2009-06-29 :: Back from Origins - 06-29-09
Back from Origins. Definitely exhausted, but what a great turnout. We had lots of people in our games and lots of great talks with the people who played. A con report will be put together soon.
2009-06-24 :: And awaaaaay we go. Off to Origins! - 06-24-09
And awaaaaay we go. Off to Origins today. All of our games are in Franklin, so stop in there, we're running almost all the time. Check us out. If you can't get into a game at one of the scheduled times, we'll probably run you a pickup game.
2009-06-12 :: Downloads Updates, Quick Start Updates - 06-19-09
Every year con season comes around, and every year things on the SVG website get lots of updates. Check out the downloads section and the quick start guides section. There are new character sheets, a new character creation guide and new stuff in the page 11 arena. So check it out and get yourself ready for Silvervine Gaming at Origins!
2009-06-08 :: Origins, Amazon, Playtesting Book - 06-08-09
It has, to say the least, been a busy time at Silvervine central. Prep work has been ongoing for Origins 2009, and part of that prep work has been the BIG PUSH: our effort to get design implemented for 75% of the book. 6 days ago I said that the BIG PUSH was pretty well done. Today, I announce that there is a new playtesters book (9.181) on the page 11 website. (Don't know about the page11 site? Email me:
Send an email to John
and we might make you a playtester.)
Not only is this a new playtesting book, it is the final playtesting book. Last one before the book is released. What does it contain you ask?
- Chapters 1 - 5, completed and in the design. Fully done (barring a few tweaks).
- Chapter 6 - The World of Cyrus exists as a rough outline. Final writing and tweaking is being done on this.
- Chapter 7 - Magic In Cyrus - Completed. Awaiting final editing.
- Chapter 8 - Enemies & Creatures - Completed. Awaiting final editing.
So that means that over 75% of the book is completely done, 15% is just awaiting editing and design implementation and 10% is undergoing its final writing as we speak.
This is good, because the Beta version of the book has been listed on Amazon.com. This is part of a trial through LULU, but the book is up on Amazon right now. This is currently the older version, but we'll be working with lulu to get it updated to the current version soon.
In the works:
- Redesigned Character Sheet
- Redesigned Cyrus Website
- The Player Picture Project
2009-06-02 :: Big Push, Pretty Well Pushed - 06-02-09
Since we are nearing completion of the Silvervine Core Rulebook and Cyrus Worldbook, we wanted to make a big push to have a lot of it done and printed before this years origins. We've always had playtesting books for each convention season, but never like this. Of the 8 chapters in the book, 5 are now final and complete, 2 only need editing and a final look-over (in-progress) and only 1 still needs some writing done.
So, for everyone joining in our games at Origins, prepare to see some awesomeness at the table.
-JA-
2009-05-19 :: Site Tweaks Ongoing - 05-19-2009
Couple of site tweaks going into effect today. More to come.
2009-05-12 :: Origins Information & Small Site Tweaks - 05-12-2009
You've probably already noticed that the site is looking a little cleaner and nicer. We did a few site tweaks today. Nothing major, just some layout improvements and necessary changes. It's just a taste of what's to come over the summer.
Origins Information
In other, more exciting, news, Origins registration is live and our events are up. Here is the link to our Origins page
http://www.silvervinegames.com/Svg/Origins2009
Origins Registration Page
and . . . here are the events that we'll be running.
| Event #
| Event Name
| Event Start Date/Time
| Description
|
| 6282
| Silvervine CC and Intro Game
| THU 10:00 AM - 2 Hours
| Armored Mage, Ninja Paladin, Suave Orc Spy? Try Silvervine's unlimited character creation and an intro game. Then use your character in our other games. Silvervine offers unlimited character creation options with a straightforward point buy system. Thematic elements allow you to customize even further. Your armor looks however you want it to, your spells have whatever effects you describe. Dice rolls determine the success of an action, while Cinematic and Shared Narrative determines what actually happens. The game is shaped by the player's descriptions of their incredible actions as much as it is by the Game Master. Unchain your character with Silvervine.
|
| 6294
| Down in The Dumps
| THU 12:00 PM - 4 Hours
| It's hell being an aide to a diplomat with a particular problem … Sometimes the cleanup requires more diplomacy, or moxie, than the negotiations.
|
| 6404
| To the Heart of the Matter
| THU 2:00 PM - 4 Hours
| Anacandra, where necromancy is legal, is not a nice city. Infiltrate a noble's estate, kill a beating heart, prevent zombie war. Fantasy/Noir themes. Silvervine offers unlimited character creation options with a straightforward point buy system. Thematic elements allow you to customize even further. Your armor looks however you want it to, your spells have whatever effects you describe. Dice rolls determine the success of an action, while Cinematic and Shared Narrative determines what actually happens. The game is shaped by the player's descriptions of their incredible actions as much as it is by the Game Master. Unchain your character with Silvervine.
