1

Volume #4

Issue #14

A free publication by Polymancer® Studios, Inc..20 Weredale Park, Westmount QC, H3Z 1Y6 CANADA

(514) 667-1585 (Canada) • Skype: Polymancer • Twitter: Polymancerpolyglot@polymancerstudios.com, www.polymancer.com

Announcing Fully Baked Ideas! _______________________________ 1Get Ready to Mobilize ______________________________________ 2Model Acrylic Paint now half price for November 2009 _____________ 3Newest releases from IXO Models _____________________________ 4Obsidian Portal News – November 2009 ________________________ 5News from Avalanche Press _________________________________ 6Adventure Havens: Guild Houses [3.5/OGL] _____________________ 7Call for GMs for the December 10th Game-a-thon __________________ 7News from ForgeWorld ____________________________________ 8Newest staff reviews from DriveThruRPG.com ___________________ 9Thanksgiving Mail Sale at columbiagames.com __________________ 10Geekdo________________________________________________ 10x6 system released _______________________________________ 10Glenn’s Gallery™ – Early February Release window _______________ 11Latest news from Palladium Books ___________________________ 12Terror Network PDF Available ______________________________ 20Montreal Comic-Con _____________________________________ 20New Interwar Tanks ______________________________________ 21More news from Avalanche Press ____________________________ 22Printing & Design Tips: December 2009 _______________________ 23Call to Arms: Martial Artist, Monk, and Deadeye ________________ 24Signs & Portents 75 – RuneQuest II Revealed! ___________________ 25Newest staff reviews from DriveThruComics.com ________________ 26New Items and Preorders from Brigade Games __________________ 29Attention Citizen! Paranoia News! ___________________________ 32Avalanche Press – At Your Request! ___________________________ 33Christmas Final Posting dates notice from the Toy Factory__________ 34ICE News ______________________________________________ 34

The Unexplained Special Preorder Offer _______________________ 36Looney Labs: Our annual Holiday Gift! ________________________ 36Holiday Savings at Precis Intermedia __________________________ 37Tips from About.com _____________________________________ 39December 2009 News from Flying Buffalo ______________________ 40The Pillars of the Earth: Builders Duel – January 2010 _____________ 41Skirmisher Releases ‘MILFS: Monsters I’d Like to F***’ ____________ 42Mountains of the Moon: Sindbad in East Africa _________________ 42RuneQuest II – First Preview _______________________________ 43Obsidian Portal News – December 2009 _______________________ 43News from Forge World ___________________________________ 44Star Fleet Alert: Schedule for 2010 ____________________________ 45More from Avalanche Press _________________________________ 46News from Arcana Studio __________________________________ 47Sneak Peek at Deus Vult for RQII ____________________________ 49Merry Christmas from Iron Crown Enterprises __________________ 49New Release News from Green Ronin _________________________ 50Dark Sword Miniatures – 6 New Miniatures Now Available _________ 52New Releases – Corporation and Earthdawn____________________ 53The Cleansing of Black Spur – Full-Contact Adventure! ___________ 541853 India ______________________________________________ 54Ground Zero Games East Coast Convention Feb 26-28 ____________ 55Are You a Real American H.E.R.O.? __________________________ 56Nuns on the Run!™ mid first quarter 2010, late Feb release __________ 57From Mongoose — Internal Security and Democracy Falls _________ 58NBM Publishing: Rall is on a Roll with the Red Eye! ______________ 59RuneQuest books – OOP in Less Than a Month! ________________ 59Out in Stores – Vargr and Trojan Reaches Map Pack ______________ 60

The Pillars of the Earth: Builders Duel – January 2010 _____________ 61

Altiustoons™ Tackle the Environment, Can You Help Them? _______ 62

Ablaze™ mid first quarter 2010, late Feb release __________________ 63

Star Fleet Alert: Products Released in November _________________ 64

Askari Miniatures Egyptian Adventures _______________________ 65

Even more news from Avalanche Press ________________________ 66

Happy New year from Amarillo Design Bureau __________________ 67

BBC labels War On Terror BG “historically important” ____________ 68

Hex Games releases Necro Klepto! ___________________________ 69

Upper Deck Releases Naxxramas Raid Deck and more ____________ 69

Heroic Prints Launches Unique Character Posters For WoW® _______ 70

Yoga for the Wii™ System Featuring Top Model Anja Rubik _________71

Montreal International Game Summit _____________________72

Empires Of Steel released! __________________________________ 73

Announcing Theatre of War 2: Kursk 1943! And video teaser ________ 73

PT Boats – game manual online! _____________________________ 74

Tech News from ZDnet____________________________________ 75

TGC announces Sacraboar _________________________________ 76

News from GameIndustry.com ______________________________ 77

Creators of Didier Ze Mime Launch New “Whack-A-Mime” Game ___ 78

Theatre of War 2 CENTAURO add – on released! ________________ 79

TGC takes off with Ikaro ___________________________________ 80

Online Business Models Could Unleash the True Value of GTA ______ 81

News from Reflexive Arcade ________________________________ 83

Legal notice regarding the content of Polyglot™ _________________ 84

Announcing Fully Baked Ideas!Just as Disney launched Touchstone Pictures in 1984 as a way to

release movies featuring “more mature themes than those that are released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner,” Fully Baked Ideas will allow us to publish games appropriate for adults but not well suited to inclusion in the regular Looney Labs catalog. This imprint was created to make sure children are not accidentally exposed to adult themes on our family games web site.

Fully Baked Ideas is releasing its first game today! (And we've already leaked news of the follow-up game releasing in 2010). If you are over the age of 18, and want to find out about these games, please sign up for our new Fully Baked Ideas email list here: http://www.fully-baked-ideas.com/content/announcements

Thanks for playing our games – sign up for the new list today!

—Kristin Looney

Business Czar / Looney Labs / Fully Baked Ideashttp://looneylabs.comhttp://fully-baked-ideas.com

2

Get Ready to MobilizePrivateer Press Announces Official Miniatures Carrying Cases

Bellevue, WA — Privateer Press is pleased to announce it has licensed the rights to create official miniatures carrying cases for its award winning WARMACHINE and HORDES miniatures games to Battle Foam.

The Battle Foam WARMACHINE and HORDES miniature carrying cases are scheduled to release in January 2010 to coincide with the release of WARMACHINE Prime Mk II. Each case holds 161models and is reinforced with hard plastic to form a protective shell around the figures. In addition are several pockets to hold gaming accessories as well as an interior binder clip to hold card sheets.

Battle Foam also plans to release special faction-specific foam tray sets that will include custom-cut trays to carry the more irregular models. These sets will be available in the months following the main product’s release.

For more information about Privateer Press, WARMACHINE, or HORDES visit www.privateerpress.com.

For more information about Battle Foam miniature carrying cases visit www.battlefoam.com.

About Privateer Press, Inc.

Privateer Press, Inc. is a privately held producer of entertainment and hobby brands based in the Seattle area. Its products include the Monsterpocalypse collectible miniatures game, the award-winning WARMACHINE and HORDES hobby miniatures games, the award-winning Iron Kingdoms property, Bodger Games, the full-color No Quarter Magazine, and the Formula P3 hobby line. To learn more about Privateer Press, visit www.privateerpress.com or contact the president, Sherry Yeary, at (425) 643-5900 or sherry@privateerpress.com.

About WARMACHINE and HORDESWARMACHINE and HORDES are the critically acclaimed tabletop games of miniatures combat designed by game

industry veteran Matt Wilson and placed in the award-winning setting of the Iron Kingdoms. WARMACHINE was first released in 2003 and has won several awards, including Gamers' Choice Best Miniatures of the Year and Game of the Year at the 2006 Origins Awards. HORDES, first released in 2006, was named Miniatures Game of the Year at the 2007 Origins Awards and is one of the fastest-growing miniatures games on the market.

About Battle Foam

Battle Foam, LLC was started by Romeo and Jama Filip in January of 2009. With their hard work and dedication to the miniature gaming industry, Battle Foam has grown dramatically over the past year. Battle Foam produces the P. A. C. K. (Personal Army Combat Kit) system of cases. These bags provide the customer with a rugged canvas exterior protecting a hard plastic interior shell. The true backbone of Battle Foam is the revolutionary patented foam cutting system. This patented foam cutting system gives you the opportunity to truly order any size, shape, or style of foam tray directly tailored to your specific army needs. Requests such as custom text and custom logos are easily achieved through Battle Foam’s revolutionary cutting system. Battle Foam prides itself in guaranteeing 100% customer satisfaction. To learn more about Battle Foam and our products, visit www.battlefoam.com or contact Romeo Filip, at 480-747-0230 or romeo@battlefoam.com.

3

Model Acrylic Paint now half price for November 2009

You may being feeling blue this wet winter, but our acrylic paints have more colors than a rainbow and these dark nights are perfect for catching up on painting your wargame miniatures.

http://www.princeaugust.ie/NewsletterImages/index2.html

Prince August has reduced the majority of our hundreds of paints by a staggering 50 percent for the rest of November. Now paints are just 1.15 Euro each. These are top quality model color paints, suitable for any project you have in mind.

We need the space and you need to save money so its a marriage made in heaven.Remember you only have until November 30th to take advantage of this outstanding offer.Also remember that we have a Model and Standard Casting Metal sale on for a little while longer, until the 23rd of

November.Plus the option to RENT our chess moulds for just 7.50 Euro for 14 days. This offer will allow you plenty of time to cast

MULTIPLE chess sets easily. Just return the mould afterwards.To learn more on these separate offers go to our home page. http://www.princeaugust.ie

Have fun this weekend,

Michael O'Brien, webmaster.Prince August Toy Factory, Kilnamartyra, Macroom, Co. Cork.T: +353 26 40222 / F: +353 26 40004'Prince August' is a registered trade name of An Grupa Edman Teo (The Edman Group Ltd). Registered in Dublin #269484. Directors Lars Edman (Swedish), Margaret Edman.Reg. Office: 1 Kilnamartyra, Macroom.

4

Newest releases from IXO Models

5

Obsidian Portal News – November 2009

So much is happening around the Obsidian Portal offices that we haven’t had the time to send out a newsletter since winning our ENnie at GenCon. Three months of silence is a long time. Too long. Well no more I say! It’s once again time to gaze deeply into our dark font of wisdom. Come, the Obsidian Portal beckons you!

New Content Director

I am AutumnsChild, and I shall be your golly-riffic guide through the dark places that lie beyond. What’s that now? Who’s AutumnsChild? I'm glad you asked. I'm the newly appointed Content Director for Obsidian Portal, and it’s my job to serve you. I welcome your observations and ideas. I cherish your campaigns and tales of good times had around the table. I'll bring new experiences to the community, and I'll heap new treasures upon the Ascendant among us. In return I hope to be your advocate to Micah and Ryan, the digital gnomes who tinker in their workshop late into the night to make Obsidian Portal what it is.

It’s my job to find the best and the brightest on Obsidian Portal and feature them on the front page. Want to be featured? Then come tell me why in the Featured Campaign Forum. Let me know why your campaign deserves a place in the spotlight. The chosen few get everlasting glory (and 6 months free Ascendant Membership)!

Autumnschild – Find me and I shall Feature thee

Great Stuff on the Home page

These are exciting times, my friend, exciting times. Did you see the all the new content we have up on the front page? We have an interview with Penny Arcade’s Gabe, the DM of this month’s Featured Campaign, Pursuit of Destiny. We have a new contest, and lots of exciting site news. And last but not least we have the first of our new weekly feature: Tricks and Tips articles.

Create Your Own Minis

In our inaugural tips & tricks article, by our good friend, the NewbieDM, you'll learn how to make your own minis and counters, like those shown below. They're easy to make, cheap, and sure beat using dice, coins, or pieces of lint for your BBEG!

Win an Obsidian Portal T-Shirt!

Would you like to win an Obsidian Portal T-Shirt? Sure, we all do. Well all you have to do is become a Fan of Obsidian Portal on Facebook! On Thanksgiving day, we'll draw 3 winners at random from our Facebook fans. Tell your friends, cause these shirts are most excellent.

Like I said, exciting times. You won’t want to miss out. So follow me now, through to the Obsidian Portal, and come see what’s new!

See you at the gaming table,

The Obsidian Portal Teamhttp://www.obsidianportal.com

6

News from Avalanche Press

Spotlight: Great War at Sea

We're launching our newest Great War at Sea item this week, the book Black Waters. And there are some great prices on Great War at Sea games during our Black November Sale:

Great War at Sea: Cruiser Warfare• Regular price: $49.99SPECIAL price: $30GOLD CLUB price: $27

Great War at Sea: Jutlan•  dRegular price: $64.99SPECIAL price: $45GOLD CLUB price: $36

Great War at Sea: Mediterranea•  nRegular price: $59.99SPECIAL price: $30GOLD CLUB price: $27

Great War at Sea: Navy Plan Gold• Regular price: $59.99SPECIAL price: $30GOLD CLUB price: $27

One World Shipping

New York or New Zealand, Atlanta or Albania – no matter where you live, the shipping price is the same. You read that right. The same. Less than $10 for most of our games, and much less per game if you buy several at once.

New Content

The Black ShipsGreat War at Sea: Black Waters launches this week, and

the author/publisher takes a look at some of the ship pieces included.

Heroes of ValhallaTwo games enter our Hall of Fallen Heroes: Second World

War at Sea: Leyte Gulf and Great War at Sea: U.S. Navy Plan Red are now hard sellouts, never to be re-printed. We have some Leyte Gulf parts available as spare parts but otherwise, their spirits have joined the Einherjar.

Visit us soon at www.avalanchepress.com.

7

Call for GMs for the December 10th Game-a-thon

We are looking for volunteers to GM at the next Game-a-thon, coming Saturday, December 10th. We would also like to know what games would entice you to attend.

We already have the following events lined up:

Battleground: Fantasy Warfare• Risk: Lord of the Rings• Whitehead’s Call of Cthulhu in the evening session.• 

We have a request for one of the following boardgames, if any of you would like some inspiration on something you could run:

Railroad Tycoon• Age of Steam• 

Brass• Endeavor• 

You can sign up to run a game using this form: http://www.swa-gaming.org/gameathoneventregistration. Or, you can request a game to be run here: http://www.swa-gaming.org/gameathonsuggestion. You can follow the online bulletin board discussions about the December Game-a-thon here: http://www.swa-gaming.org/node/1365 and here http://www.swa-gaming.org/node/1366.

Please sign up by November 30th or earlier. That way we can get the word out in plenty of time for the Thon.

Thank you for your interest and support. We hope to see you at our future events.

Adventure Havens: Guild Houses [3.5/OGL]

http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?discount=71061

Adventure Havens: Guild Houses offers twelve ready-to-use guilds for players to join. Develop their skills, buy and sell wares, and find new quests! Designed for 3.5/OGL games, each guild includes a complete history of the guild, information on important NPCs, and story seeds that can be easily folded into any existing fantasy campaign. Add a new level of depth to your world, with 12 unique guilds that can provide a wealth of storytelling opportunities. Also find new rules for crafting masterpiece items. Also included three separate NPC lists sorted by CR, Race, and character name to help you quickly find what you need.

Use this coupon code to save $1.00 off the price.

8

Hi There,

Christmas fast approaches and I’ve quite a few updates and items of news for you this newsletter, not to mention the long-awaited arrival of the mighty Lord of Change model previewed at UK Games Day. Keep an eye out for more newsletters coming soon with some more exciting surprises and previews for you.

Thanks

Alan Bligh

The Lord of Change

The main release for this newsletter is the fantastic Aetaos’rau’keres, Daemon Lord of Tzeentch. This massive 240mm tall (to the top of its summoned horrors) model which you can see Here, designed by Dan Cockersell, completes Forge World’s set of Daemon Lords for the great powers of Chaos, and is without doubt the most detailed we have released. The model itself is alive with extraordinary design work and malice as befits this Slayer of Souls, from the intricate feathers of its wings to the writhing nightmare mass of daemonic horrors being summoned into its grasp. Rules for this spite-filled and insane Daemon Lord, so dangerous as to be spoken of in hushed tones, even by Tzeentch’s twisted cultists, can be found in the forthcoming book, Imperial Armour Apocalypse II.

The Lord of Change is available to pre-order now for release the week commencing the 30th of November.

The Ruined Watchtower of Amon Sul

By popular demand we’ve brought back our hugely popular Lord of the Rings terrain model ’The Ruined Watchtower of Amon Sul on Weathertop’ for sale this Christmas in limited quantities. This fantastic model measures over 400mm across and is faithfully detailed as it was sculpted by Simon Egan, using photos and plans supplied by New Line Cinema from the original film set, and has in fact been

used by them since as reference for its other licensees. This iconic piece of terrain will only be available while stocks last, and is available for pre-order now for release the week commencing the 30th of November.

The Sons of Fenris

With the recent release of the great new Space Wolves Codex we’ve had lots of enquiries here at Forge World asking whether we are planning to do some more models for the warriors of Fenris. The simple answer to this is absolutely yes, and sooner rather than later in fact, with a Venerable Dreadnought on the way. Until then however, we do already have a number of Space Wolves accessories you can get your teeth into including a Terminator Conversion Set, Icons, Chapter Specific Doors and Brass Etch Symbols and of course our mighty Thunderhawk is available with Space Wolves iconography as well.

Christmas Shipping Update

The recent industrial action by Royal Mail in the UK has ended, and this means that we are able to resume our usual delivery methods for all customers with immediate effect, with the following dates your order should reach us by for delivery before Christmas:

Destination Standard Delivery UPS Express

UK 15th December 20th December

Europe 9th December 20th December

USA / Canada 9th November 15th December

Asia / Pacific 8th November 15th December

If you have any concerns or queries about delivery to specific countries, or any queries at all relating to your order, please contact Forge World Customer Service on 011 44 115 916 8177 from the US and Canada; 00 44 115 916 8177 from most of Europe or 0115 916 8177 if you are within the UK, or send us an email at forgeworld@games-workshop.co.uk

Battlefleet Gothic Models back in stock

Recently, we have had a number of Battlefleet Gothic models temporarily out of stock while we have remade moulds, and I’m happy to say we have them back in production and available to purchase Now. We hope to have some of our other currently out of production Epic models back on sale soon.

News from ForgeWorld

9

Newest staff reviews from DriveThruRPG.com

If you're a Spycraft fan, this is likely the supplement you've been waiting years for. Yes, another GI Joe knockoff with the serial numbers barely filed off (see Feats such as “Kung Fu Grip” and “Knowing Is Half The Battle”). One would think Hasbro, which owns both GI Joe and Wizards of the Coast, would take the hint and release an official game. This is well done, with good background material, adventure generators and crunchy bits. Points off for having no interior art, no table of contents, and no index. Read a full review here: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-7705-Phoenix-RPG-Examiner~y2009m11d25-Review-Real-American-HEROes

Real American H.E.R.O.esby Crafty Gameshttp://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=65785&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $9.95Rating: 3 out of 5 stars (from Berin Kinsman)

T&T 7.5 manages to combine Old School gaming with indie-game story-driven sensibilities. Roll up a character, pick your equipment, and crawl that dun... tunnel! Player skill matters more than character abilities, in true Old School fashion, but Talents allow players to customize characters a la FATE Aspects. A nice blend. Read a full review here: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-7705-Phoenix-RPG-Examiner~y2009m10d18-Tunnels–Trolls-is-true-Old-School-style-gaming

Tunnels & Trolls v7.5by Fiery Dragonhttp://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=59112&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $15.00Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (from Berin Kinsman)

Mixed bag. I like the system, the game is well executed, but there’s really nothing here that I couldn’t have put together on my own with a generic system, a copy of the TV series boxed set and movie, and some internet research. If you're not a DIY kit-basher and want to play in the 'Verse, absolutely worth it. If you're like me, it’s a very nice, shiny book to look pretty on your shelf and refer to now and again. Full review here: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-7705-Phoenix-RPG-Examiner~y2009m11d13-Review-Serenity-Role-Playing-Game

Serenity Role Playing Gameby Margaret Weis Productionshttp://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=2962&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $29.99Rating: 3 out of 5 stars (from Berin Kinsman)

I was mainly after bits on how to run a Golden Age game, so I cherry-picked the bit I needed. It had what I was looking for, and that was worth the price of the book. The history of Golden Age comics was an interesting read, it’s got archetypes and templates for heroes and villains, a solid gear list, and other useful bits of both crunch and fluff. One quibble is that I'd have preferred art that was more in a Golden Age style. Read a full review here: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-7705-Phoenix-RPG-Examiner~y2009m11d5-Review-Mutants–Masterminds-Golden-Age-sourcebook

Golden Ageby Green Roninhttp://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=20581&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $13.50Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (from Berin Kinsman)

10

Ken Hite’s worldbuilding here is more focused on building the alternate history where HP Lovecraft didn’t die of stomach cancer and went on to write comics. The blending of public domain Nedor heroes with the Cthulhu Mythos almost seems like an afterthought. But it’s Ken Hite, and it’s a good afterthought. A thoroughly enjoyable read, for fans of Lovecraft, Nedor comics, and Golden Age comics in general, plus useful crunchy bits. Read a full review here: http://unclebear.com/?p=3810

Adventures into Darkness: M&M Superlinkby Atomic Overmind Presshttp://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=56820&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $9.95Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (from Berin Kinsman)

Thanksgiving Mail Sale at columbiagames.com

Announcing: Thanksgiving Mail Sale

Low Flat Rate shipping for all orders through Monday Nov 30th. Any order, any size.

US/Canada: $3.99• International: $9.99• 

Happy holidays,

Columbia Gameswww.columbiagames.com

PS. Did you hear the news that Columbia’s next wargame will be Rome?

Geekdo

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new RPG web site up: http://rpg.geekdo.com/ This is the RPG version of boardgamegeek.com, which many boardgamers feel is the best boardgame site around. It’s become a real community to many boardgamers. rpg. geekdo.com is still new, so we don’t yet have all RPGs entered

x6 system released

x6 is a generic game system that can be downloaded from http://www.x6system.net/. Highlights of the x6 system include: – Quick action resolution using D6-based dice pools with a small number of dice (3-4 on average). – Fluid, tactical combat in which players have to decide how to best use limited resources, such as actions and defences.

11

“This is my balance sheet. It tells me what kind of art I like.”Glenn Willibin, sole proprietor, Glenn’s Gallery

It’s not easy working for Glenn Willibin, the most notorious art dealer in town. Sure, his gallery is the most respected and diverse, and you and his staff are competing to become [as we are still learning!!!] the most knowledgeable about the trends and traps of the risky world of art speculation. Still, Glenn’s all about one thing: his bottom line. Fail, and you find yourself stripped of your responsibilities. Succeed, and—well, you still have a job in the morning. That’s just the way Glenn is…

You are all employees of Glenn’s Gallery, a prestigious art gallery where you are learning the ins and outs of the business of selling fine art. Your job is to look at trends in the art world, and recommend to Glenn the types of art that are going to attract the most customers. Customers are represented by cards, and at the beginning of each turn, you have a certain amount of information about the customers that will show up this month. However, you also have to watch out for art students, who drive away paying customers! At the end of each month, Glenn looks at the number of customers that have expressed interest in each type of art and rewards (or penalizes) each player based on their choices.

Glenn’s Gallery Contains:6 boards, representing the 5 different galleries and the scoring track• 65 cards (13 each of the 5 types of art: 11 customer cards and 2 art students) [we could • replace art students by art critics, as we all hate critics, but okay!]25 prediction pieces (4 single and 1 double piece, in each of the 5 player colors)• 5 white doubling pieces• 25 small markers (5 in each of the 5 player colors)• 6 wipe-off crayons• 

Glenn’s Gallery™ Late January – Early February Release window

MFG4108 Glenn’s Gallery™ $35.00

Ages 10+

For 3-5 Players

Playing Time 60-70 minutes

UPC 0-29877-04108-4-03500

ISBN 1-56905-195-x

Case Pack 6

Designer: Reiner Knizia

Art: Chris McGloughlin

Made in the U.S.A.

Dimensions 2.625 x 10.875 x 7.5625

Robert T. Carty, Jr.

Vice-President of Sales and Marketing(813) 707-6659v(813) 707-8791f

bobcarty@mayfairgames.com

12

Latest news from Palladium Books

Palladium Books and I have a lot to be thankful for. Palladium Books has survived the Crisis of Treachery for several years now, as well as survive a number of deeply felt losses, and one challenge after another. It’s been hard, but we press forward and continue to produce some pretty awesome books.

