[20:04] <+RASalvatore> Oh, I have to give a speech?
[20:04] <+RASalvatore> okay, well, I’m Bob Salvatore…I’ve been writing fantasy novels for about 33 years now…
[20:05] <+RASalvatore> Wrote my first one in 1982, but I didn’t get published until 1988. That was “The Crystal Shard,” where I introduced Drizzt.
[20:05] <+RASalvatore> It’s been an insane ride ever since.
[20:05] <+RASalvatore> last year, i did my first kickstarter, a tabletop RPG based on my DemonWars world (DemonWars: Reformation).
[20:06] <+RASalvatore> It’s a throwback type of RPG, where mental agility and improvisation plays a big role – like 1st Edition D&D, but with an active defense system.
[20:06] <+RASalvatore> many choices, all the time.
[20:06] <+Tempus03> Hey I was curious how many more Drizzt books do you have lined up?
[20:06] <~Dan> (Please hold questions, Tempus03. Thanks! 🙂 )
[20:06] <+RASalvatore> So now I’m doing the follow-up – DemonWars: Allheart: (Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rasalvatore/demonwars-allheart)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rasalvatore/demonwars-allheart
[20:07] <+RASalvatore> Where we bring the knights into the world.
[20:07] <+RASalvatore> I’ve also got another Drizzt book coming out in a few weeks – march 3rd.
[20:07] <+RASalvatore> Life remains crazy, in a good way! (done)
[20:07] <~Dan> Thanks, RASalvatore!
[20:07] <~Dan> The floor is open to questions!
[20:08] <+Menzo> Do you write every day?
[20:08] <~Dan> So what can you tell us about your new game?
[20:08] <+MorgalMaster> Bob we are playtesting a game at this very moment any tips that you would give indie game designers from your experience?
[20:08] <~Dan> (Question pause!)
[20:08] <+RASalvatore> I try to – I find that if I get away from a book for more than a day, it takes me hours to get back into the flow of it.
[20:08] <+Tempus03> I was curious how many more Drizzt books do you have lined up?
[20:08] <+RASalvatore> (done)
[20:08] <+EricEMcClure> Who came up with the idea to introduce Fiefdom play in the Allheart addition?
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[20:08] <+Popinfresh96> what are the chances of getting ya’ll to tape one of your play sessions for all to see how fun the game can be?
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[20:09] <~Dan> (Everyone, please honor the question pause. Thank you!)
[20:09] <+RASalvatore> Okay, the new game…it’s an expansion to the Reformation game, adding Knights into the adventure world (we’ve already got monks and rogues). it’s hard to call them specific classes because we use a talent system – you can mix and match for dozens of character types.
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[20:10] <+RASalvatore> With the knights, we’re adding a joust card game – like a solitaire game you can play with a deck of playing cards and dice, or with other players. I had a lot of feedback form people who wanted to back, but had trouble finding groups.
[20:10] <+RASalvatore> (done) okay, which question next?
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[20:11] <+lisannah> Are you introducing any new characters in your latest book?
[20:11] <~Dan> [20:08] <+Tempus03> I was curious how many more Drizzt books do you have lined up?
[20:11] <+RASalvatore> I’ll go in order…tips for Indie game designers…
[20:11] <~Dan> (Whoops, wrong one, sorry. That one would be next.)
[20:12] <+RASalvatore> This is a hard one for me, because I’m not really a gmae designer – my sons both are, particularly Bryan, who’ been in the industry for the better part of a decade at very high level design work.
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[20:13] <+RASalvatore> I think it really comes down to having a cohesive vision of how you want the game to play – for me, I wanted the mental agility of the earlier, less-table-heavy D&D. I want a game that anyone can play, but clever players can excel…
[20:13] <+RASalvatore> How many more Drizzt books? I have “Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf” coming in March and “Archmage” coming in September.
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[20:14] <+RASalvatore> The fiefdom addition to DemonWars was Geno’s idea. In fact, almost everything crunchy with the knights has been his work (except the jousting system!). geno loves minigames, so he an take his RPG experience nad expand upon it in the off-days.
[20:16] <+RASalvatore> Moving along – there are always new characters in the books, but at this point, with my Realms work, I’m trying to flesh out so many side characters. In Vengeance, we’ve got the new team around Bruenor, other dwarven kings…lots of mayhem and such.
[20:16] <+RASalvatore> (done)
[20:16] <+DStormshadow> When it comes to finding out where to go next in writing, what works best for you? I’ve been writing my own and I am constantly having to brainstorm. I have the beginning and the end set.
[20:16] <+MorgalMaster> Not to deflect from demon wars too much but, How did you come up with the idea of Artemis?
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[20:17] <+RASalvatore> For me it’s all about following the characters. I fall in love with them and let them take me on a journey. Writing the Drizzt books is more like writing a tv series than a bunch of novels, if you think about it – and hey, it’s been running longer than MASH!
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[20:17] <~Dan> What is the DemonWars core mechanic, and is there a character sheet we can see?
[20:17] <~Dan> (And question pause.)
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[20:18] <+RASalvatore> Artemis was off the top of my head at the end of Crystal Shard. He was just a hook so they’d give me another book, honestly. Then I realized that he would start as the mirror image of Drizzt, who Drizzt feared he might have become had he stayed in Menzo (he wouldn’t have, but he feared that he would).
