Wednesday, August 10, 2011 at 11:37PM It's been a busy week and a half, or so, between GenCon, preparing for GenCon, work, home and car disasters and work travel. On the plus side, GenCon went well and I think it will be an interesting year, both personally and in the gaming industry. We'll see how things go.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011 at 12:03AM Yesterday, Fantasy Flight Games announced they have the Star Wars games license. They were one of the front runners of the rumor mill, not the least of which was due to their high production values.
ffg, gencon in Star Wars Wed. Tuesday, July 19, 2011 at 11:49PM So, last week I thought this was a good idea, but it's turned out less interesting than I thought it would be. So, don't be surprised if it's a bit on the short side.
KC Game Fair, ShaunCon, d6 sw, gencon, swse in Star Wars Wed. Monday, August 9, 2010 at 10:39AM 
The Return of the D&D Red BoxGenCon 2010 flew by quickly. I had a good time (aside from my wife falling an injuring herself).
Our Star Wars Saga Edition Retrospective was full, with about 50 attendees. It was entertaining. We had a lot of good questions, though not really any rules questions, which was somewhat surprising. The panel was also large, with myself, Owen KC Stephens, Gary Sarli, Christopher West, Gary Astleford, Patrick Stutzman, and T Rob Brown. Rodney Thompson and Chris Perkins were interested, but other commitments prevented them from coming (or arriving in time).
Among the new items announced at the Dungeons and Dragons Preview seminar was my first D&D 4e print product, Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale. Can't say much yet other than it's a box set with a book, tokens and poster maps. Also met my fellow authors in person for the first time (Matt James, Brian James and Steven Townshend). Click here for a picture of the cover.
The Rebellion Era Campaign Guide did not win an ENnie for Best Supplement, but the awards show was entertaining. Congratulations to the winners.
I found some time to run a Star Wars Saga Edition game for a few friends and introduce it to them. They ended up hunting down the books in the dealer's hall before the show was over. I've had this sort of reaction most of the time when I run a Saga Editon game at a con, which is a lot of fun.
For those who have asked if the Saga Edition books are more or less expensive now that the line is over, I will have to say....both. Depends on the book. I've seen Force Unleashed for as cheap as $10, others at cover price or up to $20 more. Kotor and Starships of the Galaxy remain impossible to find. I saw really good prices on the minis and maps, though.
I played in Savage Saturday Night, Pinnacle Entertainment Group's Savage Worlds RPG open gaming night. Ended up in a Ravaged Earth setting game (by Savage Worlds licensee Reality Blurs) with its creator, Eric Avedissian. They had well over 100 people, and twice what they expected to show. I think most everyone got into a game, however. It was interesting to see huge variety of settings now available for one system being played in a single room.
As usual, I also attended several seminars and meetings, among which was one on the new Gamma World RPG from Wizards. As an old-time Gamma World fan, I'm looking forward to this one. It's humoursly presented and though it's 4e compatible, it has a lot of its own unique design elements.
I also pursued new freelancing opportunities in writing and cartography, caught up with old friends and met a few new ones along the way.
Next, prepping for Star Wars Celebration V...
D&D 4e, gamma world, gencon, savage worlds, swse in Conventions, D&D Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at 11:33PM For those Star Wars Saga Edition (and Minis) fans attending GenCon this year: I'll be participating in an unofficial (i.e., non-Wizards of the Coast) seminar focusing on those games, along with Saga Edition editor/developer Gary Sarli and likely others involved in the game system. Attendees can sign up on the GenCon site. The seminar itself is free.
Game ID: SEM1013330
Gaming Group/Company: GMSarli Games
Title: Star Wars Saga Edition Retrospective
Description: Game professionals who worked on the Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Saga Edition take a look back at the product line, sharing their experiences and what they learned from their work.
Start Date & Time: 08/05/2010 02:00:00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Location: Marriott : Indiana Blrm B
gencon, swminis, swse in Conventions Monday, August 17, 2009 at 6:47PM I had a good time at GenCon 2009 this past weekend. Played some Star Wars Saga Edition with the guys from d20radio and the Order 66 podcast. Ran around the dealers hall, talked with old friends and new, and checked out potential freelance work for future projects.
Order 66 won a silver ENnie for best podcast (after All Games Considered), so a big congratulations to them, especially as some other nominees had larger followings. The Clone Wars Campaign Guide won a silver for best supplement and Scum and Villainy won a silver for best cartography (both Star Wars Saga Editon RPG products).
However, the biggest highlight for me was participating in the benefit breakfast for Aaron Allston, hosted by the Indy Knights Star Wars fan club at the Ram. Aaron has authored Star Wars novels for some time, including several in the current Fate of the Jedi series. He suffered a heart attack with a quadruple bypass earlier this year and needs help with medical costs. A variety of Star Wars authors turned out as special guests, as well as Aaron himself. There was a good fan turnout, and everyone had a good time.
Pictured here are the guests: Troy Denning (Fate of the Jedi: Abyss, etc.), Michael Stackpole (I, Jedi, etc.), Aaron Allston (Fate of the Jedi: Outcast, etc.) with Ann Margaret Lews & Helen Keier (New Essential Guide to Alien Species) to either side, myself and Jason T Eberl (Philosophy and Star Wars).
Just to be clear, this was event was not officially affiliated with GenCon, but held off-site at the Ram, a restaurant popular with convention attendees. However, most of the guests and many attendees were also convention participants.
gencon, order66, swminis, swse in Conventions Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 11:44AM 
Voting for the ENnie awards is now open. The Star Wars RPG and Minis games received several nominations. I wasn't involved in these fine products, although I believe the Order 66 crew used at least one of the episodes I was in as one of their samples to the jury during the nomination process.
The Star Wars products up for awards this year are:
Also, I didn't mention it here earlier, but my own Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide was nominated for Best Supplement in the Origins awards, but didn't win this year. The main Saga Edition rulebook was up for best RPG, but also came up short (it won two ENnies last year, though). The Clone Wars Minitures set did win best miniatures product, however.
ennie award, gencon, origins award in awards