These days, times are difficult for a great many people, so you might be inclined to wonder: “What is there to be thankful about?”

That’s easy, be thankful for the people you love and those who love you in return. Be thankful for what you have, even if it seems to be a little less every day. Be thankful for your family, friends, the games you enjoy, sunny mornings and life in general. Sure, things are tough. They are tough here too. Very tough for a great many of us, but that doesn’t mean that life isn’t good. Find the joy and the love and you are rich indeed. This weekend is a good time to remember that.

As for me, whether Palladium goes on for another 28 years (which is our plan) or closes its doors tomorrow (times are tough), I am truly one of the richest men alive. I have lived my dream and loved nearly every minute of it. In the process I have made many friends and touched millions of lives. Some of whom I have even inspired to make their own games, books, art and films. On top of all that, Palladium and I have YOU – the greatest fans on Earth. People who care about the company and the people in it. People who support and encourage our work and appreciate our efforts. It doesn’t get better than that. Or as Erick Wujcik would say, “It’s all good.” Even in the bad times, the hard times, the scary times, YOU help make it “all good” – all worthwhile. Thank you for that.

So yeah, I’m grateful for many things, but most of all I’m grateful for good health, family, friends and you. Thank you for being you, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

Thanksgiving also kicks off Christmas sales

Please buy Palladium! Don’t forget us in the midst of the buying frenzy. Palladium even has a few special online offers in addition to the Christmas Surprise Packages.

Rumor killer

As most of you know, Blizzard Entertainment flew me in to talk about writing and world building as part of their Writers on Writing program. Ever since I announced I was going to Blizzard Entertainment, there has been some whispered speculation and rumors that Blizzard is interested in licensing Rifts® to make an MMOG.

I wish! I would love to work with a company as dedicated to good stories, entertainment and fun as Blizzard. Regrettably, such rumors and speculation are unfounded and untrue. While there are many fans of Rifts® and Palladium Books® at Blizzard, the company is only interested in creating “original” intellectual properties, not licensing from third parties. However, my trip to Blizzard Entertainment last week was a blast and a powerful reminder of how many lives Palladium’s RPGs have touched and imaginations we’ve fueled with our role-playing games.

Ironically, the folks at Blizzard Entertainment told me how they thought Rifts® would make a fantastic MMOG, and asked me why some videogame company hadn’t snatched up the license for Rifts® or other Palladium I.P. My answer was, I’d LOVE to see a Rifts® MMOG!! There were two or three times when we came within inches of cutting a deal with a third party to make an MMOG. Sadly, for reasons that had nothing to do with Palladium Books, each deal fell through. In most cases, financing was the issue.

I’m confident that sooner or later, we’ll see a Rifts® MMOG. Personally, I vote for sooner than later, so if you know someone in the videogame business, put a bug in his ear.

In other news

Dead Reign™: Dark Places™ ships November 30. The printer has confirmed the book will ship on Monday! It’s another frightening and fun addition to the Dead Reign™ RPG. If you like zombies and horror games, you are going to love this book and the entire series.

Dimensional Outbreak™ is the book currently in the final stages of editing and rewrites. Heroes of the Megaverse® and The Rifter® #49 are next.

13

My father, Henry, continues to do well. So does his friend Arlene. Here’s praying for a healthy, crisis free holiday season for us all.

Online sales were strong over the weekend and the first half of this week. Sales were up 6% from the previously week (that’s 24% from sales three weeks ago). That’s good, because we’ve got bills to get caught up on and new books to publish. People continue to be buying a little bit of everything, from new and old game products to T-shirts, baseball caps, coffee mugs and art prints, and of course, lots and lots of Christmas Surprise Packages.

If this year follows all previous years, we should start to get deluged by Surprise Packages. Historically, we sell as many Christmas Surprise Packages in the month of December as we have in the months of October and November combined! And this year’s Christmas Surprise Package is the best bargain EVER, so bring ‘em on, we’re ready for you. Only 29 days to Christmas and only about 18 days to order to be guaranteed delivery by Christmas. You’d better get your order in soon.

— Kevin Siembieda, Publisher & Writer

Palladium Thanksgiving Weekend Specials

Palladium’s Christmas Surprise Package where you can get 1. $90 (often more) worth of product for only $37 plus shipping! And if you request it, ALL books are autographed by me and available staff and freelancers. Mark Dudley came in on Friday to sign a couple hundred books. So have Jeffry Scott Hansen and Henry Siembieda, and we’re hoping Carmen Bellaire will soon join the signers. A special limited edition print set is also available, as is a stack of original artwork and sketches by me, Nick Bradshaw, Brian Manning, Allen Manning and Kent Burles (who donated at least three dozen pieces of original art). Nothing beats the Christmas Surprise Package in sheer bang for your buck, but we’re making a couple of additional Special Offers for Thanksgiving thru Cyber-Monday.Limited Edition Print Set for $30 – plus the first 20 people to order get and an original 2. Kevin Siembieda “Christmas Dragon Sketch.”Print set is limited to a total of 530 copies.• Five black and white prints; each is 8 1/2 x 11 inches.• Each print is signed by the artist who created it.• Artists include:• Mike Mumah – A Super (and Sexy) Christmas.1. Mark Dudley – Dimensional Outbreak in Hangar Five.2. Nick Bradshaw – Rumble Time.3. Kevin Siembieda – Santa Claus (traditional and cheery).4. Bonus print: Kevin Siembieda – Santa Zombie!5. The print set is valued at $40.00 – $10 for each print, plus a FREE fifth bonus print by Kevin • Siembieda.Limited availability. This print set is currently ONLY available via request in your 2009 • Christmas Surprise Package, but between now and midnight, Monday, November 30, 2009, you can buy the set of five prints for $30.00 plus shipping.THE FIRST 20 PEOPLE TO ORDER also get an original, hand drawn, inked and colored • Christmas Dragon sketch, similar to the one depicted here, signed and dated by (me) Kevin Siembieda (estimated value of the sketch alone: $20-$30). Drawn on a sturdy, 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of light cardstock paper.Additional Siembieda Dragon Art. After the first 20 are sold, every one in five print sets • will also get one of Kevin’s Christmas Dragons.Five days only. Sale ends midnight November 30 – while supplies last. Only 100 of these • “print sets” will be made available for these 5 days, the rest are reserved for Christmas Surprise Packages (and approximately 160 of the 530 are already GONE).Cat. No. NOV101.• 

14

Two proof copies of The Mechanoids® comic book #3 & #4

Back in 1989, Caliber Comics licensed The Mechanoids® with the intention of releasing a six issue comic book mini-series. Only three issues came out. Issue number three is scarce. Issue number four was only partially completed. For the first time ever, Palladium is releasing two photocopies of Palladium’s proof copy of the complete issue Number Three and the incomplete issue Number Four. To our knowledge, this would be the first time any part of The Mechanoids comic book, Number Four has ever been seen in any form outside the offices of Palladium Books or Caliber.

Only two sets of the two issues are being offered. A third copy may be • auctioned off at the 2010 Palladium Open House. The purchaser gets a photocopy of  issue #3 and a photocopy of  the never-before-seen, incomplete #4.Sold as a limited collector’s item on a first come, first served basis.• Each is signed by Kevin Siembieda and Alex Marciniszyn.• $50 plus shipping. Cat. No. NOV102. Sold on a first come, first served • basis.

50% Discount on select Zeleznik Art Books

Rifts® & The Megaverse®: The Art of John Zeleznik is an awesome, glossy, color tour de force of Zeleznik’s covers and artwork for Palladium Books. Absolutely gorgeous.

$11.48 plus shipping and handling for Cat. No. 2510 soft cover edition • (instead of $22.95).$25.00  plus  shipping  and  handling  for  Cat.  No.  2510-HC  hardcover • edition  (instead  of  $50).  Comes  with  a  special  tip-in  sheet  signed by artist John Zeleznik and Publisher Kevin Siembieda. Limited to a printing of 500 copies.Five days only. Sale ends midnight November 30.• 

Rifts® & The Megaverse®: The Art of John Zeleznik – Collector’s Masterwork Edition – $125

We cannot possibly offer this amazing book at a discount, but we did want to remind people that it is the perfect gift for the gamer who has almost everything.

The Masterwork Edition is the same, handsome hardcover edition of this book, but it comes with an original piece of John Zeleznik artwork, signed, numbered and glued into the book. Each piece of art is original and represents one of the illustrations that actually appear in the art book. No publisher, anywhere in the world has ever done something like this.

Limited to 200 copies – only 86 remain available.• Signed and numbered by John Zeleznik and Kevin Siembieda.• Cat. No. 2510-CML. $125.00 plus $15 for shipping in the USA, $20 to Canada and $35 overseas; must be sent UPS/Priority Mail or • some other method in which it can be traced and insured. If lost it can NOT be replaced.If the Rifts® movie is ever made (and we are hopeful), the value of this amazing and unique collectible should skyrocket.• 

Only 29 Days till Christmas – Order Your 2009 Palladium Christmas Surprise Package today

Get $90 worth of Palladium product for $37.• Get the Special 2009 Print Set (limited to 530 signed copies).• Get original art by Siembieda, Manning, Burles, or Bradshaw.• Get T-shirts, magnets, and other cool stuff.• 

15

Get each book autographed by Kevin Siembieda and the Palladium crew.• Wow your friend, spouse, sibling, parent or favorite Game Master with a stack of books that will have him or her thinking you spent • a fortune instead of $37 (and shipping). Or get a book for several friends.Try a new Palladium game setting.• Complete your collection.• Get enough gaming material to keep you busy half the winter.• Ideal for Canada and Overseas Palladium fans, because even with shipping you are paying around the cover price for books, plus • getting autographs and other goodies. We highly recommend folks overseas try to take advantage of this opportunity.Factor in the shipping time (6-16 days for Media Mail, 3-6 days for UPS and Priority Mail).• 

Remember, the Surprise Packages are great gifts for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. And you can look like an amazing friend or spouse, because you’ll be giving the recipient of your “gift” $90 worth of stuff (or more)! We know, it’s madness, but we can’t stop Santa Kevin from packing these Grab Bags full. Best of all, it only costs most of you around $45 with shipping! And that gift includes autographs, and if you ask nicely, maybe a one-of-a-kind piece of original artwork, or the new limited edition print set.

PLEASE just make sure you provide a “wish list” of 8-12 currently available items (RPGs, sourcebooks, T-shirts, the 2009 Special Limited Edition Print Set, original artwork, and other stuff) or you may be disappointed. If this is a gift for your spouse or child, PLEASE try to get some idea of what he might want and PLEASE tell us what his favorite Palladium games are. Then place your order ($37 plus shipping and handling) and Kevin Siembieda will hand pick and send you $90 worth of product, much of it from your want list. Without a good Wish List you may be disappointed. Plus, if you request it, we’ll sign each book for you. For many people around the world, this is the only way they can get autographs.

We’ve been doing Christmas Surprise Packages for something like 12-13 years now. It’s our way of saying THANK YOU to all our fans and, in these tough economic times, make the Christmas season a little brighter for as many fans as we can.

Time is running out. Order before December 14 to GUARANTEE you get your Christmas Surprise Package in time for Christmas. Order today!

For more information and to order, click here http://www.palladiumbooks.com/Mercha...duct_Code=XMAS

Some Fan Comments Pulled from Christmas Grab Bags

P.N. in Springfield, Missouri, writes: I was introduced to the wonderful worlds of Palladium Books about three years ago, and this is • my first chance to take part in your awesome Christmas Special. Thank you for doing it year in and year out.R.C. in Salamanca, New York, writes: I’ve been overseas for the last year and boy you guys rock. There are so much new stuff out and • so much enjoyment to be had. Thank you, guys, for such grand ideas.M.G. in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, writes: Keep up the good work. I am looking forward to new titles coming out. If the Rifts® • movie does get made, that will be a great day for everyone who enjoys your work and imagination.J.B. in Waite Park, Minnesota, writes: I love Palladium. Your books helped me get through my deployment, lol. I love the look of the • Quebec troops and would love to see more from that area.I.X.S. in East Providence, Road Island, writes: Dear Santa Kevin, just wanted to say that you and all the Palladium elves have done a • great job this year. The amount of books you’ve been releasing is phenomenal, and it’s all I can do just to keep up my purchases.A.A. in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, writes: Each week I read your press releases, each with fear and hope, but more hope than fear. • Your games were the reason I got into role-playing games. Here’s to a long future full of WOW!F.W. in Marshfield, Wisconsin, writes: Thank you for persevering the last few years and continuing to produce incredible games.• 

Dead Reign™ Sourcebook Two: Dark Places™ Ships November 30

Dead Reign™: Dark Places™ presents four new, gruesome zombies that will make your skin crawl, plus more survivor secrets, using railroad tracks and the urban underground – sewers, storm drains, steam tunnels and other subterranean labyrinths – to travel unseen and undetected by the walking dead. Of course, these “secret highways” of the human survivors have their own dangers and problems.

The sourcebook then looks into the darkest place of all, a man’s soul, and how some misanthropes sacrifice their fellow human beings as “zombie bait” for their own advancement. Much of the source material is written from the perspective of Brad Ashley and is full of helpful observations, suggestions, and ideas for adventure.

16

Four new zombies that are different and terrifying: Worm Meat, Bug Boys, Sewer Crawlers and • Impersonator Zombies.“Live Bait” zombie lures that use human beings as bait.• Traveling along railroad tracks and zombie encounter tables.• Boxcar encounters and 101 boxcar contents table.• The urban underground – traveling through sewers, storm drains, steam tunnels and other • dark places.The pitfalls and dangers of the urban underground.• Diseases, infection and insect infestation.• Additional world information and advice from Brad Ashley.• Random encounter tables and more.• Many, many ideas for new adventure.• Written by Kevin Siembieda.• Illustrated by Amy Ashbaugh, Nick Bradshaw, Mike Mumah and others.• Cover by E.M. Gist.• 64 pages – $12.95 retail – Cat. No. 232. November 30 release.• 

Rifts® Dimension Book™ 12: Dimensional Outbreak™

Author Carl Gleba has created another masterpiece brimming with ideas, new demons, new Deevils, new whacked out spaceships, new magic spells, more about Phase World, Center, the escalating Minion War and much more. Dimensional Outbreak™ is another exciting and surprise filled book in the Minion War™ series as war spills into Phase World®, the city of Center and the Three Galaxies™. The epic scale of the Minion War just got bigger and even the Worlds of Warlock, the Splugorth and Naruni are involved.

Phase World’s Center described and mapped. Four new levels, including the Gateland, Central • Station, the Spaceport, Repo-Yards, Free Trade Zone, Warlock Market, notable merchants and places of business, and much more.Demon Knights, Star Slayers, demonic legions and more.• Demonic spaceships, magic weapons and new horrors.• Deevil fortifications and defenses.• Demon Magic (new).• Spaceships, power armor and other gear.• The plot for conquering the Three Galaxies and more.• A  stand-alone  Dimension  Book  that  is  also  the  third  step  in  an  epic,  five  book  crossover  that  spills  across  the  Palladium • Megaverse®.Artwork by Apollo Okamura, Nick Bradshaw, Mark Dudley, Mike Mumah, and others.• John Zeleznik cover painting.• Written by Carl Gleba.• 192-224 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 875. Ships in December or January.• 

Rifts®/Phase World® Sourcebook: Heroes of the Megaverse®

Most agree the Book of Heroes is one of the greatest magic artifacts in the Megaverse. Only one copy is known to exist, and everyone wants to get their hands on it – Demons, Deevils, the Splugorth, the Dominators, the Kreeghor, the United Worlds of Warlock and everyone in between. For it is said that he who wields the “Power of the 2000” can rule the universe.

Once protected by the Cosmo-Knights, the book has gone missing. No one knows its fate or the true power contained within its List of Heroes. No one except YOU – the new keepers of this legendary Rune book.

Minion War tie-in adventure sourcebook.• Contains the names of 2000 real life fans who purchased that special print during the Crisis of Treachery.• 

17

Written by Kevin Siembieda.• Illustrated by various Palladium heroes.• 96 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 877. Ships in January.• 

Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® RPG

The core rule book you need to play. Second printing. This is the game that has restarted it all.

New and favorite Mecha.• Play pilots of Alphas, Betas, Cyclones and other Veritechs.• Play Battloid Aces, Military Specialists and others.• Combat weapons and gear.• History and notable characters.• The Haydonites and Invid are your enemies.• Quick-roll character generation and more.• 336 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 550, manga size & format – available now.• 

Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® RPG – 8 1/2 x 11 Hardcover

The core rule book you need to play. With all the updates and corrections of the manga edition, 2nd printing, plus some bonus art and pages of data. Makes a nice gift.

Additional data and rules for space combat not in the manga edition.• Big illustrations and some additional art not in the manga edition.• Plus all the mecha, weapons, info of the manga edition.• Quick-roll character generation and more.• Fun, durable and looks fantastic.• 224 pages – $30.95 retail – Cat. No. 550HC – 8 1/2 x 11 hardcover edition.• 

Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® “Gold” Collector’s Edition

A great gift for your ultimate Robotech® fan, Robotech® role-playing gamers and collectors. Rich and beautiful cover, gold embossing on black leatherette – only 500 signed and numbered copies ever printed.

Limited to 500 copies.• Signed and numbered. Eight signatures including Tommy Yune, Kevin Siembieda, Apollo Okamura, Brian Manning, Allen Manning, • and others on a special, hand tipped-in, color print available only in this special edition.Deluxe hardcover, gold embossed on black leatherette, and gorgeous.• All the same data, art and material as the hardcover edition.• 224 pages – still only $70.00 retail – Cat. No. 5500HC – 8 1/2 x 11 inches, hardcover, available “exclusively” from Palladium Books.• 

Robotech® Expeditionary Force Marines™

Jason Marker is done writing this exciting new Robotech® sourcebook. Next step is a quick edit and sending it off to Harmony Gold for their approval. This is another sourcebook jam-packed with new O.C.C.s, Mecha, weapons, gear, and ideas to send your characters on amazing new adventures.

UEEF Marine Corps O.C.C. and M.O.S. skills.• New weapons.• New Mecha.• New Marine ground vehicles.• New Marine aircraft.• New Marine specific spacecraft.• 

18

History, training, and organization of the UEEF Marines.• Cat. No. 553, manga size & format – final page count not yet determined, but we are thinking 128-192 pages, $14.95 retail.• 

The Rifter® #48 – Horror Special– Available Now!

The horror issue has shipped. Pre-orders were a bit higher than usual, so this might be one of those issues that sells out faster than most. It is certainly packed with adventure, monsters and fun role-playing source material.

The Rifter® is your doorway to unlimited imagination and numerous Palladium role-playing worlds. It offers new heroes, powers, weapons, magic and adventure for your games. It presents new villains, monsters and dangers to battle, and new ideas to consider.

Rifts® N.O.R.A.D. – A massive, fully fleshed out adventure around the ruins of N.O.R.A.D. • 300 years later in modern Rifts Earth. Dark secrets and new dangers await.Expanded Horror Factor™ Rules for all Palladium settings.• Nightbane® Answers to Commonly Asked Questions – By Mark Oberle and Irvin • Jackson.Dead Reign™ Impersonator Zombies – just in time for Halloween.• Heroes Unlimited™ – Stage Magic Unlimited.• The latest chapter of Hammer of the Forge™, fiction.• News, coming attractions and more.• Nightbane® cover by Kent Burles.• $11.95 retail – 96 pages – Cat. No. 148. Available now.• 

Mysteries of Magic™ Book One: The Heart of Magic™ – available now

The Heart of Magic™ is packed with new information, details and new insight about magic, P.P.E., the Palladium World, Men of Magic, Wizards, Warlocks, Priests, Familiars, true names, apprenticeship, scroll conversion, learning magic, new and different magic O.C.C.s, new Wizard and Warlock spells, and data that expands, defines and clarifies a number of aspects about the practice of magic in the Palladium Fantasy setting. Easy to adapt to Rifts® (just change S.D.C. damage to M.D. and you are ready to go).

50 new Wizard and Warlock spells.• The Forsaken Mage O.C.C., a Jack of all magicks and an outcast.• Half-Wizard O.C.C., a split-class spell caster.• Priest Variant O.C.C.s: Healer, Scholar and Warrior.• New details about the Goblin Cobbler and Psi-Mystic.• New details about Familiars, their secrets, and special abilities.• True names, the mystery behind them, the danger of revealing them, and how to • change them.Secrets of how magic is learned, how it works, and the apprenticeship process (what is • learned).New insights about magic, the Palladium World, and Men of Magic.• A closer look at the Wizard O.C.C., scroll conversion, spell books, auras, jobs, guilds, and the effects of metal and minerals on magic.• Unstable and weak spell magic, learning new spells, and more.• For the Palladium Fantasy® world, but suitable for any S.D.C. setting, and is easy to adapt to Rifts® and any Mega-Damage setting.• Cover and logo by David Martin.• Art by Ashbaugh, Mumah, Burles and others.• Written by Mark Hall and Kevin Siembieda.• 96 pages – $16.95 retail – Cat. No. 472. Available now.• 

19

Palladium Fantasy RPG® Book 2: Old Ones™ – Back in Print

Old Ones™ is back in print as a special printing available exclusively via Palladium’s online store.

Old Ones™ is an epic sourcebook packed full of information, people, places and ideas. Details about the Old Ones, the Minotaur R.C.C. (an ancient minion of the Old Ones), the Monk Scholar and Illusionist, 50 cities and towns mapped and described, adventure ideas and the epic Place of Magic adventure.

Minotaur R.C.C.• Minotaur Chaos Priest R.C.C.• Monk Scholar O.C.C.• The Illusionist P.C.C.• 50 cities, towns and forts described. All 33 cities and towns are mapped. Each offers an • avenue for adventure.7 adventures plus adventure ideas.• The Place of Magic: An epic adventure, mapped and described.• World  information,  the  Enchanted  Forest,  the  secret  complex of  the Old Ones,  the • Contagion, magic weapons, monsters and more.Written by Kevin Siembieda.• 224 pages – $24.95 retail – Cat. No. 453. Available now.• 

Back in print very soon

Chaos Earth™, Rise of Magic (Almost done with many corrections, including missing experience tables.)• Aliens Unlimited™, Revised• Rifts® Dark Conversions• Rifts® Canada• 

Most “out of print” Palladium RPG titles are available as PDF files from DriveThruRPG.com

Island at the Edge of the World™, Adventures in the Northern Wilderness™, Aliens Unlimited™, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion® Trilogy, The Rifter® #4, 8, 21, 31, and many other “out of print” titles are available on DriveThruRPG.

And at half the original cover price. Palladium has 80 out of print titles as well as a handful of currently available titles available as PDF downloads from DriveThruRPG. Take advantage of this service and complete your collection.

And be sure to check them out on Cyber Monday, November 30, when all Palladium products will be 10% off.Hold on to your hat, DriveThruRPG is working on offering a “print on demand” service by 2010 sometime, in which you

will be able to order the out of print title as a PDF or as a “printed” book. Is that cool or what? It’s not available yet, but coming next year.

Wayne Smith has made the Palladium area of DriveThruRPG.com more functional and easy to use. Major game lines are now separated into categories making it easier to find the titles you want. Currently there are 90+ Palladium titles available as PDF digital downloads from DriveThruRPG.com. Check them out and get those books you’ve always heard about.

Character Sketches by artist Mike Mumah

Finding artists willing to do characters sketches is a rarity these days. Finding an artist of Mike Mumah’s caliber is rarer still. Consequently, I wanted to let Palladium fans know that Mike Mumah sells character sketches (pencil or ink are your best bargain) at reasonable prices.

Remember, this is a one-of-a-kind original piece of artwork by one of Palladium’s fan favorite artists. Character sketches are a wonderful way to memorialize your character or player group in a way that can be physically displayed and enjoyed for decades. They also make a unique gift for the gamer who has everything, plus the value of the artwork is likely to increase over the years. In fact, a number of Palladium’s freelancer writers and G.M.s have commissioned Mike Mumah to illustrate their characters and player groups.

