Hey there folks. I know some of you have been wondering if I am alive or not. After a HUGE delay...I am back and running full steam ahead. I have megalithic plans for Cloudships this year, and hopefully I will get it onto the shelves before 2002. The game will come complete with a rule system for custom generation and a few ship examples. Later supplements will include new ship types, new fiction/background, and new technology.

    Let me give a quick overview of the project to those just tuning in. I am writing a ship to ship combat system set in an alternate 1890's timeline. The genre is Victorian Sci-fi. For those unfamiliar with this genre let me expound. Think of the technology you have seen or read about in Jules Verne literature..like "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea". In an age where steam was the reliable form of energy...advance concepts like nuclear energy and space travel were not feasible. Africa was still largely untamed. Science and technology were moving by leaps and bounds. The authors of this time dream of what lied beyond the scope of human knowledge. Their literature took us to mars...or deep within the earth. In 1898 H.G. Wells took us through time in "The Time Machine". That same year the Martains attacked the Earth in probably his most famous work, "The War of the Worlds". I am working with that essence..and creating my own timeline/fiction. My work thrusts you into a time of exploration, colonization, and conflict set in the 1890's. My alternate history includes races from the other planets in our solar system, flying steam ships, crazy but semi-feasible technology, and mad scientists. Read the *Game Backgound* to get fully brushed up on the fine details.

    Well...today I got out the old sketch pad and went poking through the moth-balled sections of my mind. I ended up drawing the concept sketches for each nation and alien race. It turned out well. Sadly I cannot post them..legalities and all. It looks as if I will have regular supplements for the rules. Not sure how I am going to handle that yet. I hate how much miniature gaming costs. I also want to put out a rulebook with good art and design sketches. That is going to cost money. I will have to figure out how to balance that when I reach that point. I have a great friend who will help me. His name is Dan Fox. He wrote the very popular "Davey Jones Locker" naval game. Great guy. He busted my chops about this project and I am in his debt for it:)

    Expect to see more background info and sample stories in the near future. I have found a place that will make modular ship parts for kits..and I am learning how to design ships via a CAD package. If I goes well I can make all my prototype ships for testing use. Then I will have to find a production company and I will market ships along with the rules. One thing I will ALWAYS enforce is that you will never HAVE to use my models. I want to encourage scratch-building and modification. There are a lot of great models out there already. I will be sampling some myself in the near future. Aren't Larry Enoch's models uncanny? He sent me some demos awhile back. They sit reverantly encased in glass until such time they are called to duty. Thanks again Larry. Keep up the good work!

    I still really need to find a publisher. Writing games like this is a legal nightmare so I have to tread softly. I will keep you all posted on where I am in relation to getting C.S.O.I. to the shelves. Beta-testing is going great! I would like to thank my playtesters for helping me iron out the bugs. As it stands, I cannot let any copies of the rules out of my sight(please don't ask). If you are in Georgia one weekend soon and want to arrange a get together at the War Room to try it out...let me know. I will be setting up a demo-schedule for the War Room soon. They have a link off my page if you want to check them out.

    As always I am easy to reach. You can reach me *via email* with any questions or comments. I cannot accept submissions for the game at this time..but catching typos or passing along publisher leads/legal advice is always welcome. I will glady chat with anyone about this genre. I have to be careful about intellectual property laws though. ARRGH! I wish I could put up an idea and submission forum. Well..that's life for you. After the game is on the market we can do that kinda stuff! Well..it is late here so I am calling it a day. Please stay tuned to the site....and let me know if anyone knows a good, trustworthy game publisher.

1/20/2001   Phase four of the beta testing!

    Phase four of the beta-test is underway! We have added many new aspects to the game, and have bumped into a few new obstacles. We really do need a steady miniature line to back up this game. As it stands we have Larry Enochs models and other 1/600-1/1200 scale ships from retail lines. There has been a lot of scratch-building done recently....and I still can't get all the glue off my hands :) It looks as though we may have to publish the game ourselves. That way I can make sure that I have creative control over it and I can also keep the price down (hopefully). Dan Fox kept pushing the idea that if a game has no miniatures to back it up, it wouldn't last long. So I am off to contact the major figure manufacturers to see if I can get some sample figs to test/convert. Wish me luck folks...and I always answer my email..so drop me a line!

1/24/2001   Seeking minis for demo use and WarFair appearance confirmed.