[20:18] <+RASalvatore> Character sheet sfor DemonWars (monks) are available at RASalvaStore.com, my wife’s store – they’re a free download.
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[20:19] <+Artemis1337> will artemis ever get a happy-ish ending? His love interests never seem to be in their right minds at the end of the books. lol
[20:19] <+RASalvatore> (Link: http://rasalvastore.com/#!/DemonWars-Reformation-RPG-character-sheets/p/39872565/category=5393282)http://rasalvastore.com/#!/DemonWars-Reformation-RPG-character-sheets/p/39872565/category=5393282
[20:19] <~Dan> (Please honor question pauses, Artemis1337. Thanks!)
[20:19] <+RASalvatore> (done
[20:20] <+RASalvatore> Oops, ah Artemis…I thought h is story was told at the end of Road of the Patriarch, honestly
[20:20] <+DStormshadow> I love my character, but there is so much that he can do, he’s long lived, and there is so much to do (it parellels human history) (sorry for the second question)
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[20:20] <+RASalvatore> I got so many letters and e-mails begging me to show his redemption, or his failed try at it, I had to bring him back.
[20:20] <+RASalvatore> (done)
[20:21] <+JosephE> Is there any chance for new dragonlance books being released in the future?
[20:21] <+Menzo> I’m interested in writing fantasy stories but I have trouble formulating characters, plots, and settings, do you have any advice for me to get into the writing process?
[20:21] <+RASalvatore> I have no idea on Dragonlance, honestly. Loved the series, adore the authors, but that’s above my pay grade.
[20:21] <+Tempus03> If drizzt ever got turned into a movie or tv show is there anyone in particular you’d like to see play him?
[20:22] <+RASalvatore> You aska HUGE question, Menzo!
[20:22] <+apaul> Are you going to be at Gen Con again this year?
[20:22] <+Menzo> brief answer okay =)
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[20:22] <~Dan> (Question pause.)
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[20:22] <+Xellent> My question is I didnt get to tbe next book after gauntlgrym. Did Jarlaxle really die?
[20:23] <+RASalvatore> You have to formulate some skeleton of a story, obviously. My advice is come up with a general outline, build a plausible world and make a whiff of a character – just a hint – then let her tell you her story as you go through the world.
[20:23] <+lisannah> grrr…browser misbehaving
[20:23] <+RASalvatore> I don’t ever answer questions about casting, because if they did it and someone else was cast, it’d be all over the internet that the person wasn’t my first choice!
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[20:24] <+RASalvatore> Yes, I’ll be at GenCon this year, I believe – it’s up to WotC.
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[20:24] <+Menzo> Thanks R.A., I love reading your books and really appreciate you doing this!!!
[20:24] <+RASalvatore> oh, and I fdon’t give spoilers – if you want to know, read on!
[20:24] <+DStormshadow> Thanks for the tips, you’ve inspired my writing
[20:24] <+RASalvatore> My pleasure…and (Done)
[20:24] <+Wyrmling> You mentioned the jousting mechanic using a deck of cards. Any chance of getting an official DemonWars deck to use?
[20:24] <+Popinfresh96> what are the chances of getting ya’ll to tape one of your play sessions for all to see how fun the game can be?
[20:25] <~Dan> What dice does DemonWars use, and how?
[20:26] <+RASalvatore> Funding a kickstarter isn’t easy. Funding one where I demand high quality printing, where I work with pro artists and layout and desgin and local, US printers, is even harder. We talked about a Deck for DemonWars – people can select levels where they help design the NPC jousters – but hte costs are prohibitive at this time.
[20:26] <+RASalvatore> We may tape a gaming session, but honestly, it’s hard. I’ve got a crude group of old-style gamers…
[20:26] <+Jake> Those are the best…
[20:27] <+apaul> true that
[20:27] <+Popinfresh96> yes we approve
[20:27] <+lisannah> put up a disclaimer….listen and watch at own risk xD
[20:27] <+RASalvatore> DemonWars uses all the standard dice except d20’s. It’s a percentile-based system (I wanted the nuance, instead of doing everything in 5% increments).
[20:27] <+BlasterKyubey210> Sounds like a Basic RP set
[20:27] <~Dan> What is the relationship between attributes and skills?
[20:27] <+BlasterKyubey210> Percentiles but you use the others for an action’s Damage profile
[20:28] <+Damadar> I’m looking forward to getting all of the Demon Wars novels from the Kickstarter – do any of them cover (Or do you plan to cover) Terrien Dinoniel, the Half-Elf Ranger that beat the Dactyl the first time?
[20:28] <+RASalvatore> yep, but I recommend poker chips, because your resource pools – Hit Points, Balance and Focus – never get too big that you’ll need a pen and paper.
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[20:28] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Annisa!)
[20:29] <+Damadar> Er, Terranen*
[20:29] <+EricEMcClure> Was it a tough sell to your wife to run the store or was there a promise of a nice dinner and a charm spell involved? (She does a masterful job, by the way)
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[20:30] <+RASalvatore> The game has six attributes – very familiar territory – and they each apply to the various skills you’ll use. For instance, Intelligence can add talent points and skills, strength for damage, etc. It’s not hugely stat dependent, play-style is more important, but a group of high-statted monks is a pain in the arse to kill, I found out.
