Steve's Chat Session Log (Thursday, August 11)

[CptPatriot]

Archie (07:50.25 PM)

Hey, Indy.

So, everyone's here for Stevechat?

 

Indiana Joe (07:53.54 PM)

Yes.

 

Archie (07:54.45 PM)

I'm trying to research Star Trek ship equipment for use in Star Trek based games.

I might have to just fudge it a bit.

 

Narf the Mouse (07:56.00 PM)

Heya

 

Archie (07:56.06 PM)

Hey, Narf.

 

Shiva13 (07:56.29 PM)

Yup

 

George (07:58.08 PM)

Hey all

 

Archie (07:58.22 PM)

The more I go over the ship specifications the more I see how hollow ship construction has been. For the effort I'm going through, I might as well look for the old FASA rules to see how they constructed starships.

Hi, George.

Hey, Dave.

Bye, Dave

 

Christougher (07:59.05 PM)

Did you check my MoO framework on Narf's thread?

 

Archie (07:59.21 PM)

Of course, that is why it is on the index I made.

 

Steven S. Long (07:59.39 PM)

Good evening everyone!

 

Shiva13 (07:59.41 PM)

hi Steve

 

George (07:59.41 PM)

Hey Dave

 

Dave Mattingly (07:59.44 PM)

Howdy, gang.

 

Archie (07:59.45 PM)

Good evening, Steve

 

Indiana Joe (07:59.47 PM)

Hey Steve.

 

Steven S. Long (08:00.18 PM)

Archie -- if you haven't found it yet, go to Memory Alpha and download my book SPACEDOCK and my books of Trek ships.

 

George (08:00.18 PM)

Hello Steve

 

Archie (08:00.36 PM)

k, on my way

 

Steven S. Long (08:00.45 PM)

If I do say so myself, they're the most thorough books on the subject of Trek ships ever written, for what they are.

 

Gregory (08:01.28 PM)

...and the author is of course a Mr. S. Long

 

Steven S. Long (08:01.52 PM)

I'd've loved to have written more of 'em, but I ended up getting a job as Hero Line Developer, so side projects like that had to go by the wayside.

 

Archie (08:02.34 PM)

Well, I loved playing Trek in Last Unicorn and later, Decipher.

I GM'd a nice campaign back then

 

Steven S. Long (08:02.54 PM)

SPACEDOCK et al. are for LUGTrek.

But the information in them is "generic" to the STU; it's applicable to any game, really.

Though I'm sure the Abramsverse will end up messing around with things and "invalidating" some of what I wrote. But I'm not bitter.

 

Archie (08:04.59 PM)

Just having a hard time looking for the link

 

Indiana Joe (08:05.00 PM)

"LUGTrek" makes me think there was a set of rules for using Lego bricks for Star Trek.

 

Gordon Feiner (08:05.22 PM)

Hello Steve.

 

George (08:05.30 PM)

Not a fan of the Abrams' Trek

 

Steven S. Long (08:05.38 PM)

Archie -- try Googling for Memory Alpha Spacedock, that may pull it up.

Hey Gordon!

 

George (08:05.42 PM)

so I agree totally there

 

Archie (08:05.46 PM)

Narf and I had started a thread about Star Hero starship construction frameworks

 

Steven S. Long (08:05.57 PM)

OK, it looks like it's 5 after, so time for announcements!

First, as you know last week was GenCon!

 

Gregory (08:06.10 PM)

I'll always be a TOS fan. The others not so much

 

Christougher (08:06.28 PM)

Enjoyed meeting you in the elevator, Steve.

 

Steven S. Long (08:06.32 PM)

Hero had an awesome show there. We were of course running both our own booth and the IPR booth, and sales were strong throughout.

STAR HERO debuted there, with lots of fans picking it up. Both the cover and the interiors got many compliments... and of course the text is first-rate!

 

Gregory (08:07.05 PM)

Someone said 36,000 people showed up?!

