I owe you all some sort of explanation regarding the postponed release date of the UWoM rules.
--Here it is:
1). I Was struck ill for three weeks after the NTRPG Con
2). Rob Kuntz and I have struck up a limited partnership to bring URUTSK: World of Mystery to you in a meaningful presentation, rather than nickel-and-diming it via 'first-run'.pdfs
3). I have been moving over the entire month of August
What does all this mean regarding the RPG?:
1). The VRUN Player's Module: The entry book into the RPG from the perspective of the dominant Human ethnicity. It will contain the complete character generation process (from rolled Ability Scores through broad and open-ended Skills, to the Imperial Starship Castes, and Equipping), for Vrun characters (both Continental, and Marnharnnan). Basic Combat and Basic Task Resolution are, of course, part of the package.
--Also included: The VRUN Alphabetic Language System; Detailed (and mapped) Vrun Adventure Locations; a World Map; Vrun territory Maps; and, gorgeous art by Mullen and other artists.
2). The other major Human ethnicities (Yirinn, Yaesh, Durn, and Dokirinn) will each receive their own Modules which will add-on to the VRUN Player's Module, and do justice to each of the distinct and unique cultures, including Blood Magicks, Technologies, Traditions, and regional Maps.
3). The Referee's Manual: Composed not only of the ephemera of running the game (including Advanced Combat and Task Resolution), but articles by famous, infamous, and personally respected Referees/GMs, including Classic personalities (TBA).
4). After these, I plan on releasing smaller works, often compiling minor ethnicities (Lhoman, Khem, Kark, etc.), as well as releasing the major and minor Non-Human Species.
5). More detailed Regional Guides with adventure chronologies and notable NPCs, Items, and Spells.
That will close the Early Autumn Era, and open the Latter Autumn, which was the true genesis of the setting, back in 1985 or so. This will introduce modern warfare, superpowers, high-tech (including space) gear, colonisation of the other worlds in the Av Star System, and the initial Starfaring Drang nach oben.
More URUTSK goodness in the form of Sequential Art stories, and possible series are in negotiation with a wonderful artist best known for Classic Gaming works, although also a veteran Comics artist.
--More on that as the process develops.
For those of you promised Playtest versions of the rules (most notably in the land of Oz), you have not been forgotten, and are due to receive the pre-release VPM hours or days after its completion.
I thank the lot of you who have taken an interest in Urutsk, and hope to bring you the calibre of product worthy of the accolades I have already received.
To that end, I would like to take the time to acknowledge just a few of the foremost enthusiasts and encouragers these two years (and longer in a few cases):
* Brian Penn
* Greg Oakes
* Jeff Berry
* Sean Wills
* Robert J. Kuntz
* Reed W. Decker
* Stephen Laidlaw
Stay Tuned...
