First I want to talk about my roommates, I went with TRRW (Taylor), and my friend Mike, and Will, then Talinthas joined us on Thurs. We had a great time, trying to get around Indy was a bit of a b!tch, the first day we went down 2, one way streets backwards because the roads are poorly marked. So that wasn't that great and mostly amounted to TRRW getting angry while the rest of us had a merry old time with it. TAL, was one of the coolest guys I have ever met, though he does like to dangle hints that he gets infront of you and tease you with special info a lot. He was still really kick ass and everyone of my friends that met him thought he was really cool. So Tal thanks for an awesome time it was great meeting you see you next year.
Next, about the SP people, I got to meet everyone who who works for SP pretty much. I have to say they were some of the most awesome people I have ever met too. Jamie was awesome and incredibly nice very talkative even though he worked his ***** off in that tiny little booth they had. His wife was very sweet too, a little creepy that once she heard my lastname she remembered my AOL sn but oh well. Sean Everett, very awesome, and Sturm looking, Cam very quiet and elusive, but still a cool guy. Andre was cool. DragonHelm was cool as hell, as was Clark who is one of Cam's friends. Kipper was beyond cool, he DMed the campaign we did that was the test campaign that they were talking about. He was an awesome DM, and I about got out whole group killed and possibly annoyed him by asking every 2 min if anyone had seen my kitty... (character I was playing) Larry Elmore was a awesome guy, though sorry to him but we met some artists who we had draw a sketch of Raist, who i think were 100x better than Larry, and Jamie I think you should talk to these other artists I wish I had a chance to point them out to you, cause thier names are hard as heck to read. I do have to ask is it a signiture thing that you all have to write so no one can read your names? Sean Everette is about the only one i can make out for sure.
Lets see Tracy and Maragret are the nicest people I have ever met. I have never seen anyone who cares about thier fans so much, Maragret was signing autographs all weekend. Tracy had seminars but when he wasn't in them he was signing too. They always had time to talk a bit to everyone and shake hands. If you ever go to GenCon you have to go to Tracy's How to Play the Game, it was hilarious and informative, one of the best seminars I have ever seen, acctually I wish they would put it out on video for everyone. Umm, the killer Breakfast was ok, but it wasn't long enough, because they only got halfway through the people, it ended with the whole world of Krynn/ everyone in the room getting blown up. But as soon as it did the world reformed, and I think i get the distiction as being the only person to survive the killer breakfast, as I had a 1up on me and when I died I was able to come back when the world reformed all be it all alone. The thing honoring Maragret was beautiful, she is beyond special and touches everyone she meets.
The DragonLance road show, was incredible, they were perfect. I even got to help out with Techincal support. They had some friends play Goldmoon and Riverwind, and also Raist. All did a great job and it was so touching. I can't remember the peoples names, but the woman they had for Riverwind, was incredible beautiful and such a perfect voice. She sang Goldmoon's song from the book in such a perfect voice and everything it was enough to make you cry. Then they did DragonLance "The Musical" which was also part of the Killer Breakfast. It was hilarious, and sad to try to hear everyone try to sing. Though Tracy has an awesome voice too, and was an hilarious Fizban. Then the two who played Raist and Goldmoon put on thier armor they made. (Jamie please post thier names) And did an awesome a$$ sword fight. It was incredible to say the least. HOTTEST Dragon Highloard ever...EVER. I told her i would take her over Kitiara anyday (and I would). But I would recommend this to everyone. This is all I can type right now, its long enough as it is, I will tell you about the books later, for now know they kick ass, though we did find a minor prob in one. Thanks all hope you read this.
GCS
Did the 2 new books sellout? I ordered both on the website and was curious.
Originally posted by lorac75
Gots a pick of dat Highlord?
Did the 2 new books sellout? I ordered both on the website and was curious.
Yes but need to get the film developed. No, niether book sold out, but Amber and Ashes did sell out with SP, but not at the wizards booth.
GCS
Originally posted by lorac75
I'm stoked that I should be getting both of those books relatively quickly. Really looking forward to them. So is the WOTL loaded with Elmore goodness?
Yep. ;)
Lots of great art in there by all the artists who contributed.
I'll have more on GenCon to post soon myself. It was great seeing everyone there!