20

The price of a Mumah character sketch varies depending on the size of the artwork, the number of figures and the complexity of the piece (pencil, ink, color, background, etc.). A single, black and white, pencil or inked figure, no background, is your best bargain at a cost of $35-$50. More detailed and elaborate pieces with multiple figures, background, color, etc., run between $75 and $250. Mike is happy to discuss details and pricing. You can contact him at mumah@mumah.com.© Copyright 2009 Palladium Books Inc. All rights reserved.

Rifts®, The Rifter®, RECON®, Splicers®, Palladium Books®, Phase World®, The Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game®, Megaverse®, Nightbane®, The Mechanoids®, The Mechanoid Invasion®, Coalition Wars® and After the Bomb® are Registered Trademarks of Palladium Books Inc. Beyond the Supernatural, Dead Reign, Heroes Unlimited, Ninjas & Superspies, Minion War, Mysteries of Magic, The Three Galaxies, Warpath, and other published book titles, names, slogans and likenesses are trademarks of Palladium Books Inc., and Kevin Siembieda.

Robotech® and Robotech® The Shadow Chronicles® are Registered Trademarks of Harmony Gold USA, Inc.This press release may be reprinted, reposted, linked and shared for the sole purpose of advertising, promotion and sales solicitation.A more graphical version of this Press Release can be found at http://www.palladiumbooks.com/press/press2009-11d.html

Stay tuned to www.palladiumbooks.com for more information.

Terror Network, our counter-terrorism RPG is now available in PDF. Just follow the link on our web site Terror Network Sales Page

From the mountains of Afghanistan to the streets of Boston, fight on the front lines against Terrorist Networks like Al-Qaeda. You and your fellow agents are the nation’s unsung heroes in the War on Terror.

With 42 skills and a gritty, high body count system, Terror Network is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. It supports investigation-based campaigns, combat-based campaigns, or a combination of both.

Includes:

A complete rules system• History and overview of terrorism• Counter-terrorism agencies with details and mechanics• Sample Investigation• NPCs, storylines and advice for Game Masters • 

Terror Network PDF Available

The Montreal Comic-Con back in december with local and international artists and exhibitors

Montreal — The Montreal Comic-Con will hold its third convention of the year on December 6th, at Place Bonaventure, from 11:00am to 6:00pm. This growing event features comic books, bande dessinée, video games, anime, manga, toys, science-fiction, non-sport cards and collectibles.

The December 6th edition, in line with the Holiday season, will showcase about forty local and international artists – with whom visitors can chat – and as much exhibitors selling products linked to the event thematic. The will be plenty of Christmas gift ideas for all ages. Drawings, a masquerade (skit ) with judges, a Magic tournament and Star Wars characters in costumes will be among the highlights of the day. In addition, the Planète BD bookstore will be there to promote the bande dessinée and artists from the field. As for the manga fans, they will enjoy the appearance of two anime voice actresses who will talk about their work and perform

voice scenarios. And last but not least, Richard Hatch (Apollo, Battlestar Galactica), Kane Hodder (Jason in Friday the 13th) and Lloyd Kaufman (American producer and film director, Toxic Avengers) will make an appearance as special guests.

The Montreal Comic-Con is intended to highlight the talent of local artists and present key features from the field – local and international. Its objective is to establish itself as a must-see entertainment event in Montreal for both French-speaking and English-speaking communities.

FOR MORE INFO:

info@montrealcomiccon.comwww.montrealcomiccon.comTel.: 514 705-1051514 653-3783

21

New Interwar TanksHi

Richard Kemp has been working away at a whole new range of WW1 and Interwar armoured vehicles - all in 1/55th scale.

The first one is available now:K50 Vickers Medium Mark III – a great-looking prototype

British tank of the interwar years

http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/latest.php

Coming next – available by the end of the week - is the huge, 5-turreted, W40k-ish Vickers Independent. Have a sneak peak:

h t t p : / / w w w. c o p p l e s t o n e c a s t i n g s . c o. u k / i m a g e s /k51vickersindependent.jpg

For more information about both of these tanks have a look at these Wiki pages:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vickers_A1E1_Independenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium_Mark_III

Don’t forget our existing Vickers Medium Mk. II

http://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/range.php?range=HA

Mark Copplestone

22

More news from Avalanche PressOrder Now for Christmas Delivery!

It really is getting that close! We have 12 more days we can still ship to any destination and have a good to excellent chance of pre-Christmas arrival. And to make yours an Avalanche Press holiday season, we have special deals and great prices on fantastic games.

Twelve Days BEFORE Christmas

What can be better than finding an Avalanche Press game under your tree? There are 12 days left to place an order and still receive it by Christmas, so for each of them we'll have a fantastic gift offer! And don’t forget – we have FREE gift wrap available! Every day will have a special offer UNIQUE to that day – so check back and see what we have in store for you.

Day Twelve!

For every order of $100, we’ll add one FREE copy of Tiger of Malaya all gift-wrapped and ready to hand to Santa. Make your brother-in-law happy for once! Turn a friend into a gamer! Just keep it for yourself! DealÕs good from noon Dec. 2 'til noon Dec. 3 (Central Standard Time).

Buy Two, Get a Third Free!

Buy any two items in our webstore, and get a third one for FREE (lowest-priced item is the free game).

Damaged Stuff

We’ve found (or had an accident with) a few more damaged games, available now for a very cheap price. Damage ranges from “scuffed” to “blasted” but all the innards are intact – pay your money, take your chances.

Island of Death•  : $8Cruiser Warfare•  : $10

New Content

Black Waters, Black Beaches!Like all of the more recent Great War at Sea additions, the scenarios of Black Waters include

invasions. Many invasions. To help you keep track of these furious land battles we have some markers for German and Italian soldiers and marines.

The World of Cactus Jack“Cactus Jack” Garner is best remembered today for his colorful description of the vice-

presidency, but an assassination attempt on Franklin Roosevelt almost made Garner president instead. We use our Third Reich game to look at the historical implications of the failed assault.

Visit us soon at www.avalanchepress.com.Avalanche Press makes historical boardgames that every player can enjoy. Please visit our online store or call our customer service line: (800) 564-9008 or 1-205-957-0017.

23

Printing & Design Tips: December 2009

By Steven Waxman*

In-Design Vs. Photoshop

I went to a client-site a few years ago to help choose photos for a poster. I was surprised to learn that the client always laid out her posters in Photoshop. I, on the other hand, had always laid out my posters in Quark XPress. I had assumed Photoshop was only for editing images, not laying out pages. I was confused, so I decided to do some research.

One printer with whom I spoke said it was perfectly fine to create a poster in Photoshop. He even said that PostScript RIPs easily processes the resulting TIFF files when producing film or plates. The printer did, however, encourage me to put the type on the vector layers and use sufficient resolution to provide crisp type edges when the file was finally rasterized (turned into bitmaps for printing).

I also asked the printer about creating posters in Adobe Illustrator. I learned that designers usually don’t create posters in Illustrator, but they do use Illustrator for packaging design. Apparently, Illustrator is ideally suited to producing the irregular shapes–tabs, folds, etc.–of the flat sheets that will be subsequently die-cut, folded, and glued into product packaging. Again, the PostScript RIPs can process these files without incident.

When, then, should designers use page composition applications such as InDesign and Quark?

First of all, multi-page documents are perfectly suited for Quark and InDesign, and not for Photoshop. Both the poster and the product packaging mentioned above were single-page documents, unlike books or booklets. Text-heavy documents also fit into this category, whether or not they are multi-page documents, because both InDesign and Quark have robust text processing features. For instance, if you want to easily flow text from one column to another, InDesign and Quark work far better than Photoshop. The same is true if you want to use style sheets for formatting type.

Finally, although it is quite possible to produce posters in Photoshop (and my client was doing so quite successfully), the monitor will repeatedly render the high-resolution images every time you make an adjustment in Photoshop, and this re-rendering takes a lot of time. In a page-composition application like InDesign or Quark, you can adjust the text and vector art without re-rendering the background bitmapped images, thus speeding up your workflow.

Descreening Vs. Copydot Halftones

What can you do if the only photograph you have to work with is a previously screened halftone, for example an image

from a printed magazine or book? Two years ago in Quick Tips, I suggested one solution, which I will repeat below. This year, I have added two new work-arounds.

First off, if you do nothing but scan the image, which has already been broken down into a screened pattern of halftone dots, and then screen it again when you prepare the film or send the job to the platesetter, you may very well end up with a moiré pattern.

Moiré is an extra, unwanted patterning created when you superimpose one screen over another. You can see this effect by laying one window screen over another and rotating the top screen. At a certain point, you’ll see arcs and loops in the combined screen pattern.

To avoid moiré patterns when using a previously screened image, your first option is to descreen the image. To do this, open the image in an image editing program like Photoshop, and then apply the descreen function (or Gaussian blur), which blurs the image (and the halftone dots). When you sharpen the image again, the dots won’t be visible. (Hint: Start with a very large image and then reduce its size as you complete these steps.)

Another way to avoid moiré is to set the new halftone screen to an angle different from that of the initial screen applied to the photograph. The angle between the two halftone screens must be at least 30 degrees. (This is actually why 4-color images usually don’t have moiré problems, since the cyan, magenta, and black halftone screens are all set 30 degrees apart—and the yellow screen is set at a smaller angle, since it is the least visible color and hence is more forgiving.)

The third option is to reproduce the screened halftone “dot for dot.” This process yields a “copydot halftone.” Basically, in this solution you reproduce the previously screened halftone as line art: that is, without a halftone screen. In this case, the only screen used is the one in the image with which you started. (This is not a good idea if you plan to enlarge the image, because the halftone dots will become more visible. Reducing the image size is less problematic; although, if the dots get too small and close together, your halftone screen will plug up.)

Keep in mind that all three solutions are art, not science. Therefore, you should plan to experiment a few times to achieve success.

*Steven Waxman is a printing consultant. He teaches corporations how to save money buying printing, brokers printing services, and teaches prepress techniques. Steven has been in the printing industry for thirty-three years working as a writer, editor, print buyer, photographer, graphic designer, art director, and production manager.

24

Available Now – Call to Arms: Martial Artist, Monk, and Deadeye

Three new classes have joined the Fantasy Craft fray: the Martial Artist, a base class dominating the battlefield with precision grace and raw physical might; the Monk, whose mastery of mind and body unlock fantastic spiritual powers; and the Deadeye, a lethally effective sniper at almost any range. Each volume features new supporting material, including feats, Paths, and character creation guidelines.

Pick them up individually or in a discounted bundle. Answer the Call to Arms today!

25

Signs & Portents 75 – RuneQuest II Revealed!

A special (and rather large!) issue of Signs & Portents for your Christmas reading this month – 93 pages of free gaming goodness, including a special preview of the forthcoming RuneQuest II.

You can download a copy at; http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/series.php?qsSeries=13

In this month’s issue;

Dragonmeet 2009Our reporter on the scene brings you the latest

news from one of the UK’s premier gaming events.

SpycraftPlaying a kid in the espionage classic.

RuneQuest IIThe full monty on this game’s new release by

RuneQuest supremo, Lawrence Whitaker.

Hammer SlammersThe start of a brand new campaign for the

galaxy’s greatest mercenary unit.

Lone WolfDiscover the city of Tyso.

ConanVenture forth into the Houses of Set. A look at

the darkest of temples across the kingdoms of the Hyborian Age.

ConanHunting the Falcon - a brand new scenario for

the Conan RPG.

Judge DreddA range of street encounters to inflict upon your

judges during their investigations.

Fantasy OGLCorrupted tomes to devastate your players.

Babylon 5The Legacy of War epic campaign continues, the players are called for a conference on board the Excalibur.

Matthew Sprange

Mongoose PublishingTel: +44 (0)1793 434488 Fax:+44 (0)1793 497999 Mob: +44 (0)7891 624298http://www.mongoosepublishing.com

26

Newest staff reviews from DriveThruComics.com

DragonArt covers all the nuts and bolts of basic critter illustration from what is functionally a stick figure, to basic shapes like cylinders/ tubes, boxes, etc. It gets in to anatomy in comparison to real animals (which is crucial in “selling” the image to viewers) as well as perspective and scale. Basic shading (stippling, hatching, cross-hatching, etc) as well as Ink and Color are touched

on.Not only is the basic “western dragon” covered from almost every

angle, but so are other varieties. A sizeable portion is given to “other fantasy creatures” such as gargoyles, gryphons, pegasi and unicorns, etc. All of the foundations used previously apply here as well…stick figures, shapes, detailing, pencils, ink, and color.

Overall it’s a fun book with a wealth of good info for new as well as experienced illustrators who are interested in drawing fantasy critters. It definitely has a place on my shelf. The writing is solid and clear. Layout nice and crisp. Artwork is also good.

This isn’t Todd Lockwood-style illustration…it’s not that sort of book. I say the word “Basic” here a lot and it applies. This is a basic book geared for the young adult and beginner artist…and as such it does a perfect job at nailing down the subject matter in a clear, concise manner.

Review by Jeff PrestonRead the complete review at FlamesRising.com: http://www.flamesrising.com/dragonart-review

DragonArtby F+W Mediahttp://comics.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=65246&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $15.99Rating: 5 out of 5 stars (from Flames Rising)

This is filled with the beautiful art of Aaron Acevedo, and many of the pieces will be familiar to rpg and collectible card game fans. Acevedo is a talented artist and his work evokes a wonderful sense of time, place and character. Tomorrowland would make a wonderful coffee table book, with a hard cover and glossy pages. As a PDF, however, I can’t help but feel that something is lost. Now that I have it on my computer, I am not sure what I am to do with it - it would kill my

printer to print pages, perhaps I could use some images for wallpaper. When the Drive Thru RPG print on demand program is up and running, this would make a great gift for a fantasy fan.

Tomorrowland: The Art of Aaron Acevedoby Sigil Entertainment Grouphttp://comics.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=65898&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $9.95Rating: 3 out of 5 stars (from Nathan Russell)

27

The word 'fantasy' has different meanings to different people. Being a role-player, it means ’swords & sorcery' to me... and most of the images in this collection do not qualify. That doesn’t mean to say that they are not pleasing to the eye, or of use if you are preparing materials for another genre... perhaps it is 'fantasy' as in adolescent male fantasy, although none are pornographic and most could be shown to even a prudish individual without causing offence!

The first image shows a decidedly out-of-uniform lady sprawled in front of a montage of modern military vehicles - nice pin-up for those with military interests. Her pose is a bit unrealistic, the arm she’s supposed to be leaning on doesn’t seem to be supporting her weight and she'd probably fall over, while she has what your average drill sergeant

would describe as a 'non-regulation face.' The next one is far more attractive if a bit dark, a lady in a flowing dark red dress of vaguely Victorian vintage in front of a fairy-tale castle and carriage. Nicely posed and rendered, but the lady’s attire ought to be lighter to make her stand out against the backdrop.

The next one is, I think, my favorite: a rather cheeky young dragon beside a young lady in a white and green gown. The detail on the dragon is amazing and well-rendered, with beautiful scales. That’s followed by a winged girl lounging on a bowl of over-large flowers, and seemingly threatened by a massive hummingbird that has flown up behind her. Individual parts of the picture - especially the flowers - are well-done, but the composition as a whole doesn’t work very well. Next is the 'adventurer with dogs' - well, the dogs are nice, but the adventurer, although her clothing is well done, is of implausible shape and has a face like a Barbie doll. Excellent staff, I know a few wizards who might like to appropriate it!

The next one is pure pin-up, leggy girl in scanty shorts and top in front of a sports car, with a Confederate flag and fireworks in the background. Beautifully-composed picture, if the content appeals. The next one is a pin-up as well, if your tastes run to the macabre; a lady in scanty black underwear reclining against a tomb (which is a wonderfully well done rendition of stonework) with a couple of skeletons lurking around. Then there’s a pair of vampires, male and female, taking their ease, a nice balanced picture with some more good stonework and a very good sprawling pose for the male vampire lounging on a throne.

The final three pictures are a woman who seems to be on the point of a 'wardrobe malfunction' beside a large well-rendered toad (who looks like he’s got the giggles), a Wiccan in a position the human anatomy couldn’t adopt (but her spellbook and cat are well done, also her stripy socks which rival some of mine!) and a final out-and-out pinup pose of a lady whose hat and broomstick suggest witch and whose clothing (or lack thereof) suggest something else entirely!

On the whole, technically competent and tasteful images mostly suited to something like a calendar which you probably don’t need to hide when Grannie comes to visit: if that’s what you are after it’s a nice collection.

Fantasy Women Clipart Volume 2by Art Fantasieshttp://comics.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=58912&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $1.95Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (from Megan Robertson)

In Lemuria #1, creator Adam Prosser introduces us to a world that was once ruled by the might lemurs. That is, until the lemurs all became lazy and directionless and were passed by man on his way up the evolutionary scale, relegating them to a much lower status in society. It’s against this humorous backdrop that Prosser crafts two tales of sword and sorcery that are filled with action and laughs.

In the first tale, a high-school aged sorceress in training daydreams about living a life of adventure. She gets her wish when an overweight barbarian and her lemur sidekick show up at the

Lemuria: Issue #1 (PDF)by Phantasmic Taleshttp://comics.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=65742&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $0.75Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (from Brian LeTendre)

28

girl’s school to rob it of treasure. The two end up uncovering an evil cult that was sacrificing students to a demon god (who happens to speak like a surfer dude) and hijinks ensue.

The second story, a warrior rides into town looking for a man rumored to be ‘the bravest in the world.’ Instead he finds an effeminate tailor that sends him on a fetch quest for supplies, which turns out to be much more difficult a quest than it sounds.

Prosser writes great dialogue for the characters in his world, and his art style matches the humor of the book perfectly. It’s clear from just these two tales that the world of Lemuria is filled with colorful characters that all have their own stories to tell. I’m looking forward to meeting more of them in the future.

Looking at the cover of this issue immediately took me back to when I used to play the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Other Strangeness” RPG. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that “Indego Blue” takes me right back to the best TMNT comics mood-wise of today and yore within the first few pages! All great things, folks. I guess I’m a sucker for mutant animal comics.

The opening exposition is told in a fast, semi-detailed first person style, and it explains that, basically, genetic “splicing” between human and animals has led to these “genetic mutts” being kicked to the curb socially and hunted down “like vermin”.

Our story stars and is narrated by the titular character, Indego Blue. He’s a dog-man with no memory of his past, or who he really is, and completely dedicated to saving those “transplants” like himself. This comic has all the tropes we’ve come to love: action,

adventure, mystery, a tech-geek sidekick (named Baxter), heroics and a determined villain who works for an evil corporation. While not wholly original by any stretch, “Indego Blue” proves to quite the kick in the pants, and is a great comic to pick up for those who are growing tired with standard mainstream super-tights titles.

And, as mentioned before, this comic nicely captures the spirit of TMNT, which itself was a parody of comics like Daredevil and the like. The art is non-complex black & white; with strong line work, great inking, good layout and terrific pacing. The dialog flows smoothly with only a couple hiccups here and there. The writing, while uncomplicated, is strong and sets up in superb fashion the universe in which this story takes place. The lettering is excellent, my only (tiny) gripe with it being some bubbles and text-boxes having a little too much space around the letters—but hey, this will NOT detract from the story one bit. Overall, this book is a well-built, above-average offering showcasing sequential storytelling skill and talent.

In other words: Totally worth reading. Oh, and this book is fun. I like fun. If you like fun, too, you should give “Indego Blue” a gander. Come on, it’s a steal at $1 for 28 pages!

Indego Blue #1by Saint James Comicshttp://comics.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=65435&it=1&SRC=polyglotPrice: $0.90 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (from Steven Saunders)

29

New Items and Preorders from Brigade Games

(Unless specifically noted, all products are 28mm.)

What is new at Brigade Games

Republic to Empire, Wargaming the Wars of Napoleon Bonaparte

arriving imminently Brought to you by the same team behind Beneath the Lily Banners, the book combines the writing of Barry Hilton with the creative talents of illustrator and designer Clarence Harrison. The book is lavishly illustrated with over 200 original photographs shot especially. 150 pages of full color with 210 photographs of some of the finest wargaming models around. The rules come with a six sided gate-fold full color play sheet on thick gloss finish card. The rules require no rebasing of collections. Unit basing is immaterial as long as it follows the general conventions of tabletop gaming. Republic to Empire can be used for all scales although they are primarily written for 28mm scale Divisional to Army level games. Unit sizes can vary from 16-60 for infantry and 10 – 60 for cavalry. The game play is smooth and free flowing with minimal need to refer to the main text once concepts have been mastered. New players usually pick up the key mechanisms within three to four game turns.

http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=WR19

We also have a few more copies of Barry Hilton’s Beneath the Lily Banners

http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=WR1617

1938 A Very British Civil War – The Gathering Storm Sourcebook

http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=WR20

Artizan Designs:

SWW139 British & Commonwealth Officers and Characters • (4) http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=ADWW2BPLP594 The Immortal Battalion II (3)• PLP595 Long Arm of the Law with Pistols (3) •  http://www.

brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=ADPLPNew Artizan Renaissance Range: (limited initial supply)• REN001 Landsknecht Command (4)• REN002 Armored Pikemen Standing (8)• REN003 Unarmored Pike Attacking (8) •  http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=ADRENBlack Powder – Rules for Warfare covering 1700-1900 •  http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=WR19

Lasalle Napoleonic Rules

Lasalle Napoleonic Tactical Wargames Rules by Sam Mustafa, the author of Grande Armee In these rules you take command of corps or division in the Napoleonic Wars. The book is hard bound with 136 pages and in FULL COLOR.

The average time to complete a game: 2-3 hours with 2-6 players

You will be playing with 12-18 units per side on a table 4' x 6' or larger.

http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=WR19

Perry and Victrix Plastic Napoleonics (limited supply)

New Heavy Cavalry and Highlanders http://www.• brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=NAP

Brand New from Iron Ivan: Where Heros Dare! Two Fisted Action in the Pulp and Serial Movie World

Want to raid a speakeasy in Chicago’s Southside with your lawmen? How about stalk the jungles of South America for the lost treasure of Whoomplsnutz? Maybe you want to raid a cultist temple while they try to summon something vile and nasty from the nth Dimension? SS Werewolves and Vampires fighting giant robots? No problem!

30

The rules can be used for all of the popular scale miniatures. Basing is individual.

Table size can be anywhere from 2'x 2' up to 6'x 8' or more.

http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=II

New CompanyB Russian MBV-2 Armored Train (1/56th)(preorder only – approx release Dec 2009 or before)

Unpainted and minor assemblyNote: These are being produced in batches so you must

preorder to get one as casting will most likely be infrequent after the first preorder batch.

Additional shipping charges may apply for international locations – depends on shipping restrictions for size and weight. Once we have more info we will post it.

http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=MBV2We have been busy working with our sculptors and

manufacturing partners to bring the best in wargaming miniatures to our customers.

Items have been going fast for the holidays so please get your order in early. We are working as fast as possible to get your orders out.

