As of today ("Real Soon Now") the remaining chapters of the GURPS Traveller first draft have been posted to the playtest site, and the first draft is available for playtest, commentary, and dissection.
The first files of the second GURPS Traveller release (tentatively titled Behind the Claw: The Spinward Marches Sourcebook) have arrived, and we expect to have it up by the end of the week.
Pop over to the playtest site. We have room for more equipment descriptions than I counted on originally, and your comments and suggestions on what to include are welcome!
-- Loren Wiseman
You have Steffan O'Sullivan to blame for . . . for . . . for this.
-- Steve Jackson
Joseph "Chepe" Lockett has agreed to take over administration and maintenance of the GURPS Traveller web page. As a volunteer Web Wrangler, he'll oversee its coming expansion, adding information, art, and excerpts as the game universe continues to grow.
Chepe brings years of experience as a player and gamemaster in both GURPSand Traveller, from its "little black books" days through the most recent rules sets. "I'm happy to be involved in bringing my two favorite game systems together," he says. "I've enjoyed all of Traveller's incarnations, in both rules and background -- but I think GURPS Traveller has the potential to be the best yet!"
Among our plans are continuing updates of the revived Traveller News Service and an archive of the in-character news from the first edition of the game, a Frequently Asked Questions file to handle the growing interest and discussion about the product, and on-line access to Library Data, both new and old, on the Traveller universe. Your comments and suggestions are welcome -- "Free Trader Beowulf, help is on the way!"
-- Loren Wiseman
But like many fanzines, momentum slowed, problems arose and Vindicator went on hiatus. Until now.
Under the stewardship of new editor Duke Ritenhouse, Vindicator is back. The latest issue, Vol II, No. 1, has articles about the history of microgames, some new units for G.E.V., and more.
Subscriptions are $11 for 6 bi-monthly issues ($18 foreign), $20 for 12 issues ($30 foreign) and $2 for a sample issue ($3.50 foreign). Duke is also looking for contributors. Contact him by e-mail, or write:
Vindicator
c/o Duke Ritnenhouse
2160 Lakeview Drive, No. 272
Ypsilanti, MI 48198
-- Scott Haring
The Oracle
knows everything. Absolutely everything. And if you ask nicely (don't
forget to grovel) maybe it will TELL you. Or, if you're feeling
Illuminated, you can incarnate yourself as the Oracle and share your wisdom with some poor clueless questioner.![[ pic of Lori ]](/ill/img/lori.jpg)
Lori Schwartzberg has joined our staff. Like most of us around here, she has two jobs.By morning, she is a mild-mannered Information Services specialist, keeping our computers humming along (as her first big win, she correctly diagnosed and repaired a nagging little back-up problem that had us all worried). By afternoon, she uses her graphic design training to help us out in the editorial department as a Production Artist. Welcome!
-- Scott Haring
Tired Wired Magic: The Gathering Lunch Money
Well, we just got a nifty little QuickCam (thanks to all you auction supporters) and we've aimed it at The Big Chessboard.
It shoots a new picture every 5 minutes between 9am and 6pm, Monday thru Friday. Thrill to the ongoing game. Wonder what cards are being played (we haven't figured out how to indicate that yet). Try to figure out who you're seeing, as our backs obscure the board while we puzzle over moves.
And feel free to suggest other nifty uses for the QuickCam!
![[ Pyramid #30 Cover ]](/pyramid/covers/pyr-30.jpg)
It's the end of an era, as we bid farewell to the paper version of Pyramid magazine. This last issue features a Shadowrun adventure and lots more neat stuff, and should be on store shelves sometime in May.
But we'd rather look ahead than behind, and the future is rosy, indeed. The new online version of Pyramid is a big success; subscriptions are pouring in, the reaction is very positive, and we're having a lot of fun putting it together. If you haven't yet, please check it out.
-- Scott Haring
So, congratulations to the winners. But we won't take our defeat lying down . . .
It's the great rematch, the Shipping Department vs. Everybody Else, this time in a game of Knightmare Chess, using the big magnetic board. We'll let you know how it turns out.
-- Scott Haring
. . . need a Grand Designer. Our New Media department (that's, um, me) is seeking a multimedia producer. Initially, this position will develop the GURPS CD-ROM and support other New Media functions.
