tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5897244768582715602012-01-18T05:37:15.337-05:00Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.comBlogger531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-69731260031454189502012-01-13T19:54:00.008-05:002012-01-14T03:14:57.585-05:00

Player Characters Ruining Everything. This is the first in what I hope to be a new series of posts, of the most insane, dubious, intentionally gamebreaking, and simply stupid things that PCs do. Bonus points if they have massive unintended consequences. So feel free to send in stories of how your PCs did their utter best to ruin things, and how you worked it out, preferably in a humorous way.This

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-54519341470989049342012-01-10T04:16:00.003-05:002012-01-12T18:26:08.085-05:00

Dark Jenny is the third in Alex Bledsoe's Eddie LaCrosse series, now I've actually been thinking about how to review this, since to really delve into it runs the risk of spoiling all the little twists and turns that Bledsoe has added. On the other hand, given that the novel is a pastiche of Arthurian legend as seen through the eyes and grit typical of a LaCrosse story, we all know how it's going

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-71381215804756726612012-01-06T20:27:00.004-05:002012-01-07T01:15:25.255-05:00

My list of 5 horribly, horribly bad cartoons that we were exposed to as children. These are shows with really, little to know redeeming value, often cliche knockoffs trying to pick at the popularity of the shows we actually wanted to watch. Either way, we all cringed when they came up in the Saturday morning lineup. So here are my top, or rather, bottom 5 picks for the worst cartoons that we

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-13999303070183932662011-12-28T20:11:00.003-05:002011-12-29T02:06:32.836-05:00

Space Captain Smith by Toby Frost is the type of rip-roaring adventure that you didn't know you were nostalgic for. A ship, a crew, a stiff upper lip, and they're off to save the galaxy for England! Well, except for the fact that it's a rust bucket, there's an air of Flashman about him, and the most dependable member of the crew is the space hamster. Yes, they went there.The story spares no

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-65944150159472859882011-09-07T21:33:00.002-04:002011-09-08T01:26:04.761-04:00

Iron Dynasty: Way of the RoninIron Dynasty: Way of the Ronin by Reality Blurs is an oriental setting for Savage Worlds, largely modeled upon pre/early industrial Japan, with a healthy dose of fantasy tropes. The pdf version I purchased came with a very nice color map of the area in the back, but otherwise the pictures and maps were black and white art. Actually they almost felt like sketches most

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-9706028141060061832011-08-12T05:33:00.004-04:002011-08-15T19:41:45.671-04:00

Just finished running a quick and dirty Savage Worlds game. The Backstory A lone patrol through the jungle wanders its way back to base. Two orc grunts and their Sergeant, accompanied by an Elven Ranger and human medic. The grunts are very low on ammo and the Wild Cards are down to around twenty rounds each for their respective weapons. The orc Sergeant carries a single grenade. The

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-17825650355999810412011-01-28T15:59:00.003-05:002011-01-29T02:29:38.499-05:00

In Hero Years... I'm Dead by Michael A. StackpoleOne of the latest out by Stackpole, available from amazon or his own Stormwolf store through the link above. There are two ways to look at this, as a Stackpole book, or as a Superhero book. Now don't get me wrong, I usually quite enjoy his work, but as I've mentioned before, similar themes tend to resurface. In this one we have a Revenant, a

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-28627208412449118812011-01-03T16:17:00.003-05:002011-01-03T17:16:45.821-05:00

Over the holiday I got a chance to try out the Colonial Battlefleet game from Steel Dreadnought Games. Below is the After Action Report and a quick review.Meeting at ProcyonThe tensions between the Empire of D and the T Hegemony have erupted into full scale war. The trade lanes outside of Procyon would prove a dangerous meeting ground, as Hegemony taskgroup Dreadnought and the Imperial squadron

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-56772161026517740942009-12-02T22:18:00.002-05:002009-12-03T11:16:27.686-05:00

It seems that it's well past time for some Spring cleaning...and by past time I mean it's winter already. Anyways, updating links and going to see if I can find a counter that works. Have patience and don't worry about the dust.

