Sometimes I go shopping. Other times I go for a hike. And then, there's days like today. Get up feeling like I'm going to relax and then wind up writing. Can't say I'm that suprised since I had only a few hours work yet on the Alchemy NPCs. High level characters take sooooo long to finish but now the project is behind me. This was followed by a cleaning of my room and Jeep and then a trip to Borders. Picked up Stormwrack for 30% off. Normally I would have skipped this one but, with my planar campaign coming up, I'm convinced that every book might see some use.
Now it's on to illusionary characters!
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Monday, August 29, 2005
New Links
If you've visited here more than once over the last week or two, you might have noticed two new links over on the right there. "Highmooon's Ponderings" is the blog of Daniel Perez, who I just finished a project for. His pdf company, Highmoon Media, is on track to release several pdf adventures to support Green Ronin's line of Mythic Vista books. I wrote one for the Medieval Player's Manual. It took awhile to complete (and not because it is long, cuz' it's not) but turned out to be more of an introductory adventure to a locale the PCs can use as a home base. Every single person belonging to an outpost on the England/Wales border circa 1100 is detailed with stats and personalities. I suppose if this first is successful, I could be persuaded to pen follow-up adventures using the background/over-plot of the major NPCs. This is far off, so anything could happen.
The other link, "Thoughts from the Gerbil" is by a web-friend of mine named Warren Bailey. He was an editor on one of Mystic Eye Games' Foul Locales books (which I had the pleasure of writing for in their entirety). Warren is a good man and, for some strange reason, a fan of my work. No accounting for taste, I suppose. ;) Thanks, buddy!
The other link, "Thoughts from the Gerbil" is by a web-friend of mine named Warren Bailey. He was an editor on one of Mystic Eye Games' Foul Locales books (which I had the pleasure of writing for in their entirety). Warren is a good man and, for some strange reason, a fan of my work. No accounting for taste, I suppose. ;) Thanks, buddy!
Sunday, August 28, 2005
A Campaign Ended
George Lucas once said (and I might be paraphrasing) that, "Movies are never finished, they're only abandoned." Besides feeling satisfied, I also think George's thought here is applicable to RPG campaigns. It's great that the story arc of these characters has been wrapped up pretty comprehensively but there's so much more that could have been done. My Realms campaign ended last night (or 3am this morning rather) and fun was had by all. The planet was saved from Orcus' meteor thrower and the only "casualty" was PC kobold monk (although he escaped into the Ethereal Plane when a meteor destroyed the tower controlling the weapon). There's plenty of stories left for these PCs but, like a good TV show, you have to know when enough is enough for now. How many seasons (my campaigns are typically made up of TV-like seasons where 10 modules equal one season) can a PC adventure without becoming tiresome for the player? By the same token, how many adventures can be written for the same PCs? The answer is: Always more than the GM writes. This party of characters lasted for 3 and a half seasons (I ended early because of a looming military deployment for one player) and more could have been done. However, ending a campaign doesn't mean you can't go back later. That kobold PC needs saving and, perhaps in a few months, the players will want to revisit these old friends/PCs.
The next campaign, which everyone appears to be embracing, is a planar-based one. Using an organization founded by 2nd edition characters, the new PCs begin as 1st-level agents of the group (called the Protectorate). This group is based in the Realms but has recently broadened its "do-gooder meddling" to include the planes themselves. The PCs will be based in Sigil, City of Doors, which gives me the opportunity (that I didn't use when it came out) to jump into the Planescape setting. Right now, I'm feeling a Stargate type vibe for the campaign where the Protectorate sends the PCs on missions to other dimensions/worlds/planes just to see what's out there, catalog threats, and return with cool new stuff.
In freelancing news, I'll be finishing up the NPCs for the Alchemy project within the next 48 hours. Once that's done, I need to jump into a project for Ronin Arts concerning using illusionary PCs in your game. As I've mentioned before, I love Ronin Arts for allowing the creative freedom to really push the gaming envelope and I think PCs that aren't "real" fit that bill nicely.
The next campaign, which everyone appears to be embracing, is a planar-based one. Using an organization founded by 2nd edition characters, the new PCs begin as 1st-level agents of the group (called the Protectorate). This group is based in the Realms but has recently broadened its "do-gooder meddling" to include the planes themselves. The PCs will be based in Sigil, City of Doors, which gives me the opportunity (that I didn't use when it came out) to jump into the Planescape setting. Right now, I'm feeling a Stargate type vibe for the campaign where the Protectorate sends the PCs on missions to other dimensions/worlds/planes just to see what's out there, catalog threats, and return with cool new stuff.
