Tracy Hickman's Blog, page 11
November 1, 2010
Elves at Work?
We're feeling in a holiday mood here at the Hickmans — giving away a free, fully-playable download sample of our Santa Sleighride board game so that you can play with our toys before you buy them!
We received our first premium boards for our 'Santa's Sleigh Ride' holiday board game last weekend and so I found myself spending some time in the Toy Workshop (a.k.a. my garage) cutting out the boards and assembling them in their mailing tubes for shipment. Laura and I are signing the first 100 boards and so that took up a little extra time in the workshop. Still, as you can see, happy is the toymaker when he's out in the workshop making his toys to share with the world.
We'll be updating our shipping options to include faster delivery but the sooner you order your game, the sooner you'll get to play the full game on these beautiful, washable game boards … signed and straight from our own workshop at reindeergamer.com!
October 25, 2010
Reindeer Gamer and Santa's Sleigh
A few years ago, Laura and I designed a holiday board game as Christmas gifts for our friends and family. We grew up playing board games with our parents when we were children and found the holidays to be a special time to connect with our own children through the playing of games — and wanted that tradition to continue. This holiday season we decided we wanted to make that same connection available to you.
So we created Reindeer Gamer — a holiday games website –where we can make available family games for the holidays. This year we're offering that same game we designed for our own family and friends; Santa's Sleigh Ride. (Come enjoy the video for the game!) Santa has failed his Canadian Sleigh Driver's License test and must find an elf to be his 'designated sleigh driver' until he can get his glasses fixed. It's a race around the world to see which elf can deliver his presents the fastest — and they're not above bumping a sleigh or two out of their way to get the job!
'Santa's Sleigh Ride' is a holiday board game which you can download right now for $18 – AND we'll send you the premium full-color game at no additional cost. The first 100 orders will even have the board signed by us!
September 29, 2010
Lakota Dragons Lightning Gun
[image error]In the just for fun department…
The Garrett & Boulter Arms Company in Boston, MA began development of a practical dragon-slaying weapon at the direction of the War Department in 1886. The first practical application weapon to emerge was the 'Dragonslayer' although it quickly became known on the frontier by its more common name — 'The Lightning Gun.
A 50,000 volt plasma discharge weapon that could be carried by both Air Cavalry and regular troops, it featured an interchangeable charge drum held in a rotating frame and discharging through a variable focus lens. It was capable of felling a dragon from over a hundred yards when properly aimed. Possession of the weapon was restricted by two separate acts of congress though this did not prevent it from becoming one of the most sought-after trade items on the frontier.
Now you, too, can own this legendary weapon … or at least a replica of it … thanks to Worldworks Games and the design talents of Denny Unger. This is a full-scale replica of a gun that will be featured in a series of 'Dime-novel Western Fantasy' stories currently being designed by Tracy and Laura
Download and review the full assembly instructions
…and then visit the Worldworks Games website to purchase your own downloadable Hickman Lightning Gun parts templates for $10.00 US!
September 20, 2010
THE WORLDS THAT OUTGREW THEIR STORIES
Phil Athans, former Wizards of the Coast editor of both Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms, has just published an article on 'Intellectual Properties' (IPs) and how they related to the creators original vision called 'The Worlds that Outgrew their Stories' for the online 'Grasping for the Wind: Science Fiction and Fantasy Book News and Reviews'. It includes commentary by Ed Greenwood and myself on the subjects of Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance.
August 28, 2010
Hickman Fears the Boot – Part II
This is the second half of Tracy Hickman's interview on 'Fear the Boot' podcast this week.
(0:19) The role of online communities in finding, building, and sustaining an audience. If you're interested in Dragonlance, be sure to check out the Dragonlance Nexus.(3:44) The value of art, entertainment, and ideas on the internet. Why free may not always be the best price. Tracy's plan for nurturing new authors in this environment.(14:34) Tracy's experience of co-authoring with his...August 26, 2010
Scribe's Forge Publisher
As we've been working on the Dragonsbard project, we've been acquiring quite a bit of experience (actual experience rather than those meaningless points one acquires in so many games) in this new field of Serial Publishing.
Serial Publishing sounds like a crime but is actually the revolutionary concept on which Dragonsbard was built: publish like the Dickens — literally and literarily — so a group of elite subscribers and provide them with the book at the end of their subscription. It is a...
August 19, 2010
Tracy Hickman Fears the Boot
Tracy Hickman was interviewed on the 'Fear the Boot' podcast this week, with the first half of his interview available now.
(0:32) Who Tracy Hickman is and where you probably know him from.(3:41) The story of how Tracy's wife and a missed ride got him into gaming.(8:25) The current trend in complexity and execution of roleplaying games. Be sure to check out both X-treme Dungeon Mastery and Killer Breakfast.(27:41) Raising his son in the hobby, and the experience of co-writing X-treme Dungeon...August 9, 2010
GENCON 2010 Report
Laura Hickman, Felcia Day and Tracy Hickman in the top secret XDM booth (#1921)
This year's Gencon Game Convention held August 5th through 8th in Indianapolis, Indiana, was another smashing success with hundreds of new recruits to Dragonsbard Eventide and XDM, the release of our 'Quest for the Tavern' adventure module and visits with celebrities!
Felicia Day, star of 'Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog' and her web series sensation 'The Guild' made a special effort to visit our XDM booth. She...
July 15, 2010
Embrace Life
My father just sent me this video from the UK … and I just could not wait to share it with you.
June 15, 2010
A LONG Podcast Interview…
Dungeon Crawlers Radio out of Salt Lake City is a local broadcast/podcast. They graciously allowed me to come and talk with them for what is probably the longest interview I've ever done! It was a great deal of fun … and the interview is available both on their website and here for your listening enjoyment!
