Games

Fri - October 19, 2007

Teen Read Saturday

Tomorrow I'll be attending an event in Tacoma for Teen Read Week with Stephen Radney-McFarland. We'll talk about being game designers to interested Teen Readers. (http://www.piercec ountylibrary.org/ki ds-teens/teens/teen -read-week.htm). Depending on how many people show up, we might even be able to run a few demo games--but of course, not if there are too many. We're told about 60 teens showed up last year, which sounds like too many to sit down and demo for, by a factor of 10.

Posted at 08:40 PM

Wed - October 17, 2007

New Game Blog

I'm migrating my Wizards staff blog to Gleemax, which is still very Alpha--which means it doesn't support a lot of functionality yet--those things are being added as we go along. Also, sometimes it just fails to respond. But it'll improve as we continue to add features and fix bugs. I guess that's par for the course for an Alpha release.

You can find my game profile and blog here.

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Posted at 10:18 AM

Tue - September 25, 2007

What's In That Cage?

My latest Wizards staff blog summary: What's In That Cage, discussing a tidbit of hobgoblin lore.

Posted at 02:29 PM

Mon - September 17, 2007

Wizards

Interested in a little teaser information about D&D 4th edition Wizards? I wrote an article about them here.

Posted at 09:00 AM

Wed - September 5, 2007

GenCon UK!

I just returned from nearly a week in the United Kingdom. I gave the 4th Edition presentation that Bill and Chris gave at GenCon Indy a few weeks ago.

I have a detailed report of the the experience on my staff blog at Wizards here.

Except for the last 2 days, during which time I stayed with my friends Charles and Tammie Ryan. They took me around to see the sights. Well, the sights you can fit into two days in a country bursting with thousands of years of history. I have a ton of pictures. My next post will contain a couple highlights.

Posted at 07:35 AM

Sun - August 19, 2007

GenCon 2007 & 4th Edition D&D

I just returned from Gen Con, and I'm asking myself, "Bruce, shouldn't you be sleeping?"

Well, yes, I probably should, but I am still pretty pumped by our GenCon announcement of D&D 4th Edition!

So weird to be able to say and type that. After having to keep it under wraps and use code words for the last few years, saying '4th edition' out-loud feels like freedom.

Check out the new D&D Insider (DDi) page for more on 4th Edition, including video of the announcement, as well as a couple of articles I wrote (more on the way) in anticipation of DDi's premiere: 4th Edition Playtest Report, and Realmslore: Tomb of the Astronomer.

I've put the rest of my experiences of the Con behind the fold...

The con was a good one for me. Dee and I attended under our own power, and stayed with our friends (and family on Dee's side) Doug and Wendy. Doug had never attended a game convention before, but was game to see what all the hoopla was about. Below, Doug and I ready ourselves, even as Jeanie (one of Dee's sisters) sneaks into the frame.

Doug and I lit out for Gen Con on Friday, hitting the doors at 10 AM, just as the Exhibitor's Hall opened and the hordes flooded inward. We walked with the multitudes, oohing and aahing first through the art exhibit. Doug seems to take it all in stride.

Next, I entered Wizards' booth to hit up everyone I could find and ask them the same question, "How'd the announcement go? Are the fans excited?" Yes!, but more on that later.

Wizards' booth was jam-packed with con-goers demoing a variety of games. Gleemax' great green glowing presence was also an ominpresent visage in the booth. I hunkered down in the FR Author area at 1 PM for a meet and greet. In addition to talking to several FR fans, I got a chance to speak with Ed Greenwood and several other FR authors, few of which I had before met face to face. Very fun!

Doug noticed amongst all the titles on the shelf, "Confessions of a Part-Time Sorceress," and picked it up. Shelly Mazzanoble the author was right nearby and was gracious enough to sign Doug's book. This book looks to be a hoot, and I am looking forward to picking up my own copy when I get back to the office. I think this book is going to be a break-out hit.

The rest of day one passed in a blur--at one point I had another meeting with Ed, Rich Baker, and Courtney Marabetta regarding some FR stuff. Unfortunately, I told Doug the meeting would last 20 minutes, but it ended up closer to an hour and 20; sorry Doug!

I tried to contact a couple people I had promised to see at the con, but in both cases my cell phone proved unequal to the task; I apologize to you folks! (Perhaps I should listen to the red devil and get an iPhone after all...)

At the end of the evening, we attended the ENnies, a glamorous affair in the Indiana Rooftoop Ballroom, where among many other winners, Monte and Sue Cook ended up doing quite well with their massive game setting Ptolus. Also, Wizards was named 'Best Publisher!" Good job us!