In freelancing news, I'll be finishing up the NPCs for the Alchemy project within the next 48 hours. Once that's done, I need to jump into a project for Ronin Arts concerning using illusionary PCs in your game. As I've mentioned before, I love Ronin Arts for allowing the creative freedom to really push the gaming envelope and I think PCs that aren't "real" fit that bill nicely.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Crikey!
So I'm at work yesterday when a customer with a large handbag says, "I brought my kangaroo to show you." "Oooo-K," I replied. "You don't believe me do you?" she asked. Of course I said, "No."
Well, she reached into the bag and out came a wallabee! About the size of a cocker spaniel, this kangaroo relative was soooo cute. Seems the woman works at the Philadelphia Zoo and they have to raise these things after birth or they are usually killed (something about them being especially fragile). The wallabee was gray-black in color with very soft fur and curly nails. The customer even let the beast hop around the shop a bit since no one else was there. A very cool experience! Who needs to spend money at the zoo when I can earn money while seeing animals at work? ;)
Still hard at work on the Alchemy project. Just a few NPCs yet and I'm home free to start my Realms campaign finale happening Saturday night. Wish I could type more about it here but my players are everywhere...
Well, she reached into the bag and out came a wallabee! About the size of a cocker spaniel, this kangaroo relative was soooo cute. Seems the woman works at the Philadelphia Zoo and they have to raise these things after birth or they are usually killed (something about them being especially fragile). The wallabee was gray-black in color with very soft fur and curly nails. The customer even let the beast hop around the shop a bit since no one else was there. A very cool experience! Who needs to spend money at the zoo when I can earn money while seeing animals at work? ;)
Still hard at work on the Alchemy project. Just a few NPCs yet and I'm home free to start my Realms campaign finale happening Saturday night. Wish I could type more about it here but my players are everywhere...
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Busy, Busy, Busy
In about an hour I'm driving my parents to a train station where they'll begin their 5-day vacation to Georgia. That means I'll be alone at home with my grandmother and dog. Should be fun. I like a little change of pace at the homestead once in a while.
I'm knee-deep in the Alchemy project mentioned previously. I've finally finalized formulas for calculating DCs and prices for alchemical items. Now I have to make sure that the items in the manuscript bits I was given matches up with it. Since I was tweaking the calculations while figuring them out, I've got a bad feeling that there are things awry in the beginning sections before I really got the hang of it. After that, there's some NPCs to writeup and then I think I'm done.
Movement on my time travel book, Temporality, is proceeding apace. This is the best thing I've ever written, if I do say so myself. It's jam-packed with rules/discussions on time travel, alternate realities, and the geography of the Continuum itself. This will also be published by Dark Quest Games later in the year as a pdf and after that in limited edition print version (if the info I have is still correct). I know a few folks in the community are waiting with baited breath and they will not be disappointed.
I'm knee-deep in the Alchemy project mentioned previously. I've finally finalized formulas for calculating DCs and prices for alchemical items. Now I have to make sure that the items in the manuscript bits I was given matches up with it. Since I was tweaking the calculations while figuring them out, I've got a bad feeling that there are things awry in the beginning sections before I really got the hang of it. After that, there's some NPCs to writeup and then I think I'm done.
Movement on my time travel book, Temporality, is proceeding apace. This is the best thing I've ever written, if I do say so myself. It's jam-packed with rules/discussions on time travel, alternate realities, and the geography of the Continuum itself. This will also be published by Dark Quest Games later in the year as a pdf and after that in limited edition print version (if the info I have is still correct). I know a few folks in the community are waiting with baited breath and they will not be disappointed.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
More Industry Chatter
Just when you thought you had enough web-stops to make already...
If you like Ronin Arts' pdfs (and who doesn't?), you could do worse than to head on over to their new fan forums: http://www.raforums.com/
If you like Ronin Arts' pdfs (and who doesn't?), you could do worse than to head on over to their new fan forums: http://www.raforums.com/
"May discolor urine or feces"
Working at a drug store, you get to see such wonderous phrases as the above. But for some reason, this one gave me a writing idea. Maybe there's an alchemical substance or magic that slowly transforms the user into something else (another subtype perhaps). The first indication of this transformation is the discoloring of excretions. As I was busy at the time, the thoughts on this weren't allowed to continue. Maybe that's for the best...
