Friday, March 30, 2012
Exposition Without Number
I just wrote a note to the players of my Stars Without Numbers campaign containing some information so I wouldn't have to blab it all out when we start playing on Saturday. I amused myself quite a bit as I droned on, producing far more exposition that
I had planned. I'm sure it will bore them to tears. But I enjoyed it, dammit, so I figure the rest of the world should suffer.
So enjoy. Or suffer. Or both. :)
* * *
The party returned to the planet Metha aboard the Fat Tuesday at the end of the last game session. The Methans were happy with the resolution of the Hard Light novium issue and paid well (except for Dr. Mann, who was paid well for her research on the Amazon Floral Hive Mind.) The party is not actually on Metha (which looks a lot like Titan, if you remember,) but on one of the thousands of space stations orbiting the planet. Elysium Station is unlike any of the other stations the party has seen, however, as it has clearly been designed with humans in mind.
In fact, humans are all over Elysium Station. There are living quarters, restaurants, shopping malls, and hydroponic parks bustling with people - families with children even. Occasionally, Methan hybrids like Ellen-14 shuffle along the walkways in their giant, bloated tick-like bodies without so much as a second look. It's a lively place, but clearly all of the humans are in the employ of the Blue Methan Hegemony. There is an unusual amount of human psychics on the station, utilizing their skills out in the open - something not normally done inside of human space. Centuries of anti-psi bigotry has convinced most psychics to keep a lower profile.
Another odd sight aboard Elysium station is the abundance of Harpathians - perhaps ten percent of the population. The creatures resemble anthropomorphic, roly-poly, three foot tall baby seals. Yes, the ones with the poofy white hair and the 'don't hit me with that club, you bastard' stare. Harpathians are well-known in human space, but mainly as cartoon characters in the holo-vids designed for girls 8-10 years of age. The most well known is JOLO, the fluffy sidekick of CAPTAIN KENDRA AND THE KOSMOTEERS. Few humans have ever actually seen a real Harpathian, as the entire race avoids humanity like a plague. The history of Human-Harpatian relations involves liberal amounts of slavery and being sold as pets, despite the Harpatian's loud, literate, and eloquent protests that they are actually a sentient race with thoughts, feelings, and a desire not to be a cuddle toy for 6 year olds.
The Harpatians appear to have support jobs all over the station, including spacecraft servicing, but they seem to be most prolific in security positions. Three foot tall baby seals walking around in power armor bristling with plasma projectors is a common sight. It's unnerving - and doesn't get any better with repeated viewings.
Ellen-14 is eager for the party to accept the currently offered job. If you remember, this is to track down the source of the Berserker Spider manufacturing box - which would logically (per the Methan's past experiences,) be a box that makes boxes that make Berserker Spiders. The Methans are worried that if the Box is not located soon, it could run across an AI, hack it, and un-brake the AI - causing a heap load of trouble for whatever civilization the newly formed Berserker AI ran across.
The Fat Tuesday's Chief Engineer and back-up pilot, Sophia Lucullo, expresses concerns about the Methans. She's never seen them before, and is clearly frightened. She also reiterates the story from the Kingpin of Blue Saturn (whom Captain Goodnight met with in the Tigris System,) who said that the Methans had exterminated almost all of his race and were not to be trusted. The ship's marine compliment - Alice, Bethany, and Carmen (Kevalt's Angels,) have a completely different attitude toward Ellen-14 and her kind - and have been buying as much military hardware as they can afford from the giant space-ticks.
If the party chooses not to accept the mission, Ellen-14 says that she and her brood understands, and they will gladly program the navicomp aboard the Fat Tuesday to the destination of your choice.
Um, anyway, I've gone overboard with interlude - but there you are. :)
See you on Saturday!
- Ark
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Comic
Sigh.
I'm nowhere near finished with the comic. I've been overloaded with work, and what little time I did have, I spent drawing Red Sonja. Rather than rushing around and breaking my back - the comic won't come out this time, but instead, at the next scheduled time in two weeks. Bummer, but I'd prefer it look halfway decent than have it be just chicken-scratching.
I really need to learn how to draw faster - but it seems like I'm actually learning how to draw more slowly. I don't think that's how it is supposed to work. And somehow I need to combined my desire to draw a D&D comic with my desperate need to draw cheesecake. Two birds, one stone. Hmmm . . .
I'll figure something out - I'm sure.
- Ark
I'm nowhere near finished with the comic. I've been overloaded with work, and what little time I did have, I spent drawing Red Sonja. Rather than rushing around and breaking my back - the comic won't come out this time, but instead, at the next scheduled time in two weeks. Bummer, but I'd prefer it look halfway decent than have it be just chicken-scratching.
I really need to learn how to draw faster - but it seems like I'm actually learning how to draw more slowly. I don't think that's how it is supposed to work. And somehow I need to combined my desire to draw a D&D comic with my desperate need to draw cheesecake. Two birds, one stone. Hmmm . . .
