Trick or Treat!
Hehehehehe (madly fading laughter), it is time again. HALLOWEEN 2006 is there and even it is not so traditionally in Germany, we come to celebrate this hype in the last years too. Unfortunately we missed to get our legendary Halloween-Party running this year again. It’s the second time, we know that , but we promise to make it better next year. For this year we are attending to a scary party at one of our friends this eve. Unfortunately one of the biggest cemetaries in our town isn’t that far away from the party. Hope the zombies and ghosts have their own party there and that they won’t run out of beer and cola… hope we won’t either… *eg*
okay, I am up to some heavy issues lately, which need to have my full attention. I will keep you in touch. In the meanwhile, enjoy Halloween (or not if you don’t like it) and stay smart.
Ah and yes, for everyone who doesn’t know: there is the possibility to leave a comment on each blog entry here. You will find a little “link” at the bottom right in every blog entry. Just tell me what you think about my blog. I love constructional criticism (grrrrr) 
- Location: The Kobold’s Den (Home)
- Mood: more than busy andin scary mood
- Music: Smallville Season 3
What’s up next…
Well, the Spiel this year has definetely gone past now. I am relaxed, but I have much things to do. The last days I worked on some projects I l have laid beside for a while. One of those projects had to do with doing some little redesign on the DnD-Gate.de which was necessary though there will be some new features coming up in the near future. Here is just a sneak peek at the over-worked design I’ve done so far.
Then I am again deep into painting miniatures. I got some good ones on the game fair and now they are waiting to be painted. Especially the bases I got from a company called Microartstudio. The guys are from poland and they do a really good jobon creating excellent and unique bases. I also bought some miniatures from Warmachine (Privateer Press), Freebooter Miniatures and Fenryll, which all have really cool series with formidable crafted miniatures.
One of the best miniature I got this year, was actually a present from my ProFantasy-booth “boss” Ralf. It is a “Tauren Hunter” for the “World of Warcraft Boardgame” which is made of bronze. Woooah, the Tauren is a really impressive one, though all these special edition bronze minaitures for WoWBg are pretty good made. Also I think the bronze look is nice, it lacks colors and I decided to paint this miniature in some pretty colors, soon.
I surely will post some pictures as soon as I got some miniatures ready, so you can have a look.
What’s up more?
Well, this evening we will go out for having arabian style dinner with some of our best friends. It was a birthday present from us to Angela, my best friends wife and we are looking forward to this eve. I surely will eat nothing until dinner 
Okay I have to do some stuff now.
See ya…
- Location: The Kobold’s Den (Home)
- Mood: busy
- Music: Smallville Season 2
Spiel 2006 – Afterwords
The “Spiel 2006” in Essen is over now and I must admit it was another great experience for me. Similar to the last six years most of the time I helped Ralf from ProFantasy Software at the company’s booth and it was again a time of fun. I enjoyed seeing Ralf and Thorsten, as well talking an joking with them, again.
But this year was a year of highlights since luckily a online friend of mine, Alex Otterlei from AO Music and his friend and helping hand Karel came over from Belgium this year to have their own booth on the “Spiel”. Funny thing is they got the booth right next to our booth, so I had plenty of conversations with Alex and Karel – the latter really talked me into trying Star Wars Galaxies soon. On Saturday and Sunday Alex had a special guest: Rhianna Pratchett, the daughter of the famous author Terry Pratchett and all three had dinner in the Wolperding with us at Saturday eve. All three are really friendly and wonderful persons and I am really happy to have met them. Thank you for that, and thank you Alex and Rhianna for the wonderful CD and book, as well as the funny signing of it.
I must admit, there was another highlight; a real celestial one for me.
Larry Elmore, famous fantasy artist for a long, long time now, was attending to the game fair this year again. Mr. Elmore is one of my favourite artists since the original release of the Dragonlance Chronicles way back in the 80’s for which he drew the artwork. Larry’s artwork really showed what I saw in my own imagination, when I read the Dragonlance and because of this his work has a special place in my heart since this time. No wonder I was excited to see him on the “Spiel” again – excited as I have been always, when Larry came around to the “Spiel”.
Unfortunately Mr. Elmore didn’t do any personal sketches the last years. He stopped this some years ago and unluckily as I am, I never got a personal and unique illustration from him, since I missed the chance.
But this time I made my bet without my wonderful wife, who knows how much I honour the artwork of Larry. So she decided to ask him – behind my back – if he could do a sketch for me, since I am such a big and long time fan of his work. And what can I say: Larry did a sketch for me, though his translator (and the owner of the booth Larry attended to) wanted to interfere. Larry drawed me a sketch of an elf maiden and signed it personally for me.
Surely, when my wife Nicole came back to me, gave me the sketch and told me the story, I not only lost my capability to speak for some moments, but also I was near to tears. I just went over to Larry and thanked him personally about it and told him that I will be thankful forever. The illustration will get a place of honor not only in our apartment, but also in my heart – as well as Larry, too.
Thank you for this, Mr. Larry Elmore.
