RPGenerations: Tabletop Knights

Posted in Crowdfunding, Dungeons and Dragons, Kickstarter with tags , , , , on November 28, 2018 by boccobsblog

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Today we talk to Andrew Cawood, the head writer at Cawood Publishing and chief architect of the World of Myrr about his latest Kickstarter.

For people who might be unaware of Cawood Publishing, what can you tell them?
We’re a small Indie RPG company based in Vancouver, Canada. As of September 2018, we have over 30 5E products for sale at the DMs Guild and on DriveThruRpg. We are currently working on more adventure modules, handbooks for Game Masters, and the other seven continent settings for the World of Myrr.

How did Cawood Publishing get involved with RPGenerations?
I was talking with Dom about his comic and he asked me if we wanted to publish a collection of his comics.

So what can you tell me about your new Kickstarter?
It’s a softcover book with at least a 100 of Domenico Neziti’s RPG comics. They’re always funny and Dom has great insight into the group dynamics at the table. There are stretch goals to turn the book into a hardcover version and to add more comics.

Where can Domenico’s work be seen?
Facebook & Instagram

Check out RPGenerations and Cawood Publishing.

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How to be a Good Kickstarter Backer

Posted in Crowdfunding, Kickstarter with tags , , on November 21, 2018 by boccobsblog

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There are hundreds of articles on the web about running a successful Kickstarter campaign, but I think there is another side of crowdfunding that needs to be discussed, how to be a successful backer.

PM vs public comment
A general rule to follow – if your comment or question only applies to you, send it as a private message, as opposed to a public comment.

Kickstarter spies
Every Kickstarter will have these covert agents. They back a project for one dollar so they can read the updates. Do I have to point out that this is a dick move?

You are entitled to your opinion…
But you are not entitled to rude comments, ad hominem attacks, or circular arguments. If you are truly unsatisfied, private message the creator and ask for a refund. Your comments have an impact on a creator’s livelihood.

Check your Spam/Promotion folders
It is 2018 people, we have had SPAM filters for over twenty years. Before you post publicly to say you did not receive your e-mail, check your e-mail’s SPAM folder. This is especially important with Google’s promotion folder.

Share the project
If you believe in a project enough to back it, consider sharing it on your social media platforms. This sort of word of mouth will greatly aid the project and takes very little time.

Stretch goals are nice, but not required
Stretch goals are cool because you get additional content that is sometimes free.  However, the issue with stretch goals is that they can increase the cost of the product and reduce the profit margin.

Look for examples of the creator’s work
Before you invest your money in a Kickstarter, visit their website and get a feel for their style. In the past I’ve had a few backers that were disappointed in the final product, but when I looked at their backer profile it was their first time backing a Kickstarter. Additionally, when I look to see what products of ours, they already own, I found they didn’t own any (even a free product). Don’t be afraid to ask a creator for a sample of their work.

Complete your survey
The creator you’ve chosen to back cannot send you your reward/product if they don’t have your shipping information. Sometimes the survey is hard to find on mobile devices (the survey appears as a yellow band at the top of your screen), so if you can’t find it, try logging in on a computer.

READ, READ, READ
I’ve saved the most import backer tip for last: read the updates and the backer pager before you publicly ask a question. Questions like, “When will I receive X” take your creator away from making the product you ordered and are extremely annoying because every backer level will have an expected delivery date listed. Read the project page (especially the FAQ section) in its entirety and scroll back through the updates to see if your question has already been answered.

Kickstarting a project is exciting and fun, and when backers and creators are both on the same page, the finished project will be even better. Be respectful, and keep in mind that you are one of many backers.

(Are you a creator? Have we missed a tip you’d like included? Comment below!)

[Notice: The author is not affiliated with Kickstarter and his opinions are his own. ]

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The Theory: A Twisted Sci-Fi Series

Posted in Comic Books, Fiction, Interview, Kickstarter with tags , , , , , on November 14, 2018 by boccobsblog

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Today we sit down with the creator/chief mischief-maker at TPub, a British indie comic company. TPub is probably best known for creating Twisted Dark, Twisted Light, Tabatha, Tortured Life, Turncoat, Theatrics, and The World of Chub Chub. They launched in 2012 with a mission to bring more readers to comics.

What can you tell us about TPub?

TPub is my publishing company. Our mission is to get more people reading and creating comics because we love the medium. We also believe it is a great gateway into getting people to read more books.

What is the deal with the Werthers Originals?

ARGH!!!  Werthers!!  OK, so at conventions abroad I normally buy these British sweets called chocolate eclairs at the airport to give people at conventions. However, my team of volunteers find it really funny to hide them on my person. I find them in my pockets and shoes etc. One chap in Canada called Ian was so bad at hiding them (I always caught him), that he started to get the fans to give them to me as I was signing their books. Somehow it morphed from eclairs to Werthers and since then, I swear they have gotten so good at it! I order food in a restaurant and it arrives with a Werthers in it. A 4 year old girl will tap my leg at a con and then as I look down, her smiling face she will produce a pack of Werthers from behind her back. I have even found a bunch in my pyjamas at home! This has become a thing!

