Sunday, May 12, 2019

FROSTCRAWL AVAILABLE NOW

DOWNLOAD FROSTCRAWL
Frostcrawl is a hexcrawl for use with Heroes & Other Worlds or Blades & Black Magic.  The map coves 441 hexes to explore, and I put in an entry of some sort for all 441 hexes.

NEXT WEEKEND: I will make a pocket book version of FROSTCRAWL available to order at cost, it will only be available next weekend so set your reminder!! (Pocketbook size is the same as the BLADES rule book)

Frostcrawl is my small way of saying THANK YOU for supporting this one knucklehead endeavor and sticking with me while life kept throwing curve balls.  My hope is Frostcrawl is a solid base hit, and not a foul tip!

Next up, I'm working to complete the BLACK MAGIC book!

27 comments:

  1. Downloaded. Can't wait to dig into it!

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    1. Thanks Marc! Hope you like it!

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    2. I have read the forward matter of the printed version and I am impressed. It's a good-looking little book!
      Someone on the TFT group on FB recommended it and I am glad to have been lucky enough to get the physical copy. I am really looking forward to exploring the map and stories, adaptimg for TFT as I go.
      It seems a certainty that more H&OW is in my gaming future.

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    3. Awesome! Thanks for the support Kyle, I hope you enjoy it--more good stuff still to come!

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  2. Yay! This looks great so far! I plan to give it a trial run tonight!

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    1. Thanks Jeff--look forward to hearing what you think!

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  3. A job well done - That's one harsh, harsh land!

    favourite typo so far:'lager brethren' in 15.06

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    1. Hmm must have been subconscious at work...mmmm...lager! ;)

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  4. You know, I want to make a comment here that is appropriate to pretty much all of your products to date; but that I've failed to make in the past:


    I LOVE most of your art work choices! Pretty much everything you choose does a superb job of evoking the spirit of the game, the nature of the people in it, the looks of the creatures that live there, and the overall atmosphere that you are striving for. You pretty much are hitting the same vibe with me that the Metagaming version of TFT did (unfortunately, the new edition of TFT doesn't really succeed in this). Your choices make me want to play in that world, to explore it, even to live there for a while! They make me SEE it! So I just wanted to complement you on the art, and on the artists you choose for your works. Outstanding!

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    1. I agree. I love that TFT has been revived, but HOW to me has the original vibe of the 1982 original.

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    2. Thanks Jeff, that is extremely high praise! I just write what I play and what I like. Appreciate that a few other people like it too!

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    3. Thanks Mabon! --I made HOW/BBM to play how I like. It's not going to scratch the itch of everyone--and that's okay--but if you like it enough to play it? I can't think of better nor kinder praise. Thanks!

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    1. I don't know, but my guess is that since he's making it available at cost, and I suspect that Lulu would prefer to get a piece of the action, a couple of days is all he can afford before some fees kick in or something! (Though, frankly, I'd pay full price for something as good as this...)

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    2. Why one weekend? Good question, long answer.

      First, FROSTCRAWL its a free PDF so there is no real need for a book version--but if you are like me, you love having books-so I am making one available for a very limited time.

      Next, in my wish to "say thanks" I wanted those who actually have stuck with me and follow my blog to have a special bonus--a chance to buy a limited time available book at cost-I make NO profit. So sticking with me and keeping up with my shenanigans has a unique opportunity/reward!

      Third, I love the BLADES book format--and I love the idea of Frostcrawl gazetteer as a little pocket book.

      Last, Frostcrawl will likely get printed as part of the hardback combined work of BLADE+BLACK MAGIC as bonus content so it will still end up in a book.

      So, for good or ill, that's my reasoning!

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  6. I'm old so I like books, but I also forget stuff so I'll go put this on the calendar... I agree again with Jeff I would pay more but appreciate your generosity.

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    1. As do I! It's great that you are willing to do this, and I thank you for it, C.R.! (And tell your wife we all said thanks too -- not only for her great art work, but also for putting up with all of this!!)

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  7. Well I respect the fact that people are willing to part with their hard earned $ for my little endeavors. If I can do some good to show it (not just say it) then hopefully see my deeds = my words.

    My lovely wife is actually inspired by BLADES (yup she plays) and is doing 2 covers so that when BLACK MAGIC is done there will be a BLADES and a BLACK MAGIC cover pair designed by her. I appreciate her support greatly and know I could not do this without her kindness and patience!

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  8. Looking forward to reading it. Looking forward to a print copy.

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  9. On a side note B&BM has to small format. It isn't easy to read it comfortably. I prefer the bigger copies. Could you mull over prepare, f.i. B5 format? I'll buy it for the second time. The best is HC HOW. I love this shape, volume, size...
    THX for Frostcrawl.

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  10. HOW Hardcover it's a pinnacle of perfection. Consider it for Blades, please ;)

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    1. Thanks Mruf for the the feedback. I can confirm, once Black Magic releases, the combined book (Blades & Black Magic) will be available as a hardback like the HOW version!

      Thanks for your patience and support!

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  11. I have a couple of suggestions to make (before you go final on your print version, or failing that, for a v.2.0 at some point):

    1) Put a legend on your map. I know you're using fairly standard terrain features from the classic D&D style maps of World of Greyhawk, but new players may not be aware of those mapping conventions and having a legend would be a tremendous help to them. And you want to make this as accessible as possible to new players too.

    2) Consider this as a proofreading technique: Option 1: read your document backwards, from the end to the start. Oddly enough, when you do so, spelling errors, incomplete sentences, and even punctuation errors seem to leap off the page into your consciousness! I used to use this technique in the military when running a SIGINT unit -- we had to get our reporting right the first time (several of the reports my unit did went straight to the President's desk during the Cold War), and it was amazing how a technique that simple fixed a huge number of typos that might otherwise have made it into our reporting. Option 2: give the manuscript to someone to proofread for you -- I've received published credits for proofreading from both Steve Jackson Games (Ogre, and various expansions), and Cubicle Seven (Cthulhu Britannica: London, The Curse of Nineveh, and the Journal of Neve Selcibuc), and am a volunteer if you want that kind of help -- I would confine my proofreading to "blue pencil" stuff; not suggesting content changes of course. (Oh, and it should go without saying that anything you sent me for proofreading would remain secret until you released it!) You should have my e-mail, but if you don't, tell me, and I'll send it your way.

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    1. Thanks very much for the correction guide and the kind offer! I may indeed take you up on that for Black Magic, thanks Jeff!

      I went through and did some fixing and added a key per your guidance. Will admit, I am working on this after having traveled all day so hopefully it is more right than wrong now!

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    2. Jeff V, thanks for sharing the technique of going back to front for proof-reading. I've never heard of that and I'll try it in my own writing!

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    3. @Dante: You're very welcome. I've found it extremely helpful personally for the past 35 years or so! ;-)

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