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December 24, 2005
Christmas Eve
Hello All.
Here it is and instead of embracing the holidays, my head reels with nefarious thoughts and shambling blood ghouls. I just did my first writing jag for Modern Dispatch, well, specifically for 12 to Midnight and it fits in with their Pinebox setting. It was a brief break from working on ScatterPoint for RunePunk. The tweaking is nearly finished on that as well. Orwell Industries proceeds apace and I'm really sinking my teeth into Agents of Oblivion, which is the next big thing in the que after RunePunk: Steam and Shadow.
Merry Christmas to ya and have a great holiday season!
Regards,
Sean
Posted by razorwise at 10:18 AM
December 12, 2005
Am I Psychotic? A RPG Writer's Primer
Hello All.
I was asked this question recently on the Pinnacle forums (which I haunt regularly.)
ronism wrote:
Don't you have like 27 settings to write (most especially AoO - hint, hint)?
My reply is as follows:
Honestly, I'm working on, ummm, four right now. RunePunk, AoO, Iron Dynasty, and sketched out a secret one that I won't even mention for some time now that's tied into ID in a strange way. You must've used some remote mind control device because I did spend the bulk of yesterday working on AoO, fleshing out the outline, doing some detail work, and designing the logo and cover art. I spend the bulk of the week working on the main project and then my off-day or down-day ramping up the next item in the que to keep me from burn out on my main project.
The short answer is that I tend to be working out ideas in my head, no matter what I'm doing, and typically carry a pen and paper around so I can jot down notes.
Thanks for the nice words!!!
Regards,
Sean
That's what I said, alright...now, I'd like to elaborate, but I'm still recovering from some cold-sinus thing that took up residence in my lungs. I'm better now, just a bit sleepy. I had to get some other stuff posted.
What's more to add? I love to write. I read vociferously and watch television selectively. I have a DVR and go full immersion on subjects and topics I'm working on. Anything that even remotely resembles something I can use, I jot it down. I study plots and themes from anything I watch and transform them around in my head. In other words, I rarely relax in the sense of zoning out mentally. The only real time I do that is when I'm lifting weights which brings me to the final part of this whole post which, when I was more awake, I had intended to be at the beginning.
Here is the question. Am I psychotic?
Sometimes, I think that the development of games and interactive entertainment is the most noble endeavor I can pursue. An industry that can benefit from my efforts. Then one of my buddies says something that gives me pause. "You guys have to have big egos." This is a recurring theme I've been hearing given voice by someone I've known for a very long time. I consider my ego healthy, sure, but in no way over-the-top, Monty Haul sort of maniacal. Then I read what I've written. This is a bunch of made up stuff that has flowed from my fingertips. Is this going to interest people or am I just psychotic? Nope. Just creative. My ego is healthy. My mind is healthy. I'm meeting tons of interesting people and am pursuing my goals. I've just gotta stay focused and keep it real. I'm grounded that way. Promise.
Later,
Sean
Posted by razorwise at 10:45 PM
How to GM Anything (For Beginners)
Hello All.
I'm cannibalizing myself. Don't go there.
This is the bonus tip of the week for people looking to become GMs. Am I posting this outta the goodness of my heart? Sure. Why not? Do more GMs, mean the continued proliferation of games, and, hence, the propogation of Reality Blurs into more people's homes in some intensely viral matter? One day, hopefully, but for now, I just want everyone to get in on the fun and have a good time.
This was originally written to a guy who wanted to help his girlfriend try her hand at GMing. (She's been gaming for two months.)
Ahem. Here we go.
Greets.
Here are a handful of suggestions for you to give her:
1. She needs to read through the rules completely. If she already has, read through again with particular focus on the combat section.
2. Practice in a friendly environment. She should try running a mock combat with one person. I'd suggest you. That way, she can familiarize herself with narrating the combat and keeping track of modifiers. This is a great opportunity for her to make sure she understands how to handle combats and wounds. There is an article in Sharkbytes about wounds to add clarity, if there is any confusion.
3. Grab a simple starter scenario- The Eye of Kilquato is good or, if you like Japanese Fantasy, I've received feedback that Journey to Red Temple by yours truly is especially friendly to novice GMs. Whatever she gets, she needs to read through closely and look up any rules questions she might have.
4. Finally, a real game! She's got to jump in feet first and run a session. The GM screen, while not absolutely necessary, is helpful, or at least a print out of the charts and what-have-you. Miniatures are helpful to visualize combats and who is where. Those little guys are especially useful to starting GMs.
5. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. And for you, be accepting of her mistakes. With every RPG, there is a learning curve. I've found SW is a great entry-level system for novices and almost instantly picked up by any experienced roleplayer. She'll get the hang of it.
6. Take bigger steps. I'd also suggest, if she's roaring to run a campaign, that Evernight fits the bill. A great linear campaign by Shane himself. My daughter, 11, is running me through this and she's not having any problems handling it, after being taken through the boot camp above.
7. One more thing. Have FUN!!! That's why we're all doing it. If everyone is having a good time, even if some rules got slaughtered along the way, then the session was a success. Keeping things moving and injected with energy and all that other good stuff. Sometimes, we take overselves way too seriously, don't we?
8. Regardless of the outcome, tell her some people naturally make better GMs than players, but you can get better at either through practice!
Do warn her that gaming is addictive, whether you're player or GM. She might want to find a less harmful habit like parasailing.
Regards,
Sean
These words are as true today as when I wrote them two days ago!
Posted by razorwise at 10:40 PM
December 05, 2005
Been a long time
Every day, I've been writing like blue blazes and keep meaning to update the website, but sometimes not a lot is happening that is a) interesting or b)something I feel comfortable sharing with you. It's not like you need to know whether I have a head cold or a back ache.
This is where you come for what's going on. So here goes, here is what's going on...
Butch Curry, yes, that Butch Curry, is busily working on an M&M project of maximum coolness that you will all most certainly dig. I've got one artist lined up and will have this out early next year.
Myself? Still working on the final touches of the RunePunk Player's Guide and am getting it in the hands of a larger number of folks to eyeball before it goes to layout. I'm wrapping up the GM's section of the book and the more I look at it, the more I've decided that I've got a hybrid on my hands.
RunePunk is a concisely written plot-point book, but it's not just that. It's fantasy. Pure, unadulterated fantasy that I have created as much whole-cloth as I can. Sure, you'll find influences in there- whomever isn't influenced by the external is definitely delusional on some level or other- but I've got a great degree of weirdness.
I've also built in a great deal of flexibility. RunePunk isn't meant to be a throw-away, once only kind of thing, it's got a broader scope than that. The city is enormous and detailed enough where you can explore the city that is the world and still have some room to throw in your own stuff. I don't know if I've publicly mentioned this yet, but in Runepunk, you should be able to throw in one of your other characters into the mix if you so desire it. Peg Leg Pete or Machine Gun Maggie is more than welcome. The reasons for there appearance are easily enough explained within the context of the setting. Will they experience culture shock? Sure! But it's a fantasy thing.
Each of the 5 races has a slew of edges specific to them and certain care was taken so that the humans are not a cast-off race either. They have specific edges they can take and are designed to showcase their greatest strength- flexibility.
Going back to the variance of RunePunk in an open-setting versus plot point book, you can carry on with RunePunk after the initial blush of playing through the campaign. Support materials are in the pipeline for RunePunk and its fans, rest assured. So, this is what I've been up to and why I've been so quiet. I'm planning. I'm working. Most of all, I'm writing.
Best Regards and Season's Greetings!
Sean Preston
President, Reality Blurs
Posted by razorwise at 09:54 PM