Where imagination is the key
"'Halt! Who are you and why are you here?'
"The deep-voiced shout echoed through the rocky passage and the adventurers froze. Before anyone could answer, the owner of the deep voice stepped out of his hiding place and turned out to be ... Nancy Montano, a 39-year-old bill collector from Pendleton, Ind.
"Not quite a scene from 'The Lord of the Rings,' this was the start of another round of 'Dungeons & Dragons' at this weekend's Game Con South Bend. At the Century Center Saturday and today, Game Con offers the chance for fans and newcomers to play dozens of board, card and miniatures games, as well as some X-Box.
"Also popular are roleplaying games like 'Dungeons & Dragons,' in which players like Nancy assume the identities of fantasy-themed characters and play out elaborate missions. The healthy imagination and sense of community these games require and foster are the foundation of Game Con's popularity."
Monday, April 18, 2005
The Agony Column
The Agony Column edited by Rick Kleffel
Original fiction, commentary, reviews and interviews with the many faces of SF and fantastic fiction. Well worth checking out.
Original fiction, commentary, reviews and interviews with the many faces of SF and fantastic fiction. Well worth checking out.
The Infinite Matrix
The Infinite Matrix
A great SF/Fantastic Fiction website. An upcoming "issue" will have a new short story by Rudy Rucker and an essay from William Gibson. Well worth checking out if you are interested in the non-mainstream for your fantastic fiction.
A great SF/Fantastic Fiction website. An upcoming "issue" will have a new short story by Rudy Rucker and an essay from William Gibson. Well worth checking out if you are interested in the non-mainstream for your fantastic fiction.
Crisis Counseling
Crisis Counseling
The official site at the DC Comics website with previews, updates and spoilers for the upcoming Infinite Crisis. Will they really undo the Crisis on Infinite Earths and return to DC Universe to the Multiverse of the pre-Crisis days? Does this mean that Zero Hour will have never happened? What about Identity Crisis? If the company has a gigantic company crossover will anyone really, really care?
Check back every Monday for more details.
The official site at the DC Comics website with previews, updates and spoilers for the upcoming Infinite Crisis. Will they really undo the Crisis on Infinite Earths and return to DC Universe to the Multiverse of the pre-Crisis days? Does this mean that Zero Hour will have never happened? What about Identity Crisis? If the company has a gigantic company crossover will anyone really, really care?
Check back every Monday for more details.
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Cleveland Gamers!
One thing that gamers are always complaining about is the fact that they can't find other gamers. This is something that I hear again and again. So, I decided to put together a way for gamers in the Cleveland area to network and meet with each other. This is, I think, particularly relevant because Meetup.com has announced that they are going to start charging each local Meetup organizer a month fee for the priviledge of using Meetup.com. Gee thanks.
Anyway, because of that, I am attempting to organize any Cleveland area gamers who are interested in meeting other people in their area with common interests. If you would like to keep up with things send an email to the group if you are interested.
The first gathering of Cleveland Gamers is set for Saturday, May 7th at 8:00pm. It will be at the University Circle Arabica. Come by and say hello.
Anyway, because of that, I am attempting to organize any Cleveland area gamers who are interested in meeting other people in their area with common interests. If you would like to keep up with things send an email to the group if you are interested.
The first gathering of Cleveland Gamers is set for Saturday, May 7th at 8:00pm. It will be at the University Circle Arabica. Come by and say hello.
The Unofficial DC Heroes JLA Source Page
The Unofficial DC Heroes JLA Source Page
This is an excellent resource dealing with the Grant Morrison-era JLA and converting them to the DC Heroes/Blood of Heroes RPGs based on the Mayfair Exponential Gaming system. Good stuff, and well done write-ups.
This is an excellent resource dealing with the Grant Morrison-era JLA and converting them to the DC Heroes/Blood of Heroes RPGs based on the Mayfair Exponential Gaming system. Good stuff, and well done write-ups.
Friday, April 08, 2005
The Art of Making Wolves From Human Skulls
I don't really know if I can actually describe this. Kookiness ensues.
The Art of Making Wolves From Human Skulls
A note to regular readers (if there are any): Apparently Blogger made some changes lately that have been causing me some posting problems. Hopefully this post means that I have things working again. Sorry about the delays in getting the strangeness to you.
The Art of Making Wolves From Human Skulls
A note to regular readers (if there are any): Apparently Blogger made some changes lately that have been causing me some posting problems. Hopefully this post means that I have things working again. Sorry about the delays in getting the strangeness to you.
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie
Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie
"This site is dedicated to spreading the word about the Aluminum* Foil Deflector Beanie and how it can help the average human. Here you will find a description of AFDBs, how to make and use them, and general information about related subjects. I hope that you find the AFDB Homepage to be an important source of AFDB know-how and advocacy.
"What Is An AFDB?
"An Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie (AFDB) is a type of headwear that can shield your brain from most electromagnetic psychotronic mind control carriers. AFDBs are inexpensive (even free if you don't mind scrounging for thrown-out aluminium foil) and can be constructed by anyone with at least the dexterity of a chimp (maybe bonobo). This cheap and unobtrusive form of mind control protection offers real security to the masses. Not only do they protect against incoming signals, but they also block most forms of brain scanning and mind reading, keeping the secrets in your head truly secret. AFDBs are safe and operate automatically. All you do is make it and wear it and you're good to go! Plus, AFDBs are stylish and comfortable."