I'll even be posting the song I sang at Killer Breakfast. And if anyone has a picture of that, please send it my way!
Originally posted by lorac75
I'm stoked that I should be getting both of those books relatively quickly. Really looking forward to them. So is the WOTL loaded with Elmore goodness?
Well I guess that depends on if you like Elmore art or not, as i think we all know he did the covor for it, not bad except the highlord in the back I guess... but yes there is more Elmore stuff in there. Personally I met some artists who had never heard of Raist(WTF i dunno how this is either) and drew a better looking version of him than Elmore ever has. The books are nothing short of beautiful. Everthing in WotL is amazing, all the information in it and everything, including the adventure in the back, wrote by Tracy Hickman himself, converted to 3.5 by the spectacular Cam Banks. Whom I was honored to sit with at part of the Ennies, which they won 2 Silvers for The Bestiary of Krynn, so some people didn't vote enough from here.... tsk tsk. ToHS has an Elmore Art in is, and both WoTL and ToHS, have stats for Raist.
WotL has stats for all the Heros of the Lance, and the depth of the information on the cities and other locations on Krynn is incredible. I don't think anyone will say that people didn't do thier research for WotL.
Amber and Ashes is awesome so far... I am barely 100 pages into it, read mostly on my ride home. I'm a slow reader. Mina is a bit more likeable in this book. I am very happy with where they are going with things in this so far.
In closing, you all should be on the edge of your seats waiting for WotL and for ToHS, both are amazing and with beautiful art work, the towers are wonderful. And be sure to pick up Amber and Ashes as soon as it hits the shelves.
GCS
For those who missed it, in addition to our Readers Theater, Mike and Nicole did a swordfighting skit that was amazing to behold -- especially watching Nicole wield two bastard swords simultaneously!
For more information, check this out: http://www.swordmark.com/cs/about.html
Dragonlance fans may also recognize the two as Brother Michael and Lady Nikol from the Tales II anthologies.
Jamie Chambers
Sovereign Press, Inc.
GCS
I had a stellar time at the convention, and played through the demo twice (well, more like one and a half times). I did my best to not come off as a drooling fanboy, and really, i think it worked. Let me tell ya, folks, i don't think i'll ever be free of the dragonawe i feel from standing next to Margaret and Tracy, or the joy i feel when i'm recognized by these people, even though they've known me for so long.
So, lets talk about the haul. War of the Lance. Holy Crap. What can i possibly say to encompass the book that sums up fan desire for the past 20 years? In 2000, i stood up at gencon during the DL reception, and begged for geography and culture. I was sad that you could not play a DL game without doing exactly what the hotl did because there was nothing else to the setting.
They responded. War of the Lance, from page 1, is the book morten dreams about at night. it's the book rohan tolstrup wouldn't want to burn and send back to seattle. it's the book that gives dinos like myself a chance to rekindle the love of setting that came with your first experience with a handful of unlikely heroes who went out through the kitchen.
But you know what WotL isnt? it isnt TotL. It isnt DLA. and it's certainly not the original modules. What it is, however, is the FRCS. The Eberron campaign setting. A full out and out gazetteer of ansalon in the age of despair, from cataclysm to chaos war. It tells you what is going on in estwilde when the heroes are in solace. it tells you who is running sikk'et hul during the war of the lance. It tells you what makes Saifhum's economy run (fishing, kelp harvesting, salt production and shipping). It finally describes the world behind the curtains. Amazing work.
I also got towers, but i've barely touched it, since the WotL is totally absorbing my life.
Other news of the con- Mina is in Abberations as a mini. Taladas is gonna be modern age, starting in the Tamire, and eventually travelling the continent (no obvious Thenolian bad guy, either). Paul and Tonya are doing a trilogy about the modern elves.
Knaak says not to underestimate titans in the minotaurs books.
Doug is doing the empire of solamnia trilogy, and coryn will have a web enhancement soon. Key of Destiny is still on for november release. the DL intro box looks super cool. Peter Archer and Mary Kirchoff are really cool people. Amber and Ashes had a long and darkly humerous story on how it got lost in shipping even though it was sitting in a nearby hotel since wednesday (man, my ARC got some dirty looks at the con, and i still managed to get the first real A&A out of the cases). Tracy and Laura are great people, and i'm glad that i made it on stage for killer breakfast, even though godzilla killed me.
