X-Wing Miniatures has been out long enough for players to accessorize their game to enhance their playing experience. Since X-Wing can be played on any flat surface without grids or hexes, creating an interesting play surface is something most anyone can do for...as much money and time they wish to spend.
Read MoreStar Wars Wednesday - SUVUDU Readers Companion
Another busy week, this time a surprise deadline at the day job. Fortunately, some really interesting stuff popped up regarding the Star Wars: The Essential Reader's Companion (besides its release this week) and the Random House blog SUVUDU. Links after the break:
Read MoreRealms Works Beta Map
in Cartography
I've added an excerpt of the fantasy world map used in the Realms Works beta test to my online portfolio. Realms Works is a new tabletop roleplaying game computer utility program that helps gamemasters organize their campaings. A demo of the beta was shown at GenCon this year.
More information on the product can be found here, at Lone Wolf Development. they are best known for the popular Hero Lab RPG characater creation software, used by many popular tabletop RPGs.
Star Wars Wednesday - One of Those Weeks
Travel can really throw you off schedule. This is one of those kinds of weeks. The sort where you go "it's Wednesday, wasn't there some thing else I needed to do besides collapse at the hotel?" Right. That blog post....from a phone. There's an app for that...it just won't actually post any thing but a draft for some reason. No problem, that is what copy paste is for.
Next issue...I don't have all that handy Star Wars info with me.
Star Wars Wednesday - Edge of the Emprie Beginners
With any game line, there are products you hope to work on, or those you wish you had the opportunity to contribute to. As a freelancer, and even as an employee, passing over a particular project often means losing the opportunity to ever contribute to that specific product. There may be opportunities down the road for something similar, but never that exact thing.
This week, Fantasy Flight Games announced the Star Wars Edge of the Empire Beginner Game. It's an introductory set for newcomers to roleplaying games and, obviously, Star Wars roleplaying in particular. As might be expected, it comes with pregenerated characters, dice, fold out maps and a simplified rules set.
Star Wars Wednesday - X-Winging It
So, a busy week caught up with me today. I'll take this rather later opportunity to talk a bit about the other Star Wars game that Fantasy Flight released at GenCon - X-Wing Miniatures.The Coriolis Defect RPG Kickstarter
in writing
Earlier today, The Coriolis Defect RPG kickstarter campaign kicked off. If successful, I'll be one of the contributing writers on the project.
The Coriolis Defect is an RPG of re-history in the making. The PCs can "rewind" time briefly, altering the story by changing the past.
The Coriolis Defect is focused on thematic, narratively-driven gameplay, stories of "re-history in the making." The characters share a rare genetic anomaly, dubbed the Coriolis Defect. This anomaly allows them to briefly rewind history, offering a limited means to travel back in time.
For more on the RPG itself, see the The Coriolis Defect website.
To join in and contribute to the campaign, see The Coriolis Defect kickstarter page.
Star Wars Wednesday - Edge of the Empire Beta Beginnings
It has been a wild couple of weeks, with GenCon, Star Wars Celebration and the release of the new Star Wars Edge of the Empire RPG beta test. Now it's time to jump into a bit of the beta.
Read MoreStar Wars Wednesday - Star Wars Celebration VI
Star Wars Celebration VI marked my second journey down to Orlando for the great gathering of Star Wars fans. I had a fantastic time at Celebration V, and eventually worked out a way to go again this year. Though they were held once every 3 years, I hear they're moving it to every two years, as it was this time around. Hopefully, it won't always be the week after GenCon. That said, it will probably be the week OF GenCon at some point.
Anyway, having nearly not fully rested up from GenCon the week before, not to mention the day job in between, I hopped an early Thursday flight, to arrive just before noon.
Star Wars Wednesday - SWRPG: Edge of the Empire Beta Announced!
FFG Demo at their booth at GenConGenCon proved to be even more exciting than I anticipated. I was reasonably sure that the new Star Wars RPG from Fantasy Flight Games would be announced - something I was greatly looking forward to because I'm one of the writer/developers on the product. Having been under a non-disclosure agreement, I couldn't say a word throughout the process.
Prior to the announcement, FFG hung a black banner over one of their Star Wars banners, with a sign that said something along the lines of "new game to be announced at the In-Flight Report," which is their product seminar. The seminar room was very full. FFG walked through their various product lines, production updates and the occasional question. Once they got to the end, they had "one more thing" and announced three Star Wars RPG core rulebooks, each a standalone game.