Benefits include opportunity to bring your multimedia skills to the state of the art and keep them there, a wonderful locale (Austin, TX) and flexible working conditions.
Requirements include a solid footing in Quark, some demonstrable design history, relocation to Austin and high initiative.
E-mail me at seabolt@io.com with questions or a resume.
-- Gene Seabolt
Ever wanted to sit down and get caught up on those great fantasy and SF classics, but just don't have the time to wade through trilogy after trilogy, not to mention the seemingly never-ending sequels after the trilogy? Well, never fear, the Book-A-Minute web page has solved your problem.
- Suggested by Scott Haring
Well, almost.
Gene has been working as producer of the upcoming GURPS CD-ROM. He will still be working on that project – just from a higher box on the organizational chart. He will also be responsible for other computer-related projects from SJ Games.
Gene is replacing Micah Jackson, who has gone independent, forming his own company, International Entertainment Licensing.
-- Steve Jackson
GURPS Planet Krishna -- We're still looking for playtesters Nick Pennola and Kathy and Scott McClure.
Liber Reliquarum -- Daniel Kwon was one of the winners who got a design into the book.
GURPS Russia -- Playtesters Michael Rake, Marshall Ryan Maresca and Dean Kimes.
So if you know any of these people (or if you are any of these people . . . ), please drop me an e-mail so I can get you your stuff.
-- Scott Haring
![[ img: Andy at I-Con ]](/ill/img/andy.jpg)
I didn't report after my trip, even though I've been home for a week, because I was a wreck. I am very grateful for the large group of Men In Black who showed up to help at I-Con, because without them I might never have made it out of the airport. How can we say this? Usually I enjoy conventions a great deal; having survived this event will make me all the more appreciative of those con-runners who care about the health and comfort, let alone the enjoyment, of their guests.
(In the photo, we see Andy Dawson, preparing to run a game of In Nomine in the palatial room we were assigned.)
![[ img: Bedford Capsule ]](/ill/img/capsule.jpg)
After that con, I spent several days at a training session and cryonics conference at Alcor. One of the highlights of the event was a talk by James Halperin, author of The First Immortal. This is a very interesting book which paints a picture of the future that – while not sugar-coated – still offers more hope than most people will allow themselves! If you enjoy near-future science fiction, or if you have even the tiniest interest in surviving past your allotted threescore years and ten, I recommend it.
![[ img: Alcor's Tanks ]](/ill/img/tanks.jpg)
(The upper picture shows the capsule which once held Dr. James Bedford, the world's "oldest" cryonics patient. It's now a museum piece; Bedford has been moved to one of the modern tanks being displayed by Alcor's Brian Shock in the lower picture.)
![[ img: Desert Flower ]](/ill/img/flower.jpg)
The conference was in Phoenix, and naturally I visited their beautiful desert botanical gardens. Here are a couple of pictures.
![[ img: Desert Sunset ]](/ill/img/sunset.jpg)
And when I got back, I had the great pleasure of logging into the online version of Pyramid, which went live while I was gone. I had watched Scott, Jackie and Gene work for weeks to develop it, of course, but it was neat to see it up and running for real. I am VERY pleased with the transition to an online zine. We already have over 500 people signed up, and last night's chat session had 4 of our staff members (me included – it was fun!) and 18 subscribers!
-- Steve Jackson
Who needs to get bomb-making instructions off the Internet when you can
blow up your house with Professor Wacko?
- Suggested by Stefan Jones
Actually, the cards and the box (and wait 'til you see them -- they'll blow
your mind!) went away almost two weeks ago . . . but with the final tweaks to
the rulebook finally locked in, I can announce with glee that INWO SubGenius has gone to the
printer.Praise "Bob"!
And this is as good a time as any to invite you to visit the demented world of the SubGenius (and some amazing computer graphics) at the Church of the SubGenius web page.
But now they're doing it again, so I guess it wasn't such a bad idea . . . Wizards of the Coast is not only repeating their Summer Camp program from last year, they're expanding it.
This summer, campers can not only attend any of five one-week Magic: The Gathering camps, they can also try an AD&D camp (two sessions), a Warhammer camp, workshops for Magic judge certification and Pro Tour qualifiers and a writing workshop for prospective TSR game designers.
