InQuest 21 - 33 - Gamer's Guide '97, 1996 In Review
equipment (160 pages, $20). Atlantis
Rising (96 pages, $16) in June and Home-
coming (128 pages, $18) in July present the
secrets of two alien races: the Atlanteans
and the Saurians. September's Sub Rosa pro-
vides players the information needed to cre-
ate organizational types that mirror the
Freemasons or various militia groups (160
pages, $20). And an as-yet-untitled book
will allow players to adventure in the 1940s,
incorporating an Indiana Jones-type
approach to the RPG.
DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE: Krynn (home of
the Dragonlance adventures) has been
undergoing a major renovation with the
departure of the gods and their magic.
Dragonlance: Fifth Age explores this dramatic
change in an assortment of boxed sets, such
as Heroes of Defiance (February), Heroes of
Sorcery (April), Heroes of Hope (June) and
Wings of Fury (July). The new campaign sets
will also be supported by several novels over
the course of 1997 and beyond. Wings is
$22; all others are $20.
FADING SUNS: Holistic Design continues its
strong support for its first roleplaying game,
Rising (96 pages, $16) in June and Home-
coming (128 pages, $18) in July present the
secrets of two alien races: the Atlanteans
and the Saurians. September's Sub Rosa pro-
vides players the information needed to cre-
ate organizational types that mirror the
Freemasons or various militia groups (160
pages, $20). And an as-yet-untitled book
will allow players to adventure in the 1940s,
incorporating an Indiana Jones-type
approach to the RPG.
DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE: Krynn (home of
the Dragonlance adventures) has been
undergoing a major renovation with the
departure of the gods and their magic.
Dragonlance: Fifth Age explores this dramatic
change in an assortment of boxed sets, such
as Heroes of Defiance (February), Heroes of
Sorcery (April), Heroes of Hope (June) and
Wings of Fury (July). The new campaign sets
will also be supported by several novels over
the course of 1997 and beyond. Wings is
$22; all others are $20.
FADING SUNS: Holistic Design continues its
strong support for its first roleplaying game,
Fading Suns, with plans to release at least
half a dozen supplements to the dark space
epic RPG. Due in February is Lords of the
Known Worlds, a 128-page look ($18) at the
privileged nobles of the known world. In
April, the Fading Suns Players Companion
(192 pages, $20) debuts. October brings
The Dark Between the Stars (128 pages, $15),
detailing occult powers and entities in the
universe of the Fading Suns. Other supple-
ments detailing guilds, the Church and more
are due later in the year.
FORGOTTEN REALMS: AD&D's primary world
has not been overlooked by the company,
as 1997 will see the release of two boxed
campaign expansions entitled Lands of
Intrigue and Arcane Age: Cormanthyr, along
with several adventure books (including Jan-
uary's Four from Cormyr and April's Prayers
from the Faithful) and sourcebooks (such as
Powers and Pantheons coming in March and
Villains' Lorebook in July).
GREAT MAZE, THE: This August Deadlands
release comes as a boxed set featuring the
shattered labyrinth that once was Califor-
nia. The set includes a 16-page mini-game,
32-page adventure, 64-page sourcebook
and a full-color poster map of the Great
Maze itself. $35.
half a dozen supplements to the dark space
epic RPG. Due in February is Lords of the
Known Worlds, a 128-page look ($18) at the
privileged nobles of the known world. In
April, the Fading Suns Players Companion
(192 pages, $20) debuts. October brings
The Dark Between the Stars (128 pages, $15),
detailing occult powers and entities in the
universe of the Fading Suns. Other supple-
ments detailing guilds, the Church and more
are due later in the year.
FORGOTTEN REALMS: AD&D's primary world
has not been overlooked by the company,
as 1997 will see the release of two boxed
campaign expansions entitled Lands of
Intrigue and Arcane Age: Cormanthyr, along
with several adventure books (including Jan-
uary's Four from Cormyr and April's Prayers
from the Faithful) and sourcebooks (such as
Powers and Pantheons coming in March and
Villains' Lorebook in July).
GREAT MAZE, THE: This August Deadlands
release comes as a boxed set featuring the
shattered labyrinth that once was Califor-
nia. The set includes a 16-page mini-game,
32-page adventure, 64-page sourcebook
and a full-color poster map of the Great
Maze itself. $35.
HIGHLANDER: The Highlander roleplaying game
is due out in March with sourcebooks fol-
lowing every month thereafter. Sourcebooks
will present material from both the television
series and movies. 265 pages. $20-$25.
