#RPGaDay2015 - Day 31

Day 31: Favourite non-RPG thing to come out of RPGing -

While it may not take sole credit for it, video games owe a lot to games like D&D. A lot of concepts that we take for granted in video games today, started with games like D&D.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 30

Day 30: Favourite RPG playing celebrity - 

While I love Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, I think Vin Diesel is my favourite celebrity D&D player. Even in his bad movies, I love the guy. He taught Dame Judi Dench and Karl Urban (another favorite of mine) how to play D&D.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 29

Day 29: Favourite RPG website/blog -

My favourite RPG website/blog is +Timothy Brannan's The Other Side. I found Tim's blog early in my cinematic unisystem days. It actually inspired me to create my own blog.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 28

Day 28: Favourite game you no longer play -


I miss running Mutants and Masterminds. I am and always will be a supers guy.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 27

Day 27: Favourite idea for merging two games into one - 

This is on my RPG Bucket List. I'm never going to get a group together for an extended Call of Cthulhu game. Honestly, I'm not sure I would want to. Still I love the King in Yellow and own this campaign. I think using it as the basis for a 1920's Slayer game would be totally kick ass. I'd obviously borrow some stuff from Ghosts of Albion for it as well.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 26

Day 26: Favourite inspiration for your game -

I think music is my favourite inspiration for my games. I tend to have stories play through my head when I listen to music and in turn I use those stories to help with my games. I normally spend a bit of time trying to figure out what a character's theme song is. Here are the ones for my favorite characters (with youtube links):

Kid Nephilim, 1/4 angel legacy character in Mutants and Masterminds: Ra - Fallen Angels 
Dracos, kind hearted Saiyan warrior in a homebrew Dragonball Z game: Pillar - Fireproof
Ulic Razorwing, avariel bladesinger legacy character in 3rd era D&D: Vast - Touched
Gren Tealeaf-Tosskettle, halfling fighter/rogue chef: Flogging Molly - Devil's Dance Floor
Benjamin "Benji" Lee, good guy Green Goblin in homebrew Marvel game: Good Charlotte - Little Things
Bloodhound, mutant tracking son of Cyclops in homebrew Marvel game: Atreyu - Honor
Kyle Moonbeam Dunn, skate punk werewolf in my favorite Buffy game: My Chemical Romance - House of Wolves
Henry "Hank" Courseau, rare book dealer from Arkham in a Call of Cthulhu: Silent Hill 3 - Small Town
ARC BL172 "Blitz," rogue clone trooper that helped found the Rebellion in Star Wars Saga Edition: Pop Evil - Last Man Standing
Kole, witch of the wilds in a D&D 4E game: Godsmack - Voodoo
Tomkin Tealeaf-Tosskettle, troublemaking swordmage brother of Gren in Forgotten Realms 4E: Hed PE - Bartender
El Hijo de Lobo Plata, monster hunting luchadore in Mutants and Masterminds: The Kreeps - Bad Voodoo 

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 25

Day 25: Favourite Revolutionary Game Mechanic -

My favourite revolutionary game mechanic is the drama point mechanic from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I realize that action points were probably used in other games before, but I loved the way they are used in cinematic unisystem. They could give you various bonuses to rolls, heal you, or even let you affect the scene (outside of just interacting with things).

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 24

Day 24: Favourite house rule -

My friends and I have one consistent house rule. In every version of D&D I've played during character creation we allow players to reroll stat rolls 1's and 2's. I know that seems like babying players to some people, but that's just how we've always done it.

RPGaDay2015 - Day 23

Day 23 - Perfect game for you

Given my interests, play style, and rules preferences I think Buffy: The Vampire Slayer is the perfect game for me. There aren't a lot of rules, it's cinematic, and rewards getting into character.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 22

Day 22: Perfect Gaming Environment -

I've always wanted a D&D space that looked like a tavern or Irish pub. Everything wood, barrels, booze and all of that would just be ideal in my mind. I'll never have this perfect gaming environment, but it's a nice dream,

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 21

Day 21: Favourite RPG Settings - 
Freeport! Freeport! Freeport! Have I mentioned I like Freeport. To me it's just a wonderful amalgam setting. It's fantasy. It has pirates. It has Lovecraftian horror. It has a great sense of humor. I'll be interested in seeing how it converts to Green Ronin's AGE system.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 20

Day 20: Favourite Horror RPG -
This was sort of a hard one, because I love many horror games. I was a fan of most of the Classic World of Darkness games and I enjoy the new ones too. While the systems aren't my favourite Deadlands and Deadlands: Reloaded are amazing horror settings. Call of Cthulhu will always have a slimy non-Euclidean place in my heart. Unisystem both cinematic and classic are also great.

