InQuest 21 - 34 - Gamer's Guide '97, 1996 In Review - Donruss Mention
the basis of Five Rings' own roleplaying
system, with the working title Rokugan: Role-
playing in the Emerald Empire. However, if
gamers have a better suggestion for nam-
ing the new system, Five Rings is listening;
they'll be holding a "Name the Game" con-
test through '97 at their website
(www.frpg.com) and will offer copies of the
game and its supplements as prizes. Roku-
gan launches in March with upcoming
supplements including a gamemaster's
screen, several sourcebooks on the various
clans (the Dragon Clan book is due in May),
and Distant Thunder, a boxed campaign set,
slated for April. 280 pages. $25-$30.
SMITH AND ROBARD'S: Done in the style of a
classic western catalog of yesteryear, January's
Deadlands sourcebook provides players with
weapons, equipment, fantastic devices (and
rules to use them). 128 pages. $20.
STAR WARS, SPECIAL EDITION: West End
Games is planning on releasing one to two
RPG supplements to tie into the re-releases
of the new "Star Wars" movies sometime
in 1997.
system, with the working title Rokugan: Role-
playing in the Emerald Empire. However, if
gamers have a better suggestion for nam-
ing the new system, Five Rings is listening;
they'll be holding a "Name the Game" con-
test through '97 at their website
(www.frpg.com) and will offer copies of the
game and its supplements as prizes. Roku-
gan launches in March with upcoming
supplements including a gamemaster's
screen, several sourcebooks on the various
clans (the Dragon Clan book is due in May),
and Distant Thunder, a boxed campaign set,
slated for April. 280 pages. $25-$30.
SMITH AND ROBARD'S: Done in the style of a
classic western catalog of yesteryear, January's
Deadlands sourcebook provides players with
weapons, equipment, fantastic devices (and
rules to use them). 128 pages. $20.
STAR WARS, SPECIAL EDITION: West End
Games is planning on releasing one to two
RPG supplements to tie into the re-releases
of the new "Star Wars" movies sometime
in 1997.
WEREWOLF: THE WILD WEST: There's a gun
on every hip, but nothing kills faster than the
teeth and claws of the lords of the wild: the
Garou. This June Storyteller release is the
second in White Wolf's new series of period-
based historical rulebooks planned for all
five of its RPG lines (the first was Vampire:
Dark Ages). 272-page hardcover. $28.
OTHER RPGs
ARIA: The first supplement on this year's
schedule is the Mythguide Pack, slated for a
late 1996 or early 1997 release.
BATTLE OF THE COVENTRY: This scenario pack
due out in January will allow BattleTech play-
ers to recreate one of the biggest battles in
the history of 'Mech warfare, straight out
of the pages of Michael Stackpole's novel,
Malicious Intent.
BLOOD WOOD SOURCEBOOK, THE: Earthdawn's
May release describes the blood elves and
their eerie woodland home, as well as the
history of the decadent Elven Court.
CYBER-PIRATES: This Shadowrun sourcebook
due in October will sweep players into the
dangers and thrills of piracy in 2058, includ-
ing the technology, tactics and havens the
cyberpirates call home.
on every hip, but nothing kills faster than the
teeth and claws of the lords of the wild: the
Garou. This June Storyteller release is the
second in White Wolf's new series of period-
based historical rulebooks planned for all
five of its RPG lines (the first was Vampire:
Dark Ages). 272-page hardcover. $28.
OTHER RPGs
ARIA: The first supplement on this year's
schedule is the Mythguide Pack, slated for a
late 1996 or early 1997 release.
BATTLE OF THE COVENTRY: This scenario pack
due out in January will allow BattleTech play-
ers to recreate one of the biggest battles in
the history of 'Mech warfare, straight out
of the pages of Michael Stackpole's novel,
Malicious Intent.
BLOOD WOOD SOURCEBOOK, THE: Earthdawn's
May release describes the blood elves and
their eerie woodland home, as well as the
history of the decadent Elven Court.
CYBER-PIRATES: This Shadowrun sourcebook
due in October will sweep players into the
dangers and thrills of piracy in 2058, includ-
ing the technology, tactics and havens the
cyberpirates call home.
DARK AGE: A roleplaying game based on the
Dark Age card game is in development by
Last Unicorn Games for an April or May
release. 240 pages. $29.95.
DEADLANDS: This Spring, two other 128 page
sourcebooks - Hucksters & Hexes and
Rascals, Varmints, & Critters - plunge
players deeper into the world of the Weird
West. Summer sees a Marshal's Log
for chronicling the denizens
and locations the Marshal
(gamemaster) creates.
