I probably should have posted it here instead of off topic, since it actually deals with RPGs this time around and not just CCGs. The thread is here: http://www.therpgsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3172.

Margaret Weis has been contracted to do at least 3 books for a Highlander RPG.

I haven't seen her newest stuff, although I hear good things about Serenity. I loved the AD&D Dragonlance stuff she did along with Traci Hickman (well, the setting and rules mostly, we never played the adventures).

Hopefully her company picks a whole new system to use rather than the one that is present in Serenity (and from what I hear the upcoming BSG game also).  They need to cook up something that really captures some of the feel of the movies and series.

Don't know if that will happen though.  A lot of companies are obsessed with making all their games with the same house system.

Has there been any official announcement of this anywhere?   I hadn't heard anything, and can't find anything about it online....

Cool, no doubt it will focus on the tech and on a fairly bland capturing of the flavour material from the series, while largely ignoring the character and relationship driven drama that makes it worth watching.

Much as with the Serenity rpg.

I can hardly wait.

If it has anything from highlander 2. Someone will need to be punished.:grumpy:

Quote from: GMSkarkaHas there been any official announcement of this anywhere?   I hadn't heard anything, and can't find anything about it online....

There will most likely be a press release made some time this week. If I had to make a guess I'd say Wednesday.

First Edition, the card game, had some stuff from the second movie, and showed how a really crappy movie can make for a fun addition to a card game. I've almost managed to convince myself that the movie never existed and the personas in the game were created whole cloth by the design team.

If I were doing the RPG I'd completely ignore any issues of the source of the immortals' power. I'd make it possible for the players to run a Highlander 2 campaign if they didn't ming making up stats for the flying machines, but never mention it at all.

Quote from: RoninIf it has anything from highlander 2. Someone will need to be punished.:grumpy:

Highlander 2? There was no Highlander 2 Since its three books I am going to assume that they will include material from the movies and the TV series.

Quote from: James McMurrayI haven't seen her newest stuff, although I hear good things about Serenity. I loved the AD&D Dragonlance stuff she did along with Traci Hickman (well, the setting and rules mostly, we never played the adventures).

For all I've been told (and mind you, I didn't read the book), the Serenity RPG was a big disappointment for everyone but the hardcore Firefly fans. Take my comment with a grain of salt, of course, this being the internet...

As for a good set of rules, I'd say that True 20 is amazingly well suited for Highlander. Pundit's been running a Highlander campaign since August 2005, and it's been a blast so far. There's a little twist, though: the game is set during the Roman Empire, starting in 23 BC. We're currently in 130 AD.


Some updates to the house rules I posted in that link:

A Gladius does +3 damage instead of +2, a Spatha does +4 damage rather than +3, and a barbaric Greataxe does +4 damage rather than +5. This was done to reflect Roman superiority in warfare technology, as well as making combat it a bit deadlier for most characters.

You can take a head in holy ground, but it will hurt immensely: the next 10 Convictions Points you use after the scene are wasted. Kinda removes the incentive of going after first-level Vestals if you know that it could cost you dearly in a real fight, eh?

What do you need rules for?

Take any vaguely modern day or generic rpg.

State that characters cannot be killed by any damage other than decapitation.

Give characters an accelerated healing rate for anything else.

Um, you're done.

I'd use Cinematic Unisystem, which already has rules for called shots to decapitate in Buffy, but almost any system would do the trick.

Quote from: James McMurrayIf I were doing the RPG I'd completely ignore any issues of the source of the immortals' power. I'd make it possible for the players to run a Highlander 2 campaign if they didn't ming making up stats for the flying machines, but never mention it at all.

Well the new movie that has been filmed (not sure on when it will be released though) sets its main focus on the source of immortals.  At least with this they are completely divorcing themselves from the second movie storyline.

I've heard really bad things about that movie from people who've seen preview copies of it. I'm staying open minded, mostly because I don't go into movies (especially Highlander movies) expecting shakespeare. If it gives an amusing explanation and has some cool swordfights I'll be happy. Highlander 2 did neither of those.

I'll be the first to admit that Highlander 2 was really, really bad.  It had a couple of scenes that looked good for a few seconds and then they did their best to utterly destroy that visual immediately afterwards.  The story had no good points as far as I'm concerned.

Hopefully the new movie will at least be as good as an average television episode.  That's the highest hope that I have.  Like you I don't go in expecting much either, that's enables me to enjoy a lot of movies that most wouldn't.

The only good thing to come out of the 2nd movie was General Katana in the card game. He's a really cool persona to play. Corda and Reno are also fun to play, but way too cheesy for most people.

I can also confirm that an Highlander RPG is scheduled for release.

For the record, I don't think the Serenity system was bad, but the content of the game was not very good. Infact, I like the system.

This deal is brand-new, literally only made days ago, so the reason you haven't heard anything is because we weren't planning on announcing it just yet. So in lieu of an official announcement, here's a few nuggets of information for now.

We are planning on a Highlander Role Playing Game for release in about a year, with a few follow-up products and possible secondary support from other game publishers who we'll be working with for consistency and quality control.

The core game book will set up the world, offer the rules, and present things as seen through the eyes of the original Highlander film starring Christopher Lambert. It will be using the Cortex System, first seen for the Serenity Role Playing Game. While it may not be for everyone, it supports story and character emphasis and fast-moving action and has won multiple industry awards. The team we're planning to put together for the game will include Highlander "experts" who are very familiar with the films and TV series, experienced industry game designers, and at least one expert in practical sword combat.

The planned follow-up products include a sourcebook covering the entirety of the TV series and the film Highlander: Endgame. Another will cover the new trilogy of films that continue the story of Duncan MacLeod. (Yes, for those of you out there reading this, we're not currently planning to deal with any of the film sequels between the original and Highlander: Endgame.)

We're probably going to be quiet on this for a while, because we've just cut the deal as of the middle of last week and absolutely zero work has been done other than discuss our ideas and to begin talking to the potential writers.

However, we are going to be building up a playtest/review team in the next few months. If you're willing to offer constructive criticism and sign a Non-Disclosure agreement, we'd love to hear from you. Comments that include telling us to switch to True20/GURPS/Unisystem/d20 will be ignored. Those are great game systems, but we're building up the value and player base of our own, and experience has shown it's one of the best systems to bring in players from a larger fanbase outside of the usual gamer crowd. Please send your Highlander familiarity and RPG experience to my e-mail: jamie@margaretweis.com -- and thanks!

Jamie Chambers
Vice President
Margaret Weis Productions, Ltd.