For those who haven't heard, Raven c.s. McCracken, author of The World of Synnibarr, recently lost everything to a house fire for the second time in his life.
The third edition of his game is up for sale here (http://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/149712/The-Ultimate-Adventurers-Guide), if anyone is interested in helping him out that way.
Also, he'll be in #rpgnet chat for a Q&A tomorrow, 5/21, at 8 p.m. CDT: http://tinyurl.com/rpgnetchat
Either way, he could use your thoughts, prayers, and support.
Raven might be nuttier than a fruitcake but that's just a damn shame :(
Quote from: thedungeondelver;832750Raven might be nuttier than a fruitcake but that's just a damn shame :(
I've gotten to know him online for the last year or so, and yeah, he's a nutty guy, but in the best possible way. I'm glad to have him as a friend.
And as horrible as the fire was, it could have been very much worse. His mother came very close to losing her life.
Quote from: Dan Davenport;832755I've gotten to know him online for the last year or so, and yeah, he's a nutty guy, but in the best possible way. I'm glad to have him as a friend.
And as horrible as the fire was, it could have been very much worse. His mother came very close to losing her life.
Well, thank God she made it out alive. That's more important than a boatload of gaming notes to be sure.
Was he financially wiped out again or did he have something a bit more secure this time 'round?
Quote from: thedungeondelver;832756Well, thank God she made it out alive. That's more important than a boatload of gaming notes to be sure.
Was he financially wiped out again or did he have something a bit more secure this time 'round?
Well, I do know he had insurance this time, so that will help. It won't be enough to replace everything, but I don't think he's been totally wiped out.
Quote from: Dan Davenport;832748... recently lost everything to a house fire for the second time in his life.
TWICE!?
Quote from: Shipyard Locked;832759TWICE!?
Yup. :(
It makes me wonder what he's doing to get burned out twice.
Was it a natural disaster like a bushfire or an electrical fault or something?
Quote from: danskmacabre;832761It makes me wonder what he's doing to get burned out twice.
Was it a natural disaster like a bushfire or an electrical fault or something?
Actually, I'm told that arson is suspected in this latest one.
What are the differences between this edition and previous?
Quote from: Omega;832770What are the differences between this edition and previous?
I know that it's been radically revamped. I don't know the details. For that, I'd recommend checking out the Q&A tomorrow or else reading the log.
Oh no, that's horrible! :( I hope he recovers soon.
Quote from: Dan Davenport;832757Well, I do know he had insurance this time, so that will help. It won't be enough to replace everything, but I don't think he's been totally wiped out.
Fires still cause a tremendous financial hardship. The average house fire in the U.S. -- and most are things like a stove top catching fire, rather than something serious enough to involve structural damage -- causes about $20K in damages. Smoke and water are nasty.
Quote from: danskmacabre;832761It makes me wonder what he's doing to get burned out twice.
Fires aren't that rare. About 1 in 4 people will be in a fire large enough to involve the fire department in their lifetime, so 2 isn't at all uncommon.
I'm digging in to the new edition as time allows. While it's still, for example, roll high on d100 for combat, the system is quite different. I can't wait for the other books as the whole approach seems geared towards gleefuly AWESOME play.
The chat was priceless. I've been emailing with Raven (I found two editorial errors) and he's a riot and in great spirits.
That's good to hear. I would be more crushed from such a tragedy. But to hear he has his humor and perspective, sounds like he'll pull through.
I feel bad for the guy, but his life does sound crazy; to not say that he sounds that way. It might be different if you get to know him personally, but my mental image of him based on everything I've ever seen of him is more like a zany sitcom character than a regular person, which inevitably leads me to wonder what kind of wacky misadventure led to his house being (apparently?) burned down intentionally?
Anyways, I do wish him well, I mean, you can't wish ill on the guy who wrote the "Plan 9 from Outer Space" of RPGs...
Quote from: Dan Davenport;832757Well, I do know he had insurance this time, so that will help. It won't be enough to replace everything, but I don't think he's been totally wiped out.
Wow he has had two fires, that's awful. I have never heard of World of Synnibar but I hope he is able to recover quickly. And at least no one was hurt or killed
Jeez, that's rough. Hopefully he gets back on his feet quickly.
I had dinner with him once. Friends of friends thing. Weird dude. Some wacky ideas in his head, but harmless, like that uncle who talks about black helicopters too much but always helps people move.
Hope things work out for him.
I've always thought of him a bit like our hobby's "Emperor Norton", a harmless, nutty, but somewhat lovable eccentric.
I once had two copies of 2nd edition Synnibarr -- which is akin to owning two of the infinity gems.
Where can one buy a print copy of the third edition?