Underworld: The Eagles Crest Review

Underworld: The Eagles Crest is a dungeon adventure book inspired by the OG Legend of Zelda video games like their Overworld monster zines. It is written for Bloat's system neutral video game inspired stats, D&D 5e, Dungeon Crawl Classics, and SURVIVE THIS!!. The adventure was written by Eric Bloat, with art by Phil Stone and cartography by Jeff Jones. It is made up of 18 separate rooms and even includes a classic LoZ style map. The dungeon is a built into the side of a dungeon dungeon and a powerful big bad placed a precious relic in its depths. Eric begins the adventure with stylistic notes, such as discussing resetting characters after a TPK. He also includes a page detailing a LoZ staple, bombs (and gives them stats for the four styles mentioned above). Much like classic D&D adventures the areas include tight minimalist text with the really important parts highlighted. The Eagles Crest ends with a bestiary featuring all the monster stats you need (in the zines four flavors). If you played Legend of Zelda these beasties will fill familiar. They would also fit in just about any standard fantasy setting.

I've not had the chance to run the adventure, but it seems like a really solid release. Thea areas involve variation (and classic OSR random tables). This combined with being compatible with four different systems makes this a fun reusable adventure. If you play elf wizard games, you should pick this one up when it's available to the public. You won't be disappointed. 

Spawn Mash-Ups

The Spawn mash-ups by Marcelo Ventura are interesting. The first combines the titular antihero with Jack Skellington. Honestly the second and third are more interesting to be because they combine McFarlane’s iconic character with Earthworm Jim!

Music Monday - The Wolverine In Black

Forget X-Men ‘97, check out Butcher Billy’s Wolverine for X-Men ‘67. 

No Matter How Patriotic They Are...

We are a little less that three weeks away from the debut of the new season of The Boys and I'm pretty stoked. 

If you didn't know Homelander is on trial for his actions at the end of the previous season. Here's some PR from Vought International about it.

BREAKING: A record number of patriots applied to be jurors at Homelander’s trial, including this local school teacher, who was deemed biased because he cosplayed as his favorite hero ONCE. More proof this is a sham of a trial, and that our greatest hero will soon be #HomeFree!

"What do you do... when your bro is in hot water?" That’s what Deep bravely asked himself, volunteering as a character witness for Homelander’s trial. Read his watershed expose in this month’s V-PLE, and think about what YOU can do to help keep our greatest hero #HomeFree!"

"As his “trial” begins, please remember that the sketches of Homelander are just that: sketches! Mere chalk drawings by humans could never capture just how alert and laser-focused Homelander is on this case. His resolve to be #HomeFree has NEVER BEEN STRONGER."

-----------------------------

The jabs at Trump and conservatives this show (and it's related media) does is damn entertaining. And as always follow the links below for some The Boys 5e content:

• Homelander (The Boys)
• Stormfront (The Boys)
• Jaime (The Boys)

Fuccubus Friday - Lady Blaze

Lady Blaze is a demon and daughter to the wizard Shazam. She rules the dimension known as Hades (though I'm sure there are a few of those in the DC multiverse). She is the sister of Lord Satanus and has a human persona known as Angelica Blaze, a Metropolis nightclub owner. In older continuity she is is credited as corrupting Black Adam.

Man-Bat Commandos

I'm still working on the Toxic Protector Vigilante City class and Outstanding Oddibeasts, but I wanted some new gaming content to share. I've decided to stat some DC Comics based minions that would easily work in any D&D game. The League of Assassins has a group of trained ninjas that were given the Man-Bat serum and used as commandos. Amanda Waller had several lobotomized and controlled to use as support for Task Force X.

Man-Bat Commando 

Medium Humanoid, Lawful Evil

Armor Class: 14 (Dex)

Hit Points:  14 (8d8+8)

Speed: 30 ft., Fly 60 ft.