On Saturday, I attended the D&D Q&A seminar at 2 pm. I was delighted to discover that several items regarding 4th Edition were leaked, enough info (I believe) to turn an audience previously on the edge of acceptance toward true anticipation of the coming new rules. Good job us!

Next, I stayed in the same room to watch the Secrets of the Realms seminar. A great seminar, one in which I also met several more FR authors whose upcoming titles I've seen listed, but who I hadn't before had the pleasure of meeting. Very cool! Those who attended the seminar learned a big event would soon debut in the Faerûn timeline.

In the Year of Blue Fire comes, inevitably, the Spellplague.

Wow. Talk about freedom! Well, I can't say too much more about that, but to even utter those few syllables is liberating.

And, finally, for me, who had nothing more to do than take in the sights, hang out with friends, and drink Margaritas, the Con was over.

(Yes, we bought our first digital camera. Can you tell?)

Posted at 06:59 PM

Thu - August 2, 2007

Ruins of the Wild

Bad me--I forgot to mention a dungeon tiles set I designed, Ruins of the Wild, which came out all the way back in May. If you use minis but don't have time to build elaborate sets, but sometimes want something better than a battlemat, these are worth trying.

Posted at 03:40 PM

Wed - May 9, 2007

Cthulhu vs. Seattle

Hey check this awesome picture (click image below to see see the picture in Chiefsheepy's gallery--from there, it can be further enlarged). This pic would have come in handy in at least one Call of Cthulhu gaming session I've been involved with.

Posted at 12:41 PM

Tue - April 10, 2007

WARNING: This Will Waste Your Time

You have been warned.

My friend Jeff's post about discoveries reminds me of something I wasted way too much time on last weekend: Desktop Tower Defense.

You want more? Try Sketchfighter (though you may need a Mac to glory in this fantastic throw-back to 80's tech).

Posted at 07:03 PM

Mon - March 12, 2007

Book of Penitence

The April edition of Dragon Magazine contains an article by Sean Reynolds called "Core Beliefs: Heironeous." Heironeous is one of the gods of the Greyhawk D&D game pantheon, the god of Justice. In Sean's article a call-out box describes two Holy Texts, one of which details the Book of Penitence.

As Sean describes, several pages have been ripped out of the back of the tome; 143 to be exact. Those pages and their contents are fully described in my 1999 game book Bastion of Faith. Thanks, Sean, for dropping in this subtle yet articulate reference to my old 2nd edition product :-).

Bastion of Faith describes why the pages were ripped out of the Book of Penitence. Finding these fragments might require you to cross axes with Heironeous clerics who ascribe to a Secret Doctrine, and whose strangely vivid dreams are penned, in their thousands, into the Library of Blessings that surround Ferrante's Reliquary...

Posted at 10:40 AM

Wed - March 7, 2007

Cormyr: The Tearing of The Weave

An adventure I helped pen releases this month, Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave.

It is a hardback super-adventure, not dissimilar in presentation to Expedition to Castle Ravenloft. Designed to take characters from 4th to 8th level, adventurers are drawn into the story when they investigate strange occurrences in and around a local temple to Mystra, Goddess of Magic.

Here's a tip: In the early going, if invited to a special ceremony in Mystra's Temple, you'll learn much concerning the plot if you agree to attend.

Posted at 02:22 PM

Tue - November 28, 2006

Why Don't I Have This Game?

Why don't I have the XBOX 360 title "Gears of War?" Oh yeah, because Best Buy is still sitting on my product replacement after more than a month. Grrr...

Posted at 09:25 AM

Wed - November 22, 2006

Your Mother Hates This Podcast

The podcast episode in which I was interviewed while I was a guest of Source Comics and Games has posted (actually, it looks like it posted a little while ago, I'm just slow). Also interviewed was Larry Elmore and Dave Arneson. If you'd like to hear us wax philosophical on a variety of game-related topics, you can download Episode 15 from this page:

-http://www.ymhts.com/

Also, having now listened to the podcast, I've discovered it is one of better produced and better sounding podcasts of the stable I listen to. These guys have good equipment, good voice talent, and good instincts.

