Lone Wolf / Magnamund [MAPS]

[Omote]

A while ago, perhaps March or April or so, TLG had a pretty good idea I thought. They released their world of Aihrde maps in smaller sections a year ago. For there new map project they were going to mount these map sections on sturdy board (cardboard, I think). I'm not actually sure where that product stands now.

But, Joe Dever of the Lone Wolf gamebook fame and his cartographer, got wind of this idea and put their own world of Magnamund on 9"x13" cardboard sections. These cardboard map sections will number 24 when all of them are released, and on the reverse side of the maps will be presented regional information and RPG ideas for the setting. How cool is that? This is something I wish TLG would have gotten to earlier, but I do love this idea just the same.

As a big fan of the Lone Wolf setting, I just thought these were great ideas for GMs and players to use in their games. I know that I have been aching to run some C&C-style, Lone Wolf/Magnamund adventures. These maps are giving me the impetus to do just that!

http://mapmagnamund.com/id25.html






~O

[Treebore]

It is a excellent setting and a excellent idea.

[Sir Ironside]

A while ago, perhaps March or April or so, TLG had a pretty good idea I thought. They released their world of Aihrde maps in smaller sections a year ago. For there new map project they were going to mount these map sections on sturdy board (cardboard, I think). I'm not actually sure where that product stands now.

If my memory is not faulty, I do believe that those particular maps were part of the Kickstarter for the Codex of Airdhe. I know that I pledged the amount for the cardboard mounted maps so I'm guessing they'll see the light whenever the Codex of Airdhe is good to go.

I think it is a great idea, but unsure if they'll be sold separately from the Kickstarter packages, or if it was just for the Kickstarter. I like the fact that the maps will be kind of like large tiles and the fact that you could reveal just the ones that the group knows about the world of Airdhe then add to it as they travel beyond their knowledge, of the borders, of Airdhe. A lot more convenient than paper maps.

Like the rune stones I hope both the stones and the cardboard maps will be sold separately.

[Omote]

For fans of Magnamund (Lone Wolf), and maps in particular (these are among the best ever released for an RPG or novel series), the shipping is now FREE, worldwide through 31 January 2013!

http://mapmagnamund.com/id47.html

~O

[lobocastle]

I am looking forward to this product. It will help players visualize the setting of Magnamund.

JLL

[Treebore]

Hey Omote, can you give me your view on all this Mongoose/Lone Wolf cancellation? I've been seeing the usual raging against Mongoose, and wanted the view point of someone I believe is reasonably rational, at least when they aren't drunk off their ass.

[Omote]

I was personally dubious about the Mega-Deal which Mongoose offered 5+ years ago. I mean, to pay $600 for books that were not even converted over to Mongoose at the time would be silly. That said, if Mongoose would have come through for $600 for the entire line, that would have been a great deal. So yeah, that never happened. Not even 1/2 of it.

Mongoose was extrememly deficient in getting the books which hundreds of fans paid big buckss for.

All of that being said, Mongoose was polite in trying to get the fans what they paid for. What irks me personally is that about 9 months ago, Mongoose who never provided even half the service thye originally promised, went ahead AGAIN, and solicited the Lone Wolf Mega-Deal telling customers that they were moving ahead with renewed vigor and people could subscribe for a lot of money to these books. At the time, there were about 14-16 planned books yet to be released. Moongoose took in even more orders with the promise that the problems had been worked out. Mongoose released 2 error-riddled books to the market.

Now here we are. A few days ago, everything relating to Lone Wolf was pulled from the Mongoose's website, and RPGnow/Drivethru. No statement was given to the fans for this action.

It now appears (at least at this point) that Mongoose has cancelled their plans to produce any more Lone Wolf books. It appears Mongoose did this on their own since they are the license holder to produce RPGs and Gamebooks for Lone Wolf. If Mongoose canceled their own plans, then that is a huge slap in the face of customers from around the world who have paid hundred of thousands of dollars for product that will never be delivered. At this point, Mongoose Publishing is not yet offering any sort of refund. I'm sure Mongoose is going to try to do right, but there is no way that that company is going to be able to refund that kind of cash to customers.