[20:30] <+BlasterKyubey210> Quite the “hard way” it sounds like
[20:31] <+RASalvatore> The novels from the kickstarter are the novels – the ones that are already out there. The novellas, on the other hand, which I write FOR the kickstarter books, will go in all sorts of directions. Not sure what’s next.
[20:31] <+RASalvatore> And no, Diane knew I wanted to open a store – the business is changing dramatically, and it helps keep me closer to the readers, and she jumped right in. She does an amazing job, I agree.
[20:31] <+RASalvatore> (Done)
[20:32] <+lisannah> give her our profound thanks for that xD
[20:32] <~Dan> What was your thinking about a separate game for each class in the setting?
[20:32] <+RASalvatore> I will indeed. many have expressed their appreciation of her customer service and timeliness.
[20:32] <+Jake> You had expressed some concern at 1/3 way through the Kickstarter only being 1/3 funded. What are your plans for the game development should funding not be successful for this project?
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[20:33] <+Popinfresh96> the few times i have gotten to run my group i have found it hard to make a challenging encounter that isnt deadly, kinda seem to easy or one roll away from total party wipe…
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[20:33] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Naugrim!)
[20:33] <~Dan> (Nice Silmarillion reference, btw. 🙂 )
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[20:33] <+Naugrim> Thank you
[20:34] <+Naugrim> 🙂
[20:34] <+Vorthon> I
[20:34] <+Vorthon> Whoops, sorry, finger slipped.
[20:34] <+RASalvatore> it’s not a separate game, Dan, but we wanted each type of character – monk, rogue, knight and others that will follow – to have a distinct playstyle within the setting. For example, the monks gain power by working in groups; their synergy is strong. Knights can go it alone a lot better, with Armor Points and such. Monks rely more on balance (dodging and bloch
[20:34] <+DStormshadow> I’ve made a list of set encounters, hope you don’t mind me using Lolthian drow for my basis
[20:35] <~Dan> RASalvatore: Ah, I see… Did the initial book contain the core rules, then?
[20:36] <+RASalvatore> Yes. Reformation has all the core rules (It’s technically titled…DemonWars: Reformation Core Rule Book). We’ve also done just the basic core rules over at kindle for a lower price point.
[20:36] <+MorgalMaster> Is it possible to animate the dead in this game and if so is it considered an evil act?
[20:36] <+RASalvatore> okay, let me catch up here…
[20:36] <~Dan> RASalvatore: Ah, gotcha. Sorry for the misunderstanding there.
[20:36] <~Dan> Also: Question pause while RASalvatore catches up, please. 🙂
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[20:38] <+RASalvatore> Jake, if we don’t fund, I’ll have to re-evaluate. I don’t want to cheapen the book with art-shares and such. Perhaps I’ll write it anyway in my sare time, and then when it’s done, we’ll try another kickstarter. I’m just not sure yet what will happen if the RPG stops here for now. The good news is that Reformation stands on its own – and the systems transfer e
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[20:38] <~Dan> (cut off at “the systems tranfers e”)
[20:39] <+RASalvatore> popinFresh, I beat the snot out of my group every time we sit down – almost killed them climbing a wall the other night. With a new system, it takes time for a DM to know how far she can push it without wiping the group. And hey, stupid players deserve to die. (So do their avatars)
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[20:39] <+RASalvatore> Stormshadow, it’s your game – use whatever makes it fun!
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[20:40] <+RASalvatore> Of course, if you try to sell something like that, hasbro’s lawyers will hunt you down with black helicopters and stuff.
[20:40] <+Popinfresh96> thanks that makes me feel better had a group the whole party survied because the healer stayed conceious with 1 hp
[20:40] <+DStormshadow> *smirks*
[20:41] <+Damadar> Gary Gygax used to say that the only reason a DM should roll dice is to make noise, PoppinFresh96, if that helps. =p
[20:41] <+RASalvatore> Can you animate the dead? Well, the Doc’alfar magic is kind of like that. I’ll also add that Earth magic is not defined in DemonWars – and the spell system is open to interpretation by using gemstone combinations. In other words, it’s YOUR game and you can do an awful lot.it’s your game,
[20:41] <+Popinfresh96> lol
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[20:42] <+BlasterKyubey210> Ah, so some examples and experiments?
[20:42] <+BlasterKyubey210> Sort of an idea on some of the shenagnains of Earth Magic
[20:42] <+RASalvatore> I’ll disagree with Gary there – man I miss that cranky old sonofabitch… – I think the natural 20 of blundering 1 can be the highlight of hte night.
[20:42] <+RASalvatore> His point stands, though, in that roleplaying is mostly done in your head, and if it’s just a numbers game, I’m not interested.
[20:42] <+Damadar> I agree; I use it as a reminder that the DM gets to make the rules.
[20:43] <+EricEMcClure> How did Wil end up narrating The Education of Brother Thaddius?
[20:43] <+RASalvatore> Blaster, you can mix and match gemstones at your leisure, and yes, I’ve purposely left lots of open ends. Like I said, it’s about mental agility and imagination!
