Re: [DL] Future books (PEG) (LONG)

[SteveL1979@aol.com]

In a message dated 7/25/2001 12:57:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
darklord@dark-sky.net writes:

<< This sounds like something that would go in a book Steve Long was talking  
about at Origins.  He had said some stuff about it containing a lot of info 
that would be useful in running a game based around 1 town.  He said it would 
have stuff on Muckrakers and Yellow journalism and a bunch of other stuff.  I 
only heard part of it, but maybe Steve could tell us the rest of it.  IF 
enough of us pipe up about it, it might prove to be a doable book for PEG or 
something. >>

    That's a project I've sort of been tinkering with for a long time that I 
call "Cowboys & Cultists" (though there aren't actually any cultists in it ;) 
). The basic idea was to produce a hodge-podge book that would cover a lot of 
subjects that people want to know about, but which don't merit an entire book 
of their own. Each subject would get its own chapter. Some of the subjects I 
want to cover are horses, cowboys and cattle drives, railroads, mining, 
muckrakers, forts and soldiers, telegraphy, and perhaps espionage.
    Unfortunately, the problem with this book is that it requires an awful 
lot of research to write each chapter, making it a time-intensive project. 
So, in light of all the other things I have to do, I haven't gotten very far 
with it -- I've only written the horses chapter ("Saddle Up!") so far. Until 
I have the chance to make some more progress, I don't have much to dangle in 
front of Shane to tempt him to publish it. ;)
    The book that focuses on running a game based in one town is HELL'S HALF 
ACRE, a thorough description of the disreputable town of Perry, Oklahoma 
(which is mentioned briefly in TOT: 1877). The book covers all the major 
places (including 100+ saloons!) and people in town, plus various (mostly 
non-"weird") plots, and also has detailed information on gambling, saloons, 
and various other forms of western entertainments (everything from quickie 
rules for faro, to the ingredients in various popular drinks, to what soiled 
doves charge for their services, and more!). It also has a lengthy section on 
running a game based in one western town, as opposed to the usual "wander 
from adventure to adventure" style of campaign. The whole book is written -- 
I prepared it as the campaign handout for my brief DL game -- and I continue 
to dangle it in front of Shane in the hopes he sees his way clear to 
publishin' it. ;)

Steve Long