Recent Releases at Brigade Games:

World War I: WIWF03 French Infantry III (8) (Adrians/Overcoats/Packs/Bayonets)

http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=BGHMW

WWI Arab Revolt – Joint Range between Artizan and Brigade Games

ARB006 Arab Cavalry (3 figures)• ARB007 Arab Cavalry II (3 figures)• 

ARB010 Sharifan Infantry (4 figures) • http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=BGAR•  B

Atomic Cafe 1957

Atomic Cafe 1957: The Mooseketeers and Marvin Moose (5)• Atomic Cafe 1957: The Roller Girls (5)• Atomic Cafe 1957: Super Duper Man (Special Character)• Atomic Cafe 1957: The Kit Kat Club (5) • http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=BGAC5•  7

(Check out the awesome Atomic Cafe game photos from Fall In in our forum

China at War — NEW

BG-CAW005  Chinese  Riflemen  III  -  German  Equipped  (4) • BG-CAW006 Chinese Riflemen with Big Swords  II  - German Equipped (4)BG-CAW007 Chinese Command II- German Equipped (4)• BG-CAW001 Chinese Riflemen I - German Equipped (4)• BG-CAW002 Chinese Riflemen II - German Equipped (4)• BG-CAW003  Chinese  Riflemen  with  Big  Swords  -  German • Equipped (4)BG-CAW004 Chinese Command I- German Equipped (4)• http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=BGHMCAW• 

CompanyB - 1/56th scale vehicles

Rolls Royce Tender - complements our Arab Revolt Range• M24 Chaffee light tank• M3 USMC 75mm SPM (3 crew)• T-28 Russian Tank• Lancia 90/53 gun truck (4 crew)• British C11 ADF staff car• Matilda A12 Tank gun/flame• NABV9 Vickers MkVI B and C (temporarily sold out)• NAGV4 Panzer III J (temporarily sold out)• NAGV5 Stoewer Command Car (temporarily sold out)• NAIV1 Fiat 508• NAIV2 Fiat L6/40• NAIV3 CV35 (2)• NAIV3a CV35 flame• NAVI5 AB41 Autoblinda• NAIV6 AS37 Sahara Truck (temporarily sold out)• NAIV7 Lancia 3RO• NAIV8 Lancia 90/53• NAIV9 Semovente 47/32• NAIV10 Spa-Viberti AS42• http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=BGHMT• 

31

NEW ITEMS FROM THE BRANDS WE CARRY

Artizan Design - Thrilling Tales• PLP587 Sky Pirates with Rifles• PLP588 Long Arm of the Law Armed• PLP589 Scotland Yard Detectives• PLP590 A Very Private Army 2• PLP591 Department of Paranormal Studies 2• PLP592 The Immortal Battalion• PLP593 German Sentries• PLP594 The Immortal Battalion II• Artizan Design - World War Two• SWW095 Late War German Gun Crew• SWW854 Late War German PaK40• Artizan Design - Wild West• AWW301 Pony Express Rider• 

Northstar

NS-NSS1936  Spanish  Civil War  Anarchist  (Durrutti  Column) • Guerilla Fighters (2)Great War Miniatures• British Army 1914• B104 Scots Command• B105 Highlanders Advancing (6)• B106 Highland HMG• B117 Dismounted British Cavalry• British Army 1917• B18 British Tank Crew (6)• B19 British Toffee Apple Mortar• B20 British Infantry marching with full packs (6)• B21 British Artillery Crew (6)• B22 British Cavalry Command• B23 British Cavalry with Swords (2)• B24 British Cavalry with Lances (2)• B25 British Cavalry with Rifles (2)• 

Woodbine Design Company – Gallipoli WW1 Historicals

We have a restock order in for Woodbine - so get orders in if you want a guarantee that they can be filled

ANZ001 ANZAC Officers• ANZ002 ANZAC NCOs• ANZ003 ANZAC Bombers• ANZ004 ANZACs in Lemon Squeezers• ANZ005 ANZAC Vickers HMG• ANZ006 ANZAC Trench Catapult• ANZ007 ANZAC Casualties• ANZ008 ANZAC Character Set One• ANZ009 ANZAC 18lb Gun & 6 crew• ANZSection ANZAC Section pack• TURK01 Turkish Officers• TURK02 Turk NCOs• 

TURK03 Turk Bombers• TURK04 Turk Riflemen• TURK05 Turk Machine Gun• TURK06 Turk Trench Catapult• TURK07 Turkish Casualties• TURK08 Turk Character Set One• TURK09 Turk Krupp 75mm Gun and Crew• TURKSection Turkish Section• TURKSection2 Turk Section Two• TURK10 Ottoman Officers• TURK11 Turk NCOs• TURK12 Turk Bombers• ARAB01 Arabs in Ottoman Service Officers• ARAB02 Arabs in Ottoman Service NCOs• ARAB03 Arabs in Ottoman Service Bombers• ARAB05 Arabs in Ottoman Service HMG and Crew• ARABSection Arabs in Ottoman Service Section• BRIT01 Empire Officers• BRIT02 British NCOs• BRIT03 British Bombers• BRIT04 British Lewis Gun Teams• BRITSection British Section• 

Gnomes at War

Gnome Wheeled Heavy Machine Gun & German Crew (3)(HMG also available separately)

Gnome Cream Puff Mortar & French Crew (3)

http://www.brigadegames.com/go.mvc?ID=BGGAW

Wargames Rules

Ruga Ruga Publishing - Death in the Dark Continent (Africa 19th Century) $21.00

Warlord Games Black Powder Rules - SPECIAL PRICE PREORDER

Musketeer Miniatures are here and all items are currently in stock.

Rattrap Minis Reminder - some of the newer Rattrap miniatures produced by Brigade Games:

RAT-45A-019 Sgt Grant and Oni• RAT-45A-020 New Commerce Cops I (2)• RAT-GLM-001 The Characters of Gévaudan (4)• 

We will have a new shipment from BoltAction and Empress/Anglian Miniatures shortly. Preorders will go up this weekend for new products so reserve early.

32

Update – On a personal note…

I continue to make progress after installing the new casting equipment. I even had to buy a new air compressor which has also improved the process. I finally figured out one of the issues - but this came with only a week to go before the convention and a bunch of new codes to get cast and packed for debut at the Fall In convention. Fall In was last weekend (preparations take us weeks to complete) and we always leave a few days early for setup. This of course puts us behind again on getting orders out. We are rapidly catching up.

I appreciate the supportive emails and notes on orders I have gotten from many of you.

So I expect to be back to normal by the end of the weekend. Those of you waiting, please accept my apologies.

Lon

New Brigade Games Forum

We are up to over 750 members in the new forum so join

if you have not done so.After many years of dealing with the issues surrounding

Yahoo Groups, I have started a new Brigade Games Forum with a more traditional forum set up. You have the ability to subscribe to different boards in the forum so you know when you are replied to or when someone posts a new topic. I have also added the ability to add personal picture galleries.

I encourage all of you to join (I have set up a secured forum to prevent spammers from getting in) and eventually I will stop posting to the yahoo group. I have 1400 members to migrate and we are about 35% there now so please migrate sooner rather than later so you don’t miss out on any announcements.

This is the link to join (yes, brigadegms is correct)http://www.brigadegms.com/forum

Until next time…

Best RegardsLon WeissBrigade Gameswww.BrigadeGames.com

Attention Citizen! Paranoia News!

Two bits of good news for fans of Paranoia this week!

First, two brand new scenarios will be making their way to your local stores this week – Treason in Word and Deed, which is intended for use with Troubleshooters, and Termination Quota Exceeded, designed for Internal Security.

Internal Security, you say? Haven’t got a copy yet? The Computer, in its benevolent wisdom, has decided to start shipping the Internal Security rulebook today. It will be in stores very soon, and mail orders will be going off tomorrow.

If you have been dithering over whether to get the Blue Lines limited edition version of Internal Security, act now - we only have a handful of copies left and they will go fast.

You can catch up on all these new releases at;http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/series.php?qsSeries=19

Matthew Sprange

Mongoose PublishingTel: +44 (0)1793 434488 Fax:+44 (0)1793 497999

Mob: +44 (0)7891 624298http://www.mongoosepublishing.com

33

Avalanche Press – At Your Request!

Printed Versions!

You asked for them, and we thought we'd never find a way to deliver. They're available now: limited edition, printed versions of two of our most popular download-only game supplements, Panzer Grenadier: Iron Wolves and Second World War at Sea: Imperial and Royal Navy.

Scenarios and ship data are in spiral-bound booklets just like our scenario supplements; playing pieces are full-color printed on heavy cardstock but not die-cut. It’s an experiment: if these do well, we'll offer more in the future.

YOU Chose: Buy One, Get One FREE!

We asked what sort of Black Week Sale you wanted, and overwhelmingly you answered: Buy One, Get One Free! So that’s what we have for this week: Buy one item from our webstore, get another of the same or lesser value FREE! Gold Club discounts apply, so does One World Shipping.

Black Waters!

Shipping starts today on our latest book in the Great War at Sea series. American battleships fight the Germans in the Caribbean in the battles foreseen in the Navy’s War Plan Black, and battle the Italians in 1919 in Woodrow Wilson’s threatened war over Smyrna. $24.99 with counters, $19.99 without them.

New Content

Infantry Attacks: The Chihuahua IncidentOur next special game for Gold Club members is finally on its

way. The Chihuahua Incident includes four scenarios from the 1916 American invasion of Mexico, with 165 new pieces plus a map. We'll be sending it to Gold Club members soon, so make sure you're signed up.

Crimson CanalsWith the second EXCLUSIVE and FREE game for Gold Club

members nearing transmission, designer Milan Becvar reminds us of the first, Great War at Sea: U.S. Navy Plan Crimson. In this piece, Milan looks at the canals linking the Great Lakes.

Visit us soon at www.avalanchepress.com.

34

Christmas Final Posting dates notice from the Toy Factory

One month before the big day seems short notice to get in all those pressies, however it is actually MUCH shorter than that if you want to order and get it delivered in time for the 25th. Postal times vary for destinations around the world of course but we have the final dates we can be reasonably sure that orders can be delivered at this busy time of the year. Some end on December 3rd for registered post.

http://www.princeaugust.ieNote: While we will accept orders AFTER the final dates

we cannot be sure if they arrive in time for the 25th.You still have a 5 days left before the outstanding 50% off

Model Paint sale expires at the end of November. Most of our paints are now 1.15 Euro each. This is the perfect opportunity

to stock up for those long winter nights.Our 'Rent a mould' service is another excellent idea to

while away the winter nights. Only 7.50 Euro for one chess set side of moulds (3 moulds) and you can cast for 14 days as much as you want before returning them to us. Available to all European Union customers (including ROI and UK).

Best Wishes,

Michael O'Brien, webmaster.Prince August Toy Factory, Kilnamartyra, Macroom, Co. Cork.T: +353 26 40222 / F: +353 26 40004'Prince August' is a registered trade name of An Grupa Edman Teo (The Edman Group Ltd). Registered in Dublin #269484. Directors Lars Edman (swedish), Margaret Edman.Reg. Office: 1 Kilnamartyra, Macroom.

Express Additions #15

This issue rounds out the RMX. First up, we present some simple options for generating stats, determining Stat Potentials and for doing Stat Gains as well.

There is also an option that completely redoes how stats are handled in RMX, changing “averaged stats” to Additive Stats.

To top off the issue, we present you with some monster templates and monsters, all converted over from HARP to RMX. The converted monsters are the Gorger and the Nightlord.

Operation DryDock II

Operation Dry Dock II includes 23 new ship designs of all sizes and types from older Imperial era ships to modern Draconian designs produced by House Colos. Included are ships for House Red Star and the Unkulunkulu Archipelago as well as war drones from the Datasphere. House Tokugawa, the ASP Technocracy, and the Luches Utopia have a few as well.

Dungeon of Terror: Virtual Boxed Set©

Dungeon of Terror - Virtual Boxed Set© is a deluxe edition of the Dungeon of Terror series. It contains 164 rooms, 8 different zones (each one featured in a single product included in this box) and it’s broken in 225 customizable tiles. You can play Dungeon of Terror as a whole dungeon or extract your favorite sub-dungeon (or even a single room or encounter area) to suit your campaign.

ICE News

35

This Virtual Boxed Set© features:

Eight original products forming the Dungeon of Terror: Orcs’ • Nest, Assassins’ Brotherhood, Mad Mage Chambers (east), The Maze, Mad Mage Chambers (west), Lord of the Undead, Mad Mage Chambers (south), Scrags’ cavernsA Referee Map featuring the whole dungeon. You get a 17”x • 22 inches poster map and the same map divided into four 8,5x11 inches sheets. The Referee Map is also customizable.Random Encounter Tables: 16 encounter tables for use with • any RPG system.A set of 164 room templates (one for each room of the • dungeon), each one featuring a small image of the room and a space for writing your own dungeon room.

Please Note: this is an electronic product – no actual box is provided with this product.

Upcoming Products

We also have several products and projects in the works that we want to tell you about.

Stone of 7 SoulsThis exciting RM module will soon be available in print

format. This is a Rolemaster Classic adventure for a group of 4-6 first to third level adventurers. The PCs set out to find out what happened to a missing archeological team and learn as much as they can about an ancient artifact supposed to be buried under the church. The final test book is in and looks great

EliseraThis module was originally published by ICE’s German

partners. It will soon be available in English, and it will be dual-statted for both HARP and RMX/C.

Many years ago, a little girl was kidnapped. Rumors have surfaced that she is still alive and being held captive by a tribe of Orcs up in the mountains. Are you brave enough, strong enough, or smart enough to rescue her?

This is a module for 4-6 first level characters, and comes complete with 4 pregenerated characters so that you can run the module immediately!

Computer Game News

This has been an odd journey over the last four years. Eventually I will do a ridiculously long forum post to go over the computer game related journey we have experienced. Right now the main news is that the first computer game

designed from scratch by ICE folks is in closed beta and is aiming for a launch in a few weeks.

Early this year we were asked by a company in Florida to do a design for a Facebook social network game and we started doing one based on HARP. We had a great design underway in March and April but it rapidly got more complex then could be handled as the first game so they requested we move that back and do a simpler one.

The game is called Hot Money and the design was handed off in June shortly before we both got so ill with the flu and various and sundry other bugs and illnesses. It is very close to launch now and it looks good. We will be doing a request for a few dozen beta testers next week and then will open it up to a lot more in the following week assuming it all goes well. The requests will be in follow up newsletters.

And here is the announcement!

In Beta: The Hot Money Facebook GameHot Money, ICE’s very first Facebook game is finally in

closed beta testing. The game will be in open beta testing shortly, and we will be issuing a special invitation to all ICE customers to play in the beta.

A free to play game, Hot Money is an off the hook, satirical Facebook game. Players vie for Power, Wealth and Fame in the world you see in the headlines. Now Hot Money gives you a taste of life among the corrupt and powerful. Achieving your goals is simple: check your scruples at the door and indulge in sleazy actions, launch judicious attacks on other players and accumulate a variety of outrageous perks and minions that announce to the world that you have arrived.

In the pursuit of the American Dream, players will be able to:

Charge the taxpayers to clean your moat• Run your company into the ground to get a government • bailout to pay bonusesStar in an infomercial: Carbon emissions: Only You Can • Prevent Global CoolingDonate  a  secret  toxic  waste  site  to  the  city  for  use  as  a • community gardenUse taxpayer bailout money to run an ad against government • meddling in private businessTake last night’s escort with you to this morning’s prayer • breakfast

And be rewarded for it with even more money, fame and power!

Don’t forget to take a break from time to time to drag your fellow players down into the gutter. Why should the elite have all the fun?

36

The Unexplained Special Preorder Offer

The Unexplained, previously known as Strange World, is the exciting new storytelling game about paranormal investigation.

Now you can preorder it from the Carnivore Games web site with a fantastic offer.

Here’s what you get:

20% off the cover price.• The hardcover book is shipped to you once it • comes back from the printer.An immediate free download of the PDF of the • actual book!

The PDF is the same PDF that will be for sale separately

once the book has been released. So, this deal will give you both products for the price of one, with 20% off as well!

“I'm excited about this special offer,” says Bradford Younie, president of Carnivore Games. “People have been looking forward to The Unexplained for several years now, and this my way to thank them for their patience and support.”

The special offer will end once the game is ready to ship.

Just go to http://www.carnivoregames.com and click on the Products link.

Looney Labs: The holidays are on their way – and so is our annual Holiday Gift!

To our fans in the USA, we just mailed out this postcard which includes a link to our annual Looney Labs Holiday Gift. If you are located outside the USA, are in the USA and didn’t get the postcard, and/or would just like another copy of it, Order Here and we will include one for FREE with your next online order.

And be sure you download the Holiday Gift… a new pyramid game from Andy: Nothing Beats a Large

It’s been a fun and productive year here at Looney Labs, and we've made some awesome new games for you! For $20

or less you can give the gift of FUN this year, because Looney Labs games make great gifts for friends and family!

We made four new games this year…

Anyone who enjoys party games will love •  Are You the Traitor? This update on typical deception party games completely changes the way the game is played by eliminating elimination!Families are usually difficult to shop for, but •  Aquarius makes it easy. The new edition is a major upgrade from the original we published ten years ago. This is the perfect family card game,  and  even  comes with  pre-schooler  variant  rules,  so give this game to every family on your shopping list!How about the science fiction fan in your life? •  Martian Fluxx will finally give them the chance to invade Earth and conquer the Pathetic Human Creepers.Or is time travel a more intriguing subject? •  Chrononauts is a wild ride through potential alternate futures, players can change the true history timeline, and collect cool artifacts from the past and future. For those who already own Chrononauts, we have an expansion pack called The Gore Years to extend your timeline to the 2009 presidential election!

Please look for a store near you that sells our games – times are tough, and stores need your business – search by zipcode: roster.looneylabs.com. If you must buy online, please buy from us! To help you stretch your holiday shopping dollars, here is a coupon for our webstore to get $5

37

off any order over $35. Shop at: store.looneylabs.com and use coupon: DF35DP9 (expires Jan 15, 2010).

Chrononauts and The Gore Years are coming soon...

Have your ordered your new Time Machine yet? The printing error has been fixed, and Chrononauts and The Gore Years are releasing on December 4, 2009. Your Friendly Local Game Store (FLGS) would love to take a pre-order for you. If you don’t have a FLGS, and must buy online, please buy from us: Chrononauts – Gore Years

Ask Andy

Q: Who was John McCain’s running mate in the Alternate Reality election of 2004' (pronounced “2004 prime")?

(Note: You can view an image of the 2008' patch on this page…)Andy’s answer: “The Patch for 2008' says that Sarah Palin gained fame during the 2004' election. This is not to say that

the ticket in 2004' was McCain/Palin, but simply that she first came to national attention during that campaign. It’s a parallel story to that of Barack Obama, who made a big impression on the electorate in his speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004. So in the alternate reality version of 2004', when McCain ran against the incumbent Gore/Lieberman ticket and lost, the one thing everybody remembered was Palin’s stirring speech to the RNC on the night before McCain’s nomination. Or, maybe he singled her out in a Joe-The-Plumber kinda way, somewhere along the campaign trail. The point is, four years earlier would have been too soon for her to be chosen as McCain’s running mate, but his campaign did bring her into the national spotlight at that time. As for McCain’s actual running mate choice in 2004', my answer is: Elizabeth Dole.”

Thanks for giving Looney Labs Games as gifts this holiday season!

Holiday Savings at Precis Intermedia

A Fistfull of Miniatures 2E

Pit army against army! You decide the outcome with A Fistfull of Miniatures. Precis Intermedia brings this classic historical game of miniatures warfare back in an all new basic edition. Available in both PDF and Print, command 100 to 10,000 figures with its unique, fast-playing mechanics. The simple design means that once your armies are detailed, no further paperwork is required. Collect all your 15mm miniatures (or 25-30mm with some tweaking) for battle – and if you don’t have miniatures, templates are provided for making them out of paper. Best of all, it’s affordably priced as low as $4.95.

For more information, click here.

More Brutes!

An even greater peril awaits with More Brutes! This expansion for Brutes, the fantasy miniatures microgame that

pits vicious fighters against each other, is only $1.95. As a printed expansion, More Brutes extends the game with 12 new Disposable Heroes® characters; 15 new character, weapon, and armor gimmicks/traits; and a brief summary of the exotic bloodlines. And don’t forget that Brutes is FREE with any physical purchase; otherwise, it’s only $2.95

For more information, click here.

The New World Disorder PDF Collection

For only $10.95, you can now pick up the PDF edition of New World Disorder, as well as its two expansions, Zombie Apocalypse! and CyberZone. New World Disorder is an easy-to-learn, miniatures-based tabletop game that takes place in a very near and very dystopian future. The books are also available separately in both PDF and Print formats.

For more information, click here.

38

Disposable Heroes® Galore

The latest Disposable Heroes Paper Miniatures releases have been quite unique. There’s Fantasy Statix 6 (Monsters), which introduces figures of fantasy monsters that are 2-2.5x the normal size – these are just what people have been requesting and are also available in print. Then there’s Fantasy Statix Prop Counters, which consists of fantasy props that you’d discover on the floor, like weapons, skeletons, and trapdoors – on a plain white surface or four other textures, like wood or stone. Finally, you can also choose to Build Your Own Set by uploading custom artwork to our server and then using the online system to download them as stand-ups or counters, with labels/numbers and even as huge armies.

For more information, click here.

BASH! Teams up with Precis Intermedia

Basic Action Games’ latest release is now available from Precis Intermedia. BASH! Basic Action Super Heroes Ultimate Edition is the supers game you’ve been waiting for – simple and exciting. It’s fast and furious, paced over a series of panels, pages, and issues, just like a comic book.

For more information, click here.

In Harm’s Way Holiday Bundles

We have two great collections available from Flying Mice Games… In Harm’s Way Bundle of Aces for only $19.95 (that’s 43% off), which includes Aces and Angels, Aces in Spades, and Wild Blue – campaign in the skies of the two world wars or as modern-era mercenaries in this 3-pack. In Harm’s Way Bundle of Antiquity for only $12.95 (a 35% savings), which sends you back in time to the era of Napoleon as you either fight a historic campaign aboard a mighty naval vessel or alongside (or as) dragons in an alternate age. Don’t miss these special holiday prices.

For more information, click here.

COMING SOON!

Prepare to Unleash your imagination with Treasure Awaits! Designed as an introductory fantasy game, start playing in less than 10 minutes – choose which areas to explore, choose which monsters to attack, and choose how to dole out the treasure. Perfect for solo, GM-less, or campaign play. Preview available: click here.

Bold & Brave, the supers resource for genreDiversion 3E should be available just after the new year. This is not to be missed as it takes the genreDiversion rules to new heights!

GnomeMurdered comes from the mind of the RPGPundit. Learn the vile truth about gnomes and how to avoid being murdered by them. You will never look at the world the same way once you read this game.

Don’t forget to check out Brett’s Blog, particularly for special offers

Look! Here’s one.

39

Tips from About.com

Web design

I'd be Scared Too!One reader tells us that they found a site with a red

background, black text, and bright blue links. While another mentions pages that have “mystery meat navigation” or even no navigation at all. It’s amazing!

Luckily There are Good Examples TooSomedays it seems like all you see online is bad design.

But there are also examples of good design too. One of my favorite recent submissions is Ali Felski’s Web page. What’s Your Favorite? I am featuring the best designs from here in my Wordless Wednesday blog posts as well.

Avoid These Common Web Typography MistakesThe number one mistake is assuming that if you set the

font family you’ve done all that you need to do regarding typography. Typography is a subtle part of Web design, and many designers overlook it. But if you spend some time focusing on your web site typography you won’t hurt your site’s design at all.

Choosing a Font Stack Order Can be ChallengingOnce you’ve found the perfect font for your Web page, it

can be hard to choose any others. But a good Web designer recognizes that not everyone has the font resources that we have on our computers. So font stacks are critical to make sure that the computer itself doesn’t pick the font.

What is Colocation and Why Would You Choose ItI used colocation for nearly five years and I loved it. The

great thing about colocation is that you own the hardware. So if you want to add more space, you just add more space. If you want more memory, you add it. If you want a faster machine, you change that too. But the drawback is, if the machine dies, you have to fix it. Sometimes late at night, and sometimes when guests are at home. I guess I’m glad it didn’t die on my birthday.

Web Hosting Providers – Types of Web Hosting ProvidersI don’t recommend free Web hosting for any use but

personal pages. Most free hosts have too many restrictions or just put your content at risk. The nice thing is, there are many other options for Web hosting that are inexpensive or worth the price.

Publishing

What’s That Font?We talked recently about identifying fonts and

WhatTheFont. I put together a tutorial with some tips on how to get better results by providing better graphic samples of your unknown fonts. Oh, and did you know you can use WhatTheFont with an iPhone? I’ve just added the app to my iPhone and I’ll be trying it out soon.

Do I Need Graphic Design Training to Do Desktop Publishing

The short answer: “No, but it helps.” Read the full answer.

Then flip it around and find the answer to “Is Desktop Publishing Training Needed to Do Graphic Design?”

Business

What’s Wrong With A Messy Desk?Not too long ago, there was a popular expression ‘a

cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind.’ That expression gave rise to an entire industry designed to help business executives clean their desktops as a sign of their mental acuity. But does a messy desk hurt or hinder productivity.

5 Office Design Tips for Better ProductivityIs your home office design drab and uninspiring? Do

thoughts of going into your office dampen your entrepreneurial spirit? It may be time to consider your office design and productivity at home. Take time to use a few simple ideas to boost your business productivity.

Top 9 Time Management and Productivity ToolsYour time is your life, so, you want to spend your time

on the goals and tasks that enable and enrich your life. Time management will increase your productivity and give you more time for life’s more important moments.

