BtS: Time Stop

The 3rd installment in our freebie "Behind the Spells" at KQ.com: http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article139.php

KQ BtS #2

Magic Aura: http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article128.php

BtS: Darkness released!

Tricky Owlbear Publishing, Inc. is pleased to release the 40th pdf issue in the Behind the Spells series--Darkness! Although this release features the same protagonist as seen in BtS: Light, that issue is not required to enjoy this one.
Behind the Spells examines those spells from the v3.5 SRD that are listed time and again on character sheets throughout gaming. These are the spells which, if on your character's class list, will be taken as soon as possible and include such quintessential favorites as magic missile and fireball. Each pdf in this series examines the spellcaster who created the spell, one or more of the spell's hidden capabilities, and possible variants for the spell.
This issue includes two spell secrets, a new metamagic feat (Spell-shade) and a new spell (Cone of Shadows)! You can purchase this pdf at the following sites...
Paizo: http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/t/trickyOwlbearPublishing/behindTheSpells/v5748btpy86aj
YGN: http://www.yourgamesnow.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2511&zenid=82f40694db815a41d8ff8ae317ea2f1a
RPGNow: http://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=59254
And don't forget, Tricky Owlbear has also combined forces with Kobold Quarterly to bring you special mini-issues of Behind the Spells at koboldquarterly.com! Check out the first issue--Color Spray--here: http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article117.php

BtS comes to KQ.com!

We are more than pleased to announce that the "Behind the Spells" series is now featured over at KoboldQuarterly.com! Big thanks to Ed Healy for making this happen. Every two weeks (we hope!) we'll drop another smaller web-issue to KQ.com for everyone to enjoy. With luck, these freebies will entice readers to check out the many other BtS and other pdfs we sell. For now, check out BtS: Color Spray here: http://www.koboldquarterly.com/k/article117.php

Compendium Review #4

This one from Rpg-resource--many thanks to Megan for her time!-- http://www.rpg-resource.org.uk/index.php?article=3954&visual=4

Compendium Review #3

Not sure how I missed this, given that the date of the review is in July, but nevertheless, I give you review #3 from Paizo: http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/t/trickyOwlbearPublishing/behindTheSpells/v5748btpy83z0

Compendium Review

A quick link to a very favorable review: http://www.enworld.org/forum/rpg-book-reviews/242519-behind-spells-compendium.html#post4498979

BtM: Gargoyle

Behind the Monsters: Gargoyle now available at the usual online venues--Paizo, YourGamesNow, and RPGNow. This is the first BtM release to include a sample lair with map so let us know if you like this little addition!

Compendium Podcast

Our first product-specific podcast commentary is now available for Behind the Spells: Compendium which you can listen to/download here: http://www.trickyowlbear.com/podcast/description/bts-compendium.php

Unlike the first podcast, this one only features me as I give you all the details you need to commit to buying this great book!

Tricky Owlbear Podcast 0

Whether the roleplaying public is ready or not, Scot and I have delved into the wide world of podcasts! I sketched out an outline in about half an hour and then Scot and I just recorded an off the cuff "Podcast Zero" for Tricky Owlbear here: http://www.trickyowlbear.com/podcast/description/ep00.php

We're great fans of the Car Talk show for NPR (which you can find at http://www.cartalk.com/ ) so we left most of the laughs in! You can hear me utter the awkward phrase: "We would like to read people's emails..." and near the end of the show we pretty much have a breakdown. Thank goodness is was over by that point! In any case, we had great fun and hope you do as well. :)

Emporium Sale

For the month of September, the Tricky Owlbear Emporium is selling all items at only 20% above cost! Buy something, will ya: http://www.cafepress.com/trickyowlbear

Compendium Reviewed!

5 out of 5, baby!

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_reviews_info.php?&reviews_id=18174&products_id=56664

Hardcover Ahoy!

The Compendium is finally available in hardcover format: http://stores.lulu.com/trickyowlbear

Unusual Sale

In my town there's a small herb shop which produces some fine coffee I partake of daily. I'm friendly with the shop owner and her sister (her used to work there quite a bit). In any case, that sister was working again yesterday and I told her over the weekend that I'd have to bring my newest book (Compendium) to show her. Well, she was so darned impressed that, even though she'll never use it, she had to have a copy. So, off my hands went my only softcover copy for the $20 pricetag. I've never had such an easy (or unusual) sale but I'm not complaining!

Review!

The first review for the Compendium is in: http://okayyourturn.yuku.com/sreply/164779/t/-Tricky-Owlbear--1st-Anniversary--BtS-Compendium-released-.html

Paizo still on Sale

Since the Compendium was not posted for sale until this week, we decided to extend the pdf sale of it through the weekend. the news blurb I sent them even made their blog: http://paizo.com/store/blog#v5748dyo5l9g5

Merchandising!

Love our logo? So do we! Now you can buy it on the various items available through cafepress: http://www.cafepress.com/trickyowlbear

Buy now and be the envy of your gaming group!!

