Next week — June 19–25 — I’m heading back to the Origins Game Fair for the first time in 17 years. I used to hit it every year, starting in 1988, when the show merged with Gen Con for a year, up until 2000 or so. Then the quadruplets came along, and I started writing novels, video games, and such, and I had to cut back on the number of gaming conventions I hit.

The last time I was at Origins was back in 2007, when I was a guest of honor for the first time. This year, they invited me to be a guest of honor again, and I eagerly accepted. (And now we apparently know what it takes to bring me back!)

I’m pulling double duty as a gaming guest of honor and as the author guest of honor as well. You can find my schedule at the show listed here. On top of all that, I’m going to have a table in the Authors Alcove where my minions kids and I will be selling books and games. That includes some of the newer stuff, like the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game and Shotguns & Sorcery: The 5E Sourcebook books, plus some older stuff that’s been sitting in my attic for years — like copies of the Brave New World Roleplaying Game, which is 25 years old this summer!

As part of being the author guest of honor, I chipped in a short story to the Origins anthology, edited by my pal Aaron Rosenberg and featuring stories from all the fantastic writers in the authors program. Mine is a Deadlands story called “The Devil You Know” that’s a direct sequel to the yarns I spun for the Dealands Dime Novels back in the ’90s. This is a book available only at Origins, so be sure to grab a copy if you can.

On top of all that, the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game is up for the Origins Award for the Best Roleplaying Game. That means I’ll be sure to hit the Origins Awards ceremony on Friday night. (Side note: I commissioned the sculpture for the statue for the Origins Awards many years ago, from Hall of Famer Julie Guthrie. She did a fantastic job, and I’m honored to have several copies on my mantel.)

So, come on out and help me make this a triumphant return to Origins. I’m looking forward to getting back to it again, and I hope to see you there!

Shotguns & Sorcery: The 5E Sourcebook is finally ready for you! This is a campaign setting for the world’s most popular fantasy roleplaying game, based upon a series of stories and novels I’ve written.

You have three standard options for making it yours:

• DriveThruRPG: You can get the PDF and the POD (print-on-demand) editions here.
  • If you buy the POD book, you get the PDF for free!
• Backerkit: You can get a traditionally printed copy of the book here.
  • If you do, you also get the PDF for free, but if you just want the PDF, it’s easier to grab it through DriveThruRPG.
• Shard Tabletop: This is an electronic version of the book, all set up for use with Shard’s VTT (virtual tabletop) system.

On top of that, I’m going to have a table at Origins next week, and I should have several of the traditionally printed books with me there, along with all sorts of other things from the depths of my author’s copies closet.

Anyhow, here’s the text from the back of the book. I hope you like it!

Welcome to Dragon City 

It’s a grim, gritty metropolis ruled over by the Dragon Emperor, with legions of zombies scratching at the city walls by night.

Whether in the streets of Goblintown or the prestigious halls of the Academy of Arcane Apprenticeship, people try to scrape by, make a living, and survive from one day to the next. You, however, are looking for something more than simple survival. And in this city, if you don’t make your own adventure, another adventure is sure to find you.

Based on the fantasy noir novels of New York Times bestselling author Matt Forbeck, Shotguns & Sorcery: The 5E Sourcebook contains everything you need to move your game straight into Dragon City. 

Grab a wand, a shotgun, and hold on tight to your flying carpet. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Shotguns & Sorcery: The 5E Setting is a 280-page book packed with all sorts of details about Dragon City and the people who live in it. This includes details on:

• Cultures
• Magic Items
• Firearms
• Monsters
• Organizations
• Player Races
• Iconic Characters
• Generic NPCs
• and much more

It also features a full 36-page starting adventure for low-level heroes, perfect for launching your adventures in Dragon City. 

In addition to all that, the PDF edition of the book comes with a full set of electronic extras for your game. This includes: 

• A set of blank character sheets, both in color and black and white, standard and fillable. 
• A set of printable inserts for your customizable GM screen (portrait orientation). 
• A set of 4k-resolution wallpapers for your computer. 
• A set of high-resolution backgrounds for your phone or tablet. 

Yes, it’s been way too long! Yes, I should have done this months ago! (I’ve been wildly busy with the Marvel Multiverse RPG, kids graduating from college, and many other things.) BUT NOW IS FINALLY THE TIME!

On Tuesday, June 11, I’m releasing Shotguns & Sorcery: The 5E Sourcebook to the public. At that point, you can order it through DriveThru RPG in both hardcover ($74.99) and PDF ($29.99) formats. In fact, if you order the hardcover that way, you automatically get the PDF for free. I’m also releasing the Shard Tabletop edition of the game, if you want to play it on a snazzy virtual tabletop.

However, I still have a few leftover boxes of the hardcovers that I printed for the Kickstarter, both in the regular and deluxe formats. If you want those, you can order them through Backerkit. The regular hardcover is only $60 that way, while the deluxe is $100. (You get the PDF for free with each kind.) Since I’m shipping those from my home, I can autograph them for you — upon request — before they head out the door.

