When I was young, probably no more than 10 or so, my parents got my brother and I an unusual gift for Christmas that, at the time, seemed to come out of the blue. That gift was a Carrom Gameboard, which is still available for sale from the very same company even after all these years. At the time, my brother and I were a bit perplexed by it; I was just getting into D&D and Nintendo, and by extension so was he, and traditional board games were never really on our radar. It was one of those surprise gifts, not something on either of our Christmas lists, and though we played with it some (and lost many of the pieces), for the most part it collected dust behind the headboard of my bed, where it was until about 20 minutes ago.

See, at the time, my brother and I didn't really appreciate the gift; we liked it, sure, and we used it, but it was something we only pulled out once in a long while when the power was out. Flash forward nearly 20 years later, I'm being called into the office of the VP of R&D, Bill Rose, by my Star Wars teammate Rob Watkins. As it so happens, Bill Rose has obtained a very nice Crokinole board, and Rob wants to play. We do, and I have a good time. I'm likewise in the middle of obtaining board game enlightenment as a whole, having my mind opened to new games all the time. Games are now a huge part of my life, both my hobby and now my profession. A faint memory of a Crokinole-like board sparks, but I keep it in the back of my mind.

This week, I'm back home in Tennessee, and I pull out the old Carrom Gameboard from behind my bed. Sure enough, it's capable of being used to play Crokinole, and also dozens of other games. I'm shipping it back to Seattle tomorrow (not that I don't have enough game stuff cluttering up the apartment) so I can have it. I feel like my parents just gave me an awesome gift, one that I now appreciate to its fullest. I think, even way back when, my parents had some inkling that games were a part of my future. I may not be a game designer forever (though that would suit me just fine), but for now games are my life. Did my parents know this, way back then? My brother says he knew, since I used to make up games for he and I to play all the time.

I feel like I just got a Christmas present from the past, like something that traveled through time to a point where I can finally appreciate it. This isn't the first time this happened; last time I was home, I found a great chess/checkers set that they had bought me, which is now doing double-duty as an endtable in my apartment.

So, thanks, Mom and Dad. I probably didn't appreciate it back then, but nearly 20 years later I finally get this present, and I love it.

UNRELATED NOTE!

I'm heading up to Columbus, OH for the Origins game fair this coming week. If you're going to be there, make sure and say hello! I'm giving a few seminars and I would love it if you would stop by.

Tags: gaming, life
Current Location: Chattanooga, TN
Current Mood: nerdy
Current Music: Boston -- Something About You

In an attempt to fend off a morning energy crash, I'm going to update my journal for the first time in way too long. Various and sundry topics abound:

• Last night we finished up the 5th level adventure for my Monday night Forgotten Realms game. This campaign has been running for almost a year, but due to my lack of discipline and our tendency to kind of screw around on Monday nights we usually only get about 2 hours of play time in. Since we added a new member last night (and we'll be adding a sixth person next Monday), I've become determined to ensure that we actually start on time and get in a good 3 1/2 to 4 hours of play. Last night was a big session for the heroes; they killed the bad guy, saved the girl, liberated the town, and hit 6th level. I've also set up an Obsidian Portal site for the campaign, which you can see here, so that my players have a central place to keep their notes. Obsidian Portal's a great site; if you're a DM, I highly recommend you check it out.
  
• I've got four books I worked on nominated for Origins Awards this year: Star Wars Roleplaying Game Saga Edition Core Rulebook, Knights of the Old Republic Campaign Guide, Buccaneers of Freeport, and D&D Player's Handbook Fourth Edition are all books I worked on (though the first three more than the 4E PHB). It's nice to have so many nominations this year, as I've only been nominated for an OA once before (for the Stargate SG-1 Roleplaying Game). Seeing as I'll be on hand this year at Origins, I hope I get to accept at least one award.
  
