The Big Overview
I regret to inform everyone that there will not be a Designer’s Diary today. This is due to the upcoming Gen Con Indy 2011 convention and all the work involved in making it easier for the fans to find the tabletop role-playing products their looking for. Instead, I am posting the big overview which will hopefully point you in the right direction.
To go along with this big overview, I have created a marked-up map of the Exhibit Hall with all (known) tabletop role-playing publishers listed for easy print-out and navigation. Each publisher’s booth is numbered and the list of what number equals is listed on the top and bottom. In addition to this map, this overview will drill down into some of the booths, such as Studio 2 Publishing, that have multiple publisher’s being represented.
Here’s a thumbnail of the map. Click it for the full-size or right-click to save it. Print it out and navigate through the Exhibit Hall that much faster:
Over the course of the next three days, I will break down each of these booths and detail what I know and what I’ve found.
Map Location #1 – Adept Press
Publisher: Adept Press
Booth: 1713
Website: http://adept-press.com/
Convention Information: I am not aware of anything Adept Press is featuring or previewing. They are located near the Exhibit Hall H Entrance down the aisle from Catalyst Game Labs.
Map Location #2 – Alderac Entertainment Group (AEG)
Publisher: Alderac Entertainment Group
Booth: 902
Website: http://www.alderac.com/ http://www.l5r.com/
Convention Information: AEG recently released the 4th Edition of the Legend of the Five Rings role-playing game. Being the publisher of the Legend of the Five Rings collectible card game along with a growing number of board and card games (like Nightfall and Thunderstone), I believe much of their focus will be spread throughout. They are located across from the Exhibit Hall I Entrance next to Fantasy Flight Games.
Map Location #3 – Cubicle 7 Entertainment
Publisher: Cubicle 7 Entertainment
Booth: 711
Website: http://www.cubicle7.co.uk/
Convention Information: Being a publisher and printer for other indie publishers, Cubicle 7 Entertainment has a very busy schedule. Cubicle 7 themselves are featuring their latest project The One Ring, the latest role-playing game to take you into J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. The core set consists of multiple books and accessories and carries an MSRP of $59.99. In addition, the print version of their latest Cthulhu Britannica sourcebook Shadows Over Scotland is being featured and carries an MSRP of $39.99. Their booth is located in-between Konami and Mayfair Games halfway between Exhibit Hall I and J Entrances.
Publisher: Arc Dream Publishing
Website: http://arcdream.com/home/
Convention Information: Arc Dream Publishing will have active representation and are sharing the Cubicle 7 booth. They are featuring the print versions of two of their books: Progenitor for Wild Talents carrying an MSRP of $39.99 and Road Trip for Monsters and Other Childish Things carrying an MSRP of $29.99. Road Trip is written by Ross Payton of Role-playing Public Radio (RPPR) fame, a podcast of which I enjoy listening to. You can learn a bit more about this book at http://slangdesign.com/rppr/.
Publisher: Rite Publishing
Website: http://ritepublishing.com/
Convention Information: Rite Publishing has a number of printed products that are being featured by Cubicle 7. While they are not carrying their own booth, Steve Russel informed me that he would be there, working at the Cubicle 7 booth. Rite Publishing’s new print products include The Breaking of Fostor Nagar, an adventure module for Pathfinder carrying an MSRP of $19.99, and Curse of the Golden Spear parts 1, 2, and 3, a campaign series for Pathfinder carrying an MSRP of $19.99 each.
Publisher: Cakebread & Walton
Website: http://www.clockworkandchivalry.co.uk/
Convention Information: My good friends at Cakebread & Walton, Peter Cakebread and Ken Walton, have released their newest setting Airship Pirates. This Victoriana compatible setting’s release includes the core rulebook and an adventure module. While Peter Cakebread and Ken Walton cannot attend the convention, I promised to take lots of pictures to show off their new book. The Airship Pirates core rulebook carries and MSRP of $49.99 while the adventure module Ruined Empires carries an MSRP of $14.99.
Publisher: Monkey House Games
Website: http://monkeyhousegames.com/
Convention Information: The revitalization of Villains and Vigilantes continues with two new printed products. In Broad Daylight is a new adventure module with an MSRP of $19.99 and Living Legends expands the setting with an MSRP of $32.99.
Publisher: Savage Mojo
Website: http://www.suzerain.info/
Convention Information: Savage Mojo did some fundraising recently to get the hardcover version of their Suzerain setting Caladon Falls (powered by Savage Worlds) ready for print. The fundraiser was successful and you can pick-up this book at Gen Con with and MSRP of $34.99. Savage Mojo also has their own booth in Entrepreneurs’ Avenue that will be noted later.
Publisher: Basic Action Games
Website: http://www.bashrpg.com/
Convention Information: Basic Action Games has the printed version of the BASH Ultimate Edition being featured at Gen Con with an MSRP of $29.99.
Map Location #4 – Steve Jackson Games
Publisher: Steve Jackson Games
Booth: 1401
Website: http://www.sjgames.com/
Convention Information: Steve Jackson Games has lots of staff attending the convention, although I don’t see anything being specifically featured or previewed. While they continue to have GURPS releases, most of them have been PDF with a print product appearing maybe once every month or two. I think GURPS Horror was the most recent… Their booth is located along the main aisle going toward the Art Show & Authors’ Avenue between Exhibit Hall H and I Entrances.
Publisher: Atlas Games
Website: http://blog.atlas-games.com/
Convention Information: Atlas Games is sharing the booth with Steve Jackson Games, but do not have any role-playing publications being featured. Their latest game is Cthulhu Gloom although they continue releasing new books for Ars Magica 5th Edition.
