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If you've been around for a while, you're probably familiar with that most dreaded of seasons here at Paizo: The Gen Con Crunch.
If you're not, here's the gist, we release a TON of new hotness at Gen Con every year. To have a big release windfall, though, we need to send a ton products to printers months and months (and months) beforehand, so they have time to go where they need to go (aka, to our booth at Gen Con and YOU).
But to release August's books, we have to release July's books. To release July's books, we need to have June's books out. You see where this is going.
It wouldn't be a big deal if all of our products went through their production like clockwork, but you can probably see from the sheer volume of products we release and other crazy additional ventures we tackle that keeping all the trains running on time proves challenging. We have a project manager now, so that's been a huge help, but we're still paying for a lot of past sins, unexpected catastrophes, and our own endlessly wild ambitions!
But all of yesterday's issues need to be well in the past come our August deadlines. August deadlines that--because of shipping to conventions and when Gen Con falls this year--are several weeks earlier than our usual monthly deadlines. So challenges compound.
That's the Gen Con Crunch.
(Historically, This is also the time of year where Sutter and I usually say "Hey, what's over that big hill behind the office" and discover things like the Mountain of Broken Glass or signs that say "Danger: Radioactive No Trespassing." Good times!)
To sum up! @#$%'s Crazy! And it's been crazy, and its going to stay crazy for the next two weeks!
So today is Day #1 of the official Gen Con Crunch Overload! Folks have been burning nights and weekends for months to get everything out and caught up, but the difference is that today the entire Paizo production staff is in, and there are bagels and coffee and fishes and a touch more dementia then usual.
The targets under primary fire this weekend: Mythic Adventures, The Dragons Demand, The Worldwound, and Dragonslayer's Handbook, but there's plenty more on deck!
Check in here throughout the day for updates from the front, drop in with your support, and throw in suggestions for favorite coping techniques. Also stay tuned a bit later in the week for a blog post full of frayed staffers and spastic effort!
HUGE thanks to everyone who made it in to help today--you all are so far beyond the best there aren't even words for it (...we'll make up new words later). Big thanks to everyone on the boards reading this too, for all your support and for making burning all the oils (midnight, weekend, whale, flumph, and otherwise) all worthwhile.
So chime in, drop your support, and we'll see you all on the other side!
There's already an argument going on in the developer pit about something to do with Demon Lords and gestation periods, so it should be an interesting day.
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I often find that when work piles up, nothing cuts through it like a professional badger. While I'm sure Mordimor is excellent, even he must have limits. Maybe you need to add a second badger too? ;)
I'm Ambrosia Slaad, and I approve this message.
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Art team Assembled! And Typo too!
I'm working on the magic items for Mythic Adventures, making sure they're all clear and function how they're supposed to.
Also, does anyone else find it eerie in the warehouse when it's dark and empty?
Why do you assume that it's empty?
*cue faint ominous music*
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Also, does anyone else find it eerie in the warehouse when it's dark and empty?
The angels dance there... but only in the dark.
Mmmm... demon lord gestations...
Ahem. Back to working on the art order for Demon's Heresy!
Eeep! I hope that's fun!
Developer
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I'm working on the magic items for Mythic Adventures, making sure they're all clear and function how they're supposed to.
Also, does anyone else find it eerie in the warehouse when it's dark and empty?
It didn't use to have all the lights in it that it has now, so back in the day, the warehouse was even darker, emptier, and eerier on the weekends (and especially so at night!).
Also, does anyone else find it eerie in the warehouse when it's dark and empty?
Yeah, and working on the monsters for Mythic Adventures isn't helping...
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All the Mythic Adventures, all the time! I'm listening to Beowulf to get into an appropriately epic mood.
There's already an argument going on in the developer pit about something to do with Demon Lords and gestation periods, so it should be an interesting day.
As the sole squeamish person on the Editorial team, I anticipate being grossed out with great regularity for the next N months. :P
When I feel a time crunch, I always try and find something going on around me that is utterly ludicrous. I find the humour in it and just let myself laugh as long as it strikes me to do so. It's an amazing stress reliever and slightly contagious.
Also: Weekend Work Crew currently has 100% more Duran Duran than it did a few moments ago.
