These pages chronicle how a circle of friends who all happen to be talented voice actors built the most-watched tabletop role-playing livestream of all time.Discover dazzling new illustrations and richly written insights into the locations, characters, and adventures featured in the hundreds of episodes across Critical Role’s two campaigns, Vox Machina and the Mighty Nein. Go behind the scenes with archival photos and exclusive interviews with Dungeon Master Matt Mercer and the entire Critical Role cast as they explore their characters’ most triumphant moments and darkest hours. And celebrate the massive community of Critters who support and expand the show’s world through a highlighted tour of the crafts, cosplay, and art they create every day. Featuring a foreword from the cast, lush illustrations, and the inside story you won’t find anywhere else, this book is your indispensable guide to Critical Role. The adventure begins!

    The Dwendalian Empire and the Kryn Dynasty are carving up the lands around them, and only the greatest heroes would dare stand between them. Somewhere in the far corners of this war-torn landscape are secrets that could end this conflict and usher in a new age of peace--or burn the world to a cinder.Create a band of heroes and embark on a journey across the continent of Wildemount, the setting for Campaign 2 of the hit Dungeons & Dragons series Critical Role. Within this book, you'll find new character options, a heroic chronicle to help you craft your character's backstory, four different starting adventures, and everything a Dungeon Master needs to breathe life into a Wildemount-based D&D campaign...- Delve through the first Dungeons & Dragons book to let players experience the game as played within the world of Critical Role, the world's most popular livestreaming D&D show.- Uncover a trove of options usable in any D&D game, featuring subclasses, spells, magic items, monsters, and more, rooted in the adventures of Exandria--such as Vestiges of Divergence and the possibility manipulating magic of Dunamancy.- Start a Dungeons & Dragons campaign in any of Wildemount's regions using a variety of introductory adventures, dozens of regional plot seeds, and the heroic chronicle system--a way to create character backstories rooted in Wildemount.Explore every corner of Wildemount and discover mysteries revealed for the first time by Critical Role Dungeon Master, Matthew Mercer.

    Her enemies wouldn't want these treasured secrets scattered across the multiverse, so in defiance, she has collected and codified these tidbits for the enrichment of all.EXPANDED SUBCLASSES. Try out subclass options for every Dungeons & Dragons class, including the artificer, which appears in the book.MORE CHARACTER OPTIONS. Tasha's Cauldron of Everything introduces a host of class features and feats, plus straightforward rules for modifying a character's racial traits and customizing their origin.INTRODUCING GROUP PATRONS. Whether you're part of the same criminal syndicate or working for an ancient dragon, each group patron option comes with its own perks and types of assignments.SPELLS, ARTIFACTS & MAGIC TATTOOS. Discover more spells, as well as magic tattoos, artifacts, and other magic items for your campaign.EXPANDED RULES OPTIONS. Try out rules for sidekicks, supernatural environments, natural hazards, and parleying with monsters, and gain guidance on running a session zero.A PLETHORA OF PUZZLES. Ready to be dropped into any D&D adventure, puzzles of varied difficulty await your adventurers, complete with traps and guidance on using the puzzles in a campaign.Full of expanded content for players and Dungeon Masters alike, this book is a great addition to the Player's Handbook. Baked in you'll find more rule options for all the character classes in the Player's Handbook, including more subclass options. Thrown in for good measure is the artificer class, a master of magical invention. And this witch's brew wouldn't be complete without a dash of added artifacts, spellbook options, spells for both player characters and monsters, magical tattoos, group patrons, and other tasty goodies.

    Your one-stop guide to a perfect island vacation is right here!Animal Crossing™: New Horizons takes you to a deserted island and lets you craft it into your own personal paradise inhabited by a unique, character-filled community. This premium book is both the perfect guide for getting the most out of island life, and the ultimate reference for anyone who insists on having it all.

    Sid Meier’s Memoir! is the story of an obsessive young computer enthusiast who helped launch a multibilliondollar industry. Writing with warmth and ironic humor, Meier describes the genesis of his influential studio, MicroProse, founded in 1982 after a trip to a Las Vegas arcade, and recounts the development of landmark games, from vintage classics like Pirates! and Railroad Tycoon, to Civilization and beyond.Articulating his philosophy that a videogame should be “a series of interesting decisions,” Meier also shares his perspective on the history of the industry, the psychology of gamers, and fascinating insights into the creative process, including his ten rules of good game design.

    Beyond this yawning fissure, the Caves of Hunger await. And past this icy dungeon is a secret so old and terrifying that few dare speak of it. The mad wizards of the Arcane Brotherhood long to possess that which the god of winter’s wrath has so coldly preserved—as do you! What fantastic secrets and treasures are entombed in the sunless heart of the glacier, and what will their discovery mean for the denizens of Icewind Dale? Can you save Ten-Towns from the Frostmaiden’s everlasting night?Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden is a tale of dark terror that revisits the forlorn, flickering candlelights of civilization known as Ten-Towns and sheds light on the many bone-chilling locations that surround these frontier settlements.

    From the temples of omen-speaking oracles to the five realms of the Underworld, the champions of the gods vie for immortal favor and a place among the world’s living myths.Choose a supernatural gift that sets you on the path of destiny, align yourself with one of Theros’s fifteen gods, then carve a tale of odysseys and ordeals across the domains of mortals, gods, and the dead.What legends will you challenge—mighty heroes, inevitable prophecies, or titans imprisoned by the gods? Where will destiny and immortal schemes lead you? And what tales will you leave behind, celebrated in the pantheon of myths and writ among the eternal stars? Receive a supernatural gift from the gods, a set of special traits that mark your character for greatness. Select one of the new races for your character—such mythic peoples as the leonin or a satyr. New subclasses include the Bard’s College of Eloquence, masters of oratory; and the Paladin’s Oath of Glory, an affirmation of destiny laid out for you by divine providence. Encounter mythic monsters, creatures whose power and renown are such that their names are truly living myths. More than simply legendary, these creatures have abilities that will create a challenge fit for the gods. Wield god-weapons, signature items of the gods that allow your character to stand apart from other heroes. These can be a gift from your deity or perhaps you boldly stole it from them in a bid for ultimate power.

    The author, Ken Williams, founded Sierra On-Line Sierra with his wife Roberta who went on to create many of the company's best selling games. Sierra grew from just Ken and Roberta to over one thousand employees and a fan base that still exists today, despite the fact that the company was torn apart by criminal activities, scandal and corruption that resulted in jail sentences and the collapse of Sierra. This is the behind-the-scenes story of the rise and fall, as it could only be told by the ultimate insider.

    Fans of all ages won't want to miss this never-before-published romp that brings to life the world of Bendy!

    The game mechanics use an adapted version of the award-winning Year Zero Engine.

    It remains fully compatible with all previously published Frostgrave supplements, allowing players to revisit past adventures as well as face new challenges. Choose a wizard from one of ten schools of magic, and select from a list of eighty spells. Hire a warband filled with soldiers, from lowly thugs and thieves to mighty knights and barbarians, then lead your men into the frozen ruins of the magic city of Frostgrave on the hunt for ancient treasures and the secrets of lost magic. Be warned – it is a deadly place, filled with rival wizards, wandering monsters, animated constructs, and demonic entities. Do you dare enter the Frozen City one more time?

    

    Rumbling thunder pounds the castle spires. The wind's howling increases as he turns his gaze down toward the village of Barovia.Far below, yet not beyond his keen eyesight, a party of adventurers has just entered his domain. Strahd's face forms the barest hint of a smile as his dark plan unfolds. He knew they were coming, and he knows why they came--all according to his plan.A lightning flash rips through the darkness, but Strahd is gone. Only the howling of the wind fills the midnight air. The master of Castle Ravenloft is having guests for dinner. And you are invited.Resting in this coffin is a premium edition of the award-winning Dungeons & Dragons adventure book Curse of Strahd, one of the most beloved D&D adventures of all time.Curse of Strahd: Revamped splits the adventure into three parts--a softcover D&D adventure book with updated content, a Creatures of Horror booklet detailing monsters and NPCs appearing in the adventure, and a Tarokka Deck bookletLearn what fortunes await you with an oversized 54-card foil stamped Tarokka deck with storage boxUse a sturdy, four-panel DM screen designed especially for this adventure with tables outlining encounters in Barovia, the Barovian calendar, a guide to reading Tarokka cards, and more.Navigate Barovia and Castle Ravenloft with a 21 x 30 double-sided map and give players 4 handouts from the original adventure as they unravel the mysteries of Ravenloft.Invite friends to the table with 12 postcards featuring beautifully eerie art of locations across Barovia.Here lies: Softcover Curse of Strahd D&D adventure book, Curse of Strahd DM screen, 1 oversized Tarokka deck (54 cards) and card box, Tarokka deck-reading booklet, Monsters & NPCs booklet, Strahd stat block sheet, 2-sided fold-out map, 4 handouts, 12 postcards

    Featuring easy-to-follow and entertaining explanations of how spells are created and used in the game, along with original illustrations of the game's essential magical characters, this book shines a spotlight on the mystical side of D&D.The perfect jumping-on point for young fans of fantasy looking to give D&D a try, Wizards and Spells also features prompts to encourage creative problem-solving skills in the dangerous situations that may be encountered in a Dungeons & Dragons adventure.

