About Bruce Heard and New Stories

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Good News, Bad News

It's been one of those weeks.

The printer's proof for "Beyond the Skies" softcover came in, finally after a string of errors on the side of the printer, but this book had a problem: a white border on the outer edges of the pages, where the parchment background should be bleeding off. After some checking, this wasn't a printer error. Instead, a code had been missed flagging the need for the parchment background to extend past the cutting lines. What was worse was that the other two proofs (the hard cover and CST1 "Under the Great Vault") had been produced the same way--it was just luck that their printer's proofs came through looking OK. Alas, this meant sending updated files back to the printer with the correct setup to ensure future prints won't end up with this dreaded white border.

Meanwhile, a New Project

As mentioned earlier, I’ve been working on the next project in Calidar’s lineup while waiting for the present kickstarter’s final component to become available (CST2 Skies of Fury). I needed a change of pace in the wake of two long years slogging through the 248 pages of tiny script and a skyship’s load of floor plans for CC1 Beyond the Skies. Before tackling CAL2, I opted for a standalone adventure connecting directly with CC1. A shorter endeavor to be sure, it is no less colorful and engrossing as the previous two. It should become available to the public in 2017.

This gleeful escapade focuses on a flying circus. Hey, it’s Calidar: everything comes with wings! If it’s not nailed to the floor, by gosh it’ll soar sky high and, for some, into the Great Vault as well. I’m sure you get it by now. By “flying circus” I mean exactly that: a circus with a big tent, surrounding fun houses including a great wheel and a roller-coaster, and the entire village for the circus folk. All of this stands on a huge flying platform and is mapped out in excruciating detail, floor by floor, room by room, tent by tent, including the main and lower decks. The original idea was first introduced as an adventure stub in CC1 Beyond the Skies’ appendix section, coming to you very soon. For now, the working title is CA1 Dreams of Aerie.

Fear not, my friends. There will be no spoilers revealed in this article. I’ll show only top views which will be available to players. Though I’m keeping the plot to myself, CA1 will provide a central story to challenge the heroes, and a series of short forays in and around towns where the traveling circus stops.

A party of adventurers could reside on the vessel as it circles the Great Caldera, visiting its southern climes during the winter season and its cooler reaches in summer. Heroes could otherwise negotiate passage aboard, paying for their fares as circus workers (or—who knows—rise as illustrious stars). With overtones of Barnum & Bailey with a zest of Cirque du Freak, the Greatest Show on Calidar is certain to offer unbound color and fascination.

The booklet should range 60-80 pages incl. color maps, at least that’s the current ball-park. The final count should be set by the end of this year when the writing is complete. "Aeries" shown on the main map are groups of adjoining residences on the circus's main deck. These aeries' will be detailed in the text, with inset floor plans focusing on each house individually and their occupants. The same lavish treatment is to be expected for the fun houses, the main attractions, and the circus's lower deck (a whole new mystery itself).

Crowd-funding for cover art, internal illustrations, edit, and layout should take place early in 2017 (probably March). Production will ensue, pointing at a summer release. As always, thank you for your interest and your support of the Calidar series. Until we meet again, I’ll let you discover a few more screen shots to give you a mental image of what this flying circus looks like from the outside.

Thursday, August 25, 2016

New Proofs from the Printer

One more book came in from the printer yesterday: CST1 "Under the Great Vault," Calidar's first promotional booklet. Many of you remember this one in its original PDF form, as a freebie for Kickstarter backers. It is offered exclusively to crowdfunding supporters who can now purchase this printed version if they omitted to do so during the most recent Kickstarter (2015-2016).

"Under the Great Vault" is a glossy softcover booklet produced with what Lightning Source (DTRPG's printer) calls standard color stock: a thinner paper than the one used in CAL1 "In Stranger Skies" hardcover book. It is available here only because I'd included this format as part of my latest Kickstarter, before Lightning Source requested a thicker paper be used instead. They are honoring my offer--thank you! Future books of this type will have to use the "premium color stock," which is nicer but more expensive. Lightning Source has a problem with the thinner paper because it tends to misfeed, and therefore they are phasing it out. I'd never heard of this problem until DTRPG's customer service rep brought it up. On the other hand, most of my sales so far have concerned the hardcover book with the higher grade paper stock. In any case, DTRP will graciously replace damaged or misprinted copies.

A Peek at Calidar's "Beyond the Skies"

At long last, I finally received the printer's proof. I'm not sure how to convey how happy I am with the way this new book looks. I'll let you enjoy the pictures I just shot. Let me know what you think. There are a few things that need updating for the final print, but for all intents and purposes, this book made its deadline. Thorfinn and I are still working on the layout for CST2 "Skies of Fury." Both books are intended to go out at the same time, along with CST1 "Under the Great Vault." Fulfillment of this project's Kickstarter backers will begin when all these books are ready. The target date is therefore late August. General sales will follow in September.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Thank you!

A tip o' the hat to you from the kings and queens, the heroes and villains, and all the creepy critters dwelling in The World Of Calidar. Thank you!