Cam, Clark, Kipper, Trampas, Kenneth, Shugi, Rev. Jake, GCS, RRW, Sean Everett, Jamie Chambers, Renee Chambers, Jamie's sister Chambers, Margaret, Tracy, Laura, Chris, Richard, Paul, Tonya, Stan, and all the rest, I gotta thank you folks. You made my Con a wonderful experience, and instilled me with a lot of confidence and hope that one day I too will be able to say that I was a fan who Made It.
peace out.
P.S. GCS...We used the map on the back of the Hard Rock Cafe coupons to get around the downtown area. It had all the one-way streets marked...and which direction they went.
Originally posted by Koranith
I kept missing Kipper, so I didn't get any iron-ons. All in all my wife and I had a great time and a lot of fun. Can't wait to do it again next year hopefully.
Sorry about that man. I ran a demo on Friday morning for SP and went to the DragonLance Roadshow. I was also at Killer Breakfast but I arrived late! I was so ticked off. I wanted to die right along side all the SP and WC people.
BUT Jamie did actually sneak me into line when I got there around 9 or so. Not sure if you remember, but I was the guy in the Spiderman shirt that arrived with the reinforcements from Kendermore.. then the rest of may answer was cut off when they had to switch to the "juggling" Laura Quest... man I wish I would have got a chance to juggle :DEnjoy!
I continue to be greatly appreciative of the support and friendship of the people I meet in this community, the openness and good nature of fans and freelancers and their families, industry people (it's not really an industry, is it?) and the generosity of everyone with their time. GenCon is like a family reunion for me, and it's a tradition I don't ever want to miss out on.
Next year my wife and I are planning on bringing along a babysitter, unless GenCon gets its act together and provides childcare. There were MANY old folks like me with kids in tow, you'd think they'd sort that demographic out...
And what can I say about the new releases? You'll all see them soon. I'm especially proud of the War of the Lance book. As Talinthas implies, it's absolutely packed with stuff. Not just gazetteer-like info, although that's about a 3rd of the book, but more rules, more background info, an adventure, maps, character writeups, information on the war and the forces in it, racial info, and a ton of other stuff. If you read it and you're still not happy - well, I don't know what else we could have done!
Cheers,
Cam
Bad timing. I was hanging out by the SP table at the Ennies, but you guys left before I got a chance to say hi.
Oh well. GenCon went well.
Word to the wise: 190 proof alcohol is NOT good. Avoid it like the pox that it is.
Be warned: GenCon is not for the out-of-shape. Lots of walking with heavy backpacks, cluttered hallways, no food to be had for under 10bux, and very little in the way of cooling subsystems.
Other than that, awesome place to hang out.
Just one piece of advice: For next year's killer breakfast, make sure to tell the lady calling out numbers to find out how many tickets were given out so she doesn't stop calling numbers 20 minutes from the end. Either that, or stop giving out tickets at 320 or whereever they stopped at.
-TRRW
Originally posted by TheRedRobedWizard
Be warned: GenCon is not for the out-of-shape. Lots of walking with heavy backpacks, cluttered hallways, no food to be had for under 10bux, and very little in the way of cooling subsystems.
I know I felt some pains in places I didn't know I had muscles! At my first GenCon, I had a lot of heavy stuff with me, that made it a bit miserable. As the years go on, I come with less and less (as there's less to get autographed!).
Next year, it's just me and my bathrobe!
Er....
Just one piece of advice: For next year's killer breakfast, make sure to tell the lady calling out numbers to find out how many tickets were given out so she doesn't stop calling numbers 20 minutes from the end. Either that, or stop giving out tickets at 320 or whereever they stopped at.
-TRRW
Yeah, I've seen her try this for a few years now, and each year it seems that something happens.
I loved the note from mom.
Originally posted by Kipper Snifferdoo
Sorry about that man. I ran a demo on Friday morning for SP and went to the DragonLance Roadshow. I was also at Killer Breakfast but I arrived late! I was so ticked off. I wanted to die right along side all the SP and WC people.