    This guide features easy-to-follow and entertaining explanations of where to find each beast, their strange abilities and magical powers, and how to defeat them, along with amazing illustrations that will ignite your imagination. Organized by size from small to large, bigger and more dangerous monsters are introduced with every turn of the page.Beasts & Behemoths is a perfect way for new players and young fantasy fans to learn about the monsters an adventuring party can meet, with profiles full of example encounters and storytelling tips that encourage creative problem-solving skills when battling beastly foes.

    Journey into the world of Peter Pan and its mysterious inhabitants in Neverland: A Fantasy Role-Playing Setting.EXPLORE THE ISLE OF MISCHIEF & MYSTERYMany have heard of the island of Neverland. Stories of pirates, mermaids and Peter Pan are told by parents around the world to send their children off to a happy, dreaming sleep. But, it’s been a long time since the Darlings first flew to Neverland and a new story is about to be told. Your own.Take a journey into the world of Peter Pan and its mysterious inhabitants in Neverland: A Fantasy RPG Setting. The book is a feature-length hex crawl campaign, intended for sandbox exploration. Created by Andrew Kolb, you’ll find endless adventure inside, lovingly adapted from the tales of Peter Pan and tailored for an older audience. Each hex is self-contained, brimming with lore from Peter Pan and the Darlings’ escapades.It’s time to tell your own stories of pirates, mermaids and children who can fly.For use with the fifth edition of the world’s oldest role-playing game.

    Examining combat roles, class features, party composition, positioning, debilitating conditions, attacking combinations, action economy, and the ever-important consideration of the best ways to run away, Live to Tell the Tale will help you get the most out of your character’s abilities.

    It is a dungeon-crawling, story-forward tabletop RPG that focuses on what characters have to lose in pursuit of their dreams in the chaotic darkness beneath the world.Contained inside are:• Rules for creating characters with curious abilities and frantic obsessions.• Full details of the strange subterranean world of the Heart.• Adversaries both horrific and pitiable to hunt or be hunted by.• Methods for mapping the unmappable, and creating your own personal Heart to explore.• Evocative and fascinating consequences for failure and misfortune that push the story onward.• Pages and pages of beautiful, full-colour art from Felix Miall.

    Too big to fall, too complicated to function. A mess of alleyways, legalese and crowds. Aliens, Mockeries and People always in your way and your business.Everybody’s here. Everything is here. In Deep Country, the land stretches forever. The long shadow of our embarrassing past. Villages rot away, trees don’t bother to flower anymore, and the potato is eaten cold from the ground. Things were better before. Better before Bastion. In the Underground are impossible tunnels beneath time and space. Devious machines release their creations into the corridors. All while the twisting network grows and touches everything. Connects everything. You can get anywhere, but there’s always a challenge. You have a failed career and a colossal debt.Treasure is your only option.A spark of hope in Electric Bastionland.Electric Bastionland is a roleplaying game written by Chris McDowall, author of the critically-acclaimed Into The Odd. It uses and expands upon the systems developed in Into The Odd, resulting in a rules-set that’s easy to run as a Referee and even easier to play. It’s not a sourcebook or an expansion - it’s a standalone journey into an unknowable world.

    Paul "Redeye" Chaloner is quite simply a legend of the esports scene. And now, he will use all his years of experience to write the definitive book on the modern world of esports. What is it? What is life like in an esports team? Just how much corruption and cheating goes on behind it all? And what's it like to stand in front of thousands of people, broadcasting to millions over the world, as one team sits on the brink of earning millions? "Redeye" will reveal all.What is competitive gaming, and where did it come from? What makes it so exciting? The bitter esports team and country rivalries, the scandals, the money, the last-minute Hail Mary plays; it's all here, brought to you with the trademark wit--and access--of the industry's most respected and experienced broadcaster. He'll even tell you how to spell it. This is the world of esports according to its most famous presenter.

    The Game Master’s Book of Random Encounters provides an unbeatable solution. This massive tome is divided into location categories, each of which can stand alone as a small stop as part of a larger campaign. “Taverns, Inns, Shops & Guild Halls” section includes maps for 19 unique spaces, as well as multiple encounter tables designed to help GMs fill in the sights, sounds, smells and proprietors of a given location, allowing for each location in the book to be augmented and populated on the fly while still ensuring memorable moments for all players. Each map is presented at scale on grid, enabling GMs to determine exactly where all of the characters are in relation to one another and anyone (or anything) else in the space, critical information should any combat or other movement-based action occur.Perhaps more useful than its nearly 100 maps, the book's one-shot generator features all the story hooks necessary for GMs to use these maps as part of an interconnected and contained adventure. Featuring eight unique campaign drivers that lead players through several of the book's provided maps, the random tables associated with each stage in the adventure allow for nearly three million different outcomes.The book also includes a Random NPC Generator to help you create intriguing characters your players will love (or love to hate), as well as a Party Makeup Maker for establishing connections among your PCs so you can weave together a disparate group of adventurers with just a few dice rolls.Locations include taverns, temples, inns, animal/creature lairs, gatehouses, courts, ships, laboratories and more, with adventure hooks that run the gamut from frantic rooftop chases to deep cellar dungeon-crawls, with a total of 97 maps, more than 150 tables and millions of possible adventures. No matter where your players end up, they'll have someone or something to persuade or deceive, impress or destroy.

    The Sierra Adventure tells the story of legendary computer game company Sierra On-Line, developer of industry defining titles such as King’s Quest, Quest for Glory, and Leisure Suit Larry.Through interviews with over fifty of the key players at Sierra, management, producers, artists, designers, musicians, and marketing tell the story of Sierra, in their own words.

    Gray interrogates blackness in gaming at the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and (dis)ability. Situating her argument within the context of the concurrent, seemingly unrelated events of Gamergate and the Black Lives Matter movement, Gray highlights the inescapable chains that bind marginalized populations to stereotypical frames and limited narratives in video games. Intersectional Tech explores the ways that the multiple identities of black gamers--some obvious within the context of games, some more easily concealed--affect their experiences of gaming.The normalization of whiteness and masculinity in digital culture inevitably leads to isolation, exclusion, and punishment of marginalized people. Yet, Gray argues, we must also examine the individual struggles of prejudice, discrimination, and microaggressions within larger institutional practices that sustain the oppression. These "new" racisms and a complementary colorblind ideology are a kind of digital Jim Crow, a new mode of the same strategies of oppression that have targeted black communities throughout American history.Drawing on extensive interviews that engage critically with identity development and justice issues in gaming, Gray explores the capacity for gaming culture to foster critical consciousness, aid in participatory democracy, and effect social change. Intersectional Tech is rooted in concrete situations of marginalized members within gaming culture. It reveals that despite the truths articulated by those who expose the sexism, racism, misogyny, and homophobia that are commonplace within gaming communities, hegemonic narratives continue to be privileged. This text, in contrast, centers the perspectives that are often ignored and provides a critical corrective to notions of gaming as a predominantly white and male space.

    Complete with easy-to-follow, accessible instructions, Düngeonmeister also includes funny jokes and hilarious asides that will take your campaign (or your next gathering) to the next level!

    This localization of the original Japanese publication holds nearly 300 pages of colorful pixel art, and is an invaluable addition to any Final Fantasy fan's collection.

    

    It's a harsh and unforgiving universe and you are nothing if not expendable.Stay alive if you can.This boxed set contains everything you need to start playing:- A 104-page rulebook with a fast and effective ruleset designed specifically to support the core themes of Alien: horror and action in the cold darkness of space.- The 48-page complete scenario Chariot of the Gods by sci-fi novelist Andrew E.C. Gaska, taking you on a thrilling, terror-filled ride into deep space where no one can hear you scream. Chariot of the Gods is designed for 3 - 5 players plus the GM.- Five pre-generated characters to play.- A huge full-color, double-sided map, with one side depicting chartered space in the year 2183 and the other floor plans for the Chariot of the Gods scenario.- 84 game markers for keeping track of characters, motion tracker pings, and more.- 56 high quality custom cards for weapons, personal agendas, and initiative in combat.- A set each of ten engraved Base Dice and ten Stress Dice, designed specifically for the Alien roleplaying game.

