The_Dunner's shameless self-promotion Thread - M&M3, ICONS, and 40K Options

[the_dunner]

Hey folks,

I figure a few people here might still remember the work that I did on Shadowrun Missions and assorted other projects.

So, I thought I'd stick my nose in hear with updates on a few current projects. I'll keep this thread updated as things develop.

First off, I've been doing some writing for Fantasy Flight Games. The first product that I had an opportunity to work on, Battlefleet Koronus, is now shipping to stores. It's a sourcebook for the Rogue Trader game in their line of Warhammer 40,000 RPGs.

Beyond the gates of the Maw, savage enemies raise arms against the Imperium. Rogue Traders, backed by the might of the Imperial Navy, must arm their vessels to wrest fortunes from their enemies in bloody warfare!
Battlefleet Koronus is an extensive sourcebook about the starships that traverse the Koronus Expanse. With new rules on Nova Cannons, torpedoes, attack crafts, and squadrons, plus new options for outfitting player ships, this book is perfect for players and GMs alike. Battlefleet Koronus also provides a host of enemy starships to challenge Explorers, and it delves into the rich history of the Imperial Navy and Battlefleet Calixis.
With Battlefleet Koronus, new rules and components allow Explorers to man some of the Expanse’s most powerful warships! Take the helm of grand cruisers and battlecruisers and decimate your foes with torpedo salvoes, attack craft wings, and fearsome Nova Cannons. Learn of the Imperial Navy and its squadrons in the Koronus Expanse, the famed Battlefleet Koronus; their ships can prove useful allies, or powerful enemies. Then study the dread warships of vile xenos races and villainous Chaos reavers, the better to know and destroy your foes! Rules for NPC starships and squadron operations make space combat easier to run than ever before; plus, rules for waging ground wars allow you to fight entire campaigns to the final blows!

Secondly, I've started a small company for PDF publishing. Our first release went up on DriveThruRPG today.

The Freshman Handbook for the Hope Preparatory School setting is now available at DriveThruRPG for the M&M 3E rules system.

Product Link

Hope Preparatory School is a privately funded institution dedicated to preparing tomorrow's metahumans for whatever paths might lie ahead. With a tradition that stretches back over 60 years, a world-renowned faculty, and affiliations with all of the best universities, HPS is the place to send your child to prepare him or her for life.

The HPS Freshman Handbook provides the background material and character creation rules compatible with M&M 3rd Edition for Melior Via's line of Hope Prep Adventures, as well as plenty of information and adventure hooks to run a campaign set within a metahuman high school.

The first adventure in the series is expected to be available in April 2011.

And I think I get to announce something else tomorrow.

[X-Kalibur]

BFK is finally out? Sweet. I gotta go get that.

[the_dunner]

And, here's the update that I hoped to have today.

Fantasy Flight gave me a chance to provide a blog entry on their site regarding the Character Creation rules I did for the upcoming Black Crusade game.

Men of Low Character

This book was also a great deal of fun to work on, and I hope folks are looking forward to seeing it.

[Grinder]

Very interesting read - and now you hooked me up on Black Crusade, with levels and classes gone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[the_dunner]

now you hooked me up on Black Crusade, with levels and classes gone. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

Woohoo! The internet works! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/love.gif)

[Grinder]

Any plans to release a level- and class-free version of Dark Heresy too? And how came the idea to make Black Crusade mechanically different from the others games of the line?

[the_dunner]

Any plans to release a level- and class-free version of Dark Heresy too?

I'm afraid FFG's company policy and NDA explicitly prohibits speculation about upcoming releases. If I knew anything, I could not say anything. My apologies.

And how came the idea to make Black Crusade mechanically different from the others games of the line?

This is the first FFG core book on which I had the opportunity to work. I can't really speak to the development of previous games. However, I've played a few different RPGs and the folks at FFG have consistently been wonderfully receptive to freelancer input.

[Grinder]

I'm afraid FFG's company policy and NDA explicitly prohibits speculation about upcoming releases. If I knew anything, I could not say anything. My apologies.

Curse you, NDA's, curse you! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

[X-Kalibur]

Any plans to release a level- and class-free version of Dark Heresy too? And how came the idea to make Black Crusade mechanically different from the others games of the line?

That would make me super happy as well, I've been greatly enjoying RT and DH as of late. Let's see what develops.

[Kagetenshi]

What's this about Might and Magic 3 now?

~DOE MEISTER

[the_dunner]

What's this about Might and Magic 3 now?

Mutants and Masterminds, 3rd Edition.

[PBTHHHHT]

hey the_dunner, thanks for the heads up. I'll definitely be picking up the BFK soon, and whenever Black Crusade is released. Thanks for the info about the Mutants and Masterminds stuff, I do love the superhero genre so I'll take a look.

