Simple America

Friday morning I eat breakfast, blog and go to the con. Man the entrance is packed even more than the day before. I push through and make it inside just before they allow the shoppers in.

Worked the booth from 10 to 2. The corset man in the booth next door still has great business. He never eats. He never goes to the bathroom. He just gives woman a lift all day. I really am in wonder of why these ladies enjoy these things. Looks like it would be hard to breathe. Sometimes I see a woman as they spot his booth, and the joy that comes over their face is remarkable. If a woman looked at me with that pleasure/fulfilled look I think I would faint from happiness.

I had okay traffic at the booth. Gave some freebies to some Savage Worlds folks that came by. Well, the people I played with yesterday, Randy and Joe. Tell a lot of folks about 12 to Midnight and our products. Some seem real happy about finding a d20 Modern source for horror gaming and they are glad to take the coupon and I provide them. I met one guy that liked the look of our stuff and he was Savage Worlder. He was interested in Bloodlines but of course my copies were d20. I gave him a freebie. Just looking at this guy and his desire to run horror games I figure I give him this and he will come for more. Nobody does horror roleplaying better than us, which I learn as the day goes on.

One thing I noticed about the people when they pass is that 99% avoid making eye contact with me. If they look into my eyes they fear having to buy books or worse have to speak, “Hello. How are you?” But they always look at the book display and then they look up towards the backdrop. 99% of the people that look at the display look in that order. This tells me for future cons, we have to have a poster. Chris does. He has beautiful posters of his products. I have to get some for my products. Also we need more than just me here. Chris is great but he is going to advocate his products over mine. I do the same, though I service his customer the best I can. We should always have a 12 to Midnighter in any booth we work. This will assure we get our message out to folks that are looking for the things we do.

Finished my shift and I decided to go find people that I had not met and I wanted to chat with Shane too. I went to the Game Mechanics booth to find JD Wiker and Chris Pramis. Neither are there. Go by the Studio 2 booth looking for John Danovich. He’s not there. Go to Cryptic Studios (or whatever the name is, they put out City of Heroes and Shane is writing for the upcoming City of Villians) and I find Shane and Clint chatting. I am introduced to the guy that is writing Deadlands Reloaded (Dang names, everybody has a different one) and he’s a cool guy. He’s played 12 to Midnight products and complements us. Then I meet someone I had not planned on meeting, Zeb Cook, who also writes for City of Heroes. Zeb is major icon in the industry. He is Mr 2nd edition of Dungeons and Dragons. He’s quiet and it is really kind of neat to meet him.

The main reason I am over here with Shane is that I have product waiting approval as a licensee. He gives me the approval and then he starts telling me how good 12 to Midnight is. It really struck me with the sincerity and frankness that he spoke about our products. He said that we are definitely professional in the way we handle our books and that we are one of the best. He really complements our layout. So Preston pat yourself on the back. It’s deserved.

I told Shane how I met Preston at Aggiecon a couple years back. I killed his character in Weekend Warriors, hell I killed everybody’s character in Weekend Warriors, but they still had fun. Preston was very quiet during the game and I was not certain of his impression of the playing. But Monday he logged on our forums and he had a lot of energy and he kept coming back. Lots of ideas and he understood layout. So we asked him to join and he accepted. Best thing Ed and I ever did, because Preston put us on the map. And made us look good.

So I bid Shane adieu and went to grab a bite to eat. Had BBQ sandwich. Was not that good.

Then I went back to find folks at the Green Ronin booth and JD is still not there. I walk over to Studio 2 and I see John is now there. I feel confident and I think I should let him see what we can do. I run back and grab a copy of Bloodlines, we have two left. It is by far our most beautiful book and we put a lot of money and effort into this one. I walk over and chat with John as he is free. We had spoken the day before. I show him the book and that’s when I discovered I made a big fricking mistake. I don’t have a business card on me. I left them at the booth. So like a rank amateur I fled back to the booth and got my card. Came back and it actually kind of worked out. John looked through our book and he said he will contact us on Monday. I’m excited. Studio 2 prints and distributes. Distribution is the major hurdle in this business. They do Shane’s books and if we need a reference I think Shane will help us.

