tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47902183780176261422023-11-16T02:47:38.024-05:00Dangerous GamesHi, my name is Ross A. Isaacs and I'm a game designer, freelance writer, and editor. I've worked for Chaosium, White Wolf, Holistic, AEG, Last Unicorn Games, Decipher, and Wizards of the Coast.
I talk about game design here, from product concept to game mechanics to the nuts-and-bolts of writing. I offer my opinions on just about everything game-related. Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-29879431917345091432013-04-24T10:16:00.001-04:002013-04-24T10:16:35.338-04:00A Recommendation -- Toolcards<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the things I've been avoiding for the past year or so is Kickstarter. I've been happy to make myself available to friends as a stretch goal, as if getting an adventure written by me was something to chase after.... However, I didn't want to get sucked into actually backing any projects. One of the things I work on assiduously, from a personal development perspective, is the Delphic exhortation to "Know Thyself." I try to figure out where my emotions or actions are coming from -- honestly, clearly, directly. So I knew that once I started backing projects on Kickstarter, I'd never stop. The genii would be out of the bottle.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How right I was.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A long time ago, Wizards of the Coast (prior to being acquired by Hasbro) put out a roleplaying game called Everway. I thought it had a lot of potential, not the least of which was because it emphasized the use of cards (because, you know, WotC). You were encouraged to use cards -- any cards -- to create your character. I liked it because it allowed you to take images from any trading card game and use them in Everway -- expanded versatility. It also gave the whole thing a Tarot card feel. I'm a fan of the archetypal aspects of the Tarot, in the Jungian sense. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But, that's not what I learned from Everway. Jonathan Tweet (or was it Greg Stolze) was working on the first supplement for the game, and he talked in an interview about the concept of "breaking the egg." By putting two disparate words or ideas together, the human mind tries to reconcile those two elements into one. It's why we think two completely unrelated events actually have a causative relationship because one follows after another. However, it's that process of combination that "breaks the egg" and inspiration pops out. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I ran out and bought a bunch of those magnetic poetry sets and tossed them on my 'fridge. They cover a lot of different subjects. When I got tired of writing and needed a break, I'd go out to get some coffee, and put two words together at random. Then, I'd try to figure out what the phrase meant. So you might pick "love" and "knife"... what is a "love knife?" Maybe it's a blade crafted to kill your rival in romance. Maybe it's a foul, cursed blade created by the Witches of the Dark Glade to kill a lover who has cheated... Anyway, I'd never have thought of that if I didn't "break the egg." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Which brings me, the long way around, to <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/218255739/toolcards-fantasy-gm-cards" target="_blank">Toolcards</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Designed by jim pinto (yes, he spells it that way), Toolcards are a way for the GM to quickly and easily come up with those elements he can't create on his own. You know how it goes. The party meets a mysterious stranger; the stranger is only there to drop a clue and walk off. However, the party takes a liking to him, asks a million questions, and now you've got an NPC for which you have NO information. Or maybe someone finds a magic item, something minor, and you decide to dress it up a bit. After all, how many freaking +1 daggers can you have? But, you have no idea how to give this particular +1 dagger some character.... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In these cases, you go to the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/218255739/toolcards-fantasy-gm-cards" target="_blank">Toolcards</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Each card has two sides -- a high fantasy side, and a low fantasy side. That right there is pretty genius, because it makes the cards useful to any kind of campaign. Each card has nine different elements. They're just bits of information. Like a name. And a monster. There are more "flavorful" elements, such as a magic item or atmospheric element (such as "rattling chains"). What you do with these elements is up to you. For example, maybe the rattling chains are the predominant sound you hear on the docks; maybe they presage a vengeful ghost. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOLI8YVAbBdK007GuahWjz3d-aclLRaIoQ5O1zir7u41DP3MeuhTfG2areYQJmCv3bJqjFVcp5yPPUY3ac4zj5bb50TbPnvfLdwvy0AMhW-5XZgL6PD7-sF72FbM0ELtCJLTRTAneoLpp/s1600/Toolcard+Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBOLI8YVAbBdK007GuahWjz3d-aclLRaIoQ5O1zir7u41DP3MeuhTfG2areYQJmCv3bJqjFVcp5yPPUY3ac4zj5bb50TbPnvfLdwvy0AMhW-5XZgL6PD7-sF72FbM0ELtCJLTRTAneoLpp/s320/Toolcard+Front.jpg" width="228" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Going back to the names and monsters for a bit. On the sample card pinto mocked up, he's got "Balemir, the Rainshaper." What the hell is a "Rainshaper?" The sample monster isn't just "goblin" or "skeleton." It's something like "vengeance troll." What's a "vengeance troll?!" It's that kind of "breaking the egg" that's got me excited about Toolcards. They prompt you to <i>think</i>. To be <i>creative</i>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And, in my campaign, the Rainshapers are an order of Druids who specialize in making it rain. And vengeance trolls are a magical creature you summon to kill the object of your revenge; they just keep on coming... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So far, the Kickstarter has unlocked cards suitable for wards, dooms, and potion. More are on the way. And even these are pretty terrific, because you don't necessarily need to use the doom cards to predict a doom. You can draw a doom card for a magic item, thus "breaking the egg" even further. "You find a sword with two stars engraved near the hilt..." Or "you drink the potion and red boils appear on your neck..." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In an environment where we see yet another elf archer and the taverns are filled with mysterious strangers -- in a world where we've seen all the fantasy tropes before -- <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/218255739/toolcards-fantasy-gm-cards" target="_blank">Toolcards</a> are a way to spice things up. To make something new. To breathe some life into your games. Heck, I might use these when creating my next player character, too. So they're useful to you players, as well. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I urge you to give them a look, and remember my words: <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/218255739/toolcards-fantasy-gm-cards" target="_blank">Break that egg</a>. </span><br />
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<br />Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-27225291046501850922013-04-17T13:16:00.001-04:002013-04-17T13:16:53.409-04:00Playtesting Thoughts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ok. You guys just aren't getting the message here. I've been flogging Sara Bakay's IndieGoGo <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">fundraiser</a> for a month now, and she's not getting many donations. I've been sharing all kinds of game developer wisdom here, to challenge your thought <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">processes</a> and give you advice. I can see by the stats that Google helpfully tracks for <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">me</a> that a lot of you are reading this stuff. That's not translating into donations. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Think of it like a tip jar. Did you <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">like</a> something you read here? Did you learn something? Were you entertained? Then throw a buck in the jar. If all of you guys who found my site by Googling Natalie Portman's <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">tummy</a> region had kicked in a buck, Sara would have an <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">extra</a> $100. (I tried talking her into a belly button photo. No dice. <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">Sorry</a>. And my black eye is healing nicely, thank you.) </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">However, that <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">gave</a> me an idea. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Randomly scattered through all the <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">links</a> on this page is one link to a free <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">porn</a> website. It's hidden somewhere in this article. <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">Click</a> on all the links to find it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, for today's <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">article</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">feedback</a> came in on the initial draft of the Torn Armor rules. <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">Needless</a> to say, we got a lot of comments about "it's" versus "its" and "your" <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">versus</a> "you're." And we appreciate that. We really do. You were supposed to be playtesting the game. You know, trying it out with your own miniatures, rolling dice... You know, playing the <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">game</a>. Though I really appreciate the people who pointed out that the em-dash on page 12 didn't carry over when <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">converted</a> to InDesign. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I had this experience with the playtesters for the <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">Star Trek RPG</a> (the second one, for Decipher). We had a bunch of groups to whom we sent out a draft of the rules. We <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">waited</a>. And <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">waited</a>. And <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">waited</a> some more. Finally, I contacted several of these groups. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "How's the <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">playtesting</a> going?"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Playtester GM: "Well, the group just beamed down to <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">Thalos IX</a> and they encountered this alien culture based on old re-runs of the <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">Teletubbies</a>..."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "Great! You use the planet creation <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">rules</a>?"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GM: "Nah."</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "How about the alien creation <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">rules</a>?"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GM: "<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">Oh</a>, they're a Romulan offshoot, so I just used the Romulans." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: "So. How's combat <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">working for you</a>?"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">GM: "Well, we've only played about five <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">sessions</a>, and we haven't gotten into a fight yet...." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's when I <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">realized</a>. They were playing a campaign. Like you would normally do. That's not what playtesting is about. Playtesting is creating 30 player <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">characters</a> to see if you can break the character creation system. It's about just <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">running</a> fights to see if you can break the combat system. You all sit down one day to create planets, to see if the planet creation rules work.... You don't play the <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">game</a>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is how it works in the<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank"> computer game</a> industry. They get 40 guys in a room and hand them a worksheet. On this worksheet are a number of <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">tasks</a> they have to complete. Stuff like "Go to the northeast corner of the room and <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">swing</a> your sword left. Now swing it right. Now swing it forward.... Any glitches?!" Or "fight the <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">dingus</a> monster on level 12. 300 times. Any glitches?!" Sounds fun right. Playtesters in the video game industry aren't running around playing networked <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">Halo</a> the way you and I would. They have a list of <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">tasks</a>. If they want to keep their jobs, they'd better come back with a filled out worksheet. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In other words, this isn't just a way for you to get to play <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">cool games</a> before everyone else does. Playtesters are supposed to be trying to <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">break the system</a>. They're supposed to report back about any poorly written rules. They're supposed to let us know <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">that</a> when you combine the rule on page 12 with the rule on page 32, the orcs always win. And you guys wonder why there are so many broken RPGs out there.... </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Fortunately, we got some good <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">feedback</a> on Torn Armor. Useful stuff. We've tightened up the consistency of game terms. We now always use the same <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">sentence</a> structure when describing rules that work on the same principle. We made sure the Sisk always <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">lose</a>. Because Spartans are Alyssa's favorite thing, and we can't let her have <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">nice things</a>. I've spent the better part of the week combing through the rules and fixing them. In some cases, the rules were really <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">unclear</a>. In others, they were being used in ways we didn't <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">anticipate</a>. All in all, it's been a good process. I want to thank all of you out there for participating. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">By now you've gotten to the end of this article, and you're still looking for <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">hot, nubile teens</a>. You've also realized, after going to Sara's IndieGoGo dozens of times that there is <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">NO</a> porn link hidden here. But you should have gotten the idea that you should effing contribute to her campaign. <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-2?fb_action_ids=10151403034267406&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_aggregation_id=246965925417366" target="_blank">Seriously</a>. Don't tell me you don't have a dollar. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRphgr4Nw1DpTBLRr-08khRg_gMCCVN1q2BfGTz6Q8LZ0dTJP9q3EztVH9HSrt74xItKEvaO2Gtxod4wGY89lZNUbk1SjtBJkN4c8U7tUgS8AqnuTCzTQnv_YNxgrxXzEvCQe-9jSBFk69/s1600/Punim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRphgr4Nw1DpTBLRr-08khRg_gMCCVN1q2BfGTz6Q8LZ0dTJP9q3EztVH9HSrt74xItKEvaO2Gtxod4wGY89lZNUbk1SjtBJkN4c8U7tUgS8AqnuTCzTQnv_YNxgrxXzEvCQe-9jSBFk69/s400/Punim.jpg" width="296" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">How could you say no to this punim? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-44280927115917575172013-04-10T20:25:00.000-04:002013-04-10T20:25:00.140-04:00The Dominance of Fantasy<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the things I've been struggling with lately is the question of science fiction roleplaying games. I've been thinking about several science fiction projects that I have in mind. In fact, I am drawn to science fiction games more so than swords-and-sorcery fantasy, and found myself picking up and flipping through more scifi RPGs than any other when I was at the Complete Strategist. I wanted to pick up the latest editions of Traveller and GURPS Space, and kept flipping through In Flames and Cosmic Patrol; I actually picked up a copy of something called Human Contact. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You see, science fiction is the vector through which I came to roleplaying games. I used to watch a lot of Star Trek and Space: 1999. In fact, this was the only kind of speculative fiction TV you could find back in the day. There was no Xena, Hercules, or Game of Thrones on TV. It was all scifi. I suspect it was the same for many of you. If you wanted swords-and-sorcery fantasy, you had to rely on books. To be honest, I only started reading fantasy <i>after</i> starting to play D&D. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So why is our hobby dominated by swords-and-sorcery RPGs? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think it has to do with the nature of the genres. You can boil down the tropes of fantasy into an over-arching, generic model much easier than you can with scifi. Lord of the Rings, Conan, Game of Thrones -- they all have the same basic elements. Fighters. Wizards. Swords. Chainmail. So it's easier to watch Game of Thrones and say "oh, Tyrion is a fighter with a short sword" and make that. Not so with science fiction. You can't "genericize" it very well. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's look at the two biggest scifi settings -- Star Trek and Star Wars.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Star Wars:</b> What do you think of when you think of Star Wars? You think of lightsabers, space planes streaking across the stars. Blasters zapping everywhere. You think action. You think adventure. You think scoundrels and rebels and Jedi in a small ship, having adventures. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Star Trek:</b> What do you think about Star Trek? Phasers, transporters, and a new planet every week. There's a lot of talk. It's more cerebral. There's some kind of moral or ethical problem to be addressed. You're part of an organization, and you're on a big ship, and going on some kind of mission assigned to you by Starfleet. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How in the heck do you reconcile those two very different science fiction properties into one generic RPG? Even if you did, half your group would want to play Star Wars and the other half Star Trek; then what do you do?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">More so than fantasy, science fiction is rooted in its <i>setting</i>. Think about all the great scifi settings out there. Transhumanity. Blue Planet. Fading Suns. Traveller. Star Wars. Necropolis. There's some great scifi gaming right there. But you really can't play Blue Planet using the Star Wars rules. Well, you can, but now you're buying two games, and combining them. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you want to play Game of Thrones, all you've got to do is pick up Pathfinder and start making characters. You don't have to do any conversion work; in fact, you don't have to do any work at all. There's no explaining to do, really. In fact, I've started many D&D campaigns where I didn't have the slightest clue about the world at large. Was the kingdom ruled by a king? A council of wizards? Where was the nearest city? Who cares, just roll the dice. We'll figure it out as we go along. