Hay Problemas...

Actually I have a couple problemas. The first is that no one seems to believe me. I told my wife that I put the baby to sleep by dancing him to Lady GaGa and she thinks I'm just making it up to be funny. Then I show her and she flips out! Like I've discovered something amazing or something. No...he just likes rhythmic dance music. He digs on Black Sabbath, too (the Ronnie James Dio years), and I'm trying to get him into Wolfmother (the latter depends on his mood, really), but GaGa is always a hit.

Which is good, 'cause I get tired of singing him show tunes.

The OTHER problem (probably a bit more interesting to my blog readers) is the new book. "Which new book, JB? You've got, like, four or five hot irons in the fire!" Right. Got it. Yes, I am as prone to the famous "gamer ADD" as anyone, and the fatigue/sleep deprivation thang doesn't make that any easier.

However, right now I am referring to the new book that is almost ALMOST complete (at least the writing)...the only one I'm currently soliciting (and accepting) artwork for, my little B/X player supplement whose name I am withholding because...well, because I'm a might superstitious if you must know.

The PROBLEM is that it is shaping up to be FRIGGIN' HUGE, on account of the spell lists. Let me break it down in terms of "good/bad news:"

The Good News: I have completed all the spell lists, including the mammoth final spell-caster spell list (170 spells from levels 1 through 10). You think that was easy? No way, Jose. Choosing which spells in the list would over-lap (there are hardly more than 170 spells in all of B/X...and that's counting the B/X Companion) and which would be saved for various "niche protection" consideration was its own ball game...as was deciding on the particular order in which spells would be acquired (what is a 2nd level spell for one class is sometimes 1st or 3rd for another, you know?)...not to mention that I still needed to come up with more than 50 new spells to round out the list (51 in fact, not counting half a dozen or so reversed spells). So, yeah, list complete, even if the writing's not (and I plan on doing some work on that tonight, if I can keep my eyes open).

The Bad News: Even shrinking the font down to 9 and leaving no space for pictures, the spell lists clock in at 21 pages. 21...without fleshing out 170 spell descriptions! I figure to have at least (or close to) 30 pages by the end...and this is a book I wanted to come in at 40 or so TOTAL. The rest of the book is already 23 pages (21 shrinking the font) with at least 6 or so pages left to compile.

Why 40, JB? Isn't "more" better? No, it is NOT. This is supposed to be a slim supplement, not an f'ing huge-ass tome! What's more, this one is going to be "perfect bound" (meaning more cost on my end) and I had hoped to price it cheaper than the B/X Companion. I don't know how I'm going to manage that without shrinking the page count...and right now, I'm not liking where the page count is heading.

SO...I will probably be placing a poll on the blog in the very near future regarding the issue, but does anyone have any suggestions for me? Dare I take the font down to 8? Should I skimp on artwork (*shudder*)? Drop the demi-human classes (who like that "race as class" thing anyway)?

OR...right now, I've got the spell lists in the same format as the B/X Companion. Meaning the same format as B/X: each spell is presented including "range" and "duration" and a brief description...even if that description is "this spell is the same as the 5th level magic-user spell of the same name." Maybe I should just drop all the repeats?

But isn't nice to have them in the book? Even if all it does is tell you where to reference the actual spell description?

Ugh. All right, it's 9:15 and I got too little sleep last night and I've got get up hella' early tomorrow as well. I'm probably just a bit "over-tired." Hasta manana!

Neon Knights

Neon Knights*

Armor Class: -2............No. Appearing: 0 (1-4)
Hit Dice: 9+10**............Save As: Fighter 14
Move: 90' (30') on foot............Morale: 12
Attacks: 2............Treasure Type: Nil
Damage: By weapon............Alignment: Lawful

In ages long since forgotten, seven kings of power and wisdom came together to craft a cadre of undying champions that would protect their realms from the perils of the night. These neon knights, chosen for their strength of arms and unwavering loyalty, were granted certain gifts to aid them in fulfilling their duties, including agelessness. To this day, they continue to act as loyal defenders, though their patrons have long since been lost to the passing of time.

Neon knights always appear mounted on huge war horses of surpassing might (double maximum hit points). These steeds strike fire with their hooves, and can ride across both sky and water. Knights are armed with several hand weapons (50% chance of any given weapon being magical) and possess great strength (double all damage done in melee).

Each neon knight wears prismatic shadow armor, giving them the armor class listed, and making them immune to dragon fire, non-magical weapons, and spells below 4th level. The armor gives off a scintillating glow of colors, clearly visible from a distance, even in the darkest night; however the armor loses all magical effects in daylight becoming simple, dull plate mail (AC 3).

Of the 13 original knights, only four remain, the others having been slain through treachery, battle, or misadventure, though always in defense of their ancient land. They reside in a Mountain of Power, from whence they ride forth when summoned by the descendants of their original liege lords, or when mortal danger trembles the very foundation of the realm.

