Abra-cadabra ! Proof!

After many times through the InDesign process (this program has a lot of learning curves), I have finally completed my Ruins & Ronin pdf. Now, I am still in the proof-reading stage, but I just uploaded my project to LULU and ordered a print copy to proof. I really want to see the cover, and hold the document in my hands before I let it out for public consumption. (Regardless of the times I have had it looked at, I am sure there are still little errors there that are going to stand out like a sore thumb when I get the printed book). So I hope to save me some embarrassment by going this route.

If anyone would like to proof a chapter or two, just send me an email at trampled.dwarf AT gmail.com and I will send you one or two chapter pdf's for your proofreading enjoyment.

I am almost finished with this thing!

Plugging away on Ruins & Ronin

The cover art has really inspired me to get my layout finished. I have been plugging away this morning and have completed 3 chapters. Once you get working in InDesign, you can really get into a groove. If my blogging is slacking over the next few days, you can be sure I am working hard to get this done.

Ruins & Ronin Cover Art

Peter Mullen has delivered my cover art for the Ruins & Ronin project, and well what can I say. It speaks for itself. Now I need to get off my arse and finish this thing.

I have returned.

If there is one thing I hate about vacations, it is coming back to work. Nothing like trying to catch up on a week of missed work (and close to 400 emails to wade through). So, don't expect much from me the next day or so. I do plan to continue with the formatting of my Ruins & Ronin book, now that I have a feel for it. Speaking of my Ruins & Ronin work, which would you prefer for a print size the standard 8 1/2 by 11 or 6 by 9? I have started both sizes and personally think a 6x9 book would be cool. But it would not "stack" well with standard S&W books...

Also, guess what was waiting for me when I arrived home from Florida! That is right, the new Hackmaster Basic game. (I had pre-ordered it). I have not had a chance to give it much of a look yet, but from what I have seen, basic is not the right word for it. But let's not rush to judgment yet.

To the beach!

Today is my last day of work before my vacation, this weekend I will be heading to the sunny beaches of Florida, and hopefully a side trip to Pensacola to see the Blue Angels practice session (not to mention the Naval Aviation Museum - always fun to see). That picture was taken in 2006 at NAS Pensacola during a practice session.

I will be without internet access, so there will be no posts until June 22nd. I will not have access to a computer actually (which is a good thing for the family) so no work on Ruins & Ronin either, though I hope to get serious with the layout when I return.

Have a good week everyone.

Ruins & Ronin layout.

I recently purchased Adobe InDesign so that I could do the layout for my pdf projects, and I have started the laborious task of putting Ruins & Ronin through the layout mill. So far, it has not been too bad, the learning curve is not horrible for the software and there are plenty of helpful videos out there. I have uploaded a sample of chapter 2 for anyone that wants to see what it looks like so far.

The one problem is, I have no art for this project. I am having a cover commissioned by Peter Mullen but that is it. So if you have any talent (or like me, no talent) but would like to submit something, feel free to drop me some art. I can't afford to pay any artists but I will give full credit!

Of course if I get any art, it changes the entire layout that I have currently worked on (but that is ok, this is just a test of my skills).

Play-by-Post Mayhem

I recently joined a game on rpg.net run by ZenDog, he is running a Swords & Wizardry White Box edition game set in the Thieves' World city of Sanctuary (well when we get there it will be set in the city). My first character was the cleric Rexor the Bold, and I am proud to say he was the first casualty of our party in the first round of combat. Good times. To be fair, I instigated a fight (for a huge reward) against some mutineers as we approached the city.

Anyway, you can check out the action here. My next character will be a "redshirt" named Weru the Poor (I like playing lackeys). :)

Posting will be slow this week, and next week I will be at the beach with no computer access (so no updates obviously).

Left 4 Dead 2...

For those of you addicted to zombie games, good news from Valve... Left 4 Dead 2 is set to release on Nov 17th of this year. Check out the trailer on their site. Looks awesome. If you couldn't tell, I love me some zombies. No, really.

Busy week at work, slow week at blog.

Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but it has been a busy couple of weeks at work. That and I have not done much of anything game related since The Resistance. I did just recently purchase Cityfight by SPI from Noble Knight Games (my favorite online game retailer). I have been itching to play a good wargame lately, and this one seems very intriguing. It uses a double blind system so each player has a real fog of war going on in an urban environment. I have just read Joker One about the Marines in Ramadi during 2004 - so combat in an urban environment has been on my mind. Now I just have to find someone to play this beast with.

I have a huge collection of Advanced Squad Leader just sitting in my basement, that I haven't played in probably 2 years, so I am not sure why I felt the need to buy a new wargame...