The very first of these is a customizable dice game … Demon Dice! (Created, if you must know, by legendary game designers Lester Smith and Timothy Brown.) Construct demons from spare parts and then battle against your friends! Print the die-faces on sticker paper, cut, and affix to standard six-sided (or blank-face) dice. The rules and everything you need to know are provided with the free download. Click the logo below and grab your copy!

(Front page image – Wikipedia Commons – Public domain Via Arthur Waley)

“The chance to work on Metamorphosis Alpha is really exciting,” says Jamie Chambers, President of Signal Fire Studios. “It’s a fun mix of nostalgia for those who’ve followed MA over the years, new rules for fans of D&D4e, and a chance to really embrace the ‘dungeon in space’ concept that the original game was created with.” The story of Metamorphosis Alpha centers on the Starship Warden, a massive generation ship stricken by a catastrophe. Its population of humans, plants, and animals are left mutated and unaware that the world they live on is actually a huge vessel traveling among the stars.

The Metamorphosis Alpha Player’s Guide is the first product in the series, and offers many new options for D&D players. It includes new races, from genetically-altered humans to self-aware plants. Four brand-new character classes, one for each of the game’s tactical roles, draw on the Mutant power source. Each is supplemented by paragon paths, epic destinies, and feats. The book also expands upon the skill system, adding the Tech skill and rules for discovering and understanding high-tech items. The book is tentatively set for publication in January 2010.

The Starship Warden sourcebook offers a comprehensive campaign setting for the 4th edition D&D rules. It gives the Dungeon Master an array of mutant creatures, androids, and other threats to challenge the heroes. In addition, this second book includes suggestions for ways to integrate the new rules with other settings or the creation of original campaigns that mix the science fiction and fantasy elements in exciting new ways.

James M. Ward, the creator and author of Metamorphosis Alpha for TSR, Inc. in the 1970s and designer of the classic MA’s own Fourth Edition, looks forward to this newest version of his creation. “D&D 4th Edition is bringing a lot of people back to the exploration, discovery, and tactical fun of the old days of the game,” says Ward. “In the early years of Dragon Magazine I wrote an article about how to combine MA with D&D. These new products will be the first time that idea is fully explored.” Ward is working with the MA design team to offer his insight and vision to the new products.

It’s important to the design team that this iteration of Metamorphosis Alpha offers the best of both worlds. “I want our MA books to be fully compatible and interchangeable with existing D&D4e and GSL products,” says Chambers. “If someone wants to play a Mutant Feline Enforcer in a traditional fantasy world, the rules will support that. If a wormhole opens up and drops a Warlock into the middle of the Warden, that won’t be a huge problem, either. There’s a lot of great options, so each gaming group can make use of the new Metamorphosis Alpha products in whatever way they want. It’s fantasy meeting science-fiction head on.”

The Metamorphosis Alpha product line for D&D 4th Edition is being produced under the terms of the Game System License from Wizards of the Coast. Full details and release dates for the first two products, as well as news regarding adventures, sourcebooks, and online support materials will be announced soon.

www.metamorphosisalpha.net
www.signalfirestudios.com

Contact:

Jamie Chambers
jamie@signalfirestudios.com

Artwork by Dan Bryce

Signal Fire Studios and the SF logo are trademarks owned by Signal Fire Studios LLC. All rights reserved. Metamorphosis Alpha and its logo are trademarks owned by James M. Ward. Used with permission. The use of another company’s trademarks is for reference only. No violation of copyright or trademark ownership is intended.

I yell at 90% of reality television out there, for starters. American Idol makes me cringe (especially the early recruiting phase, which is some folks’ favorite part), possibly because I have a music and singing background. I lettered in Music in high school and went to college on a modest music scholarship for piano and voice. I have tolerance for cooking reality shows, though, so I find myself watching Gordon Ramsay with my wife, Top Chef, or The Next Food Network Star. I still don’t go seeking those out, though. But I’ll sit through them.

But bad writing is worse than bad reality shows. I yell when characters break from their basic natures to do something convenient for the plot. Or when coincidence and luck makes things happen for the heroes and they don’t have to earn it. Deus ex machina drives me crazy!

How many TiVos do you own?