IMMORTAL: Precedence's ambitious sched-
ule promises a new release every six to eight
weeks. In December of 1996 or January of
1997, an extensive 256-page Immortal:
Player's Guide will arrive on the market. Plans
also call for a separate sourcebook for each
of the 13 "prides" in the Immortal Society,
as well as other roleplaying supplements
such as one which features a multitude of
enemies to harass the Prides. Immortal: Sec-
ond Edition is also a possibility for 1997. The
Player's Guide will retail for $24.95; the 96-
page Pridebooks will sell for $14.95.
KINDRED OF THE EAST: November will intro-
duce Vampire: The Masquerade players and
storytellers to the secrets of the Asian vam-
pires - ancient beings who are not descended
from Caine, who display powers never seen
in the West and who view the Children of
Caine not as fearsome predators, but as
upstart barbarian children disrespectful of
their true ancestors. 210 pages. $22.
is due out in March with sourcebooks fol-
lowing every month thereafter. Sourcebooks
will present material from both the television
series and movies. 265 pages. $20-$25.
IMMORTAL: Precedence's ambitious sched-
ule promises a new release every six to eight
weeks. In December of 1996 or January of
1997, an extensive 256-page Immortal:
Player's Guide will arrive on the market. Plans
also call for a separate sourcebook for each
of the 13 "prides" in the Immortal Society,
as well as other roleplaying supplements
such as one which features a multitude of
enemies to harass the Prides. Immortal: Sec-
ond Edition is also a possibility for 1997. The
Player's Guide will retail for $24.95; the 96-
page Pridebooks will sell for $14.95.
KINDRED OF THE EAST: November will intro-
duce Vampire: The Masquerade players and
storytellers to the secrets of the Asian vam-
pires - ancient beings who are not descended
from Caine, who display powers never seen
in the West and who view the Children of
Caine not as fearsome predators, but as
upstart barbarian children disrespectful of
their true ancestors. 210 pages. $22.
MAXIMUM TECH: Players will be able to take
their games to the max with June's Maxi-
mum Tech: The BattleTech Advanced Rule-
book, featuring a wealth of detailed new
and expanded game rules. 128 pages. $15.
MILLENIUM'S END: Chameleon Eclectic will
resurrect its original RPG Millenium's End in
1997. New products for their near-future,
world-on-the-edge, roleplaying game
include a Second Edition Ops Kit that deals
with investigative techniques: following a
target, setting up an ambush, shaking a tail;
a South East Asian sourcebook; a vehicles
sourcebook; and a reprint of Ultramodern
Firearms. 144-60 pages. $15.
PREDATOR AND PREY: This Shadowrun adven-
ture due in July will pit man against beast
as players are taken out of the familiar urban
sprawl and dumped onto the hunting
grounds of some of the deadliest paranor-
mal critters in existence. 96 pages. $15.
RETURN TO THE TOMB OF HORRORS: A classic
D&D adventure gets a facelift when TSR pre-
sents July's Return to the Tomb of Horrors, a
boxed deluxe AD&D adventure that includes
a scenario book, maps, a screen and diverse
handouts for players. 224 pages. $30.
their games to the max with June's Maxi-
mum Tech: The BattleTech Advanced Rule-
book, featuring a wealth of detailed new
and expanded game rules. 128 pages. $15.
MILLENIUM'S END: Chameleon Eclectic will
resurrect its original RPG Millenium's End in
1997. New products for their near-future,
world-on-the-edge, roleplaying game
include a Second Edition Ops Kit that deals
with investigative techniques: following a
target, setting up an ambush, shaking a tail;
a South East Asian sourcebook; a vehicles
sourcebook; and a reprint of Ultramodern
Firearms. 144-60 pages. $15.
PREDATOR AND PREY: This Shadowrun adven-
ture due in July will pit man against beast
as players are taken out of the familiar urban
sprawl and dumped onto the hunting
grounds of some of the deadliest paranor-
mal critters in existence. 96 pages. $15.
RETURN TO THE TOMB OF HORRORS: A classic
D&D adventure gets a facelift when TSR pre-
sents July's Return to the Tomb of Horrors, a
boxed deluxe AD&D adventure that includes
a scenario book, maps, a screen and diverse
handouts for players. 224 pages. $30.
RIFTS: Books in the Rifts series scheduled
for 1997 include New West (early '97), Lone
Star (end of '97) and Federation of Magic
(Spring '97). Palladium also plans on releas-
ing several new Palladium Fantasy offerings,
including Old Kingdom Mountains and Old
Kingdom Lowlands. Both books feature new
magic, monsters, towns and more set in
the mythic Old Kingdom.