FREE WORLDS LEAGUE: This Bat-
tleTech sourcebook, the second
volume in the BattleTech Field
Manual series, provides an
extensive survey of House
Marik's Free Worlds League, the
new industrial giant of the Inner
Sphere. Due out in April.
INDIANA JONES: Debuting in
December is Indiana Jones and
the Sky Pirates, a book of adven-
tures set in the world of Indiana
Dark Age card game is in development by
Last Unicorn Games for an April or May
release. 240 pages. $29.95.
DEADLANDS: This Spring, two other 128 page
sourcebooks - Hucksters & Hexes and
Rascals, Varmints, & Critters - plunge
players deeper into the world of the Weird
West. Summer sees a Marshal's Log
for chronicling the denizens
and locations the Marshal
(gamemaster) creates.
FREE WORLDS LEAGUE: This Bat-
tleTech sourcebook, the second
volume in the BattleTech Field
Manual series, provides an
extensive survey of House
Marik's Free Worlds League, the
new industrial giant of the Inner
Sphere. Due out in April.
INDIANA JONES: Debuting in
December is Indiana Jones and
the Sky Pirates, a book of adven-
tures set in the world of Indiana
Jones. 96 pages. $15.
MECHANOID SPACE: Palladium hopes to
release its long-awaited Mechanoid Space
game line in late 1997. Palladium also
reports that it has three Robotech books cur-
rently in development.
MEN IN BLACK: Continuing its string of
licensed roleplaying game releases, West
End plans to release Men in Black sometime
in 1997. Based on the movie starring
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, the game
should use the same Masterbook rules as
West End's other non-Star Wars releases.
MERCENARIES OF THE INNER SPACE: Merce-
naries, a perennial favorite in BattleTech,
finally get the treatment they deserve in the
third volume in the Field Manual series. Due
out in August.
MIDDLE-EARTH ROLE PLAYING (MERP): Look
for a supplement on the Northern Wastes
in winter of 1997.
NIGHTBANE: THROUGH THE GLASS, DARKLY:
This February release explores the twisted
realm of the Nightbane and their fellow
supernatural creatures. $16.95.
MECHANOID SPACE: Palladium hopes to
release its long-awaited Mechanoid Space
game line in late 1997. Palladium also
reports that it has three Robotech books cur-
rently in development.
MEN IN BLACK: Continuing its string of
licensed roleplaying game releases, West
End plans to release Men in Black sometime
in 1997. Based on the movie starring
Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith, the game
should use the same Masterbook rules as
West End's other non-Star Wars releases.
MERCENARIES OF THE INNER SPACE: Merce-
naries, a perennial favorite in BattleTech,
finally get the treatment they deserve in the
third volume in the Field Manual series. Due
out in August.
MIDDLE-EARTH ROLE PLAYING (MERP): Look
for a supplement on the Northern Wastes
in winter of 1997.
NIGHTBANE: THROUGH THE GLASS, DARKLY:
This February release explores the twisted
realm of the Nightbane and their fellow
supernatural creatures. $16.95.
PULP DUNGEONS: Destination's generic fan-
tasy adventures continue with December's
Pulp Dungeons Series 3: The Guardians of the
Knives, including The Amazon's Gold, The
Zombie's Curse, The Shaman's Totem and
The Executioner's Challenge. Expect to see
four new adventures out every other month.
16 pages. $3.95.
SECRET SOCIETIES OF BARSAIVE: November
offers Earthdawn players and gamemasters
a look at some of the most mysterious
and dangerous secret societies in
Barsaive, including backgrounds and
adventure ideas.
STAR WARS: December '96 heralds the
release of a Star Wars supplement detailing
live action rules and a few scenarios
designed for live-action Star Wars.
TARGET UCAS: This May release will give
gamers the lowdown on those locales in
the world of Shadowrun where the status
quo may blow sky-high at any second,
including info on big events that gamemas-
ters can use to trigger faction fights, turf
wars and power plays galore.
tasy adventures continue with December's
Pulp Dungeons Series 3: The Guardians of the
Knives, including The Amazon's Gold, The
Zombie's Curse, The Shaman's Totem and
The Executioner's Challenge. Expect to see
four new adventures out every other month.
16 pages. $3.95.
SECRET SOCIETIES OF BARSAIVE: November
offers Earthdawn players and gamemasters
a look at some of the most mysterious
and dangerous secret societies in
Barsaive, including backgrounds and
adventure ideas.
STAR WARS: December '96 heralds the
release of a Star Wars supplement detailing
live action rules and a few scenarios
designed for live-action Star Wars.
