Discounts and deals on RPGs

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Bunch said:
To boost this a little, for $1 you get the Alpha Strike Commanders book which I believe is the complete rules for Alpha Strike the fast play Battletech.
For $30+shipping you get I think most of the current release books and a physical starter box.

TristramEvans TristramEvans I summon thee to verify my claims! I offer the blood of a cyber goat (flat Mt. Dew) and sacred grains (flaming cheetos)
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I'm out at dinner right now but I'll look thru the link when I get home. If it's Alpa Strike Commander's Edition that is indeed the complete fastplay ruleset
 
I looked over the Battletech bundle.

If someone is completely new to BattleTech - and doesn't have my Grognardian need for physical copies - it's a very good deal, if slightly impractical...

I'll go over the full 28 item bundle ...

Total Warfare contains the complete rules for the game - including Aerotech and mixed arms. It's a reference book for experienced players, not something I'd recommend for actually learning the game, but practically contains all one ever needs to know to play the game.

The Techmanual is a companion to Total Warfare, containing the complete rules for designing and building mechs and any vehicles.

I don't know what "The Primer" is, but I assume it's comparable to the basic rules one would find in the more recent BattleTech starter boxes, in which case it would be the transitional rules between the Beginner Box and Total Warfare.

The Beginner Box is a great deal, it contains all that two players need to play, including an abridged version of the full rules for mechs (mainly leaving out the interactions with heat mechanics), a brief rundown of the setting, a unique game map (two-sided), and two new mech models (that are different from the ones found in the starter box, so getting one and then the other doesn't require re-buying anything you already own. The only issue at the moment is 1) you have to pay for shipping, meaning it's cheaper to get the beginner box through your FLGS if that's a option for you, 2) the offer is only available to US customers, and 3) Catalyst is currently out of stock, so you have to wait an indeterminant amount of time until a restock to actually claim this reward.

Alpha Strike: Commander's Edition is a completely self-contained game that presents an adaptation/expansion of the fast-play rules for mass BattleTech combat originating in the Strategic Operations expansion. Alpha Strike was originally presented as a rulebook and companion with advanced rules, and the Commander's Edition combines the two, mainly only leaving out the companion's conversion rules (which honestly needed a lot of work and led to about 30 pages of errata and a lot of heated forum debates). I like AS a lot, but I can wax on about that in another thread if anyone wants to hear my extended thoughts on it.

Of the 23 other books in the bundle...

Technical Readout: Succession Wars and Technical Readout: Clan Invasion contain a comprehensive overview of all extant Mechs from 3025 to 3055, the two eras that are the main focus of gameplay. These includes the stats needed for the main game, along with colourful histories filling in bits of setting details. Not necessary per se, as the gameplay info for every mech is available online, but nice to have, especially as grouping them by era makes it easier for new players to build era-appropriate lances/stars.

BattleTech: Legends is an artbook along with spatterings of short fiction covering all 7 of the Eras. Not something anyone needs, but a nice bonus, good for getting the feel of the setting through the lens of Catalyst.

Combat Manual: Mercenaries and Combat Manual: Kurita are two sourcebooks published for Alpha Strike that were meant to be part of a series that covered all the major factions, but appears, about a decade later to be abandoned. This doesn't mean they aren't valuable sourcebooks, but it's a little disappointing. Though with the upcoming Alpha Strike starter set (scheduled for a 1st quarter 2023 release), I suppose there's always a chancethey might continue with the line. So, not necessary books by any means, but nice to have.

PseudoTech: Arcade Operations is a sourcebook based on the various BattleTech videogames over the years, offering alternate styles of play and optional rules for emulating those games, as well as tongue-in-cheek in-universe equivalents. Likewise House Arano (The Aurigan Coalition) is based on the Arano Restoration storyline from the BattleTech computer game by Harebrained Schemes, done in the style of the classic FASA BT House handbooks.

Turning Points are a series of pdf-only scenario packs that allow players too recreate significant historical battles utilizing the expanded campaign rules that are detailed in Chaos Campaign: Succession Wars and Total Chaos (which focuses on the Jyhad Era). Note that CC: Succession Wars is a free download anyways, so it doesn't actually add any value to this bundle. The three Turning Points sourcebooks included in the bundle are: Irian (Dark Age), and Misery and Tyrfing (Succession Wars).

Touring the Stars: Tyrfing is one of an ongoing series of sourcebooks detailing specific worlds in the BattleTech universe (this is the 12th entry in the series, I guess it's inclusion here is to pair it with the Turning Points: Tyrfing scenario book).

Then we get 3 Dark Age (6th Era) Sourcebooks: Era Report: 3145, Field Manual 3145, and Shattered Fortress.