    Exploring Eberron presents Keith's vision of Eberron like never before, with fresh lore and rich illustrations to bring the setting to life. In this book, Keith takes players and Dungeon Masters on a thrilling dive into the world of Eberron. Encounter the monstrous folk of Droaam, the goblinoid Heirs of Dhakaan, the Mror dwarves and their Realm Below, and the sahuagin and merfolk dwelling beneath the waves. Embrace faiths of altruism, pragmatism, and darkness. Browse the tomes of Dolurrh’s Vault of Memories, seek the Amaranthine Cities of Irian and Mabar, meditate with the githzerai monks of Kythri, and much more.The adventure won't be easy! Mighty friends and foes await—from legendary archfey and proud sahuagin to nightmarish quori and alien daelkyr. Eberron is a world in need of heroes, but take heart: between these pages lie a host of character options for would-be heroes to enjoy. You'll discover new archetypes for the artificer, cleric, druid, monk, and bard. Play unique Eberron races and subraces including gnolls, Dhakaani goblinoids, aasimar of diverse faiths, and ruinbound dwarves. Uncover a wealth of magic items from around the world, wield symbionts that bond with your very flesh, channel your dragonmark with focus items—and perhaps even manifest a Siberys dragonmark of immense power.Brought to you byKB Presentskeith-baker.com

    Speaking with insight and candor about their creative practices as well as their politics and passions, these influential and innovative game makers tell stories about their lives and inspirations, the challenges they face, and the ways they understand their places within the wider terrain of video game culture. Their insights go beyond typical conversations about LGBTQ representation in video games or how to improve “diversity” in digital media. Instead, they explore queer game-making practices, the politics of queer independent video games, how queerness can be expressed as an aesthetic practice, the influence of feminist art on their work, and the future of queer video games and technology. These engaging conversations offer a portrait of an influential community that is subverting and redefining the medium of video games by placing queerness front and center. Interviewees: Ryan Rose Aceae, Avery Alder, Jimmy Andrews, Santo Aveiro-Ojeda, Aevee Bee, Tonia B******, Mattie Brice, Nicky Case, Naomi Clark, Mo Cohen, Heather Flowers, Nina Freeman, Jerome Hagen, Kat Jones, Jess Marcotte, Andi McClure, Llaura McGee, Seanna Musgrave, Liz Ryerson, Elizabeth Sampat, Loren Schmidt, Sarah Schoemann, Dietrich Squinkifer, Kara Stone, Emilia Yang, Robert Yang

    Yet this industry generates billions in revenue by thinking creatively about digital distribution, free-to-play content, and phenomena like e-sports and live streaming. What lessons can we draw from its major successes and failures about the future of entertainment?One Up offers a pioneering empirical analysis of innovation and strategy in the video game industry to explain how it has evolved from a fringe activity to become a mainstream form of entertainment. Joost van Dreunen, a widely recognized industry expert with over twenty years of experience, analyzes how game makers, publishers, and platform holders have tackled strategic challenges to make the video game industry what it is today. Using more than three decades of rigorously compiled industry data, he demonstrates that video game companies flourish when they bring the same level of creativity to business strategy that they bring to game design. Filled with case studies of companies such as Activision Blizzard, Apple, Electronic Arts, Epic Games, Microsoft, Nexon, Sony, Take-Two Interactive, Tencent, and Valve, this book forces us to rethink common misconceptions around the emergence of digital and mobile gaming. One Up is required reading for investors, creatives, managers, and anyone looking to learn about the major drivers of change and growth in contemporary entertainment.

    Ready to go beyond the basics? Expand the limits of what's possible with the Pathfinder Advanced Player's Guide! This 272-page Pathfinder Second Edition rulebook contains exciting new rules options for player characters, adding even more depth of choice to your Pathfinder game! Inside you will find brand new ancestries, heritages, and four new classes: the shrewd investigator, the mysterious oracle, the daring swashbuckler, and the hex-slinging witch! The must-have Advanced Player's Guide also includes exciting new options for all your favorite Core Rulebook classes and tons of new backgrounds, general feats, spells, items, and 40 flexible archetypes to customize your play experience even further!

    

    In the outside world, people grow increasingly alienated from their own identities, trapped in a miasma of advertising and corporate branding. Isolated from civilization, this summer camp is a beacon of safety, a refuge for misfit kids defined by their marginalization. As time pushes past and the world grows older, this camp also shelters the survivors of the Lindworm.The Lindworm is a shapeshifter, or so the stories go; a creature that flays the skin of humans and hides within. As counselors of this summer camp, you’ve each been traumatized by the Lindworm, in your own ways. You remember little of that time.Just that you don’t want anyone else to experience it either, and you’ll keep this camp safe no matter what.

    You watch as the copper snakes twist and turn around the lock that keeps students like you out. But you’ve been left with no choice. Your barn owl hoots softly upon your shoulder as you raise your wand to the knob and whisper the unspoken words.Kids on Brooms is a collaborative role-playing game about taking on the life of a witch or wizard at a magical school you all attend- a place full of mystery, danger, and thrilling adventure. From dealing with strict professors to facing down mythical beasts, players will get the opportunity to ride brooms, brew potions, and cast powerful magic as they uncover the incredible secrets their school and its inhabitants hold. Built using the ENnie Award-Winning Kids on Bikes framework, it is a rules-light, narrative-first storytelling game perfect for new players and gaming veterans alike! - Create your own unique magical school for witches and wizards! - Face down fantastical beasts, search for school secrets, and make sure you hand your homework in on time! - Wield wands, ride brooms, brew potions, and cast powerful spells! - Tell your own stories filled with magical adventure using the Kids on Bikes framework for rules-light, narrative-first storytelling!

    This 256-page Pathfinder Second Edition rulebook contains a wealth of new information, tools, and rules systems to add to your game. Inside you will find handy advice for building your own adventures, designing towns, and creating vibrant characters alongside rules systems for dramatic chases, thrilling tournaments, and deadly duels. This book also includes more 40 pages of sample nonplayer characters, from the simple town guard to the vile cultist, presented to make your job as GM that much easier!

    That freedom is at the very heart of this book, which we designed with one priority in mind: facilitating informed decisions and enabling you, the player, to get the most out of your time in Night City. Compiled and crafted in association with the development team at CD PROJEKT RED, this guide is your indispensable companion to surviving and thriving in the world of the dark future.UTTERLY COMPLETE Main jobs, side jobs, gigs, cyberpsychos, hustles – it‘s all here NON-PRESCRIPTIVE WALKTHROUGHS We highlight rewarding routes and possibilities with annotated maps and screenshots – you decide how to proceed GAME SYSTEMS DECODED XP, skills, perks, cyberware, weapons, mods, crafting, and more. Tailor V to your play style and role-playing preferences DEDICATED ATLAS A collection of hi-res expanded maps covering the entire game area and pinpointing Night City’s many points of interest ADVANCE NOTICE We lay out all crucial choices, branching paths, romances, missables, alternative endings – without spoiling the consequences COMPLETION ROADMAP Comprehensive flowcharts reveal the exact availability conditions and unlock order of all missions INTERACTIVE MAP Includes a unique code giving access to the Premium interactive map   FEATURES     World & Lore: A guide to Night City’s history and districts, with explanations of era-specific technologies, terminology and concepts Visual Solutions: Annotated maps and 4K screenshots Maximum Flexibility: Master all the tools at your disposal to define your personal path – stealth tactics, boss weaknesses, quickhacks, character progression, and so much more Exclusive Information: Direct from the CD PROJEKT RED dev team Spoiler-Controlled: Carefully designed to avoid unnecessary revelations

    A remastered, hardback A4 version of the Old-School Dungeons and Dragons Adventure by Patrick Stuart and Scrap Princess.

    Now, over two decades later, Keighley returns to Valve for The Final Hours of Half-Life: Alyx. This 25,000 word multimedia experience gives readers an unprecedented and unvarnished look at the past decade inside Valve. From the revelation of surprising canceled projects to never-before-seen images, photos and video, The Final Hours dissects Valve’s creative process and candidly explores the development history of Half-Life: Alyx.This interactive storybook does not use or require a virtual reality headset. It merges a 25,000 word traditional story with 3D video game technology to give customers a fly-on-the-wall perspective of Valve’s creative process. FEATURES INCLUDE:*INTERACTIVE “TONER” PUZZLES: Unlock never-before-seen concept art and images via interactive puzzles inspired by Half-Life: Alyx*NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN PROTOTYPES: From early video prototypes of Alyx to other cancelled games, Valve reveals unknown – and unreleased – projects.*HEADCRAB SOUND MIXER: Create your own headcrab sound effects using the same source files as the development team.*DEVELOPMENT FLOOR EXPERIENCE: Explore the Valve office with an interactive 3D tour that showcases the development area for Half-Life: Alyx.*VALVE TIME: An interactive timeline details Valve’s software and hardware projects over the past decade – including previously unknown projects.*RHYS DARBY: Exclusive interview with Rhys Darby (“Russell”), one of the stars of Half-Life: Alyx

    Swamp Nagas and Magma Octopuses.Sasquatch and Shriekbats.Walled Horrors and Wraith Bears.Keep your players surprised, entertained, and terrified with all-new opponents they've never seen before-and won't be expected.

    

    But now it's not a game--and they will have to use everything they know to explore, build, and survive! This handsome boxed set collects the first four books in the only official Minecraft chapter book series. Each illustrated hardcover book is packed with action, thrills, and humor that will engage fans of Minecraft and fantasy stories alike. This boxed set is a great gift item!(c) 2020 Mojang AB and Mojang Synergies AB. MINECRAFT and MOJANG are trademarks or registered trademarks of Mojang Synergies AB.