• Days of Wonder just put out a new board game called Small World, which I picked up on launch day. Saturday, I had people over with the express purpose of getting to play Small World or the new Uwe Rosenberg game, Le Havre. Sadly, I didn't get to play either one, partly due to no one seeming interested in Le Havre and partly due to having the wrong number of people to play anything else. Thankfully, Tammie took pity on me and we tried out the two player version of Small World. It was...great! In fact, it may be the best two-player game I've got. All the guys that did play Small World on Saturday night also loved it, so it looks to become a regular staple in our game nights. I can't wait to try it out with 4-5 players. I also have to say kudos to Days of Wonder for putting out a game that is not only an excellent game unto itself, but also for having the foresight to A) include a 2 and 3 player board without forcing people to go out and buy a 2-3 player version, and B) for including everything you need for storage inside the box.
  
• Speaking of Le Havre, I haven't played it yet, but it seems like a solid game. That said, I really was not pleased with the value of the game. I paid about the same as I did for Agricola, but Le Havre doesn't come with wooden bits (except for a few player tokens), doesn't have a plastic tray in the box, has far, far fewer components than Agricola, and generally feels like I paid the same amount for about 1/3rd as much stuff. That's probably not going to affect my opinion of the game itself, but it feels like kind of a kick in the wallet.

And now, back to work.

Tags: campaigns, gaming, writing
Current Location: Renton, WA
Current Mood: sleepy
Current Music: Chalkdust Torture--Phish

So, the new version of the GSL came out the other day. I tend to shy away from any kind of controversial topics so I don't want to talk about its merits/flaws (and, frankly, no matter what I say I'll be labeled "corporate shill" so it's no-win for me). I do want to say that I'm pleased to see the way it turned out, and hope lots of awesome third party products come out of it. I have no reservations in saying that I think a strong third-party content stream is a Good Thing for everyone.

That said, there's one complaint I've seen lodged that I have to respond to, but hopefully my response will be helpful. See, Wizards didn't put any of the full text of any of its game mechanics in the 4E SRD, so you can't reproduce monsters for adventures (or powers, or magic items, but that's not really relevant). A lot of people are saying this hamstrings third party publishers who want to make adventures because they can't include the monsters from the MM.

To that I say: make your own monsters. Here are my reasons:

1) Monster creation in 4E is vastly faster than you might think it is. I was able to create nearly every stat block for every creature in my Scales of War adventure, Den of the Destroyer, over the course of about a day's work. That's a lot of new monsters, and while they did generally use a theme (gnolls) there was a lot that was unique. I also wrote the adventure before I became a 4E developer, and was much less seasoned in the ins-and-outs of the system. Still, I was able to design a whole adventure's worth of monsters in a relatively small amount of time. Plus: we have a handy-dandy monster creator on our website, if you want it to crunch the numbers for you. I wrote an Excel spreadsheet that does the same thing, but it's easy enough to do by hand anyways.

2) Your adventure doesn't need the 4E monsters out of the MM. Since 4E doesn't have the concept of a "base" monster in most cases, you're going to have multiple varieties of everything. Your "goblin creep" is just as valid as the "goblin cutter" from the MM. You're not losing any kind of "validity" by making up your own monsters. Which leads me to...

3) Your adventure will be better for having its own monsters. Not only will DMs be able to throw monsters at their players that they have never seen, but DMs that aren't even planning on running your adventure will pick up your adventure just for the new monsters. Most adventures from the 3E era have some monster customization anyways--it's going to be about the same amount of effort.

Monster design is pretty easy in 4E. I think 4E-compatible adventures will be much better for having original monsters in them.

Disclaimer: I'm not trying to tell you what to do. Just offering advice based on my own adventure design experience.

Tags: game mechanics
Current Location: Renton, WA
Current Mood: allergic

Since I'm taking a short break to let my lunch settle, I thought I'd share a little story with everyone from my past that I tell from time to time to friends but have never really put down in writing (at least, as far as I can remember). The reason I'm reminded of this story is because of this story about Anthony Daniels, the actor who played C-3PO in the Star Wars films. Mr. Daniels is, to put it mildly, a total class act, and a very funny guy to boot.

When I was in high school my family went to Disney World in Orlando Florida every year. One of the rides they have there is Star Tours (a motion simulator with a Star Wars theme), which, at the time it debuted, made me feel as close to being in the Star Wars films as I could possibly get. Eventually, Disney World started doing what was called Star Wars Weekends, where actors from the films would come down to Florida and meet the fans. Obviously, I made sure Mom and Dad scheduled our trips around those dates.

