Wereoctopus: Final Image

The final sketch for the wereoctopus (aka: the Teuthix), one of my contributions to Bite Me! The Gaming Guide to Lycanthropes, from Misfit Studios. Still no official word on whether or not this will be one of the minis produced in association with the guide. Either way I'm very excited to have one of my creations become a part of such a great product.

Click here for other recent news.

Wereoctopus Art by
Scott Harshbarger

Exciting News!

In addition to working on the Gamers' Guide to Lycanthropes, two other third-party projects of mine have been green-lit for production! I can't say much more than that for now, but one will be a Kickstarter project later this year (or possibly early 2014).

Keep an eye out here, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or just ask me next time you see me and I'll keep you in the loop.

For those who don't know, I'm writing the Magic and Mundane chapter of the lycanthrope guide, but I've also contributed material to other chapters as well, including the new races. Check out this concept sketch for my wereoctopus from artist Scott Harshbarger. There's even a rumor it could be made into a mini!

Wereoctopus concept sketch
Scott Harshbarger

Monte Cook Interview

So, this happened:

http://www.montecookgames.com/authorgame-designer-rich-howard/

For those readers who are drawn here for non-gaming reasons, let me explain.

Way back at the end of the 20th Century, Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams were tasked with renovating the world's first roleplaying game for the 21st Century. I'm not sure what they were expecting, but what happened was a revolution in gaming. Monte Cook has gone on to become one of the most respected men in the industry, producing countless supplements, standalone products, campaign settings, games, and even a web series. The quality of his work and his undeniable geek cred has garnered him a following that pushed his Numenera RPG Kickstarter to somewhere north of half-a-million dollars!

Monte Cook is a man I admire. Interviewing him would be a thrill. Being interviewed by him? I don't even have words.

Actually, yes, I do.

Thanks, Monte.

Geek Pride Day

May 25th, 1977. The day geek life changed forever.

Whether you're a Star Wars fanatic or think George Lucas was a hack*, that day changed our modern world. Science fiction became a part of everyday culture. Action figures and playsets sold by the millions. One movie inspired a generation of thinkers, not for its scientific accuracy (Star Wars is more science fantasy than science fiction), but because it triggered the imagination of a generation.

Star Wars wasn't alone. The 70's turned out to be a breeding ground for the future. Three years earlier, Dave Arneson and Gary Gygax rocked the gaming industry with the small press, white box Dungeons & Dragons. In 1978, Richard and Wendy Pini brought their fantasy epic, Elfquest, to the public--one of the first commercially successful independent comics since the Comics Code Authority destroyed small press in the 50's. 1973 brought us the first viable desk-top computers, the Xerox Alto, IBM's SCAMP, the Wang 2200 and prototype Hewlett Packard. In 1975, the microchip allowed the offspring of these industry computers into people's homes.

Meanwhile, back at Wayne Manor

My life is full of amazing right now.

First, I'm going to be a father! I'm so excited about it that I think my head's going to explode. We only recently found out she's going to be a girl.

A little girl.

A little being that is a mix of myself and my favorite person in the world. I don't know how much better that could get. One of the things I'm most excited about is that she'll be growing up surrounded by a crazy number of "aunts" and "uncles"--dozens of the most loving, creative and giving people I've ever known, and that's just our friends! Her aunts, uncles, grandparents and cousins on both sides are brilliant people and they are so excited about her coming into the world that more than one cried when they heard the news.

Rowan Margaret Howard is going to be loved.

"Those feet look ready for exploring!"--Aunt Susie
Given her parents, that sounds about right.

Second, I'm working at my dream job. No, the other one. No, the other, other one. The one from childhood. The one you don't even recognize as possible because the idea it could really happen never occurs to you. I'm freelance writing with Christina Stiles, Sean K. Reynolds, Wolfgang Baur, Mike Welham, Dave Gross and other gaming superstars on my first professional supplement for the RPG, Pathfinder (the current, best selling version of the first RPG, Dungeons and Dragons). If you don't understand the implications of that, pop over to my About page, or take a look here. My life and gaming have been intertwined since I was eight-years-old and, finally, after 35 years, I'm peeking in the door where professionals live. To make it even cooler, it's a supplement on shapeshifters, the bread-and-butter of my imagination (except I'm allergic to both, so maybe I should find a better metaphor). The only reason this is number two on my list of exciting news is because my wife and I are creating life.

Along with those huge announcements, I'll (hopefully) soon be promoted from CNII (clinical nurse II) to CNIII at my dayjob, we're finally getting projects for our backyard started (our new fence should be up in a few weeks), we're redesigning our guest room into a baby room, and many more wonderful things.

So, I'm sorry for any delay in writing news, and if you've asked for reviews or edits on projects, please bare with me. I'll be back to other projects very soon.

Dream Job

I've had a few ideas on what 'dream job' I might enjoy. The problem is, I have too many: novelist, travel writer, game designer, time traveller. The topic came up recently in a discussion about howler monkeys.

Yes. That's what I said.

A few years ago I applied for what was humbly called "The Best Job in the World". The Australian tourism bureau created a contest where the winner got to travel the Great Barrier Reef and blog about it for six or nine months (I can't remember which). Aside from fame and a killer vacation, the winner would also be paid a significant amount of money. It was such a successful campaign that they've expanded it into "The Best Jobs in the World", with different themes for every state.

Unfortunately, I didn't win, but the application did require a video. So, for your viewing pleasure (and for the request of a howler monkey by my friend, Marion Frazier), Ladies and Gentlemen, my app for the Best Job in the World!

What If, indeed. (or "What Every Writer Needs to Know About Sequels")

Once in a while I need to remind people that this exists:

You're welcome.