Chat: Steve Long

Editors note: Steve Long appeared under the handle DarkChamp during the chat session.

[GraveyardGreg] Tell us a little about yerself, Steve

[DarkChamp] Oh, let's see. I'm mid-30s, trained as an attorney, but have been writing and designing RPGs full time now for nearly three years. I've worked for, among others, Hero Games, White Wolf, Pinnacle, XID Creative, and of course Last Unicorn, for whom I now serve as DS9 RPG Line Developer.

[Lapdog] Mr. Long, can you comment at all tonight about Lug's Dune Rpg?

[DarkChamp] Sure, what would you like to know?

[Lapdog] Current status, please?

[Mytholder] Where is it and who do we have to kill to get it? :-)

[Zavier] when will we get out grubby little hands on it

[DarkChamp] OK, the last time I talked to the office, which was I believe Monday, they were expecting to clear the last roadblock to printing it this week. So, assuming all has gone as expected (ha! :) ), it should be ready for sale in 6-8 weeks.

[DarkChamp] Unfortunately there have been setbacks -- NOT Last Unicorn's fault, I assure you -- which have interfered with getting it out.

[Wanderer] Dark Champ - Are the supplements likely to suffer similiar delays?

[DarkChamp] Wanderer -- no, once this roadblock is cleared, it's smooth sailing (if that's not mixing my metaphors while introducing one inappropriate for DUNE, I don't know what is!). In fact, several supplements are already written.

[Wanderer] Sand Worm popup in the center of the book?

[DarkChamp] No, Wanderer, 'fraid not. :)

[Lapdog] I can speak for many fans when I say it's been frustrating to hear no word after Lug's countdown clock ended.

[Lapdog] Why is Lug so tight-lipped about the situation?

[Wanderer] Damn. Soem company will do it one day. Great to hear that once it starts its going to pour .

[Mytholder] Steve: what's your take on the house Atreides novel, and does the game consider than novel "canon"?

[DarkChamp] There are certain aspects to the situation which we can't discuss for confidentiality reasons. Once the book's out I may be able to say more.

[DarkChamp] Myth: The game incorporates info from HOUSE ATREIDES. In fact, had all gone according to plan, you'd have seen that info in the DUNE RPG *before* seeing it in the novel.

[Capt_Khorla_V] Steve: Any news on the Bajoran supplement and how that is coming along?

[DarkChamp] Captain, my understanding is that the development on LUG's end has been finished and that it's in the queue waiting to go to the printer, if it isn't already there. I haven't had a recent update, so I'm unsure of the exact status (one of the perils of working out of the office :) ).

[Mytholder] what time is the game set in? Before the original novels?

[DarkChamp] Yes, before the novels. Neither before nor after is an ideal situation, but before is the lesser of the two evils. :)

[Zavier] Steve here is another Dune question from me... Is the Cover Art the same as what is on the web site?

[DarkChamp] Zavier, I haven't checked the website recently, but I don't think so. The cover has a bunch of people around a planning table in the foreground, with a background scene showing a sandworm.

[Lapdog] Do you think there's a possibility of seeing a Dune supplement with info for playing in different eras?

[ircleuser] Do you have a preference Steve? What happens if you get an assignment that you don't have an interest in, or do you refuse to do those?

[DarkChamp] Lapdog, that all depends. I know one supplement has info on playing during the novel DUNE itself -- taking part in that action, but behind the scenes and in different ways. Whether we'll go into the far future of the last three novels is a question I'll have to leave for Owen Seyler, Dune LD, to answer.

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, it's my job to do whatever work I'm asked to do. However, as Line Developer, I have a lot of input on what's done, so I can slant book themes and topics more toward things that interest me. But if I have to do something that bores me, so be it. I just get it over quickly to return to something better. :)

[JM] Curious as to how you felt the playtesting for Spacedock went... anything helpful from the testers?

[DarkChamp] JM, I felt the playtesting went EXCELLENTLY, and I said so in detail in my report to the rest of the company. It was helpful, and everyone involved was courteous and enthusiastic.

[DarkChamp] My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that I would have liked to have received more final reports. But it was a busy time of year.

[Zavier] so what is on tap for DS9 products that are not showen on the web?

[DarkChamp] Zavier, our upcoming products include, vaguely in order, RAIDERS RENEGADES & ROGUES, CALL OF THE PROPHETS: THE BAJORANS, THE CARDASSIANS: IRON AND ASH, MERCHANTS & TRADERS, SPACEDOCK, THE SPACEDOCK SHIP MANUAL VOL. 1, THE DOMINION WAR SOURCEBOOK: THE FIRES OF ARMAGEDDON,...

[DarkChamp] THE ORION SYNDICATE, THE GAMMA QUADRANT SOURCEBOOK, and the DS9 PLAYERS' GUIDE. That takes the line through late spring of 2001, IIRC.

[Wanderer] Steve - Re DUNE - Is it the vision of the game to have Players in in a single group playing roles of of a House as nobles, Witches, Mentats, much like the first novel?

[DarkChamp] Wanderer -- the players take the part of the retinue or entourage of a House Minor (supplements will provide other options -- Fremen groups, groups working for Houses Major, and so on). They can get involved in traditional RPG-type adventures, or, through a more abstract system, help their House conduct "ventures" against/with other Houses. Thus, there's a big political element -- and the ventures help establish the traditional scenarios.

