The Ides of July

Hello Everybody!

Still cranking along, getting art done. Most excitedly, I've signed a new artist! Kim Sokol has joined Team AoA. She's started working on some weapons and armor, and I've included the flintlock revolver she did below. I'm also loving her armor that she's working on. Check her out at http://www.kimsokol.com/

I'm also in the draft stages with 2 more artists and am waiting to hear back from a few more. My hope is that by this time next month, I'll have a cadre of artists pumping out artwork!

YFNGM,

Calvin

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June Jitterbugs

Hello, everyone!

Things are going well. I'm piecing the stories into the rulebook, I'm entering final contract negotiations with two more artists, and my current artist on contract has delivered two works this month! I've included the Swashbuckler and the Warmage below. Both are Aristocrat backer rewards, so I'm very happy to present them now!

I'm going to be at Denver Comic Con this weekend, and am even presenting at the panel In Want of a Wife: A Pride and Prejudice Role-Playing Game. No, Pride and Prejudice does not secretly have mechanical steam carriages and evil necromantic villains, but I helped design an educational role-playing game to for High School English teachers to teach War and Peace!

Surprise ending.

No, no, it's for Pride and Prejudice. Should be fun!

Anyways, I'm also going to be looking for yet more artists there. I hope I can find a few!

Happy June!

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It's May!

It's May! That time of year where everyone goes blissfully astray!

Unless you're making a game, that is, in which case things start coming together. Because, aside from pushing ahead on getting additional artists on contract, I finally received my first official art paid for by the Kickstarter!  

Even more exciting, this is also a backer reward. So here's to the Magnificent Magical Mechanical Man. Here Here! 

I look forwards to showing you all more art as it starts flowing in.

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One Month Later

Hello everybody!

It's been a month since Age of Aether was successfully funded, and I'm certain you're wondering what I've been doing since then. Well, let me tell you!

The very first thing that I have done is catalog every backer response I've received. I'm still waiting on 10 backers, so get that done if you haven't already! Once I have all the information, I will be able to start organizing rewards.

The first thing I've done on the book itself, though, is engage an artist to make the cover! We've got the design down and she's moving into inking. 

Second, I found a graphic designer who will format the book and make the character sheet nice and beautiful! However, official work will not begin until I have finished copy-editing the RPG book.

Third, I have written the 8-page introductory story "Business as Usual," as well as all 10 chapter stories. Business as Usual follows a group of adventurers through a mission, giving an example of the types of stories that can be told through Age of Aether adventures. The chapter stories are designed to illustrate how the contents of each chapter can influence a campaign, such as casting a ritual for the Magic chapter or participating in a high-speed chase for the Mounts and Vehicles chapter. In addition, all 10 stories fit together to form a whole tale! It's not a single 10-page story, more like 10 pages taken from a novel, but with a little imagination, you can connect the dots to form a coherent narrative.

What lies ahead? I have two other artists I want to put on contract. Currently, I am allocating funds per art piece to make certain I can reach my goal and give you a polished and attractive rulebook. Once I have all 3 up and running, I'm hoping the book will come together quickly! In addition, I need to finish copy-editing the rulebook, to eliminate any lingering grammar errors and embarrassing typos.

I'm very excited, and I hope you are too! I also hope that you're enjoying the Proletariat edition of Age of Aether, and look forwards to receiving the finished book.

Thank you!

Whimsy Con

Hello everyone!

March 2-4 is Whimsy Con, and I will be there! I'll be presenting 3 panels about Steampunk and Historical Warfare, 1 each for Land, Sea, and Air combat. They will focus on the tactics and technology of the 18th, 19th, and 20th century that writers usually base their steampunk world on.

What does this have to do with Age of Aether, you ask? Absolutely nothing! But my panels are all on Saturday, and I intend to run an Age of Aether adventure on Sunday for those who are interested.

Either way, I hope to see you there!

KICKSTARTER IS LIVE!

Today is the big day! The kickstarter for Age of Aether is live!

If you've enjoyed the game and want to see more of it, follow the link below and contribute. Tell your friends and anyone who enjoys role-playing games, steampunk, and historical fantasy! If we raise the funds, then I can make you a fully-illustrated and polished gaming rulebook, and wouldn't that be cool?

I'm so excited to see Age of Aether come this far that I can hardly express myself.

I hope to see you there!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/703847753/age-of-ther 

Kickstarter Incoming

Ok. Here it comes. The big finale. 

I'm preparing the kickstarter for Age of Aether!  It's so close, I can feel it.

All I need to do, truly, is finish up the introductory video, but there are a few other tasks I'd like to take care of first. Build some ads, spread them around, get a few more artists lined up, and run a few more open games to build some interest. I had a good time running two new missions at HexaCon on January 20th, and I will be running several slots at Genghis Con, February 16th and 17th. If they are as successful as last year's cons, then the game should be in good shape.

I'm very excited to be this close! I hope you all will help me make Age of Aether a reality. I've had fun making it, and I know you'll have fun playing it.

Character Sketch: The Warmage

Introducing the third sample character for Age of Aether, meet the Warmage! She grew up hoping to be a knight, but her parents wanted her to become a wizard instead. She compromised, and now she wields the deadliest and most destructive spells she can find. Her overconfidence often leads her into trouble, especially since she's a lightweight when it comes to drinking, but can't turn down a drinking contest. Then again, she can always just drop a fireball on the table and deal with the damages later, right?

Thanks again to artist Becca Bean! I'm enjoying working with her and loving her art. Check her out at NotesFromTheOverlord.tumblr.com

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Character Sketch: The Thief

Here we have the second character sketch, the Thief! This sneaky goblin just wants everything in life. It's a shame that other people happen to have his stuff, but that's a situation soon remedied. After all, possession is 9/10ths of the law, and the thief isn't too concerned with that last tenth. Nimble and acrobatic, the goblin thief is a fan of quiet second-story jobs that let him use his possible toes and superior climbing abilities. Violent muggings are against his ideals. Someone might get hurt, maybe even him!

Thanks again to artist Becca Bean for her excellent work! Check her out at NotesFromTheOverlord.tumblr.com

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The Plan Ahead

There is a plan in place to get a physical book printed.  At this moment, I am working with an artist on cover art. I am also playing Age of Aether at several local conventions. 

I have two local conventions at which I will be running Age of Aether this fall. Tacticon is September 28 through October 1, and will have the first 21+ Bar adventure on the evening of September 30. I've played a few bar adventures, and they are a blast, so I'm getting in on the action.  I will also be running at Mile Hi Con on October 27 through October 29. In addition, I will be running Age of Aether for several groups of interested individuals outside of the cons.

Most importantly, I am preparing for a kickstarter early next year. The money raised from this effort will pay for artwork, printing costs, and shipping. The end goal would be to have a fully illustrated rulebook self-published and sold through a print-on-demand site.

But for now, I am trying to raise awareness, so that others may enjoy the game!

AnomalyCon Game

Here you can see me (standing in the green coat) running Age of Aether at AnomalyCon! I ran 3 games for full tables as the players took on the roll of a pirate crew breaking out of prison, disrupting an evil wedding, and hijacking a valuable cargo airship. I had fun, and the players at the table seemed to as well! While I am saddened that this is the last year of AnomalyCon, I look forwards to WhimsyCon next year.

I plan to run Age of Aether at more events this year! Stay tuned for updates!