As we near the end of June, and thus the first half of 2009, Highmoon Games remains in, essentially, hiatus from publishing. It has not been a good year (so far) for Highmoon Games, partly due to slumping sales and partly due to personal issues dominating my time. We were able to publish Jeremy Puckett’s Ronin: Oriental Adventures in Tokugawa Japan in its d20-compatible format but that has been it on the game supplement front. We do have other projects caught in various stages of production, including other versions of Ronin (True20 and Savage Worlds have been explored), a couple more issues of Heroic Moments, Issue 5 of Targum Magazine, a FATE/Spirit of the Century-compatible mini-setting, and True20 Ancients: Rome (this last one is done and in layout). There is also a secret project being done in conjunction with another gaming company that has not been announced yet.

On the podcast side of things, The Digital Front remains on hiatus since the beginning of the year, and as much as I want to cover certain events happening in the field of tabletop e-distribution, it has not been possible to do so. The Gamer Traveler, however, has been going very well; since turning into a blog as well as a podcast, I have been able to ramp up the number of stories published significantly, mainly because I don’t have to wait for a chance to record an episode to get them out. Episodes of the podcast have been released, but now they form an audio companion rather than the sole medium for my travel & gaming niche.

So what does the second half of 2009 hold in store? Frankly, I don’t know. The personal issue that has kept things on hold so far continues to be a major factor, so effectively Highmoon Games is to remain on hiatus until further notice. As I am able to work on some projects and bring them to fruition I’ll release them, but take those, if/when they happen, as happy surprises, not something to be expected. I am, however, not closing the company nor declaring any of the podfading any of the podcasts; I very much want to return to this endeavor once life returns to normalcy, whenever that is.

To all our customers, colleagues, supporters and friends, thank you so much for caring and inquiring and sending many well wishes.

Ronin brings you to Japan during the Edo Period, characterized by the rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1600-1868). This is the height of samurai culture, when feudal lords commanded fearsome warriors and ruled vast lands, when the mysticism of the past clashed blades with the coming of the modern age. Will you be a samurai beholden to a master or a free-ranging ronin? Will you follow the way of the sword or call upon the arcane spirits? Will you explore high society or delve into the commoner’s world? A world on the edge of turmoil awaits you.

Ronin gives players and Game Masters will find invaluable information to bring the rich historical era of the Edo Period to their games, including:

• An introduction to Tokugawa Japan, covering topics such as geography, culture, daily life, nobility, commoners, outsiders and outcasts, magic and mysticism.
• A primer on samurai culture.
• New Rules systems, such as the all-important Honor, as well as Flaws.
• New Basic Classes, such as the courtier, shudoshi (Zen seekers), and vagabond.
• New Prestige Classes, such as the blade saint, blind swordman, hedge witch, medium, merchant, and shinobi.
• New Feats, 16 in total.
• New Magic, including 12 new spells.
• A Bestiary of menaces from the natural, magical and ghostly realms.

Ronin: Oriental Adventures in Tokugawa Japan is a sourcebook in the 3rd Fantasy line, compatible with the 3.5 edition of the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game.

Written by: Jeremy Puckett
Art by: Zach Ashmore (Cover), public domain Japanese artwork.
Layout by: Mark Reed
Developed by: Daniel M. Perez

Now Available from RPGNow.com!

Fans of Targum Magazine will have a field day with History Channel’s new series, Battles BC. Here’s the blurb from HistoryChannel.com:

Their feats are legendary. Serving as a blueprint for warfare thousands of years later, the strategic military prowess of ancient warriors are still analyzed today. The new HISTORY™ series, BATTLES BC, uses a stunning graphic style comparable to 300, the hit feature film, to show leaders from the ancient world in some of the greatest conflicts in history. The eight episode series premieres Monday, March 9th at 9pm ET/PT on HISTORY.

These are the tales of historic battles and bloodshed. Now, with cutting edge animation techniques, and the expertise of military historians—BATTLES BC explores the strategies, tactics and weapons used by ancient commanders such as Hannibal, David, Caesar and Alexander. The truths and myths behind these heroes and villains are brought to life, in dramatic and epic proportions.

BATTLES BC provides fresh insight into the icons and events that helped shape the course of ancient history.

The series plays new episodes Mondays at 9 PM on the History Channel (check your local listing) and each episode gets replayed a few times during the week. You can even head over to the Battles BCerbium doped fiber amplifier website and see a full episode, Hannibal the Annihilator.

Gamer fans of the Ancient World will find plenty of inspiration in this series. I know I am absolutely loving it so far.