[ShawnM011] I'm curies about how Red Alert is coming along by Ross's description of a game it sounds like a lot of fun.

[DarkChamp] Shawn, the last I heard RED ALERT! was proceeding well, but I have no concrete info. We've had EXCELLENT pre-orders on it, so we're working hard to make it as good as can be. :)

[Capt_Khorla_V] DC: Has the writer for the Tzenkethi section been assigned yet? I know Don really wanted it... I'm just wondering if he got it?

[DarkChamp] That's for the DS9 PLAYERS' GUIDE. Hasn't been assigned yet, and won't be for months, since that book's not due out for over a year. I like the Tzenkethi myself; they're the focus of my current "episode to run at conventions," called "Echoes."

[JM] Do you anticipate any of the LUG stuff eventually being accepted as... here it comes, that dirty word... 'canon' by Paramount eventually? If this strays too far off topic, I understand...

[DarkChamp] JM: No, not likely. Anything's possible, I suppose. That would be really cool. But I don't for a minute expect it to happen.'

[Mytholder] What's it like working with a licensed property? How much freedom do you have to mess around?

[DarkChamp] Myth, that depends on a lot of factors, including how much the licensor trusts us. Paramount's been good to work with, for example, because we established a good relationship with them off the bat and have proven to them that we "grok" the Trek universe and how to create for it. Though we'll just see what they think of the DOMINION WAR SOURCEBOOK. }:)

[ircleuser] Any chance you can give us a brief take on your version of the mysterious Tzenkethi?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser -- briefly, I see them as big scary lizard-wolfmen. :)

[Lapdog] Any plans for playtesting for upcoming Dune products?

[DarkChamp] Lapdog, not that I'm aware of. That'd be the province of Owen Seyler, Dune LD. I don't think it's really likely, since the products aren't primarily rules-oriented, but ya never know.

[DarkChamp] Owen actually groks Dune *really* well, and I'm a big fan of the book/setting myself. Owen's done a BRILLIANT job adapting the Icon System to the Dune setting. I didn't think anyone could make Bene Gesserit and Mentats game-balanced as PCs, but I think he's done it, and in a way that makes 'em fun to play.

[Zavier] here is a question.. when is LugChat going to come back

[Lapdog] Lugchat auctions?

[DarkChamp] Zavier, I wish I knew. I haven't spoken to Don Mappin, our web developer, about it recently to find out where things stand. I want it back, too! :)

[Zavier] yeah I would say Don is hard to get ahold of... never recived mail back from him when I wrote him for some things... must be a busy little worker

[DarkChamp] Zavier, he is; he has a day job in addition to doing LUG's web stuff. And a wife. :)

[ShawnM011] Does the cool factor of seeing your stuff in print ever go away? I think its sool neat to see it in a gaming store.

[DarkChamp] No, it never does. There's nothing as much fun as seeing my latest work in print with my name on the cover (or at least in the credits inside ;) ).

[Wanderer] Steve - Dune - Is it a setting and a few adventures or will we see a campaign thread through multiple books ?

[DarkChamp] Wanderer -- I don't know if Owen has a "thread through multiple books" planned, so I can't say for sure. But I think the former's more likely than the latter.

[Capt_Khorla_V] What are the plans for the campaign sectors that were mentioned awhile back. Has any further work been done on them?

[DarkChamp] I think Ross and Don have lain some groundwork for them, Captain, but I'm not aware of anything more at present.

[ircleuser] Steve, You mentioned you like doing ships, do you like doing them more than cultures or species?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser -- no, not necessarily. They are a big favorite, but I can get enthusiastic about working on just about anything. It all depends on my current mood/frame of mind.

[DarkChamp] But all else being equal, I'd probably pick doing a ship book before the other two. :)

[Capt_Khorla_V] The TNG line has had various campaign adventure books Fragile Peace - Operation Stormbird. I presume TOS will do likewise. Will DS9 have something similar or perhaps instead of a planetary adventures book a station's adventures book?

[DarkChamp] Captain, I'm not sure. If I do anything, I'll probably do books describing settings, like the Kellinan Reach where my own campaign is set (spoonheads rule! :) ), rather than just books of adventures. Unlike TNG and TOS, which have a specific paradigm -- Starfleet guys on ships, going exploring -- DS9 has no set character type. It's difficult to publish scenarios usable by *any* type of character. :)

[Capt_Khorla_V] That's what I thought though it would be cool to have a couple abandoned stations with maps adventures.

[ircleuser] Steve, (continuing along what I asked about earlier) how do you approach doing a ship... do you just look at what is shown or really try to squeeze a culture factors into it?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, it depends. I usually start with what I know canonically, then build from there. For a book like SPACEDOCK, cultural factors aren't that relevant. For a book like AMONG THE CLANS, they are more important, and thus more likely to receive some attention.

[JC] Spacedock and the Spacedock Ship Manual are two seperate products, correct?

[DarkChamp] Correct. The final SPACEDOCK manuscript ended up being just a biscuit short of 200,000 words; far bigger than we can publish (esp. when you take the art into consideration). So SD itself will only have three ships as examples; the rest of the ones the playtesters saw, plus several more, go into THE SPACEDOCK SHIP MANUAL, VOL. 1. As you can tell from the "Vol. 1," I have plans to do LOTS more. :)

[Lapdog] Here's a somewhat related ship question: How much information is given in the Dune Rpg on Dune's spacecraft and other futurish technology?