I have two. One for the big TV in the living room and one in the bedroom. Might end up with three when the new DirecTV HD TiVos hit. I hate having just a regular DVR in my living room, since I had my first TV in 1999 when most people had not even heard of them yet. I could never go back to live TV. It’s been nearly ten years of being spoiled by pausable, pre-recorded television.

Your TiVos would kill you if they didn’t tape what show?

Good Eats on Food Network, which is hands-down my favorite show on television. Alton Brown and I have a fair bit in common. We’re unapologetic geeky film buffs from north Georgia who love to cook (and eat). He redfined how you can do a cooking show (by making it — gasp! — not boring) and manages to entertain while educating and showing how to prepare tasty dishes that rarely steer me wrong, all while tossing pop culture references. The fun A.B. seems to have with Good Eats reminds me of my early years making scripted home movies with a video camera.

This last season I’d also have to list Supernatural, Chuck, Dollhouse, Fringe, and Castle as runners-up.

The movie you have to watch every time you spot it on cable?

Raiders of the Lost Ark is probably my favorite movie of all time from the first time I saw it. My three college disciplines (after I dropped the music program) were English, History, and Religion — and you can see all three in Indiana Jones’ first and best adventure on film. But my tastes range all over the place, so I’ll have watch things like Fast Times at Ridgemont High and The Lion in Winter. For no other reason than I like ‘em.

The movie that makes you cry?

The French duology of Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources. I was forced to watch the movies in high school, but they completely broke my heart. It’s a slow story and a true tragedy in the best sense. Lots of Americans have no clue that these movies exist, but if you’re a film guy like me you should watch them and see if you can hold back the tears.

Do you smuggle snacks into the movie theater? If so, what?

Yes, because I’m cheap. I’m always torn between things like Nestle BunchaCrunch, Raisinettes, or Reese’s Pieces. Because I love a little sweet to go with the giant tub of buttery, salty popcorn that I’m going to devour while slurping down a Coke. I’ve given up soda in other parts of my life, but I have to have my popcorn-candy-Coke trifecta when watching a movie in the theater.

Your best communal moviegoing experience?

I was twenty-one years old when Rumble in the Bronx hit the local theater. I was already a fan of Jackie Chan’s Drunken Master flicks, and my friends and I took up an entire row of the theater shouting “Are you ready to rumble?!” (before the lights went dark). It was a blast! I also remember we all went to see Tommy Boy starring Chris Farley and David Spade and had a goofy blast.

The piece of pop-culture memorabilia from your childhood you wish you still had?

Half a dozen things that were in my old room as a child. I had a poster of Atlanta Braves center fielder Dale Murphy hitting a ball. I had a bunch of original-series Garbage Pail Kids cards, some of my duplicates orbiting Murphy’s poster. One wall was decorated with a mural of a famous moonscape photograph with the Earth rising on the horizon. My very first computer, the Texas Instruments TI994A with a speech synthesizer that could run cartridge-based software but also could record and read off of audio-cassette tapes with sounds simliar to a fax machine. I also would love to have my Dad’s old electronic chess set I used to play with, the Chess Challenger, that had an awesome digital voice.

What is your geekiest possession?

Hard to know where to start? My desk is covered with large plastic dragon models. I own enough dice to fill a bathtub and enough unpainted miniatures to fill the bed of a Chevy Silvarado pickup truck. My shelves are covered with roleplaying games and sci-fi/fantasy novels. I wore a Dr. Horrible t-shirt to the Renaissance Festival. I have several swords and one dragon-handled sacrificial dagger. And the door of my office has a “I Survived the Tomb of Horrors” bumper sticker on it.

What is your position on karaoke, and what is your song?

I love karaoke, and my friend Jeremy runs a charitable karaoke party company and does most of the major game conventions after years of entertaining the crap out of us at Dragon*Con. The rule is that I’ve always put down at least a few Jägerbombs and just sing my heart out. My sisters and I always do “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, and I get requested to sing “Big Empty” by Stone Temple Pilots and Metallica’s version of “Turn the Page” a lot. But I’ll sing anything that isn’t Rod Stewart.

Your guilty pleasure dance song?

I rarely dance, for the safety of myself and others. When it happens, I possess the natural grace of a one-legged cow.

The ringtone on your cell phone?

