Don’t Count Us Out Yet

Rumors of Heroic Journey’s demise are greatly exaggerated.

The good news is that there’s a lot going on with Heroic Journey.   Literally, Mark and I talk every day about the company.  The bad news is that it’s all behind the scenes.

However, I believe in being as transparent as possible, so, here’s what’s going on…

Heroic Journey’s Vision for 2012

Okay, the end of February is a bit late to visioncast for a year, but better late than never?

Mecha

Mecha is most assuredly not dead.  In fact, prior to Gen Con, I’m hoping to have a flurry of activity on this front.

Mecha Core Rerelease

First and foremost, Mecha is getting a facelift and a bit of a reworking (mainly just some edits and such at this point, but the book will also be re-laid out.)  The new cover is sweet and we’ll unveil it soon.

I’m glad for the chance to redo the interior, but I always liked that cover so I’m kinda sorry to see it go.  However, we’re currently working out a deal to get Mecha into distribution and the new cover is seen as one of the book’s selling points.  More on that soon.

Oh, and in future posts, Mecha Core (that is the original MECHA role playing game) will be abbreviated as M0.  (M-Zero…it’s kind of anime-ish, yeah?)

Mecha Combiners

Well, it only took two years, but Mecha Combiners has been written and the editor has beat it into shape.  There’s also a cover for it and some interior art!  There’s only problem…we need more and we’re going to need your help!  Yep, we’re going to do a Kickstarter for Mecha Combiners hopefully within the next month!  I’m just waiting on voice talent and video editing for our Kickstarter video.

I’m really hoping everyone will consider contributing and if not everyone, then everyone who reads this.  Combiners will be a much better book if we can get the art funded and I have some amazing stretch goals if we can make it.

Oh, and in future posts, Mc will be Combiners!  (That’s why Mecha Core is Mo…)

Mecha Mercenaries

Most of my game development efforts on the Mecha line have been on this new book, which is a reformulation of the rules.  It’s kind of funny, but I’ve basically added a bunch of things back into the game that I originally took out.  The result is a book with more crunch without taking it too far from its roots.   Playtests are positive and an early release draft will be available to those who contribute at certain levels to the Kickstarter.

(Hint: This is Mm!)

MechaWest

Not going to say too much about this, but think Old West/Weird West with Mecha.

Mekayana

Can you say Mecha + Bollywood?  This manuscript is so awesome it makes me cry (or as I said on RPG.NET, it makes my eyes bleed.)  Jake Baker, a supremely talented writer and Mecha fan, wrote this bad boy and I can’t wait for you to play it.  It’s going to be available this month on a sort of reverse-Kickstarter idea we’ve got going on.  More on this later.

More Mecha

If that weren’t enough, we have an expansion for Combiners already purchased, a historical game using the M0 rules, Mecha Gladiators, an epic-scale mecha expansion, kaiju and a bunch of other stuff in the wings.

Elemental Clash

A friend of the company, Andreas Propost, who wrote the Elemental Clash card game, approached us about doing a role playing game adaption of his game.  We jumped at the chance and we’re now wrapping up playtesting on the game, which uses the 4C (original Marvel Super Heroes) rules.  Players take on the role of mages who cast powerful spells using inscribed runes, summon deadly allies, and duel for fun, profit, and saving the world.  Just about every mage is possible from the Old Wizard in his tower to an Indiana Jones-style mage and everything in between.

It’s been fun to work on a licensed product!  It’s been challenging to keep true to the original world, while expanding it and fleshing it out.  It’s been even more fun to try to adapt card game mechanics to an RPG, which we think we’ve done pretty well.  Andreas is doing all the art for the game, which will feature, we’re hoping, at least 100 pieces of interior art!

We’re targeting July 2012 for the release of this game.

I20

Some of you may know that the system that powers Bounty Head Bebop is called I20.  It’s a cinematic, rules-quick system and has powered BHB perfectly.  Right now, we have two new games in the works using the system.  The first is called Hexslingers and introduces spell-casting to the world (BHB has psionics, but the magic rules are different.)  The rules will slot into BHB with no additional work, but the game will come with 1-3 magic-related settings for players to explore.

The other game takes the I20 rules and overlays them on top of a space/naval combat game.  The results on this are promising, but it’s going to take a lot of extra structure to go from RPG to mini game.  Hopefully there will be something on this by the end of the year.

???

The last game that’s getting a lot of attention doesn’t really have a name. Mark, inspired by epic MMO/Skyrim style gaming, is working to capture that feel in a tabletop game.   The system is quick, light-yet-crunchy-in-the-right-places, and the way the campaigns are structured should blend the best elements of console RPGs and tabletop RPGs.  More on that when we can.

So, as you can see, we’re definitely NOT dead, but we are small and sometimes blogging falls by the wayside.  If you ever have any questions, feel free to hit me up on Twitter or visit Heroic Journey‘s Facebook page.  I’ll also try to do weekly posts.  Cross your fingers!!

Thanks and more soon!

Filed under: Announcements, Bounty Head Bebop, Elemental Clash, Hexslingers, Mecha | 2 Comments »