[DarkChamp] Lapdog, the basic game has a chapter on the Spacing Guild and stats for various ships and such. The supplements, such as ARRAKIS, have more ships and vehicles.

[JC] Follow up Q, if possible...

[DarkChamp] Obviously ships aren't as important as they are in Star Trek, but they do play a role, so we'll be covering 'em. ;)

[Mytholder] Seeing as Dune's cleared the "roadblocks" and is on its way to the printers...any chance of LUG releasing some more information about the game? like an extract from the book or something?

[DarkChamp] I'm sure there are plans for something like that, Myth, but I'm not aware of what Owen and Don have in mind specifically. I'm sure they're as eager to put the stuff on the web as you are to see it. Believe me, when you look at this book, it's gonna blow your socks off, and when you read it you'll be equally as impressed again. :)

[JC] It's one of my peeves when a company comes out with products that refer to future products month and years in the wings. Will the Ship Manual be out within a short time period after Spacedock? LUG generally is excellent with creating a significant amount of initial product for it's game lines, I've noticed.

[DarkChamp] JC, the plan is to release the two books simultaneously, or as close to it as possible. Frankly, I'd rather get my versions of all the other ships out there ASAP, before people start spending lots of time creating their own versions. That way, they have a common, published version as a reference to change, argue over, etc. :)

[Prisim] You may have covered this, but are there going to be any sourcebooks for Psi in Star fleet

[DarkChamp] A whole sourcebook on Psionics, or people with psionic skills? I don't think we have any plans for that. Unlike some SF settings, ST doesn't really focus on psionics that much. Paramount wouldn't want to see a book which made them too common, I think. But you never know; I'll ask Ross and find out.

[Lapdog] Will we see Dune's core book and Narrator book released simutaneously?

[Lapdog] ....and then a follow-up ?

[DarkChamp] Yes, Lapdog. In fact, I think the Narrator's Toolkit is particularly good, but as the author I may be somewhat biased. :)

[DarkChamp] Go ahead with your follow-up, Lap, and go ahead Shawn.

[Lapdog] Once the game's released how soon will supplemental products be released? Every month?

[DarkChamp] Lapdog, I'm not sure what Owen has planned for that. He's got 2-3 supplements already set to go, so hopefully at least one every month or two.

[ShawnM011] How is it going with the get the name in the book contest you had a while back on the webpage?

[DarkChamp] Shawn, I don't know a thing about that, I'm afraid. I wasn't involved in the planning or execution of that promotion. However, on my own recognizance I've worked a person or two into SPACEDOCK and other supplements, just for fun. :)

[Wanderer] Steve - Dune - That Dune TV mini series thta is 6 hours long and under way now. Will that have any effect on the Dune line AND can you tell us anything about it?

[DarkChamp] I don't know anything about it, Wanderer. I doubt it will affect the line at all, though.

[Mytholder] How's Dune going to handle Oracles? and other characters who can see the future?

[DarkChamp] Myth, Owen actually came up with a fairly ingenious system for handling that. There are skills and abilities involved, of course, but primarily it involves the Narrator having to spend a little time beforehand plotting out his scenario so that if the characters use Prescience in Scene 3, his notes tell him what they can learn. That's a pretty general way of describing it; it's pretty cool, I think, and really adds to the game.

[ircleuser] Steve, outside of time travel, mirror universe, and starship creation, anything else you can tell us about the crossover line for LUG?

[DarkChamp] Hold on, I forgot Ircleuser's question. Irc, I don't think I have any details on any other stuff for the Crossovers line at this time, except that we plan to have a little "mini-game line" devoted to the Mirror Universe stuff. It will be Way Cool, if I do say so myself. ;)

[Wanderer] Steve - DUNE - Hows does the game handle Bene Geserit abilties to read minute details in changes in peoples facial features etc?

[DarkChamp] Wanderer, there are some special skills and advantages for that. I don't remember all the specifics, though; it's been a while since I did any writing for the game.

[Capt_Khorla_V] Steve, have you written any portions of "All Our Yesterdays"? (which I hope is in tomorrow when I hit the store).

[DarkChamp] Yes, Captain, I wrote up all the time travel starships.

[DarkChamp] Which, Captain, was a heckuva lot of fun, I might add. Tholian timeships, oh my! ;)

[Wanderer] Is there currently much work for freelances at LUG or is it mostly in house now?

[Capt_Khorla_V] How did you deal with their use of subspace then or is that being left for the Tholian sourcebook?

[DarkChamp] Captain, that's mostly left for the Tholians book.

[DarkChamp] For that, I've been given the unenviable task of making the Tholian web a viable combat weapon (blurk!).

[Mytholder] DarkChamp: the Tholians make everyone else laugh at how slow the web is, thus distracting their foes.

[DarkChamp] Oh, we'll see. We at LUG have some veeeerrry interesting ideas on our little crystalline friends. But that's all I can say for now. :)

[Mytholder] what exactly is going to be playable with just the basic dune book? Will Bene Gesserit be included for example?

