Maps Maps Maps

I'm trying to find a good system for utilizing more maps for miniatures/tokens in my game. There are a HUGE number of products online and it's a little scary trying to decide between all of the products.

They basically break down into two categories: maps you can create yourself using various tiles/pdf technologies, OR premade maps that are slightly pricier but you can either print out at home or purchase for not so much money.

I'm still on the fence. I bought some GameMastery Map Packs with locations I think will be common to need: villages, cities, inns, slums. However, I'll still have to draw some situations. It's unavoidable I guess unless they start publishing maps along with the adventures.

Oh well, it will still be good times.

We must worry about competition

Hasbro has said that they really want to expand their offering of online content, thus we have the changes to D&D to make the game more like World of WarCraft. Um... no. A roleplaying game is not about pressing buttons on a keyboard. It's about face-to-face content. Call it something else you 17th Level Neutral Evil Corporate Executives!

On the lighter side of the news, I found an awesome image for my desktop background. It's got classic 80s shtick! It's got classic fantasy shtick! It's got classic videogame shtick! Did I mention how awesome it was? Funny thing is, the image was made as an homage to 80s videogame images. This isn't even from a real game! Awesome.

One Month In

The kid is one month old today. So far he hasn't learned what a d20 is. C'mon, we're talking the basics here!

In other news, the local game store that I really like LOVES 4th Edition. I'll stick with Descent thanks.

I keep salivating to play the Pathfinder Beta rules. I've got my order in to get the book as soon as it comes out, but so far, nothing yet. My buddies are the same. Just anxious to get in some great gaming.

You'll know what I mean someday...

So... how do you tell someone that what they believe is the most significant improvement to a thing ever is not really an improvement, it just really caters to the way things fit their culture?

Example: 4th Edition D&D

Likewise, as I continue to come to terms that I am of the "older" generation when it comes to gaming, I see the following idea coming to the forefront:

"Player: I need to be explicitly told what my character can and can't do."

*sigh*

Gamer Grows Old

4th Edition D&D is now a month old. I bought the books when they came out, interested and hopeful that a new edition would improve the game to make it more of the game I love. What I discovered was that I had grown old.

How do you know it? How does the world start telling you that you're old? When companies that make games seem to think you're not young enough to buy the games. Companies survive by introducing new gamers to the game. As older players mature, they're less likely to buy stuff because they have A LOT of stuff already. It's the new guys who have the disposable cash.

I held out hope that I was among many others who were just riled up because our favorite game company had made a decision that wasn't in the best interest of the core fans. But reading this thread definitely showed me that I'm not a core fan anymore. I'm old.