THE TAKEOUT MENU #003

THE TAKEOUT MENU: Flyaway Missives from T Bone's Games Diner
#003, March 11 2007

Spring tidings! It's Issue 003, and isn't your mailbox just *bursting* with excitement? The last issue was over two months ago; I've been waiting until I actually have things to announce. (And you'll notice I optimistically label issues with numbers like "003", as if I'll be needing a full three digits any time now. When, in fact, a hypothetical Issue 100 will likely be mailed from the gaming room of my nursing home.)

===SITE NEWS===

Oh yes, there is some:

1) Improved text input

Commenting and forums should now be less painful for many of you, as I have the pokey javascript text editor turned off by default. There are still very simple editing tools available: just click "enable WYSIWG" below the input field.

But when functionality improves in one spot, backlash occurs in another:

2) New-ish poll

"Would you buy Games Diner content - updated, fortified, spiffed-up - as SJ Games e23 download products?" I got mostly positive votes of "yes", with a fair sprinkling of "only if necessary". But I closed the poll as, alas, it seems to be malfunctioning at present, showing neither a voting method nor past results. (There's always *something* wrong, sigh...) Will trouble-shoot and make results available.

3) Forums

There's a little new action in the forums. Check the "New forum topics" sidebar to the left of the page below:

http://www.gamesdiner.com/forum

4) Old request for weapon data

Although I had some spirited past email discussions on the topic, there hasn't been much response to a call for weapon data for Project T. And for my lazy part, I've not yet put the combat rules through proper tests yet either.

So I sheepishly have nothing new to add today, and will just note: if you missed the request last time and might have an interest, please see the forum post below. 

http://www.gamesdiner.com/forum/calling_weapon_dat

5) User logins

Answering a request some of you had: I'm ready for real user registration and login. Chief benefits will include the ability to edit your own comments, and manage subscriptions (newsletter, threads, etc.). Thats not too exciting, but there's plenty of leeway to place more Powers and Advantages at users' feet in the future. 

I'm definitely not announcing this feature widely yet; I'd like you daredevil subscribers to be the first to know. Should you accept this mission, head to the URL below. Registration will entail the standard confirmation by email. I've done my checking and don't see big flaws in the system at present, but if you do uncover bugs, oddities, and/or security flaws that put all my content at the mercy of ne'er-do-wells, please send me a line quickly. (One oddity: you can enter a Google AdSense ID into your personal info, but it shouldn't have any effect for you - sorry!)

http://www.gamesdiner.com/user 

===NEW CONTENT===

Well, semi-new, maybe.

1) FEND for 3e 

I brought the old FEND rules (rolling defenses against full combat skill, just as with any other use of skills) into the site, as part of an experiment with an automated system for sucking in old GURPS Diner content. (Result: Might work for one content item at a time, but not big batches.)

It's old but still an interesting read, and it wouldn't be hard at all to bring it up to 4e compatibility. But as with all the other combat-oriented works on the site, I'm waiting for Martial Arts for 4e before tackling upgrades. 

http://www.gamesdiner.com/fend_3e

2) Edge Protection: Armor Enhancement for GURPS

More old content, but this time with an update. The "EP" concept for handling armor flexibility gets a fair amount of play in the SJG forums, and I don't think Martial Arts is going to turn armor rules upside-down on us, so I've gone ahead and made a draft 4e update. Your critique is much sought after.

http://www.gamesdiner.com/ep

3) FAQ

Mostly old GURPS Diner and GULLIVER FAQ items, refried and served as a new page. I'll keep adding to it as questions get frequently asked.  

http://www.gamesdiner.com/faq

Finally, the new content that's probably the most interesting:

===GULLIVER Mini Draft v0.1===   

Yep, I finally got around to buying Bio-Tech and Fantasy, to see what they have to say about odd-sized critters. With that info under my belt, I wrote up the first draft of a mini (one-page) or mini mini (half-page) overview of the topic. (A question: Other than the above two books and Basic Set, are there any other published 4e rules for odd-sized stuff?)  

The draft is available on the site for anyone who seeks it, but for now the only announcement is via this newsletter. Valiant subscribers, please take first crack at critiquing the draft, and leave your comments in the thread.

http://www.gamesdiner.com/forum/core_creature_scal#comment-188

===FINAL NOTES===

This newsletter itself appears online: http://www.gamesdiner.com/takeout_menu_003 . Comments left on that page are appreciated.
  
Next missive: It'll ship... uh, next time. I expect the GULLIVER Mini project and the armor rules draft will have moved ahead nicely by then.

Thanks always for the input and support -

T Bone
tbone@gamesdiner.com
Visit the once-again NEW T Bone's Games Diner!
http://www.gamesdiner.com