This is the summary of the episode:

EPISODE 15: An Evening with Monty Haul. Finally! A show about games! Mike and John take a good look at Dungeons & Dragons as they record live from the Worldwide Dungeons & Dragons Day festivities at The Source Comics & Games in Falcon Heights, MN. Joining them for the festivities are special guests Dave Arneson (Co-creator of D&D), Larry Elmore (Legendary Fantasy Artist), and Bruce Cordell (Game Design Legend-in-Training)! The lovely ladies of Tri-Destiny give us the girls' perspective with "Chicks in Chainmail". Running time is about 91 minutes. Grab your dice and download this treasure trove of gaming goodness! File Size is 31.2Mb.

Posted at 09:36 AM

Tue - November 14, 2006

Best Buy Product Replacement Plan Glitch

I was going to title this blog entry Best Buy Product Replacement Failure, but that's going too far, at least at this time. I'm hoping I'm not eventually forced to write such an entry title.

Anyway, my XBOX 360 gave up the ghost a while ago. Luckily, I purchased the Best Buy Product Replacement Plan along with my XBOX. The smiling Best Buy employee explained to me that if worst came to worst, having such a plan would be a quick and easy way to get a whole new XBOX should my current one fail.

Well, the 360 failed. I followed the instructions on the plan by filing out a claim online, printing the mailing label sent me, and shipping off the XBOX. I'll admit I erred by not paying some additional cost to add tracking to the shipment, but with the mailing label provided already, that thought didn't occur to me until later. Anyhow, I waited.

And waited some more. I emailed once, no response. Emailed again, a bit more testy, got a response saying that if there was no movement after 15 days, call a number. I waited 15 business days just to be sure, 20 actual days.

That was today. First, Craig tells me the item hasn't been received and I'll have to wait a full 30 days before they can move on my claim. I ask to talk to someone higher in the chain and get Pat. She tells me the same thing--call on the 23rd of November, 30 days since the item was shipped on the 23rd of October.

I think, OK, I can wait another week and change, I've waited this long. Of course, at THAT point, Pat explains it will take another 15 days after the 23rd to get an actual voucher to get a new replacement XBOX. But I had to get off the phone to make a meeting, so I couldn't take the time to articulate my perception of being screwed over.

Anyway, I ask you--is this at all reasonable? I purchased the product replacement plan because it advertised I could replace my defective product during a 2 year window. Nowhere does it indicate in my plan pamphlet that such hoops would have to be jumped through and almost 2 months would have to pass before said product would be replaced... and who's to say I'll even get it then?

I wonder if Jeff Jarvis has had any trouble with Best Buy of late? He experienced Dell Hell--am I sliding into the Best Buy Abyss?

Posted at 10:40 AM

Mon - November 6, 2006

D&D Game Day 2006 Wrapup

For Worldwide D&D Game Day I was a guest of Source Comics and Games in Minneapolis.

First, this is the best game & comics store I've ever visited. Not merely because of the size of the store and its well-organized inventory, but also because of the many in-store games, tournaments, and other events the Source regularly holds. This practice has netted the Source a large following of loyal customers.

... many of whom turned out for Game Day. The Source had 6 game tables set up, which remained filled with D&D players every hour of the day, from 10 AM to 9 PM. That's a lot of games! In addition to the games, I was set up at mini-booth with Dave Arneson and Larry Elmore, each with our products and signing pens. I figured I wouldn't have much to do during this time, but in fact rarely was I not speaking with a D&D fan or signing a D&D product or novel. It was pretty cool.

We had a Q&A seminar from 5 to 7 (so the games did stop from 5 PM to 7 PM), where Dave, Larry and I fielded questions from a sizable audience. Larry Elmore had many entertaining stories about his dwarf fighter when he used to play at TSR with Keith Parkinson as the DM.

Then I ran a D&D game at 7 PM. Six people were chosen by lottery to be players. Most chosen for this game had already played through the scenario sent along for D&D game day, or had even DMed it, so I opened a random pack of boosters and ran a completely different version on the spot; this worked very wall. Our minis rock.

Overall, a very successful Game Day at the Source. My thanks to Burl, Hans, Chad, John, Nick, and everyone else who went so out of their way to make me feel welcome. Those guys worked really hard before, during, and after the event to make it the successful event it was.

ALSO, the Source runs a podcast out of their store! It's called Your Mother Hates This Show :-). In an upcoming episode (probably episode #15), you'll hear me answer a few questions, along with Dave and Larry: www.ymhts.com.

Posted at 12:30 PM

D&D Game Day

Ravenloft Chat

Ravenloft Podcast

Expedition To Castle Ravenloft Published

Worldwide D&D Game Day

Campaign's End

Chromehounds: My Latest Addiction

Castle Ravenloft Cover

Digging D&D

Colbert-Adkison: Gamer Friends?

D&D Fan Film Contest