Cryptosnark Games announces *The Book of Distinctions & Drawbacks*

[Scott Lynch]

*crumpling paper, tossing in wastebin*

Back to the drawing board for me. One of these days, I'll come up with a book idea that someone else doesn't beat me to first...

Hey, man, your crumpled notes are where I get all my ideas. That's why I stay ahead of you by just one or two steps... you see, your garbage hauler comes by on Tuesdays at 7:15 AM, and I... er... never mind! Typo! Typo!

Seriously, Dakh... there's room in the d20 sandbox for multiple interpretations of virtually everything under the sun. Heck, there are two different "complete guides to horses and mounts" out right now that I know of, and maybe a few that I don't! If you're genuinely interested in the subject, go for it and plug every niche or hole that I screw up. If you were only moderately interested in it... well, shrug and move on to something you're passionate about.

Best. Press Release. EVAR. I will buy this on Monday. I would like to pre-order if possible, though.

Aw, Christian, you sweetheart. I will be making and posting a link for purchasing the book on late Sunday night. I'll be able to start fillin' orders when I get back from work around 8 CST on Monday evening. So, um, you can pre-order by about 23 hours.

You know what press-release-ese I just don't get? "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE." What the hell does that mean? Maybe it was useful when a press release had to be passed down through five levels of corporate hierarchy before going out on the wire, but when it's just one guy sitting in front of an iMac... what gives?

Is it very useable for D20 Modern?
If not, will you have a version specifically designed for D20 Modern?

This one is designed explicitly for use with fantasy d20. If it jives with d20 modern, it'll be by accident, because I'm not confident enough in my grasp of d20 modern to begin seriously working with it. Maybe, if the stars are right, a little tinkering can make some of them playable for your purposes. When I have a deeper understanding of d20 modern, I'll sure as heck put out a d20 modern flaws/advantages book. It's a topic that intrigues me.

I was frankly shocked to discover that so few cracks at flaw/advantage systems for general d20 have been made. I thought that you wouldn't be able to swing a dead kobold by now without hitting one. Not the first time my projections about the d20 field have been dead wrong. Back in 2000, I delayed work on *Deeds Not Words* because, as I told my girlfriend, "By the summer of 2001, there will be five or six d20 supers games, easily."

Cheers,

SL

 

[Scott Lynch]

jmucchiello wrote:

Well, I'm sorry about that outburst. I also have something in the pipeline like this announcement so I've been double whammied.

Hey! Like I said, don't despair. The sandbox is big. My approach is sure to be limited in some respects, deficient in others. Only in the narrowest sense are we all "competitors." More honestly, we're collaborators in the expansion and improvement of an extremely popular game system. The d20 supers niche is much smaller than the d20 fantasy market, and it comfortably supports a variety of different approaches.

Cheers!

SL

 

[Dakhran the Dark]

Scott Lynch said:
Hey, man, your crumpled notes are where I get all my ideas. That's why I stay ahead of you by just one or two steps... you see, your garbage hauler comes by on Tuesdays at 7:15 AM, and I... er... never mind! Typo! Typo!

I knew I should've invested in a shredder! Although I'm sure you have to fight off Jolly R. Blackburn and John Kovalic for my game notes...

Although I suspect that Jolly has actually commandeered a mind-control satellite...that's why I've got the tinfoil beanie...to keep the MIND RAYS out...

Seriously, Dakh... there's room in the d20 sandbox for multiple interpretations of virtually everything under the sun. Heck, there are two different "complete guides to horses and mounts" out right now that I know of, and maybe a few that I don't! If you're genuinely interested in the subject, go for it and plug every niche or hole that I screw up. If you were only moderately interested in it... well, shrug and move on to something you're passionate about.

To be honest, I'm still debating whether to attempt to start up a D20 company -- I've barely got time to manage my full-time job as a programmer, plus run two games and play in two more. I'd have to *gasp* GIVE UP a game...

Still, who knows...I may get around to it one of these days...

 

[jmucchiello]

Hey! Like I said, don't despair. The sandbox is big. My approach is sure to be limited in some respects, deficient in others. Only in the narrowest sense are we all "competitors." More honestly, we're collaborators in the expansion and improvement of an extremely popular game system. The d20 supers niche is much smaller than the d20 fantasy market, and it comfortably supports a variety of different approaches.

I never said I wouldn't release it. I just would rather have been first . I'm far more annoyed at the savage species book which will also overlap the same release.

Good Luck.

And Dakhran, you don't have to start a company. Find a company to release and promote it for you.

 

[davewoodrum]

Actually, I was responding to his mocking of the "press releases" we often read. The way some PRs are crafted, you'd think that game publishers sat in corner offices with a large staff and access to corporate a car. Scott was just tellin' it like it is.

Hey now... don't the 3 cats, small beagle, gecko, and memory of a few dead pet mice and a parakeet count as a reasonably large enough staff for just a simple game designer such as myself? Alright, if you are so bent on quantity I'll get a chameleon as well....
Actually I consider that rusty old gray S-10 of mine to be one of the Dark Quest corporate vehicles though Tensen won't admit to it... AND the moped....
(The moped is our corporate quick response unit)

 

[Christian Walker]

Hey now... don't the 3 cats, small beagle, gecko, and memory of a few dead pet mice and a parakeet count as a reasonably large enough staff for just a simple game designer such as myself?

Heh. I'm almost certain that the flameout of Scrollworks Press had something to do with the fact that my dog was the CFO.

 

[davewoodrum]

Heh. I'm almost certain that the flameout of Scrollworks Press had something to do with the fact that my dog was the CFO.

Dude... never, ever, trust the dog to perform well as a CFO... that's about as bad as putting him in charge of being the food and beverage manager. Likewise, I don't recommend any critter remotely related to the mink family as secretary... they tend to be ankle biters... and cats likewise if a potential business associate comes walking in with a bit of string hanging from their garments. For a good CFO I'd recommend a non-talking bird... they can't make promises that they have no intention of keeping and the cage prevents them from engaging in acts of dishonesty. Truthfully, though I realize that your company risks being attacked for stereotyping, dogs handle security management best.

 

[Urklore]

has anyone recieved their copy yet? I ordered mine yesterday afternoon on the website and still have not recieved. I have to keep replacing the bucket of drool.

 

[Christian Walker]

has anyone recieved their copy yet? I ordered mine yesterday afternoon on the website and still have not recieved. I have to keep replacing the bucket of drool.

Hm, me neither. I paid yesterday evening, but no word yet.

 

[Bamphalas]

Hope Scott's ok.

has anyone recieved their copy yet? I ordered mine yesterday afternoon on the website and still have not recieved. I have to keep replacing the bucket of drool.

Not yet. Paid yesterday morning, and am awaiting eagerly.