Mad Brew’s New Avatar & Other Creativeness

Before my days as a programmer, or as a ground pounder for that matter (which seems like a different lifetime), I was an aspiring sequential artist and illustrator.  I used to draw all the time, but the days of emulating my heroes of the four color world has passed.  Now I find some skills I used to take for granted have slipped and it takes me a while to get back into the groove, and even once I’m there, it seems like my vision far outpaces my execution.

Mad Brew’s Avatar

But alas, enough lamenting my poor abilities.  I have been kicking around some rough ideas for a new avatar for the site, something to brighten up my banner.  I finally decided on one of my roughs, so I scanned it in and began inking it up and I wanted to show what I have.  I tried to keep the lines simple and clean (like the the site) but still bring some edge and grit in attitude.

I plan on doing some simple color, but with some cool lighting effects emanating from the item ol’ Mad Brew is grasping (a philosopher’s d20?).  I haven’t decided if I will “pog” the avatar’s head to be my gravatar or if I will go with a more stylized (and cleaner) version of my current flask design.

Game Table Update

I am also making progress on the design of my dream gaming table.  I’ve went through about five preliminary sketches, before settling on this one.  I was at work when I doodled this one up, and only had pens (and dry erase markers) at my disposal.  So the drawing may not be too clear.

The idea is that there are two levels within the table itself, the bottom being comprised of wood and is the actual bottom of the table.  This level would probably be inscribed with a grid of 1″ squares.  About 6 inches above the bottom level would be a ledge where two lexan panels would sit, providing the second layer.  I envision having several interchangeable panels with different grids (1″ hex, 1″ square, 1.5″ square) transfixed under the playing surface.  This lexan surface would be 1-2 inches from the top of the table.  The third layer would actually be an insert that would sit flush with the top of the sides of the table.

The idea would be to have some bad-ass image carved into the center using something like the CompuCarve.  Otherwise this would just be an ordinary table surface to play card and boardgames on.  I don’t forsee the need for a bunch of drawers (like on the Sultan), just large workspaces and book storage.  I have decided to do a 3D animation of the table using Maya 2008 (before I actually CAD it up), and here are some screenshots of the WIP.

Digital Tools

So I have a few crude tools that I had created for personal use, but I was thinking about re-designing them from the ground up and putting a slick interface on them (I just got Microsoft’s Expression Studio) and providing them to the community for free.  But I find myself wondering if there is really a need for another digital tool.  I don’t think I’d be doing anything new, but it gives me an excuse to fine tune my programming skills with something that interests me.  These of course would be for D&D (3.5 or 4e, or both depending on what I think I will be playing more of).  However, I have thought about doing Storytelling System versions.

Here are some things I was thinking about creating:

• Creature Crucible: Updatable creature catalog, monster creator, encounter builder, xp calculator
• Campaign Chronicler: Helps with the task of world building, adventure creation, and documentation
• Character Forge: Character generator & play log
• Game Nexus VTT: A virtual table top with dice and chat functions

This is really just a pipe dream, as I might get knee deep in one of these and hit the proverbial wall and give up, but I would like to at least attempt one or two.  I have [very] rough versions of the Creature Crucible and Campaign Chronicler already, that I use just for myself, but are limited and buggy.

What would be nice is to develop each one with the other in mind, as a suite of tools.  Create an XML schema that each one shares so information can be passed freely between the programs.  For example, you can import encounters or creatures created with the Creature Crucible into Game Nexus to run an online adventure, then export the game log to the Campaign Chronicler for inclusion into the campaign’s game notes.  Eh, we’ll see how motivated I am after I finish the few projects I already have started.

Listening to: Powerman 5000 – Tonight the Stars Revolt -When Worlds Collide

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Game Room: Gaming Table

This is most likely old news, as I know several blogs covered The Sutlan Game Table: The Ultimate Gaming Aide from Geek Chic that garnered its fair share of attention during GenCon.  I saw it, inspected it, and daydreamed about it.  The table on display at GenCon  was certainly a piece of fine craftsmanship and someone did their homework on what would make a good design.

The caveat? Well, its pricetag.  The Sultan would most likely be the most expensive piece of furniture I would I ever own as it costs $9,650!  I am sure this baby does indeed cost a fortune in materials (I’d approximate $1,500 – $2000) and of course the time and effort to craft by hand.

So I am not knocking the price they are asking.  I may be a hardcore geek, but I am also the consumate do-it-yourselfer.  I am my own mechanic (just re-installed a rebuilt transmission, new clutch, and a lightened flywheel in my Eclipse), my own handyman (repaired a hole in my drywall last week), and soon to be carpenter (if I can convince the wifey to let me spend the money on materials).

The Game Room

This is actually part of a few articles about what I “would like to do” with one of the bonus rooms in my house.  One of the rooms is above my two-car garage, but since it lies in what used to be an attic, it is probably about half the width of the garage, but still have plenty of room.  I have the measurements written down in my notebook, which I seem to have left at work.

I have few goals for my game room.  The first is having a kick-ass table to play my games one.  Some other goals include shelving for all my books, a display case for miniatures, boardgame shelving, and tasteful decoration.  I actually thought about cladding the walls in faux dungeon stone… but that may be too much.

My Table

Before I had ever laid eyes upon The Sultan, I had done some research on what would make a killer game table.  Here is a list of features I wanted:

• Optimal Seating: 6 (the actual number of stations)
• Maximum Seating: 10 (the number you could cram)
• Built-in adjustable lighting (intensity & color)
• Gaming Layers: 3 (tiered layers within the table)
• Wet Erase Surfaces (Plexiglass)
• 1″ Hex , 1″ Square, & 1.5″ Square grids
• Private Messaging (IMFree?)
• Digital Map Projection
• Player Stations/Storage

So I have some general specifications, but to really be able to build this table I think I’ll need to mock up the footprint of a table that will fit comfortably in my bonus room and allow for traffic behind seated players.  Then I’ll want to take those dimensions and use them as the maximum tolerance on the width & length of the table as I model it in AutoCAD.  This way I can solve engineering dilemas and actually create the bill of materials to know exactly how much it would cost (assuming I cut everything right the first time!).

I’ll keep you posted as the CAD drawing develops.  As an aside, CAD is nothing new for me.  I actually made a living doing 3D modeling and drafting for an Aerospace company (we had contracts with GM, Rolls-Royce, and Boeing) while I was going to college and before I became a programmer.

Research Notes

• Pen, Paper, & Pixel – A game table that uses a projector
• The Avenger Game Table – Clean, well designed game table w/ instant messaging
• Agrys’ Game Table – An insane looking table that uses orbs and tube for passing notes
• The Sultan – For $10k this drool inducing table could be yours
• Projection Table Plans – Simple plans for projecting from beneath a table
• Motorola IMFree – Handheld wireless messaging
• Acer Projector – Though I’d probably shop around eBay first, this is cheap

Listening to: Abney Park – Lost Horizons – Airship Pirates

gamingD&Dd20rpgroleplayingdungeons and dragonsworld of darkness