Ultimately while it's more urban fantasy drama (with horror elements), I'm going to say that Buffy: The Vampire Slayer and the cinematic unisystem games are my favourite horror games. They just have great systems and let you do a lot of stuff. If you're a fan of the system check out the content I've created for it here.

Ash Wednesday - Frank West

Need a quick pc for your next Army of Darkness game, how about Dead Rising's Frank West. He may be a few skill points over, but it's okay. He's covered wars, you know.

Frank West
Hero
Life Points: 53
Drama Points: 10

Attributes:
Strength: 4
Dexterity: 3

Constitution: 3

Intelligence: 4
Perception: 5
Willpower: 3

Qualities: +24
Attractiveness 1 (+1)
Really Big Chin 3 (+3)
Contacts 3 (+2)
Fast Reaction Time (+2)
Hard to Kill 5 (+5)
Nerves of Steel (+3)
Nosy Reporter (+5)
Photographic Memory (+2)

Drawbacks: -4
Mental Problems: Obsession 2 (-2)
Mental Problems: Recklessness 2 (-2)

Skills:  
Art 3
Crime 1
Computers 2
Driving/Riding 2
Getting Medieval 5
Influence 1
Knowledge 2
Kung Fu 4
Mr. Fix It 5
Notice 1
Sports 2

Maneuvers:          Bonus     Damage           Notes
Dodge                        8            None        Avoid getting hit; -2 against ranged,; p. 89
Spiked Bat                 9             16            Str +1 if two hands; slash/stab

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 19

Day 19: Favourite Supers RPG -

I've played and owned several but hands down Mutants and Masterminds is my favourite. Check out my numerous M&M posts by clicking this link. One of the best campaigns I ran was an M&M 2E Freedom City game. I have a lot of memories with this game and hope to run it again some day.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 18

Day 18: Favourite SF RPG -

I don't really play sci-fi stuff. I'm more of a fantasy/horror person. However, if I had to pick a favorite I would probably say Star Wars Saga Edition. I realize that SW is more space fantasy that science fiction, but it's close enough. I think the Fantasy Flight Star Wars games could overtake Saga Edition... if I had people to play it with regularly.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 17

Day 17: Favourite Fantasy RPG - 

Not even going to second guess myself at all on this one. Dungeons and Dragons is my favorite fantasy roleplaying game. More specifically despite (and despite the fact I've only been on the player's side of the DM screen once) I think it's safe to say the current edition is my favourite.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 16

Day 16th: Longest game session played -

I can't give you the exact length but when my best friend lived in Athens, OH I would go spend the week with him. We'd play off an on during the week, but if he and his uncle had multiple days off in a row we would play sessions that essentially went on for two or three days (with short breaks for sleep). These D&D sessions were the best.

Rat Queens Tabletop

Well folks, it looks like I'm going to need to learn to love Dungeon World. Last month Rat Queens writer Kurtis Wiebe tweeted that he's working on a Rat Queens rpg with Adam Koebel. You can read it here. Wiebe says it's using Dungeon World guts and Koebel is one of the creators of the system, so it sounds cool to me. While I don't know too much about Dungeon World, I've read good things. Narrative heavy games can be fun. They definitely make some of the outlandish feats that the Queens pull off easier.

Both of the above scenes would take way too many rolls to do in D&D or Pathfinder, which slows down the action. Yet from what I'm reading, Dungeon World could handle it with little problem.

Has any one played Dungeon World? If so, what do you think about it?

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 15

Day 15: Longest Campaign played

I've blogged about this before. My friends had an ongoing group that we called the Veritable Conglomeration of Baddasses (or Veritable Conglomeration for short). This campaign extended across multiple sessions and we played multiple characters, but they were all tied to the same core group. The founders are Storath Razorfang (multicolored dragon created using the Council of Wyrms boxed set) and Will (avariel fighter and my first character). The Veritable Conglomeration lives on in the form of legacy characters.

Storath Razorfang

Will, Avariel Fighter and Skycaptain 

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 14

Day 14: Favourite RPG Accessory -

I know some people interpreted accessory as things like dice and minis. Personally, The prompt made me think of supplements.

I've mentioned it before but my favorite accessory is the often maligned Complete Book of Elves. It was the first book I purchased. It will always have a special place in my heart.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 13

Day 13: Favourite RPG Podcast -

I don't listen to a lot of podcasts. The only one I listen to regularly is Welcome to Night Vale. If you've not listened to it, give it a shot. I can't really describe it. Well rather I cant' describe it and do it justice. Other than that I listen to Spellburn sometimes. Spellburn is a Dungeon Crawl Classics podcast that's really entertaining. I have a friend that loves gaming podcasts and I'm thinking about listening to more. Any recommendations?

