White Dwarf Wednesday: Monster Index

Here is a list of the monsters featured in White Dwarf from Issue #1 (really #2) to Issue #75.

Enough here for you to make your own Fiend Folio II if you wanted, though some of the monsters are a little lame.  But I bet with some editing, and some imagination even the Yelg or Winter Kobold would be fine.

Name	Issue / Date
Acrophid	#46 Oct 1983
Akresh	#48 Dec 1983
Algroths	#56 Aug 1984
Amorph	#48 Dec 1983
Anak	#49 Jan 1984
Antmen	#37 Jan 1983
Anubi	#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Aphrodite's Nemesis	#73 Jan 1986
Archeults	#58 Oct 1984
Argorian Wormkin.	#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Armbane Bug	#61 Jan 1985
Army Wasps	#73 Jan 1986
Asrai	#26 Aug/Sept 1981
Assassin Bug	#12 April/May 1979
B'Krath	#48 Dec 1983
Banshee	#07 June / July 1978
Banth	#05 February / March 1978
Bean-Nighe	#38 Feb 1983
Beggar-Louse - Giant	#35 Nov 1982
Beggar-Louse - Marsh	#35 Nov 1982
Beggar-Louse - Normal	#35 Nov 1982
Beggar-Louse - Sand	#35 Nov 1982
Beholder Variants	#05 February / March 1978
Berbalang	#11 Feb/March 1979
Birch Spirit	#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Black Annis.	#38 Feb 1983
Black Leech	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Black Monk	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1979
Black Orc	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Black Unicorn	#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Blackling	#44 Aug 1983
Blink Skeleton	#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Blood Spore	#60 Dec 1984
Bloodhawk	#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Blue Horror	#06 April / May 1978
Bodach	#17 Feb/March 1980
Bogle	#38 Feb 1983
Bogy	#05 February / March 1978
Bonacon	#24 April/May 1981
Bonesnapper	#06 April / May 1978
Bragger	#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Brain Sucker	#25 June/July 1981
Brother of the Pine	#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Brothers of the Pine	#75 Mar 1986
Bug Rider	#43 July 1983
Buggane (Minor Demon)	#56 Aug 1984
Bush Cat	#60 Dec 1984
Buzzbug	#61 Jan 1985
Cactus Cat	#64 April 1985
Capricorn	#22 Dec 1980/Jan 1981
Caraxe	#61 Jan 1985
Carbuncle	#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Carnivores	#05 February / March 1978
Cauldron-Born	#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Cavewight	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Chameliad	#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Chthon	#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Chun.	#58 Oct 1984
Cloocicus Simbiocicus	#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Coffer Corpse	#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Cold Beast	#27 Oct/Nov 1981
Couerl	#18 April/May 1980
Cramesha	#63 March 1985
Creeper	#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Crestcat	#37 Jan 1983
Crimson Carpet	#46 Oct 1983
Crystal Golem	#22 Dec 1980/Jan 1981
Cyborg	#05 February / March 1978
Cyclops	#05 February / March 1978
Cynopard	#05 February / March 1978
Dahdi	#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Dame Verte	#46 Oct 1983
Daoine Sidhe	#31 June/July 1982
Dark Bat	#35 Nov 1982
Darkhawk	#19 June/July 1980
Death Snake	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Demon Wolf	#48 Dec 1983
Demons	#05 February / March 1978
Dendridi	#31 June/July 1982
Deodand	#58 Oct 1984
Desert Orc	#64 April 1985
Desert Raider	#12 April/May 1979
Devil Dog	#11 Feb/March 1979