 

Steven S. Long (08:07.09 PM)

Christougher -- likewise! That's the best thing about GenCon, meeting the fans.

 

George (08:07.21 PM)

that is the official count (there about)

 

Steven S. Long (08:07.31 PM)

Gregory -- that's the official estimate. 120,000 turnstile attendees, about 36,000 unique attendees, representing almost a 20% increase over last year.

And those who came, were spending money, it seemed.

 

Gregory (08:07.41 PM)

WOW!!!

 

Gordon Feiner (08:07.50 PM)

good to see it increasing in size.

 

George (08:08.14 PM)

ditto

 

Steven S. Long (08:08.14 PM)

We're already full of ideas on how to improve our booths next year. This year it took 12 hours hard labor in 90+ degree heat to set them up, and we prefer to avoid that in the future.

 

George (08:08.35 PM)

ouch did they not have the air on Wednesday?

 

Dave Mattingly (08:08.49 PM)

They never do for vendors.

 

Gregory (08:08.58 PM)

Get your own booth rather than sharing one if I understood what you did this time.

 

Steven S. Long (08:09.05 PM)

We were so busy that none of us had much time to walk around the exhibit hall; I only saw maybe half of it.

 

Christougher (08:09.10 PM)

See if you can get one of those roof hangers. I found the Hero booth /once/. It got lost in the crowd after that.

 

George (08:09.11 PM)

Sorry to hear that.

 

Steven S. Long (08:09.19 PM)

George -- they never do for setup. ;(

 

Gordon Feiner (08:09.43 PM)

Vendor's don't complain as loudly as attendees...

 

Dave Mattingly (08:09.57 PM)

36,000 attendees versus 300 vendors...

 

Steven S. Long (08:10.02 PM)

I picked up FORTUNE AND GLORY, the enormous Pulp-era boardgame of globetrotting adventure; looking forward to trying that out.

 

George (08:10.12 PM)

there was a lot of good swag in and out of the vendors booth

Hero booth not venrdors

vendors

 

Steven S. Long (08:10.27 PM)

And Shannon Appelcline's DESIGNERS AND DRAGONS, a 400-page company-by-company history of the RPG industry; fascinating reading!

 

Dave Mattingly (08:10.43 PM)

Gregory, the Hero and IPR booths were supposed to be adjacent instead of scross the aisle from each other like GenCon ended up assigning. Would have made setup a little easier, but still a lot of work.

 

Steven S. Long (08:10.55 PM)

Also my friend Greg Stolze's PROGENITOR superhero setting for Wild Talents, and a big ol' mess of Campaign Cartographer stuff.

 

Dave Mattingly (08:11.20 PM)

Oh! I didn't realize Applecline's book was out. Darn the luck.

 

Steven S. Long (08:11.25 PM)

Yeah, the across-the-aisl thing was a pain, but not insurmountable. We're gonna make sure that doesn't happen next year.

 

George (08:11.37 PM)

the gem I pick up for a friend was Hellcats and Hockeysticks for a friend. He is a big St, Trinian Fan

 

Steven S. Long (08:11.46 PM)

Dave -- it's from Mongoose. They told me they only printed 750 copies and do not intend to print any more, so get it while you can.

Also picked up a few presents for friends, things like that. Wish I'd had time for more shopping, but I was too busy selling books!

 

George (08:13.20 PM)

Same here Steve, I was loaded with games did not see much of the floot

 

Steven S. Long (08:13.41 PM)

So, to move past GenCon, next announcement: STAR HERO is now available! Get your copy today!

 

Gregory (08:14.03 PM)

Yah!!

 

Steven S. Long (08:14.06 PM)

Over 350 pages of Science Fiction gaming awesomeness, replete with illustrative quotes, useful information, and cool illos!

 

Shiva13 (08:14.10 PM)

Pring or PDF?

print

 

Steven S. Long (08:14.18 PM)

Shiva -- both!

