In which I talk about eBooks.

Well, HaMT is winding down, for me, and I'm starting to work on eBooks for some of my other works, most notably being The Rise and Fall of the Pumpkin King, a rather long fiction I did a while ago. Here's a sneak-preview of the cover for TRaFotPK.


For some wacky reason, it's too big; click on it to see it all. I'm coloring it on the computer right now. I don't know what, if anything, I'm going to do for the cover of HaMT. Maybe I'll beg Hex_Enduction_Hour to do something for me. We'll see how things pan out.

I'm going to say it again, if you have anything you'd like to donate for the HaMT eBook, feel free to either PM on the forums, or email me at vahnen2@aol.com. Be sure to put your username in the subject line, So I know it's you. I would love nothing more than to make this a public project.

In which I post the Picture of Anthony's Machine.

Indeedy. I had to take a picture of the drawing because my scanner didn't work. Anyway, here we are:

Sepia tone and wear are all for flavor. When my friend read the chapter beforehead, he said, "So it's a Nazi AT-AT?" I said, "Yeah....kinda." It ended up being a lot bigger in my mind than on paper. I originally had the idea for both Anthony's and Doom's machine when brainstorming about a story a friend was going to write. He said it was about the orcs and orc culture, and I made up an elaborate history on the spot about an orc warlord discovering steam power, and using crude steam machines to control all the other tribes. He said, quote: "I'll leave the steampunk to you." So I did. I originally started out as a steam machine being built by Laglor and Tony, but this came to me at the last second and sounded so much more negaging, so I went with that.

I'll be getting more pictures up as time goes along. Stay tuned.

In which I rejoice about finding a free eBook program.

Yes, indeedy. The program is Swiftebook, and it's a lot better than I expected. Most programs just have the ability to convert a text file into PDF, but this one lets me put in images and hyperlinks. It's great. For some reason, it linked to www.gurucreations.com, but it's about glass artistry. Yeah, I don't know, either. I just thank whatever saint looks after the Internet, and use it when I get the chance. Once the story is done, I'll take whatever drawings I've done and put them in, and make an eBook. But hey, submit any art you'd like to do now! I'm desperate for it, so I'll take prettty much anything. Just PM me on Heroscapers with a link, or email me the file.

I know I said I'd post a sketch of Anthony's machine, but I lost my notebook. And my good pencils. Yessir, a fine day this is.

In which I explain the reason for my absence and talk about stuff.

I don't know why I do this. It's not like anyone is reading it. Ah, well, better to get this off my chest than just let it fester, eh?

I'm working on a sort of project with some other 'Scapers called the Week@Heroscapers. (that's not a link, by the by. Blogger just says it is) We go through and collect things during the week that are worthy of the front page and compile them together. Then we send them to truth for posting on the front page, then rest a day and repeat the process. It's going pretty well, if I don't say so myself.

Because of this, the purpose of this blog seemed superfluous. So now, I'm turning this blog into something a little more selfsih. That's right, it'll be all me from now on.

Nerds: It doesn't take a lot to make them happy. Anyway.

I've been writing a story for a while now, called Having a Marvelous Time. It's gotten some buzz, brought me in some rep, as if that was important. No, what is important is the way it's changed me.

See, when I first discovered the internet, it was still a huge and mostly innocent place. The first messageboard I went to, a Sonic the Hedgehog board, was started by a person who was then my favorite author. I may have been about eight at the time. At around that time, NetRaptor, which was her username, had around maybe fifteen different Sonic stories. I read them all religiously, sometimes even more than once through. They were just that good; they're still just that good. The best part is that they grew up with me. As NetRaptor got more mature in her writing style, covering more and more topics and becoming better and better, so did I. It was just a magical period, kind of growing up with this as a staple of my life. I know this sounds like stalker behavior, and I hope that if ever NetRaptor reads this she won't be creeped out, which I totally don't want to do. Anyway, as my interest in Sonic weaned (which was directly proportional to the quality of Sonic games as time went on) she started writing less and less. There was a period of time in which she married, had a child, and didn't write for maybe a year. Totally understandable to me. By that time, I'd been scribbling things myself (which I would never post the links to; they suck so badly it would rip a whole in the fabric of the Internet) and the only reason I still had a passing interest in the recent Sonic games was because of her stories. I realize now that I hesitate to call them fanfics, because that has a sort of negative connotation that they don't deserve. Anyway, she writes every so often, and I keep up with her blog and DA page.

