Achievement Unlocked: Origins Award

Last night, I reached a career milestone.

Most people, when you tell them you won an Origins Award, would look at you oddly, tell you politely “that’s nice,” and move on in the conversation. It’s not exactly the Oscar here.

But for people in the game industry, it’s somewhat of a big deal. Maybe not an Academy Award, but at least something like winning recognition from Cannes or the Sundance Film Festival. It’s a known award, and it’s considered something of value.

So last night, my project baby from 2011, The Wars of Reaving, won the 2012 Origins Award for Best SciFi/Fantasy Miniature Supplemental product.

Most games and game products that win are a team affair, and mine is not much different. I had a lot of help making WOR look pretty. Paul Sjardijn helped me construct the main “spine” of plot; Herb Beas gave me carte blanche on the entire project; and Ray Arrastia’s amazing layout skills made WOR stand out in a very unique way when compared to the usual BattleTech sourcebook.

I’m very thankful to all three of these guys, plus the artists, factcheckers, and playtesters that assisted in spiffing up the final product. And of course, to Catalyst for believing in me to do the project in the first place.

I’ve been part of an Origins Award winner team – Tactical Operations won in 2009 – but this is the first project I had the lead on to win. It was an honor being nominated, yes. And I was convinced all this week that Osprey Publishing’s Tomorrow’s War was going to win. (That book looked sleek and sporty on the table.) But winning the award – thanks in a large part from all the BattleTech fans who voted – means even more to me.

Thanks to everyone who made it possible. And more thanks to my wife, for her support and strength while I poured myself into the WOR project. It paid off, honey!

Onward now, to next year. I’ve got my sights set on repeating this success, and Total Chaos is the project that just may do it…

Supplemental (War) Stories

That will learn me from making product promises…

Fans of BattleTech and those of my most recent book in particular, have been aware that there’s a companion piece “in the works” for a while. Initially, I’d planned on having this e-book done (titled Wars of Reaving: Supplemental) and on the market no later than Thanksgiving of last year.

*checks today’s date*

Um. Yeah.

I’m cautiously optimistic it’ll actually be released sometime in April of this year. Why “cautiously optimistic?” Because as of today, I finally finished all of the writing for it. The material is undergoing a quick review by our crack fact check team and will then go to Ray for his layout genius. How long that takes is highly dependent on how much time Ray can put towards it, considering there are other, larger print projects also on his desk.

Because it took so long is not saying there’s a ton of it in this supplemental publication. Far from it. Most of the page count is record sheets and tables, after all. But there are some gems hidden within, guaranteed.

So why did it take so long?

It’s an Honor Just Being Nominated…

Earlier this week, the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design announced their nominees for the 38th Annual Origins Awards. The nominees were voted by the retailer attendees of the 2012 GAMA Trade Show in Las Vegas, NV back in February. And I’m proud to say that Catalyst Game Labs’ Wars of Reaving, a BattleTech plot book written last year by yours truly, was one of the six nominees in the Best Miniatures Rules or Expansion category!

While I’ve been a writer on a few other CGL projects that have grabbed various awards, I’ve never been the primary author. This particular news is very special to me, as the book was done in the span of only a couple of months and required a Herculean effort on the part of myself, Jason Schmetzer (the editor), Ray Arrastia (layout genius), and of course, Herb Beas (BT Line Developer). And of course, there was no small part played by my understanding and supportive wife. (The full scope of the project can be found in more detail elsewhere.)

I’m hopeful that the book will be named the winner during Origins this year, but even if not, I’m still humbled by the nomination. In this line of work, accolades are difficult to find outside of the various fanbases. To be recognized for all of the sweat, stress, and near-endless revisions is pretty epic, in all honesty.

Now, if you’re going to Origins, make sure you vote for my book! Origins attendees will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite game, accessory, or book in each category. Each attendee is limited to one voting ballot. The Academy Chair and Secretary will tally votes at the end of each day and will show the leaders on the Origins Award Leader Board. Voting will end at noon on Saturday, June 2, with the winners announced that evening at the Origins Award ceremony.

 

 

Reaving Raving – Ask the Author

So the book’s been “out” for a week now and I know many have already devoured it from cover to cover. (When I say “out” I mean that the PDF is available for public sale; the print copy’s GenCon run was 240, of which only 28 survived the GenCon hordes. The book hits store shelves sometime after Labor Day – but don’t hold me to that. CGL reserves the right to override my pathetic attempts at guessing street dates.)

I’d like to give the chance to those who’ve read the book (or who can’t wait and instead consume spoilers) to ask me questions. You can be as pointed or as specific as you’d like; I’ll answer to the best that I can *without* breaking NDA. I normally don’t do this, but I had a lot of guys come up to me at the convention wanting to ask questions but I couldn’t really discuss the book due to the crazy-busyness that surrounded the booth. There’s a lot of answers I can now give about the story process that won’t “spoil” anything, and I’d like to share. But I need you, dear reader, to initiate the discussion.

And So It Begins…

Go forth and enjoy.

See you at GenCon or, failing that, on the battlefield of the future.

The Road to Reaving – Part X

"Spearing the enemy"; photo by Peter Wort

It’s been quite a journey, hasn’t it? The story’s not over, however. Read on for what lay ahead on the Reaving road.

The Road to Reaving – Part IX

BOOM!; photo by Mark Maestas

As promised, another installment. You can catch up in the usual place; today we’ll look at layout ideas and beyond after a brief interlude.

Road to Reaving – Frequently Asked Questions

Partial of TOA Chapter art

As promised, answers (of a sort) to the questions everyone posted over the last several days. The blog will continue apace as well with another posting tomorrow.

And now…answers to your questions!