Added a whole bunch of information to the Database version of the ICE Product list, in fact it is probably more up to date than the regular lists. Started using thumbnails that are 100 wide instead of 80, it will take a long time to update them all so they will be mixed for awhile.
Added entries for the PDF and Hardcover versions of the Rolemaster products, still need to go and add in those entries for the other Product Lines.

It’s still very primative and the data needs cleaning up and verifying, but the first version of the Database version of the ICE Product List can be tested at http://www.icewebring.com/test/ICEList3.php

It’s time to add some information to the Product List for Rolemaster Classic. Should also update my “What is Rolemaster” article to include a section on it. The choices are to add the items to the existing RM2 lists or to create a new RMC section. I’m leaning towards creating a new section, but if anyone has an opinion on it, feel free to post a comment.
When I do the update to the “What is Rolemaster” article, I should also log onto Wikipedia and add that section there since a good portion of that article was derived from the “What is Rolemaster” article.

Still looking for a good plugin for Wordpress that might be able to handle the Product pages as a database but haven’t found anything I like yet, will probably end up doing it as a seperate php-mysql set of pages. Any suggestions are welcome.

From the April 12th ICE Newsletter:

Spell Law:

I am very happy to announce that the Spell Law pdf is up and ready for sale at $21.Now, this is just a Beta version, and is missing a couple of things, but the final version will be done within a week or so. However, you do not have to wait that long. Visit the ICE forums — http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?topic=3791.0 — for more information about the Spell Law Beta. You can purchase the PDF itself from the following link:

http://store.ironcrown.com/detail.jsp?itemId=2663143&category=162528

It is a beefy book at 280 pages and I think you will find that it honors the roots of the product while improving it greatly.

ICE is pre-releasing its HARP Sci-Fi rules as a beta release. The final version will be available later in 2007. Those wanting to get it early can get the discounted beta version now, and will receive the full final version for free when it releases.

Quoted from the March 9, 2007 Newsletter:
http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?topic=3521.0

HARP SF Beta: We have been barraged with contacts asking for the HARP SF Beta over the last few months. So the author, Nick Caldwell, came up with an idea a couple of weeks ago and today we start implementation. The HARP SF Beta manuscript is for sale in the ICE Online store in the HARP category for $15. Everyone who buys it should read the directions on the ICE forum: http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?topic=3518.0. It tells you exactly what to do to join the HARP SF Beta group and receive updates and changes.

Frequent updates and changes will be posted via the downloads feature of our forums.
http://www.ironcrown.com/ICEforums/index.php?action=tpmod;dl=0

People who do not buy the Beta can still read the HARP SF forum but they can not post in that forum or download any updates or other files we put up for use by the beta testers like sample adventures and maps. When the final version is done the PDF will list for at least $20, but the beta testers will all get it automatically when it is released.

Buy HARP SF Beta here for $15: http://store.ironcrown.com/detail.jsp?category=196867&itemId=2493237

The Magic Has Returned!

Originally published in 1997 by ICE, this new edition of Essence Companion has been digitally remastered by The Guild Companion.

From forgotten tomes of magic to the schools of wizards, now comes forth a deeper exploration of the realm of Essence.

The Essence Companion delves deeply into the magical realm of Essence magic. Inside, you will find new professions, variant rules, new options, and a wealth of spells.

Here is what you will find inside…

* Three new professions that use the realm of Essence: the Warrior Mage, the Mana Molder, and the Runemage.
* More than a dozen new training packages for characters to develop. Many of the packages focus on some very specific aspects of the realm of Essence.
* New definitions within the realm of Essence that allow further customization of your Essence spell user. Now you may be a Somaticist, a Nomenist, a Herbalist, a Corpist or a Crystalist.
* Optional rule systems for learning skills and spell list specialization. This includes a discussion about structures for learning.
* More than 30 new spell lists for the realm of Essence (including Open, Closed, Training Package, and Base lists).
* Detailed tables showing magical properties found in herbs and animal parts (just how much magic is there in an “eye of newt?”).

Available now from RPGNow at http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=21049 for 16 USD.

A preview will be available in the February 2007 issue of TGC.

It

With the addition of WordPress to this site, one of the things that I can do is set up the Pages that have the information for individual ICE products so people can add comments. Comments could range from a review or opinion on the product, a question about the product, perhaps some errata or pointing out a mistake on the page. You could post that you have a copy of that particular item for sale, or are looking for that particular item, or just about anything.