[DarkChamp] Yes, there are Bene Gesserit included. There are plenty of options, including BGs, Mentats, assassins, swordmasters, soldiers, diplomats, and plenty of others.

[Wanderer] Steve - iS there currently much work at LUG for freelance writers (specifically Dune) or is it done mostly inhouse now?

[DarkChamp] Wanderer, at present, due to various schedule extensions, it's almost all in-house. But we'll probably be back to using freelancers within a few months.

[ircleuser] Surely you can tell us more about the Tholians! And Tzenkethi...

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, for the Tholians, that's Ken Hite's province, so I'd have to leave it to him to reveal whatever he wants. As for the Tzenkethi, you'll just have to get me invited to a local convention so I can run "Echoes" and let you deal with 'em and learn more that way. :)

[DarkChamp] (That last was a shameless plug; I love attending local conventions. ;) )

[Capt_Khorla_V] Is Spacedock still on schedule for a late May/early June release?

[DarkChamp] Captain, I think so, though scheduling changes may push it back a bit to July/GenCon. I haven't spoken to the office recently about it. My questions are more likely to be, "When's the absolute last day I can add more to the manuscript????" :)

[ircleuser] Well, can you tell us about the cardassian supplement?

[DarkChamp] What do you want to know, Ircleuser? I just turned in that manuscript about six weeks ago.

[ircleuser] Oooo... come on Steve, I know you know how to tease us rabid fans about your products! :D

[DarkChamp] Well, let's see. There's a BRILLIANT section on Cardie history by the estimable Robin Laws which'll make you want to put your phasers aside in favor of playing out medieval Cardassian battles as you thunder across the fields of the Sotar Valley on your enormous riding hounds. A great section on Cardie culture by yours truly, featuring three or four major spoonhead religions and plenty of other cool customs and artistic kind of stuff. Chara

[DarkChamp] Other cool Cardassians stuff -- in-depth looks at the Central Command and Obsidian Order. Descriptions of Union space and various interesting planets therein. And lots of new Cardie ships. :)

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, Christian Moore at LUG is doing the ships section, so I haven't seen it. But I think he'll do a fine job with 'em. :)

[Mytholder] Steve: drawing on your indepth knowledge of the Icon system: who'd win, Stilgar or Worf :P

[DarkChamp] Stilgar, because the writers never let Worf win. Well, at least not 'til DS9. :)

[Deathrider] Speaking of which, any news about a release date for Hero 5th Edition would be nice. :)

[DarkChamp] Deathrider, I wish I had a firm 5E date for you, but I don't. However, I will hopefully learn more at DunDraCon next week, so feel free to e-mail me in a couple of weeks for more info.

[Elestan] Steve: How many fooms do you usually put in your sauce, and how hot is it? :)

[DarkChamp] Ah, well, you see, the making of hot foom sauce is an *art.* First you must catch several fooms -- the number depends on how hot you want the sauce. Then you must beat them until they stop squealing. Then grind them into a fine mash and mix with jabanero juice... :)

[ircleuser] Steve, I've never tried the Hero system... what sources do you draw from when writing about super heroes?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, of course I draw inspiration from favorite comic books. But I try to inject some notes of originality when I can. :)

[ircleuser] I guess I was fishing for what your favorite comic books were. :)

[DarkChamp] These days I only read a couple -- Astro City, Sin City, and Robin, primarily. I gave up most of my comics when I began writing full-time; money was tight for a while, and most comics today are Just Plain Bad.

[DarkChamp] You should try the HERO System. It's the best gaming system on the market, even better than systems I've designed from scratch myself. ;)

[Mytholder]

[blinks] Hero is still around? wow...

[ircleuser] Better than icon Steve? :)

[Deathrider] Hero is not dead, it's just resting...

[DarkChamp] Yes, Ircleuser, I'd say so, given that you can do ANYTHING with it. Though the more we work on Icon, the better and more adaptable it gets. We have some big plans for other genres we'd like to cover with it.

[Deathrider] Speaking of Hero, Steve, can I ask about 5th Edition?

[Capt_Khorla_V] I miss the original superman. :)

[DarkChamp] I miss good writing on Batman, cool Spiderman villains, better writing for Capt. America and Iron Man, and about a zillion other things. ;)

[Mytholder] how easy is Dune gonna be for newbies? The Duniverse is somewhat...complex....

[DarkChamp] Yes, Captain, we deliberately designed the Icon System to be easy to learn, because we wanted to attract Trek fans who weren't gamers -- and we seem to have succeeded quite well.

[DarkChamp] Myth, that's certainly a consideration. After all, the dang videotape for the movie came with a 43 page book or the like, IIRC. However, that's one of the main functions of the core book, as with our Trek books -- it not only presents rules, it presents what you need to know about the setting in an accessible fashion.

[ircleuser] Do you ideas of LUG sales numbers Steve?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser -- not that I can share, sorry. But our sales figures are very good, esp. for the current state of the RPG industry.

[ircleuser] That's all I really wanted to know Steve. Kewl. :)

[Wanderer] Icon for toehr systems. What LUG is palnnign to expand into other areas soonish? Hope you do Steam Punk - like the comic thats about to come out. Looks cool.