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But with science fiction, you have to say something like "Ok, we're going to play Traveller, but not in the Traveller universe. We're going to set it on a colony on a planet that's mostly water..." You can't just wing it. You immediately start to get questions. Is there a galactic empire? Are the corporations in charge? Where are we? What are we doing? Is my fighter just a guy with a gun, or is he a stormtrooper, or a bounty hunter, or a security guard? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can't start out by saying "you're a corporate security guard" because automatically you ask "which company? What do they do?" You've got to start with "you're a corporate security guard on Pandora, where RDA mines unobtanium, which is extremely important." There's more set up required. The setting, by and large, sells the property and sells the game. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And if that game isn't well-received, well, you don't get the sales. You end up creating a niche product. Something that sells far less than Swords and Sorcery. Which is why fantasy dominates our hobby. </span>Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-82120950106943865282013-04-07T14:53:00.002-04:002013-04-07T14:54:57.296-04:00The Game Library<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I mentioned yesterday, I went to Complete Strategist in order to search for some old, out-of-print roleplaying games. (Gee, I wonder what those are; I wish someone would write a paragraph or two defining it for me...) I wasn't looking for anything specific, just browsing for stuff I knew was out-of-print. For example, I wish I had picked up the original Arduin RPG when it first came out, rather than being obsessed with AD&D as a teenager. Now, 20 years later, I want to read them and I can't find them. (And, before someone suggests pdfs of older games, I really detest the format.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wasn't shopping for current stuff, mostly because I prefer to patronize <a href="http://www.zombie-planet.com/" target="_blank">Zombie Planet</a> for stuff that's currently available. That's what makes Complete Strategist so great. It's actually a horrible place when it comes to floor layout and organization; customer service is spotty. And I swear someone there actually took a dump in his pants yesterday, because the place stank. CS, however, almost never throws anything away. Ever. And they still charge cover price. So that $10 Talislanta book I bought actually still cost me $10. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why was I shopping to fill my game library, you may ask. When I moved from Los Angeles to NYC, I sold most of my game library to cut down on shipping costs. What I kept ended up going into storage, and was lost due to circumstances beyond my control. I still have some games, but not a very deep collection. This is a problem because I don't read games the same way you do. For me, it's a reference library. It's this aspect I want to talk to you about today.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every gamer I know already has an extensive game library. I know because many of my friends on Facebook post pictures of their game libraries. If you're going to be in the business, you'll need an extensive library, if only because you'll need to look up something for the game on which you're working. You kind of need a bunch of Pathfinder books if you're going to write for Pathfinder. Duh. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I'm working on something, however, I also look to other game lines to see what they did and how they did it. I was working on "alternate forms of damage" recently, and I had books from four different game lines on my desk. Maybe you're designing a new mechanic, and you realize that it should work like Sanity from Call of Cthulhu. So it's good to have that book on your shelf. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But here's the thing. I recently saw a message from someone in the business, and they said something to the effect of "I don't have Call of Cthulhu. It's not my type of game. My character got killed by a vampire in the first 15 minutes, so I don't like it." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Uh, <i>what</i>?!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You're not <i>playing</i> Call of Cthulhu. Who gives a damn if you like it? But you should know about it. It's not about what you like or dislike; it's about knowing what's on the market, and how it works. I'm not a fan of the Palladium system, for example, but I still <i>own</i> Palladium games. If you don't know how Palladium or Call of Cthulhu work, and why, then you're not a professional. You're a dilettante. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, you should have an extensive game library. This should consist of the classics -- Call of Cthulhu, Traveller, Vampire.... The games that have achieved iconic status. I'm not going to provide a full list here, because those tend to be subjective. I, for one, think Deadlands should be on that list; you may not. However, you should still own Deadlands (for the reason alluded to above). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your library, however, shouldn't just consist of the gems, those games that are really great when it comes to their rules or settings. You should also collect the dreck. And I don't mean the stuff that's really great that you just don't like (like my friend and Call of Cthulhu). I mean the crap. The games that are painful to read, because the writing is so turgid, the art is horrible, and the concept so fatally flawed. Because the only way you're going to learn is by <i>also</i> reading the garbage out there. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is, in fact, why I was searching for out-of-print games. Not only was I looking for the greats that had the misfortune to fall out-of-print (and I'm going back to Complete Strategist to replace the original Deadlands books that I lost), but I was also on the hunt for games that deserve their out-of-print status. Again, I'm not making a list. (But, I'm looking at you, Rolemaster). Do I even need to explain why bad games are as valuable as good games? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And lastly, a piece of administrative business. Eighty people to date have read my interview with Sara Bakay. Ninety-six of you read my ode to miniatures, and Torn Armor. In the 12-hours since I posted my hate for "what is roleplaying," twenty-three of you have read it. But you're NOT clicking the link and making a donation to the Sara Bakay <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1" target="_blank">New York Dreams</a> campaign. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seriously. Click the picture of the smoking hot girl in the white man's shirt on the top right of this page and make a donation. Help out a friend of mine. Even a dollar will help. You're reading the blog. You're liking the blog. In return, I'm asking you to donate a dollar to my friend's efforts to realize her acting dream. If each of you who read about Torn Armor had made a $1 donation, she'd be almost $100 closer to her goal. Think of it like a tip jar. </span>Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-539904855413213962013-04-07T02:35:00.001-04:002013-04-07T02:35:54.884-04:00A Pet Peeve<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today, I spend the better part of an afternoon browsing
through my local game store. You’d think I’d have a better selection of game
stores, what with living here in NYC, but rents are high and the profit margins
on games are pretty low. In NYC, there’s really only one place to go, and that
would be Complete Strategist. Many years ago, I wrote about this store, so I
won’t rehash it here; you can go find it if you’re interested.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, I spent the afternoon at the Complete Strategist,
looking for old, out-of-print games. More on that later. (In fact, the entire
experience has spawned several ideas for future blogs.) Over the course of the
afternoon, several interesting small-press, indie RPGs caught my eye. I picked
each of them up and flipped through them. Cosmic Patrol. InHuman. Aeternal
Legends….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Each of them included my pet peeve: They included a “what is
a roleplaying game” section, where each saw fit to define what an RPG is to the
reader. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Really?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Really</i>?!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Time to put on my ragehat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Look, I bought your game in a game store. Your game isn’t on
sale at Barnes & Noble or Target. I’m not accidentally picking it up,
thinking I’m buying the latest crap novel from Stephanie Meyer. I’m not getting
it home, opening it up, and saying “HEY! What the hell is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i>?!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Grandma didn’t wander into the game store by mistake, just
grab something for little Timmy, and leave. Most game stores would sent grandma
running screaming into the night as soon as she walked in. Which means that the
chance of some friend or relative accidentally buying your game, with no idea
what it was, are virtually zero. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Your customer knows what an RPG is. Your customer likely
told grandma to buy the game for them. Or, they spent grandma’s $10 birthday
check on your game on their own. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seriously. Stop telling me what an RPG is. Or what
polyhedral dice are. Or that I need pencils. I know. Again: bought your game in
a freaking game store. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Moreover, I hate to dash your hopes, but no one is coming to
your game cold. You are not an entry point to the hobby. Unless your game is
called “D&D” or “Pathfinder” (or maybe even “Vampire”), the only people
buying your product are already <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gamers</i>.
Like it or not, Pathfinder is a foundational product; it is how most people
learn about RPGs. In that case, Pathfinder needs to define what an RPG is to
its audience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You do not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No one is picking up your game about roleplaying socks in a
drawer, no matter how innovative or insightful to the human condition, without
already knowing what an RPG is. No one is being introduced to the hobby through
your game about roleplaying bellybutton lint. Sorry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One last time: bought your game in a game store, and already
know what an RPG is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I especially liked the indie game that said "we're not going to tell you what roleplaying is" then proceeded to tell me what roleplaying is. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I really find interesting, from an intellectual
perspective, is how you people define roleplaying. They’re all virtually the
same. Group of people. Storytelling. Gamemaster. Dice. No winners…. You’re
not adding any new insight into the nature of roleplaying with your screed. Really,
can’t we just settle on one definition, put it on a website someplace, and just
put the URL somewhere in the text. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Call it “Don’t know what roleplaying is? Then how the f@&k
did you get this book in the first place?!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If one more small press, indie game tells me that dice are
multi-sided polyhedrals used to randomly generate a number, I’m going to go to
that person’s house and shove a 12-sider up their ass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Really the last time: If a customer is holding your game
about playing psychopaths trapped on a life raft, they’re standing in a game
store, and already know what roleplaying is. Trust me. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-57339729010358959982013-04-05T02:42:00.002-04:002013-04-05T02:43:10.382-04:00An Interview<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In my time, I’ve done a few interviews. I’m not sure why
anyone would care to hear my opinions on anything (and why <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">are</i> you here, anyway?), but I did them. Well, two interviews. I did
two interviews: one for Star Trek Magazine and one for some obscure website I
don’t even remember. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I found odd about the process is that, first of all,
the questions weren’t very insightful. They were actually kind of boring.
What’s your favorite Star Trek episode? If you had a choice, which alien would
you bang – the hot drill thrall in silver lame, or the green Orion slave girl?
(Answer, the drill thrall.) Second, the questions were always emailed to me,
which made for very long responses. Give a writer a question, and he turns it
into a novel. I think my answers ended up being like ten pages long…. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, you’d think I’d learned my lesson when I decided to
conduct an interview of my own. Nope. Boring questions. And e-mail. However,
the subject is interesting; we here at Dangerous Games have spent a lot of time
and energy promoting <a href="http://www.sarabakay.com/" target="_blank">Sara Bakay</a>. I thought, with a week left to her <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1" target="_blank">IndieGogo fundraising campaign</a>, it was time to give you all a closer look at who she is. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXLEDeePRdiTGN13mbjkLQIUMd5JdYCWhPZEjox6exUgAaPgEh3pWbpI3TPwgIOtNfESEPd3BgUqHHcUnfsGd9_k_Z4qfvUbVkItGGsZ2WlbKdPCuMY_WzpwqrBcnl0vhrERKTWc35wrj/s1600/Sara+Smoking+Hot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXLEDeePRdiTGN13mbjkLQIUMd5JdYCWhPZEjox6exUgAaPgEh3pWbpI3TPwgIOtNfESEPd3BgUqHHcUnfsGd9_k_Z4qfvUbVkItGGsZ2WlbKdPCuMY_WzpwqrBcnl0vhrERKTWc35wrj/s400/Sara+Smoking+Hot.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stop clicking on the picture. You'll go blind. </td></tr>
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yes, it’s game/nerd related.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> Why don’t we start off
by asking you to tell us about yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> I’m a very ambitious
young woman, living in an extremely inconvenient small town. I’m sweet and
creative, but I’m also strange and will punch you in the face if you mess with
someone I love.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">The usual stereotype is
that girls don’t play video games, but I understand you’re a gamer? Tell us how
that started.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">From a very young age, I
was introduced to awesome games like Frogger and Tetris. My family would compete
against each other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">What kinds of games do
you like to play?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">I like a lot of
simulation and role play games, but I can find joy in many different types.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">I hear you have a lot of
game systems, can you give us a list?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, Nintendo
DS, WII, PS2, Xbox (original), Super Nintendo, and Gameboy Advance. I think
that’s it, unless you count my computer (which I totally do).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">What is your favorite
game system?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">If you count the
computer, then I would choose that. If not, I guess I’m an Xbox girl, though I
grew up more on Playstation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">What is your favorite
game, and why?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Hmmm…. I spent years
obsessed with The Sims. A year before it came out, I told my mom that I wish
there was a game exactly like that. I’m not taking credit for inventing it,
just simply stating that there was a need for it. I also love Kingdom Hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Have you ever played
games like Dungeons and Dragons, or Magic: the Gathering?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">I never had time in high
school to learn it, and no one else around here seems to play it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">So, Gears of War or
Halo?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Definitely Gears of War.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Are there any other
kinds of games you like to play? Monopoly, chess, bridge…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">I LOVE board games.
Unless you cheat (like my brother and cousin used to), I’m undefeated at
Monopoly. I’ve played checkers and chess since I was a little girl. I also love
Canasta, but I’m not great at it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Obviously, as a
musician, you like to sing and dance. Do you play a lot of those kinds of
games, too?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">I absolutely do. I own
most of the games in that area. My favorite to sing/play music with is probably
The Beatles Rockband, and I love the dancing games!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">So, you’re in Dodongo’s
Cavern, and you’re being attacked by, well, dodongos, but you don’t have any
bomb flowers. What do you do?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Duh! I’d use my shrink
ray to make the dodongos tiny little creatures, then I’d sell them on the black
market.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">How did you get into
acting?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">I was asked to
participate in a church play when I was about 5. I had 3 lines (but I memorized
every line in the whole play), and I was in it for a total of like 4 minutes. I
still remember the feeling I had after I walked off stage. So awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Is there a particular
role you like to play?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">I find that playing the
villain is sooooo much fun! I do like to play the protagonist and under dog,
too. I like having people root for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">What is your favorite
movie?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">That is a difficult
question for me. I CAN tell you that Inception, Pride and Prejudice, and Gone
With the Wind are in my top 5.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">I understand you’re
going to film an independent Tomb Raider movie, can you tell us about that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">It’s a fan film in light
of the recent release of the new video game. I am told that it takes place
after the events in the video game. I’ll be getting the script this month, and
I’ll know a little more then. I’m pretty excited to play Lara Croft. I grew up
watching my brothers hang from cliffs and jump from rock to rock with these
video games.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Is there a particular
actor who you admire, someone you want to emulate in some way?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">I’m not sure. I’ve never
really focused my career on someone else, but I have an appreciation for a lot
of other actors. Leonardo Dicaprio is super talented, and Zooey Dechanel is
quirky and weird (as I presume myself sometimes). I admire that Meryl Streep
doesn’t try to plastic surgery away all of her wrinkles, and I’m a big Julia
Roberts fan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Why don’t you tell us a
bit about the fundraiser?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">The fundraiser I’m doing
is for a competition in New York. Ten people were chosen (myself included) out
of hundreds to compete with actors all over the nation in front of agents,
managers, and casting directors from big companies who are all looking for
fresh faces. I have to raise a large amount of money in a short amount of time
to pay for the trip, training, and all of the many necessities that come with
it. This opportunity is pretty huge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">What is the one thing
that people would be surprised to learn about you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 12.75pt; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">Seriously? One thing?
