Green Ronin Publishing

A recent comment over on our Atomic Think Tank forum about how the Power Profiles for Mutants & Masterminds made the commenter feel like he was part of a "living game" got me thinking about the products we put out, the ways their perceived by all of you, and how our philosophy has changed over the years.

Gamers can't what? Not, not "gamers cannot," gamers' cant, the unique jargon and terminology that develops amongst gamers and gaming groups. You know, the way you know somebody you've just met is a gamer when they slip, laugh, and say "Missed my Dex roll!"

Then there are the specific "dialects" of gamers' cant that develop amongst game groups. Every group I've encountered has their own: in-jokes and references to games, some of them from years ago, which linger in their collective memory. Some have even been passed on to new members of the group, who weren't even around for the original incident, but still "remember" it through the group's lingo. My own gaming group (which has been together in various configurations since college) is no different. Here's a look at some of the more popular bits of gamers' cant in our dialect:

If knowledge is power, then so is the ability to perceive, with senses far beyond those of ordinary people. Sensory Powers delves into enhanced and extraordinary senses, as well as powers to limit the senses of others, and how to handle sensory capabilities in game play. For M&M Third Edition.

Mutants & Masterminds Power Profile: Sensory Powers.

About this time last year I conceived the idea of A Game of Thrones Edition of A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying. We were running low on core rulebooks and also on the Peril at King's Landing adventure. With a new season of the Game of Thrones TV show scheduled to debut in April 2012, I wanted to make sure we had core books ready to sell. I also wanted to get the phrase "Game of Thrones" on the cover, so people not familiar with the novels would make the connection between the show and our game. The solution seemed simple enough. Take the original core book, update it, and append Peril at King's Landing. That'd put a full length adventure right in the rulebook, which would be useful to new GMs. I explained the plan to George and asked if we could call the new rulebook "A Game of Thrones Edition" and he said sure. Simple enough plan, right?

In case you're on the fence about investing in the Power Profiles series for Mutants & Masterminds Third Edition, we've put together a free abridged sample version of the Mental Powers PDF, just for you! See what you could be spending 99 cents on each week, instead of wacky filters for your smart phone's camera. And unlike anything you can get in a drive through for less than a buck, this PDF is guaranteed to be calorie free!

Here's the description of the full version of Mental Powers:

Think all super-powers are physical? Think again... Mental Powers delves into the extraordinary abilities of the mind, from mind-reading and clairvoyance to astral projection and various mental tricks and attacks. Learn how to apply the "mind" descriptor and create powers focused on it and handle everything from possession to mind-switching. The power really is "all in your mind"!

Download the Mental Powers Sample today!

Sure, some may fly through the air, throw energy blasts from their hands or eyes, or play with thoughts like a puppet's strings, but then there are those who are strong. Strength Powers look at the things you can do with sheer muscle power and physical strength far beyond that of any mere mortal. Who needs other powers when you can be the strongest there is? For M&M Third Edition.

Mutants & Masterminds Power Profile: Strength Powers.

Freeport, City of Adventure, is Green Ronin's signature fantasy city, and one with a long history. The company's second-ever release, Death in Freeport, brought the City of Adventure to the attention of gamers back in 2000. From that humble 32-page adventure, Freeport grew to be a storied city featured in many books and home campaigns. This culminated in the Pirate's Guide to Freeport, a systemless sourcebook describing the city in full detail and offering dozens of plots, adventure hooks, and NPCs.

With the success of Dragon Age, the first RPG built around the Adventure Game Engine (AGE), it was only natural to look at using AGE to run Freeport adventures. The meat of the material in this PDF was originally written to explore that idea and published as an article in Kobold Quarterly in 2010. Now that Green Ronin is publishing AGE branded PDFs like the Battle & Loot and AGE Explorations series, it seemed an opportune time to revisit Freeport. You can use the material presented here to run a Freeport game proper or incorporate it into the setting of your own AGE fantasy campaign, perhaps in conjunction with the divine miracles system from AGE Explorations: Gifts of the Gods.

This product provides eleven backgrounds for use with Freeport: nine from the original article and two new ones (Goblin Sneak and Hobgoblin Tough).

Get AGE Explorations: Freeport Backgrounds today!

Element Powers looks at the powers of the elements. Not earth, air, fire, and water, but argon, copper, radium, chlorine, mercury, hydrogen, and more. From taking on an element's power to transmuting the elements at will, the unleashed abilities of the periodic table are yours to command!

Mutants & Masterminds Power Profile: Element Powers.

Coming Soon: The Night's Watch

Happy Friday, folks.

Well, we've got one more episode of this season of Game of Thrones, and it's been a heck of a ride. But don't despair—with HBO wrapping up the current season, and Mr. Martin working steadily on the next book, we here at Green Ronin will help keep your appetite sated for All Things Westerosi.

We've already revealed the cover for our next presentation for the line, Night's Watch. This sourcebook details the history of the Night's Watch and the geography of the Wall, along with rules for creating those brothers who've taken the Black. It also details the wild lands north of the Wall, with a chapter on wildling tribes, cultures and characters. Finally, it includes an appendix that takes a look at the Lords of the Long Night: the Others. In fact, as a bit of an appetite-whetter, we present the Child-Taker, one of the many terrifying legends the hearthwives and storytellers among the wildlings use to frighten their children into behaving...and to warn one another.