So Modiphius Entertainment finally launched their Kickstarter for the John Carter of Mars RPG. At this point, I have to say I'm not interested. Not because I wouldn't enjoy playing in the world. The Conan RPG from them has some nice ratings but is unranked on RPGgeek.
As someone that digs John Carter, why am I not that into this KS campaign?
Because they announced the project over 2 years ago. It, and the boardgame, and the miniatures they announced? Should already be out according to the announcements. What happened? They decided to push it back for the Star Trek RPG. It was announced at GenCon 2016, and they pushed Barsoom aside for Trek, instead of putting Trek in the queue. I'm honestly surprised they haven't for the Fallout miniatures game. And where's the John Carter boardgame?
So yeah, starting your production several months after your announced release date loses some of my interest and trust. What happened to the rest? Quite simple. Somebody else did a similar KS launch without prior hype.
Pinnacle Entertainment launched and ran a campaign for a game that, to my was unknown to the public beforehand. Flash Gordon is getting an RPG, and it looks like the people involved have a great love of the character and property, giving it lush art, and even getting a foreward by Sam Jones, the last actor to have the opportunity to play Flash.
From what I've seen, Modiphius is also run shoddily. Which can be par for the course in a niche industry, when you're pushing product for an even smaller niche. This is not saying that Pinnacle doesn't have it's own issues. But they know that the fans want their stuff once it's announced.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Monday, January 22, 2018
Crowdfunding worth a glance 1/22/18
There's a blizzard outside, so I've got some unspent energy to use on a post instead of the moving stuff or work, which is closed. How much snow? I dread digging out my truck. I dread digging out TO my truck.
Let's ignore that for now, and look at some cool stuff.
First, I'm going to mention the Arkhaven Comics campaign Vox(and others) put together for Will Caligan, who was fired from Short Fuse Media as an artist for saying a straight guy shouldn't want to kiss a transgender "woman". I REALLY wish I could back this, but my money setup is awkward currently. But Vox also posted this nice list of possible adaptations to be done by Will and Chuck Dixon:
Another one that's late in the campaign that will be great value is the Spring/Summer Cirsova subscription . It's got Dominika Lein, Abraham Strongjohn, Nathan Dabney, Donald Jacob Utivlugt, and possibly more of James Hutchings' My Name is John Carter. Give the man a buck for digital!
Now for some games.
Scott Almes is going into the overtrod theme of zombies with Tiny Epic Zombies. That said, the game is relatively inexpensive, and ITEMeeples are cool. Also, there tends to be a lot of game in those little boxes, and this one's got five game modes built in.
Like resource management, and wish deckbuilders did more? Well, Seize the Bean might have what you want. Upgrade your coffee shop, attract more customers, and avoid bad reviews.
Most music games have nothing to do with music. Re-Chord uses actual guitar chords in play, and has secret goals, chord creation(for a version of contract fulfillment), and might get some folks into it just because they know guitar.
Break out the Queen soundtrack, and prepare for the Quickening. Highlander: the Board Game might be another game with mild mechanics from this company(they also did Labyrinth, and a My Little Pony RPG), or it might be a surprising take on player elimination. You can likely wait to find out.
Dark Flight Games has a Tokyo Games trilogy. There's a train game, a dexterity real time game about building small houses, and a game set with lots of rules for a pop bottle and vending machine set of pieces, with rules for everything from stock market game to a dexterity game.
Western Legends is a game about choosing which side of the law to be on and building your legend. Some of the board locations have options that further these choices, and the playing cards function as poker cards and as action cards.
While I'm not a fan of boardgames that require apps, UBOOT might fill the spots that can make it work really well. This looks like it might be a reasonable cross between the tow, with the app generating hazards and events as well as providing atmospheric sounds.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the new edition of Triplanetary. This is definitely for old school gamers, and doesn't look to have any graphics upgrade(not a big deal to some, but others will be turned off by them). Personally? I have no experience with it, and would have to see it played.
Now, I have plenty to say on the John Carter RPG. But, I think it's enough that I might say it in another post.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
Let's ignore that for now, and look at some cool stuff.
First, I'm going to mention the Arkhaven Comics campaign Vox(and others) put together for Will Caligan, who was fired from Short Fuse Media as an artist for saying a straight guy shouldn't want to kiss a transgender "woman". I REALLY wish I could back this, but my money setup is awkward currently. But Vox also posted this nice list of possible adaptations to be done by Will and Chuck Dixon:
Nick Cole (The End of the World as We Knew It)
Peter Grant (Rocky Mountain Retribution)
Lawdog (The Lawdog Files)
Rolf Nelson (The Stars Came Back)
Kai Wai Cheah (Flashpoint: Titan)
Rawle Nyanzi (Sword and Flower)
John C. Wright (Swan Knight’s Son)
Another one that's late in the campaign that will be great value is the Spring/Summer Cirsova subscription . It's got Dominika Lein, Abraham Strongjohn, Nathan Dabney, Donald Jacob Utivlugt, and possibly more of James Hutchings' My Name is John Carter. Give the man a buck for digital!