RIGGER II: This Shadowrun sourcebook due
in August will provide the same type of in-
depth rules for riggers that Virtual Realities
2.0 and Awakenings provided for deckers
and magicians, including special sections
on T-bird smuggling, robotics and sub-
orbitals. 144 pages. $18.
ROKUGAN: Legend of the Five Rings will be
1996
IN REVIEW
for 1997 include New West (early '97), Lone
Star (end of '97) and Federation of Magic
(Spring '97). Palladium also plans on releas-
ing several new Palladium Fantasy offerings,
including Old Kingdom Mountains and Old
Kingdom Lowlands. Both books feature new
magic, monsters, towns and more set in
the mythic Old Kingdom.
RIGGER II: This Shadowrun sourcebook due
in August will provide the same type of in-
depth rules for riggers that Virtual Realities
2.0 and Awakenings provided for deckers
and magicians, including special sections
on T-bird smuggling, robotics and sub-
orbitals. 144 pages. $18.
ROKUGAN: Legend of the Five Rings will be
1996
IN REVIEW
JANUARY
• The three-year lawsuit
between FASA (BattleTech)
and Playmates (ExoSquad)
over similarities in mech
designs ends with the US
District Court rejecting
both parties' claims.
• Fantasy Adventures CCG
released by Mayfair Games.
FEBRUARY
• Games Design Workshop,
publisher of Traveller
(among other games),
closes its doors for good.
• Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour
kicks off in New York City.
• Monsters & Amazons expan-
sion for the Dragon Dice
CDG released by TSR.
• Hero Games, makers of the
Champions RPG, announces
that ICE is no longer their
publisher, ending a 10-year
relationship.
• Companion Games, pub-
lisher of the Galactic
Empires CCG, files for
Chapter II bankruptcy to
restructure its finances.
• The three-year lawsuit
between FASA (BattleTech)
and Playmates (ExoSquad)
over similarities in mech
designs ends with the US
District Court rejecting
both parties' claims.
• Fantasy Adventures CCG
released by Mayfair Games.
FEBRUARY
• Games Design Workshop,
publisher of Traveller
(among other games),
closes its doors for good.
• Magic: The Gathering Pro Tour
kicks off in New York City.
• Monsters & Amazons expan-
sion for the Dragon Dice
CDG released by TSR.
• Hero Games, makers of the
Champions RPG, announces
that ICE is no longer their
publisher, ending a 10-year
relationship.
• Companion Games, pub-
lisher of the Galactic
Empires CCG, files for
Chapter II bankruptcy to
restructure its finances.
MARCH
• Conflict expansion set for
the WildStorms CCG
released by WildStorm
Productions.
• Gangland! card game
released by Corglenburg
Limited.
• Vampire: Dark Ages RPG
released by White Wolf.
• Chameleon Eclectic an-
nounces it will be publish-
ing an RPG based on the
"Babylon 5" TV show.
• War of the Amazon expan-
sion set for the Rage CCG
released.
• Firewalkers expansion set
for the Dragon Dice CDG
released.
• Thunder Castle Games
(Highlander CCG) buys
Mag Force 7 (Wing Com-
mander CCG).
APRIL
• Conflict expansion set for
the WildStorms CCG
released by WildStorm
Productions.
• Gangland! card game
released by Corglenburg
Limited.
• Vampire: Dark Ages RPG
released by White Wolf.
• Chameleon Eclectic an-
nounces it will be publish-
ing an RPG based on the
"Babylon 5" TV show.
• War of the Amazon expan-
sion set for the Rage CCG
released.
• Firewalkers expansion set
for the Dragon Dice CDG
released.
• Thunder Castle Games
(Highlander CCG) buys
Mag Force 7 (Wing Com-
mander CCG).
APRIL
• Netrunner, the CCG based
on R. Talsorian's Cyber-
punk RPG, released by Wiz-
ards of the Coast, complete
with a promotional adven-
ture on the Worldwide Web.
• Mythos, the CCG based on
H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu sto-
ries, released by Chaosium.
• Hero Games, makers of
Champions, announces that
R. Talsorian Games is its new
paper-product publisher.
• Kindred: The Embraced, the
TV show based upon the
Vampire: The Masquerade
RPG, premieres on Fox.
• TSR suspends publication
of the Blood Wars CCG,
including supplements.
MAY
• Lunch Money card game
released by Atlas Games.
• Ancient Hearts, an expan-
sion for the Vampire: The
Eternal Struggle CCG,
released by Wizards of the
