The catalog is here!

[Ed Stark]

The New Phone Book's Here! The New Phone Book's ---

Wait a minute ... that's not right. It's the 1998 Wizards of the Coast
Catalog that's here! Yay!

It looks pretty nice. We have a big ol' color catalog with product shots
for everything Wizards/TSR/L5RPG and a nice poster/release calendar. You
know what this means, don't you? I CAN TALK ABOUT 1998 PRODUCT!

Gee, it's so exciting ...

The online catalog should be up any time now (if it isn't up already--check
the website).

I thought I'd post a really quick run-down of the BIRTHRIGHT release
schedule (since you've all been patient and all).

As many of you know or have guessed, we're delaying the release of any new
BR product (after TRIBES) until next July--when we proudly bring you the
Revised BIRTHRIGHT CAMPAIGN SETTING! It's listed at 256 pages (for some
reason the catalog says B&W illustrations--they're all color as far as I
know), and it's HARDCOVER. It has been updated and revised to emphasize
adventuring and legendary quests, but all the domain rules, etc. are still
there. There is a revised battle system, however, that does not employ the
use of cards--but you'll see that the systems are remarkably similar. In
essence, this is the same BR as in the boxed set, but with a few tweaks and
clarifications (remember that's why I asked for your rules input).

In August, we have the long-awaited BOOK OF REGENCY. This is the third in
our popular Books of Scions series, and it covers kings and queens, lords,
and knights. It doesn't stop at regency, though--there are new blood
abilities and a few other surprises.

In September, we start our long-awaited Shadow World story arc (Essence of
Evil) with SHADOW MOON. I'm still working on this book, but I can tell you
it involves adventure and some very flexible rules for running Shadow World
adventures.

In October, Carrie Bebris presents ;-) BLOOD SPAWN: Minions of Cerilia.
This is the second in the Essence of Evil series and is a cross between a
BR Monstrous Compendium (with lots of Shadow World creatures) and an
adventure collection. Even if you aren't playing in the Shadow World,
there's plenty of critters and adventures to trouble your PCs with.

November brings us the CHARGE OF THE COLD RIDER adventure. This concludes
the Essence of Evil series by pitting the hero-kings against the biggest,
baddest denizen of the Shadow World, the Cold Rider himself.

We are also reprinting the BR boxed set (a short run only) that should be
available in stores any time now. There may be other reprints (BOOK OF
MAGECRAFT, for one) depending on distributor, retailer, and customer interest.

As you can see, this'll be a busy year for BR. Only five products, sure,
but I challenge you to find a tighter, more focused set of products in
gaming. We are also preparing articles for DRAGON, DUNGEON, and a few
specials for the RPGA and POLYHEDRON that I can't talk about yet (hey,
where would be the surprise), but at least I can let you know about the
1998 schedule.

Any questions?


-- ->-- ->-- ->--@
Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

[Eric Dunn]

>As many of you know or have guessed, we're delaying the release of any new
>BR product (after TRIBES) until next July--when we proudly bring you the
>Revised BIRTHRIGHT CAMPAIGN SETTING!

Ahh, it's a long wait, but it sounds totally worth it!!!

It's listed at 256 pages (for some
>In August, we have the long-awaited BOOK OF REGENCY. This is the third in

I'm dyin for this one :)




>As you can see, this'll be a busy year for BR. Only five products, sure,
>but I challenge you to find a tighter, more focused set of products in
>gaming. We are also preparing articles for DRAGON, DUNGEON, and a few
>specials for the RPGA and POLYHEDRON that I can't talk about yet (hey,
>where would be the surprise), but at least I can let you know about the
>1998 schedule.

I do agree with you..they are focused, and they sound very
Useful...(something some of the other products (non BR of course) were
known to lack at times..usefulness :) I could certainly see myself buying
all of them. I love seeing the BR articles in the Dragon..practically the
main reason I get it!

>Any questions?


Please please, try to put out a few Brechtur Domain Booklets? :)

Eric Dunn
eric@cyberserv.com

"It has just been discovered that research causes cancer in rats."

[Bryan Ruther]

Ed Stark wrote:



> ... As many of you know or have guessed, we're delaying the release of any new
> BR product (after TRIBES) until next July--when we proudly bring you the
> Revised BIRTHRIGHT CAMPAIGN SETTING! It's listed at 256 pages (for some
> reason the catalog says B&W illustrations--they're all color as far as I
> know), and it's HARDCOVER. It has been updated and revised to emphasize
> adventuring and legendary quests, but all the domain rules, etc. are still
> there. There is a revised battle system, however, that does not employ the
> use of cards--but you'll see that the systems are remarkably similar. In
> essence, this is the same BR as in the boxed set, but with a few tweaks and
> clarifications (remember that's why I asked for your rules input).