[20:43] <+RASalvatore> (done)
[20:43] <+Toranu> Do you find it difficult to write outside of the “typical D&D”-type settings, or do you just prefer not to?
[20:44] <+JosephE> So what got you into Dungeons and Dragons?
[20:44] <+Vorthon> I’ve really gotta learn to not get flustered when I have a chance to talk/pose questions to somebody whose works I’ve enjoyed. Just wanna say this: RASalvatore, I’m pretty sure your Dark Elf trilogy (Particularly Exile) is the reason I developed a love for underdark-type stuff. Didn’t help that I read it around the time I got into D&D. Sorry for babbling on here, just felt like getting that off my chest.
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[20:44] <~Dan> Oh, I almost forgot, RASalvatore: See DWPearce over there in the user list? He’s idle now, but he asked me earlier to let you know that he the ‘Evil GM in the Big Black Hat’.
[20:44] <+RASalvatore> Well, Audible did my Legend of Drizzt anthology, with Wil, Felicia Day, Sean Astin, Ice-T, Weird Al, David Duchovney, mickael Chikless and some others…
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[20:44] <+GrimTheWanderer> Broad cast
[20:44] <+RASalvatore> Wil and I have been convention friends for a few years now – he did a forward for one of the Legend of Drizzt books, which was amazing.
[20:45] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Vhaeraun!)
[20:45] <+RASalvatore> So when Audible called to do the DemonWars novella, I suggested my two geek buddies, Wil and Felicia, and they jumped at it.
[20:45] <+RASalvatore> Okay, let me catch up…
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[20:45] <~Dan> (Question pause.)
[20:46] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, EricBoyce1!)
[20:46] <+EricBoyce1> Hello
[20:47] <+RASalvatore> I like sword and sorcery, Toranu. I’ve written in several worlds now – Realms, Star Wars, and my own worlds of Corona (DemonWars), Ynis Aielle, Faerie and Avon…I never intended to do this in these types of settings for most of my adult life, honestly, and there are other things I want to try, but once I got in, it wasn’t easy to get out (and I was having wa
[20:47] <+RASalvatore> I started playing D&D in college, circa 1980 – my brother got into it and brought me along.
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[20:48] <+RASalvatore> Thanks, Vorthon.
[20:48] <+RASalvatore> I appreciate Evil GMs in Big Black hats!
[20:48] <+RASalvatore> As long as they bring the pizza.
[20:48] <+Jake> ^^
[20:48] <+RASalvatore> (done)
[20:49] * ~Dan chuckles
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[20:49] <~Dan> (It’s Darren Pearce. Says he’s a buddy of yours. 🙂 )
[20:49] <+RASalvatore> yep.
[20:49] <~Dan> (He’s a regular here. 🙂 )
[20:50] <+DStormshadow> Have you ever accidentily killed the party? and how horribly?
[20:50] <~Dan> RASalvatore: So forgive my ignorance, but is DemonWars your first effort at creating an RPG of your own?
[20:50] <+Jake> Had you planned to eventually detail elves and rangers as playable characters somewhere down the line?
[20:50] <+RASalvatore> okay, let me get those three
[20:50] <+Damadar> Do you ever do smaller conventions that aren’t set up by Wizards of the Coast?
[20:51] <~Dan> (Question pause, please.)
[20:52] <+RASalvatore> yes, I’ve accidentally killed parties (including my own parties in Everquest, but that’s an uglier story). mostly, I’ve killed characters, like poor Tommy who got killed on the first pass in a joust. He was a knight in shining armor (this was years ago – not D&D), a paladin with his war horse and full plate…in our D&D game a natural 20 means a % roll and 10
[20:53] <+EricBoyce1> There seems to be Drizzt on every cover! Is this WOTC? Or do you plan on writing about different characters as the main character in a Forgotten Realms setting?
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[20:54] <~Dan> (Please hold questions until RASalvatore catches up, EricBoyce1. Thanks! 🙂 )
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[20:54] <+RASalvatore> Dan, I’ve worked on products with Wizards, and worked on a DemonWars d20 game with Fast Forward, but yes, this is my first go-for-it, derivative-but-original rpg. Again, I had experienced designers around me, notably Bryan, who can lecture you on game theory for hours…and hours…and hours. Bryan started at 38 Studios as an apprentice designers,
[20:54] <+RASalvatore> working for some of the heavyweights in the business
[20:55] <+RASalvatore> In short order, he was doing all the class balancing, monster skills, and so many other things – he really climbed up the ranks there.
[20:55] <+RASalvatore> I’m very proud of him, and honestly, his work in bringing my vision of DmeonWars to life was nothing short of spectacular. He’s working with a major player int he gaming industry now – top tier, and is doing very, very well.
[20:56] <~Dan> 🙂
[20:56] <+RASalvatore> Jake, absolutely – ranger and the alfar, and powries – I want to play a powrie!
[20:56] <+RASalvatore> Oh,a nd Jhesta tu mystics, of course!
[20:56] <+Damadar> Jhesta Tu! 😀
[20:56] <+Jake> *gasp* A powrie!?