"This site is dedicated to spreading the word about the Aluminum* Foil Deflector Beanie and how it can help the average human. Here you will find a description of AFDBs, how to make and use them, and general information about related subjects. I hope that you find the AFDB Homepage to be an important source of AFDB know-how and advocacy.
"What Is An AFDB?
"An Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie (AFDB) is a type of headwear that can shield your brain from most electromagnetic psychotronic mind control carriers. AFDBs are inexpensive (even free if you don't mind scrounging for thrown-out aluminium foil) and can be constructed by anyone with at least the dexterity of a chimp (maybe bonobo). This cheap and unobtrusive form of mind control protection offers real security to the masses. Not only do they protect against incoming signals, but they also block most forms of brain scanning and mind reading, keeping the secrets in your head truly secret. AFDBs are safe and operate automatically. All you do is make it and wear it and you're good to go! Plus, AFDBs are stylish and comfortable."
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
State of the Industry 2004: Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me
State of the Industry 2004: Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up To Me
"And in that spirit, let's drill down and focus on the RPG numbers. Usually, the top five spots in the Comics & Games Retailer list are reliable, in two senses: the companies occupying them don't shift around a lot, and the sales numbers are big enough that it's defensible to say that even the C&GR figures bear some relation to reality. If the RPG business is as shrunken as it might be, however, neither assumption is going to hold. Keep that in mind as we go forward. Unquestionably, however, the number one company in the market is Wizards of the Coast. One distributor quoted in ICv2 said that 'Dungeons & Dragons sells four times World of Darkness and World of Darkness sells four times everything else.' C&GR gives Wizards a slightly less commanding, but no less apparent, lead, with a little less than 43% of the core hobby RPG market, again roughly the same as last year. White Wolf likewise held a decisive second place, with strong sales for the reimagined Vampire and new World of Darkness core books driving a good second half of 2004. By C&GR numbers, the Wolf actually improved its standing, to 22% of the market in 2004.
"Similarly, the revised GURPS 4th Edition books rode full-color hardbacks (and commensurate price increases) uphill to 5% and a bit of the RPG market in 2004; again, ICv2 concurs that Steve Jackson Games is Number Three with a (6d large piercing attack) bullet. C&GR lists AEG at fourth place with 4%, FanPro at fifth and Palladium in sixth with around 3.5% each. ICv2 forbears to give numbers, but lists the next three as Mongoose, Green Ronin, and Hero. If I had to guess, I'd say it's most likely Mongoose at fourth (call it 3.5% or 4% of the market) and the rest of the second tier (FanPro, Palladium, AEG, Hero, and Green Ronin) in a cloud of dust somewhere down there in shouting distance of 2%. Fantasy Flight and Kenzer and Eden may have 1% each at best; the rest are bouncing around down there among the drow and suchlike. Of all the Bottom Not Two, FanPro might take a jump up this year with Shadowrun 4th Edition in August, and I've learned not to count Kevin Siembieda out, but I think Steve will be able to hang onto third place in the RPG sector as Mongoose begins to spread its energies into card, board, and miniature games."
"And in that spirit, let's drill down and focus on the RPG numbers. Usually, the top five spots in the Comics & Games Retailer list are reliable, in two senses: the companies occupying them don't shift around a lot, and the sales numbers are big enough that it's defensible to say that even the C&GR figures bear some relation to reality. If the RPG business is as shrunken as it might be, however, neither assumption is going to hold. Keep that in mind as we go forward. Unquestionably, however, the number one company in the market is Wizards of the Coast. One distributor quoted in ICv2 said that 'Dungeons & Dragons sells four times World of Darkness and World of Darkness sells four times everything else.' C&GR gives Wizards a slightly less commanding, but no less apparent, lead, with a little less than 43% of the core hobby RPG market, again roughly the same as last year. White Wolf likewise held a decisive second place, with strong sales for the reimagined Vampire and new World of Darkness core books driving a good second half of 2004. By C&GR numbers, the Wolf actually improved its standing, to 22% of the market in 2004.
"Similarly, the revised GURPS 4th Edition books rode full-color hardbacks (and commensurate price increases) uphill to 5% and a bit of the RPG market in 2004; again, ICv2 concurs that Steve Jackson Games is Number Three with a (6d large piercing attack) bullet. C&GR lists AEG at fourth place with 4%, FanPro at fifth and Palladium in sixth with around 3.5% each. ICv2 forbears to give numbers, but lists the next three as Mongoose, Green Ronin, and Hero. If I had to guess, I'd say it's most likely Mongoose at fourth (call it 3.5% or 4% of the market) and the rest of the second tier (FanPro, Palladium, AEG, Hero, and Green Ronin) in a cloud of dust somewhere down there in shouting distance of 2%. Fantasy Flight and Kenzer and Eden may have 1% each at best; the rest are bouncing around down there among the drow and suchlike. Of all the Bottom Not Two, FanPro might take a jump up this year with Shadowrun 4th Edition in August, and I've learned not to count Kevin Siembieda out, but I think Steve will be able to hang onto third place in the RPG sector as Mongoose begins to spread its energies into card, board, and miniature games."
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