Vitam’s Blog

To my online clansmen it is well know I have a girlfriend that I met
online in roleplay. Yes, you are jealous ;). Just this last week we
decided to spice things up a bit by buying some goodies from Theatons
Adult Toys. I got myself a collection of anal sex DVDs and a sex swing
to give her a good seeing to in. While, You bought herself a dildo and something odd looking from the vibrators range. We really love the sex swing and are using it at least one
a week. We enjoyed the film, but you only watch ‘em once and i’m sure
shes been enjoying her toys when i’m not around. The prices are pretty
fantastic, even for one in Vietnam. Despite being based in the UK,
Theatons had the toys to us within five days.

When looking at various technologies, I had a couple of different ideas for what I wanted to do with RPG Workshop. The first idea was to use BlitzMax so that I could simultaneously release on PC and Mac (and Linux should I wander that direction). BlitzMax is a very nicely styled BASIC-derivative language with an excellent feature set. But I kept wanting to somehow RPG Workshop off the desktop, so I looked at Java, which is another excellent choice–for a great example of what people are doing with Java and lowering the bar on game development, check out Stencyl. The problem that I have with Java and the web is that the JRE’s are confusing to new users and the update scheme, deprecation of language features, etc are confusing even to developers working between versions. I love the language, don’t so much like the confusion to “customers,” whether they be developers or end-users of developed software.

Flex seemed to be a rather nice option, though I know a number of Java and Silverlight developers would disagree, for rapid development and deployment of a web-based application with a large install base. Of course, that depends on if I use Air features or not, which right now I’m trying to fight in the design process to keep it as slim as possible. While I would love to approach it as the “YouTube of RPG Making,” right now I’m trying to work on the basics for 1.0: to get a workable editing and publishing environment up and running consistently.

Luckily Flex is well documented (as are Java and Silverlight) and feels comfortable to me (as does Java after years of working with it) because I’ve been a fan of ActionScript for a long while (check out the Tamarin Project) and really like 3.0. I also like the Flex environment and its compatibility with Flash and Photoshop, both of which I use. So it seemed like a win-win for me, regardless of other exciting and very able technologies out there.

The other nice thing about flex is that I can, should I need to, fall back on Air and desktop support. I am hoping that I will not have to, but that is a possible direction as I begin this long, arduous journey into RPG Workshop development.

Hi there!

Action in Seventh City may be over, but there are still files coming in to the site!

Firstly, my colleague in RPG writing, Rick Jones, wrote up some Open Gaming License stats for the characters in Keepsie. These stats are based on the characters at the beginning of the book. Share and Enjoy!

Also, we have a new art! First, a twitter icon from Doug Rapson, and then another picture of someone in PFK shirts! Cover artist Natalie Metzger looks smashing in her Doodad shirt!

I just got done with Fearful Symmetry, the lastest DS9 novel and I’m ready for more. Unfortunately, Star Trek has slowed way down with releasing their books. Where we could expect a few a month, we’re lucky to get one a month.

Here’s the schedule for the upcoming year from krad at Simonsays.com:

August: TNG: Greater than the Sum by Christopher L. Bennett
September: ENT: Kobayashi Maru by Andy Mangels & Michael A. Martin
October: Destiny Book 1: Gods of Night by David Mack
November: Destiny Book 2: Mere Mortals by David Mack
December: Destiny Book 3: Lost Souls by David Mack
January: TOS: Errand of Fury Book 3: Sacrifices of War by Kevin Ryan
February: A Singular Destiny by Keith R.A. DeCandido
March: Titan: Over a Torrent Sea by Christopher L. Bennett
April: VOY: Full Circle by Kirsten Beyer
May: Vanguard Book 4 by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore

I’m excited about it! I really am but if anybody has noticed…DS9 isn’t on that list. Supposedly the continuation to Fearful Symmetry won’t be out until after May 2009. Oh vey!!!! Luckily, I have monthly Trek comics and several of them are in the works. God does love me!

Decipher company, created card game based on Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings, game was succesful so they created another product in world of Middle-earth. Role playing game.
Book have 304 pages, full with color ilustrationgs from movie, with full game - rules. RPG system is created by Coda system - company involved in Star Trek RPG. Main designer Steven S.Long with his team, work very hard to create RPG with clear rules and very close to Tolkien’s books.
Creating of your character is very fast and interesting - not all RPG systems, have that kind of system creations, lots have boring. Magic is different from other systems - no more fireballs or thunder - killing - attack, here magic is something mystical and full of mystery.

Game is very good so try this RPG.

After 10 years the Star Trek Experience will be closing this weekend at the Las Vegas MGM hotel. The exhibit has been a huge success but like all theme park type exhibitions- it is time to replace it with something fresh. This weekend is your last chance to see the ultimate Trekkie site- but do not fear! MGM has already begun sending out assorted Star Trek exhibits touring the US celebrating the series.

You can read the official press release here. The show closes on Sept. 1.