 

George (08:14.18 PM)

very nice book

 

Shiva13 (08:14.26 PM)

cool

 

Steven S. Long (08:14.27 PM)

And if you want some cool settings for it, check out Blackwyrm

 

Archie (08:14.30 PM)

A reasonable price for the bundle

 

Steven S. Long (08:14.34 PM)

s line of "Wyrmstar" books.

They have half a dozen intriguing and cool settings for your Sci-Fi gaming pleasure.

 

Dave Mattingly (08:14.59 PM)

Aww, thanks, Mr. Long.

 

Shiva13 (08:15.02 PM)

Any word on Champions Villains Volume 3 hitting print soon?

 

Steven S. Long (08:15.23 PM)

Shiva -- no specific word, but now that we've cleared SH out of the color printing queue we hope to get to that soon.

 

George (08:15.32 PM)

a quick plug for Bill Keyes book. It rocks.

 

Gordon Feiner (08:15.46 PM)

Was there a cool GenCon special this year if you were lucky enough to go and pick up SH?

 

Steven S. Long (08:16.08 PM)

Gordon -- nope, 'fraid not, I couldn't think of anything.

 

Gordon Feiner (08:16.21 PM)

well, then I didn't miss out on anything

 

Christougher (08:16.25 PM)

Steve, any particular reason for the move to hardback books instead of softcover?

 

Archie (08:16.49 PM)

Probably due to the size of the books that were released.

 

Steven S. Long (08:16.51 PM)

Third, CHAMPIONS BEYOND is also now available to order! The first thing on Darren's desk after he cleared away GenCon matters was getting CBY off to the printer.

Christougher -- I wouldn't say there's a "move" per se. If we want to do color books, generally those need to be hardcover, given the size of the books in question.

I don't think they'd hold up well at all as perfectbound softcovers.

 

George (08:18.15 PM)

I may wait on a physical copy of Champions Beyond, so I can give to my friend John whose name is in the book.

 

Steven S. Long (08:18.23 PM)

Fourth, right before GenCon Bill Keyes sent me the layout files for ADVANCED PLAYER'S GUIDE II, which I am currently reviewing!

 

George (08:18.25 PM)

by getting it signed

cool on APGII

 

Steven S. Long (08:18.58 PM)

All is going well and I hope to get that back to Bill in the next few days. I just got done reviewing the Time Powers section a little while ago.

Fourth, when APG2 is done, it's back to writing THE BOOK OF THE EMPRESS! I finished up Chapter Four (the Multiverse) before GenCon, and when I get back to it will dive into V'han's history.

 

Gordon Feiner (08:19.33 PM)

shoot, if I'd known he was doing the layout I'd have snuck into his office last game and added "Electric Boogaloo" to the title

 

Dave Mattingly (08:20.06 PM)

Nah, APG2: The Wrath of CON.

 

Steven S. Long (08:20.12 PM)

And of course, when BotE is done, then I will at long last turn to MYTHIC HERO full time.

 

Indiana Joe (08:20.24 PM)

"Wrath of COM," more likely. :-)

 

George (08:20.35 PM)

what was Mythic HERO again?

 

Scott Bennie (08:20.47 PM)

Evening folks.

 

George (08:20.51 PM)

hey Scott

 

Steven S. Long (08:20.54 PM)

George -- think of it as "Steve's Deities and Demigods." It's gods, heroes, monsters, and more from the mythologies of the world.

Heya Scott!

 

Dave Mattingly (08:21.03 PM)

Hi, Mr. Gestalt.

 

George (08:21.13 PM)

Cool

 

Shiva13 (08:21.19 PM)

Mythic Hero interests me. I have a keep interest in the mythic heroic ages

 

Archie (08:21.22 PM)

Hey, Scott.

 

Gregory (08:21.27 PM)

Or how Zeus will fry Doc D's Armor!!!

 

Scott Bennie (08:21.29 PM)

Hey Dave. How was GenCon?

 

Shiva13 (08:21.34 PM)

keen interest

 

Dave Mattingly (08:21.47 PM)

Lot of fun. And good sales.

