For 2005…Some of My Wishes…

[SAVeira]

I know that the 2004 schedule is about released. So I thought I would see if my wish list would be given some thought. If they are on for 2004, great. If not, then please consider them for 2005.

A new edition of Aaron Allston’s Stikeforce. It is still consider to be one of the best supplement ever produced and I still make reference it. Needs to be redone in 5th edition, with lots of room for new material. I would buy a hard cover edition, no question.

Scott Bennie’s long awaited campaign book on his Gestalt Universe. I still have the original text files of his Gestalt campaign that circle through the internet.

A campaign book based Scott F. Heine’s Protectors would be nice. I have loved the Protectors characters since first reading To Serve and Protect. Before the old board melt down, Scott was giving an idea of the fun he had in that campaign.

Yet another campaign book, I have been dieing to see for is the George MacDonald’s Guardians. A book on the very first Champions group and all those characters we saw during the first three editions of Champions.


S.A. Veira

[Derek Hiemforth]

While I agree with you that all of those books would be cool to see, we need to realize that they're all alternate universes involving characters that DOJ doesn't (currently) own. Given the hassles that would go along with that, I can't think it's too likely that they'll set aside a big block of their publishing schedule for books that take place outside the current Hero Universe...

[Lord Liaden]

On one of his recent Weekly Update announcement pages, Steve Long mentioned that Scott Bennie's Gestalt definitely WILL be seeing the light of day as a HERO Plus e-book, maybe this year. So at least that wish is coming true.

Aaron Allston has, from all reports, been working on an update and expansion of his Strike Force campaign book for years. Steve said that they might be interested in doing it, although again most likely as an e-book, assuming DoJ and Mr. Allston can come to terms.. Discussions have been very tentative and uncommitted, but at least there's hope.

Unfortunately, in an earlier discussion board on the topic, Steve categorically excluded any possibility of the Guardians and Protectors projects. I for one was really looking forward to Scott Heine's Champions by the Bay, which he says was largely completed, but such is life.

[Monolith]

I'll wait until after Friday to list off the things I would like to see. Who knows. I might get all my wishes in the current schedule.

I would love to see a new Strikeforce book, as well as a Guardians book. I was never a huge fan of the Protectors, but I would not mind seeing a source book for the too. I'm easy. Personally though, I prefer that DOJ stick with the idea of only publishing material which fits within the current Hero Universe structure. I really do not have a great desire to see "alternate" characters. There are too many "official" characters I would like to see information on first.

What I would really like to see with the above material is for the authors to take it, get a license from DOJ, and publish it on their own. Strike Force Universe would probably be a very popular line for Aaron Allston. 95% of the current Hero Games community would buy it. Having more companies producing HERO System material is better for the game then just having DOJ produce everything. It also helps distribute the glut; keeping DOJ from getting bogged down in production details.

[Tclynch]

I figure if you took a poll (Hint, Hint...) Strike Force would be the top book on the majority's list (it's on mine). Any rumor/ work on more San Angelo goodness? (Yes, I know it's Gold Rushes baby again, but I get more info from here...)

[Lord Liaden]

Originally posted by Tclynch
I figure if you took a poll (Hint, Hint...) Strike Force would be the top book on the majority's list (it's on mine). Any rumor/ work on more San Angelo goodness? (Yes, I know it's Gold Rushes baby again, but I get more info from here...)

This little tidbit was posted by Durnin on the "HERO System Discussion" board, under "Opinions on Hero products":

Originally posted by Durnin
I have it on very good authority that The Dragon's Gate is approaching completion. It is an excellent suppliment for the San Angelo: City of Heroes world book, but would also be useful for coloring any Chinatown in any city that has supers.
The majority of the characters are martial artists which would also fit them into a Ninja Hero game as well. In a fantasy setting a little bit of GM adjustment would be required, but it could easily be turned into an oriental village. There are several teachers, apothocaries, and temples that could be used for a monk character's background.

In summary I would highly recommend it

[Monolith]

Originally posted by Tclynch
Any rumor/ work on more San Angelo goodness? (Yes, I know it's Gold Rushes baby again, but I get more info from here...)