[Backgammon]

Yay John! Glad to see you're doing some cool stuff!

Cheers

[the_dunner]

Thanks guys! I'm trying to keep the MeliorVia blog updated with information about the Hope Prep School setting. I'm pretty happy with the early feedback, but we're just starting to get the ball rolling. The first adventure in the story arc should be released next month. I've just sent out the last art solicitations on that today.

[Method]

Man the more I hear about the FF 40K games the more I want to play them, but I can barely find the time to play SR lately.

Anyway, glad to see you've moved on the bigger and more Chaotic things, Dunn. If I have any extra money laying around when the wife stops remodeling our house, I might have to pick up Black Crusade.

[the_dunner]

A very positive review of Battlefleet Koronus was just posted up on RPG.net. It's likely worth a read if you're on the fence about it.

[Wesley Street]

Man the more I hear about the FF 40K games the more I want to play them, but I can barely find the time to play SR lately.

Me too. I'm not a WH 40K guy but I was intrigued enough by the space privateer aspect of 'Rogue Trader' to pick it up along with 'Battlefleet Koronus'. Now I just need to find the right mix of players to give it a whirl.

[the_dunner]

Cover artwork for the first HPS scenario has been posted up at MeliorVia.com

Jeff Preston provided did a great job on it.

[the_dunner]

We've just released a HPS-themed M&M3 character sheet as a free download.

Link to see a quick preview and download the PDF version is at MeliorVia.com

[X-Kalibur]

Me too. I'm not a WH 40K guy but I was intrigued enough by the space privateer aspect of 'Rogue Trader' to pick it up along with 'Battlefleet Koronus'. Now I just need to find the right mix of players to give it a whirl.

There is no wrong mix of players for Rogue Trader.

[Wesley Street]

There is no wrong mix of players for Rogue Trader.

Well... despite the high production values that Fantasy Flight puts into its products there are a few issues with the game that didn't shake out during play-testing. So if you have powergamer/loop hole exploiters in your gaming group (I do), they can have a field day with RT if they're crafty. For example:

- buy Space Marine Armor that reduces 9, invest in subdermal implants and bionic limbs providing +2 or +3 depending on where shot, and a toughness of 60. Keep your wounds to around 19. You can withstand any attack that would autokill anyone else without the same build. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)
- to auto-shred baddies, invest in the Heavy Bolter (full auto provides +20 to hit [why it's easier to hit on full auto is beyond me...]). Short range add +10. Point blank add +30. Aim and brace. etc. etc. etc. With a good hit, you can be doing 300 hp worth of damage in a single combat round. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/frown.gif)

If I keep my game RAW (which I prefer to do if possible), those kinds of mechanics make it difficult for me as a GM to create combat encounters that are both interesting and a challenge for players of all types. Thus my need to find more casual RPGers or gamers who are more into story and world-building than mechanics in order to make a RT game fun. But to be fair, FF's Warhammer 40K line doesn't require nearly as much GM interdiction as WOTC's Star Wars Saga. I played that for almost 9 months before permanently retiring the system out of frustration.

Still... I look forward to creating some sort of space pirate/buccaneer style RT campaign.

[PBTHHHHT]

hey Wesley Street, you should check this out then for your group, just for grins and giggles
Dungeons: The Dragoning 40,000 7th edition. An April Fool's day by this guy which goes beyond most jokes since it's a 340+ page rulebook... he put waaay too much effort into it. Anyway, it's a combination of Vampire, DnD, WH 40k, and the kitchen sink.
http://lawfulnice.blogspot.com/2011/04/dun...agoning-12.html

[hermit]

The selling point of those games is not the rules, they are reminiscent of Shadowrun in a number of ways, their madness in parts included. The selling point is the game universe. It'S safe to assume that game would sell well with any remotely working rules.

Also, since you're in the loop - do I need another book aside from the RT core book, BFK and Into the Storm tom properly build a ship?

[the_dunner]

do I need another book aside from the RT core book, BFK and Into the Storm tom properly build a ship?

I'm of the opinion that you can build one just fine from the core rules. However, those three books include all of the Imperial Ship Components that have been released. So, if you're concerned about having every possible option, then those are the volumes that you would want.

[hermit]

I'm of the opinion that you can build one just fine from the core rules. However, those three books include all of the Imperial Ship Components that have been released. So, if you're concerned about having every possible option, then those are the volumes that you would want.

That's what I meant, thanks.

Also, are there plans for battleship hulls? With grand cruisers and mass conveyances buyable, it's not that unfeasible anymore. And it's the only hull still missing.