Diabolo	#47 Nov 1983
Disenchanter	#06 April / May 1978
Dokon	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Doombat	#13 June/July 1979
Doombat	#24 April/May 1981
Dragon Dog	#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Dragon spider	#06 April / May 1978
Dragon Warrior	#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Drainwing.	#49 Jan 1984
Dream Demon	#25 June/July 1981
Driver Ant	#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Droll	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Duergar	#38 Feb 1983
Dune Stalker	#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Dungeon Master	#24 April/May 1981
Eastern Skeleton	#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Elemental, Dust	#45 Sept 1983
Elemental, Heat	#45 Sept 1983
Elemental, Ice	#45 Sept 1983
Elemental, Vapour	#45 Sept 1983
Embertree	#34 Oct 1982
Empipath	#19 June/July 1980
Energy Cyclone	#14 Aug/Sept 1979
Enslaver	#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Evil Cormorant	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Eye Killer	#07 June / July 1978
Familiar	#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Fay Stirge	#38 Feb 1983
Fiend	#06 April / May 1978
Fire Tongue	#45 Sept 1983
Fire-Flower	#75 Mar 1986
Firvulag	#51 March 1984
Flame Beetle	#61 Jan 1985
Flyguard	#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flying Fish	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Flymage	#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flyman	#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flyman Artisan	#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flyman Drone	#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Flyman Warrior	#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Forest Giant	#26 Aug/Sept 1981
Forest-Brethren	#57 Sept 1984
Frog Folk	#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Frost Vampire	#57 Sept 1984
Fuzzy	#05 February / March 1978
Gachragar	#66 June 1985
Gazer	#14 Aug/Sept 1979
Ghayrog.	#57 Sept 1984
Ghralthi	#37 Jan 1983
Giant Bloodworm	#12 April/May 1979
Giant Caterpillar	#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Giant Mole	#33 Sept 1982
Giant Mosquito	#61 Jan 1985
Giant Moth	#49 Jan 1984
Giant Praying Mantis	#49 Jan 1984
Giant Sandcrab	#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Giant Wood Ant	#34 Oct 1982
Githyanki	#12 April/May 1979
Glitch	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Gluey	#07 June / July 1978
Gnaw Bug	#61 Jan 1985
Goldeater	#05 February / March 1978
Golden Beetle	#49 Jan 1984
Goldfinger	#34 Oct 1982
Goom	#17 Feb/March 1980
Greater Raven	#32 Aug 1982
Green Gremlin	#18 April/May 1980
Green Salamander	#66 June 1985
Green Worm	#17 Feb/March 1980
Greenman	#27 Oct/Nov 1981
Grell	#12 April/May 1979
Gremkin, Black	#53 May 1984
Gremkin, Green	#53 May 1984
Gremkin, Red	#53 May 1984
Gremlin	#05 February / March 1978
Gremlin	#48 Dec 1983
Gremlins	#39 Mar 1983
Grey Dominator.	#52 April 1984
Grey Sqaarg	#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Grimp.	#33 Sept 1982
Gromit	#47 Nov 1983
Gu'en-Deeko	#18 April/May 1980
Guardian	#25 June/July 1981
Guardian Skeleton	#24 April/May 1981
Guardians of the City	#50 February 1984
Gurgotch	#14 Aug/Sept 1979
Gwillion	#63 March 1985
Gwyllion	#38 Feb 1983
Heat Monster	#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Heat Skeleton	#17 Feb/March 1980
Helgost.	#60 Dec 1984
Hjort	#57 Sept 1984
Hook Horror	#12 April/May 1979
