State of the Freelancing Industry

The latest issue (#169) of Comics & Games Retailer, a trade magazine for two tightly bound industries, concentrates on the state of the gaming industry. Along with the regular doom and gloom, editor James Mishler commissioned an article from me about how the industry looks from a freelancer’s point of view. The answer in short: confused but hopeful, with an …

Dennis Mize Dies

Dennis Mize, one of the first two sculptors at (legendary and now defunct miniatures company) Ral Partha, died this week. He also created gorgeous figures for Dark Sword Miniatures, Reaper Miniatures, and others. The Miniatures Page has an excellent memorial post about him. I never knew Dennis, but like anyone who starting gaming in the ’80s, I appreciated his work. …

Battle Dice Adds Organized Play

At the GAMA Trade Show, Playmates introduced a full organized play system for Marvel Heroes Battle Dice. Toymania has the press release.

Marvel Battle Dice: The Comic!

The latest run of the Marvel Heroes Battle Dice starter set contains a free mini-comic written by Todd Degazo and illustrated by Ron Lim. Apparently it wasn’t ready for the first wave, but it comes free with the set now, for no additional price. Ron drew many of the cards for the WildStorms CCG I co-designed. Although I may have …

Blasts from My Past

Getting ready to attend my 20th high school reunion (and to drool over the just-announced Mutant Chronicles Collectible Miniatures Game from Eric Lang and Fantasy Flight) has made me a bit nostalgic. To see if you’re on the same wavelength with me, I present two amazing bits of clever webbery: Star Wars: A New Hope (abridged) set to Journey’s “Don’t …

Back from GTS

Got in late last night. Still recovering and plowing through e-mail. Had a great time. Saw and made many wonderful friends. Left my voice in Vegas. More soon.

GTS 2006 Ahoy!

I’m off for the GAMA Trade Show in Las Vegas on Sunday. If you’ll be out there (it’s for gaming industry professionals only, I’m afraid), give me a shout. I’m only sticking around through Wednesday, as I have many duties calling me home. (I can think of at least five by name, and they live in the bedrooms next to …

No Plan Survives Contact with the Enemy

This happens every time I write a novel. I get halfway to two-thirds through it, and I realize I’ve gone so far off my original outline I have to sit down and rewrite the outline again from that point on. Sometimes I have to go through it twice in a single book. This isn’t a bad thing. As I write …

Steve Henderson Dies

According to Steve Perrin, Steve Henderson passed away from a massive stroke this morning, leaving behind his wife Gigi and their young son Alexander. I didn’t know Steve at all, but we had many mutual friends. Steve co-authored RuneQuest (the original Glorantha roleplaying game) and Worlds of Wonder (the first universal roleplaying game) along with Steve Perrin, Lynn Willis, and …

Masters of American Comics Coming to Milwaukee

According to ICv2.com, the lauded Masters of American Comics exhibits from two L.A. museums will be shown together this summer at the Milwaukee Art Museum. It runs from April 29th through August 13. I have to find a free day for this.