Simply put this might be the greatest album of all time.
The Album: Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Five Albums, Five Days: Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Continuing now to Day 3. This album had always been there in the background noise of my life for as long as I can remember. I am not sure who it was who first told me to listen to it in its entirety with headphones; likely my brother Mike or my friend and DM at the time, Jon Cook. I am going to give Jon the nod since I know how much he loves this album and what it means to him.
Simply put this might be the greatest album of all time.
The Album: Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Simply put this might be the greatest album of all time.
The Album: Pink Floyd - Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Survive This! Dark Places and Demogorgons - Carmilla / Buffy Crossover
My Dark Places and Demogorgons Buffy game has been a lot of fun. I keep reaching back into my own high school years for ideas and one that came up was the "Foreign Exchange Student", once I hit on that everything else flowed.
So a bit of background. The year is 1983 and the place is Sunny Valley, OH. Here the events of lives of Buffy, Willow, Tara, Dawn, and the others are playing out. We just had Sam and Dean Winchester come to town so we now know there is a lot more going on.
The problem is that I have a GREAT idea and it involves Laura at 13 in full-blown "kid investigative reporter" mode AND it would also fit nicely with the timeline in the movie Styria.
BUT it also means that I am planning on NOT using Carmilla herself.
Having Carm in the mix, even if she is a "useless vampire", is just asking Buffy to try to stake her. Not preferred. But I figure this can be like Pre-Flash Barry Allen visiting Oliver Queen in Arrow.
So for a week or so, Laura Hollis, Teen Reporter is in Sunny Valey, OH and she does not like it. No sir, not one bit.
Of course, this is a perfect time for all those old jokes about "having a girlfriend in Canada". Alex should be the butt of that joke.
What Class is Laura?
That's a good question. He dad teaches her Krav Maga. He makes his own pepper spray that can drop a bear. He could be a Doomsday Prepper, but he is not paranoid, just overprotective. Laura could be a Karate Kid, but that doesn't really define her either. In truth, there is an archetype of the horror genre that is not covered; the Kid Gumshoe or Kid Reporter.
Kid Gumshoe (new Class)
THEY are hiding the truth. What truths? Well if the adults won't get up off their butts watching "Dynasty" or "Wide Wide World of Sports" then it's up to you. You are ready for it too. You have your notes, your tape recorder (and hope to save up for a real camcorder one day) and you have the one thing that the others don't; moxy, gumption, the desire to dig and keep digging.
While most of your fellow students have pictures of Duran Duran and Bon Jovi on their walls you have Woodward, Berstein, Cronkite, and Murrow. Of course, those are there to hide your giant map/pin board of every weird thing going on in town. That jewelry store that never has customers save for late at night. Your money is on werewolves. And really what is the deal with a Light House in middle of a landlocked county where then the nearest body of water is the YMCA Pool.
"The Truth is Out There" - X-files
PREREQUISITES: Intelligence or Wisdom 12, Survival 8
LEVEL 1: Step aside Woodward and Bernstein. You have this covered!
+2 to Courage saves, Investigation +2, Outdoorsmanship OR Stealth at +1, Computer, Ranged Weapons, First Aid. Because of the frequent scrapes and fights you find yourself in you add +1 to melee attacks. Typically this something like a martial art or brawling.
STARTING GEAR: notebooks, pencils, lists of contacts, pocket tape recorder with extra tapes. 5d6 Dollars, fake ID.
Laura Hollis
Class: Kid Gumshoe Level: 2
Alignment: Good
Languages: English, French
Age: 13
Attributes
STR: 10 +0
INT: 16 +2
WIS: 12 +0
DEX: 15 +1
CON: 14 +1
CHA: 16 +2
SUR: 16 +2
AC: 11 HP: 8 Attack Bonus +1
Courage: 4
Critical: 3
Death: 3
Mental: 3
Poison: 3
Background
Mother is dead, Father is way overprotective.
She has not admitted she is gay yet, father knows.
Class Abilities
(see above)
Skills
Investigation, Stealth, Computers, First Aid, Spot
Possessions
Notebook, pencils, pocket tape recorder
Money: $5 (Canadian)
I like it! Both the NPC and the Class. They might need some tweaking, but all in all I am happy.
So a bit of background. The year is 1983 and the place is Sunny Valley, OH. Here the events of lives of Buffy, Willow, Tara, Dawn, and the others are playing out. We just had Sam and Dean Winchester come to town so we now know there is a lot more going on.