It appears that the Lone Wold license will revert back to the original author, and spiritual guarding of the Lone Wolf setting Mr. Joe Dever. The problem with that is, that Joe Dever does not appear to be in a position to put out the remaining Lone Wolf books in the nice, new format that Mongoose started. No one is even sure if there is a willing licensee out there who could take the mantle and start up production again.

The bottom line is that Mongoose really butchered this line. Sure, they had great ambitions, and probably honorable intent, but they fell flat on their faces. Mongoose Publishing may have sealed their own fate with this one. What other big licensor is going to want to give Mongoose the right to produce their stuff now? The worst thing is that the fans who have waited years... literally YEARS, may never see their money or product again.

~O

[Treebore]

I actually saw a statement about this by Mongoose somewhere. I'll see if I can find it for you.

[Treebore]

Here it is:

http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/vie ... 14&t=55464

[Omote]

Thanks TB. If I were one owned money for the mega-deals, I wouldn't exactly be excited about getting credit in other Mongoose products. Joe Dever may be "making good" with putting out novels 18-32, but customers will certainly have to pay for those. Plus, I believe all of those novels are available on the Project Aeo website for free right now anyway.

Beyond all of this nonsense, I think there are some real possibilites now. Joe Dever is working to put out a Lone Wolf board game. Now, perhaps, the Lone Wolf setting can be properly taken to a new RPG. Mongoose's latest RPG was pretty shitty. The fluff was good, the rules and gahd-awful artwork were no help either. The Joe Dever maps are stellar, and could lead to some RPG gold in the future. Let's hope.

~O

[Treebore]

Yeah, maybe he could do a Kickstarter or three to get funding, if he needs it.

[Omote]

Joe Dever didn't do a kickstarter to get his map projects rolling, and the first set of 4 came out spectacularly. I think the LWRPG could be a fairly simple affair, but despite it's low page count, Mongoose's latest LWRPG was a bit oblique. If they could get a proper RPG with Joe's art (and those maps), wow, we could have a serious contentor for the light-RPG marketplace.

~O

[Treebore]

Seems they do get a full, pro rated, cash refund. Just the offer in the link above was to get FULL credit for other Mongoose goods, instead of pro rated cash. So if you paid, as just an example, I have no idea what the actual fee's were, $600 and have cash left over because they have only done 16 books, you can chose to get $140 in cash back at the pro rated amount, or choose to get a full $600 in credit for other Mongoose products.

Pretty awesome, in my opinion.

[Treebore]

Heh, just realized I have the Lone Wolf OGL version on my book shelves. Just the one book.

[Treebore]

Hey Omote, something I think you will like hearing, if you haven't already:

http://www.projectaon.org/en/blog/2013/ ... shing-ltd/

[Omote]

Great news. Though Mongoose is doing the right thing and giving the subscribers their money back, it's a bitter pill to swallow. It's been many years of pain, and for that, Mongoose failed Lone Wolf's fans.

That being said, good news! Joe Dever is moving on. He plans to get the rest of the books out to the fans, but it's probably going to take a while. He has to shop the publishing rights to other companies. I hope that with his enthusiam, he can find a TRUE publisher that has the means to put out the quality, top-notch books. Joe Dever's recent map releases are gorgeous and the books should match. No less will be accepted from me.

Mongoose had a vision, and good intentions. Clearly though, the were the wrong outfit to put out these books.

And TB, the Mongoose OGL version of Lone Wolf is actually quite good. That tome is a whole game all in one. No other 3E books are needed to play. The rules are light for d20, and play really well. The interior is terrible. Mongoose never spent the cash on getting good artwork which was a shame for that game. That book sold well enough to produce 3 editions, 2 in hardback, and one is softcover, and 3 sourcebooks. It's a fun game.

~O

[Treebore]

Yeah, at least Mongoose's crappy interior artwork fits with Traveller, because it has always had rather crappy interior artwork. Some gems, but mostly crappy.