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Post by kiladecus on Mar 10, 2014 3:23:01 GMT -9
Hey folks! We have about 5 Deadly Missions sets in the queue (including more than just Fantasy settings)! We are planning on doing a "best-of" set, and I would like to hear which fantasy heroes you would like to see re-done. Is there a particular CG figure you would like to see re-released as a hand-drawn figure? These characters are going to be a little more powerful than the previous figures, and will become the "champions" of Deadly Missions. Cast your votes HERE or on the link: www.facebook.com/pages/Grey-Matter-GamesSome suggestions may be Lady Faith (from the Quest Sets), or if you would prefer, maybe ANGUS THE BLACK from Era Of War. Magus Runequist from WARMANCERS? I will add the top 8 requested figures. It is YOUR chance to add YOUR input of what YOU would like to see! There is no limit!* You can vote for as many as you want, but only the top 8 will be chosen. *There are a couple restrictions, however: 1) I can NOT re-release figures from TORN WORLD, DARK SKULL STUDIOS or REIVAJ MINIS. 2) Please don't say, "Re-do ALL of your CG stuff, because your hand-drawn stuff is much better." I am looking for individual figures, NOT whole sets. Ok, thank you for your attention!
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Post by migibb on Mar 10, 2014 5:18:00 GMT -9
The only CG supplement I've picked up so far has been the Family Edition... But I would love to see a hand-drawn version of "Frankie"!! My favourite character so far in Warmancers has been Xur Skylo - but her figure is pretty damn fine already....
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 10, 2014 6:31:34 GMT -9
XUR SKYLO, the Runemancer. Great choice. (Although, she looks a little like Kharman from Relic Hunters). FRANKIE. That could be fun. I also had a request for JACK from that set. He has a lot of potential, as well. Keep those requests coming! If I get enough, then maybe I will do a set of 12 instead of just 8!
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Post by migibb on Mar 10, 2014 9:06:33 GMT -9
XUR SKYLO, the Runemancer. Great choice. (Although, she looks a little like Kharman from Relic Hunters). Oh she does, doesn't she? I hadn't noticed that!!! lol! Am trying to resist the urge to buy all the other expansions* to give you a list of those I would like to see hand drawn. As you probably know I will just end up saying "all of them"!!! (*Though this, no doubt, is part of your marketing plan...... )
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Post by dungeonmistress on Mar 10, 2014 13:41:42 GMT -9
Tried the link to look at your stuff, but FB say that page isn't available anymore...? Is this another classic FB @#$%-up?
I really wanted to see what you had and give you my suggestions.
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 10, 2014 13:44:04 GMT -9
Well, with a degree in marketing, you know I have a plan. Honestly, here is my situation. About a year and a half ago, I was doing hand-drawn figures, and my computer died. I bought a new one (brand new WIN 8 machine that was INCREDIBLE). It didn't recognize my all-in-one machine as a printer AND a scanner. My wife, God love her, had an accident with her laptop involving a large amount of water... Her machine worked fine... except for the fact that the keyboard was fried. I bought her an external one, and it is fine. Since I couldn't use my scanner, I was forced to find another way to make figures. I discovered renders. So, she gave me her laptop, and I used it as a way to print and scan (WIN 7 likes my machine better, I guess). I started doing hand-drawn stuff again. SO.... a couple weeks ago, she dropped my laptop. It had over 2,000 images, a few thousand family pictures, EVERYTHING I use to do my GMG stuff. All of it was LOST! Well, I had a "loaner" while waiting to hear back from the "doctor." His diagnosis: "It's dead, Jim." I replied, "Surely you can't be serious, and my name isn't 'Jim.'" He said, "I AM serious, and don't call me 'Shirley.'" As it stands now, I am using the laptop that my wife gave me to run GMG again. Since I lost all of my CG images, I am still a little put out by it, so I will not be doing any more of it for the time being. SO, my plan, that you spoke of... Re-designing my CG figures (and possibly hand-drawn figures) as "new" hand-drawn figures and re-introducing them as Legendary Heroes. They will be tougher/more powerful versions of their former selves, and may be characters brought in from other games. Since I don't have the images any longer, I can't post pictures of everyone. That would have been nice, but it isn't practical. I *can* say that I was smart enough to keep ALL of my line art and colored versions of my hand-drawn work. I have two rather large 3-ring binders FULL of artwork. Because of that, I was able to bring in the Tigrons, Dracotaur and so forth... The long and the short of it is this: I want to establish a set of core figures that will become "legends" in the game. I want these individuals to become characters that can fit inside other games, as well. I know this is a lot of information (too much, possibly), but I like people to get a glimpse behind the curtain sometimes. I am funny like that. ...and there you have it!