- Plays Wells With Others: Dark Places & Demogorgons and Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Willow & Tara: Survive This! Dark Places & Demogorgons
- Survive This! Dark Places and Demogorgons - Supernatural / Buffy Crossover
The problem is that I have a GREAT idea and it involves Laura at 13 in full-blown "kid investigative reporter" mode AND it would also fit nicely with the timeline in the movie Styria.
BUT it also means that I am planning on NOT using Carmilla herself.
Having Carm in the mix, even if she is a "useless vampire", is just asking Buffy to try to stake her. Not preferred. But I figure this can be like Pre-Flash Barry Allen visiting Oliver Queen in Arrow.
So for a week or so, Laura Hollis, Teen Reporter is in Sunny Valey, OH and she does not like it. No sir, not one bit.
Of course, this is a perfect time for all those old jokes about "having a girlfriend in Canada". Alex should be the butt of that joke.
What Class is Laura?
That's a good question. He dad teaches her Krav Maga. He makes his own pepper spray that can drop a bear. He could be a Doomsday Prepper, but he is not paranoid, just overprotective. Laura could be a Karate Kid, but that doesn't really define her either. In truth, there is an archetype of the horror genre that is not covered; the Kid Gumshoe or Kid Reporter.
Kid Gumshoe (new Class)
THEY are hiding the truth. What truths? Well if the adults won't get up off their butts watching "Dynasty" or "Wide Wide World of Sports" then it's up to you. You are ready for it too. You have your notes, your tape recorder (and hope to save up for a real camcorder one day) and you have the one thing that the others don't; moxy, gumption, the desire to dig and keep digging.
While most of your fellow students have pictures of Duran Duran and Bon Jovi on their walls you have Woodward, Berstein, Cronkite, and Murrow. Of course, those are there to hide your giant map/pin board of every weird thing going on in town. That jewelry store that never has customers save for late at night. Your money is on werewolves. And really what is the deal with a Light House in middle of a landlocked county where then the nearest body of water is the YMCA Pool.
"The Truth is Out There" - X-files
PREREQUISITES: Intelligence or Wisdom 12, Survival 8
LEVEL 1: Step aside Woodward and Bernstein. You have this covered!
+2 to Courage saves, Investigation +2, Outdoorsmanship OR Stealth at +1, Computer, Ranged Weapons, First Aid. Because of the frequent scrapes and fights you find yourself in you add +1 to melee attacks. Typically this something like a martial art or brawling.
| LEVEL | ADVANCEMENT |
|---|---|
| 2 | +1 to AC, +2 to Investigation and Spot checks |
| 3 | +1 to Courage saves, Gain a local contact that grants you +2 on any one Investigation Check |
| 4 | +1 to Survival, +2 Brawling |
| 5 | "I gotta a guy." Gain more local contacts, +2 on any three different Investigation checks per day. |
| 6 | +1 to Intelligence or Wisdom, +1 Investigation |
| 7 | "Are You Sure?" can reroll any one Investigation check. |
STARTING GEAR: notebooks, pencils, lists of contacts, pocket tape recorder with extra tapes. 5d6 Dollars, fake ID.
Class: Kid Gumshoe Level: 2
Alignment: Good
Languages: English, French
Age: 13
Attributes
STR: 10 +0
INT: 16 +2
WIS: 12 +0
DEX: 15 +1
CON: 14 +1
CHA: 16 +2
SUR: 16 +2
AC: 11 HP: 8 Attack Bonus +1
Courage: 4
Critical: 3
Death: 3
Mental: 3
Poison: 3
Background
Mother is dead, Father is way overprotective.
She has not admitted she is gay yet, father knows.
Class Abilities
(see above)
Skills
Investigation, Stealth, Computers, First Aid, Spot
Possessions
Notebook, pencils, pocket tape recorder
Money: $5 (Canadian)
I like it! Both the NPC and the Class. They might need some tweaking, but all in all I am happy.
Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Five Albums, Five Days: Stevie Nicks - The Wild Heart (1983)
The search for my muse continues.
The year is 1983 and it is my 13th birthday. There was was always a lot big "to do" about your "Golden Birthday" when you were a kid. That is when your age matches the day you were born. I was born on a Friday the 13th in June and now I was 13.
Not sure what I got that day from others. But I do know one. My best friend Steven Todd gave me a copy of an album by an artist we both loved. But in truth, I think he did it so I would stop borrowing his tape. The artist was the immortal Stevie Nicks.
Last year for my birthday my wife got me the extend cut rerelease. It was like listening to it for the first time again.