Now for some games.
Scott Almes is going into the overtrod theme of zombies with Tiny Epic Zombies. That said, the game is relatively inexpensive, and ITEMeeples are cool. Also, there tends to be a lot of game in those little boxes, and this one's got five game modes built in.
Like resource management, and wish deckbuilders did more? Well, Seize the Bean might have what you want. Upgrade your coffee shop, attract more customers, and avoid bad reviews.
Most music games have nothing to do with music. Re-Chord uses actual guitar chords in play, and has secret goals, chord creation(for a version of contract fulfillment), and might get some folks into it just because they know guitar.
Break out the Queen soundtrack, and prepare for the Quickening. Highlander: the Board Game might be another game with mild mechanics from this company(they also did Labyrinth, and a My Little Pony RPG), or it might be a surprising take on player elimination. You can likely wait to find out.
Dark Flight Games has a Tokyo Games trilogy. There's a train game, a dexterity real time game about building small houses, and a game set with lots of rules for a pop bottle and vending machine set of pieces, with rules for everything from stock market game to a dexterity game.
Western Legends is a game about choosing which side of the law to be on and building your legend. Some of the board locations have options that further these choices, and the playing cards function as poker cards and as action cards.
While I'm not a fan of boardgames that require apps, UBOOT might fill the spots that can make it work really well. This looks like it might be a reasonable cross between the tow, with the app generating hazards and events as well as providing atmospheric sounds.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the new edition of Triplanetary. This is definitely for old school gamers, and doesn't look to have any graphics upgrade(not a big deal to some, but others will be turned off by them). Personally? I have no experience with it, and would have to see it played.
Now, I have plenty to say on the John Carter RPG. But, I think it's enough that I might say it in another post.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
The new 30 Days of Night comic: worthwhile or cashgrab?
Admittedly, with only one issue out, it's a bit early to tell. This is not a new story continuing the original, but a reboot of the story/world. Here's a post I wrote looking back at the original lightly. So what's with the new book, is it any different, and any good?
Well, I will start with differences. The new story is definitely written with new details and scenes, so it's not just new art on the old script. From my reading, I'm guessing the new version will be more filled out than the previous one. Steve Niles is clearly not the same writer he was at the start of the original, and that's fine, though I will say some of the timing in the new book has me confused.
Now, as to the art differences. WOW, that's a big change. The first was Ben Templesmith's impressionist horror in muted colors. The new book? Gotta say I'm not a fan of the art style. It's well done, but feels like a reality show.
Compare this to the original's art(I am solely looking at the first story here, not even the other two volumes done with Templesmith, nevermind the others):
Now, the new art doesn't make it bad, but it does turn me off a bit. And with the original books, I was turned off once Niles and Templesmith weren't working together. Some of the other artists did fine work, I'm sure, but the combination created something unique and not just another vampire story.
And now, 15 years later, I don't know if the new one is different or just another story. The art certainly doesn't make it stand apart, and I'm not yet convinced it isn't an attempt at a cash grab by Niles and IDW. I'd prefer they instead just work together and return to their roots with all new material personally, though I'll give the new book another shot at least.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
Well, I will start with differences. The new story is definitely written with new details and scenes, so it's not just new art on the old script. From my reading, I'm guessing the new version will be more filled out than the previous one. Steve Niles is clearly not the same writer he was at the start of the original, and that's fine, though I will say some of the timing in the new book has me confused.
Now, as to the art differences. WOW, that's a big change. The first was Ben Templesmith's impressionist horror in muted colors. The new book? Gotta say I'm not a fan of the art style. It's well done, but feels like a reality show.
Compare this to the original's art(I am solely looking at the first story here, not even the other two volumes done with Templesmith, nevermind the others):
Now, the new art doesn't make it bad, but it does turn me off a bit. And with the original books, I was turned off once Niles and Templesmith weren't working together. Some of the other artists did fine work, I'm sure, but the combination created something unique and not just another vampire story.
And now, 15 years later, I don't know if the new one is different or just another story. The art certainly doesn't make it stand apart, and I'm not yet convinced it isn't an attempt at a cash grab by Niles and IDW. I'd prefer they instead just work together and return to their roots with all new material personally, though I'll give the new book another shot at least.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
Saturday, January 13, 2018
Injustice Book Review: Grey Cat Blues by J D Cowan
Cower not, fierce readers! Today we have The second novel from J D Cowan. And well, like the best stuff coming out of pulprev, this doesn't fit one neat box. And while I enjoyed his Knights of the End, this is a completely different feeling book. Let's take a look what will make the dregs of SFF howl in pain.
