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(Message ryand:20) Subj: Mammoth Product Updates and new Schedules for all games! From: "Ryan S. Dancey" <RyanD@frpg.com> To: <frpginfo@frpg.com> Cc: <battletech-l@oracle.wizards.com> Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 18:56:01 PDT -- /blue/homes/cowell/Mail/mhl.format -- Greetings FRPG customers! I promised not to abuse the privilege of this list, and I promise that this message is not going to be oft-repeated. Instead of sending a dozen messages to a dozen sub-lists, I have compiled the projected 1998 FRPG release schedules and notes into this one post. Those of you interested in only one of our games, please indulge my tired fingers! -------------------------- First a note on schedules. Over the past three and a half years, we've learned quite a few lessons about how to make TCGs. We're still learning lessons on how to accurately project schedules for them. Since the winter of 1996-97 we've been planning many of the games that will finally see the light of day this year. Doing so many projects at the same time has proven to be an immense task, fraught with difficulties that were both surprising and hard to overcome. However, at long last, we feel that substantial progress has been made and that we finally have a handle on the various development cycles. WotC has been a great help during this time. The staff here have seen many of the problems that we're encountering, and have provided time, resources, and valuable help in overcoming them. I think it is an understatement to say that if we had remained a separate organization we would have been even further behind schedule than we are now. Honesty forces me to admit that we probably bit off more than we could chew - and my sheer stubborness allows me to tell you that we've finally digested the morsel and are about to move on to the next (more realistically sized) bite! All of the products you're going to see below (except those noted as still "in process") should appear on schedule, barring unforseen production problems or strange acts of fate (like the UPS strike). Most of these products are already designed and many of the illustrations are completed. Though there have been long delays (and some >incredibly patient< players like the Ragers), we've used that lost time to good advantage to position ourselves well for the releases that are coming. We plan to have active fan clubs, demo teams, and special in - store promotions to accompany the launch of each brand as we move forward into 1998. Without further ado - the 1998 schedule! --------------------------- BattleTech Commander's Edition - the 3rd printing of the BattleTech basic set Release: July 15 Projected On Sale: July 20 Crusade - the 5th expansion for BattleTech Release: October 28 Projected On Sale: November 2 * These two sets comprise the first of the "new look" BattleTech line. The card frames have been updated, the whole set has been given a through going-over to enhance the value of FASA's great license. You'll be able to play factionalized decks, there will be special new cards - but every card you already own, and every deck you've already built will remain completely legal. -------------------------- DUNE Storm Front - the 2nd Edition of the DUNE Basic Set Release: August 5 On Sale: August 10 * Nearly 60 new pieces of artwork, clarified card wordings, and updated rules Judge of the Change (1-3) Release: April 29, May 26, July 1 On Sale: May 1, June 1, July 6 Thunder at Twilight (1-3) Release: August 26, September 16, October 14 On Sale: August 31, September 21, October 19 Second Moon Rising (1-3) Release: November 11, December 9, January 6 (99) On Sale: November 16, December 14, January 11 (99) These nine releases comprise a full nine-month "Rolling Thunder" story arc that will take us most of the way through the first DUNE novel. We are currently formulating plans to end the first book and set the stage to move forward into the second with a conclusion set tentatively titled "Fall of the Padishah", and more information will be forthcoming. We are also working on a boxed set for two players that will teach the game and tell a specific story set in the DUNE universe, tentatively titled "War of Assassins", which we are hoping to have ready for the holiday season this year. --------------------------------- DEADLANDS DOOMTOWN Episodes 1&2 and 3 already released. Future dates for DOOMTOWN Episodes 4-9: Release: June 29, August 3, August 31, September 28, November 2, November 11 On Sale: July 3, August 7, Spetember 4,Octoboer 2, November 6, December 4 "Six-Shooters", a repack of the first three Outfits from Episodes 1&2 are going to be ready for sale in the first week of June. That means that your local retailer can order "just the decks" to restock their combo displays and help get new players into the game. The six-shooters are just six decks with a cello-band wrap. No display. They're designed to go right into the combo as a "restock". ----------------------------------- LEGEND OF THE BURNING SANDS Shadow of the Tyrant Episodes 1-4: Release: July 31, September 28, November 30, late January '99 On Sale: July 31, October 2, December 4, early Februay '99 Burning Sands Episode 1 will feature 3 factions and 153 cards. Episodes 2-4 will feature 2 factions and 102 cards. Instead of combo displays, Burning Sands will appear in a traditional Deck display and a Booster display. The boosters will be 11 cards at SRP US$2.49. ----------------------------------- LEGEND OF THE FIVE RINGS Jade Edition - the 4th printing of the L5R basic set, on sale now! The Hidden Emperor Episodes 1-9: Release: June 22, July 20, August 24, September 21, October 19, November 23, December 14, January 18 (99), February 16 (99) On Sale: June 26, July 24, August 28, September 25, October 23, November 27, December 18, January 22, February 19 Hidden Emperor boosters will be 8 cards at SRP US$1.99. --------------------------------- RAGE Snake Eyes: Rage Across Las Vegas Episodes 1-9: Release: August 17, September 14, October 12, November 16, December 14, January 18 (99), February 15 (99), March 15 (99), April 19 (99) On Sale: August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18, January 22 (99), February 19 (99), March 19 (99), April 23 (99) We will have special "preview decks" consisting of 100 Rage cards and a new Rage Rulebook available for GenCon in August as well - and we're pushing to have them for ORIGINS if we can. More information will be available soon. -------------------------------- Thanks for wading through all that information, and please let me know if you have any questions! Sincerely, Ryan S. Dancey Brand Manager, Five Rings Publishing Group Wizards of the Coast, Inc. |
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