Hound of Kerenos	#18 April/May 1980
Howler	#51 March 1984
Hsiao	#30 April/May 1982
Ibem	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Ice Maiden	#14 Aug/Sept 1979
Igni Beetle	#61 Jan 1985
Imorph	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Imp, Fire	#13 June/July 1979
Imp, Molten	#13 June/July 1979
Imp, Smoke	#13 June/July 1979
Imp, Steam	#13 June/July 1979
Imps	#05 February / March 1978
Incubus	#25 June/July 1981
Incubus/Succubus	#48 Dec 1983
Inverse Monster	#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Iron Demon	#05 February / March 1978
Iron Pig	#12 April/May 1979
Ivyix	#46 Oct 1983
Javukchari	#37 Jan 1983
Jugger	#06 April / May 1978
Kail	#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Krowk	#47 Nov 1983
Kzin	#05 February / March 1978
Lapidan	#11 Feb/March 1979
Lashbriar	#66 June 1985
Lauren	#11 Feb/March 1979
Leanan-Sidhe	#31 June/July 1982
Leechweed	#75 Mar 1986
Lich-King	#43 July 1983
Living Wall	#07 June / July 1978
Llort	#24 April/May 1981
Loculi	#36 Dec 1982
Longhorned Murderer	#06 April / May 1978
Lorelei Willow	#31 June/July 1982
Magmite	#56 Aug 1984
Man Scorpion	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Mandrake Person	#18 April/May 1980
Manta	#05 February / March 1978
Mara.	#32 Aug 1982
Marsh-Wiggle	#52 April 1984
Melodemon	#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Mephit, Ice	#56 Aug 1984
Metamorph	#57 Sept 1984
Miceman	#21 Oct/Nov 1980
Milead Bug	#61 Jan 1985
Mimble	#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Mind Drain	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Mind Shadow	#56 Aug 1984
Mindweb	#14 Aug/Sept 1979
Minidrag	#30 April/May 1982
Mite	#06 April / May 1978
Mobil Diss	#05 February / March 1978
Morbe	#34 Oct 1982
Morghiss	#24 April/May 1981
Mud-Men	#56 Aug 1984
Muryan	#30 April/May 1982
Nandie	#18 April/May 1980
Nandie-Bear	#18 April/May 1980
Nasnas	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Nazgul	#32 Aug 1982
Necrophidius	#07 June / July 1978
Needleman	#06 April / May 1978
Night Rider	#17 Feb/March 1980
Nightling	#32 Aug 1982
Nightmare	#48 Dec 1983
Nilbog	#06 April / May 1978
Ning	#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Noegyth Nibin	#65 May 1985
Northfly	#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Ogress	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Oozing Jelly	#75 Mar 1986
Pazuzu	#48 Dec 1983
Pebble Gnome	#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Pelgrane	#58 Oct 1984
Phooka	#38 Feb 1983
Phung	#18 April/May 1980
Pine Tree Spirit	#62 Feb 1985
Plantman	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Plentyn Nos	#53 May 1984
Porphyr	#48 Dec 1983
Psi-mule	#33 Sept 1982
Psitan	#33 Sept 1982
Psychic Vampire	#71 Nov 1985
Puffball Plant, The	#46 Oct 1983
Qothe	#32 Aug 1982
Quetzl	#73 Jan 1986
Ralkan	#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
Raver	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Redcap	#38 Feb 1983
Rock Beast	#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Rok-or	#56 Aug 1984
Rover	#07 June / July 1978
Rult	#48 Dec 1983
Rusalka	#34 Oct 1982
Russian Doll Monster	#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Sand Demon	#45 Sept 1983
Sand Golem	#64 April 1985
Sand Sniper.	#64 April 1985
Sandfly	#23 Feb/Mar 1981
Sandman	#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Sea Dragon	#57 Sept 1984
Seareach Giant	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Servant of the Flame	#45 Sept 1983
