Quote from: 1989;720408Man, that looks awesome.

Just seeing that three-column layout in Gygax magazine reminds of a time when all was well with RPGs.

Cry harder.

Quote from: The Butcher;720372Yeah, I screwed the pooch there. My bad.

The empanadas were great, though.

Yes they were. I went there again for New Year; one of the only businesses of any kind that stays open on Jan 1st.  Talked about it in my blog.

Quote from: 1989;720408Man, that looks awesome.

Just seeing that three-column layout in Gygax magazine reminds of a time when all was well with RPGs.

Come on. You know you wanna.

Quote from: RPGPundit;720259Well done! Its a pity The Butcher didn't get me a copy of this.

Quote from: The Butcher;720372Yeah, I screwed the pooch there. My bad.

The empanadas were great, though.

Bad, bad butcher!

I'll get a copy to you somehow, Pundit. I'll check the charges to mail it and see if they're not bonkers.

Quote from: Benoist;720995Bad, bad butcher!

I'll get a copy to you somehow, Pundit. I'll check the charges to mail it and see if they're not bonkers.

Odds are they will be.

Some news! Our website is now live at GP Adventures.com.

The Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, May 2, 2014

GP-ADVENTURES.COM WEBSITE LAUNCHES

LAKE GENEVA, WI – GP Adventures LLC is proud to announce the launch of its online store and website at http://www.gp-adventures.com

Following their critically acclaimed module MARMOREAL TOMB OF GARN PAT'UUL, the introduction to THE HOBBY SHOP DUNGEON™ campaign and setting, Ernest Gary Gygax Jr. and Benoist Poiré created GP Adventures LLC in order to publish game modules, supplements, and books of general interest for the tabletop role-playing games hobby, with the intent to bring the Lake Geneva gaming tradition into the 21st century.

"This is a big step for us," declares Benoist Poiré, co-founder of the company with Ernest Gygax. "We have multiple modules in the works, including Ernest's Hobby Shop Dungeon itself. The website gives us the legitimacy and presence online we require in the short term, allowing us to launch our business and release materials to gamers immediately, while at the same time guaranteeing our independence over the long term."

"We already have two main products available for customers," adds Ernest Gary Gygax Jr. "The first is my family story, SAMMI-ZOWA VERSUS THE DUELING DRAGONS, which I am ecstatic to be able to share with gamers, and the Gary Con VI PDF preview of HAUNTED HALLS OF THE BEGGAR KING, which provides an entirely playable, self-contained inside look into our design process at GP."

Both founders rejoice at the idea to share their modules, dungeons and settings with gamers, regardless of boundaries, game system affiliations or play styles. "Everyone can enjoy the games. You don't have to choose between this or that version, this or that school. There are no age requirements, no purity tests, no discriminating factors at play here: We can all like a variety of games and play them with a variety of different people. All that really matters is a desire to have fun together around a game table."

The website and online store can be found at http://www.gp-adventures.com

ABOUT GP ADVENTURES LLC

GP Adventures LLC is the publishing company founded by Ernest Gary Gygax Jr. and Benoist Poiré based in Lake Geneva, WI.

GP Adventures LLC aims at supporting the local gaming tradition that birthed the entire hobby of tabletop role playing games, and bringing it forward into the twenty-first century. To that end, GP Adventures LLC will bring forward multiple products and offerings, including fiction and non-fiction adding some context to the history of tabletop role playing games and the Lake Geneva gaming tradition, as well as game aids, modules and settings revisited with new, solid and fresh approaches that do the tradition justice and empower referees to take charge of their own games and unlock their imaginations.

For more information, visit the company's a website and online store at http://www.gp-adventures.com

ABOUT THE HOBBY SHOP DUNGEON™

THE HOBBY SHOP DUNGEON™ is an adventure game setting originally developed by Ernest Gary Gygax Jr. in 1978 while working as a clerk for the fondly-remembered Dungeon hobby shop of Lake Geneva, WI. Inspired by the many games and campaigns he played with his father and many friends, and aided by incomplete maps initially drawn by Terry Kuntz, Ernest came up with a large sprawling dungeon complex that could be used to run games at the store. Since then, thousands of players have explored its depths, including TSR alumni, family members, customers and gamer friends, up to 22 players per sitting! It has been played in a variety of venues including Margaret Weis's and Don Perrin's Game Guild, in California's Dungeons & Dragons Entertainment division, as a special event for game conventions and many more besides.