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You currently have a Kickstarter campaign: The Theory: A Twisted Sci-Fi Series, tell us more about it

I think it’s the best comic I have done so far. It is about an astroarchaeoloigst who is working to save our future and a time traveller who is working to fix our past. If you like Black Mirror or the Twilight Zone, or just stories with twists, I suggest you give it a shot. But I do want to stress it is not an anthology. All the stories do tie together into one big story. (Learn more here)
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What exactly is spotted dick? (Follow up query, is it really cooked in a sock?)
If it’s cooked well, it is a delicious dessert. . Like Jam roll-polly or sticky toffee pudding or banoffee, it is a classic pudding, but you don’t see it on the menu all that often.
As for being cooked in a sock – NO! This isn’t the 1800s anymore! We have ‘horseless carriages’ here in the UK too now. (I love how you answered that question by comparing it to three equally arcane-sounding British desserts!)

What is your upcoming convention schedule?

Too many! I love them but my wife is increasingly unhappy with how many weekends I’m away, especially considering we have another child on the way.

Where can people buy your titles?

We always recommend comic shops, then book shops, but if you are struggling to find it then Amazon. But if you want a signed copy by me as a gift, then we sell them direct from our website www.tpubcomics.com 
A big thank you to Neil! Be sure to check out TPub, and visit their Kickstarter before Nov. 24th

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Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage Available Now

Posted in D&D 5e, D&D Fifth Edition, D&D Next, Dungeons and Dragons, Wizards of the Coast with tags , , on November 13, 2018 by boccobsblog

The mad mage Halaster Blackcloak is apparently at it again. Man, you think the Lords of Waterdeep would have evicted that guy by now. Waterdeep: Dungeon of the Mad Mage picks up where Dragon Heist left off and takes characters from 5th to 20th level.

Hundreds of years ago, long before Waterdeep had been built, Halaster Blackcloak carved a vast dungeon beneath Mount Waterdeep and stocked it with all manner of creatures from across the planes. Over time Halaster has gone quite insane and the dungeon he carved, now dubbed Undermountain, is a labyrinthine death trap for those bold enough to venture within. Precious few have returned from Halaster’s home, and frequently they’re not who they were when they started out. One thing is certain however. Wealth unimaginable exists within the halls of Undermountain.

Dungeon of the Mad Mage is available in hardcover for $43.91

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Danger the Game

Posted in board game, Interview with tags , , , on November 7, 2018 by boccobsblog

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Danger the Game

I had the pleasure of running into some of the game from Origami Whale Games at FlatCon this year and we had a chance to discuss their latest project, Danger the Game. Here is an interview with OW’s Daniel Kim.

What can you tell us about Danger the Game?

Hopefully quite a bit! Danger the Game is the storytelling party game of bizarre dangers and rescues. I, personally, like to think of it as a preparation kit for the unknown. One doesn’t EXPECT to get hugged by a depressed giant squid but it certainly doesn’t hurt to be ready just in case!

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How do you play?
Ah, yes, the rescues. So one of the players, the victim, finds themselves being hugged by a depressed giant squid. The others would use one of the three skills and three tools from their hand to try and come up with a rescue plan. For example, someone could be a professional balloon sculpture artist with a pet rock that knows every trick. Well, being a professional balloon sculpture artist, it’s a simple task to make a giant squid balloon piloted by a versatile pet rock- skilled even in the ways of comfort. OBJECTION! The other rescuers might poke holes in a story or play plot twist cards to mess up the Danger, the Skill or the Tool. The story changes drastically if that Pet Rock suddenly has too many self destruct buttons!
Once each of the rescuers has told their rescue plan the victim chooses a victor for the round by awarding them the Danger card ensuring that we will never forget their heroic exploits.
How many frenemies do you need to play?
You need at least two frenemies unless you also count yourself as a frenemy! Then three, you need three people total to play the game.
How long does a standard game take?
I would say on average 30 min. to 1 hr. Some people are great at quick, daring, expediently told rescues, others can be more long-winded. In consequence, I’ve played some remarkably short games well under the 30 minutes listed on the box but time will really fly sometimes! My recommendation is that if you’re playing with 6 or more people, swap out the victory requirement to only two Dangers instead of the usual three.
How likely am I to get stabbed during a game?
Geez! I didn’t think I would ever need to make this disclaimer but DON’T PLAY WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE LIKELY TO STAB YOU!
Where can we get a copy of Danger the Game?
Right now the best place to find us is smile.amazon.com so that 0.5% of the purchase goes to a charity of your choice (I support “The Jack Vasel Memorial Fund” myself)
Is there anything you’d like to add?
Yeah, there’s a lot I didn’t expect going into this project. I’ve played… a lot of Danger, hundreds of games of Danger and the funny thing is… I still haven’t grown tired of it. I mean, I know I kind of have to say that since I helped make it and all but it’s been an incredible experience sitting down with strangers from all over and hearing new stories every time. I’ve been told that Danger is a great way to get people into role playing and I suppose that a role playing game is what it is. All I can say is that I’ve benefited from the ways people look at these cards and I definitely look at my d20 encounters differently than I used to.
Who would win in a knife fight, Danger the Game or Settlers of Catan?
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…it was close.