I guess the point I'm trying to make here is that that little slice of the Internet effected the way I grew up, the way I write, the way I think when I make things up, the way I look at the world. I never had the nerve to tell her all that; by the time I realized I could I had enough sense to know I would sound like some kind of stalker. After all the praise and posts I'm getting on the Marvelous Time thread, I'm beginning to realize they're exactly the tone of posts I left on NetRaptor's fics. I'm beginning to realize how she felt. And I'm beginning to realize that I have the potential to become this figurehead of a writer in someone's life like NR became in mine. I don't want to sound high and mighty; I know it can happen because it happened to me. At the very least, I can give people something pleasant to read for five minutes on their break from work or whatever.

So I just want to say to all of you who follow the story, thank you all so much. I really don't deserve anything you guys are saying. It's given me a big head, as you can see. But I've got a lot of plans for the series (yes, series) that can't be revlealed until I complete HAMT. It's given me something to do, thinking about everything...anyway, I have some sort of multimedia projects going on, mostly drawings and sketches and stuff that I'll post here as time goes by. I also want to make future stories more interactive. For instance, I haven't decided if Margrett's child will be a boy or a girl. I'll probably put up some kind of poll in the future.

Stay tuned, if you like. It's going to be a Marvelous Time.

In which Deathwalker Nine Thousand Fires his Lazor.

Oh, yes, he's a Firin' it. For more Memetic goodness, go here.

In which I hurriedly point out further Pokescape and the Adventures of Chedwick and Sven

Okay, this is going to be quick because there's a thunderstorm a rollin' in, and I don't want my new computer to get fried. I just want to point out that my random wonderings about Pokescape have at least got a shaky start of the ground here. It seems we're just in the planning stages so far; we'll see how it pans out.

Additionally, I want to point out something special. You may or may not check Fan art and Fiction every so often, so you may have not seen the Adventures of Chedwick and Sven. For that, I say SHAME ON YOU.

REALLY.

AoCaS is the funniest regular thing to come out of Heroscapers so far. Heroscaper gamjuven has really taken it up a notch on the humor with this comic. It's a blend of dark irony, slapstick, and poetic humor. A Calvin and Hobbes fan will see a few pages taken out of Bill Watterson's book, but that just makes it all the better when you see the unlikely pair of a Tarn Viking Warrior and a Marro Drone (Sven and Chedwick, respectively) in the classic love/hate friendship. Right now, our heroes have fallen into a dungeon where they meet Steve. Who is Steve? Look at the thread and find out!

In which I talk about Pokescape.

First, I want to get this out of the way. There is no key for that 'e' with the little accent mark. That little elusive jerk avoids every attempt I make to type it. I am aware that there is an alt code more complex than the Sanskrit word for 'triskeledliphobia' to type that little sucker, but I refuse to retype that EVERY TIME I say Pokemon. Deal with it, Pokemaniacs. Also, I'm aware that as an eighteen-year-old, I'm 'too old' to be playing Pokemon. To any Heroscapers who think that, I'd like to point out that we play a game for 8-year-olds. Message from pot to kettle: you are black.

NOW THAT THAT'S OUT OF THE WAY.

Heroscapers user cybermacguyver has created a thread for Pokemon Heroscape. Unlike the other poorly-thought out posts by deluded nine-year-olds, cybermacguyver (God, I love to say that out loud) has brought a large measure of respect to the concept with his gorgeous card styles. I also like his simplification of the complex type-weakness system present in Pokemon, reflecting the card game more than the video games. With some polish on the wording, this could become as repsectable as the Haloscape project. I can just imagine a Trainer card with a Red Skull-esque turn-transferring power. TM cards that give a Pokemon extra powers. Item cards that--
*headesks*
Sorry about that. My fanboy gene was kicking in. Just go check out the thread here.
As an aside note, cybermacguyver posted a bunch of card blanks and symbols so people can make their own! Can you say, community project?

