Issue #19 - Suspense & Decision PBM magazine

This thread is for discussion of Issue #19 of Suspense & Decision magazine.

The Submission Deadline for articles, news, events, etc. for Issue #19 is: 10 September, 2019

The scheduled Publication Deadline for Issue #19 is: 30 September, 2019

You've left a couple of the issue numbers in that message as old numbers.

Congrats on becoming scheduled again!

OK, people, send something in for Issue #19, whether it be an article, a comment, a memory, a piece of art that you drew, some feedback on a PBM game or PBM company, a photo of yourself, your likes and dislikes about various PBM games, or even a critique about Suspense & Decision, itself. I implemented a few new changes to the last issue, Issue #18, so feel free to tell me whether you liked them or not.

I have two days left in the trial period for the software that I used to create Issue #18. Do you think that I should continue to use this software, or go back to the old way of creating issues?

The submission deadline for stuff for Issue #19 is September 10th, 2019 - that's just sixteen days away. Sorry to cut it so short, but I'm trying to get things back onto a better, more brisk schedule going forward. Thank you in advance for your interest and your participation, and thank you for supporting Suspense & Decision magazine with your patronage!

I think that the output from your new software looks just fine, and not too much different than the old methods.  I think the main point is whether or not you like using it to build the issue.  From the sounds of things you seem to like it a lot (now that the learning curve is mostly over), so I'd let that be the deciding factor.

[quote='Davin' pid='136854' dateline='1566756176']
I think that the output from your new software looks just fine, and not too much different than the old methods.  I think the main point is whether or not you like using it to build the issue.  From the sounds of things you seem to like it a lot (now that the learning curve is mostly over), so I'd let that be the deciding factor.
[/quote]

Hi Davin,

I deliberately retained the bulk of the "look" of previous issues, as I didn't want to deal with multiple learning curves in addition to the learning curve for the new software, itself, simultaneously.

The learning curve for the software is not "mostly over." There's still a LOT to learn about it. I tried to see if I could replicate at least the bulk of what I was doing, already. Because if not, then I could just fall back on what I was already using.

The biggest visual change to Issue #18 was the clickable table of contents, and the handy link to get players back to the table of contents at the bottom of pages that featured articles. I tried to make it quicker to access desired content, as well as more convenient to get back to the table of contents. I probably spent more hours working on Issue #18 than any other issue, even though numerous other issues that preceded it contained far more pages. Overcoming the worst of new learning curves is very taxing. It's almost as bad overcoming learning curves for software as it is overcoming learning curves here rule books for games are concerned. Almost.

[quote='Davin' pid='136852' dateline='1566754898']
You've left a couple of the issue numbers in that message as old numbers.
[/quote]

That caused by me copying and pasting from a previous issue. I noticed it, when I first posted it. As I catch it, I fix it. Thanks for the heads up, though.

I received two articles for Issue #19 via e-mail, tonight.

Also, I previously received a draft of another article, which makes three articles, total for Issue #19, so far.

UPDATE: I have begun compiling issue #19.

UPDATE: Starting to get some fresh ads sent in to me, for Issue #19. Board game companies and war game companies seem to appreciate the value of free ad space better than PBM companies do. new ads help to generate fresh visual contrast to the text mass that articles present to our readers. It also helps with cross-pollination efforts of various turn-based gaming populations.

UPDATE: Still waiting on some new articles to get sent in to me, for inclusion into Issue #19.

I'm gonna take a nap. Somebody wake me, when an article arrives.

[quote='GrimFinger' pid='136916' dateline='1567492072']
UPDATE: Still waiting on some new articles to get sent in to me, for inclusion into Issue #19.

I'm gonna take a nap. Somebody wake me, when an article arrives.
[/quote]

I’ll have my article written by this upcoming weekend, perhaps sooner.

[quote='Rinzai' pid='136917' dateline='1567493322']
I’ll have my article written by this upcoming weekend, perhaps sooner.
[/quote]

Excellent! I also just received another article, and have already compiled it into Issue #19. There's an additional article that I have, which I have not yet compiled, but I want to space it apart from a different article that deals with the same game.

UPDATE: I compiled another article into Issue #19, just now. It's starting to take shape. Ira Gossett is weighing in, this issue.

I am sitting down right now to write my article for S&D #19.