I’m pretty odd. Hmm…. I usually always sneeze before I cry. If you hear
“achoo!” then you better get the tissues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Batman or Superman?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Definitely Batman. Not only is he super
hot, but he has so many nifty gadgets and an awesome cave. If he can’t do
something, Morgan Freeman will make another gadget so that he can.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">Q:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">Star Trek or Star Wars?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #333333;">SB:</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #333333;">This is kind of a difficult one… I’m
going to have to go with Star Wars (even though I own Spock ears). I was much
more infatuated with the storyline of Star Wars as a child than Star Trek. They
both have great strengths, though.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There you go! Likes Batman, Gears of War, and the Xbox. And also has more game systems than a teenaged Japanese boy. I think that's worth a <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1" target="_blank">contribution</a>. Don't you? </span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->
<!--EndFragment-->Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-17155555569931133262013-04-02T19:05:00.002-04:002013-04-02T19:06:33.365-04:00Nystul's Infinite Dungeon<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today, I’m going to try something a bit different. I’m
actually going to give you a bit of news. Don’t worry, soon I’ll be going back
to my usual shenanigans – being opinionated, reminiscing about the past, giving
unwanted advice, and pushing Sara Bakay’s IndieGogo fundraiser. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In fact, while we’re on the subject, I check my stats for
this site regularly, and I know that some 50 people have read the article on my
love of miniatures. That’s terrific, but none of you has donated anything. I
know that because I check the stats for THAT site regularly, too. Listen, this
is easy. If you like what you read here, I’m asking you to make a donation. Not
to support my site (as so many people do), but to support an artist whose work
I enjoy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some people have pointed out that you don’t know Sara Bakay,
and don’t know why you should give. I’ll answer that right now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who is Sara Bakay? She’s my friend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why should you donate? Because I asked you to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Good. Glad that’s settled. Seriously, if you want to know
more about this talented young woman, you can go to her <a href="http://www.sarabakay.com/" target="_blank">website</a>. See her photo
shoots. Watch film clips. Hear her sing. Then, you can go to her IndieGogo page
and make a <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1" target="_blank">donation</a>. Let’s help this person achieve her dreams. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, on to the news:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most of you don’t know that I’ve been working on something
called The Infinite Dungeon. I started as a freelance writer, but quickly moved
up to line editor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was going to be published by Castle Nystul. They ran into
financial difficulties, and were unable to publish the book. Now it’s being
published by D3 Adventures. The link to the official announcement is <a href="http://d3adventures.com/wordpress/?p=448" target="_blank">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My thanks go out to Jason Yarnell for saving this product
from the dustbin of history. My thanks also go out to a crackerjack team of
writers, who produced stellar work under sub-optimal conditions: Jen Baughman,
Mark Carroll, Chris Harris, and Owen K. Stephens. I wish all them well in their
future endeavors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’m just glad someone will finally get to read it. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-14789660679276896502013-03-31T17:45:00.002-04:002013-03-31T18:07:03.675-04:00My First Full-Time Job<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I mentioned in my last blog, I got my job at Last Unicorn
Games through a curious set of circumstances. Coincidence. Networking. Blind
luck. And a measure of naiveté. Pull up a chair and sit down. It’s story time….</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It was the mid-90s. I don’t recall the date, because it was
a long time ago. And the drugs and alcohol sort of wiped out that particular
fact. Anyway, the mid-90s. I get a phone call from Dustin Wright over at
Chaosium. I was doing a lot of freelance work for them at the time…. So Dustin
wants to know if I’d be interested in going to the Chessex Midwest retailer
show. I don’t know if they still do this, but it was a show Chessex held for
retailers where they’d invite manufacturers to show off their games and maybe
drum up some business. I was living in Toldeo, OH at the time, and it wasn’t
that far away. They needed someone to demo a game called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mythos</i>, a trading card game for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Call
of Cthulhu</i>. Of course I’d love to go. It was a chance to see a distributor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First, let me say up front – it was an eye-opening
experience. Chessex had just finished building their new warehouse. It had a
marble foyer. Because a warehouse needs a marble foyer. Guess that Magic: the
Gathering money was really rolling in. Anyway. Whenever I poked my head in what
was supposed to be the offices where the salesmen worked, I always saw no less
than three computers running some kind of game. Not sales projections. Not
spreadsheets. Games. I remember thinking “must be nice.” The warehouse itself
was stuffed with product; it was like a giant game store and I was in Heaven. I
could pick up whatever I wanted at cost. They had tons of stuff that I’d never
seen in stores before. It wasn’t until years later that I realized the
implications of this. The other thing I learned over the course of the weekend
was that the retailers – the alpha retailers who cared enough to show up – were
actually just gamers who wanted a first look at the shiny new games. They
really weren’t interested in being pitched. They just wanted the swag bag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, I’m an inveterate, and unrepentant, smoker. So I would
often go out on the loading dock to smoke. This is how I met Christian Moore,
which would turn out to be a fateful event. Christian was there because he was
pitching the Heresy and Dune TCGs. Now, I love Dune. I’ve read it a dozen
times. I’ve been thinking about reading it again lately, but I just read it
last year… And I thought Heresy, while not a great game, had a lot of neat
ideas. So we smoked and talked about Dune and Heresy. We swapped phone numbers,
because Christian said he might have something for me on which to work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A few days later, Christian called. He swore me to secrecy,
and revealed that LUG was about to acquire the rights to Star Trek. Not just
The Next Generation, but all of it. See, Paramount hadn’t wanted to license the
rights for years, because they didn’t really like the FASA version of the TNG
supplement they produced for their version of the game (admittedly, it was
based on one season, so what could they do?), and they’d had a mess with the
Starfleet Battles guys. Somehow, Christian and crew convinced them to license
what at the time was the second largest media license to a bunch of guys who’d
done a game called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aria</i>. I know,
right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Christian wanted to know if I could recommend anyone for the
position of line editor. See, at the time, I had a reputation of being a decent writer, who turned his stuff in on-time and fairly clean. I was part of a small circle of "go to" guys. So I knew a lot of people. Freelancers. Editors. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sure. I mentioned some freelancers whose work I
admired. Gave him their contact information. Hung up the phone, figuring I’d
get some freelance work out of it some day. He called back a few days later.
Seems no one was interested, and he wanted more names. Okay. I gave him some
more names, this time editors with whom I worked. Again, I figured I was
building good karma. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He calls back about a week later. Nope. No one was
interested. The job required you relocate to LA, for one thing. Because you had
to be close to Paramount Studios. (In fact, I would eventually visit the lot
about once a week. It’s weird when you just know your way around a movie lot;
“Yeah, it’s past the Brady Bunch movie set, then make a left at the game show.
When you see Klingons smoking outside, you’re there. Let’s meet for lunch at
the commissary with the giant wall of Oscars later….”) The other thing was that
LUG was completely untested when it came to RPGs. Did I mention <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Aria</i>? For all anyone knew, the game
would be a disaster, they’d lose the license, and you’d be stranded in LA. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">“Too bad you’re not a Star Trek fan,” Christian said to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wait. What? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Christian. I’m a HUGE Star Trek fan. I watched the show
since I was three. I forced my cousins to watch the show every day after school
(when they wanted to watch The Brady Bunch). When I was 8, I used to crawl out
of my bed at 1am to watch Star Trek on channel 11 (WPIX). In college (George
Washington U, if you’re interested), all studying stopped to watch TNG. We
actually <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">played</i> the crappy version of
TNG that FASA put out. “Christian, while I’m talking to you, I have a shelf <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">full</i> of Playmates toy phasers behind me.
I have every version, plus toy tricorders. Are you <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">NUTS</i>?!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was on a plane out to LA the next week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that’s how I got my first full-time job in this
business. If I hadn't gone to the Chessex Midwest show, been a compulsive smoker, met Christian, taken a risk on an upstart company... Oh, the twists and turns, the connections and random events, that conspire to bring you to where you are in life. It's like a roadmap that only becomes clear when you stop and look behind you. The map can't tell you where you're going, only how you got there. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-24930385049485145692013-03-31T16:12:00.002-04:002013-03-31T16:12:22.884-04:00Life in Miniature<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's been awhile since my last update, mostly because I've run into an existential crisis. Which mostly involves me sitting around my apartment gorging myself on chocolate chip cookies. So, in order to get myself moving again, I'm going to turn to the one constant in my life -- writing. Today, I'm going to share my other passion when it comes to gaming. Miniatures.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ever since I was a little kid, I've loved miniatures. For example, when I went on the obligatory class trip to the Museum of Natural History (and it's really great to grow up in NYC, by the way), all the other kids were oohing and aahing over the giant dinosaur skeletons, but I was over by the dioramas. This became a pattern throughout my childhood. Historical battlefield? I'm over at the dioramas (often making "pew-pew" noises under my breath). The Ben Franklin Museum in Philly? Dioramas. I went to Ford's theater to the Lincoln museum; I thought it would've been better with a diorama of the assassination... I made my dad take me to <a href="http://www.choochoobarn.com/" target="_blank">Traintown</a> USA outside of Lancaster, PA (the largest model train display in the country). Five times. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I'm walking down Main Street in Stroudsburg, PA, where I spent part of my misspent youth, one sunny afternoon and I pass by a window display filled with dioramas. There was a dude killing a dragon. A sorcerer conjuring a demon. A squad of serpentmen attacking. These were obviously dioramas, but not the kind that I'd ever seen before. These were dioramas of my psyche. I was 12. I went into the store to see what was up. It was a game store. The Encounter. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The store owner, Mark Kielpinski, told me the dioramas in the window were for a game called D&D. And you could have your own figure for your character. He showed me the wall of miniatures. I was hooked. I left with my first miniature. It was a knight from Citadel Miniatures (back when they actually produced stuff for other games, before the Warhammer madness. Yes, I'm that old). I was to come back a few days later to give the game a try. This is how I made my best friend in High School, John Higgins (Hi, John!). But to make my point, I got into gaming because of the miniatures. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It wasn't long before I was painting and converting my own miniatures. It drove my mother crazy. First of all, because I wasn't outside playing. This was before videogame consoles, when this was actually the expected norm for kids. Second, because I'd come bouncing downstairs with a newly finished miniature to show her, and she couldn't see them. She needed a magnifying glass. She never understood how I could work so small. (Then, the Chinese discovered that children were great at painting small details, and an industry was born). </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSJqnplk-64ZQftzEioW5NcmKRSu_DvRZY1SgccwU_fp8b4VQyvjmT6UO2BnT9PcEn4lQlVo-lPHbDji0gxobwhMlLs1j9w7IMcD1oG3EtGeAPbSBApgRV65cLA4trEF6E0ibJDJpUgDV/s1600/458301_10150596880792406_712086885_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSJqnplk-64ZQftzEioW5NcmKRSu_DvRZY1SgccwU_fp8b4VQyvjmT6UO2BnT9PcEn4lQlVo-lPHbDji0gxobwhMlLs1j9w7IMcD1oG3EtGeAPbSBApgRV65cLA4trEF6E0ibJDJpUgDV/s320/458301_10150596880792406_712086885_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hello. Were you talking to me? </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoZ11BUW3oM1sfVKy1EPO414Klg5sSyQgp1i-i9ZVBB82rBfmCkJXLHzJ6zM68mz17jqLNRpzILFYJyYxm4NUYdkZSyAzZoUTaOgLyW7q3HKXkpeTEAJfkVoZdCXTRRde94yGe3e2_CpR/s1600/34410_438215292405_776795_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoZ11BUW3oM1sfVKy1EPO414Klg5sSyQgp1i-i9ZVBB82rBfmCkJXLHzJ6zM68mz17jqLNRpzILFYJyYxm4NUYdkZSyAzZoUTaOgLyW7q3HKXkpeTEAJfkVoZdCXTRRde94yGe3e2_CpR/s320/34410_438215292405_776795_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The pack is scratch-built. From four different kits.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t0gTykzGcip423VmTWRUWUUFPIekS_tSiPoDWzEd6us8dltGlbYmPRZT6SCM49hAkIQRmYMR7C0X4e6zZRoshAoJvvB80Jct8Ln6kafnz0mliJoXqemcCL_CFqsniEDpY0qiOOghSQoh/s1600/60335_438215687405_1079104_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-t0gTykzGcip423VmTWRUWUUFPIekS_tSiPoDWzEd6us8dltGlbYmPRZT6SCM49hAkIQRmYMR7C0X4e6zZRoshAoJvvB80Jct8Ln6kafnz0mliJoXqemcCL_CFqsniEDpY0qiOOghSQoh/s320/60335_438215687405_1079104_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I consider this a mediocre paint job....</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I discovered miniature wargaming, I was hooked. I have four armies for Warhammer 40K. Space Marine, Tau, Dark Eldar, and Necron. It was awesome that you could build your own armies -- just like the dioramas in museums -- and then <i>play</i> <i>with</i> <i>them</i>! It's that diorama quality that continues to haunt me. Whenever you see a gaming table, it's always half-painted terrain that's just plopped on the table. Because it's modular, and meant to be moved around, it tends to be, well, modular. Unbased. No rubble. It's not in situ. That's what I've always chased after. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can ask my friends and compatriots from LUG. I would bring in a terrain piece for our game night, and it was museum quality. I'd easily spend a month on a building. Constructed from cardboard. With details. Like the factory that had catwalks, ladders, machinery on the floor, and surrounded by industrial cast offs and whatnot. I can make credible-looking palm trees using wire, and bandages soaked in a plaster solution... In fact, all of my terrain ended up at Zombie Planet, where it's been slowly destroyed through use. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't understand the point of building an urban ruin without sticking a dumpster in the alley, or maybe some trashcans. Where are the streetlamps? How about the crushed cars? It's my dream to actually make a museum-quality battlefield that you could fight on. Like maybe a miniature version of Rummel from Saving Private Ryan....</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So it was a natural fit when Alyssa Faden asked me to get involved with Torn Armor. As usual when these things happen, she basically said something along the lines of "too bad you don't like miniature games," to which I replied "are you nuts?!" This is also how I got the job at LUG. Ask me about it some time. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What I liked about Alyssa and Jack's original concept is that the game was designed to play fast. Pick your unit cards based on a gold point value, go get the miniatures associated with the card, throw down. It uses boardgame-style movement to keep things, well, moving. The miniatures themselves are stunning, and often stuff you just can't find elsewhere. And as you can see from the picture, adding terrain to this bad boy isn't that hard at all. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGoCozvTFNoWPIYt25e9NhBdj7vMGWUdRFoKapQ8McwhAidR1cue6D-_PLpct6puZWOoHQEngMGaL3fMn1w9xyNdGU_XkgeZoHwyYovExWNVUwjQvf9MI_pxEw3xqicqUmUNcqYZ0raw6/s1600/884907_469878516417807_821666359_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGoCozvTFNoWPIYt25e9NhBdj7vMGWUdRFoKapQ8McwhAidR1cue6D-_PLpct6puZWOoHQEngMGaL3fMn1w9xyNdGU_XkgeZoHwyYovExWNVUwjQvf9MI_pxEw3xqicqUmUNcqYZ0raw6/s320/884907_469878516417807_821666359_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The glass of wine comes extra</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I urge you to give the <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1471855235/torn-armor" target="_blank">Kickstarter</a> for this game a look. There are only three days left before it closes out. And, at the $150 pledge level, you get a mountain of cool miniatures, like the minotaur brothers, plus a Clockwork Dragon from Reaper, plus a terrain set. And a bunch of other free stuff like maps and terrain hexes. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm currently planning on fielding a Maychia Comal army, because hoplites are boring. But don't tell Alyssa this... I've been making notes for an elven army that's insane. That's one of the perks of being a game designer. You get to bring your insane ideas to life. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Did you like this blog? Then how about doing me a favor and clicking on the link of the pretty girl on the top right of the screen and making a donation to her IndieGogo fundraiser. It's for a good cause. In fact, if you click on the link, the pretty girl will tell you what it's all about and why you should donate. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<br />Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-15659015498887102672013-03-27T19:34:00.001-04:002013-03-27T19:39:58.324-04:00Geometric Shapes of Joy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recently, I’ve been writing a lot of advice to freelancers.
Because the highest number of hits I’ve ever gotten was for Freelancer Best
Practices. That and the Natalie Portman thing. But we already discussed how
that’s not going to happen again. Ever. I figured you all might like some
advice about how to actually write, and about what to expect in the way of
payment. I even tried to get a conversation going by being a bit provocative.