Great church service -- 148 attendees.

 

George (08:22.26 PM)

good games all around too Scott. I enjoyed every single HERO game I was in.

 

Archie (08:22.26 PM)

"I'll let no mere being with delusions of godhood hurt me! I am Dr. Destroyrer!"

*Destroyer

 

Dave Mattingly (08:22.52 PM)

There was a new group there, called Game Church. They were giving out Bibles, shirts, and popcorn. I'll catch up the CGG list on it later.

 

Scott Bennie (08:23.24 PM)

Look forward to it.

 

Dave Mattingly (08:23.34 PM)

Dr. D would consider Zeus a new power source.

 

Gordon Feiner (08:23.38 PM)

can't wait for BotE.

 

Steven S. Long (08:23.53 PM)

Me either, Gordon. But there's a looooong way to go yet.

 

Archie (08:24.48 PM)

That reminds me, I need to get back into CO, hadn't been doing any roleplay in CO in a while.

 

Gordon Feiner (08:24.53 PM)

at your typing rate? If by "looooong way" you mean "gimme a couple days" ....

 

George (08:25.02 PM)

Well I am off to finish Top Gear (British) and read a manga and head to bed. Nice meeting all of you at GenCon and have a good night.

 

Scott Bennie (08:25.11 PM)

"Abtiquated buffoon, dripped in the past of a failed culture, the echo of a storyand fallen monuments raised by long-dead zealots. What does Zerstoiten need with the likes of you?"

 

Archie (08:25.20 PM)

Good night, George.

 

Steven S. Long (08:25.31 PM)

Bye Beorge!

 

Scott Bennie (08:25.41 PM)

Take care, George.

 

Steven S. Long (08:26.13 PM)

Gordon -- with all I have to describe in BotE, even for me it'll take a long time.

 

Gordon Feiner (08:26.37 PM)

couple weeks then

Oh, reminded - I have to rebuild the Master Index from scratch, eventually I'll come back around asking for the recent books.

 

Scott Bennie (08:27.18 PM)

Obviously, I am really looking forward to it.

 

Steven S. Long (08:27.20 PM)

Sure thing, Gordon, ping me for whatever you need.

 

Gordon Feiner (08:28.25 PM)

cool.

 

Gregory (08:29.24 PM)

Zeus to Doc D - That's just downright mean!

 

Gordon Feiner (08:29.45 PM)

any more nifty HPAs in the works?

 

Steven S. Long (08:30.17 PM)

Gordon -- no, not at present. Actually, I had an entire for an adventure that won't quite work as an HPA, so I am going to pitch it to Pelgrane for TRAIL OF CTHULHU.

 

Gordon Feiner (08:30.35 PM)

ooh, nice.

 

Scott Bennie (08:31.00 PM)

Neat, Steve. That'll turn a few heads.

 

Archie (08:31.11 PM)

BTW Found it

 

Steven S. Long (08:31.21 PM)

Basically the PCs accompany Roy Chapman Andrews on one last expedition into Mongolia... where he digs up more than just dinosaur fossils. MWAH hah hah hah HAH!

 

Gregory (08:31.42 PM)

Now thats cruel

 

Gordon Feiner (08:32.00 PM)

I need that for our current Urban Fantasy campaign we just started up last week... get to writing!

 

Steven S. Long (08:32.20 PM)

Archie -- excellent!

 

Scott Bennie (08:33.53 PM)

Steve, Archie, at some point I'd like to gather the gang together to do an Aftershocks run.

 

Steven S. Long (08:34.11 PM)

Sure, that sounds like fun, Scott! Let

Let's plan a time when Scott H's available again.

 

Archie (08:34.43 PM)

Sure, Enermatrix would love to hang with the Thunder man again.

 

Scott Bennie (08:35.19 PM)

And afterward we can party in Harby's vigilante basement hideout (due out in 3 weeks.))

