We're here. I've talked briefly to Zachary and my crack team of supervillain henchmen have set up a communications center in the heart of Indianapolis--we've got internet and phones up. Anyone else here? Let me know, I'll make a nightly check.

Not I, but could you please bother the FFG folks about the Midnight movie?

Can you PM where to find you on Saturday or Sunday?

*weeps*

Bradford-- Check! I will ask and report back.

Joe -- Check!

Stay tuned for some liveblogging from Zachary the First, (that may not be starting until tomorrow night) i think he's going to be using our internet access.

I weep with you, Doc.  AM, I'm only time shifted from you by three days...it feels like a year.

Have fun, bastard!

Klax and I rolled into Greenfield IN and set up camp. We were almost trapped in eastern OH by a gang of inbred farmers wanting our genetic material - or maybe our blood for the corn god. They had set up a fake Days Inn sign, and we almost lost it all. We finally staggered into the metroplis of Ashtabula about 11 PM.

Other highlights of our trip:

Going on to the highway after we escaped the farmers, Klaxon looks in the mirror:
Klax: Oh oh!
Me: What's the matter?
Klax: There's a motorcycle gang following us! They're all over the road! Looks like about 30 of them! Oh, no! Here they come!
Four fat old bikers on bikes speed by.
Me: That's your motorcycle gang? All thirty of them?
Klax: Yeah, Can't ya count?

Every hotel in Erie PA was full. There were at least seven WITHIN EYE SIGHT!
Me: There's no rooms, Anywhere?
Clerk: No sir, everything is full up.
Me: Can we sleep in your stables? My son is pregnant...

Rolling through Western Ohio:
Me: Look, Klax! There's a hill! Over there!
Klax: That's a road embankment old man!

Rolling through Eastern Indiana:
Klax: I can just shove a stick inbetween the steering weel spokes and take a nap.

Later:'
Me: My LORD!
Klax: WHat?
Me: THERE'S A FIELD THAT'S NOT FULL OF CORN!!!!
Klax: That just ain't right!

-clash

Clash is the RPG version of Jack Kerouac!

This is not exactly close hold. In a few hours, everyone will know:


There will be a special announcement made at GenCon this year. It will be made tomorrow (Thursday). I think the time mentioned was 1830 hours.

It will take place in a location hosted by the RPGA, (the Sagamore Ballroom) but will be the sort of thing that will affect everyone. They are being very secretive about it. There is a curtained area under guard. "Everyone will be out of this room by 6, there will be many people gathered to hear this. Notices posted.."

Someone jokingly mentioned the number 4 and there was some laughter, but no response was made by the staffer telling us this.

I couldn't find out more.

This may be it. please don't shoot the messenger if it isn't the announcement I think it is!

And Calithena scooped me! But here I am... I'll pass along anything I find out.


http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/welcome

Quote from: Abyssal MawAnd Calithena scooped me! But here I am... I'll pass along anything I find out.


http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/welcome

Ah, ha ha ha ha ha!  Ah, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha..!.>

First Mr. Dee Twenny goes storygame.

Then 4E is announced at GenCon.

Must be a tough week for Pundy.

Quote from: Pierce InverarityFirst Mr. Dee Twenny goes storygame.

Then 4E is announced at GenCon.

Must be a tough week for Pundy.

The more I think about it, the more I suspect that the two may be connected.  Dancy obviously knew that this was coming down the pipe, and the fact that one of the cornerstones of his rant was about differentiating the RPG hobby from the MMORPG hobby, I am beginning to suspect that Wizards may be moving in that very direction.  

The plan is apparently to make the Internet a fundamental part of the D&D experience...I don't blame Wizards, as the trend in the growth of MMORPGs must seem like a beacon marking the direction that they should go as a business...but I wonder what that means for the "hobby" in the long-term?  Does it portend an eventual merger of the D&D community into the larger world of MMORPGs?


TGA

Quote from: The Good AssyrianThe plan is apparently to make the Internet a fundamental part of the D&D experience...I don't blame Wizards, as the trend in the growth of MMORPGs must seem like a beacon marking the direction that they should go as a business...but I wonder what that means for the "hobby" in the long-term?  Does it portend an eventual merger of the D&D community into the larger world of MMORPGs?

I don't think the plan is to make the internet a fundamental part of D&D, but rather making it a new avenue of approach to the game. An effort to bring in young, internet-savvy teens and fresh blood. I predict the veteran gamers can still play internet-free with no loss of game utility.

I hope the only real effect on the hobby will be to bring in more players. I don't think there will be a push to move the pen and paper, pile of books, handful of dice players over to the internet.

I just don't see a real merger between P&P RPGs and MMORPGs. The rather unsuccessful D&D MMORPG tells me that venue won't be pursued again for a long time.

-Jeff

Quote from: GoOrangeI don't think the plan is to make the internet a fundamental part of D&D, but rather making it a new avenue of approach to the game. An effort to bring in young, internet-savvy teens and fresh blood. I predict the veteran gamers can still play internet-free with no loss of game utility.

I hope the only real effect on the hobby will be to bring in more players. I don't think there will be a push to move the pen and paper, pile of books, handful of dice players over to the internet.

I just don't see a real merger between P&P RPGs and MMORPGs. The rather unsuccessful D&D MMORPG tells me that venue won't be pursued again for a long time.

-Jeff

You are probably right, Jeff.  I was just feeling old and a little morose!    I can't stand the MMORPG "experience" personally, so I am concerned that the movement in that direction will take some of the magic out of D&D.

It is obviously a good business decision, and the hobby *must* evolve to survive, but I reserve my right as a grognard to bitch about the Good Old Days™ while it's happening!


TGA