UA - Whens the next product due out?

[James Palmer]

On Sun, 7 Feb 1999, Ian Young wrote:

> Jason P.Prince writes...
> 
> > PS: Will UA aim to have some real story arcs to
> > coordinate a developement of story around?
> > In other words will time passing in the game world
> > be recognised and any adventures or scenarios
> > pick up on an ongoing story?
> > 
> > I do hope so.
> 
> I must say that I hope not.
> 
> The over-arching "official" storyline is a convention of novels, TV series,
> movies, video games, etc., and in one of those situations the convention
> works well.  However, with RPGs it inevitably creates a situation that
> leads to a sequence of revised editions of the game and the artificially
> induced need to purchase new editions of books you already own.

I agree.  The worst examples of this have been In Nomine, where at least
two of the supplements have been nothing more than poorly-disguised
novels - and pretty poor ones at that - and Trinity, which kept so many
things secret in its first edition to be 'gradually revealed,' it made it
virtually impossible to run a game without clashing with some future
supplement.  

Fortunately, Atlas' other lines have avoided this tendency, with
sourcebooks that genuinely expanded the game setting, rather than
artificially advancing a plot.  Both OtE and AM have been exemplary in
providing complete, interesting backgrounds that the individual GM has
absolutely no problem adapting to his needs, and UA looks to continue this
trend.  All three games also include everything you need in the basic
rulebook, unlike, say, WW games, where, as any fule knows, you always end
up needing the Player's Guide, the Tribe/Clan/Guild/Social Club/Shoe Size
books, and god knows what else. 

Interesting plot arcs within individual supplements are great, but please
don't make them 'canon.' In an act of shameless fanboyism, I'm going to
point to LoTFR's bloody wonderful "City of Lies" boxed set, written, if I
remember correctly, by Mr Stolze.  That included a wonderful overarching
plot which killed a good ten important characters and permanently affected
the state of affairs in the city - but no future supplements are going to
depend on you having run that plot. 

James