|
| 6700
| Silvervine CC and Intro Game
| FRI 10:00 AM - 2 Hours
| Armored Mage, Ninja Paladin, Suave Orc Spy? Try Silvervine's unlimited character creation and an intro game. Then use your character in our other games. Silvervine offers unlimited character creation options with a straightforward point buy system. Thematic elements allow you to customize even further. Your armor looks however you want it to, your spells have whatever effects you describe. Dice rolls determine the success of an action, while Cinematic and Shared Narrative determines what actually happens. The game is shaped by the player's descriptions of their incredible actions as much as it is by the Game Master. Unchain your character with Silvervine.
|
| 6716
| Aesop's Failings
| FRI 12:00 PM - 4 Hours
| Rabbit or Turtle? Who will win. Depends on who you are hired to sabotage. Encounter countless fairytale misfits. Do your best to get paid. Anime/Fantasy/Steampunk setting.
|
| 7096
| Silvervine CC and Intro Game
| SAT 10:00 AM - 2 Hours
| Armored Mage, Ninja Paladin, Suave Orc Spy? Try Silvervine's unlimited character creation and an intro game. Then use your character in our other games. Silvervine offers unlimited character creation options with a straightforward point buy system. Thematic elements allow you to customize even further. Your armor looks however you want it to, your spells have whatever effects you describe. Dice rolls determine the success of an action, while Cinematic and Shared Narrative determines what actually happens. The game is shaped by the player's descriptions of their incredible actions as much as it is by the Game Master. Unchain your character with Silvervine.
|
| 7121
| Trouble With Troubadours
| SAT 12:00 PM - 4 Hours
| Seeing to the needs of a famous minstrel is exhausting. Craft services, groupies, insane demands. No wonder the position pays so well. Keep the minstrel happy until the final gig. You'll never know what new demand comes next, what exotic food is requested immediately or which one of the redheads he pointed to in the crowd. In the end, the biggest threat to the troubadour might be you.
|
| 7191
| Cruelest Joke of All
| SAT 2:00 PM - 4 Hours
| You've made it behind the castle walls seeking shelter for the night, but find yourself mystically unable to leave. Which resident holds the key to escape? Meet the strange, yet peaceful, castle denizens and try to find who holds the key to the barrier, and avoid your captor's sense of humor in the process. Combat won't help you overcome these secrets. You can check in anytime you like . . . Anime/Fantasy/Steampunk setting with a focus on roleplaying and mystery.
|
| 7215
| Assault of the Undead
| SAT 4:00 PM - 4 Hours
| Starreach is overrun by the undead. Avoid infection and decimate zombie hordes using Silvervine's cinematic and simple Heroes in Mass Combat system. Evoking the feel of incredible warriors plowing through fields of enemies, the Heroes in Mass Combat system takes the Cinematic effects of Silvervine one step farther. Each level of damage that would normally be assigned in combat destroys one enemy instead. Shared Narrative lets the player describe how incredibly they just took out 7 with 1 blow. Check out Heroes in Mass combat, and Unchain your character with Silvervine.
|
| 7467
| Pimp My Siege Suit
| SUN 10:00 AM - 4 Hours
| With the damaged dwarven mecha secured and being repaired it is up to the players to find a new way to turn the tide of battle. Luckily an auction house dealing in magical items is located nearby. Talk of ancient mechanical weapons abounds in the town, but how to get into the auction. If you can get in, how do you make sure you get the weapon before nobles, airship pirates or annoying tech mages do? A highly player driven, anything goes adventure. Quick and easy d10 mechanics coupled with player driven thematics, cinematics and shared narrative allow for fast and fun play.
|
2009-05-07 :: Freshly Drawn Map - 05-07-2009
Two of our excellent artists, Rochelle Simpson and Sam Dolan have just finished up the re-draw of the Cyrus Map. It's a great sight better than the frankenstein's monster version that Matt and I have cobbled together. You'll be seeing this map in our next convention appearances (Origins and Gencon), and in the final version of the playtesting book.
(Warning: Map is relatively large, by web standards. 4+ Megabytes.)
2009-04-26 :: Simplified Magic System, The Big Push - Chapters 1 - 5 done by Origins - 04-26-2009
To keep the news page from being blank, here is a little development news.
1. Magic Simplification - In an effort to simplify some of the sub systems, we've just completed a re-write of the wording of the magic system. It's gone from 20 some pages, to 3 pages for the rules and 12 pages for the paths of magic and flavor material. Not too shabby.
