In preparing to attend Nuke-Con Oct. 2-4 in Omaha, NE, I’m assembling a host of materials: signs for my numerous events, adventure components (scenario, character sheets, tent cards, handouts), rulebooks, compact miniature wargaming bits (tanks, terrain, reference cards). I managed to order two portrait-oriented Lion Flip-N-Tell Display Book-N-Easels to compliment the stand-up landscape portfolio I’ve had for years. These work really well as double-sided sign holders, with the portfolio format allowing me to easily change signs as needed. They also fold flat for easy packing and transport.
In trying to devise interesting information for signage to inspire guest-table conversation I thought I’d offer a brief outline of some of the projects on my immediate “to do” list. I regret many of these have languished for years, set aside when real-life jobs consumed my energy and then when my full-time parental duties took over my life; but with the Little Guy in kindergarten full time now, I have a little more time to focus on developing and completing game projects for publication.
Hobby Games Recce: For the past five years I’ve written between 750 and 1,500 words each week (sometimes more) on a topic relevant to the adventure gaming hobby. This remains my most visible output of game writing. It allows me to maintain a decent internet presence and cultivate some professional and personal friendships thanks to the online engagement it generates.
The Infinite Cathedral: I’m developing a fantasy roleplaying game setting where characters find themselves inexplicably deposited in a dimension consisting of a vast, ruined cathedral-scape. I plan on launching the setting with a basic primer supplemented by short folios and treatises released through a Patreon campaign.
Panzer Kids: This kid-friendly World War II tank miniatures game has seen several years of playtesting with its target audience. I plan on releasing a free/pay-what-you-want basic version and a low-priced deluxe version with all the optional rules and tank stat references. Some rules text still needs finalizing, the tank data needs compiling, and it needs layout and illustrations before reaching publication.
PDF Games to POD: I’ve long put off taking the time to review my published PDF offerings at DriveThruRPG and preparing them for print-on-demand sale. I think longtime fans and new customers want print editions of my work. Part of my hesitation comes from the need to commission some original, inspiring artwork for a new cover for Pulp Egypt and possibly Heroes of Rura-Tonga. My other concern comes from my unfamiliarity with the print-on-demand requirements, something I need to research.
Schweig’s Skirmish Wargaming Rules: Creating Valley of the Ape for my son and surveying wargaming rules to cover historical periods I enjoy inspired me to design my own basic-level skirmish rules for use with small-scale figures as well as the larger, kid-friendly 54mm plastic figures I’ve acquired over the years. This project incorporates lessons in creating rules, writing, and organizing material learned from previous kid-focused projects like Panzer Kids and Valley of the Ape.
Basic Fantasy Heroes: Everyone has a fantasy roleplaying game rules set in them...this is one I developed a few years ago and even sent to playtesting. Initially intended for kids, I let that slip and moved on to developing a game with more original yet streamlined mechanics. I’d still love to bring it to publication, perhaps with a less-generic title.
Grand Tour of Egypt Card Game: I’m dabbling in card game design with this game about tourists trying to see more prestigious Nile sights than their well-to-do peers. I have a playtest deck rattling around somewhere, but only outline rules. It draws on my interest in Egypt and the graphics I picked up for past projects like Pulp Egypt.
Maxwell’s Egyptian Diary: I developed this steampunk-style supplement for R. Talsorian’s Castle Falkenstein way back when I was still at West End Games. The line soon dried up, other venues declined to accept versions of the manuscript, and it’s been sitting on my computers ever since. Now and then I pick it up and contemplate revising it as a generic Victorian steampunk game supplement.
This list here remains a draft of material for the sign; I’m notoriously long-winded, so what I’ve outlined above needs a bit of trimming and more focus on what it is rather than its sad history of neglect.
I’ve omitted a host of other projects on my list: adapting the Revolutionary War Battle of Ridgefield to a basic chit-and-board wargame; assembling wargaming notes about various Civil War engagements in Culpeper County into a treatise on Cannon & Cavalry; giving my abstract, Egyptian-themed Kadesh game more playtesting and draft rules; completely revising my Battle of Britain game for cooperative play; and dabbling in a host of other game projects that are simple one-offs or possess greater potential. This doesn’t even touch upon any “fun” game projects intended for my own gaming enjoyment: painting minis to play All Quiet on the Martian Front with my sci-fi loving family, printing out and trying Hero Kids with the Little Guy as an introduction to roleplaying games, or finding ships, compiling stats, and devising a scenario to try out Fletcher Pratt’s Naval Wargame.
Comments....
Want to share your opinion? Start a civilized discussion? Share a link to this blog entry on Google+ and tag me (+Peter Schweighofer) to comment.
