This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

CJ Carella, Game Designer Turned Novelist Interviewed on Podcast

Started by WillInNewHaven, March 05, 2018, 11:01:24 PM

Previous topic - Next topic
Print
Go Down Pages 1 2
User actions

jcfiala

#15
March 10, 2018, 11:38:48 PM
I backed CJ's first book on Kickstarter.  He delivered nicely and I enjoyed the book.  (Armageddon Girl, which was a superhero novel.)  Apparently he's selling novels well enough that he mentions in the interview that going back to do RPG stuff would involve taking a pay cut.

It's not a great interview, but I think the guy giving the interview doesn't really know RPGs very well - apparently it's normally a two person team interviewing, and one of them's out sick.  That said, once I've heard this interview (it's in two parts) I'll probably unsubscribe.  I may seek out CJ's newer work and try it out.
 

WillInNewHaven

#16
March 11, 2018, 02:34:02 PM
Quote from: jcfiala;1028762I backed CJ's first book on Kickstarter.  He delivered nicely and I enjoyed the book.  (Armageddon Girl, which was a superhero novel.)  Apparently he's selling novels well enough that he mentions in the interview that going back to do RPG stuff would involve taking a pay cut.

It's not a great interview, but I think the guy giving the interview doesn't really know RPGs very well - apparently it's normally a two person team interviewing, and one of them's out sick.  That said, once I've heard this interview (it's in two parts) I'll probably unsubscribe.  I may seek out CJ's newer work and try it out.

The rest of the superhero books are also great. _Shadowfall Las Vegas_ is my favorite book of his but I may be biased as I wrote the poker scene (and he acknowledged it in the book) It is set in a setting similar to the Buffyverse or the Dresdenverse and I would characterize it as horror but with many competent characters. His Warp Marines books are good also.

RPGPundit

#17
March 13, 2018, 03:09:49 AM
Quote from: Darrin Kelley;1028473I have the actual original trilogy of Rifts novels. They read like a weapons catalog, The writer was absolutely terrible.

I've never seen an RPG-related novel that was good. The very best one could hope for was 'slightly above mediocre'.
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you\'ve played \'medieval fantasy\' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.

Nerzenjäger

#18
March 13, 2018, 07:04:39 AM
Quote from: RPGPundit;1029041I've never seen an RPG-related novel that was good. The very best one could hope for was 'slightly above mediocre'.

Follow up with Pundit's recommended reading list.
"You play Conan, I play Gandalf.  We team up to fight Dracula." - jrients

jcfiala

#19
March 13, 2018, 08:42:47 AM
Quote from: RPGPundit;1029041I've never seen an RPG-related novel that was good. The very best one could hope for was 'slightly above mediocre'.

Pierced Heart, based on "Over the Edge", was quite good. I have leant it out to non-gamers.
 

RPGPundit

#20
March 18, 2018, 09:03:55 AM
Quote from: Nerzenjäger;1029075Follow up with Pundit's recommended reading list.

Well, if you're going to read fantasy, my choices tend toward the classics. Zelazny, Moorcock, Lieber, Tolkien, etc. A lot of people like Howard but he's not quite my thing, though some of his stuff is decent. Lovecraft was great.

The main point is, no fucking series. No FR books or RPG world books, no Star Wars novels (ugh) or Star Trek novels, or even Doctor Who novels. Robert Jordan bored the shit out of me.

I never read GRRM.


Of course, I think one thing that's helped me be a great GM is reading a shitload of History & Classics. Not to mention world mythology. In some ways, those are much more important influences on me in terms of GMing than the fantasy novels.
LION & DRAGON: Medieval-Authentic OSR Roleplaying is available now! You only THINK you\'ve played \'medieval fantasy\' until you play L&D.


My Blog:  http://therpgpundit.blogspot.com/
The most famous uruguayan gaming blog on the planet!

NEW!
Check out my short OSR supplements series; The RPGPundit Presents!


Dark Albion: The Rose War! The OSR fantasy setting of the history that inspired Shakespeare and Martin alike.
Also available in Variant Cover form!
Also, now with the CULTS OF CHAOS cult-generation sourcebook

ARROWS OF INDRA
Arrows of Indra: The Old-School Epic Indian RPG!
NOW AVAILABLE: AoI in print form

LORDS OF OLYMPUS
The new Diceless RPG of multiversal power, adventure and intrigue, now available.
Print
Go Up Pages 1 2
User actions