[20:57] <+RASalvatore> Damadar, i don’t do many conventions, honestly, other than those for the book tours. I travel so much for business now, it’s hard to add to that schedule.
[20:57] <+RASalvatore> i do some occasionally, though.
[20:58] <+RASalvatore> Eric, WotC is very into Drizzt…I have no say on the covers. I just write the books!
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[20:58] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Guestaz!)
[20:58] <+RASalvatore> (done)
[20:58] <~Dan> RASalvatore: What are the big selling points of DemonWars that make it stand out from the fantasy RPG competion?
[20:59] <+EricEMcClure> Have you every made cracker pizzas in the microwave? Great finger food while writing.
[20:59] <~Dan> competition, even
[20:59] <+RASalvatore> Hmm,. the ad says I should find out how this single mom makes money at home…anyone know?
[20:59] <~Dan> (I’d be afraid to find out…)
[20:59] <+Vhaeraun> RASalvatore: Do you ever come to Florida for book signings or conventions? I’ve been wanting to meet you for years as you’re a huge celebrity to me 😀 You did respond to my reddit AMA question once though… So I’m pretty happy about that at least.
[20:59] <+Popinfresh96> LOL
[21:00] <+BreckJackson> lol
[21:00] <+RASalvatore> Dan, well, I love the world and the gemstone magic system – it’s open-ended and invites imagination. But really, in my mind, the thing that sets DemonWars a little bit apart is the active defense system. it’s simple and elegant.
[21:00] <~Dan> How does it work?
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[21:01] <+RASalvatore> You have to make choices – do I spend all my balance and avoid this hit? Or do I take the damage and hope I’m still standing? That balance pool gives a player so many opportunities to choose the way the battle will flow – I really prefer that to anything else I’ve played, as do my long-time gaming buddies.
[21:01] <+EricBoyce1> Have you ever thought about branching out… and writing Romance?
[21:02] <+Damadar> Will there be new magic items in the new book?
[21:02] <+Jake> And not to answer your question for him, but it’s a game made by the Salvatores. That alone sets it apart from the competition…
[21:03] <+DStormshadow> Dark elf / human romance novels?
[21:03] <+apaul> lol
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[21:03] <+RASalvatore> it’s pretty simple: Balance is a pool that allows you to do many different things (flurry of blows – two swings, for example). Characters have many abilities they can utilize by spending Balance. but Balance also adds rto your Defense Rating, your Armor Class – so say you have a DR of 65 and the monster rolls a 76…you can spend a point of Balance to add 20
[21:03] <+RASalvatore> okay let me catch up…
[21:04] <~Dan> (Question pause!)
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[21:05] <+RASalvatore> That’s the Reader’s Digest version, of course. You can take it to so many levels. When we were doing hte first game, two years ago, Geno moved back to massachusetts from LA and joined in. he played a St. Gwendolyn monks – sort of a battlefield philosopher.
[21:05] <+RASalvatore> he looked at the system, and immediately upped the game – us old fogies didn’t understand how to unlock the potential.
[21:05] * ~Dan chuckles
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[21:05] <+RASalvatore> He started at around 4th level to catch up to the group, spent most of his points in the Gwendolyn talent tree, but a couple in the St. bruce (striker) tree.
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[21:07] <+RASalvatore> So we get in a fight…geno jumps up between the tank (St. Belfour Monk) and the St. bruce monk. He does Shared Calm to give them each back a point of Balance, spending one of his own…then he attacks, and does Unbalancing Strike, spending another Balance and making it so his target cannot use Balance to defend against the next attack…then he spends a 3rd
[21:07] <+RASalvatore> balance to Open the Floodgates, thus giving the St. Bruce monk a free swing against an opponent who can’t use Balance to block.
[21:07] <+RASalvatore> THEN
[21:08] <+RASalvatore> eno spend a 4th Balance to do Flurry of Blows, getting a second swing, and repeats the whole thing, this time on the other target, giving the St. belfour monk a free swing…
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[21:09] <+RASalvatore> 7 balance spent in one round..then he crawled under a rock and prayed the St. Belfour monk would keep him alive while he tried to recoup his Balance pool by Rebalancing actions in subsequent rounds.
[21:09] <+BlasterKyubey210> So any personal tips to keep players awake when the Balance points come flying all over the place?
[21:09] <+BlasterKyubey210> (that is during a single attack)
[21:09] <+RASalvatore> Awake? Are you kidding? We were cheering.
[21:09] <+RASalvatore> it was insane.
[21:09] <+Jake> Agreed. I love that story.
[21:09] <+RASalvatore> okay, let me catch up here…
[21:10] <+RASalvatore> I haven’t been to Florida in a long time – again, it’s all up to WotC.
[21:10] <+RASalvatore> I’ll have to try cracker pizzas…
[21:11] <+RASalvatore> after softball season…
[21:11] <+RASalvatore> Romance? No. Modern theological/science/philosophy, yes.
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[21:12] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, Wylye!)
[21:12] <+RASalvatore> yes, there will be new magic items – knight stuff, like enchanted armor…
[21:12] <~Dan> (Howdy, Le_Squide!)
[21:12] <&Le_Squide> (Heya!)
[21:12] <+EricBoyce1> A Sci-Fi novel in the future?
