Anonymous writes "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PLAYUS MAXIMUS LAUNCHES WITH "SMUGGLERS OF THE GALAXY"

JUNE 3, 2004 - Playus Maximus has just launched as a company with the release of their first product, the science fiction adventure board game Smugglers of the Galaxy. Partners Daniel Strain and Nathan Abrashoff have been lifelong gamers and designed games as a hobby for nearly two decades. Daniel is also the art director for the company and in the past has worked as a freelance artist, having created art for the Kingdoms of Kalamar (Kenzer & Co.), Dragon Magazine (then WotC), Terra Incognita (Grey Ghost), and several other game companies.
"

Anonymous writes "Lyra Studios has launched the first of what will be weekly "Reclamation Tuesday" updates on the upcoming MMORPG title, Reclamation.

This update included new screenshots, the beginning of a series of Developer Profiles, and a new addition to the game's backstory. Also included were website updates with new content for the FAQ section and a new Community section. They continued with weekly discussion topics on the Reclamation Community forums. You can see all of the updated content at http://www.reclamationgame.com.

Weekly updates from Lyra Studios promise to keep everyone up to date with progress on their title as it develops.

"We've claimed Tuesday for Reclamation to allow us to focus our resources on providing people with meaningful updates, and to provide a consistent day to look forward to, so that they never miss a Reclamation update." - Jason Kramer, Producer for Reclamation.

This won't be the only day for news with Reclamation, with the many interviews being published throughout the week, but it is and will be the biggest day for new Reclamation items every week.
"

Anonymous writes "Hi everyone,

Dungeon Crawl Classics #7: The Secret of Smuggler’s Cove is now in stores! This adventure for character levels 5-7 takes the heroes into the sea caves near a coastal village. Something’s living in those sea caves, and it’s not just smugglers!

For more information, check out http://www.goodman-games.com/5006preview.php, or read the blurb below. As always, questions can be directed to info@goodman-games.com.
"

Anonymous writes "Politically Incorrect Games (PIG) is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Malignant Games to publish a new edition of the critically acclaimed, gruesome and violent horror game, Dread.

This new version will be released as a setting book for Active Exploits Diceless Roleplaying and the upcoming Impresa Modular Roleplaying System. The proprietary mechanics of these systems which lend themselves to the horror genre, such as dementia, convictions, and character threads, will add new depth to an already chilling game.

"This will be a blast," said Rafael Chandler, writer and designer of Dread: The First Book of Pandemonium. "Active Exploits and Impresa are innovative, easy-to-learn rules systems. Combine their streamlined conflict resolution with Dread's emphasis on fluid storytelling, and you've got hours of dark, gruesome fun."

"We are very honored to welcome Dread into our catalog," said PIG's Director of Gaming Products, Brett Bernstein. "It can easily join the ranks of our other highly-rated settings... one such example is Dreamwalker. Dread will be part of a new generation of setting books, allowing readers to use it for dice or diceless play."

Active Exploits is a universal diceless roleplaying system, featuring basic, advanced, and LARP play. Impresa is a modular game system, allowing gamemasters to build custom settings with various rules options to fit their needs. Both systems are cross-compatible with each other. Impresa is currently in development, but will be available by the time Dread is released.

Politically Incorrect Games is a publisher of both quality PDF and printed roleplaying game products, including Two-Fisted Tales, Unbidden, Disposable Heroes Paper Miniatures, and Rune Stryders. For more information, contact Politically Incorrect Games at info@pigames.net or visit their web site at http://www.pigames.net.

Malignant Games is the imprint of video game designer, Rafael Chandler and has proven that independent game designers continue to do the roleplaying game industry a much needed service by producing unique and well-written products.
"

Editor's Note: Hmmm, as someone who owns the first edition, I have to wonder if the flavor will really be kept. I really need to run it to figure out what I consider to be the "core" of the game...

I have to admit I'm usually suspicious when a good game adopts a "generic" system.

Anonymous writes "Seventh Seal Markdown at Flames Rising!

The Seventh Seal is a roleplaying game based on biblical mythology as presented in the Book of Revelation. Players assume the roles of Sentinels; mortal guardians of Heaven invested with supernatural powers.

The Sentinels are the last echelon of light, the final righteous strike against the rising tide of dark powers that seek to claim the souls of humanity.

All Seventh Seal books are 40% Off the Cover Price this month at Flames Rising!

For more information on Seventh Seal, Flames Rising features reviews of the Core book and the Sentinel's Bible, as well as interviews with Seventh Seal creator, Scott Mitchell and other authors and artists of the game.

http://www.flamesrising.com
"

As I finished a lite beer at my favorite tavern, the Magus and Ape, a clod of flung monkey poo landed next to me. Inside was a note, which I read after putting on some rubber gloves:

GO BEYOND THE BOARD!