One of the posters here (Durnin) is apparently doing some writing for GRG. He made a comment that the published Dragon's Gate would be out shortly, but considering that a new San Angelo is not out yet, I am not going to put to hold my breath.

My guess is that GRG will get San Angelo, Enemies of San Angelo, and possibly Dragon's Gate out this year. The new stuff like PART and Sands of Time will probably have to wait until next year; which is bad for GRG because many of us already have the old stuff and are not going to be in a huge rush to buy slightly updated reprints. I like the world though (I use San Angelo as a fictional city in my CU game) and look forward to seeing it all come out.

[Tclynch]

Yep, it's a shame they ever sold it to CyberGames. I tried to tell Mark.....
Anywho...that's in the past. I'd buy an updated and EXPANDED San Angelo....

[misterdeath]

Well, Dragon's Gate was available as an Ebook for a while (got my copy and everything), so it might be good to put it out as a real book first to try to get back into the groove of things.

Or maybe not.
___

I just hope that GRG goes with some math checkers while they're rewriting things in general. Yeeks. Excellent ideas, wonderful filler, makes a good, living world for campaign use.

But crappy character math.

D

[Steve]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
On one of his recent Weekly Update announcement pages, Steve Long mentioned that Scott Bennie's Gestalt definitely WILL be seeing the light of day as a HERO Plus e-book, maybe this year. So at least that wish is coming true.

So, is there any news on the status of this project? Am I one of the few still hoping for it to see the light of day as a published product?

[BobGreenwade]

First, Dragon's Gate has reportedly shipped from the printer already (just a tad earlier than originally scheduled), and at least one person on the SACoH Mailing List has already begun drooling over his copy. The second edition of the core book is well under way, as is San Angelo's Most Wanted (the new edition of Enemies of San Angelo).

Second, my wish list for 2005 includes more than just Champions books. I'd like to see a setting book for Ninja Hero, one or two regional Champions books, The Interstellar Age, one or two historical settings, some really truly general-purpose Ultimate books (Gadgeteer and Base come to mind as good possibilities), a little extra support for the Terran Empire setting (such as an adventure, or a book detailing one of the non-Terran regions of space), and one or two historical settings (Golden Age for Champions and perhaps a gaslight-era setting would be two good suggestions).

[Steve Long]

We (or at this point I, really) are beginning to mull over the 2005 release schedule. I hate to dash any hopes, but the odds of any major projects involving other campaign settings are extremely slim. They would generally have to be e-books, and since our experiences have shown that e-books sell at extraordinarily pathetic levels, they aren't something we can consider doing at this time... and quite possibly ever.

We'll have a full announcement on the 2005 schedule at DunDraCon, in mid-February.

[Jhamin]

I hate to be the voice of pessimism, but if Hero did put out a new Strike Force supplament, would it really be a huge hit? Would it be big enough to justify pulling a book away from the current Champions Universe? Or is it a dream project for the old guard? The origional came out 20 years ago and is currently much beloved but it is extremely obscure.
If you were gaming Champions when it came out you probably have it.
If you got lucky in the used bin at your FLGS you might have it. Other than that the modern audience will not know what it is. The average modern gamer would probably see an Alliston "Strike Force FREd" book as a foray into supers by the Star Wars novels guy.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it would be great. I really liked the Champions Genre book and I would love some more personalized stuff from Alliston. I'm with Monolith on this one, the current universe has so much potential that it is a crime to waste it. Hero has been doing as well as it has by looking foreward rather than backwards.

Of course if it came out I would be in line to buy it.

[Ron]

I look forward to see the Ultimate Armor in the schedulle. Also, I wouldn't mind to have some additional products to my Fantasy/Ninja Hero campaign.

[Max Callahan]

Originally posted by Steve Long
We (or at this point I, really) are beginning to mull over the 2005 release schedule.
<snip>
We'll have a full announcement on the 2005 schedule at DunDraCon, in mid-February.

Then it must be time to clamor for what we want.
1) Ultimate Weapon (however many volumes it takes) and Ultimate Armor.
2) Ultimate Skill
3) Tuala Morn
(of course that many ultimate books may be more than one years writing, but I can hope)

A book thats never been mentioned but at least my group would like to see is Ultimate DIsadvantage, as we tend to flounder coming up with our last 15 -20 points of disads