[21:12] <+RASalvatore> Think we’re there (done)
[21:12] <+Damadar> Will Monk and Allheart trees mix? Can you be, for example, part Allheart Knight, and part Monk of St. Avelyn?
[21:13] <~Dan> What are the traditional fantasy elements found in DemonWars, and what are the more unique bits?
[21:13] <+RASalvatore> Sci-fi? I’m not really qualified, I expect. guys like David Brin dominate that field now, and rightly so – it’s not moon monster stories anymore!
[21:13] <~Dan> (i.e., are there elves, dwarves, orcs, etc.?)
[21:14] <+Jake> Can a knight in a monk work together as well as two monks? Say in the example with Geno earlier the St. Bruce was a knight instead.
[21:14] <+Jake> knight and a monk* sorry
[21:14] <+RASalvatore> Damadar, no, you can’t really multi-class in DemonWars. Rogues, though, can take packages of talents that resemble other types, like bandits are knight-like fighters, and there’s a packet where you get basic Abellican monk training.
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[21:14] <+EricBoyce1> Will the Crystal Shard ever be given the Green Light … to be produced as a Movie Franchise or TV Series? Like Elfstone by Terry Brooks or LOTR by JRR Tolkien?
[21:14] <~Dan> (Question pause.)
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[21:15] <+RASalvatore> DemonWars is traditional fantasy, but like all my books, it’s really a story about people. I don’t care whether I’m writing a dark elf or a dwarf, it has to touch a reader on a human level. My books are about people who happen to live in a world with magic and dragons.
[21:16] <+RASalvatore> DemonWars’ main feature is the gemstone magic, which is controlled by the Abellican Church. The central theme of the 7-book series is that he Church is going through
[21:16] <+RASalvatore> a schizm much like that which wracked the Catholic Church, only with gemstones instead of wealth.
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[21:17] <+RASalvatore> it’s also a very human-centered world – the races are mostly human kingdoms. There are elves, two types, and the bloody cap powries, vicious little dwarves who are more monster than protagonist.
[21:17] <~Dan> Like redcaps?
[21:17] <+RASalvatore> Eric, any movie/tv deal on the Realms is up to Hasbro – they own it.
[21:18] <+RASalvatore> Exactly redcaps.
[21:18] <~Dan> Go me! 😀
[21:18] <+RASalvatore> (done)
[21:18] <+Damadar> When you decided to write Transcendence, it seemed like a huge departure from the other books in the series. Were you worried about writing something so drastically different?
[21:18] <+BreckJackson> Is there a possible sub-story in the works for Entreri and Calihye, Her fate after being captured by Bregan D’aerthe was never disclosed. Could she be making a return? I totally understand if you cant say.
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[21:19] <+RASalvatore> Damadar, no, it was a natural progression. I do believe that Transcendence has gotten me the best reviews of anything I’ve ever written. My wife loves Brynn, too, so there’s that. For me, the special book of DemonWars is Mortalis.
[21:20] <~Dan> I’m a moderately well-known reviewer of RPGs and felt a whole lot of pressure when I attempted to stick my toe into the game-writing biz. How much pressure do you feel as THE RA Salvatore, game fiction writer, creating your own game?
[21:20] <+RASalvatore> I can’t say, Breck, because I don’t know. these stories take me on a wild and wonderful journey – I often don’t know what’s coming in the next chapter!
[21:20] <+Damadar> (I personally loved the Jhesta Tu monks, and also the Togai Ru warriors. So. I loved that book a lot.)
[21:21] <+RASalvatore> Pressure, Dan? NONE. Period. NONE. Ever, about anything anymore. I’ve heard about the worst things said about my work (like every other writer) one can ever hear. At some point, you realize that you write your books and design your games for
[21:21] <~Dan> (cut off at “your games for”)
[21:21] <+RASalvatore> the people who like them, not the people who don’t. A lawyer friend otld me that half my money was paid to me because I give people something to bitch about. For some,t aht’s entertainment!
[21:21] * ~Dan chuckles
[21:21] <&Lolth> LOL
[21:21] <~Dan> Excellent answer, sir.
[21:22] <+RASalvatore> So no pressure at all. I love the game…I think it’s worth playing. So I did it.
[21:22] <+Jake> It is!
[21:22] <+RASalvatore> listen, for anyone here who’s a writer or a game designer, you’re going to get your ass kicked all the time.
[21:22] <+Vorthon> (On the whole ‘about people bit. Just wanna say this: I’m mildly autistic, and the end of Exile was the first part of any book that I can remember actually getting through to me on an emotional level beyond awe or excitement. Just want to thank you for that, as sappy as that sounds.)
[21:23] <~Dan> (Awwww…. That’s awesome, Vorthon. 🙂 )
[21:23] <+RASalvatore> Thanks, Vorthon..
[21:23] <+RASalvatore> I did one of the Drizzt essays where he proclaims that he’s free because he knows he’s going to die someday.
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[21:24] <+RASalvatore> it’s all about perspective. I agree with Drizzt.
[21:24] <+RASalvatore> So if I do a kickstarter, like the one now, and I fail, okay…what’s next?
[21:24] * ~Dan nods
[21:24] <+BreckJackson> excellent answer
[21:25] <~Dan> Indeed.