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-52155237872388509472009-10-29T21:39:00.004-04:002009-10-29T23:52:06.346-04:00

A swashbuckling tale about pirates that has surprisingly little actual piracy. Kestrel is a natural magic user in a world where magic is highly regulated, with "promises" or those with talent taken away by a shadowy society of mages. She runs away and finds that saltwater runs in her veins, taking up as the quartermaster to a pirate ship.This book just didn't quite hit the mark with me. Perhaps

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-27721172768667168142009-10-18T14:00:00.007-04:002009-10-29T23:50:12.061-04:00

There's always the question of whether the sequel will live up to the original, especially when the first is as powerful as the Sword-Edged Blonde was, but I have to say that I was not disappointed at all with Burn Me Deadly. Fair warning, there are going to be some spoilers in this review.Burn Me Deadly does have a change of flavor from the original, in that it is what I'd call a setting book.

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-85518939175325432852009-09-29T23:48:00.003-04:002009-09-30T00:57:16.361-04:00

I accepted the assignment from the Low King with a heavy beard and heavier heart. However, the destiny of the mountains calls to me, and there is only one answer when the mountain calls. Well, two actually, but being squashed was not very attractive. So we set out into the wilds, my mission, to establish a viable outpost for the dwarven empire of Lor Tangath in preparation for the arrival of

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-17866271373039854452009-09-01T02:17:00.003-04:002009-09-01T02:50:46.227-04:00

Just finished reading and all I have to say is wow, a very impressive entry from a newcomer. First let me give you the brief, relatively spoiler free background. Eddie LaCrosse is a sword jockey(read PI) living over a tavern that's seen better days. A routine assignment to find a wayward princess turns his life upside down as he's pulled into a murder mystery that spans across decades. Eddie must

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-39973014112305520672009-02-01T13:06:00.007-05:002009-02-01T18:03:06.889-05:00

Now, although I think we've emerged from the cartoon wasteland of the early 2000's with some exciting programming such as the new Clone Wars show or Wolverine and the X-men, I for one still pine for those Saturday morning glory days. So, although this will seriously date me, here is my list of the top childhood cartoons that ended too soon or that I wish we had back.Also, note that if the show

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-75631251659572997112009-01-28T15:19:00.000-05:002009-02-01T17:56:51.085-05:00

Flashing swords, mysterious barbarian women, and the glory that was Rome. All the ingredients for a fine historical novel. Well, first off, why, oh why did they decide to put the ENTIRE PLOT on the backcover blurb, I mean, Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire is common knowledge, but did they need to reveal all the details? In fact, the biggest twist reveals are right there, there is not even a

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-27989402444669204752008-08-24T12:11:00.002-04:002008-08-24T13:01:40.231-04:00

Well, I do apologize for not updating this recently....but with moving to another state and starting grad school, time has been at a premium. So hopefully the linkfest will appease you all for now, because it's either this or nothing.So what could be better than Batman The Dark Knight? Batman The Musical! Well, better in terms of riotously amusing at least. I couldn't stop laughing after hearing

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-83324480677664176352008-07-24T17:27:00.007-04:002008-08-16T11:19:08.773-04:00

How to know that you're reading a Michael A. Stackpole novel. Now let's start off with the fact that I do enjoy his books, they're some of my favorites, with Talion and a Hero Reborn always holding a special place in my heart, however, there are a few elements that tend to get reused. And since I'm just finishing up The New World, the third in his Cartomancy(actually properly Age of Discovery but

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-80024520334170740782008-07-23T23:55:00.001-04:002008-07-26T12:15:52.395-04:00

Well, I've had a pretty intense last few weeks, between the whole Airport fiasco and moving up to NC for grad school, so take this as a teaser, with a full update hopefully coming soon.I found this site with some free wargame rules, and plenty of battle reports. Well written and quite interesting, so go ahead and check out Damned Human Race - Miniature War GamingHere's an unrelated but possibly

