Friends Knocking Down My Door

I'm at a natural pause point with Brave Battle Saga, so I've put that game aside for a few days to explore an Evercade cartridge containing nothing but Commodore 64 classics. How come no one has knocked down my door yet?

Aeronautica Imperialis

So, yeah, Games Workshop just found another way to get my money. Check this out -- it's like X-Wing, but set in the 40k universe!

So they finally got home after all...

...but they speak Portuguese now.

And Venger coming through the portal disguised as a mounted police officer? That was damn cool. We need to see more of this!

It's Good to Have Land

Poor Matthew is under the weather -- and, speaking of weather, it's pretty gray and windy outside -- so we've just spent a quiet day building Magic decks. Nathaniel and I have been discussing the optimal percentage of land cards to include in a single-color Magic deck. He consistently prefers to include a lower percentage of land than I would include, so I need to remind him that...it's good to have land.

Settlers

Check out this brief CNN video about the creator of Settlers of Catan.

Dark Tower

Dark Tower was a D&D-like board game from the '80s and it totally needs to make a comeback. Don't take my word for it, though -- ask Orson Welles himself!

Roadhouse!

In our Tyranny of Dragons D&D campaign, the heroes are inching closer to discovering the headquarters of the Cult of the Dragon. In the next session, they'll reach a remote inn known as Carnath Roadhouse. The challenge for me will be getting through this episode without breaking into the "Roadhouse" bit from Family Guy...

Roadhouse!

Book of Vile Darkness

Remember a few years ago when a third D&D movie was announced? No? That's okay. The Book of Vile Darkness was essentially made-for-TV fare that, to my knowledge, was not released on DVD in the US. Today I found the complete flick on YouTube, in all its hammy glory...

I'm glad that the rights for D&D films have finally returned to Hasbro, who, in partnership with Warner Brothers, are now working on a big-budget D&D movie set in the Forgotten Realms world. I plan to follow the development very closely, so I'll keep you posted on the latest news.

Skellig Michael

One of the filming locations for the new Star Wars movie is the remote island of Skellig Michael. I've never been there, but I read a lot about it during my years as a medievalist. It's a place I've always wanted to go, and it's certainly inspired my imagination when I've devised the little rocky islands that seem to be ubiquitous in the Druid Cycle world. Click here for more, including a nifty video!

On Second Thought

You know what? Watching other people play D&D is not all that much fun. I made it about ten minutes into the video below before I bailed. Still, my excitement for the Starter Set remains undeterred!

Lost Mine of Phandelver

See the clip (well, at more than an hour and forty minutes, it's hardly a "clip"!) below to watch players experience the adventure from the Starter Set.

I Want It Now!

Starter Set unboxing video...watch it!

Getting Started

I've now read through the hundreds of cards in the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, and I've given the rulebook a once-over, as well. After viewing this excellent video that explains how to play the game, I think I'm ready for my first solo scenario.

The DM Demands Blood!

You've probably seen this video already, but in case you haven't...

Neverwinter

Check it out! The Neverwinter MMO is coming soon, and here's a cool animated clip...

Really?

Presented without snarky commentary...

Knightmare

And to think this is the same nation that gave us Doctor Who...

After watching a few clips of this, I just don't eve know what to say. It's a UK show called "Knightmare" (was spelling it with a K supposed to make it fun again?). 

This interesting article sums it up rather nicely:

 "...four weedy pre-pubescents from the Home Counties, dressed in pastel-colored polo shirts and looking like they would quite like to go home now, please. Three of the team members acted as “advisors,” sitting in front of the magic mirror and making notes on enchanted clipboards. The fourth player, or “dungeoneer,” got to enter the actual dungeon." 

 Sort of like a VR world where...no one really got to experience anything. And to think we just used to run around outdoors and bash each other with sticks and squirt each other with supersoakers...

Community: Advanced Dungeons & Dragons

I've recently come across the hidden gem Community on NBC. It's a fantastic show with some great concepts and themes. Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, S2E14 is just one of those episodes.

While leaving much to be desired in the way of accurately describing game mechanics (which, in all honesty, would be nearly impossible to do in a 22 minute show), it does an amazingly good job of catching the ribald humor (Hector the Well Endowed), how players can get wrapped up in a good story, despite themselves, and most interestingly, the somewhat awkwardness that arises between two males playing out a somewhat romantic encounter. It also treats the subject matter with deference while at the same time poking fun at the conventions of the RPG world.

I highly recommend you check out the entire series. It's a little hard to jump right in with this singular episode without understanding the motivations behind the other characters, but still worth checking out!

D&D on PBS Idea Channel

Check it out...

...for a small fee.

Introducing...Doraleous and Associates.

http://www.hankandjedmoviepictures.com/

Oh....I want to play in this.