Alternates between several songs. Right now it’s the “Fruity Oaty Bar” song from Serenity, but it’s sometimes the chorus of STP’s “Big Empty” (see above) or the Bad Horse Chorus from Dr. Horrible’s Singalong Blog.

The band you’ve seen most often in concert?

Performer I’ve seen most is my obsession since 11th grade: Tori Amos. I know that I’m not a lesbian woman, but deep down inside I must be one. Tori’s music, lyrics, and ability to tickle the ivories just does something for me. I just got her new album and I’m gonna listen the moment I’m done with this fake interview.

Seeing Stone Temple Pilots in concert last year at Summerfest was badass, though. They performed everything from “Dead and Bloated” to some of their better covers. I was convinced I’d never see them live after they broke up, and it was so worth it to see them in a great venue.

I was really pleased with the opportunity to write for BenBella Books in their SmartPop series, and even more so for a subject that was right up my alley—the television series Supernatural. As a card-carrying geek, I already had a number of books from the series on the shelf here in my office—including the volumes covering Firefly, Battlestar Galactica, The Matrix, and more.

As I got started, I offered my editor—the fantastic Leah Wilson—a few different choices for my subject. We mutually decided on “Blue Collar Ghost Hunters,” an analysis on how the Winchester brothers combat evil on a tight budget and why that makes for good television. It evolved over time, going from a more serious approach (almost scholarly!) to one that offered a lot more humor and will hopefully be a fun read for the fans.

One piece of trivia: I wrote this piece on my MacBook while sitting in Thumbs Up in Lake Geneva. The smoke-filled neighborhood bar—with fish hanging on the wall and classic rock playing on XM Radio—turned out to be the perfect environment for working on material related to Supernatural.

The release date is early March 2009. Look for it in stores or your favorite online retailer.

Thanks to Jim Lowder, for the introductions that helped me get this opportunity, to Leah Wilson for being easy and great to work with, to Erin Kunze, half of my favorite bartending superduo, and my wife for putting up with me.

The official press release for In the Hunt follows. Stay safe!

**digital cover image available**

BenBella Books and Supernatural.tv Team Up to Create
the Essential Companion for the Serious Supernatural Fan

Supernatural fans know there’s more to their favorite
show than meets the eye; so does In the Hunt!

DALLAS— Now in its fourth season, the CW’s often-neglected Supernatural has demonstrated marked ratings gains since last season and its season premiere showed the largest yearly increase among all entertainment series returning for the 2008–09 season despite its crowded Thursday night time-slot—thanks largely to the efforts of the series’ devoted fanbase, which Supernatural creator Eric Kripke has rightfully called “some of the smartest, most passionate, most intelligent fans of any show on television.”

For In the Hunt, BenBella Books and Supernatural fansite Supernatural.tv have teamed up to give those fans the essential Supernatural companion. In addition to the forward by Supernatural tie-in writer Keith R. A. DeCandido, and passionate, insightful essays by popular SF and fantasy author Tanya Huff, Supernatural RPG writer Jamie Chambers and many others, the book includes the three winning essays from the Supernatural.tv/Smart Pop Supernatural Essay Contest from early 2008.

From Sam and Dean Winchester and the Impala to the show’s demons, monsters and urban legend source material, In the Hunt gives Supernatural fans the in-depth, creative analysis they crave on their favorite television show.

Book Details
Title: In the Hunt: Unauthorized Essays on Supernatural
Authors: Dawn Bennett, Amy Berner, Mary Borsellino, London E. Brickley Jamie Chambers, Jacob Clifton, Keith R. A. DeCandido, Mary Fechter, Amy Garvey, Avril Hannah-Jones, Tanya Huff, Randall M. Jensen, Robert T. Jeschonek, Maria Lima, Tanya Michaels, Tracy S. Morris, Carol Poole, Sheryl A. Rakowski, Gregory Stevenson, Heather Swain, Shanna Swendson, Emily Turner, Jules Wilkinson, Dodger Winslow
Publisher: BenBella Books
Publication: March 2009, $14.95, Trade paperback, ISBN-13: 9781933771632
224 pages, 6 x 9

Available at bookstores everywhere March 2009 and through Perseus Distribution, 387 Park Ave. South, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10016.  To order: 800-343-4499 or orderentry@perseusbooks.com

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