Thursday, March 15, 2012

Don't Roll A One


Yay!  I took a little unexpected hiatus from the comic, but now I'm back.  It was tough to get  in the swing of things again, even though I've been sketching daily.  I've been looking at really really great art and, alas, comparing my own work.  I think that might be the downfall of any creative endeavor - unrealistic comparisons leading to spiraling self doubt and then creative paralysis and fear.  You know, that old chestnut.

I got better.  I decided I didn't want to go up on the cart.

I'm not sure why my little comic strip seems to be evolving into a comic 'page.'  Guess that's just the way my brain wants to tell the story.  I wish my brain would be a bit more succinct.  All this panel drawing it going to wear out my fingers.

Anyway, I hope you like it.  It's based on a true story.  Well - a true game event.  Make-believe can be true too.

;)

- Ark

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Rory's Story Cubes Rock


I used to be an adventurer like you until I took an arrow to the bee.

'nuff said .  . .

- Ark

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Dungeonspiration: Wakfu

 Wakfu is a French cartoon based on an MMORPG.  Unlike most shows that derive from some sort of 'product,' I find Wakfu to be very good - one of the best kid's shows I've seen in a while, in fact.

Yugo - not a Soviet-bloc automobile
Now, this is even more surprising for me, since I'm not the biggest fan of French . . . things . . . in general.  The art moves from cartoony to absolutely breathtaking.  It's kind of a anime-inspired, which I've taken to calling Frank-o-may, for lack of any better terminology.

The Boy really enjoys the show too - and this from a kid who absolutely hates anime.  (Yeah, I can't believe the anime hatred either.  I think some chromosomes cooked too long in the cloning vat, but that's another story.)

The main character is Yugo, a young boy with mysterious origins who is adopted by an ex-bounty hunter and raised in a roadside tavern and inn.  He quickly learns that he an innate magical power to create portals that he and others can move through.  Add to this his natural fighting and acrobatic ability, and the young boy can be quite dangerous.
Ruel Stroud, Professional Something

Something bad happens to Yugo's step-father early on, and yup - you guessed it - it's time for a quest to put things right.  Most of the series that I've seen so far is a picaresque set of adventures, much like a Dungeons and Dragons campaign - with both dungeons and dragons.  I mean, what else would you expect? :)

Along for the ride is Ruel Stroud, an old friend of Yugo's step-father.  Ruel appears to be some sort of a priest or cleric or monk, but isn't.  He also seems to be some sort of bounty hunter, but doesn't appear to do much of that, either.  In the end, he's really just a professional bum - who might have been a thief if it didn't take so much work.  Ruel is lethal with a shovel, however, and has Yugo's best interests at heart.

Sir Sadlygrove - possible idiot?
One of the things I really like about the show is that while it's aimed at kids, it doesn't talk down to them or be too sugary-sweet or condescending.  And there is plenty of stuff for the adults too.  Some of the stuff would go over the heads of younger kids - but then again, maybe some stuff they would understand.  I mean, there is this one scene of a villager sitting in an outhouse, looking at a magazine containing cute women.  Nothing 'improper' happens, mind you, but the brief bit probably highlights the schism between what the stereotypical French parent and the stereotypical American parent think is okay for their children to see.

The next party member to join is Sir Sadlygrove Percedal.  He's your standard cavalier - and might even be a paladin.  Or, he might not even be a real 'sir' yet.  It's kind of unclear.  He's got this sword that can kick major butt . . .  however . . . the sword does have a demon locked inside of it and it's unclear whether our dear knight has any combat skill of his own.  Yet.  I'm sure we'll learn more as I watch the season progress.

Princess Sharm-a-larm-a-ding-dong
Sadlygrove is a Iop.  It's not very clear what an Iop is - well - except an IOP is definitely not an IHOP.  They appear to be some sort of elf maybe - an seem to have a reputation of not being very smart.  That would probably include Sadlygrove.  But he's brave an courageous and virtuous and all that mess - so at least he's trying. :)

 Eventually, the party meets some ladies who join up.  The first is Princess Amalia Sheran Sharm.  Yes, a princess.  She's some sort of elf.  Thing.  Maybe.  I don't know.  Whatever she is, she a princess - one of those runaway princesses who want to see the world and have great adventures.  You know the kind.  Princess Amalia is some sort of druid or shaman with powers over plant-life.  Awesome powers.  She kicks some serious butt.

I also find it interesting that she has almost exact hair and skin color of my 2nd Edition AD&D character, Chartreuse.  And here I thought I was being original.  But their personalities are very different.  Well, except maybe the bossy part.

Little Miss Kill You With An Arrow
Last, but not least, we have Princess Amalia's bodyguard, Evangelyne.  She's a Cra.  A Cra is . . . well . . . I have no idea.  They seem to look like elves though.  She's a ranger type with a bow that shoots magical arrows.  It's her job to keep the princess out of harms way.  Considering Amalia prefers to be in harms way, poor Evangelyne's work is cut out for her.

We are not very far into the series, but we've enjoyed every minute of it.  The villains are great - different ones for each episode so far - and all very memorable characters.  It plays very much like a D&D session (perhaps more 'new' style than old,) and has already inspired some ideas in my head.

I recommend the series for those of you who like cartoons - especially if you have some kids around to help you watch it.  It's anime - but no so anime-y to turn off anime haters.  The art is breathtaking at times - the detail they put into the forests and ancient fortresses is amazing.  And if you are looking for ideas for a adventure ideas for a campaign - it's packed with really cool ones.