The very first year they had this event we just happened to be there, and had no idea it was going on until we got into the park that day. As we approached the Star Tours ride, I noticed that an autograph area had been set up and that none other than Anthony Daniels, the man behind C-3PO, was signing autographs. Unfortunately, we arrived too late to get his autograph, but we learned that he'd be doing another signing at around 2:00 and that the line was already forming (it was around 10:00 AM at this point) and was about to be cut off. I asked my parents to let me get in line, and they let me, warning me that 4 hours was a long time to wait, but already being a teenage Star Wars fanatic I absolutely had to meet him.

For the next 4 hours, I sit on hot asphalt in the blazing summer Florida sun. It was probably close to 95 degrees Fahrenheit outside that day, and while I sweated it out in the line my family was riding other rides, stopping by to check on me after each one. As the time for Mr. Daniels to come back out approached, one of the Disney cast members started up a Star Wars trivia contest. Not wanting to lose my place in line, I, of course, could not join in. Little did I know that my brother, darthxavien, was over there, participating in the contest and winning. Keeping in mind that I was probably 15 at the time, this puts my brother's age at about 11. Fortunately for him, he was almost as big of a Star Wars geek as I was, and we'd spent a large chunk of the ride down to Disney World quizzing each other on trivia out of Bill Slavicsek's original Star Wars Encyclopedia. Needless to say, my 11-year-old brother goes on to win this trivia contest, beating out grown men for the prize.

I didn't know any of this was going on until, a few moments later, my Dad came up and told me that he won. I was happy for him, but noticed that the cast member was still standing there with him and my Mom. Curious why they didn't just give him the prize, I was trying to puzzle it out when there is a tapping on my arm and a very polite, English-accented "Excuse me" from behind me. I turn to step out of the way, and was shocked to see myself face-to-face with Anthony Daniels. Rather than walking directly to his signing chair, he made his way through the line, greeting everyone while pretending to be fighting his way forward. Score one point for the guy who realized that his fans had been boiling under the sun, waiting on him, for four hours.

Around the same time he reaches the front of the line, I notice that the Disney cast member has taken my brother up onto a small stage near the line, and when Mr. Daniels steps up onto the stage I get a distinct sinking feeling in my gut. For the next 10-15 minutes, Anthony Daniels stands on this stage with his arm draped across my brother's shoulders, chatting with him, joking with the audience, and giving a short show for everyone. Not only is he incredibly funny (very quick-witted, and of course a master of that snappy British humor), he's also charming, and he involves my brother in everything. He even feigns a long-suffering look when my brother, who is incredibly nervous at being center stage with Anthony Daniels for nearly a quarter of an hour, accidentally addresses him with a "yes ma'am" instead of "yes sir" as us good Southern boys have been raised to do.

After spending 15 minutes or so chatting with my brother and the audience, he leads my brother down to the signing area, autographs not only a photo but also a T-Shirt for my brother, and congratulates him again on winning the trivia contest. This is all before he signs any autographs for the people in line, but honestly he's so friendly and charming none of us care, and he's got us all in stitches laughing. My Dad is, of course, snapping tons of photos of this event, while I continue to bake in the sun.

After he begins signing autographs, it takes a while for me to get up to the front of the line. Not only is Mr. Daniels very friendly, he also takes the time to chat up each person, never making anyone feel rushed, and always showing a lot of interest in them (the few times I've done book signings, I've always tried to do the same thing for everyone; Anothony Daniels is definitely my role model in that regard). Finally, I make my way to the front of the line, explain that it was my brother he spent time on stage with, chat with Mr. Daniels for a moment, and then get his autograph. I'm sun-burned, dehydrated, exhausted, but I finally got what I came for.

When I approach my parents with the autographed photo, my Dad has a somewhat ashen look on his face. All those photos he took of my brother with Anthony Daniels had used up all his film, so he didn't get any photos of me with Mr. Daniels. There's almost no evidence that I was even there, except for the autographed picture I took away from the day. My brother got time on stage with Anthony Daniels, T-Shirts, autographs, and lots of photos, and I got...sunburn.

