Dying Earth RPG Part 1 The PDF Conundrum

This month is the last month of Pelgrane Press's license for Jack Vance's Dying Earth. Therefore, April would be the last month that Dying Earth RPG PDFs would be offered. When PDFGate occurred, I remarked that my confidence being able to download any purchased Dying Earth PDFs was shaken. Like reading my comics I am not the most prompt downloader. I rely on OBS implied promise that my purchased download would still be there. Since Dying Earth is a license I wasn't sure if the license revocation would emulate PDFGate. In addition, my IPS doesn't like too many downloads. Which begets the question would I have time to download them? Based on the question, I was leaning against purchasing any Dying Earth PDFs.

My interest in the Dying Earth RPG still lingered. After all, Dying Earth is one of the major influences on D&D. So I was still curious how a role-playing game that focused on exclusively on Vance's creation would work. So I went to Pelgrane Press's site and perused the free downloads and links to free downloads that they provided. What glimpsed from a casual look over of said downloads intrigued me enough that I decided to purchase a small handfull of the products. That small handful ended up being four books. Although admittedly one of those four was for the d20 system. Still I probably would not have purchased them if not for free previews and downloads.

Sometime in the future I'll comment on the Dying Earth RPG.

Look what WotC is providing for 'free'

Over at Wizards web site, one can download a somewhat revised copy of Keep on the Shadowfell for free along with a couple other things. Here's a link. Its nice to see that Wizards is offering something to lure new groups in. Although as someone who owns a copy I admit that its a bit irritating that a PDF of the module is being offered for free. However, the PDF contains a revised version that may improve the module. Therefore I can accept a free PDF. It beats pouring through errata and trying to apply it to a session. Now I can just print out the pages that contain the changes and insert them into my hardcopy.

Game Tuesday night

Looking forward to my Tuesday night game. Tuesday night is my time when I socialize with friends and game. With that in mind I'm curious as to which game we'll play, a 3.5 filler campaign or James's Greyhawk 1E game.

To be honest, the more time passes, the more I'd like to run a game. Don't know how well that would work though...

Added a ton of blogs

Well, this evening I added a ton of blogs to my blogroll. Normally, I would explain my reasons why (its in my nature...) except that I have added so many that I'll parse them out over a couple posts.

One thing I would like to know is whether or not there are more non-D&D focused blogs out there. While D&D is an important game to me, if not for other game systems I would not be the role-player that I am.

This post makes me want to play After the Bomb

Actually, the blog post in question doesn't refer to After the Bomb RPG. Although, it does refer to a post-apocalyptic world that includes mutant animals. Over at the blog Grognardia, there's a retrospective on 1E Gamma World. As the title implies, I am in a mood to play Gamma World. However, I don't own a copy of Gamma World. Heck, I have never played it. Now, a retro-clone called Mutant Future exists and available as a free download. Perhaps one day I'll download it. The thing is that I already own a game set in a post-apocalyptic world that has mutant animals. That game is After the Bomb. I own both editions of that game. As a bonus everyone I currently game with is, or in the process of becoming, familiar with Palladium Books system. Hence, why I'm in the mood to play some After the Bomb.

I would also like to do some hybrid games too. Elements of AtB, Nightbane, and Heroes Unlimited mixed into the world of Palladium Fantasy would lead to very different play experience.

A 4C (or FAESRIP) Community

Over on EN World, I found out about an online community that deals with the 4C system. The community or forum is called 4C4Ever. What's the 4C system? The 4C system is retro-clone of the FAESRIP system that the Marvel Super Heroes game used. As longtime comics fan, MSH was one of the games that got me into role-playing. So a community such as this appeals to me on a nostlagic level. I would love to play a game.

Ironically, even though MSH helped get me into role-playing I have played only three or four sessions. My game group at the time was too much into the D&D mindset. And I barely understood the rules... Again, I'd love to play it again especially now that I can run the game better.

There are other old MSHRPG links out there. At some point they'll be added to the blog. One that I have been meaning to add, classicmarvel.com, is currently offline. Hopefully, it wasn't due to WOTC ...

Mick Foley is the new TNA world champ!

I read on PWInsider's Lockdown report that Mick Foley is now TNA's world champion. As longtime Foley fan I'm happy. Glad that Foley can now claim another world title his repertoire. Should make the next book a little more interesting. Don't think his title reign would last long cause he's no longer an active wrestler. Alas there won't be much TNA Impact watching for me unless I can find clips on Youtube.

Hilarious: Obama/Conan Parody Comic!