So go watch! :)

- Ark

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Campaign Timelines

For years now, I've had every intention of taking good notes when I run a campaign.  Typically what I'm left with is piles of papers with rows of descending hit point totals, hastily scribbled npc names, and chicken scratching that I'm not exactly sure what are.  Campaign journaling rarely works out for me.  But I do gather up my notes on occasion and try to stitch them together to see what has happened.  Luckily, I have a pretty good memory for imaginary happenings, so usually everything adds up.

At the simplest level, I like to create timelines - like the one below.  This is for my Stars Without Number campaign.  Such a list is handy because I create it in excel and can do odd date math on the fly - which is especially nice since now spreadsheets can handle dates into the far future.  With an autosum, I can see that the campaign has lasted 311 days - Earth days, that is.  

Little titles and notes keep everything straight in my head, and I can remember if an NPC was planning on hunting down and killing the party - and how long that npc has been formulating the plan and stalking them - waiting for the time to be ripe.  You know, typical stuff to make the players paranoid. ;)

So that's why I like to do.  How are YOU at note taking?

Place/Event Duration Start Date Events of Note
Travel/Stay
Halal System 1 1-Jan-2300 Ship assaulted by Captian Kaylah Tabari.
Interstellar Travel 6 7-Jan-2300 On the Edmund Fitzgerald (Methan owned.)
Interplanetary Travel 2 9-Jan-2300 ''
Jaisalmar System 2 11-Jan-2300 Hijacked ore shipment on ice world.
Interplanetary Travel 2 13-Jan-2300 On the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Interstellar Travel 5 18-Jan-2300 ''
Interplanetary Travel 2 20-Jan-2300 ''
Hephaestus System 87 17-Apr-2300 Meet Methans, destoyed casino, Sgt. & Adam KIA.
Interplanetary Travel 2 19-Apr-2300 On the Konjiki Yasha (Methan bio ship.)
Interstellar Travel 6 25-Apr-2300 ''
Interplanetary Travel 2 27-Apr-2300 ''
Metha System 1 28-Apr-2300 Accepted by Methans.  
Interstellar Travel 5 3-May-2300 On the Fort Knox (Methan accountant transport.)
Interplanetary Travel 2 5-May-2300 ''
Perdurabo - Hard Light 2 7-May-2300 Begin clandestine criminal investigation.
Travel to Comet 2 9-May-2300 On the Leadbelly with Captain Ranse Hardlee
Stay in Comet 4 13-May-2300 Exploring tomb of the Ushans (asparagusheads)
Travel to Hard Light 3 16-May-2300 On the Leadbelly with Captain Ranse Hardlee
Perdurabo - Hard Light 15 31-May-2300 Foil evil plot on Hard Light
Travel to Colony 2 2-Jun-2300 On the shuttle Bon Grunj with pilot Kingston
Stay in Colony 62 3-Aug-2300 Fight pirates and capture pirate ship
Travel to Hard Light 2 5-Aug-2300 Aboard the Fat Tuesday.
Perdurabo - Hard Light 2 7-Aug-2300 Fuel up and say goodbyes.
Interplanetary Travel 2 9-Aug-2300 Aboard the Fat Tuesday.
Interstellar Travel 6 15-Aug-2300 ''
Interplanetary Travel 2 17-Aug-2300 ''
Euphrates System 1 18-Aug-2300 Refuel at mining asteroid.
Interplanetary Travel 2 20-Aug-2300 Aboard the Fat Tuesday.
Interstellar Travel 6 26-Aug-2300 ''
Interplanetary Travel 2 28-Aug-2300 ''
Tigris - Blue Saturn 49 16-Oct-2300 Destroy 2 pirate ships, meet the Kingpin.
Interplanetary Travel 2 18-Oct-2300 Aboard the Fat Tuesday.
Interstellar Travel 6 24-Oct-2300 ''
Interplanetary Travel 2 26-Oct-2300 ''
Nile System 1 27-Oct-2300 Return Thad, meet Captain Zarkon of White Chapel.
Interplanetary Travel 2 29-Oct-2300 Aboard the Fat Tuesday.
Interstellar Travel 6 4-Nov-2300 Aboard the Fat Tuesday.
Interplanetary Travel 2 6-Nov-2300 Aboard the Fat Tuesday.
Amazon System 1 7-Nov-2300 Arrive at Kyroth Colony. PLANT ATTACK!

- Ark

Monday, March 5, 2012

Jeff Dee's Expedition

As you may or may not know, Jeff Dee has been running around trying to recreate the art he created that someone at TSR chose to toss in the trash one confused day.  This time, he's recreating his stuff form the module S3: Expedition to the Barrier Peaks.  I'm excited.  I love that module - and the fabulous art inside was really inspiring - well - inspiring to DMs who wanted to really confuse, mess over, and blow up the player characters.  Like I said, inspiring.

He's got a Kickstarter project for the Peaks too.  I love those Kickstarter things - especially those that help artists get projects off the ground.  Go toss him some bucks and he'll even send you a print! :)

- Ark

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Ferrit by Angel


I had Angel Urena do another commission for me - this time of Ferrit, The Boy's first Labyrinth Lord character. I think he did an excellent job - and Ferrit the Hobbit now terrifies me.  That's one bad-ass halfling!

- Ark




- Ark

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Puttin' on the Ritz

Due to an overabundance of 20 hour workdays, there will be no Rather Gamey Comic this time around.  I even had to bow out of a Realms of Cthulhu game last night so I could work until 4am.  Grr.  I'll be back on schedule next time - barring some unforeseen collapse of the financial industry.

In the meantime - please enjoy Soulvex performing 'Puttin' on the Ritz' for your amusement.



- Ark