From Decipher's BBS:
Developer's Weblog
6.4.2003
It's been a busy week here in Lake Wobegone.
The Isengard sourcebook is progressing nicely, though I still have a few weeks of development ahead. Isengard will be similar to Helm's Deep in that it is part of a series of 'stronghold' books that detail locations in Middle-earth. It does not contains any major new rule systems, such as the mass combat system in Helm's Deep. Instead, it offers an even greater level of detail on the tower, ring-wall, and Wizard's Vale beyond the fortress itself. Isengard also includes a full-length adventure.
My other project for the week has been working on Fields of Battle, the Barbarian/Warrior order book. Since this book will include a lot of new rule options -- including a tactical miniatures system for use in the game -- I anticipate an extensive playtest. Because of that, I'm trying to prepare a playtest draft well in advance of when I need to have a final layout draft ready for our production department. In addition to the tactical miniatures system, Fields of Battle will include a lot of other combat options including critical hits, piecemeal armour, reach attacks with polearms (and Balrog arms), and that kind of thing.
Also, I've been talking with the author of the summer convention adventures scheduled for Origins and GenCon. I've seen the characters he's developed for these adventures, and they're outstanding. The adventures themselves should be coming across my desk in the weeks to come, and although it's possible that all four adventures in the series -- called 'Sword of the Witch-king' -- won't be ready for Origins, they're going to be awesome. The third adventure looks like it will make extensive use of the new mass combat system from Helm's Deep, so that adventure in particular will be a sneak preview of those rules, since Helm's Deep isn't scheduled to come out until August.
Be good, everyone, and have a great weekend!