Life, and other distractions

It's been a while. I've been mostly dormant on the 18IA front, have played with assembling 1800 from files on BGG, and also investigated https://github.com/clearclaw/xxpaper which is a way of assembling sharp-looking shares and certificates for 18xx titles.

18OE: The O is for "Oh My God, It's Enormous!"

Wow, take a look at these pictures from 18OE(Orient Express).

Reportedly takes something like 16 hours to play, with people who know what they're doing. Has 18 major railroads.

I am considering doing something similar with track points in 18IA, to speed up the first couple of operating rounds.

Blank gameboards and boxes on the way from Tim Harrison at Games On The Brain

Yay, moving forward in creating good-looking prototypes/test types.

Tile check

Showed one of my new tile designs to 3 of the 18xx'ers at Kevin Nunn's Lone Star convention, and got some interested looks. I am definitely doing something that hasn't been done before.

I also have some blank gameboards on the way from Tim Harrison of Games On The Brain.

(I'm Notte Deade.)

Still working on any number of things.

Owlcon 2011 slots registered

I'll be at OwlCon on Saturday, January 29, 2011, with another 18IA proto.

Current design is examining the following questions:
1. what if minor railroads had already left some track around (which they did, historically).
2. what if rail technology allowed companies to build more sophisticated tracks faster (which they did, historically).
3. can back-room dealings and special powers still come out mid-game and not derail, heh heh, the proceedings?
4. what if train purchases also followed supply and demand?

I inspired someone (also I am still alive)

Very neat. Dave Berry is working (and blogging) on an 18xx game titled "Britain Under Steam." Looks like he's got a lot of interesting blog posts up already, including some provocative thoughts on speeding play of his game.

18IA appearing at OwlCon at Rice University

Running playtesting at OwlCon in a few weeks, just a post to let you know I am not deceased.