Shadow Dancer	#18 April/May 1980
Shadow Demon	#13 June/July 1979
Shadow Goblin	#26 Aug/Sept 1981
Shapeling	#54 June 1984
Sheet Phantom	#11 Feb/March 1979
Shim-Shari	#29 Feb/Mar 1982
Silent Hater	#66 June 1985
Skandar	#57 Sept 1984
Skullcatcher	#49 Jan 1984
Slime Beast	#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Smoke Creature	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Smoke Demon	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Snaga Orc	#53 May 1984
Soldier Orc	#53 May 1984
Spice Worm	#17 Feb/March 1980
Spider Dragon	#52 April 1984
Spidron	#35 Nov 1982
Spikehead	#27 Oct/Nov 1981
Spinescale	#02 Aug / Sept 1977
Spook	#11 Feb/March 1979
Spriggan	#38 Feb 1983
Sprite Knight	#30 April/May 1982
Squonk	#07 June / July 1978
Sraim	#48 Dec 1983
Stagweed	#75 Mar 1986
Stair Stalker	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Stalker	#48 Dec 1983
Steely	#05 February / March 1978
Stinger Bug	#61 Jan 1985
Stinwicodech	#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Stirge Demon	#30 April/May 1982
Stong Toad	#66 June 1985
Storm Demon	#48 Dec 1983
Stormbiter	#19 June/July 1980
Striding Murderer	#06 April / May 1978
Surrogate	#54 June 1984
Susurrus	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Svart	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Swamp Lurker	#66 June 1985
Tacharanid	#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Tali Monster	#24 April/May 1981
Tanu	#51 March 1984
Tenser Beast	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Terithran	#13 June/July 1979
Termagant	#06 April / May 1978
The Great Hunter	#59 Nov 1984
The Reaver	#59 Nov 1984
Three-Headed Skrat	#12 April/May 1979
Threep	#05 February / March 1978
Throat Leech	#06 April / May 1978
Time Freezer	#15 Oct/Nov 1979
Todal	#24 April/May 1981
Tribe of the Stone	#11 Feb/March 1979
Trist	#47 Nov 1983
Trollkin	#47 Nov 1983
Tunnel Crawler	#60 Dec 1984
Turlung	#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Tween	#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Typo	#04 Dec 1977 / Jan 1978
Umpleby	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Unborn	#34 Oct 1982
Undead Horse	#19 June/July 1980
Undead Rat - Skeletal Rat	#35 Nov 1982
Undead Rat - Zombie Rat	#35 Nov 1982
Ungoliant - Queen of the Spiders	#22 Dec 1980/Jan 1981
Ur-Vile	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Urchin	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Uruk Orc	#53 May 1984
Vampire Bat	#73 Jan 1986
Vampire Wolf (Coacula)	#30 April/May 1982
Vanith-Vadiren	#43 July 1983
Vily	#46 Oct 1983
Volt	#07 June / July 1978
Vroon	#57 Sept 1984
Warlock Cat	#10 Dec 1978/Jan 1979
Water Leaper	#20 Aug/Sept 1980
Weed Delver	#37 Jan 1983
Werefox	#19 June/July 1980
Weresnake	#30 April/May 1982
Whipper	#09 Oct/Nov 1978
Whippersnapper	#52 April 1984
Whirler	#08 Aug/Sept 1978
Whispering Tongue	#28 Dec 1981/Jan 1982
White Ape	#27 Oct/Nov 1981
White Hart, The	#63 March 1985
Winged Beast	#32 Aug 1982
Winter Kobold	#26 Aug/Sept 1981
Wirrn	#27 Oct/Nov 1981
Withera	#07 June / July 1978
Witherstench	#11 Feb/March 1979
Witherweed	#07 June / July 1978
Wodennian	#44 Aug 1983
Wohk (Anthony Bufton)	#44 Aug 1983
Wood Skeleton	#53 May 1984
Wood-Demons	#49 Jan 1984
Woods Vampire	#61 Jan 1985
Wraith-Warrior	#34 Oct 1982
Wrecker	#16 Dec 1979/Jan 1980
Wyrmlet	#32 Aug 1982
Yelg	#44 Aug 1983
Zirosownee (Two-Headed Eagle)	#63 March 1985
Zwergind	#53 May 1984
Zytra, Lord of the Mind Flayers	#33 Sept 1982

