Author Archive

Well, it has been a while since I have done one of these updates and I figure it’s about time. Let me start this by updating you on the status of the products I talked about in the first Current Projects post. As mentioned in that post, I was working on a new line of game aids called the Combat Cards. I am proud to report that this line has launched successfully and now has two products under its name – Combat Cards: Action Types, and Combat Cards: Special Tactics. As for the Just Add Dice products I was working on, the cargo series has been released with a total of four books in the set covering ship cargo in multiple types of worlds. Finally, we launched an offshoot of this line in the form of Two Bit Tables. This series of short tables, dedicated to a single topic but that were too small to be expanded into full Just Add Dice Products, currently has two forest-themed products for a mere 50¢ each.

Now on to my current projects. As I mentioned above, we have just launched the Two Bit Tables line and I am currently spending a lot of time polishing off some tables in this line on battle names and secret societies. In addition to this, I am in the process of rebranding two of our product lines with real logos and removing the D20 license from the products that will lose it in June. I am proud to say, however, that work continues on several Just Add Dice products, including the much anticipated drink and wine generator. Also, the vampire slayer’s guide is in the final stages of production and will be ready in time to sell at the NJ Renaissance Faire so come and check it out. Well, that’s about all I currently have on my plate. So until next time –
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
~May 22, 2008~

Where we live in New Jersey the fair season starts with the Mercer County Lions Club Fair in Mercer County Park.  There really is not much to this fair.  The grounds are a large open field in Mercer Park the stages are either the portable rollaway kind or areas that have been cordoned off with plastic fencing and cones.  The food is served out of a collection of grease trucks or from portable carts.  But the price is right at only $7 and the profits go to a good cause.  Plus the number of vendors has steadily grown every year and it provides a place to get costuming and equipment before the larger more organized fairs start.   

This year was no exception and we had a fine day with a clear sky and constant breeze when we went.  We are always glad when fair season starts as we get to see some friends that we only see at fairs and this time was no different. Our friends at Lusty Leather had a booth as normal and we spent some time talking to them and browsing their new products.  Round Table Jousting with our friends from Period Productions put on a fine jousting show and the local troop of musketeers put on several firing demonstrations.  All and all it was an enjoyable trip and a great way to start the fair season.

The Joust     The Smith    Me and Kevin With Loot!
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
     ~May 21, 2008~

Hello and welcome to yet another installment of product previews.  Again I find that for this week’s prevue I must turn this column over to another of our resident guide writers – Alfred Sergeant, Loyal Man-At-Arms for Sir Owain, to explain his work.  Hail and well met, gentle reader.  As mentioned above, I am the loyal Man-At-Arms for Sir Owain, loyal knight to King Arthur of the New Jersey Renaissance Kingdom.  As such I have fought many battles and seen much of the knights’ ways.  So, when Healing Fireball Publications asked me to put pen to paper and record my knowledge so that it could help aspiring young squires, I readily agreed.  Below you will find a sample of this document to peruse and see its quality.  I thank you in advance for your time and hope you find my work enlightening.

A Squire’s Guide to All Things Knightly DEMO

Thanks, Alfred, for that introduction. If you liked what the Squires’ quite has to offer you can get the full guide for only $5.00 by clicking here.  The full guide is a whopping 43 pages of in-character knightly facts, including extensive descriptions of noble/church titles and their relationships, several historic/literary codes of chivalry/courtly love and large sections on the armor and weapons used by knights.  Each copy of the squires’ guide also comes with a gigantic 67-page role playing appendix chock full of advice for playing several different styles of knights, on designing a chivalric code and using honor, combat tactics used by knights, advice for game masters and much, much more.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
 
      ~May 7, 2008~

For our next product preview, I will be turning this column over to my alter ego, Mum the pirate cook.  Arrr! Let’s get right to the point, matey. In my many years of service a ship’s cook for the Angelina’s Scorn, I have seen many young men join only to be confused by life onboard ship.  So when the New Jersey Renaissance Kingdom asked if I would be willing to pen a guide to life on a ship I agreed, and, seeing as I was the only one who knew how to write, it seamed like a perfect fit.  This week in our product preview, I present the fruits of my labor and what I’m told is one of Healing Fireball Productions’ most popular books – The Cabin Boy’s Pocket Pirate Hand Book.  So, lad, just click the link below and see a sample of me handy work before I have ya keel hauled.

 The Cabin Boy’s Pocket Pirate Hand Book DEMO

Thanks, Mum, for that great introduction. If you like what you’ve seen you can find a link to the full product here.  The complete guide consists of a full 39 pages of in-character pirate information, including a plethora of nautical terms, pirate slang, ship tips and several historic pirate codes.  Each copy also comes with the 27-page role playing guide including tips for playing several different types of pirates, notes on how to use knots and pirate weapons in game and much more.  All this for a mere $4.00, so get yours today.