    So, gather your heroes as you take them from humble beginnings as penniless adventurers to the halls of the great and powerful, where every decision can change the fate of the Empire.At the appointed time, we shall rise from our secret places and throw down the towns and cities of the Empire. Chaos will cover this land, and we, the Chosen Servants, shall be exalted in HIS eyes. Hail to Tzeentch, Changer of the Ways! Njawrr’thakh ‘Lzimbarr Tzeentch!’Enemy in Shadows Includes:A selection of ‘Grognard Boxes’ that add entirely new ways to play through the adventures, ensuring even those who have played the Enemy Within campaign before will find Enemy in Shadows fresh and new.The first part of the Enemy Within campaign, revised and updated by Graeme Davis, legendary WFRP author.A complete guide to Bögenhafen, one of the most important towns in the Reikland, full of exciting locations to visit and explore.The Enemy Within is the campaign all roleplayers should play at least once in their lives, making the Enemy in Shadows a must purchase for all gamers

    All about adventure gaming, you know, that niche of tabletop roleplaying games that’s also called OSR. KNOCK! is not the kind of magazine you flip through and throw in the recycling bin. It will set up shop on your bookshelf, between your collectible AD&D books and your favourite old school rulesets. It’ll take quite a few sittings by the fire with your drink of choice to go through. And years from now, you’ll pull it up for inspiration when prepping a game.

    Fate Condensed gives you easy-to- digest rules in as few pages as possible, letting you get to the table and roll the dice, fast. It includes a few simple refinements to the Fate Core engine honed over a decade of active play and development. And best of all, it's 100% compatible with every one of our 90+ Fate products already published.Fate veterans will appreciate the concise layout, minor refinements, and additions to Fate’s rules (see below for the details). New to Fate? Fate Condensed can drive any game, any scenario you can imagine. Unleash your creativity! Fate's flexible rules make it easy. You can adapt your favorite movie or tv series, or create an original world uniquely tailored to your group. Players populate that world with proactive, capable characters leading dramatic lives. The Game Master challenges them with crises tied both to the world and to their personal troubles. Fate Condensed gives you the flexibility and power to bring your vision to life!Refined. Streamlined. Fate Condensed.

    But losing something makes you feel worse than getting the same thing makes you feel good. So finding $10 is a thrill; losing $10 is a tragedy. On an "intensity of feeling" scale, loss is more intense than gain. This is the core psychological concept of loss aversion, and in this book game creator Geoffrey Engelstein explains, with examples from both tabletop and video games, how it can be a tool in game design. Loss aversion is a profound aspect of human psychology, and directly relevant to game design; it is a tool the game designer can use to elicit particular emotions in players. Engelstein connects the psychology of loss aversion to a range of phenomena related to games, exploring, for example, the endowment effect--why, when an object is ours, it gains value over an equivalent object that is not ours--as seen in the Weighted Companion Cube in the game Portal; the framing of gains and losses to manipulate player emotions; Deal or No Deal's use of the utility theory; and regret and competence as motivations, seen in the context of legacy games. Finally, Engelstein examines the approach to Loss Aversion in three games by Uwe Rosenberg, charting the designer's increasing mastery.

    D&D is now popularly considered to be the first role-playing game. But in the original rules, the term "role-playing" is nowhere to be found; D&D was marketed as a wargame. In The Elusive Shift, Jon Peterson describes how players and scholars in the D&D community began to apply the term to D&D and similar games--and by doing so, established a new genre of games.Peterson examines key essays by D&D early adopters, rescuing from obscurity many first published in now-defunct fanzines. He traces the evolution of D&D theorizing, as writers attempted to frame problems, define terms, and engage with prior literature. He describes the two cultures of wargames and science fiction fandom that provided D&D's first players; examines the dialogue at the core of the game; explains how game design began to accommodate role-playing; and considers the purpose of the referee or gamesmaster. By 1977, game scholars and critics began to theorize more systematically, and Peterson explores their discussions of the transformative nature of role-playing games, their responsibility to a mass audience, and other topics. Peterson finds that the foundational concepts defined in the 1970s helped theorize role-playing, laying the foundation for the genre's shift into maturity in the 1980s.

    The town's newest heroes must venture into the ruins around the lighthouse—and delve the dungeon levels far beneath it—to discover the evil the Gauntlight heralds. Hideous monsters, deadly traps, and mysterious ghosts all await the heroes who dare to enter the sprawling megadungeon called the Abomination Vaults!"Ruins of Gauntlight" is a Pathfinder adventure for four 1st-level characters. This adventure begins the Abomination Vaults Adventure Path, a three-part, monthly campaign in which the heroes explore a sprawling megadungeon to stop an ancient evil from renewing her monstrous vengeance. This adventure also includes an extensive gazetteer of the town of Otari, the heroes' home base, as well as new monsters, new rules, and new artifacts—including the dread Gauntlight itself!

    As our popular understanding of "gamer" shifts beyond its historical construction as a white, straight, adolescent, cisgender male, the troubles that emerge both confirm and challenge our understanding of identity politics. In Gamer Trouble, Amanda Phillips excavates the turbulent relationships between surface and depth in contemporary gaming culture, taking readers under the hood of the mechanisms of video games in order to understand the ways that difference gets baked into its technological, ludic, ideological, and social systems.By centering the insights of queer and women of color feminisms in readings of online harassment campaigns, industry animation practices, and popular video games like Portal and Mass Effect, Phillips adds essential analytical tools to our conversations about video games. She embraces the trouble that attends disciplinary crossroads, linking the violent hate speech of trolls and the representational practices marginalizing people of color, women, and queers in entertainment media to the dehumanizing logic undergirding computation and the optimization strategies of gameplay. From the microcosmic level of electricity and flicks of a thumb to the grand stages of identity politics and global capitalism, wherever gamers find themselves, gamer trouble follows. As reinvigorated forms of racism, sexism, and homophobia thrive in games and gaming communities, Phillips follows the lead of those who have been making good trouble all along, agitating for a better world.

    The plays are bigger, the hits are harder, and every game will be filled with moments to remember.No two matchups are the same. From the moment your team stomps out on the gridiron, your grit, wits, and capacity for grievous violence is put to the test. The action’s fast and furious, but if you keep your head in the game you just might best your opponent and score the most points – or make sure they can’t get back up to stop you. Fame, wealth, and glory await if you win…Every coach, whether fresh-faced and green or hoary old pros, needs a copy of this essential update.This 136-page hardback book is absolutely stuffed with everything a budding coach needs to know about Blood Bowl.- The History of Blood Bowl: from the ancient origins of the game, surrounded in myth and legend, to the evolution of the modern sport. The story of Blood Bowl is as wild as the fanatics who love it.- Rules and Regulations: streamlined and updated for the Second Season Edition. Everything is explored in detail, from the basics, to recruiting a team, through to the actions your players can take, and the aftermath of the game.- League vs Exhibition Games: Blood Bowl can be played as one-off matches, and long-running leagues with loads of coaches competing for the top prize. Learn all about both.- Blood Bowl Teams: Updated rules including new Region and Team Special Rules, a tiered ranking system, and rosters for all 21 current teams.- Star Players: Every named Star Player now has their own Special Rule. Find current profiles for 23

    Containing detailed information on all 780 games released for the SNES in the west, this enormous book is full of screenshots, trivia and charmingly bad jokes. It also includes a bonus section covering the entire 22-game library of the Virtual Boy, Nintendo's ill-fated 3D system which was released at the end of the SNES's life.

    1 (A-L), covers the first half of the NES library in exhaustive and engaging detail. More than 350 games are featured, including such iconic titles asCastlevania, Donkey Kong, Double Dragon, Duck Hunt, Final Fantasy, and The Legend of Zelda. Each game, whether obscure or mainstream, is given the spotlight. In addition to thorough gameplay descriptions, the book includes reviews, memories, historical data, quotes from vintage magazines, and, best of all, nostalgic stories about many of the games from programmers, authors, YouTube celebs, and other industry insiders. The book also features more than 2,000 full-color images, including box art, screenshots, and vintage ads.

    It's a game for a GM and one or two players, and emulates tragic horror movies like Oculus, The Strangers, The Babadook, Inside and the Netflix version of The Haunting of Hill House. If a piece of fiction can make you cry and scream, then it's a great model for the sort of stories that you can tell with QUIETUS.

    In the distant past, a cabal of city elders sought to save their lives by making a pact with a demon prince… and now the Red King has come to collect what he is owed, claiming Frostgrave as his own. Many have already fled before the Red King's demonic hordes, while others seek to weather the storm, turning their bases into make makeshift fortresses. The wizards of Frostgrave must choose--do they stand and fight, or do they abandon this great repository of mystical knowledge to the ravages of unearthly fire?The Red King is the first supplement designed for Frostgrave: Second Edition. In this sprawling, epic campaign, wizards will be pushed to their limits, fighting not only against one another and the perils of the Frozen City, but also against an invading army. As the Red King's power grows, the laws of magic and nature will start to bend. Can the wizards put aside their differences long enough to oppose this common foe, or will greed and mistrust doom them all?

