Author Archive

With another All Hallows’ Eve upon us, your friends here at Healing Fireball Publications have dug their way out of the grave to bring you a special treat.  Or is it?  Well, that would be up to you, as below we present two free bonus products to be enjoyed on this, the spookiest night of the year.

So, what’s it going to be?

Trick or Treat

 If you enjoyed this little surprise then why don’t you take a look at Ebenezer Killjoy’s latest rant The Sages Must be Crazy: Tricky Treats?  This newest treatise from our noted humorless mage targets those that would pervert sweet treats into devilish tricks and contains a collection of 7 candy-themed spells and 10 sweet alchemical and magical items.  So don’t miss out and trick your party tonight.  It’s time to lighten up your world a little because the sages must be crazy.

~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~

~October 28, 2010~

Clawing its way up from the grave like a hungry zombie, Healing Fireball Publications lurches free of the scythe of death and returns with a vengeance.  It has been a full year since I last posted on this blog and almost a full two months since we posted a new product.  A lot has happened to this company in that time and I do apologize for the missing Faire and Con reports but unfortunately we were not able to make many faires this summer.  I shall hopefully recap the few faires we attended and other interesting happenings in later belated reports.

But now on to the update:  with Halloween approaching, we fittingly shamble back to  life with a candy and mischief-themed product The Sages Must be Crazy: Tricky Treats.  This latest lighter-side-of-gaming product concentrates on candy and sweet-themed spells and items with a mischievous twist.  Additionally, watch for our Halloween bonus products, free on this site: each one contains items that can’t be found in any of our other products.

Additionally, we will be continuing the Two Bit Tables collection of mundane encounters by environment, with locations like swamp and jungle coming.  I am still fine tuning that collection of religious-themed Just Add Dice books and will have them out soon.  Finally, watch this site for more free bonus items in the months to come.  Roaring back to life with a vengeance, your friends at Healing Fireball Publications.

~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~

~October 27, 2010~

As anyone who has followed this blog is aware a large part of what made my posting and publication schedule so sporadic is that I was in the final stages of work on my doctorate in molecular biology.  Well I am proud to announce that I succeeded and am now Dr. Chris Baldi.  However with the completion of this degree also came the end of my job as a researcher and I had to scramble to find new employment.  After a month of unemployment I was finally able to get a post-doc position with a lab in Madison, Wisconsin.  So this meant that I had to pack up our life, find a new apartment and move across the country in a very short time.  So the last few months were spent in a hectic search for an apartment, a frenzy of packing and then an explosion of  unpacking that we are still recovering from.  However, the good news is that once I dig out from under my pile of junk and games I should have more time to devote to Healing Fireball Publications once again.  Hopefully this means that my posts will become more regular.  I would like to take this spot to thank all the fans and friends of Healing Fireball Publications for sticking with us and being patient through this last hectic year.

~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~

~October, 27, 2010~

As previously reported, our resident roving pirate reporter MUM the pirate cook attended the Adventure Pirate Weekend at the Maryland Renaissance Festival a few weeks ago and filed this report.

Arrr! It seems to be me fate that when it comes time to get together with me pirate mates it always goes and rains. But as before the rain could not dampen the spirit of the revelry. I started me day by heading to the White Hart Tavern to start me day with some cider, the Pyrates Royale and the O’ Danny Girls shows. After the shows I spent some time shopping before I got some peasant bread and corn for lunch. We returned to the pub to see the Crimson Pirate show and then went to the Lyric stage to see a comedy show called Hey Nunnie Nunnie. Finale as always the day ended with a raucous pub sing. In all it was another fun and raucous celebration of all things piratical.

Thanks for the report MUM – it sounds like there’s nothing that can keep a good pirate down.