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 10, 2014 13:53:40 GMT -9
Oh, another option is to look at the previews on RPGnow.com. Type in "Grey Matter Games" in the search, and you can tell the CG sets from the hand-drawn stuff. Ignore the Sci-Fi, Horror and Modern sets. The Fantasy sets are labeled "Fantasy Expansion ..." or some sort of defining notation. (Plus they don't have guns). Pull up the set, and right under the cover art is a small preview. Flip the pages (as you would a book), and you can see the figures. I post the figures and cards for each set. For example, Griff Callow (Quest Set 3, I believe) is my actual avatar here (from Warmancers). So, as you can see, I have done crossovers before. This time, I want to do hand-drawn figures to replace the CG ones. If you see some Era of War or Warmancer figures, add them to the list, too. I really enjoy hearing that some older characters are still "usable." My Xiarn Dynast Conscript is SATO MING in the new set. (I think of him as an LE figure). Hope it helps. See, I am not a blood-thirsty publisher. Just a guy that wants others to be as excited about his work as he is.
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Post by dungeonmistress on Mar 10, 2014 14:02:13 GMT -9
Wow! Tough break (no pun intended) with your laptop. Glad you still have your original hand drawn stuff. (Boy, would I love to peek in those binders!)
Though I haven't seen her, I'll vote for your female figure (you mentioned above) as there aren't enough ladies out there.
Good luck, my friend!
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 10, 2014 14:23:09 GMT -9
If you go to Facebook, type in "Grey Matter Games." You should see my stuff there, but it is best to look for the sets on the RPGnow (or Wargamevault) sites. I would love to hear from you guys.
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Post by WackyAnne on Mar 10, 2014 14:39:43 GMT -9
Oh, David, I am so very sorry to hear about the demise of your laptop, most especially your family photos and creative work. Having gone through something similar two months back, I know a little of how you must feel. I was lucky in that while I lost about two-and a half months of files, most of my family pictures weren't a part of that.
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Post by dungeonmistress on Mar 10, 2014 14:42:50 GMT -9
OK. Let me preface this by saying that I have a very small computer screen (14"diag), so it's a little hard to see details. But form what I could see, here's my list: From Warmancers set two, page one - The blonde sorceress/wizard in the green dress - The auburn haired lady wizard in the purple dress with the white sash page two - The Yuan-ti (?) (top row, third from left) could you make that a female? From ERA of WAR: Midian Knights, page two -Another Yuan-ti(?) Could you draw him wielding matched scimitars or other melee weapons? That's all I can come up with for now, but I do have a request for when you have the time (I know, that's funny, right?), how about a red psuedodragon with a black heart-shaped mask on it's face? (This is my wizards* familiar, his name is Scaramouch; though Boris calls him Cecil) Just a thought. *Boris/Peter is my husband. Gotta keep him happy, you know.
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 12, 2014 0:44:06 GMT -9
I am ALWAYS up for suggestions/requests. I will see what I can do.
Yes, the four-armed snake guy (I believe his name is SAKKAR), would be a brilliant addition to the game (only without the projection rifles).
I did a female snake person (for DM... the set escapes me at the moment. I think it was the set that had KHYBER in it). I can try to do her as a hand-drawn instead of a render. I may put her in the Egytian set. She would be a good fit for that.
I am planning on redoing Lady Faith. She has become a DM staple in the Quest sets, and I feel it is fitting she makes it to the All-Stars.
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Post by dungeonmistress on Mar 12, 2014 8:48:07 GMT -9
I look forward to seeing whatever you come up with. I am sure it will be brilliant!
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 16, 2014 5:42:39 GMT -9
Since I have done a few versions of LADY FAITH, (standard, and the Paladin versions), I decided I would try her as a hand-drawn version. I have a little clean up to do, but I think she looks pretty good.
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Post by migibb on Mar 16, 2014 6:59:01 GMT -9
Love the figure - body and pose - David, but the face seems a bit off. Her right eye is a bit too high and off to the side of her face perhaps....??
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 16, 2014 8:27:50 GMT -9
Yes... and her mouth is too far to the right (or "left" from her point of view). I said I had some clean-up to do. I will try to fix that i the pre-coloring phase.
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 16, 2014 8:41:46 GMT -9
Thanks for the advice, migibb. I wasn't happy with her face, but considering most of my female's faces.... I think she looks better now, for sure.
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Post by migibb on Mar 16, 2014 9:51:00 GMT -9
Much better Kil.
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Post by dungeonmistress on Mar 16, 2014 10:03:21 GMT -9
Very nicely done!
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 16, 2014 11:03:39 GMT -9
I had a break-through on the new set. It isn't going to be just a new set of figures... but a whole re-boot of the game.
ALL of the existing stuff is still going to be usable, but the new stuff will allow more powerful characters (like SKAAR) to be able to do more things.
I will ALSO be consolidating the 20+ rule books into ONE concise lexicon. One book to rule them all, so to speak.
I wrote out ALL of my plans here a few minutes ago, but my computer froze up and I had to restart it. I am not going to re-type all of that again, so you will just have to see what is in store for future books.
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 16, 2014 15:59:16 GMT -9
Keep those request coming. I have about 6 slots left (10 filled). I *may* make up some new characters.