IlClan introduces the "current" 7th Era of the BattleTech universe, with Recognition Guide: IlClan being essentially this Era's TRO equivalent. Sourcebooks for this Era included in the bundle are: Empire Alone, Tamar Rising, and Spotlight On: Crescent Hawks

So...it's a lot of stuff, but also kinda random. It's not a selection that I would choose to introduce new players to the game, but it's also too much of a mix to really appeal to veteran players, so it's kinda just....here's a bunch of stuff, most of it will probably be confusing. Of course, it is very much worth it, just for the selection of main rulebooks (and coupon for the Beginner Box when it gets restocked), but I feel like they had an opportunity here that was squandered (but hell, that's basically Catalyst Lab's motto at this point).
 
I feel like they had an opportunity here that was squandered (but hell, that's basically Catalyst Lab's motto at this point). TristramEvans TristramEvans

Yes, very much this. Pisses me off to no end too.
 
TristramEvans said:
I looked over the Battletech bundle. [...] I feel like they had an opportunity here that was squandered
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Tristram, at my Bundle of Holding site I've presented three different BattleTech offers, and in preparing each lineup I felt quite at sea. I'm not deeply familiar with BattleTech. Next year, if Catalyst permits, I hope to present a new BT offer. I could use consulting help in preparing an intelligent lineup. If you or any BattleTech grognard is interested in advising, please contact me: allenvarney (at) Gmail.
 
DTRPG is having a Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale—generally about 33% off.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale - Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale - The Largest RPG Download Store!

Your one-stop online shop for new and vintage RPG products from the top publishers, delivered fresh to your desktop in electronic format.
www.drivethrurpg.com www.drivethrurpg.com

Not everything is on sale but the current count is over 64,000 items. After browsing for a bit, I resorted to looking through my wish list to see what was discounted there.

Edited to add: If you share my tastes, these are some things on discount that really caught my eye…

  • Amazing Tales, a kids’ RPG
  • Through Sunken Lands, an S&S game with low prep, from the same publisher as Beyond the Wall
  • all (?) the Sine Nomine catalog, e.g. Worlds Without Number and Wolves of God
  • Zenobia, apparently a much-updated version of the free game
  • No Day to Die, a solo James Bond-type game from Zoser Games
  • Cepheus Atom/Barbaric!/Warlords of Atlantis, three related games from different publishers that promise quick play in S&S/post-apoc genres, and are quite cheap
Most or all of the catalogs of Melsonian Arts Council and Hydra Cooperative are also on sale.
 
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Exalted Funeral is having a big sale as well. The email said it would start at midnight on Thursday (ie today), but I'm not seeing any discounts on any products yet, so I'm assuming it actually starts tomorrow. Been wanting to pick up FIST, but was waiting for the sale to do so
 
urbwar said:
Exalted Funeral is having a big sale as well. The email said it would start at midnight on Thursday (ie today), but I'm not seeing any discounts on any products yet, so I'm assuming it actually starts tomorrow. Been wanting to pick up FIST, but was waiting for the sale to do so
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New email from Exalted Funeral says it starts at 11:59 PM Thursday now, so the earlier email had the wrong time listed. I likely won't be up at that time, so I'll snag FIST in the morning
 
urbwar said:
New email from Exalted Funeral says it starts at 11:59 PM Thursday now, so the earlier email had the wrong time listed. I likely won't be up at that time, so I'll snag FIST in the morning
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It's odd. The sale part went live before 11pm, but the doorbusters didn't go up until 11:59pm.

If you're up, I highly recommend taking a look at what they're offering. The OSE and ARC bundles are amazingly priced.

www.exaltedfuneral.com

Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy Starter Bundle - BLACK FRIDAY WE

LIMITED BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND BUNDLE! Only available Thursday 11/24 to Monday 11/28 Includes: Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy Rules Tome Old-School Essentials Classic Fantasy Player's Rules Tome Old-School Essentials Deluxe Referee's Screen Old-School Essentials Official Adventure...
www.exaltedfuneral.com www.exaltedfuneral.com

www.exaltedfuneral.com

ARC: DOOM Tabletop RPG Starter Bundle - BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND EXCLUSIVE

LIMITED BLACK FRIDAY WEEKEND BUNDLE! Only available Thursday 11/24 to Monday 11/28 Includes: Softcover copy of ARC: Doom Tabletop RPG All 4 ARCVENTURE SERIES Zines: Bitter Sun, Carry On Wayward Weapon, Leviathan & Loom, and The Minting of the World ARC: Doom Tabletop RPG - Softcover Core...
www.exaltedfuneral.com www.exaltedfuneral.com
 
