Even I have to take a break from my regular diet of RPG books, Pulp stories and Sword and Sorcery tales. I found this gem the other day quite by accident. It's set during the Napoleonic wars, the twist is Dragons exist and they are used much the same way we use our modern air forces. It's one part Horatio Hornblower and one part Dawn Patrol. "His Majesty's Dragon" is the first in a series of books, the author Naomi Novik tells a tale rich in detail and characterization. She takes her time and builds her story, involving you with the characters the whole way through. she doesn't write in the screenwriters short story style, she has a tale to tell and it's a rich one. This is an excellent book to enjoy and savor at your leisure.
One of my oldest and most beloved AD&D characters was Mister Wu. Mister Wu was a Wu-Jen Fire Elementalist. Back in my RPGA days I played him in all the "Living city" tournaments in Hawaii. I always figured Fire Elementalist was the way to go (with Earth Elementalist a close second). But after watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, playing an Air Elementalist is looking kinda cool.
While I'm not a fan of the Anime style of animation, I have been pleasantly surprised by the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. I caught an episode the other night on Nickelodean and got hooked. since it's now in it's third season I had some catch up to do. I tracked down the first season and have been watching it with the minions. It's a great story, awesome premise, involved characters, yet it's at times goofy like a kids show should be. It's good family fun and gamers will relate to it from the opening credits. Oh and it features one of Mako's final roles before his death, which is a +5 to the geek coolness factor right there.
Ok I will not make a snap decision on the long awaited Dragonlance movie. But I will say that I'm not liking the mixing of CGI and animation that this one is showing on the trailer. Being a gamer I've gotta wish it the best. fingers crossed.
The second pod cast of Dial P for Pulp is out and ready for download. It looks like David is tightening up the broadcast and improving it with each step. It’s a first rate resource for Pulps. If David stays on the course he’s set I can see this being the definitive pod cast of the genre.
“Superpowers” is an upcoming release from Dynamite entertainment. The project is due out a bit later this year. The storyline follows the adventures of several WWII and Post WWII heroes of the pulps and comics. “They have all have been drawn, designed and/or re-imagined by Alex Ross, including Fighting Yank, Green Lama, The Death Defying ‘Devil, the Black Terror, Masquerade, The Flame, Mister Face, Samson, The Scarab, The Owl, the Claw, Pyroman, the Arrow, the American Spirit, the Crusaders, the F-Troop and more.” http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=11188
Check out these new looks for some classic heroes:
Jungle Girl is another new dynamite release. Set in the modern 21st century rather than the classic 20th century (1930’s-1950’s) setting of most jungle tales, Jungle girl is the story of Jana and her adventures in a “Lost world” of Prehistoric creatures and barbaric splendor. The story starts out with Jana witnessing the crash landing of a private plane carrying a documentary film crew. Jana hurries to rescue them and we begin the trek to safety. I’ve read issues 0-2, the art is nice but the story is sparse. I’ll give it a couple of issues more but if it doesn’t pick up I may pass on further issues.
The system formerly known as FASERIP has been given the "generic open content" treatment.
"The 4C System -- including both Basic and Advanced rules -- is a public domain work inspired by a classic superhero roleplaying game. This complete RPG system can be used as presented or as the basis for an RPG of your own creation."
This is exactly the type of thing I was talking about when I mentioned my idea for “Mission: Adventure!” a few months back. M:A will be my next project once I get “Broadsword Expansion Pack I” and “Legends of Steel” done.
By the way, here's a teaser for what I have in mind:
"Mission: Adventure! "
The premise “Mission: Adventure!” is a Roleplaying game set in a "pulp-style" universe, that re-creates the action / adventure television, magazine, comic book, and toy themes of the 60's and 70's.
The inspiration Action packed TV shows like Johnny Quest, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, and Mission Impossible. Adventure themed action figure lines like the Adventure Team (A/T) GI Joe's, Major Matt Mason, and Big Jim's P.A.C.K Non-super powered comic book heroes and teams such as Cave Carson, and the Challengers of the Unknown. Post-War Pulp magazines such as Man’s exploits, Escape to Adventure, Rage, etc.
The campaign The time period would be similar to that of real world Earth in the late 60's to the early 70's. In the world of “Mission: Adventure!” the "Iron Curtain" still stands and the "Cold War" is red hot. It's a world where small teams of agents fight a war in the shadows to ensure that their side comes out on top. In “Mission: Adventure!” the ideological choices are easy. Good and evil are well defined. There is freedom and democracy or there is totalitarianism and oppression. Your characters can be part of a global organization, a national security force, or a small team of privately funded agents. They come from all walks of life, ex-military, scientists, athletes, law enforcement agents, daredevils, etc. The characters will travel the world and beyond- whether it's exploring a "Dinosaur valley" in the Amazon basin, breaking up a drug smuggling ring in Macao, or serving as part of a strike force assaulting a secret base on the moon.