I also have a few boxes of hardcover books left of the Shotguns & Sorcery Cypher System game. You can buy those on eBay for $60 each, which is cheaper than the DriveThruRPG hardcovers go for these days too.

I’m bringing whatever I have left with me to Origins Game Fair, at which I’m pulling double duty as a gaming guest of honor and the author guest of honor. If you want to pick up one of the books from me there, let me know, and I’ll set one aside for you. I’ll have a table in the Authors Alcove, where my kids and I will be hanging out for most of the show.

I’ll be selling all sorts of stuff there, mostly author’s copies of books and games that have been taking up space in my attic. I’m also bringing copies of the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game Core Rulebook and The Cataclysm of Kang, and I’ll be happy to sign those too. Grab them while you can!

Thanks for all your support!

It’s hard to believe it’s been 16 years since Gary Gygax passed away, but despite that I’m heading out to Gary Con XVI tomorrow to run some games, play in some other games, and catch up with all sorts of friends. Fortunately, it’s in Lake Geneva, which is not that long of a drive for me. Here’s my schedule for the weekend:

Thursday, March 21

• 2 PM: Enter: Hydra. A demo of the Marvel Multiverse RPG. SOLD OUT

Friday, March 22

• 12 PM: Enter: Hydra. A demo of the Marvel Multiverse RPG. SOLD OUT
• 9 PM: Baron Munchausen with Rob Wieland. A team of top-notch creators — including Anjali Bhimani, Banana Chan, ElisaTeague, Keith Baker, LaTia Jacquise, Sarah Babe, Todd Stashwick, and me — is playing to raise money for the Jennell Jaquays memorial fund. SOLD OUT

Saturday, March 23

• 12 PM: Enter: Hydra. A demo of the Marvel Multiverse RPG. SOLD OUT
• 6 PM: Catacombs & Creators. Dan Taylor runs his Catacombs & Comedians adventure, but with creators instead, including Levi Combs, Ed Greenwood, Tommy Gofton, and me. SOLD OUT

You might notice all the events are sold out, but if you spot me wandering the halls or hanging out in the lobby at any point, don’t be afraid to say hi!

I am heading out soon to be a guest at Dragonmeet, a legendary one-day gaming convention held at the Novotel Hammersmith in London. My schedule at the show (so far):

Saturday, December 3

• Noon: What Board Games Mean to Me. Why are board games so important to so many of us, and why have they become so popular? Inspired by the new book of the same name from Aconyte, games expert James Wallis is joined by a panel of games industry experts and enthusiasts, including Sir Ian Livingstone and Matt Forbeck, to explore the many ways in which games have shaped all our lives.
• 4 PM: Learn about the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game. Come hear writer/designer Matt Forbeck talk about the Marvel Multiverse RPG and its development through its public playtest to the full game that debuted in August.

I’ll likely have a signing at the Modiphius booth at some point too. If all goes well, they should have a good stock of the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game: Core Rulebook and The Cataclysm of Kang.

I haven’t been back to the UK since I left Games Workshop back in 1990, so I’m looking forward to wandering about a bit in the week beforehand, seeing the sights, and catching up with old friends.

Anyhow, if you’re in the London area around then, join me at the show! It’s bound to be great fun.

This weekend, I’m heading out to Gamehole Con, in crisp and brisk Madison, Wisconsin, about an hour’s drive north of me. I’ve been going since GHC 2, and I’m excited to be back to help Alex Kammer and his amazing crew celebrate their 10th show.

I have a lot going on at the show, but I don’t have a booth. You can find me at any of the listed events and probably also just wandering the floor, playing games, catching up with friends, and having fun. Don’t be shy to say hi!

Thursday, October 19

• 1 PM: How to Write Amazing Adventures, with Levi Combs, Luke Gygax, and Elisa Teague.
• 2 PM: Marvel Time. I’m running the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game.
• 6 PM: D&D5e – Live Play – Nazbourah’s Imarian Tales with Thomas Gofton and an all-star cast.

Friday, October 20

• 12 PM: Marvel Time. I’m running the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game.
• 4 PM: Crowdfunding for Tabletop Games, with Levi Combs, Luke Gygax, Mattias Johnsson Haake, and Rick Meints.
• 6 PM: Catacombs & Creators, with Dan Taylor, Thomas Gofton, Anthony Joyce-Rivera, and Steve Conley.

Saturday, October 21

• 11 AM: Breaking into Tabletop Design, with Teos Abadia, Andrew Gaska, Thomas Gofton, Amanda Hamon, and Crystal Mazur.
• 1 PM: Telling Better Stories. A panel for the virtual Gamehole Con.
• 10 PM: The 166th Annual Baron Munchausen Charity Ball, with Rob Wieland, Thomas Gofton, LaTia Jacquise, Crystal Mazur, and bunches of other gaming luminaries.

Sunday, October 22

• 10 AM: Design an RPG Module LIVE Part 4 – The Playtest!, with Thomas Gofton and an all-star cast.

The Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game officially debuts today, August 1. You should be able to get it through your favorite book/game retailer today, while comic-book stores (which have new-book day on Wednesday) should have theirs tomorrow.