Challenge: 2 (450 XP)

Str 14 (+2) Dex 18 (+4) Con 13 (+1) Int 10 (+0) Wis 14 (+1) Cha 8 (-1)

Saving Throws: Dex +6

Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +6

Damage Vulnerability: Thunder

Senses: Blindsight 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages: Bat, Understand Native Tongue, but can't speak it

Trait

Echolocation: The Man-Bat Commando cannot use blindsight if it is deafened.

Keen Hearing: The Man-Bat Commando has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on hearing.

Actions

Multiattack: The Man-Bat Commando makes a bite attack and a claw or katana attack.

Bite: Melee Weapon Attack. +4  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4+2) piercing damage.

Claw: Melee Weapon Attack. +4  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) slashing damage.

Katana: Melee Weapon Attack. +4  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d8+2) slashing damage; versatile (1d10).

Shuriken: Ranged Weapon Attack. +6  to hit, range 30/60 ft, one target. Hit: 5 (1d4+2) piercing damage.

Another X-Men #1 Tribute (Shocking, I Know)

Y’all know I love homages to Jim Lee’s iconic X-Men #1 cover. This tribute by comic artist Jamie Johnson is my new favorite. If you want links to previously shared homages check out this post.

Music Monday - Bayou Billy Banjo

The Adventures of Bayou Billy (released as Mad City in Japan) is a NES game that was notorious for its difficulty. Don't get me wrong, most old school games were really hard, but for me and many others this went above and beyond that. The game was a mix of side-scrolling beat'em up, rail shooter, and driving game. All of this was highlighted by a killer soundtrack. The main theme slaps and is even better when played on banjo.

For fun check out the original American commercial for it.

The game also had a five issue comic book series released by Archie Comics. These stories expanded on Billy's origin and legend. William Jackson West (aka Bayou Billy) was soldier before returning to the US to become a police officer. When his wife is killed, he teams up with his old squad and becomes a bounty hunter. He takes on mob boss, Giles Gordon, and his two sons. I have issues 2, 4, and 5 of the series and its really fun. It definitely takes some liberties with the character, but overall I think its good stuff. 

I've decided to do something I haven't done in ages and stat a character out for Vigilante City. Billy is an ex-soldier and currently a bounty hunter, so Mercenary seemed like an appropriate class. Since he's a legend I went ahead and made him level 10.

Code Name: Bayou Billy

Real Name: William Jackson West

Alignment: Law

Class: Mercenary

Level: 10

Str: 18 (+3)

Int: 13 (+1)

Wis: 16 (+2)

Dex: 17 (+2)

Con: 18 (+3)

Cha: 10 (+0)

Sur: 15

Courage: 18

Critical: 18

Death: 18

Magic: 14

Mental: 16

Poison: 18

Languages: English

AC: 16 (Dex, Class)

HP: 51

Toughness: +3

Move: 12

Initiate: +3

Combat 

+6 to Melee attacks

+6 to Ranged attacks

+1 damage to surprise attacks

Machete +6 to hit, 1d6+4 dmg

Throwing Knife +6 to hit, range, 50, 1d4-1 dmg

Skills 

Athletics: Basic 3 (+5)

Combat Training 2

Demolitions 1 (+2)

Fighting: Brawling 1

First Aid 1 (+2)

Investigation 4 (+5)

Piloting: Basic 4 (+7)

Ranged Weapons 1

Wilderness Survival 4 (+5) 

Subterfuge 1 (+4)

Special Traits

Extra action per round

+5 to tracking

Die Hard: recovers 1 SUR point a day and gains +1 HP when healed

Seize the Moment +2

Run and Shoot at without penalty (ROF penalties still apply)

Tough as Nails: When making a save roll or attribute check can subtract CON modifier from roll.

Advantage on skill rolls for Athletics: Basic and Survival: Wilderness

May use extra SUR on any failed roll

Equipment: bayou outfit, machete, rope, herbalist bag (with gator repellent)

Music Monday - Weeping Dawn

Larian Studios asked Ginny D to do a cover of Alfira’s song from Baldur’s Gate 3. The fact it exists means the Tav in her life isn’t the Dark Urge.

