with a Pathfinder version as well. And even if you’ve left d20, 4e DMs as well as GM’s of any fantasy system will find useful ideas and maps on the site.

The site does require a subscription, but the rates are very reasonable given the amount of content you get. ($9 for a month, $24 for four months, or 81 for an entire year) If you consider what you spend on game books and quests, it is not a bad deal.

Check it out.

Dungeon a Day Website

Example Map

Dungeon Excerpt

UPDATE: It would seem that this website no longer exists.