Grell Head Studios

[cthuluftaghn]

News 11/7

Okay, here's the deal. First off, the November 1 newsletter did go out on the evening of November 1. It was a little scary, as I didn't have outbound email capability for most of the day, but the problem self-resolved by late afternoon.

Now, as far as recent progress and updates.... At work (my day job) we have a new person in training. While she is training, I have been moved to the 10-7:00 shift. This means that, by the time I get home, I just barely have enough time to eat and relax for a little while before it's bedtime. I have tried to sit down at the computer a couple of times, but usually just stare blankly, too tired and frazzled to think.

It takes 6-8 weeks to fully train a new employee to be able to work on their own. So, it'll be approaching Christmas before I can get my head fully back into Sprawling Shadows. I hate it, but I've just got too many pans on the fire right now.

After Christmas, the Spring semester at college starts. I'm only taking online courses in the Spring, and I'll be back on my day shift... so, I'll have my life back (for a while, anyway). Until then, I'm afraid updates will be few and far between. I'm sure most of you understand!

Until next time... cheers!

 

[cthuluftaghn]

News 11/9

Greetings and felicitations (whatever that means). Malessa's been hard at work practicing her art, and her latest projects have given me new inspiration for some free products. A sample of what she has been up to can be seen on her Pic of the Week.... that's right, weapons! Malessa is learning how to use Paint Shop Pro to create unique weapon designs. They are wholly digital images, no pencil and paper involved.

Currently, she is working on longswords. She banged out 4 or 5 really cool designs this weekend. After she gets enough of them together, I'll put them together in an attractive PDF package with d20 details, and offer up the Sprawling Shadows: Book of Longswords as a free download on our OGC page. If we like the way it turns out, you'll probably see other PDF's coming out over the next several months... simple ideas like a book of scimitars, a book of bows, a book of exotic weapons, etc. Nothing is set in stone, it's just a way to let Malessa improve her talents, and give you guys something cool (and free) as well.

She has also been busy doing freelance work for the upcoming adventure, Giant Killer, by Khan's Press. We're both pretty excited about that. Many thanks to Astralpwka for that opportunity.

I have actually finished reading all the books that I was given for review. My deepest apologies to the publishers for the delay in posting my reviews. Life has just thrown too many curveballs lately to be as dedicated to the Grell Head project as I'd like to be. But, I'm still here, and still hard at work! The review for Everyone Else by Ambient d20 Games can be found on our Reviews page.

 

[cthuluftaghn]

News 11/15 - PRODUCT RELEASE

The first PDF product to be released by Grell Head Studios, entitled Sprawling Shadows, Evil Race: The Grimmok, will be available within the next couple of days!! Due to many ongoing family obligations here at Grell Head Studios (family always comes first!), we have decided to change our publication format. The details of our new plan can be found on our Products page. To make a long story short, Sprawling Shadows products will be available on a fairly regular basis, starting NOW.

In other news, there has been a major update to Campaign Art by Malessa. As always, new additions are labeled in dark blue. With this update, you can finally get a look at Malessa's submission for the Iron Maiden Christmas card competition.

Other than that, it's been a heavily movie-oriented week. Star Wars Episode II and the special edition of LotR both came out on DVD this week, and the new Harry Potter came out in theaters today. Fortunately, the computer is within eye/earshot of the TV... so work can continue!

I'll post another mini update when Evil Race: The Grimmok is actually available for download on www.rpgnow.com. Until then.... cheers!

 

[cthuluftaghn]

News 11/17

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT:

Sprawling Shadows, Evil Race: The Grimmok is now available for just $0.99 at www.rpgnow.com!

Well, we're very proud to have released our first product this weekend. It's a major accomplishment just to complete a project like this... the fact that we've actually sold several copies already is just a bonus! Malessa and I would just like to say THANK YOU to all of you in the d20 community who have supported us from the start. Evil Race: The Grimmok is only the beginning... we're already hard at work on our next release, Weapons: Book of Swords. Hopefully, we'll have it out before Christmas.

Malessa's Pic of the Week has been updated. This is a piece that she did just for fun, entitled "Small Fry". Malessa's art will also be featured in the soon-to-be-released adventure, Giant Killer, from Khan's Press.

It was a big weekend... we released our first mini-PDF, I re-arranged our living room, we got a good chunk of Christmas shopping done, and Tony Stewart cinched the Winston Cup. Now, it's back to a busy week of work and school. Until next time.... cheers!

 

[cthuluftaghn]

Sprawling Shadows Introduction

I've uploaded a single-page PDF introduction to the world of Sprawling Shadows onto our web site. It can be accessed by clicking on any of the Sprawling Shadows hyperlinks on our Products page.

 

[cthuluftaghn]

News 11/25

Our first book has been on sale for a full week now, and we are very pleased with its acceptance. As a new and relatively unknown company, quite frankly we didn't expect any sales. The fact that we've sold quite a few copies is more than enough incentive to keep us moving forward!

Malessa's new Pic of the Week is her attractive cover for our upcoming second product, Sprawling Shadows, Weapons: The Book of Swords. The art is finished - TWENTY FOUR beautiful, full color, digitally created images of unique magical swords for use in your campaign. We only need to complete the backgrounds and statistics on each sword, and we'll be ready for release before Christmas. Like the 9 page Sprawling Shadows, Evil Race: The Grimmok, the 30 page Sprawling Shadows, Weapons: The Book of Swords will be sold at www.rpgnow.com for just $0.99.

We have also added ten new pictures to Campaign Art by Malessa. All new additions are labeled in blue for easy identification. We have also added a Sprawling Shadows section to the art gallery. Be sure to check it out!