Now, the problem is that it isn’t a simple task for me to do this, it probably takes about 30 - 45 minutes for me to clean up and adjust each page so it will work properly under WordPress. That doesn’t sound like much until you realize that I think there are now over 400 pages that would need updating.

So, my question is, how many people would find this useful, and if so, which Products would you like to see me get done first?

Here is an example of what the pages would look like:

http://www.icewebring.com/ice-products/rolemaster-first-edition/arms-law/

Please add a comment to this post if this is something you would like to see. Where I put this project on my list of things to do will be greatly influenced by the number of people that respond. Thanks!

(Note: I do have comment moderation turned on, so there will be a delay from when you post your comment until it appears)

Updated the pages with the lists of ICE Products so they will display properly and have working links when accessed through the WordPress structure. Also started fixing up the Links page (Featured Sites), but still need lots of work on that particular page. I’ve have several sites I still want to add, some of the descriptions need updating, I want to add the code for being able to vote for those sites at RPG Gateway and I need to clean up the formatting of the page still.

Here’s a copy of an announcement Tim (Rasyr) posted on the ICE Forums including some information about a project I’ve been helping out with, Rolemaster Classic.

Apparently, this latest newsletter from Bruce may have been mangled by anti-spam progams for some reason. Therefore, I am reposting it here.

Quote
Hi Folks,

There was a complaint on the forums recently that we have made Spacemaster 2 PDFs available and have not made Rolemaster 2 PDFs available. So we are fixing that today. Just be aware that these are scans like the Spacemaster 2, Star Strike, and Armored Assault products put up recently and that the PDF text is not searchable. Here are the first 3 RM2 titles from the ICE Online Store “Oldies But Goodies” category (http://store.ironcrown.com/category.jsp?category=9546):

1100P Arms Law & Claw Law $5: http://store.ironcrown.com/detail.jsp?itemId=1467683&category=130428
1200P Spell Law $10: http://store.ironcrown.com/detail.jsp?itemId=1467684&category=130428
1300P Character Law & Campaign Law $10: http://store.ironcrown.com/detail.jsp?itemId=1467685&category=130428

We are releasing three main rules books today in PDF and ST# 1400P Creatures & Treasures will follow later. Very few additional RM2 products will follow directly from ICE as few of the additional books contain intellectual property that we entirely own. At the moment I do not expect to go back and purchase those rights, but we will be trying to work through The Guild Companion (http://www.guildcompanion.com) like we did with the recent Castles & Ruins release and the upcoming Essence Companion.

Before purchasing these PDFs, please be aware that we are in the process, and have been for some time, of redoing these RM2 books for full re-release. We initiated the project with the help of LordMiller and his mighty band of Rolemaster experts. Up until recently they have done the bulk of the work and we are extremely grateful to them for what they have done. It will be hard on them, but LordMiller and his crew will still have to remain mostly in the background a bit longer as it is still too early to talk about details of the new releases.

The new series will be called Rolemaster Classic and will consist of both PDF and physical books available on our website and through distribution. Prices and sizes have yet to be set in stone. The first four books in the series are Character/Campaign Law, Spell Law, Arms Law, and Creatures & Treasures. We are still not sure when the first release will hit but we are aiming to have the first book out in the Fall 2006.

We are planning mainly graphical and organizational changes with no material changes to the rules. We intend that someone using RMC will get the same gaming experience that the 1989 editions provided, but with much better presentation and organization. It will be much easier to use and to teach as a result.

We are not abandoning RMFRP and both Rolemaster lines will see increased support in the coming years particularly in the area of adventures and background releases that can be done for both versions. The RM2 fanbase is still one of the largest parts of the Rolemaster world and this project allows them to fully participate now.

We will be releasing more details in the weeks ahead.

Best,

Bruce at ICE

Additionally, ICE would like to take a moment, to to publicly and proudly thank LordMiller and his mighty band of Rolemaster experts which include the following folks:

LordMiller
ictus
Brent Knorr
Cormac Doyle
eiseg
munchy
maikeru
Ned

I would also like to take a moment to thank our Global Moderators (Nick Caldwell, lazvon, Midknight, ChosenDM) and Rob Defendi for helping the RMC team out with advice and comments and everything in general.

They are a great bunch and all deserve a tremendous round of thanks!!

Note: If I have forgotten anybody, my aopolgies.

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TANSTAAFL