Finished. 3,200 words. I'll give it another edit pass on Sunday and send it over.

Excellent!

[quote='Rinzai' pid='136934' dateline='1567912827']
Finished. 3,200 words. I'll give it another edit pass on Sunday and send it over.
[/quote]

Ha, the editing process made it 4,100 words.

[quote='Rinzai' pid='136936' dateline='1567959993']
Ha, the editing process made it 4,100 words.
[/quote]

Ah, a small article. Length is a matter of perspective, you know.

I look forward to receiving it, Raven! I'm working on the table of contents, right now.

[quote='GrimFinger' pid='136937' dateline='1567960642']
[quote='Rinzai' pid='136936' dateline='1567959993']
Ha, the editing process made it 4,100 words.
[/quote]

Ah, a small article. Length is a matter of perspective, you know.

I look forward to receiving it, Raven! I'm working on the table of contents, right now.
[/quote]

Sent.

[quote='Rinzai' pid='136938' dateline='1567967452']
Sent.
[/quote]

Your article has been received and compiled, by the way. Issue #19 is really starting to come together. I think that your article ended up being 14 pages long, after I added the images to it.

[quote='GrimFinger' pid='136948' dateline='1568304512']
[quote='Rinzai' pid='136938' dateline='1567967452']
Sent.
[/quote]

Your article has been received and compiled, by the way. Issue #19 is really starting to come together. I think that your article ended up being 14 pages long, after I added the images to it.
[/quote]

Woah. The next few articles won't be that long, I promise.  :)

I'll try and get a slightly better The Isles ad done in the next 36 hours or so - I have night shifts at the moment so struggling to stay awake until the weekend. I'd also commit to writing a small article about hand mod rpg PBMs, but that might be overextending myself for at least a few weeks while I wade through other stuff :-)

[quote='Roy Pollard' pid='136950' dateline='1568321648']
I'll try and get a slightly better The Isles ad done in the next 36 hours or so - I have night shifts at the moment so struggling to stay awake until the weekend. I'd also commit to writing a small article about hand mod rpg PBMs, but that might be overextending myself for at least a few weeks while I wade through other stuff :-)
[/quote]

That's fine, Roy. Issue #19 is mostly done, but there's still a portion of empty space yet to be filled, plus whenever I write what I write for the issue, that can throw the page count off (It must be done in 4-page increments), thereby creating or reducing the amount of available empty space. Invariably, I seem to end up missing some typos, each issue, but I am trying to refine what is already in place for Issue #19. So, you have a little time, yet, to get your Isles ad done and sent in.

UPDATE: Not much in the way of progress was made, tonight. I did manage to get the cover artist back on track, though. I really don't want to publish an issue without a front cover. I had actually hoped to finish things up this past weekend, but life doesn't always cooperate fully, for some reason.

Also, tonight, I began to debate with myself over what I had already written for Issue #19. There's also a little bit of stuff still coming in. I got home late, and there were several e-mails in my in-box waiting on me. Not sure if Bernd is planning to send an article in for Issue #19, or not. Bernd must be busy, of late.

When I get too tired, it's hard to function in an editorial/publisher capacity. The next most likely window of opportunity to publish Issue #19 will be this Thursday. Keep your fingers crossed!

UPDATE: A draft copy of Issue #19 of Suspense & Decision has been sent to Raven and Bernd, as a degree of quality control, to try and help catch any broken links or typos, before the issue is made available for download by the general public. Bernd has fallen silent, of late, and I have already begun implementing Bernd's suggested changes.

The actual publication deadline for Issue #19 was set for September 30th, 2019, so it appears that we are going to beat that deadline by approximately a week and a half.

Bigger structural changes in the design of the layout will begin to be implemented starting in Issue #20.

UPDATE: I have received feedback from Raven Zachary, whom I am using as a quality control checkpoint, and have implemented revisions/fixes, per his suggestion.

I also had picked Bernd as a second quality control checkpoint, but I don't know if he is busy or otherwise unavailable, currently, to do any QC for Issue #19.

Also, I fired off an inquiry to Roy Pollard of The Isles PBM, just a few minutes ago, and am waiting to hear back from him. Otherwise, Issue #19 is completed and ready to publish and be made available for download.

I may end up just publishing Issue #19, tonight, relying only upon one quality control checkpoint, instead of two. Thank you for your interest and your patience!