And we thought them mad . . .
-- Scott Haring
Aaron Allston, former editor of The Space Gamer and game designer for us back in the really good old days, has hit the Holy Grail of authors, the New York Times bestseller list! His "X-Wing" novel Wraith Squadron, the first of several Star Wars novels Aaron is doing, just hit #10 on the list. Congratulations!
-- Scott Haring
The story A Bright Dream/A Dark Dream, from the original In Nomine rulebook and written by Derek Pearcy, was nomintated in a new fiction category, "Best Game-Related Short Work." And Derek Pearcy was honored again when In Nomine got a nomination for "Best Graphic Presentation in a Roleplaying Game." The third nomination went to Pyramid for "Best Professional Game Magazine."
The Origins Awards will be handed out at Origins, in Columbus, OH over the July 4th weekend. The public is invited to vote in the awards -- a ballot will be printed in Pyramid #30 and will be posted for download soon.
-- Scott Haring
The signs are in PDF format and ready to go. Just download 'em and print 'em out, and voila! You've got professionally designed signs for your convention events, in-store demos or game club.
Just another example of better gaming through technology . . .
"The Chessex network will serve as a hub for retail support," Iron Crown president Pete Fenlon said. "The burden will be on us, now.
"This is a rather creative direct to retail program. Chessex is involved as a fulfillment partner, but it is not an exclusivity deal at all," Fenlon said.
Iron Crown has been working on this arrangement with Chessex for about six months, and it arises out of a growing concern in the industry that, as Fenlon put it, "the current system is, at least for our purposes, dysfunctional.
"Because of the volume of new titles, the distributors and retailers are inundated with stuff. They see product releases as white noise. They're now in order-taking mode, not sales or promotion mode," he said.
For more on this story, visit the Pyramid Magazine site.
-- Scott Haring
If you like to blow things up real good, or jump off the
WRONG things, or do any of the other things that you're not supposed to try at home . . . or if you just want to see a lot of pictures of people who have done this stuff and lived . . . then the Extreme Hobbies page is for
you. It is a collection of links to . . . to all kinds of things.
Some of them are even legal.
- Suggested by Liz Lindsay
First, last weekend's launch was trouble-free (great job, Jackie!), and nearly 200 subscribers have already signed up in just the first few days -- thanks for your support.
Today is our very first "Posting Day," and we've got eight -- yes, eight -- new articles for you. I especially want to draw your attention to two new columnists that make their debut today.
Steve Fritz has covered the game business for the Mania! website for quite some time, and now he's brought his Action-Packed Strategies column to Pyramid. Steve will have the latest news and the hottest interviews, here every week. He kicks things off with the scoop on the upcoming Star Trek Roleplaying Game. Check him out!
Our other columnist is Kenneth Hite (co-author of GURPS Alternate Earths and In Nomine contributor). His Suppressed Transmission column will appear bi-weekly, discussing . . . well, whatever Ken thinks of. The first column has to do with early 19th-century conspiracy theory. Or something like that. Check it out for yourself.
And one more thing -- the very first Pyramid Chat is tonight! Join me (Scott Haring, Pyramid editor) and Jackie Hamilton (the technical wizard who makes it all work) in our chat room at 7pm tonight (that's Central time -- 8pm Eastern, 5pm Pacific, sometime around 2am Saturday in Luxembourg . . .). We'll get your feedback, answer your questions spill more plans about the future. See you there!
-- Scott Haring
![[ GURPS Wizards ]](/gurps/books/Wizards/img/cover-sm.jpg)
Our latest GURPS book, GURPS Wizards, went to the printer yesterday.Wizards has templates for designing all sorts of magic-using archetypes from every type of roleplaying campaign you can think of. Each template also has several sample characters, from all sorts of genres, Tech Levels and point levels. This will be a must-have resource for GURPS gamemasters, no matter what kind of game you run, and it will give players hundreds of new ideas for characters.
Look for GURPS Wizards on store shelves in early May.
-- Scott Haring
Honorable mention to Micah for acting as Chief Teacher to those who didn't know Junta already, and sacrificing his own chances of winning by cheerfully demonstrating several different ways to launch unsuccessful coup attempts and one way to succeed with a coup and then watched others get all the benefit.
