Access To DTRPG Publisher Account Removed

 

Apparently, the way I've been interacting with my customers via DriveThruRPG's customer email feature is problematic.

People complained, DriveThru issued some kind of email warning (which I didn't receive), I sent out another "inappropriate" email to my customers, and now I don't have access to my publisher's account.

Is it so wrong to engage with my customers in an alternative, outside-the-box fashion?  Is joking around that great a sin?  Am I corrupting the youth?  Do I deserve cancellation, never to be seen again?  Ask yourself, what would Communist China do?  Whatever that is, Americans should probably do the opposite.  

Of course, that's just my opinion.  Who am I?  Just some guy who's written the books over there on the right-hand sidebar.  Yeah, what do I know?

I don't entirely blame DriveThru for their actions.  I wouldn't want customers complaining to me, either.  But just imagine, if you will, a world where gamers take time out of their busy day to complain about a couple of humorous emails to the big corporation, so that... what?  An independent creator gets in trouble, gets temporarily (tentacles crossed) shut down?  

Just another reason why we've fallen so far from grace.  Especially in a year like 2020.  Keep it up, guys.  Another asteroid is surely on its way.

VS

Friday Night Cha'alt on Roll20

Last Friday, the PCs encountered a snake-man king wandering the desert wastes of S'kbah.  Badly wounded, Hsss'ss was bleeding from a near mortal wound in his stomach.  

Ready for a trap, the PCs eventually let their guard down, giving the serpentine humanoid water and healing.  In return, Hsss'ss told them of a pile of twisted metal just inside a cave not far from their present location.

The crashed starship was haunted by some luminous green spectre.  After a couple fruitless rounds of combat, one of the party's clerics banished the thing to another dimension.

After investigating and scavenging the ruined starship, the PCs encountered a couple of off-worlders who parked their sand-speeder just outside the cave.  The PCs gave the off-worlders an ass-whooping, stealing their gear and vehicle for their own use.

The next session is this Friday, December 11th @ 7:30pm - 9pm central standard time.  Yeah, 90 minutes!  The wife and kids are watching Mulan on Disney+, so I'm using the extra time for gaming.

This is the link.  First come, first serve.  Bring your A-game!

VS

p.s. Wondering what all this Cha'alt stuff is about?  Look no further...

Roll20 Cha'alt Campaign Starts Friday

 

There's a simplicity to text-only games, a low-grade purity.  

Yes, part of it comes from my ignorance of the tech details.  Nevertheless, I get a kick out of visualizing the game via reading words rather than staring at the character's player and listening to those same words (including all the filler words and sounds that we all use).

In any case, starting this Friday, I'm running a weekly one-shot campaign in my campaign setting of Cha'alt... eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalypse!

Here's the Roll20 link.  First come, first serve.  Hope you can make it.  

Only an hour or so + an extra 5 or 10 minutes to finish up if need be.  I know an hour isn't much.  My life has so little free time these days that it's a wonder I can even type out this blog post.  It's been about 3 months since my last game session, and I'm itching to get back to the fuchsia wastes!

VS

p.s. I'll be using my own O5R house-rules / hack of D&D 5e Crimson Dragon Slayer D20.

Cha'alt: Gone Girl

 

I sold out without selling out...

Yes, all 2,000 of the initial print run is out the door.  The very last book got picked-up by the post office an hour ago.

There's still a couple hardcovers I'm holding for people getting their finances together and then, of course, all the books that need to go out to backers for the Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise kickstarter.  But other than that, the luxury Cha'alt hardcovers are finito.

Time will tell if I'll do another print run down the road.

Thanks to everyone who supported me in this long ass journey, made harder by covid-19 and certain elements of the hobby.

Eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalyptic awesomeness made flesh!  Here's the PDF.  And if you want the follow-up, here's Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise (hardcover sales will be announced in a couple weeks).

By His loathsome tentacles,

VS

p.s. The wife and kids are planning on watching one of their Disney shows Friday nights for the next 3 months - that means I could start-up my weekly one-hour Roll20 Cha'alt campaign.  Check my blog for updates!

Friesens Fraud?

Friesens, the once reputable printing company from Canada has fallen in my eyes.  

After printing and shipping a small print run of Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise, I noticed a few unexpected charges on the invoice.

I asked about them and was told the charges were incurred when I fixed a few problems with the files.  Problems that the printer had alerted me to and I corrected in a timely manner, within 24 hours.  

