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March 1, 2010
Item: Astounding Adventures #2 At Last On The Shelves!
The Subscription for Astounding Tales
#2 went well, but the actual printing was some five weeks delayed due to
bizarre and protracted gremlins the Printers (360 Digital Books) kept
encountering with the "final" PDF files. One day, every page
would read as "color," then the next day would reappear in
B&W, but with miniscule traces of color that would nearly triple the
printing price. DPI resolution problems also played their part, and
the whole thing almost became a lox.
However, with the kind (if not altogether
"free") technical support of their Pre-flight engineer, I
believe I have learned how to avoid (most of) these problems for future mss,
and hope to prove it very soon.
One of the windfalls of the AA#2 Subscription was that enough money was raised to allow the new printings of Astounding
Tales! and AA#1, as well. Their stocks happened to hit bottom just as AA#2 went off to the Printers, yet it was suddenly possible to pay the
"set-up" fees which significantly increase the price of any new print run. Consequently, the one Subscription allowed three titles to
come back into full availability.
Again, there were problems, but all books
are now in their most up-to-date form, with at least two more AA!'s in the
pipe for the coming year.
Thanks again to all Subscribers whose
support and participation make it possible for so many new titles to made
available to the gaming fraternity!
Item: What's Currently On My Desk (And
Why I'm NEVER Bored!)
I'm still working away on Mad Dogs With Guns (MDWG), by Howard Whitehouse and Roderick Robertson. This is a greatly
expanded version of Howard's originally (and intentionally) brief rules to support Gangster games in general, and the fine line of related miniatures
produced by Mark Copplestone in particular.
Using the tried and true game mechanics of Howard's
Astounding Tales!, MDWG is meant to be a fast and furious means of
playing out Gangster vs Gangster shootouts, as well as with the local Police
and "Federal Agents." Roderick's significant additions
include more details for Character Generation, as well as the outline of a
Campaign game. With these additions, the proceedings rise to the level
of an RPG, and the Campaign (set in Howard's own fictional "Paradise(,
Illinois," provides plenty of fodder for violent encounters.
A map of Paradise, a dedicated Action Deck, and other graphics will make this a volume worth having, if only for
the inspiration.
Mad Dogs With Guns is currently expected to be up for Subscription and printing this Spring--and the sooner the better!
Item: 2010 to Be the Most Prolific TVAG Publishing Year to Date
Or so is the claim made here for folks to
snigger at next December, but I don't mean to give them the chance!
Other (working) titles in the queue
include "Usuthu!: Battles of the Zulu War, 1879," a complete set
of rules with topographic maps and full OB's for re-fighting the historical
battles in 1:10 (sic!) scale in short, sharp games with HORDES of
figures--unless you wear a Redcoat!. Originally developed years ago by
Chris Ferree using another original and unique gaming system
specifically designed to represent the peculiar circumstances of campaigning
in Zululand, the new edition will be expanded in several ways, and will make
battles like Isandlwana and Ulundi actually possible, practical, and still
exciting on the table top.
The next two "issues" of Astounding
Adventures (#3 and #4) are already in hand and need only to be
laid out and edited. AA#3 (all Skull Island Scenarios by Jeff
Wasileski) should be out this Spring, and #4 perhaps this Summer.
Padre Paul Wright is closing in on the
completion of his final draft of the Campaign Game rules for his popular Funny
Little Wars rules for 54mm yard and tabletop gaming. I should have
the ms in hand by April. And, the Padre is busily compiling
preliminary notes and materials for the Napoleonic/Seven Years War era
variant of FLW, not to mention one for the American Civil War, a "squad
level" game for late World War I, and even an "Inter Wars"
book relating to the adventures of Tin-Tin, Syldavia, and more!
Given the evident success of the "special
promotion" for John Company, I expect to attempt a similar
promotion to fund the "set-up" fees for The Sun Never Sets,
the Colonial Campaign Game for The Sword And The Flame/800 Fighting
Englishmen (which, like JC, has mounds of full color card stock game
accessories attached).
Indeed, several more game titles that are
selling out of their last printings via my former Printers are in line for
reprinting this year, as demand and funding permit.
While designing the "Action
Deck" for Mad Dogs With Guns, I was able to design a similar
(but graphically different) Deck for Howard Whitehouse's original Astounding
Tales!
In those rules, Howard outlined an
optional means of determining sequences of play for the
Player/Characters. "The Amazing Whizzo Card Sequence"
originally called for the use of a standard deck of playing cards, with
substantial text explaining how to use the cards. Now, the cards are
fully self explanatory, and can be just the ticket when playing with up to 6
Players/Teams.
The current plan is to offer these decks
as an optional accessory, printed in full color, already cut and shrink
wrapped for immediate use. These should become available in March.
Similarly, the long available Event Decks
for The Sword And The Flame and The Sword In North Africa will
also be offered as ready-to-play card decks, as will other card decks from
TVAG associated with other games.
Item: The total redesign of
"Mean Streets" has yet to have photos for all components available
yet, but I will go ahead ASAP and put all that I have up on the "Means
Streets Photo Page" and begin offering all Sets. Initially, these
may be offered only as PDF's, but still in discounted
collections.
As with most of TVAG's products available
as PDF's previously available on CD, I will continue to expand the offer of
delivering these directly by E-Mail with any postage charged by my Shopping
Card being fully refunded to those who choose this option.
Still more going on, but this is enough
for now!
We return you to the dance portion of our broadcast....
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