40

December 2009 News from Flying Buffalo

I started running play by mail games (Nuclear Destruction) in January of 1970. That makes the year 2010 our 40th Anniversary! So, I have decided to make 2010 THE YEAR OF THE BUFFALO! (Go visit our home page to see the cool new 40th anniversary logo that Steve Crompton made for me.) As part of this, I am inviting everyone to come to Scottsdale, Arizona for a big party July 22nd. That’s when we have our annual convention. We're going to have a big barbeque in my backyard. Please pass the news on to everyone who has ever played a FBI PBM game, or Nuclear War or Tunnels & Trolls or Lost Worlds! I've got the event posted on my FACEBOOK page.

Speaking of Tunnels & Trolls

There has been a bit of a dustup lately. Fellow named James Shipman has a web site called “Outlaw Press” where he offers for sale various Tunnels & Trolls related items. I told him that if he included on his web site the notice that T&T is a trademark of Flying Buffalo and used with permission, and that if he would send me an advance copy of everything, I would allow him to say that he had official permission to produce products “for use with Tunnels & Trolls".

Recently an artist noticed that one of his covers was a re-use of that artists art, and he had never been asked nor paid for it. He couldn’t find any “contact info” on the webpage, so he started a thread on an RPG web site that “Outlaw Press Steals Artwork". That started a big row of course, and other artists started looking at Outlaw Press offerings, and announcing that their art also was used without permission. As I understand it, now over 20 artists have made this claim against Outlaw Press. When I heard this, I went to his web site and took a closer look and found out that he was selling reprints of Flying Buffalo out of print products that I had never given him permission to print (he had never asked, either, nor had he sent me “advance copies"). Just for the record, Outlaw Press has been asked to stop selling illegal reprints of our products, and he no longer has the right to produce any official T&T products. And we definitely do not condone nor permit the use of artwork without the permission of the artists.

As it happens, there has recently been a renewed interest in Tunnels & Trolls. If you (or someone you know) want to product “for use with Tunnels & Trolls” products, please

contact me first. We don’t charge a lot, and our requirements are not onerous. We do require that you act honorably with us and with all your writers, artists, and editors!

Nuclear War Card Game

Sadly we are almost out of the cards for the basic game, and won’t have more for a couple months. We can sell individual games from our web site for a few weeks more, but don’t have enough to supply any retailers or distributors. If your favorite game store says they don’t have any, that’s why.

However you CAN now play the game online, for free. Just go to our web page at http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/nucwar.htm and click on the gametableonline link near the top of the page.

The two new Hobby Japan books, one Queens Blade Rebellion, and one Queens Gate are in. See them at:

http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/japanlw.htm

Queens Blade Rebellion is Sigui: Inquisitor, and Queens Gate is Mina Majikina (from Samurai Spirits). They are available now. HOLIDAY SPECIAL: you can buy ANY FOUR of the Queens Blade or Queens Gate books that are in stock (ranging in price from $28 to $35) for $100 plus shipping. That includes the new

books, and the new Airi book with photos and a DVD. Go to our weekly special page ( http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/special.shtml ) to take advantage of this great deal.

The next convention I will be attending is either Conquest NW in Seattle in January, or Dundracon in San Ramon, California in February. Still haven’t decided whether I will attend Conquest Seattle, but will definitely be at Dundracon.

The third annual T&T convention and the 38th annual Flying Buffalo PBM convention is going to be July 22-25, 2010. Probably at the Holiday Inn in Scottsdale. Note that this will be Flying Buffalo’s 40th Anniversary, so we are going to try to make it special. If you have ever attended one of our conventions before, please consider attending this year. If you've come before, I'll give you a special award of some kind! More details at http://www.flyingbuffalo.com/tntconv.htm

Flying Buffalo Inc www.flyingbuffalo.comPO Box 8467, Scottsdale, AZ 85252

41

The Pillars of the Earth: Builders Duel – January 2010A subtle competition for players ages 10 and older

England in the 12th Century. The players take on the roles of Prior Philip and Bishop Waleran. Philip wants to build the most beautiful cathedral in England. Waleran is planning his own project, a mighty fortress.

Both players are trying to simultaneously build their buildings. To construct your building, you must obtain raw resources and convert them into building materials. You are supported by your friends and powerful allies, but are constantly opposed by dangerous foes. If you manage to overcome and build your building first, you win!

Builders Duel™ contains:

6 building cards• 

54 advantage cards• 32 gold coins• 6 character markers• 10 neutral seals• 2 personal seals• 6 building cards• 22 raw material-/resource-chits• 1 start player marker• 1 full-color rules• 

MFG4119 Builder’s Duel™ $25.00

Ages 10+

For 2 Players

Playing Time 45 minutes

UPC 0-29877-04119-0-02500

ISBN 1-56905-232-8

Case Pack 10

Designer Stefan Feld

Art Michael Menzel, Pohl & Rick

Made in Germany

Dimensions 1.25 x 7.875 x 7.875Copyright © 2000 Ken Follett & Mayfair Games, Inc. The Pillars of the Earth and The Pillars of the Earth: Builder’s Duel are trademarks of Ken Follett. All rights reserved.

Bob CartyVP Sales and MarketingMayfair Games, Inc.(813) 707-6659v(813) 707-8791fbobcarty@mayfairgames.com

42

Hex Releases Mountains of the Moon: Sindbad in East Africa

Tired of Eurocentric fantasy role-playing games? Broaden your horizons with Mountains of the Moon: Sindbad in East Africa, the first supplement to Hex Games’ The Adventures of Sindbad RPG.

Join Sindbad and his crew as they sail to the fabulous lands of East Africa. Mountains of the Moon gives you everything you need for swashbuckling adventure on the Dark Continent, including historical background, maps, new monsters, and the complete adventure “Sindbad and the Monkey King.”

Mountains of the Moon uses QAGS, the Quick Ass Game System. The QAGS Qik

Start Rules are available online as a free PDF, and are also included in The Adventures of Sindbad. The Adventures of Sindbad and QAGS Second Edition are available in both print and PDF forms. Mountains of the Moon is currently available only as a PDF, and can be purchased at www.hexgames.com, as well as the finer PDF sales sites.

Mountains of the Moon is written by Hex’s in-house authority on all things Sindbadish, Ian Engle, and illustrated by the multi-talented Joshua LH Burnett.

Sindbad. Live Bigger Legends. Have More Fun!

Skirmisher Releases ‘MILFS: Monsters I’d Like to F***’

Have you ever looked at a female monster your party was up against and thought:

“Man, I’d like to roll d20 to hit that!”Well, now you can! Skirmisher Publishing

LLC is pleased to announce the release of “MILFs,” the monsters you would most like to have a random encounter with ($3.99, SKP E 0936, 8 pages; authors Melissa Dowell and the Skirmisher Game Development Group; artist Melissa Dowell).

“MILFs” is available as a PDF download on several online sales venues, including DriveThruRPG (http://rpg.drivethrustuff.c o m / p r o d u c t _ i n f o . p h p ? p r o d u c t s _id=68992&affiliate_id=200677) and RPGNow (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=68992&affiliate_id=200677).

This set of full-color paper miniatures is designed to be compatible with other 25/30mm figures and contains nine different creatures, all scaled to be approximately man-sized. Furthermore, four of these have also been scaled for use as giant-sized creatures and one of them has been provided with a variant that can be used to show her in flight.

Miniatures in this set include:

One slinky Dark Elf• 

One Centipede Woman• One sexy Fire Elemental• One heavily-armed she-Satyr• One Cyclops chick that has also been scaled • 

for use as a one-eyed giantessOne Harpy that has been provided with a • 

variant that can be used to represent her in flight

One Sea Naga that has also been scaled for • use as a giant sea monster, “Mother Hydra,” etc.

One Bigfoot/Yeti/Abominable Snowwoman, • which also has a giant-sized counterpart

One Woodwife that has also been scaled as • a Treant

“MILFs” is part of Skirmisher’s Cardstock Characters™ line of figures that can be downloaded, printed out, and used in a variety of different RPGs and wargames. Other currently-available sets include ones for use with Mutant Future and other post-apocalyptic and science-fiction games; anthropomorphic ducks and pigs inspired by the Quactica wargaming rules; and the “Forbidden Creatures of Foree” line of creatures that some companies have declared off-limits.

We hope you enjoy “MILFs"! Remember: You can’t spell “Treant” without “T” and “A.”

43

RuneQuest II – First Preview

We have just uploaded the first of a series of previews showcasing the new RuneQuest II rulebook, available in January. You can download it from;

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1755

In this preview, we feature the contents page (as requested by many of you who keep track of our previews!), and snippets from Skills, Combat and Magic. Stay tuned for more previews over the next few weeks!

As a reminder, the current range of

RuneQuest books will be removed on

January 1st, so if there is a title you have been

interested in, time is running out!

Matthew Sprange

Mongoose PublishingTel: +44 (0)1793 434488 Fax:+44 (0)1793 497999 Mob: +44 (0)7891 624298http://www.mongoosepublishing.com

Obsidian Portal News – December 2009

Vote or we'll kill this puppy!

Ok, we're not going to kill a puppy. But will you vote anyway? We need your vote! In what you ask? Why, in the first ever Obsidian Portal Featured Campaign of the Year awards. Or the OPies as I like to call them. No one else likes to call them that. Sigh. Anyway, the polls are open till midnight (EST) December 31st, 2009. Click here to be whisked away to our mechanical voting automaton. Here are the contenders:

June: Chronicles of the Amber Wolfe by DM • PalandarJuly: The Dragon Hunter Cronicles by DM • GeechAugust: Horn of the North by DM • WolfhoundSeptember: Beyond the Mountains of • Madness by DM AethanOctober: Tales of the Black Forest by DM • JasonNovember: Pursuit of Destiny by DM • cwGabeDecember: Silent Winter by DM Jennifer• 

Obsidian Portal Holiday T-shirt Give-away!

When you buy a 12 month Ascendant Membership in

the month of December, we'll mail you a free Obsidian Portal t-shirt! Here, take a look:

Oooooh, nice! Sign up today! That’s Obsidian Portal Co-Founder Micah in the picture there. Before you hurt yourself laughing, remember that he’s a programmer, not a t-shirt model.

Follow us on Twitter, Win a Gift! There are only 10 days left in our 12

Obsidian Days of Christmas. We'll be handing out 1 prize a day via twitter until Christmas day. Follow @obsidianportal on twitter and maybe you’ll win tomorrow!

Remember your GM this Holiday Season.

Be sure to remember your GM when you're buying gifts for friends and family. A set of fancy dice, a cool sourcebook, or something fancy from AvatarArt all make great gifts for your underappreciated GM. Or, if money is tight, a simple thank you is enough. In the end, the best gift a GM can receive is knowing that the players are having a fun time and are eager for more.

See you at the gaming table,

The Obsidian Portal Teamhttp://www.obsidianportal.com

44

News from Forge WorldHi There,

At Forge World the Christmas countdown continues and everybody here is busily making sure your orders are getting out on time! This newsletter we have a few sneak previews for you as well as some last minute shipping updates.

Thanks

Alan Bligh

Sneak Peek: Imperial Armour Apocalypse II

Today I have the first preview of our latest book, Imperial Armour Apocalypse II. This is a brand new supplement, featuring no fewer than 46 new datasheets for legendary vehicles and battle formations, bringing together all our recent releases and some brand new models as well. It also features some updated sheets from the first book, hints and tips, optional rules for your games, and five new Apocalypse Missions for you to play. The book is lavishly illustrated with some fantastic color photographs of our models. This book supplements our first Imperial Armour Apocalypse book, which is still available and should help you get the most out of your Forge World models in your games of Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse.

We’ll have full details of the book for you next week, when hopefully the book will also be available to order, but meanwhile Here are a few preview pages.

Special Mystery Preview

With Christmas getting close we thought we’d put together one of our ever-popular mystery jigsaw previews of a forthcoming model for you. You can see the first of our three part preview picture Here. All I can tell you is it’s a new special character for the forthcoming Imperial Armour Volume 8, so you`ll just have to guess what it is! Lookout for more pieces of the jigsaw in our newsletters leading up to Christmas.

Christmas Ordering Information

There’s still time to order for Christmas! No matter where you live in the world, Forge World can still guarantee delivery of your orders before Christmas by UPS Express shipping.

Remember that if your order totals £250 or more express shipping will be completely free.If you have any questions about stock availability, delivery times to your specific location, or even just wonder what would

make a great gift, the Forge World Customer Service team are available to help. You can either contact them by telephone between 9am and 6pm UK time – just call 0115 916 8177 within the UK; 011 44 115 916 8177 from the US and Canada or 00 44 115 916 8177 from Europe. You can also email forgeworld@games-workshop.co.uk - title your email `Christmas Ordering`, and Leanne, Tris, Simon or Ead will get back to you as quickly as possible.

As a reminder, these are our last guaranteed order dates:

UK: 20th December (UPS)

Europe: 20th December (UPS)

USA/Canada: 16th December (UPS)

Rest of the World: 16th December (UPS)

45

STAR FLEET ALERT15 DECEMBER 2009

SCHEDULE FOR 2010SCHEDULE FOR 2010SCHEDULE FOR 2010SCHEDULE FOR 2010SCHEDULE FOR 2010

CONTACTAmarillo Design Bureau, Inc. PO Box 8759, Amarillo TX 79114 PH: (806)-351-1950To order products, contact Sales@StarFleetGames.comTo receive these Alerts, contact Marketing@StarFleetGames.comSee our updated website: www.StarFleetGames.com

TO BE RELEASED IN FEBRUARY, 2010

Federation Commander Booster Pack #92, SKU 4292, $9.95ISC Battleship, Starline 2400 miniature, SKU 1344, $11.95Andromedan Terminator, Starline 2400 miniature, SKU 1006, $5.95Federation DDG and DDL Destroyers, Starline 2400 miniatures, SKU 0228, $14.95

(Metal versions of the plastic destroyer)Federation Scout and DDF Destroyer, Starline 2400 miniatures, SKU 0227, $14.95Juggernaut, Starline 2400 miniature, SKU 0080, $29.95Starmada Rules Annex, SKU 6125, $12.95 (We distribute this for Majestic 12 Games, which has

previously sold this book only as a PDF)

TO BE RELEASED IN MARCH, 2010

Romulan Armada, SKU 6102, $16.95 (second in the series, see Klingon Armada SKU 6101)

TO BE RELEASED IN FIRST QUARTER, 2010

Federation & Empire 2010, SKU 5006, $TBA (new rulebook, new counters)

TO BE RELEASED IN APRIL, 2010

Klingon B9 Fast Battleship Starline 2400 miniature, SKU 0385, $TBA

TO BE RELEASED IN MAY, 2010

Captain’s Log #41, SKU 5741, $19.95

TO BE RELEASED IN SPRING & SUMMER, 2010

SFB Module C3A Andromedan Threat File, Prime Directive Federation (for GURPS and d20 Modern),

Federation Commander Briefing #3, Federation Admiral (Campaign book for Federation Commander),Hydran Pegasus (Starline 2400 miniature), Squadron Box #27 (Starline 2400 miniature).

These products are to be released onthe schedule listed above.

GAMERSWait for major new fun next spring.

WHOLESALERSPrepare for new sales next spring.

RETAILERSStart taking pre-orders from customers.

46

End of the Year Retirement!

While we want players of our games to have many options available, it’s also a long-proven publishing rule that you can indeed have too many choices. Right now we have 15 scenario supplements in print, most of them for the Panzer Grenadier series, so at the end of the year five of them are going to drop out of print. if you still want them, now’s the time to place your order. Come Jan. 1, they'll be gone.

Panzer Grenadier: North Wind• Panzer Grenadier: Alaska’s War• Great War at Sea: Airships• Panzer Grenadier: March on Leningrad• Panzer Grenadier: Siege of Leningra•  d

Back in Print!

We've added boxes for two older games to the print run for August 1914, Coral Sea and Pacific Crossroads. Soldier Emperor: Players’ Edition is just like the old, deluxe version but with a paper map and the second edition rules and scenarios. Second World War at Sea: Bismarck is identical to the last print run except for some small box alterations. All five games will receive our standard 1-inch-deep game box (like Elsenborn Ridge or Midway). You can pre-order both now at our 30 percent off sale price and receive free shipping in the U.S. (other pre-order games are not eligible).

Thirty Percent Off and FREE Shipping and FREE Gift Wrap

Choose your own gifts! Take 30 percent off any game in our store that’s in stock, AND ship anywhere in the United States for free. Added discount does not apply to Seasonal Specials (free shipping does!). Add another 10 percent off if you're a member of our Gold Club! It’s open for just 48 hours, expiring Friday, Dec. 18.

Gift Wrap!

Any game you buy, we'll gift wrap it for FREE – just add gift wrap to your order (it’s listed on each store page under “Related Products") and we'll wrap everything in the order. You want a card? Just let us know here and we'll be glad to add one. You want it to come from Santa to you? NO PROBLEM! That stays between us.

New Content

Daily Content 2009: Another year is wrapping up, and so the boss has his annual look at what we ran in Daily Content in 2009.

Visit us soon at www.avalanchepress.com. Avalanche Press makes historical boardgames that every player can enjoy. Please visit our online store or call our customer service line: (800) 564-9008 or 1-205-957-0017.

More from Avalanche Press

47

Arcana Launches Comics & Pop Culture Magazine!

Arcana Studios, an award winning comic book publisher and transmedia producer, is proud to announce the launch of Arcana Magazine. Debuting on January 27th, 2010, and solicited in the current November Previews (Diamond Code: NOV09 0599) is the new quarterly magazine simply entitled Arcana, the re-designed print version of the on-line comics based magazine Extra Sequential.

The first issue features interviews with Star Wars: Invasion writer Tom Taylor, artist Josh Medors, Singaporean writer Edmund Shern, Surrogates creator Robert Venditti, and ground breaking artist David Mack. Also included are previews from upcoming comics and features such as a look back at the Death of Superman event, a talk with pro cyclist/comics fan Dave Zabriskie, a brief chat with the legendary Marv Wolfman, and an article of the current love affair between musicians and comics, including an interview with Coheed & Cambria’s Claudio Sanchez. There’s also a look at just how to market comics today, a breakdown of popular comic book terms and more.

Arcana #1, a 96 page full color magazine goes on sale January 27th, 2010. http://www.arcanaquarterly.com

Arcana Studio is proud to announce the KISS Kompendium

Arcana Studio, the award winning art production arm of Arcana has worked on numerous comics, video games and animation for Disney, Sony Animation, ABC, SpikeTV, HBO, CAPCOM, Random House and more...but here’s a MONSTER we recentely worked on. We were hired to put together this MASSIVE KISS Kompendium published by Harper Collins. This is a monster and on sale December 8th, 2009. Just in time for KISSmas. Check it out at KISSOnline.com

The GwaiI TPB

Recently winning the prestigous Moonbeam Award for best Children’s Graphic Novel, the Gwaii tells the tale of Tanu, a sasquatch lost in the Canadian wilderness who must face the Fearsome Creatures in order to find the clues that will lead him to his mother. Using his agility, speed, jumping ability, and a mean snow-ball throwing arm, the young sasquatch must find his way back home while confronting the most fearsome mythological creatures ever whispered about in the wild wilderness!

Buy the book now: http://www.arcanacomics.com/store/

In Previews

This month in Previews, for items shipping January, Arcana will be publishing Arcana Magazine #1 (NOV09 0599), Anywhere #3 (NOV09 0600), Avengelyne vs. Koni Waves Oneshot (NOV 0601), Cat Named Haiku (NOV09 0602) and Miracle GN (NOV09 0603).

News from Arcana Studio

48

Shipping This Month

This November it’s time to give thanks for Arcana’s releases for the month: Anywhere #1 (SEP09 0590), Don Bluth’s Space Ace #5 (SEP09 0591), and Hero House GN (SEP09 0592).

Interview with Sean O'Reilly

This month, Arcana’s Vice President of Operations, Mark Poulton interviews Arcana Owner and CEO, Sean O'Reilly, about several topics including a slate of movies that are on the way, as well as what’s in store for Arcana in the future.

MP: First things first, you recently produced and developed the stories for 2 Lion’s Gate films. What can you tell us about them?SO: People who know me, know I love the UFC and MMA. It was a THRILL to be working on projects with Kimbo Slice, Frank Mir, Roger Huerta, Michael Bisping and so many more. I actually had a drink with Frank and he knew his comic books. I met director Daniel and he was the one who initially got the ball rolling with Grindstone (Lion’s Gate), and Deboragh, Michael, Barry, Stan and so many more people were critical to getting these projects off of the ground. I'm really looking forward to seeing these now that the first one is filmed.MP: As well, you recently produced a Steve Segal film? What’s it about and is there any chance we'll see Steven at the Arcana booth for SDCC?SO: I can ony hope so. The comics to film buzz has helped propel me into the entertainment industry and I'm getting to work on a lot of great projects.MP: Arcana has a new pop culture/comic magazine due out in January. What sets it apart from other magazines and what can fans expect?SO: Our key people, Kris Bather and David Lapsley, are creating a magazine that is like no other. It’s focus is art...it’s Wizard meets Maxim with a strong artistic direction. I really am excited about this magazine as it will open up new doors for our publishing arm.MP: The Gwaii recently won the Moonbeam Award for best children’s graphic novel. The previous year Clockwork Girl won. How does it feel to have your work so well received? Also, is producing good children’s product one of your publishing priorities?SO: I've been writing comic books since 2003 so it’s great to get recognition. Children’s books have become a priority for me since the birth of my first child, my daughter Summer. Since then we've gone on to make a couple more (Kiefer, Phoenix & Harmony) and it really does change one’s motivations. The demon hunter is still alive but I really wanted to show my kid’s something before they go to bed that won’t bring about nightmares.MP: Speaking of Kade, what can we expect from him in 2010?SO: Jay and I have another installment for Kade called Red Sun. Set in Siberia, 1020, Kade is hunting for the of the Fallen. This one is going straight to graphic novel (after a promo issue) and we have truly set the bar higher with every book starting with Humberto Ramos on Original Sun, Stjepan Sejic’s debut in Sun of Perdition, Clint and Thu’s awesome Shiva’s Sun and Christian Duce’s amazing Rising Sun. It’s a big world and Jay has been great to work with allowing me to weave all of the mythos in a massive 2500 year tale.MP: What other big plans does Arcana have?SO: We are doing SO many great projects and with limited space I can only name a couple. Anywhere #1 (only 99 cents!) and Champion #1 is on stands Wednesday Dec. 9th and upcoming graphic novels like Black Jesus has had a TREMENDOUS response through the book market with a very strong initial purchase order, Howard Lovecraft & The Frozen Kingdom has had tremendous reviews already, Hero House is already busy doing instore signings and in 2010 we have 32...yes THIRTY TWO graphic novels already solicited from January through to August 2010. Working with numerous distributing partners we are proud to release these titles to the book market. We have had a strong presence in the book market and after winning a couple awards at Book Expo America it’s really helped us set the path for a strong year next year.

As well there are two animated series we're starting production on and one live action project as well.MP: Before we go, is there anything else you'd like to say?SO: You cannot change the wind, but you may adjust your sails.

49

Sneak Peek at Deus Vult for RQII

We have just posted a primer PDF for Deus Vult, the first brand new setting for RuneQuest II.

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1755

It is the closing years of the twelfth century. Saladin has reconquered the Kingdom of Jerusalem, and the holy city is once more in the hands of the Saracen. Heresies and sorcery rot Europe from within, while the nobles quarrel and bicker. Even the church is falling prey to this corruption. The world must be saved, through any means necessary. No enemy, no sorcery, no doubt and no fear will prevent the monks of the Order from carrying out the Will of God. Deus Vult!

Players will be inducted into a secret order of the Church,

dedicated to protecting humanity and the Lord’s own plan from the supernatural horrors that lurk within the fringes

of the civilised world. From heathens in the East to warlocks within continental Europe, from bloodthirsty pagan cults in England to corruption within the highest reaches of the royal families, the players must combat the darkest of foes while ensuring the common folk of the world never discover the true roots of all evil.

Deus Vult will be released in April 2010.

Matthew Sprange

Mongoose PublishingTel: +44 (0)1793 434488 Fax:+44 (0)1793 497999 Mob: +44 (0)7891 624298

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com

Ordo Acerbus Devotio

Preview

- Compiled from the teachings and sermons of Abbot Hugo, Superior General of the Order, and translated from the Latin.