That's allright...I was the one that got there with the magic kender beans of teleporting that my wife gave me. She would have done it herself but she chickened out. I got my Laura bar for my juggling or lack thereof. I was the fool in the fidhing vest and red shirt. Was I ever hot by the end of the day. Next year maybe I'll actually have a chance to meet everyone.
Originally posted by talinthas
Taladas is gonna be modern age, starting in the Tamire, and eventually travelling the continent (no obvious Thenolian bad guy, either).
May we assume you're talking about the Taladas novels and not the campaign setting book here?
My favorite thing was the guys in my gaming group. Saturday was my birthday and they presented me with my very own copy of the War of the Lance signed by Jamie, Tracy, Margaret and Larry Elmore (who I found was born in my hometown of Louisville, KY, and now lives a few miles south). Thanks for the autographs!
After a long 9 hour drive on Wednesday I finally made it to my hotel and settled in. Then I knocked on Cam’s door and I went to dinner with his wife and friends (Clark and Amanda). It was nice to hang out with someone you talk to every day, but never actually see in person. Heh it’s amazing how much faster the conversations go. Then we met up with Shugi, Sean Everette, Jamie Chambers and his wife Renae and talked a bit about the future of Dragonlance and everything is really looking great! On Thursday I went to the Sovereign Press booth. Man, were they busy! So basically I just tried to stay out of the way. We had two Demo games lined up for 2:00 that afternoon, but we only had enough people for one game, so instead of running it I sat in on the game while Jamie’s friend Dennis ran it. I kept running back and forth to the booth to report on how it was going. Tracy and Margaret would give a little cheer every time I said someone’s head was on the chopping block. Heh. That first game didn’t last very long as there was a small rules mix-up that made the going much more difficult than it should have been for the players. Plus two of the guys cut out half way through the adventure.
That evening Andre, Trampas and his buddy Kenneth showed up. Plus I got to meet Green Cloaked Sorcerer, Reverend Jake and Talinthas. They are all great guys and very enthusiastic about DragonLance. It’s so awesome to see that type of dedication. I know I feel the same way about DL.
I then had dinner with the guys from the Whitestone Council and lots of laughs.Friday Morning I was lucky enough to catch a quick two hour game of Star Wars d20 that Clark ran. It was really a lot of fun. I played a liberated slave who (along with others) was caught up in an assassination plot and we had to find out who done it before we were accused of the crime. There was one girl playing a ship’s technician that just wanted to destroy everything in the house we went too. She finally got her chance at the end when she jumped onto a giant chandelier and shot it causing it to crash on top of four or five storm troopers and rushing out the front door of the house where she jumped in a waiting land speeder and rammed the house killing the rest. It was totally crazy.
Then I ran a DL demo game at 10:00am and it was a blast! All my players were great! Everyone did such a good job and we had a ton of fun. The MVP has got to go to the kender chorister however. She was doing more damage with her merciful hoopak than anyone else in the party could, not to mention she never seemed to fail a skill check. The same couldn’t be said for her saves however and she bit the dust at the end of the adventure healing the gnome so he could escape. It was all very well done all around. I thought they were in trouble when the first creature they discovered the White Robed wizard unleashed a lighting bolt on, but it all turned out good in the end. I wish I could tell the whole story, but it might spoil the Lyceum for some players. I’ll just say that I think my favorite part was sending “Mr. Raistlin (the gnome) to the corner with his dunce cap on and mentioning that Galen Dracos had been expelled.” ;)
Friday evening I had a game called Devil in the Deep Blue Sea in which I played a hot-tempered tomboy female elven Paladin. The DM had little index cards with a star on them and said that when we hold the card to our head and talk it means we are speaking telepathically. It was corny and geeky… but it ended up being a lot of fun actually. Heh
When that game was over I ran into Cam, Jess, Andre, Sean Everette and his wife Tracy heading over to the Ennies so I tagged along. I’m so proud of the guys and Sovereign Press for the work on that book. I think two silver Ennies is awesome and I congratulate everyone involved. Then during the Ennies my wife arrived (Yay!) so I went to meet her.