I just can't say enough good things about Anthony Daniels. He's a classy and genial guy who has never been anything but excellent to me, and I hope that if I ever get to meet him again I can tell him this story and we can share a good laugh over it.

Tags: life, star wars
Current Location: Renton, WA
Current Mood: sick

"I tend to think of the 30th level abilities of epic destinies sort of like Paris Hilton getting out of a limo, and as she exits she tosses a grenade back into the limo. Sort of like, 'Well, I had fun, but now I've got to move on.'"

--robheinsoo, aka Rob Heinsoo, on the creation of Epic Destinies for 4th Edition

Tags: game mechanics, work
Current Location: Renton, WA
Current Mood: amused
Current Music: Jethro Tull -- Aqualung

So, over in his Blogspot blog, mearls posted some photos of our Monday night Forgotten Realms game. You can see all the hot, nonsensical gaming action over there, as he took the photos during the big, climactic combat encounter of the evening. This fight was the latest in a tough series of battles as they storm the Scepter Tower in the ruins of Spellgard Keep, breaking into the well-defended tower through long-forgotten passages built by the ruins' Netherese masters.

I'll get around to updating the FR story hour soon (I've been kind of holding off since I wasn't sure how to handle spoilers from the Scepter Tower of Spellgard adventure), but as they draw closer to the adventure's conclusion I'll probably just put everything behind a cut.

In case you're wondering, in those photos it's me at the head of the table in the gray shirt. Clockwise around the table, starting on my left, is Logan Bonner, then kabael, then mearls taking the photo, then Chris Tulach, and finally Greg Bilsland to my immediate right.

Tags: campaigns
Current Location: Renton, WA
Current Mood: groggy

Speaking of reflections of gaming realism in different media

For Christmas I received a copy of Game Night by Jonny Nexus (an internet pseudonym, of course). I'd been wanting to read it for a while, but had put it on my Christmas list since, frankly, I usually just buy most things I want and needed something for friends and family to give me for Christmas.

In short, if you are a fan of roleplaying games and humor you will like this book. Though the premise of the book is that six gods sit down to play a roleplaying game, that's not really what the book is about. Rather, the book is about the social dynamic of the gaming group, and all of the familiar archetypes are there. Chances are, you've played with The Warrior, the Lady, the Dealer, the Jester, and the Sleeper before, and their actions throughout the book will have you saying, "Yep, that's just like Larry from our L5R game," or something similar. Just as poignant is the depiction of the All-Father, who takes on the role of the Gamemaster, and though I think most of us are sympathetic to his plight there are many times when the author takes good-natured jabs at world-building, control freaks, and simulationists alike. Johnny Nexus clearly wrote the book as a treatise on the gamer archetypes we've all played with over the years, taking the familiar and turning it into a fun story that I will likely give a second read (simply because I know there are many subtle jokes I may have missed on my first read through). The final "reveal" of the campaign in the book is brilliant; it's a thinly-veiled metaphor for one of the most frustrating things that game designers must deal with (which I'll talk about more behind the cut below).

Do yourself a favor and pick up the book. It's a fast read (I read it in about 2 good, long sessions) and very funny. It will warm your heart to see that the trials and tribulations faced by your own gaming group are part of the larger system of the gaming lifestyle that this book illustrates.

And now, spoilers. BEWARE!
( Spoilers for Game Night behind the cut! )

Tags: life, toys
Current Location: Renton, WA
Current Mood: thoughtful
Current Music: AC/DC--It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock and Roll)

I have just returned from my second visit to America's Hat (known to the locals as "Canada"), specifically this time visiting beautiful Victoria. It was cold, but clear, and a nice respite from the constant white-knuckle ice driving we've done in Seattle for a few days. We took the Victoria Clipper up, which was a nice ride, and stayed at the Grand Pacific hotel. I'm rarely "wowed" by any hotel, as they are usually little more than a place to sleep between outings. The Grand Pacific was great, if only for their staff. The guy that checked us in gave us free tickets to a Butchart Gardens tour, which came to about $100 if purchased, which he didn't have to do...but did. The concierge recommended some great places to eat and was always spot-on with the best ways to travel to those locations.