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-67618631561443358242008-07-14T22:15:00.001-04:002008-07-14T22:16:46.115-04:00

This is a bit of a personal post, but given that I haven't done much on here I thought I would give you all a bit of an explanation.You may not know, but I went up to visit a friend in rural Harbor Beach Michigan over the weekend. Getting up there I was delayed two hours, but nothing compared to getting back. First off, Harbor Beach is a good 2-3 hours from the Flint airport, with a flight

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-33582404931714909272008-07-03T15:25:00.003-04:002008-07-03T16:13:57.684-04:00

The Dragon Never Sleeps - Glen CookCanon space has been ruled for thousands of years, overseen by immortal Guardships, ready to dispense justice and restore order with extreme prejudice. But the years have taken their toll, and for the crews, constantly undergoing a rebirth cycle to rival any karmic wheel, and the nascent AIs, things are not what they once were. Whole ships have gone silent,

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-89474787365540713222008-06-14T00:59:00.002-04:002008-06-14T02:36:17.458-04:00

"All of this has happened before-""But it doesn't have to happen again."Wow! Just....wow. If you haven't already guessed, this is SPOILER TERRITORY to beware!First off, we have some stunning acting by, well, everyone. Secondly, there was so much plot and story there that it almost felt like I had just watched two episodes, at least. The parts with Saul Tigh waiting to be flushed out the airlock

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-39916018073671504362008-06-11T15:41:00.003-04:002008-06-11T16:10:56.193-04:00

The first in the Veil series by Christopher Golden, the Myth Hunters evokes images of Gaiman's American Gods or China Mieville's King Rat, with fantastic myths and legends living in a mirrored world of fantasy. The book follows some pretty classic fantasy tropes with the reluctant and somewhat bewildered hero thrust into a land of gods and fantasy. But these aren't always the myths we remember,

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-76620548503784316202008-06-03T01:33:00.002-04:002008-06-03T01:36:09.636-04:00

Often Inspired is hosting a short story competition. The Power of Good Dialog.From the rules"Register in the forum.You have to write at least a thousand words of dialog - and have a beginning, middle, and an end.You're allowed a title, and a byline. The rest has to be dialog only."Anyways, check it out, if there are enough people participating the winning entry gets a cash prize. Further rules

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-33274270179677610382008-05-21T03:22:00.001-04:002008-05-23T14:03:43.819-04:00

There's a thin line between embarrassment and nostalgia, especially if you grew up in the 80's/90's. This site celebrates that, from an adequately distant perspective. A look back at all that Retro Junk.Speaking of reliving one's childhood. Or at least the cartoons, this was one of my personal favorites, click and listen to the Sky Pirate Song from Tailspin. I have to say, Don Karnage was as much

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-31450409445386962362008-05-18T16:10:00.007-04:002008-05-20T01:56:04.729-04:00

Modern Ops by Pinnacle Entertainment Group is a skirmish level wargame based on the Savage Worlds ruleset. It uses the abbreviated version known as the Showdown rules as well as its own setting rules.Now for anyone familiar with the Savage World rules, the Showdown set is essentially what happens when you strip off most of the RPG elements and excess fat away to turn it into a lean mean fighting

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-79214700077289211002008-05-07T21:44:00.005-04:002008-05-08T02:46:26.372-04:00

"Bring your army little god! My sword is hungry!"Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews is the second in her Kate Daniels series, set in a world where Magic came back, ending, or at least highly disrupting the reign of technology. However it comes and goes, ebbing and flowing like the tides as the magic returns into the world. Not only does the magic bring power, but it transforms the world with its

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-62580371801758545002008-04-30T01:15:00.006-04:002008-04-30T21:25:51.656-04:00

You know them and love them, or at least love to see them defeat some meddling do-gooders. Eye-candy? No sir! Let that tongue loll out and they'll take it, staple it to the wall and play darts with what remains as a target. These are those downright evil, or at least maniacal women of animation fame, the ones that you cheer on, despite knowing that after 25 minutes of success, the heroes of the