On Saturday I MISSED the beginning of Killer Breakfast! UHG! I had 10:00 stuck in my head for some stupid reason. We ended up getting there at 9:00am. I fell down on the floor and started throwing a tantrum… heh. I guess Jamie felt sorry for me and got me spot in line. (Thanks Jamie!) Sorry to whoever was second to last to get up on stage!
I ended up missing the Bronze Canticles Seminar because I was running around looking for my wife... who was in the Bronze Canticles Seminar. Duh. Then we had an Independent Dragonlance game and I played Telek Warmonger, a true kender of Nordmaar raised by kagonesti elves. I want to thank “Doc” (the DM) for that game. We all must have laughed through the whole thing. “Everyone make a will save, the kender is crying.”
Then Saturday night we had the DragonLance Roadshow. It was unbelievable… I hope there is some way I can I get a hold of the video. I know some people were taping it. You just had to be there. Janet Pack IS Tasslehoff. Tracy Hickman IS Fizban and believe it or not Peter Archer IS Flint. Heh, personally though I think everyone who saw it would have to agree that it was Nicole Harsch of the crossed swords that was truly outstanding. She played Goldmoon and sung the song at the inn, then after the show she dressed up like Kitiara and put on one of the best swordfights I’d ever seen. Uhmm her husband Mike Sakuta (Raistlin) was good too. :D
Well that was just about it. As you can tell I had a great time and I really look forward to next year. I just want to see if this year can be topped.
Thanks to everyone that said hullo, or played in my game. I love meeting you people and I’m glad I had the opportunity to do so.and dang it, i'm sad i missed all the WC dinners =)
Originally posted by talinthas
taladas books are modern age, taladas setting book is ALL ages =)
and dang it, i'm sad i missed all the WC dinners =)
It was mostly eating in the food court, man, you didn't miss out on much!
Cheers,
Cam
Originally posted by Kipper Snifferdoo
Then I ran a DL demo game at 10:00am and it was a blast! All my players were great! Everyone did such a good job and we had a ton of fun. The MVP has got to go to the kender chorister however. She was doing more damage with her merciful hoopak than anyone else in the party could, not to mention she never seemed to fail a skill check. The same couldn’t be said for her saves however and she bit the dust at the end of the adventure healing the gnome so he could escape. It was all very well done all around. I thought they were in trouble when the first creature they discovered the White Robed wizard unleashed a lighting bolt on, but it all turned out good in the end. I wish I could tell the whole story, but it might spoil the Lyceum for some players. I’ll just say that I think my favorite part was sending “Mr. Raistlin (the gnome) to the corner with his dunce cap on and mentioning that Galen Dracos had been expelled.” ;)
Then Saturday night we had the DragonLance Roadshow. It was unbelievable… I hope there is some way I can I get a hold of the video. I know some people were taping it. You just had to be there. Janet Pack IS Tasslehoff. Tracy Hickman IS Fizban and believe it or not Peter Archer IS Flint. Heh, personally though I think everyone who saw it would have to agree that it was Nicole Harsch of the crossed swords that was truly outstanding. She played Goldmoon and sung the song at the inn, then after the show she dressed up like Kitiara and put on one of the best swordfights I’d ever seen. Uhmm her husband Mike Sakuta (Raistlin) was good too. :D
Well that was just about it. As you can tell I had a great time and I really look forward to next year. I just want to see if this year can be topped.
Lucky for me I got to be part of this adventure, and it was amazing, though i think we missed part which is why everyone died but ohwell we were running a little late. That favorite part he had, was sending gnome to the cornor with the dunce hat... yea that was me... and I was damn proud of it, stupid wizard not having seen my kitty. Then again I guess its kinda my fault we died screaming through out the building. But Sean u did a kick a$$ job all of our group loved it, even though only half survived.
Yes though ur right bout everything else it was amazing and I can't wait for next year too!
GCS
i just wanted to maximize my hanging out time.
but its cool. GCS and his crew are truly awesome folks, and i had a really great time with them.
Originally posted by talinthas
and dang it, i'm sad i missed all the WC dinners =)
Uhmm.. you mean "the" WC dinner on Thursday night?
Andre called you and from what I remember you were at the 30th Anniversary Party for Dungeons and Dragons.. as if THAT could be more important than the Whitestone Council... uhm... well.. nevermind. heh