In a world where champions fight:

• For sweet, sweet uranium,
  
• To defeat their enemies in brutal Challenges, and
  
• To save the Earth from Alien Invaders,
  

Anonymous writes "Emerald Night has been re-launched with a new focus. The re-launch features a look at the SwoRD Project by Behemoth 3; a free map by Alea Publishing; and two articles, one on role playing and one on advice for new campaigns, by Emerald Press.
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Hong Kong Knights, the sequel to Blood and Fists: Modern Martial Arts, is now on sale at RPGNow.com.

Anonymous writes "Greetings all!

The June issue of the Silven Trumpeter is now available for free download. This month Silven Publishing reveals a sneak preview of its upcoming pilot product, Gary Gygax takes a scathing look at the OGL and we list the recepients of Silven's E3 awards for CRPGs showcased at E3 tis year.

Download it for free here:

http://www.silven.com/articles.asp?case=ezine&month;=6&year;=2004

best regards

Kosala Ubayasekara
Founder and Site Admin
Silven Crossroads
"

Anonymous writes "The 2003 Indie RPG Awards are now live!
http://www.rpg-awards.com

The 2003 Indie RPG Awards have gone live. Registration is now open for Games published in 2003, as well as Peer Voters to vote on the best Independently-Published games and supplements of 2003. Registration is open from June 1st to June 30th.

The Indie RPG Awards are one of the few awards in the gaming industry that are decided entirely by peer voting. Voted on solely by dozens of other game designers and publishers, these awards celebrate the efforts and passion of independently produced ("Indie") Role-Playing game designers and their games.

The awards consist of the main award for Indie RPG of the Year for 2003, and eight minor awards including Best Free Game, Best Production, Best Support, and "Humans of the Year". Registration is now open for indie games produced in 2003, as well as Voter registration for indie game designers from 2000-2004. Registration lasts from June 1st to June 30th, after which voting begins.

Voting takes place thereafter in two rounds. Unlike other awards, the vote for each category in the final round is weighted according to how familiar the voter is with all of the other games in that category: This prevents "popularity contest"-style voting that often occurs in industry awards. Final vote tallies will be disclosed, and the winners will be announced at GenCon Indy 2004.

This is the second year for the Indie RPG Awards. Last year was a great success, with over 50 games and supplements registered for the awards, and dozens of registered peer voters. Dust Devils by Matt Snyder/Chimera Creative was voted Indie RPG of 2002.

As always, we are looking for your help and support: If you know of an independently produced RPG or supplement that was released in 2003, either in hard copy or PDF, please contact the designer and direct them to the awards site, else contact us through the awards site and tell us the name of the game and designer so that we can attempt to contact them ourselves.

The Indie RPG Awards website is at http://www.rpg-awards.com
"

Anonymous writes "The genreDiversion i Manual is now available!

Oh no, not another generic/universal system? Yes, that's right. But Politically Incorrect Games is not under any misconception regarding this system. We're not boasting with claims that it will make other systems obsolete. We created this primarily for fans, but others are obviously welcome...
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Anonymous writes "Hi everyone,

DragonMech is now off to the printer, so it’s time for the previews to begin! We’re starting it off with a PDF preview of the Introduction chapter, which shows off the book’s awesome graphic design and also explains a how a world of fantasy mechs could come to be. You can download it now from http://www.goodman-games.com/dragonmech.php
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Anonymous writes "Archives of Reclamation Producer Jason's Kramer's Interview with VG Xtreme Radio are now available. To have a listen, you can access the show in segments by clicking here. Please note you will need an updated version of Windows Media Player in order to have a listen.
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Anonymous writes "(Seattle, WA, 5/28/04) – Red Spire Press, publisher of the gritty new Dark Legacies™ roleplaying game, have signed with Osseum™ for its sales and distribution.

Dark Legacies is a new fantasy campaign setting and low-magic ruleset. Stylish and gritty, Dark Legacies gameplay is enhanced by the illustrations of industry-leading artists, including Adrian Smith and Ed Bourelle. In addition to a fully detailed world, Dark Legacies provides comprehensive rules oriented toward a mature and intense game experience, making it the definitive d20 low-magic setting.
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Anonymous writes "Brian Hammack, game designer for Max Gaming is currently looking for game masters to participate in a group discussion on the current issues, likes and dislikes of games. For those that participate can expect to have their names recognized in the Core Rules book. Brian Hammack is currently the designer and production manager for the Dark Horizons Universe RPG. You can find information on the RPG by going to the Dark Horizons Universe site. For more information on taking part in the development of the game please email Brian Hammack.
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