Moving Day

August 25, 2010 - As the final day fast approaches, it's time for those of us at Emerald Press to sign off for a week as the main office moves to a new location. And, umm, by that, I mean that the Warden is moving from an apartment into a house. So while we're making a spitload of Strength checks, all Emerald Press activity will take a break. If you've sent off an email any time after August 25th and have not received a reply yet, we will get back to you as soon as we have everything settled once again.

Live @ the Forum

Here's a list of the latest discussions started up on the Emerald Forum...

Combat Advantage / Rulebreakers

Create A Solo Class "You wanna know something about the new Essentials line? It's completely plausible that another publisher could have released it, even with the GSL. Completely possible, based on what I've seen so far (and if it's not exact, it can be done.)... And so we'll start this category off with a challenge: build solo classes. They can be modeled after an existing class but will need a new class name as to make it legal. And you cannot copy an existing class feature but you can bastardize it. For example, instead of sneak attack for a solo rogue-type class, you can have "silent strike." Whatever floats your boat. Finally, all ideas must be compliant with the GSL."

General / Previews

Basic Attacks "Basic Attacks will feature a collection of ten new basic attacks, each one designed to perform some of the standard "optional" attacks of D&D through the generations. Grappling, tripping, disarming, etc. When you are allowed to take a melee or ranged basic attack, you can use one of these optional basic attacks instead."

General / Emerald Forum

Introduce Yourself "As is customary when new forums open up and people arrive, one-by-one, for the party, let's all take a moment to introduce ourselves. And, to make it a little more interesting, tell us about the worst D&D character death you've ever had. Not because the GM screwed up and you felt it unfair, but a time when you got pwned and it was all your fault."

Awwwwww...

The ENnie Award slips away from our grasp

August 7, 2010 - So close and yet so far. All the same, it was truly incredible to have the nomination under our belts and take advantage of the bragging rights that come with it. For those of you, like me, who are not at GenCon, CA15 did not win the Silver or Gold for Best Free Product, instead going to Lady Blackbird and the Advanced Player's Guide Playtest (in that order). Congrats to those who did win and a big thanks to the judges who found our work to be listed amongst such admirable fellows and to everyone who voted for us.

Ironically, I was unable to attend for any number of factors, each one conspiring against me. Just to explain it best, they need to be listed in chronological point form:

At the end of last year, I started work at the Ottawa Sun in the Ad Building department. When asked to book off two weeks' vacation, I selected the first two weeks in August specifically so I would have the opportunity to drive to GenCon (this was before the nomination). I was let go from that job at the end of June.
When the nomination came in, I had the time to go but not the funds to reasonably afford the trip. I was unemployed but couldn't warrant spending the money.
As GenCon came closer and closer, I choose Option D: To Hell With It and made preparations to go. Ordered a passport to get across the border from Canada and figured I would just drive down. Leave on Thursday, arrive on Friday, attend the ENnies, then leave and be back in Ottawa by Saturday. Until last week, when I was hired on as a folder operator at a major printer in town... and could not take the time off work. While I could have gone to GenCon, it would have cost me a sweet job that is working out very well. Which, in turn, lead to a new house just outside of the city. So it became a choice of going to GenCon or starting a new job with a new house.

See what I mean? The gods worked against me on this one. Guess we'll just have to try again next year.