Merry Christmas from Iron Crown Enterprises

New Partner – Arion Games

ICE is pleased to announce that we have a new partner who will be selling products on ICE’s Online Store.

Arion Games is a publisher of quality paper miniatures. These are excellent products! And over the course of the next couple of days, we will be adding nearly 90 products from Arion Games to ICE’s Online Store. The first two products are already up and online.

Sale

Merry ChristmasFirst off, just a reminder to everybody that ICE’s Online Store is currently having a 25% off sale on all ICE products. With Christmas fast approaching, you should grab the deals while you can!

New Product: Express Additions #16

In this issue of Express Additions, we bring you 2 new professions, the Runemage and the

Warrior Mage.We also include 13 new spell lists, just for these

professions!

Upcoming Products

ICE is pleased to annouce that we have begun work on a full conversion of the RMSS/FRP Essence Companion for Rolemaster Classic! As the project progresses, we will be able to provide you with more information. But we figured that you would want to know about it right away!

We also have several other projects in the works, including the Elisera module mentioned in the last newsletter, and two other modules that are in the works. Still too soon to mention too much about them, other than they are on their way!

50

New Release News from Green Ronin

Greetings all!

At long last I have news of our Q1 releases for 2010! We're playing catch-up a bit here, but we also have some exciting new projects in the works. I have included the full details after this note.

Other notes: We've officially sold out of GRR2502, the Freedom City Sourcebook for Mutants & Masterminds. It will not be included in any orders from this point on. We do not have word on any reprint status at this time.

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to drop me a line. Here’s to a great 2010!

Bill

JanuaryDragon Age RPG, Set 1• Family Games: The 100 Best• 

FebruaryDragon Age Game Master’s Kit• Silver Age (Mutants & Masterminds)• A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide• 

MarchDragon Age: Blood in Ferelden• A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying, Pocket Edition• Wild Cards: Aces & Jokers (Mutants & Masterminds)• 

Dragon Age RPG, Set 1 Dark Fantasy Roleplaying

Author: Chris Pramas

Format: Boxed Set

MSRP: $29.95

Product Code: GRR2801

ISBN-10: 1-934547-30-1

ISBN-13: 978-1-934547-30-4

Release Date: January, 2010

Fantasy roleplaying goes back to its dark and gritty roots with the Dragon Age RPG, the latest game from the company that brought you A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying and Mutants & Masterminds. Based on the smash hit Dragon Age: Origins computer game, the Dragon Age RPG brings the excitement of BioWare’s rich fantasy world to the tabletop. Make your own heroes and control your own destiny in the

lands of Ferelden and beyond. Designed by award-winning author Chris Pramas (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay, Freeport), Dragon Age features an all-new game system that’s both easy to learn and exciting to play, the perfect portal to tabletop roleplaying. This classic style boxed set includes a Player’s Guide, Game Master’s Guide, poster map, and dice: everything you need to get started, from character creation and rules of play to GM advice and an introductory adventure. So gather your friends, grab some dice, and get ready to enter a world of heroes and villains, of knights and darkspawn, of gods and demons…the world of Dragon Age!

Family Games: The 100 Best

Editor: James Lowder

Format: 400 pages, trade paperback

MSRP: $24.95

Product Code: GRR4002

ISBN 10: 1-934547-21-2

ISBN 13: 978-1-934547-21-2

Release Date: January, 2010

In Family Games: The 100 Best, the top designers and publishers write about the most enjoyable, most cleverly designed titles of the last one hundred years. Their essays cover the spectrum from board games to card games, wargames to miniatures games to role-playing games, including old favorites and little known gems. These are the games that the designers themselves play, the ones that have inspired their most popular inventions. Essayists include such legendary creators as Alan R. Moon (Ticket to Ride), Matthew Kirby (Apples to Apples), Richard Garfield (Magic: The Gathering), Susan McKinley Ross (Qwirkle), Michael Schacht (Zooloretto), Peter Olotka (Cosmic Encounter), Leo Colovini (Clans), Mike Selinker (Risk: Godstorm), Tom Wham (Great Khan Game), James Ernest (Kill Dr. Lucky), Phil Orbanes (Cartel), Eric Goldberg (Junta), David Parlett (Hare & Tortoise), Kevin Wilson (Descent), Emiliano Sciarra (Bang!), Warren Spector (Toon), Ian Livingstone and Steve Jackson (co-founders of Games Workshop), and dozens of other noteworthy and award-winning designers. Family Games: The 100 Best also features a foreword by board game legend and Senior Director of Product Acquisition for Hasbro Games Mike Gray (Fortress America) and an afterword by author and actor Wil Wheaton (Stand By Me, Star Trek: The Next Generation).

Editor James Lowder has helmed more than a dozen

51

critically acclaimed anthologies and authored several best-selling novels, including Prince of Lies and Knight of the Black Rose. He’s been a finalist for the Stoker Award and International Horror Guild Award, and has won an ENnie Award and four Origins Awards.

Dragon Age Game Master’s Kit

Author: Jeff Tidball

Format: 3-panel hardback GM Screen and 32 page booklet

MSRP: $17.95

Product Code: GRR2802

ISBN-10: 1-934547-32-8

ISBN-13: 978-1-934547-32-8

Release Date: February, 2010

The Game Master’s Kit is the perfect accessory for fans of the Dragon Age RPG. This handy product features a three-panel hardback screen that puts all the essential game info right in front you. It also includes a 32-page adventure by Jeff Tidball that can serve as an introduction to the game or as a follow-up to the adventure in the core game. With the Game Master’s Kit and Set 1 of the Dragon Age RPG, you'll be ready to kickstart your dark fantasy campaign.

Silver Age: A Mutants & Masterminds Sourcebook

Author: Christopher McGlothlin and Steve Kenson

Format: 128 pages, full color, softback

MSRP: $27.95

Product Code: GRR2530

ISBN-10: 1-934547-31-X

ISBN-13: 978-1-934547-31-1

Release Date: February, 2010

Never were heroes more powerful than in the legendary Silver Age of comics. Now Mutants & Masterminds places that power—and responsibility—in your hands with the Silver Age sourcebook! Learn how to create M&M heroes with the kind of style and power of characters in the Silver Age, assisted by ready-made hero archetypes and character design advice. Use the villain archetypes for immediate foes and Gamemaster advice on building Silver Age style bad guys, including nigh-omnipotent adversaries. Travel back to the Silver Age of the Freedom City setting, during the height of the fabled Centurion’s career and the founding of the Freedom League! Silver Age rounds out the excitement of the

Golden Age and Iron Age sourcebooks, giving you a full range of eras for superheroic adventure.

A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide: A Sourcebook for A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying

Authors: David Chart, Joshua J. Frost, Brian E. Kirby, Jon Leitheusser, Anthony Prior, Robert J. Schwalb, Owen K.C. Stephens, and

Dan White

Format: 256 pages, full color, hardback

MSRP: $39.95

Product Code: GRR2703

ISBN-10: 1-934547-13-1

ISBN-13: 978-1-934547-13-7

Release Date: February, 2010

With the fall of House Targaryen, an uneasy peace has settled over the land, but it stands on a razor’s edge. King Robert rules, but his reign is haunted by the dark deeds of the past and imperiled by the corruption of the halls of power. A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide describes George R.R. Martin’s Westeros in lavish detail, providing full details on all the major regions and principal players of the game of thrones. An indispensable guide for fans of both the novels and the game, A Song of Ice and Fire Campaign Guide brings the Seven Kingdoms to life and provides a rich setting for exciting roleplaying adventures.

Dragon Age: Blood in Ferelden

Authors: Walt Ciechanowski, Kevin Kulp, and TS Luikart

Format: 128 pages, black and white, softback

MSRP: $24.95

Product Code: GRR2803

ISBN-10: 1-934547-33-6

ISBN-13: 978-1-934547-33-5

Release Date: March, 2010

Adventures are the heart of any roleplaying game but GMs on the go don’t always have time to create their own. Blood in Ferelden contains three full-length adventures for the Dragon Age RPG, as well as three adventure outlines whose bare bones can be fleshed out for even more action. The player characters will visit savage borderlands like the

52

Korcari Wilds and Frostback Mountains, as well as facing foes of a different sort in Ferelden’s capital of Denerim. The adventures in Blood in Ferelden are suitable for characters of level 1-5 and add a wealth of detail to any Dragon Age campaign. But be warned: there will be blood!

A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying, Pocket Edition

Author: Robert J. Schwalb

Format: 256 pages, black and white, softback (6” x 9”)

MSRP: $24.95

Product Code: GRR2705

ISBN-10: 1-934547-34-4

ISBN-13: 978-1-934547-34-2

Release Date: March, 2010

Adventure gaming returns to Westeros with A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying, Green Ronin’s ENnie Award winning RPG. Based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy epic, A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying gives you everything you need to play and run games in the Seven Kingdoms using an all new and easy to learn game system specifically designed to evoke the atmosphere of these best-selling novels. You and your fellow players take on the roles of key members of a noble house. Should you succeed in the game of thrones, you might find yourself among the Starks and Lannisters, gaining the favor of the king, and securing your place in history. Should you fail, your rivals will destroy you on their own desperate climb to greatness. This Pocket Edition of the core rulebook comes

in a convenient size and includes the complete content of the original, updated with all known errata. Seize your birthright in Green Ronin’s A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying!

Wild Cards: Aces & Jokers, A Mutants & Masterminds Sourcebook

Authors: John Jos. Miller and Steve Kenson

Format: 128 pages, black and white, softback

MSRP: $24.95

Product Code: GRR2527

ISBN-10: 1-934547-25-5

ISBN-13: 978-1-934547-25-0

Release Date: March, 2010

With well over a dozen books and more on the way, the Wild Cards series has a cast of characters too large to be covered in just one book. Aces & Jokers fills out the roster from the Wild Cards Campaign Setting with biographical and game information on dozens of aces, jokers, and nats from the series, everything you need to fill out the ranks in your own Mutants & Masterminds game. As a bonus, you can use the character stats in this book for other settings as well, providing you with ready-made villains, heroes, and other characters. Get ready to double up with Aces & Jokers!

— Bill Bodden Sales Manager, Green Ronin Publishing

Dark Sword Miniatures – 6 New Miniatures Now AvailableHello my fellow miniature enthusiasts,

I wanted to drop you all a quick line and let you know that we have 6 new miniatures in our Online Store that are here and ready for shipping out to you.

GRRM – The Mountain that Rides - Tom Meier1. GRRM – The Red Viper - Tom Meier2. GRRM – Aeron “Damphair” Greyjoy - Jeff Grace3. GRRM – Victarion Greyjoy - Jeff Grace4. VIF  –  Special  Edition  -  Armored  Female  Anti-Paladin  -  Jeff 5. GraceVIF – Male Warrior with Bastard Sword - Jeff Grace6.

In addition, all six of the miniatures above now have painted versions in their galleries for you to admire and enjoy. Marike Reimer and Matt Verzani did the honors on this batch

of releases. For those of you in MN, the new releases above will be at

“The Source” Hobby Store on Tuesday night. So swing on it and snap up the ones you want to add to your collection.

Stay tuned for updates later in the week on our two holiday pieces as well.

We are down to under 99 copies of the Limited Edition Sad Panda miniature as well.

Make it a great week everyone and get ready for a bunch of new Jeff Grace greens and some new Dave Summers greens in the coming weeks.

Regards,

Jimwww.DarkSwordMiniatures.com

53

Two new releases for Corporation and Earthdawn should now be appearing on the shelves of your local stores - Dragon Awoken and Shards Collection Volume One.

Dragon Awoken

The Dragon’s strength is industry. Countless factories stain the skies and poison the cities to spew out an unending flood of weapons and war machines. Join us, and we will grant you the means to obliterate your enemies with overwhelming force. Those who resist will be crushed.

The Dragon’s cunning is secrecy. Let fools whisper of forbidden technology and unholy alliances with rogue god-machines, for they still cannot imagine the full horror of the truth. Join us, and we will induct you into a world of shadows, that you may witness the power we keep hidden from our enemies. Those who are loyal shall learn all.

The Dragon’s spirit is unity. The greatest criminal syndicates across the globe, a pack of snarling, squabbling dogs, have been united - a wolfpack beneath the banner of the Dragon. Join us, and we will offer you a family who will always be at your back, a family to whom allegiance is life. Those who betray us shall beg for death... eventually.

The Dragon has awoken in the East, and the world’s most amoral, ruthless villains rush to swell its ranks.

Welcome, Agent, to the Ai-Jinn Corporation.For more information, visit; http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/

detail.php?qsID=1753

Shards Collection, Volume One

JOURNEY TO LANG: An errand along the Serpent River exposes the characters to the • dangers of the Scourge.RUNVIR’s TOMB: Searching a tomb for magical treasure, the heroes find that not • everything evil is dead.KEPT IN THE DARK: In the depths of the Servos Jungle, an expedition takes a different • direction when the heroes encounter the Therans.PALE RIVER: Beneath the Kingdom of Throal, an underground village harbors thieves. • But why are they stealing food from the bazaars of the dwarf city?TOURNAMENT TROUBLES: The heroes take part in the annual tournament of Travar, the • outcome of which determines the city’s political fate for the coming year.

Shards Collection Volume One is a collection of five stand-alone adventures for Earthdawn Third Edition, providing challenges for Novice through Journeyman adepts. Requires use of the Earthdawn Player’s and Gamemaster’s Guides.

For more information, visit; http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1736

Matthew Sprange

Mongoose PublishingTel: +44 (0)1793 434488 Fax:+44 (0)1793 497999 Mob: +44 (0)7891 624298http://www.mongoosepublishing.com

New Releases – Corporation and Earthdawn

54

The Cleansing of Black Spur – Full-Contact Adventure!

Get ready for a full spectrum gaming experience! Crafty Games' is proud to release its second Fantasy Craft adventure, The Cleansing of Black Spur, but this time we've partnered with our friends at Fat Dragon Games and Sonic Legends to bring you all the components of a truly blockbuster event.

Fat Dragon Games has hand-picked terrain sets • as great fits for the adventure’s scenes and we've created three bundles - located here, here, and here  -  so you can grab  the adventure and any 

combination of those terrain sets at a discount.Sonic  Legends  has  composed  six  original • 

soundscapes (loopable blends of orchestral music and sound effects) just for The Cleansing of Black Spur. You can sample and purchase those at their web site.

Everything you need for a landmark outing your group will never forget. Merry Christmas, and happy gaming from Crafty Games, Fat Dragon Games, and Sonic Legends!

1853 India

1853 is a railway building game using the 18XX game system, set in imperial India. It was originally published in 1989 by Hartland Trefoil. Contrary to many other 18XX games, 1853 does not require aggressive stock trading, but skills in engineering the best possible routes.

1853 is a game that takes several hours to play. Even players familiar with the rules should require at least four hours.

1853 India contains:

1 game board• 72 shares• 37 train• 200 track tiles• 8 wooden cubes• wooden disks• game money• 8 company charters• rulebook• 

MFG1853 1853™ India $75.00

Ages 16+

For 3-6 Players

Playing Time 360 minutes

UPC 0-29877-01853-6-07500

ISBN 1-56905-229-8

Case Pack 6

Designer: Francis Tresham & revisers

Art: Klemens Franz

Made in Germany

Dimensions 1.25 x 11.625 x 9.375

Copyright C 2009 by Lookout Games and Mayfair Games, Inc., Skokie, IL USA.

Bob Carty

VP Sales and MarketingMayfair Games, Inc.(813) 707-6659v(813) 707-8791fbobcarty@mayfairgames.com

55

Ground Zero Games East Coast Convention Feb 26-28, 2010, Owego, NY

The Ground Zero Games East Coast Convention is a science fiction miniatures gaming convention featuring the rules of GZG including Full Thrust, Dirtside, and Stargrunt.

Free downloads of the rules are available at the convention web site.

ECC XIII will be meeting in Owego, NY on Feb 26-28, 2010. We have been in Lancaster, PA in previous years.

Convention web site: •  http://www.warpfish.com/jhan/ft/gzgecc/Photos from ECC XI (2008): •  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2006193&id=1245493738&l=d8aed96c7bPhotos from ECC XII (2009): •  http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2050111&id=1245493738&l=ef5afc5340

If I can answer any questions for you, please contact me at davisje /at/ nycap.rr.com

Jon Davis

56

Crafty Games is proud to release Real American H.E.R.O.es for Spycraft 2.0. Fight for freedom — or crush it — in this brand new world of four-color military fantasy where the good guys wear green, the bad guys wear blue, and great notions like democracy and justice prevail over evil in half-hour segments! This huge product is jam-packed with everything you need to join America’s elite special missions force — or bring the world to its knees!

Join the battle on any side — with the U.S. Headquarters • for Eminent Risk Oversight (H.E.R.O.), the paramilitary legions of  National  Military  Exports  (N.M.E.),  the  cunning  arms dealers at Morrigna Corporation, the mysterious elders of the Shirobikou ninja clan, or the anarchist Wrecker biker tribe.Build your own unique H.E.R.O. with new Origins and feats, • plus two Master Classes: the savvy Commandant and the maniacal Overlord.Expand your arsenal with vehicles and weapons right out of • your favorite Saturday morning cartoons.Devise exciting military adventures with rules  for Rank and • Allegiance, plus the Diabolical Plot and McGuffin of the Week generators and all-new campaign qualities.Forge alliances and lifelong nemeses among dozens of NPCs • from every side of the conflict (including winners of Crafty Games’ Build-a-Hero contest).

Do you have the guts to be a Real American H.E.R.O.? Or are you more interested in the fast-growing field of global appropriation? Perhaps a lucrative Morrigna franchise, study under the Shirobikou masters, or a rowdy tour of the world’s darkest roads is more your speed? No matter your flag, recruiting starts today!

Are You a Real American H.E.R.O.?

57

Nuns on the Run!™ mid first quarter 2010, late Feb release

In Nuns on the Run™ you explore the exciting nocturnal world of a grand abbey filled with intrigue and deception. As the old abbess, the noble prioress, or a simple novice you become hunter or prey. Everyone gets a special “blessing,” but only the novices try to fulfill a “secret wish.” They must sneak through the dimly lit halls, corridors, and gardens, seeking keys and treasures unique to their goal. Meanwhile, the vigilant abbess and prioress patrol their routes, ever watchful of young novices who should be fast asleep in their austere cells. Are you wily enough, or sneaky enough to fulfill your quest and win the night?

Nuns on the Run™ is a very casual, social game for 2-8 players ages 10 and older. You can play a game in about 45-60 minutes.

Nuns on the Run contains:

1 game board• 1 pad of movement log score sheets• 2 stand-up player figures• 12 noise/vanished tokens• 6 novice tokens• 66 cards• 1 six-sided die• 1 turn marker• 1 captured marker• 1 straight-edge• rulebook• 

MFG4117 Nuns on the Run™ $35.00

Ages 10+

For 3-8 Players

Playing Time 45 minutes

UPC 0-29877-04117-6-03500

ISBN 1-56905-221-2

Case Pack 6

Designer: Fréderic Moyersoen

Art: Jacob Chabot & Jared Blando

Made in Germany

Dimensions 2.625 x 10.875 x 7.5625

Copyright © 2010 Mayfair Games, Inc. & Fréderic Moyersoen. Nuns on the Run is a trademark of Mayfair Games, Inc. All rights reserved.

Bob CartyVP Sales and MarketingMayfair Games, Inc.(813) 707-6659v(813) 707-8791fbobcarty@mayfairgames.com

“…to be sure, your sin will find you out.” —Numbers 32:23 The novices are on the loose! Temptation has lured them out of their cells, and they hope not to be caught by the abbess and the prioress. But the guards are swift and their hearing is

excellent, so it will take craftiness and a bit of luck in order to make it back to their beds without being caught!

58

New From Mongoose — Internal Security and Democracy Falls

Two new books hit the shelves this week from Mongoose Publishing – the brand new core rulebook for Paranoia, Internal Security, and the next Judge Dredd adventure, Democracy Falls.

Internal Security

The mandatory enjoyment of Paranoia’s 25th Anniversary continues! With this high-security book, players can leave behind the trials and tribulations of Troubleshooters and instead bask in the joy of being Blue level Internal Security Troopers – to serve, to protect, to vaporise!

With a very different mission briefing, players will jump at the chance to play Troopers, the brave citizens who stand between Alpha Complex and the criminal minds who seek to subvert it. There is no way the dangers that plague Troubleshooters could follow them into this elite service. None at all.

There will be brand new dangers instead!

This is a brand new core rulebook for Paranoia, containing everything you need to engage in missions as Internal Security troopers.

For more information, visit;http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1718

Democracy Falls

Democracy Falls - a hub of opportunity for those in the Cursed Earth with the skills, gear and guts to try and survive within its gang-patrolled wall. Located a few hundred miles west of Mega City One on the ruins of one of America’s

ancient heartland capitals, 'D-Falls' is a dream for Cursed Earthers.and a nightmare to the Justice Department. It has always loomed in the distance, standing as a reminder that the Mega Cities are not the only civilisations to thrive in this day and age.

The Justice Department has always turned a blind eye to the existence of Democracy Falls, choosing to use its resources more efficiently than laying siege to it. The appearance of a new criminal game in the lower blocks has changed the status quo, forcing the Chief Judges to take action. This new game, called Bloodrace, is well-known to have started in Democracy Falls – and it just claimed its first Judge’s life.

Now the Justice Department needs a small team of Judges willing to leave the safety of Mega City One to bring justice to the Bloodrace organisers - those who brought the game to MC-1’s streets. Everyone is allowed to enter Democracy Falls, even Judges… the only problem is getting back out again.

Democracy Falls is a scenario for the Judge Dredd: Traveller game setting, placing several Judges in a dangerous and foreign city in the Cursed Earth, where fast cars and faster bullets are normally the Law of the land.

For more information, visit; http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1729

Matthew SprangeMongoose PublishingTel: +44 (0)1793 434488 Fax:+44 (0)1793 497999 Mob: +44 (0)7891 624298http://www.mongoosepublishing.com

59

NBM Publishing: Rall is on a Roll with the Red Eye!Friends in Comics:

Author Ted Rall said back in 2001 in his Village Voice articles when he went to Afghanistan at war, and then in the NBM graphic novel To Afghanistan & Back: “We lost the war". He was an outspoken critic of the buildup by President Bush then. And he’s an outspoken critic of President Obama now. Chicago’s Redeye newspaper interviews Rall on this very subject, where he crystallizes his feelings on Obama’s speech this week in terms that will shock and astonish even the most hardened reader:

Part one: •  http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/geek-to-me/2009/12/political-cartoonist-goes-to-afghanistan-and-back.htmlPart two: •  http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/geek-to-me/2009/12/ted-rall-to-obama-us-strategy-in-afghanistan-all-wrong.html

…and here’s our blog entry about the interview, along with information about Ted’s signing on December 11th:

http://nbmpub.com/blog/2009/12/04/chicagos-redeye-interviews-rall-he-was-dead-on-about-afghanistan-in-2001/

Once again NBM pioneered, as it’s all in To Afghanistan & Back, which we published as the 1st 'instant graphic novel' by him in 2002 (ISBN 978-1-56163-325-8 cl, ISBN 978-1-56163-359-3 pb).

If you'd like a review copy of the book or to arrange an interview with Ted on the subject of the this book or his latest stunning graphic novel, The Year of Loving Dangerously, please let me know.

Marc Mason

NBM Publishing

RuneQuest books – OOP in Less Than a Month!

With the advent of RuneQuest II early in January, we are cleaning to stables of the older edition.

If you are after any of the original range of RuneQuest books (including the Glorantha, Elric and Hawkmoon lines), you have less than a month to grab them as they will be removed from the web site as soon as we get back to work in January after the Christmas break!

You can find the entire current range here;http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/series.php?qsSeries=39Matthew SpangeMongoose ublishingTel: +44 (0)1793 434488 Fax:+44 (0)1793 497999 Mob: +44 (0)7891 624298http://www.mongoosepublishing.com

60

Out in Stores – Vargr and Trojan Reaches Map Pack

Two new products will be appearing in stores for Traveller before Christmas – the long-awaited Alien Module 2: Vargr, and the Trojan Reaches Map Pack.