The Album: Stevie Nicks - The Wild Heart (1983, 2017)
The year is 1983 and it is my 13th birthday. There was was always a lot big "to do" about your "Golden Birthday" when you were a kid. That is when your age matches the day you were born. I was born on a Friday the 13th in June and now I was 13.
Not sure what I got that day from others. But I do know one. My best friend Steven Todd gave me a copy of an album by an artist we both loved. But in truth, I think he did it so I would stop borrowing his tape. The artist was the immortal Stevie Nicks.
Last year for my birthday my wife got me the extend cut rerelease. It was like listening to it for the first time again.
The Album: Stevie Nicks - The Wild Heart (1983, 2017)
Monday, July 23, 2018
Five Albums, Five Days: Sinéad O'Connor - The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
Creativity still at a remarkable low. But I figure I should type something.
Gaming stuff likely to comback around Gen Con.
I finally got tagged in one of these so I am supposed to post five albums (or was it supposed to be 10) that have deep meaning to me.
Instead of me tagging others to do this, I want to tag/mention people that share that meaning with me. Up first, and no surprise given the time.
The year is 1987. I am in college and I just met this girl who was going to become in roughly this order, someone I could never beat at cards, my best friend, my girlfriend and as of yesterday July 22, 2018 my wife of 23 years. So tagged here, for oh so many reasons, Natalie Brannan
The album: Sinéad O'Connor - The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
Gaming stuff likely to comback around Gen Con.
I finally got tagged in one of these so I am supposed to post five albums (or was it supposed to be 10) that have deep meaning to me.
Instead of me tagging others to do this, I want to tag/mention people that share that meaning with me. Up first, and no surprise given the time.
The year is 1987. I am in college and I just met this girl who was going to become in roughly this order, someone I could never beat at cards, my best friend, my girlfriend and as of yesterday July 22, 2018 my wife of 23 years. So tagged here, for oh so many reasons, Natalie Brannan
The album: Sinéad O'Connor - The Lion and the Cobra (1987)
Thursday, July 19, 2018
DC in the News
So I remain, despite a box-office trouncing, a devoted DC fan.
Few things are cooking in the DC Universe that will make me happy this fall. Lets start with a big one and move on to EVEN BIGGER ONES!
We already knew that Kate Kane, AKA Batwoman will be featured in the Fall sweeps 4-Episode Arrowverse crossover (I guess that also means no tying in Black Lightning just yet).
Now it seems they want to use that as a backdoor pilot for a Batwoman series for 2019-20.
They are currently looking for an out lesbian/queer actress of any ethnicity to play Batwoman.
There is nothing about Batwoman's background that says she has to be white, or black, or Asian, or Algonquin, or Hispanic. There are three things though that immutable about the character.
1. Kate is a Soldier. She lives to serve. Just now she wears the uniform of the Bat.
2. Kate is a Lesbian. Even in her earliest interactions, this is something she knows about herself and we know about her.
3. Kate is Jewish. This informs how she sees life, how she approaches everything she does. The colors of her uniform.
In Comics Dark seems to be the new Black.
The Witching Hour will be a 5-comic arc featuring Wonder Woman, JL Dark and the plot revolves around Hecate and Witches!
I mean read this:
And just when my poor heart couldn't take anymore.
Holy Shit! Robin just said "Fuck Batman" and that Raven! That is the Raven I have been waiting nearly 38 years to see on my screens. Even Dove and Gar look great.
So yeah. You can have your Infinity Wars and your snappy Thanos (who is a rip-off of Darkseid anyway). I know where my action is going to be this fall.
Right?
That's so Raven!
Few things are cooking in the DC Universe that will make me happy this fall. Lets start with a big one and move on to EVEN BIGGER ONES!
We already knew that Kate Kane, AKA Batwoman will be featured in the Fall sweeps 4-Episode Arrowverse crossover (I guess that also means no tying in Black Lightning just yet).
Now it seems they want to use that as a backdoor pilot for a Batwoman series for 2019-20.
They are currently looking for an out lesbian/queer actress of any ethnicity to play Batwoman.
- https://www.cbr.com/batwoman-the-cw-any-ethnicity-lgbt-actress/?utm_source=CBR-FB-P&utm_medium=Social-Distribution
- https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/18/entertainment/batwoman-tv-show-cw/index.html
There is nothing about Batwoman's background that says she has to be white, or black, or Asian, or Algonquin, or Hispanic. There are three things though that immutable about the character.
1. Kate is a Soldier. She lives to serve. Just now she wears the uniform of the Bat.
2. Kate is a Lesbian. Even in her earliest interactions, this is something she knows about herself and we know about her.