First, this story has some REALLY strong male-female character roles. The jobs of each are quite clear, and the book not only isn't afraid of traditional masculine and feminine roles, but embraces them fervently. It pulls from an old story type not seen much, the youth gang story, and the male female dynamics of those seems to come through here.
Which of course, leads to: It pulls heavily from a genre abandoned by crime fiction, even in the resurgences of pulp stylings. Why? Because the genre had romance and was driven toward a future the characters may only have had a glimpse of, fumbling around in the darkness of their fights and neighborhoods.
Third, the sff parts are more decoration than anything else, and the author has no problem leaving things stated matter of factly. No detail oriented laundry list of events or theories. The milsf crowd? Not for them, but if you want a bit of style and visceral fights that feel more like the blur in a Mickey Spillane novel, you might dig this.
Yeah. In fact, I'll put it like this:
Picture a punk going right from a Spillane novel. Take out the sex, keep the romance. Put him in a future that is both familiar and different, more a high tech street punk setting. No, No cyberpunk, this is strictly cats that fight for territory, and looking to carve out a place for themselves.
Yeah, this was a cool novel. Get some music on, and picture this cat in both fights and dancing with his girl. 9 of 10 fell deeds.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
First, this story has some REALLY strong male-female character roles. The jobs of each are quite clear, and the book not only isn't afraid of traditional masculine and feminine roles, but embraces them fervently. It pulls from an old story type not seen much, the youth gang story, and the male female dynamics of those seems to come through here.
Which of course, leads to: It pulls heavily from a genre abandoned by crime fiction, even in the resurgences of pulp stylings. Why? Because the genre had romance and was driven toward a future the characters may only have had a glimpse of, fumbling around in the darkness of their fights and neighborhoods.
Third, the sff parts are more decoration than anything else, and the author has no problem leaving things stated matter of factly. No detail oriented laundry list of events or theories. The milsf crowd? Not for them, but if you want a bit of style and visceral fights that feel more like the blur in a Mickey Spillane novel, you might dig this.
Yeah. In fact, I'll put it like this:
Picture a punk going right from a Spillane novel. Take out the sex, keep the romance. Put him in a future that is both familiar and different, more a high tech street punk setting. No, No cyberpunk, this is strictly cats that fight for territory, and looking to carve out a place for themselves.
Yeah, this was a cool novel. Get some music on, and picture this cat in both fights and dancing with his girl. 9 of 10 fell deeds.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
Monday, January 8, 2018
Comic book Review: Doctor Radar
This work arrive to us in translation from Titan Comics. We face no superheroes or supervillains here, but rather we have a sense of old pulp adventure set in the time just after World War I.
If you're following or are a part of the PulpRev crowd, this is a book worth looking into. Scientists killed in exotic ways, an amateur detective of renown as a fighter pilot, henchmen playing roles to complete their jobs, and more.
The art is a bit impressionistic, and the story makes wonderful leaps that manage to not jar the reader. But this goes a long way in demonstrating that good work in comics can avoid capes and tights, and the imagination can be thrilled greatly with old style stories in any medium.
Here's some pics of the art. I am no photographer, and am just using my computer's camera.
If you're following or are a part of the PulpRev crowd, this is a book worth looking into. Scientists killed in exotic ways, an amateur detective of renown as a fighter pilot, henchmen playing roles to complete their jobs, and more.
The art is a bit impressionistic, and the story makes wonderful leaps that manage to not jar the reader. But this goes a long way in demonstrating that good work in comics can avoid capes and tights, and the imagination can be thrilled greatly with old style stories in any medium.
Here's some pics of the art. I am no photographer, and am just using my computer's camera.
The story is only two issues long, but leaves plenty of room to return at a later date with another adventure. Titan also advertises a collection out due in April.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
Sunday, January 7, 2018
Injustice Book Review: Vigil by Russell Newquist
Cower not, fierce reader! Today we start this year's book reviews with a work from our friend Russell Newquist. This work is part of the world of War Demons, but follows instead Peter instead of the lead from that work. Let's take a look at what might possibly offend the SJW crowd.
First, and most obvious, is the fact that this book is Catholic. While it has a fictional history of part of the Church, it is not nefarious, nor a cause of scandal to the Gospel.
Second, our hero is once again good. Not divided in purpose or will, his devotion to one thing rules all his other interactions. His associates are likewise devoted.
