The best thing about GenCon is the opportunity to see friends that I only get to see once or twice per year.
The second best thing? Re-charging the enthusiasm batteries. The energy of the show — tens of thousands of fellow geeks pumped up to fever pitch about games, whether it be Old Favorites or New Hotness — never fails to remind me why I do what I do. I come out of the show with a renewed sense of purpose — even in a show like this year’s, where the 4th Edition announcement has put a giant question mark over the future of my business.
But hey, as has been noted many times, the Chinese word for “crisis”:
Is comprised of the characters for “danger” and “opportunity.”
Business considerations aside, I also managed to pick up some things at the show that I’m just plain jazzed about as a gamer:
I picked up both the limited advance release of Pinnacle’s Savage Worlds of Solomon Kane RPG (general release coming in October) as well as Paradigm’s Witch Hunter: The Invisible World, which are just begging to be combined into a glorious mix of late 17th-century swashbucklery-horror goodness. I’m very tempted to start a game. Captain Kronos: Vampire Hunter, here we come!
Also finally managed to get the Origins Award winning Artesia: Adventures in the Known World, which I’ve wanted for quite some time. Plus, Mark Smylie gave me a brilliant deal — bundling the RPG together with the first three Artesia graphic novels (in hardcover, no less), making me a very happy boy indeed.
Got a copy of PIG’s Steampunk Musha, since I’ve had enough people bring it up in conversation when I tell them about Far West that I wanted to see if there were any problems with overlap. I’m pleased to report that the setting, which they describe as “Victoriental”, is much more Victorian/Steampunk than Spaghetti Western, and the Asian content is pretty much 100% Japanese, mixed with D&D-esque fantasy. So no, not really the same sort of thing at all.
Speaking of Victorian — I was gifted a copy of the brand-spanking-new Victoriana: 2nd Edition from Cubicle 7. Using an entirely different rules system from the 1st Edition (no more Fuzion! Hurrah!), while also literally doubling the amount of content. It’s so very, very pretty. Tied with the swashbucklery-horror (cited above) as far as temptation to start a game.
Other things were nabbed —
So yeah — a bunch of stuff to read and digest, and hopefully to get a chance to play as well.
It is my hope that Adamant has acquired enough of a reputation for solid, well-designed, useful products that consumers would be willing to gamble on non-d20 stuff you design (such as Far West) when 4e comes in like Godzilla all over everybody’s little Tokyos. I realize that’s not the only factor but I am optimistic regarding AE’s post-d20 future.
I know that I would love to see AE put out some stuff I have interest in, such as Savage Worlds. ;)
I’m glad you had a good time and especially glad to hear that you got your metaphorical Green Lantern Gaming recharge. A Solomon Kane/Witch Hunter crossover a la Hammer films sounds ideal.
The guys at Cublicle 7 were a class act, and it was a pleasure to meet them. I’m going to have to check out Victoriana 2nd edition for myself sometime.
Huh… had I known Victoriana ditched Fuzion, I might have been tempted to check out the new edition rather than dismissing it out of hand as I did. How is the new system?
I am thinking we need to go next year. I will have to hit you up for the best places to stay.
I haven’t had the chance to complete my read-through yet. I’ll comment when I do.
We won’t be going, as it will be too near the drop-off dates for college (my daughter starts next year). Most likely will be hitting Origins instead.
The system (designed by Ian Sturrock and Andy Peregrine) is a fairly light one — stat + skill to get dice pool (d6s), all 1’s are successes, as are 6’s — which can also be re-rolled for additional success. Result is compared against opposed roll (either from opponent, or from difficulty). It sits nicely in the background. I’m still reading about combat and magic, but it looks good.
“I picked up both the limited advance release of Pinnacle’s Savage Worlds of Solomon Kane RPG (general release coming in October) as well as Paradigm’s Witch Hunter: The Invisible World, which are just begging to be combined into a glorious mix of late 17th-century swashbucklery-horror goodness.”
Crap, I may swoon.