Sol Invictus: The Unconquered Sun

The mountains and the canyons started to tremble and shake 
as the children of the sun began to awake. 

It's not easy pulling off a large mono-theistic religion in a FRPG, especially one where the world not only has a lot of pantheons, but also where all these goods are assumed to be real.
Fortunately there are plenty of examples from the real world.  Especially in the Christ-like figure of Mithra or Mitra and the similar Sol Invictus.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sol_Invictus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mithraic_mysteries
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81ine

I think a god like Mithra would be interesting in D&D.

The Church of Sol Invictus
In my Mystoerth world the Church of Sol Invictus seeks to unite the faiths of the world under the banner of one Sun God.  They have a lot of influence in the temples of Pholtus, Pelor, St. Cthubert and Ixion.  There are many similarities to this faith and the one of Taiia in 3rd Edition.

Proponents of Sol Invictus believe that their god is the only true god and all others are false gods or even worse elevated demons or mortals.

But the Church of Sol Invictus has a number of other, deeper secrets.
In addition to only recognizing the sun gods of various faiths as the only true god, they believe that these gods are really only aspects of a much greater god.
The high priests and the leader of the faith, known as "His Brilliance", feel that these aspects are in fact aspects of the god known as "He Who Was".

He Who Was was an ancient powerful god whose chief lieutenant was Asmodeus. At the behest of Tharizdun, Asmodeus tricked and betrayed this god. He was ambushed by Orcus, Demogorgon and a third demon whose name has been erased.  He Who Was managed to kill this other demon and even split Demogorgon into two.  Demogorgon later regenerated into  his current form, each half of his head regenerating in to two complete heads.  Orcus killed He Who Was and in a further act of desecration used his skull and spine as the the great Wand of Orcus.

The clergy of Sol Invictus believe then that by combining these aspects of the Sun God and destroying Orcus forever they can have their god reborn. They believe that this rebirth will make their god more powerful than he ever was.

In my larger world St. Aleena was also a follower of this philosophy and the Church of Law and Order in City of Dolmvay is just another aspect of this faith.

The major foes of this Church are followers of Orcus and pretty much any demonic cult.  Also feared and mistrusted are the faiths that follow the Moon.

The Church of Sol Invictus are among the main witch-hunters in my world.

I am planning to work elements of this church into my current game, but not sure how much detail the players are actually going to get.  The use a word my wife hates, I am going to let it grow "organically".

Some of this organic growth began when I first started pulling all this together for 4e. It was building the 4e version of Aleena that got this idea rolling again.  I guess this is one of the reasons I have not let go of my 4e books.  A lot of the fluff is still compatible with what I am doing in 5e.

Not everything is figured out though.
Given that I grew up in the 70s I would love to add some more left-over hippy shit to it all. I would love to add something like 12 houses to the faith, something along the lines of orders.  Or 7 orders and break them down by color.  The 7 orders actually fits better with some other things I had done in the past.  Each order representing a different aspect of the faith.  I had already figured out Red (Military might) and Blue (Knowledge/learning).  It should not be too hard to come up with something else.  Obviously Green could be related to growing things.  Violet could be Guidance. Why? Well it brings in a group I had created separately that could work into this faith.  Maybe they absorbed them.  I could even have a "Black" for the secret police within the faith.

I will give this some thought.  But yeah this could be fun.

Happy Snowy Imbolc!

Well gaming was canceled yesterday so we could spend 3 hours (total) digging ourselves out.
But I really can't complain to be honest.  We have not had that much snow yet this year.

So what do I know?

The Witches
I am going to pick up a copy of Dungeon World today.
I want to do a review of +Melisa Fisher and +David Guyll's "Playbook" for DW, The Witch.
Also I want to read and review another playbook for Dungeon World, also titled, The Witch by Jacob Randolph.  Both look like they are fun.

April A to Z
Yes once again I am going to participate in the April A to Z blogging challenge.  This year I am going to do vampires and like demons and witches the years past I am going to include game playable material for you to use in your games.  Likely it is going to some flavor of OSR game, but I am also wanting to do something for Ghosts of Albion.

Also again this year I am part of the Ambassador's team.  This means I'll visiting a lot of blogs during this time.  Last year I felt I did a good job spreading the word of our little hobby.  I can recall three people in particular who went out and bought Basic Fantasy to either use or give to a loved one.

We talk about spreading knowledge of our hobby around.  This is a good way to do that.
A number of people that come to my blog from outside our hobby will comment to me that they didn't think people still played these games.  Of course WE know that isn't true and the rising attendance of Gen Con helps demonstrate that, we still tend to be a bit insular.
So I encourage you to sign up and give it a try.  I do id not just to be an "ambassador" or even an evangelist but also to improve my own writing skills.

So please join me.
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2015/01/the-2015-to-z-challenge-list-is-open.html


Edited to Add:  WOO HOO!  I guess sometime in the last couple of days Eldritch Witchery went up to "Silver" best seller.

Zatannurday: Multiversity

Not sure if you have been paying attention to the world of comics but DC has been gearing up it's Multiversity arc.  From the mind of Grant Morrison (and others) this brings back the DC multiverse hinted in the 52 series.  There are 52 Earths and each one is different.

