February Artfest: Reckoners by Brom

Reckoners by Brom

I remember when I first started seeing the covers of those Dark Sun books back in the early nineties and I thought, what sort of hellish world am I being exposed to? Then as saw the woman in the green bikini top I thought, a fucking great world.

The Mt. Rushmore of Role-playing Game Designers

Recently Lebron James struck up a bit of controversy in the sports world when he talked about his Mt. Rushmore of basketball players; and while I have no interest in discussing that list (seriously, no Kareem Abdul-Jabbar?), it did get me to thinking about a different Mt. Rushmore: the Mt. Rushmore of Gaming. Now the four Presidents who were chosen for inclusion on Mt. Rushmore were chosen due to their overwhelming influence in the history of the United States, so it stands to reason that the people chosen for the RPG Designer Mt. Rushmore should be picked for their influence on the history of gaming as well. 

Dave Arenson

While Dave Arenson has often been maligned for his prickly personality and for his disorganized presentation of his materials it cannot be denied that without Dave Arenson there would be no Dungeons and Dragons. 

Inspired by Gary Gygax's Chainmail rules Dave created his Blackmoor games in the Twin Cities which, in turn, would get Gary Gygax to work with Dave in the creation of a new game: Dungeons and Dragons. From the disorganized pile of notes, rules, and ephemera that Dave presented for the game Gary would go on to formalize and expand the system far beyond what Dave envisioned and into a useable system that would launch the role-playing game industry. 

Dave's incredible creativity brought about role-playing, level progressions for characters, and perhaps most importantly, dungeon exploration. To deny him a place on the mountain would be akin to denying Gary Gygax a place.

Gary Gygax

While some will foolishly argue that Gary Gygax stole the whole idea of Dungeons and Dragons from Dave Arneson, the truth is far better. Dave Arneson had been inspired by Gary's work in Chainmail (specifically the Fantasy Supplement section), and then Gary was inspired by Dave's Blackmoor games when he encountered them at GenCon. Together they worked on the game that would become Dungeons and Dragons. Yet the effort between the two wasn't equal. 

Dave provided his loose approach to the game and Gary waded into the mess finding much of it unusable. So he did what only he could; Gary tossed out everything that was unusable and started with the best ideas from both Chainmail and Dave's notes. The end result was a game that changed the world. 

Gary would go on to write novels, articles, countless beloved modules, gaming books and even after leaving TSR his voice would help shape the industry.  No other designer, or presence in the hobby has as large a place in our history and in our future. 

Tracy Hickman and Margret Weis

While Gygax and Arneson created the game no two authors did more to popularize and change the hobby than these two. 

Together Hickman and Weis created the wildly popular Dragonlance setting and have written multiple New York Times bestsellers set in the world they created. Through their combined efforts they were able to help take the game beyond the old maxim, "Kill the dragon, save the girl, loot the treasure" and into a world where the story of your games mattered. 

Their works of fiction helped established the viability of book lines based on role-playing games. Their fiction helped raise the profile of the hobby and brought in many new gamers. More than that, their Dragonlance line of modules helped establish a real story to the game (for better or worse), something that was essentially lacking from the hobby prior to the line's publication. On the whole they fundamentally changed our understanding of what a role-playing game's setting could be and where it could go.

In the years since leaving TSR the two have continued to publish gaming materials, best selling books, and to inspire millions of gamers.

Ryan Dancey

You might be asking yourself who is Ryan Dancey, because unlike the other names on this list he isn't a household name - but he should be. Ryan Dancey was the driving force behind the d20 Open Gaming License and the System Reference Document. He is the reason why we had the explosion of third party products when Third Edition was published. He's the reason why we have Labrynth Lord, Swords and Wizardry, OSRIC, and all the retro-clones that have come out in the last few years. He is the reason why we have Pathfinder.

While Gygax and Arneson created the hobby, Ryan Dancey is the man we should all thank for saving our it and for making it ours. 

February Artfest: Midnight Snack by Clyde Caldwell

Midnight Snack by Clyde Caldwell

While it's certain that no one will be inspired to play a guy getting his life sucked out by a vampire queen this amazing painting by Clyde Caldwell is nonetheless one of my favorite bits of vampire cheesecake.

Just a fun painting on every level.

February Artfest: Untitled by Jeff Easley

Untitled by Jeff Easley

If this image above doesn't make you want to pick up your dice and start playing Dungeons and Dragons then what I have nothing for you, son. everything about this image screams out the best Dungeons and Dragons game I could imagine. Overwhelming odds, dragons, and a last stand that would make Don Quixote stand up and applaud.

Thank god for Jeff Easley!

Strangest Way to Dyvers, Ever.