After that I go try a couple of game demos. Then I go to Green Ronin again. Now I ask a guy if JD is there. He is. Almost leaving, but I walk around. At first he has the “oh another fan boy” look in his eye. But then I introduce myself and his whole disposition changes. He is pleased to meet me and we chat for a good long time. Then he sees Rich Redmond and he pulls Rich over to introduce me. I ask for Dark Alternity again, knowing its going to be no, but also to jog his memory. It’s not necessary. He remembers playing Last Rites of the Black Guard. We created sound effects for that adventure that were very spooky and they loved that. Anybody wants to listen to spooky sound effects go to the download section of 12 to Midnight and check it out. I showed JD a sample of our Modern tile set, Flatlands. He is very impressed. I let him keep the sample and he was happy. I have more at the booth so customers can see.

So I left them knowing that 12 to Midnight is known by the game gods. I told them we are just a minnow swimming with the sharks. But they said we got a good hold on the niche and nobody else does what we do, like we do. I realize now our problem is that while the Game Gods JD, Rich, and Shane know us, the consumer does not. Its flattering to be recognized by the authors of the systems we write for. But we need the customer recognition just as much. I also confirmed with my chats that adventures do not sell well. Settings are what will make us money and established in the community. Fortunately, we are working on one at this time. With three more ideas in the waiting file and with Ed’s think tank, we may get even more.

So now that I’m floating on top of the world I went and demoed a couple more games. Wizards of the Coast has an area where you can play games and for each game you play they give you a star. After you get at least 2 stars you can roll a prize die and if successful you win some games or books. So I have three stars now. But I want better chance to win, so I will play today too. Also received a free tank from their new Axis & Allies miniature game and a miniature figure of a Guardian Naga for D&D miniatures game. I also saw the Star Wars AT-AT for Star Wars Miniature game. This thing is huge. I want it so bad. Not for sell yet. It will cost $50 but worth every penny. They also had AT-TEs. I need a sugar momma to buy me toys.

The vendor area closes and I go back to the hotel and drop my stuff off. I chat with my daughter on her new cell phone as I walk back. She got it Thursday and she is very excited about the phone and hearing of my day.

Drop everything off and then I go Alcatraz Brewery where we drank the first night. They have food here too, not that good, but the staff is competent. Our waitress was very sweet.

This dinner is for the Savage Writers Consortium. Sean Preston is there with Karen, as is Clint and Jodi Black. Shane is there of course. Here I met Sean Patrick Fannon and Erskin Cherry who are working together on Shaintar, a fantasy setting. And some other guy is there, not a writer, just a friend of Sean Patrick. Discussed a lot and laughed a lot. Then we went and partied. Joe and Jackie (sp?), the Red Rising author and his wife, joined us as we went back to Howl at the Moon, the piano bar. What a blast. Tonight they even had a brass section and at one time they had 7 people playing musical instruments. I am so hoarse from singing. We stood at the bar because it was so packed. Very cute bartender kept doing all those neat bartender tricks. Funny girl. Also I don’t think Joe liked me too much at first, but we started hockey and NHL and I think we are going to get along pretty good. He may move to Austin, so I may game with him a bit more in the future. From there we went to an Irish pub. Now we could hear ourselves think and talk. It was nice.

Then I went back to the hotel. Wanted to blog but I kept losing my signal. So I went to bed. Still have not found a camera. Dang it.

Busy Busy. Went to the con. Walked the four blocks carrying my heavy box of books to sell. Got to the con center and it is jam packed. I have to push and shove to get in the vendor area that opens at 10. Walk past the wanting eyes and it looks really good today. Everybody is ready to make money. Huge dioramas and posters cover everything. The music and roars from video games pound throughtout.

I get to the booth and I meet Chris Davis of RPGObjects. Good guy from Minnesoto. Has some good books. I like his Darwin’s World especially. Its post apocalyptic game. Lot of fun.

We hang out and they open the doors. It was awesome. A huge went out from the fans and the vendors as the selling and buying begins. Our booth has a huge cue in front, as the adjacent booth is giving away free dice. Dang I could use some more. They do it everyday. I visit today. Hehehe

And lot of things I am used to seeing. I will pick up a camera and take pictures to post on 12 to Midnight site and here too if possible. You got girls in chainmail bikinis and folks dressed like vampires. Some look like Renaissance. I am surprised by the number of woman. I even saw two mothers with children and no dad. Very unusual for me at this kind of event. The booth on other side of us gets all the woman to visit him. The man is selling bodices and corsets. I enjoy the view.

