Episode 20: The Business of Design
This week, I'm a bit too busy actually writing Orkworld to write about it. My head's so far into the words that I can't spare the time to write about something I'm writing about. If that makes any sense.
Episode 21.5: A Quick Update
One of the most important things you can consider for your RPG is its cover. Eric Rowe always tells me that he doesn't understand why small press guys don't spend all their money on the cover and ditch the interiors. I…
Episode 21: A Busy Week
Orkworld, written by John Wick and illustrated by Thomas Denmark, will be available at Gen-Con 2000. The format of the book is still up for grabs (with a few certain variables), but if you're at Gen-Con, you can go home…
Episode 22.5: Confessions of a Wrestling Fan
Not too long ago, I did a review of the Nintendo game Wrestlemania 2000 here at the ol' G.O. Folks who have known me for a while know that I'm a die-hard wrestling fan from way back. But I got e-mail from at least four…
Episode 22: Bards and Hags and Shaman… Oh My!
Thomas is working hard on the cover… and speaking of that little cover thing - oh my god! Do you guys have opinions on covers, or what?!? Lots of folks sent e-mail and posted about that cover. They liked this one,…
Episode 23: "What's His Mother's Name?"
Writing the rules for character creation, I've come to a realization. It's something I've been thinking for a long time now, but I just couldn't put it into words. Maybe its because I was writing games for other people…
Episode 24: So You Want to be an RPG Artist?
I have a little surprise for you. Thomas Denmark has done us the honor of writing a little essay about the work he's been doing. He also sent us three more sketches for the book, all of which are outstanding.
Episode 25: How I Spent My Scottish Vacation: A Tale of Root Canals, Food Poisoning, Templars and Irish Terrorism
On my very first night in Scotland, just down the block from that Emerald Isle where my grandfather was born, Mr. David Donachie is on the phone, looking for a late night dentist while I'm running for the loo every ten…
Episode 26: Cutting the Fat
Imagine James Wallis, my wife and I sitting in a little Chinese restaurant eating really good noodle soup. Imagine that same James Wallis talking to me about game systems. The guy who created The Adventures of Baron…
Episode 28: "Evil" is "Elf" Misspelled
If I met Bayushi Kachiko, I'd be scared to death. Nothing in her life happens by chance. If I met Kachiko, it's because she wanted to meet me. That means, she wanted something from me.
Episode 29.5: A Moment of Melancholy
I was just sitting here, listening to Sarah McLachlans song, Angel , and I had to start writing. See, it was about eight months ago, on a Sunday afternoon, in the AEG offices, when I put that CD in the player, forwarded…
Episode 29: More Evil
In this installment, John takes a quick look at the money issue again, and then dives into the elven society.
Episode 30: Lets Get Laid (Laid Out, That Is)
I like a book thats easy to read. I dont like reading encyclopedias. And I dont believe that books with bigger word counts are necessarily better books. I believe in the Bard when he says that bit about brevity and wit.…
Episode 31.5: A Miscellany of Thoughts
As we get closer to deadline, these little episodes get shorter and shorter. I suspect thats because as I make each decision, I have less to say. I also suspect that this last bit is the most boring part of game design.…
Episode 31: Let's Get Laid (Laid Out, That Is) Part 2
Not a lot of words this week, but three big pictures. Im crunching in as much editing/advice I can into the pages Ive already written, and I dont have a lot of time for you guys. However, Ill give you what time I do…
Episode 37, Part 4
For those of you keeping score, this is the penultimate chapter of Episode Thirty-Seven. That means there's one more on the horizon. After that, one more Episode to wrap things up, then we'll start on Volume Two of this…
Episode 37: Part Three
I know, I know. Ive been a very bad boy. I should have gotten this done while at the con. I should have stopped by the booth and written it out while the show was still going.Bad John. No biscuit.
Episode 3: What Jery Jax Did
Before we begin, let's get one thing perfectly clear: J. Jery Jax did not "ruin" Warhamster. A lot of hardcore Cottonworthy fans will tell you that. They are wrong. Mr. Jax's contributions to Warhamster are innumerable.
Episode 4: The Bonnie Principle
"The first thing they taught me in sewing class, John," Bonnie tells me, "is this. You can have something cheap, now, or pretty. Pick two." Jenny and I both laughed. I'd heard that before, but the way Bonnie said it…
Episode 5: A Conversation With Joe Cottonworthy
This is a transcript of a telephone conversation held between Mr. Cottonworthy and myself a few weeks ago. I thought about editing it down, but then, liked the natural flow of the conversation, and felt edits would just…
Fiction: A Fragment?
"A Fragment?" was a runner up in the Gaming Outpost Silent Death Story Contest.
Game Designer's Journal 34: A Sudden Complication (or, Help! Help! Im Bein Repressed!)
There is no such thing as an Evil Empire. Not the Nazis, not the Communists, not even WotC or GW: only people put in positions of authority. Every day, those people face choices and their ability to abuse the authority…
Game Designer's Journal 35: Endings and Beginnings (or, Where have you been for three weeks, Mr. Wick?)
Well, Orkworld is done. For better or for worse. Written, edited, re-written, re-edited, re-re-written and re-re-edited. Three separate sets of eyes went on this thing (not counting my own): Jennifer Brandes, Chris…
Game Designer's Journal, Episode 32: You Cant Always Get What You Want
Were at the end here. Im finishing up the editing/re-writing, my wifes scanning in all the art/designing the logo for our company (Wicked Press), and Rich will be writing a check on Friday for the books. But this weeks…
Game Designer's Journal, Episode 33: Get Your Money for Nothin& and Where Are All the Chicks?
Dean Koontz once wrote that he was ashamed of every book he ever wrote& ten minutes after it went to press. Im not ashamed of Orkworld , nor am I trying to justify it being a bad book (as some are wont to mention). But…
Game Designer's Journal, Episode 36: It aint over 'till...
Remember when I told you it wasn't done until the Printer Lady sang? She ain't singing. In fact, she's still in her dressing room warming up.
Gaming Soft and Hard
After covering my version of gaming styles I am going on to discuss various methods of game mastering. To prove to you that I actually spent an experience point or five (depending on what system I am living in, although…
GDJ Epilogue: A Tip-Toe 'cross the Chasm
Well, this is it. The end of the trip. It's been more than a year, and there's a few last things to say. A few last words of advice for all you out there who still have the wistful notion that this journey is worthwhile.
GDJ Episode 37: Forty-eight hours, Part One
If I'm lucky, I can tape six boxes together and call them three pieces of luggage (each at 70 pounds).Afer all, I'm going to Gen-Con. Who the hell needs clothes?