TARGET UCAS: This May release will give
gamers the lowdown on those locales in
the world of Shadowrun where the status
quo may blow sky-high at any second,
including info on big events that gamemas-
ters can use to trigger faction fights, turf
wars and power plays galore.
Coast.
• Feng Shui RPG, based upon
the Shadowfist CCG,
released by Daedalus.
Games.
• Card-maker Donruss dis-
solves. its sports proper-
ties are purchased by.
Pinnacle Trading Cards,
and its gaming properties
(Red Zone, Top of the Order,
and The X-Files) are picked
up by US Playing Cards.
• Wizards of the Coasts insti-
tutes a new, royalty-free
method of paying its artists.
The artists are not happy.
JUNE
• Alliances expansion for the.
Magic: The Cathering CCG's
expansion Ice Age released
by Wizards of the Coast.
• Fast Break, the basketball
CCG, released by Wild-
Storm Productions.
• Middle-earth: The Dragons
expansion for Middle-earth:
The Wizards released by ICE.
• Undead expansion for the
Dragon Dice CDG released
by TSR.
• Feng Shui RPG, based upon
the Shadowfist CCG,
released by Daedalus.
Games.
• Card-maker Donruss dis-
solves. its sports proper-
ties are purchased by.
Pinnacle Trading Cards,
and its gaming properties
(Red Zone, Top of the Order,
and The X-Files) are picked
up by US Playing Cards.
• Wizards of the Coasts insti-
tutes a new, royalty-free
method of paying its artists.
The artists are not happy.
JUNE
• Alliances expansion for the.
Magic: The Cathering CCG's
expansion Ice Age released
by Wizards of the Coast.
• Fast Break, the basketball
CCG, released by Wild-
Storm Productions.
• Middle-earth: The Dragons
expansion for Middle-earth:
The Wizards released by ICE.
• Undead expansion for the
Dragon Dice CDG released
by TSR.
JULY
• Origins Came Show held in
Columbus, OH.
• Illustrator Liz Danforth, Call
of Cthulhu RPG and Axis &
Allies boardgame named
to the Origins Gaming
Awards Hall of Fame.
• Middle-earth: The Wizards
named best CCG of the
year at Origins. Dragon
Dice wins best fantasy or
science fiction boardgame
of the year.
• A New Hope expansion for
the Star Wars CCG
released by Decipher.
• Arcadia: The Wyld Hunt CCG
released by White Wolf.
• The Feral expansion for the
Dragon Dice CDG released
• Origins Came Show held in
Columbus, OH.
• Illustrator Liz Danforth, Call
of Cthulhu RPG and Axis &
Allies boardgame named
to the Origins Gaming
Awards Hall of Fame.
• Middle-earth: The Wizards
named best CCG of the
year at Origins. Dragon
Dice wins best fantasy or
science fiction boardgame
of the year.
• A New Hope expansion for
the Star Wars CCG
released by Decipher.
• Arcadia: The Wyld Hunt CCG
released by White Wolf.
• The Feral expansion for the
Dragon Dice CDG released
by TSR.
• XXXenophile, the aduits-only
CCG, released by Slag-
Biah Entertainment.
• Kindred: The Embraced
canceled.
AUGUST
• Deadlands, the Weird West
RPG, released by Pinnacle
Entertainment Group.
• Ani-Mayhem CCG released
by Pioneer.
• Fading Suns, a dark SF RPG,
released by Holistic Design Inc.
• Star Trek CCG released by
Fleer/SkyBox.
• Killer Instinct CCG, based
on the hit arcade game,
• XXXenophile, the aduits-only
CCG, released by Slag-
Biah Entertainment.
• Kindred: The Embraced
canceled.
AUGUST
• Deadlands, the Weird West
RPG, released by Pinnacle
Entertainment Group.
• Ani-Mayhem CCG released
by Pioneer.
• Fading Suns, a dark SF RPG,
released by Holistic Design Inc.
• Star Trek CCG released by
Fleer/SkyBox.
• Killer Instinct CCG, based
on the hit arcade game,
released by Topps.
• Dragonlance: The Fifth Age,
TSR's first new fantasy RPG
since Advanced Dungeons
& Dragons, released.
• BattleTech: 4th Edition
boardgame released by FASA.
• Advanced Dungeons &
Dragons Core Rules CD-
ROM released by TSR.
• Arena, a league system for
Magic: The Gathering,
begins its first season.
• Traveller RPG, in its fourth
edition, released by
imperium Games.
• Dunkelzahn the dragon
elected President in FASA's