Victoria was, in a word, great. We took our time, ate some awesome food, went to the museum and a neat castle, and wandered around the city. I'm definitely looking forward to going back over the summer.

Possibly the reason I loved Victoria so much, I will be renaming the city to The Land of Many Pubs, which suits me just fine. Not a day passed that I didn't eat something in a pub or pub-like environment, and the selection of beers was excellent.

So, if you're thinking of visiting Victoria, it gets a solid recommendation from me!

Tags: life
Current Location: Renton, WA
Current Mood: tired
Current Music: Counting Crows--Round Here

So, a couple of hours ago I ran my weekly lunchtime Star Wars: Legacy game. I won't go into details, but I can honestly say it might be the most fun I've ever had watching my party fail--and they felt the same way! Typically, I never set up no-win situations. I don't believe that's fun, and while I like to challenge my players I also like to kind of leave things up to chance. I like a challenge that leaves the heroes with about a 50/50 shot of success. Today, the heroes failed, and it was great.

Here's the setup: the heroes have been working for a Toydarian crime lord named Gnat, based out of Nar Shaddaa. Over the course of a recent mission, they butted heads with the ex-pirate crime lord, Rav, and were hired by him to go back to Nar Shaddaa and kill their current employer. When they arrived at Gnat's villa on Nar Shaddaa, they found their employer already dead at the hands of a human Sith Lord, who was there to claim the Professor (Andrew Finch's Pau'an noble/Force user) and bring him back to Coruscant, where he would presumably be tortured/converted to the dark side. He had some Imperial allies with him, as well, so when the fighting started he grabbed the Professor with the Force and began dragging him toward the balcony. Then things went way, way south for the heroes. Every die roll was coming up horrible for them (the bad guys were hitting about average), and on the third round of combat they had done exactly 0 points of damage to the enemies through sheer bad luck.

At this point, the heroes discovered a hovering skiff off of the balcony with an Imperial pilot, which was waiting to transport the prisoner away. The Professor leaped onto the skiff, hurled the pilot into the abyss below, and the other heroes began a fighting retreat out onto the balcony. At one point, the skiff had both the Sith Lord and a couple of heroes on it, battling one another for control of the skiff, but eventually the Professor got off a good hit with the Force and hurled the Sith Lord onto a nearby walkway. As Matt Sernett's Rodian scout, Akeem, fired up the skiff's engines, the Sith Lord made one last attempt to drag the skiff down with the Force, but failed. The session ended with the heroes blasting off into the Nar Shaddaa skyline as stormtroopers fired blaster shots at them from a distance, one coming close enough to nearly take out Trapp (Adam Colby's Mon Calamari gunslinger). Next session, we open with a skill challenge: racing through the decrepit ecumenopolis of Nar Shaddaa, evading Imperial pursuit.

Anyways, the encounter was designed for the heroes to be able to succeed (though I had built in a few escape routes for the Sith Lord if things looked dire), but thanks to terrible, terrible dice luck everyone decided to get out, and fast. They knew things were going badly when delve_srm's Wookiee soldier, Vassek, completely whiffed with his power hammer twice and got hurled back to the antechamber and a door slammed in his face. It was a nice example of how failure can turn into an awesome, cinematic scene (as SRM said, the movie in our heads was great).

I think one of the best parts of the session, though, was the first 15 minutes. The players spent some time debating amongst their characters of whether or not they should kill Gnat themselves, how they were going to do it, and so forth. It was a good bit of roleplaying and interaction that would have made a great scene for a movie if distilled down into dialogue, because you had the party members who were reluctant to become cold-blooded killers being talked into it by the ones who only had eyes for the credits. My players are definitely going for the whole "Scum and Villainy" schtick!

Tags: campaigns, star wars
Current Location: Renton, WA
Current Mood: pleased
Current Music: Wolfmother--Into Another Dimension