Buy Print Now!

The print version of Behind the Spells: Compendium is now available at Lulu.com! Follow this link: stores.lulu.com/trickyowlbear to get your (softcover) copy now. Hardcover coming soon (we are waiting for our publisher copy for approval).

Compendium Released!

At long last, the book many have been waiting for is finally available and just in time for Tricky Owlbear's 1st anniversary! Behind the Spells: Compendium presents the first 36 issues of the Behind the Spells series along with brand new content and behind-the-scenes comments by the author!

As always, for each spell you get a history of the creator, at least two "spell secrets" (new rules for using the spell), and "related research" (new material which somehow relates to the spell or its creator). Whether you're a player or a GM, there's wealth of v3.5/OGL information in these pages just waiting to be unleashed at the game table.

Why buy books packed with new spells when there is still so much that can be done with the classics? Get back to basics with Behind the Spells Compendium!

As of this day, this title is only available as a pdf at RPGNow here: http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=56664 , Your Games Now here: http://www.yourgamesnow.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2267 and Paizo.com. But within the next week, you'll be able to purchase a print copy through Lulu.com (softcover and hardcover)! Watch for that announcement soon.

Retail price for the pdf is $15 but in honor of our anniversary, we're offering it at 20% off (or $12) for the next week. Thanks to everyone for your support of the series over the last 3 years!

Happy Anniversary!

Tricky Owlbear Publishing turns one year old on 7/7/08! to celebrate, we're putting the pdf of Behind the Spells: Compendium up for sale. The normal price will be $15 but for the next week, we're offering it at $12. Not too shabby considering that, to buy the 36 pdfs separately, you'd need upwards of $40. We should also have a print copy of the Compendium to review tomorrow and then we'll be able to make that announcement as well.

Traveller

Mongoose is producing the newest version of Traveller with the classic look. But even better, they're allowing publishers (and fans) to produce material for the game! See here: http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=234390

I'm sure we'll be participating and am looking forward to it.

TC:2 Review

Treasure Chests: Volume 2 gets its first review and it's good! See here: http://www.rpgnow.com/product_reviews_info.php?&reviews_id=17758&products_id=55499

Lifting the 100 Copy Limit?

We've been discussing scrapping the small print run in favor of just putting up the Compendium onto Lulu.com for sale for all time. More than one person believes we are making a mistake by limiting ourselves to 100 books and, frankly, maybe I was being to pessimistic with that number. Besides, it would be nice just to let Lulu handle everything and not worry about the printer negotiations, warehousing, shipping, etc. If you have an opinion on Lulu, we'd love to hear it.

Compendium Update

Here's a look at the front and rear covers of our first print product!

Compendium in progress

After some months of just talking about it, the Behind the Spells: Compendium is finally being laid out. I spoke with Scot about it many times but, being a two-man operation, I knew that Scot's time was limited and he could just about get our smaller regular releases laid out and uploaded in a timely fashion. So, I decided we needed some help and went to Open Design layout man Stephen Wark, who I knew has been a follower of the BtS series. He graciously accepted our manuscript and what I've seen so far looks great! I also think we've decided on a publisher to court for the printing so things are finally rolling along for this, our first print product.

Treasure Chests: Vol. 2

Tricky Owlbear Publishing, Inc. is pleased to present the follow-up to our popular Treasure Chests release: Volume 2! This 6-page PDF, written by Bret Boyd, presents 10 more treasure chests that GMs can use to store treasure or use as treasure. As with the first volume, this pdf includes both magical and mundane treasure chests. Each entry lists the chest's physical description, defenses, and quirks.

This pdf features the following types of chests: Clan Chest, Coin-Scatter Coffer, Decoy Chest, Earth Chest, Heraldry Chest, Oracle Chest, Sailor's Chest, Straw Box, Traveler's Chest, and the Watch Chest!

Treasure Chests: Volume 2 retails for $2.00 and can be purchased at the following sites: Paizo, YourGamesNow, and RPGNow.

Please Note: The first Treasure Chests pdf is listed as a new release on Paizo and YGN but this is actually the old pdf in our new format. So, if you already own the original, don't let the new look fool you. :)

Update

BtM: Gargoyle is proceeding according to schedule and should be finished (at least in terms of the writing) by the weekend. We also got a couple great reviews for BtM: Owlbear over at Paizo: http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/t/trickyOwlbearPublishing/behindTheMonsters/v5748btpy82qm

BtM: Owlbear review

See the 10th post in this thread where a Paizo-ite has reviewed the first pdf in the BtM line: http://paizo.com/paizo/messageboards/community/gaming/dnd/trickyOwlbearOnBoardAtPaizo

Upcoming Releases

Here is a tentative roster of releases for Tricky Owlbear (so you can get your dollars ready!). These products, like the rest of our catalog, are v3.5/OGL, and are subject to change.

