CynthiaCM

Re: Omlevex Universe

Red Menace and Scott,

Thanks for the well wishes, guys. I appreciate it immensely.

Re: Omlevex Universe

Just a quick note:

Omlevex has been nominated for three Ennie awards -- Best Art (Interior), Best Art (Cover), and Best Campaign Setting.

I would like to thank all of you who have contributed to Omlevex, either by doing work on it or by supporting it. We owe you one.

Re: Early Marvel Age x Silver Age

One thing really surprised me though. I've always heard old timers saying how, in the Silver Age, heroes were pure paragons of virtue. Some RPG books also have this oppinion (Champions, SAS), Champions says Silver Age games should be harmless, the heroes should be straight-arrows on the path of justice, etc.

 

I've found this NOT true of those 60 first Fantastic Four issues! That came as a shock to me. Not necessarily a bad one.

Marvel was indeed a totally different beast than DC titles of the era. The difference was like night and day.

In Omlevex, we leaned more toward the Marvel end of the spectrum, though a few DC-esque trappings were thrown in for good measure.

Even in the "players" section and "GMs" section of the book, we pointed out that the Silver Age was when heroes began to develop faults and stopped being cardboard cut-outs. We did this to clear up some of the misconceptions of that era. So many people tend to think that the Silver Age style was nearly identical to the Golden Age style, which couldn't be further from the truth.

DC, though, still held more of the Golden Age flavor than Marvel did.

There are other differences between the comics and the "Silver Age" I thought I knew. For instance, villains aren't any less threatening than in the early 80s. There isn't much in the way of explicit bloody murder scenes, but people DO die. It's not completelly harmless play with goofy villains like is implied in the Champions rulebook.

Well said. Many of the Silver Age villains (particularly the Marvel ones) were downright menacing -- Dr. Doom, Ultron, Kraven, the Owl and their ilk. To be sure, the era brought forth some rather campy villains too, but most of them were pretty serious.

And anyone here ever played or GMed a Early Marvel Campaign, as opposed to a "Silver Age" campaign?

You bet! In fact, that's how I run Omlevex. While a few of the villains (Man-Cactus, King Cockroach, etc.) are slightly silly, most of them are vile bad guys who can't be taken lightly. And, heck, even the campier ones are legit threats.

Re: Omlevex Review on RPGnet

There's another review of Omlevex posted at RPG.net.

Re: Omlevex Review on RPGnet

The only thing I disagreed with the reviewer on would be the unbelievability of Metazon. In a Bronze age or later setting, yes but it seems perfectly Silver age as the Bottled city of Kandor of Gorilla city to me.

 

As Aaron Allston put it, "A place that could only exist in a superheroic setting."

Well said.

Yeah, Metazon was intended to be like that. After all, Marvel's Manhattan is similarly crowded.

Re: Omlevex Review on RPGnet

Thanks, guys.

I'm just glad the first review of Omlevex was a positive one.

The yellow thing?

If so, that's Atlas Man's leg. Hehe. It was drawn just a taaaaaaad too big.

Originally posted by death tribble

Still can't identify who is in front of the American Gargoyle, the guy above Onyx and the worm by Atlas.

In front of American Gargoyle is Slug (though it's not the normal version, as explained in his "Appearance" section). The fella above Onyx is Lazer Man.

I'm not sure who this worm is that you speak of. I don't see any such character. Of course, I'm oblivious in the morning.

Originally posted by Redmenace

No problem on my end.

 

What would you think about me posting on the M&M Atomic Art page? I'm hoping it might generate some buzz for Omlevex, good in of itself but I would also like to see cross system statting in the super hero rpg niche become the norm.

Sounds good to me.

LOL! Well, I'll see to it that you get a comp copy of the book (be it a PDF or hardcopy).

As for mutating it... well, I don't see that it really needs it. Good stuff.

Originally posted by Major Tom

Well, I just got my copy of Omlevex today and, after having had

a few uninterrupted hours in which to read through the mater-

ial in its entirety, I can say this with absolute certainty:

 

CynthiaCM, you've got yourself a winner here. I'm looking forward

to future releases for the Omlevex product line.

 

Very nicely done, indeed.

 

Major Tom

I'm glad you like it so much, Major Tom! It's like ice cream for my soul.

Originally posted by Redmenace

Part plastic, part bondo, all Omlavex. American Gargoyle

**drool**

That is simply excellent, Redmenace! Mind if we put a link to it on our site?

Winner!

Yes indeed, there is a winner. I apologize for not being timely, but the post-release of Omlevex has kept me verrrrry busy. Anyway, without further ado....