This year, due to a family issue, I was not able to get anything ready. I couldn’t let the day pass unnoticed, however, so I had to take action!

RPG Blog Carnival

Over at The Gamer Traveler, I put together a special, St. Patrick’s Day RPG Blog Carnival. I posted an article entitled “The Banshee of Kilmainham Gaol” which you should go and read, and will gather a host of other Irish-themed posts during the day. Later today or tomorrow, there will be a round-up with all the posts.

Free Game Product

Second, I am giving away for FREE (March 17-18) our St. Patrick’s Day product from last year, Heroic Moments: St. Patrick’s Day Parade (Special Edition), for the 4C System of marvelous superheroics! In this ready-to-run scenario, an ancient Celtic goddess seeks to ruin the St. Paddy’s Day parade in The City and the heroes are called in to save everyone. It comes with two pre-made heroes, too, so combine it with the free 4C System Core Rules, and you have your game set for tonight!

Enjoy this St. Patrick’s Day as much as we will and raise a pint to good gaming!

LonnieEzell.com: Updates, New Fiction and a New Course!

Lonnie’s working on developing a new iPhone application (the nature of it is still hush-hush), has launched a new look for his website, and made his Fantasy Thriller novel, Daughter of the Sun, available for the Kindle and iPhone platforms.

Two items in particular, however, have us really excited:

Lonnie is soon to begin publishing more fiction set in the thrilling world of Daughter of the Sun. First off is “Raising the Sun,” a short story set a millennium before the events of DotS and which will be serialized on Lonnie’s website and Facebook Fan Page; and news of continuing work on Heir of Fire, book two in the Sundered Breath trilogy.

The second item is the launch of Zero2Novel.com, Lonnie’s online course on novel writing.

The course pulls together all of the tips and techniques from my years of studying the craft of writing, along with some brand new ideas that I’ve just found on the best ways to use the mind to help you out.

Lonnie has been working on this course for a couple of years now and we are excited to see it finally done and released. If you are an aspiring novel writer, drop by Zero2Novel.com and check it out.

We wish Lonnie all the best, and we’ll continue to update everyone on further news.

Jump into a world of marvelous superheroics with the 4C System Heroic Moments Intro Pack.

Emulating a well-loved superhero game of marvelous proportions, the 4C System is an easy-to-use engine to power your quest for truth and justice. With the Intro Pack, you get the core rules and two Heroic Moments scenarios, enough to get you and your friends clobbering villains in no time.

Grab some dice, don the spandex, and live your own Heroic Moment with the 4C System!

The 4C System Heroic Moments Intro Pack includes:

• 4C System Core Rules
• Heroic Moments #1: My Favorite Charity
• Heroic Moments #2: Unregistered Mutant

All for only $1.00!

Now Available from RPGNow.com!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGHMOON MEDIA PRODUCTIONS LAUNCHES HIGHMOON GAMES

January 6, 2009 (MIAMI BEACH, FL) — Highmoon Media Productions launches today its new division, Highmoon Games, transferring all of its hobby game-related business and products to it, effective immediately.

Highmoon Games will continue to produce and distribute the same excellent gaming products in support of the Open Gaming License as always, as well as expand into new areas, acting as a design studio for other 3rd-party companies, and producing materials for new game systems.

“Highmoon Media Productions was always meant to be an umbrella for various projects,” said owner Daniel M. Perez. “By launching Highmoon Games, we can use the new brand to emphasize our work in the hobby game industry, and let Highmoon Media Productions take its role as the parent company for a variety of endeavors, including The Digital Front and The Gamer Traveler Podcasts.”

You can find Highmoon Games‘ products on RPGNow.com and DriveThruRPG.com, and on the web at www.highmoon-games.com.

ABOUT HIGHMOON GAMES
Highmoon Games is a Miami Beach-based e-publisher of hobby gaming products, including Ancient Adventures Magazine (formerly Targum), and designers of True20 Ancients. Highmoon Games is a division of Highmoon Media Productions, which produces The Gamer Traveler Podcast and The Digital Front Podcast. Learn more about Highmoon Games and Highmoon Media Productions at www.highmoon-games.com & www.highmoonmedia.com.

# # #
Highmoon Media Productions Media Contact
Daniel M. Perez
daniel@highmoonmedia.com

All our d20/OGL products will be deactivated for the time being while we remove all traces of the d20 license, which expires on Dec. 31, 2008. So if there is something in particular you wanted, your best bet is to get it in the next two days for only $1.00!!!