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Part Three: Gary Con VIII Video

The last part of what came through the eye of my camera consists of a collection of random video shorts (some are really, really short). You can play the whole thing end to end and get a better sense of Gary Con's atmosphere, or hunt for specific parts you may be interested in. Total time 23 minutes. Here is the list of contents and their timing:

Start: Frank Mentzer introducing his D&D game (VIP gaming room)
03:08 Jim Ward speaking at his seminar on freelancing (auditorium)
08:11 Luke Gygax running an AD&D game (open gaming area)
09:10 Jeff Easley at the Gary Con HQ desk
10:01 WWI air combat game (miniatures gaming room)
10:58 Wayne "Von Deekin" Targo & Star Wars Armada game (miniatures gaming room)
12:02 Gondor Civil War game (HMGS gaming area)
12:54 Chronologically--Simon Todd, Lloyd Metcalf, Frank Mentzer, Diesel, Darlene, Jeff Butler, Lisa LaForce, Jeff Easley, Lou Zocchi, Tim Kask, and random crowd shots (Exhibitors' Hall)
14:52 Duke Seifried and Peter Adkison (open gaming hallway)
15:48 TSR party on Saturday evening--lots of former TSR folks here (main lobby lounge)
17:34 Steve Pokorny & David Zeb Cook (VIP gaming room)
17:57 Circus Maximus (miniatures gaming room)
18:22 Ernie Gygax introducing his AD&D game (VIP gaming room)
21:03 Merle Rasmussen and his Top Secret game (VIP gaming room)

That's it for now. See you next year!

Click here to view stills of the convention

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Part Two: Gary Con VIII Pictures

Already Day Two. By the time I even paid attention, Days Three and Four came and went in a blur. I was having way too much fun to take notice (I didn't *want* to). Good thing I took pictures. Dashing down hallways and up the stairs, randomly peeking into VIP game rooms, snapping shots here and there, catching a game whenever I could, hugging old friends, scribbling the occasional autograph, or grabbing some food along the way: all in a day's work. Sleep would wait another day. Onward!

Another days begins. Behold dawn from one of the rooms at the Grand Geneva. It's cold out, well below freezing, and wolves howl in the distance (they missed the convention), but this won't stop hours of hot and furious gaming just a few steps away. Thanks to Wendy Swanson Lord for this image.

Someone caught me in flagrante delicto while I plotted my fiendish move. I didn't "have a bad feeling about this," but the other side sure should've... I ran Admiral Akbar, and my grinning partner on the right had Leia. We'd just blown up an imperial corvette and were looking forward to cornering the now-unescorted imperial star destroyer foolishly bearing on us. Leia was aboard the torpedo attack ship, playing very, very aggressively. Akbar on the fleet's capital ship, ordered broadside after broadside, while shouting "It's a trap!" (Always wanted to say this...) The alliance thus hammered their imperial foe, skillfully dodging a Gladiator attack vessel which never got a shot off on our ships. Meanwhile, Luke Skywalker ambushed and killed Darth Vader and, with the rest of the X-Wings squadron, annihilated the imperial fleet's entire complement of tie-fighters. A great victory for the alliance!

This is an earlier game. I was on the imperial side... again. This time we ran two Gladiator attack vessels and an imperial raider against a Corellian corvette and Mon-Calamari cruiser. Hmmm... in retrospect this was rather bold of us.

Here's the imperial fleet's initial line up.

Part One: Gary Con VIII Pictures

At last, the convention is underway. I was going to write an introduction, but then my day went from 6:00am to 11:30pm. So, here we are, Monday morning already, with a bunch of pictures to format and little time to do so. I'm glancing with despair at even more from Days Two-to-Four that will need some attention as well. I'll try to comment as I paste these images into the blog (reformatting them is about as exciting as root canal, but hey, at least they'll all be here for years to come.) Hope some of the enjoyment I experienced will transpire through what you can see, and that I can share the fun with you. If not, well then, start planning now to come next year!

Early morning and the registration line is growing. Good thing that more than half of the attendees were pre-registered!

Breakfast in a blur...

The first game is already over--Wings of Glory. About two fun-filled hours of WWI aerial combat, trying to guess the other guy's moves and ending up in the silliest situations. Wayne "Von Deekin" Targo, the referee, modified the standard rules (for the best) to make the game more detailed, colorful, and exciting. It's still pretty simple. I've been a fan since the first day I tried this. When Gary Con IX comes around, I expect to see full tables. I'll be attending (even though I'm generally not registered for events). It's not Mystara or Calidar, but it flies, therefore... If you're local, be sure to join the Southern Lakes Area Gamers (aka SLAG) for more of this. We meet every 3rd Sundays of the month, at the Pizza Ranch in Elkhorn, WI, for all-day gaming.

Day -1: GaryCon VIII Pictures

Alright, enough with the snow. The storm tapered off yesterday, at around 2 or 3 pm. The sun made its reappearance a bit later, and in all its glory at dawn today. It was a cold and crisp morning. The thermometer on my deck read 7F (-14C). It's back up to near-thawing levels by now (enough to work out a sweat if you go for a walk). The snow is blindingly bright, and the sights around the Grand Geneva breath-taking. If you're in the Milwaukee or Chicago vicinity and hadn't planned on coming over, treat yourself to a day-trip to Gary Con. Discover a beautiful resort, hobby games galore, good food, and a scintillating winter wonderland all around nearby Lake Geneva. How could anyone miss this? Visitors from as far away as Europe, Hawaii, and Australia made it this year, along with people from all across continental US and Canada. If you're local, there's really no excuse for missing this yearly event. Here are a few more pictures of the day before Gary Con. Some of the photos are too large to fit properly here (click on a picture to view a larger image).