In celebration of our first new release under the Silven Crossroads brand, we’re offering a 10% discount when pre-ordering Steamworks.

If you’ve been living in a cave, or at least haven’t been following our website, Steamworks is a comprehensive guide for introducing elements of technology into traditional fantasy campaigns. And when we say comprehensive, we mean it! Weighing in at more than 160 pages, Steamworks introduces two new classes, more than three dozen feats, several dozen unique devices, new spells and powers, and much more. We think Steamworks offers all the building blocks a GM or player needs to incorporate as much, or as little, technology into a fantasy campaign as wanted. Whether you want to play an absent-minded inventor or let your player characters explore the ruins of a long-dead civilization for strange and wonderful artifacts, Steamworks is your ultimate guide.

When released, Steamworks will be available for $15.50. By pre-ordering now, you can download the Steamworks PDF on the day it’s released and only pay $13.95. This pre-order offer is available exclusively through our store, Midnight Cellar.

As you hopefully remember, we’ve been writing about Steamworks since December. If not, Steamworks is our first new title under the Silven Crossroads fantasy brand, and it’s a doozy! This 150+ page fantasy supplement for the d20 system is a complete guidebook to introducing technology to your fantasy setting. Whether you want to introduce strange, clockwork artifacts in the tomb of a long-dead race, or play as an adventuring inventor, Steamworks is your comprehensive guide.

To give you a small taste of what is to come, here is just one of the cool gadgets found in Chapter 8: Technological Items.

Goggles of Echolocation: This pair of goggles has dark lenses, with a conical attachment on either side. While wearing these goggles, the wearer has blindsight to a distance of 20 feet. These goggles do not function in areas affected by magical silence.

Faint energy; SL 5th; Build General Item; Price 18,000 gp; Weight 1 lb.

Be on the lookout for more sneak peeks, including items and artwork, in the coming days. Also be on the lookout for a contest announcement, coming soon!

12 to Midnight would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Gary Gygax. Gary co-created Dungeons and Dragons and created a hobby for millions of people around the world.

Many folks who don’t play these games ask why this hobby is important. First it provides a reason for many young people to read and learn to understand charts and graphs. 1st Edition AD&D did that very, very well. Secondly the hobby develops individual thinkers who use their imagination to solve problems and to think “outside the box.” Finally this hobby brings people together to interact with one another and grow bonds of friendship, just as sports do for other folks.

Gary was a pioneer who inspired every role playing game designer and company since the mid 1970s and he was still writing and producing games and adventures as recently as last year.

The Tomb of Horrors was one of the greatest adventures ever written and it inspired us to produce Innana’s Kiss.
Most of us have gamed for 20 or more years. Jerry and Ed have for over 30 years. That’s a lot of throwing dice, laughing, adventure, imagination, and inspiration. Thanks Gary.

If you’re not familiar with the horror webzine Flames Rising, now is the perfect time to get acquainted. Not only have they recently redesigned their site, but they are holding a contest for the best short essay on your favorite horror game. Flames Rising has always had great reviews and interviews with big names in horror, so visit for the contest but stay for the amazing content. 12 to Midnight is glad to support Flames Rising in their site relaunch celebration by joining the ranks of many other publishers who are offering prizes for essay winners. The contest deadline is March 15, but there’s no harm in getting those essays in today!

Back in December Preston was interviewed on The Digital Front podcast for the free PDF he wrote on lessons for those considering starting an e-publishing company. As sometimes happens, life got in the way and Daniel, the podcast host, wasn’t able to get the recording edited and released until this week.

If you have an interest in what goes on behind the scenes in game publishing, we hope you’ll check it out. However, we’d recommend downloading and reading the free PDF first. You’ll probably get more out of the podcast that way, rather than listening first and reading second.