In other news, I received my contributor's copy of Goodman Games' Complete Guide to Liches (v3.5) yesterday along with check. Besides my new feats and prestige classes, the book has new artwork. For some reason, my section on the lich's voice box was not included from my submission of materials. Kind of annoying but I think I still got paid for it. Perhaps it'll surface in a web enhancment.
In other news, I received my contributor's copy of Goodman Games' Complete Guide to Liches (v3.5) yesterday along with check. Besides my new feats and prestige classes, the book has new artwork. For some reason, my section on the lich's voice box was not included from my submission of materials. Kind of annoying but I think I still got paid for it. Perhaps it'll surface in a web enhancment.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Alchemy Made Difficult
I'm currently working on the alchemy book which Dark Quest Games has on their upcoming products list (which hopefully means I can mention it without getting bitch-slapped) and it's turning out to be pretty cool. This company's got some extremely detailed stuff coming out. It's a shame they seem to fly under the radar of the community (at least it seems that way to me). Anywho, I've been tasked with coming up with more items (no problem) and text but at the same time try to determine WotC's scheme for the pricing and DCs of alchemical items.
This is no picnic. If you've looked at the magic item price calculation page in the DMG, then you know what I'm getting at. Why can't any calculations with 3rd edition be easy? I've come up with a pretty good system for calculating DCs (although the tindertwig defies this) but the market prices are pretty mind-boggling. That's the problem with fleshing out a minor part of the system with new stuff--figuring out how the designers came up with the originals. I suppose consumers won't settle for new alchemical items without crafting DCs or prices. No? Oh, well.
This is no picnic. If you've looked at the magic item price calculation page in the DMG, then you know what I'm getting at. Why can't any calculations with 3rd edition be easy? I've come up with a pretty good system for calculating DCs (although the tindertwig defies this) but the market prices are pretty mind-boggling. That's the problem with fleshing out a minor part of the system with new stuff--figuring out how the designers came up with the originals. I suppose consumers won't settle for new alchemical items without crafting DCs or prices. No? Oh, well.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Unexpected Turns
There I am, minding my own DMing business, when my player characters of today's Whispers of the Vampire's Blade Eberron adventure start to really damage my bad guy. I kept him in the ballroom as long as the adventure dictated, even skipping a minor plot point of going after the hostess, and then attempted escape once his sister had bit the big one. Much to my surprise, the PCs kill him during the attempt! We were 15 pages into the 30+ page adventure and, you know what, I didn't much care.
For you see, DMs tend to lost sight of the "big picture" during the game. It's not all about what the BBEG will do next or what cool encounter locations are coming up. Nope, it's all about the fun. Published adventures rarely go as planned and to have one "end" in the middle doesn't matter so long as everyone enjoyed themselves. I think my players did that and we had gone up to the normal quitting time anyway. So all's well that ends well. Besides, I'm sure the cool set pieces that were not reached can be recycled into future games...
For you see, DMs tend to lost sight of the "big picture" during the game. It's not all about what the BBEG will do next or what cool encounter locations are coming up. Nope, it's all about the fun. Published adventures rarely go as planned and to have one "end" in the middle doesn't matter so long as everyone enjoyed themselves. I think my players did that and we had gone up to the normal quitting time anyway. So all's well that ends well. Besides, I'm sure the cool set pieces that were not reached can be recycled into future games...
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Recharging Your Battery
Maybe you call it writer's block, but the idea is the same. Sometimes you just don't feel like writing. A fellow freelancer (thanks, Chad!) inspired today's blog about what you do when you're just feeling lazy. Here's a few tips I've either used on their own or in combinations...
* Go for a Walk: I live in sight of the Appalachian Trail and would be a fool not to use it. I try to hike at least once a week, getting in 3 miles around town if I cannot have 5-6 in the mountain. Either way, getting fresh air into the 'ol brainpan is a great creativity recharger.
* Music!: One of my favorite recharging methods is to settle into some music. I'll pop in a favorite 80s album and whip out the lyric sheets from inside the case and follow along. Actually reading the words with the music often inspires ideas I just wouldn't have come up with on my own. Or, if you're already hard at work, try changing the genre of music you're already listening to. Switch from pop to soundtrack scores or from classical to new age. Ideally, I would prescribe a change from lyric to non-lyric (or vice versa).
* Read, read, read: As a freelancer, you should be reading anyway; not just as a way to jumpstart your creative drive. Words are the writer's bread and butter and to exist in a literary vaccuum is not a good thing (although this is something I've been guilty of and find hard to break out from).