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-73417577233779405842008-04-17T23:15:00.007-04:002008-04-17T23:42:19.728-04:00

So, inspired by articles like this:What Real-Life Dungeon Exploration Might Look Like, Graduate Students in TowAnd thisBack From Yet Another Globetrotting Adventure, Indiana Jones checks his mail and discovers that his bid for tenure has been deniedI wanted to do a lighthearted subversion of the typical dungeon crawl. I'm using the Savage Worlds system, which is by Pinnacle Entertainment Group.

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-90576671479810780772008-04-11T22:33:00.003-04:002008-04-12T03:08:50.239-04:00

BSG: "Six of One"Wow....just, wow. Also, danger, danger, spoilers ahead!You still here?Okay, great.First off, Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell, by the gods, that's just some amazing acting, they've really made those roles their own."You can stay in the room...Get out of my head."They really are just at the end of their patience with each other, and I have to say that was one of the most

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-62281381338551503762008-04-09T22:02:00.004-04:002008-04-11T20:24:43.986-04:00

"Those who fight monsters should take care that they never become one.For when you stand and look long into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you."-Friedrich NietzscheRippers is a Savage Setting of Victorian Horror for the Savage Worlds gaming system. Imagine every myth and folklore of mad science and playing god, every boogie man that kept you up at night, imagine, all the myths are true.

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-61034661036511032572008-04-05T17:18:00.004-04:002008-04-05T22:07:13.705-04:00

"He That Believeth in Me" or, Gaius Baltar: Messiah at Large. Or, What Would Gaius Baltar Do? Or, No Asking for Directions!Danger, Danger, spoilers ahead!OkaySeason 4, the premiere episode, what can I saw but....wow. Just....wow.The revealed final 4, let's talk about that first. We've had some time to let it sink in about them being Cylons. But damn does Saul Tigh lay down the law, even though

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-31626904053792807442008-04-04T14:04:00.006-04:002008-04-04T22:34:57.210-04:00

Since we last reviewed Broadsword, I felt that now would be a good time to look at the new add-on, The World of Broadsword in which Mejia which expands on the original product, continuing the barbarous rampage across an entire world, ripe for the picking. It includes a section on new advantages, a bestiary, an overview of the major cities and features, and a new adventure. Compared to the

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-81078087467690000212008-04-02T18:47:00.005-04:002008-04-03T00:53:10.462-04:00

For all the works of cultured man Must fare and fade and fall. I am the Dark Barbarian That towers over all. -Robert E. Howard, "A Word from the Outer Dark"Broadsword, by Mejia, Stubbs, and Downing is campy barbarian goodness in its purest form. Reading it I couldn't help but feel like I had Robert E. Howard and David

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-17296349213972130292008-03-30T00:18:00.004-04:002008-03-30T16:23:49.897-04:00

MidwayEarly Morning, June 4th, 1942 Seaplanes fill the air. 8:40 A seaplane from Midway spots a Japanese carrier group, a heavy and light carrier escorted by an unknown number of cruisers and destroyers, but is this the main group that US codebreakers have been warned about? 12:00 Midway command thinks so, for the next 20 minutes the Japanese TF comes under air attack. Heavy fighter cover and AA

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-42709470333413632792008-03-29T00:07:00.003-04:002008-03-29T11:52:43.571-04:00

This time the focus is on what we've been watching, our favorite time wasters of the hour/day/week that we've stumbled upon. Thank youtube for stealing away hours of potential work, of course, some of it really is pretty cool.Lets start off with two from blinky500, I'm Powergirl Dammit! Now if that isn't the perfect Powergirl then I don't know what is. And I have to say, the music choice really

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-46064048405176023292008-03-27T00:53:00.004-04:002008-04-05T17:08:48.522-04:00