Ash Wednesday - Bit Part Demon

Today's post was inspired Evil Dead: The Musical. Thanks to Annie, Ed received a bit of confidence during the Cabin in the Woods incident. Unfortunately due to Ash, he found himself sent back to his home dimension. But what's to say he has to stay there? Perhaps he found his way back to earth and possessed a Hollywood actor.

Name: Ed, The Bit Part Demon
Motivation: Sing, sing, sing!
Critter Type:  Deadite
Attributes: Str 5, Dex 5, Con 5, Int 4, Per 4, Will 4
Ability Scores: Muscle 18, Combat  16, Brains 16

Life Points: 70 Drama Points: 3
Special Abilities: +3 to Art, Armor Value 4 (8), Attractiveness -6, Beguile, Fast Reaction Time, Horrify, Increased Life Points, Regeneration, Weakness to daylight

                                     Maneuvers
Name              Score    Damage               Notes
Bite                     16         22             Must Grapple first
Claw                    16         16             Slash/stab
Grapple               16          -               Resisted by Dodge

Bit Part Demon Lyrics

I'm that guy you see in every horror flick.
You may not remember me, I come and go too quick.

You wouldn't know my name, I hardly ever speak a line.
If the hero kills a hundred demons, I'd be the forgettable number
thirty nine.

'Cuz I'm a bit part demon, a small time misfit.
I'd say you'd be dead by dawn but I don't really mean it.

I'm a threat to no one, the other deadites make fun...

Cheryl:
YOU SUCK!

Ed:
Of me. Evil Eddie. Oh The bit part demon.

Annie:
But don't you see Ed? We've been listening to you talk for the past two minutes.
You've said a whole lot just now. Just you!
Aw, you're not a bit part demon anymore. You're a lead player. A star!

Ed:
You're right! Now I see that this trend has been disrupted.
I've said more than five words without being interrupted! I'm a
bit part no more! My character's at a swing!
And now its time for this demon to sing, sing sing! Ahhhh....(gunshot) oh!

Ash:
Now you'll have a bit part; in hell.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 12

Day 12: Favourite RPG Illustration - 
I have always loved Tony DiTerlizzi's work, especially his Changeling: The Dreaming and Planescape stuff. If I had to pick a favourite, it would be his illustration of Leigh, one of the protagonists of the Immortal Eyes trilogy, that appeared in the core Changeling: The Dreaming book. I adore everything about this and it reminds me of an interesting time in my life.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 11

Day 11: Favourite RPG Writer - 

There are many great rpg writers. It's really hard to pick a favorite. I know it's the comic book geek in me but I think I'm going to have to go with Steve Kenson. Mutants and Masterminds and Icons are just fantastic supers games.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 10

Day 10: Favourite RPG Publisher -

This was a tough one. When I think about this question I have four that immediately come to mind. They are Wizards of the Coast, Green Ronin Publishing, Goodman Games, and Paizo. They all make my favorite games.

Ultimately I have to go with Green Ronin because they publish Freeport, Mutants and Masterminds, and the AGE system. In addition, there 3rd Era books were always the coolest.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 9

Day 8th Favourite media you wish was an RPG -
I don't know if this is cheating, but I wish TMNT had an RPG. I know Palladium did TMNT and Other Strangeness, but that was many years ago (and I don't care for the Palladium system). A newer game that used something similar to M&M or Cinematic Unisystem would be fantastic.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 8

Day 8: Favourite appearance of RPG in the Media -

Futurama is my all time favorite animated series and sitcom. I just love everything about it. There are several D&D references throughout the show, but my favorite is in the first Anthology of Interest episode which features Gary Gygax.

Anyone want to play Dungeons and Dragons for the next quadrillion years?

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 7

Day 7: Favorite Free RPG - 
Though some argue that it's not a complete game my favorite free rpg is the Basic Rules for Dungeons and Dragons (5E). As I've said many times, I think 5E is a great game and while the basic rules doesn't offer all options, it does provide everything you need (rules-wise) to play. Throw in the Unearthed Arcana articles and web supplements and you've got an even richer gaming experience.

#RPGaDay2015 - Day 6

Day 6: Most recent RPG played -

The game I've played most recently is my ongoing Dungeons and Dragons 5E game. We usually play twice a month for about 5 hours a session and a little over a  year into the campaign the party is around 8th level. We're having lots of fun.

One day I hope to get to play in a 5E game. Thus far my only experience is one session of the Adventurer's League.