April
Behind the Monsters: Gargoyle
Treasure Chests, volume II
Behind the Spells: Feather Fall

May/June
Behind the Monsters: Dark Creeper
Behind the Spells: Darkness
When Heroes Fall: An adventure for PC levels 4 to 6, utilizing information from the other releases this month. Adventurers are disappearing and it's up to the PCs to unravel the mystery.

July and beyond
Behind the Spells: Compendium: A print collection of the first 36 BtS releases complete with errata and extras! We hope to have the pdf version out in the months prior to this. I know folks have been waiting and waiting and we won't let them down.
Behind the Spells: Permanency
Behind the Monsters: Naga
Behind the Monsters: Demilich and Behind the Monsters: Vegepygmy: Both of these written by noted DCC author Mike Ferguson.

Guess Who's Now Selling at Paizo.com!

Best known for investigating the monster and spell histories of the world's most famous fantasy game, Tricky Owlbear brings the "Behind the Monsters" and "Behind the Spells" lines, as well as our entire catalog, to Paizo.com: http://paizo.com/store/downloads/trickyOwlbearPublishing

Haven't yet sampled our works? Try out "Behind the Monsters: Owlbear" here: http://paizo.com/store/downloads/trickyOwlbearPublishing/v5748btpy82qm

I'm thrilled to have us now at Paizo! It's a fairly busy site and I'm hoping those users (some of whom I'm betting stay within the site's confines for purchases) check us out.

Record Sales Month!

Whether it was the announcement of the Pathfinder rpg from Paizo, the GM's Day Sale, or simply the fact that spring has finally sprung, Tricky Owlbear has had record sales this month. Thanks to everyone for their support and watch for the upcoming announcement that we're selling at a new venue for your buying convenience.

BtS: Sanctuary released!

Tricky Owlbear Publishing, Inc. is pleased to bring you the 38th issue of the Behind the Spells series: Sanctuary. This series examines those spells from the SRD that are listed time and again on character sheets throughout gaming. These are the spells which, if on your PC's class list, will be taken as soon as possible and include such quintessential favorites as magic missile and fireball.

Each pdf in this series examines the spellcaster who created the spell, one or more of the spell's hidden capabilities, and variant ideas that the spell has inspired throughout history (spells, items, etc.). This release includes two spell secrets and two new magic items: Safebox and Sanctuary Marker!

You can buy this pdf at the following sites...
RPGNow/DriveThru: http://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=55118

YourGamesNow: http://www.yourgamesnow.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2116&zenid=23a116c19083aebabee5cc04e899e8fa

But Wait...

...there's more! We want to thank those who purchased some of our pdfs during the sale. It's shaping up to be a pretty good month. On deck, Scot's prepping Behind the Spells: Sanctuary. I noticed over the last month that there's been some interest in our Treasure Chests pdf so I'm putting together "Volume II" which brings you 10 new magical and mundane treasure chests. I'm eager to see how that sells...experiments are fun!

Sale!

There's still a few hours to cash in on our GM's Day Sale: http://www.rpgnow.com/index.php?cPath=3935

Skeleton reviewed!

See the first review for BtM: Skeleton here: http://www.rpgnow.com/product_reviews_info.php?products_id=54697&reviews_id=16842

Peter brings up a good point here. I too think the info in these pdfs is good and well presented but what might give this line some "wow!" power?

BtM: Skeleton released!

Tricky Owlbear Publishing, Inc. is pleased to announce the 6th release in the Behind the Monsters series--the Skeleton! These pdfs follow a format similar to that found in the popular Behind the Spells series so chances are good that, if you enjoy that series, this one will also strike your fancy. Each issue is narrated by Jadrin Nelv, monk of the Order of the Sacred Branch. Jadrin schools novice monks in the ways of the multiverse's creatures and we, the readers, get to listen in. Whether you're a player or a GM, you will find something of use within these pages.

Behind the Monsters: Skeleton includes two adventurer advantages, one new monster variant, and one new alchemical item! This release is available for the normal $2 purchase price at the following venues...

Your Games Now: http://www.yourgamesnow.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&manufacturers_id=64&products_id=2069

RPGNow/DriveThru: http://enworld.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=54697

All Titles Aboard

We've finally gotten all Tricky Owlbear's titles gathered under our name over at Your Games Now. Another friendly venue to pick up the pdfs you haven't bought already: http://www.yourgamesnow.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=64

4e OGL plans

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/4news/20080108a

Looks like WotC's quality control for third party publishers comes in the form of cash. Tricky Owlbear, and I suspect many others, won't be ponying up the $5 grand to get a look at something which will eventually be free. This means we'll stay the course through most of '08, presenting fun Behind the Spells/Monsters releases with the same amount of fluff-to-crunch (3.x) ratio. I'm finally penning an idea for an adventure which involves some monsters from Tome of Horrors (creatures which I've always liked but have never had the opportunity to use in my home games).