I'll figure something out - I'm sure.
- Ark
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Map Drawing Music
Normally, my mind hearkens to heavy metal music when I think of the halcyon days of D&D. But honestly, when I was sitting around drawing maps or designing campaign material, I was far more likely to be listening to stuff like the music below (like I am right now drawing during lunch instead of eating.)
- Ark
- Ark
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Red Sonja: She-Devil with a Sword
After a week of work, and too many hours to fully pony up to, I've finished my Red Sonja fan art. I'm incredibly proud of it, and think it's the best thing I've ever done. Tomorrow, of course, I'll look at it and feel it is the most horrible thing I've seen - and be embarrassed to even think of it. Alas, that's my curse - I just have to deal with it and move on to the next piece.
Enjoy!
- Ark
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Dungeonspiration: I Don't Do Dungeons
The last couple of years have been an intense fest of role playing for me. If you add it up, the total gaming time during the last three years probably equals the previous thirty. I've begun to realize - or re-realize rather - that I don't do dungeons.
![]() |
| Fun map that I don't know where came from. |
In my previous gaming life back in the 80s, I mainly DMed. Within about two years, I was done with dungeons, focusing on wilderness adventures. That got boring, and I went on to strictly urban fantasy adventures. I really didn't get back to dungeons until the advent of 4e - both as a DM and as a player - and while I like dungeons - I think they work better as a spice than as an entrée.
(Yeah, some of you got confused, I know. I'm using the North American definition of entrée - meaning the main course.)
Simply put, a trip to a dungeon that lasts more than two sessions is going to bore me to tears. To me, a dungeon should be like a short story - composed of three succinct acts - a beginning, a middle, and an end. In the depths of a lengthy dungeon stay, I loose focus. Encounters begin to blur. I forget why I'm underground, and forget to care. Okay, yeah, I have the attention span of a gnat - I know that - but it's not getting much better as I age.
I understand that to some people, the dungeon is the game itself. I understand that. It's okay. You megadungeoneers are wonderful people and I love you all, man.
It's just that . . . I really like that coming up for air part. You pop out of the dungeon and go to town and interact with the locals - get to know them and their culture - and then maybe you wander around in the wilderness for a bit - get attacked by a yeti - capture the yeti - train the yeti to speak and say rude things to your fellow party members - take a trip on a flying boat - have dinner with the king of the elves and try to prevent the dwarves in the party from killing the dinner guest. You know - stuff.
I don't know - maybe that's the 'new age' way of playing that the groggiest of grognards complain about - but heck, by 1984, that was my preferred way of playing. I remember running a game set in a pseudo-Lankhmar where the PCs played beat-cops. They had to pop into the sewers every once in a while for a dungeon adventure, but bulk of the time was comprised of thwarting ne'er-do-wells in a city of alleys.
I guess the big downer in the dungeon is that I'm not engaging with the people and cultures of the imaginary lands in which I dwell. You know, aside from having a conversation with a talking door or exchanging curses with the kobold king during combat. I'd like to feel like a part of a large, thriving, vibrant land, rather than just one of the many corpses buried underneath.
But still, I like a good dungeon. The important features of good dungeons are that they should be short and to the point. The dungeons bits - the monsters, traps, etc - should be memorable and exciting. And I should have time - quality time - between dungeons in which I get to set my own priorities and become involved with the people who's ancestors I'm looting and defiling. Otherwise, this imaginary world I'm traipsing around in (or DMing) is kind of hollow.
So that's my 'dungeon inspiriation' for today - a dearth of dungeons is inspiring. To me, at least. :)
- Ark
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Red Sonja Preview
I'm working on a drawing of Red Sonja. I just finished inking her face and am pretty happy with it - so I thought I'd share before I go hit the sack. Have a good night.
- Ark
- Ark
Friday, March 16, 2012
75,000 Kiriban!
My all time pageviews hit 75,000. I was all excited about that until I realized that most of those hits were from people not at all interested in the blog's actual content, which is made clear by the search engine queries that brought them here:
ゴジラ・モスラ・キングギドラ
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But at least the 'right' sort of people are reaching the blog, so it all works out in the end . . . I guess.
:)
- Ark
P.S. Oh wow - the members/followers/whatever stat says 200 as of today as well. Wow. That's just amazing. Thanks guys and gals.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
![]() |
| Yugo - not a Soviet-bloc automobile |
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? |
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 |
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 |
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
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
In the meantime - please enjoy Soulvex performing 'Puttin' on the Ritz' for your amusement.
- Ark
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Chartreuse by Angel
Below is a commission of my character Chartreuse in Crazy-Ass Tim's Second Edition D&D Game by Angel Urena. He's the same guy who did the Angry Demon Looking Dude that I've used as a banner for the blog for over a year now. I think Angel's work is completely awesome - you can go check out his gallery on deviantArt.
Right now, Angel is doing character commissions for dirt cheap. I mean dirt. Go look. Quickly, of course, since who knows when he'll close down the commissions. If you've ever contemplated having a character drawn - now would be the time.
