In Wish 91: Appropriating From Fiction (Internet Archive), Ginger asks: How often do you appropriate bits from books, movies, comics, and other sources as a player or GM? Do you like to steal names or flavor or go more whole-hog? Is there a difference between stealing for background and stealing for in-game use? I remember … Read more
Here’s my list of the RPG products I’d like to buy this spring, including Torn Asunder (a critical hits source book for d20), the Conan: The Role-Playing Game, and Gamma World: Out of the Vaults. Torn Asunder Bastian Press 96 pages $22.95 Buy it from Amazon One of the things that occasionally bugs me about … Read more
In Wish 90 (Internet Archive), Ginger asks: What do you think about system updates (Paranoia XP, Amber 2.0, DnD 3.0/3.5) and conversions (d20 Silver Age Sentinels, GURPS Traveller)? What about world/setting updates that result in system reboots (the end of the Age of Darkness)? Do you buy them, run them, or use them for resources? … Read more
I just saw an ad for Fluid’s new mapping/adventure creator program, Dundjinni, on the back of Dungeon Magazine yesterday. I’ve got mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, the Character Creator that shipped with the PHB 3.0 was probably the best such tool I ever used. On the other, eTools was … disappointing. It … Read more
The Goa’uld are vile, parasitical worms who take human hosts, command extremely advanced technology, and are obsessed with galactic domination. They’re also the chief enemies of Stargate Command, the branch of the U.S. military dedicated to protecting Earth from interstellar attacks while simultaneously exploring the universe through a series of inter-connected stargates. Living Gods is … Read more
Microsoft formally announced today that it’s dropping the price of its Xbox game console to $150, from $180. The price will go into effect on Tuesday, and with any luck, I’ll be buying an Xbox sometime soon. A few years back, when I picked up my PlayStation 2, I never expected to buy an Xbox. … Read more
I’ve been jumping around the blogosphere for the last few months, doggedly attempting to find good science fiction and libertarian blogs. I’ve found a few, which I’ve posted to Nuketown Links, but in all that time it never occurred to me to try and find blogs for one of my other great interests: role-playing games! … Read more
Godlike‘s the best superhero game I’ve played since my DC Heroes days in college. Ok, it’s also the only superhero game I’ve placed since DC Heroes, but that doesn’t change the fact that its an excellent game with an intriguing game mechanic. Godlike lets you take on the role of a relatively low-powered superhero fighting … Read more
Draconomicion — “The Book of Dragons” — is a supplement for Dungeons & Dragons dedicated entirely to its signature reptilian scourges. The first chapter — “All about Dragons” — presents a comprehensive look at the physiology and ecology of dragons. It dissects the physical characteristics of the beasts, reviewing everything from their eyesight to their … Read more
Dungeons & Dragons is a great game, but when it comes to combat (and it almost always does) things get confusing. Who’s got what spells up? Who’s invisible? Who’s wounded? These and a hundred-odd other questions bounce around the table, slowing down combat, and annoying people. The folks at Alea think they’ve got the solution … Read more