One of the fun things about multiplayer Magic games is introducing a few random elements that can radically shift the game in weird and fun ways. It keeps one player from getting a runaway victory, or everyone from ganging up on one player. This weekend, by following a special Twitter feed, you can experience wacky chaos effects passed down from Magic R&D.
The head honchos at Dream Pod 9 talk up their top notch mecha wargame, Heavy Gear, discuss the anime origins of the giant battle robot genre, and reveal the company’s unexpected connection to the movie 300 in this amazing “virtual roundtable” interview. And this is only part 1.
It’s time for another Pathfinder review from Billy Gibbs. If you have the blood of a deity flowing through your veins right from 1st level, you might want to take a Godling for a spin.
“Snows of an Early Winter” takes your group of Call of Cthulhu investigators on a harrowing adventure set in modern-day New York City. Someone is trying to get into city politics the easy way — if occult research, obscene rituals and human sacrifices are easy, that is. Of course, you can’t go messing around with ancient secret rituals without stirring up a whole pot of slimy weirdness.
Robot Viking is taking a bit of a summer break this week (if you hadn’t noticed). See you all next week as we get ready for Gen Con!
In part two of our interview with game designer Owen K.C. Stephens, he discusses what it’s like to design games based on pre-existing intellectual properties and delves into the connections between D&D 3.5, Star Wars Saga system, and D&D 4E.
Talking about new Magic core sets is so much more fun these days. Now that the sets are 50 percent brand new cards, there’s a lot more to talk about than, “what did they leave out/bring back?” My favorite thing about M11? Fun.
Wizards of the Coast plans to donate as much as $20,000 to the Child’s Play charity, which provides games, toys and books to sick kids stuck in hospitals. You can help make it happen just by playing Magic this weekend.
Our influx of Pathfinder (and, specifically, Super Genius Games) material continues today with Billy Gibbs’ review of the second Loot 4 Less volume, Pretty, Pretty, Rings. How’s that for a perfect example of the difference between 3.5 and 4E — magic rings for 1st level characters!
Any idiot with a staff or a wand can sling a fireball. For seriously indomitable power, try being an earth mage. Billy Gibbs returns with a review of Super Genius Games’ Genius Guide to Earth Magic for the Pathfinder system.
Owen K.C. Stephens has some impressive RPG writing and design credits to his name. From articles in Dragon Magazine (back when it was actually a magazine), co-designer of the Star Wars Saga system, a year at Wizards of the Coast, to his current position as Pathfinder-Compatible Product Developer for Super Genius Games, he’s been there and back again. Owen took the time out of a very busy schedule for this exclusive Robot Viking interview. In part one, he discusses the origins of SGG, the longevity of Pathfinder and 3rd edition D&D, and the overall health of the RPG industry.
When you’re seeking an animal namesake for your war mech, cuddly koala bears are probably not the first critters that leap to mind. So how did Heavy Gear’s 08th Airborne Regiment end up with a bunch of mechs called Killer Koalas?
If you’re anything like me, you can’t get enough of military mecha fighting sci-fi battles on distant worlds. Luckily for all of us, Heavy Gear offers a rich pseudohistorical backdrop for mech-on-mech warfare and a deep suite of tactical rules. This now classic game has plenty to please both wargamers and giant robot fans.
One of the defining characteristics of role-playing games is that they can be customized in an infinite variety of ways. The most common customization is the almighty house rule. If something isn’t working for your gaming group, you can make a change on the spot. Here are five of the best house rules I’ve found (plus a few bonus tracks).
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