Logan the Wolf (2024)

Logan the Wolf is a Wolverine fan film that reimagines the X-Man as a Viking warrior. The short has some fantastic fight choreography and gore. 

Outstanding Oddibeasts, Toxic Protectors, and 5e Mousers (Oh My!)

I have picked my new laptop up. I've started work on the TMNT tribute game I mentioned previously. I'm going to be using the X-1 system created by Andy Hand of Limitless Adventures and Cheatin' Fair Games for his Rat Catchers and Pixie Punks games. It's a simple to learn and fun rules-lite system and i think it will be perfect for the game. So what am I calling it? The name is not set in stone, but I'm really considering Outstanding Oddibeasts. The Mighty Mutanimals are a team that's been allied to the turtles in various versions of the group. Mutanimals is a portmanteau of Mutant Animals. Outstanding Oddibeasts (Oddibeast being a portmanteau of Oddity and Beasts) is the best sounding homage I've come up with so far. It's not perfect, but I'm going to be real, I dig it.

It will take a bit to finish, so in the mean time I've am also going to do something I haven't done in years. I've started working on a PWYW class for Vigilante City. While there are already rules to play ninjas, street tough vigilantes, and mutant animals, I thought it would be fun to make a class based on Toxie. The Toxic Protector will allow you to create a character based on the Toxic Crusaders version of Toxie (though it will have some elements of the original film version too). If I can figure out how to do the layout, the class will hopefully be released next week. 

I wanted this post to having something folks could use too, so I'm finishing with 5e stats to the iconic TMNT army fodder, Mousers.

Mousers are iconic robo-fodder in TMNT. They've existed in almost all version so of the franchise (except the movies, which is odd). They are small robots, about 2.5 feet tall, created by Baxter Stockman to eliminate NYC's rat problem (at least in the 1987 cartoon). However, the automatons were used by Shredder to hunt the Hamato Clan (specifically Splinter). The original comic versions were created to get rid of the rat problem, but also used by their creator to steal valuables. They also associated with one of my fondest memories. When I was a kid I talked my uncle Carlos into taking me to the Ashland Mall to see the Ninja Turtles. He agreed to and afterword we went to Hills Department Store. He let me get a toy and I was able to pick up my first TMNT action figure. It was slim pickings. All they had were Wacky Action Mousers and Rocksteady. I went with the latter (which I still have), but fondly think of the mouser figure from time to time (even though I never picked one up).

Mouser

Small Construct, Unaligned

Armor Class: 12 (metal chassis)

Hit Points: 7 (2d6)

Speed: 25 ft.

Challenge: 1/8 (25 XP)

Str 10 (+0) Dex 10 (+0) Con 10 (+0) Int 4 (-3) Wis 10 (+0) Cha 3 (-4)

Damage Immunities: poison, psychic

Damage Resistance: acid, lightning, fire, cold, necrotic, radiant

Condition Immunities: blinded, charmed, deafened, exhaustion, frightened, paralyzed, petrified, poisoned

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 10

Languages: --

Unique Features

Rat Sense: The mouser is always aware of all rodents (mutant or otherwise) within 30 feet of it. This sense can penetrate most walls and objects, although certain materials such as lead can block it.

Actions

Bite: Melee Weapon Attack. +2 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d6) piercing damage, and the mouser attaches to the target. While attached, the mouser doesn't attack. Instead at the start of each of the mouser's turns, the target loses 1 point of piecing damage. While attached, the target has disadvantage on all skill and attack rolls.

The mouser can detach itself by spending 5 feet of it's movement. A creature, including the target, can use its action to make a Strength (Athletics) roll (DC 12) to detach the mouser.