GenCon 2012 Report
in Conventions, awards
I had a great year at GenCon this past week. Friday, especially, was a good day. In the afternoon, the new Star Wars RPG Edge of the Empire was announced. I'm one of the writer/developers. See my Star Wars Wednesday post for the rundown on it and how it upped the excitement level for the entire show.
On top of that, the ENnie Awards were that evening. My D&D product Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale took a silver ENnie in the Best Monster/Adversary category. It was my first ENnie win, and a blast to be able to walk up on stage with my fellow writers (Brian James and Steve Townshend - Matt James was elsewhere) and lead developer Jeremy Crawford to accept the award. I told my wife, when else do I ever get to make an entrance to the tune Back in Black (which was WotC's selected acceptance music)?
Other GenCon comments and events in no particular order:
Star Wars Wednesday - Gen Con 2012
in Conventions
It is time for GenCon once again. As far as Star Wars is concerned, this means checking out the new X Wing Minis game from Fantasy Flight. I also hear there is a group running a Wizard's Star Wars Minis tournament, with new maps from Christopher West. Saga and d6 RPGs continue to show up on the schedule, as well as in pick up games.
It is also ineresting to see where people with interest or influence on the games show up. This year, the Order 66 podcasters have turned into a full on game company, complete with a booth and product to sell - their kickstarter success, the Edition Wars card game. Chris West will also be around with new maps on offer. Rodney Thompson continues to help develop the new version of D&D. I expect others will also reappear along the way.
Star Wars Wednesday - Celebration VI Scramble
With this week's release of the Star Wars Celebration VI full event schedule, event planning is in full swing. There are a lot of great panels to look forward to. As usual, some of the ones with the most interest for me overlap, but I should basically be able to get to the ones I want to see.
Read MoreStar Wars Wednesday - Celebration VI TFN Party
Sorry for the delay in Star Wars Wednesday this week. I had to take an unexpected trip out of town for work and posting from the road is challenging at times. As it happens, I also missed an announcement that I could have easily posted here, and on time. I even managed to miss it when it was posted a second time, by mistake.
Read MoreDungeon-A-Day.com Kickstarter
in Cartography
My map for the Fane of the Sea God Level, written by Charles Ryan.For years, Dungeon A Day posted daily dungeon encounters by Monte Cook for Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 OGL. It was a massive dungeon. Eventually, he brought in Super Genius Games to keep the site running and complete the Dragon's Delve mega dungeon. Afterwrads, Super Genius continued with smaller dungeons, and added the Pathfinder rules along the way.
Sadly, the site was forced to close to new subscribers last year. Fortunately, Super Genius received enough interest to start a new Kickstarter campign to make the original material available to newcomers. They hope to gain enough funding to add to the original material, and more.
Regular readers may remember that I was one of the site's cartographers near the end of Dragon's Delve and other adventures. If the kickstarter works, I may get the opportunity to do more of that in the future, plus something more...
Star Wars Wednesday - Mystery Map Moment
This week, I just have a couple of comments on maps:
Read More2012 ENnie Award Voting Now Open
in D&D
ENnie Award voting is now open. Go vote for Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale for Best Monster/Adversary. Thanks from my fellow authors and I.
Here are a couple of my earlier blog posts, from when it was released.
Star Wars Wednesday - Previews Everywhere
As expected, there was a ton of Star Wars news last week. Much of it was thanks to San Diego Comic Con, so much so that it will be interesting to see what was saved for Star Wars Celebration next month. However, a few unexpected sources cropped up as well, which made for an entertaining week.
Read MoreMonster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale nominated for ENnie Award!
Monster Vault: Threats to the Nentir Vale for Dungeons & Dragons has been nominated for an ENnie Award for Best Monster/Adversary! My fellow authors Brian R. James, Matt James and Steve Townshend and I would love your support. Voting starts July 20, and the awards are announced at the ENnie Awards Ceremony at GenCon in August.
This is my first ENnie Award nomination for a D&D product.
Star Wars Wednesday - Con Season Begins
So, I completely missed Wednesday this week, mainly due to travel, airport delays, post-midnight arrivals and fatigue thereof. Fortunately, con season is in full swing, with San Diego Comic Con this week. I haven't been to this one, but will be attending others later in the summer. More on that in later weeks. For now, I'm sure most of you are already following the typical news outlets, but I thought I'd highlight a few as well. Plus, I'm really tired.
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