Earlier, I was looking through previews while working on my monthly comics order. I have gradually stopped paying attention to Devil's Due as their section diminished. Well, as I was flipping through the catalog, one of two Obama comics caught my eye. Now, I have quickly gone "tone blind" when it comes to comics trying capitalize on our current president. There have been so many that I have adopted the attitude of "what another?". Then again, has another president been such a fan of the form? So I guess I can't blame them. Rambling done. The particular comic seems to be a Conan/Obama parody comic. A comic that's billed as a monthly on-going. In addition to being a comics fan, Obama has acknowledged his love for Conan. So Obama being cast as a Conan fill-in has my attention. Definately getting this.

Provided it comes out...

Rifts highlight from 4/7/09

I'm really late posting this but I wanted to share what I consider to be the highlights from Mike's Rifts game from two weeks ago.

1) When my character, Dirk, intoned while meditating "I don't care if there are no guards and that danger is coming cause I have sixth sense."

2) Surprising the GM when we left Alliance completely. Everything our characters learned told us that the town had no chance. We also didn't have any motivation nor concern. So off we went. Caught Mike off guard.

3) MDC vs SDC combat. A rarity that should be more common in the world of Rifts. Granted, not all the time...

I liked Wrestlemania 25

Last Sunday evening, I got together with two other people to watch Wrestlemania 25. We watched it. Two of us liked it. Another thought it was so-so. Then again, he fell asleep towards the end. Originally, I was going to post my thoughts afterwards. Then, as I was about to post, I decided to postpone until after RAW. Big mistake. When I was about to do my write-up, I found out about PDFGate. Sigh. Then I posted my thoughts on PDFGate. Well, I'll post afterwards I thought. Rest of the story I got distracted. I would post my thoughts now except for two reasons. One, its a potentially busy day tomorrow/today so I don't won't to stay up to late. Two, its been a week. Right now, I'll give it a 4 out of 5 stars based on my post-WM glow. If I get the DVD, I'll may provide some thoughts then. All in all, I was satisfied and would be more than willing to watch next year's Wrestlemania.

My Reaction to WotC's PDFgate Part 1

When I read over on James Mishler's blog that WotC had pulled its PDFs from OBS, I was irked. As time grew and I learned more, I became upset. I am an example of a customer who purchased legacy D&D PDFs. WOTC's removal of the ability to use up the remaining downloads of those legacy products, as well as purchase of other legacy products, irritates me. This irresponsible action hinders my ability to download replacement copies, purchase other old products, and harms my faith in OBS. If WotC can do this, what's to stop other publishers from doing this as well? Heck, I have been considering purchasing PDFs of the soon-to-be-discontinued Dying Earth RPG. Can I trust that those Dying Earth files that I purchased will be available past the end of April? And the source of this lack of confidence, an attempt to prevent piracy. By removing a legal avenue for PDFs, piracy will be fought. Mind-boggling.

All that said I could see how all the anger towards Wizards was overblown. And I'll make those comments in a month or two. If I care enough to remember to post, I am one of the affected customers. I don't want to waste my energies defending Wizards.

Sadly it was along my desire not to defend Wizards that eventually led to me desire to make this post. Over in the comments section of the OBS rant, James Mishler made a couple comments that shattered my attempts to remain calm and rational about the PDF situation. I have known and gamed with James for about four years. During this time, I played the role of devil's advocate. When 4E was announced and coming, I practically played the role of a patron saint. From personal experience, I knew that at the Tuesday game there would be a rant against WotC. With history as a guide, I would defend Wizards. Didn't I say that I didn't want to defend them. So irrationally I became upset.

I remained upset such that I was unable to make my comments until now. Taking a sabbatical from all forms of D&D was looking like the only option. Yep, 'don't sweat the small stuff' is not my forte. Although I will admit I had reached my acceptance phase when I went to tonight's game. After all by that point in time, I had purchsed a 3.x D&D book. So I doubted that any sabbatical would last. One of the pick up games is D&D. My resolution was looking more and more childish. By the time I got to where we game, I had decided that there wouldn't be any sabbatical. There the general consensus was that it didn't pay to be angry over the latest angering move by Wizards/Hasbro. Why sweat over what is unimportant in the long run?

Two positives have emerged. As Zachary the First mentions, with links, on his blog, other companies are offering deals on some PDF products. Hopefully, more bargains will be offered in the future. Perhaps more silver linings will emerge from this cloud?