Blammo said:
It's odd. The sale part went live before 11pm, but the doorbusters didn't go up until 11:59pm.
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It was set for EST, so the sale is up where I am. I only ordered FIST. I wasn't really looking for anything past that (I'm not interested in OSE at all, and know nothing about ARC). Since I ordered Amazing Adventures 5E from Troll Lord (as it is on sale), I bought some pdfs for that version on Drivethru (since those are on sale as well. I have some comic book kickstarters ending this weekend, so I'm at my limit on what I can spend on such things anyway.
 
urbwar said:
It was set for EST, so the sale is up where I am. I only ordered FIST. I wasn't really looking for anything past that (I'm not interested in OSE at all, and know nothing about ARC). Since I ordered Amazing Adventures 5E from Troll Lord (as it is on sale), I bought some pdfs for that version on Drivethru (since those are on sale as well. I have some comic book kickstarters ending this weekend, so I'm at my limit on what I can spend on such things anyway.
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Oh, the "If you're up" comment wasn't directed at you specifically, just the board in general since it was a doorbuster sale. That wasn't clear at all. They didn't go as fast as I thought they would, though. For anyone interested, ARC is gone but OSE is still available as of this post.

I went a little overboard with the sale and I didn't even know FIST was a thing until you posted it, so thank you for that! I would have missed it.
 
Blammo said:
Oh, the "If you're up" comment wasn't directed at you specifically, just the board in general since it was a doorbuster sale. That wasn't clear at all. They didn't go as fast as I thought they would, though. For anyone interested, ARC is gone but OSE is still available as of this post.

I went a little overboard with the sale and I didn't even know FIST was a thing until you posted it, so thank you for that! I would have missed it.
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I was just clarifying that it started earlier my time than I thought it was going to (based on their emails)), so no worries :smile:

Since I'm shelling out for a trip for New Year's, I have to be careful how much I spend on stuff right now. FIST was really all I was interested in (I have the pdf from two charity bundles on itch, and liked what I saw, so wanted the print version). Glad my talking about it got you interested in in too; I think it's a neat game that I hope to run in the future for some friends.
 
urbwar said:
I was just clarifying that it started earlier my time than I thought it was going to (based on their emails)), so no worries :smile:

Since I'm shelling out for a trip for New Year's, I have to be careful how much I spend on stuff right now. FIST was really all I was interested in (I have the pdf from two charity bundles on itch, and liked what I saw, so wanted the print version). Glad my talking about it got you interested in in too; I think it's a neat game that I hope to run in the future for some friends.
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Got me interested too. Picked up Cairn, Ruincairn, and FIST. I really want to like Arc Doom and almost went in on it. But I was in on the kickstarter and something just didn't gel with me.
 
Humble Bundle has a sale including the Witcher RPG and Castle Falkenstein.

www.humblebundle.com

The Witcher RPG and More by R. Talsorian

We’ve teamed up with R. Talsorian Games for our newest bundle. Get The Witcher Tabletop Role-Playing Game and more RPG ebooks. Plus, pay what you want & support Starlight Children’s Foundation!
www.humblebundle.com www.humblebundle.com
 
AsenRG said:
Humble Bundle has a sale including the Witcher RPG and Castle Falkenstein.

www.humblebundle.com

The Witcher RPG and More by R. Talsorian

We’ve teamed up with R. Talsorian Games for our newest bundle. Get The Witcher Tabletop Role-Playing Game and more RPG ebooks. Plus, pay what you want & support Starlight Children’s Foundation!
www.humblebundle.com www.humblebundle.com
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My first humble bundle in a while!
 
Bunch said:
I know nothing of Witcher or Castle Frankenstein as RPGs. How are they? Why should I get them besides being cheap? (That's usually a big selling point for me)
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Castle Falkenstein is great- though it's not a traditional RPG as it uses cards for resolution. Even if you don't like that mechanic, the world itself is interesting (interesting enough that there was even a GURPS Castle Falkenstein). Witcher I got for background and such, so I don't know much about the mechanics.
 
I don’t want to be a party pooper but CF left me cold—the mechanics didn’t make sense to me, and the background was annoying. I don’t remember much but I seem to recall that Bismarck was portrayed as an evil wizard. I was hoping for something more Jules Vern-ish, I guess.
 
I grabbed Castle Falkenstein because it was only a buck. Can't get much better than that.
 
If you’re familiar with the various denizens of the Pub, I’d say the reactions to CF are somewhat predictable. For $1 you can find out whom you line up with, if you don’t know already.
 
Arminius said:
If you’re familiar with the various denizens of the Pub, I’d say the reactions to CF are somewhat predictable. For $1 you can find out whom you line up with, if you don’t know already.
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Or. Or. Or. Let them line up with a wall behind them. Get creative!
 
Fenris-77 said:
It's one of a very few games that uses a deck of cards well instead of dice, and there's even a version that uses the Tarot as the mechanic, which is super cool.
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I've been able to play in a couple of games and a couple of adaptations in different systems and enjoyed it.
 
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