Recently I stumbled upon this page on Making Dungeons. Which contains rules on How To Host A Dungeon, taking one from the Primordial soup to the Age of Villainy. Since this was such a neat premise I had to play a run through. Any confusion with the rules is probably my own fault, and I know that I made some errors that if I were to have another go at it I would be able to avoid, but it turned out

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-26777239178043970722008-03-17T18:34:00.006-04:002008-03-18T02:50:11.502-04:00

Take one part Frankenstein, one part Lovecraftian horror, a dollop of Moby Dick, and a dose of Horatio Hornblower, and set it all during the US Civil War, and you might get something like this. The premise is more exciting than the story itself, a demon raider prowls the shipping lanes as a US naval ship built to mystical specifications launches to sink her.Unfortunately, in my opinion, it lacks

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-34479675217817315172008-03-11T17:57:00.005-04:002009-01-31T12:40:43.033-05:00

Shaintar was something I've had my eye on for some time, and when the GM's Day sale started up I had no excuses left not to buy it. Published by Talisman Studios and written by Sean Patrick Fannon, one of the first things you realize when you open it up, is that this is a project that they cared about.The art is beautiful, and the writing is crisp and interesting. One thing I especially want to

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-11985352076642030292008-03-05T19:07:00.007-05:002008-07-26T01:43:43.479-04:00

Well, one looks around at the advice to get a few cheap pageviews. Either I need to learn how to draw, devote more hours of my day, or else post some pictures of pretty women. Being lazy as I am, not to mention artistically challenged, I chose the latter.Of course this being a very geeky blog, sexy isn't enough to cut it. Quirky, funny, smart, or just plain icons all contributed to my decision.

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-5206806196396391122008-03-03T00:32:00.003-05:002008-03-03T08:33:45.210-05:00

Tricksters, that's what todays linkfest will focus on. To start off with we have the folks from Cockeyed.com a bunch of pranksters who show that mad science is fun. Not to mention obsessive compulsive disorders which force you to measure and document how much is inside things. If nothing else you might answer that burning question to how long a line of cheese wiz is inside that can.Next up is

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-78678102461732948802008-02-24T01:04:00.004-05:002009-09-04T17:31:47.665-04:00

There are two ways of looking at this book from the perspective of one who's read quite a bit of sci-fi. Either it's a good addition to the volumes on this particular topic, or else it's a not to inventive retelling of a familiar theme. I'd like to lean towards the first, but there's no denying that this story will be familiar to readers. At it's base we have the Connecticut Yankee scenario,

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-71453473286986372232008-02-06T20:35:00.000-05:002008-02-06T20:49:06.758-05:00

Okay, so I figured that it's about time I showed my face around here. So, here's a quick "hey". I'm Sera-Star and I'm the video game reviewer. Now, I'll generally be reviewing RPG's since that's mostly what I play. On occasion, I'll be reviewing other types of games as well as platforms/systems.Now, like any good RPG, I like taking something simple (in this case, a review) and making it very

Sera-Starnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-47282443078070678672008-02-05T20:53:00.000-05:002008-02-05T20:59:00.062-05:00

Just a small update, as it's been a busy week or so. Anyways, in case you didn't know, I'm an aspiring writer. My work is now being featured up on the Often Inspired site. Check out my short story, Inkblots in the member's section or else the novel I wrote for Nanowrimo, which is being serialized over there. By the way, just because you, my faithful readers deserve something good. Go watch

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-86125878834937530092008-01-28T15:58:00.000-05:002008-01-28T21:56:50.146-05:00

"And for some reason, the thought that Admiral Fanning was dead, or soon would be, was no consolation. Who cares about him? some unexpeected part of him said. Only you, and what do you matter?"-Karl Schroeder, from Sun of SunsHayden Griffin has just seen his family and his homeland destroyed at the hands of one Admiral Fanning, and swears revenge. A basic premise for any fantasy or space opera,

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-133127840691809562008-01-23T18:55:00.000-05:002008-01-23T19:51:42.017-05:00