No dice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And it’s about dice that I’d like to talk today. See, I love
dice. I think you do, too.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Like every gamer on the planet, I have a giant bag of dice.
There are all kinds of sets in my dice bag. I even still have the dice that
originally game with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Villains &
Vigilantes</i> when it was sold as a boxed set. You had to take a marker to ink
in the numbers. So, here are my random thoughts on dice, in no particular
order.</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Whenever I play a new character -- if he gains traction in
my mind, if he lasts more than two sessions, if I grow attached to him – I get
a new set of dice. Just for that character. Preferably dice that communicates
something about the character. I’m playing a dwarf fighter? Then he needs some
new dice, maybe something in “stone” or “metallic.” Usually, we stop playing
the game soon after.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My friend Nicole just got a new set of dice, and she
uploaded a picture of them to Facebook. I was envious. Those are some nice
dice. And, what prompted this article.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’m not a fan of games that only use one kind of die. Even
though I’ve designed a couple. Games that only use d6s or d10s just aren’t as
much fun to me. I want to use ALL the dice. Make me roll 1d4 for dagger damage.
I want to pick up that 2d8 for bastard sword damage. In fact, making me roll
handfuls of dice is even better. What’s that? Roll 4d6 for your attributes?
Sign me up.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’d play craps at the casino, but they don’t let you roll
enough dice. Also, I think they should let you use 12-siders. Just a thought. </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My favorite die in the bag is, in fact, the 12-sider. The bastard die that no one uses. I'll look at a game and say "needs more 12-siders." </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am not the kind of person who swaps out a die when it
doesn’t roll well. If I roll crappy with a particular 1d20, I don’t chuck it
across the room and pick up a different one. Sure, I’ve got twenty 20-siders
sitting in front of me. But, darn it, I’m going to make <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> die roll well.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I spent the last day of GenCon last summer trying to get all
the drow dice WotC was giving away. They’re white, with purple engraving, and a
neat border. I’m still missing the 4-sider. I’d also like to have another
10-sider (for rolling percentile) and three more 6-siders (for rolling
attributes).</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When Games Workshop released its new version of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Warhammer 40K</i>, I bought every single
dice set they offered. The standard 6-siders. The objective dice. The vehicle
damage dice. All of them.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In fact, if you offer a specialized dice set for your game
on Kickstarter, as an add-on or stretch goal, I’m 100-percent more likely to
want to invest. While I really wanted to back Monte Cook’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Numenera</i> because it looks like it’ll be a fantastic game, I
desperately wanted the dice set he was offering. That, to me, was the deal
clencher. Seriously, I know they’re kind of expensive, but offer unique dice
sets with your game. They’re cool.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you put something on dice, I am way more likely to buy
it. Today I picked up a set of nine dice with an entire deck of playing cards
on them. I don’t know why. I don’t play poker or anything. But I like the idea
of rolling dice for a card hand. I also recently bought something called Story
Cubes; the dice have pictures on them, and you’re supposed to roll randomly and
make up a story out of what you roll. SOLD! </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once upon a time, I was playing an elven sorcerer. I picked
up a set of elven fortune-telling rune dice, because they looked really cool.
They were a set of five 6-siders with different elven runes on the faces. It
came with a translation sheet, so you’d know what the made-up runes meant. So
whenever the group was faced with a decision, I’d “consult the bones” and roll
the dice and make up some fortune about our prospects. I was never right, but
it was a fun little prop. I lost those dice years ago, and can’t find them
again.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Artisan Dice is offering dice made from metal or exotic
woods. I desperately want a set of dice made out of teak, but that’s a $100
pledge level and I can’t bring myself to spend that kind of money on a set of
dice. Kinda. Sort of. Maybe…</span></li>
</ul>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Which leads me to my last confession. I’ll empty my dice bag
on my desk for no reason at all, and admire my dice. I’m like the Gollum of
dice. My precious. My precious. I’ll fondle them. I’ll pick up a handful and
let them drop, just to hear the sound. It’s like I have a giant bag of plastic
jewels, and like a dwarf with sack of rubies, I’ll just stare at them
covetously…. I may need a support group of some kind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-74877107718614547812013-03-25T02:32:00.000-04:002013-03-25T02:32:33.891-04:00Format and Style -- The Ruthie Edition<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, it's official. I'm an idiot. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All this time, I've been pushing you to contribute at least $10 to Sara Bakay's IndieGogo campaign, when all this time you could've contributed at little as $1. This is what happens when you assume. I assumed the big red button on the right of her IndieGogo campaign page was dead, when it was actually hot. Click on it, and it takes you to a page where you could donate whatever amount you want. So if you liked anything you read here -- if it helped your own work or just found it entertaining -- just click on the picture of Sara Bakay on the righthand side of the screen and donate something.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You still gotta donate at least $10 to enter the contest where you win my services for free for one week. I'm stubborn that way.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On to the blog. Today's installment is the Ruthie edition. I'm a sucker for biblical names. Previously, I've written about the importance of working from an outline, and I've alluded to the importance of knowing the form and structure of a game product. Ruthie, according to her comments in the previous blog, raises questions about both. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First of all, she asks the salient question "what if my editor doesn't give me an outline?" This happens. I've gotten frantic phone calls from frustrated editors who literally said "just write me anything about orcs!" Or I've gotten assignments where there simply wasn't an outline. Maybe the editor was too busy. Maybe he or she trusted my judgment. Or maybe they felt the topic was so simple that it didn't need one. What happens when you don't get an outline? How do you follow the editor's instructions? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simple. You write your own. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recently, I was working on a game, and this situation occurred. Write about a barter economy. No money. Oh, and don't put the equipment in monetary terms, like a gold piece value. That last instruction was a bit of genius, because whenever I've seen barter covered in a game they do that. And you just end up using the equipment lists with their gold piece value. "It says here a sword is worth 20 gp of stuff, so just give me 20 gp and lets get back to hacking and/or slashing." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Since I had no outline, I wrote one. Why are we using barter in the game? Why is there no money? (Those two combined tell the reader why we're even talking about the subject. You will barter in the game for these reasons.) What is barter? (Define the system.) How do we barter in this game? (What are the game rules?) What things can we barter, and what is their value? (Duh.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Second, you've got to know the form and structure for the kind of writing you're doing. Notice how as I outlined the above, I followed a certain structure. I didn't, for example, start with a giant list of equipment, and then explain the system. Each piece builds upon the previous section. If you read games, this should be second nature to you. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But it's the same for any kind of writing. There is a particular structure to a romance novel, a horror short story, a script, and (yes) even an insurance newsletter. You have to know the expectations and demands not only of your reading audience, but also the genre for which you are writing. Everything has "genre conventions." Writing an academic piece is different from writing a game. Writing an insurance article as though it were a romance, while innovative, will get you a rejection letter. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is why the editor expects you to know his or her game. It's not just so you know the setting and rules. He's also expecting you to familiarize yourself with the company's editorial style. In all honesty, I can't read a game "for fun" anymore, because I'm picking it apart in my head. Not in a derogatory way. I find myself trying to figure out why they did what they did, even down to the style and language. So, Ruthie, if you want your editor to stop sending you your articles back, you should read what you submitted and compare it to what was printed. Read this insurance newsletter and try to figure our the editor's style. Then, write that way. And, let's be honest, the editor will never stop asking you for rewrites. We're bitter, over-worked wretches. It's why we all drink. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway, I'll give you an example of what I'm talking about. It's perhaps the most miserable experience in my career, and also the one that taught me the most. Often, those two are the same thing. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was hired by the great Phil Brucato to write something for the Mage companion. He wanted a piece on using real-world occult and religious symbology in <i>Mage</i>. He wanted it rooted in the real world. It seems too many <i>Mage</i> players were focusing on the game-y aspects, and not on establishing a coherent occult system for their Mages. For example, if you're playing a sophisticated dilettante who dabbles in Enochian magic, then there's a system in place for that. It's called Enochian. There's a reason Enochian magic (yes, it's real) uses the symbols it does, and places them in so-called magic squares. So, your Enochian Mage should whip out his Seal of Solomon when he wants to perform magic (instead of saying I have four dots in "bite me"). That's what Phil wanted. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At the time, I'd just finished a lot of work for Chaosium, specifically in real-world magic. It was for an ill-fated game called <i>Nephilim</i>. So this was right up my alley. I knew exactly what Phil wanted. Unfortunately, I didn't actually <i>read</i> <i>Mage</i>. The style of a Chaosium book is very different from the <i>Mage</i> style. So I wrote what amounted to an academic article on real-world magical symbols. That was Chaosium's style. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Phil calls me back (this is when people still used phones) and asked me to liven it up. Make it less like a thesis. Ok, I do a second draft. I address the reader directly. I do a bunch of other stuff. I submit it, and Phil calls back again. Nope, still not what he's after. He's going to send me my chapter with his comments via FedEx.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, take a moment to think about that for a second. Phil was a busy guy. I'd done two drafts already, and he was asking for a third. Most other editors would've just yanked the project away. But he took the time and effort to red-line my chapter, and then send it back via expensive overnight express. He spent a lot of time, effort, and money on little old me. I don't think I can thank him enough. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I opened that FedEx, the first page looked like Sweeny Todd wiped his razors over it. Covered in red ink. And it went on, and on, and on. I flipped through the pages and became despondent. I was a crap writer (which jim pinto will tell anyone for free). It got so bad that around the middle, Phil just got tired of writing comments and wrote "smooth" and frowny faces next to things he didn't like. I was miserable. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wrote a third draft. I don't know if Phil ever used it. I think maybe two paragraphs of mine made it into the book. But I learned a lot from the experience. The most important of which was "familiarize yourself with the editorial style." Writing for Chaosium is different from writing for White Wolf which is different from writing for Deadlands. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In answer to your questions, Ruthie, you write your own outlines, even for the stories. You familiarize yourself with the style, tropes, and language of the genre, format, and editorial style. You read, dissect, and internalize. </span>Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-49882931390378557382013-03-23T18:27:00.002-04:002013-03-23T18:31:31.518-04:00Hopping on the Treadmill<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today, I’m going to make a direct appeal to you. You people
out there are reading this blog – all 19 of you – and you’re enjoying it. Or
not. Whatever. But, this is not translating into support for my friend Sara
Bakay. So I’m going to make this a quid pro quo. If you like something you read
here, if something I designed has ever entertained you, then I urge you to make
a donation. Hell, if you’re just tired of reading about her, then make a
donation, just to shut me up about it. Simply click on her picture and
contribute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Previously, I discussed just how crappy the pay is for
freelancers in this industry. To recap, just in case you missed it: it’s
crappy. You’re going to be doing a lot of work, and make less than a Chinese
factory worker in Shenzhen. Seriously, you might consider it, because at least
when you finally commit suicide it’ll be reported in the media. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, the question is: Why do we do it? Or, more
appropriately, how did the industry pros you know and love end up “making it”? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Undoubtedly, there are people who are successful at it. They
move up in the ranks and become the Monte Cooks and Kenneth Hites of the
industry. I made it. So why can’t you? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you want to go that route, you should know that it’s
going to be a tough slog. Basically, the industry pros you admire so well got
to where they are because of some combination of the following (often all
them).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They worked hard:</b>
I love Steve Kenson’s work. Steve does a lot of stuff for Green Ronin these
days, for their <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Mutants & Masterminds</i>
game. Steve’s been a friend for years. I was happy to give him work when I was
line editor for both <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Trek</i> RPGs.
It was a joy to see a file from him in my in-box. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Steve also worked his ass off. It wasn’t uncommon for him to
be working on three projects at the same time. He booked his schedule tightly.
Literally, he’d finish something for me, and the next day he’d be writing
something for someone else, and by the end of the week he’d be writing for a
third contract. If I asked him to write something, he had to work it into a
busy schedule (which is how I know this, because he’d whip out his calendar and
talk me through his schedule. For the month.).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you want to make it to the upper echelons of the hobby
games industry, you’re going to have to hustle. You’re going to be writing so
much, for so many different people, that you may lose track of which game it’s
actually for. If you have open time in your schedule, that means you’re not
making money. You’re going to have four projects on your desk, and one is going
to bleed into the other. Then, you’re going to have to manage those contracts –
“if it’s Tuesday, then I’m working on Pathfinder. Or is it Vampire? Whatever.
Same thing…” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Volume, Volume,
Volume:</b> I met Steven Long when I started working at LUG. I’d never really
heard of him before then, mostly because of the above (I was writing my butt
off). I was simply too busy to notice. So we fly Steve out to LA at part of the
design team, I think because Andrew Greenberg recommended him. Or was it Danny
Landers? Anyway. He comes out to LA, and we sit him down at a computer, and we
ask him to write something. It was done in 20 minutes. Wait, what? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It’s a standing joke among industry insiders that if you
give Steve a 6,000-word chapter to write, he either hands it back to you in 15
minutes OR he gives you 20,000 words at the end of the day. Your choice,
really. In the time it’s taken you to read this, Steve has written a 35,000
words. I see his status updates on Facebook, and he routinely posts stuff like
“wrote 20,000 words about Horus’ nutsack today.” He’s inhuman. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you want to make it in this business, you’d better be a
writing machine. There is no such thing as “writer’s block.” Writer’s block is
a fancy, writerly way to say “I’m feeling lazy today.” When I worked at LUG, I
was expected to churn out 5,000 words per day. That’s on top of the numerous
emails I had to attend to. And my editing. Imagine having to write 5,000 words
per day. Every day. For years. It grinds you down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let’s put it his way. I have a friend who’s in college right
now (Hi, Ashley!) and she routinely complains about having to write 1,500 word
papers on her favorite TV show. That would take me about 20 minutes. And that’s
with smoke breaks. I burp and 1,000 words come out. I once wrote a term paper
for a friend (yes, I know, cheating. Go report me.). It had to be five pages
about prejudice in the restaurant workplace. I wrote 15. With citations. In
about four hours. And I was drunk at the time. It took me more time to edit it
down than it did to write it. She got an A. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They followed instructions:</b>
As much as this is a grindstone for you, it’s even moreso for your editor. I
used to have a calendar on my desktop at LUG with a colored bar for every
project running from its start date to its end date. Most days looked like a
rainbow. I was supposed to be outlining one book, editing a second book,
writing a chapter for a third book, and proofing the layout for a fourth book.
