Greetings all! In just a few days, the biggest spectacle in gaming begins. That's right, we
are just days away from GenCon. To get you in the mood, this week we've got a review of Paizo's
GameMastery Module D1: Crown of the Kobold King as well as news from Paizo, Gencon, and
everyone's favorite Pokémon.
Yep, I am making up for the light update last time, with a nearly bursting at the seams with
news update this week. And next time, I probably have even more, with GenCon news pouring out
all over.
So, with no further delay, let's get this party started.
Gaming Tip of the Week
Always be wary around the monster you used to kill the DM's character in a previous game.
GenCon announced late last week that numerous event tickets were printed and shipped to attendees with the
incorrect location printed on the ticket.
Gencon staff provided the following directions for retrieving the correct event location
Pre-Show:
1. Log into your Gen Con Account at http://registration.gencon.com/indy/.
2. Click the "View Your Gen Con Indy 2007 Purchase."
3. Print the page or click the "Email this list to."
4. This will have the most up to date location information.
Paizo Publishing announced Pathfinder Chronicles as their new campaign setting for Pathfinder
Adventure Path books and GameMastery Modules line of fantasy adventures. All books released in that setting
are published under the Open Gaming License and are compatible with the world's most popular fantasy
roleplaying game.
In the world of the Pathfinder Chronicles, the triumphs of heroes and
the workings of villains are recorded in a constantly evolving codex of
tales spanning centuries. For much of written history, world events
followed charted routes. Oracles and seers mapped out the future in the
stars above, and their prophecies always gave a reliable view of the
ages to come.
Until a god died a century ago. No one saw that coming, and now, the
old prophecies are failing. Oracles go mad and seers desperately try to
account for the loss of the future. While some cry out that the world
is at an end, they've been doing so for 100 years now. And the world's
still here. It's just unclear where things are going. The future of
Golarion, the world of the Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting, is
open and ready to receive the triumphs and failures of a new generation
of heroes.
"Pathfinder's Adventure Paths as well as the GameMastery Modules are
set in the world of Golarion, yet they also mesh perfectly with the
core game experience," said James Jacobs, author of Pathfinder #1:
"Burnt Offerings" and the Editor-in-Chief of Pathfinder. "Most groups
already have a favorite campaign world, and by building our adventures
on classic themes, it should be a simple matter to adapt any Pathfinder
Adventure Path or GameMastery Module to a campaign setting of your
choice."
Paizo Publishing also announced today that the title of the second
Pathfinder Adventure Path will be "Curse of the Crimson Throne." The
first installment of "Curse of the Crimson Throne" will appear this
February in Pathfinder #7 and will run through Pathfinder #12 in July
2008.
Pathfinder #7 kicks off the "Curse of the Crimson Throne Adventure Path"
this February with an adventure titled "Edge of Anarchy" by Nicolas
Logue (author of Pathfinder #3: "The Hook Mountain Massacre" and
GameMastery Module D1: Crown of the Kobold King). The King has died,
and the city of Korvosa is in chaos: riots, banditry, monsters, and
mayhem are turning the normally safe streets of the city into a war
zone. Desperate to regain control, Queen Ileosa seeks heroes to aid her
before the largest city in all Varisia consumes itself from within.
This volume of Pathfinder includes a gazetteer of the city of Korvosa,
designed to supplement the player-oriented Pathfinder Chronicles Guide
to Korvosa, along with a presentation on the mystical culture of the
land's indigenous Varisians and several new monsters designed for use
in urban environs.
In March, Pathfinder #8 continues "Curse of the Crimson Throne" with
"Seven Days to the Grave," an adventure written by F. Wesley Schneider
(author of the Pathfinder: Rise of the Runelords Player's Guide). The
civil unrest in Korvosa has been dealt with, only to be replaced by a
far more deadly and insidious threat: horrific disease that leaves its
dead deformed and faceless sweeps through the streets of Korvosa, death
borne on the wind and steeped in the stones. Mass graves crowd the
outer walls and plague doctors stalk the streets in a desperate attempt
to prevent the sickness from spreading, yet is there something more to
the plague than meets the eye? This volume of Pathfinder contains
supplementary rules for handling large-scale urban disasters such as
plagues and famines, and also presents a detailed exploration of
Abadar, the god of cities and wealth. Several new monsters associated
with sickness and disease round out the bestiary.