2. We've got a deadline of having chapters 1 through 5 of the core rulebook done by the time we print our playtesting books for Origins. That means all the chapters that have to do with rules will be completed. The Intro, Rules, Character Creation, Combat and Optional Rules/Subsystems will be completely done and printed. That just leaves the Cyrus worldbook section, magic and enemies. Magic is being edited right now, enemies needs editing and the Cyrus Worldbook is in process of writing.
Since I'm so bad about keeping to major deadlines, I won't set any, but the big push to finish the Core Rulebook is underdway.
- J.A. -
2009-04-03 :: New Simplified Archai Chart - 04-03-2009
I'd refrained from posting this bit of news until after our April Fool's Day post, because to a lot of playtesters it will seem like an April Fool's Day joke. We've re-vamped the Archai chart and made large elements of it mostly optional. Matt and I were talking about the various reasonings behind the Archai Chart and how it fit into the world. Matt suggested simplifying the process, and Ed, Matt and I set about making it all work. The major changes are these:
1. During character creation you make a single d10 roll to determine your Archai and elemental attunement.
2. The Archai chart itself is now merged with the Blessings of the Archai focus, and players will not roll on the chart unless they purchase the focus.
3. The actual method of rolling has been simplified and is now much more dependent on the Archai that you are born under.
All in all it makes it a more world-specific thing, and separates the elements in a way that gives them more meaning. If you'd like to take a look at one of the proofing copies, click below.
Note: This is a proofing copy and is not final by any means.
2009-04-01 :: Goodbye Shared Narrative! - 04-01-2009
Been a while since we've posted some news. Mostly because we are still working on Silvervine, the Anime and dealing with negotiations with Gainax. To fill the gap we're going to post some of the changes we are working on with the system.
- Silvervine will only be able to be played around a Hibachi table, with the hot surface turned on.
- Shared narrative, cinematics, thematics and unlimited character creation have been replaced by a single die roll to determine which one of the 8 pre-defined characters your players will use.
- All pre-defined characters are Ronsha.
- All pre-defined characters are zombies.
- All art will be done by this guy.
- A grade of at least 87 in a Calculus II class will be required to GM Silvervine.
- Players will need at least an Algebra I class. '
- Real news will likely be posted tomorrow, and that is probably the biggest joke of them all :).
2009-03-04 :: GMs Day 2009 - 03-04-2009
Happy GM's Day 2009! Over at Gnome Stew, where I do my non-silvervine writing, we're doing a GM's Day article blitz and an awesome contest to win metal dice. So check it out and uncover my secret gnomish life.
-J.A.-
2009-02-23 :: Facebook Fully Up and Running - 02-23-2009
After a little bit of work, we have everything up and running with Facebook. We have a group and a page, so please search for the page, as the group should be disabled shortly.
Also coming soon: Cyrus Adventure Journals. Stay tuned.
-Ed Pantaleano
2009-02-10 :: Silvervine On Facebook and Myspace - Origins and Gencon Information Coming - 02-10-09
I've know about this for a while, but I haven't had the time to post it here. Brian Johnson has created a Facebook Group of Silvervine, which is completely awesome. As of now there are a few things up there. He's posted links to the Interview that Robot Martini did with us, our Con On The Cob photos and a few other things. So if you've got facebook, go check it out!
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Silvervine-Games/38182248031?ref=ts
Aside from our facebook news, we've been busy planning out our convention season. Our origins games are submitted, and we'll probably be running some pickup games at Gencon this year.
I'll post some more news and a sample of our new Cyrus world map next week.
- J.A. -
2009-01-01 :: Silvervine In the New Year 2009 - 01-01-09
I'm not steampunk, I'm just drawn that way . . .
2008 had it's ups and downs, 2009 will hopefully be all ups.
What 2008 brought:
- An incredible showing at Origins brought us some new fans and some great new friends, as well as strengthening ties with some others.
- We journeyed to Gencon in a non-professional capacity, but ended up running impromptu games for a few people.
- We gained a new artist and changed some of the direction the art was taking. Almost all of Silvervine's art needs for the main book have been filled, so final steps on editing and design are all that is left.
- We brought a new editor on-board and are getting the final editing completed.
- The end of 2008 brought lots of issues and brought Silvervine production to a near halt. Some family death's, health issues and insane day-job requirements kept production crawling.
What 2009 is going to bring:
- While 2008 was hectic we made some great headway on the project. Not as much as we would like, but we bridged some major gaps. 2009 should bring much more headway.
- The site redesign and upgrades went about half-way through and then got stalled. With some free time and luck the site will hopefully get some nice graphical overhauls while retaining the ability to hold lots of information.
- An extermination agency taht specializes in tpyo demons has been hired. Hopefully they'll be here soon.
- With hard work, perseverance and a little bit of divine aid/luck the Core Rulebook with Cyrus will be finished and out in 2009. We're 90% of the way there, we just have to make that final push!