What can you tell us about the contents of the new hardcover's contents. Rivision
of
the battle system seems like a good idea, the cards have been kinda irratating
becaused the
information on them in nowhere else (including the combat tables, what a sin!).
Will there
be some BR specific kits, or rules for races not covered in the original box set?

Bryan

- --
Mankind being originally equals in the order of creation,
the equality could only be destroyed by some subsequent
circumstance...
Thomas Paine, Common Sense

[Ed Stark]

At 03:04 PM 12/18/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>>Please please, try to put out a few Brechtur Domain Booklets? :)

Believe me, I'd love to, but the only chance for BR Domains this coming
year is in DUNGEON, DRAGON, or POLYHEDRON (in much-abbreviated,
adventure-driven forms). I recommend submitting these sorts of things
regularly, so that we'll see more BR publications.


-- ->-- ->-- ->--@
Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

[Ed Stark]

>Will this "new" battle system include rules for battle involving castles and
>use of siege weapons (not against small moving creatures as they did in
>PO:C&T, I still wonder what they smoked while writing it). I think a good
>battle system with siege rules will get none BR DM's to buy it.
>
As with the card-based battle system, this will be a tool for use by the DM
to resolve battles quickly and easily--it is NOT intended to be a game in
and of itself. I do think it may readily accept optional rules and
expansions (perhaps more than the card system ever did), but it is not that
much more involved. I hope it is more flexible and still easy to use.

-- ->-- ->-- ->--@
Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

[Ed Stark]

At 03:51 PM 12/18/97 -0600, you wrote:
>What can you tell us about the contents of the new hardcover's contents.
Rivision
>of
>the battle system seems like a good idea, the cards have been kinda
irratating
>becaused the
>information on them in nowhere else (including the combat tables, what a
sin!).
>Will there
>be some BR specific kits, or rules for races not covered in the original
box set?
>
>Bryan
>
There are a few BR specific kits, and continuing guidelines for using
existing kits on Cerilia. Right now, there are no more PC races included
than in the boxed set, though we may consider goblins. Any comments on that?


-- ->-- ->-- ->--@
Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

[Eric Dunn]

At 02:56 PM 12/18/97 -0800, you wrote:
>At 03:04 PM 12/18/97 -0500, you wrote:
>>>>Please please, try to put out a few Brechtur Domain Booklets? :)
>
>Believe me, I'd love to, but the only chance for BR Domains this coming
>year is in DUNGEON, DRAGON, or POLYHEDRON (in much-abbreviated,
>adventure-driven forms). I recommend submitting these sorts of things
>regularly, so that we'll see more BR publications.
>
>
> -- ->-- ->-- ->--@
>Ed Stark
>Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division


When you say submit them, where do you wish to have them submitted..and for
that matter what do you wish us to submit? :)
(reqeust for more publications to TSR? our own ideas for domains to those
specified magazines?)
E

(eric@cyberserv.com)

[David Sean Brown]

> There are a few BR specific kits, and continuing guidelines for using
> existing kits on Cerilia. Right now, there are no more PC races included
> than in the boxed set, though we may consider goblins. Any comments on that?

You know, I've never been a big fan of the "monster" PC. I've always felt
humanoids like goblins, orcs, ogres, etc should be left in the domain of
NPCs, and generally "bad guys". This is not to say I never permit it, but
only rarely (sort of the Drizzt of the campaign, so to speak). Maybe I'm
limiting my PCs roleplaying somewhat, but to be honest, I find it
difficult to identify with the heroic goblin :)

Sean

[Oyvind Gronnesby]

>> Right now, there are no more PC races included
>> than in the boxed set, though we may consider goblins. Any comments on that?
>
>You know, I've never been a big fan of the "monster" PC. I've always felt
>humanoids like goblins, orcs, ogres, etc should be left in the domain of
>NPCs, and generally "bad guys". This is not to say I never permit it, but
>only rarely (sort of the Drizzt of the campaign, so to speak). Maybe I'm
>limiting my PCs roleplaying somewhat, but to be honest, I find it
>difficult to identify with the heroic goblin :)
>

Well, in my campaign a friend of mine played the goblin ruler of Thurazor.
Here he started a Reneissance(?) of culture and construction (though they
were still goblins and much of the culture collapsed). Since there are no
goblin race description in the BR set we used the goblins of Humanoids
Handbook, which worked pretty well. Except that it all ended in a silly war
with Talinie.
Goblins worked out well as a player concept and I think that it should be
included in the 2nd edition.