Met a lot of people. I help sell Chris stuff and mine. By the end of the day I sold two books and donated one to a charity auction. We have to bring more books, because I think we can sell everyone. There are a lot of people looking for Modern adventures and very few producers. I have 4 books left. One I can sell and the others are just to show off the product so they go to the website. I give out coupons to anyone that looks interest so they can go on the web and buy. Also have some freebies, but have not given out yet. People also like the tiles sample I printed. I think we are going to sell a lot of those next week when folks get home. I give everyone that looks at them a coupon so they can find them later.

Around two I found Clint and he introduced me to the author of Red Rising (bad with names) and his wife. Also met Randy M (cannot spell last name) who is big SW guy and his wife and fellow named Terry. We went and found a quiet spot and played SW. This is a unique experience. I have roleplayed with women before, but never at a table where half the players are women. We had a good time. Clint ran the game and it was fun. I don’t want to spoil it as I may run this for the boys back home. But it was geek’s delight. Too bad I miss a lot as I must go work the booth.

They closed the doors of vendor area at 6. I left and I’m walking by Margaret Weis, the author, and she has a publishing company. She is selling Serenity the roleplaying game for Firefly. I buy it and get autograph from the book’s author. They said they brought 540 to the con. After I take mine they have 36 left. Damn I wish I had those numbers. But it is Firefly.

Go back and catch the end of Clint’s game. We decide to go change and then eat. First we look at the Steakhouse in the Westin. $40 a plate. Out of my budget. Rather buy a game. So Clint and Jodi Black go hit sports bar. Too loud cannot talk, but I have chicken BBQ wrap that was pretty tasty. Sean and Karen join us.

We decide to go to a piano bar called Howl at the Moon. They have two pianos there a drums set and some bass guitars. Three musicians work throughout the night. Usually two people on the pianos. Lots of fun singing and craziness. Cannot hear myself think. Ed calls and we try to talk. Went back drank more Rolling Rock and groove. Did not think anyone could play Guns and Roses on the piano. But they did.

Finally, we go and we bump into an actor from a cult flick called the Gamers. They have a production company Dead Gentleman Studio I think. Very funny. I must buy one today.

I got to go work the con this morning. Catch ya later. Sorry no time to proofread.

After a short nap I walked over to the show and got my badge. Looked around. This is a monster. It is so big. I cannot believe it.

I walked around the vendor room. Bigger than a football field I bet. I got lost looking for the RPGObjects booth. Thats where I work. Nobody was there when I walked by. Saw Studio 2’s booth. All those Savage Worlds books and the new Ripper book. Nobody around, but I kept walking. Fought the urge to thumb through the stuff.

By then I was tired of being alone. So I called Sean Preston. He just arrived. We agree to get together later. Then I decide to call Shane Hensley, the Game God himself. So I got on my knees and prostrate myself and push the speed dial. His plane just landed, he was still on it. Why does a God need a plane? I ask later. He tells me the awards party is at Jillians. We hang up.

That’s when I made the #1 tourist mistake. I pulled out my map and looked at it for Jillian’s. “Sir can I help you find what your looking for?” I’ve been marked. Fricking con guy latches on to me. “Are you a Christian?” I answer in the affirmative, big fucking mistake. Sez he just got out of prison today and that he borrowed the bike he’s on rather than hang out at the halfway house. He follows me. Talking Christian this and that, but mostly he’s hungry. Sumbitch. I figure he wants money for drugs, booze or both. I see a Subway. I tell him, “you want a Sandwich I’ll get ya one”. He’s sez he wants to eat at White Castle. Finally, we are in bunch of people, forgot to mention I went down a side street (stupid guy been in suburbs too long). Lot of people so I give him 5 bucks and he’s gone. I figure that is bad money now. I said a prayer that he does follow God and buy food.

So then I came back and blogged a bit. Sean calls and sez we are going to hook up with Clint Black later. He is going to pick up his badge with his girlfriend. They had long lines earlier so I figured that would take an hour. Five minutes later he calls and he sez he’s done.

So I walked back staying on the main streets. Not getting marked again. I walk by the same black guy again. He doesn’t have a bicycle now, but he’s hitting on another mark. He didn’t even see me. When I met Sean he said he say another guy playing the same con near his hotel.

I get back to the hall and find Sean and, I think his girlfriend, Karen in short order. We yak. Sean has a company called Reality Blurs. We look for a restaurant and decide on one of those brewery places. We sit at the table just as Clint calls and he joins us with his wife in short order. So we had a good time talking about gaming, conventions, people in the biz. Me and Clint drank the sampler which gave us a shot of every beer in the house. Some good some bad. After that we went to Clint’s hotel room and drank more, chatted more. I am going to get these guys to playtest Fire in the Hole and I may let them play Skinwalker too.