In which I talk about Good Morning Valhalla, the Heroscapers Morning Show.

There is no shortage of interesting threads in the Fanfiction and Fan Art section of Heroscapers. One of the most interesting of these, however, is Akralon's Good Morning Valhalla.

The basic concept is that Munthor, forgotten son of Thormun the Wise, is using a Wellspring to summon the warriors of Valhalla to his cave for the purpose of interviewing them. So far, Munthor has nearly lost his heart to Sonya Esenwein, talked with the gangstafied D to the W Nine-Kay, and chatted with both Finn and Thorgrim, the latter being in shield form at the time. The sarcastic comments and rampant disparaging of the 'good' name of the Heroscape warriors is pulled off beautifully by Akralon. The best part is, the questions the warriors get asked are submitted by the readers! This is a truly genius piece of spoof work. I recommend you check it out right now. NOW.

In which I discuss the Custom Hero Contest and a New Agent.

Hello, eveyone. First post and all. Just a short introduction and whyfor:

I created this blog because I wanted to rant about and post news about my favorite game: Heroscape. Most of my posts will center around the biggest Heroscape fansite out there: Heroscapers.com. If you are a Heroscape fan, and you haven't heard of it, you should be ashamed of yourself. Really.

ANYWAY. On to the 'Scape!

The big news right now in Heroscape is the announcement of the new GenCon promo: Agent Skahen. Linkage. Quoted from Truth's post:

It’s just over a month to GenCon, and we can now reveal the promotional
figure that will be released at the event – Agent Skahen! With her Double
Attack, Cover Fire, and Stealth Dodge abilities, she’ll be a potent addition
to Vydar’s agents.



There are two ways to get your Agent Skahen promo at GenCon. The first is to play in any Heroscape tournament – you’ll get one for each tournament you play in. The second is to come to the Wizards of the Coast booth when the exhibit hall opens. At the booth, supplies are limited each day, and there is a maximum of one promo per person for the whole event. Please note: Given the limited space at the booth, the booth staff reserve the right to alter the giveaway at the booth in any way they see fit, so check in at the booth or the tournament area for the latest information.

There are two things that struck me right away:

1) It's been a long-standing tradition that people who can't go to GenCon will paint their own replicas of the promo figs instead of begging others for them or buying them on eBay, aka THE SUCKER OF SOULS (and money). Not only is the
figure easy to paint, but it uses a set of figures that are currently clogging up the shelves in a manner not unlike hair in the shower drain. A coincidence, or WOTC subtly looking into what Heroscapers need and want?

2) Skahen is the real-life last name of Heroscapers Admin Bunjee. This has happened before, with Sir Hawthorne being named after Admin Grugebob (though he doesn't like to talk about his past). I like this in a company; not too high-and-mighty to give a little salute to the members of the community that keeps it alive.

So, what does this mean for Vydar, mechanics- wise? Well, having Stealth Dodge makes her hard to kill, Double Attack makes her good on the offense. But the big mystery is her Cover Fire. It, of course, implies a power that will somehow protect her allies. It's going to be a few weeks yet before we can get our grimy mits on her full card. I'm sure you can join me in waiting for it with baited breath.

The Custom Hero Contest By Taeblewalker!

I've only participated in two of his contests so far, but let me tell you, there is much fun to be had!Here is the original thread, and here is the compiled final entries.

The winners are as follows:

MI Tiger with Charles de Batz at 25! The winner!

This one felt the most like an official unit.

All the rest were at 24.5:

Lord Pyre with Magus Anendu

Pumpkin King with The Hanging Tree

Whitestuff with Frankenstein’s Creature

Player of Volleyball with Alaterial

Just A Bill with Sonlen’s Dragon

hextr1p with Frosticus Iciclus

Even though I don't think the Tree deserved what it got, congrats to all the winners. And a big digital Toast to TW for running the contest!