It's been awhile and I wonder sometimes if I should just go back to blogging and forget the zine I'm working on. But with the attrition rate of blogs these days I would like to leave something a little more permanent as a reference point...oh well...a subject for another day...
The following is from what I consider one of the best online book references on the web. I found this years ago and caught myself wrapped up in reading these documents. For someone running an early American game or Horror theme (Lovecraft anyone?)these might provide some inspiration.
Just remember, what you are reading really happened. Truth is stranger than Lovecraft.
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/texts/transcripts.html
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
YouTube - DW Bestiary: Available Now
YouTube - DW Bestiary: Available Now
What is Dragon Warriors?
Dragon Warriors is a game from the heyday of pen and paper roleplaying games, the 1980s. Penned by Dave Morris and Oliver Johnson, it was originally published by Corgi Books. They used a paperback format, which gave the game the appearance of the incredibly popular Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, and indeed many bought into the game thinking that’s exactly the kind of thing it was.
Dragon Warriors was in fact a full roleplaying game, with a Games Master and a group of players taking roles within the fantasy world of Legend. This being the 1980s, the game bore some distinct resemblance to Dungeons and Dragons. However, it came with a distinctly British flavour, especially when it came to the included setting – the Lands of Legend.
(Read More- http://serpentking.com/?page_id=153)
What is Dragon Warriors?
Dragon Warriors is a game from the heyday of pen and paper roleplaying games, the 1980s. Penned by Dave Morris and Oliver Johnson, it was originally published by Corgi Books. They used a paperback format, which gave the game the appearance of the incredibly popular Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, and indeed many bought into the game thinking that’s exactly the kind of thing it was.
Dragon Warriors was in fact a full roleplaying game, with a Games Master and a group of players taking roles within the fantasy world of Legend. This being the 1980s, the game bore some distinct resemblance to Dungeons and Dragons. However, it came with a distinctly British flavour, especially when it came to the included setting – the Lands of Legend.
(Read More- http://serpentking.com/?page_id=153)
Thursday, October 20, 2011
They Promised Us We Were Going To Live Forever And All I Got Was This Stupid Blade Runner T-Shirt
Blade Runner is my favorite film. I have studied it like religious scholars have the Dead Sea scrolls.
There is a reason for my unstoppable support for this mangled masterpiece...it was the first time I thought I had seen the real future.
It was the first time I felt I had been told the truth.
And that was disturbing.
I knew something had changed inside me when I left the theater opening day after the first showing. I just didn't realize what it was until later.
But over the next several months in '82 I went through a transformation that scared people a little. I had always worn my hair long. I cut it the shortest it had ever been. I was working an early morning shift in winter and could only afford a motorcycle as transportation. I went into a thrift store and hanging on a rack was a mint condition vintage army trench-coat with the wool liner. I handed the lady my $5 and left the building.
I still own that trench to this day. Frazzled and worn it is still one hell of a coat and with the liner will keep you warm in deep Siberia.
I didn't know what cyberpunk was then. It didn't have a name. But there were books and other items that seemed to be part of a world not often talked about in fiction circles or any other circles for that matter.
I read Burning Chrome by William Gibson that same year. I began my Gary Numan collection. I bought John Brunner's pre-cyberpunk trilogy-Stand On Zanzibar / Jagged Orbit / The Sheep Look Up - and the grand-daddy of them all-Shockwave Rider (where he coined the word "worm" to describe a program that propagates itself through a computer network).
Prior to all this I had been a believer in the 'science will cure all our ills' future. Future Life magazine promised we would all travel to space and live forever. There would be no more war or disease. That science would deliver us from ourselves into a 'golden land of opportunity and adventure'.
Flash Forward 30 years - The planet is dying and we argue over whether the water will rise in Miami 24 inches or 24 feet. Genocide takes place everyday on this planet. Starvation is rampant.
And I watched what may very well be the last time this country puts a person into space in my lifetime.
With the last launch of a shuttle the curtain comes down on the finest achievement humans have ever made.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope somebody figures it out. The future we were promised was a bright one, filled with the technology and the know-how to fix the problems, to right the wrongs.
