Press Release!
Evil Hat Productions Brings The World of Harry Dresden To Life With The Dresden Files Role Playing Game
Silver Spring, Maryland (January 26, 2010) - After 4 years in the making, Evil Hat Productions is not only pleased but proud to officially announce The Dresden Files Role Playing Game (RPG) will release at the Origins Game Fair, June 23, 2010. Fred Hicks, one of the founding partners of Evil Hat, said, “Stars and stones! This project has been a labor of love for a great many people for a few years now. The thought of sharing these books with people, getting them in their hands, and having people role playing in the Dresden-verse is making me all misty.”
The Dresden Files RPG is based upon the wildly popular series of books by New York Times best selling author Jim Butcher. With eleven books published in the series, and Changes, the 12th book set to release on April 6, 2010, the Evil Hat crew had a wealth of characters and plot to draw from. “When Jim came to us a few years back, and asked us if we wanted to work on a role playing game based on his books, it took us about a millisecond to say ‘yes!’ He has been one of our biggest supporters on the project, and is just wonderful to work with” said Hicks.
Hicks went on to say, “We based The Dresden Files RPG on the ’Fate’ game system we used on the award-winning Spirit of the Century. We took everything we learned from Spirit, and then updated, revised, play-tested, and fine-tuned it to produce an experience that closely matches the novels themselves. That experience is also defined by the wealth of background we were able to add to the game from Jim’s amazing stories, including a comprehensive look at all the characters and creatures from the first ten books. We are sure that along with being a phenomenal game, it will also be a fantastic resource for fans of the books.”
“Originally, we were planning to do this game in a single volume. As time went on and word count grew…so did the amount of flat-out awesome we knew we had on our hands. And so our game grew out of the confines of one book, into two gorgeous volumes,” Hicks added.
The Dresden Files RPG: Volume 1 – Your Story and The Dresden Files RPG: Volume 2 – Our World will make their first appearance at the Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio June 23, 2010.
“We wanted to release these books in a bit more of an intimate setting, so we chose to make our big ‘coming out’ at Origins. It’s a small enough show that we feel like we will be able to spend more time with the fans, and thank the community that has been so supportive as we have been working on this. All plans point to physical copies of the books being available for the release event. But if Fate (ahem) intervenes and they do not arrive for the show floor, we will offer an ‘instant content pre-order.’ This will allow folks to walk away with full PDFs of the books right there, and have the books shipped directly to them,” Hicks said.
Preorders may begin prior to Origins, depending on how the production timeline works out. Shortly after Origins, The Dresden Files RPG Volumes 1 & 2 will then go on sale both to Retailers and Consumers through the Evil Hat online store, as well as through Indie Press Revolution.
- The Dresden Files RPG: Volume 1 – Your Story ISBN 978-0-9771534-7-3. Price UPDATED (2/26) – $49.99. 400 pages, full color interior, hardcover.
- The Dresden Files RPG: Volume 2 – Our World ISBN 978-0-9771534-8-0. Price UPDATED (2/26) – $39.99, 270 pages, full color interior, hardcover.
- Retailers, for more information on how to order Evil Hat’s full line-up of titles, please visit http://www.evilhat.com/home/retailer-information/
- For more information on Evil Hat Productions, visit: http://www.evilhat.com
- For More information on The Dresden Files and Jim Butcher, visit: http://www.jim-butcher.com
- Follow The Dresden Files RPG on Twitter @Dresdenfiles
- Press contacts, please email feedback@evilhat.com
Woohoo! Great news.
This is awesome news. I’m glad DFRPG was allowed to grow to two volumes, rather than be subject to cuts to squeeze it into one volume. Now there is more room for all that awesome art.
@Jonathan — For me, more than the art is the incredible amount of information we’re able to provide about the cast of the novels. The second volume is going to make for a *great* “reading companion” as folks read the newest stuff (Turn Coat and Changes). I’m thoroughly pleased about this direction.
We’re hoping to be able to post a breakdown of the anatomy of each book sometime next month, I think.
Sweeet!
How many pages will the book be? (apporx)
Can’t wait to pre-order.
