From: mayfair@aol.com (Mayfair)
Newsgroups: rec.games.board.ce
Subject: Mayfair updates
Date: 19 Jul 1996 17:20:13 -0400
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)
Reply-To: mayfair@aol.com (Mayfair)

Hello.

Looking around a bit, it seems like a good time to post an update on what
Mayfair has planned for Cosmic in the near future. Note that all of this
is highly subject to change.

The next Cosmic product planned is Cosmic Novas(tm,etc), which is due out
in a few months (i.e., before Christmas). This is a cards-only expansion
set that adds Eon-style Flares (called Novas). For non-Eon players, this
means cards that correspond to powers, with a Wild and a Super, but they
are not normally discarded after use. Some of the original Eon Flares will
be reprinted (such as the ever-popular Filch), but some have already been
used in the Mayfair set, so many of the Novas are entirely new. I forget
exactly how much this will cost, but it'll be in the $15 range.

After that, there will be a set of new Alien Powers. The tenative title is
"A Bit More Cosmic", but we're looking for a better name. This will
include 35 new powers, the corresponding Flares and Novas, and two new
hexes (dark green and brown) with corresponding tokens. The powers are
currently in playtest, so I can't really say which ones will make the cut.
Depending on how the playtest goes, this should be out late this year or
early next year.

At some point, we'll be redoing the basic Cosmic set. None of the rules
will change, but we will be adding new artwork for all the alien powers
and clarifying the hex colors (the two biggest complaints about the
Mayfair set). We may also do an edit on the rulebook, clarifying some of
the nastier bits. The new art for the powers is being done by David
Cherry, and it is good. Really good. Stunningly good. Those of you who
don't want to buy the whole game just for the art will probably be able to
buy the set of powers direct from us for $5-10. Call us after we've
printed it. I have no idea when this will appear, since we won't do it
until we run out of the games we have. We'll probably give More Cosmic the
same treatment when we run out of it, but we have more of it in stock
right now.

We are still killing rumors of the CCG. We did consider doing one at one
point, but there are currently no plans to do a Cosmic CCG.

Beyond that, things are up in the air. There is talk of doing another set
of powers after "A Bit". There have occasionally been rumors floating
around the office that we may do a "Player's Guide to Cosmic" at some
point, with strategy, variants, and material from old "Encounters"
magazines in it. Anything could happen.

Tom Smith
Mayfair Games


(Editor's Note:  I have seen much of the artwork briefly and it really is
gorgeous.  Also, the artwork is one good reason to consider buying Simply
Cosmic even if you already have the more complete versions.  Only 8 powers
but the artwork for them is excellent. -ADF (aarondf@bu.edu))


From: mayfair@aol.com
Newsgroups: rec.games.board.ce
Subject: Re: Cosmic Novas?
Date: 30 Nov 1996 03:51:06 GMT

Hello. This is Tom Smith from Mayfair, and yes, I have been lurking for
awhile.

Cosmic Novas is still in the works, but has hit some production delays. I
am no longer as optimistic about it getting out before winter or before
Christmas. Most likely, we will finish it sometime early next year.

A Bit More Cosmic is still being worked on. The powers are selected, and
the playtest group and I are deciding on the exact wordings. There's still
a lot to be done on this, including all the artwork, so I wouldn't expect
it anytime soon. I'd estimate it will come out in spring next year at the
very earliest, but will probably be a bit later than that depending on
various things.

That's all I know for now. Since there isn't as much I can do on Cosmic
right now, I've been keeping myself busy revamping and supporting our
Chill RPG. So there aren't any great new developments. Sorry about the
delays and ambiguities; it's all I know right now. I'll try to keep you
all informed.

Tom Smith
current Cosmic Guy
Mayfair Games