    No forgiveness. No respite. There is only war.The galaxy writhes in the mailed fist of all-consuming conflict. The Imperium of Mankind teeters on the brink of annihilation, beset upon all sides by heretic warlords, daemon-summoning witches and rapacious alien empires. In every star system and upon every planet, fierce battle rages as loyalists, heretics and aliens tear reality itself apart in their war for dominance. Every day the flames rise higher.This is a more terrible era than ever before, and there is no peace amongst the stars...The BookA 368-page hardback, this is the essential book for any fan of Warhammer 40,000 – everything you need to know to collect, build, paint and play with Citadel miniatures.It starts with an overview of the Warhammer 40,000 hobby, covering the four areas of Collect, Built, Paint and Play, including descriptions of open, matched, and narrative play.Dark ImperiumIn the first of the book’s huge lore sections, you can read all about the state of the galaxy after the Cicatrix Maledictum – the Great Rift – tore open across the galaxy, dividing the Imperium in two. Humanity faces its greatest challenge in more than ten millennia as the forces of Chaos run rampant across the reeling Imperium even as alien warlords seek to take advantage of the untold devastation wrought upon the Emperor’s realm.A gatefold also includes an ornate depiction of the planets and the Sol System, as well as a map of the entire galaxy, calling out key war zones so you can see where the action hot spots are currently situated. Dark Imperium continues by covering in brief the Imperium's military wings, its bureaucratic institutions and even its other, more clandestine organisations…As you read on, you'll learn more about the constant flux of the Imperium's borders and gain insight into the Imperial Creed's attitude towards abhumans, psykers and, worst of all, mutants and heretics!Lastly, Dark Imperium provides a brief overview of the four Dark Gods of Chaos – including their immortal daemonic legions, sycophantic followers and dread mortal champions – as an ever-present threat to the Imperium.The Saga ImperialisUpon delving into the next part of the lore, you'll enjoy a high-level overview of the history of Mankind, from its very beginnings, through the early Ages of Terra and Technology, the Ages of Strife and Darkness, all the way up to the Age of the Imperium in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy. It continues to reveal the events of the Age of the Dark Imperium and the Gathering Storm in the time before the Great Rift tore open – and the Age of Witches that followed during the Psychic Awakening. Finally, it lays the foundations of the Indomitus Crusade, following the reborn Primarch Roboute Guilliman's visitation with his father, the Emperor, on Holy Terra.As you continue, you’ll glean insights into the Imperium's stance against the Alien – covering the Orks, the T'au Empire, the Aeldari, the Necrons and the extragalactic Tyranids – the Daemon and the Heretic.Bringing this section to a close are four short pieces of fiction, which bring the grim reality of the Era Indomitus to life in incredible detail.The Warriors of the Emperor, The Lost and The Damned and Xenos InvadersThese sections cover every faction in Warhammer 40,000 and will offer you an in-depth understanding of each one, the threat they pose and their place in the galaxy. There is also a stunning miniatures showcase for each faction, depicting them as they would appear in battle and with narrative descriptions.The RulesThe first section of the core rules covers the basic rules of the game, and takes you through the rules that apply to the seven phases of the game: the Command phase, Movement phase, Psychic phase, Shooting phase, Charge phase, Combat phase and Morale phase.Additional rules also cover:- Playing missions and the process of building an army in readiness, using either Power Rating or points values- Battle-forged and Unbound armies, as well Command points that Battle-forged Armies can utilise- Battlefield Roles and 11 types of Detachment that can be included in your armies- Seven Core Stratagems that are universal and available to every army in Warhammer 40,000- Strategic Reserves – the option to hold back units during deployment and even send them to outflank the enemy line- Actions – such as planting explosives, hacking into a databank, or performing a ritual – and how they can be performed (and in some cases, prevented)- Rules for terrain features, such as Hills, Obstacles, Area Terrain and Buildings, including traits the terrain might have and its impact on the battlefield- Hints and tips for setting up a suitable battlefield, in terms of density and type of terrain, type of terrain, and ensuring that neither side of the battlefield is preferential to the otherOpen PlayLet your imagination run wild, as open play caters for reenacting every kind of narrative storyline or tactical challenge you can think of, without restrictions. This section centres around the Open Hostility Mission Pack – a 12-step guide to setting up and playing an open play game through to a conclusion and determining a victor. Includes the following:- Guidance on mustering armies, determining missions, creating the battlefield and a host of other key points to playing a game- Three bespoke open play missionsMatched PlayDesigned to put both players on an equal footing, matched play offers both players an even chance of victory, leaving it to your own mastery of army selection and tactics to earn you the advantage in battle. This section features an Eternal War Mission Pack – a 16-step guide to setting up and playing a matched play game through to a conclusion and determining a victor. Includes the following:- Guidance on selecting battle size, mustering armies, determining missions, creating the battlefield, selecting Secondary Objectives and a host of other key points to playing a game- 18 bespoke matched play missions, each specifically designed around the size of the game being played: three for Combat Patrol, six for Incursion, six for Strike Force, three for Onslaught- Secondary Objectives, featuring a list of 17 different Secondary Objectives that players can choose from, split over five separate categoriesNarrative PlayCrusade is a new way to play games of Warhammer 40,000. It allows you to take a collection of miniatures and, taking them on a Crusade, level up your units over any number of games, against any number of opponents, forging your own narrative for your miniatures collection as they engage with their enemies on the battlefields of the 41st Millenium. Over your Crusade games, will you be able to grow your army, gain experience and skills, and modify your weaponry. Though you may start off with a small band of inexperienced warriors, you can create an elite fighting force that is renowned and feared across the galaxy!Includes the following:- How to gather a Crusade force, and how it gains experience and levels up over its series of games- A balancing mechanic to allow for any two Crusade forces, from the greenest band of soldiers to the most legendary squad of battle brothers to be able to play an evenly matched game of Warhammer 40,000- Blank, photocopiable Crusade Cards and Order of Battle sheet for keeping track of your forces.- Four tables of Battle Honours – Battle Traits, Weapon Enhancements, Psychic Fortitudes and Crusade Relics – each offering different in-game bonuses and effects that the unit has earned through numerous hard-fought battles- A Battle Scars table for those units who fail to emerge from their battles unscathed…- Guidance on setting up and playing a Crusade narrative play game through to a conclusion, determining a victor, and updating your Crusade Cards and Order of Battle- A list of 17 different Agendas that players can choose from, split over five separate categories.- 18 bespoke Crusade missions, each specifically designed around the size of the game being played: three for Combat Patrol, six for Incursion, six for Strike Force, three for Onslaught.Rules AppendixA handy reference section that includes the following:- Designer's Commentary from rules designer Robin Cruddace- An alphabetised list of 174 existing weapons that gain the benefit of the Blast special rule- An alphabetised list of 22 existing miniatures/datasheets that gain the Aircraft keyword- A summary synopsis of 14 rarer rules/interactions that don't often arise in games, but are important to keep a note of- A Rules Terms Glossary, which provides precise and exacting definitions of 142 separate rules terms to aid in resolving more complex rules interactions

    

    

    A system-agnostic RPG Zine containing herein all the secrets - sinister and sundry - of a doomed fantasy city at the end of the world.

    For use with Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition.

    There is speculation that the American Psychiatric Association will also add a video game disorder in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-6). There are strengths and weaknesses in the claim of a video game disorder. However, there are unique cultural factors found in the video game subculture that rebuke the concept of labeling players with a disorder. Video games are no longer the pastime of greasy faced nerds. Video games are made available to toddlers to the elderly, 24/7 online, and has a variety of category offering an always different immersive experience. In the 21st century, video games have made it to the main stage of conversations and have become a topic discussed in the news. ESPN now covers esports like traditional sports! The World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association and the DSM, researchers, medical professionals, and news outlets fail to adequately conceptualize the issue of what a gaming disorder means and how the medicalization of video games is going to affect the individuals and their community that is supposedly suffering. The voice and experience of the players are lost. Although there is merit in having a general addiction disorder and criteria for treatment, to single out video gaming as being its own disorder is unjust. The video game subculture is extremely valuable to society, and the contribution of players should be rejoiced instead of chastised. Examining relevant research, psychology, and news articles an argument is made that video game addiction is needless medicalization hazardous to the video game culture and players. (Excerpts are taken from the book and used in the description)

    Necronautilus is a tabletop roleplaying game about the subjectivity of language, memory and reality set in a stoner metal-inspired science fantasy universe.Channel powerful Words & Memories to enact your will on the galaxy. Carry out missions on behalf of the blind god Death. Discover new planets. Destroy menacing threats. Determine who you really are.For 1-4 players and a game master. Designed for single play sessions or longer campaigns.