Well, it could be worse...
...it could've been Justin Bieber.
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I'm alternately copy editing Demons Revisited and developing one of this month's Pathfinder Society Scenarios. Both will be incredible, but the demons are getting under my skin. I'm generally ok with even the most depraved details of their methods and preferred means of being summoned, but reading the example Glabrezu (to whom my PC in Jacobs's campaign made a poorly thought-out deal) was harrowing. Now I know what he's capable of and what he generally does with people foolish enough to treat with him...
Also, the Yankees/Blue Jays game is on in the background here at Chez Mark's Desk, and it's going well for the bombers!
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Also, does anyone else find it eerie in the warehouse when it's dark and empty?
By "eerie" you mean "it's time to play a post-apocalyptic larp," then YES. YES I THINK IT'S EERIE.
BRB, getting my bandolier.
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Check in here throughout the day for updates from the front, drop in with your support, and throw in suggestions for favorite coping techniques.
My coping is usually:
1) Take regular breaks2) Get some exercise
3) Don't stop laughing
Keep up the awesome work! I'm looking forward to seeing all the sweet new stuff at Gen Con.
Cheers!
Landon
I'm alternately copy editing Demons Revisited and developing one of this month's Pathfinder Society Scenarios. Both will be incredible, but the demons are getting under my skin. I'm generally ok with even the most depraved details of their methods and preferred means of being summoned, but reading the example Glabrezu (to whom my PC in Jacobs's campaign made a poorly thought-out deal) was harrowing. Now I know what he's capable of and what he generally does with people foolish enough to treat with him...
I had a similiar experience with glabrezu too, but not as a player. About a month ago when James was first discussing Demons Revisited, he mentioned their roles are often poorly misunderstood. I took a good hard look at the glabrezu and considered its skills and abilities, and realized that one in particular is often misunderstood for various reasons.
For me, today is for art orders! Mythic Realms in particular. Turns out, mythic means various terrible pyramids!
Also editing Pathfinder Society Primer.
Oh, Mythic Origins is getting tons of Mythic iconics. Mythic Realms is getting mythic... terrible things.
All Iconics getting Mythic art treatment or only some?
Yes.
Thanks for all the hard work guys. I look forward to picking everything up at GenCon.
Typo is here. Now my hand smells like dog. -_-
Im here, working on some blogs for the upcoming previews of Ultimate Campaign. I am also here to be the Mythic Adventures answer monkey... I want a banana!!!!
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James took a walk up the street to look for kaiju! Like he never does! Look at him go!
(And he was never seen again.)
We love everyone who came in today, Mark.
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Lead Designer
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And we love Jason all the time, whether he came in today or not. I was impressed that he made it just as lunch orders were being collected. That takes talent.
A lead designer is never late, nor is he early... he arrives precisely when he means to..
In this case.. lunch time.
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Lead Designer
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Is this the type of Banana you where talking about Jason?
Not the biggest fan of banana liqueurs actually... too sweet.
And we love Jason all the time, whether he came in today or not. I was impressed that he made it just as lunch orders were being collected. That takes talent.
A lead designer is never late, nor is he early... he arrives precisely when he means to..
In this case.. lunch time.
so says Jason "Gandalf" Bulmahn. ;)
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Developer
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I'm alternately copy editing Demons Revisited and developing one of this month's Pathfinder Society Scenarios. Both will be incredible, but the demons are getting under my skin. I'm generally ok with even the most depraved details of their methods and preferred means of being summoned, but reading the example Glabrezu (to whom my PC in Jacobs's campaign made a poorly thought-out deal) was harrowing. Now I know what he's capable of and what he generally does with people foolish enough to treat with him...I had a similiar experience with glabrezu too, but not as a player. About a month ago when James was first discussing Demons Revisited, he mentioned their roles are often poorly misunderstood. I took a good hard look at the glabrezu and considered its skills and abilities, and realized that one in particular is often misunderstood for various reasons.
Well, this document has the severed claw of one in case you'd like to attach that to yourself. What's the worst that could happen?
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Working on the Wayne Reynolds artbook.
How do you make an awesome fantasy artist book more awesome?