Era IV: 2008: The Circle Feeds Back Upon Itself…

Travel well, Gary. You will be missed. Gary Con is created from the mourning.

“I would like the world to remember me as the guy who really enjoyed playing games and sharing his knowledge and his fun pastimes with everybody else.”

-E.G.G.

This is the year that D&D 4e breaks onto the scene. Playing very much like hyper-structured MMO’s; with World of Warcraft coming to mind, this new system rebuilt the worlds of D&D. Its strengths were expedited DM prep time, using a plug-and-play kind of game build. Group-wise, the game was far more balanced and greatly enhanced team-based tactics. The down side was the sense of ‘rinse-and-repeat’ redundancy that would eventually give rise to third-party game concepts such as Fourthcore.

The 4th edition Game System License was released to the public on June 17, 2008. This public copyright license is similar to, but more restrictive than, the Open Game License (OGL) that was created for 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The license allows third-party publishers to create products using the intellectual property of Dungeons and Dragons. At Origins 2008, WotC brought the Greyhawk line to a conclusion, not updating the game world to the 4^th edition rules.

This license differs from the previous OGL in several ways. People wishing to use this license are allowed and granted a logo that must be placed onto their products to state that they are compatible with Dungeon & Dragons 4th Edition. The license also can be updated by Wizards of the Coast and updates affect all licensees; in case of litigation the licensees must pay the legal costs of Wizards of the Coast.

Paizo Publishing introduces the “Pathfinder Society Organized Play” which would release 28 scenarios each year.

Apex Magazine breaks as a webzine from its previous incarnation of Apex Digest.
Black Industries, the role-playing division of BL Publishing (part of Games Workshop) ceases operations, with GW giving new license to Fantasy Flight Games.
Day Dreamer Interactive is founded in Winnipeg.

Punk

Sweet Chariot 2 was released on January 1, 2008 by Flying Mice.. This sci-fi steampunk game is a complete rework of 2003's Sweet Chariot, with a new dice pool task resolution system, and all new illustrations.

Horror

Trail of Cthulhu by Pelgrane Press. Updated GUMSHOE system that supports both the pulp and purist styles of play.

Zombie Cinema by Arkenstone Publishing. This US version of the 2006 Finnish game of post-apocalypse zombie-infested gaming.
Dead Reign: published by Palladium Books. Trot out another zombie apocalypse RPG!
Hunter: The Vigil by White Wolf Publishing. Hunt the monsters in WWP’s other game core books using magic and tech!
World of Darkness: Innocents by White Wolf Publishing. Play a child in this Storytelling System, who sees the horrors of the world ignored by adults.
Apocalypse Prevention Inc by Third Eye Games. Join in this horror / action game in protecting the earth from the shadow agents of the unknown!

Anime

Bubblegum Crisis by R. Talsorian Games. Set in 2033 after hardsuit blueprints become common commodities. Knight Saber groups are global.

Modern Settings (past century)

The Squared Circle: Wrestling RPG by Day Dreamer Interactive. A professional wrestling RPG.

Chimaera by Chimaera Studios. Modern age super heroes and sci fi!
Rocketship Empires 1936 by StoryART Games. A pulpy sci-fi game putting WWII in spaaaaaaace!
A Dirty World by Schroedinger’s Cat Press. Film noir rpg.
Maid: The RPG by Diamond Sutra. A lighthearted game about being a maid in a mansion.
Hot War by Contested GroundStudios. A horror-themed game based in a post-nuclear war 1960’s.
Summerland by Fire Ruby Designs. The apocalypse has come with the sudden growth and rise of the Sea of Leaves, a vast and malevolent forest that has blanketed the globe.
In Harm's Way: Wild Blue was released on March 31, 2008 by Flying Mice.. This game is specifically designed for roleplaying modern mercenary characters. It uses the base
GURPS Action (var): How to GURPS-play 1980’s action flicks.
GURPS Power-Ups series (var): New GURPS abilities for characters. 5 volumes.

Historic-based

The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchaunsen by Mongoose Pub. This is the second edition of the game first published in 1998.

In Harm's Way: Dragons! was released on October 20, 2008 by Flying Mice.. This game is set in an alternate Napoleonic Age where dragons are real and comprise the air arm of the Napoleonic era forces. It is completely compatible with In Harm's Way: A Napoleonic Naval RPG.

Fantasy

Dominion Rules by Dominion Games. 3^rd edition of this historical fantasy RPG conceptual approach.

Houses of the Blooded by Wicked Dead Brewing. A dark fantasy / political game about Ambistion, Love, and revenge.
D&D 4e by Wizards of the Coast. And so the polarization of gamers finds crystallization…
Desolation by Greymalkin Designs. Set 18 months after a high-fantasy world has been devastated by apocalyptic events.
Karma Quick Guide by Bards and Sages. A free PDF download that outlines the core game mechanic for the Karma game system.
Wayfarers by Ye Olde Gaming Companye. A fantasy setting in the world of Twylos.
Pathfinder RPG by Paizo. An improved version of the D&D 3.5 ruleset.
Legend of the Five Rings Role-Playing Game (Origins Award winner) by AEG. This is the revised, third edition.
Dragon Warriors by Mongoose Pub. A re-collection of the 1985/6 fantasy series.

Generic

B3YOND game engine by PH Games. A generic RPG engine, expanding on the non-conventional gameplay mechanics of HGII, it added Reflex Time and Two World Mechanics.

Anima: Beyond Fantasy by FFG. This is a generic-setting (Gaia) fantasy game based on virtually any Anima series that can be found.
Cartoon Action Hour by Spectrum Games. The 2^nd edition of the game that allows you to relive classic 80’s cartoons.
Dragon Warrior by  Mongoose Publishing. This is a slightly improved version of the earlier game system.

Futuristic

Dark Heresy by FFG. Warhammer 40,000’s RPG game.

3:16 Carnage Amongst the Stars by Box Ninja. Sci-fi bug hunt game.
Shadowrun HC by  Catalyst Game Labs using the Shadowrun 4 system. This is the third publisher buy-out of the title and the 11^th edition of the game.
Alpha Omega: The Beginning and the End by  Mindstorm Labs. A science fantasy game of far flung future where angels and demons wander the mega-cities.
Starblazer Adventures by Cubicle 7 Entertainment. Based on the 1970 through 80’s comic series.
Star Trek a d20 modern take on the classic TV show.
Hellas: World of Sun and Stone by Khepera Publishing / aethereal FORGE. Ancient Greece set in a space opera fantasy.
Traveller Core Rulebook by Mongoose Publishing. The most recent version.
Thousand Suns by Rogue Games. A deep space RPG.
WarpWorld by BTRC. Set in 2312 in a post nuclear apocalyptic world.
CthulhuTech Developed by WildFire LLC, printed and distributed by Mongoose. Catalyst Game Labs no longer publishes, and has returned the license.

Child-oriented

The PS238 Roleplaying Game by Hero Games. A superhero game for younger players!

Mouse Guard RPG by Archaia Studios Press. Is based on Petersen’s Mouse Guard comic and graphic novel series.

World of Warcraft: Lich King kicked off this year.

A RPS (Role Play Shooter) game titled Fallout 3, and the release of the espionage game White Gold: War in Paradise.