RPGNow.com: Highmoon Media Productions

From Sunday, Dec. 22 until Monday, Dec. 29,

all products in our catalog are on sale for $1.00!

RPGNow.com: Highmoon Media Productions Page

Have fun this holiday season, whatever you celebrate.

This episode marks the first anniversary of The Digital Front. Many thanks to everyone who has listened to the show and sent in their feedback, and especially to all my guests so far, without whom there would be no show.

Please feel free to discuss this episode on our forums.

Download TDF - 13

Human sacrifice, vengeful gods, hungry giants, haunted forests, and a besieged town whose history is written in blood. Just another day on the Blood Plateau.

It has been two hundred years since Marruk has last been summoned and now the Baron’s daughter has been kidnapped. In The Mask of Marruk our heroes are asked to rescue the missing girl and in the process save the town of Fanghorn View from a catastrophe of historic proportions. All that stands in their way is a secluded giant, a cult of dark druids, and an army of savage orcs from the Blood Plateau.

The Mask of Marruk a 3.5 fantasy adventure for 5th to 7th level characters.

Written by: David Kurd
Cover by: David Rourke
Artwork by: Carolyne Dear, Sean Duerden, Samir Wallace, Peter Wooley
Fully Bookmarked

rent a car bulgariaNow Available from RPGNow.com!

A caravan of mercy is in need of some worthy adventurers to accompany it to the beleaguered elves of Northwood.

Easy enough, right? Wrong!

The trail strays across the dreaded Blood Plateau. On the way, our heroes must overcome assassination attempts, baby stealing goblins, and a tribe of blood thirsty orcs. All this only to discover they have been duped into helping out a pair of drug smugglers.

Caravan of Hope is a 3.5 fantasy adventure for 3rd & 4th level characters.

Written by: David Kurd
Cover by: David Rourke
Artwork by: Carolyne Dear, Sean Duerden, Samir Wallace
Fully Bookmarked

Now Available from RPGNow.com!

On October 12, 2008, Highmoon Media Productions celebrated its 4th anniversary. It has been a fantastic road to this point, full of great experiences, and for that I thank everyone who has ever had anything to do with HMP, whether fellow publishers, customers, freelancers, artists or fellow podcasters; it is the people I have met on this journey that have made all the work worth every second.

Since for personal reasons I was unable to mark the actual anniversary date, I have decided to extend the celebrations a bit longer.

Until Wednesday, November 12, 2008 you will find the entire HMP catalog on sale for 50% off!

Enjoy this opportunity to get some great material for 3.5 Fantasy, our acclaimed magazine Targum, some superhero action for the 4C System, as well as great adventures and sourcebooks from MonkeyGod, all for half price.

We have some big changes brewing regarding various aspects of Highmoon Media Productions (hint: when you visit our RPGnow vendor page, you will see one of the changes to come), so stay tuned for official press releases coming soon.

Once again, thanks for four wonderful years. I hope you’ll join us for many more.

A young girl with an overactive imagination, a huge amount of candy and soda, and an uncontrolled mutant power have combined to unleash four classic monsters to wreak havoc on trick-or-treaters in the suburbs. Can the heroes find the source of the dream monsters and save Halloween?

Heroic Moments is the aschan series of single action scenes for four-color superhero games. This series is designed to be dropped seamlessly into any existing superhero campaign. No prep: just a set-up, some bystanders and a villain for your heroes to clobber.

NOW AVAILABLE from RPGnow!

Heroic Moments uses the free 4C System of marvelous superheroics.

Come and join the conversation at the 4C System Forum.

The body of a Faean lord is found skewered by an iron lance, one of his retinue surviving long enough to whisper, “Mortals” An entire human family is found ruthlessly slaughtered in their sleep, traces of Faean magic still lingering in the air. Ancient pacts between the Faean and the village of Graymeer have ensured a lasting peace over the centuries. Now, however, with ever increasing atrocities occurring to both sides, the pact is strained to the point of breaking. And if they break, there will be a war between the Mortals and Faean, a war that will escalate to throw all of the Shield Islands into chaos.

Something, or someone, has been purposefully trying to drive the Faean and Mortals into direct conflict. The heroes have one chance - they must find the true culprit behind these incidents, and then travel to the mysterious Faean Realm, At the Edge of Dreams, to convince the Faean Court to halt their attacks, before it is too late.

At the Edge of Dreams is a d20 fantasy adventure for 6th- & 7th-level characters.

Written by: Christopher Coyle
Cover by: Scott Fischer
Artwork by: Theodor Black
Fully Bookmarked

NOW AVAILABLE from RPGNow.com!