One thing a trip to GENCON will do for a gamer is open his eyes to the wide array of games on the market. Most Gamestores can't even come close to stocking all the games and supplements available. We barely had room in the SHADIS mobile on the trip home, due to all the review materials we were hauling.

As many of you already know, we encourage our reviewers to actually play a product before writing or submitting a review. Due to the flood of products uncovered at GENCON, we've decided to run an overview of these products so our readers can see what's out there. Eventually, as reviews are received we will run them in SHADIS.

Of course, this is not a complete list of available games, just ones that we were able to pick up at the convention.

The Primal Order: Knights Strategies in Motion
Company: Wizards of the Coast

This is the third book in the Primal line which offers a fresh new look at the use of Deities in fantasy role-playing games. Knights Strategies in Motion takes three fictional deities that can be plugged into almost any on going fantasy campaign. The book completely details these three deities and how they build their organizations from top to bottom. Including worshiper life-styles, sacraments, duties of priesthood, and personality, background, abilities and responsibilities of the divine beings in each religious hierarchy.

Like its well-received forerunners, The Primal Order and Pawns, the Opening Move, Knights looks as if it will be a great tool for a game master wishing to flesh out his divine organizations.

Legend Quest
Company: Board Enterprises

Legend Quest is a game that has been around for a while but we finally got our hands on a copy at GENCON™. It has received good reviews and deserves a closer look.

LQ is a fantasy based role playing game. The rule book covers everything needed to play, including character generation, magic, combat and a healthy section on monsters. We also picked up three adventures and two supplement for the game.

All were good reads and seemed to flow well. Like many small companies this game lacks the frills of some large press releases but LQ proves once again that it's not the cover and artwork that make a good game.

Star Wars Dark Empire Source Book
Company: West End Games

Considering I saw the original movie over 100 times I couldn't leave the convention without the latest Star Wars supplement. The long awaited, Dark Empire Sourcebook sets up the exciting continuation of the Star Wars saga. This book includes everything needed to continue the time-line that was brilliantly continued in Timothy Zahns Novels. The center of the book is graced with beautiful art slicks that hint at the quality of the rest of the book. What can I say? If you play the game you need this book.

Grace Under Pressure
Company: Pagan Publishing

Grace Under Pressure is a stand alone tournament style adventure for Cthulhu Now. The party plays one of eight crewmen on the RSV Wallaby, a deep sea research vessel. The book promises that this adventure is a departure from normal CoC fare. The objective is not to foil an evil plot or to destroy an evil menace. Rather, it is simply to survive. Of course this in itself is hard enough in a normal CoC game let alone 1500 feet below the surface.

Cyber Generation
Company: R. Talsorian Games

Loosen up and role-play! R Talsorian gives Cyberpunk gamers a chance to get back to the basics with this Dark Future supplement. Cyber Generation details character classes based on the children of modern day Cyberpunks. The future that they have to deal with is much different than that of their parents. These cyberkids are outcasts being rounded up by the Corporate Security Police and fighting against Corporate Controlled America and the establishment. You won't find a lot of charts on weapons and guns in this supplement, but what they do offer is a full backdrop for a new era including; character classes, background, adversaries, skills and much more.

Battlelords of the 23rd Century
Company: Optimus Design Systems

This Game is as intense as the boys who created it. If you were at Gencon you know these guys hard sell their game. It's obvious they are excited about their product and it's not hard to see why.

Battlelords promises role-playing in a "Dangerous Future". It looks like it makes good on that promise. The game books and supplements detail a world of the future that is caught up in an exploration race that is progressing at a fantastic rate. The system is set up to provide a gaming environment which is a mixture of role-playing and heavy combat action. Role playing and Hack and Slash - What more could a gamer ask for? The system appears to be very detailed and written in a user friendly manner. You'll be hearing good things about this company and there are many future supplements in the wings.

Legions of Steel Scenario Pack 1
Company: Global Games

This is a game that got rave reviews in SHADIS #9. We've been fighting over the basic set since it arrived.

Now that the first scenario pack has arrived the fever has intensified. The book includes at least 12 new scenarios, supplement rules for the game And play information for two new bad guys, the C1 Succubot, and G3 Predator. To even the score they also added a couple of good guys including the Heavy Assault Commando and Recce Commando. As usual the book has a liberal amount of cool art and includes new full color game counters and important quick reference charts. Lock and Load!

Mekton Operation Rimfire
Company: R Talsorian Games

"The only thing colder than space is the human heart..." Mekton and Operation Rimfire is based on the popular Japanimation genre. The book does a superb job of capturing the look and feel of this unique setting. R Talsorian has taken the world of Algol, and put an entire animation series into it. The book includes great full color and black and white character portraits and quite a few adventure hooks.

Legendary Lives
Company: Marque Press

From the folks who brought you the classic, Lost Souls comes this fantasy role-playing entry which has been as equally well-received, Legendary Lives.

Legendary Lives offers the standard fantasy character races as well as few that are not so traditional. There is a more than adequate section on religions and information on the game world. Legendary Lives appears to be as creatively written as Lost Souls. It is definitely worth a look.

Where's George
Company: Avalon Hill Game Company

This supplement is for our editor's favorite beer and pretzel game, tales from the Floating Vagabond. Like most Vagabond supplements this one is packed with extras. Don't expect a few maps and a simple adventure here. This supplement actually includes a board game that players can play while 'in character'. Where's George includes cards, play money, Win by a Mudslide board game and stats for your favorite political personalities. Just because the real presidential election is over, that shouldn't steer you away from this supplement.

Kult
Company:Metropolis Ltd.

"Warning: Kult is game that explores the dark side of the human soul; Some may find this disturbing. Kult is not recommended for players under 16."

Any game that runs such a disclaimer on its back cover is bound to draw attention. The question of course is whether or not you choose to ignore the warning and proceed.

If you are looking to step beyond the realms of conventional gaming, Kult may be for you. Within the game industry Kult is getting its fair share of rave reviews at being a ground breaking new system.

You play a character in a world that is dark and dangerous, where nothing is what it seems to be. Based in a modern day setting, you will find that our reality is an illusion and that the real world is ruled by creatures who hide behind a false fasage. Of course behind these illusions is where the true adventure and the truth can be found. If you dare to disbelieve the conventional...

Wizards
Company: Whit Publications

Ralph Bakshi's cult-classic movie Wizards came out just about the time I started my foray into gaming. Even before I was a hard core gamer I was a fan.

Whit Publications has created this post Holocaust animated world in the role-playing game Wizards. The basic rule book provides the backdrop familiar to fans of the movie. Unlike some role-playing games on the market, Whit promises and appears to be delivering plenty of support material to make this product more than just a movie knock off. 11 Products by the end of this year! Unfortunately we do not have them at our disposal, but the game itself seems to have everything needed to run a successful campaign.

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