announcements

Midwest GameFest This Week

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I will be a guest at Midwest GameFest later this week in Independence (Kansas City), MO. I’ll drop by Thursday evening, but will be running games on Friday evening (Twilight Imperium Embers of the Imperium / Genesys), Saturday evening (Star Wars), and Sunday morning (Paranoia). Saturday’s game is currently full, but you never know if everyone will show up. Plenty of other events as well from RPGS to table top to seminars and more of the usual convention offerings.

Details at midwestgamefest.org.

Dice in Mind Podcast Interview

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The Dice in Mind podcast released a new interview with me a few days ago. We discuss my RPG and cartography freelancing, as well as some other subjects along the way. It is Episode 99: Sterling Hershey and FFG and Edge Studio, and can be downloaded here from Apple or Podbean.

They interview a lot of different individuals involved in gaming and/or the gaming industry, and take a broader view at times. A few previous interviews readers of this…periodic…blog might be interested are listed here for Podbean, but should also be on Apple.

Gen Con Online 2021 Events

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I am running events for Gen Con Online again this year. It was a fun if different experience last year, and we had some international players, too. This time I’m running a new (unofficial) Star Wars Edge of the Empire convention game called Project Deflect. It’s set in The Mandalorian time frame, and new players are certainly welcome. I’ll be using Roll20 for the tabletop, and Discord for audio and video (video is not required). The provided pregenerated PCs include some Mandalorians and other characters. Gen Con Online badges are free, but there is typically a cost for each event.

Here are the event times and IDs:

RPG21197450 Project Deflect Sep 17th (Fri) 8:00 pm 4 hrs Cost: $2

RPG21197451 Project Deflect Sep 18th (Sat) 8:00 pm 4 hrs Cost: $2

RPG21197452 Project Deflect Sep 19th (Sun) 10:00 am 4 hrs Cost: $2

Your band of inexperienced bounty hunters must retrieve a combat gear engineer who was forced to flee a corporate testing facility within a New Republic/Imperial warzone.

I won’t be attending Gen Con in person this year, for the first time since skipping 2000 due to travel out of the country. 2020 doesn’t count, plus I participated in Gen Con Online. Along with other factors, my wife and I thought it was too soon to risk such large crowds over so many days. Gen Con is trying to balance running the event versus safety, updating their rules as needed. We’re vaccinated (and highly encourage everyone to do so), but the skyrocketing delta variant has made things worse then we imagined. Beyond a potential breakthrough infection, the travel risks include a random accident sending someone to an overloaded emergency room or hospitals at capacity during the trip. We had to make an emergency room trip in a normal year, and it wasn’t fun then.

Hopefully things will improve next year. Whether you’re going or not, stay safe.

Genesys Android Systems & Servers Released on Genesys Foundry

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I’m happy to announce my latest release. Systems & Servers is now available on the Genesys Foundry on DriveThruRPG.com for the Genesys RPG and Android Shadow of the Beanstalk science fiction setting. Systems & Servers features a wide variety of typical network and server layouts ready for a Game Master to drop into any online encounter, complete with ice protecting the sub-systems. Network layouts feature role specific layouts for commercial, megacorporation, government, military, satellite, and spaceship computer systems. Server layouts break down a specific server into individually protected functions. The networks and server layouts can be used individually or together depending on the encounter complexity desired by the Game Master.

The 38 page supplement brings new options for network encounters. New ice and icebreakers expand the threats and tools used by sysops and hackers. Code exploits enhance storytelling and roleplaying aspects of hacking and provides guidance for modifiers to the dice pool. New sysop adversaries are included to protect many of these new systems, or used in other adventures.

Former Fantasy Flight Games roleplaying and miniatures game designer and producer Max Brooke provided editing and rules development services. Most of the graphics elements I used to create the cover and system layouts were from Eric Trautmann’s Fedora Monkey Studio vector stock art offerings.

Here is the Systems & Servers back cover description, with a few more details:

Systems are targets.

Runners need target systems. Game masters need options. Systems & Servers has you covered with a variety of common networks and servers, complete with layouts and protective ice, ready to use on demand. Sysops gain new ice for their systems, and runners get new icebreakers. New opportunities and trouble await for everyone online in the Android universe.

This expansion includes:

• 9 new ice for sysops to use to protect their servers.

• 8 new icebreakers for runners to wreak havoc with.

• 8 new code exploits to inspire creative hacking.

• 18 new common network layouts with multiple servers.

• 6 new common server specific layouts.

• 10 new typical sysop adversaries for defending systems.