Fuccubus Friday - TMNT

Incubi and succubi have made appearances in TMNT stories. For example, in the Raphael: Bad Moon Rising miniseries readers are intrigued to an incubus named Lord Incubor (clever I know) and his succubi servants. These life draining demons live in the realm of Nocturna.

Music Monday - Second Chance

I’ve mentioned my love of Mortal Kombat several times on here over the years. While the game is known for its blood and extreme gore, my favorite part of the games is the story. Mortal Kombat 1 continues that story and is a really fun game. I don’t like microtransactions and the game has them, but you can still play it without buying them and enjoy it.

Today’s Music Monday post plays dying the credits of the game and I really enjoy it. Honestly given the year I’ve had, that chorus hits hard in the best ways.

Of course I’m going to share 5e content related to Mortal Kombat with this post.

Classic MK Content

• Scorpion 

DLC Fighters

• Peacemaker
• Joker
• Homelander
• Robocop

I didn’t make these MK stats. Unfortunately the site that posted them doesn’t seem to be working anymore. For that reason  I’m sharing them.

Update From The Halls

Thought I'd give a little update on what's up at the Halls. I still don't have a computer yet, but that will change in the next day or two. My friend Lindsey got a new computer and is passing on her old laptop to me. That means I will be blog more regularly (instead of just when I head to the library). This means I'll start on my review of the Marvel Multiverse Role-Playing Game.

I'm still looking for a new job and have plenty of free time. I've decided I want to start working on some new projects to release as The Lone Bards (though since Josh had given up writing for now it's the Lone Bard).  I've been on a TMNT kick recently. Started reading the comics again which has been fun. Thinking about sitting down and watching all of the major series (1987, 2003, 2012, and Rise of the the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). What does this have to do with The Lone Bards? Well, one of the projects I want to do is an original game that's an homage to TMNT (and the series it spawned like Street Sharks and Toxic Crusaders). I haven't fully decided if I'm going to go full Saturday Morning Cartoon camp, classic gritty, or somewhere in between... though I'm leaning towards somewhere in between. It will probably never get finished like most of the ideas I have, but sometimes I think just having a goal helps my mental state out, even if I never get to the point of achieving it. 

Fuccubus Friday - Haarlep

Though you cannot romance or sleep with Baldur's Gate 3's Raphael there is an interesting twist if you'd like to. Through a series of choices while in Avernus you can sleep with Haarlep, an incubus that looks just like Raphael (and who's name is an anagram of it). He can take both male and female forms.

Your Move Creep

 Check out this punk Robocop art by Johan Aberg.

"I AM BETTER!"

Though a teaser dropped back in December, a few days ago we got our first official trailer for The Boys Season 4. I'm really excited for the addition of Karl Urban and where the story is going to go. The season debuts June 13th.

The first look at Homelander in Mortal Kombat 1 also dropped. This isn't the character's first foray into video games. He was an operator skin for Call of Duty. However, though this version is modeled after actor Anthony Star, it's voiced by someone else. Star has said he wanted to voice the character, but couldn't for an unspecified reason. 

5E The Boys Content

• Homelander (The Boys)
• Stormfront (The Boys)
• Jaime (The Boys)

Time Traveler's Codex Review

While at Super-Fly Comics & Games for Free Comic Book Day 2024 I picked up the Time Traveler's Codex for Mutants and Masterminds 3e. Like many M&M books this book provides both advice and rules on a subject, as well as relating the topic back to Earth-Prime (the home of Freedom City and Emerald City).

I really enjoyed this book and if you plan on including time travel at all in your game, I recommend this one. I'm also going to say I love that the book discusses eras and places outside of Europe and North America. 

Chapter One discusses including time travel in your campaign (big surprise I know). It also discusses the big ideas behind time travel and tropes associated with it. This is a nice section and even discusses several different types of time paradoxes. It all made me think of the scene in Avengers: End Game in which Bruce explains how time travel works. "So Back to the Future's a bunch of bullshit?" There is some crunch too. New time travel rules, including temporal navigation, temporal drift, temporal mishaps, and other rules related to temporal retcons. The chapter ends with a discussion about "Ugly History." If you want historical accuracy sometimes hard subjects are a part of that. The book gives some good advice to addressing these subjects and making sure your players' are comfortable.

