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2010-08-15
: Apocalypse World
If you're here looking for Apocalypse World, I can set you up. Go to:
- apocalypse-world.com for free downloads;
- the un-store to buy;
- barf forth apocalyptica for discussions & hacks.
2010-08-23
: The Drifter's Escape is Amazing
I haven't played it, although all signs point to it being very good. Whatever! The stories are amazing.
The Drifter's Escape, stories by Jake Lehman, game by Ben Lehman.
Somebody said to me once in connection with The Drifter's Escape the phrase "hobo stories," and an image came into my mind, and I thought I understood what The Drifter's Escape was all about without having read it. I was all, "it's, y'know, all about hobo stories, and the man, and the devil." I pictured something like Carnivale, gaudy, faux-momentous, inert.
WRONG. Wrong wrong all wrong. I couldn't have been more wrong. I didn't have a CLUE.
The stories are deft and provocative. They're about us, every day; they're about how I feel about things when I'm not thinking about them. They're about America. They're about what I wish for and what I've accepted in my life instead, and which am I content with and which would I do over?
Meg was trying to get something done and I kept interrupting her. "Oh my GOD you have to hear this paragraph," I said, a bunch of times. "It's SO GOOD."
By chance or whatever, I have a bunch of people in my life who are cool older women, librarians and educators, thoughtful, literate, and friendly toward roleplaying without ever having tried it. I always want to show them our games, but my games are too, y'know, garish-horror-nerdy-juvenile. Now I know!
2010-08-19
: One of my favorite GenCon conversations
...Recorded so you can all listen!
Theory from the Closet: Show059: Interview with Vincent Baker
Like three times, Clyde had me going "holy crap, that's a good question, you're right. I gotta think a minute." Good conversation.
2010-08-14
: GenCon Conversations
Some conversations I super loved:
1. Driving with Graham and Drew, about: criticism, honesty, expertise, and maturity in one's craft.
2. With Clyde, about: unions and health care, then later about dice, clouds and arrows, and talking about design at last.
3. With that guy whose name I don't recall, a Hampshire grad, about: the Alice in Wonderland game he's working on. In fact, with a good half dozen different people throughout the con, about: the games they're working on.
4. With Anna, Elizabeth, Graham, and others less intensely, about: IPR.
5. With John and Elizabeth, about: our project.
6. With Luke, about: maturity in one's craft, ideas, talking about design at last, and distribution. If I don't get a good conversation with Luke at least once a year, I go nuts.
7. With Rob, and with several others dropping in and out, about: talking about design at last, coherent game design, GM- and player agendas, and some other stuff.
8. With 100+ people over 4 days, about: Apocalypse World.
9. More that I'm forgetting! Please remind me.
A few I missed out on:
1. With any rep, past or present, of IPR, about: IPR. I wish that'd happened.
2. With Ron and Elizabeth, about: the Black Panthers.
3. With Ron, Graham, and maybe a couple others, about: game criticism.
And many more, with many cool and excellent people. Next time!
2010-08-13
: LA Times!
Pointed out to me by @MadMoses: Poison'd gets a mention in the LA Times. Holy crap!
Gen Con hosts Dungeons & Dragons reunion: Call it campaign reform?
It's just a one-word mention with no hyperlink, but still!
2010-08-13
: IPR and You
Lots of conversations about IPR at GenCon this year.
Just remember kids, it's our games that make IPR cool, not IPR that makes our games cool.
2010-08-11
: Apocalypse World preorders
So we managed to get about half of the preorders out between last Monday when I picked up the books and last Tuesday when I left for GenCon. We'll get the rest out tomorrow or Friday.
Oh, and if your book arrives damaged, drop me a line, of course I'll replace it. We're switching up to sturdier packaging. Sorry!
2010-08-02
: GenCon bound
Hey, if you're coming to GenCon Indy this weekend, swing by booth 1730 and say hi.
There have been occasions in the past, like at GameStorm this spring, when someone's wanted to meet me but I looked too busy so they didn't come introduce themselves. Alas! I'm never too busy to meet someone, so don't hesitate.
I believe we'll also be doing some casual topical discussions at the booth this year, not just demo-demo-demo. If there's something you'd like to talk to me (and/or Ron) about, come by. Theory, design, publishing, whatever. If you have a game in development you'd like us to take a look at, bring it, maybe we'll get the chance.
See you there!
2010-07-30
: Going ... going ... gone!
Today and tomorrow are the last days to preorder Apocalypse World! If you want the maestro d' character playbook, now's your last chance.
In the golden age of legend, there was this guy named Maestro. He was known for dressing up real dap and whever he went, the people had much luxe tune. There was this other guy named Maitre d'. He was known for dressing up real dap and whever he went, the people had all the food they could eat and the fanciest of it.
Here in Apocalypse World, those two guys are dead. They died and the fat sizzled off them, they died same as much-luxe-tune and all-you-can-eat. The maestro d' now, he can't give you what those guys used to could, but fuck it, maybe he can find you a little somethin somethin to take off the edge.
Joe McDonald says, "the Maestro D' is the most amazing character in the game. Sexier than the hardholder, with more teeth than the skinner." I might quibble with most amazing, but the rest is true.
Anyhow! If you want it, it's going ... going ...
edit: Gone!
2010-07-26
: The Walking Eye: Abandoning Games
A few nights ago, Joshua, Rob and I talked to Kevin of the Walking Eye about abandoning games. The roundtable is here: The Walking Eye Discussion Episode 21: Abandoning Games Round-table.
It was a fun conversation.
2010-07-21
: Life After the Apocalypse
Here's some total gorgeousness: Life After the Apocalypse.
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