Here are examples of one network and one server layout:


Genesys Initiative Tabs Updated with KeyForge

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My Genesys Initiative Tabs on Genesys Foundry now includes Keyforge: Secrets of the Cruicible themed tabs and accessories. Previous purchasers may download updated files from their accounts on DriveThruRPG. This product achieved Silver best seller status relatively recently. Thanks to those who picked it up already. For anyone interested in doing so, you can find it here.

Images of the new pages are below. The updated file also includes a few formatting corrections to the form fields, and switched the italicized Android status tabs to vertical to avoid an annoying PDF printing bug affecting some PDF software and printer combinations…like mine.


KeyForge Setting Preview Now Available

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Today, Fantasy Flight Games released the first preview for the upcoming KeyForge Secrets of the Crucible science fantasy setting for the Genesys RPG. Based on the popular KeyForge card game (also by FFG), the book brings roleplaying to the weird and crazy mashed up genre setting. I worked on it, but as usual, more on that later. It is due for release sometime in the second quarter of this year.

GM Initiative Tabs is Now Genesys Initiative Tabs

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I revised the title of GM Initiative Tabs to the more accurate Genesys Initiative Tabs, which was the original working title. In fact it was the title that I used everywhere on DriveThruRPG except on the actual cover and original announcements. It proved to be easier as well to simply redo the cover to match. I had used GM Initiative Tabs to mimic my DM Combat Tabs product on DMs Guild, and I thought that it might not be allowed to use the word Genesys in a Foundry title. It turns out it isn’t a problem.

If you already downloaded the product, you can download a revised version from DriveThruRPG. There are no changes to the tabs themselves, or the rest of the content.

Now that I have a copy of the official Genesys GM screen, here are a couple of examples of how the tabs look with it:

Genesys Initiative Tabs - Player View. Additional character tabs may sit on the adjacent panels on this 3 panel screen.

Genesys Initiative Tabs - GM View. Rack locations are optional.

GM Initiative Tabs for Genesys RPG Now Available

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I’m happy to announce the release of my latest Genesys Foundry product, GM Initiative Tabs for the Geneys RPG. Patterned off my successful DM Combat Tabs for DMs Guild, the GM Initiative Tabs provide a useful tool for GMs who want a way to visually track initiative and other conditions. Here’s the product text:

This Genesys accessory provides a means to track and display initiative slots, PCs, NPCs, and their current conditions by placing these tabs on a GM screen or on the tabletop. The tabs, racks, and storage boxes are graphically themed to match the Genesys core rulebook, the Android Shadow of the Beanstalk setting, and the Realms of Terrinoth setting, but may be used with any setting.

Use the tabs in one of several ways:
1. Use the PC and NPC tabs to track initiative order, along with a turn indicator showing the current character's turn.
2. Use the same as above and then place generic NPC minion/rival/nemesis tabs on the NPC tabs, when those NPCs take their turn.
3. Use the same as number 1 and add the detailed PC and NPC tabs to track vital stats as each character is played in turn. Use the condition tabs to track and serve as reminders for various effects such as +1 boost or setback dice and conditions such as unconscious.

Customize tabs by filling out blank areas by hand after printing, or use the PDF form features to add text and images before printing.

Keep organized and find the right tab quickly during the game using one of two rack types:

GM Screen Tab Rack: Two racks designed to hang on the GM's screen to minimize loss of table space. The racks work with landscape or portrait oriented screens.
Tabletop Tab Rack: A simple rack folded into a sawtooth shape to hold the tabs. It sits on the table top.

Storage options: Assemble the included custom box to store the GM Screen Tab Racks with the tabs still in place. Other storage suggestions are also included.

Printing on thick, high quality paper or cardstock is highly recommended.

Cutting and folding is required to use the tabs and the racks. Assembly of the optional storage box requires glue or tape.

Formatted for US letter sized paper.

Use the layers to turn off the background art if desired to save printer ink.

Print using Adobe Acrobat Reader DC for best results.

Here are a few examples:

Player View with the GM screen racks on the GM side of the screen. (Genesys core rulebook style).

GM View (Genesys core rulebook style).

Customized and standard tabs on the Tabletop Rack (Genesys core rulebook style).

Storage Box (Genesys Core Rulebook style).

Genesys core rulebook style PC/NPC/condition tabs.

Android Shadow of the Beanstalk setting style PC/NPC/condition tabs (sci-fi, cyberpunk, modern settings).

Realms of Terrinoth setting style PC/NPC/condition tabs (fantasy, pulp, settings).