~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
~October 18, 2008~

A few weekends ago we decided, having secret mariner souls, to go to Independence Seaport and Museum at Penn’s Landing. The museum was hosting a special exhibit about the history of tattooing and maritime professions. It was interesting to learn about the many traditions sailors had involving tattoos. In addition to this exhibit the museum had a large collection of other displays tracing the history of nautical tradition from the days of sail to the modern freighters and war ships. The admission also included access to a submarine called Becuna and the battleship Olympia, both of which have been restored and are packed with interesting facts throughout. In all well worth the admission fee, so if you love maritime history and want to walk around a classic war ship this is the place to go.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
     ~August 12, 2009~

It’s that time of year again – the Maryland Renaissance Festival is having its pirate weekend. For our readers that have not visited this one, here is the rundown of this faire’s stats. It is set during the reign of King Henry the Eighth and every year features a story about his reign. This year Henry is single again and on the prowl for his next queen. One of his former queens, Anna of Cleves, has returned, hoping to win back Henry for herself. As always are roving pirate reporter MUM will be attending this year’s celebration of all things piratical and adventures at the Adventure Weekend the weekend of September 26. This faire is always one of our favorite faires and this year is sure to be no different so if you’re in the neighborhood come out and see it.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
   ~September 23, 2009~

A few weeks ago our roving pirate reporter MUM attended the Irish and Scottish weekend at the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair and filed this report:

Arrr! At the urging of one o’ me Irish mates we sailed over to the Pennsylvania Renaissance fair to attend their celebration of all things Irish and Scottish. The day was bright and the wind was breezy and cool. Once we entered the village I purchased me breakfast – a Scottish creation of a sausage wrapped hard boiled egg called a Scotch egg. We then wandered over to O’Malley’s Pour House Stage to watch the royal concert with the queen. From there we headed over to they tap room and the Swashbuckler’s Stage to eat some corned beef and cabbage and watch the rogues perform. We then wandered around for much of the rest of the day and shopping. I gots me some spices to make me own mead and a bottle of fine spiced apple wine. In all it was a fine day at the faire and we sailed home happy.

Sounds like another fine day of music and feasting MUM; thanks for the report.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
   ~September 23, 2009~

  queens-music.jpg  mum-pipe.jpg

Unfortunately, because work has gotten hectic, I must apologize that this follow-up is so late, but here goes.  A mentioned previously, the New Jersey Renaissance Fair and Kingdom has moved this year to a new location at the Red Mill Village and Museum.  So we weren’t sure what to expect until we got there and were pleasantly surprised to find that the Red Mill’s grounds are gorgeous and add to the atmosphere of the faire.  Regrettably, we opened to a thunderstorm as is our luck, and we were forced to shut early on Saturday.  Sunday, however, was a sunny and warm day which brought in a decent crowd.  Below are some images of the grounds and our performers.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
       ~July 10, 2009~

  chess.JPG  grounds.JPG

This year the New Jersey Renaissance Faire and Kingdom will be moving to the Red Mill Village Museum.  It also marks a return to New Jersey’s continuing Arthurian storyline.  The show will be running for the next two weekends in June (June 20, 21, 27 and 28).  Just as last year, Healing Fireball will also be there, the first weekend only, working at the gift shop and selling print copies of the original A Squire’s Guide to All Things Knightly, The Cabin Boy’s Pocket Pirate Handbook and the currently-only-available-in-print Stakes, Crosses and Garlic: A Hunter’s Guide to Vampires.  We will also be selling our parchment bookmarks in both pirate and medieval designs that are perfect for gaming books.  So come out and see us.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
       ~June 18, 2009~

I realize that the posts of this blog are still sporadic and that we have not posted a product for a while.  Unfortunately, instead of getting lighter, work has gotten even more hectic.  I was gearing up for two presentations I will be doing at professional conferences in June as well as gearing up for a final push to finish my doctorate work.  So, sadly, it looks like this lull may continue for a while.

As for actual work for Healing Fireball Publications, I have managed to make a collection of tables for several Just Add Dice products centered around religion.   However, these tables need to be finalized and descriptions need to be added, which is harder than it sounds.  Particularly, laying out the tables in a way that is consistent and makes sense.  So you’ll be seeing these products soon – watch this space.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
       ~May 22, 2009~