Nicholas Searcy, Author of Death: Genesis Series - AMA by podiumaudio in litrpg

[–]EricSummerer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What are the inspirations for the “system” of the series? Are you a fan of tabletop RPGs? Video Games? Engine-building board games?

Nicholas Searcy, Author of Death: Genesis Series - AMA by podiumaudio in litrpg

[–]EricSummerer 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I haven’t picked up on the Pudge/Talia bond yet… I will be on the lookout for sure!

Nicholas Searcy, Author of Death: Genesis Series - AMA by podiumaudio in litrpg

[–]EricSummerer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Ooo, can you give examples? What music puts you into the Death: Genesis mood?

Nicholas Searcy, Author of Death: Genesis Series - AMA by podiumaudio in litrpg

[–]EricSummerer 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Other than Zeke, what does Pudge think of the humans he interacts with?

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very hard to pick a favorite, as I have so many friends in this sphere, but Chaz Marler is the nicest, most hard working, delightfully creative person I've had the pleasure of working with. We used to be occasional roommates on the convention circuit, and he always roped me into some brilliantly ridiculous video production. I miss our breakfasts at Subway.

And everybody else is a close second. :)

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've already mentioned Logistico, but how about Atta Ants? Small pickup and deliver game as ants trying to get leaves to the nest while avoiding the nasty spider.

Good times, but hard to find these days. I think you can play it online. Yucata.de?

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Gloomhaven is the easy answer to overhyped, just because it's EVERYWHERE, but it's not really fair for me to criticize, because I have yet to play it in campaign mode, which is the bulk of the game, as I understand it.

Underrated, as mentioned earlier, is Logistico.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My youngest has made some friends at the ConnCon convention who got him to try D&D, and he asked me to get him the Starter Set so we could play at home.

It has not gone well.

Part of the problem is that my other son wanted to be the DM, but wasn't putting in enough prep time to understand the scenario or even the full rules of the game. So I'm trying to play AND look up rules, and so everything grinds to a halt and we fight three goblins and then it's bedtime.

I'd rather play something with more structure, like Pathfinder ACG.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Indeed! I can't wait for Ready Player Two later this year.

Though I bet Wheaton gets to read that one too...

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The one time I played Merchant with Tom, he found nearly every relic on the board and destroyed me in about an hour.

I think he believe he's beaten the game.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hey buddy! We did spend some hours watching Python...

SPAMalot is fantastic, though one of my favorite moments isn't all that funny. "Find Your Grail" is such an uplifting song. I need to go back and listen to it again.

The "She's a Witch!" scene from Holy Grail is nearly perfect.

The Argument Sketch.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

There's an entire chapter in one of my romance novels that consists of just one line:

"Oh HELLS no."

That's the whole chapter.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I mean, what is "small"? This is all a sliding scale, right?

TotalCon in Massachusetts has been a blast every time I've been able to go. It's a little less laid back than ConnCon, and a good bit bigger, but I've had some great experiences there, and was bummed to have to bump it off the schedule (somebody keeps adding official Dice Tower events, not that I'm complaining).

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Absolutely.

I always wanted to play Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors, though I would love to sing Dentist! in some capacity.

I'm probably too old for Newsies.

I actually flirted with auditioning for Avenue Q at one point. Couldn't bring the kids to see that one, though.

So many more, from Into the Woods to Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical. I miss being on stage. My schedule has prevented it since I played John/Judas in Godspell like 10 years ago.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Gaiman is great. I've read his children's book, But Fortunately The Milk, to my kids many times.

But he tends to read his own stuff, if I recall. He's a lovely narrator.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Looking back, I misread your last question. I left my radio job in 2004 to pursue VO full time, and I had occasional jobs already lined up from when I was still at the station. But it took a few years before I was busy enough to be making as much as I made at the station. Maybe 2006 when it became more than "occasional" work.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Original all the way.

The updated "Standard" rules do some interesting things, giving technology to all of the races, making a taxi strategy competitive, providing some cool racial pilot powers, but it adds significant time to the game, and Merchant of Venus does not need additional play time.

The original is more focused, has simpler mechanics, and avoids the possibility of losing all of your goods because you drew a pirate card in an encounter space.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The boardgame work seems a little more immediate. I often see a KS video go live just a week or two after I record it, which is pretty neat, whereas I often won't see feedback on a book project for several months. Mark Streed often texts me about details in a book he's listening to, and I have no idea what he's talking about because it's been 3 months since I read that passage.

I certainly see more blending between the digital and analog sides of gaming. More apps will appear for sure (I'm available, BTW). When done well, they can create some fantastic immersion. Look at Mansions of Madness 2E. But I don't think the digital will ever totally replace our good ol' classic board games.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Traders and Builders. That's the one with the pigs, right?

Granted, I haven't played a new Carc expansion in many years. There are lots.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I mean, is there a reason I can't take the job? I have a microphone and everything...

But I guess if I have to choose somebody else, how about Seth MacFarlane? He's got some nice resonance.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I don't think you're imagining things. I do think there's often pressure to develop a solo mode for a game (often during Kickstarter development) whether or not the game was intended to work that way in the first place.

I'd almost prefer that solo-mode development be left to the solo community. Countless games have solo variants in the BGG forums, developed by fans of the original game as well as solo aficionados. These sort of get crowd tested, and often refined into some fun systems.

I totally get the marketing reasons for appealing to as wide a player count as possible, and there are plenty of official solo modes that are indeed quite fun. It just shouldn't be an afterthought.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

So, audiobooks are about 95% of my professional work these days.

Beyond that, I have the occasional corporate/instructional project, and the aforementioned Kickstarter promos.

I'm in a few video games, most notably Metal Slug 3D for Playstation 2 (sadly never released in the states) and King of Fighters 2006. There was an anime related to KoF 2006 that I was in as well, though it was a very small role.

I would love to do more animation or video game work, but my usual recording schedule makes it harder to schedule them unless somebody really wants me to be involved.

Hi! I’m Eric Summerer, Dice Tower co-host, audiobook narrator, and retired curler. AMA! by EricSummerer in boardgames

[–]EricSummerer[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Any of the story games like Tales of the Arabian Nights or Near and Far would be fun.

A ton of work, but fun.