Fate of Falkenstein: eBooks

Yeah, I’ve been hacking Fate Core (Evil Hat Productions) to play Castle Falkenstein (R. Talsorian Games), using the lovely Deck of Date Fate (see previous posts). I think it’s in pretty good shape so I give you: the ebook versions!

The .ePub and .mobi versions are zipped, along with metadata and cover image, and stored on Google Drive but should not require registration. The PDF is stored right here on WordPress. Let me know if you encounter problems with the files.

• PDF version (for computers and full-size colour tablets)
• ePub version (for Nook, iPad, Kobo, and Android devices)
• mobi version (for Kindle and Mobipocket devices)

Cover by William Eaken and Mike Pondsmith, 1994, from Castle Falkenstein (R. Talsorian Games), with “Powered by Fate” logo from Evil Hat Productions. Used and modified without permission, no copyright challenge intended.

Roleplaying Techniques: Free eBook for the Holidays

This is a slightly edited compendium of the discussion thread “Techniques! Do we have a list of them?” on Story Games, started July 22, 2013 by Paulo “Warrior Monk” Rivas.  He defines Techniques as all sort of procedures triggered by ritual phrases (which may vary from group to group) that are the basic tools for negotiating the shared fiction or getting everybody to the same page of it.

The role-playing techniques listed range from those very familiar, almost instinctive to most role-players, to advanced improvisation techniques, to techniques borrowed from Nordic-style Live Action Roleplaying (LARP) or from specific and sometimes obscure games. The ebook version is my holiday present to gamers, for convenience of reading and access; however, I want to make it clear that I am not the author of the material, which was compiled by members of the Story Games forum.

The .zip files are stored on Google Drive (direct link, should not require signup) and contain ebook, metadata and covers; just download, unzip, and add to your library.

• Ebook in .mobi format (for Kindle, Mobipocket Reader, etc.)
• Ebook in .ePub format (for Kobo Reader, Nook, iPad, etc.)

Let me know if you encounter any problems with the files, and happy holidays to everyone!

Fate of the Budayeen: ebook versions

Now that I have finally completed my Fate of the Budayeen series, I thought I’d make up for the lateness of the last instalment by offering readers e-book versions.  All three are fully bookmarked and more-or-less spell-checked. Ahem.

• PDF, with illustrations; two-column layout. Edit: All the hyperlinks are there but you have to hover your cursor in the right spot to see them.
• ePub (for use with Nook, Kobo, iPad, etc.) with cover and metadata, in a zipped file. Just unzip and add to your library.
• mobi (for use with Kindle, Mobipocket, etc.)  with cover and metadata, in a zipped file. Just unzip and add to your library.

Feedback is welcomed!

Credits: Image from OpenClipart.

Fate of the Budayeen: Let’s kick this off!

A few days ago I posted a little poll to see which setting people would be interested in seeing used in a step-by-step example of creating a setting in the Fate Accelerated Edition (FAE) role-playing game system, all the way from initial Light Bulb! moment when an idea grabs you to prep notes for a game.

I just closed the poll, and it looks like the Budayeen setting, from George Alec Effinger’s “Marîd Audran” series, won the poll.  That suits me fine because, as Fred Hicks pointed out, too many people still think FAE is just for whimsical or light-hearted games.  I am convinced that FAE can be successfully used for any setting which the more detailed Fate Core can power.

My ambition is to convince readers that it’s quite easy and they can do it with modest effort.  Just to be clear, I will be putting in way more effort than I normally have to, because I want to write clear posts giving you context — which means way more legible than my typical game notes!   For those who have not read the books, I will throw in a little background.

What is the Budayeen?

Dragonflight program: Updates

The addendum for last minute changes to the Dragonflight game convention program is now available.  The convention takes place in Bellevue (Seattle area) this weekend, August 9-11, 2013.  Three formats to choose from:

.PDF: As an addendum indicating changes, from Issuu or Google Drive.  If you don’t already have the PDF program, here it is from Issuu or Google Drive.  Note that Issuu allows you to browse online, magazine-style, and to download as PDF by clicking “Share”, then “Download”.

.ePub: (For Nook, Kobo, Sony Reader, etc.)  As a zipped ebook of the full, updated program, including the cover and metadata.  Just unzip and add to your library.  Download from Google Drive.

.mobi: (For Kindle)  As a zipped ebook of the full, updated program, including the cover and metadata.  Just unzip and add to your library.  Download from Google Drive.

Dragonflight 2013 convention program

EDIT: See the updates here.

I’ve finished preparing the program for the 2013 edition of Seattle’s Dragonflight game convention. It will be the 34th edition of the convention, and you can expect lots of board gaming, wargames, role-playing, miniatures games, etc.

In addition to the print version which will of course be available at the door that weekend (August 9-11, 2013), you can download it as an e-book in three different formats: .PDF (good for viewing onscreen on PC, iPad, etc.), .ePub (for Nook, Kobo, Sony Reader, etc.) and .mobi (for Kindle, etc.)

The files should be posted shortly to the official convention site, but you can also get them from:

• ISSUU: Viewable online in magazine format; to download as PDF, click on “Share” in the bottom left area, then on “Download.
• Google Drive: Here is the PDF version; and here are the .ePub and .mobi versions, zipped together including cover and metadata.

Tutorial: Creating a Convention Program

For several years now I’ve been volunteering for several tabletop game conventions.  One of the tasks I’ve assumed was the creation of the print programs and other documents for some of them, particularly Emerald City Gamefest and Dragonflight.

I’ve prepared the program for Dragonflight since 2008, and it occurred to me that although I have no plans to stop volunteering, stuff happens and eventually someone will have to take over for me.  I decided to prepare a tutorial on the complete process, from negotiating with printing companies to using desktop publishing to create the document.

Although this tutorial is targeted at one specific convention, I think it can be useful to other convention organizers elsewhere.  Local and regional tabletop game conventions usually work with shoestring budgets, so I use as many free, platform-independent and open source tools as I can (such as GIMP for image editing, Scribus for desktop publishing, Calibre for e-book creation) but the workflow I describe works with equivalent commercial tools.

The tutorial can be downloaded here.  (It looks scarily long because I tried to make my explanations detailed enough to be understood by newcomers without any other help.)  I hope it can be of use to other people.