And I love Multiverses!

Read more here:
http://siskoid.blogspot.com/2015/01/multiversal-geography-checking-against.html
http://heropresstwo.blogspot.com/2015/01/a-peak-inside-grant-morrisons-head.html

Personally, if I were Green Ronin I would jumping all over this for the DC Adventures RPG.

Of course one of the first things I did was try to track down as many Zatannas as I could.  Here is what I know so far.

Earth 0
This is the Zatanna of the new 52.

Earth 1
This is the fishnet wearing Zatanna of the Pre-52.  I also call this the "Paul Dini" Zatanna.
This is just a guess on my part though.

Earth 3
The "evil" reversed Universe where all the bad guys are good and visa versa.
The most powerful sorceress is Annataz Arataz.

Earths 67 and 8
These have Marvel connections so not likely to have a Zatanna here.

Earth 11
This is the "gender switched" universe of Superwoman, Batwoman and Wonder Man.
Here is where you find Zatara.

Earth 12
This is the Earth of the Batman Beyond timeline.  Likely we would find John Zatara here.

Earth 13
Annataz Arataz is this world's Zatanna and member of the League of Shadows in the horror themed Earth 13.

Earth 16
There are some contradictions online.  Earth 16 is listed in the Multiversity book as "Earth-Me" other places link it to the Young Justice animated show.

Earth 19
No pictures yet, but this is the Earth of the Elseworlds Victorian stories.

Earth 21
This is the "Darwyn Cook" universe. I am sure it will look fantastic.

Earth 22
This is the world of Kingdom Come. So this is the home of Zatanna's and John Constantine's son John Zatara.

Earth 23
This is the world of Kal-L of Krypton. In his alter ego of Calvin Ellis he is President of the US.
Not much is known yet of this Zatanna save she prefers a neck tie to a bow tie.

Earth 32
This is the home of the mashed up world of the Justice Titans.  Here the most powerful sorceress is Ravanna, a mash up of Zatanna and Raven.

Earth 37
Appears to be the Thrillkiller world.  I'd imaging the Zatanna of this world looks something like this.

Earth 42
Home of the Li'l Leaguers.

Earth 50
Home of the Justice Lords from the Justice League Animated series.
No idea if Z is on their side or not but I found this fan pic online.  Bruce Timm style and reminiscent of Earth 3's Annataz Arataz.

A multiverse of Zatanas.

Now I want to run a Multiversity game!

Friday Night Videos: Iron Maiden

Ok.
Last week went great.  Had some good hits and some requests.
So lets get back to it.

This week I want to feature a band who I, and many others, consider to be the quintessential Dungeons & Dragons band.

Iron Maiden!

I was introduced to Iron Maiden via my Jr. High School DM.  He was a huge Iron Maiden fan and lived close to the Capitol Records/EMI plant. So we would ride our bikes there and shift through the discarded tapes that would litter the back lot.  We found tons of Kenny Rogers and The Tubes, but finding Iron Maiden was a treat.

He would come up with adventures based on the album covers (at the time he had all five of their first four studio albums and "Maiden Japan") and songs.  Later when we got to High School and a new DM (we both kept on as players) we would work "Eddie" into a our universe as an undying assassin. I don't think we ever came up with stats.    

Somewhere in Time was my favorite album of those days.  So first up is one of my favorites, Wasted Years. This video also features a pictorial history of Eddie up to that point.



"Woe to you, Oh Earth and Sea, for the Devil sends the
beast with wrath, because he knows the time is short...
Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the
beast for it is a human number, its number is Six hundred and sixty six."

Honestly. Could have anything sounded cooler to a bunch D&D obsessed 13 yearolds with an healthy obsession with the occult?  No. Nothing else was a cool as Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast.



No discussion of Iron Maiden and my early D&D days can happen without at least acknowledging The Trooper. This was my DM's favorite song and the one video we would wait for before playing.



And another great one from the time, Flight of Icarus.



And my first request, from Mercurius Aulicus, Fear of the Dark:



Going through all these videos and memories I realize I have enough for a Part 2!  So look forward to that at some future date.