Oyvind Gronnesby

[James Ruhland]

> There are a few BR specific kits, and continuing guidelines for using
> existing kits on Cerilia. Right now, there are no more PC races included
> than in the boxed set, though we may consider goblins. Any comments on
that?
>
I think BR-specific Goblins as a PC option is an interesting idea. Folks
don't *have* to allow them as a PC race in their own campagin (perhaps even
designate it as an optional race, for thouse purists who think that if it
is official, it is automatically required).

[Trizt]

On 19-Dec-97, Ed Stark (ted@wizards.com) wrote about Re: [BIRTHRIGHT] - THE
CATALOG IS HERE!:
- ->>Will this "new" battle system include rules for battle involving castles
and
- ->>use of siege weapons.....
- ->As with the card-based battle system, this will be a tool for use by the DM
- ->to resolve battles quickly and easily--it is NOT intended to be a game in
- ->and of itself. I do think it may readily accept optional rules and
- ->expansions (perhaps more than the card system ever did), but it is not that
- ->much more involved. I hope it is more flexible and still easy to use.

Yes, I agree.. the battle rules should never be something completly different,
but if we look at those battle rules which has been released by TSR this far,
none has been good. But I have to say that the card system had the most
original thought and I did sort of like them even if I didn't think they where
good.
The major lack in AD&D is that there is no usedul siege rules (storming a
castle and hold it isolated) and now when we have a world where fotified
holdings and castles are quite common. So I was hoping that there would be
atleast a try to make a such rules in the hardback (I don't really like to
just use a d20 to see which side wins and I'm a bit lazy to convert a somewhat
good siege rules from a RuneQuest clone).
I have to claryfie that I didn't suggest PO:C&T for the battle/sieges rules as
that book IMO suxx more than castle guide.

That was alles for this time...

HAPPY NEW YEAR GUY'S AND
GIRLS!!!!!


//Trizt of Ward^RITE

-

[=?iso-8859-1?Q?Gu=F0laug]

>There are a few BR specific kits, and continuing guidelines for using
>existing kits on Cerilia. Right now, there are no more PC races included
>than in the boxed set, though we may consider goblins. Any comments on that?
>
>I would just like to say. Hurray if you include goblins. Because mainly
that goblins are more civilized than say Gnolls. If your going to include
goblins will there be a goblin domains which players can run?
> -- ->-- ->-- ->--@
>Ed Stark
>Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
>Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
>TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
>(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)
>************************************************** *************************
>>'unsubscribe birthright' as the body of the message.
>
>

[Darkstar]

David Sean Brown wrote:
>
> > There are a few BR specific kits, and continuing guidelines for using
> > existing kits on Cerilia. Right now, there are no more PC races included
> > than in the boxed set, though we may consider goblins. Any comments on that?
>
> You know, I've never been a big fan of the "monster" PC. I've always felt
> humanoids like goblins, orcs, ogres, etc should be left in the domain of
> NPCs, and generally "bad guys". This is not to say I never permit it, but
> only rarely (sort of the Drizzt of the campaign, so to speak). Maybe I'm
> limiting my PCs roleplaying somewhat, but to be honest, I find it
> difficult to identify with the heroic goblin :)

You don't really need to treat Goblin, Ogog and Gnoll as "monsters"
though in Birthright. After all many live in civilised kingdoms with
guilds, temples and law holding just like the human and other races.
In my campaign I make all the realms avalible, even thurazor and the
other goblin nations. The only ones I limit are those controlled by the
big NPC's like Avanil, Markazor, Ghoere etc.
I supose it depends on the DM. If you allow evil human characters then
it is not much of a step to allow Goblin and other races. It certainly
makes the game more interesting.

- --
Ian Hoskins

e-Mail: hoss@box.net.au
ICQ: 2938300
Home Page: http://www.box.net.au/~hoss/birth.html

From the Darkness we came,
and to the Darkness we will return.

[Samuel Weiss]

I let one of my players be a goblin. That game was based in Dhoesone, so it
made sense and wasn't too much trouble. I thought the whole idea of them in
birthright was great from the start and prime for thei inclusion as PC's.