Chapter Two discusses Time Traveling Heroes. It starts off with discussing how time travel will be used. Are you just having the occasional jaunt or going full Doctor Who? More character framework is presented. Suggested power levels and themes are given. The are quite a few character options. Skills are discussed in connection to different eras and cultures. Just because you are an expert in one time doesn't mean you are in another. Along with this are simple rules for tech familiarity. There are several new time travel based Advantages, including a new type: chronal. Three time based powers are given (with how they are built using other powers). The same is done with several pieces of time travel equipment and devices. Of course we get some heroic archetypes. They are:

• Hyperintelligent Dinosaur (PL 8) - this might be my favorite, it's a super smart raptor 
• Quantum Alien (PL 12) - basically the Doctor, they even have a quantum spanner, redundant organs, and rejuvenation
• Temporal Tourist (PL 10) - it's basically Booster Gold and even includes its own Enthusiastic Robot Buddy
• Time Warden (PL 10) - want to be a Timecop?
• Time-Lost Teenager (PL 8) - definite Bill and Ted (or even Marty McFly) vibes
• Warrior From a Grim Future (PL 10) - the art and name definitely shows its inspiration because this one is definitely Cable (or Bishop)

Chapter Three is for Gamemasters. It is a more detailed discussion of many of the things mentioned in Chapter One. We get several hazards that make time travel more dangerous (and interesting). Time Travel and Earth-Prime is given a few pages of discussion. Included in this is stats for counter-culture villain, the Tick-Tock Doc and his Groove Machine. This is followed by several time-travel villain archetypes. They are:

• Exterminator (PL 12) - Terminator-like robot sent to the past to ensure a certain future
• Future Perfectionist  (PL 14) - though this isn't Kang (we get that archetype later), there are elements of him in it, the Maker (the evil Ultimate version of Reed Richards) has elements of this, particularly in the recently recreated Ultimate Universe
• Immortal Conqueror (PL 13) - this one might be my favorite, it's a primitive looking woman in a business suit and is an obvious tribute to Vandal Savage.
  
• Living Gateway (PL 10) - this varied villain has the ability to travel through time to play around with things, it reminded me of the DCAU version of Chronos depicted in "The Once and Future Thing" episodes of Justice League. 
• Temporal Wizard (PL 13) - This magical time travel seems to be inspired by TMNT's Savanti Romero
• Time-Hopping Tyrant (PL 16) - this is our Kang, though he's also been presented in the Cosmic Handbook's Time Master villain archetype.

Chapter Three ends with ten new minions.

Chapter Four discusses different heroic comic eras. The Platinum, Atomic, Bronze, and Copper Ages of comics are given brief discussion  (three paragraphs each) before more popular ones are given a more thorough treatment. Each era discusses life during the time as well as rules considerations. This is followed by PL/theme suggestions and stat blocks. Included in two of these sections are classic comic book items with the serial numbers filed off.  Finally we get a look at one of the Earth-Prime's cities during this time.

