Thursday, April 25, 2024
On preparing adventures for the Ghostbusters RPG
Monday, April 22, 2024
Did the Ghostbusters RPG influence Magic: The Gathering?
As conversions among game systems are almost an obsessive focus of daydreaming for me, I have noted at various times in my life that attempts to transform Magic: The Gathering stats into roleplaying numbers often feel more correct with a dice pool system like D6 (as seen in Ghostbusters and WEG Star Wars, for example) than with the d20-based systems I've probably played the most (D&D and its offshoots and clones).
With this in mind, and with the additional fact that MTG and the Ghostbusters RPG are two of my absolute favorite games ever, I thought it was cool to hear RPG legend Sandy Petersen note in the interview below (from Ghostbusters, Virginia) that the resolution system pioneered in Ghostbusters was a potential influence on Magic!
(Should be cued up to about the right time in the video...MTG is mentioned at around 5:30...)
Anyone have any insight on this? Heard this before? Thought this before? I'm pretty sure I've read S. John Ross cite Ghostbusters as a big influence on Risus (another game with a formative influence on me), but I can't recall seeing Richard Garfield mention it.
(I hope it's clear that I'm asking this not to challenge the veracity of the claim, but honestly kind of hoping there's more evidence or just speculation about this connection out there. I think I found this video by specifically searching for threads connecting the two games...!)
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Remembering Celery, 2010-2024
Celery and her custom blanket (thanks Joan!) |
Princess Celery |
With Ruffles, who was absolutely obsessed with Celery... |
Celery with goodest boy Goliath at the BRC |
There are plenty of really happy stories of Celery's good deeds at the BRC, however. Her friend and extended Linneman family member Lily Jane, for example, was highlighted by the ASPCA's media team for an article and video about her story. They had Celery tag along for the photo shoot to support Lily Jane (you can catch her at the end of the video in that link). And Ruffles, pictured a couple of images up, was a fairly tough nut to crack with her fear. She eventually had a very happy ending with a foster mom who adopted her and gave her a great life. And while she was learning to trust people, I'm sure you can guess who her favorite friend and greatest source of comfort was.
Celery with my sweet Tulip (left) and BRC graduate/Tulip's biological mom Lily Jane (middle) |
I think maybe we were in NC in this pic...? |
With Murray, another behavioral oddball who found some stress relief in nosework |
With previous Linneman flagship dog Angel, whose need for a playful friend was the reason we brought baby Celery home in the first place |
Fall Saturday in the South...so of course that also meant college football... |
For Easter |
For Halloween, with Dishy |
For the potentially problematic celebration that traditionally starts the Holiday Season |
From an Atlanta Christmas parade we took part in each year with Happy Tails |
Yeah, we were often amazed at how willingly she wore this stuff, too. |
Being the bestest girl on a train ride |
Posing in front of her own advertising photo...maybe Celery's most baller move ever |
Monday, January 22, 2024
(Pocket) Monstrous Monday: Scyther
I've had a soft spot for Scyther since pretty early in my journey with Pokémon. I'm sure this was partly influenced by how universally valuable its card from the Jungle expansion used to be (seriously, it could go in every deck)...but I also like mantises...and Scyther are just cool looking. And they're like ninjas! What's not to like?
I also recently had a Scyther buddy named Slash in Pokémon GO. He's a Scizor now, but we had some good times while he was growing up.
I hope he avoids the beastfighting pits, but if he ends up there, his fighting will probably play out something like this...
Slash at work with me |
(4'11, 123 lbs., DEX +2)
HD 2d8, AC 14
Actions: Swords Dance (Slash attack deals double damage next round); Slash +2 (1d6 slashing damage)
Saturday, January 20, 2024
Geeky SKAturday: Blank Expression (The Specials)
Image from HERE |
I recently saw it reported that 2024 will bring the premiere of This Town (the source of the still above), a TV series from the Peaky Blinders guy set during the 2 tone era in the UK. I'm excited!
I was going to feature them anyway, but that's still another good reason to turn my attention to the Specials for today's Rude sound!
Image from HERE |
Blank Expression
You choose one target creature within range. If that creature is familiar with you, they forget who you are and their history with you for the duration of the sound. The creature may still be aware that someone of your name and description exists, but they are unable to make that connection to you. A successful save negates the effect.
Tuesday, January 16, 2024
Man with a Movie Camera (1929) - decopunkrock experiment #1
Monday, January 15, 2024
(Pocket) Monstrous Monday: Jigglypuff
While Pokémon has come up a fair amount on this blog, I think I've somehow managed to not even mention the one that I keep coming back to as my favorite (although I guess I do have a lot of "favorites"...some of which I've talked about previously).
This favorite is...
.
.
.
.
...Jigglypuff!
This amazing crocheted 'Puff was a gift from my talented friend Judy! |
(And Wigglytuff. And Igglybuff. And I guess Scream Tail too. The whole Jigglypuff line and lineage, really.)
So, obviously, that means I want to put one in a pit for brutal combat vs. other 'mons. (It's just the way of the world, right?) And it would probably look something like this...
(1'8", 12 lbs., CHA +2)
HD 2d6 (6 HP), AC 13
Actions: Lullaby (all within earshot must make a Wisdom save or fall asleep); Pound +4 (1d4 bludgeoning damage)
Weakness: Fighting