So I obsessively watch my traffic to see who's coming and where I'm getting linked to, and last night I had the single strangest search request to find this blog: 

bux torlin movie porno

I feel like that was either a really weird fetish that somehow got hooked onto me, or else I just had a spell cast on me from a really strange and drunken warlock who only spoke gibberish. Either way, I count it a win. 

So what the weirdest search request to find your blog?

February Artfest: Star Frontiers by Larry Elmore

Star Frontiers by Larry Elmore

I love this painting. 

Every time that I look at it I find myself thinking about what it must be like to be stranded on a world where you don't know anyone and only know that it's hostile. Hopelessness could threaten to overwhelm you but a laser has a way of keeping that fear at bay. 

Perfect piece to inspire a campaign and a lifetime of gaming. 

Your thoughts?

A Bit of Morning Outrage for Your Brunch.

I was sitting down to drink a bit of tea after putting my son down for his nap when I ran across this article, Good Samaritan Backfire. That I am outraged is an understatement. That this sort of behavior is clearly tolerated within the San Francisco Police is bullshit. No one should ever have to suffer this sort of abuse when doing the right thing. 

I have had friends and relatives in the police and after talking about this article with them they responded with a single sentence, "Fuck those guys."

On Those Sad, Fake, Nerd Girls

This morning I was reading a few tumblers where the authors were complaining about all of these "fake nerd girls" who have started invading our "nerd culture" and how they should all stop and fucking die.

Let me clear some things up for you kids.

I don't care if the girl who is sitting next to me at the Doctor Who premier started watching back when Patrick Troughton took over the role or when Matt Smith stepped up. I don't care if she can't tell the difference between the Peter Parker and Eddie Brock. I could care less if she knows the damage potential of a magic missile, or that it automatically hits. Fuck, I couldn't give a shit if she can't figure out that the Teen Titans in the comics aren't the same as they are on the animated show. 

What matters is that she's here now and enjoying it. 

But she's not a real nerd!

Why? 

Because she came into the "culture" later than you and doesn't have a fountain of useless knowledge to fall back on? Or is it because she likes the things that your hipster ass finds lame?

No, it's because she's just using our culture to get us to fawn all over her and abuse our hearts and wallets.

What. the. fuck?

What sort of sad-sack, bullshit response is that? 

This "culture" that you're fetishizing has been maligned for decades and the whole reason why it's become popular today is because women started picking up on it and thought it was cool. They brought their non-geek husbands, children, and friends along to the movies and picked up the comics. They have brought more notoriety to our conventions as they dress up as their favorite characters; and they have breathed new life into our dying hobbies as they create brand new projects that you get to go all nerd rage about because they're out doing your favorite, trite, bullshit. 

She's doing it right.

You're doing it wrong.

But they're not real nerds!

I am utterly convinced that any woman who walks into the room and picks up a d20, or an issue of Deadpool, should be seen as a sign that the universe is not just a cruel and unforgiving mistress, but that she has a sense of humor as well. Because while you could enjoy the woman sitting on your right as she plays her Druid her own god-damned-way and develop a genuine friendship with a person who can introduce you to your soul mate (Don't be creepy; it isn't her. It's her fine friend she'll introduce you to after you prove you're not a rapist douche bag); you won't. Instead you'll sit there with your arms crossed, huffing like the ignorant jack ass you are, and loudly bray your way through the night, "She's playing it wrong! Why'd you let her play? She obviously has no idea what's going on! Fucking fake, nerd girls!"

You know what, the next time you feel like showing your ass to a lady who comes to a convention I want you raise your right hand and take a good, hard look at it instead. Look at that hand and remember that it's the only lover and friend you've got. The people you hang out with are ashamed to know someone so closed minded and as soon as they can they'll ditch you; and while it's nice of your mother to tell you that these girls just don't recognize how special you are, the truth is that they aren't lining up to date you because you're dick. 

So take a good, long look at that hand and remember that what's ruining this culture isn't the people joining it by bringing an influx of creativity and money to it, but the jackass who's got his hand raised.

/rant

February Artfest: TSR Jam by Todd Lockwood

TSR Jam by Todd Lockwood

Like the greatest of comic book mash-ups this piece by Todd Lockwood is the sort of dream fodder that often sends role-playing game enthusiasts running to the bank so they can pick up a copy. And I have to admit that I'm not immune as I almost popped on this $15.00 print directly from the man. 

Who am I kidding? I'm buying this thing just as soon as I get done here.

February Artfest: Rogues by Dave Trampier

Rogues by Dave Trampier

When I first ran across this illustration in the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons Dungeon Master's Guide I found myself falling in love with the idea of killing everything and taking it's stuff. As greedy as that chubby thief is I found myself all the more so for Dave Trampier's art and for the world he was drawing. 

Still haven't gotten my fill of either of them, you?