This month was something of a cheat. I had no purchases nor games played. However; I AM in the planning stages of 2012's conventions. In that respect, I spent time but no monies on the development of new sites...
1. Obsidian Portal: A free wiki and forum site to focus gamers and maintain game information. Began the process of creating the structure for my Mythen Keep campaign. Still off-site planning for the 2012 con game downloads, but I've got some ideas locking down...
2. Rotating Dice! I've never blogged before and thought I would quietly try doing it for a month. Its a good tool to focus the 'gaming mind'. I think I'll keep working on this.
End total: $0.00 in cash, but roughly 2 hours / day in authoring and game planning. Pretty good. Now if it actually takes flight...
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Monday, August 29, 2011
Clean up week!
Its cooling off nicely around here! This week is a good time to clear out the nooks and crannies that have been collecting stuff over the summer.
That includes my writing and game projects as well...
First, to move as much paper onto the electronic files. Then it's time to:
1. Get the Obsidian Portal (Mythen Keep) game together for 2012's cons.
2. Secret World MMO is set up (go Dragons!); at least until the beta issues are cleared up.
3. Into the Valley is on hold until the playtests are done (October).
4. Continue working on the Ars Magica PC's for the con games.
5. Dig into the desk and gaming area; get that puppy organized.
6. Work on my daughters fairy wings set up for Halloween (and the Ren faire).
The week is going to be whatever I make it. Time to rock 'n roll!
That includes my writing and game projects as well...
First, to move as much paper onto the electronic files. Then it's time to:
1. Get the Obsidian Portal (Mythen Keep) game together for 2012's cons.
2. Secret World MMO is set up (go Dragons!); at least until the beta issues are cleared up.
3. Into the Valley is on hold until the playtests are done (October).
4. Continue working on the Ars Magica PC's for the con games.
5. Dig into the desk and gaming area; get that puppy organized.
6. Work on my daughters fairy wings set up for Halloween (and the Ren faire).
The week is going to be whatever I make it. Time to rock 'n roll!
Monday, August 22, 2011
We have achieved trough.
Just coming off of a pretty downer week. Low energy was the culprit. Planning on turning it around as of a couple of days ago. Still reading Wind, still a pretty good read (although every time I would get comfy and start the reading, I would fall asleep from the low energy thing). I really enjoy books like this; Kvothe's character has returned to society and the simple acts of being true to himself is continuing to add layer upon layer of issues. Good stuff!
Writing wise, it's been a pretty random week. Being exhausted does have its good points: there is very little filtering of ideas, so many ideas (if recorded) are created. In this, I've started three new 'projects'. Two are ideas for future Ars Magica books and one is for the 2012 gaming con circuit.
The game con stuff is basically an ArM5 'primer' to introduce the foundations of the game to the masses of Wisconsin. I'm creating a fully-fleshed out troupe (1 magi, 1 companion, 2 grogs) from each house; a nifty little covenant that will house 6; and some one-shots for the cons. I have a program called Metacreator that has been a godsend in the creation process. My goal is to enable newbees to come to the table, get a little rules background and simply begin play. We'll see how the whole thing goes...
Writing wise, it's been a pretty random week. Being exhausted does have its good points: there is very little filtering of ideas, so many ideas (if recorded) are created. In this, I've started three new 'projects'. Two are ideas for future Ars Magica books and one is for the 2012 gaming con circuit.
The game con stuff is basically an ArM5 'primer' to introduce the foundations of the game to the masses of Wisconsin. I'm creating a fully-fleshed out troupe (1 magi, 1 companion, 2 grogs) from each house; a nifty little covenant that will house 6; and some one-shots for the cons. I have a program called Metacreator that has been a godsend in the creation process. My goal is to enable newbees to come to the table, get a little rules background and simply begin play. We'll see how the whole thing goes...
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Wind, witches, and writing
Today is brought to you by the letter W.
I started Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind over the weekend. Pretty good read so far (I'm about 1/4 of the way through it). I'm enjoying the 'fly on the wall' feel in following a single character (a Doc Savage-esque man name Kvothe). He does a nice job of giving all the other characters their own voices, while staying true to Kvothe's internal filter.
I also wasted a couple of hours and watched Season of the Witch. Six scenes and a lot of 'Hammer horror' elements. Ugh. I even tried to look at it through the lens of black humor and just could not do it.
1. The crusade montage scene, ala the opening credits of Wolverine.
2. Taking the job in Marburg.
3. The first watch and a mass grave.
4. The rickety bridge.
5. Wolves!
6. The monastery.
OK. Now I feel purged.
Last, but not least; Into the Valley is in playtest. That means I am on vacation until October. So now I can write on other projects. I've got two ideas for ArM5 to rough together. We'll see what the opinion comes back as. More on that stuff later.
I started Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind over the weekend. Pretty good read so far (I'm about 1/4 of the way through it). I'm enjoying the 'fly on the wall' feel in following a single character (a Doc Savage-esque man name Kvothe). He does a nice job of giving all the other characters their own voices, while staying true to Kvothe's internal filter.
I also wasted a couple of hours and watched Season of the Witch. Six scenes and a lot of 'Hammer horror' elements. Ugh. I even tried to look at it through the lens of black humor and just could not do it.
1. The crusade montage scene, ala the opening credits of Wolverine.
2. Taking the job in Marburg.
3. The first watch and a mass grave.
4. The rickety bridge.
5. Wolves!
6. The monastery.
OK. Now I feel purged.
Last, but not least; Into the Valley is in playtest. That means I am on vacation until October. So now I can write on other projects. I've got two ideas for ArM5 to rough together. We'll see what the opinion comes back as. More on that stuff later.
Monday, August 8, 2011
...and so it begins
I have decided to raise the bar in my hobby of gaming. I am setting myself to the task of dipping my big 'ole toe into the authoring of publishable roll-play gaming materials.
Why?
Well, moving beyond the 'gotta do what you love' sits the keystone of 'gotta afford what you love to do'. In short; I am going to see just how much of this hobby can pay for itself, without diminishing the joy of the game.
Over the months of July and August, I submitted and re-edited the adventure Into the Valley for Ars Magica games. Its been approved and now awaits playtesting (and further tweaking). I've learned a lot over the past two months. About Style Guides. About Templates. About working with other authors.
All of it has been GREAT!
More to come later...
Why?
Well, moving beyond the 'gotta do what you love' sits the keystone of 'gotta afford what you love to do'. In short; I am going to see just how much of this hobby can pay for itself, without diminishing the joy of the game.
Over the months of July and August, I submitted and re-edited the adventure Into the Valley for Ars Magica games. Its been approved and now awaits playtesting (and further tweaking). I've learned a lot over the past two months. About Style Guides. About Templates. About working with other authors.
All of it has been GREAT!
More to come later...
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