You can buy the book wherever you find comics, games, or books. You can also get electronic editions via Roll20, Demiplane, and Kindle. I recommend supporting your favorite local store whenever you can, but grab it whichever way suits you best.

The team of folks I worked with on this did an amazing job, and I want to thank each of them publicly. They include:

• The Producer, CJ Cervantes: CJ led this project all the way to the finish line, and he always kept the whole team focused on making a game that would appeal not just to hardcore gamers (like me) but Marvel fans new to tabletop RPGs (like him, at least when he started).
• The Editor, Brian Overton: Brian brought a wealth of knowledge about Marvel history to the game to correct my occasional goofs, and like me, he’d worked a bit on the previous edition of the game (Marvel Heroic Roleplaying). He did everything humanly possible to keep a large and unwieldy project on track.
• The Assistant Producer, Amir Osman: The junior member of the main team (including CJ, Brian, and me), Amir came onto the project just over a year ago when we realized we desperately needed more hands, and instantly made everything better.
• The Graphic Designer, Simeon Cogswell: If you like the way this gorgeous book looks, blame Simeon. They went above and beyond to make it fun and accessible, and it shows on every page.
• The Cover Artists, Iban Coello & Jesus Aburtov: I mean, just look at that cover. I’ve been staring at it as my computer’s wallpaper for months on end, and I never tire of it. It’s just perfect.
• The Interior Artists, Mike Bowden, Andrew Dalhousie, Juan Fernandez, and dozens more: Mike, Andrew, and Juan provided the all-new art in the book, which is incredible. On top of their work, we also got to tap into Marvel’s phenomenal library of existing art for the book, which cannot be beat.
• The Proofreader, Ray Vallese: Ray stepped in with his keen eye and his decades of expertise in tabletop RPGs to make sure we got all the details right. Whew!
• The Instigator, John Nee: I’ve known John since he hired me back in the early ’90s to work on the WildStorms CCG for Jim Lee (who’s now in charge of DC Comics). When he was the publisher at Marvel, John was the one who decided Marvel was ready to publish its own RPG—and that I was the right person to write it.
• The Inspirer, Mike Capps: Mike has an amazing list of credits as long as Doc Ock’s arms, and he came on to help out at the start of the design phase. Although he had to leave the project early on, you can see a lot of his work in the Playtest Rulebook that came out last April.
• The Business Team, Trent Bielen, Tim Dillon, Jeff Youngquist, Jesse Berger, and Daniel Fink: These are the folks who keep the lights on and make sure that our P&L’s wind up on the profit side rather than loss. We literally couldn’t do any of this without them.
• The PR folks, Tim Cheng and Hayley Strichman: These wonderful people—who are pros at dealing with mass media audiences—help get word about the game out there and keep me on message—as much as anyone can.
• The Additional Writer, Marty Forbeck: My eldest son Marty decided to follow in my footsteps as a writer and game designer after he graduated from college during the pandemic lockdown, and I couldn’t be prouder of him and the work he did on this book. He wrote and built nearly all of the character profiles, and he’s been a massive help with the whole thing.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also thank the writers and designers of the previous editions of the game. These are the giants on whose shoulders we stand. They include:

• Marvel Super Heroes (1984), Jeff Grubb and Steve Winter: I played this like crazy in high school and even ran it for the RPGA at Gen Con back in those days. It’s the FASERIP rock on which all the others were built. Steve ran the first convention adventure I ever played in, a game of Boot Hill back in 1982 or so, and Jeff co-authored a Guild Wars novel with me many years later.
• Marvel Super Heroes Adventure Game (1998), Mike Selinker, with Michele Carter, Bill Olmesdahl, Steven Schend, and Steven “Stan!” Brown: This one uses a card deck (the Fate Deck) instead of dice. Mike is another all-time great designer, leading the folks over at Lone Shark Games. I worked on the Apocrypha game with him a while back, and we’re currently polishing a board game based on my Monster Academy novels for Calliope Games. Michele is a legendary games editors. Bill, Steven, and Stan! are all great friends as well, although we sadly lost Bill to cancer a few years back.
• Marvel Universe Roleplaying Game (2003), Dan Gelber, Jeffrey Simons, and Evan Jones: This was the first RPG that Marvel published, twenty years ago, and it used stones instead of dice. I don’t know any of the designers personally, but I loved Dan’s work on the classic Paranoia RPG.
• Marvel Heroic Roleplaying (2012), Cam Banks: There’s a long list of credits for this Cortex System version of the game—which Margaret Weis Productions (yes, that Margaret Weis of Dragonlance fame)—published 11 years ago, but my pal Cam was the lead designer and guided the whole thing. Others who pitched in on the concept team (a.k.a. the Illuminati) include Rob Donoghue, Will Hindmarch, Philippe-Antoine Ménard, and Jesse Scoble—plus me. They’re all excellent designers, and I love this version of the game as much as any of the others.

Thanks to every one of these folks for all they contributed to the game and to Marvel over the years. My name might be on this book’s cover, but that never would have happened without all their heroic contributions.

I hope you enjoy the game and have a fantastic time playing it with your friends and family for many years to come. After all, you’re who we created it for. A game doesn’t really come to life without people who play it.

Thanks for playing!