Well, the time is quickly closing in when we'll be seeing the release of the second module in the Dark Spiral Quintet, Missing Persons.

What awaits the bold adventurers this time around?







If you've missed some of the earlier discussion about this up-and-coming adventure (including additional preview pictures), you can find it here:

At one point in time, someone requested that I provide an advance list of things you’ll need to build for Missing Persons so you can get a start on your construction. As promised, here is the list.

It’s not guaranteed to have *everything* on it, it’s subject to possible revision yet, and it obviously does not include numerous pieces that come with the module…but it should give you a good, solid head start. Also note that it assumes you re-use elements that are easily portable.

From DungeonWorks Gothic:

At least 20 Plain Dungeon Floor tiles. 12 of these can be combined together into a “standard” masterboard layout, and the optional trim (if desired) can be added to that board.
5 Yellow pool tiles.
36 7” walls, 5 6” walls, 24 3” walls, 10 4” walls, 9 2” walls, 1 1” wall.
11 “Crypt Walls”…the long chunky-like wall with three inset burial nitches.
2 long corridors, 3 short corridors, 1 corner, 1 crossroads
6 sarcophagi with lids
1 saw trap, 3 spike traps, 1 ramp and blades trap
10 wooden doors, 1 stone door, 5 small pillars
7 Yellow bridges, 6 Yellow straight sewer sections, 2 Yellow corner sewer sections, 3 Yellow sewer outlets.


From DungeonWorks Classic, Chunky Dungeons, or Mini-Chunk:
14 beds, 1 table, 8 chairs, 1 bookcase, 2 chests, 4 torture racks, 1 torture pillar, 1 weapon rack, 1 “pile of treasure” tile, 9 plain wooden doors and a spiked pit tile.

If you have one of the “Chunky” sets, you’ll need to wait for the module for the wooden door and spiked pit tiles, but as an added bonus, you have a different style of torture rack you can include. To make up the 4 you need, feel free to mix and match between the two types.

Ok…so get busy! You’ve a lot to do, and the time is starting to tick down.

Freaking cool Bob!

Just for new chunky Gothic and the packet load of standees this is a musst.


Lord Abaddon of Wormwood

You know, that's a common problem with making any payment by credit card or Internet or debit card or whatever.

Multiple charges on your account with only one purchase (and the vendor only gets paid once).

I have investigated and worked on this issue here in my company for several years and have managed to figure out what causes a few of the multiple charges -

Transmission error.

For a credit transaction, what happens is the vendor attempts to verify the card and send the charge over the line to the bank. Swipe your card, type in the numbers and the machine sends out a transmission. However, the transmission only partially gets there or is corrupted, so the bank sends a signal to re-transmit. Only the bank's computer doesn't understand when the re-transmit comes in that it's for the same transaction (stupid, isn't it?). So the bank's computer ends up charging you two or three times depending on the number of times the end machines have to resend.

Now, banks are supposed to have a system in place that catches this. Comparing transaction numbers and the like. Only some banks really suck at it.

As for PayPal's problem, it's not a transmission error. Because it shouldn't have to "resend" the information. Bang, it's done. However, if the bank refuses the card or the charge from Paypal, for whatever reason, Paypal logs another try. And another. Up to five times. If it doesn't go through, they ask you to use another card or call them. If it does go through, it logs the charge a second time as a separate charge.

My company and PayPal do not get along. PayPal wants to put credit card transaction company's out of business. I've called them on it, but they won't listen to me.

Sorry it's gotta happen to you.

Ah, but eBay has been slowly weening themselves from PayPal lately. Lately, a lot of auctions I've been winning have been non-PayPal acceptors. They give me the option to use Western Union or my own Visa card!

So eBay is growing wise, Grump, to the errors of using one money tender!

How goes the project? I've nearly completed the supporting builds and look forward to the final result.

It should be soon...very soon. I can't speak for it anymore, since it's in Denny's hands now, but you shouldn't have to wait for long.