    

    Cursed voices borne on the icy winds whisper of secrets from ages past that would plunge realms and kin into ruin if someone could understand these ancient words. They are the desperate confessions of the lost. They are the legends of the Bitter Reach.Deep beneath its frozen surface, creatures told of only in the oldest of legends dwell. They guard treasures that can giver their owner power beyond their wildest dreams, treasures that could lay waste to the Bitter Reach if they were found.And the treasures will be found, sooner or later, so why shouldn't they be yours to claim?The Bitter Reach is an epic campaign module for the Forbidden Lands roleplaying game, describing the icy wastelands north of Ravenland. Contents:* Two new magic disciplines: Elemental Magic and Ice Affinity* The new Champion profession, along with new professional talents* Expanded travel rules for snow, cold, and fuel, including no less than 40 new encounters* Eight new monsters, including the Frost Dragon and the Ice Giant* The Wake of the Winter King campaign, including eight key players who all seek to dominate the riches hidden under the Bitter Reach* Ten complete, illustrated, adventure sites, playable in almost any order* An epic campaign finale, giving the adventurers the chance to decide the future of the Bitter Reach

    We truly are spoiled for choice when it comes to picking something to play, and that dizzying degree of choice is growing by the day. Even so, there are a great many video games which have sadly never seen the light of day for a variety of reasons – and many of these have incredible mysteries and gripping tales attached to them, both unsolved and untold. The Games That Weren't aims to lift the lid on these stories and give these unknown titles a chance to shine – even if we weren't able to actually play them as their developers intended.Giving an illustrated snapshot of a wide range of unreleased games between the years of 1975 and 2015 and covering systems from the Atari 2600 right up to the Sony PlayStation 4, The Games That Weren't is the biggest book Bitmap Books has ever created and includes titles across a variety of arcade, home computer, console, handheld and mobile platforms. Years in the making, it's packed to bursting point with exclusive content, in-depth interviews and much more besides.Many of these lost classics are expanded upon in exceptional detail, with those involved with their design and development sharing their untold stories and recollections – as well as shedding some light on intriguing mysteries along the way. Assets and screenshots – some of which have never been seen until now – help illustrate the narratives, and in the case of games for which no images exist, there are specially-created artist's impressions which give a tantalising visual interpretation of what could have been.Covering more than 80 games – including Star Fox 2, Green Lantern and SimMars – across a 40-year span and packed with content such as five specially-created 'Hardware That Wasn't' blueprint pieces and interviews with industry legends such as David Crane, Jeff Minter, Matthew Smith, Dan Malone, Eugene Jarvis, Dylan Cuthbert, Andrew and Philip Oliver, Geoff Crammond, Scott Adams, Jon Hare and many more, The Games That Weren't showcases and pays tribute to well-known and not so well-known unreleased titles, as well as games you might never have heard of – until now. As if that wasn't enough, the book has been produced to the traditional high standard Bitmap Books readers have come to expect, with eye-catching fluorescent colours and high-quality binding on superb paper stock, and comes with a free digital copy so you can take it with you everywhere.While the games industry has much to celebrate, there's something uniquely captivating in looking at titles that never made it to the finish line – and The Games That Weren't will hopefully keep the memory of these failed masterpieces alive.Book specifications:644 pages, 170mm x 210mm. Lithographic print. Hardback. Sewn binding. Coloured bookmark ribbon. Special fluorescent ink throughout. Shrink wrapped.Detailed features cover games such as:Sebring (Arcade), The Last Ninja (Atari 800/130XE, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, Tandy Colour Computer 3 and ZX Spectrum 48K), Solar Jetman (Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Commodore Amiga 500 and ZX Spectrum 128K), Chips Challenge (Nintendo Entertainment System), Green Lantern (Atari ST, Commodore Amiga, SEGA Mega Drive and Super Nintendo), Rolling Thunder (Atari Lynx), Virtual Tank (Nintendo Virtual Boy), Deathwatch (Atari Jaguar), Star Fox 2 (Super Nintendo), Ridge Racer (PC), SimMars (Apple Macintosh and PC), Half-Life (Nintendo GameCube and SEGA Dreamcast), Stunt Car Racer Pro (Microsoft Xbox, PC and Sony PlayStation 2), Eye of the Moon (Apple iOS) plus many more...

    

    Death on the Reik carries on from where Enemy in Shadows left off, taking your unlikely heroes on a grand adventure up and down the remarkable Reik, the largest river in the Old World and trade route to the heart of the Empire.Death in the Reik includes:A selection of ‘Grognard Boxes’ that add entirely new ways to play through the adventures, ensuring even those who have played the Enemy Within campaign before will find Death on the Reik new and exciting.A complete guide to ‘River Life of the Empire’, detailing everything required to take your games of WFRP to the dangerous rivers of the Empire.The Enemy Within is the campaign all roleplaying game enthusiasts should play at least once in their lives, making Death on the Reik an essential purchase for all gamers.All orders of this product include a PDF redeemable via Drive Thru RPG. You will receive a link included inside your order confirmation email.

     A kingdom stands on the brink of destruction, as the vast realm called the Shadow Deep slowly swallows everything in its path. As the army fights to contain the tide of evil creatures teeming up out of the black clouds, the kingdom’s best soldiers, the rangers, must venture down into the shadows to gather information, rescue prisoners, and ambush enemy supply lines. It is a desperate fight against overwhelming odds, but every little victory brings another day of hope. Rangers of Shadow Deep is a solo and co-operative tabletop miniatures game, in which players create their ranger, gather companions, and play through a series of missions in their fight to hold back the darkness. If their rangers survive, they will grow in power and ability, and be sent on more difficult, dangerous and intricate assignments.

    Not only was Atari's VCS/2600 system the first piece of gaming equipment to truly dominate the livingroom, it also played host to some of the most iconic titles of all time, including Asteroids, Space Invaders, Pac-Man, Defender, Joust, Pitfall!, River Raid and many, many more.At its height, Atari's name became synonymous with video gaming in the same way that Nintendo's would a few years later, but the company - and the industry - fell just as swiftly thanks to the infamous North American video game crash of 1983. Even when faced with this catastrophic event, Atari soldiered on and, the following year, produced the powerful 7800 console - a machine that could easily have returned the firm to its former glory, had its launch in 1984 gone to plan.This book aims to cover the highs and lows of what was a truly tumultuous period in video game history; an era which laid down the foundations for what has today become one of the world's most popular forms of entertainment.Atari 2600/7800: a visual compendium aims to showcase the very best pixel art, cover art and product design on each system. Spread over 528 pages, it features over 200 classic games, with articles on the leading third-party developers, interviews with key figures in the industry and features on subjects, such as cover art, prototypes and homebrew releases.www.bitmapbooks.co.uk

    Why? What’s the significance of the cargo or the destination? Nobody knows—but don’t get in its way!Like a hermit crab seeking out empty shells, the kalyptein crab makes its home in ancient devices. It often gains unexpected and powerful abilities from its dwelling, making it an unpredictable foe.The silvery liquid namnesis communicates by swapping memories—literally stealing those of its target while implanting its own startling thoughts. It changes form rapidly, even splitting into multiple attackers, and can sometimes steal a character’s abilities to use against them. . . .Add an element of the truly unexpected to your Fifth Edition game with this fantastic assortment of science-fantasy creatures born in the Ninth World—the award-winning, critically acclaimed setting created by legendary game designer Monte Cook.Beasts of Flesh and Steel contains:140 fascinating, dangerous new monsters that bring a science-fantasy element to your encounters. Beware the carnivorous color, a predator unlike anything from our dimension; the awakened ruin that breaks from its original location to prowl the landscape; and the shadowy clicker, which hunts any creature that makes sound.CRs ranging from 1 to 25—so you always have loads of challenges for parties at every level.Stunning artwork that shows off each of these weird and wondrous creatures, and a convenient layout that makes this book uniquely easy to use in prep and at the game table.A complete bestiary with everything you need to bring these monsters to your game table. These creatures complement Arcana of the Ancients, but you don’t need that book to use this one. Add these creatures to any 5e game!

    Based on the easy-to-learn Cue System, MechWarrior: Destiny is a narrative-focused role-playing experience that has all you need to grab some equipment, load your sidearm, and strap into a ’Mech, aerospace fighter, or tank to fight for what you believe in, be it honor, glory, or even the almighty C-Bill. Loads of characters, ’Mechs, and other military hardware make it easy to start trading fire on 31st-century battlefields in no time. MechWarrior: Destiny also includes rules for incorporating play in BattleTech’s Total Warfare and Alpha Strike games.