Elements •Psionics-there is no magic in the traditional sense, but paranormal abilities such as telekinesis, ESP, and empathy are present.
•Gadgets-Air-cars, laser pistols, wrist communicators, mobile HQ vehicles, and other Pulp inspired paraphernalia will make it's way into the characters hands as well as those of their adversaries.
•Organizations- Adventure Team type organizations, S.H.I.E.L.D type organizations, U.N.C.L.E type organizations; Science based organizations –such as: The Challengers of the Unknown, The Sea Devils, and Cave Carson.
•Enemies- enemy countries (behind the Iron or Bamboo curtains), lone wolf operatives, rogue states, evil brotherhoods, alien menaces, secret hideouts.
I'm back at work on LoS and the Broadsword expansion. It's slow going since I can't sit for too long without the pain getting to be too much. But at least I'm moving on this again. I have all this time off from work but I cant utilize it properly. you think getting to lie around the house would be fun. It's as boring as hell. I am getting caught up on my reading though.
The picture above is one of the pieces I bought for LoS. Lori is quite talented. you can check out her gallery of work here. I think her style would compliment a children's fantasy book wonderfully. For LoS she has toughened it up a bit to reflect the genre.
A couple of weeks ago I reported on Adamant Entertainments new line of Pulp adventures. I finally had a chance to look it over. “The Crimson Emperor” is an adventure split into 5 parts. According to Adamant Entertainment each part can either be played as a standalone session or as part of a larger Pulp serial campaign. I purchased the first installment “Politics of Terror” and am happy to report that the product delivers. It’s a solid no frills adventure steeped in the politics of the 1930’s, specifically the run for the white house by a popular senator who is tough on organized crime. The information is sufficient to give both the players and the GM a sense of how to get the players involved in the adventure. The adventure is written for the D20 system but there would be absolutely no problem in converting it to the pulp engine of your choice. I have only purchased episode one, but I was pleased enough with it that I’ll give episode two a try. I’ll fill you all in on that one soon.
Conan the Phenomenon http://www.darkhorse.com/profile/profile.php?sku=10-673
Following the elation of surviving by brush with death and idiocy (see October 2nd post), I soon had to start to deal with some new realities forced on me: My car was totaled. I had insurances to deal with, and just as everyone predicted I started having pains. My doctor diagnosed me with whiplash and I’ve been off work since the day of the accident.
I’m pretty much bed ridden. I can’t sit on a chair for more than 3 minutes without it becoming unbearable. Considering I have an office job where 95% of my day is spent sitting, this news is not good. The pain gets pretty bad and the medications just seem to dull it, not take it away, plus the meds make me rather “loopy” and forgetful. I haven’t had a decent nights sleep since I was hit. I know, Whine, whine, whine, bitch, bitch, bitch.
I have physical therapy coming up Thursday, my job is so far being empathetic to my situation and I now have an attorney on the case. I will try and keep the Blog up and running as best I can. But I have other things on my mind, and I don’t want this to turn into an “Oh woe is me Blog” those suck. So I’ll try to keep up within my limitations.
Thanks for all the thoughts and concern. If I missed getting back to anyone I’m sorry.
“Legends of Steel” is still going forward. I’m working with a couple of really good artists who I can actually afford, so I may not be doing much writing but the creative juices are still flowing. My thanks to all the folks who responded to my call for artists, my decision on who to go with was a tough one.
The Broadsword expansion is still going forward as planned I’m just not able to write as much or as fast.
And of course our Wednesday feature will continue without interruption.
So I was sitting in my car yesterday at the stoplight, waiting for it to turn so I could get on the freeway and start my morning commute. When all of a sudden, out of the corner of my eye, I see this big ass SUV careening out of the off ramp and headed straight for me and my trusty little Toyota Corolla. I had enough time to brace myself and yell “FUCK!” Suddenly, ½ ton of American SUV met 48 ounces of Japanese aluminum and fiberglass. The end result is pictured below.
The minions and “She who must be obeyed” were not in the car. Thank God.
I’m alive- which feels great!
The guy driving the car worked for a tire store. The SUV belonged to a customer who complained of “soft brakes”. Why he decided the best way to test for "soft brakes" was to take the SUV ON THE FREEWAY, ON THE FIRST RAINY MORNING OF FALL, WAS BEYOND MY FUCKING LOGIC! But I digress.
