You see, Swords & Wizardry is more than just a game. Somehow between the pages, the charts, the dice, the TPKs, and the critical hits, there really is a kind of magic - a kind of wizardry. I've read, and written, for most retro-clones on the market currently - heck, I even managed to publish one of my own. These are all great games in their own right, but there's something transcendent about Swords & Wizardry.
I can't explain how +Matt Finch and the folks at Frog God Games did it. When books get cracked, dice get rolled, and adventures are shared a bond gets formed. Something more than just "gaming buddies." Something more than even friendship. Swords & Wizardry is the foundation upon which the OSR community is built. My own company, Barrel Rider Games, wouldn't be what it was without Swords & Wizardry. Tenkar's Tavern, the local bar in this small town of grognards, would be just another bar without Swords & Wizardry. This singular game, and our love of both it, and the hobby, serve as the basis for much of our community. And like this community of ours, Swords & Wizardry is limitless.
With that in mind, I'd like to make an announcement...
White Star: White Box Science Fiction Roleplaying Galaxy Edition
ADVENTURE ACROSS THE GALAXY
Ace Pilots, dead-eyed Gunslingers, and irrepressible Star Squirrels blast off across the stars to save the galaxy from the horrors of the Void! Hellfire Mecha march across the battlefield, leaving carnage in their wake! From the galactic center of Omega Consor to the Marnash System on the edge of the universe, the galaxy needs heroes!
Endless galactic adventure awaits you in White Star: Galaxy Edition! Integrated and updated to include material from White Star and White Star Companion, White Star: Galaxy Edition integrates new rules, new options, and expands the original game. Now more than just a tool box, White Star Galaxy Edition offers you a universe full of thrilling adventure!
It will integrate material from the original White Star core rules and the White Star Companion, as well as cleaning up and clarifying some rules, and adding a plethora of new material. This new material will include the following:
- A total of twenty-five character classes!
- Clarified rules for starships and vehicles, as well as new starships!
- Complete rules for mecha - including customizing your own mecha and even transforming mecha!
- Expanded options for mysticism, including Meditations, Gifts, Chitterings, and Etchings!
- New Cybernetics, Advanced Technology, and Gear!
- New rules, including Drawing Down the Void and Daring Deeds!
- An expansion of the implied White Star setting introduced in the core rules and Companion.
White Star: Galaxy Edition is currently in layout. It's looking to be about 275 pages, all said and done. Credits include:
- Cover Art: Carlos NCT
- Cover and Interior Layout: +Jason Paul McCartan
- Art Director and Lead Artist: +James Shields
- Line Editing: +Art Braune
In order to maintain a thriving White Star community, I will also begin publishing the official White Star 'zine in the Summer of 2017 -
STAR SWORD
The Official White Star Magazine
Star Sword will be a quarterly 'zine, available in both print and PDF formats on RPGNow and DriveThruRPG. Submissions will be accepted beginning with the second issue. Contributors will be paid for their work as well as retaining the rights to any material submitted. This is, first and foremost, a magazine for and by the White Star community.
The future of both Swords & Wizardry and White Star are as bright as a sun that's gone nova, so please join me as we blast off to adventures filled with swords, stars, heroes, villains, and most of all - fun!
This all looks amazing! Thank you for all the hard work.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to this! :)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait buddy. Still available if you need a playtester.
ReplyDeleteI will gladly buy the holy living bejesus out of all products mentioned.
ReplyDeleteOh, yeah! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout baby!
ReplyDeleteGlad the cat is out of the bag... 8^)
ReplyDeleteThis is great news. If/when my current run of S&W creativity wanes a bit, I'll try getting my wife and sons to try White Star. I actually received it when I was subscribed to Mythoard -- and it was the best product I got out of the sub. A great read and an excellent game in its own right.
ReplyDeleteFergin arsum. Love me some sci-fi.
ReplyDeleteWOW! That is really awesome. Looking forward to it!
ReplyDeleteCannot wait, James!
ReplyDeleteFaaaantastic! All of this looks amazing, James! Take my money!
ReplyDeleteOutstanding. That's all I can say.
ReplyDeleteLooks really cool - although I'm only just starting with White Star--planning to run my first game using the '5 Year Mission' supplement starting in a couple of weeks--I'll look forward to picking up a copy of the new edition when it's released.
ReplyDeleteWhen you start publishing the zine, are you going to put freelancer guidelines up for those of us who might be interested in submitting stuff?
I sure am!
DeleteThis looks really awesome. I'm just joining the club now, but loving every bit. Been in the market for some scifi too. Looking forward to giving it a go
ReplyDeleteMatt Finch has done some amazing work but he's not really responsible for White Box, that was Marv Breig.
ReplyDelete