Learn more at origamiwhalegames.com and pick up a copy today!

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Daredevil Season 3 Spoiler-Free Review

Posted in Comic Books, Review with tags , , on November 5, 2018 by boccobsblog

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I’ve recently finished Daredevil season 3 on Netflix. In true B3 format, here is the good, the badass, and the ugly:

Details
# of episodes: 13
Released: October 19, 2018
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 93%

Cast
Charlie Cox – Matt Murdock/Daredevil
Deborah Ann Woll – Karen Page
Vincent D’Onofrio – Wilson Fisk/Kingpin
Wilson Bethel – Benjamin ‘Dex’ Poindexter

The Good

  • Jon Paesano’s score is panic-inducing.
  • The fight scenes are superb.
  • Bethel makes a good Bullseye.
  • Jay Ali gives a great performance as FBI agent Ray Nadeem.

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The Badass

  • Vincent Di is Seriously awesome as Wilson Fisk. I’ve tried to kick ass in a white satin tuxedo, it is much harder than it looks.
  • “Give me your jacket” – no spoilers, but that scene is awesome.
  • Deborah Ann Woll’s performance is amazing. Karen has more character growth than the rest of the cast combined.

The Ugly

  • The “phantom bad guy/taunting version of yourself in your head that only you can see” trope is old hat and very tired.
  • What is Foggy’s purpose? Season four needs to open with Foggy being boiled in acid.
  • Kingpin’s motivations seems thin. Vanessa? BFD, it’s not like she was a Janet Reno or Baby Spice.
  • The dialogue is pretty silly in some spots.
  • They can’t seem to decide Daredevil’s on visual limitations. Sometimes he’s blind. Sometimes he pretends to be blind. At one point he ordered a chicken caesar salad off of a menu in a Shoney’s.
  • Bullseye’s power is lame when used to throw objects. Many of the objects he throws lack the mass to do anything, but each is treated like a kill shot. At one point he throws a small plastic ashtray and Daredevil dives to stop it like it will rip a hole in space-time. The same happens with a microphone. Silliness.

All in all, season 3 is much better than season 2, though not as good as season one. Worth a watch for sure. As of today, no season 4 has been reported, but seems highly likely*.

*Update: Netflix has cancelled Daredevil.

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Gen Con to Stay in Indy Through 2023

Posted in Conventions, Gen Con 2019 with tags , , on November 2, 2018 by boccobsblog

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On October 19 Gen Con stated in their newsletter that they have extended their contract with Indianapolis through 2023. The con’s future was a source of debate as several surveys went out asking con goers if they be amenable to a move. Gen Con has worried that Indy lacked sufficient size and hotel capacity.

According to GenCon.com:

INDIANAPOLIS (October 19, 2018) Gen Con, the largest and longest-running game convention in North America, has agreed to extend its commitment to Indianapolis through 2023. Prompted by the announcement of construction of two new hotels connected to the convention center, Gen Con added an additional year to its deal.
“New hotel developments, along with Indy’s desire for technological upgrades, have made our decision to extend with Indianapolis an easy choice,” said David Hoppe, Gen Con President. “We’re enthusiastic to extend our contract with Indy until 2023, as this new hotel development is a game-changer for Gen Con and will allow us to continue our record-breaking expansion. We’d like to thank the Indy CIB, Mayor Hogsett and his team, the hard-working folks at Visit Indy, and the business leaders of Indianapolis for their continued foresight and commitment to making Indy the top destination for conventions in North America.”

Setting a new attendance record in 2018, the convention surpassed 60,000 unique attendees over its four days. Gen Con 2018 featured more than 520 game companies, more than 600 new games, 17,000 ticketed events, and a significant increase in programming in Lucas Oil Stadium. The convention plans to continue its development of Lucas Oil Stadium as a new hub of convention growth.

“When the JW Marriott Indianapolis opened in 2011, our convention was able to expand and support a record number of guests, which at the time was about 37,000 attendees,” said David Hoppe, Gen Con President. “Now, seven years later, Gen Con has nearly doubled in attendance, and we’re confident that the newly announced lodging additions in Indy will let us expand again, netting millions of dollars per year in new economic development for Indianapolis.”