In one case, Friesens had the appropriate file weeks before the proofs were sent, a file which they deleted and asked me to re-upload to make it easier for them.  The wrong file was uploaded (quite a bit of trial and error up to that point led to multiple files) and as soon as the error was noticed, I re-re-uploaded the correct file.

I talked to three people at Friesens and no one could satisfy my curiosity - why should I pay for additional fees when close-to-the-deadline mistakes were directly attributable to the printer?  They made other mistakes, too, such as losing the file for the cover's gold-embossed title.  Everything they asked of me, I did.  I busted my ass to make sure they had everything they needed ASAP.

And then, without warning, they included those (alleged by me) fraudulent charges in the invoice.

I even suggested a compromise where I'd pay roughly half these bogus fees in the name of good business, so we could all move forward.  I was told by Friesens' customer service manager that I should look for another printer in future.  

Today, I paid for the legit costs of the print overrun (32 books) and nothing else.  As many of you know, I'm not the sort of person to just lay down and take it.  You invade Poland?  I mobilize the troops.  Appeasement is not in my nature.

I'll post more information as it becomes available.

VS

p.s. If you don't already have the Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise PDF, it's on sale! 

Happy Birthday

 

One day, I hope my birthday will be remembered along the likes of Gary Gygax and H.P. Lovecraft...

But for now, I'll simply have to remind everyone with a quick blog post.  I'm 46 today.  There doesn't seem to be anything significant about 46.  Oh well.  At least I'm still alive and in good health, along with my amazing family.  

All I would like from you, dear reader, is a review or play report.  If you've enjoyed using one or more of my RPG titles, let the world know.  That's the best way of assuring there'll be more where that came from.

Thanks,

VS

p.s. Hard to believe there's only 3 Cha'alt hardcovers left!  If you still want it, ordering details here.

Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise Hardcovers Arrived

 

An effulgent shard amidst the darkness...

Yes!  At long last, two pallets of gorgeous hardcovers arrived but an hour ago.

Looking them over, it's exactly what I wanted - a perfect compliment to Cha'alt.  The font is slightly larger, so for those with battle-weary eyes - you're welcome!

I'm putting up some pics that'll give you an idea.

And there's one thousand of them!  The first couple hundred go out to backers, the rest I'll sell out of my "Frazetta nymphs with Death Star looming in the background" van down by the river.  But that won't happen until I get books out to my wonderful backers.  

If you want one, but didn't back the Kickstarter, check back around Xmas for ordering details.

For those who don't know, Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise is the follow-up to Cha'alt.  It's an eldritch, gonzo, science-fantasy, post-apocalypse campaign setting - chockfull of everything you'll need for running adventures of neo-quasi-O5R and vintage demon laser sleaze.  You're welcome again!!!

Cha'alt: Fuchsia Malaise took about a year from original idea and primordial playtesting to this point.  

Thanks to everyone who supported me and pitched-in to make this awesome tome.  ;)  

Check out the PDF!  It's on sale (50% off) until Thanksgiving.

Let's game!

VS

p.s. I'm down to only 4 Cha'alt hardcovers.  Want one?

Kort'thalis Publishing is Hiring

 

I'm putting my tentacles out there for a new layout / cartography person.

Ideally, he or she would be able to do both PDF layout and maps (but if you only do one and not the other, you may still apply). Must be flexible, easy to work with, competent, and dependable. If our professional association makes you squeamish, please move along.

Email me samples of your work: Venger.Satanis@yahoo.com

Thanks,

VS

Almost Won

 

The title of this blog post, "Almost Won", has a couple of meanings.  

First, Trump has almost won and every American that wants a free and fair election should wait until all these shenanigans have been ironed out.  Second, the Biden campaign almost won - but, unfortunately for them, many instances of voting irregularities and legit voter fraud have now been uncovered.  

Below are a couple resources to get a handle on what happened and how the American people, especially President Donald Trump, are going to get justice...

Mobile audiences probably won't see this video, so here's a link here.

And right here.

So, this is far from over.  The Trump campaign is rightly suing various states in order to get answers for all the bizarre stuff going on.  

In my opinion, the longer the supposed winner (Biden) is delayed, the better chance of the actual winner's triumph.  Hopefully, the truth will come out, several people will go to prison, and Donald J. Trump will continue to do what he does best - kick ass!

Stay tuned,

VS

p.s. This is an exhaustive list of self-described ignorant and/or deluded assholes who oppose America for Americans, in favor of corruption, critical race theory, tanking the economy, lockdowns, and punching nazis (half the populace).  Personally, I won't be buying anything from these guys.  I'm voting with my wallet, which should allow me to purchase more deserving RPG products in the future.  :)