These were the two big events this year, but there were other people I am really glad about meeting them this year again. Next to the usual suspects, who housed themselves in our living room like a clan of kobolds – Tzelzix, Anne, Speren, Grey, Namo, Eoghan and Del – I was really happy to see my hated friend Mirko (Scurlock) and his beloved girlfriend Kerstin (Severina) again, who came down here to the Ruhrgebiet again, too.
I also was happy to see Funny-as-always-Holger (from F&S), Björn (from Hasbro) and Eva Widermann again and have a talk or two with them. I really enjoyed meeting Janet Sunjic (from Lausch Verlag) for the first time, since she is a really nice and friendly person plus Lausch does really excellent audiobooks. I will have to listen to their newest works “Drizzt 2” and “Schwarze Sonne 2” these days to write some reviews. I enjoyed meeting some other people, too, for example the people from Erdenstern and my contacts at Heidelberger Spieleverlag (Heiko) and Panini Comics (Steffen). Unfortunately Ed from Midnight Syndicate didn’t attend to the “Spiel” this year, though I had a short talk with his brother Brian, who told me that Ed was staying at home. I hope Ed is doing fine and will be there next year.
Then there were the users from the “DnD-Gate” and the “The Gate” (WoW guild) who came around and I really enjoyed meeting them too, though I didn’t had the time to talk to everyone for long. I remember talking to Quel’Thalas, Berandor, Arne, TexMex, Nailom, Lich, Ariadne, Shaz’Nahrad, Revas, Sword of Cyric, Alaak, Alatariel and a lot more. Sorry, I can’t remember everyone, my mind is getting old, but I know you were there.
Well, I think that is enough for this time. Be sure to check out some of the pictures I put online in the DnD-Gate gallery. You will find them if you click here..
By for now.
- Location: The Kobold’s Den (Home)
- Mood: freshed
- Music: Die Schwarze Sonne 2 an audiobook from LAUSCH
Spiel Essen 2006 – The 1st Day
Well the first day of the Spiel 2006 is finished and after a fine dinner made by my beloved wife, the one half of our guests who have yet arrived (the rest of the bunch will arrive tomorrow) are sitting in the living room. Four of us are typing on their notebooks (me included) while one is drunk on the couch watching NCIS.
The first day of the Spiel wasn’t so exciting. In fact there weren’t as much people as we suspected and not even the half of the masses which came on thursday in the last year. Well, the reason is evident: the school vacation have ended one week before as well as the break for students. I guess they all will invade the Spiel on saturday.
But one thing was pretty cool: meeting Alex Otterlei and his friend. Funny thing is that Alex has the booth directly next to the ProFantasy booth at which I am working (as I told before). We talked a lot today (since we had the time while not so much customers came around) and that was fun. I am looking forward to saturday evening, when Alex, his friend and his special guest – Rhianna Pratchett, who arrives tomorrow evening and will attend to the Spiel on saturday and sunday – will come along with us for having dinner at the Wolperding.
okay, that#s enough for today. More tomorrow eve… perhaps… perhaps not.
- Location: The Kobold’s Den (Home)
- Mood: real tired
- TV: nothing
My little Cthulhu…
*yeeeah*
My little Cthulhu is another great work from one of my favorite artists in the rpg business- – John Kovalic. I love that guys artwork, his Dork Tower comic and the work he does for the Munchkin Cardgame series as well. His drawings are freshening, simple but cool and especially funny.
I am reading John’s blog (http://muskrat-john.livejournal.com/) frequently for a long time now, and everybody who dies knows, that John is in as many projects as one can be at one time.
One of his actual project (besides the Munchkin Cthulhu cardgame which artwork is again fabolous and funny) is the My little Cthulhu figurine project. Doesn’t the little green Xulu creature on the right look lovely? I surely will get one of those as soon as they are out.
Well there are some other pictures avaible on John’s own blog. Watch them here: More pictures…
Ah and yes, here is the official website of the company who creates the figures: http://www.dreamlandtoyworks.com/
okay have fun
- Location: The Kobold’s Den (Home)
- Mood: usual sunday laziness
- TV: “City beneath the Sea” (movie 1971)
Painting Miniatures…
Hah, my first tries to paint miniatures were about 15 years ago, I guess (yes I am not that young anymore…*g*) and I never had the patience to get really deep into it, though the one or the other mini I painted wasn’t that bad… I believed…
But than came my girlfriend Nicole – now my wife – some two or three years back and searched for a new hobby. Well she always was good in handcrafts and painting and her first painted miniatures (the valkyres found here: Rigana’s Mini Gallery) were much better than everything I have done before – not to mention her later paintings…
But nevertheless I never gave up my hopes on this and I am still buying miniatures to paint from time to time. Some years ago (I believe it must be about 9 or 10 years now) – while I was deep into the mini thing – my best friends made me a special birthday present: a impressive and huge Ral Partha dragon made of tin who was called T’Char.
Until three days ago, I never finished painting the dragon though I tried several times and also often started anew from the very beginning. So I am now more than proud about my yet finished work, after so many years I’ve finally made it. I finished the famous T’Char… ah and yes, I painted the one or the other mini too in the last days I spend at home, while curing my operated foot.