Have a request?  Hit me up!
Want to be a guest VJ (video jockey for those that don't remember MTV)? Also hit me up!

Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge: January Reviews

Here are the reviews from the first month of the Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge.

I got off to a pretty good start this month with a bunch of books I have been wanting to read or reread.

The Witches of Echo Park - Amber Benson
"The Flood is coming, Lyse. Prepare yourself."
I picked this up the same day I posted about joining the Challenge. I picked it up as both an audio book and as an ebook.
I fist have to say that it is a real treat to hear Amber Benson reading her own books. I feel I am getting something extra that I would not get from another reader.  The Witches of Echo Park is the first book of a series and thus we are hit with a lot of characters at once and the plot builds.   We meet Lyse and her great-aunt Eleanora first and they are focal characters of this book.  Lyse is your very typical Amber Benson heroine; quirky, a little neurotic, sweet and absolutely no clue about what is in store for her.  I can picture her sitting down with Calliope (from her Daughter of Death series) over coffee and talking about who had it worse.  But also like Calliope, Lyse has a hidden reserve of will and power and hopefully we will see more of it.   We are also in turn introduced to the other members of the Echo Park Coven. Devandra, the tarot card reader and mother of two.  I am expecting her daughters also have some power.  Arrabelle, the second in charge (behind Eleanora) and the herbalist of the group.  Daniela, a powerful empath and equally forward flirt.  She has a lot of secrets.  And lastly Lizbeth. She is the mystery here. 17, mute, and a terrible childhood.
Now it would be easy to complain that this is only a set up and by the time the book gets going it is over.  But no, this book is the set up, but there is a reason why this book does what it does and ends where it does.  The plot is about to be turned up to 11 and our witches are in for a wild ride.
Amber has really honed her craft here.  I like the switching narrators (the various members of the coven) to give a different point of view.  The pacing is good and I feel like I am in for a great ride here.
By the end of the book I did want more, and that is a good thing. The next book can pick up where this left off or a couple months down the line; either way I am excited and looking forward to the next one.
Witch Count: 6 (or 7-8, if you count Dev's daughters)

The Last Apprentice (Revenge of the Witch) - Joseph Delaney
This one I picked up for my son but went through it really fast.  Plus it is going to be a new movie, so I thought I would read it first.  The book deals with Tom, the seventh son of a seventh son.  He can see things others can't and this makes him perfect for the his new training as an apprentice "Spook".  Spooks are men that are charged with keeping the things at bay that would harm mortals. Tom quickly learns about ghosts, boggarts and witches.  He also learns that people fear and stay way from Spooks. That is til they need them. Tom learns his trade from Gregory, his master and the area's Spook.  Though a series of events with a local girl, Alice, and the Spook being lead away. Tom has to deal with a powerful witch, Mother Malkin and her family including Boney Lizzy.
Witches are depicted in this book as being evil, but that changes as we read and Tom comes to understand more and more.
Again this is a start to a series and a great one at that.  One could easily make a D&D campaign based on this world.  Actually, even though the book is aimed at younger readers, Lamentations of the Flame Princess has a similar vibe.
Spooks would work as an alternate type of Ranger.
Witch Count: 3 explicitly mentioned, but it is likely to be 4.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - J.K. Rowling
Of course a total re-read. This time I listened to it on audio book.
I read this book the year after it came out. People online where raving about it.  I have been wanting to reread it now after seeing the movies dozens of times and read it with full knowledge of what is to come.  I have to say the book stands up extremely well.  There are so many details in the book that my awe and appreciation of JKR has increased, if that is possible.  She set the stage for Book 7 very early on in Book 1.  She may not have known all the details yet, but she still knew what direction she was going in.  I am hoping to start Book 2 on audio here very soon.  Waiting for my library to get it in.
I do have to admit that I would love to work on a Harry Potter RPG.
Witch Count: Hundreds if not thousands.

Want to see what others are reading?  Here is a list.
http://melissaseclecticbookshelf.com/january-2015-witches-witchcraft-review-link-up/

Current Level: Initiate (Read 1 – 5 Witchy Books)