Map Location #5 – Catalyst Game Labs
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Booth: 1603
Website: http://www.catalystgamelabs.com/
Convention Information: Catalyst Game Labs has had a steady stream of Shadowrun releases, but nothing out of the ordinary. I assume they’ll be featuring their upcoming Leviathans war game with print versions of the all the recent Shadowrun products (non-PDF only that is). However, due to apparent quality issues, their Runner’s Toolkit will now be available on August 3 including copies available at the convention. Their booth is fairly substantial and located directly across from the Exhibit Hall H Entrance.
Map Location #6 – Chaosium, Inc.
Publisher: Chaosium, Inc.
Booth: 601
Website: http://www.chaosium.com/
Convention Information: Chaosium is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Call of Cthulhu with a special 30th Anniversary Edition, one-time print collector’s version of the 6th edition rulebook, being featured at Gen Con. This special edition carries an MSRP of $64.95 but will never be printed again. Their booth is located next to Konami in-between Exhibit Hall I and J Entrances.
Map Location #7 – Studio 2 Publishing
Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group
Booth: 605
Website: http://www.peginc.com/
Convention Information: The Studio 2 Publishing booth has plenty of partners this year starting with, of course, Pinnacle Entertainment Group. Pinnacle recently released the Deluxe Edition of Savage Worlds. They probably have a number of additional print products that were recently released, such as the Deadlands Smith & Robards Catalog, but the Savage Worlds Deluxe Edition is the big one. I’m hoping to get some pictures of the new Deadlands miniatures as well, but those may be at the Reaper Miniatures booth. Their booth is located between Konami and Mayfair, right across from Cubicle 7 Entertainment.
Publisher: Crafty Games
Website: http://www.crafty-games.com/
Convention Information: Crafty Games appears to have been busy these past several months putting together a new game called Mistborn: Adventure Game. Here’s the description:
Based on the best-selling novels by Brandon Sanderson and powered by an all new story-driven rules system, the Mistborn Adventure Game lets you explore, command, or liberate the oppressed world of Scadrial, battle the Lord Ruler’s Inquisitors, and master the primal forces of Allomancy, Feruchemy, and Hemalurgy. It features new official fiction from Mr. Sanderson himself and loads of never-before-seen material, making it the ultimate resource for fans of the novels and those who want to experience the Final Empire firsthand.
The core rulebook is being previewed and fans are allowed to submit their pre-orders at the convention. The core rulebook carries an MSRP of $49.99.
Publisher: Exile Game Studio
Website: http://www.exilegames.com/
Convention Information: Exile Game Studio does not appear to be featuring or previewing anything, but simply promoting their existing Hollow Earth Expedition products.
Publisher: Rogue Games
Website: http://www.rogue-games.net/
Convention Information: While I’m not sure what, if anything, is being featured or previewed at Gen Con, Rogue Games has announced several new products coming out soon including their recent Shadow, Sword & Spell release Under Pashuvanam’s Lush.
Publisher: Terra/Sol Games
Website: http://rpgcampaigncentral.com/wordpress/
Convention Information: I do not see any announcements for new products from Terra/Sol Games, but I assume they will have plenty of printed copies of their Twilight Sector setting for Traveller available.
Publisher: Third Eye Games
Website: http://thirdeyegames.net/
Convention Information: Third Eye Games has three new products available at Gen Con. Both released within the past several months are API Demon Codex: Spectrals and Wu Xing: The Firebrands along with a special pre-release of their latest game Part-Time Gods, which will not be officially available until October.
Map Location #8 – Crispy Zombie Productions
Publisher: Crispy Zombie Productions
Booth: 1645
Website: http://crispyzombie.com/
Convention Information: While they do not have any announcements on their website, I’m sure Crispy Zombie Productions will have plenty of copies of their Directors Cut horror products. Their booth is located in Entrepreneurs’ Avenue.
Map Location #9 – d20 Pro
Publisher: d20 Pro
Booth: 1725
Website: http://www.d20pro.com/
Convention Information: As a guess, I’m sure d20 Pro will have demos running of their Virtual Game Table software. Their booth is located halfway between Exhibit Hall H Entrance and the concessions area.
Map Location #10 – OneBookShelf
Publisher: OneBookShelf
Booth: 767
Website: http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/index.php
Convention Information: The folks at DriveThruRPG and RPGNow will be at the convention for what will most likely be many reasons. Their booth is located in the back row near the Entertainer Spotlight.
Map Location #11 – ENnie Awards
Publisher: EN World
Booth: 1635
Website: http://www.ennie-awards.com/blog/
Convention Information: I believe you can learn all about this year’s nominees at the ENnie Awards booth, and the winners after the awards are announced. Their booth is located near Entrepreneurs’ Avenue across from Exhibit Hall H Entrance.
Map Location #12 – Fantasy Flight Games
Publisher: Fantasy Flight Games
Booth: 813, 819, 911, 919, 1107, 1113, 1119
Website: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/
Convention Information: While Fantasy Flight Games has a huge presence at the convention, there newest role-playing game is Black Crusade, part of their Warhammer 40K role-playing line. I don’t have any confirmations of its availability, but rumors say it will be there. Their booth is located prominently across from Exhibit Hall I Entrance and consumes a fairly large area. Last year they had large banners hanging from the ceiling and I’m sure this year they won’t disappoint.
That’s all for today and we’ll look at 13 – 24 tomorrow with 24 – 37 wrapping up on Monday. Don’t visit Gen Con without knowing what’s there, otherwise you may miss something…! Or not.