* Drive: In the same vein as taking a walk, you might want to take a drive somewhere. Nature is just as beautiful when you're wandering around the backroads as when you're marching through the woods. The added bonus whe driving is that you can combine with one of the above suggestions--music! Sights and sounds together are often creatively stimulating.
* Just be Lazy: If you don't have a looming deadline, why not just take the day off? Everyone has days off. 9 to 5'ers get weekends--freelancers usually work through the weekend so please take at least one day for yourself. Everyone needs rest from the routine.
That's it for now. Do you have some others? Leave a comment!
* Go for a Walk: I live in sight of the Appalachian Trail and would be a fool not to use it. I try to hike at least once a week, getting in 3 miles around town if I cannot have 5-6 in the mountain. Either way, getting fresh air into the 'ol brainpan is a great creativity recharger.
* Music!: One of my favorite recharging methods is to settle into some music. I'll pop in a favorite 80s album and whip out the lyric sheets from inside the case and follow along. Actually reading the words with the music often inspires ideas I just wouldn't have come up with on my own. Or, if you're already hard at work, try changing the genre of music you're already listening to. Switch from pop to soundtrack scores or from classical to new age. Ideally, I would prescribe a change from lyric to non-lyric (or vice versa).
* Read, read, read: As a freelancer, you should be reading anyway; not just as a way to jumpstart your creative drive. Words are the writer's bread and butter and to exist in a literary vaccuum is not a good thing (although this is something I've been guilty of and find hard to break out from).
* Drive: In the same vein as taking a walk, you might want to take a drive somewhere. Nature is just as beautiful when you're wandering around the backroads as when you're marching through the woods. The added bonus whe driving is that you can combine with one of the above suggestions--music! Sights and sounds together are often creatively stimulating.
* Just be Lazy: If you don't have a looming deadline, why not just take the day off? Everyone has days off. 9 to 5'ers get weekends--freelancers usually work through the weekend so please take at least one day for yourself. Everyone needs rest from the routine.
That's it for now. Do you have some others? Leave a comment!
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Proving Ground
In yesterday's entry, I mentioned a publisher contacting me for work. Alas, it was not meant to be. In the past, when I felt I had to prove myself to the d20 market, I grabbed every job I could put time aside for. And now that I'm "known" (at least to the limits that I'm happy with--very minor I'm sure), it means I don't have to take everything that crosses my path. It still hurts to turn things aside, but I've got many unread books lying around and more projects in front of me. Besides, I'd be taking up a spot for another freelancer who either: a) needs work badly or b) works for less than myself. At least that's how I'm rationalizing it.
In other news, I've decided to hold off on the big Forgotten Realms campaign finale (as one player cannot attend) and instead run the next installment of the Eberron adventure path (Grasp of the Emerald Claw I believe). Eberron seems like it could be alot of fun--many things to explore in terms of game mechanics and setting alike.
In other news, I've decided to hold off on the big Forgotten Realms campaign finale (as one player cannot attend) and instead run the next installment of the Eberron adventure path (Grasp of the Emerald Claw I believe). Eberron seems like it could be alot of fun--many things to explore in terms of game mechanics and setting alike.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
New music
While out on my day off yesterday, besides dropping $140+ for gaming stuff I also picked up a couple new cds from Best Buy. The first is Native American flute player R. Carlos Nakai's Inner Voices, which I believe was grammy nominated a few years back. The last album I bought was not quite up to snuff but I wanted to give Nakai one last try. This album is accompanied by "lush harmonies of strings in new arrangements of classic Nakai melodies."
"Alright," I thought, "if this isn't good, then I suppose nothing will be."
It was good! Very mellowing and just some great emotions in here. The second cd I'll mention is from Vangelis (you know, "Chariots of Fire" guy) and is called Odyssey: The Definitive Collection. Must have been in a risk taking mood because I own no Vangelis in my already large collection. It was also good! Met and exceeded my expectations. I don't think there's a track on it I don't care for.
In other news, a publisher contacted me for work today. That's always a nice feeling when a potential boss makes a conscious decision to email you. We'll see what happens with that.
"Alright," I thought, "if this isn't good, then I suppose nothing will be."
It was good! Very mellowing and just some great emotions in here. The second cd I'll mention is from Vangelis (you know, "Chariots of Fire" guy) and is called Odyssey: The Definitive Collection. Must have been in a risk taking mood because I own no Vangelis in my already large collection. It was also good! Met and exceeded my expectations. I don't think there's a track on it I don't care for.