Pathfinder #9 approaches the halfway mark of "Curse of the Crimson
Throne" in April with a Richard Pett (author of Pathfinder #2: "The
Skinsaw Murders") adventure titled "Escape from Old Korvosa." Old
Korvosa is under quarantine, a sprawling slum contained by roadblocks
and guard posts manned by remorseless Hellknights and sinister plague
doctors. While the rest of Korvosa stifles under an increasingly brutal
martial law, the quarantined streets of Old Korvosa descend into true
bedlam. Yet the one man who may hold the truth behind the perils that
have brought Korvosa to its knees is lost inside the quarantine zone.
Can he be rescued from the clutches of a new menace rising in the
festering pits of Old Korvosa, and what secrets does he know that could
justify the bounties for his death? This volume of Pathfinder presents
an in-depth exploration of the rakshasas of the Pathfinder Chronicles
campaign setting and reveals details on Golarion's most sinister
network of assassins, the Red Mantis.
Other first quarter 2008 Paizo Publishing releases include:
Pathfinder Chronicles Gazetteer
From the frozen wastes of the witch-queen to the scorching deserts of
Osirion, explore the world of Pathfinder and the GameMastery Modules
like never before. This 64-page, full-color gazetteer contains
information about all of the major kingdoms and cities of the
Pathfinder Chronicles world, including Absalom, Cheliax, Varisia, and
much more. A poster map details never-before-revealed locations, and
allows readers to put Pathfinder Adventure Paths and GameMastery
Modules into a single exciting context. The guide also includes
information on deities, races, classes, and monsters unique to the
setting. The Pathfinder Chronicles Gazetteer is compatible with the
world's most popular roleplaying game, but adapts easily to other game
systems. Written by Paizo's Publisher Erik Mona and Jason Bulmahn
(author of GameMastery Module W1: Conquest of Bloodsworn Vale), the
Pathfinder Chronicles Gazetteer will be available this January.
Pathfinder Chronicles Map Folio: Rise of the Runelords
By popular demand! Campaign in style with this handsome collection of
maps designed for use with the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path.
Two huge poster maps detail Varisia, the home nation of the first
Pathfinder Adventure Path, and Sandpoint, the player characters' new
home. Fifteen additional single-page full-color maps cover key
encounter locations or wilderness areas from the Rise of the Runelords
Adventure Path, adding visual flair for players and making the
GameMaster's life a lot easier. With cartography by industry veteran
Rob Lazzaretti, the Pathfinder Chronicles Map Folio: Rise of the
Runelords will be available this January.
GameMastery Module U2: Hangman's Noose
A spiteful ghost haunts an abandoned courthouse in the metropolis of
Absalom, and on the ten-year anniversary of a grave injustice it seeks
its revenge. The heroes must unravel the mystery of the ghost's demise
before they too are given a guilty verdict and sent to the gallows.
Written by Nicolas Logue, Hangman's Noose is a low-level adventure for
use with the world's most popular fantasy roleplaying game and will be
available this January.
GameMastery Critical Fumble Deck
The GameMastery Critical Fumble Deck is a sequel to this year's wildly
popular GameMastery Critical Hit Deck and is designed to balance out
the system, allowing both minor and major mishaps to occur during
combat. The GameMastery Critical Fumble Deck consists of 52 full-color
standard-sized cards, ready to use out of the box with the enclosed
rules and is compatible with the world's most popular roleplaying game.
Available this January.
Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide to Korvosa
The city-state of Korvosa, largest in all Varisia, has prospered over
the last century since its abandonment by its founding nation of
Cheliax. Its port brims with black-and-red-flagged ships - the colors of
both Korvosa and Cheliax - endlessly trading fineries from the south for
Varisian curiosities and her land's natural bounty. As such, Korvosa
rightfully claims to be the most cultured and civilized city in the
region, yet visitors might also grant the city-state the titles of most
decadent, exploitative, and socially stratified. This book serves as an
exhaustive guide to the city, including details on all major points of
interest, profiles on the city's movers and shakers, and countless
adventure hooks for enterprising GameMasters to expand upon. While
designed for use with the Curse of the Crimson Throne Adventure Path,
this information-packed supplement is useable in any fantasy RPG
campaign. Written by James Jacobs and Mike McArtor (author of "Dragons
of Golarion" in Pathfinder #4, a key feature detailing dragons in the
Pathfinder Chronicles campaign setting), Pathfinder Chronicles: Guide
to Korvosa will be available this February.
GameMastery Module J3: Crucible of Chaos
The Lost City has been found, hidden in a remote mountain valley. As
adventurers rush to plunder its fabled treasures, a hungry terror
prepares for their arrival. The dream of the Lost City is gone, warped
by eldritch forces into a living nightmare that only the bravest can
ever hope to escape. Written by Wolfgang Baur (author of Pathfinder #4:
"Fortress of the Stone Giants"), Crucible of Chaos is a high-level
adventure for use with the world's most popular fantasy roleplaying
game and will be available this February.