This is this particular setting that GP Adventures LLC plans to gradually reveal to the gaming aficionado, first through a collection of modules taking place around the dungeon itself, and later through the publication of the many levels within.

ABOUT SAMMI-ZOWA VERSUS THE DUELING DRAGONS

SAMMI-ZOWA VERSUS THE DUELING DRAGONS is a family tale set in a feudal Japan-that-never-was, a legend about courage and growing up to face one's own responsibilities in the world. It is a story rooted in the creative landscape that informed the creation of the world's premier role-playing game which Ernest Gary Gygax Jr. wants to gift to gamers far and wide so they too can share it with their own children and families.

Not exactly a gaming product (this is a children's book at its core), but since it was created by Ernest Gary Gygax Jr. based on the bed time stories he listened to as a child, it does speak of the micro-history of the game, the creative landscape that created it, and will ultimately tie into the Hobby Shop Dungeon world and modules.

Bob Brinkman reviewed SAMMI-ZOWA VERSUS THE DUELING DRAGONS on GoodReads:

"As a gamer, I must admit, I never once wondered what a Gygax family bedtime story would be like. Wow, I missed out! At least, I missed out until now."

"Set in a mythical version of feudal Japan, the story revolves around the exploits of Sammi-Zowa while also tying in to the adventures of his grandfather before him. There are so many great bits and pieces to this tale, I just couldn't resist it and it left me wanting to read more about that world."

"This book is just great fun. Originally presented as a bedtime story to the grandsons, the book expands on the story with brilliant illustrations from British artist Simon Todd. The words and art blend together seamlessly, presenting a unified whole that is both entertaining and stimulating to the imagination."

"I think I'd much prefer to read this book aloud than just sit and read it, and that is probably how it is truly intended to be experienced. This fun tale has great values (without being preachy) while giving a full back story and an adventure tale."

"So yes, high marks and recommendations. Any gamer is going to love this book, any gamer with children should, flat-out, not be without this book."

Source: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/900848249

From the Product Description:

A Child's Tale by Ernest Gary Gygax Jr., Nerissa Montie and Simon Todd.

79-page PDF Digital Offering. A family story of courage in the face of adversity and growing up to the world set in a medieval Japan that never was, this story was conceived by Ernest G. Gygax for his grandson, Sam, and directly inspired by the bed time stories his father used to tell him as a child. It is a rare piece of gaming history Ernest wanted to share with gamers so they too could share it with their own children and grandchildren. Part of the Hobby Shop Dungeon world and setting.

Hearken back to a day when a younger Gary Gygax ate up tale after tale of Japanese folklore. These stories helped inspire fantastical worlds peopled with creatures and humans both honourable and devious.

Click on the bedside lamp and sit alongside Gary as he spins dreams of heroic exploit and dastardly deeds for his wide-eyed sons. Ernest Gygax Jr. and brother, Luke, starred in many of these nightly tales as Gary dotingly nurtured their imaginations.

Lean against the armchair of Ernest as he continues the tradition for the next generation. An ancient Nippon that never really was swirls through the carefully-crafted bedside yarns for his grandchildren. Ernest invites you to partake in the stories of brave children and crafty monsters that he has been telling for years. Shared here, for the first time, is his bed time tale about young Sammi-Zowa's first adventure.

Whisked from a comfortable life of sword-practice and farming, Sammi-Zowa faces two possibilities—waiting for the samurai warriors to assemble and save his kidnapped grandparents or, more riskily, ride forth himself to face the ire and might of two mighty red dragons. The strong love Sammi-Zowa has for his grandparents guides his decision. He ventures down the road to an uncertain fate.

Ernest Gygax Jr.'s tale, spruced and polished by Nerissa Montie and charmingly illustrated by Simon Todd, is a tale for the ages. You'll find yourself drawn into this story that will speak to a child in your life or to the child within yourself.