Alien Module 2: Vargr

Callously viewed by other races as thieves, vagabonds and pirates, the wolf-like Vargr are a complex and varied race whose society is light years beyond their stereotype. Alien Module 2: Vargr peels back the layers of prejudice to reveal a fascinating race who have a powerful effect on their region of the galaxy.

This book is packed with information for both players and referees. New rules for careers allow players to create their own Vargr characters, which are then well served by technology and ships designed by and for the Vargr. Chapters are devoted to playing a Vargr and how their society and culture are structured. Finally, we have also included a complete sector to explore, meshing seamlessly with the Spinward Marches - the Gvurrdon sector.

For more information, visit;http://w w w.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=17630

Trojan Reaches Map Pack

The Trojan Reaches awaits your exploration in this huge poster map, featuring every system, trade link and starbase in the sector. Beautifully illustrated in full color, this map is the second in a series that will allow you to explore the entire Third Imperium and beyond, joining posters together to form one gigantic map! Includes a full key to aid navigation.

For more information, visit;http://w w w.mongoosepublishing.com/home/detail.php?qsID=1768

Matthew Sprange

Mongoose PublishingTel: +44 (0)1793 434488 Fax:+44 (0)1793 497999 Mob: +44 (0)7891 624298http://www.mongoosepublishing.com

61

The Pillars of the Earth: Builders Duel – January 2010A subtle competition for players ages 10 and older

England in the 12th Century. The players take on the roles of Prior Philip and Bishop Waleran. Philip wants to build the most beautiful cathedral in England. Waleran is planning his own project, a mighty fortress.

Both players are trying to simultaneously build their buildings. To construct your building, you must obtain raw resources and convert them into building materials. You are supported by your friends and powerful allies, but are constantly opposed by dangerous foes. If you manage to overcome and build your building first, you win!

Builders Duel™ contains:

6 building cards• 54 advantage cards• 32 gold coins• 6 character markers• 10 neutral seals• 2 personal seals• 6 building cards• 22 raw material-/resource-chits• 1 start player marker• 1 full-color rules• 

MFG4119 Builder’s Duel™ $25.00

Ages 10+

For 2 Players

Playing Time 45 minutes

UPC 0-29877-04119-0-02500

ISBN 1-56905-232-8

Case Pack 10

Designer: Stefan Feld

Art: Michael Menzel, Pohl & Rick

Made in Germany

Dimensions 1.25 x 7.875 x 7.875

Copyright © 2000 Ken Follett & Mayfair Games, Inc. The Pillars of the Earth and The Pillars of the Earth: Builder’s Duel are trademarks of Ken Follett. All rights reserved.

Bob Carty

VP Sales and MarketingMayfair Games, Inc.(813) 707-6659v(813) 707-8791fbobcarty@mayfairgames.com

62

63

Ablaze™ mid first quarter 2010, late Feb releaseA subtle competition for players ages 10 and older

The forest is ablaze, the smoke is thick, and the flames are spreading! The only inhabitants of this inferno seem to be a few courageous firefighters, their supporting planes, and a horde of fleeing animals.

Ablaze consists of three complete, distinct games. Each game revolves around a forest fire, but each is different and has its own unique favor.

In Wild Fire!, you lead a crew of firefighters who are attempting to contain a rapidly spreading wildfire. To emerge victorious, you and your crew must cover the largest area of forest while always maintaining a link to water.

In Volcano!, you pilot an air tanker struggling to help extinguish a conflagration initiated by an erupting volcano. Extinguish or isolate the most forest fires and you earn honor and victory!

In On the Run!, a lighting strike has started an intense brushfire, forcing fluffy forest fauna to flee the inferno in an effort to escape a fiery demise. You shall decide the fate of some of the frantic forest fauna. Saving the most animals will win you the game.

Ablaze™ CONTENTS

48 pawns (firefighters) in four colors• 47 forest tiles • 1 volcano tile• 1 plane tiles • 1 set of rules • 

MFG4403 Ablaze™ $20.00

Ages 10+

For 3-5 Players

Playing Time 45 minutes

UPC 0-29877-04403-0-02000

ISBN 1-56905-199-2

Case Pack 12

Designer Heinrich Glumpler

Art Franz Vohwinkel

Made in USA

Dimensions 1.75 x 8 x 6.25

Copyright © 2009 Mayfair Games, Inc. Licensed from Edition Erlkonig - Glumpler & Truant. “Ablaze!” is a trademark of Mayfair Games, Inc. All rights reserved.

Bob Carty

VP Sales and MarketingMayfair Games, Inc.(813) 707-6659v(813) 707-8791fbobcarty@mayfairgames.com

64

STAR FLEET ALERT12 NOVEMBER 2009NEW PRODUCTS ON 16 NOVNEW PRODUCTS ON 16 NOVNEW PRODUCTS ON 16 NOVNEW PRODUCTS ON 16 NOVNEW PRODUCTS ON 16 NOV

CONTACTAmarillo Design Bureau, Inc. PO Box 8759, Amarillo TX 79114 PH: (806)-351-1950To order products, contact Sales@StarFleetGames.comTo receive these Alerts, contact Marketing@StarFleetGames.comSee our updated website: www.StarFleetGames.com

KLINGON F5WWar Destroyer!

The powerful destroyerthat the Klingons introducedlate in the General War isnow introduced to your gam-ing table. Ready to guard aflank, protect a convoy, or slipthrough a gap in the lines tostrike hard and deep behindFederation lines. Sold in athree-ship package.

CAPTAINí S LOG #40CAPTAINí S LOG #40CAPTAINí S LOG #40CAPTAINí S LOG #40CAPTAINí S LOG #40Space Manta

A previously unknownmonster appears, and theFederation X-ship ColinPowell is fighting for its lifeand the lives of millions ofcolonists. The issue also in-cludes new ships, scenarios,and updates for FederationCommander, SFB, F&E,Starmada, and SFBF.SKU #5740, $19.95 SKU #0397, $19.95

For Shipment on 16 November 2009.

GAMERSPre-order from your store now.We will ship mail orders on 23 Nov 2009.

WHOLESALERSPlease send orders when ready.

RETAILERSOrder from your wholesaler now!

BORDER BOX #9BORDER BOX #9BORDER BOX #9BORDER BOX #9BORDER BOX #9Play to Win

Here to support the ex-panded Hydran, Lyran,WYN, and Klingon fleetsfrom Hydran Attack andBooster Packs #25-#27, thisbox includes 24 pewterstarships from the AlphaOctant’s always turbulentwestern theater. The FourPowers War never ended.

SQUADRON BOXESSQUADRON BOXESSQUADRON BOXESSQUADRON BOXESSQUADRON BOXESHydran vs. Lyran

Supporting the expandedHydran and Lyran fleets inthe new Hydran Attack mod-ule are these two boxes,each containing five preci-sion-scale pewter warships.(Squadron Box #25 at left.)

SqBx 25: SKU #4325, $34.95SqBx 26: SKU #4326, $34.95 SKU #4409, $99.95

65

Our Egyptians are busy unearthing a tomb, supervised by the archeologist and out Foriegn Legion officer. Two Hour Wargames' Larger Than Life and Pulp Adventures have been popular rulesets.

Figures shown include:

EG-1 Diggers• EG-5 Native Guards• FRP-1 Foreign Legion Desert Command• 

The Spahis have arrived!

Mounted Spahis are here to complete the line:

FRC-5 Spahis• FRC-6 Spahi Command• FR-19 Dismounted Spahis• FR-20 Dismounted Spahi Command• FR-21 Spahi Guards• 

Russian Artillery

Russian 9-lb Field gun and crew.

Also available:4 lb gun• Gatling gun• Limber• 

Coming Soon

Dismounted Cossacks, Central Asian Turkestan figures. Above, greens of Circassian Cossacks.

Askari Miniatures Egyptian Adventures

66

2010 Changes to Shipping and Publishing Policies

Shipping RatesWith our One World Shipping rates, we charged everyone

around the world the same to ship them a package, whether they resided in Atlanta or Sri Lanka. While our shipping deal is pretty good, it’s not that good, and with the end of the 2009 that subsidy will end as well. Rates will almost double on Jan. 1; as before, it’s the same rate for anywhere outside the United States including Canada. Yes, we know that Canada is very, very close to the U.S., but our shipping company charges the same so we have to pass that on to you.

Until Friday, our incredibly low international shipping rates still apply to all orders INCLUDING pre-orders. Now’s the time to take advantage!

Products RetiringFive of our scenario supplements are going away on

Jan. 1. They won’t be reprinted and they won’t live on in downloadable form. If you want them, buy now or forever hold your peace.

Panzer Grenadier: North Wind• Panzer Grenadier: Alaska’s Wa•  rGreat War at Sea: Airships• Panzer Grenadier: March on Leningrad• Panzer Grenadier: Siege of Leningrad• 

Twelve Days of Christmas!

Our end-of-the-year clearance continues through all 12 days of this grandest of holidays, so pick up some gifts for yourself at great prices. We'll change the games and books on special every couple of days, but some will remain untouchable – you can see a list of them here. Here are the latest offerings, for the Fifth Day of Christmas. They'll change every day or two, so come back often and treat yourself to some new games. You deserve it.

Third Reich

Regular Price: $64.99

SPECIAL Price: $40

GOLD CLUB price: $36

Great Pacific War

Regular Price: $64.99

SPECIAL Price: $40

GOLD CLUB price: $36

Third Reich Players' Guide

Regular Price: $24.99

SPECIAL Price: $10

GOLD CLUB price: $9

Third Reich: Rumors of War

Regular Price: $24.99

SPECIAL Price: $18

GOLD CLUB price: $16.20

Soldier Kings

Regular Price: $39.99

SPECIAL Price: $25

GOLD CLUB price: $22.50

New Content

Loose Lips Sink Ships: Failure to secure their communications with Tokyo during the 1921-22 Washington Naval Conference cost the Japanese delegation 105,000 tons of modern battleships. We have a look at the implication of this lapse, complete with a variant for our Great Pacific War game.

Chihuahuas Attack!: The Chihuahua Incident, our downloadable preview of the Infantry Attacks game series, went out this weekend FREE to Gold Club members. Today the designer looks at the module – sign up for the Gold Club today if you want one of your own.

Visit us soon at www.avalanchepress.com

Avalanche Press makes historical boardgames that every player can enjoy. Please visit our online store or call our customer service line: (800) 564-9008 or 1-205-957-0017.

Even more news from Avalanche Press

67

STAR FLEET ALERT29 DECEMBER 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR from ADB, Inc.!

CONTACTAmarillo Design Bureau, Inc. PO Box 8759, Amarillo TX 79114 PH: (806)-351-1950To order products, contact Sales@StarFleetGames.comTo receive these Alerts, contact Marketing@StarFleetGames.comSee our updated website: www.StarFleetGames.com

Was last year good or bad for you? It no longer matters!NOW it’s time for a NEW YEAR!

Make it happy. Make it fun. Keep it safe.Decide that you are going to have a good year and you will!

A NEW YEAR,A NEW CHANCE,A NEW START,

A NEW OPPORTUNITY.

68

BBC labels War On Terror board game “historically important”

Cambridge, UK — As the first decade of the new millennium draws to a close, an underground, satirical board game lampooning the 'war on terror' is emerging as one of the defining games – possibly one of the key cultural icons - of the 2000s.

Individuals and publications alike have identified War on Terror, the boardgame - the first release from small, British publishers, TerrorBull Games – as uniquely important to the present era. Dr Nick Megoran, lecturer in geopolitics at Newcastle University, applauds the game as a “cleverly crafted satire” and uses it regularly “to provoke students to think critically about one of the most important issues of our time”. Recently, the second largest daily newspaper in Spain, El Mundo, claimed that War on Terror is “perhaps the best board game in the world and maybe of all time”1.

Certainly, War on Terror has achieved a level of cultural recognition that is rare for any product, especially a board game. From appearing in TV sitcoms2, to being branded an offensive weapon by the Kent police3; from being displayed in the Berlin Academy of Arts4, to drawing admiration and praise from respected journalists like John Pilger5.

Last night, historian Benjamin Woolley, speaking in the second programme of the three-part BBC documentary series 'Games Britannia', went one step further and hailed 'War on Terror, the boardgame as the culmination of over 2000 years of gaming history. At the same time, Woolley asserted that War on Terror, the boardgame is “unlike anything that has gone before” in exploring the “battles that are shaping our history” in a satirical way6.

The trio of friends behind the company responsible for War on Terror, the boardgame are continually amazed at the penetrating resonance their game has, especially considering TerrorBull Games' rocky start.

Started in 2005 to publish what was back then an elaborate private joke, the company was immediately vilified by the tabloid press for making a “sick” and “pro-terrorist” game. This made it difficult to find businesses willing to work with them and even attracted death threats. The games industry also didn’t want to know, banning TerrorBull Games from several major international toy fairs.

Several years later at the end of the decade, things have dramatically turned around for the independent publishers. They have accumulated a fiercely loyal fan base around the world and have a second success on their hands: Crunch – the game for utter bankers, a satire on the financial crisis, was released earlier this year and has already sold over 5000 copies and also been translated into French, German, Italian, Spanish and Estonian.

War on Terror meanwhile continues to draw accolades from across the spectrum. Amnesty International, a regular stockist, called the game “genius satire” and recently it was ranked #5 in The Independent’s “50 Best Board Games” list7. Last but not least, the BBC have now recognised TerrorBull Games' contribution to games as historically important.

Co-inventor, Andrew Sheerin commented: “I think people gradually got used to the idea that you can use games like any other medium to engage, ask questions, provoke thought and discussion... even about very difficult subjects. Why not?”

So what does the future bring? TerrorBull Games are now hard at work on game no.3. While the subject of the new game is strictly hush-hush, you can expect that it will get people talking, thinking and, most importantly, having fun.

'Desde el mas alla - Navidades paranormales' - El Mundo, 09/12/091. War on Terror has been part of the set of the 'IT Crowd' for two seasons and was played by Moss & Roy in S02E042. 'War on Terror board game seized by police' – Cambridge Evening News, 11/08/083. War on Terror was used as part of the 'Embedded Art' exhibition, looking at art in times of security and war – Jan 20094. “Through the fog of an often collusive and compliant media comes this extraordinary game, achieving, with its black humour, its own truth about the pernicious War on Terror” - John Pilger, June 5. 2009'Games Britannia', episode 2, 'Monopolies and Mergers' – BBC4, 14/12/096. 'The 50 best board games' – The Independent, 07/11/09 7.

War on Terror designers Andrew Sheerin & Andy Tompkins

69

Now that the holiday season is upon us again, what could be better than gathering together with loved ones around steaming mugs of cocoa and playing a board game? The problem, of course, is that you’re sick of all your old board games, and you don’t particularly want to get in your car and drive to some overpriced specialty shop to buy a new game. Isn’t there some way to get an inexpensive new board game from the comfort of your own home?

Yes, Virginia, there is. For only 99 cents you can purchase Necro Klepto, the new board game from Hex Games (in partnership with Atomic Turtle Games). Download the game, print out the board, and you’re ready for a night of fun, fellowship, and imaginary grave robbery.

Not long ago, adventurous men and women broke into graveyards, stole bodies, and sold them to anatomists for cold hard cash. Back in those days, grave robbers didn’t need any fancy high-tech equipment – just a torch to light the way, a key to the cemetery gates, a shovel to dig up the grave, and a crowbar to pry open the coffin. With Necro Klepto, you and your friends can take on the role of competing grave robbers and relive those magical times!

Necro Klepto contains a game board, complete rules, and 16 item cards. In order to play the game, you need a token for each player and a six-sided die.

Necro Klepto can be purchased at www.hexgames.com, as well as the finer PDF sales sites.

Hex Games releases Necro Klepto!

Upper Deck Releases Naxxramas Raid Deck and All New Treasure Pack

Naxxramas Treasure Pack is now available as a stand-alone product!

Carlsbad, CA — Today, the Upper Deck Company is pleased to announce the release of Naxxramas, its latest Raid Deck in the World of Warcraft™ Trading Card Game. And for the first time ever, it will feature a Treasure Pack as a stand-alone product!

“The new Treasure Pack was created as a direct result of customer feedback,” said Dan Bojanowski, Upper Deck’s World of Warcraft TCG Sr. brand manager. “In addition to the standard Treasure Pack content like exclusive foil cards that customers have come to expect from previous Raid Decks, this new offering also contains alternate art heroes featuring heroes from the Drums of War block in Naxxramas-themed gear and settings.”

Specifically, here’s the pertinent info on the upcoming Naxxramas Raid Deck release:

Naxxramas Raid Deck – Dec. 22The warriors of the frozen wastes await you, enter if you

dare. Naxxramas™ Raid Deck is the fifth Raid Deck in the World of Warcraft® Trading Card Game. Players build their raiding parties using cards from the World of Warcraft TCG card pool. Find more Treasure Pack cards than ever before and an improved chance to get uniquely coded rare Loot™ cards for your World of Warcraft online character!

SRP: $29.99 per deck

Naxxramas Treasure Pack – Dec. 22For the first time ever players can now purchase a Raid

Deck Treasure Pack as a stand-alone product! Releasing the same time as the Naxxramas Raid Deck, each Naxxramas Treasure Pack contains 15 random foil cards out of the complete 30-card set, as well as an alternate art hero card. Each Treasure Pack also has a chance of containing a random Loot™ card from Fields of Honor, including the coveted “El Pollo Grande” rooster mount!

SRP: $9.99 per pack

Stay connected for additional World of Warcraft™ Trading Card Game updates at www.WoWTCG.com

About Upper Deck

Upper Deck is the leading sports and entertainment trading card and collectibles company. For more information on Upper Deck and its products please visit www.upperdeck.com.

Media contactTerry Melia, Public Relations Mgr., Upper Deck760-929-3055terry_melia@upperdeck.com

70

Heroic Prints, LLC Launches Unique Character Posters For World Of Warcraft® Players

New Technology Allows Custom Design and Printing

Carlsbad, CA — Heroic Prints, LLC is pleased to announce today the launch of PrintWarcraft.com in collaboration with industry-leading game developer and publisher Blizzard Entertainment. PrintWarcraft.com allows players of World of Warcraft®, Blizzard Entertainment’s massively multiplayer online role-playing game, to create customized print-on-demand products based on the characters they play in the game.

PrintWarcraft.com provides players with a never-before-seen level of user-guided content that culminates in an extraordinary product – a unique poster featuring the character they play based on data from the World of Warcraft Armory. Players are provided images from Blizzard Entertainment’s expansive World of Warcraft art library and from the game to design their own one-of-a-kind customized poster.

To provide as many creative options as possible for players, PrintWarcraft.com combined specially designed rendering technology with access to information directly from the game. The result of this partnership has yielded a powerful online builder application that, at launch, will encompass in excess of 100 backgrounds, more than 24 character pose options, border treatments, font treatments and a variety of product sizes. Combining all of these different elements provides an exceptional level of choice and customization.

“PrintWarcraft.com lets World of Warcraft players display their achievements proudly through our powerful online builder and our high quality print-on-demand products,” said Matt Hoffman, Co-founder of Heroic Prints.

In addition to the builder itself, PrintWarcraft.com also features the ability to create snapshots of characters. As players progress in the game and acquire different gear, they are able to access their PrintWarcraft.com account and save visual snapshots of the characters they play, essentially freezing them in time. This feature allows the World of Warcraft player to create a virtual yearbook of the character over time.

At launch, players will be able to create a 12” x 18” poster ($17.99), a 24” x 36” poster ($24.99) and a 27” x 40” poster ($29.99) in both portrait and landscape views. For more information, visit www.PrintWarcraft.com.

About Heroic Prints

Heroic Prints, LLC, and its flagship print on demand online application www.PrintWarcraft.com, was formed with the single goal of creating products individually designed and approved by the user. Focused on combining new rendering technology with high quality physical products, Heroic Prints challenges all users to Print What You Play!

About Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.

Best known for blockbuster hits including World of Warcraft® and the Warcraft®, StarCraft®, and Diablo® series, Blizzard Entertainment, Inc. (www.blizzard.com), a division of Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ: ATVI), is a premier developer and publisher of entertainment software renowned for creating some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed games. Blizzard Entertainment’s track record includes eleven #1-selling games and multiple Game of the Year awards. The company’s online-gaming service, Battle.net®, is one of the largest in the world, with millions of active users.

Media Contact: For images please contact: Carol Knight: 760-436-5424; csknight@sbcglobal.net

71

The Perfect Holiday Gift: Yoga for the Wii™ System Featuring Top Model Anja RubikPre-order now at: www.yoga-game.com

Toronto, Canada — Still looking for that perfect holiday present? We’ve got the perfect gift idea: “Yoga”, the world’s first true Yoga game for Wii™. It helps you focus on your spiritual and physical wellbeing, balance and serenity, right in your own living room. A wonderful gift for young and old – and perfect for people who want to stay fit and healthy, and relax at the same time. Yoga practitioner Anja Rubik, one of the world’s top models, will guide you through the game.

In late November, DreamCatcher Games and JoWooD will release the first true-bred, 100% Yoga game. This unique game offers interactive Yoga training sessions in seven huge levels showing authentic Asian locations and buildings. No matter if you’re an experienced Yoga practitioner or new to this practice, Yoga for the Wii system will help you understand each Asana in detail and help you create your own individually customized training plan. An interactive Yoga Guru will support you throughout your training efforts, and famous Yoga practitioner Anja Rubik – ranked #3 in the world’s top model list – will guide you through the central parts of the game and tell you some of her personal Yoga secrets. Using the Balance Board, players also receive important feedback on how well they’re doing in Balance and Breathing exercises. (Of course, Yoga can also be played without a Wii Balance Board.)

“Yoga for the Wii System” as a holiday present:

With the new Yoga game (retail price set at an affordable $39.99 USD) you not only get a great game presented by one of the world’s most successful models. She is also an experienced Yoga practitioner herself and has provided a plethora of useful hints and tips on Yoga. “Yoga” is a completely new way of gaming suitable for all the family: Soothing and strengthening the body, spirit and mind, and relief from the stress of everyday life – who could refuse such an offer in today’s fast-paced world? You won’t even have to leave your home – and explore beautiful Asian locations while learning Yoga.

That sounds like the perfect gift for someone you know? Then write it down on your shopping list now, or pre-order now at www.yoga-game.com

Impressions from the Gamescom Gaming Industry Fair:

With Yoga, JoWooD brings an ancient art of relaxation and well-being to your living room: The combination of breathtaking graphics • and the option to use the Wii Balance Board™ accessory allow for unprecedented gaming pleasure.Yoga encourages players to relax after a stressful day!• Yoga deliberately ignores the conventions of the traditional Sports game genre, instead focusing on wellbeing, body awareness • and relaxation.Does everything have to get faster, tougher, harder all the time? No! De-celerate your everyday• 

Trademarks are property of their respective owners. Wii is a trademark of Nintendo.

Pre-order at: www.yoga-game.com

72

Montreal International Game Summit: Political, Economic and Social Momentum for the Industry

Montreal — The Montreal International Game Summit closed Tuesday November 17 2009 on an uplifting note. The yearly gathering of video game industry professionals, which took place at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure Hotel on November 16th and 17th, has attracted over 1,500 participants from all related sectors and from throughout the world, as well as around a hundred industry decision-makers who took part in the Business Lounge, an exclusive space entirely dedicated to business development.

The sixth edition of this event has shown that the recent dazzling growth of the video games industry has brought forth several issues - not only related to its development, but also regarding its place in a global economic, political, social and cultural ecosystem. For example, regions in the rest of the world have modeled the tax credit system initiated by the Government of Quebec. Former Premier of Quebec, Bernard Landry, arrived at the Summit to explain the original vision of his government when they launched the program. As for the current government, the Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade, Clément Gignac, opened the event by emphasizing the importance that games occupy in the development of Quebec.

Among the key Summit moments, Yoichi Wada, President and CEO of Square Enix, demonstrated the faith of the Japanese giant in our local industry. The event has also distinguished the industry in terms of social awareness. For one of the rare times in its history, the leaders of major studios have discussed social responsibility and sustainable development - during a seminar presented by Samson Bélair/Deloitte et Touche - proving that our industry can innovate while taking due notice of the global issues which flow beyond its boundaries.

