Introducing: The Companion Series

Wiggy’s Toolkits have been a phenomenal hit, and you’ve asked for them in print since they began. When we dug into them though, there was a bit of a problem. For one, several of them were just too big! Fantasy and sci-fi in particular were really huge, and we didn’t want these to come out as $50 hardbacks.

So as we dug back into them and thought about how we play and how most of you play, we realized that what most of us wanted was more of a Companion. If you’re running a fantasy game, for example, you probably just want new spells, monsters, weapons, armor, Edges, and Hindrances. You’re likely running in a world of your own creation, or “Savaging” someone else’s campaign world.

Those parts of the Toolkits are much easier to consolidate, so we took a look at that and came up with Explorer’s Edition-sized “Companions.” This series will start with Fantasy, then we’ll do Super Powers. After that—not necessarily in this order—will come Sci-Fi, Pulp, Horror, Post-Apocalyptic, and Martial Arts. These will take place over the course of the next eight months or so.

All of the Companions will be full-color and sell for $19.99.

The best news is Fantasy is already done and just awaiting a cover. Super Powers is a few edits from being done and a cover.

If you do want the toolkits, they'll remain for sale in PDF format from our store, so we're not taking away anything.

Thanks!

--Shane

*** Addendum ***

Questions from this thread on the forum:

When will the Fantasy Companion be out? (Multiple Forum Users)

It's not at the printers yet, so that's about four months right there, unfortunately. I expect to send it to the printers in about two weeks, so we're looking at late January at the earliest. Supers is right behind it and could go to the printer within two weeks of that.

What about a World Builder's Companion? (BluSpong)

Great idea, Tom! I'll keep it in mind, and if the Companions in general do well, we'll make that happen. Maybe combined with general GM tips (much like Wiggy's "Whispers from the Pit.")

Will the Companions contain updated information? What won't be in them from the Toolkits? (Luisto and Sitting Duck)

The Companions are not the Toolkits and vice-versa. The Companions do contain the "crunchy" bits of the Toolkits, however, and are largely reprinted from that material (some Companions reprint other material--such as the rules for super powers from NE). All of this is cleaned up and re-edited, with minor updates as needed.

A few bits are brand new, such as a few new weapons, spells, creatures in Fantasy; or new gear in supers or sci-fi.

The real question you want to know is: Do you need to buy these? Let me unequivocably say "no." Everything you need is in Savage Worlds.

The next question is, "If I have the Toolkit, do I need the Companion?" Again, I'll say no. There will be a few new bits in the Companion that aren't in the TK, and some bits in the TK that aren't in the Companion.

So to help you decide if these are worth your money you should ask yourself "Is it worth $20 to have the Companion in a nice, printed, beautifully illustrated, full-color, consolidated form with a few new bits?" If the answer is yes, then dinner's on you. Thanks! If it's no, you've got all you need in SW, or SW + the Toolkit depending on your particular desires.

And REALLY, heck, you don't even need SW! The FREE Test Drive rules pretty much give you everything you need to run most anything. (Geez--it's like we don't WANT your money or anything...)