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
Saturday, January 13, 2024
Geeky SKAturday: Keep Him Away (The Slackers)
Another sound for the Rudie to cast...
(Active for like 30 years straight, the Slackers are one of my favorite bands. I'm lucky enough to now live within close proximity to their native NYC that I can go to their shows about as often as I want to, and they never disappoint. This song is often used to kick off their sets.)
7" cover, seen HERE |
You choose one target creature within range. For the duration of the spell, an invisible force (claimed to feel like a pair of strong arms) prevents that creature from getting within 10 feet of you. If the creature is 10 feet away and you move toward it, the force will gradually pull them in the opposite direction until at least a 10 foot distance is established again.
Image from HERE |
Monday, January 8, 2024
(Pocket) Monstrous Monday: Psyduck (and Pokémon Concierge)
Image from HERE |
Actions: Headache +3 (Psychic attack; if hit, an Elemental Beast-trainer can't act for 1 round); Fury Swipes +3 (1d3 slashing damage)
Weakness: Electric
Saturday, January 6, 2024
Geeky SKAturday: Pick Yourself Up (Stubborn All-Stars)
Stubborn All-Stars (who I've always called The Stubborn All-Stars, and only realized in looking at their Wikipedia page now that maybe that "The" isn't supposed to be there) were (are?) a trad ska supergroup assembled in '90s NYC by King Django of Stubborn Records.
They are one of the greats of the era, IMO. "Pick Yourself Up" apparently got some airplay on MTV back in the day (again, I am informed by Wikipedia about this). It comes from their album Back With a New Batch and serves as a rejuvenating sound for Rudies...
Image from HERE |
You remove all levels of exhaustion from a character within range.
Monday, January 1, 2024
This Day in Anthro History: Happy New Year from Steamboat Willie!
Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to 2024!!
On this date, in this year - once again, that would be 2024 - what once seemed impossible has come to pass: Mickey Mouse enters the public domain in the United States in the form of his earliest appearances, most notably the short film "Steamboat Willie."
(Something tells me you've probably seen this news...)
I'm looking forward to seeing where this American icon ends up now that we all have access...and how far folks push the envelope before getting Disney on their backs.
Do you have any plans for Steamboat Willie? (And actually...who is Steamboat Willie? Is he Mickey in this film, or is that just sort of a generic title for the short?)
As with so many things...I have my ideas but don't know if I'll follow through. I like the idea of "Steamboat Willie" as a story of anthropomorphic animals on a postapocalyptic Earth...and the Gaming Like It's 1928 game jam would be a perfect opportunity to finally get Battleyacht off the ground...but y'know, my attention span and all...