So writers who followed instructions (like Steve Kenson or Kenneth Hite) were
like gold. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’ve covered this before, but to summarize: write what you
were asked for, write it following the rules of proper grammar, and turn it in
on time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don’t want to break the pattern I’ve established (bonus
points if you can see it), but I can’t really name names. I had one writer who
turned in stuff that ended in mid-sentence. The sentence would just. I had one
who didn’t read the outline I sent him, so the submission bore little
resemblance to what I asked for. One guy wrote only in sentence fragments. “A
giant bird. Really dangerous. Death from above.” None of that helps me, the
editor. I may as well have hired a chimp. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here’s another thing I don’t think you guys realize: We all
talk to each other. I’d get a call from Bill Bridges asking me if I knew anyone
who could turn around a 5,000 word chapter fast. Or I’d call John Wick and ask
him what he knew about someone who was asking me for a job. Or we’d all be
sitting in a bar at Origins, and we’d be swapping stories, and I’d remember
when someone said “that dude’s a pain, he’s late, and he writes like crap.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(This may, in fact, be why I don’t get much freelance work
anymore. I suspect I’ve been blacklisted….)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">They brought their A
game:</b> I like working with Mark Carroll and his wife Jen Baughman. And Chris
Harris, too. They all share similar traits. In addition to being able to follow
instructions, they all bring their A game. I’ll take Mark as an example here.
What do I mean by “A game”? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When Mark writes something, he doesn’t just “phone it in.”
He tries to bring you original ideas. Interesting ideas. Now, at this point,
there are no new ideas in hobby gaming. Those tropes have been thoroughly raked
over. The one-eyed dragon. You all meet a mysterious stranger in the a tavern.
The evil wizard. We’ve seen it all before. But Mark tries to bring you
interesting combinations of those tropes. The Hero who’s actually a psychopath
who just happens to keep killing all the right people (the bad guys). Or the
Villain who’s not so bad after all, he just keeps making bad decisions. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Mark also understands why he’s writing what he’s writing. In
other words, he knows the structure of a game, and the purpose behind each
element. If something doesn’t do the heavy lifting, doesn’t do its part, then
he eliminates it. Put another way, I once had a writer submit a number of
encounters for an adventure. Each one made sure to include the light source in
the room. Where the hidden magic items were. The tactics the NPC would use in a
fight… Only problem was, it was for a town. Are we going to randomly slaughter
the town’s baker? Do we need to know that he has a +5 vorpal sword hidden in
the back? What the hell is a baker doing with a vorpal sword in the first
place?! I needed a different kind of encounter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lastly, it’s a common saying in writing that you have to be
willing to kill your darlings. You have to be willing to cut something you
lovingly crafted if it doesn’t fit the project. I submit to you, in order to be
a successful freelancer, you must be willing to sell your darlings, for
two-cents per word. That really cool idea you have, that will make the company
thousands of dollars – like the githyanki, for example – you’ve got to be
willing to give that up for pennies. Just take pride in the fact that it was
you who created the githyanki, and move on. If you’re not willing to do that,
you’re not bringing your A game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, you’re not discouraged by my previous post about your
crappy pay. You’re going to do it anyway. You’re going to make it, and be the
next Monte Cook, Kenneth Hite, or Steve Kenson. Great. If you can work on
several different projects in rapid succession, easily churn out a lot of
words, follow instructions, and bring new, interesting ideas to the party, then
I urge you to get on that treadmill and run. That’s how you become an industry
pro in this business. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* For those of you who are interested. This is 1,694 words.
I wrote it in an hour and 22 minutes. With two smoke breaks. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-18796074459743143752013-03-23T04:18:00.000-04:002013-03-23T04:18:51.866-04:00The Beatings Shall Continue...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Before we start today’s session, I want to begin with a
clarification. In my last post, I facetiously made reference to pictures of
Sara Bakay’s belly button. Since then, I’ve been inundated with requests for
these pictures. In fact, one person found my site by actually Googling “Sara
Bakay’s navel”. Who knew there was such a demand? Anyway, let me be clear: NO
such pictures exist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Getting Sara to take pictures wearing a skirt above the knee
is hard enough. There aren’t even vacation photos of her at the beach in a
bikini; she’s always wearing something. I honestly believe, at this point, that
she wears those old-timey bathing suits from the 1920s…. And if those pictures
did exist, I would be the LAST person to see them. So stop asking. It’s not
going to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(I even suggested racier photos as a stretch goal for her
IndieGoGo campaign. No dice. One of Sara’s most admirable qualities is her
integrity. She also punches really hard.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On to business. The most popular topic on this site is the
freelancer advice. Seems you guys want to know how to break into this business,
and what to expect once you do. So I thought today that I’d discuss pay rates
in this industry. What can you expect for all your hard work? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Expect to be screwed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In this business, writers get paid by the word. Your editor
has carefully figured out the size of the document he needs, based on page
count and budget. Thus, for a 128-page book, he might decide the magic item
chapter needs to be ten-pages long, at 600 words per page, and he can only
afford to pay $0.02 per word. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you know what the average rate was in this industry for
freelance writing twenty years ago? That’s right! Two-cents per word. Ten years
before that, circa 1983? Yup, two-cents per word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You’re not exactly going to make a fortune in this business.
You’re not even going to make a living wage. The freelancers I know have significant
others who work day jobs and support their RPG-writing loved one. That means,
to a certain extent, Paul’s wife supports your hobby by making sure that Paul
is housed and fed, and can take the time to write for you. The other category
of freelancer is the one that works a regular job, then comes home, scarfs down
dinner, and starts writing. They’re working two jobs, because they love gaming.
Or, they’re some combination of the two. Paul, for example, works for Verizon
(Hi, Verizon!) and gets support from his wife (Hi, Brenda! And thank you!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When people in the business tell you “don’t quit your day
job,” we mean it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ok. So you know you’re going to get paid crap wages, and you
know you’re going to work your fingers to the bone. You decide to do it anyway.
Woo! I’m a freelance writer! What’s next? First of all, you’re going to hand in
more words than the editor wanted. That’s natural. You’re getting paid by the
word. The more words you write, the more money you make. I’ve gotten
manuscripts that were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">double</i> the word
count for which I asked. Nice try. I have a budget. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I’m going to ask you for revisions. I’m even going to ask
you for revisions if you’re right on your word count target. Because I’ve got
four other books on my desk demanding my attention, and I don’t time to
re-write your over-written, turgid drivel filled with “wills” and “verys” and
“to bes”. So I get you to re-write it. Do you know what that does, economically
speaking? It lowers your pay. In other words, if you have to write the same
word twice, that two-cents per word actually becomes one-cent per word. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But you don’t care. You’re working in the hobby games
industry! Woo! So you re-write your manuscript. This time, it’s approved.
Honestly, the editor should probably send it back to you for a third pass, but
he knows you’re not going to work for 33-percent of a penny per word. And
besides, if you didn’t get it right the first two times, it’s just more
efficient at this point to fix things himself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Confession time: I’ve rewritten up to half a chapter myself
because the writer <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">just didn’t get it</i>.
More than once. When my mom asks me to point out what I wrote in a book, I have
to flip through it and say “this paragraph here” and “everything under these
three headings there.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Back to you. You’ve submitted your manuscript and it’s been accepted
by the editor. All you have to do is wait for the money to roll in! Wait. Hang
on. Was the manuscript accepted by the editor? See, approval is a tricky
concept, because it’s tied to your contract (you DID get a contract, right?).
Every contract I’ve seen has stipulated a certain amount of money upon
acceptance, and the balance 90-days after publication. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Once your editor says your manuscript is accepted, he owes
you money. I’ve had editors tell me that my work hasn’t been accepted, even
though it’s been developed, edited, and is in layout. If that’s not
“acceptance” I don’t know what is. Ah, but if the editor tells you it’s
accepted, then he owes you money. Often, it’s money he doesn’t have. So it’s a
fungible concept. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But ok. So you might not get your 25-percent upon acceptance
of the work. At least you’ll get your money 90-days after publication. Ever
wonder how we came up with that number…? It happens to be the amount of time
distributors have to pay the publisher. We’re waiting on our check from Alliance
or Chessex, so we can turn around and cut you a check. Only problem is,
distributors are notoriously late on paying their bills. They’d much rather
hold on to as much money as possible so they can cover the costs of the next <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">YuGiOh</i> expansion. Because that makes
them more money. They don’t care if Studio Manta gets paid on time if it means
they can cover the next <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Magic: the
Gathering</i> release. (This is also one of the reasons we say that the TCG
business killed the RPG business. It simply sucked up all the money.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To summarize: You’re going to get paid crap wages. You’re
likely not going to get that 25-percent upon acceptance. And you’re going to
get paid late on the balance. Every freelancer I know spends at least half his
time chasing down money he’s owed. But you don’t care! You’re working in the
hobby games industry! You love games. You get to engage with your hobby in a
new way. Other people will read your work!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And this is where we come to one of the economic reasons for
why wages haven’t risen for freelancers in 30-years. YOU. You’re willing to
work for such low wages and take it in the shins on payment because you so
desperately want to work for the hobby games industry. Why should a publisher
pay five cents per word when he can get a newbie to work for him for
$0.02/word? New, inexperienced talent drives out the experienced talent, and
keeps wages low. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, a lot of this has changed, to be honest. The advent of
Kickstarter and print-on-demand and .pdfs have lowered cost of goods and
increased funding. However, margins are still thin. Print-on-demand has a
higher cost of goods for the publisher, so he’s making less money on each book
sold. And you all expect your .pdfs to be around $1.99. Kickstarter has been
about the only bright spot when it comes to increasing freelancer wages (I’m
hearing numbers like $0.05/word being bandied about). If the publisher doesn’t
jet off to LA to try to sell his IP to Hollywood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let’s go back to that 10-page, 6,000-word magic item chapter
you were writing. Yeah, you’re going to be asked to write a second draft. And
you’re going to be paid late (and in some cases, not at all. I didn’t cover
that fun fact). And if you complain about it, you can always be replaced by
some fresh-faced, eager newcomer who’s willing to put up with this because
writing games is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">kewl</i>. All for… wait
for it: $120. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Have fun storming the castle! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">* And if you made it this far, I’ll let you in on a little
secret. There are many good, quality publishers out there who pay well and
on-time. Green Ronin, Paizo, Wizards of the Coast, Pinnacle, and Eden Studios
come to mind immediately. And if your company’s name isn’t on that list, don’t
email me. I’m sure you’re on the up-and-up. I’m just trying to frighten the younglings
here with the worst-case scenario. Which will totally happen to you if you’re a
freelancer. No, I’m not kidding. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-43690101422273897092013-03-22T01:35:00.002-04:002013-03-22T01:35:49.850-04:00My Process, Part Deux
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lately it seems the blog has lost a bit of focus and
direction. I appear to have several different threads going on at the same
time, and it might be confusing to you, the reader (*thump*thump* Hello? Is
this thing on?). As if I have readers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I’m still getting hits for that Natalie Portman “hole in the
middle of her midriff” stunt from awhile back. I can’t actually call it what it
is, because the number one search term for finding my blog is “navel” or “belly
button.” The more I use those words in association with that person’s name, the
higher I go on Google’s search results. I don’t want to be known for her belly
button (I would, however, like to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i>
her belly button. Personally.). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My point is, you all don’t seem to be reading this blog
anyway. The underwhelming support for Sara Bakay is proof of that. So I guess I
can do what I want. I might just start uploading pics of that grumpy cat and
call it a day. I'd upload pics of <i>Sara's</i> navel, but angels don't have those (you just <i>know</i> I'm going to pay for this <i>somehow</i>, don't you?). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What was I saying? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Oh yes. Focus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I seem to be providing general opinions about what RPGs should
be, giving advice on how to approach your own writing, talking about some of my
own projects, and <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1" target="_blank">shilling for Sara</a>. Which sounds like one of those Lifetime
movies… Shilling for Sara; watch as a man single-handedly beats his head
against a wall for loose change, starring Zac Efron and that chick from that
Disney Channel show. You know the one. (*thump*thump* Hello?!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was talking about my own process. That’s it. I started
with an overview of what I wanted to do, and was supposed to move on to the
next step: answering some questions. I’m going to backtrack a bit, however. If
you go to the earlier blog post, you’ll see that I’m planning to write an
all-elf RPG setting. Elves are the dominant race on the planet, and they’re
locked in a war with more numerous, and seriously-less-sparkly-humans. You can
read it <a href="http://studio-manta.blogspot.com/2013/03/my-process.html" target="_blank">here</a>. Go head. I’ll wait. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Back now? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No, a picture of Ms. Portman’s sewn up umbilical hole did
not magically appear here while you were gone. Sorry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I said, I was going to go to my notebook and start making
notes. This is a long list of everything that I can think of on the subject. I
call it “wool-gathering.” Just sit and write. Make a list. Cross stuff off. Add
stuff. I started this process with Paul (Hi, Paul. I know you like the
shout-out) for his game setting. My good friend, Jim Pinto (you may have heard
of him. No? Doesn’t surprise me.) considers this an important part of the
creative process. Once we were working on something together, and I started to
draft an outline; he rightly pointed out that this was the brainstorming stage,
and outlining was a right brain thing (or is it left-brain? I don’t know
brains). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, forthwith, here are some of my notes on “Untitled Elf
Game”:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Elves are immortal.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">
As Octavia Butler pointed out in her novel <i>Wild Seed</i>, there really are
two kinds of immortality. Living forever and being un-killable. So my elves
live forever, unless something violently and aggressively intercedes. You can
be an elf scholar or chef, and you’ll live forever. Elf warriors, however, have
a much shorter lifespan.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If Highlander teaches us anything, it’s that immortality
would quickly become boring. And also, don’t go to New York City without a
really big sword. The elves try to occupy their time with stuff and things. For
most of them, this means studying something until there’s nothing left to learn
about the subject, or spending 200 years painting a portrait. Shades of Corum
and the Vadhagh. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Elves are highly
cultured and refined.</i></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Elves frequently
strive to master whatever catches their fancy</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, if only to pass the time.
This means that when an elf dies, it’s a pretty big deal. Because the race
loses a vital piece of culture. Imagine losing Da Vinci, Einstein, and James
Joyce all rolled into one person. This has serious implications for whatever
skill system I decide to come up with; it’s not like you can make Perform tests
when you’re equal to every great actor ever. That would be meaningless.</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Elves, however, are
also sensualists. </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you’re 10,000 years old, going to yet another
masquerade is pretty dull. Elves are always looking for something new and
different, even if it’s something they’ve forgotten and rediscovered. A new
thing is a big deal.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Which leads me to the major perversion in elf society:
Certain elves (notably the player characters) seek out danger – grave danger –
in their pursuit of the new and exciting. Much like Bushido was a twisting of
the Buddhist concept of reincarnation, some elves believe that dying, and dying
gloriously, is the highest honor. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They
long for what they call a “beautiful death”.</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Think Sparta and the Samurai.</span></li>
</ol>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Quite frankly, I’m going to have to stop there for now. I
literally have pages about my elf society. I haven’t even gotten to their
dedication to honor and bravery, and glorification of war (Klingons,
remember?). Or the major split in elf society – the Seelie and Unseelie Courts.