In other news, a publisher contacted me for work today. That's always a nice feeling when a potential boss makes a conscious decision to email you. We'll see what happens with that.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
New d20 pdf
After two weeks of tinkering, my newest work for Phil Reed's Ronin Arts company is on the market. Mallyate (see "Most Recent Work" over there on the right) presents a new special material for use in a high magic d20 campaign. This hunk of Astral plane stuff shapes itself to its wielder's desire to take the form of any weapon, armor, or shield he is familiar with. I hope people enjoy it!
Behind the Scenes: The idea for Mallyate came about from a one-shot 2nd edition game. The PCs were sent to meet a Zhentarim (Forgotten Realms world baddies) that defected from that organization. Before defecting, this Zhent stole an unusual item that could shape itself into any weapon the possessor could think of. Naturally, the Zhents were in hot pursuit. I remember the PCs successfully rescued the defector and took "the Shaper" for their own use. For whatever reason, I thought this might make a great new special material for d20. Maybe I'll have to sift through some other old campaign notes for ideas.
Working for Ronin Arts: I enjoy working for Phil Reed for a number of reasons. First, he's pretty accessible. Communication is important (at least to me) in this business. Second, Phil is open to my wacky new ideas for pdfs. Mallyate and Substandard Magic Items speak to this. And third, the turnaround for completed projects has been very quick. Thanks, Phil! Here's to many more pdfs together.
Behind the Scenes: The idea for Mallyate came about from a one-shot 2nd edition game. The PCs were sent to meet a Zhentarim (Forgotten Realms world baddies) that defected from that organization. Before defecting, this Zhent stole an unusual item that could shape itself into any weapon the possessor could think of. Naturally, the Zhents were in hot pursuit. I remember the PCs successfully rescued the defector and took "the Shaper" for their own use. For whatever reason, I thought this might make a great new special material for d20. Maybe I'll have to sift through some other old campaign notes for ideas.
Working for Ronin Arts: I enjoy working for Phil Reed for a number of reasons. First, he's pretty accessible. Communication is important (at least to me) in this business. Second, Phil is open to my wacky new ideas for pdfs. Mallyate and Substandard Magic Items speak to this. And third, the turnaround for completed projects has been very quick. Thanks, Phil! Here's to many more pdfs together.
Bundle on the Doorstep
Nope, not a baby.
So I'm going for coffee from the shop next to my workplace this morning and notice something odd on the drug store's sidewalk--a Winnie the Pooh hamper in a, shall we say, heavily used state (stained, hole in the bottom, etc.). I give it a cursory look and then head into my store to see if anyone knows what it's all about.
"It's got porn tapes in it," is the reply.
"What?!" I ask. "Who would put porn tapes in a ratty Pooh bear hamper and leave them in front of the store?"
Well, there were no answers forthcoming but it was pretty damned funny. I went next door for the coffees for my mom and I and couldn't help but open the hamper on my way out. Sure enough, three cassette tapes were inside. I nudged one but felt very self-conscious looking at this outside so left the mess go. Quite an interesting encounter so early on my day off. I can only wonder what's next?
So I'm going for coffee from the shop next to my workplace this morning and notice something odd on the drug store's sidewalk--a Winnie the Pooh hamper in a, shall we say, heavily used state (stained, hole in the bottom, etc.). I give it a cursory look and then head into my store to see if anyone knows what it's all about.
"It's got porn tapes in it," is the reply.
"What?!" I ask. "Who would put porn tapes in a ratty Pooh bear hamper and leave them in front of the store?"
Well, there were no answers forthcoming but it was pretty damned funny. I went next door for the coffees for my mom and I and couldn't help but open the hamper on my way out. Sure enough, three cassette tapes were inside. I nudged one but felt very self-conscious looking at this outside so left the mess go. Quite an interesting encounter so early on my day off. I can only wonder what's next?
Monday, August 08, 2005
New Car Smell
Stepping into this blog space, it's as if I can smell the inside of an unused vehicle. But just like that vehicle, I can also imagine the future spills and other uncleanly disasters that might occur in here. With that, welcome to my blog! I'm a bit late to the blogging "craze" and I doubt anyone wants to read my ramblings, but it might be a nice place to unwind in the virtual world. Well, we'll see.
Cheers!
Bret
Cheers!
Bret
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