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 17, 2014 0:59:46 GMT -9
Just a quick update: I have been busy working on a LOT of aspects of the game. I have received a LOT of good feedback so far. I have listened to you to find out what you would like to see. One thing is a new format for the creature cards, that make them more printer-friendly in a LOT of good ways). I mentioned that I am bringing back some "old friends" for this set (including a runner-up for the 2012 Paper-Cut Awards, only he will have a "new coat of paint" on him). But that isn't all... I am bringing back some "other" old friends, including DRAMASCAPE! There are some other friends coming along for the ride, but I can't mention them yet, until I hear back from them. Aside from the "old," there are PLENTY of "NEW" items in the works, as well. New tokens, new abilities, and new versions of figures (and possibly some new, never-before-seen characters). This set will be awesome, topped with awesome, and coated with a heaping helping of AWESOME! ...and dare I say, it will change the way you play Deadly Missions forever (in a GOOD way).
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Post by magpiestear on Mar 22, 2014 17:10:25 GMT -9
So is this set coming with a revised/consolidated rukebook, as well as the figures?
Might be time to take the plunge then.
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 24, 2014 1:06:06 GMT -9
We'll, that was the plan... However, I am suffering a MAJOR set-back at the moment. My back-up computer just died yesterday. #deadinthewater
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 31, 2014 3:31:37 GMT -9
Just a quick update.
I am currently in talks with FIVE (5) artists/collaborators.
One is a cartographer I have worked with in the past, and he is working on a set of tiles for a release that is planned for MAY! It will be awesome!
For that same release, I am talking with a couple artists that I am planning on doing some figures with for the set(s). One has already started submitting artwork, and the other said he's on board, just busy at the moment.
I am feverishly trying to get the Second Edition rules for Deadly Missions together. The hardest part is revamping the format, while still keeping the existing sets playable.
WHY CHANGE THE FORMAT?
Well, there are some things that needed to be addressed for far too long. The larger cards (index card size) is great for holding information, but they aren't very printer-friendly. I want to keep the look and feel of the colored cards, but need to make them better for the end-user/gamer/customer. I considered removing the background, and just using a white background, but it takes away from the feel of the game.
The new cards are going to be smaller (traditional/poker-sized) cards. This will make the icons smaller, and eliminate the space for the text boxes.
I am also working on some formats for ERA OF WAR that will follow the icon-driven game stats. Too much text on the card not only allows for more errors (which I admit have had a few...), but it will also allow me to take my games to PHASE TWO!
All-in-all, I am glad that I was "encouraged" to change formats, because I can make the cards more "professional," and maintain the integrity of the games.
The hardest part is placing 95 abilities and types into a set format that will allow for everything to be maintained without over-complicating it, or "killing" the game flow.
I still have a LONG way to go, but if I can get this "working," then I will have a better-looking product, and will not ONLY be able to offer the new "Best-of" set, but will be able to offer NEW Fantasy sets featuring an undisclosed publisher.
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 31, 2014 5:58:02 GMT -9
Well, we are gearing up for PHASE TWO of Deadly Missions. We are gathering translators that can make the game "playable" in multiple languages, and changing the format of the cards to a more printer-friendly format. Here is the latest prototype. This is not an actual card, just a WIP. The name, and stat icons are still there, but the text boxes have been removed, and the cards are now playing card/poker-sized cards instead of the index card size. More cards per page means less ink (because of the smaller size), and it still keeps the same style. There is also an added space for the artist's name that drew the image, and a number for the level of the creature, a "V" for Veterans, and an "L" for "Legendary Characters." Any thoughts, concerns or feedback?
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Post by migibb on Mar 31, 2014 8:36:03 GMT -9
Looks good David. It may save ink but I think having white backgrounds rather than the parchment effect would lose a lot of character. Only suggestion I would make is to have the artist's name and copyright info on the same textured background as the rest of the card so it was a bit less incongruous.
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Post by Nemo on Mar 31, 2014 8:57:44 GMT -9
I like it, too Maybe increasing the size of the fonts for the numbers would make them more visible. And adding a little contour to them would make even more readable.
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Post by kiladecus on Mar 31, 2014 9:01:50 GMT -9
Thanks migibb. I always appreciate feedback! Speaking of the (c) line, I need to make it smaller and less "important." While it is important to show the person that did the art (this will become more of an issue as I work with various artists, and use more people's artwork), it isn't more important than the other aspects of the card (like the character's name). I liked the stats at the bottom of the card (instead of along the side), but I may have to go back to that set up. The icons are really the most important element of the card (next to the picture of the corresponding figure). I am working on something new with these, and they really will need to stand out a bit more. I have a little time today to tweak these. I am not planning on doing a new set for a few weeks, so I have time to get these right. It is VERY important that this format works, not only for the 2nd Edition stuff, but for ALL DM games and genres to come.
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Post by cowboyleland on Mar 31, 2014 9:07:09 GMT -9
I agree with the above comments. Also, if you are looking to spare ink, a lighter shade of parchment would probably make a difference.
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