Here are some pictures taken on a fast shot. Perhaps I will do some better in the future, but for now these must do as well.
Well, enough talking. I have to do some work for the RPG round this eve. Take care.
- Location: The Kobold’s Den (Home)
- Mood: motivated
- TV-Show: “Smallville” Season 1
Regenerating…
ah yes yes, I know you all are eager to read more of my boring blog. *g* so… here you go.
Well, my foot is getting better each day, but I can’t go to work yet since I am still not able to get into my mission-boots. So I am sitting here around on the couch, watching some good tv-shows and working at the notebook. There is still lot sof stuff to do. Some roleplaying stuff that is. Planning my characters, running, planning and designing the Eberron online round we are playing and such stuff. The work on that never ends I guess. Well on the other hand it is hobby and it is fun… at least almost… *g*
Other projects?
Yes, the mentioned before CC3 Living Greyhawk mapping project for the german LG triad is finished and the map is done. I will show the map soon.
Then there is the webshop thing for the DnD-Gate.de merchandising. This too, is going on with big steps and should be soon ready. We have chosen a printshop, which seems to be sutiable for our needs, though there are some positive and some negative things on it. But the positives are more frequent and we can surely live with the bad ones. I will keep you in touch on this too.
Okay, hmm what else to say?
ah yes, next week on thursday it is time for the Spiel 2006, the one and only game fair in Germany. *g* I am looking forward to meet all those freaks again – Ralf from ProFantasy (with whom I will work again), Holger and all the other guys from F&S, Ed (Midnight Syndicate), Björn (Hasbro), Eva (the amazinig artist) and all the others I got to know in the past few years. But there is one guy I am really eager to meet this year – Alex Otterlei from AO Music – with whom I wrote a lot of nonsense during the last year.
Our apartment will be more than full on this Spiel…. again. The dozens of people who will use our living room for sleeping will have to stack themselves I guess – and me? Well, I will take some ugly fotos in the early morning, I guess *eg*
okay, enough for this time again.
hope you enjoyed reading it.
- Location: The Kobold’s Den (Home)
- Mood: headached
- TV-Show: “The Shield” Season 2 (again…)
Wedding Marathon
*yawn*
this weekend is full with things to do. Today (saturday) we have two weddings we have to attend to.Thank god, that the first one was only a short one – just the official part at the wedding office. The second one will be in a city approximately 60 kilometres away – with church and all the crap. I only hope there will be much food and drinks 
Good thing about this is, that Tzelzix and his girlfriend are visiting us for this wedding and they will be staying until sunday, so we will have a good time I guess.
Then I am up to set things straight for a DnD-Gate T-Shirt Webshop, so everyone who likes can order some cool DnD-Gate merchandising stuff directly, without having to wait until I start the next T-Shirt action. Well I keep you in touch on this topic, I believe it will be finally set during the coming week.
okay I have to care for our guest and get ready for the wedding. (putting my Jogging-Dress on that is *g*)
bye for now
- Location: The Kobold’s Den (Home)
- Mood: lazy
- Music: Evanescence – Open Door [album]
Just…
Well,
I didn’t post for some time now, since I didn’t quite know what to write.
I am still sitting at home, healing my operated foot and working on the one or the other project.
Next to extensively running my online Eberron campaign (sorry it isn’t visible for the public though), which soes quite a few work, I almost finished up the official map for the german Living Greyhawk campaign in Campaign Cartographer 3. I am impressed what CC3 can do and how wonderful the maps look like. I will post a sample of the map soon (well, as soon as I am allowed to do so).
Well, next to this I am reading a bit in the “Tome of Battle: Book of nine Swords” one of the newer installments of WotC for the D&D game. This book adds some pretty cool martial techniques to the D&D game, just like those viewable in movies like Matrix, but not necessarily asian. The book is quite cool and I see forward to play one of those new classes, preferable the “crusader”.
Aside to this I was on a concert last thursday. We went to see Babylon Bombs (www.babylonbombs.net) and Hardcore Superstar (hardcoresuperstar.com) together in a small club concert. The gig was really great and the atmosphere was cool. I love this 80’s sleaze rock style both bands are doing.
Then I was eager to listen to the new “The Killers”-album called “Sam’s Town”. I loved the first album of this Las Vegasian rockband (Hot Fuss) and the new album is also pretty good. We will see them live in early november….
At last the Spiel 2006 in Essen comes nearer and nearer. I will be at the ProFantasy booth again this year… the same procedure than every year… and show the people my enormous intelect in using CC3 *coff coff* – well a hint: if you really like to see good work ask Ralf at the booth instead of me *g*
You will find the ProFantasy stand at Hall 6 booth 6-27
It hopefully will be the booth next to Alex Otterleis (AO Music) booth, a composer and friend of mine who comes from Belgium and who brings Rhianna Pratchett – daughter of Terry Pratchett – along with him on saturday and sundays
Well see you there
bye for now
- Location: The Kobold’s Den (Home)
- Mood: creative
- Music: The Killers – Sam’s Town (album)