Gen Con will return to Indianapolis August 1-4, 2019.

 

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Review: Return of Wolverine #2

Posted in boccob's blessed blog, Comic Books, Review with tags , , on October 31, 2018 by boccobsblog

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I haven’t followed a comic series for quite some time, so when I heard Wolvie was back I went to my local comic shop and picked up #1 on release day. Issue #1 was a slightly open with little plot (read my full review here), but I decided I’d give it a few issues. Now issue #2 has been released and it is sadly, a disappointment. The is very little plot to analyze: Wolvie and the Lunch Lady take a boat ride in pursuit of LL’s son. There is a brief fight with Omega Red (maybe a clone?) and Daken(?). Though both get beaten quickly and easily leading the reader to assume they weren’t real. Let’s hope #3 is better.

Details
Writer: Charles Soule
Artist: Declan Shalvey
Color Artist: Laura Martin
Letter: Joe Sabino

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Game On Tabletop

Posted in Crowdfunding, Game Design with tags , , on October 24, 2018 by boccobsblog

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At Gen Con 2018 I spoke with some folks from Game On Tabletop, a new way to crowd fund games. According to their website:

Games are our lives

With more than 20 years of experience in the hobby gaming industry and four years successfully running the Casus Belli crowdfunding platform, Game On Tabletop takes that platform and launches it on the global scale to create an engaging crowdfunding community for gamers, by gamers.

Game On welcomes all types of tabletop games – board games, card games, miniature games, roleplaying games and also all tabletop gaming related projects like apps or conventions.

We also offer a big variety of à la carte services like marketing, production support, fulfillment and campaign assistance.

What the site is missing is a section that explains how it differs from the current crowdfunding platforms. The fees are similar, and I’m not seeing additional options that would overcome Kickstarter’s expansive customer base.

At the date of writing this article Game On Tabletop has funded 97 projects. Does it have what it takes to compete with Kickstarter and Indiegogo? Only time will tell, but it looks like a great group of people who are passionate about games.

Check it out at https://www.gameontabletop.com/ .

Have you funded a project using Game On Tabletop? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

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Flynn Nightsider and the Edge of Evil

Posted in Fiction, Interview with tags , , on October 17, 2018 by boccobsblog
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Today with sit down with author Mary Fan to discuss her latest novel, Flynn Nightsider and the Edge of Evil.

Does the Rising accept middle-aged out of shape gamer dads? (asking for a friend)
Hah! Of course! The Rising is this scrappy little underground rebellion that could use all the help it could get… and they’re banking on ordinary folks rising up to join the fight against tyranny when the time is right. So anyone who’s brave enough (and reckless enough) to take on a regime run by those who use magic and control supernatural beasts is welcome.
The Lord if the Underworld escaped about 100 years ago, so what year is the book set in?
Approximately 100 years in the future. The premise is that the Lord of the Underworld unleashed his beasts in the equivalent of present day, and the story takes place about a century after that.
Does the Lord of the Underworld use spray tanner and spend a lot of time on the golf course?
Let’s just say that in his heyday, he had plenty of followers that didn’t care if he was steamrolling the earth with monsters… they just wanted to be on the side with power 😉
Abaia are creepy! What was the inspiration?
Abaia were inspired by a magical giant eel by the same name in Melanesian mythology — and they actually didn’t make it into the final cut of the book! I created a list of creatures I wanted the characters to encounter while I was still editing, but some got left on the cutting room floor. But there are two sequels coming, so there’s plenty of time for them to read their heads… muahahaha….
What can you tell us about Brave New Girls?
Brave New Girls is a series of YA sci-fi anthologies about girls in STEM, and its goal is to get more girls interested in STEM subjects. All the stories feature girls who are into some kind of science, tech, or engineering… hackers, tinkerers, chemists, etc. By casting the nerdy girls as the heroes rather than the sidekicks, we hope to encourage girls to explore these fields in real life. Proceeds from sales of the anthologies are donated to the Society of Women Engineers scholarship fund.
You have an impressive number of titles. How many books have you written?
Thank you! I’ve written a total of 10 manuscripts so far, 5 of which are published books (2 are coming out next year). Since I started actively writing in 2012, I’ve managed to write 1-2 a year. Ideally it would always be 2 a year but with short projects and edits and such, it’s not always possible.
Any tips for aspiring authors?
Write what you love. Because there are no guarantees in this industry… you could think you’re writing to a marketable trend, only to find it’s over by the time you’re ready to submit. So write for the joy of it so that at the end of the day, if nothing else, you have a manuscript you’re proud of.
Where can fans learn more about you and your books?
All the info is on my website: www.maryfan.com. For real-time updates, follow me on Twitter (@astralcolt), Instagram (@astralcolt), and Facebook (Facebook.com/mfanwriter).

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