Comments on: The History of ICE http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/ Matt Forbeck's official website and blog Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:18:18 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matt Forbeck http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5774 Matt Forbeck Tue, 12 Dec 2006 14:44:39 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5774 I worked on both games and enjoyed them each for their own strengths. The MERP books aim at fans of Tolkein's literature (they came long before the latest films, of course), while the Decipher books shoot more for those who enjoy Jackson's films but may never have picked up any of Tolkein's work. I like both. :) I worked on both games and enjoyed them each for their own strengths. The MERP books aim at fans of Tolkein’s literature (they came long before the latest films, of course), while the Decipher books shoot more for those who enjoy Jackson’s films but may never have picked up any of Tolkein’s work. I like both. :)

]]> By: Allen Shock http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5766 Allen Shock Tue, 12 Dec 2006 06:09:03 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5766 Yes, I long ago gave up on it :) I figure hey, its a byline anyway, and maybe that will benefit me some day...and if nothing else it gives me street cred with some Hero fans. I did play MERP back in the day and enjoyed it...more than Decipher's effort, actually. Yes, I long ago gave up on it :) I figure hey, its a byline anyway, and maybe that will benefit me some day…and if nothing else it gives me street cred with some Hero fans.

I did play MERP back in the day and enjoyed it…more than Decipher’s effort, actually.

]]> By: Matt Forbeck http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5756 Matt Forbeck Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:09:14 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5756 Sorry to hear that, Allen. I'm sure that by now that debt has officially been stricken from any books. Reborn companies (like both ICE and Hero) don't often take on their predecessors' debts, especially if a bankruptcy is involved. Sometimes you just have to write off bad debt. I did that long ago with a company called New Infinities, which Gary Gygax founded after leaving TSR. It was one of my first professional experiences in the industry, and I got burned badly. However, it's rarely happened to me since. Sorry to hear that, Allen. I’m sure that by now that debt has officially been stricken from any books. Reborn companies (like both ICE and Hero) don’t often take on their predecessors’ debts, especially if a bankruptcy is involved.

Sometimes you just have to write off bad debt. I did that long ago with a company called New Infinities, which Gary Gygax founded after leaving TSR. It was one of my first professional experiences in the industry, and I got burned badly. However, it’s rarely happened to me since.

]]> By: Allen Shock http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5755 Allen Shock Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:46:06 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5755 My first published work in the gaming industry (and to date only such work) was an article on converting Justice Inc. to Hero 4th edition. I originally submitted it for Adventurers Club, but Bruce Harlick had Steve Peterson add to it and it was published in Hero System Almanac #1. They sent me the contract AFTER it was published; I was supposed to get $50 and some copies of the book. I signed the contract and returned it..and to this day have never received the money. Thus, my experience with ICE is sadly not as positive as yours in terms of payment of money owed. My first published work in the gaming industry (and to date only such work) was an article on converting Justice Inc. to Hero 4th edition. I originally submitted it for Adventurers Club, but Bruce Harlick had Steve Peterson add to it and it was published in Hero System Almanac #1. They sent me the contract AFTER it was published; I was supposed to get $50 and some copies of the book. I signed the contract and returned it..and to this day have never received the money. Thus, my experience with ICE is sadly not as positive as yours in terms of payment of money owed.

]]> By: Matt Forbeck http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5691 Matt Forbeck Thu, 07 Dec 2006 02:32:10 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5691 Understood, Christian. I think Steve's done a fine job with the new Hero Games, and playing a large role in it is the gig of his dreams. His style and mine don't always match, but I admire the passion and skill he's applied to the Hero System. Understood, Christian. I think Steve’s done a fine job with the new Hero Games, and playing a large role in it is the gig of his dreams. His style and mine don’t always match, but I admire the passion and skill he’s applied to the Hero System.

]]> By: Christian Johnson http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5690 Christian Johnson Thu, 07 Dec 2006 02:28:43 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5690 Just to clarify, my "pre-Dark Champions" comment was not meant to say that Dark Champions was a bad product. It wasn't, like Strike Force, it was one of the supplements that revolutionized the Hero system. Steve Long obviously had some good insight into the system. But I do think that, like in the comics of the time, the Dark products began to dominate a little too much and that Mr. Long's desire to tinker took it a little too far from time to time. As much as I admire what he has done with the 5th edition revised, the 4th edition has stat blocks that I feel more comfortable with than the current lists. The base costs of supers has had to be upped just to allow for all the skills etc. to be purchased. But the game, and its supplements (especially the new Fantasy Hero), is an indespensible addition to the gaming library. Just to clarify, my “pre-Dark Champions” comment was not meant to say that Dark Champions was a bad product. It wasn’t, like Strike Force, it was one of the supplements that revolutionized the Hero system. Steve Long obviously had some good insight into the system.

But I do think that, like in the comics of the time, the Dark products began to dominate a little too much and that Mr. Long’s desire to tinker took it a little too far from time to time. As much as I admire what he has done with the 5th edition revised, the 4th edition has stat blocks that I feel more comfortable with than the current lists. The base costs of supers has had to be upped just to allow for all the skills etc. to be purchased. But the game, and its supplements (especially the new Fantasy Hero), is an indespensible addition to the gaming library.

]]> By: Matt Forbeck http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5689 Matt Forbeck Thu, 07 Dec 2006 01:33:18 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5689 I loved working for ICE back in the day, and I still count many of the ICE folk as friends. I started with them not too long before Dark Champions hit, and I remember Steve Long and I working with Monte Cook (who was the Hero developer at the time) on our books. Steve and I glanced around at one Origins and realized we'd been admitted to the exclusive Hero Authors Club—which included people like Aaron Allston and Mike Stackpole—and we just grinned. I loved working for ICE back in the day, and I still count many of the ICE folk as friends. I started with them not too long before Dark Champions hit, and I remember Steve Long and I working with Monte Cook (who was the Hero developer at the time) on our books. Steve and I glanced around at one Origins and realized we’d been admitted to the exclusive Hero Authors Club—which included people like Aaron Allston and Mike Stackpole—and we just grinned.

]]> By: Christian Johnson http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5686 Christian Johnson Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:01:58 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5686 The, pre-Dark Champions, ICE era of Champions is probably my favorite era of that particular RPG. ICE brought in some wonderful artists and good writers, as well. One might want to look at those copies of Fantasy Hero to find a nice little offerings by one future creator of the Tick. The, pre-Dark Champions, ICE era of Champions is probably my favorite era of that particular RPG. ICE brought in some wonderful artists and good writers, as well. One might want to look at those copies of Fantasy Hero to find a nice little offerings by one future creator of the Tick.

]]> By: gnome http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5675 gnome Wed, 06 Dec 2006 10:10:57 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5675 (and the sick die rolling of Rolemaster) (and the sick die rolling of Rolemaster)

]]> By: gnome http://www.forbeck.com/2006/12/05/the-history-of-ice/comment-page-1/#comment-5674 gnome Wed, 06 Dec 2006 10:10:24 +0000 http://www.forbeck.com/?p=796#comment-5674 Brilliant find! Ah and let's not forget ICE's most innovative CCGs. Brilliant find! Ah and let’s not forget ICE’s most innovative CCGs.

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