Samwise

[Mark A Vandermeulen]

On Fri, 19 Dec 1997, Ed Stark wrote:

> There are a few BR specific kits, and continuing guidelines for using
> existing kits on Cerilia. Right now, there are no more PC races included
> than in the boxed set, though we may consider goblins. Any comments on that?

I have no particular desire to play goblins in Cerilia, but I have no
problem with those who do. One of the strengths of BR is its unique take
of some of the usual croud of humanoids, and players can have fun taking
advantage of that. I would ask that it be clearly labelled as an OPTIONAL
PC race for DM's who wish to avoid them, particular in their
munchkin-attracting bugbear-like form.

Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu

[Ed Stark]

At 08:28 AM 12/23/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Yes, as a matter of fact. First, what will be done as far as "changing" the
>mass combat rules? and secondly will the Domain Actions and Turns be
>altered?, if so how? Will there be more options or less?
>
The mass combat system, while still using the same basic rules, can now be
played on any surface without the use of cards. You'll need miniatures, or
counters, or coins or something to mark the positions of your troops and
the different terrain areas, but the game runs in a very similar manner.
There are some rules changes (based on player comments), but the game runs
remarkably similarly without the cards.

The Domain Actions and Turns system is not being altered in any meaningful
way. A few domain actions are receiving a little bit of a "face-lift" to
make them easier to understand, but that's about it.


-- ->-- ->-- ->--@
Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

[Ed Stark]

At 09:20 PM 1/6/98 +0000, you wrote:
>Should those of us with the boxed set consider buying the Book?

Honestly, it's up to you. There is some new material in the HC, and some
revision of the existing rules has taken place--but if you're running a BR
game already and having a good time, you may not need the HC. I think
you'll like some of the revisions and additions, but I think it's really
going to be a question of whether or not you want to buy a new copy of the
rules.

>In that I haven't seen the BoP yet, should I expect to find those some
>time during the third millenium? :)
>
If you haven't received the BoP yet, then it is almost certainly your
retailer's or his distributor's fault. We've shipped our orders, and are
filling new orders. Either they didn't order it or they didn't order
enough. If they can't get if for some reason, have them call their
distributor and, failing that, call Wizards of the Coast's sales department
correctly. Don't take "I think it's sold out/not available" for an answer
because, when I last checked, neither of those answers were true.


-- ->-- ->-- ->--@
Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)

[Neil Barnes]

On Wed, 7 Jan 1998, Ed Stark wrote:
> At 09:20 PM 1/6/98 +0000, you wrote:
> >In that I haven't seen the BoP yet, should I expect to find those some
> >time during the third millenium? :)
>
> If you haven't received the BoP yet, then it is almost certainly your
> retailer's or his distributor's fault.

Actually I saw a copy yesterday (about a day after making that comment),
so I grabbed it and have been plotting evilly all night. Lot's of
insightful comments occurred to me, which I've mostly forgotten.

Umm. Here's one. How polytheistic are the Cerillians? Would it be
considered unusual of a worshipper of Haelyn to pray to Nesirie before
setting out on a voyage, or Laerme before starting a painting or to
Sarimie before starting a trading venture? Do the churches frown upon
it?

neil

[Ed Stark]

At 12:08 PM 1/9/98 +0000, you wrote:
>Umm. Here's one. How polytheistic are the Cerillians? Would it be
>considered unusual of a worshipper of Haelyn to pray to Nesirie before
>setting out on a voyage, or Laerme before starting a painting or to
>Sarimie before starting a trading venture? Do the churches frown upon
>it?

There's some brief mention of this in HAVENS (very brief, very off-hand)
but, basically, most Cerilians are pretty polytheistic. Certain realms and
areas have dominant gods (as represented by the temple descriptions in
different places), but most do not exclude the worship (or at least the
acknowledgement) of other allied deities. For example, most Brechts and
Khinasi do pay some nodding homage to Nesirie, since many of these people
depend on seafaring for their livelihoods. These, of course, are the
layity--there are no priests of "the Cerilian Pantheon" (all Cerilian
priests are specialty priests of one deity; there are no generic clerics).
There may be shrines or temples (non-holding temples) devoted to multiple
deities as well.


-- ->-- ->-- ->--@
Ed Stark
Game Designer, Wizards of the Coast/TSR Division
Asst. Brand Manager, BIRTHRIGHT/GREYHAWK/MARVEL Group
TSR Website: http://www.tsrinc.com
(soon to be http://www.tsr.com)