Numenera - Explorer's Keys Now Available

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My first work for the Numenera RPG appeared unexpectedly at Gen Con. Explorer’s Keys, Ten Instant Adventures for Numenera was available at Monte Cook Games’ booth. Explorer’s Keys has everything you need to immediately run a Numenera session with no preparation. As part of that, it includes my first game related published cartography in quite a few years. It was fun, and given how weird the Numenera setting is designed to be, it makes for some entertaining approaches to map making. I’ve updated my cartography portfolio with a couple of them.

My contributions were for the adventures Embassy of the Inconstant Moon, Protomatter Heist, Goliaths in the Earth, Flight of the Seraph, and Microfuge State. Flight of the Seraph was also featured as the Gen Con Numenera adventure and included in an exclusive collection of Monte Cook Adventures given to the game masters running their sessions.

One of my maps is related to the weird ship featured in the Numenera short film The Strand:

While copies of Explorer’s Keys were on sale at the Monte Cook Games booth, it releases sometime this week or next, and is available for preorder on the Monte Cook Games’ website. I presume it will also become available at DriveThruRPG as well upon release.


Power Play - Now Available for Android on the New Genesys Foundry

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Tonight at Gen Con, Fantasy Fight Games announced Genesys Foundry, a new community content program for the Genesys RPG available on DriveThruRPG.com. Genesys Foundry features products, adventures, settings, and more for use with Genesys itself, as well as the campaign settings of Android Shadow of the Beanstalk (sci-fi), and Realms of Terrinoth (fantasy). Products are distributed primarily in PDF format.

Power Play is my second Genesys Foundry product, and I'm happy to have been asked to participate in the initial offerings. Power Play is a mini-campaign for the Android Shadow of the Beanstalk sci-fi setting. It takes place in locations within Heinlein, the major colony on the Moon. Heinlein also happens to be one of the areas I helped develop for Android Shadow of the Beanstalk, so it was fun to develop a new campaign for it.

Here's the back cover copy, with more information:

Mysterious cybernetic malfunctions are attracting unwanted attention to 8CMod, an advanced, thriving lunar black market cybernetics clinic. 8CMod is more than a problematic unlicensed medical practice, however. Investigators soon try to unravel a web of organized crime, corporate corruption, and ambitious individuals out to seize control of one of Heinlein's standout companies.

This Android mini-campaign gives Player Characters the opportunity to manipulate the future of a specialized organized crime syndicate and an important lunar corporation. Do they expose dirty deals or maximize advantages over them? Do they play the part of kingmaker, or try to seize power and wealth for themselves? No matter their choices, they gain new enemies and allies before things are through.

This mini-campaign is suitable for 4 to 6 moderately experienced Player Characters of a variety of archetypes. It includes new locations to visit, new NPCs, new computer systems to hack, and multiple ways for the PCs to make their own Power Play.

Instant Adversaries - Now Available on the New Genesys Foundry

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Tonight at Gen Con, Fantasy Fight Games announced Genesys Foundry, a new community content program for the Genesys RPG available on DriveThruRPG.com. Genesys Foundry features products, adventures, settings, and more for use with Genesys itself, as well as the campaign settings of Android Shadow of the Beanstalk (sci-fi), and Realms of Terrinoth (fantasy). Products are distributed in PDF format.

Instant Adversaries is my first Genesys Foundry product, and I'm happy to have been asked to participate in the initial offerings. It's an accessory that helps game masters quickly create customized adversaries at the table, with minimal effort, by picking a few key items off the page, and customizing where needed. There are similar options for creating all kinds of vehicles.

This product isn't meant to replace or generate primary NPCs for a campaign, but to give the GM a tool to quickly create NPCs needed unexpectedly. I often try to use and modify pregenerated NPCs from books or adventurs on the fly, but I always seem to need to tweak a characteristic, add a skill, or swap equipment. I inevitably forget the exact changes sometime during the encounter. Instant Adversaries allows me to create what I need, and provides a handy reference throughout the encounter. Here's the back cover copy, which explains in a bit more detail:

Create basic adversaries right when you need them. Instant Adversaries provides a quick and easy way to generate stats for NPCs and vehicles on the fly.

  • Pick the prime characteristic for the NPC.

  • Choose from a list of stats built around that characteristic, alter the list, or choose your own.

  • Select a list of skills for general character types, or customize as needed.

  • Pick a talent or two from a basic list.

  • Quickly generate stats for soak, wound threshold, strain threshold, and defense.

  • Create minions, rivals, and/or nemesis NPCs.

Generate basic vehicle and weapons stats.

  • Pick a vehicle type: ground, air, water, space or exotic.

  • Chose a specific civilian or military vehicle from the list. Alter specific stats as needed.

  • Select the attached vehicle weapons, if any.