White Wolf Announces Monte Cook's A World of Darkness
White Wolf is pleased to announce a special product, slated for release at Gencon in August 2007. For his last book written in the roleplaying genre, Monte Cook is penning his own unique version of the horror setting known as the World of Darkness.
Atlanta, GA – December 7, 2006 – White Wolf is pleased to announce a special product, slated for release at Gencon in August 2007. For his last book written in the roleplaying genre, Monte Cook is penning his own unique version of the horror setting known as the World of Darkness.
Rich Thomas, Creative Director for White Wolf, commented, "We've invited Monte to come play in our sandbox and can't wait to see what kind of castles he constructs. This opportunity to work with him on a project set in the horror realm, re-imagining things in Monte's own inimitable style is something we know will be exciting to our fans and the gaming industry in general."
What is the World of Darkness? - It's a place very much like our world, sharing the same history, culture and geography. Superficially, most people in this fictional world live the same lives we do. They eat the same food, wear the same clothes, and waste time watching the same TV shows. And yet, in the World of Darkness, shadows are deeper, nights are darker, fog is thicker. If, in our world, a neighborhood has a rundown house that gives people the creeps, in the World of Darkness, that house emits strange sighs on certain nights of the year, and seems to have a human face when seen from the corner of one's eye. Or so some neighbors say. In our world, there are urban legends. In the World of Darkness, there are urban legends whispered into the ears of autistic children by invisible spiders.
What will the World of Darkness become, as envisioned by Monte Cook? The answers will be revealed this summer. As more details of this forthcoming game are released to the public, all information will be posted on www.white-wolf.com.
About White Wolf: Since its entry into the roleplaying game market in 1991, White Wolf Publishing, Inc. has grown, maintaining an average market share of 22%. With collective book sales in excess of 5.5 million copies during this time, White Wolf is one of two undisputed worldwide publishing leaders for pen-and-paper roleplaying games. White Wolf properties have been licensed for television series, comic books, action figures, console and computer video games, coin-operated arcade games, professional wrestlers, replica props and weapons, interactive media events and myriad merchandise. More information on White Wolf can be found at http://www.white-wolf.com/.
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I don't really play WoD games...but when I heard about this a couple weeks ago I got goosebumps. Cook can capture darkness and grim like almost no else (IMHO), and this is going to be a great product for WoD fans. I've heard some discussion about whether or not it's going to be a d20 product, but I doubt it will. Sword & Sorcery is the imprint WW uses for d20 products, and this is straight up White Wolf all the way.
All told it should turn out great. Book of Vile Darkness and the d20 Call of Cthulu are great in my opinion...Cook knows Darkness.
He also knows good game design - which is a big problem with the existing WoD products.
It really does show that he is an active roleplayer and not just a writer when you read his stuff. The only thing I'll take exception to is Return To The Temple Of Elemental Evil...which seemed more like a tour of the Monster Manual than a well designed adventure (though it was better thanmany at the time). And having the skeleton in the tower in possesion of a Deck Of Many Things capped my distaste for the adventure.
What do they mean by "his last book written in the roleplaying genre"?
Is he going anywhere?
From my very limited experience (i.e. I own the new Mage: the awakening book, read it but haven't played it) I think they have some great ideas design-wise.
I think they have had some great ideas, concept-wise, but having played Mage (or having tried to play it), I'd say that game-design has been a weak point with them. I can't believe they've playtested their stuff - especially a lot of their supplementals. A lot of it just doesn't work very well.
Are you referring to Awakening ot to Acsention?
I can't remember now, sorry. It was a few years ago, and the same problem was common to every single WoD tabletop product. Mechanics and skills just didn't cover everything, or were unclear. For example, in Vampire - "computers" was a skill - but it wasn't clear. What does that mean? Is this an IT person, a hacker? Maybe - but what of other business conducted over a computer - it confused the GM in our group. Changeling and especially Wraith - virtually unplayable - but perhaps lots of fun for thespians who want to act with little game reward tied to it. Are you saying that later editions have strived to balance things out a bit?
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/9085.html
RPG superstar Monte Cook has announced that Ptolus, due for release at GenCon next week (see "Ptolus Hobby Only"), will be his penultimate game project as he makes a transition to writing books. He has one more (to be announced) game project planned, for a company other than his own Malhavoc Press, for release next year.
According to the announcement posted on his Website, Cook feels that the time is right because of the release of Ptolus. "Ptolus, in my mind, rivals 3rd edition itself as the coolest thing I've ever produced," he said. "...I want to go out at the top of my game..., and I feel that I have done so. In spades."
Cook said that he has a novel, a non-fiction book, and other projects to be named later in the pipe. He will continue to write his comic series throughout the rest of the year (see "Dabel Brothers Announce Ptolus Comic Book Series").
Malhavoc plans to continue to keep its books in print, forums will remain active, and Cook said he will continue to post to the Malhavoc Website.
Having played only a single WoD session (V:tM character creation) over 8 years ago, I'm not saying anything.
That said, I believe significant changes were made in the "New WoD", and it might fix some of those issues. I'd lend you my Mage book if you weren't half a world away :)