    Your duties may take you to the edges of known space, to Klingon colonies in need, to the borders of neighboring galactic powers, or into the eye of interstellar phenomena. Your warship and crew represent the best-trained and most honorable of Klingon warriors, and your cunning and abilities are needed now more than ever.A new threat looms from across the Gamma Quadrant, representing a worthy opponent for the worlds of the Alpha and Beta Quadrants. Tensions are high and it remains to be seen how the Klingon Empire will get involved. It is a volatile time for the Empire as her brave warriors and bold crews ready for battle against whatever foes present themselves.This collector's edition of the 390 page full color hardback Star Trek Adventures core rulebook is bound in a beautiful leatherette cover, stamped with the Klingon Empire insignia, and contains:Guidance on how to create your own Klingon-focused Star Trek stories of honor and glory on the final frontier.A complete and updated version of the Star Trek Adventures 2d20 game system.An extensive study of the Klingon Empire, including its history, culture, worlds, society, warships, technology, and more.Guidelines for novice and experienced gamemasters on how to run Star Trek-themed adventures and campaigns of conquest and exploration for the daring crew of a Klingon warship.A large selection of Klingon NPCs from all eras of play, as well as many antagonists, including Federation, Cardassian, Romulan, Borg, and Dominion characters and vessels.An introductory adventure designed to quickly get you and your fellow players playing brave Klingon warriors.Historical excerpts, personal logs, and intercepted communications, providing a new perspective on Star Trek lore and events.Brought to you by an expert Star Trek development team, including award-winning Star Trek novelists, editors, and game designers.Please note this is a pre-order currently expected to ship in Autumn/Fall, you will receive a FREE PDF preview of the title immediately upon completion of order, Qplah'! Please note this is a PDF preview of the full title and will be updated with further details before its final release alongside the print book. You will automatically receive updates via email as they are added.

    Players assume the roles of eccentric heroes who solve mysteries, avenge misdeeds, uphold justice, and demonstrate profound mastery of the martial arts. Character creation is designed to produce fleshed-out, potent individuals who can follow several paths, including those of the physician, beggar, assassin, thief, soldier, bandit, and more. These characters inhabit a unique martial world, or jianghu, set in a romanticized ancient China. The towns, temples, and taverns the characters can visit, and the sects and factions with whom they interact will bring their own character to the game and provide a host of opportunities--and threats. The game is based on a simple ten-sided dice pool mechanic, loosely modeled on the one found in Wandering Heroes of Ogre Gate, and play is designed to be gritty, suspenseful, and fast, so the focus remains on solving mysteries and roleplaying your character. When combat does arise, it is consequential and swift, and often resolved in a single role of the dice. This rulebook includes a sample martial world and a starting adventure, as well as guidelines for games masters looking to run wuxia games and create their own unique martial worlds, rife with warriors, sects, and mysterious locations.

    After a few life cycles, players are looking closer, thinking deeper, and asking for more substance. Challenge becomes a word often heard at the table, and the GM feels a pressure that isn’t easy to satisfy. It’s time, then, to cook with fire. It’s time to go to HARDCORE MODE.This D&D fifth edition rules mod from RUNEHAMMER and DRUNKENS & DRAGONS will push your game to the limits of simple, fast, deadly play. Keep your core books, and mind your feet. It's dangerous to go alone. Now also available in a super slim, backpack friendly hardback for your tabletop! The hardback also includes CASTLE OF MIRRORS.

    In their new world, they built a lavish manor for themselves, the fabulous Castle Amber. For a time, the Ambers flourished, their magical and military might having little equal. Then, however, jealousy and murder struck the heart of the family and the Curse of Stephen Amber descended upon the castle like a fell and heavy hand. Now, the Ambers dwell beyond space and time, imprisoned with their monstrously transformed servants and suffering under the family’s dead patriarch’s death-sent doom.It is into this mad manor that the party awakens, plucked from their home world and imprisoned in the heart of Castle Amber. To escape, the heroes must negotiate a path through the insane Amber family home, overcoming the clan’s machinations, dangerous servants, cunning traps, and bizarre phenomena. Only by finding a way to break the Curse of Stephen Amber will the party be able to return home. Failure means a lifetime of imprisonment in Castle Amber, a place where lifetimes can be very short indeed…This adventure is an homage to the original module X2: Castle Amber, written by beloved game designer Tom Moldvay in 1981 and partially inspired by the writings of acclaimed weird fiction author Clark Ashton Smith. Herein you will find high-quality scans of the original first edition adventure module, plus commentary by renowned contemporary game designers and writers. A full fifth edition conversion of the original adventure is included, as well as brand new additional adventure encounters and an expanded Castle Amber. This is the perfect old-school “funhouse dungeon” given new life for the fifth edition era. Won’t you please come in?

    

    A truly monumental book on the subject.THE NES/FAMICOM STORY: THE 8-BIT REVOLUTIONTelling the full story of the NES/Famicom without repeating what has already been said in the past is no easy feat. And yet we made this our goal, while still covering as many of the details, dates, facts, and anecdotes as possible surrounding this machine that shaped a whole generation.A machine that no one really believed in to begin with (even its own designer!) but which ended up conquering the world and making Nintendo leader of the fast-changing video games industry. How many nostalgic gamers and collectors still consider themselves part of the NES/Famicom cult, 30 years on from its launch? And what about its staggering and unprecedented sales figures? Almost 62 million consoles sold around the world! Sure, quantity doesn't mean quality, but the NES/Famicom managed both, with a plethora of iconic and unforgettable games. They are what made a legend of the machine, a legend we'll share with you across one hundred pages.

    

    Each turn, a player adds to the city either a Neighborhood, a Landmark, or a Resident, nesting cards inside of each other to showcase and spotlight the relationship between the city's inhabitants, and the places where they live. These cards are then complicated by Events that take place in the city: festivals, elections, ceremonies, natural disasters, mysteries, or discoveries that change the flow and focus of play. As you play cards, you unearth the city's true names — quirks and qualities that make this place wholly, intrinsically unique.

    © Games Workshop 2020

    Anyone under forty-five grew up with video games as a natural part of their lives, but older generations have had minimal exposure to gaming. Without firsthand experience, it can be difficult to understand why the industry is booming and why your children and grandchildren love esports so much.Demystifying Esports bridges the generation gap by exploring the history of competitive gaming, the growth of the industry, and its explosion as a global phenomenon. Dr. Baro Hyun relies on his extensive knowledge of esports' history in South Korea to shed light on the growth and risks of this booming field.

    . .In the misty recesses of time, before the kingdoms and lands you know—before the elder elves, the dwarven ancestral lords, and even the dragons—civilizations undreamt of rose and fell. They built citadels of metal, glass, and light. They crafted wonders and harnessed energies we can only guess at. The remnants of their incredible creations now lay hidden away in the deepest recesses of the world. Those few learned folk who even know about them have a name for these places, objects, and even creatures. They call them the . . .ARCANA OF THE ANCIENTSSince the very early days of tabletop RPGs, gamers have experimented with mixing a bit of science fiction into their fantasy. From Empire of the Petal Throne to Expedition to the Barrier Peaks, early adventurers into the realm of RPGs saw the amazing promise that mysterious and weird science-fantasy elements could add to their fantasy campaigns.Nowadays, who knows science-fantasy better than Monte Cook Games?Arcana of the Ancients brings the wonders of mysterious technology and weird science-fantasy elements to your fantasy campaigns. Designed by fantasy masters Monte Cook, Bruce R. Cordell, and Sean K. Reynolds, this gorgeously illustrated sourcebook gives you everything you need to add a whole new element to your Fifth Edition game.Arcana of the Ancients includes:Hundreds of cyphers, artifacts, and other items that incorporate science-fantasy technology.Over 50 science-fantasy creatures, each with awe-inspiring artwork and complete 5e stat blocks.Pages of GM advice and guidelines for adding science fantasy concepts to any existing fantasy campaign—or building a brand new science fantasy campaign from the ground up.The Hills of Crooked Sleep, a hefty adventure you can insert into your campaign right now to introduce ancient civilizations, weird technology, and new strange creatures. Plus additional full-length adventures!An introduction by Jim Davis and Jonathan Pruitt of Web DM.

    Behind its imposing walls, troubled souls are given succour, and a lucky few find respite.Not so for one of its denizens, however, who is tireless in her mission to compile a record to outlive the world — her Archives of the Empire.The End Times are coming, and her quill is ceaseless in a frantic race against time. Her letters find their way to every corner of the Empire. Each missive begs its recipient to reply with thoughts on some specific matter. She claims to be Princess Isabella von Holswig-Schleistein, sister to Emperor Karl-Franz I. Stranger still, some who reply seem to share in this delusion. Welcome to Archives of the Empire: Volume I. A fascinating and diverse collection of articles on topics that cover the length and breath of the Old World. The first volume focuses on the other species, Dwarfs, Elves and Halflings, whose presence enriches (or enrages) the world of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay. Volume I details new locations, careers, and NPCs perfect for inclusion in your next WFRP adventure.Archives of the Empire includes:Karak Azgaraz: An exploration of a Dwarf Hold that, though it has seen better days, still holds strong in mountains that loom beyond Ubersreik, at the very edge of the EmpireImperial Dwarfs: While they think of the Karak’s as their true home, many a dwarf has never set foot on ancestral lands, instead living at the very heart of the EmpireHalfling Clans: From Skelfsiders to Thorncobbles, Rumsters to Lowhavens, learn about the Empire’s Halfling very extended clans and multiple familiesA Guide to the Mootland: Join the simple folk of the Mootland for a Grand Tour of their fertile province, its farms and villages, rivers and forests. Now, make sure to smear yourself with this or the Bramblebeaters will get you…The Laurelorn: Delves into their politics, culture, and the threats that haunt this ancient colony of Elves, nestled between Nordland and the Wasteland, which survived to the modern day. Archives of the Empire is an excellent and entertaining addition to any gaming table. Packed with lore, NPCs, and exciting adventure hooks, this collection will kickstart your next adventure in Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay!