Thirdly, (SPOILER) we have a priest that has fallen into sin and has trouble with repentance. This in itself causes no scandal for the SJW crowd, but two additional facts do: that he still believes enough to refuse to celebrate mass while in the state of sin, and that our hero and his friends call him to repent and take up his vocation again.
Now, as to the action of the story, there's plenty for the length that it is. There's really only one fight in two places, but the story takes place over the course of one evening until morning. None of the characters are helpless, though all face challenges too big for just themselves. We even have a great use of a feature of Gothic cathedrals.
If you read War Demons and liked it, don't wait longer to get this story. If you haven't read War Demons, you can indeed step into the world via this book, and you won't be lost. 8 of 10 fell deeds.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
First, and most obvious, is the fact that this book is Catholic. While it has a fictional history of part of the Church, it is not nefarious, nor a cause of scandal to the Gospel.
Second, our hero is once again good. Not divided in purpose or will, his devotion to one thing rules all his other interactions. His associates are likewise devoted.
Thirdly, (SPOILER) we have a priest that has fallen into sin and has trouble with repentance. This in itself causes no scandal for the SJW crowd, but two additional facts do: that he still believes enough to refuse to celebrate mass while in the state of sin, and that our hero and his friends call him to repent and take up his vocation again.
Now, as to the action of the story, there's plenty for the length that it is. There's really only one fight in two places, but the story takes place over the course of one evening until morning. None of the characters are helpless, though all face challenges too big for just themselves. We even have a great use of a feature of Gothic cathedrals.
If you read War Demons and liked it, don't wait longer to get this story. If you haven't read War Demons, you can indeed step into the world via this book, and you won't be lost. 8 of 10 fell deeds.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
Normal Service to Resume Shortly, and a few plans for 2018
It's been a LONG few weeks. The move has been accomplished, though most stuff is in storage right now. As I'm yet not up to a book review, we're going to take a look at some items of interest for 2017.
Firstly, I'm going to look at book reviews.
In 2016, I reviewed 60 books. I had that beaten by summer of 2017. Total for the year? 44 individual book/magazine reviews, plus another 75 in Quick Reviews, for a total of 119 reviews for 2017. I also did not put up a review for Russell Newquist's Vigil, though I did get an Amazon review done. This will be corrected shortly.
Now, where was the official Sad Puppies reviews, recommendations, etc.? The website disappeared just as quickly as it went up. And we were told later that they wanted it to be as good as possible. Well, congratulations to the so called owners of SP. You killed a very successful brand inside of 2 years.
On the other hand, Mr. Jon del Arroz has created the Happy Frogs. Which, following the direction of its Board of Trustees, has generated lists for the Dragon Awards, the Nebula awards, and is now preparing for the first annual Ribbit Awards, which I predict will be the most fun award in speculative fiction.
On another note, in my packing, I found a few things that will make for future giveaways. Once I get things sorted out like work and refinding the items, keep an eye for those and post in the comments if the item(s) sound cool to you. I'll cover domestic shipping, as media mail is cheap.
Lastly, I also got paused partway through the book I'm working on. I hope to resume work on that in a day or two, and get to my first draft being finished in about two weeks. I have first readers lined up, and then I'll need to expand and cut in a second draft. While starting book two, and maybe my book in the world of the fictional game, Social Justice.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
Firstly, I'm going to look at book reviews.
In 2016, I reviewed 60 books. I had that beaten by summer of 2017. Total for the year? 44 individual book/magazine reviews, plus another 75 in Quick Reviews, for a total of 119 reviews for 2017. I also did not put up a review for Russell Newquist's Vigil, though I did get an Amazon review done. This will be corrected shortly.
Now, where was the official Sad Puppies reviews, recommendations, etc.? The website disappeared just as quickly as it went up. And we were told later that they wanted it to be as good as possible. Well, congratulations to the so called owners of SP. You killed a very successful brand inside of 2 years.
On the other hand, Mr. Jon del Arroz has created the Happy Frogs. Which, following the direction of its Board of Trustees, has generated lists for the Dragon Awards, the Nebula awards, and is now preparing for the first annual Ribbit Awards, which I predict will be the most fun award in speculative fiction.
On another note, in my packing, I found a few things that will make for future giveaways. Once I get things sorted out like work and refinding the items, keep an eye for those and post in the comments if the item(s) sound cool to you. I'll cover domestic shipping, as media mail is cheap.
Lastly, I also got paused partway through the book I'm working on. I hope to resume work on that in a day or two, and get to my first draft being finished in about two weeks. I have first readers lined up, and then I'll need to expand and cut in a second draft. While starting book two, and maybe my book in the world of the fictional game, Social Justice.
When you play Social Justice, the world loses.
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