I hailed a cab and returned to the hotel. Took a quick shower and went to blog while I flossed. Then Jane and Cat visit me. Cat beat me up and make me post ugly picture. I go to bed bruised and battered. I’m up now and ready for the show.

Too funny!

I look for a picture that is me. All I have is an old shot from my vacation in Charleston back in 2000. I got a beard now. So much more handsome now too.

I was tagged by Alisa for 10 songs that I’m grooving:

1. Think Of Me
Phanton of the Opera sung by Sara Brightman

2 Voo Doo
Nine Inch Nails (I think) There’s a game in this song waiting to breed!!!

3 Last In Line
Ronnie James Dio

4 Song of Joy
Beethoven

5 Be Yourself
Audioslave (listening to it now)

6 Are You Happy Now/
Michelle Branch

7 Harbor
Vienna Teng

8 Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
AC/DC

9 Crazy Train
Ozzy Osbourne

10 Bring Me To Life
Evanescence

You know I’m supposed to tag people but its not in my heart. I voluntarily tagged myself for this through Alisa. She was kind enough to allow that.

So you the reader. Think deep in your soul . Do I owe it to Simple American to take on the tag? Do the right thing. Whatever is right for you.

I woke up this morning at 4:22. Eight minutes before the time I planned to awaken. Set the clock to 5:30 at my wife’s request and I got ready to go. Went to Starbucks and bought a Vente Verona. Went back and started my Quest and the low oil light turned on. Egads. Not auspicious at all. Drove over to the Exxon and topped off the gas tank. Checked the oil and everything looked good. Cranked the engine and no light this time. Go figure. Got to get this beast serviced when I get back.

Made it to the park and drive. I called home and made sure the family was up and getting ready for school. My wife, the professional traveler, got me all worried like I’m running behind schedule. But I did not wait long to check my luggage or pass through security.

The flight to Chicago was dull. We were on a 737 and it was tight for an old fat boy. I used the time to convert Fire In the Hole from d20 to Savage Worlds. Got most of it done on the flight. Finished the rest during my layover in Chicago. Also got a sub Quiznos. Dang printout from the airline said meal included, so I skipped breakfast. Had a fricking diet 7Up and some biscuits.

Then I decided to go to the loo before the plane took off, but while I’m walking down the corridor I hear the final boarding call to Indy. WTF. My ticket say s I have 30 minutes. I prayed my knots would hold and turned back. This was a little plane. There were 51 passengers on the Kanbraer 145. How do I know exactly the number on board? Somebody did not turn in the boarding pass on the way to the plane. So a gate attendant came on board and started going down the passenger list. Then Mr. Bright Guy, could choke him, was like, “Oh did you need this?”

So finally we are on where. This plane is small only 1 seat on my side and two seats on the other side of the aisle. Don’t even get a drink. Once again my ticket said meal served. False advertising. Gonna sue when I get home and don’t need to fly anymore. The countryside looked beautiful. Lot of haze over Chicago, almost could not see Lake Michigan. What struck me was the number of horse stables I saw. I know it was stables because they have a track on those properties.

Well we get close to Indianapolis and it is a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Lot of suburban homes. We start to land and go lower and lower. Then we go up suddenly. I look down hey there is an airport and we just went up instead of down. Turns out some plane stayed to long on the runway, so we had to circle the airport once and then land. That never happened to me before. Got my suitcase, one of the first out on the belt. Then I caught a cap to my hotel.

I am now sitting in my room of the Residence Inn with a window view of a beautiful canal. Very nice city. I think I only have to walk four blocks to reach the Convention Center. I already IMed Preston and he knows I’m here. Gonna take a shower and go see what’s happening round this place. So glad my computer works in my room. Let me talk to the blogoshpere.

The fun is about to begin … and the hard work of selling 12 to Midnight to the con goers. Already met some con goers on the plane and airport. Was wearing the logo cap, but no one recognize me yet. Don’t they know who I am? One day they will bow and plead for me to give them my autograph. Mwuhahahaha! Until then I’ll just chill out and enjoy the anonymity.

I am sick of Congress. What’s new there huh? What good is an all inclusive commission that includes only the information it chooses to. Why is a staffer given the option of choosing what information to accept or not accept? Somebody better start answering some questions.