Be sure to subscribe to the monthly Sprawling Shadows Newsletter! The next edition comes out on December 1st, and will include art from Sprawling Shadows, Weapons: The Book of Swords, exclusive to mailing list members!

 

[cthuluftaghn]

News 12/2

The December edition of the Sprawling Shadows Newsletter arrived in mailboxes yesterday afternoon, with a free exclusive preview of our upcoming publication, Weapons: Book of Swords. Things are going right on schedule, and the book should be ready well before Christmas.

Without reiterating most of what was already printed in the Newsletter, there's not an awful lot of news... we've been working on the Weapons: Book of Swords steadily. All 24 sword pictures are done and have been laid out in the book. 7 of the swords are finished, complete with backgrounds and full d20 statistics. Another 10 have statistics and are just awaiting backgrounds or flavor text. In all, it's turning out to be a very professional-looking, high quality product that DM's and players alike should find useful and enjoyable. For $0.99, it makes a perfect e-mail stocking stuffer!

Campaign Art by Malessa has been updated with 6 new pictures... as always, new additions are labeled in blue. Malessa's Pic of the Week this week is actually a piece that I did in Paint Shop Pro. This is the Church of St. Cuthbert, in the village of Hommlet.

 

[cthuluftaghn]

News 12/9

What a hectic week! Christmas parties, Christmas shopping, Christmas card mailings, writing, drawing... all this on top of life's normal flow! Still awaiting the big day, December 18th. Got our tix for the midnight showing of The Two Towers. We're excited about that one!

A banner ad link for Khan's Press has been added to our Links page. Astralpwka sent me a copy of Tremon, Kingdom of Sorcery for review. I am yet to post my reviews of Bonds of Magic II, and the Book of Eldritch Might III from Malhavoc Press, and I also just received a review copy of Races of Evernor II from Ian at Silverthorne Games. I want to be able to post honest opinions, and with the holidays it is taking me longer to read your submissions, so bear with me! Keep an eye on my Reviews page.

Speaking of reviews, Sprawling Shadows, Evil Race: The Grimmok had its first official review. Honestly, it wasn't the stellar response we had hoped for... but for our first product, it was quite complimentary in many aspects and gave some useful and constructive advise for future products. We figure, any praise we get will be accepted with humble thanks. Constructive criticism will be carefully considered and used to continue improving. Comments that we do not agree with will either be addressed in an appropriate manner, or respectfully disregarded. Pointless insults will be rebutted. You can view our first review at www.rpg.net.

In response to the review, we will be making some changes to future publications. Your feedback is welcome and encouraged!

 

[cthuluftaghn]

News 12/15

Three days and counting! We've got our tickets for the midnight showing of The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers. Hopefully, the theater won't be full of obnoxious pre-teens that don't know how to shut up during the movie, since it'll be midnight on a school night. Really looking forward to this!

There's just a little bit more to do on Sprawling Shadows, Weapons: Book of Swords, and it'll be done. Barring any disasters, we'll have no problem finishing it before Christmas. $0.99 is a DARN good price for what you'll be getting! We're really looking forward to this, too!

Malessa has been invited to take part in the next Wheel of Time netbook project, supplying art as needed. I've also taken an interest in the project, and I submitted several pieces myself. For fun, I tried my hand at bringing to life the "Breaking of the World" from the prologue of the first Wheel of Time book. It was just for my own purposes, not for the netbook... so I posted in in the Campaign Art by Malessa gallery. Since most of Malessa's new art is for upcoming publications, I also put up my art as this week's Pic of the Week. Once the books containing Malessa's art have been released, we'll get more of her art posted.

On a more Grinch-like note... some low-life vandalized our Christmas lights on our house last night. They tore 'em right off the fence posts and stole them... and even took a fence post right along with 'em! They tried for a second set, but it looks like they got snagged on a tree during their getaway. May Monte's orcs befoul their holiday pie!!

 

[cthuluftaghn]

Product Release - Weapons: Book of Swords

The best holiday deal on the net, available NOW at www.rpgnow.com!!!

Click here to get your copy today.
http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=584&

Sprawling Shadows, Weapons: Book of Swords is exactly what it appears to be… a book of swords. Within these pages, you will find twenty four uniquely created magical swords for use in your D20 campaign. Every weapon includes full D20 statistics, all Open Game Content, which include the item’s Rarity, Properties, Damage, Critical Chance and Damage Multiplier, and Weight. Each entry also includes item creation information including Required Caster Level, Prerequisites, Market Price, and Cost to Create. The swords range from having moderate enhancements, to grossly powerful magical properties. Some have been generated randomly using the magic item creation tables in the System Reference Document, and others have been carefully crafted to fit a specific concept.

Every sword in this book has been inspired by an original, full color piece of digital artwork created by Malessa Danford. Every image is printed in its full size, which is 3 x 9 inches for the first 23 swords, and 8.5 x 11 inches for the final masterpiece. (The downloadable .zip file also includes a black & white, printer-friendly version)

Finally, each weapon in this volume is further brought to life by an exciting historical background, or carefully written flavor text. This support information is designed to give players and DM’s an insider’s glimpse into the adventure-filled world of Sprawling Shadows. With all D20 statistics being Open Game Content, the backgrounds can be ignored, and these weapons can be inserted into any campaign setting.

This first volume of Weapons: Book of Swords concentrates on longswords, shortswords, and double bladed swords. (28 pages, plus cover, ads and legal pages) At just $0.99, and just in time for Christmas, it makes a fantastic e-Stocking Stuffer!