~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~
      
~May 6, 2008~  

Arrr! Welcome to my first real report on a faire.  Well, as many of you probably know, I am a performer at the NJ Renaissance Kingdom and Faire.  After recent meetings with the other performers I can offer you a tantalizing glimpse at this year’s story.

This year we will be themed as the rowdy colony of Tortuga, an exotic land of pirates and rogues where any who wishes to avoid the law can hide.  But there is trouble in paradise as frictions between the English and French abroad have boiled over to the colonies and Tortuga is no different.  Will the colony ally itself with one of these powers, will it stay independent or will infighting tear the colony apart?  Well, that’s all I can reveal for now but to find out how this story ends come and join us weekends in June or go to www.NJkingdom.com for more information.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~        
       
~May 4, 2008~

I would like to start this entry by first acknowledging that I have not been fulfilling the promises I made in the early entries about my visions for both the blog and the web page.  Unfortunately, between work our publishing schedule and my other responsibilities I have admittedly neglected the web page and I apologize. That said, I have been working on several new categories for the blog and updates for the ones we already have so expect more activity in the coming months.

To start this new phase off right, I would like to unveil our new category – the Faire and Con Report.  For those of you who don’t know, when I am not gaming in the summer, one of our major activities is to attend Renaissance faires.  My wife and I even work for the local NJ Renaissance Kingdom and Faire.  In fact, the Healing Fireball Publications brand was founded specifically to brand the pirate and knight guides I wrote for publication at this faire.  So, since Renaissance faires have been so much a part of both mine and Healing Fireball’s history it only seemed right to create a category about them.

So what will you find in this category?  Well I’m glad you asked – my hope is that each one of these reviews will give a travelogue of our trip to a faire or convention.  With my wife’s help, I hope to post pictures of our day and descriptions of our experience.  In some cases I hop to offer a plot teaser for the faire’s main story line.  I will offer links to the faire’s main web page and to some of the shops we our friendly with.  Finally, I hope to add a Faire and Con link section to the links section of the blog.  So until next time –
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~     
      
~May 3, 2008~

Anyone that knows me knows that in addiction to being a role playing game addict, I am a board game fiend.  I have quite a large selection of board games in a myriad of topics but because of the personal interests of me and my wife, two large subcategories of games have emerged in this collection – pirate games and zombie games.  Since there was a lot of interest by my group to play these zombie games, we hosted a zombie and dip night a few weeks ago.   

The night started with junk food and dip at my dining room table as we decided which game we where going to play for the evening.  We decided on one of my newest games and the only one where the survivors are supposed to work together to reach a common goal – Last Night on Earth by Flying Frog Productions.  The Game started well with me playing the zombies and my wife and three friends playing survivors.  We started with the basic game, and the players’ goal was to kill a certain number of zombies before sun set.  The players quickly became well armed from searching the near by houses and begin blasting away.  We quickly determined that while the cop’s revolver gave him a slight edge at the start of the game, it was nothing compared to the power of the shotgun.  And in the end, while wounded, a few survivors cleverly set up an ambush in the corn field where I had trouble seeing them, but the farmer’s daughter had an advantage and could pick the zombies off. 

Bolstered by this success, we chose to upgrade to the advanced game and drew the mission protect the mansion.  My friend Rob chose to play the zombies this time and I got to play the town’s nurse (once more I am the healer).  Our goal was to keep the zombies out of the mansion in the center of town.  Right from the start it went bad. Rob rolled well and was able to spawn a large number of zombies which went right for the house.  The house was guarded by only me as my friends frantically searched for weapons.  I was wounded trying to fight off a pack of three zombies and had to run away to find aid.  Failing to get aid, I desperately tried to get the three out of the house and was killed.  At the same time, the town sheriff, who had been defending the back porch, was also killed and rose as a zombie hero.  Drawing new players, I got the priest and my other friend Daria got the local jock.  We quickly ran to help the remaining two players who had managed to kill the zombie hero but were beginning to be overwhelmed by the mob now in the house.  As we ran in we made a last ditch effort to stop the last zombies from entering the house and ending the game, but to no avail as two of us were wounded and two were killed.  There Where No Survivors…… 

To raise the spirits and end the night on a high note we watched Shawn of the Dead.