Finally, around 80 panelists, all experts in one of the five domains defined by MIGS (business, arts, design, production and technology), have articulated their views on new business models, best practices, technological developments and new artistic tendencies. The Exposition Zone and the Business Lounge have also facilitated increased networking, a vital activity for a growing industry.

Major partners

MIGS, presented in collaboration with Telefilm Canada, relies on the support of Eidos-Montreal as a Gold Sponsor, High Road Communication for public relations and as a Silver Sponsor, on Artificial Mind and Movement, Autodesk, Bug-

Tracker, EA and Ubisoft as Bronze Sponsors, on the Governments of Canada and Quebec as public sector partners and on the continuous support of numerous other sponsors and media partners.

About MIGS

MIGS was created in 2004 to serve members of the video games industry, which currently employs more than 7,000 people in Quebec. It aims to develop the transfer of knowledge and expertise, raise the international profile of the Quebec video games industry and cultivate information sharing and dialogue among industry stakeholders. A specialized, top-tier event, MIGS covers a broad range of fields, including artistic creation, design, production, programming and business.

About Alliance numérique

Alliance numérique, Quebec’s digital industry network, is dedicated to the sustained growth and competitiveness of the industry. Its members come from the sectors of gaming, eLearning, Internet services and applications and mobile phones. It is a gateway for anyone seeking to work with professionals in the field of interactive digital content.

Sources:

Wendie GodboutHigh Road Communication514-908-0110, extension 311wgodbout@highroad.comMarie Claude BernardAlliance numérique514-848-7177, extension 226 or 514-451-2079mcbernard@alliancenumerique.com

73

Empires Of Steel released!The full version of EMPIRES OF STEEL has just been

opened for download today!If you have pre-ordered a copy, you have been notified by

email earlier this morning that you can download your files. If you have not pre-ordered, you can now order the full version of the game for $45. Delivery options include Download Only, Mail Delivery Only, and Download & Mail Delivery. Hardgoods consisting of a CD will be ready for shipping within 7-14 days.

If you have the free beta demo, you will not be able to upgrade your game to the release version (v1.0.196). You will need to purchase a full version in order to do that.

The release version of the game comes with countless improvements, bug fixes, new features and a revised interface that are the result of YOUR excellent community feedback from the free beta demo! The full game version removes any restrictions on playing maps, using the editor and other reduced features that were present in the demo. You can play any map, including randomly generated maps or those created in the full-featured editor; you can create new rulesets and unitsets to simulate specific time periods; you can swap mods and files with the built-in community File Sharing; and you can play multiplayer with up to 10 people using the unique in-game chat and lobby.

Don’t miss one of the most innovative global domination strategy games available today!

Click here to purchase your copy nowClick here to download free beta demo

Announcing Theatre of War 2: Kursk 1943! And video teaserBattlefront.com and 1C Company

proudly announce the next major release in the Theatre of War series of authentic World War Two tactical combat simulation – Theatre of War 2: Kursk 1943!

Theatre of War 2: Kursk 1943 is a completely new game and does not require any of the previous games to play!

The Battle of Kursk lasted for forty nine days, from July 5 until August 23, 1943 and has made its way into history as the biggest armored battle of WWII, and in fact of history. It was the last armored strategic offensive the Germans were able to mount in the east. The resulting decisive Soviet victory gave the Red Army the strategic initiative for the rest of the war.

Theatre of War 2 : Kursk 1943 boasts many new features for the first time in the series, such as brand new multiplayer

modes and a built-in campaign generator, allowing users to create random missions on the fly!

The game features over 20 new story-based missions with historical military commanders such as Major General Walter Hoerlein and Lieutenant General Ivan Chistyakov.

40 types of military weaponry (including air defense guns, missile launchers, and mortars), new vehicles and thirty types of small arms will be available in both the single player campaigns and the brand new multiplayer modes.

Theatre of War 2 : Kursk 1943 is already in late beta stage and is planned to be released, exclusively from www.battlefront.com, by the end of January/early February!

Official game web site: http://www.battlefront.com/kursk

74

PT Boats – game manual online!

Battlefront.com, an independent internet-based publisher for superior war and strategy games and one of the internet’s largest wargaming communities, and Akella, one of Eastern Europe’s leading development and publishing houses, have just posted online the full official game manual for their upcoming “PT Boats: Knights of the Sea” naval simulation!

Fans awaiting the international English release of the game are now able to read up on the game mechanics, and can familiarize themselves with the various controls and functions for both the direct control of ships and weapons, as well as the 2D and 3D tactical modes.

The game itself will be released, as usual, with a fully printed game manual for easy reference, and the online manual is made public ahead of the release as a teaser and service to the Battlefront.com community!

Direct link to the game manual:http://www.battlefront.com/index.php?option=com_flippingbook&book_id=14

Official Game web site: www.battlefront.com/ptboats

About the game

“PT Boats: Knights of the Sea” is a full-blown naval simulation, and more: combining key elements of a strategic, tactical and action simulator, the game allows the player to control each crew member separately - or command whole groups of ships in a strategic layer!

“PT Boats” fully supports DirectX 10 and multi-core processors. System requirements and the recommended system configuration is listed below.

“PT Boats: Knights of the Sea” is currently in beta and localization stage and will be ready for release later this year, 2009. The english language version will be available in North America and Europe only from www.battlefront.com, via direct download or as a hardcopy with fully printed manual and DVD box by mail for $45 (plus S&H if applicable). A free demo will be available around the time of release as well.

The official game site with more details about the game, screenshots, videos, discussion board and future announcements is located at www.battlefront.com/ptboats

75

Tech News from ZDnetIs it OK to use OEM Windows on your own PC? Don’t ask Microsoft

If you go shopping online for Windows 7, you'll find OEM System Builder copies at significant discounts from full retail prices. Microsoft’s own web sites and support forums give conflicting, confusing, often inaccurate information about these products. What’s an honest consumer supposed to do? by Ed Bott

READ FULL STORYHackers bypass Windows 7 activation• Microsoft probing Windows 7 zero-day hole• White Paper: 7 Steps to Migrate From Windows XP to • Windows 7Seven great (and free!) applications for Windows 7• Study claims netbook users dissatisfied with Windows 7. Are • you?

Google makes Chrome OS open source

Contrary to rumors, Google did not release a beta version of its much anticipated Chrome operating system today. And nothing is coming anytime soon: the final version is at least a year away, the mega giant web company said. But there was some significant news…

READ FULL STORYLive from Googleplex: Chrome OS • details revealedGallery: Chrome OS revealed• Google’s Chrome OS: Will you give up desktop apps?• Chrome OS: Some Early Preview Videos• Special Report: Chrome O•  S

Microsoft search share continues its slow upward crawl

The October comScore numbers are in and Microsoft has inched upward for another month with its Bing search engine. Bing’s growth came at Yahoo’s – not Google’s – expense, however. by Mary Jo Foley

READ FULL STORY

Netbooks dead? Not when sales are up 264 percent

Can the best-selling category of the PC market really be just a fad? A junky joke? A stunt to prop up the PC market created by Intel? Not quite. Netbooks may be panned but consumers are still buying them. by Larry Dignan

READ FULL STORY

Pimp my iPhone: Apps for storing, editing and reading files

Pimp my iPhone. Apple has made it unnecessarily difficult to use the iPhone and iPod touch for file storage. Here are a couple of my favorite apps for storing, editing and reading files on the iPhone. by Jason D. O’Grady

READ FULL STORY

The cost of climate change inaction: $7.4 billion

SmartPlanet: Ever wonder about the business and financial impact that climate change could have on the coastal United States? A new report indicates that $7.4 trillion in assets could be at risk if the global sea level rises 20 inches.

READ FULL STORYLessons  learned  from  the  largest-ever  single-city  kidney • exchangeLarge Hadron Collider breaks speed record; now world’s • ‘highest energy particle accelerator’New  thin,  flexible,  light battery  could bring  intelligence  to • wallpaper, clothing

Pondering a rogue cloud; Will platform providers cave to business, government interests?

Harvard law professor Jonathan Zittrain played the contrarian when it comes to cloud computing: Is the cloud really the backbone of the future we want? Do we all want to be slaves to a tethered device? by Larry Dignan

READ FULL STORY

Facebook hits 350 million user mark; Nukes regions

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg delivered an open letter to his customers, noting that the company was officially going to ditch regional networks. Facebook also has 350 million people using it. by Larry Dignan

READ FULL STORY

76

TGC announces SacraboarBerlin publisher brings rapid fantasy strategy game into stores worldwide.

Berlin, December 2nd 2009. TGC – The Games Company announces the worldwide release of the real-time strategy game Sacraboar for PC today. The retail version impresses with a wide range of exclusive bonus content such as brand new missions and the great game soundtrack.

With all your tactical abilities and a huge fantasy army in Sacraboar you hunt for trophies in the ground-breaking “Capture-the-Pig” mode and steal the valuable objects from your rival’s camp. Thanks to an intuitive resource management system you don’t waste any time with tedious construction phases or complicated base setup. Instead you can directly round up your troops and bring together a powerful force enabling you to overcome your opponent as early on in the game as possible. The integration of role playing elements also allows specific updates of your units with special abilities like mighty spells.

The all in all over 90 exciting missions and enthralling league- and cup-competitions in the multiplayer mode build the framework for that rapid as well as addictive strategy game which is planned to be released in the first quarter of 2010.

Benjamin BezoldSenior PR Managertel.: +49 30 526853 202fax: +49 30 526853 004cel +49 170 2191223Benjamin.Bezold@the-games-company.com

TGC - The Games Company Worldwide GmbHEhrenbergstraße 1910245 BerlinGermanyhttp://www.the-games-company.com/

CEO/Geschäftsführer:

Carsten Strehse, Markus MaltiCommercial register of the local court / Registergericht: Amtsgericht Berlin-Charlottenburg,

HRB 100943 BVAT identification number / Ust-Id.Nr.:DE 247061546

77

News from GameIndustry.com

Calling all game developers! If the video game industry is your passion, a subscription to Intel Software Dispatch for Visual Adrenaline may be right for you.

What is it? A direct line on the people, technology and trends that are pushing the visual-computing envelope. From tactics to opinions to innovations, you'll get information that can give your game development - and your business - a boost.

Subscribe Today at: http://www.intelsoftwaregraphics.com/?lid=XE2kehZk8mw=&siteid=9rZMp1YP6X8=

Reviews

Gears of War (graphic novel)DC Comics is picking up the slack

on game-based comics that has been ignored by most of the other major publishers. We look at the Gears of War graphic novel this week and find great artwork, a compelling story and lots of page-turning action.

http://www.gameindustry.com/review/item.asp?id=1141

DiRT 2Even with the death of Colin McRae, his series continues

to thrive, though with more of an X-games feel. DiRT 2 gets it right, and looks amazing at the same time. In fact, this is one of the best racing games to come out this year, and perhaps the best road rally title ever.

http://www.gameindustry.com/review/item.asp?id=1140

The Warriors: Street BrawlThe Warriors: Street Brawl, now available for Xbox Live,

is taking aim at The Warriors cult hit movie, though less successfully than the original Rockstar Games title.

Even at $10, this one is a bit of a stretch. Hardcore Warriors

fans are likely to be more disappointed than satisfied this time out.

http://www.gameindustry.com/review/item.asp?id=1139

Podcasts: A Modern War

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 hit the ground like a bunker-buster bomb, igniting both love and extreme controversy. Infinity Ward even tasked players with participating in a terrorist attack, something sure to stir up strong emotions. We tackle the game in the lounge.

http://www.gameindustry.com/podcast/item.asp?id=44

GiN Playmate: New Games, Old Debates

Chella takes issue with some mainstream reviews of Modern Warfare 2 performed by theatre critics with no inherent understanding of the game industry. Sigh. It’s what we've come to expect from the mainstream. At least you have the The GiN Lounge’s review this week to fall back on!

h t t p : / / w w w. g a m e i n d u s t r y. c o m / e d i t o r i a l / i t e m .asp?id=448

Stock Market: A Happy Holiday

Spurred forward by an early start to the holiday buying season and lots of top tier releases, the GiNDex holds about even this week. And a good black Friday could really turn this economy around. We could even see 9K by year’s end!

http://www.gameindustry.com/gindex/default.aspCopyright Game Industry News 2009. Game Industry News and GIN, plus the entire contents

of this newsletter are copyright Noble Order Press Enterprises. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher, Nate Wooley. publisher@gameindustry.com

www.gameindustry.com

78

The Creators of Didier Ze Mime Launch New “Whack-A-Mime” Game

The first made-in-Quebec web series featuring an iPhone and iPod touch application

Montreal — Today, a mere few weeks after launching the ” Ze Mime” web series, FarWeb.tv’s team is unveiling a brand new game called “Whack-a-mime". The game marks for the first time an application based on a made-in-Quebec web series is developed for the iPhone and iPod touch[1] products. Available free of charge on Apple’s App Store, “Whack-a-mime” is a revamped version of the classic “Whack-a-mole” game. Ze Mime fans use their finger to hit all the mimes coming out of holes in the ground, but beware! This being a politically correct game, players must make sure to protect the baby seals and pandas that appear on the screen at the same time as Didier. Based on the new Ze Mime character, whose “brilliant” ideas always end in disaster, the game was designed to allow fans to have some fun while killing time… and mimes.

With their retro and somewhat naïve look, the ultra-slick aesthetics of the “Whack-a-mime” game and the funky appeal of the characters popping out of the ground have a cartoon-like quality that captures the playful nature of FarWeb.tv. “We are delighted to have obtained Apple’s approval for this game. We were quite inspired when we set out to create it and we are already hard at work on version 2.0. I hope that all DZM fans out there will enjoy pointing a finger at Ze Mime !", said FarWeb.tv’s President and Art Director Robert Boulos. Available in both French and English, “Whack-a-mime” is the latest addition to a series of games currently featured on the the Ze Mime’s web site, namely Mimeory, Stop the Mime Invasion and Demimer. FarWeb.tv is currently developing new applications.

All Didier Ze Mime online games are available at www.zemime.com/games.

About FarWeb.tv

Created in 2008, FarWeb.tv is synonymous with brandtertainment. The company specializes in the production and distribution of entertainment-based video content on new broadcasting platforms (such as the Internet, mobile phones, digital advertising networks, airline companies, closed-circuit TV), while also relying on more traditional networks (television and film).

The company focuses on short, formatted productions and relies on social networking and crowdsourcing in order to develop content and reach ever more demanding viewers. Among other things, FarWeb.tv is developing an inventory of silent productions that provide the company with a competitive edge in various international markets.

Information:

Sylvie Savard, Annexe Communications 514 844-8864, ext. 201ssavard@annexecommunications.com

79

Theatre of War 2 CENTAURO add – on released!

Theatre of War 2 CentauroThe Theatre of War 2 CENTAURO add-on has just been released today! Grab it while it’s hot! And we have a surprise for you, too*

CENTAURO is available immediately for download and costs just $25. An attractive new bundle of the base game Theatre of War 2 plus the CENTAURO add-on is available as well at the reduced price of just $50!

Hardgoods will be available for shipping within 14 days. Downloads are available immediately.Theatre of War 2 CENTAURO is an expansion to the WW2 tactical ground combat simulation

Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 and is dedicated to the Italian 131st Armored Division “Centauro” and the battles it took part in North Africa, starting from December 1942 until mid-May 1943. Some of the exciting new features include new desert and mountain landscapes of North Africa on ten brand new maps accurately reconstructed according to historical documents, ten new military vehicles such as the Semovente M40 tank destroyer, the Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank or the Autoblinda AB 40 armored car, and much more.

*In addition to the new Centauro Division campaign and the standalone missions, a suprise bonus US campaign is included as well! Follow Stuart tank commander Sergeant Alan Mitchell through a number of missions at the Kasserine Pass!

Click here to buy your copy nowClick here to jump to the CENTAURO product page

80

Berlin — The Games Company announces the release of the unique air racing game Ikaro today. Instead of squeaking wheels PC gamers expect in Ikaro turbulent neck-and-neck duels with agile microlights. TGC assigned the Italian studio Magic Dream Games with its development offering racing fans a completely new game experience. The worldwide release is scheduled for the first quarter 2010.

On as much challenging as varied air courses pilots fight against each other. Thereby you cross tremendous dusty canyons and impressive cities or pass with breakneck stunts the checkpoints over a moony island. A dynamic weather system adds even more excitement to the race. Suddenly starting snowfall or an upcoming thunderstorm can bring your certain believed pole position in great danger.

In addition to the extensive career mode Ikaro also comes up with an adrenaline loaded multiplayer. Up to 6 players start their engines either via LAN or internet and compete against each other with their microlights. Here the integrated worldwide ranking incites you to maximum performance.

Benjamin BezoldSenior PR Managertel.: +49 30 526853 202fax: +49 30 526853 004cel +49 170 2191223Benjamin.Bezold@the-games-company.com

TGC - The Games Company Worldwide GmbH

Ehrenbergstraße 1910245 BerlinGermanyhttp://www.the-games-company.com/

TGC takes off with IkaroTGC announces worldwide release of high-speed air racing game Ikaro for PC

81

Online Business Models Could Unleash the True Value of Take-Two’s Grand Theft Auto

At DFC Intelligence we often get the question whether there are any pure play public video game companies worth bothering with outside of Nintendo, Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard. Surprisingly, among companies strong in North America and Europe the pickings are slim. Nevertheless, one of the first companies that comes to mind when a discussion turns to buying a portfolio in the video game industry is Take-Two Interactive (NASDAQ: TTWO).

The problem with Take-Two is simple, the company is almost completely dependent on the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Prior to launching Grand Theft Auto IV in April 2008, Take-Two stock soared to a high of $26 to $28 a share where it remained for several months after the launch. A year later the stock (like most others) had plummeted to the $5 to $6 range. However, by early November, Take-Two’s stock had rebounded to over $11 a share. Clearly there is an issue to how much a company like Take-Two is worth.

One thing that is for sure is the rebound in Take-Two stock in recent months has not been due to financial performance to date. Take-Two has had a dreadful performance both in the year to-date and also in the last reported fiscal quarter which ended July 31st. Of course, the main culprit is that in 2008 Take-Two had Grand Theft Auto to carry the day.

Clearly Take-Two’s value is largely dependent on the GTA franchise. So how much is a franchise like Grand Theft Auto worth? In 2008, Take-Two Interactive was the subject of a hostile takeover bid from Electronic Arts at a price that valued the company at nearly $2 billion. EA was primarily after GTA with a secondary interest in basketball and some other sports franchises. Take-Two fought off the takeover bid, only see their market value fall below $500 million a year later. Today the market value of Take-Two is headed up towards $1 billion again. Investors are clearly seeing value in GTA that is separate from the reality of Take-Two’s actual financial performance.

From DFC’s perspective a franchise like Grand Theft Auto is a potential goldmine in the right hands. There is all kinds of potential to gain additional revenue streams from GTA. The success of products like Zynga’s Mafia Wars shows not only the hunger for crime games, but also new ways to monetize the genre.

Grand Theft Auto titles have historically been lavish affairs with releases few and far between. However, there is now the opportunity to deliver GTA products in more frequent episodic releases between major product launches. On October 29, Take-Two launched an add-on pack of downloadable content (DLC) to Grand Theft Auto IV, The Ballad of Gay Tony. This pack was exclusive to the Xbox 360 as a $20 download.

Clearly the release of The Ballad of Gay Tony had a major impact. When analyzing GamerDNA data on Xbox 360

82

usage, the audience for Grand Theft Auto IV quadrupled nearly overnight with the release of The Ballad of Gay Tony.

In short, Grand Theft Auto alone is a franchise that should be generating World of Warcraft like numbers of over $1 billion a year on a consistent basis. The question becomes: is Take-Two the right company to take it to that level? Or would a franchise like Grand Theft Auto be better off in the hands of either 1) a larger publishing goliath or 2) a more innovative player familiar with online monetization techniques?

The fact that Electronic Arts was unable to enter areas like mobile games and social games without buying its way in (through purchasing respectively Jamdat and Playfish), gives one little confidence that EA could bring much to the table. Instead, a company like Take-Two seems ripe to partner with or merge with a smaller startup that has know-how which Take-Two lacks.

What Take-Two does know how to do is get products into physical retail distribution. Take-Two got its start in distribution and its Jack of All Games division is still going strong. In fiscal 2008, Take-Two generated over $300 million in revenue from distribution. For the first nine months of 2009, Take-Two’s distribution revenue was down only 9% versus a 58% decline in publishing revenue. This distribution muscle can be very attractive to an online company that lacks a way to go to physical distribution. Retail is still an important part of the business, for the release of Gay Tony, Take-Two also released a $40 retail pack that included previous DLC.

One thing that will be interesting to see is whether Take-Two’s financials get a lift in the fourth quarter which ends October 31. In the last week of the quarter, Take-Two released not only the GTA DLC, but also the game Borderlands from Gearbox Software. Based on DFC Intelligence analysis of Xbox 360 user data we think that in just its one week of availability in October, Borderlands moved between 500,000 to 600,000 units just in the U.S. Borderlands could finally be the new franchise Take-Two needs to go beyond Grand Theft Auto.

In the end, the story with publishers like Take-Two Interactive is that there main value lies primarily with 1) the untapped potential of their key franchises and 2) their ability to get big products through the retail channel. Where Take-Two needs help is realizing the untapped potential to expand a franchise like GTA to online revenue sources. Meanwhile, there are plenty of companies with online know-how but no ability to get a product into distribution.

For more information about DFC Intelligence reports please go to our individual reports page. For more information on custom research services and research packages click here.

83

News from Reflexive Arcade

Escape the Museum 2

Help David reach his wife and daughter, who became trapped in the museum across town, after a devastating earthquake rocks the city. Navigate the treacherous streets, risk life and limb at every step, and figure out the best possible path with the help of an unlikely stranger. David must reach his family before nightfall, can you help him?

Gardenscapes

Create the perfect garden! Comb the rooms of a gorgeous mansion for hidden items and restore a once stunning garden to its former glory. Choose from tons of garden accessories to customize the garden to your taste. Become part of the city’s community and compete in the “Best Garden” contest as your amusing and witty butler, Austin, is there to assist. Become an outdoor decor pro in this cutting hedge game!

84

Polyglot™ is a gaming industry newsletter published bi-weekly by Polymancer® Studios, Inc., available free of charge. The material published in Polyglot is gathered from materials provided by companies in the gaming industry. Polymancer Studios, Inc. makes no claim as to the accuracy of material submitted for publication in Polyglot. Company and product trademarks remain the properties of their owners.

Polyglot20 Weredale Park, Westmount QC, H3Z 1Y6 CANADA

(514) 667-1585 (Canada) • Skype: Polymancer • twitter.com/polymancerpolyglot@polymancerstudios.com, www.polymancerstudios.com

The contents of Polyglot are the creations of the individual companies that submitted them to Polyglot for publication. This includes but is not limited to text, artwork, photographs, other images, and other content. These works remain the intellectual properties of those companies unless otherwise stated; such intellectual properties are so held separately from the layout, the look and feel, the overall presentation, and other aspects that make the presentation of the content unique in Polyglot as compared with the presentation of such content in any other publication in any other medium of communication. Trademarks remain the properties of their respective owners; their use here is in no way intended to challenge the rights of their respective owners.

The contents of Polyglot are presented for promotional purposes only. Polymancer® Studios makes no claim as to the veracity, truthfulness, or accuracy of any content provided to Polymancer Studios, Inc. for the purpose of placement in Polyglot by any company other than Polymancer Studios itself. Polymancer Studios, Inc. makes no guarantee as to the quality of any products announced or discussed in Polyglot except insofar as products issued by Polymancer Studios, Inc. are concerned.

Many statements issued for publication in Polyglot are time-sensitive in nature; the accuracy of them often reflects conditions that were current at the time of publication; many statements issued for publication in Polyglot are regarding offers, sales, and other opportunities that were current at the time of publication only.

Prices of products or services listed in Polyglot that have not been issued by retailers may differ from retail prices.Polymancer Studios, Inc. assumes no responsibility for the results of any transactions made based on information

contained in Polyglot.

Polyglot is a game industry newsletter containing official publicity and marketing material directly from the manufacturers of roleplaying games, board games, card games, miniatures wargames, video games, computer games, and related products. Polyglot is published every two weeks and distributed free of charge over the Internet.

Legal notice regarding the content of Polyglot™