Never thought I'd be designing a font, but here we are:
The set, which I've been referring to as Binary Runes, are inspired primarily by the Elder Futhark runes.
The next step is to turn these collections of shapes into 'simple' outlines and export them into a font editor. Right now, I'm thinking of trying the 30-day free trial of FontLab Studio. There is no way I can afford $650, though.
The real questions come after the font is created: Should I license it? What kind of license/how restrictive? How much is a font worth? Would anyone pay for it in the first place? Can a designer realistically expect his first solo effort to be worth anything?
I'm certainly not trying to restrict it's use - rather, I just want to make sure credit is given where appropriate. I won't lie, though: The idea of having something people are willing to pay for (even if it's no more than $1) gives me warm fuzzies.
I wonder if Nate Peikos (comic letterer extraordinaire and creator of the awesome Atland webcomic) would be willing to take an email on the subject . . . ?
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Monday, September 21, 2009
DnD: Maiden Voyage of the Digital Game Table
After a long summer packed full of vacations, weddings, conferences and the always-hectic start of a new semester, our group was finally able to get together Saturday evening for the official debut of the Digital Game Table. As I was out getting groceries for the evening's meal (we all have dinner together on game nights), I happened across what I felt was a DM-worthy vessel for my gaming grog of choice:
$3 at Wal-mart. Elixir of Dew sold separately
Homemade salsa, apple slices, sliced cheese n' crackers!
Eventually, we identified one of the issues as having two different versions of MapTools installed. We got the latest version installed on both machines, but still could not connect via the server - possibly due to some of the default Vista security settings on my laptop, now that I think about it. We were finally able to connect using a Direct Connection, fortunately, and get the game started.
Now that we have a better sense of lighting and accurate line of sight, who wants to go down the Scary Hall of Imminent Doom first?
This was about the 4th time the Wiimote slipped down . . .
Taping and re-taping was a temporary fix at best, and the constant need to re-calibrate really killed the momentum of the game.
. . . and this was somewhere around the 8th.
3/4 of the way through the evening, I finally get the bright idea to tape the wrist strap to the top edge of the projector, instead of trying to tape the Wiimote itself flat against it. This was a huge improvement and only required two or three narrow strips of duct tape, as opposed to the wads I was wasting before.
Best move anyone made during the entire session
After all that, the party finally arrived at the climactic showdown they'd been working towards for so long . . . and made it through one round of combat (10 crawling claws, 2 Bonewretch Skeletons, 4 Decrepit Skeletons and 2 Skeleton Archers being led by a Deathmaster Deathlock Wight are a lot to wade through in a turn). The good thing about using MapTools (and Trackwork) is that I can save things right where we left them and be ready to go for next time.
I'm really excited for our next session. We got over all the technical hurdles *knock on wood* and, during the course of the evening, figured out the best way to position and attach the Wiimote to the projector. So next session, we should be able to jump right into an action packed encounter and have a smooth integrated gaming experience, rather than the experience of wrangling the hardware and software to play a game.
I'm not sure if the others were as excited about using the table as I was, but they really stepped things up a notch with the snacks - and this was after we'd already had dinner, complete with ice cream and grape pie.
Having already spent a good deal of time earlier in the day trying to find the best position in which to tape the Wiimote to the projector, I had hoped that getting everything set up and running would not take long at all. Unfortunately, I did not anticipate the connection issues between my new laptop and the older one my friend brought to serve as the player client (the one that is hooked up to the projector).
Eventually, we identified one of the issues as having two different versions of MapTools installed. We got the latest version installed on both machines, but still could not connect via the server - possibly due to some of the default Vista security settings on my laptop, now that I think about it. We were finally able to connect using a Direct Connection, fortunately, and get the game started.
This was a learning experience on so many levels - one of which was figuring out how the party should move on a map outside of an encounter. Even a short walk down a hallway can take a long time when everybody moves one at a time. In the future, I think we will try having the group selected and moved as one until they see/hear/perceive something that, at which point they can choose maneuver individually.
This was also the point at which we realized the Wiimote was slipping out of position. Things would be going fine, then, suddenly, the calibration would become skewed. We wound up connecting a wireless mouse for 'back-up' and having the wheel really made zooming in and out easier for the players - but everyone was still determined to use the pen as much as possible.
This was also the point at which we realized the Wiimote was slipping out of position. Things would be going fine, then, suddenly, the calibration would become skewed. We wound up connecting a wireless mouse for 'back-up' and having the wheel really made zooming in and out easier for the players - but everyone was still determined to use the pen as much as possible.
