Friday, February 26, 2016

End-of-Week Elmore (2/26/16)

The guy (creature?) in this illo looks like a "literal hangman." I mean, look: he's got what appears to be a yolk across his shoulders, from which dangle two nooses. 

He's like a portable gallows. I guess that's a good idea for the busy executioner, which I'm assuming is the profession of the lady who is holding the big lug's leash.

Friday, February 19, 2016

End-of-Week Hodgson (2/19/16)

Having just picked up the Lone Wolf Adventure Game, I've become a bit enamored of Jon Hodgson's work. He's worked with Cubicle 7 on Lone Wolf as well as The One Ring game. He also provided illos for the very cool edition of Dragon Warriors produced by Mongoose a few years back.

I find his work to be wonderfully evocative and sometime bordering on the ethereal. The pieces below are some favorites of mine:




Thursday, February 18, 2016

Of Gaming, Raging, and the Dying Light


Did you ever watch professional wrestling, especially the old WWF?

Do you remember those matches were the "good" wrestler (aka the Face) would be nearly defeated, on his knees, being beaten down by the "bad guy" (aka the Heel)?

Do you remember how the Face would suddenly get a burst of defiance that made him seemingly invulnerable, shrugging off the blows of an unbelieving Heel? How the good guy would rise to his feet again, eyes wide with righteous fury as he shook his head at the now-ineffectual attacks of his enemy?

I want to be the Face. Only instead of wrestling, my arena is roleplaying.

I'm being eaten alive, folks. From the inside out. Sound dramatic? Perhaps. I AM indeed a dramatic person, and I'm not ashamed of it. What is life if not spiced with a dramatic flair, I ask you?

The Curse of the Collector


Over the last few months, I've become increasingly worried about myself. I've taken to staring at my RPG and board game collection longingly. I never wanted to become one of those sad ex-gamers who just collects games but never plays them...but I fear I AM becoming one after all.

You see, I'm still collecting RPGs. I just invested in two more games in the last week or so. One of them is the latest incarnation of the Lone Wolf Adventure Game box set (just the words "box set" make me incredibly happy and tingly with excitement...no sweeter words exist for an old-school gamer than box set, IMHO...) The other game is the new edition of Warriors of the Red Planet.

What made me buy these latest games? When it comes to Lone Wolf (which I just featured in my first-ever unboxing video), the justifications leaped through my mind: "It's very rules light, you could get a game up and running in no time! Come on, man, let's play SOMETHING already! Let's play with your kids, with your old friends, with SOMEBODY! Call that FLGS a few towns over and tell them you want to use their space and get some new players! Gimme a fix, man!"

Yes, a fix. I'm in withdrawal. The simpler the game, the more likely I could fit some sessions into my schedule! I love everything I've seen of Warriors of the Red Planet, but seriously I don't think I could handle even the relative simplicity of those rules (which I would say are no more complicated than Basic/Expert D&D).  Lone Wolf seems my most likely path!

Farewell to All Things Fun in West Berlin


I've also been depressed by the fact that my beloved All Things Fun game store in West Berlin, New Jersey has closed its doors. There are so few of those incredible FLGS havens in my neck of the woods, the closing of one is a huge blow to the gaming community here. 

During the several years I was gaming there with friends on Wednesday nights, a grand time was had by all! I hadn't played an RPG for years, and ATF was the perfect place to return to the hobby and meet new gamers. It's also the place where I got to game with some of my favorite game creators, the Troll Lords!

Fare thee well, All Things Fun! I salute you!


The Gamer Shall Rise Again!


But forget all the hand-wringing, the gnashing of teeth, and the lamentations you just read! I'm determined to rage against the dying of the gaming light! As the roleplaying gods are my witness, I'll never go gameless again! 

It's time to rally like the Ultimate Warrior! 

It's time to kick ass like Ragnar Lothbrok (did I mention a new season of Vikings starts tonight)! 

It's time to fight on! To roll on! TO GAME ON!

Thanks for indulging me. If you're feeling something similar to what I'm experiencing, I'd love to hear from you!

Monday, February 15, 2016

Unboxing: Lone Wolf Adventure Game


This is my first-ever unboxing/review video posted on this here blog (okay, I'm not exactly doing a full-on, in-depth review here but this is still a first for me)! 

I welcome your comments, please be gentle! Seriously, I'm a bit of an amateur so feedback, hints, and tips are welcome. I hope you like the video, please comment and let me know what you think! Also, let me know your thoughts about the game itself.

Friday, February 12, 2016