I'm just not holding my breath.
There is a reason for my unstoppable support for this mangled masterpiece...it was the first time I thought I had seen the real future.
It was the first time I felt I had been told the truth.
And that was disturbing.
I knew something had changed inside me when I left the theater opening day after the first showing. I just didn't realize what it was until later.
But over the next several months in '82 I went through a transformation that scared people a little. I had always worn my hair long. I cut it the shortest it had ever been. I was working an early morning shift in winter and could only afford a motorcycle as transportation. I went into a thrift store and hanging on a rack was a mint condition vintage army trench-coat with the wool liner. I handed the lady my $5 and left the building.
I still own that trench to this day. Frazzled and worn it is still one hell of a coat and with the liner will keep you warm in deep Siberia.
I didn't know what cyberpunk was then. It didn't have a name. But there were books and other items that seemed to be part of a world not often talked about in fiction circles or any other circles for that matter.
I read Burning Chrome by William Gibson that same year. I began my Gary Numan collection. I bought John Brunner's pre-cyberpunk trilogy-Stand On Zanzibar / Jagged Orbit / The Sheep Look Up - and the grand-daddy of them all-Shockwave Rider (where he coined the word "worm" to describe a program that propagates itself through a computer network).
Prior to all this I had been a believer in the 'science will cure all our ills' future. Future Life magazine promised we would all travel to space and live forever. There would be no more war or disease. That science would deliver us from ourselves into a 'golden land of opportunity and adventure'.
Flash Forward 30 years - The planet is dying and we argue over whether the water will rise in Miami 24 inches or 24 feet. Genocide takes place everyday on this planet. Starvation is rampant.
And I watched what may very well be the last time this country puts a person into space in my lifetime.
With the last launch of a shuttle the curtain comes down on the finest achievement humans have ever made.
I hope I'm wrong. I hope somebody figures it out. The future we were promised was a bright one, filled with the technology and the know-how to fix the problems, to right the wrongs.
I'm just not holding my breath.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
ON PIRACY AND NEW MODELS OF DISTRIBUTION IN THE 21ST CENTURY
I have been reading a series of posts about pdf piracy of game materials on the web and found the sentiment in the right place but I would like to add something.
Many fields of intellectual properties have a had a tough time coming to terms with the new tech ecology that permeates ever aspect of our lives.
The only solution is to stop treating the downloaders as criminals and find new ways to monetize the content they are downloading.
First accept this: THE PAST IS DEAD AND GONE.
We must invent new models to find a balance between the the creator and the consumer.
Models that I see as helping to bridge that gap:
(1) Distribute your IP for free with support from advertisers that appeal to the demographic you are trying to reach. These advertisers must make a property that supports the IP yet cannot be distributed in the same fashion. In games for example minis make a good choice. And take it a step further. Join with them in creating custom minis for your IP. There are other items that fall under this heading (like custom dice).
(2) The Ransom Model / Kickstarter. Having the item paid for in advance is a way to insure a base return on investment. If no one wants to pay for it then there is no point in devoting time to a project if financial gain is your motive. Please Note: I'm a dyed in the wool hard core capitalist. I have nothing against making money except when it brings harm to others. I love for people to see the fruit of their labor. I know I enjoy it.
(3) Incorporating items that cannot be transferred over the web and play an integral part in the IP. Boardgames fit this profile. Even WotC is figuring this one out.
We have to get smart again about the way this new technology is not our enemy but our friend. I know many will disagree with these ideas and I wish you much luck in the future if your IP is purely digital in nature. But I hope it is just a hobby and not a serious business concern.
(4) And last but not least put a way to be paid on the internet and make certain people know where it is. I see many times when someone has created and distributed something for free that I would love to PayPal them a sum of money and a note that says 'keep up the good work!'. It's a simple thing but you might be surprised how many will contribute.
The last thing I will mention is an observation-people buy from people they like. Paizo has an all but cult-like status because of the access the fans have to the company and its output unlike WotC who always feel like they are trying to pull a fast one or being underhanded in how they approach their customers. Stop treating your players like crooks and be forthcoming in your activities with your fans. And don't mislead and screw them every five minutes and make them feel like a chump.