• Golden Age
• Rules Considerations 
• Skills
• Advantages
• Gear - Alan Scott's ring, the Blue Beetle Scarab, Wonder Woman's Lasso of Truth
• Rationing Rules
• Statblocks - Fifth Columnist (PL3), Wonder Dog (PL 3)
• Golden Age Emerald City - we're presented with several villains and a heroic team, the Victory Squadron (13 stat blocks in total
• Silver Age
• Rules Considerations
• Skills
• Advantages
• Gear - Flash's cosmic treadmill, Green Arrow's gimmicked arrows, Captain America's Shield, Spider-Man's web-shooters, Daredevil's Billy Club
• Statblocks - Plucky Reporter (PL3), Rock & Roll Legend (PL2), Super Spy (PL5)
• Silver Age Freedom City - Set the Destroyer, the Atom Family, and the Freedom League are all discussed. (there are 11 new stat blocks, we're told to use stat blocks found in other books for some)
• Iron Age
• Rules Considerations
• Lethality
• Ability Strain
• Skills
• Advantages
• Realistic Powers
• Statblocks - Detective (PL5), Middle Manager (PL4), Sewer Mutant (PL6)
• Iron Age New York City - capes were illegal in Freedom City during this age and the only supers in Emerald City kept things quiet, so it makes sense they discuss another city, the primary focus is on the Lower East Side, a few villains are discussed: Riot Shield and Ghengis as well as a heroic female punk band, the Gorgons (Genghis and the Gorgons get statblocks)

Chapter Five discusses other eras of play. Like the previous chapter several eras are touched on briefly (only a paragraph this time). Then other eras are given multiple pages. While they don't get a whole subsection detailing an Earth-Prime city, there are sidebars that discuss these eras in that setting. It should be noted that the Legion of Super-Hero-inspired Freedom City 2525 isn't discussed because it's in the Cosmic Handbook.

• Jurassic Planet (Circa 175 Million BCE)
• Rules Considerations
• Skills/Advantages
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Compsoganathus (PL1), Early Hominid (PL3), Megaldon (PL11), Smilodon (PL7), Titanboa (PL9)
• Old Kingdom Egypt (Circa 2500 BCE)
• Rules Considerations
• Advantages
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Charioteer (PL4), Priest (PL1), Sphinx (PL8)
• Imperial Rome (Circa 100 CE)
• Rules Considerations
• Skills/Advantages
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Champion Gladiator (PL7), Legionary (PL5), Senator (PL3)
• Islamic Golden Age (Circa 900 CE)
• Rules Considerations
• Skills/Advantages
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Alchemist (PL3), Jinn (PL7) Royal Guard (PL6)
• Medieval Europe (Circa 1000 CE)
• Rules Considerations
• Advantages
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Jester (PL3), Sidhe (PL8),  Shining Knight (PL6)
  
• The Great Ming Empire (Circa 1410)
• Rules Considerations
• Skills/Advantage
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Scholar-Official (PL2), Warrior Monk (PL6), Long (PL12)
• The Triple Alliance (Circa 1500 CE)
  
• Rules Considerations
• Skills/Advantages
• Flaws
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Ahuizotl (PL9), Engineer (PL2), Jaguar Warrior (PL7)
• Golden Age of Sail (Circa 1715 CE)
• Rules Considerations
• Advantage/New Skill
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Buccaneer (PL4), Dread Pirate (PL6), Siren (PL4)
• The Wild West (Circa 1870 CE)
• Rules Considerations
• Advantages
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Hidebehind (PL7), Legendary Gunslinger (PL7), Smooth-Talking Huckster (PL2)
• Cyber Revolution (Circa 2060 CE) 
• Rules Considerations
• Advantages
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Cyber Ronin (PL7), Hacker (PL2), Information Broker (PL3)
• Post-Apocalyptic Earth
• Rules Considerations
• Power-Immunity - these abilities might cost more or be barred from character creation given the nature of the world
• Equipment
• Statblocks - Death Machine (PL10), Giant Roach (PL2), Mutant Survivor (PL5)

The book ends with a very thorough index. 

Butterfly In The Sky (Peacemaker Spoilers)

During the A-Z challenge this year I mentioned Peacemaker's butterflies. A noble butterfly, Murn was a member of Peacemaker's team is discussed in the Support Staff post. The aliens hadn't appeared in DC before the series, though they do kind of remind me of Lovecraft's Mi-go.  

The Butterflies came to Earth when their planet became inhabitable. They quickly noticed how flawed humans were and decided for the species' and the planet's best interest they would take control of the most powerful humans to course correct Earth's inevitable destruction. 

These stats were inspired by the Monster Manual's Intellect Devourer.