[DarkChamp] We don't have any specific plans, just hopes and dreams -- right now Trek and Dune are enough to keep us all mighty busy! I'd like to adapt Icon for fantasy -- in fact, I've already got a file full of notes on doing just that. And maybe post-apocalyptic weirdness a la Thundarr the Barbarian. And about a zillion more.... :)

[Mytholder] will LUG keep going with licenced properties, or develop your own settings?

[DarkChamp] Myth, I for one would like to develop our own properties. But it all depends on the state of the market and what opportunities come our way.

[ircleuser] Tundarr! A Mok species template... :) What influences would you use for the fantasy or post-apocalyptic (besides thundarr) would you use?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, let's see. The "Battlecircle" books by Piers Anthony, and Paul Williams's post-apocalyptic series. Gamma World. Various ideers of me own. :)

[DarkChamp] And Jack Vance's science fantasy.

[ircleuser] Fantasy seems to have been done to death. I am sure you could do something cool though. Isn't Gamma World going to be released by WotC?

[DarkChamp] Well, I meant Gamma World as an inspiration -- or at least, the cool ol' GW games I used to be involved in.

[Wanderer] Steve - You played Tribe 8 - as an example of Post Apocalyptic material?

[DarkChamp] Wanderer -- I have a copy of that, but haven't played it.

[dak] Do you have the rights to Star Trek Voyager as well?

[dak] Will you be doing anything huge in that direction?

[DarkChamp] Yes, we have the rights to do a Voyager RPG. The development team is working on it even as we speak! I don't know whether I'll have any particular involvement in it.

[DarkChamp] Personally, I wouldn't want to touch the Intrepid class until they publish the VOY Tech Manual. :)

[ircleuser] The Intrepid is a very versatile ship, the abilities change every week! :D

[dak] Will there be any tie in with the other Star Trek games?

[dak] I mean With Voyager

[DarkChamp] Well, the rules will be the same, of course, and there's no reason you couldn't use the various game elements (new advantages and the like) in your TNG, TOS, or DS9 game.

[DarkChamp] Or vice-versa.

[dak] will you be able to travel to(what was that called) the Alpha Quadrant? or will voyager campaigns be only in that setting?

[DarkChamp] I'm not sure how the VOY team is going to handle that. But, ultimately, it's YOUR game. You can do WHATEVER you want -- which is the great thing about gaming! ;)

[DarkChamp] I expect the game will focus on "being a long way away from home" rather than being in the Delta Quadrant per se. Just like DS9 concentrates on "frontiers," not "the Bajor Sector."

[ircleuser] is there anything (beside buying all your games) you would like to see from the gamers and gaming community?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, I'd love to see *more* gamers, and more organization among gamers. People are constantly complaining about not being able to find other gamers, things like that. I think several people in the industry are working on ways to try to network more gamers; we'll just see how that goes.

[DarkChamp] I like to see large, enthusiastic gaming communities, playing lots of games.

[DarkChamp] Next question?

[ircleuser] Steve, do you have any other aspirations as a writer (or anything else I guess), to do novels or comics, etc?

[DarkChamp] I'd love to do novels, screenplays, comics, you name it. I have ideas for it all. :)

[DarkChamp] But I'm also quite happy just writing games.

[Deathrider] I was wondering if the rules for stuff (bases, vehicles, computers, etc.) have changed much in 5E.

[DarkChamp] Deathrider, not particularly. The rules are a little polished up, better written and such, and there are some clarifications, but no major *changes* that I can recall offhand.

[dak] What new games coming out do you want to play? are there any?

[DarkChamp] Hmmm. I take it you mean games other than ones I write for. I wouldn't mind getting into a good CoCthulhu or Shadowrun game. I know of a couple coming out I'd like to try but I'm under confidentiality agreements not to talk about 'em; sorry.

[DarkChamp] In general, I can enjoy just about any game, providing the GM and players are good. :)

[Mytholder] Steve: you don't want to drop hints, do you? or titles? or even genres?

[DarkChamp] Well, the genre is "fantasy." That's about all I can say for now, sorry. :(

[Memento-Mori] fantasy, as in elves and dwarves or fantasy as in, uh...catherine zeta-jones in a tub of tapioca?

[DarkChamp] Well, MM, I can ALWAYS go for the second fantasy. :) But I was referring more to the former. ;)

[ircleuser] So there was never a game you saw as really unplayable eh?

[DarkChamp] I didn't say that, Ircleuser; just that most games really don't revolve around rules, but around player interaction. The rules are secondary.

[Deathrider] Another Hero question...there has been a lot of bickering about the exact timing of combat: Aborting, etc. Is there new stuff on this?

[DarkChamp] Hmmm. I'll say "yes," in that I tried to clarify many of those issues. I don't think of them as "changes" per se, just trying to answer various questions that have come up about when you can Abort (and to what), how long the effects last, etc., etc.

[Wanderer] Steve - Do you find much inspiration for writing/gaming in movies and books - and if so what were your top choices for 99?

[DarkChamp] That's a good question, Wanderer. I certainly do! However, I'm very picky about such things, so I find relatively few movies to my liking. The only ones I enjoyed in '99 were THE MATRIX, SIXTH SENSE, BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, FIGHT CLUB, and GALAXYQUEST (though I maybe forgetting one or two).