[21:25] <+Popinfresh96> of my players that actually read the novella they all loved it and though it was the greatest into to a moduel they had ever played i know u recently decided you would write a novella for this one for sure but will it tie into the hopefully added moduel there too?
[21:25] <+RASalvatore> I’ve been blessed -t here are no complaints. if this writing thing all ended tomorrow, I’d shake myhead, smile and say, “Wow, what a ride!”
[21:25] <+Vhaeraun> RASalvatore: I backed your kickstarter tonight after reading your reply to Tommy’s review about all the talent you’ve gotten to work on it. Do you plan on doing a final push for funding via an AMA on Reddit if it still hasnt funded soon? (I really hope you do as reddit is fantastic for that sort of thing)
[21:25] <~Dan> 🙂
[21:25] <+RASalvatore> That’s the plan, PopinFresh…
[21:26] <+RASalvatore> I think I’m going to do an AMA next week, actually…if I can find the time.
[21:26] <+RASalvatore> I’m heading up to Seattle on the 16th (in full Patirots’ gear, of course), for a bunch of meetings..and I just finished editing Archmage…
[21:27] * ~Dan chuckles
[21:27] <+RASalvatore> In retrospect, I probably should have waited a month or so to launch the kickstarter, but oh well…
[21:27] <+Popinfresh96> <=seahawks fan
[21:28] <+RASalvatore> I know your pain, Pop – 2007 and 2011! great team – they’ll be back.
[21:28] <+RASalvatore> (done)
[21:28] <&Lolth> RASalvatore: so, how often you’re cornered with “let me tell you about my character”?
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[21:28] <~Dan> Do the two DemonWars books contain bestiaries, and if so, how extensive?
[21:28] <+RASalvatore> haha, about 5 e-mails a day.
[21:28] <~Dan> (Welcome to #rpgnet, destined!)
[21:28] <+RASalvatore> usually with files attached…
[21:29] <+RASalvatore> And no, I don’t read them!
[21:29] <&Lolth> Do I *dare* to ask what sort of pictures are included?
[21:29] <+RASalvatore> lol
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[21:29] <+RASalvatore> yes, the DemonWars books have monsters, you bet. We had about 40 in the first – we plan a similar number in this one.
[21:29] <+Jake> Do you still drop in on the forums to see what we’re talking about?
[21:30] <+RASalvatore> At Rasalvatore.com? Yeah. I found, though,t aht when I post, I end threads…
[21:30] <+RASalvatore> i don’t want to discourage honest conversations about the books.
[21:30] <+Popinfresh96> or lack of talking on the forums more like it 😦
[21:31] <+RASalvatore> well, forums aren’t what they used to be, given social media
[21:31] <+Jake> Oh, sorry. The demonwarsrpg forums.
[21:31] <+RASalvatore> it’s just a natural evolution
[21:32] <+RASalvatore> DemonWars RPG? Yeah, I go over there a lot – those were Bryan’s forums, but he’s so tied up with his job now that he really can’t devote the time to it. I don’t have enough time to do it justice, so we’re hoping Geno picks up the slack!
[21:32] <~Dan> RASalvatore: Who are some of your favorite game designers?
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[21:32] <+RASalvatore> Zeb Cook, Sean Reynolds, Rich Baker…
[21:33] <+RASalvatore> mentzer, of course!
[21:33] <+RASalvatore> Steve jackson is amazing.
[21:33] <~Dan> 🙂
[21:33] <+RASalvatore> And the new crew at WotC – Chris Perkins, Mearls, James Wyatt and the rest…all top-end folks.
[21:33] <+Popinfresh96> what age did you start trying to get your sons into gaming with you?(D&D style anyway)
[21:33] <+RASalvatore> Loved the old White Wolf team.
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[21:34] <+Sun-away> I just want to say that you’re the reason I decided Drow weren’t just evil nameless npcs to throw at my players, and thanks to a friend picking the name Artemis for a new character recently, I’ve gotten back into reading about Drizzt and am buying the kindle versions of my books and those I don’t have in book form already.
[21:34] <+RASalvatore> Aw hell, I love them all – when i go to GenCon, I just wander from booth to booth in amazement.
[21:34] <~Dan> Ditto. 🙂
[21:34] <+RASalvatore> A lot of people hate me for doing that to the drow, Sun, so thanks!
[21:34] <~Dan> And hey, maybe I’ll see you there this year. The wife and I are going as press this year. 🙂
[21:35] <+RASalvatore> I expect to be there, certainly…all four days (except I leave early on Sundays – I hate th elast day of a convention!)
[21:35] <+Alaren> Your books have been a pleasure to read, and have inspired me.
[21:35] <+RASalvatore> popin…i think i first killed hteir characters (in the Caves of Chaos, of course) when they were about 9 and 10.
[21:36] <+RASalvatore> Thanks, Alaren, very kind.
[21:36] <~Dan> Ah, the Caves of Chaos… The Devil’s apartment complex.
[21:36] <+RASalvatore> Any last questions before I go fall down?
[21:37] <~Dan> Oh, need to wrap up, Bob?