Being in the mid-week schlump and not quite ambitious enough to post another book review yet, here's another linkfest.Five Most Horrifying Bugs In The World because it's possible that you aren't quite terrified enough of creepy crawlies. Actually there aren't really creepy crawlies there as much as bitey and stingeys, though the last one does fit. Just...keep them all away from me.On the lighter

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-51731042530916246142008-01-19T23:33:00.000-05:002008-01-20T00:07:30.851-05:00

Mal: Well, look at this! Appears we got here just in the nick of time. What does that make us?Zoe: Big damn heroes, sir!Mal: Ain't we just?-from Firefly One of the main pitfalls of having a GM and players is all too often the GM gets caught up in creating a challenge for the players that they see themselves as their opponent. But in my opinion, one must realize that they're actually working

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-5710520167571716742008-01-16T20:03:00.000-05:002008-01-16T20:58:50.302-05:00

Kobold, Gremlin, Orc, Cultist, whatever their label we all know these people, just enough threat to hold the countryside down, yet sword fodder to the first real adventurers that swing through. Now I went through quite a few cheesy titles for this posts including, Making Mooks More Meaty, Mooks Mess up Mercurial Marauding Characters, The Little People, Goons, Goblins, and You, and similarly

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-36462837683033890072008-01-14T20:35:00.000-05:002008-01-14T22:27:38.344-05:00

"Often in actual life, and not infrequently in the myths and popular tales, we encounter the dull case of the call unanswered; for it is always possible to turn the ear to other interests. Refusal of the summons converts the adventure into its negative."-The Hero With A Thousand Faces, by Joseph CampbellSo you've plotted out the adventure, statted out the dungeon, and dropped the hook right in

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-88332307688670460232008-01-13T18:35:00.000-05:002008-01-13T20:32:16.356-05:00

Every now and then(i.e. When I'm feeling lazy), we'll have a linkfest of neat things found around the net. Ranging from geekery and mad science to simply awesome. Since I think everybody needs a time waster, I submit TV Tropes where no plot device or character is new under the sun. In fact it's been used, reused, and overdosed a few times before it actually arrives, and now you can see how all

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-33157164455963650162008-01-11T22:41:00.000-05:002008-01-12T01:05:19.104-05:00

"Far back in Kane's gloomy eyes a scintillant light had begun to glimmer, like a witch's torch glinting under fathoms of cold gray ice. His blood quickened. Adventure! The lure of life-risk and battle! The thrill of breathtaking, touch-and-go drama!"-Skulls in the Stars, by Robert E. HowardThe name Robert E. Howard, unfortunately these days the name will all too often conjure up images of a

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-79767125954472447722008-01-11T00:58:00.000-05:002008-01-12T01:30:23.625-05:00

"As a matter of interest, why did you murder all those women?""To keep you away from me.""Oh dear. Didn't you realize it wasn't working?"-from Light, by M. John HarrisonThis is a crossposting of a review I had up on my other blog, but A. It fits better here, and B. I'm lazy and want to get content up.Well, I just finished reading Light, by M. John Harrison this morning, or late last night if you

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-72718780515292473622008-01-10T20:27:00.000-05:002008-03-30T23:47:06.683-04:00

Over the New Years holiday I was finally able to get a victi....errr, I mean volunteer to play out a game using the Chain Reaction 2.0 rules from Two Hour Wargames. I've heard nothing but praise for them and really wanted to give them a try, plus of course the added bonus of them offering it for the best price imaginable, free!I took the blue forces and my friend D, who may or may not enter in

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-589724476858271560.post-70084388948646165602008-01-10T20:05:00.000-05:002008-01-10T20:27:04.407-05:00

Welcome. Introductions are always tricky, so I'll do my best to keep it short and sweet.This isn't going to be a very personal intimate blog, I already have one for that, this is going to be a place for things such as book reviews, AARs and game reports from Wargames and RPG's, tips and tricks, along with whatever cool related links come our way. And eventually it might expand to other subjects

Talkoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03235428354381806337noreply@blogger.com0