     I have written letters to all the major Victorian Sci-fi mini makers, and a lot of the better ACW companies as well. The request was to get sample minis for use in my demos. We have been using Larry's models when we beta test here in our secret undergroud complex :) As it is, my hands are cut to ribbons from scratch-building. Add to this the fact that I MUST have a miniature line to make this game successful. So far I have been met with nothing but enthusiasm. I have to be careful, and am NOT going to sign any contracts yet. The minis should be arriving soon and I will post pictures of them in action as soon as they are battle ready. I also hereby invite any major wargame review sites/magazines to join me for my beta-testing here in Atlanta for a sneak peak. Email is pouring in, so if you write...it might take me a day or two to get back to you. I cannot take any submissions for specific ideas at this point for legality reasons. Yes, the paranoia is setting in...but I have a good friend in my corner who has been down this road before. Things are falling into place nicely. Stay tuned! More pictures and updates to come.

3/06/2001   New horizons for CSOI and the ships are rolling in!

     Well, it is decided. CSOI is going to be distributed primarily by web. I am going to convert the rule books and suplements into PDF files readable by Adobe Acrobat. You will be ablew to send payment by Paypal, Credit Cards (Paypal), or money order. I will then email your purchase to you in a self executable zip file. There will be a liscense agreement of course, but I have no problem with you printing off two copies for your own use. This will allow me to get my supplements out faster as I don't have to invest a lot of cash in printing. I am thinking $15 dollars for the core rules and $10 dollars for the supplements. A new game shouldn't cost 30 bucks in my opinion. CSOI is written to encourage scratch-building of ships and using more affordable methods of gaming. I am also going to make all rule errata available for download right off the site...so you wont have to run out to the store to by some goonie bi-annual edition written just to drain your wallet! Geez I hate that!

Bridgade has sent over some of the Ether Ships they make. I will be using these in my demos over the next few months. As soon as I have them painted and based I will get the pics uploaded. We are opening a subsidary called Fleet Crafter®. These will be inexpensive scratch built wooden ships for use in CSOI as well as some generic space vessels. Again, our hobby could really use some price breaks. Just trying to be part of the solution! I will have the Fleet Crafter® site fully functional soon with pictures.

Until then..hang in there..and keep emailing me. I will get a mailing list going asap. Keep on steampunkin'!

3/17/2001   New Staff at S.G.P. and loads of expansions!

     S.G.P. is going HUGE. We actually might have a writer or two now! They will be sprucing up my rules so I can pull you folks into this universe as deeply if not more than I am. My alternative history games will be part of a gaming system known as "The Steam Engine®". I will do my best to make all the games work semi-seamlessly so you can stage "what if" battles. Can't give anything away right now. Suffice it to say I have about 3 more games pent up in my head waiting to be written. Still cranking out ships from the basemen...ur..shipyards. As soon as they are painted to my liking they will be uploaded. Stay tuned!

3/19/2001   Talk of modular ship parts from Brigade!

     Brigade Models, for the record, are some great people. They are very open to ideas. It looks like they might be willing to start producing individual parts (like turrets) for Victorian Sci-fi ships. This way, you can scratch build to your heart's content. I personally have a devil of a time making turrets, but then again...I am a novice. Having these parts available will be a great help. I will post here when and if we get any definates. Whilst I have you here, you wouldn't happen to know any sculptors would you? I am looking for a sculptor here in the U.S. that can make ships for the game. I want to offer gamers the most varied choices of models for CSOI. As long as I am alive and in control of S.G.P., you will never be turned away from a turnament as long as your ships fit the genre. You can use ANY ships appropriate to the feel of the game. Miniatures are a source of pride to most gamers. Customization and scratch building can be very rewarding. I encourage all of you to try your hand at it. Heck, if I can do it, anyone can! Just be careful of the mitre bit on your mini-tool. Mine likes to eat my hands. If I make it out of this hobby with all of my fingers...I will be quite pleased. Later all!

3/17/2001   Updated links and E-Group List!

     I have the "stuffgodproductions" egroup up and running now. I will give general updates, offers, and contests through that medium. I am also updating and the links page into categories for your researching and gaming pleasure. On the back burner we have a possible "line" of CSOI minis being developed in a joint effort between myself and Rusty Hiser of Necropolis. My personal scratch built ships are about ready for posting and the Fleet Crafter® site will be active soon. I am also taking submission work now, please note that there has to be a lot of legal banter in accepting such submissions. As always, thanks for the email. I try to answer every one I get quickly. I appreciate the enthusiasm this project has been met with, and you all have my utmost thanks for bearing with me. We are almost to print!

This page is being phased out in favor of the Egroups list available on the main page. Thanks!