Of course why was it necessary to shun this information? It was offered plenty of times. Does somebody not want to embarrass the President? Well it is true when the President in question is Bill Clinton. Even out of office he still gets mud splashed on his reputation. Why couldn’t the military intel folks tell the FBI about the El Queda cells they found. They discovered Mohammed Atta and some of the other 911 terrorists, but the Department of Defense lawyers would not allow the FBI to be informed.

Why? I want to know. I demand to know. The relatives of those who died on 9-1-01 should be informed of this. Prohibiting military intelligence from contacting the CIA or FBI is asinine and we suffered the affects of that in 2001. Those rules were established under Clinton. Why?

Was it to keep him and his administration free of additional allegations when these different groups compared notes? Would it have led to more discoveries of money coming to the Clinton Campaign from the Chinese. Very illegal.

Americans need to learn who represents them. There are very few that do a credible job. We need third party with people that think like Americans and dream like Americans and can be respected around the world as Americans.

Well I have printed out all the things I should need. Character sheets if I playtest Fire In the Hole or demo Weekend Warriors. Nondisclosure agreements for playtesters which threatens pain of death for anyone that divulges game secrets before it is released. I’m ready to play it with d20 or Savage Worlds rules.

Heck I could even play Skinwalker, though I think I would only run it for Shane Hensley or JD Wiker. Skinwalker is too close to release to really need another playtest. Heck it’s been through three playtests in its two years of development. Four, but the playtest group did not provide a damn iota of input. Doubt we use them again.

I’m tired but excited. My flight leaves at 7:30, which means I have to get up at 4:30. Still not packed, but I have everything organized. One pile for game books. Another stack of Print on Demand books, so potential customers can get an idea of what we sale. Another clump has playing cards, dice, baubles and an unopened bag of plastic soldiers. The laptop is going since they have free wireless. Cell phone too.

Oh damn I need clothes. Actually I got some new threads from the 12 to Midnight store. I bought a logo hat, t-shirt and polo for the big parties. This will go with a polo I got for last year’s Owlcon at Rice University. The biggest local con in all of the Houston area. Always fun and very well run.

I love the way our logo is displayed on the hat. It looks real good on the one have.

This is the back of the t-shirt. I did not realize that it was the back when I bought it. It also has the logo on the front like the polo. I better take my cheap sun glasses. Its a Texas thang. How! How! How!

I better pack this stuff and get on my way. Hope to keep you updated while I am in Indiana, but if I should disappear look for me again on Monday. All of you will be in my prayers.

12 to Midnight had its summer meeting at Preston’s new home. Really nice place. It is real close to Ed’s school so those two can hook up real easy.

We discussed some plans for a steam punk setting. A freelancer has approached us with this idea and I think it fills a market that can be tapped a bit more. Also discussed Wild Things and how we would like to see it develop. It is another freelance job and would be our first fantasy adventure to publish. Want to see if the author can make it follow the 12 to Midnight adventure style. We like roleplay and interaction and not so much hack and slash. Our customers like a good story and we want this feeling to come out of all our projects, even if it is a freelance job.

Gencon was the next topic. We made a list of everybody I need to meet. Also discussed which parties I should attend. I have to make these giants aware of this mouse and it would be so cool to fly home with a print publishing deal. We also talked about having some coupons available at the booth. Everyone can draw out a coupon and if you’re lucky you might win a free adventure.

We got some bar-b-q for lunch. I think a couple of platoons of the A&M corps arrived just as we showed up. The line still moved pretty good. Almost forgot. Ed stopped by one of his coworkers homes and introduced us to her. She is a cute lady. Real chatty. Ed is trying to hook up Craig and I think they would be a nice couple. See what happens. Craig is quiet, so sometimes you just don’t know what he’s thinking about.

After lunch, we broke out the dice and the game books. Time for Fire in the Hole. Guys loved it. Said it was real creepy and the spook factor was working. Got a couple of small rewrites and I have to adjust one of the monsters, because it just kicked their but and it could have been a Total Party Kill. mwuhahahaha!! I’m too soft. Nobody died.

We used the new Fear Factor rules and it made for some funny situations. The most funny being when one of Ed’s character was fleeing the area, he ran by Preston’s character. Preston became enraged and shot Ed in the back. Ed managed to crawl out of the hole, but he and Preston were pretty close to unconsciousness. I just find it funny when the characters rip into each other like this. They laugherd about it too.

I’m back home. The drive to and from A&M was not bad. I kept the speed reasonable so no speeding tickets. Now I must write all these freelancers and get them to work.