@Matt, we’re still working that out. It looks like between the two books combined we’ll be pushing or exceeding 600 pages total.
Mmmmm. Release date goodness. Who’d a’thought we’d ever get this?
When can I pre-order? Awesome news!
@Bruce Harlick, I’ll quote the press release above: “Preorders may begin prior to Origins, depending on how the production timeline works out.”
Awesome! I’ve been looking forward to it for ages.
Fantastic!
So which volume will my bit be in, just so I can brag about it — er, give you free publicity about it — on my lj and elsewhere?
@incandescens, Both! We ended up using it as the basis for two chapters — Harry’s World in volume 1, and Old World Order in volume 2.
Oh well then, I have no excuse for not trying to get people to buy the whole thing. Right!
Are there plans to release errata to cover new things that occur as the novels progress?
The RPG is going on my “When I Have Money” list.
@fred
What size format did you go for? Oh, and will there be basic info in the first one to make it playable from that? I’m seeing the second one also selling to fans who are non-gamers…
@StarController, “errata” would suggest that there was an error that needed to be corrected. So strictly on that basis I’d say no. That said, we’ve been talking for a while about hosting conversations here on this site where we’ll break down the new events of each novel or story and how to integrate them into the game system.
@Tim Gray, 8.5×11, full color, hardcover. We’ll be posting the anatomy of the books sometime in the next few weeks, which I think will make answers to most such questions clear. The core system will be in the first book, but you’ll want the second for its vast wealth of examples, creatures, factions, and other research.
What about MY bit? You know, the one where I suggested you should use a lot of ‘e’s and ‘the’s? I should get a free copy for that! ^_^
Seriously tho, can’t wait!
That’s great news! I have been looking forward to this game for a long time now (even before reading the novels) and I can’t wait to actually hold copies of the two books in my hands. Will you be making the PDF versions of the DFRPG available earlier than the actual printed books and will there be a Book + PDF deal like with Spirit of the Century?
Quoting the great Cthulhu: Yum Yum
I can’t hardly wait for the game, it goes directly to my “To hell with money, I’ll buy both books with my kidneys if necessary” list.
Will we poor Europeans be able to preorder it when possible? Please pretty please with whipped cream and a cherry on the top?
Selenio.
@Selenio, Europeans willing to pay the cost of shipping two heavy books to Europe will most certainly be able to.
@Stargazer — we’ll make the PDF available as a stand-alone product after the physical product ships, but we’ll be making the PDF immediately available to anyone who preorders through our webstore at http://www.evilhat.com/store/ or via Indie Press Revolution.
@fred Hmm, although shipping to Europe is a bit on the expensive side (I’ve ordered SotC from your webstore), the preorder deal sounds pretty sweet.
Those two book titles (Your Story; Our World) are the best named/categorized ever.
It immediately fills me with great confidence about the work you are doing.
Yes!
@Joe McDonald, I’m soooo happy to hear that. Those titles took us several weeks to uncover, so I’m really pleased at the positive feedback we’ve gotten about ‘em.
I have to agree on the Titles. I know a few members of my group were a bit concerned about effectivly stepping on the toes of the novels. To me the titles make it very clear that in your game the setting is yours to do with as you will.
Im also really glad about the Europeans being able to order from the off! Just to be clear: If I order a physical copy through Indie press or Evil Hat’s website I can also get a digital copy straight away?
Great news. I’ve posted them to the RPG.net forums and I’m thrilled. I might have to wait a little longer than June, given that I’m one of those dirty old worlders but I’m sure it’ll be worth it. I’m already spreading the word here at work…
@Ihadris, yep, we don’t run preorders where you can’t get some kind of instant access. It’s not our style.
May I just say that “Your Story” and “Our World” are just the best RPG book titles ever? Kudos.
@buzz, Thanks! It took us way more time and effort to arrive at those than you might think. The positive feedback has been awesome.
@fred
Might I suggest “Chicago Special Investigations: Case File” for the “Updates”
or “Chicago Special Investigations: Consultant Case Record”?
can’t wait for the start of the pre-order
and i want to add my congratulations to the book titles: they are really great.
