Forbeck.com

The tale of August 11, 2006, continues.

(more…)

Here’s my story for August 10, 2006, and I’m sticking to it.

(more…)

This is what I get for not checking on Amazon regularly. Originally—at least as far as I recall, The Dragons Revealed—was due out on August 29. Now it’s listed as having been released on August 8.

So, if you’re interested in reading the final chapter in the Knights of the Silver Dragon series, you could have been doing so already for almost three weeks! Get yourself to a bookstore and snatch up every copy you can find—if it’s not already too late.

I’m told that a major chain or two may not be carrying the book because the line has been ended. If that’s so, I recommend ordering the book through your friendly local bookseller or your favorite online outlet.

I’m looking forward to hearing what people think of this book and it’s immediate predecessor, Prophecy of the Dragons. They represent a huge shake-up in the city of Curston, and a major turning point in the heroes’ lives. I had a blast writing them too.

I met T. Rob Brown of MidwestGamingNews.com at Gen Con after one of my seminars, and we chatted about pursuing getting published in games. Afterward, he asked me a few questions via e-mail, and he just posted the results today.

If you’re interested in a private d20 adventure designed by one of the most talented experts in the field, you still have a chance to step up and sponsor Wolfgang Baur’s first Open Design project, “Steam & Brass.” As Wolf writes, the adventure has firmed up well and now:

• Includes one new monster (the steam golem) and two 3.5 updates (flayed man, possessor)
• Features clockwork magic, elite kobolds, and the Mouse King
• Designed for 12th, 8th, and 6th levels
• Roughly 64 pages long
• Color player handouts and professional maps
• Two mysteries and strong tactical combat, plus zombie angels.

Each of the original patrons got to request certain things they’d like to see in the adventure, long before we knew what it would be about. “Zombie angels”? That’s me, all the way.

As I mentioned a while back, the fine people at Rockford Memorial Hospital asked to feature our family in an advertorial they placed in the Midwestern edition of US News & World Report. The ad ran in the July 17 issue, I believe. For those of you who don’t live around here or missed that issue, though, the hospital has granted me permission to post a PDF of the ad here.

It’s just a glimpse into what the whole experience was like, but I thought you might enjoy it. If you read the article, you’ll notice they had 25 medical professionals in the delivery room for the quads’ birth. As the team rolled my wife into the room, one of the nurses brought me a chair and said, “If you feel yourself starting to feel faint, sit down. You see all of these people? None of them are here for you.”

And that’s just the way I wanted it.

The “Day at a Time” format seemed to work well for my Comic-Con report, so I’m going to stick with that. Here, then, is my account of the first day of Gen Con 2006, August 9. (This is actually set-up day, the day before the show officially opens.)

(more…)

Brett Rubin wrote me a note a while back and asked me some excellent questions about becoming a published writer. I thought some of you might be interested in the answers, so I’ve posted the bulk of the conversation here.
(more…)

The website for National Games Week has been revamped and is ready for registrations for this year’s event, November 19–25. While you’re at it, you could check out the Million Minute Challenge too. Both offer great ways to help promote gaming in your community and your home.

I’ve had a crazy busy time since Gen Con. I just turned in my first draft of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Drawing Manga, Illustrated: Fantasy Creatures, which my pals at IDW commissioned from me under a tight (read: insane) deadline. As the sequel to The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Drawing Manga, Illustrated, it’s been a fun book to work on, and the time pressures have made every bit of it fast-paced.

As a comics fan, I’ve read some manga over the years, although I hardly consider myself an expert in the field. Fortunately, my co-author, Tomoko Taniguchi, is a bang-up shoujo (girls’ manga) artist who really knows her stuff. I just follow in her wake and describe what she’s doing as best I can. She was a true pleasure to work with, as were my editors at IDW.

Next up, a short project for Mattel that’s due on Wednesday. Perhaps after that, I’ll be able to take a shot at that Gen Con report.

My interview with Wil Wheaton appears in the latest issue of Games Quarterly Magazine. They had copies to hand out at Gen Con, and I found more waiting for me when I got home, so it should be in stores soon. Wil is a true gamer and a wonderful guy as well—as you’ll see when you read the article.

The final installment in the saga of my Comic-Con adventure. (I know, I just got back from Gen Con, and I haven’t written much about that yet. I have to finish this last bit first.)

(more…)

This summer, Patrick Sweeny pulled me back into working on roleplaying games for the first time in nearly two years. I only wrote the first couple thousand words of Tournament of the Fey, an introductory pack for Faery’s Tale, but you can download them now for free. No cost. Zip. Nada.

Patrick handed me a copy of Faery’s Tale at Gen Con, and it really was one of the coolest things at the show. If you have kids you’d like to introduce to roleplaying games, Faery’s Tale is the perfect choice.

The Diana Jones Award site got updated today. As usual, I didn’t arrange ahead of time for any photos to be taken. If anyone out there has any they’d like to share, I’d love to see them. Thanks!