3. Kate is Jewish. This informs how she sees life, how she approaches everything she does. The colors of her uniform.
In Comics Dark seems to be the new Black.
The Witching Hour will be a 5-comic arc featuring Wonder Woman, JL Dark and the plot revolves around Hecate and Witches!
- http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/07/18/dcs-witching-hour-event-stars-wonder-woman-and-the-justice-league-dark
- https://www.dccomics.com/blog/2018/07/18/wonder-woman-and-justice-league-dark-the-witching-hour
I mean read this:
Part one, WONDER WOMAN AND JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: THE WITCHING HOUR #1, with art by Jesus Merino, sets the tone for the Wonder Woman-centered event. In this 48-page debut one-shot, Hecate, the witch-goddess of magic, always knew a day would come when the monsters she stole her magic from would return. Now she must activate the Witchmarked, humans within whom she secreted vast stores of power. This hits Justice League Dark especially hard: one of the most powerful of the Witchmarked turns out to be Wonder Woman! WONDER WOMAN AND JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK: THE WITCHING HOUR #1 is on sale October 3.Those aren't tears in my eyes. No. Not at all....Shut up, you're crying.
And just when my poor heart couldn't take anymore.
Holy Shit! Robin just said "Fuck Batman" and that Raven! That is the Raven I have been waiting nearly 38 years to see on my screens. Even Dove and Gar look great.
So yeah. You can have your Infinity Wars and your snappy Thanos (who is a rip-off of Darkseid anyway). I know where my action is going to be this fall.
Right?
That's so Raven!
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Survive This! Dark Places and Demogorgons - Supernatural / Buffy Crossover
Came home last night to a nice treat. My hardcover version of Dark Places and Demogorgons came in. This one I ordered from Bloat Game's own website. After all the fun I had, I wanted to have this hardcover version too.
I even got it signed!
It got me thinking what would be a great one-shot Crossover for my Sunny Valley, OH game. Then it dawned on me! The only thing that makes sense is Supernatural!
In the in-show continuities, they were all born between 1978 and 1984 so why not extend that to my Sunny Valley game.
Supernatural even has baked in reasons for Dean and Sam to show up. John Winchester has heard the rumors of Sunny Valley and has come to town to help clean it up. He decides to enroll the boys in the local High School for a bit and this is where they meet the cast.
If Tumblr is to be any source on this the meeting goes a little like this: Buffy and Dean meet, Dean hits on her, she rebuffs...(ouch), monsters come, Dean tries to save her, she instead kicks the monsters asses and saves Dean. Dean falls more in love with her than before.
Sam and Dawn, as the youngest are stuck together. They each discover the other's secrets; That Sam has some demon powers in him and Dawn is a powerful psychic.
Dean Winchester
Class: Monster Hunter (demons) Level: 5
Alignment: Good
Languages: English
Age: 16
Attributes
STR: 15 +1
INT: 10 +0
WIS: 12 +0
DEX: 16 +2
CON: 14 +1
CHA: 16 +2
SUR: 18 +3
AC: 12 HP: 26 Attack Bonus +3 / +3 (vs. monsters)
Courage: 6 (additional +3 vs. monsters)
Critical: 4
Death: 5
Mental: 4
Poison: 5
Background
Mother is dead, Father is always on the road.
Annoying little brother.
Class Abilities
+3 to hit, track, dmg to monsters
+1 Toughness
Skills
Outdoorsmanship +4, Paranormal +5, Brawling +3, Persuasion +1, Basic Athletics +3, Stealth +2
Possessions
Leather jacket, knives, access to guns
Money: $25 (in stolen credit cards)
Sam Winchester
Class: Telekinietic/Monster Hunter Level: 1/1
Alignment: Good
Languages: English
Age: 12
Attributes
STR: 15 +1
INT: 16 +2
WIS: 12+0
DEX: 16 +2
CON: 14 +1
CHA: 15 +1
SUR: 16 +2
AC: 10 HP: 10 Attack Bonus +3 / +3 (vs. demons)
Courage: 3 (additional +3 vs. demons)
Critical: 3
Death: 3
Mental: 4
Poison: 3
Background
Mother is dead, Father is always on the road.
Annoying older brother.
Class Abilities
+1 to Psionic attacks
Move 11 lbs of items, Push, Psionic Attack.