Many fields of intellectual properties have a had a tough time coming to terms with the new tech ecology that permeates ever aspect of our lives.
The only solution is to stop treating the downloaders as criminals and find new ways to monetize the content they are downloading.
First accept this: THE PAST IS DEAD AND GONE.
We must invent new models to find a balance between the the creator and the consumer.
Models that I see as helping to bridge that gap:
(1) Distribute your IP for free with support from advertisers that appeal to the demographic you are trying to reach. These advertisers must make a property that supports the IP yet cannot be distributed in the same fashion. In games for example minis make a good choice. And take it a step further. Join with them in creating custom minis for your IP. There are other items that fall under this heading (like custom dice).
(2) The Ransom Model / Kickstarter. Having the item paid for in advance is a way to insure a base return on investment. If no one wants to pay for it then there is no point in devoting time to a project if financial gain is your motive. Please Note: I'm a dyed in the wool hard core capitalist. I have nothing against making money except when it brings harm to others. I love for people to see the fruit of their labor. I know I enjoy it.
(3) Incorporating items that cannot be transferred over the web and play an integral part in the IP. Boardgames fit this profile. Even WotC is figuring this one out.
We have to get smart again about the way this new technology is not our enemy but our friend. I know many will disagree with these ideas and I wish you much luck in the future if your IP is purely digital in nature. But I hope it is just a hobby and not a serious business concern.
(4) And last but not least put a way to be paid on the internet and make certain people know where it is. I see many times when someone has created and distributed something for free that I would love to PayPal them a sum of money and a note that says 'keep up the good work!'. It's a simple thing but you might be surprised how many will contribute.
The last thing I will mention is an observation-people buy from people they like. Paizo has an all but cult-like status because of the access the fans have to the company and its output unlike WotC who always feel like they are trying to pull a fast one or being underhanded in how they approach their customers. Stop treating your players like crooks and be forthcoming in your activities with your fans. And don't mislead and screw them every five minutes and make them feel like a chump.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
DEEP DELVE-50+ DOWNLOADS - NEW GEAR -CRoA #1
Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to download DEEP DELVE-RPG. I have been compiling my own notes on corrections and additions and am waiting to hear from some more folks to see what else is broken.
Currently waiting on new gear to get started on some must do projects.
Which brings us to the first issue of Classic Realms of Adventure. I was hoping to have the first ready for this week but with a delay in gear arriving it set me back a bit so I will be shooting for next week. If I have time I might do a sneak peek issue #0 just to give everyone an idea what will be included in each issue. I will have to see how things go after inspecting the new equipment (and believe me, after some of the deliveries I have received I check every thing twice :)
I want to try and update through the weekend as things re-surface. It has been a mad week and I've got travel time coming up soon so I want to get as much prepped as I can before I enter 'vampire' phase (I have always preferred working at night) as soon as road time is over.
Ok, it would appear new hardware is in the house. Let's get busy :)
Currently waiting on new gear to get started on some must do projects.
Which brings us to the first issue of Classic Realms of Adventure. I was hoping to have the first ready for this week but with a delay in gear arriving it set me back a bit so I will be shooting for next week. If I have time I might do a sneak peek issue #0 just to give everyone an idea what will be included in each issue. I will have to see how things go after inspecting the new equipment (and believe me, after some of the deliveries I have received I check every thing twice :)
I want to try and update through the weekend as things re-surface. It has been a mad week and I've got travel time coming up soon so I want to get as much prepped as I can before I enter 'vampire' phase (I have always preferred working at night) as soon as road time is over.
Ok, it would appear new hardware is in the house. Let's get busy :)
Saturday, October 1, 2011
DEEP DELVE alpha 0.6 Ready For Download
Yes, the day is finally here. DEEP DELVE-RPG is ready for its preview:
http://classicrealmsofadventure.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-is-here-deep-delve-rpg-alpha-06-now.html
http://classicrealmsofadventure.blogspot.com/2011/10/day-is-here-deep-delve-rpg-alpha-06-now.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)