[DarkChamp] I'm even pickier about novels. Other than a couple I read recently by Guy Gavriel Kay, it's been a LONG time since I read a novel I *really* enjoyed.

[Wanderer] Did you like Dogma?

[DarkChamp] Oh, yes, that's the one I'm forgetting! DOGMA rocked on ice.

[Deathrider] Lions of Al-Rassan was excellent...

[ircleuser] Never heard of Kay... what does he write?

[Wanderer] :)

[DarkChamp] GGK wrote the Fionavar Tapestry trilogy, THE LIONS OF AL-RASSAN, TIGANA, A SONG FOR ARBONNE, and his latest is SAILING TO SARANTIUM. Not your usual fantasy, but VERY good.

[Deathrider] I think the sequel to Sailing to Sarantium is out as well.

[DarkChamp] DR, it could be. I haven't read S2S yet; I'm waiting 'til all the books are out. ;)

[Nadela] Do you have a favorite gaming genre, or do you like writing/playing in just about anything?

[DarkChamp] I like just about everything. I have a sneaking love for fantasy, like everyone in the industry, I think. But my favorite's probably modern-day action, which, sadly, has never been successful as a gaming genre.

[Wanderer] I've noted in various articles how certain genres lapse, only to be reivigorated by clever game desginers. Westerrns for example with Boothill and a Hiatus until deadlands. Are there any genre's out there that you think are begging to be reborn?

[DarkChamp] Well, there's always modern-day action. :) I think fantasy could use something new and different -- not the same ol' dwarves and elves.

[Deathrider] Followup on my last question...for example, in 5E, can you Abort during a phase on which you recover from being CON Stunned?

[DarkChamp] DR, recovering from being Stunned requires a Full Phase and is the only thing a character can do that Segment -- no Aborting.

[ircleuser] Re: modern day action -] So I guess stuff like Feng Shui wasn't up to par?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, Feng Shui is a rockingly cool little game. But it's not really what I'm looking for in terms of modern-day, vigilante or Tom Clancy-like action adventuring. It's more like a fun Saturday at the movies. :)

[Memento-Mori] you're talking more like "millenium's end," right?

[DarkChamp] Yes, MM, more like Millennium's End (for which I wrote a book that sadly never got published).

[Deathrider] Have the rules for Variable Power Pools changed at all in 5th Edition?

[DarkChamp] Not really changed, no. Again, there are some clarifications and answering of questions, but no substantial changes. Why, did you have something in mind, or something you wanted to see in the rules?

[Deathrider] There is a common request for VPPs which can exceed the active point limit for "one-use" effects...

[Deathrider] Also, they require a lot of GM adjudication to avoid abuse, and I was wondering if there was anything in 5E to help fledgling GMs.

[DarkChamp] Deathrider, there isn't any specific rule for that, but having played with that sort of house rule myself, I think it's easy enough to graft onto the rules if one so desires. There is a GMing chapter, but I suspect it will get cut for space, and it doesn't address specifics like VPPs, really. So no, no specific guidance on that issue.

[Deathrider] :( Ah well, can't have it all!

[DarkChamp] True, where would you put it? :)

[Deathrider] Thanks a lot, Steve!

[ircleuser] Steve, is there anything that was established in DS9 (TV) that you really disliked? Or is there something that you think they really didn't do justice in covering (I suppose you'd expand them in your writings)?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser -- no, not really. I was pretty satisfied with the show as it was.

[ircleuser] Speaking of suggestions... I've heard stuff like this on the LUGTrek ML before.. Any talk about ever producing (maybe as an icon link) a chart or more graphical representation of the icon rules (just for quick reference, not for full detail)?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, I'd certainly have no objection to that! I've had some fans give me prototypes of that sort of thing. With a little effort, I'm sure they could become even more useful than they already are.

[Deven_Fa] sorry I got here late.. but did you write any thing for WhiteWolf?

[DarkChamp] Deven, yes, for WW I've written, in whole or in part, DESTINY'S PRICE, WORLD OF DARKNESS: COMBAT, KINDRED OF THE EAST COMPANION, ABERRANT, PROJECT UTOPIA, and some forthcoming stuff I can't talk about.

[Memento-Mori] destiny's price is by far my favorite WW sourcebook...awesome.

[DarkChamp] Glad you liked it, MM. That was the first work I did for them; got the job on the strength of DARK CHAMPIONS, which I wrote for Hero Games.

[Deven_Fa] I havent read it.. what system is it for?

[Memento-Mori] technically it's for mage...

[Memento-Mori] but it's really for any dark modern game.

[DarkChamp] It's a MAGE supplement, but would work for any WoD game, or even modern game.

[Wanderer] ALmost all games are written for players to play humans - or the elfish/dwarfish variation on - or on the odd occassion they get to play soemthign realy weird with a group of humans. Do you think that a game with animals or aliens - and NO humans - would be marketable, or is it too fringe?

[DarkChamp] I would tend to say "fringe." There've been some games that *sort of* tried that -- Empire of the Petal Throne and Jorune, for example -- and despite being way cool games and worlds, they weren't commercial successes. Most people can't identify well with the really alien.

[Wanderer] Do you think people in the roleplayign publishing game need to consider more carefully marketting to younger kids to sustain or increase the numbers roleplaying? And is anyone (bar TSR) really trying this?