Butterfly

Tiny Monstrosity, Any

Armor Class: 15 (Dex, Size)

Hit Points:  14 (6d4)

Speed: 20 ft., Fly 40 ft.

Challenge: 2 (450 XP)

Str 2 (-4) Dex 18 (+4) Con 11 (+0) Int 16 (+3) Wis 16 (+3) Cha 10 (+0)

Saving Throws: Dex +6

Skills: Perception +4, Stealth +6

Senses: Darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 14

Languages: Butterfly

Trait

Butterfly Burrow: When making a grapple check the butterfly can use its Dexterity instead of Strength.

Actions

Claw: Melee Weapon Attack. +6  to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 slashing.

Possess Creature: The butterfly tries to burrow into the brain of an incapacitated humanoid. The creature makes a Constitution saving throw (DC 15). If successful nothing happens and the butterfly can be removed without harming the host. If the saving throw is not successful the butterfly burrows in the creature's brain. This technically kills the creature, the the body does not die. The butterfly is now in full control of the creature. The butterfly retains its Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma, as well as proficiencies. It otherwise takes on its host's stats (with some enhancements). The hosts Strength, Dexterity, and Constitution scores increase by 4. It's movement score increases by 10 ft. It also gains Damage Resistance: Bludgeoning from Non-Magical Sources. Finally they gain a proboscis that is used to feed on nectar-like fluid.

If the host body drops to 0 hit points, the butterfly must leave. By spending 5 feet of its movement, the butterfly can voluntarily leave the body. The body then dies, unless its brain is restored within 1 round.

Music Monday - Wrong Side of the River

I was definitely not expecting JTMusic to make a track about The Mummy, but I’m so glad they did. It’s short, but great. 

Rebel Yell

Enjoy this fun bezerkartwerk for Star Wars Day.

Free Comic Book Day 2024

It's the first Saturday in may which means that in addition to be Derby Day, it's Free Comic Book Day! If you'd like to find a  participating shop near you check out this link. I’ll be heading out later with my friend John.

I'd also like to point you to the 5e Fantomah pdf I dropped for Free Comic Book Day 2022. Maybe I can come up with something for next year.

Finally, I thought I'd ask everyone what their favorite supers rpg is? Why do you like it so much?

Madame Web (2024)

There are spoilers and stats below.

Plot

Cassandra Webb is an EMT in NYC who begins developing clairvoyance. Soon she finds herself entangled in a web of mystery tied to her past. She must protect three young women with important destinies from Ezekiel Sims, an evil Spider-Man.

Review

You will notice that most of my reviews on here are positive. That's because most of the time, I'd rather just not talk about something I don't like. I'm going to make an exception today. Though it looked weird, I was interested in the movie when it was announced and the first trailer dropped. The villain, Ezekiel Sims was a decisive but interesting addition to Spider-Man lore. He introduced the idea of the Spider-Totems, Morlun, and the Inheritors to the mythos (and by proxy the concept of the Spider-Verse). 

Unfortunately none of this is mentioned in the movie and this one really might be as bad as the critics said. I'll start by talking about the good points. The idea that not every person gets the same spider powers is an interesting one. Ezekiel's costume looks like a cool dark version of Spider-Man without the spider symbol. Spider-Woman II/Arachne, Araña/Spider-Girl III, and Spider-Woman III all have cool costumes and their action scenes are cool. This leads me to my first complaint, we only see the Spider-Ladies in action in a brief nightmare/vision Ezekiel has and posing in vision Madam Web has at the end. The film's dialogue is flat and the delivery is just bad. Dakota Johnson seems bored and confused the whole time. Her delivery is awkward and off-putting. Ezekiel's dialogue just doesn't sound natural, like there is some sort of dubbing thing. Adam Scott plays Ben Parker and Emma Roberts is Mary Parker. Both characters are wasted though. Though he's not named, Peter Parker is born in the film. There's some weird product placement with Pepsi (who are involved with Ezekiel's death). Finally the introduction of Las Arañas was just kind of meh. They could have been cool, like most of the film just kind of fell flat.