The winner of the contest is none other than Redmenace, with his Nocturne/Umbra/Flarestar storyline!

It was a very close race and for the longest time, it came down to two entries: the one mentioned above and the Doc Madson background by Funksaw (from RPG.net).

Congrats, Redmenace!

Omlevex is now available from the Z-Man Games website. Zev always waits awhile before placing a product in his online store, as it helps support the FLGSs by giving them the initial business.

Sounds great, Redmenace. I'm looking forward to it.

Originally posted by Redmenace

I have to read it in snatches between work and my volounteer stuff but this is one lovely book. Your unremitting devotion to style Cynthia, it's White Wolf like, except I can read the fonts you chose.

Awwww. Now I'm going to blush.

Seriously though, I can't tell you how happy I am that you're enjoying Omlevex.

An odd question I know but here goes, American Gargoyle's wings, Stone gray or Dark blue? I'm making a miniature and It's almost done. If you ahve the time only.

Either, though his wings were depicted as gray most of the time. Don'tcha just love those crazy Silver Age colorists?

BTW, please post pics of the miniature when it's finished. Myself, I did a Heroclix miniature for Jonah (complete with Ueeba), but I don't have a digital camera or a scanner currently. Perhaps I'll photograph it and order the pics on CD so everyone can see it.

Originally posted by Derek Hiemforth

Holy Moley! Omlevex is out! (That's what I get for skipping the Champions board for a while.) I saw it on the shelf today at a FLGS and immediately scooped it up! While I haven't had a chance yet to look at it in detail, what I've skimmed through seems Splendiferous!

Thanks, both for the kind words and for purchasing the book. We genuinely appreciate it.

It's now been added to The Complete List of All Hero Books, linked in my sig below. Keep up the great work, Cynthia! Hero fans love to buy Cool Stuff.

Sweet! I appreciate you adding Omlevex to the list.

Originally posted by Redmenace

1.) Do you have any idea on the demographic breakdown of Metazon? Are there African Americans or possibly Spanish/Cubans, the latter possibly brought in during the 60s to help support their bid to take the southern island?

If you want there to be, then yes. I know -- that's a cop-out answer, but it perfectly illustrates the approach we took with the Omlevex Universe. Unlike a lot of other superhero game settings, we're saying, "This isn't a 'real' world... it's one designed for a comicbook line". As such, comicbook companies have always added whatever they felt made for a good story.

So, in short, if you want to do a story about such uprisings, then there is certainly enough minorities to carry it out.

That said, from a creator's standpoint, I would say there would easily be enough.

2.) Asking for speculation I know but in a perfect world would we ever see some expansion on the Early eras, revolutionary, Civil-Second World War?

If there's a strong demand for it, then I wouldn't rule it out. As it stands, it would most likely be a freebie for the website. Our general plan is to move forward... even up to covering the Omlevex 2050 line, which Eddy Webb already has some wickedly cool ideas for.

I'm really enjoying it Cynthia, it is a constant struggle between reading it page to page vs my desire to peek at the upcoming stuff.

That sentence alone made my day. Thanks.

Originally posted by death tribble

I was going to ask who the girl with Dehumanizer was on page 16.

However it said Freedom's Trio 29 and so I looked at the significant issue section of Freedom's Trio and found the answer.

Yes I do like.

May Omlevex bring you much gaming and reading pleasure.

Soooooo, I'm guessing you like it on first glance?

Thanks for all the enthusiasm, my friend. It sounds like the book is continuing to do well.

Originally posted by misterdeath

Ok, I told both of them. Now what?

 

 

It's a great book. I'm really enjoying it. Thanks for making it.

 

D

Woot! I'm thrilled that Omlevex is right up your alley.

Originally posted by Redmenace

It has arrived in Southern California. My FLGS ordered 8 copies, they were shorted and got only 6. All of them were picked up before they could be put on the shelves! It is the only non D20 D&D product that has done that.

 

Apparently, word of mouth has gotten around.

Hopefully, you were able to get one of those copies before they were snatched up.

In any case, all reports indicate that Omlevex is doing well so far. Let's hope this continues, so we can turn this into a full-blown line of products... including a TPB that "collects" the early issues of Omlevex comics.

Woohoo!It's good to know that the fine folks in Europe are getting a chance to buy Omlevex. And I'm very pleased that you like it thus far.

Poor Death Tribble. The book is eluding you it seems.

Don't forget to give us your thoughts on it once you snag a copy.

Wow! That bit of news really made my evening. Thanks, Tom!