[DarkChamp] Wanderer, I certainly think the should. The hobby is aging, and most kids these days get hooked on computer games. Research shows that we're most likely to make someone a gamer for life if he starts playing at about ages 12-14. I think there's a lot which could be done to market more towards a younger crowd and work 'em into the hobby, but it would take a lot of money and effort.

[dak] Of all the chat's with designers I have seen this one is the longest. Steve, you are a trooper.

[Mytholder] Steve, you're insane.

[DarkChamp] Thanx, dak. Talking to the fans/readers is always a helluva lot of fun, though.

[ircleuser] Steve, what *gaming* autors (if any) will you get books from sight unseen?* Memento-Mori chants, "Gygax...Gygax..."

[Mytholder] down, MM.

[Mytholder] we know you're a Gygax fanboy.

[DarkChamp] Robin Laws. S. John Ross. Ken Hite.

[DarkChamp] Aaron Allston.

[ircleuser] (writes that down...) Good many are LUG staff...

[ircleuser] Allston sound familiar, can anyone refresh my memory?

[DarkChamp] LANDS OF MYSTERY. STRIKE FORCE. About a zillion things for TSR. Now writes Star Wars novels.

[Mytholder] Aaron Allston: wrote pretty much everything ever written in the 80s.

[DarkChamp] Pretty much everything he ever wrote for gaming is good on some level. One of the highest compliments I ever got about my work was to be introduced to someone as "the Aaron Allston of the 90s." :)* Memento-Mori was once introduced as the "peter north of game design..."

[ircleuser] I always get introduced as the "loser". So MM, did you check out "Lejenday journeys"?* Memento-Mori turns his head to the side and coughs.

[Mytholder] Steve: you're at GenCon with a transporter and some friendly Greys. You can abduct one industry person to work on DS9. Who would it be?

[DarkChamp] Hmmm. That's a toughie, Myth; I've already gotten some of the industry's current best, like Robin Laws S. John Ross and Steve Kenson, writing for DS9. Probably Greg Stolze.* Memento-Mori is now known as Memento-Mjori.* Mytholder approves.

[ircleuser] *chuckles*

[ircleuser] Liked Stolze's Usagi Yojimbo...

[DarkChamp] Yes, UYRPG is Way Cool. As is SENGOKU and just about everything Gold Rush Games puts out.

[Wanderer] Yeah just wish more stuff for Usagi would come out.

[DarkChamp] I'm writing a book for GRG next month, in fact.

[Wanderer] What book?

[DarkChamp] No working title yet, Wanderer; it's a Dark Champions

[ircleuser] UYRPG was a good simple game I think would help beginners

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, that's one market it's aimed at.supplement for San Angelo.

[Mytholder] Steve: where the hell did LUG come from? they're gone from a very minor company to one with the second biggest licence in a fairly short time...

[Wanderer] Must have had huge capital for the licences alone if WEG Star Wars was any example

[DarkChamp] LUG's been around for years on the fringes of things, doing the ARIA RPG and DUNE CCG. Then, through various contacts, it got the Trek license, and that put it on the gaming map, so to speak.

[DarkChamp] Licensing is not a game for those with light pockets, certainly.

[Mytholder] could the ICON system handle, oh, say, Buffy: the rpg?

[DarkChamp] Easily. In fact, that's one license that several people at the company drool at the thought of getting. I think we could make a rockin' Buffy RPG.

[Memento-Mori] DarkChamp...I disagree.

[Memento-Mori] Buffy is about the characters and the way they speak and interact...

[Memento-Mori] Although the Buffy Mythos would make for interesting horror RPG fodder.

[Wanderer] Steve - How do you think WotC Star Wars revamp will go? I like how they are actually asking people on their web page what they want...?

[DarkChamp] Wanderer, that's a good question. LUG was hot in contention for that, and I really wish we'd gotten it, but c'est la vie. I think WOTC will do a good job with it, or at least I remain optimistic. :)

[ircleuser] Wonder if Slavicek (sp?) will get his mitts on the Star Wars RPG?

[ircleuser] Steve, just curious, do you like John Tynes' work?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, his DELTA GREEN and CoC stuff is excellent. Haven't read all of the other stuff yet.

[Wanderer] If you had got that you would have aced the Sci Fi rpg genre me thinks

[DarkChamp] Yes, Wanderer, exactly. We'd've pretty much been THE company for sci-fi RPGs. :)

[ircleuser] Biohazard is gone or acquired isn't it?

[Wanderer] Acquired but the marriage loks nice!

[Mytholder] Fantasy flight games are licensing BP from Biohazard.

[DarkChamp] Fantasy Flight Games picked up Blue Planet; I'm looking forward to seeing what they do with it.

[ircleuser] Better get out that Pacifca supplement out to compete with the Blue Planet RPG! ;)

[Capt_Khorla_V] Any plans for a Bolian or Centauran supplement in the works for any of the Trek Lines?

[DarkChamp] No specific plans of which I'm aware, but I suspect the TNG line will get around to them eventually.

[ircleuser] Which were the most fun ships to design for LUG Trek Steve?

[DarkChamp] Ircleuser, hmmm, they're all fun, I'd say. :)

[Capt_Khorla_V] Any further word on Engage?

[DarkChamp] Captain, no, nothing particularly new that I'm aware of, sorry.