Taping and re-taping was a temporary fix at best, and the constant need to re-calibrate really killed the momentum of the game.
3/4 of the way through the evening, I finally get the bright idea to tape the wrist strap to the top edge of the projector, instead of trying to tape the Wiimote itself flat against it. This was a huge improvement and only required two or three narrow strips of duct tape, as opposed to the wads I was wasting before.
After all that, the party finally arrived at the climactic showdown they'd been working towards for so long . . . and made it through one round of combat (10 crawling claws, 2 Bonewretch Skeletons, 4 Decrepit Skeletons and 2 Skeleton Archers being led by a Deathmaster Deathlock Wight are a lot to wade through in a turn). The good thing about using MapTools (and Trackwork) is that I can save things right where we left them and be ready to go for next time.
I'm really excited for our next session. We got over all the technical hurdles *knock on wood* and, during the course of the evening, figured out the best way to position and attach the Wiimote to the projector. So next session, we should be able to jump right into an action packed encounter and have a smooth integrated gaming experience, rather than the experience of wrangling the hardware and software to play a game.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
DnD, Art: Forgegrinder's Runes
It can be fun when hobbies and disciplines mix - in this case: graphic design, typography and arcane dwarven metalworking.
This is result of working on some expanded content for Nevermet Press, here are some of the runes Rendersson Forgegrinder used to create his sentinels. It's a mash-up of several real world sources, with some personal touches thrown in.
Maybe, at some point in the future, I'll produce a font based on this. Are there any good freeware font editor/creators available?
This is result of working on some expanded content for Nevermet Press, here are some of the runes Rendersson Forgegrinder used to create his sentinels. It's a mash-up of several real world sources, with some personal touches thrown in.
Maybe, at some point in the future, I'll produce a font based on this. Are there any good freeware font editor/creators available?
Monday, September 14, 2009
DnD: Editable Skill Challenge Tracker
The Skill Challenge Tracker is now available as an editable pdf! Same look and printability as in the previous post.
Skill_Challenge_Tracker.pdf (1.20 MB, Mediafire)
As always, feedback and constructive criticism are welcome - enjoy!
Skill_Challenge_Tracker.pdf (1.20 MB, Mediafire)
As always, feedback and constructive criticism are welcome - enjoy!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
DnD: Revised Skill Challenge Tracker - Print Version
After getting some excellent feedback via both Twitter and ENWorld.org, here is the revised Skill Challenge Tracker:
It is now a full 8.5" x 11" and more printer friendly (less areas of solid black). Additionally, there is now a place to visually keep track of successes and failures as well as extra room for notes, etc.
Assuming I don't receive any further groundbreaking feedback, I will begin converting this into a pdf with editable fields. I hope to have this completed by the end of the week, but no promises.
Enjoy!
It is now a full 8.5" x 11" and more printer friendly (less areas of solid black). Additionally, there is now a place to visually keep track of successes and failures as well as extra room for notes, etc.
Assuming I don't receive any further groundbreaking feedback, I will begin converting this into a pdf with editable fields. I hope to have this completed by the end of the week, but no promises.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
DnD: Skill Challenge Tracker - Sneak Peak
I need feedback!
This is a picture of the Skill Challenge Tracker (originally referred to as a 'template,' but I think 'tracker' is more accurate in this instance) to which I'm preparing to add editable fields - much the same as the Editable Monster Card Template. In fact, it will have the same size (4"x6") and printability as the Monster Card Template
I need to know from DM's what works, what doesn't, what needs added, what needs dropped, and what needs more explanation (assuming it will fit).
Based on a suggestion from IllusiveDreams (Twitter), here is what the Tracker might look like in use (based on the Negotiation skill challenge in the DMG):
Complexity and DC will be dropdowns; Pri(mary), Sec(ondary), Blk (Blocked), and Auto-Fail will be checkboxes; the remaining fields will be text boxes.
This is a picture of the Skill Challenge Tracker (originally referred to as a 'template,' but I think 'tracker' is more accurate in this instance) to which I'm preparing to add editable fields - much the same as the Editable Monster Card Template. In fact, it will have the same size (4"x6") and printability as the Monster Card Template
I need to know from DM's what works, what doesn't, what needs added, what needs dropped, and what needs more explanation (assuming it will fit).
Based on a suggestion from IllusiveDreams (Twitter), here is what the Tracker might look like in use (based on the Negotiation skill challenge in the DMG):
Complexity and DC will be dropdowns; Pri(mary), Sec(ondary), Blk (Blocked), and Auto-Fail will be checkboxes; the remaining fields will be text boxes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)