And Now Back to our Regular Programming

AKA Random Blog Fodder

Man-o-man, I seem to have quite a few followers these days…pretty cool considering I’m coming up on my one year anniversary and (nearly) my 500th post to the blog. Apparently the traffic has been noticeable enough that I’m being solicited to link with other random sites for mutual financial benefit.

And now a word from our would-be sponsors:

We love the look and feel of your blog and think that your US and Canadian readers might be interested in a giveaway with our sites www.accent-furniture-direct.com, www.toysandgamesonline.com, orwww.cookware.com.

Accent furniture? Cookware?! I’ve talked about Top Chef, what? Twice? If that!

I don’t have any plans in the near future to stock this site with ad ware…right now, it’s purely for my own (and hopefully others’) entertainment. Plus, I’ve got a lot of images parked here without permission, and I’m afraid someone would sue my ass if I tried to make money off ‘em, even though my “art” (blog) may be considered derivative and their pieces available under fair use practice. Whatever…no ads here except for my OWN games.

New web site coming soon.

In other news, yes, I am fully aware of Dio's passing from this Earthly plane. In the past, I’ve said my piece on this this great human being and (as with Frank) I choose to celebrate his life, his deeds, and his artistic accomplishments rather than mourn his death. And that means I’ve been listening to nothing but Dio and Black Sabbath the last two days.
; )

Let’s see, what else…

Should probably write a thing or two about The Compleat Spell Caster…though since each new class presented has its own individual spell list, don’t expect to see conversion write-ups any time soon.

Speaking of conversions, I’ve been REALLY itching to do a new B/X conversion of an old AD&D module. Unfortunately, as maps and text are copyright of the original publisher, conversion notes won’t be helpful to anyone that doesn’t have the original module (the great thing about my White Plume Mountain conversion was that WotC provided the module as a free D20 edition down load, so the maps and text were available to any that wanted it). What to do, what to do…maybe a new poll should be on the agenda!

Yeah...a new poll is definitely in order.

Flying A Rainbow Demon with Lady Evil Across Heaven & Hell

Ronnie James Dio rocks.

I mean, for a lot o folks this is old news, but I just keep having my eyes opened wider and wider as I hear more of his music.

For whatever reason, I just never got into Dio that much as a youth. I mean, I'm an elitist snob anyway, and I got brought into the Sabbath fold through Ozzy and why would I ever give a rip about who came after the Great Beast went solo? And Holy Diver? The only song I was ever exposed to was the title track and it just never did anything for me.

But man, I am quickly seeing the error of my ways. Sure, Tenacious D sang about Dio's glory and there was the Ronnie James Dio for President campaign...but can you really take that kind of thing seriously? Can you listen with a non-judgmental ear to a guy singing about Rainbows in the Dark? What the hell does that mean anyway?

Turns out, it doesn't really have to mean anything to be great music. This is something I should have already known (there are plenty o great songs out there with lyrics that are more than a little obscure). But there is artistry in the way words are woven together anyway. Hell, I think those of us who appreciate Gygax's prose can all agree to that!

So when you give Mr. Dio a listen and just let the wall of sound kick your ass...it's pretty close to a transcendental experience. And word on the street is the guy's even better live. Not bad for guy that's over 60 years old and nicknamed "The Troll."

I know I've been converted...I've been listening to Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell, nearly non-stop the last two-three days, and it hasn't got old yet. Heck, it's pretty damn inspiring and NOT just from a musical point o view.

The other day, I wrote that there are some bands out there weird enough or conceptual enough that could be singing about RPGs or could be the inspiration for 'em (perhaps I didn't say that outright, but that's what I was thinking). Dio has got be chalked up in that category, and not just because his original band was called Elf or because he has a penchant for singing of "Dragons and Kings" (hell, I could rip off half the lines from H&H and convert them to titles of new Magic the Gathering cards...call it the Heaven & Hell deck..."whoop! Here comes my 5/5 Neon Knights!"). The music itself is just so damn menacing, while still being lyrical, rhythmic, and catchy...I don't know what it is, but it feels like old school AD&D to me. It conjures feelings (not emotions...it's more tactile, less intellectual than that) that are very similar to the ones I get from my reminiscences about the"good ol' days." And I have no idea why...certainly I wasn't listening to Sabbath back then.

Though now I wish I had been!

Anyway, Kris and I were talking (we are totally on the same page with regard to Dio, though he's been a fan since the 80's, dammit!) and the Doc and I have decided we need to write a module that draws its theme and inspiration from Dio's lyrics. Right now, I'm leaning towards a B/X Companion-level module straight called Neon Knights, but maybe it will be more akin to the Children of the Sea track from the H&H album. Either way, I'm pretty excited.

Oh...and the Doc is currently drawing up the maps for our other adventure, so hopefully things will be coming together soon.

: )

Peace, folks...I'll try to write more tomorrow but the week has been crazy-busy!