Where is the Klingon book?

[Atlirith]

Ive been reading the klingon novels, especiallyt the new klingon only series about the IKS Gorkon, and I just have to ask:

WHEN IS THE KLINGON BOOK COMING???

Lol, really. its months and months overdue. I work in a bookstore, Decipher is publishing LOTR books that are beautiful and collect dust as my customers ask me nearly daily: "where are the klingon and dark mirror books?" I just look at them and shrug. What really boggles me is that I was under the impression that the book was good to go with the CODA ruleset; and that the Dark Mirror book was done. But who knows.

An official reply would be most appreciated, if only so I could tell my customers something other than "i dunno..." ;-)

[Dan Gurden]

Well, as far as we all knew here. Klingons and Through the Glass Darkly were done and ready for ICON. But those documents rights remained with LUG and decipher as the work was paid for.

They kindly allowed the authors to retain their work, and a couple of them posted their efforts on the Net.

My understanding was that none of this work could have been used in CODA, as it was;

a - written for another rules set
b - impounded in a quagmire of potential copyright issues with LUG/Wizards and the Authors getting first dibs before Decipher.

And with that it then becomes easier simply to rebuild the texts from scratch. However at that point and with the introduction of the new CODA rules system they needed to establish the RPG universe before getting anything else out.

So while not an official answer, I hope this helps give an idea of why the delays may have occured. Anyone able to go one better with an official line?

[Ineti]

Decipher's product calendar has the Klingon book listed as a September release (and Decipher's books have tended to hit stores about a month after their projection), so we could be looking at seeing in stores within the next couple weeks.

Their latest two LOTR RPG books are also late, according to the product calendar, so I imagine we'll see lots of product in time for the h0lidays.

http://decipher.com/content/productcalendar.html

[PGoodman13]

Which, of course, hasn't been updated (or, for all we know, even looked at by Decipher) since July. Very confidence-inspiring.

[First of Two]

How many Klingons does it take to change a lightbulb?

Klingons do not fear darkness!

What do they do with the lightbulb?

Execute it for failure.

What do they do with the warrior who changeed the bulb?

Execute him for cowardice.

...

Now, if we only had Klingons working at Decipher...

[Modem]

But seriously, does anyone think/feel that Decipher's in the same vain as LUG was...towards THE END?!?

I mean look at it: LUG had the Klingons ('The Way of Honor'), Mirror Universe ('Through the Dark Mirror'), and other things (miniatures and such); all geared on a 'monthly timetable'...then it all went South. Vultures of the Coast bought them, Paramount pulled the plug on the contract, etc...

But, that's LUG...what Decipher story? They've put out way more LotR material than 'Trek...but I can't really fault them for this, I mean look at the two properties for a moment: LotR is just getting more and more fans each outing and 'Trek' has become a four-letter word( ). Which side of the bread would you butter.

Thing is though, LotR finishes this year (so might 'Trek, the way things are going...but that's another story), so do you think Decipher will switch gears and get back to 'Trek'?

[REG]

I'll try not to be offended by your name-calling. After all, wasn't it you among many who praised Decipher for underhandedly stolen the license from ... ahem ... Wizards of the Coast?

Decipher is first and foremost a trading card game publisher. Their priority will always be TCG, so there is no aggressive plan to release one RPG product a month, with the exception of LOTR, in which they are riding the wave of the films. As for Star Trek, I don't know. Can they really market their products by riding the wave of ENTERPRISE? Maybe with their Star Trek Customizable Card Game ... but their RPG line?

All I can tell you is that the management of Decipher RPG Studio better come up with a better organization and an aggressive approach to RPG publishing for next year, even if they have to butt heads with the top-level management of Decipher, Inc.

Oh, and one more thing. They have got to come up with an original game of their own. I don't care if they have to buy such game/IP from someone, they need to publish a game and brand that they call it their own and build up credibility toward such a brand to rival that of D&D, Vampire, Final Fantasy, etc.

IOW, they should weaned off of other people's licensing, most especially if it is royalty-paid.

[C5]

I'm not that upset by Decipher being late, since we are now seeing the exact same pattern as last year, which is : regular releases during the first semester (with a monthly update of their website and actual release dates only a few weeks apart from the ones advertised), then sudden blank during the second semester (no update on their site and no release either).
I don't know if this is because they try to release as much LOTR products as possible for the next LOTR movie or for some other arcane reason, but this is exactly what happened last year and what seems to be happening this time. Only personnally I nbow have much less to complain now, since I consider I have almost every book I need to run my games (save Worlds).

Though I won't disagree with the fact that the guys handling the advertising at Decipher seem to have something against RPGs...

[Cochrane]

Originally posted by REG


Oh, and one more thing. They have got to come up with an original game of their own. I don't care if they have to buy such game/IP from someone, they need to publish a game and brand that they call it their own and build up credibility toward such a brand to rival that of D&D, Vampire, Final Fantasy, etc.

And what sort of original game should they come up with? Personally, I would hope it to be historical, modern, or science fiction, and I would really hope it not be horror. If they really want fantasy, do a world with elves and what not, but I would prefer no magic, or at least not much magic, or at least nonintegral magic.

[REG]

I dunno. Offering a fantasy world with elves but no magic ... ain't going to cut it. Elves and magic goes together like humans and air.

As long you can use such a world to promote the Coda System fully, backed it up by offering both fiction novels and CCG. If you want, do what Wizards did, open up a setting search contest. Just make sure you're being up front with everybody, that you'll offer a prize money and be credited for creating the setting but it becomes the property of Decipher.

[Shoshuro]

I just think Decipher is more concerend with it's Lord of the Rings properties (CCG & RPG) then it is with it's Star Trek RPG.

[Troy_Of_Borg]

I agree on that one.
That is why I have been running Eden Studios games of late.
At least Eden Studios keep you what is taking so long for a book running late of coming out.

[REG]

With all due respect, even Eden Studio is not immune to product delay. For example, I have been tracking their Field of Blood: The Book of War d20 project for two years. Matt Colville was the initial designer but it was later passed on to a different writer.

Many who have waited for this book were tired of waiting, with only a few of us with little patience left. Now, it was announced that the material have made its way to the printing press. What would have been vaporware will be made into a final product late November.

As for the Klingon book, I try not to devote most of my time and energy wondering if it will ever come out. If it is on the store shelf, then I'll take a look at it. I find this approach to be less stressful, and make do with what is currently available or in my collection.

[Sea Tyger]

I have way too many books to pick up (like the recently-released Draconomicon....phenomenal book, by the way...I can't wait to get it next week ) to worry about waiting for the next Trek book to come out.

[REG]

And I'm too immersed in my copy of d20 Mecha (aka "The Near-Ultimate Vehicle Creation Guide") to worry about anything D&D. Maybe when I pick up my Extended Edition LOTR:TTT and Field of Blood: Book of War will I return to D&D.

Oh yeah, when the Klingon supplement is released, I will probably pick it up and the Core Rulebooks at the same time.