The second positive that has emerged from this ... event... is that I am now willing to make a Classic Traveller character. So I wouldn't mind if we played some Classic Traveller instead of AD&D 1E. I have always wanted to play Traveller, especially the classic version given my current interest in older games. My only obstacle was that I didn't want to make a character. After all, why make a CT character when we could play 1E instead? Hopefully, this event will lead to some CT playing. I know the other players and James have invested a lot of time and effort into a Traveller campaign that hasn't been played.

I think its about time that changed. That is if everyone is willing.

Gaming: End of March sales events

Readers of this blog may recall my excitement over two end-of-march sales. Those two were the Rifter Super Subscription and Paizo's half off Dragon/Dungeon/Polyhedron magazines. Well, as March ended another event was brought to my attention, the Lulu author contest. Namely, the Fight On! hardcover compilation and a handfull of Old-School gaming gooodies.

Of those three events the only one I participated in was the Rifter Super Subscription special. Self fulfilling prophecy reared its head such that I hadn't figured out which magazine issues I wanted from the Paizo deal. Combined with being overwhelmed from options such as the Lulu stuff, I decided not to order from Paizo. Likewise, I didn't order from Lulu due to last-minute pressure and fear of shipping costs.

Yesterday, I received a shipment from Palladium. Based on the packaging, I thought it was an issue of the Rifter. As I opened the package, I wondered when the free gift would arrive. As it turns out, it was the free gift. A copy of Rifts: Tales of the Chi-Town Burbs Anthology. And it was signed!. Now I wonder which issue of the Rifter I'll receive. The one that came out when my subscription ended or the "April" issue.

Short Review: House of Mystery 11

At last, an actual review of a comic I have read. Today's comic up for discussion is House of Mystery 11. Granted, the discussion will be brief as per the headline this is a short review. Issue 11 is the start of a brand new story arc or trade paperback, for the cynical. The story arc is called The Space Between, which introduces the concept of the Space Between. The Space Between is a realm that exist between all worlds. In this issue we learn that there was a city that existed there. I won't spoil any of the details.

There's also two other threads running through this issue. These threads concern the nature of the House of Mystery itself and one characters attempts to escape through the means of the conception... Honestly, I can't comment too much on these threads as this is the first issue I have read. Was the issue accessible? Yes.

I have never been one capable of judging art. Suffice to say it tells the story and fits the atmosphere.

All in all, I give the issue a 3 out of 5 stars. Some neat ideas are introduced in this issue, some plot threads are advanced, and the new reader doesn't feel completly lost. I recommend House of Mystery #11 to anyone who doesn't mind jumping aboard after two stories have passed.

Wrestlemania 25 tonight

Well, Wrestlemania 25 is tonight; and I am looking forward to it. Forgot to make time to watch the first twenty Wrestlemanias but maybe next time.

Hopefully, I will post my thoughts on this year's Mania tonight after the show.

Comics Haul 3/31/09

Haven't done a Comics Haul in about a month. Even though I still bought comics all this time, I just didn't get around to listing them. I don't plan on rectifying that. Figured, I'd just list the comics related products I purchased or arrived today.

Barnes and Noble had a real good discount on a select number of Alan Moore written graphic novels around the time the Watchmen movie came out. In addition to a book that hasn't shipped yet, I received three Alan Moore-penned tomes today. They are From Hell TP, V for Vendetta TP, and Saga of the Swamp Thing Volume One HC.

In addition, I finally went to my local comics shop after not going for about two weeks.

I got:
Back Issue 33 which focuses on teen superheroes of the 70's and 80's.
Necronomicon TP
The free handouts After Watchmen and Wolverine Saga
Amazing Spider-man 588, 589 and Extra 3
Angel 19
War of Kings Darkhawk 2 and X-Men Kingbreaker 4
Guardians of the Galaxy 12
Tales of the TMNT 56
Usagi Yojimbo 119
Phantom: Ghost Who Walks 1

I also got for cheap all the issues that comprise Nightwing Year One that appeared in Nightwing as well as Red Prophet Tales of Alvin Maker Volume Two HC. I think I have volume one...

1E: A change in plans

Tonight, we played in James's AD&D 1E game. It was a fun, exhilarating session. I'll mention some of my personal highlights once James posts his session report over at his blog. For now, I have decided on a change of plans. Unless circumstances change, I will continue playing Friar Pudge. Finally, I figured out how to play his fractured state of mind.

I do want to add that all this means is that I'm not planning to replace the Friar formerly known as Pudge. If circumstances call for it, the good old friar may not remain a part of the game.