The party was so much fun we plan to have a revenge of the zombie night soon and this time I am prepared, as I bought a zombie survival kit at a local sci-fi convention.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~ 
    
~March 18, 2008~ 

As the first of our product previews, I have chosen to give a quick peek at our upcoming April Fools project The Sages Must Be Crazy: The Infamous Mischievous Renaldo Maliauctor.  This project will contain 12 mischievous spells as well as a slew of items for the practical joker in us all.  Below I am proud to present a sneak preview of this product in the form of one of these new spells as well as a handy little item.    

Spells of the Prankster

Cream Pie
Conjuration
Level: Brd 0 Sor/Wis 0
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 Standard Action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5ft./2 levels)
Target: 1 Humanoid Creature
Effect: Creates a cream pie that flies at the target’s face
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw:  Reflex Negates
Spell Resistance: Yes  

Description: You fire a cream pie at your opponent’s face.  The Pie strikes the opponent in the face getting in his eyes and dazzling him for 1d4 rounds as he clears the pie from his eyes.  The opponent dodges the pie if he makes a successful reflex save. 

History:  Originally created by Renaldo Maliauctor as a defensive spell to give him enough time to escape the angry recipients of some of his more elaborate pranks.  He favors this spell heavily as it allows him to add insult to injury as he leaves the pranked victim covered in whipped cream.

Crafts of the Prank Master

Sneezing powder
Description:  A fine gray dust often sold contained in a small leather pouch stamped with the image of a nose. Each bag contains enough powder for three uses.

Use/Trick:  Sneezing powder is used by blowing it into the intended victim’s face (max range of 5 ft.).  The victim must then make a successful for save (DC=10-normal 15-Renaldo’s) or sneeze uncontrollably for one round.  This sneezing disrupts concentration making it impossible to cast spells or perform complex skills and it gives the victim a -2 to his attack for that round.

History:  This is another prank item that was not initially invented by Renaldo but later improved by his master craftsmanship.  He enjoyed using sneezing powder so much in his pranks that Renaldo set himself to finding the strongest herbs capable of eliciting the sneezing response.  The result is Renaldo’s Super Strong Sneezing Powder. Price: Normal Sneezing Powder  5 sp.,  Renaldo’s Super Strong Sneezing Powder 1 gp.

If these sample items piqued your interest, well, the news gets even better – the final product and all its goods can be yours for a scant $1.00.

~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~      
    
~March 29, 2008~

This is a post that I hope will become semi-regular on this blog.  I hope that both I and my partners can use this as a place to keep you our audience informed on what we are working on and give you a sneak peak of what will be coming out soon.  I also hope it is a place where we can get your feedback on our current projects. 

With all that out of the way, let me start my first project update.  In addition to my regular job as a biochemist and graduate student, I also have a very full plate of projects for Healing Fireball.  First, I am continuing to work on more titles in our new Just Add Dice line of books.  This line is dedicated to books that present tables for randomly generating a single place, item or encounter. Currently, we have a Tavern Generator available but I am in the final stages of a group of ship cargo books designed to generate cargo in different times and I have a large number of ideas that are in preliminary planning stages. 

I am working on a new line of game aides called the Combat Cards as well.  These index size and half page size cards will present quick and easy reference to game rules that often cause games to slow down or stop as players have to look up the rules.

 I am also working on another guide book similar to our original Squire’s Guide to all Things Knightly or the Cabin Boy’s Pocket Prate Handbook to be sold at the New Jersey Renaissance Kingdom this year.  The book will be a guide to vampire hunting and will feature facts about the history of vampires and the tools used to kill them.  Finally, I have a small personal project I am working on about the use of holy symbols in game.  It is in its tentative stages and I will reveal more as I progress with the project.  

Well that’s it that is my current project load; I hope to post more of these in up coming weeks to update you on what I am working on and as always we would appreciate your feedback so feel free to drop us a line or post a comment.   

~Chris Baldi “The Healer”~     
     
~March 27, 2008~
 

When we started this page and, in fact, this company, we really did not expect the amount of response that we received.  We figured we would be lucky if we sold enough to support the site.  But the response has been wonderful.  We received our first check today from book sales and we here cannot thank you enough for receiving us as warmly as you have. 

So in light of this warm reception, our goals for the web have expanded from just maintaining a site for our product to also providing a place where the gaming community can come and interact with us and each other.   

This blog is the first step in this process.  We hope to use this as a place to let you behind the curtain and let you in to our thought processes and give you a glimpse at our lives and our games.  At this point, we will also use this as a place to get your feedback and comments. 

We plan in the future to expand this interaction even further to include a forum where you can come and talk directly.  We hope to create a place where the community can come and discuss gaming and the art of Role Playing.  Finally, as always, we would like to hear from you suggestions, ideas and (gulp) complaints – feel free to drop us a line.
~Chris Baldi “The Healer~     
    
~Mach 18, 20008~