Again, not my art. Waaay too good to be mine. (Not Yet, Anyways!)
- Ark
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Hitchhiker's
Last week I was at the book store with my son. I was digging through some art books, looking for hints on how to draw the human form, when The Boy came up behind me.
"Can I get this?" he asked. I turned around. He was clutching a copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
"Well for fuck's sake yes you can fucking have it," I replied. Okay, that's not exactly what I said, but that's what I meant.
Now, after a few days of The Boy regaling me with stories of Marvin the Paranoid Android and explaining to me the meaning of the number 42, I've decided that I'm pretty happy with the universe and - given the chance - I'd make it my home for a second time.
- Ark
PS
"Now the world has gone to bed
Darkness won't engulf my head
I can see by infra-red
How I hate the night
Now I lay me down to sleep
Try to count electric sheep
Sweet dream wishes you can keep
How I hate the night"
- Marvin's Lullaby
"Can I get this?" he asked. I turned around. He was clutching a copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
"Well for fuck's sake yes you can fucking have it," I replied. Okay, that's not exactly what I said, but that's what I meant.
Now, after a few days of The Boy regaling me with stories of Marvin the Paranoid Android and explaining to me the meaning of the number 42, I've decided that I'm pretty happy with the universe and - given the chance - I'd make it my home for a second time.
- Ark
PS
"Now the world has gone to bed
Darkness won't engulf my head
I can see by infra-red
How I hate the night
Now I lay me down to sleep
Try to count electric sheep
Sweet dream wishes you can keep
How I hate the night"
- Marvin's Lullaby
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Dungeonspiration: Snapshots
I love the way images can inspire ideas. I love to browse pictures to get ideas for stories, games, and art. Here are some things to jostle your brain:
From some bovine racing competition in Sumatra, Pacu Jawi by ~dularif
A different kind of racing animal, Bike with shinny bits by ~koukei
What a lovely home for a Lich, August Burns Red by ~bleed-the-sky
Do the PCs dare move the rocks? Against physics 1 by ~Faunish
A dangerous rainbow impact, Life in the Valley by ~sleepingwithgiants
Nighttime wandering monster roll, Bed by *Hoffine
+1 to Astral Travelling, Magic Mushroom by ~Tul-152
- Ark
Friday, February 17, 2012
You Can Get Addicted To A Certain Kind of Sadness
No, not game related, but after listing to Gotye like a million times today, I had to do something. :)
- Ark
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Practice Responsible Conjurmancy
These things take forever. I figured I might be faster by now - but no. Oh well, at least I am enjoying the heck out of creating these strips. I'm reminded of something Joseph Campbell said - but I can't remember exactly what. ;)
- Ark
Sunday, February 12, 2012
The Phantom Penis
That, of course, is what I have called the movie for years. It's my least favorite of the Star Wars films. The Phantom Menace was a pretty big let down after so many years of waiting. So, the announcement of a 3d-ifyed version didn't impress me a bit. George Lucas' recent anti-fan rant impressed me even less. So, I vowed not to hand Lucas any more of my money.
"But aren't we going to go see the movie?" the Boy asked, doe-eyed as I began to bad-mouth Lucas during a D&D game.
Crap.
Despite constant viewing of the entire . . . hexology . . . my son has never seen a Star Wars movie in a theater. Meanwhile, I was there for the first showing of the first movie in the Houston Galleria 34 years ago. We viewed it again, and again, and again, in different venues, waiting in lines coiled multiple times around the outside of various theaters.
"You've seen it hundreds of times . . . you dont' really want to see it in a . . ." I stopped, looking into his eyes.
Crap.
"Okay, we'll go," I smiled.
The first Star Wars movie commercial I saw, crammed between Saturday morning cartoons one early morning, sold me on the show immediately. If my parents had said we weren't going to see the new movie, there would have been HELL TO PAY.
So we went yesterday. I wore my goldenrod star fleet t-shirt in silent protest, but I went all the same. We loaded up with coke and popcorn and plopped down in the big, comfy seats.
As always, the 20th Century Fox fanfare got me.
The 3d was . . . well . . . it was there. It wasn't spectacular. It wasn't annoying. It was just there. I am glad that I didn't get any gratuitous 3d Jar Jar tongues in my face. But all in all, the movie wasn't that bad. In fact, there are two parts of the film that I remembered I really liked - the pod race and the battle for Naboo.
It's hard to mess up exploding stuff. And the noises from the pod race - the wub-wub-wub of Sebulba's turbines reverberating in your chest - I mean - that's something I can't get out of my TV at home.
And you've got to admit despite how annoying is when he's hitting on Padme - teeny-tiny Anakin makes a pretty cute little padawan at the end.
Sooo . . . yeah . . . I gave Lucas my money again. Apparently, he'll be getting it at least five more times. In the end, it's quite worth it to see the smile on the Boy's face.
- Ark
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