In Which The Warlock Breathes Deep...

Friends and neighbors, despite my earlier post, I knew full well what I was getting into this fall.  Mind you, that doesn't make any of it any easier, but knowing that you're walking into a trap does give one an advantage.

My students' final hurdle before
their holiday break!

However, here at the end of 2012, things are finally starting to clear up.  My online professional development classes finished out around the 10th.  My holiday break from Northmont started today, after I subjected my 'weasels' to my annual holiday tradition--a viewing of the absolutely abysmal He-Man/She-Ra Christmas Special.  And, I'm almost entirely caught up with grading.

So what does all this mean?  Well, it means that I'm ready for the final sprint in the Cold Steel Wardens Kickstarter.  We're just a hair below 50%, with 12 days to go.  We weathered the "lull" section relatively intact, but it's still going to require a strong push over the holidays in order to meet our funding goal.

I had hoped to stave off the "lull" via two strategies:  the reveal of our publisher, Chronicle City, and through what I called the "Warden's Bounty" system.  However, what I'm finding is that neither piece of news was really effective in bringing in new pledges.   Nothing against the crew at CC--they've been spectacular--but even though awareness seems to be up regarding CSW, that hasn't proved to put any dollars in the proverbial bank.

The Warden's Bounty system was my attempt to mobilize my "base", spreading CSW virally.  The basic concept was simple--convince one person to pledge, and you could "claim bounty" on them, earning a free set of tokens for your Hero Pool.  Convince 5, and I would automatically bump the bounty-hunter's reward level to the next tier, at no additional cost.  While this would require some extra recordkeeping on my part, which I was prepared to accept, I still have yet to actually have a backer claim bounty on another!  While I have no doubts that this method could be effective, it just hasn't been for us.

That said, we fight on!  The last sprint-to-the-end makes up a good deal of every Kickstarter's funding, so I still fully believe we can make it!  If you haven't pledged today, we could really use your support!  And don't forget that you can still take advantage of that "Warden's Bounty" program--be the first to claim your bounty today!

Oh!  One more thing!  I recently was interviewed by the Farsight Blogger about my work on CSW and in the gaming world in general.  Take a look:  Farsight Blogger Interview--Andy Klosky!

In Which The Warlock Says, "But Wait, There's More!"

For Immediate Release:  December 14th, 2012

Blackfall Press, LLC announces tentative partnership with Chronicle city for new tabletop RPG

Cold Steel Wardens: Roleplaying in the Iron Age of Comics currently in development

Englewood, OH, December 14, 2012– Blackfall Press, LLC has reached a tentative agreement with UK publishing company Chronicle City to produce Blackfall Press’s flagship roleplaying game:  Cold Steel Wardens: Roleplaying in the Iron Age of Comics.  This agreement is pending the results of the Cold Steel Wardens crowd-funding drive, which is active on Kickstarter until January 2^nd, 2013.

“Working as a print/publisher partner with Chronicle City enables us to put forward a fantastic initial product with great distribution channels.  Angus Abranson was one of my first points of contact as a freelance RPG writer, and it’s an absolute thrill to work with him on my first solo game,” said A.P. Klosky, the owner of Blackfall Press, LLC and the creator of Cold Steel Wardens. 

Cold Steel Wardens: Roleplaying in the Iron Age of Comics emulates such classic comic book storylines as Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil: Born Again and countless others.  Using a new game system—the MAFIANAP mechanics—Cold Steel Wardens brings the thrill of street-level superheroes and their moral struggles to the game table.

“I’ve known Andy for some time, and have always been impressed with the work he has done for me in the past, so when he mentioned he was planning his own game – and a superhero one to boot (one of my favourite genres) – I was more than happy to talk to him about teaming up. Cold Steel Wardens has a lot of potential and I’m looking forward to exploring those dark streets with him,” said Angus Abranson, owner of Chronicle City.

Blackfall Press, LLC is a new producer of tabletop roleplaying games located in Englewood, OH.  Cold Steel Wardens: Roleplaying in the Iron Age of Comics is their first wide-release game.  The Kickstarter drive for Cold Steel Wardens can be found at the following address:  http://kck.st/V8ecTS

Chronicle City is a new British based games publisher set up by Angus Abranson (ex-Cubicle 7; Leisure Games). Chronicle City are working with a number of companies and designers to publish their games, as well as designing their own roleplaying, card and board games.

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If you would like more information about Blackfall Press, LLC or Cold Steel Wardens: Roleplaying in the Iron Age of Comics, please contact A.P. Klosky at  apklosky@gmail.com or visit the Blackfall Press, LLC Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/blackfallpressllc

You can find out more information about Chronicle City, and their games, at www.chroniclecity.co.uk or follow them on Twitter @Chronicle_City, Facebook http://www.facebook.com/chroniclecity, Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/113799205206829853668 or by emailing angus@chroniclecity.com