Or the shifting alliances within each of the two courts (since elves are bored
most of the time, politics and vendetta among the upper classes is
commonplace)… I have a lot of ideas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And if you’ve gotten to this point in the article, it’s time
for you to read a bit about Sara Bakay. Sara’s got a fundraiser on <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1" target="_blank">IndieGoGo</a> to
attend a 6-day conference in New York City (yes, she’s bringing a sword. After
all, there can be only one. Hey, I didn’t make up the rules.). This has the
possibility of putting her directly in front of casting directors, agents, and
other shady Hollywood types. Which will help her career. And you want to do that,
because if she does survive The Gathering, she’s going to remember who her
friends are…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This ALSO enters you into a contest to win my services as a
writer, designer, editor, and production manager for one week, for FREE. If you
make any kind of contribution to Sara’s campaign, for as low as $10, you’re
entered into a drawing to win me. For one week. For free. To work on your game. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-7058306279198241482013-03-20T23:40:00.002-04:002013-03-20T23:40:37.568-04:00Mechanics Come Last
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Social media is a strange and powerful tool. In addition to
being friends with a lot of industry professionals, I sometimes get friend
requests on Facebook from friends of friends. (And that’s a lot times to use
“friend” in a sentence, by the way). Usually, they’re fans of my work who have
found me through their friends, and they send me a friend request. I generally
accept these, figuring that a friend of my friend can’t be all bad. And
besides, I don’t have many friends.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Many times, these people want to ask me about what it’s like
to work in the hobby games industry, and I’m glad to share war stories. I love
this profession, and this industry. And I’ve seen and done some funny stuff.
But sometimes, these people want me to look over their own creations. I have a
policy against this, because I’ll end up giving away all kinds of free advice.
And like the Joker said, “if you’re good at something, you should get paid for
it.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of these people is my friend, Paul. Paul’s been working
on a game for I-don’t-know-how-long, and it shows. I agreed to read the first
chapter, and it was a confused mess. I don’t want to tell you about the idea,
because it’s his, not mine. So you’ve got to trust me that I quickly got lost
when I tried to create a character for his game. That’s bad. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But I love the idea. It’s based on some anime properties
that I really enjoy watching. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The problem is that Paul got lost in his own creation. He
was so busy trying to create an RPG that he lost sight of the central idea. It
would be like setting out to write a children’s book and ending up writing a
three-volume epic quest. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One night, it just came to me. The answer. And I started
writing. When he looked at what I was doing, Paul was taken aback a bit. But
what about this? And how are we going to handle that? I told him a simple
truth: He had to begin again. He had to start from scratch, trying to preserve
as much of his original work as possible. That meant going back to the
beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What do you play? And what do those characters do? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Things were going along swimmingly. Paul totally loved the
new structure to character creation. We began outlining ideas. And that’s when
he asked what would become the subject of this blog: What about the system?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wait, what? System is the last thing you should be thinking
about. You can play almost any game using almost any system. You can port <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">D&D</i> over to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Metamorphosis</i> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Alpha</i>. You
can play <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Call of Cthulhu</i> using the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Palladium</i> System. System doesn’t matter.
I can write my post-apocalyptic RPG for Pathfinder, Savage Worlds, or the
Unisystem. All I’ve got to do is pick. That has nothing to do with “what do I
play?” or “what do I do?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Moreover, if you start with the die-rolling mechanic, you
end up making the setting fit the statistics, when it should be the other way
around. For example, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Call of Cthulhu</i>
is a game about the slow (or not so slow) descent into madness as you learn
sanity-blasting truths, so it has the Sanity rules. No one said “Hey, we’ve got
these great Sanity rules, what we need now is a property to adequately use
them.” That’s putting the cart before the horse. The ideas come first, then you
worry about mechanics. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In fact, we wrote 80 percent of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Trek: The Next Generation RPG</i> with no rules at all. The guy
designing the system hadn’t finished yet. But we couldn’t sit around for six
months waiting for the guy. So we wrote it with a bunch of holes where the
mechanics would go. For example, in character creation, we made a list of
skills for each class. What was the skill mechanic? Who cares? We added the
numbers later. How much damage do phasers cause? I didn’t know; didn’t stop me
from describing phasers. If a rule didn’t fit how we wanted the game to work –
if they didn’t model the kind of action dictated by the setting – we changed
the rule. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now Paul is energized. Sent me a list of notes for his game
the next day. He’s excited. He’s stripping away all the things that aren’t his
original idea, and adding stuff that was missing. It’s a stronger concept. He’s
started re-writing his character creation system, and it’s a lot clearer now. He's not worried about die mechanics or skill systems yet. He's just creating his world. The rest comes later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Pitch</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that same kind of advice I offered to Paul is what I’m
offering to you. You can have me for a full week, for free. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you have a game setting that you’d like me to read, and
give you my feedback?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you have an idea for an RPG, and you’re not sure you’re
hitting the mark?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you simply want a chapter written?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Are you stuck, and need a pair of fresh eyes to look things
over?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maybe write an adventure you could give away as a stretch
goal on your Kickstarter?</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All you have to do is make a contribution to Sara Bakay’s
<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1" target="_blank">IndieGoGo</a> fundraiser. For a donation of as little as $10, you’re entered into a
drawing to receive my services, free of charge, for one week. Imagine having an
award-winning game designer working for you for as little as $10. Either click on the embedded link, or her picture at the top of the page. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank you for your donation. And good luck! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-36454117389950481302013-03-18T10:23:00.001-04:002013-03-18T10:24:25.971-04:00An Announcement -- Contest<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's face it. You come to this blog, if you come here, for game-related advice. One of the biggest articles on this page was my freelancer advice piece, so I know you're out there. You don't come here to read about some aspiring actress who's trying to raise money to attend a conference. You don't know her, or her work. So you have absolutely no incentive to contribute, and get a picture or CD from her. I get that. </span><br />
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, we're gonna kick it up a notch. I am giving away a week of my time as a professional game designer, writer, and editor. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You read that right. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Who Am I?</span></b></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you didn't read the masthead, let me tell you a little bit about myself. I started in this business in 1995, working for Chaosium. I wrote a little book called <i>The Bronze Grimoire</i>. It ended up being one of the biggest sellers in the company's history. Seriously, it goes for almost $200 online. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I wrote for AEG, where I gave some advice on the magic system for the L5R RPG (which they actually used), and wrote things like <i>Honor's Veil</i>, <i>Walking the Way</i>, and numerous Clan sourcebooks. I also worked on the team for the original <i>Legend of the Burning Sands</i> TCG. I wrote for Fading Suns, in books like <i>The Player's Companion</i>, <i>Lost Worlds</i>, and most of <i>Merchants of the Jumpweb</i>. I even did some work for White Wolf, for Mage and Streetfighter (which was a hoot, by the way). </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From there, I was hired by Last Unicorn Games as the line developer for a little thing called <i>The Star Trek: The Next Generation RPG</i>. I won the Origins Award for Best RPG for that one. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXBpyRGKF-s3ia4Xg8ZQ357lkXbNn6EWbdcbZVxu9O_KZ-jzuomOdjHDcaQhvEdY1FqjTnNPmcEnMe2XSdY2FPwMLEl2QZg8m_h8Gf_mMtG2eTXbUMIpCJvlXJfb2NoSVg4rHYOXYKEsN/s1600/ST+RPG+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBXBpyRGKF-s3ia4Xg8ZQ357lkXbNn6EWbdcbZVxu9O_KZ-jzuomOdjHDcaQhvEdY1FqjTnNPmcEnMe2XSdY2FPwMLEl2QZg8m_h8Gf_mMtG2eTXbUMIpCJvlXJfb2NoSVg4rHYOXYKEsN/s320/ST+RPG+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then, I did it again, this time for Decipher. I also worked for WotC. After that, I worked on a little thing called <i>All Flesh Must Be Eaten</i>, by <a href="http://www.edenstudios.net/" target="_blank">Eden Studios</a>, where I developed <i>One of the Living</i>, <i>Zombie Smackdown!</i>, and <i>Atlas of the Walking Dead</i>. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm currently working on something called <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1471855235/torn-armor?ref=live" target="_blank">Torn Armor</a>, which is currently running a Kickstarter. Give it a look. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YLy4saJ32fQTj12hZg-6mh7saDw45VJhX-L5JitHfT4GY4_u4LFGzxAQBlCjKuiI8GbIVi99UbVlnwbOHaLCrzZLwdwtXrvqNvcCuPhslU5ZeT_YfU69XwW8JRIVk1Hqi6BXnVvoXBme/s1600/Torn+Armor+Pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YLy4saJ32fQTj12hZg-6mh7saDw45VJhX-L5JitHfT4GY4_u4LFGzxAQBlCjKuiI8GbIVi99UbVlnwbOHaLCrzZLwdwtXrvqNvcCuPhslU5ZeT_YfU69XwW8JRIVk1Hqi6BXnVvoXBme/s320/Torn+Armor+Pic.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But enough about me.</span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Contest</span></b></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am giving away a week's worth of my time as a professional game designer, writer, and editor. That's right, a whole week. </span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you have a game idea that you'd like me to critique? </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you want me to write you an adventure?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Write a chapter for your game? An introduction? </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you want me to evaluate your idea prior to your Kickstarter? </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you want me to outline a project? Outline a product line? </span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">How about edit your game? Or adventure?</span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Do you want me to show you how to write better? Maybe buff things up a bit? </span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One lucky person will have me for a week. That's seven days, because I'm a game designer, and we don't normally get "weekends." I will work for you, free of charge. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's all you've got to do: Contribute to Sara Bakay's IndieGoGo fundraising campaign. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click the link of the girl at the top righthand corner of this page. It will take you to her page. Then, select a contribution. So, for as little as $10, you could win a chance to have me work for you. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When you make your contribution, you'll be asked for your name. Be sure to include "(Game)" after your name in the "shipping information" box. This way, Sara will know who contributed through this contest, and she'll tell me. Otherwise, I might end up accidentally choosing some grandma from Terra Haute (Hi, Debbie Elsberry!). </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Out of those names, I will randomly choose one (1) winner, for whom I will work, free of charge, for one week. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I'll reiterate it one more time:</b> For a contribution of as little as $10 to Sara Bakay's IndieGoGo fundraiser, you will be entered into a contest to win my services as a designer, writer, editor, production manager -- whatever -- free of charge, for one full week. At the end of her campaign, I will randomly select one name as the winner. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In order to be considered for this contest, you must go <a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1" target="_blank">here</a> and make a contribution of at least $10. Remember to put the word "(Game)" at the end of your name when you enter the shipping information. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, get a picture of a pretty girl. And a chance to win the services of an award-winning, professional game designer. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-48437677321800524192013-03-15T19:29:00.001-04:002013-03-15T19:31:37.336-04:00My Process<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Enough with the appeals for Sara Bakay's fundraising campaign. For today. Seriously, I'm beginning to feel a bit like Jerry Lewis. I'll resume shilling for Sara tomorrow. (You CAN, however, click on the picture of her to the immediate RIGHT and go to her IndieGoGo page.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today, I think I'll talk to you about my creative process. Because this is ostensibly a blog about game design and game writing. Not pretty girls. I <i>think</i> there are other websites out there where you can see pretty girls. I'm not sure. Try Googling it. (Then again, she sure is pretty, and talented, and funny). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When I talk about my creative process, I'm not thinking about how I go about writing material for an existing game. That's something different. That's just a matter of following an outline and writing what the editor wants. If you've played RPGs, read an RPG, know the rules of English, and can follow instructions, you can be a freelance writer in the hobby games business. Ask my friend Paul Caughell (Hi, Paul!). All it took for him was to get noticed. Specifically, by me. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm talking about my creative process when I'm starting with whole cloth. A blank page. Tabula Rasa. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Generally, one of the things that you fans believe is true: All of us in the business sit around and dream up games together. It can be as simple as a conversation over drinks during GenCon that turns into an idea. Or an online chat where what starts out as a joke, or an off-hand comment, sparks a concept. There have been times where other pros have asked me to look at their work, and give my opinion. And they've actually taken my advice. Or I'll share an idea with someone, and they'll say something like "needs more cowbell" and I'll put in more cowbell. It's a creative industry, and many of us share our nascent ideas with each other -- to get an outside, professional opinion. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So let's say I have one of these conversations, and it triggers an RPG idea. What's the next step?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First, I try to <i>define</i> the idea. What am I thinking? This isn't as easy as it sounds. I'll try to write down every idea this concept triggers, and come up with a collection of thoughts. This is the "wool-gathering" part of the process. Every idea goes into the pot. Often, I'll make reference to existing properties or ideas, because that provides an easy shorthand. I'm going to have to provide an example, much as I hate to....</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lately, single-race RPGs seem all the rage. It started with John Wick's Orks RPG. Now, you can do this one of two ways: a) either there is only one race in the world, or b) the world is presented through the lens of a single race. It's a little-known secret that I love elves. When they appear in Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series, I perk up. I love the way he portrays the Courts of Summer and Winter. Tolkien's elves? Love what he did with them, at least conceptually. And I also agree with Michael Moorcock, who thinks Tolkien's elves are banal crap. I want to do elves <i>my</i> way. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, it's off to the notebook to jot down some notes: Elves are the most important race in the world; they're dominant. They are at the height of their power and influence. They can't be the only race in the world (and have you ever wondered why 99% of fantasy settings include all different kinds of races? We -- humans -- are the only race in the real world, and yet almost every fantasy setting includes dwarves, or elves, or orcs... It's odd.). The classic approach is a conflict with elves and humans (or Melniboneans vs. humans, or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Vadhagh vs. humans) -- basically an elder race contending with a younger race. I'm going to go with that. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I could go with the other classic animosity -- elves vs. dwarves. Two elder races fighting with each other. Maybe for dominance over the world? I don't know how I feel about this yet, so I'll stick a pin in it and come back to it later. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I love the way the elves are portrayed in Hellboy 2. I'm aiming at that kind of vibe. A proud, warrior race. Being pushed out by a younger, more numerous race. Their lands being encroached upon. For some reason, I think of the Klingons in Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country; "We're a proud race, and we intend to go on, being proud." Wait. Elves as Klingons. Whoa! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">When do I set it? Like I said, I like Jim Butcher's work (and Simon R. Green's stuff, too). I'm a huge fan of the modern urban fantasy genre. So, my impulse is to set the game in contemporary times. Go with the Hellboy, Dresden Files, Nightside vibe. But, that brings in guns, and the concept of glamour -- it makes it more of a covert, hidden war. And I don't want that. So it looks like I'm going with a traditional fantasy setting. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">One of the ideas that's central to elf mythology is the concept of the Seelie and Unseelie courts, two diametrically opposed philosophies. Good and Evil. Day and Night. Summer and Winter. The Seelie are generally good, happy, light, growth, while they Unseelie are evil, cruel, darkness, death. I want that dichotomy in the game. Two courts, with different approaches to the question of the "human problem." Both of them not so nice, actually. This will give the setting another conflict in which players can engage....</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">So, fantasy setting. Elves are the dominant race. Humans are young, new, and encroaching on elven lands. Elves as Klingons. Two courts -- political infighting. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Next up, I move on to the questions of what you play, and what you can do in the game. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Oh, and if I see one of you steal this idea, I'm totally suing you. Just saying. </span></span>Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-35909793107513636822013-03-14T17:56:00.003-04:002013-03-14T17:57:57.403-04:00So What Do I Get?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm going to suspend blogging about game design for another day, just to make some things clear about yesterday's blog...</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Yesterday's blog post about Sara Bakay has generated 35 hits in 24-hours. That's more than any of my other game design blogs. For the week. In other words, if you look at my stats for the entire week, she blew them all away in one day. First, this tells me I don't get a lot of hits for my game design advice. Second, this tells me you guys like a pretty girl. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Unfortunately, this hasn't translated into much support for her IndieGoGo fundraiser. If you guys like what you see, you <i>really</i> should make a donation. Just click the link on my page, and order yourself the minimum -- an autographed picture. If all 35 of you had done that, she'd have $350. She'd be $350 closer to achieving her dream. Don't you want to help the sweet girl with the big, doe-like eyes? Sure you do. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's what you get for the minimum donation of $10: You can choose from any one of these pictures, and get it autographed. If I know Sara, she'll include a personal message, too. Considering that one day she's going to be famous, this is a bargain. You'll be able to auction that picture off on e-Bay for a lot more than that one day. And, let's face it, she's a pretty woman. Some of these pictures are pretty smoking....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Which of these would you like? It's yours, autographed, for the low low price of $10. Plus, you get to help a really nice person achieve their dreams. Do something nice for someone. Get a picture of a pretty girl. Win-win situation, I say. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In fact, I'm going to order me another one. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So click on the link at the top righthand corner of this site. It's the one that looks like Sara Bakay. It'll take you right to her site. It's that easy. The only way I could make it easier for you is if I came to your house and stole $10 out of your wallet. Don't make me do that, because I totally will. </span></div>
Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-19163024362476328682013-03-13T20:53:00.001-04:002013-03-13T20:53:58.498-04:00An Appeal <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is a bit of a departure for us here at Studio Manta Games. Well, considering the number of times we've promoted Natalie Portman's naval, not really. Today, I'm not going to talk about games at all. I'm going to promote a friend. She has nothing to do with games, either.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Her name is Sara Bakay. She's a 24-year old actress from Kentucky. If you know anything about eastern Kentucky, you know it's not a hotbed of acting opportunities. Then again, Jennifer Lawrence comes from Lexington, KY. You may have heard of her. She starred in a little-seen movie called The Hunger Games. Anyway, Sara doesn't live all that far way from Lexington, and if Jennifer Lawrence can make it, so can she.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-dnGEc83FPClYS3Jgz8nRXXCknb2N4jlIMpnP2aDeXOzHTe2_pTq2ha5qF8FslhPLCUez6cF6iaeGGoOXyDGqwKypDOgMsu0DiJmRcmErb0BXTbtTS5Y6rcrdc-Dj796PHayk1KucysT/s1600/Sara1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-dnGEc83FPClYS3Jgz8nRXXCknb2N4jlIMpnP2aDeXOzHTe2_pTq2ha5qF8FslhPLCUez6cF6iaeGGoOXyDGqwKypDOgMsu0DiJmRcmErb0BXTbtTS5Y6rcrdc-Dj796PHayk1KucysT/s200/Sara1.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This is my favorite headshot</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvE7P5sphF9WG-tG4Jiq1sMy5zFvDvKFH1Nyh2pVkbcyraj06nyXDHAF2G9qHE31w_uhMByZbz0_ERjxjrY7Xk5SXUrJzCKXGWE8bQCvNEbmewgZcF3CXbQRTyr9mJd8JwhJuivBDuofU/s1600/Sara2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfvE7P5sphF9WG-tG4Jiq1sMy5zFvDvKFH1Nyh2pVkbcyraj06nyXDHAF2G9qHE31w_uhMByZbz0_ERjxjrY7Xk5SXUrJzCKXGWE8bQCvNEbmewgZcF3CXbQRTyr9mJd8JwhJuivBDuofU/s320/Sara2.jpg" width="209" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can get a good sense of her energy in this shot</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrvqd5P7bx8vUrC-N7aXVu8rxXo0MjdwOwaoj6gU2hJ62bG5VcAM2lVs_BhJ9lrdzvtoZnzEmPg9QYa5ayqQC_2-uqG2KZvLRmN1PcfIOPzeM25cGfq1WWCErfKEAqJDJCf8aHaKXljeJ/s1600/Sara3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrvqd5P7bx8vUrC-N7aXVu8rxXo0MjdwOwaoj6gU2hJ62bG5VcAM2lVs_BhJ9lrdzvtoZnzEmPg9QYa5ayqQC_2-uqG2KZvLRmN1PcfIOPzeM25cGfq1WWCErfKEAqJDJCf8aHaKXljeJ/s320/Sara3.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There's something melancholy about this one. It's a personal fave. </span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">See, Sara is an actress, model, and musician. She's very accomplished. She's performed in plays at Jenny Wiley Theatre, in such things as Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and The Frog Prince. She's starred in several independent films, like The Scorn of Vengeance and This Promise I Made. And, she's a singer and songwriter, to boot. You can see her work at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/sbakay0001" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/user/sbakay0001</a>. Sara wrote this song:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/CiPjcTXV9KY?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've never met someone who worked this hard at something. Myself included. She really wants to be successful. Not famous, necessarily, which is something quite different. A lot of us dream about being famous, but for Sara it's about doing something she loves (and is quite good at). Drive eight hours to a film set? Sara will do it. Sing at a dinner or wedding? Pick your songs and she'll be there. She is always looking for ways to get her name out there and scrounge up some work. She's always moving forward.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Sara is also just about the nicest human being standing on two feet. She wouldn't hurt a fly. She's the kind of person who would just "show up" at your birthday party to brighten your day. She once drove two hours both ways to console a friend who'd suffered a death in the family. As a surprise. She's the kind of person who changes the energy when she walks into a room. Being mean to her is like clubbing a baby seal -- there's got to be something fundamentally broken inside you; you've lost some part of your essential humanity.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So why am I telling you all about this? Well, aside from making you aware of her talent, and expanding her promotional opportunities, she's got a fundraising campaign going on at IndieGoGo.com. She's got an opportunity to attend a convention in NYC, where she has the potential to be seen by lots of casting directors and agents. If even one person out of thousands notices her out of hundreds, it's an opportunity well spent. I'm going to let her explain it herself, because she does it much better than me:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/GfNHo27uow8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Click on the link below. Donate something. For $10, you can have yourself an autographed picture of her. What's $10? That's a trip to the Starbucks for a mocha skinny frappuccino with whip. Or whatever. Ten bucks is two week's worth of pocket change. I spend $10 a day on cigarettes; all I have to do is give up smoking for a day... And if she gets 250 people to contribute just $10, she makes her goal. And maybe gets to pursue her dream.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/new-york-ambitions-fundraiser-part-1</span></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you liked anything on this page, then click on the link and contribute.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxiGzklWu-wlzbpxRzp2tjJrRwmobMI7_U-F0lrNy7J8x0RzTtROT1LIpdUECEmXumXFbogSas4nxl1ftvjYtBx5RsLsXwgAbBFMtJD2hYtan9l4WlMC-Qi9YZW9BOTyYwEmeQ4c0wR9_/s1600/Sara4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxiGzklWu-wlzbpxRzp2tjJrRwmobMI7_U-F0lrNy7J8x0RzTtROT1LIpdUECEmXumXFbogSas4nxl1ftvjYtBx5RsLsXwgAbBFMtJD2hYtan9l4WlMC-Qi9YZW9BOTyYwEmeQ4c0wR9_/s320/Sara4.jpg" width="241" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have an autographed copy of this. Isn't that worth $10?</span></td></tr>
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<br />Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-91773059604250652562013-03-12T19:55:00.003-04:002013-03-12T19:55:56.048-04:00Torn Armor Announcement! <br />
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="color: black; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 14px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; word-break: break-word; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="messageBody" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;"><span class="userContent">Big news for this project. Get in now before they hit 500 backers!<br /><br />"Reaper Miniatures has given us the greenlight to add their Clockwork Dragon as a Torn Armor unit; complete with unit card. When we hit 60k, we'll even create a new map set and special scenario. Of course, this gives us an excuse to introduce the "flying units" and "breath weapon" rules =D<br /><br />The best part of this? The first 500 backers to pledge $75 or more (the game or any combination of add-ons and pledge levels) gets the Clockwork Dragon FOR FREE with no extra shipping."</span></span></h5>
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<span class="messageBody" style="color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.38;"><span class="userContent"><a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1471855235/torn-armor?ref=live">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1471855235/torn-armor?ref=live</a></span></span></div>
Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-63115412312446932822013-03-12T01:01:00.002-04:002013-03-12T01:01:51.163-04:00The Elevator Pitch<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There have been many formative points in my career, which have shaped how I look at games and game design. I've known a lot of creative people who've influenced what I do creatively. It's a lifelong process, and it still continues. Even if I don't agree with someone's opinion, at least I've learned something. One of those people was Andrew Greenberg. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now let's get something out of the way up front. Andrew knows how to live life. I'd never been to a "blood bar" before, and I hope to never go again. Let's just leave it at that. Anyway, one of the things that Andrew and I did every GenCon was walk the floor and talk to the other exhibitors about their games. We were always looking for something new, so we'd question them about their game. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But there were certain rules. The only questions we asked were "what do I play?" and "what does my character do?" If you couldn't answer those two questions, we walked away. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was thinking about this earlier today, when I was chatting with my friend Mark Carroll (Hi, Mark!). Mark calls this the "elevator pitch" and I've seen the idea gain traction in the industry elsewhere. Other people have used that term on me. The "elevator pitch" is something that comes from some How To Write book somewhere, and I'm sure it's very good advice if you're pitching an idea for a movie in an elevator. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's where the idea comes from. You're in an elevator, and you're standing next to some big time Hollywood producer, a Weinstein let's say, and you have 30 seconds to pitch him your idea. Go! </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So, you tell him the whole idea in 30 seconds. "It's about two star-crossed lovers making their way across country toward each other after a nuclear war. And one of them has been turned into a dog. Starring Adam Sandler." If someone actually sells that idea, I want a cut. The idea is to tell someone about the main characters and the central conflict as concisely as possible. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To be clear: I am <i>not</i> talking about the elevator pitch. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's too specific. Sure, it talks about the central conflict. And that's nice and all, but it's limiting. You end up focusing solely on the central conflict. And that's not what RPGs are about. Games are about supporting a multitude of play styles and conflicts. Let's put it this way: The central conflict in World War II pitted the Allies against the Axis. But what did people <i>do</i>?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maybe you're a Flying Tiger transporting vital supplies over the Himalayan Mountains. Maybe you're a spy in France. Maybe you're just a family trying to get to Switzerland.... Those are things people did. It wasn't all storming beaches and blowing Hitler up in a movie theater. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember, Andrew and I were looking for what our characters were going to do in the game. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The danger with the elevator pitch, I think, is that writers and designers end up focusing on the Beaches of Normandy, and not the other cool stuff you could do with the setting. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's take an example from one of my own games. Just to be safe. Star Trek. Strictly speaking, The Next Generation was about boldly going where no one had gone before. Well, actually, it was about boldly going where a lot of other people had gone before -- I swear, almost every episode, they know exactly where they're going and something about who they were going to meet. The Enterprise-D was a giant, floating UN Mission... </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But you had a framework for the kinds of missions you could go on. You can fight the Killbots of Robotopia. You can make first contact with that race that everyone else thinks is socially awkward. You can transport relief supplies to Somalia IX. There are all kinds of things you can <i>do</i> in Star Trek: TNG. It gets even better when you broaden the scope and add in the other series, because now you can play the crew of a Klingon warbird, pirating things up, or merchants ferrying Vulcan horse manure, or whatever. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You want a plethora of options within the framework you've established. The central conflict is the framework, but that's not the end of your work. Now, you've got to think about all the cool things people can do with your game. If you can only come up with things that directly relate to the central conflict, I think that's a weaker game. </span>Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-6388287612437225472013-03-11T18:31:00.001-04:002013-03-11T18:31:47.484-04:00Going to the Mat<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's been a long time since I've written anything here. Because -- lazy. Actually, to be honest, lately I've been doing a lot of editing, and the only topics I can come up with would only get me into trouble. Like people who use the word "will" in their rules; as in "when the PCs enter the room, the goblins <i>will</i> attack." Will they? Are your sure? How about we write a stronger sentence... like "when the PCs enter the room, the goblins attack"?</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">See, now I'm going to get in trouble for that. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Instead, I'm going to blog today about a simple concept -- sticking to your vision. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This came to mind after reading something from an associate on Facebook (you may have heard of it). Jason Yarnell (Hi, Jason!) posted something about the world he's creating for Pathfinder. He doesn't want to include races like elves and half-orcs, and was trying to find a way around it. So he wrote crap like "if you really want to play a half-orc, the GM should allow it, by (<i>insert convoluted justification here</i>)." </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I call this the "Dark Sun" problem. Dark Sun was this super cool setting for Dungeons & Dragons (you may have heard of it). The elves were bloodthirsty and feral. Dwarves were bald. Magic was bad. In fact, magic was so bad that it caused the ecological disaster that was central to the core concept. In this world, you had psionics (they wanted to promote their Psionics splatbook). And then TSR screwed it up. Sure, the bad guys used bad magic, the kind that caused the ecological catastrophe, but the PCs could use <i>good</i> magic. The kind that wouldn't hurt the environment...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">No. No no no. Magic is bad in your setting. There is NO magic except bad magic. The only reason you're providing for so-called good, non-ecology destroying magic is for those players who'll whine that they can't play magic users. Stick to your guns. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From the Dark Sun Wiki: "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The themes of this setting...</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> include survival against the elements, ecological disaster, resource depletion, survival of the fittest, slavery and poverty, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">and the widespread use of psionic</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"> abilities." And: "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">TSR worried about this concept, wondering how to market a product that lacked any familiar elements. "</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In other words, TSR wussed out. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I don't care if players will whine about not being able to play magic users. Or elves. Or half orcs. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">See, games like D&D and Pathfinder are broad and all-inclusive for a reason. They're presenting all the tropes of fantasy in one package. That's fine, because it's a foundational product. But, by including <i>everything</i>, the game is really about <i>nothing</i>. That's what the setting is for. To tell you how to use those elements. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">This includes telling you what's NOT appropriate. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I had this problem with that crappy Robin Hood movie Kevin Costner did. Where they shoehorned in Morgan Freeman. And a telescope. Yeah. Completely not a part of the setting. I once played in Peter Adkinson's D&D game, which was all Viking. You could play a human or dwarf. That's it. Elves were evil (because elves are evil in Viking mythology). So imagine if some kid shows up with a Drow Assassin.... Totally NOT the setting. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">"Well, maybe he could be from another part of the world..." you're going to say. NO. That's a cop out. There are no Drow in this Viking campaign. "Well, maybe he's from another dimension..." you retort. NO. If you want to do that in your own, personal campaign, that's terrific. But it doesn't have to be a part of the setting proper. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">I'm had this problem with a game I worked on once. One of the writers kept trying to shoehorn in resurrection. The spell. Trust me when I say, this was completely inappropriate to the theme of the game. "Well, the players expect it. They'll want a way to bring their characters back," is the push-back I got. To which I said: I don't care. A way to resurrect your PC kept finding its way into the text. First, as a spell. I removed it. Then it showed up as a magic item. I cut it. Coming back from the dead is <i>not</i> a concept in this setting. <i>I don't care what players want or expect.</i> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">If you want to play a Drow in the Viking campaign, too bad. It's not in this setting. You want to play a half-orc or elf in Jason's game? Sorry, go find another setting then. Want resurrection? Pray to Jesus. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">In <i>this</i> game or setting, things work <i>this</i> way. The designer should stick to his or her guns. They should follow their idea to its logical conclusions. They should go balls-to-the-wall for their creative vision. Anything else is just watering your idea down and pandering. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">The best novels are written by authors who look around for the kind of book they want to read, can't find it, and write one of their own. The best movies are written by writers who look around for the kind of movie they want to see, can't find it, and write it. The hope is that others will see it, realize they wanted the same kind of work, and come along for the ride. Others will reward you for doing something new and innovative. Or, not. It might be a critical and financial failure. But at least you tried. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span>Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-90139565339601723282013-02-15T18:26:00.001-05:002013-02-15T18:27:47.864-05:00Look! More Natalie Portman's Navel!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I see by the old clock on the wall that I now have 18 followers. At this rate, we won't be able to take over a 7-Eleven, much less the world. However, we're the perfect size to survive a zombie apocalypse. I've been away for a few days, doing what game designers do. Which is watching a lot of old, bad TV shows and playing games on Facebook. Those things are addictive. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I promised to continue my journal on the work going on with Torn: Armor, and using it as a teaching tool for you aspiring game designers out there. We're up to the point where I need to discuss the importance of writing an outline. As I said, it's hard to come up with anything more than "it's important." Perhaps I should outline this article... Be right back.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">To recap: The folks over at Torn Limited or Torn Publishing or whatever -- Alyssa and Jack -- have sent me what they think are "rules." They want me to get onto reviewing the material, making suggestions, plugging holes, and writing stuff. To which I reply "where are the rules?" Then, Alyssa flips out. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">During this conversation, where I talk Alyssa off the ledge, it comes out that they've actually been playing this game at home. That's a good thing. That means that the information is stuck in someone's head, and they're just having a hard time getting it on the page. Remember, Jack was writing this material with the rulebook to another game sitting next to him. He was trying to make his work "look like" their work. That's always a bad thing, first of all because that material has been edited and developed (which means at least three pairs of eyes have gone over it), and second it's all laid out nice and neat on a page. I can't tell you the number of aspiring designers who send me Word files with the tables all laid out with the shaded lines and whatnot. (Seriously, stop doing that.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Jack needs an outline. But he's never written one. So I call him up, and talk to him for about two hours about outlines, and why they're important (as well as looking at his work as a finished product that others would have to use). </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'll be honest, I'm guilty of this, too. I get all excited about the work and I dive right in. I start typing away. And I quickly get lost. I end up writing four pages of history, when only two will do. I repeat myself. I discover that I never did write that section that explains the zombies are actually aliens, or whatever -- that section with the key piece of information that links everything together. I'm just writing. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's when an outline comes in handy. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First of all, you can chart the flow of information. Is your setting chapter going to start off with history, then geography, then countries? Are you going to discuss religion? Maybe that chapter on character creation would be better as chapter three instead of chapter two. With an outline, you have a sense of how the information is going to flow in your document. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Second, you can fill in your outline at your leisure. Word has something called "outline view" and I find it invaluable. I've tried other programs, and they just don't have this functionality. Admittedly, I was being cheap, and downloaded Open Office. So there may be other programs out there that do this, but I don't know about them. If there are, you should use it. One of the great things about it is that as you fill in the information that goes under the heading, Word shows you which headings have text under it and which do not. So you can fill in your history section (because you're feeling historical that day), and write the material on economics some other time. You can see what you've done, and what's left to be done. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I could teach a class about how to use outline view in Word. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Third, even if you're not using Word, even if you're using old-fashioned pen-and-paper, the outline tells you what you need to write. It's like a giant "to do" list. For example, you might need to write all the skills for your game. You have a list of skills you want to include. You know you still have to do that. You have that coming up, so you can start thinking about it. Moreover, you know what goes where. That skill you're writing might actually be a spell description, for example. Or you might right a great paragraph in the rules section that goes better in the setting's history. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And it doesn't even have to be that detailed. You could just outline the high points -- the level one headings. If your history section needs to be broken down into periods or particular events, you can always add those level two headings while you write. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There is one pitfall I've found with outlines. I tend to end up filling in the information -- actually writing the game -- when I should be outlining. Under those headings, you're going to be putting some notes. What kind of information are you going to add later? The kind of information that you'd put in bullet points; that's all you should be doing now. You're going to come back later, once the outline is done, and fill in that material. This is especially true if you're going to be handing this outline to someone else. You want to give them an idea of what goes under the heading; you don't want to write it for them. I made this mistake recently. I sent an "outline" to a writer only to discover I'd written half the chapter <i>in the outline</i>. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thus, the outline tells you how the information is going to flow, what you've done and what needs to be written, where that information should go, and what you should be working on. It's an invaluable tool. Especially since the thing you're writing is long and complicated, and it's easy to get lost. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I totally lied about Natalie Portman's navel, by the way. I knew the only way to get you people to read this thing was to trick you. So you can stop looking. </span>Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-36887949679520107072013-02-13T02:26:00.000-05:002013-02-13T02:26:23.112-05:00Product Concepts<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm not quite ready yet to discuss the importance of an outline yet. Mostly because I can't think of anything else to write besides "an outline is important." And a phone conversation with Alyssa Faden made me think of another important topic I really should discuss -- product specifications and concepts. This is all about the importance of defining what your product looks like, not only in terms of trade dress, but also the types of products you release. I was going to write about my deep and abiding enjoyment of a Facebook game called "Social Empires" -- I even took screen grabs -- but now that I think about it, maybe I should write about product concepts. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the first things we did at Last Unicorn Games was develop all the stuff you'd need to define a product line. I'd never done this before, never even heard of it before, but a lot of thought goes into this kind of thing. Or at least it should. Presumably you're not interested in putting out only one game. You really want to put out a game line. You want supplements, a back stock of titles, evergreen titles -- you want lots of books. Because putting out only one RPG means a) no one will really buy your game; you don't have "shelf presence." And b) gamers will eventually want more information about your game, and you're not ready for it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example, what's an "evergreen" product? Good question, Scott from Oklahoma. An evergreen product is one that always sells. One that you must always keep in print. A core rulebook or player's handbook is an evergreen product. For the Star Trek: TNG line, the Vulcan book was considered an evergreen product (because people will always want to play Vulcans), even though it was a supplement. A book of adventures is not an evergreen product. Eventually, you can let that go out of print, and no one will miss it. Now certainly, the whole pdf and POD revolution changes these definitions a bit. You still want to define vital, core products -- evergreen -- versus fire-and-forget products. The latter mean you can put less time and resources into them. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Most importantly, you don't want to stack your production schedule with several evergreen products back-to-back, because your fan base isn't going to be able to spend a lot of money on your game every month, and evergreens take a lot more work. I would never want to have to develop a core book, companion, and setting book back-to-back. Because each of those books are rules heavy. If you screw them up, you've screwed up your game. You want to stick something small and useful in between those more-important products. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That's just one consideration. (Oh, and you should be at least thinking about your schedule ahead of time. Plan for a year's worth of products ahead of time. Someone ask me why, so I can write an article about production schedules.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So. At LUG, we define what a product line looks like. I'm not going to talk about trade dress, because I'm not a graphic designer. There's a reason a Pinnacle book looks the way it does, and you can instantly identify a Pinnacle book on the shelf before you even pick it up. That's good trade dress design. Instead, I'm talking about what the physical product will look like. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example, every rulebook was 256-pages, glossy magazine stock, hardcover. That was defined before the first word was written. Why 256-pages? That was a price point consideration. Why glossy paper stock? Because we were going to use screen grabs from the movies and TV shows, so that has to be on glossy paper. We even decided on the paper weight, so the pages wouldn't tear when you flipped through the book. Why hardcover? To keep all that weight between two covers. With a soft cover, you have to use glue for the binding, and the pages might fall out. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All supplements were 128-pages, rag paper stock, black-and-white. Boxed sets would always have three books and a map. I think there was another tier of book -- maybe the Federation book? It was something full-color, hard-cover, but not 256-pages. Whatever. The company is out of business... But these were all defined at the start. Every mid- to upper-tier company makes these decisions early. Or they should. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why? First of all, for production schedule purposes. Again, I don't want to have to assemble three full-color, hardcover books back-to-back. That would break me. It would also break the graphic design department. And it would break the bank. Moreover, I can't expect you, the consumer, to buy a $35 book each month. I'm going to have a backlog of unsold product, and production costs to pay. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Second, and this is even more important, when someone eventually came into the office with a great idea for something, the first question we could ask is "where does it fit in with our product identity?" This would happen all the time. Someone would come in with an idea for a 256-page mega-campaign involving the Tholians. Usually me. Is it full-color? No. Is it a rulebook? No. Then it's not a 256-page book. ONLY rulebooks are 256-pages. We do not do 256-page, black-and-white books. Period. Make it a boxed set. Make it a supplement. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We don't want to confuse our customers with non-standard products. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Flash forward to last night's conversation with Alyssa Faden. She was torqued off about something I'd said or done, and was giving me a piece of her mind. Admittedly, a small piece. (It's a cheap joke, I know). So I talk her out of her wine-induced rage (because I'm charming that way), and we get on the subject of how impressed I was that she'd already thought of her trade dress. Because now I'm trying to placate her. Because she holds the checkbook, and a gun (did I mention the gun?). And I get to the subject of product identity. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example, if you buy a miniature from Torn Torn of Torn, Inc. there is one mini in the blister, and that's a hero character. If there is more than one mini in the blister, then you are buying a squad. At no time, ever, would you find a blister of the same hero outfitted with different arms and equipment (tracking, say, the hero's evolution from minor hero to great hero). Because that would confuse your audience. You've trained them to expect "one miniature = hero" and "several minis = squad." So if you put three minis of the same hero in a blister, someone might confuse them for a squad. You've broken your product identity. You've befuddled your audience. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now, I don't know if Alyssa will take that advice. And I just know someone out there is itching to explain to me that what I just described is not necessarily the case; it's entirely possible to train your audience to expect three minis to equal "hero with different weapons." You know who you are. That's not the point. The point here is that once you define what your product identity is, you have to stick with it. That's why you're defining a product identity. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This way, you know what to expect with your production schedule. You can effectively come up with a schedule that matches your time and resources. And you know how to place new product ideas into your existing framework. Because now you have a framework. </span>Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4790218378017626142.post-1642390634098078812013-02-12T15:15:00.002-05:002013-02-12T15:15:30.653-05:00The Facebook Edition<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today finds your intrepid writer and game designer sitting in a Starbucks for the free WiFi. I hear they also sell coffee. For the past few days, Natalie Portman's navel notwithstanding, I've been blogging about Torn Armor. In an effort to provide some variety, I want to shift gears and write about something called "facebook." You may have heard of it. It's a social media website where you can connect with friends and colleagues, and I think it's going to be pretty popular. You might consider investing in it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not to brag (well, I'm bragging a little), but my friends list makes gamers drool. Because I'm friends with almost everyone in the hobby games industry. So I get to find out what Shane Hensley is having for dinner, and what Fred Hicks thinks about The Walking Dead. I get to hear Jim Pinto's opinions on the concept of "steampunk" as a genre, or what Jesse Heinig thinks about Mass Effect's game play. So there's a component of keeping abreast of the intellectual evolution going on in game design. I also get pictures of kittens from Steven S. Long. Lots and lots of kitty pics from Steven S. Long. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the things that's happened over the last few months is that Facebook has become a design tool. Not a networking tool. That's something different (and I've networked with quite a few people with whom I was previously unfamiliar). I'm talking about Facebook as a place where things get done. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For example, I can have a meeting with Jeff Laubenstein and Mike Nystul about Cairn using Facebook's messenger system. Big deal, you say, people have been using online chat systems for a long time. And you'd be right. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">During that online meeting, Jeff can upload a picture of a something -- a page of layout, a table of scales, a picture of something he's drawn -- and we can comment on it. Because Facebook messenger allows you to upload files and pictures while chatting. Then we can all discuss it. It's like we're all in the same room with each other. Or, I can send files to both Mike and Jeff. In fact, I transferred some files to Jeff for layout just yesterday using Facebook. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Back in the day, you had to switch between your chat program and your email program. Maybe a phone also had to be involved, too. It was inefficient, to say the least. That's the point I'm trying to get across here. Facebook allows you to do everything all in one place. I don't need to check my email, then go to Dropbox, then go to AIM. I just need to log into Facebook. Not only has the company centralized all the functions I need to hold an online meeting in one place, the sheer volume of people on my friends list makes this even more vital. If I have an idea, I can just messenger someone on Facebook, and design happens. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Even better, I know that even if they're not logged in when I send the message, I know they'll eventually get it. Because everyone logs in to Facebook. That annoying red number in the upper left-hand corner will glare at them until they check their messages. I don't have to worry about people checking their email. In fact, I sent a file to someone via email, and they hadn't gotten it. So I resent through Facebook messenger, and they got it immediately. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the past few weeks, I've had random people start conversations with me, to ask me my opinion on something they'd written or ask my advice. I had an idea at 2am, and sent it off to Jim Pinto, who was awake, and started sending me cover treatments. At any point in the day, I can end up talking to anyone in the business about something game related. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are two problems with this system, however. First, because it's Facebook, it's fairly informal. So you can also end up swapping Monty Python quotes or talking about how the person's cat is doing after surgery. Social, yes. Polite, definitely. Useful in the context of a meeting? Not so much, because of the second problem. If you need a vital piece of information, you have to scroll through 10,000 messages to find it. Facebook doesn't organize information the way email does. With email, if I need to know what Alyssa Faden said about Sisk hoplites, I can sort of home in on the date and eventually find it. With Facebook, I have to scroll through 5,000 messages about her co-dependency issues. What really irks me is when I ask Mike Nystul "what did you say about hedgehogs spines again?" and he replies with "it's in messages." Yes, I know that. I'm trying to avoid having to read four months worth of chit chat to get the information. Just resend it. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So Facebook is great for brainstorming, holding meetings, and swapping files. It's not so great for organizing information. It amazes me, however, when I realize just what a vital tool Facebook has become to my work. It's not just a place where you can play FarmVille and swap pictures of your lunch. It can be a great professional tool, if used wisely. </span>Ross A. Isaacshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03130248059505536194noreply@blogger.com3