Games on Demand: GenCon vs. NeonCon

A few years ago, a visit to GenCon's Games on Demand area blew me away.

• Playing when I wanted, no scheduling or signups necessary.
• Playing what I wanted, small press games that don't get the usual convention love.
• A stable of willing and excited GM volunteers waiting for me.
• A donated pile of books, dice, and everything else needed to play.
• A 'library' of small press games to choose from.
• Even a promise to sit down and figure out any game I brought.
• The unprecedented opportunity to 'window shop' rpgs. "Looks interesting... let's play!"

I worked hard to emulate the concept at NeonCon 2009 and I think I did pretty fucking well. I had 5 or so volunteers to help run the tables. We ran 19 sessions and 16 different games. We played everything from Hunter: the Vigil to Dogs in the Vineyard, anything that wasn't getting the love it deserved from the RPGA and other scheduled gaming.

Strangely enough, during my entire visit, the Games on Demand offering at GenCon 2010 was disappointing as hell.

• No sign-age, no markings, no greeters, no indication of being in the right place.
• No excited and available GMs to accept me and my fellow willing gamers.
• No visible library of games to peruse or flip through while waiting for an available GM.
• No obvious way to get involved, call 'dibs' on the next game, or anything.

What did it have? I'm glad you asked...

• An Apocalypse World book was the only indication that it wasn't another RPGA event.
• Eight or so tables, all full, all happily mid-game, all oblivious to passers-by (me).

What does this all mean? I'm I just bitching about a crappy con experience? Not at all kids. What it means is that Games on Demand at NeonCon 2010 will rock that much harder than it did last year! I had a blast last year and I learned a lot about running a good event. I saw piss poor execution at GenCon this year and I learned even more about running a good event.

I'll keep you posted and I'll see you at NeonCon!

Blog of the Dead

Since my head's been out of 'design mode', I've let this blog fade considerably. That's a shame cause I generally have a lot of good ideas, they just don't happen to be full games.

So, using all my mighty necromancy powers, I'll attempt to bring this blog back from Oblivion with more of a focus on General RPG Thoughts rather than Games I'm Designing.

Slew of posts, coming up!

WoD: Mirrors

Finished WoD: Mirrors today. Holy shit.

Fate and Savage Worlds are great go-to-games for homebrew attempts to make your own game using their generic systems. They've always lacked something for me though. (Maybe it's dice pools?) With Mirrors and the WoD Rulebook, I can literally trick out the Storyteller system for anything I want to play! Hell, even Fate's beloved Aspects get applied (and remixed) as "Player-Described Merits".

Good, good stuff!

A few of the things I'm really thinking of dropping into my Werewolf game:

• Sway (Social Combat Rules)
• Anticipation
• Setup
• Rapport (much like Trust from the very cool Mountain Witch rpg)
• The Cup (of mysterious goodies)

A few things I will be dropping into the game:

• Player Described Merits
• Mob Rules (lumping 30 zombies together as a single character)
• Decompression/Compression (more something to consider while I GM than a rule to implement)

Grab the pdf for super cheap on DrivethruRPG!

Swashbuckling and Skullduggery!

At last, we come full circle. I sat some friends down the other day to playstorm some of the concepts I've been batting around for a pirate game using Liar's Dice. You may recall me mentioning this a while back.

As it turns out, the idea held up remarkably well. A few confirmations and several notes later, I'm sitting on the makings for a pretty fun little game! After talking to my favorite artist, I've got some great ideas of how to present and package this little gem.

I've been excited about most of the projects I've worked on. I've learned a lot, even if I don't plan to push any of them toward publication. This is the first time, however, that I've suspected real potential.

Coming soon...

Shark Bone!

What has two thumbs and acts as a co-host on the new rpg podcast Shark Bone?

This guy!!

Project Cyberpunk

Do you want to play Cyberpunk? Do you feel the rules are a bit outdated? Me too! Luckily, there's a nifty little solution that's even been tried and tested with good times by all.

Just download this nifty little character sheet made by my friend John for the best sci-fi rpg that's still not released! (Keep going Matt, we'll be patient!)

Project Vanguard + Cyberpunk = Awesome Fun

Kickstarter.com

I discovered Kickstarter from a thread on RPGnet. The entire site is dedicated to funding projects of all kinds, seemingly any kind, via patronage.

A patronage model means people, fans, strangers, or whoever pitch in money to fund a project or pay an artist for a creative endeavor. Patronage Funding has seen success in several different markets and it's been making quite a splash lately in the RPG industry. Older titles such as Wild Talents and Reign as well as the new Pathfinder Modern project are prime examples of Patronage and Ransom model funding in the gaming industry.

What I find fascinating about Kickstarter is that they've linked up with a trusted site to allow 'backers' to pledge money via the Amazon payment account that everyone and my mother already has. Additionally, if the goal for pledge money isn't reached, none of the backers are actually charged for their pledges.

Let me give you an example: I fork over $50 to help kickstart the Pathfinder Modern project. Not only does that give me access to their design blog and project forums, I'm also promised a hardcover copy of the finished book. So for $50, I'm preordering the book and helping to fund the project. Should the project not raise enough money, the book is never produced and I am never charged!

What a fascinating way to fund a project. What an interesting way to buy into, not only the finished product, but the design process as well.

What does this mean for you? What does it mean for me? Who knows?

But I'll be damned if I can't think up a project worth kickstarting for a $100 or so. You know, just to test it out. :-)