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This e-version of the book comes as a bundle of files formatted for different reading experiences. One is the layout as it appears in print, with beat diagrams appearing as a ribbon across each two-page spread. Another is presented for the page at a time reading most PDF users will be doing on a tablet or laptop screen, with the diagram for each beat appearing alongside its explanatory paragraph. Also part of the bundle is an extended spread that shows you the whole diagram of each of the three analyzed narratives (Hamlet, the movie version of Dr. No, and Casablanca.) This map appears only in the electronic versions.

Gameplaywright hopes to produce e-versions for other popular formats, like the Kindle and EPUB, and is exploring options in that regard. I’ll keep you apprised on that front.

Saturday Noon – 1pm DM Master Class

Sunday 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm State of the Gaming Industry

The panel topics have been chosen to be as open as possible, so stop by and lay some questions on the assembled guests. I won’t be manning a table or spending much time cruising the exhibit hall, so if you want to chat, collar me after one of the panels.

I’d describe it as one of the best and most immersive portrayals of Greg Stafford’s world of Glorantha ever. However, modesty forbids me from doing so, as I was one of the game’s writers and designers. Rob Heinsoo, later of 4E fame, was also a part of the team.

Its use of gorgeous full-color drawings rather than computer graphics made it stand out as unique and perhaps quaint at the time of its release. It also made the game timeless in the way that its market-dominating competitors from 1999 were not. If anything, it will make more aesthetic sense now, in handheld form, than it did back then.

At present David has ruled out an iPad version, as the illustrations weren’t scanned at a resolution suitable for its larger screen. I’m betting many gamers will want it for that device anyway, no matter how thick the margins—especially if David can figure out how to sync saved games between devices. But that’s me creating more work for him.

When the news of this hits Finland, where KoDP enjoyed an incredible cult success, and which is the spiritual home of the mobile phone, there may be a national holiday declared in David’s name. I can see the reindeer parade now…

Follow the project’s progress toward release on the social network of your choice, as seen on the linked page.

Sunday at noon, I’ll be one of two guests at the live taping of the This Just In From Gen Con podcast. The other guest would be no less than the indisputably majestic Monte Cook. The show’s hosts are Ryan Macklin and Kevin Weiser. If con brain has descended on you and you’d like to kick back and listen to some wrap-up palaver, the Westin Caucus room is the place to be.

And if you’re not already listening to the podcast, either during the show, as a decompression aid afterwards, or as vicarious substitute for physical attendance at the show, by all means avail yourselves of its wonder. Pre-show episodes are up as we speak.

My previous schedule post, for those who missed it, lurks here.

We’ll examine the field’s traditional approach to narrative and the historical reasons for it. Then we’ll explore the central thesis of the book, the role of narrative technique in continually modulating audience emotional responses between hope and fear. From there I’ll review the basic beat types, and then talk about ways to understand existing narratives using beat analysis, and how to use the HHP toolkit to sharpen your games, as GM or player. Once we’ve covered that, I’ll throw to questions and discussion. In the unlikely event that a roomful of gamers runs out of stuff to talk about, I have an interactive/improv exercise in my back pocket as a live illustration of beat analysis in action.

I understand that plans are afoot to record audio of the event. If the tech gremlins so will it, I hope that we’ll be able to make that available later for those unable to attend.

The seminar takes place in the Marriott seminar area (check on-site signage for room assignment) on Friday, from 10 am to 11 am.

In “Plague of Light”, the ranger Xhasi and his gorilla companion Arok stumble into the aftermath of a lethal insect attack. Setting out to right the mysterious imbalance of the natural order that caused these catastrophic deaths, they find themselves reassembling their fractious on-and-off adventuring crew, the Scarred Ones. Part One, “On Glowing Wing”, reunites them with the sardonic dualist priestess Obai, who has found a connection between the plague and an outcast boy.

The history of pulp fiction is strewn with unfortunate portrayals of African and pseudo-African characters. Here the mission was to provide a fun story full of action, mystery and atmosphere that makes its fantasy-African protagonists as central, as varied, and as multi-dimensional, as your typical crew of pseudo-European sword-slingers.

We’re hoping that readers enjoy these characters enough to see more of them in the future, so if you check out Serpent’s Skull and dig “Plague of Light,” by all means make your enthusiasm known to fiction editor James Sutter and the assembled powers at Paizo.

Pathfinder Adventure Path #37: Souls for Smuggler’s Shiv (Serpent’s Skull 1 of 6) is available in print or PDF from your favorite purveyor of quality hobby game products.

But even more important than purveying or buying new stuff, Gen Con is about meeting up. Whether you’re an old or new friend of the blog, I’m there to chat, so please don’t hesitate to make yourself known and strike up a conversation.

I’ll be appearing at the following public events this year:

Fri 10 am Hamlet’s Hit Points seminar
Sat 2:30 pm Pathfinder fiction panel

Check your on-site program for seminar locations.

Also you can catch me on the show floor during my two signings for Hamlet’s Hit Points, at the IPR booth:

Thursday Aug 5, 1pm-2pm
Sat Aug 7 4 pm-5 pm

The rest of my time during exhibit hall hours (when not doing the meeting and/or eating thing), will be spent at the Pelgrane booth. Please swing by and say hi.

See you next week!