@fred
I like to support my local game store, but I’d really like to get a pdf at the time of pre-order. Are there any plans, or a work-around for that situation?
@gaelvin, if you can get your game store to verify with us that you’re placing a guaranteed preorder with them, you could use that as a basis for taking advantage of our Brick & Mortar PDF Guarantee: http://www.evilhat.com/home/pdf-guarantee/
If I preorder prior to origins, can I still pick up my copy of the books at origins (assuming the books will in fact be there)?
@Edward Lynch, No idea! We’ll have to sort out what we can and can’t support regarding real-world pick-ups, and that’s a ways off. They tend to be fraught with logistical peril!
Awesome! Can’t wait ’til June.
Good enough. Knowing I’ll finally be able to play the game this summer will be worth it all.
Bit of an odd one but could you get a ‘print on demand’ partner in Europe to cover orders. As in I pre-order with you guys but actual printing and shipping come from POD in Europe (or even I order pdf with you guys and buy dead tree versions from PODer).
I’m looking to get as least one set plus pdf and thinking about getting the books as presents and shipping costs may influence my thoughts
Chris
@Chris — A print-on-demand full color hardcover in the form factor we’re talking about would cost more to print BEFORE mark-up than it would to ship the book from the States.
Thanks for the speedy reply, I’ll see which kidney complains the loudest…
i’ve got a question regarding harry’s charactersheet: those 2 free slots (for potions and stuff)… is “stuff” like the kinetic ring(s) or the spell lined coat/duster?
@Wyrdrune — Yep, though he didn’t start out with those things in book one, and we imagine he’d add a few levels of refinement over the course of advancement to add even more slots for those things.
During the course of Storm Front, he primarily used those for potions: the love potion, the escape potion.
Yay! I’m really looking forward to seeing how the game has evolved since the early playtests. I know it’s been a lot of hard work, but we out here in the rest of the world appreciate the time, effort, and skill you’ve applied to the project.
I really want to play it again!
Rick
You are providing ISBN, so I assume I can order through a “major book store”. I don’t have a FLGS in my area, I relay on a the “major book store” to order RPG’s. Turns out to work well for me, as I get gift cards for the store and use it for gaming material.
Also, I like the inventive names for the books. Better than Player’s Book, and Master’s Book. Your Story, and Our World is a great idea. But then that is why you get paid the big bucks.
@JimmyB, an ISBN is no such guarantee. If you want a peek at the business considerations that go into getting the book into a major bookstore, and why Evil Hat might not be able to do that, see my blog post at: http://www.deadlyfredly.com/2010/01/the-shelf-is-a-gamble/
It’s not a guarantee we won’t, but I would not necessarily bet on it.
I am a brick & mortar store that deals through IPR. How would I give my customers preordering the item proof so they could get the PDF up front and the print product when it’s shipped to me?
North Coast Role Playing
1846 Broadway
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 444-2288
@oss1ncrp, a few other stores we’ve worked with in the past collect email addresses and send them straight to us, telling us what products the customer bought. We then send the PDF to those people. That’s one way.
We could also work with you to provide for an “instant content preorder” — giving you the PDF and permission to burn copies to CD for people who place a preorder with you.
@JimmyB, Not Fred, but regarding the book names. An interesting thing about this game is that there isn’t a clear distinction in the book between “GM Material” and “Player Material.” The Building Scenarios chapter is about the only one squarely aimed at the GM.
@Clark, one of two, really; I’d say Running the Game is fairly GM-directed as well. But that’s 2 out of 20 chapters across 2 books.
Greetings from Argentina. Can’t wait till June. You can bet that we’ll be doing a spanish translation as soon as humanly possible. But don’t forget about us (“those who live far far away and with indexed-to-dollar economies”) and please release a PDF version as well.
Yes! I sincerely hope you sell every last one of the books at origins, I’ve waiting anxiously for the game to be released and it’s great to see you guys finally managed to bring all of your hard work to us consumers. Kudos from Venezuela!
(hopefully you’ll have a .pdf version ready soon after origins for us third-worlders roleplayers)