[Capt_Khorla_V] Too bad...Would love to PT that one too.

[DarkChamp] Captain, there still may be playtesting; I don't know yet.

[DarkChamp] Irc, no. Those will have to wait for the TOS Spacedock supplement.

[Wanderer] I've read a few articles about the importance of net presence to RPG company sucess. Will LUG be uping there web presence?

[ircleuser] Steve, any Gorn ships in the spacedock stuff?

[DarkChamp] Wanderer, I think we've already got a pretty good web presence, but I'm sure as time and resources allow, we'll do more.

[Mytholder] Steve: it'd be a good web presence if ye updated the frigging thing! ;-)

[DarkChamp] Myth, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do about that except pester Don occasionally. ;)

[Drew_B] Freelance writing came up, but I was wondering about art. I spoke with Matt at GenCon, but haven't been able to get in touch with him since...

[DarkChamp] Drew, Matt's been moved over to become RED ALERT! Line Developer. I'm not sure who'll be replacing him; e-mail me in a couple weeks and I'll see if I can get you a name.

[ircleuser] Yes, as a comic book reader, do you have any comments about art in the RPG industry? Who are your favorites in comics and RPGs?

[DarkChamp] Irc, in general I don't have any complaints about RPG art. Some could be better, some could be worse, some is magnificent. :) As a writer I try to focus more on content anyway. :) As for favorite comic artists, hmmm. I'd have to name, off the top of my head, Alex Saviuk, Eduardo Barretto, Frank Miller, John Romita Sr. and Jr. That's all I can think of immediately; I don't always pay that much attention to the names on the masthead.

[Mytholder] if you were put in charge of the next Star Trek series...what would it be?

[DarkChamp] Myth, it would be a sort of combination of TNG and DS9. I want engaging characters and true storylines like DS9, with the ship-based format of TNG. Probably something like my DS9 RPG campaign, which mixes the two.

[DarkChamp] Of course, my idea, lacking "originality" as it does, is never going to fly with Paramount. ;)

[ircleuser] Did you already describe your campaign? If not, can we hear about it?

[DarkChamp] I haven't hear. It's set on Bridgetown, in the Kellinan Reach (described in the DS9 RPG). Half the players are Starfleet, half civilians. The Starfleet people have to win the station over (and eventually the Federation will annex the region) and go exploring the Reach, eventually to make contact with the Kellinan and get drawn into an ancient war.

[DarkChamp] It'll all be in whatever Kellinan Reach supplements we do for the DS9 line. :0

[Wanderer] Steve - How much roleplaytign do you get in the avergae week and hos that devided between playing and running?

[ircleuser] (I think Steve must be running on Bajoran time to get all the things done that he does)

[DarkChamp]Nah, Irc, it's the whole lack of a social life that does it. ;)

[DarkChamp]Wanderer, I usually game once or twice a week. I prefer to play, but every now and then the urge to run comes over me. I run a couple games until I can beat it back into submission. ;)

[ircleuser] (psst... those ircing here... I think there are multiple Steves!)

[DarkChamp]No, no, eh world can barely tolerate one of me. ;)

[Capt_Khorla_V] Playing what is that...the last time I had a chance to play regularly was about five years ago. :) All I ever do these days is GM.

[DarkChamp]My gaming group really needs a regular GM, Captain. All of us prefer to play! We don't have many long-running campaigns.

[Capt_Khorla_V] laugh ... move to Calgary.... as long as I get to play once every couple of months ... you can join the Challenger game or the other one in development.

[Mytholder] I'm going to bed. Steve, you're one of the most interesting and certainly the most enduring guest we've had.

[DarkChamp]Sorry, Captain, I'm afraid I'm too set where I am. :)

[DarkChamp]Thanx, Myth! Glad you were able to come by and ask some Dune questions. :)

[Capt_Khorla_V] Okay...that's in Ontario right?

[Mytholder] now print the damn book, or I'll be forced to...do something mean...

[Mytholder] 'night all.

[Capt_Khorla_V] I've got some family there... I'm sure they'd love to put me up for a couple months and then I can get my playing fix... :)

[DarkChamp]Ontario? Nope, only visited there. ;)

[DarkChamp]Actually, folx, I think it's about time for me to head on myself. Need my beauty sleep, after all. :)

[DarkChamp]But if you have other questions, you can always get in touch with me via various mailing lists or e-mail!

[Outsider]Nite, buddy. Talk to ya again soon!

[Wanderer] Well thanks for putting up with all the questions. Hope to hear more on Dune soon. Good luck with all the projects.

[ircleuser] Mahalo Steve!

[ircleuser] Let's give the man a hand!

[dak] Good luck with everything Steve

[Capt_Khorla_V] Later Steve...take care.

[Capt_Khorla_V] Thanks again.

[Galen] good night...* dak applauds the best chat he has seen in GO

[DarkChamp]Good night, guys, and take care! See ya 'round the Internet. ;)

[Memento-Mori] buenas noche, el campeon de noche!

[DarkChamp]Au revoir....*** DarkChamp Signoff (Quit: Leaving)

[dak] what a guy

[ircleuser] sayonara

[Memento-Mori] what a sweetheart.

[Capt_Khorla_V] Night All

[Memento-Mori] who was that?

[ircleuser] hahahaha