+1 to hit, track, dmg to demons
+1 Toughness
Skills
Outdoorsmanship +2, Paranormal +2, Knowledge (Demons) +1, Knowledge (History)
Possessions
Members Only Jacket
Money: $5
The arrival of Sam and Dean also mean the arrival of demons to the show.
We end their time on the "show" with Alex showing the Winchester boys how to play AD&D.
This could be a lot of fun to play at a Con sometime. Now I just need to work Charmed in there somehow.
I even got it signed!
It got me thinking what would be a great one-shot Crossover for my Sunny Valley, OH game. Then it dawned on me! The only thing that makes sense is Supernatural!
In the in-show continuities, they were all born between 1978 and 1984 so why not extend that to my Sunny Valley game.
Supernatural even has baked in reasons for Dean and Sam to show up. John Winchester has heard the rumors of Sunny Valley and has come to town to help clean it up. He decides to enroll the boys in the local High School for a bit and this is where they meet the cast.
If Tumblr is to be any source on this the meeting goes a little like this: Buffy and Dean meet, Dean hits on her, she rebuffs...(ouch), monsters come, Dean tries to save her, she instead kicks the monsters asses and saves Dean. Dean falls more in love with her than before.
Sam and Dawn, as the youngest are stuck together. They each discover the other's secrets; That Sam has some demon powers in him and Dawn is a powerful psychic.
Class: Monster Hunter (demons) Level: 5
Alignment: Good
Languages: English
Age: 16
Attributes
STR: 15 +1
INT: 10 +0
WIS: 12 +0
DEX: 16 +2
CON: 14 +1
CHA: 16 +2
SUR: 18 +3
AC: 12 HP: 26 Attack Bonus +3 / +3 (vs. monsters)
Courage: 6 (additional +3 vs. monsters)
Critical: 4
Death: 5
Mental: 4
Poison: 5
Background
Mother is dead, Father is always on the road.
Annoying little brother.
Class Abilities
+3 to hit, track, dmg to monsters
+1 Toughness
Skills
Outdoorsmanship +4, Paranormal +5, Brawling +3, Persuasion +1, Basic Athletics +3, Stealth +2
Possessions
Leather jacket, knives, access to guns
Money: $25 (in stolen credit cards)
Class: Telekinietic/Monster Hunter Level: 1/1
Alignment: Good
Languages: English
Age: 12
Attributes
STR: 15 +1
INT: 16 +2
WIS: 12+0
DEX: 16 +2
CON: 14 +1
CHA: 15 +1
SUR: 16 +2
AC: 10 HP: 10 Attack Bonus +3 / +3 (vs. demons)
Courage: 3 (additional +3 vs. demons)
Critical: 3
Death: 3
Mental: 4
Poison: 3
Background
Mother is dead, Father is always on the road.
Annoying older brother.
Class Abilities
+1 to Psionic attacks
Move 11 lbs of items, Push, Psionic Attack.
+1 to hit, track, dmg to demons
+1 Toughness
Skills
Outdoorsmanship +2, Paranormal +2, Knowledge (Demons) +1, Knowledge (History)
Possessions
Members Only Jacket
Money: $5
The arrival of Sam and Dean also mean the arrival of demons to the show.
We end their time on the "show" with Alex showing the Winchester boys how to play AD&D.
This could be a lot of fun to play at a Con sometime. Now I just need to work Charmed in there somehow.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Inactivity Update
Things have been kinda quiet over here at the Other Side.
Sorry about that.
My day job has hit a busy period and I have been given a promotion. This time the promotion came with the increased pay AND responsibility...not just the increased responsibility. So I have been working an extra ten hours each week.
Gaming-wise I am really busy.
I am still running my three independent-but-connected D&D 5 games. My oldest is also running three different D&D 5 games covering 15-16 different players. In fact this week the only day that a game hasn't played in my house was yesterday.
I am also in serious prep-phase of my Gen Con game of D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa and D3 Vault of the Drow. It is going to huge and I want to make it as Epic as I can.
Hope to have some more soon.
Sorry about that.
My day job has hit a busy period and I have been given a promotion. This time the promotion came with the increased pay AND responsibility...not just the increased responsibility. So I have been working an extra ten hours each week.
 |
| Lite reading for work |
Gaming-wise I am really busy.
I am still running my three independent-but-connected D&D 5 games. My oldest is also running three different D&D 5 games covering 15-16 different players. In fact this week the only day that a game hasn't played in my house was yesterday.
I am also in serious prep-phase of my Gen Con game of D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa and D3 Vault of the Drow. It is going to huge and I want to make it as Epic as I can.
Hope to have some more soon.
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