[21:37] <+RASalvatore> Or into a glass of Maker’s Mark, at least…
[21:37] <+RASalvatore> No, i can hang a bit longer…
[21:37] <+Jake> Would a party of a knight, a rogue and a monk work as well as three monks?
[21:37] <+Damadar> Is there any way for a previously bought book to be signed by you outside of the book tours?
[21:38] <+Jake> Could the monk of St. Gwendolyn do for a knight what she could do for a monk of St. Bruce?
[21:38] <+EricBoyce1> Do you play Elder Scrolls? You’re thoughts on the World of Tamriel?
[21:38] <+RASalvatore> Depends on the players, Jake. In theory, three monks working in concert would be brutal, but an Unbalancing Strike and Open the Floodgates for an Assassin Rogue, would be deadly, and giving balance to a sword-and-board knight offers tremendous advantage, because shield blocks hoist DR way up there.
[21:38] <+Dritz> are there other authors/books that particularly inspired you, or that you’d recommend for fans to jump into?
[21:38] <&Lolth> RASalvatore: not a question, per se, but I just want to remark that you’re to “blame” in a roundabout way for my current nickname (it involves your Dark Elf Trilogy, me owning it, and me letting our 2nd Worst GM of the Entire Universe to read it, and pain that followed with it). 😉
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[21:39] <+Dritz> (read most of your stuff already, though I’ve got a bit of catching up to do with recent series, heh)
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[21:39] <+RASalvatore> Damadar, the best way to get books signed is through RASalvaStore.com…otherwise, for a book that’s special to you 9a specific copy) PM me on Facebook.
[21:40] <~Dan> Just a quick observation here, folks…
[21:40] <+RASalvatore> And yes, a St. Gwendolyn monk makes knights very happy.
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[21:40] <+Jake> Good!
[21:40] <+Jake> Thanks.
[21:40] <+Popinfresh96> i love your work, you just keep on loving and spitting it out too!
[21:40] <~Dan> I gave RASalvatore the option of restricting the discussion this evening to DemonWars: Allheart.
[21:40] <+Vhaeraun> RASalvatore: Do you know if there will ever be more graphic novels to finish off the Legend of Drizzt series? I just had a friend read them all and he loved them. I also just introduced two friends to the Dark Elf Trilogy when they were looking for book suggestions. Thank you for everything.
[21:40] <~Dan> He said that this was for you guys, so I should let the questions fly.
[21:40] <+RASalvatore> I don’t play Elder Scrolls (please don’t tell ken Rolston, okay?)…Honestly, I’ve barely played any computer games since 38 Studios crashed.
[21:41] <~Dan> That’s class, folks. 🙂
[21:41] <+Sun-away> RASalvatore: I’m curious how many people disliked your making a Dwarf a “Dudid”?
[21:42] <+Jake> Oh my gosh. “Me brudder!”
[21:42] <+RASalvatore> Vhaeraun, i was surprised that IDW didn’t continue with those. geno and I were having a blast writing them, the reviews and sales were great…I don’t know why they didn’t keep going. Too much on thier plate, I expect. I’d be open to doing more.
[21:42] <+EricBoyce1> Okay I’m signing off… Love your work! Keep it up!
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[21:43] <+RASalvatore> At first, there was pushback, but me brudder Pikle won ’em over, Sun.
[21:43] <+RASalvatore> G’nite, Eric.
[21:43] <+BreckJackson> I just want to say Thank You by the way Drizzt has helped me change my ways and become a better person, often times im uncertain about a decision i have to make I ask myself what would Drizzt do
[21:43] <+Jake> He made me laugh so hard when I was reading that.
[21:43] <+RASalvatore> that’s very humbling, Breck. one thing i can assure you about Drizzt: it’s honest.
[21:44] <+RASalvatore> It’s not always right, but it’s an honest attempt to be right and do good…
[21:44] <+BreckJackson> indeed 🙂
[21:45] <~Dan> RASalvatore: Ordinarily I wait until the last 10 minutes for this, but since you need to head out soon, is there anything we haven’t covered that you’d like to bring up?
[21:45] <+RASalvatore> Nah, I’m cool…let me drop a link one more time…(Link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rasalvatore/demonwars-allheart)https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rasalvatore/demonwars-allheart
[21:46] <+RASalvatore> I would very much appreciate help in spreading the word.
[21:46] <+Jake> *
[21:46] <~Dan> Well then, thanks again so much for spending time with us!
[21:46] <+Jake> Go there.
[21:46] <+Jake> Back it.
[21:46] <+Wyrmling> Best of luck for a second successful Kickstarter!
[21:46] <+Damadar> Yes. Back it. I want my $500 to be taken out of my account ASAP. :p
[21:46] <+Popinfresh96> just in case forums for it…(Link: http://demonwarsrpg.com/forum/index.php?sid=da0e4fa00abff25142eed96e038be00c)http://demonwarsrpg.com/forum/index.php?sid=da0e4fa00abff25142eed96e038be00c
[21:46] <~Dan> If you’ll give me just a moment, I’ll post the log and get you the link, RASalvatore.
[21:46] <+RASalvatore> it was fun – a good old fashioned chat room. haven’t done this in a long time, other than Reddit!
[21:46] <+GrimTheWanderer> Thanks for your time!
The Hardboiled GMshoe's Office 