 

Archie (08:35.24 PM)

Hopefully I'll make it through the entire session

 

Steven S. Long (08:35.34 PM)

Hmmm, hadn't thought about building a hideout... that could be cool!

 

Archie (08:36.06 PM)

Hmmm, that's true... what does the Blue Moon Killer's lair look like?

 

Scott Bennie (08:36.08 PM)

Sure Steve. I can understand Scott being preoccupied at the moment.

 

Dave Mattingly (08:36.34 PM)

Nah, everyone would expect Harbinger to hide in a basement. He'd surprise them all by living inside a garbage truck.

 

Scott Bennie (08:37.04 PM)

That one may be awhile in comng Dave.

 

Christougher (08:37.11 PM)

Yeha, the one Megatron turned into...

 

Gordon Feiner (08:37.12 PM)

or a swank highrise penthouse

 

Shiva13 (08:37.14 PM)

Dave: Complete with the funky trash odor?

 

Indiana Joe (08:37.22 PM)

If he wanted to really surprise people it would be an ice cream truck. Or maybe tacos.

 

Steven S. Long (08:37.31 PM)

Harbinger has many headquarters... all lovingly detailed in my head.

 

Dave Mattingly (08:37.38 PM)

No, hollowed out and filled with armaments.

 

Archie (08:37.43 PM)

And many safehouses

 

Gordon Feiner (08:37.49 PM)

Book Of The Harbinger, due out 2013ish

 

Scott Bennie (08:38.02 PM)

Penthouse will hopefully be next month. Anyhow, the Cryptic sale has gone through and they're hiring a couple more bodies for the team.

 

Dave Mattingly (08:38.16 PM)

Cool.

 

Shiva13 (08:38.29 PM)

Cryptic has been sold? To who?

 

Archie (08:38.35 PM)

I was concerned that things might fall apart after the sale

 

Steven S. Long (08:38.45 PM)

To a Chinese game company called... Perfect Dream? I forget the name.

 

Scott Bennie (08:38.46 PM)

Perfect World Entertainment.

 

Archie (08:38.46 PM)

A Chinese MMO company

What Scott said.

 

Steven S. Long (08:39.03 PM)

Scott's got it.

 

Dave Mattingly (08:39.10 PM)

They do... EVE Online is it?

 

Steven S. Long (08:39.17 PM)

Dave -- I never saw him either. I doubt he actually made it there.

 

Shiva13 (08:39.19 PM)

That is going to be interesting

 

Scott Bennie (08:39.28 PM)

But it has a history of being hands off with American properties, so tit looks like an improvement over Atari.

 

Steven S. Long (08:39.31 PM)

Dave -- no. That's CCP. I forget what else PWE does.

 

Archie (08:39.33 PM)

What MMO properties do they own?

 

Christougher (08:39.40 PM)

Oh noes! Influence farming will be a requirement.

 

Shiva13 (08:40.05 PM)

what did Atari do that was so objectionable?

 

Archie (08:40.27 PM)

No, can't buy Globals, that only helps support the North Koreans that do the farming.

 

Scott Bennie (08:40.31 PM)

I have no idea Darren. People get riled, fan hate builds.

I belueve their premier game is one called perfect World, a fair standard East Asian MMO. They also picked up, I believe it's called Torchlight.

 

Shiva13 (08:42.23 PM)

I honestly try to avoid the Forums for any MMO. Because there is just too high a garbage ratio on them from spoiled kids, who could not enjoy a game to save their lives.

 

Scott Bennie (08:42.55 PM)

Steve, any chance we can get Rob to do a guest Q&A here?

 

Steven S. Long (08:44.03 PM)

Which Rob is that, Scott?

 

Scott Bennie (08:45.07 PM)

Overmayer.

We had Poz last year.

 

Steven S. Long (08:45.36 PM)

Oh. Hmmm, I suppose I could ask him. I'll see what I can do.

 

Scott Bennie (08:45.45 PM)

Thanks!

 

Steven S. Long (08:47.12 PM)

All right, folx, it's time for me to sign off. See you next week!