January-February 2009

Recently, Mark’s PC died! This has led to our on-line files being deleted from the web site hosting them… We have lost the digital version of “The Island of Las Aves” and “A Tragic Toy Story” from our archive! Henceforth (after being severely chastised), Mark has orders to back-up all PMC files.

Our plea: If you have downloaded a copy of these two Game previously, we’d be eternally grateful if you could send us a copy! Our email address is pmc@pointlessmentalcruelty.com Otherwise, Mark will manually scan our printed back-ups into PDF form in the near future.

Why hasn’t Mark uploaded the remaining PDF’s to our file storage server? Well, in true PMC fashion, his PC has been infected with a worm that’s preventing him uploading these files (plus he’s still in the dark ages of the internet, using DIAL-UP!).

Needless to say, Mark now has a new PC (thanks to the amazing Shell!). All of our remaining files will be back by Monday 9th Feb, 2009!

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Scott ran “2 Minutes to Midnight”, an Indie RPG action-adventure spy Game he’s hoping to publish at Arcanacon XXVII
Daniel and Mark ran “Spaghetti”, an Italian spaghetti western Game at Arcanacon XXVII

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Daniel, Mark, Shell and Scott have come up with an idea for 2010 involving a top secret prop, the media and time pressure!  It will be a big event, something akin to our previous Games.  Stay tuned for more details…

Also, another idea entitled “The Trial of Gary Gygax” is being bantered around.  Imagine a Royal Commission or Trial into roleplaying!  This concept may not make it off the drawing board, but is a good way to open debate about the wonders of DnD 4th Edition (for the record: Mark and Scott like it, Daniel and Shell are somewhat skeptical!)

News from Scott

“A Pointless Fairy Tale” ran well at Conquest 2008.  Many successful sessions were ran, with each Fairy tale taking on a theme (the ‘Hip Hop Fairy Tale’, the ‘Psychadelic Fairy Tale’, the ‘Socialist Fairy Tale!?!’, etc).  There were hoarse voices at the end of the con, and I was totally out of it on the Monday, having run 12 hours worth of the game the previous day.

I ran Indie “Games Explosion” at GenCon Oz – basically a Games-On-Demand experience where each GM has a menu of Indie RPGs to choose from, and the group sits down to play something chosen on the spot.

~ Scott ~

Having Passed the Winter of Our Discontent…

6 months worth of news crammed into 1 post!

Scott, Shell and Daniel attended Gencon Oz in July 2008
Mark *shamefully* did not attend Gencon Oz, but changed one of our existing Games – “Save Bill!” – into a new American political satire – “Save Hil!”
Alex is about to publish the third issue of Sub-Rosa

Scott is studying how to write fiction…
Alex has a new job, and moved into a new place…
Mark purchased a new home…
Shell also has a new job…
Daniel has layed down the law and ordered Mark to stop smoking (for his own good!)…

Currently, the PMC team are thinking about writing the following in 2009:
* A Convention Game about “cowboys”
* A theatre games event for Arcanacon 2009

March 2008

Alex has published the second issue of Sub-Rosa
Mark and Scott are preparing “A Pointless Fairy Tale” for ConQuest 2008
Mark visited Adelaide and watched his sister get married in 40-degree (C) heat!
Alex is currently running a formal playtest for a Gaming company…

Janurary-February 2008

Daniel flew over from Adelaide to run “The Long Walk”, a Freeform at Arcanacon XVI 2008 (click here to view photos from the Game)
Scott ran “Dead Metal” with Lon Teal, a gritty Sci-Fi Tabletop at Arcanacon XVI 2008
Alex and Mark are about to release Issue 2 of Sub-Rosa in early February
Shell has ridden 78 kms in the Adelaide “Tour Down Under”during the Australia Day Long Weekend (Jan 26th)

November-December 2007

Alex is collating issue 2 of Sub-Rosa, with Mark editing submissions
Daniel and Mark are writing French revolutionary Characters for “The Long Walk” (accepted by Arcanacon 2008)
Scott’s had a child – young William (congratulations Scott!)
Scott, Mark and possibly Shell have committed yo run “A Pointless Fairy Tale” (accepted by ConQuest 2008)

More news to follow…

PMC Activities

October 2007

Alex has published the first issue of Sub-Rosa
Daniel has began writing “The Long Walk”, a PMC Freeform submitted for Arcanacon 2008
Scott is looking at publishing an Indie Game in PDF format prior to Gencon Oz
Scott, Shell, Mark and Daniel are discussing a Game based on Fairy Tales for ConQuest 2008
PMC is currently finalising (debating over?!?) a documentary-style Game for Gencon Oz

PMC Activities

September 2007

Alex is finalising the first issue of Sub-Rosa (An Ars Magica fan-zine)
Shell and Kim have organised VorpalCon 2007 – a Role-Playing Convention in Adelaide, Australia
PMC has run “Saigon in Flames” at VorpalCon 2007
Daniel has run “A Tragic Toy Story” at VorpalCon 2007 (due to Mark being ill!)
Mark has published “A Tragic Toy Story” on the PMC Web Site
Scott has returned from GenCon Indy with a wide variety of new Indie RPG’s!
Scott has organised the first “3-in-1 Day of Gaming” – 3 Games by 3 GM’s run over the course of 1 Day!

Mark’s Activities

July 2007

Mark updated www.pointlessmentalcruelty.com to a new version (3.0, including css)
Mark is running Cyberpunk
Mark is playing DnD

Scott’s Activities

June 2007

Scott finished running a Necessary Evil campaign
Scott finishes playing a 3 year D&D campaign
Scott is playing Cyberpunk

July 2007

Scott is running Firefly
Scott is playing Call of Cthulhu, Exalted
Scott is reading Primetime Adventures

August 2007

Scott is off to GenCon Indy!