Developed by Disrupted Gears and published by boutique player, Shrapnel Games, Total Eclipse is a tabletop RPG developed by Steve Jackson. Not the super famous ones (yes, there are more than one super famous one, just to be confusing), a different but equally talented Steve Jackson.
Optimised for use on phones and tablets, Total Eclipse is an RPG with a leveling system that puts JRPGs to shame – characters go from level 1 to level 200. There’s not a whole lot of difference between level 147 and 148, but over longer play session, the power curve provides a satisfying upgrade path for players of all kinds.
Now comes the disclaimer: we’re talking about the actual books, not games in themselves. Four books (including the standard manual) will be made available initially, with more to come after that, Shrapnel promises. Those books will allow players to run a fantasy-themed game, but later supplement books could expand the game world to sci-fi, horror, World War II or anything else.
The books are especially designed for smart phones and tablets, but they will also be readable from eReaders such as the Nook or Kindle, or even the PC. Shrapnel is also looking at possible print-on-demand options for later on.
The main reason this news is exciting is that while print RPG books can be priced as much as $100, these digital books will be priced for smart phones. Pen and Paper RPG gaming on the cheap? We like the sound of that!
If you’re keen to find out more about Total Eclipse and read the full Shrapnel press release, click on over here: http://www.develop-online.net/press-releases/77082/Total-Eclipse