    Yet when the Mortal Realms were formed and Sigmar travelled the fantastical new lands, he discovered that, like himself, some of his former allies had not only survived, but had been reborn anew as divine beings. Two among them were the twin aelven gods, Tyrion and Teclis.After working with Malerion to entrap Slaanesh in the Hidden Gloaming, Tyrion and Teclis began to siphon the souls of their former kin who had been swallowed by the Dark Prince during the destruction of the Old World. Of all the spirits drawn forth from the slumbering Chaos God, the most stable and pure became known as the Lumineth. They settled within Hysh, the Realm of Light, a paradisal land of geometric perfection. There, the Lumineth grew both wise and powerful from the teachings of the twin gods.

    Packed with additional rules, optional NPCs, tantalising adventure hooks, and wise words of advice for new and veteran GMs alike, it is the perfect addition to enhance your experience of the Enemy Within, or any other WFRP adventure.Enemy in Shadows Companion includes:Exclusive insight and commentary from Warhammer Legends Graeme Davis and Phil Gallagher.The Empire: a look at the foremost power of the Old World, its politics and influence.Travel in the Empire: road travel, mounts, vehicles, and the hardy Road Wardens who struggle to keep the byways of the Empire open.A plethora of new NPCs to aid, hunt, frustrate, and scoff at your players.The Purple Hand: An in-depth look at that most insidious of cults, including a full new Career, The Cult Magus of Tzeentch.25 new Chaos spells for the mad, the desperate, and those unafraid to wield true power.Three classic encounters, including the beastly Pandemonium Carnival and its terrible menagerie of monsters, not all of whom are caged.The classic adventure The Affair of the Hidden Jewel, a dramatic tale of heroics and intrigue with fully updated rules.The Enemy in Shadows Companion is the perfect addition to any group playing through the Enemy Within or any other campaign in the Empire.

    . .Here, everything lives. Not just the dense forests and lush grasslands, teeming with creatures fabulous and humble. Not just the very earth, rocks, seas, and air. But even the clothes, the weapons, the cyphers you find here. It all breathes, grows, consumes, heals, and, well, lives.Massive flying creatures drift through the skies. Cities crawl, float, or fly across the landscape. Magnificent towers and superstructures soar upward, some so tall they touch the void itself. And beneath your feet, strange organs and vacuoles permeate the earth, sending bony ramparts thrusting up through the surface to form great mountainous ranges. It’s a land unknown to most in the Steadfast, never touched by the influence of the Order of Truth, never ruled by those who know our civilizations. A land of secrets, said to lie beyond the farthest seas . . . but perhaps its real location is the greatest secret of all.

    Includes tables for weather, foraging, navigation, food and water needs, ship speeds, and more.Dry-erase hex map of 100 blank hexes, numbered for easy reference. A dry erase Journey Tracker is also included for tracking progress, encounters, supplies, and more.Laminated Actions in Combat sheet for new players to reference and keep up with key D&D rules with handy reference sheets for Wilderness Rules and Chases.Illustrated punch-out cards of all 14 conditions, 9 cards to help track initiative, and 4 cards featuring the rules for exhaustion and extreme weather conditions.Contents: A wilderness adventure DM Screen, dry erase hex map, journey tracker, 3 reference sheets, condition and initiative cards, and a card storage boxThis kit includes a DM screen specially designed for running D&D adventures in wilderness, a dry-erase hex map (with 100 numbered hexes), a dry-erase journey tracker, 3 perforated sheets with punch-out cards for tracking initiative and referencing conditions, a card storage box, two laminated reference sheets for Actions in Combat and Wilderness Chases, and 1 Wilderness Rules sheet.

    Some who study the numenera call it a network built by the ancients to surround the world with their knowledge. Some Aeon Priests say it is in fact many such networks that sometimes, but not always, intersect.And then there are those who have explored it. They tell stories of a vast metaspace that one can actually enter, to emerge in wholly other places—and along the way discover treasures and dangers unique to a bizarre realm unconstrained by the laws of nature.Some of these sages and adventurers believe its exploration offers the greatest key to unlocking the secrets of the prior worlds. Are they right? Only one thing is certain: the datasphere offers amazing knowledge to be learned, rich treasures to be discovered, and all-new challenges to be overcome.

    No one knew where a story was going, and what “heroic” meant changed constantly. That’s why it was the first role-playing game to hand you and a few friends a creative studio, rather than a constructed genre package.This book presents an exploration of those first-generation texts as envisioned and redesigned by Ron Edwards, long-time Champions player, co-founder of the Forge, publisher at Adept Press, and author of diverse role-playing games. It contains all of the rules you need to create and play any hero and villain you can think of, procedures for the Now so your play-experience is a cutting edge rather than a railroad; and a nonstandard, in-depth examination of superhero comics informed by professionals and insiders.Like the original game, this one isn’t a setting or a quantitative breakdown of a genre. It’s for your own superhero comics experience. However you want it! Silly or not silly, cool or not cool, retro or contemporary, appropriate or inappropriate, safe or edgy, relevant or not relevant. Never mind what some franchise pays for, what a fanbase demands, or what the experts pontificate about.This is your studio. Let’s see what you make with it!

    

    

    With its amazing advanced tips and tricks, it will help you become a true master—and clinch Victory Royale in no time!   Anyone can play Fortnite Battle Royale—but only one in 100 can win. If you want to join that elite group, it’s time to step up your game and get the Fortnite Battle Royal Pro Gamer Guide. This in-depth guide contains the secrets, stunts, and strategies you need to gain the expertise it would otherwise take months of play to learn. It covers everything from fighting, building, and hoarding loot to acing the endgame and attaining Victory Royale. Along with profiles of Fortnite masters to emulate, there’s advice on the best skins, dances, pets, and gliders to make sure you look like a pro, as well as play like one. You’ll find all this inside! Killer combat tacticsPro builder tipsThe sickest skins and glidersTop player profilesSafety tipsFortnite funnies, fails, and more!

    But what were those treasures doing before the adventurers came along? How many aeons have passed, in silent darkness, since they were last used?Artefact shifts the focus to the perspective of a single magical item, and its history as it passes through the hands of many different keepers. You’ll feel the weight of time as the item is lost or abandoned again and again, the dust & decay piling around it until it’s found again by someone new.

    Focused on game-able content and being easy to use at the table, It is graphic and art heavy. Structured as a mini hexcrawl, players will have to work together to investigate a mystery to move on from a damp backwater town to bigger, brighter places.The SettingDeep in a vast wood, a town called Willow sits beside the Lake of Tears. The lake is framed by weeping willow trees, their vines pouring into the lake’s dark green shores. Willow is not what one would call an upbeat town. The rains here are relentless and the grey skies loom low like a giant cage. Travelers do not linger here long; one night in the Blue Brew Inn is enough to make most jump on the ferry and move on. But recently the ferries have stopped running as something terrible has taken up residence on the river. Meanwhile, the town folk will not talk about the noises echoing up from the staircase that descends below the lake, nor the broken stone circle on the hill at the edge of town. The town's leader, a witch named Morose Morgan, is a recluse and refuses to leave her island.

    These legendary cards harken back to Magic’s early history, having been introduced in one of the first sets of Magic cards (1994’s Legends) and in yearly expansions all the way through spring 2020’s most recent set.Magic: The Gathering: Legends showcases high-quality reproductions of the most iconic card art from across the game's history—in many instances for the first time outside of the card frame—along with accompanying creature and character histories written by Jay Annelli. This collection also offers exclusive insight into the art and mythology behind some of Magic: The Gathering’s most powerful, popular, and enduring legends and legendary creatures.

    Maybe it happened when we broke into the warehouse down at Sätuna, when Olof found that strange backpack. Strange that I didn’t realize it then – when Olof slipped his hand into the big glove and the Thing under the tarp came to life. Or did it happen even earlier, when we ran away from home before lunch? Summer days are so full of events, it’s hard to remember how they all fit together.Simon Stålenhag is the internationally lauded artist and author of Tales From the Loop and Things From the Flood, narrative art books that stunned the world with a vision of an alternate Scandinavia in the 1980s and ‘90s where technology has invaded the tranquil landscapes to form an entirely new universe of the eerie and the nostalgic.Now, you can step into the amazing world of the Loop. In this tabletop roleplaying game based on Simon Stålenhag’s books, you’ll play teenagers solving spectacular mysteries connected to the Loop – just make sure you’re home in time for dinner. This Starter Set includes everything you need to begin:An illustrated rulebook explaining how to play the gameA complete Mystery called The Recycled Boy by Nils HintzeFive pre-generated characters ready for you playA large, full-color map of land of the LoopTen engraved custom dice