Topics

1

General Chaos / What is this?

« on: June 13, 2013, 04:46:10 PM »

This is a close approximation from memory of this cartoon dog alien thing - all I really remember is that it's head split open sorta like this. It came up in a gaming session and everyone in our group remembered it but couldn't say what it was from. Some of us thought the Beetlejuice cartoon, but that was a no go.

Anyone recognize it?

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General Chaos / New Zoom H1

« on: June 03, 2010, 12:07:57 PM »

There's a new H1 Zoom coming in July. Basic stereo recording, nothing fancy, but the $99 price tag and the SDHC expandable memory should put it on the radar of any po' folks looking to start recording their games.

3

General Chaos / Making Desert Terrain

« on: May 20, 2010, 04:17:09 PM »

We use miniatures a lot in our games and, while paper minis are awesome for combat, paper terrain just doesn't have the same tactile coolness that miniature terrain does. I use paper print-outs for floor bases, but I sculpt and cast other terrain features when I have a scenario where the characters will be spending a lot of time.

The next story arc takes the characters into the plain of ghosts, and I've got cool little piles of skulls and mysterious evil-looking totems, but a paper ground base is actually detracting from the creepiness factor.

I'd like to cast some thin plaster terrain tiles, but I'm having problems getting the look I want. I'm trying to get a cracked, parched desert effect, but I can't reproduce the cracks. I've tried the foil-in-clay method and, while that makes interesting topography, it doesn't look like a desert. I've tried carving lines into foamboard and using an acetone spray to corrode it, but then the cracks don't look realistic.

Last night I made up a thin sheet of plaster which I cracked with a hammer, and then reinforced with another layer of plaster. That's currently curing in a 1-to-1 mold, so I'll see later how that turned out.

But I'm wondering if there are other terrain builders here and whether or not they've found a technique for good cracking.

Anyone?

4

RPGs / Well-Worn Paths

« on: March 04, 2010, 05:38:33 PM »

Ok, this is for the GMs.

Recently, my gaming group bundled their characters into a boat and sailed away to a part of the continent they haven't been to yet to go be introduced to the next part of the plot. Before leaving, they spent almost every gold piece they had buying weapons, swimming gear, and like three months of preserved food wrapped in oil skins and bundled together in a fishnet with bouys. When I finally caved and asked what the heck they were doing, they replied in unison, "boats sink in your games."

And it's true. Get on a boat in one of my campaigns and the likelihood is you're not going to get where you started out going.

I started a campaign once where the characters all got on a boat, which was promptly (in real time, a couple days in game time) set upon by a roving magical storm and evil fish baddies. Halfway through the battle, the ship lurched and shook violently, and everyone was knocked unconscious. When they woke up, they found themselves and the entire ship smack dab in the middle of a desert.

Now that it's been pointed out to me, I've decided to go with it. If it's what the players expect, they'd be disappointed if something didn't happen.

So ... what's your frequently used/abused trope and do you make a conscious effort to avoid using it or do you just accept that it's part of your oeuvre?

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Role Playing Public Radio Podcast / The Arcadia Signal

« on: February 22, 2010, 02:26:40 PM »

Just got finished listening to Arcadia signal - good job, fun, etc.

But, I have to say, Ross' mention of the signal being "omniscient" and Cody repeatedly calling it "The Winslow" made me wonder if it had ever blighted the crops, or vanquished evil, or answered the phone before it rang.