Robin D. Laws's Blog, page 104
August 2, 2011
A Roleplaying Exercise, In Which You Enter a Tavern
This will be my first Gen Con since discovering that I like beer. Over the past months I have explored various local craft and and international beers here in the fine province of Ontario. While in Madison I enjoyed, thanks to John Kovalic, a quaffing flight of Wisconsin's finest. Now keens the annual siren call of Indianapolis, with its pungent streets and monolithic chain restaurants. At this point in my beverage journey I have reached various conclusions, such as: Mill Street can do no wrong. Hockley isn't chopped liver, either. Likewise Blanche de Chambly. German beers just aren't doing it for me. Germany, you will perhaps be granted a later opportunity to defend this sacred cornerstone of your national identity. Kingfisher tastes like soap. On a macro level, it transpires that I like or dislike beers regardless of their category. From lagers to stouts, from cream ales to wheat beers, I dig some and am unimpressed by others.
Okay, a roleplaying exercise. The two of us are in an Indianapolis bar. We might or might not be waiting for a guy in a funny hat to tell us where the dungeon is; that's immaterial. I am about to buy myself a beer.
Wait, let's be realistic here.
You are about to buy me a beer, as but partial tribute for my many contributions to the roleplaying form. As either a proud Indianapolan, or a frequent visitor already well acquainted with its finest beers, you wish to impress me with your purchasing prowess.
What beer do you buy me?
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A Roleplaying Exercise, In Which You Enter a Tavern
This will be my first Gen Con since discovering that I like beer.
Over the past months I have explored various local craft and and international beers here in the fine province of Ontario. While in Madison I enjoyed, thanks to John Kovalic, a quaffing flight of Wisconsin's finest. Now keens the annual siren call of Indianapolis, with its pungent streets and monolithic chain restaurants.
At this point in my beverage journey I have reached various conclusions, such as: Mill Street can do no wrong.
Hockley isn't chopped liver, either.
Likewise Blanche de Chambly.
German beers just aren't doing it for me. Germany, you will perhaps be granted a later opportunity to defend this sacred cornerstone of your national identity.
Kingfisher tastes like soap. On a macro level, it transpires that I like or dislike beers regardless of their category. From lagers to stouts, from cream ales to wheat beers, I dig some and am unimpressed by others.
Let us perform a roleplaying exercise. The two of us are in an Indianapolis bar. We might or might not be waiting for a guy in a funny hat to tell us where the dungeon is; that's immaterial. I am about to buy myself a beer.
Wait, let's be realistic here.
You are about to buy me a beer, as but partial tribute for my many contributions to the roleplaying form. As either a proud Indianapolan, or a frequent visitor already well acquainted with its finest beers, you wish to impress me with your purchasing prowess.
What beer do you buy me?
You could comment here, but why not join the party at the swank new digs?
August 1, 2011
Dogs roll in carrion in pursuit of social status
See P. XX
The pre-Gen Con edition of Pelgrane Press' webzine bursts open like a veritable seedpod of roleplaying bounty.
My eponymous column shows you how to structure a GUMSHOE scenario around the characters' defining investigative abilities. An Ashen Stars scenario serves as its illustrative example, also giving you a preview of that game. You'll also get a glimpse at the main cast of my in-house playtest.
But that's not all! Kenneth Hite and Will Hindmarch present their afore-linked Fiasco / Trail of Cthulhu crossover. Ken reappears with a preview of vampire building from his upcoming game of blood-draining espionage, Night's Black Agents. Simon Rogers rounds up current and upcoming Pelgrane releases. And Beth Lewis gives you the time-sensitive scoop on Pelgranic activities at the big show. Plus, you get to help name a rootin'-tootin' western orc.
You could comment here, but why not join the party at the swank new digs?
The Repairer of Reputations
New York, 1920. A new day dawns. America celebrates peace and victory after repelling the German invasion of New Jersey. The cityscape has been rejuvenated and cleansed of foreign influence. And finally, in accordance with popular demand, the government unveils its first public suicide machine. Yet beneath this placid surface hums a sinister conspiracy... one only you, along with your fine circle of upper-crust chums, can thwart.
The Repairer of Reputations is a Trail of Cthulhu scenario by yours truly, based on the classic story story by Robert W. Chambers, from his King in Yellow cycle.
Designed for one-shot play, it features a new wrinkle for GUMSHOE: on-the-fly, cooperative character generation.
Available in PDF only.
You could comment here, but why not join the party at the swank new digs?
July 29, 2011
Ashen Stars Limited Edition: A Few Copies Remain
After setting aside copies for dibs-holders from the Stellar Nursery Edition, and for a retail promotion, a few copies of the shiny blue Ashen Stars Limited Edition remain. These are now on sale to the general public at the Pelgrane Press store.
Where To Find Me at Gen Con
If you're looking for me at Gen Con, here's my event schedule:
Friday 10 AM Hamlet's Hit Points seminar (Marriott – Santa Fe)
Friday 3 PM GUMSHOE seminar (Indiana Ballroom F)
Friday 5 PM Book Signing @ the Paizo booth
Sat 2 PM Pathfinder Tales panel (Marriott – Santa Fe)
Sat 4 PM Book Signing @ the Paizo booth
Otherwise, unless I am grabbing a bite, standing in line for espresso, or doing the impromptu meeting/interview thing, I'll endeavor to make myself available for meeting, greeting, and chatting at the Pelgrane Press booth.
If you say the right secret words, you might get me to spill the beans on up to three unannounced upcoming projects: plans to, in tandem with esteemed colleague, conquer another medium
a book you should read about a book you shouldn't
the rules set called DramaSystem, its first game, Hillfolk, and how they change the roleplaying experience
July 28, 2011
Link Roundup: Tekumel Archived, Brooks Predix, Fiasco Trails
Readying M.A.R. Barker's Tekumel documents and props for archiving.
Kenneth Hite and Will Hindmarch team up for a bookish Trail of Cthulhu / Fiasco crossover, gratis at Scribd.
Prediction: Rebekah Brooks will make history as first Briton banished to Australia since 1868.