I'm not saying don't watch it, but definitely don't pay to watch it.

What I Would Have Done

I don't normally do this but I'm going to talk about what I would have done differently. I would have definitely introduced the idea of Morlun and the Inheritors. Instead of just being selfish and wanting power, I would have had Ezekiel offing Spider-People to keep the Inheritors from focusing on his Earth. He could have even went full Terminator and went after Mary to stop the birth of Peter. Also while they could have kept the spiders that give them their powers, I would have dropped the super powered Las Arañas tribe as a whole. Or kept them, but made them guardians of the spiders, rather than having them powered by the spiders.

In Your Game 

Ezekiel doesn't have the full suite of Spider-Man powers. He has enhanced strength/dexterity/constitution, a neurotoxin touch, and visions of the future. I'm also giving him resistance to bludgeoning damage because he gets hit by vehicles twice in the movie and keeps going.

Real Name: Ezekiel Sims

Medium Humanoid (Spider-Person), Neutral Evil 

Armor Class: 16 (Dex)

Hit Points: 112 (12d8+60)

Speed: 30 ft., Climbing 30 ft

Challenge: 5 (1,800 XP)

Str 22 (+6) Dex 22 (+6) Con 20 (+5) Int 15 (+2) Wis 14 (+2) Cha 12 (+1)

Saving Throws: Dex +9, Con +8

Skills: Acrobatics +9, Athletics +9, Deception +4, Perception +5, Stealth +9 

Damage Resistance: Bludgeoning

Senses: passive Perception 12

Languages: Spanish, English

Unique Traits

Evasion: Ezekiel can dodge out of the way of area of effect spells and attacks. When subjected to one that allows him to make a Dexterity saving throw to take only half damage, he takes no damage  instead if he succeeds and only half if he fails.

Spider-Climb: Ezekiel can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings without having to make an ability check.

Spider-Sense: Ezekiel adds +4 to his Initiative checks and can't be surprised while he is conscious. Creatures that gain Advantage to attacks against him because of invisibility or stealth lose Advantage on those attacks. He loses all perks of this trait other than initiative against a foe that also has Spider-Sense.

Actions

Mutliattack: Ezekiel can make three slam attacks.

Neurotoxin: Melee Weapon Attack: +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 9 (2d4+5) poison damage.  The target must succeed on a DC 16 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. If the target already has the poisoned condition they gain a level of exhaustion.

Slam: Melee Weapon Attack +9 to hit, reach 5 ft., (one target), Hit: 10 (1d8+6) bludgeoning damage.

Fuccubus Friday - Raphael

Raphael is a seductive and silver-tongued antoginist from Baldur's Gate 3. He's the cambion son of Mephistopheles. He's also a full on Disney villain because he has a big musical number during your (potential) boss fight with him. I've posted a metal cover of it here.

Add Some Brutality To Your Action Figure Collection

The first item from Severed Toys is live on Kickstarter. In a partnership with Johan and Pelle of Stockholm Kartell, they're releasing an action figure based on the cover of Mork Borg. There are four different versions: Dread Risen (pictured below),  Blood Drenched, Glow in the Dark, and Cursed. The figures are 1/12 scale, which means they'll look great alongside my Marvel Legends figures. I will probably only be able to get one and I'm still deciding which one. I'm leaning towards blood drenched. The zine (written by Mork Borg's creators) will let you summon your own undead in the game.  The project has already funded funded and three stretch goals have been met. If you think you're going to want it you should back now. If you do so before 11 am EST on May 2 you can get the Flanged Mace add-on for free. Back it here.

As an aside this is really cool for me. Before I rolled dice, my friend Chad and I would "play D&D" with our action figures. This won't be the first action figure I've got based on a rpg, but every time I add another to my collection it makes me smile.