Monday, February 21, 2022

Ivan Reitman, 1946-2022

I didn't want too much more time to pass before posting something here in tribute to filmmaker Ivan Reitman, who the world lost unexpectedly on Saturday, 2/12, at just 75. At the time I learned of his passing, I had recently responded to Tim's review of Ghostbusters: Afterlife over at HeroPress, and I had been pondering a second "2021 in review" post on Ghostbusters...on seeing the latest movie, playing the game, and being influenced by both.

I certainly don't want to take anything away from the other wonderful work he did during his career (and it's been very interesting to see which films have gotten the nod alongside Ghostbusters in blurbs and headlines of his passing), but from the perspective of this fortysomething geek, his role in that franchise towers above everything else.  He truly played an indelible role in my life.

What's there to do in tribute?  I dunno.  I guess I'll just do what I often do on here, write out a little game content.  I've been thinking lately about how similar 5e proficiency is to the Talents of the Ghostbusters RPG, so maybe if I write about that a bit, it'll encourage someone, sometime, to spend some time playing in the world Mr. Reitman helped bring to life.

Anyway, here's how quickly I think you can make reasonable characters for a quick 5e-based Ghostbusters game.  Looking at Egon's card from the old West End Games boxed set, and figuring 3 HD is probably a reasonable "level"...

(And also a toast to Harold Ramis, who passed before the inception of this blog...)

Egon Spengler, Ph.D.

Goal: Soulless Science

HD 3d8 (14 HP)

Proficiency Bonus: +2

STR 10(-)  DEX 10(-)  CON 10(-)  INT 20(+5)  WIS 10(-)  CHA 10(-)

Proficiencies: Physics (+7), Climb (+2), Disguise (+2), Stock Market (+2)

Attack: Unarmed Strike (+2, 1 bludgeoning damage) OR by weapon