"A wonderful story with lots of surprises. It's a must-read if you enjoy fantasy." James M. Ward, Director of Creative Development, TSR Inc. Author, Random House, Del Rey, Bantam, Western Publishing, Marvel & DC Comics.

"Fun story. The Illustrations are stunning!" Margaret Weis, co-author, Dragonlance Chronicles, President and Owner, Margaret Weis Productions.

"[The] Illustrations are charming and the writing is reminiscent of that of the master storyteller himself, E. Gary Gygax." Pamela Mohan, Editor, Wizards of the Coast, Independent Writing and Editing Professional.

"Utterly timeless. Offers a glimpse into the world of all our childhoods. Beautifully rendered by Ernie Gygax." Stephen Chenault, The Troll Lord of Troll Lord Games.

"Ernie was a guest/ghost writer for his father on the Sagard novels. After this story, Gary must be grinning right now from his vantage point. Ernie you've gotten to be a scary good writer." Flint Dille, creative collaborator (screenwriter, novelist, game designer, etc.) on the Transformers, Chronicles of Riddick, Sin City and Diablo III properties.

If any of you have any questions for me about what we're doing, the products, the Hobby Shop Dungeon, its world or whatnot, I'm game.

I'll talk more later about the Haunted Halls of the Beggar King.

I have a question- when is the Hobby Shop Dungeon coming out?

Quote from: RunningLaser;747249I have a question- when is the Hobby Shop Dungeon coming out?

We were thinking at the end of this year, but in the meantime we learned the hard way how we needed to line up the ducks and proceed carefully. Now, it looks like some time early in 2015. It all depends on how successful our current efforts prove to be. The greater the success, the better we'll be able to prepare the launch of the Hobby Shop Dungeon proper, and the quicker it'll come to people's game tables.

Pieces of the world around are being released as modules themselves right now. The Haunted Halls of the Beggar King preview showcases what's coming from GP Adventures. The Marmoreal Tomb as it appears in Gygax Magazine #3 does as well, and provides an ideal introduction to the campaign.

Ernie has confirmed he'd sign and personalize print copies of SAMMI-ZOWA VERSUS THE DUELING DRAGONS for no extra charge. You can see how to get one on our website's announcement.

Quote from: Benoist;747240If any of you have any questions for me about what we're doing, the products, the Hobby Shop Dungeon, its world or whatnot, I'm game.

I'll talk more later about the Haunted Halls of the Beggar King.

I want to get Gygax Mag 3 but have not. I like Greyhawk and mods like the Lost Caverns do Tsojcanth. I also like the new 5E dungeon mods coming out.

What does the world for this dungeon offer me? What do you really like about the setting and adventures?

Quote from: Benoist;747845SAMMI-ZOWA VERSUS THE DUELING DRAGONS

No offense, but is this what we've really come to?

Quote from: RPGPundit;748475No offense, but is this what we've really come to?

If by that you mean that we've come to a point where gamers have children of their own whom they might want to read bed time stories to, that these stories might happen to coincide with their own gaming interests, or if you mean a point where a grandfather and a gamer, Ernie, wrote a story for his offspring while remembering the stories he himself was taught as a child by the person who happened to create this hobby of ours, or that such stories still today might interest some people and prompt them to create new gaming material to enjoy with their own friends and families, I'm afraid so, yes.

If by that you mean that some insane people might have thought there would be some good in sharing such a story, that it might carry a good message through fantasy, while at the same time providing entertainment through its reading, then yes, absolutely so.

If you further mean that we live in a digital age where we can get in touch with writers/editors like Nerissa Montie and artists such as Simon Todd, who lives in the UK, that we probably wouldn't have been able to work with them on a daily basis before, and that they do justice to the story by polishing the text and coming up with art such as this:



Or this:



Then yes, most definitely, I am glad to report we have come to this!

IF, however, you are are wondering why I am not talking about the Haunted Halls of the Beggar King yet, and how this module would not have actually happened in this form without the RPG Site, I could talk about that as well, of course! Just let me know.