GameMastery Item Cards: Adventure Gear 2
Heroes need the right tools to get the job done. GameMastery Item
Cards: Adventure Gear 2 adds a host of new items to their arsenal,
from climber's gear to a portable ram. This 54-card set allows heroes
to keep track of their equipment in style and is completely compatible
with all other GameMastery Item Card sets. Each of these full-color
cards features a beautiful portrait of the item on one side with space
on the back to keep notes. Available this February.
Pathfinder Chronicles: Classic Monsters Revisited
Pathfinder and the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path famously
re-imagined goblins, detailing their culture, mannerisms, and tactics
in a way that made a boring old monster one of the most hotly discussed
foes in fantasy roleplaying. Now, the minds that bring you Pathfinder
have applied the same method to ten classic monsters, providing
complete ecological discussions and adventure ideas involving orcs,
ogres, goblins, hobgoblins, trolls, bugbears, and more in this lavishly
illustrated, full-color 64-page overview that is both fun to read and
fun to use at the gaming table. Written by James Jacobs et al,
Pathfinder Chronicles: Classic Monsters Revisited will be available
this March.
GameMastery Module W2: River into Darkness
Guarding an expedition into the deepest recesses of a dangerous jungle
is no simple task. When that jungle happens to be the home of the
Gorilla King, the job is downright deadly. Although the journey is
fraught with danger, the destination promises great riches. But is the
price too steep? Written by Greg A. Vaughan (author of Pathfinder #6:
"Spires of Xin-Shalast"), River Into Darkness is a low-level adventure
for use with the world's most popular fantasy roleplaying game and will
be available this March.
GameMastery Module D3: The Demon Within
For many years, a lone castle has stood on the edge of demonic lands, a
beacon of light holding back a sea of darkness. But now it has fallen
to the fiends who threaten to spread beyond to the civilized world.
Demons infest the once righteous castle, and those who hope to retake
it risk more than their lives - they risk their immortal souls. Written
by Tim Hitchcock (co-author of GameMastery Module E1: Carnival of
Tears) and Stephen S. Greer (author of Pathfinder #5: "Sins of the
Saviors"), The Demon Within is a mid-level adventure for use with the
world's most popular fantasy roleplaying game and will be available
this April.
Last Monday Pokemon USA announced the launch of the Pokemon Trading Figure Game in North America, slated
to hit stores on September 19. The first set of figures released will include more than 40 popular Pokemon
characters and Trainer figures; select booster sets will include Pokemon from the recent Pokemon Trading Card
Game: Diamond & Pearl release.
Gameplay includes a dynamic spinning mechanism for each Pokemon that lets players send their figures into
battle against one another in an entirely new way. By mixing and matching figures, players can expand their
battle choices right from the beginning, encouraging a similar sport and strategy as practiced in the
world-renowned Pokemon Trading Card Game. The TFG is easy to learn and play, and is appropriate for players
age eight and older.
"Pokemon fans reacted with great enthusiasm to early previews in the U.S.," said Tsunekaz Ishihara, president
and CEO, The Pokemon Company, and co-creator of both the TFG and the original Pokemon Trading Card Game.
"The high quality of the figures, the collectible nature of the game, and the exciting mechanism for battle
were all very popular with players of all ages. We feel we have created a truly distinctive game that will
carry on Pokemon's tradition of excellence."
The two Pokemon TFG starter sets include basic rules that will have fans playing in minutes: a two-player
arena playmat, Trainer cards, and four different dynamic figures, including a Trainer figure. Boosters will
expand gameplay and add new figures and Trainer cards to players' collections. The starter sets will be priced
at $14.99 and the boosters at $3.49 for one figure, $6.99 for two figures (including a random mystery figure)
and a Trainer card, and $9.99 for three figures, including a random mystery figure and one of three special
promo figures (Chimchar, Piplup, or Turtwig) from the Diamond & Pearl release as well as a Trainer card.
Future expansions - with additional popular Pokemon to increase the possibilities for battles - are under
development.
Figures were sculpted with care by Kaiyodo Co., Ltd., of Osaka, Japan, which has been a manufacturer of
original, limited-edition assembly-type plastic models for more than 40 years. In addition to the upcoming
Pokemon TFG, Kaiyodo produces a wide variety of other popular model lines for enthusiasts all over the world.
With GenCon coming up, all eyes next week will be turned toward Indianapolis.
I'll be at GenCon for only one day, unfortunately, so if you're going, and want to
send in a journal of what you saw, feel free.
Again, if you have any suggestions, ideas, or other things you think might improve the column,
just click on the email link below and send me an email.