About Those New Uniforms for Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman

So DC is introducing some new uniforms for what many fans refer to as the big three: Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman. It's clear from looking at these new designs that DC is going for a completely different feel not only to the characters but for the entirety of DC.

So here's Superman who looks like a more like he belongs in the old Valiant Comics with their "gritty" look that always made their characters seem indistinguishable to me. That said, intellectually the idea that Superman wouldn't run around with a secret identity really isn't all that farfetched. I mean no one could possibly hurt him without kryptonite so why should he fear if anyone knows who he is? I mean except for the fact that any loved ones he might have could be held ransom, killed, raped, and put in constant danger to manipulate him like a puppet.

By far the best redesign out of the group is Wonder Woman. It's just a great look minus the needless Wolverine-esque spikes jutting out from her wrists. Still looks like a Valiant reject, but it's better than Batman.

At this point I don't even know why they're still calling him Batman. He's a giant, robotic, rabbit with a gun. Fuck he'd be more at home in Savage Dragon or the TICK than he would as Batman!

I totally get that at this point DC is trying to go for a grittier feel with the books - all the redesigns, from Batman's smoking gun to Superman's fists dripping blood, reinforce this -  but making the DC universe into a new version of WildStorm isn't the way to go. Look Lee and DiDio are steering this ship and it's clear that they want to go down this way but I'm just not looking for these changes to be long term. If anything I expect them to be in retroconned into an alternative DC Universe at the end of the run when they reintroduce the classic uniforms like Old Coke coming back after New Coke pissed everyone off. 

What do you all think?

Terry Pratchett, Author of the Discworld Series, Has Passed at 66

It has been reported that Terry Pratchett has died from complications due to Alzheimer's disease. Pratchett was a master of satire who used the Discworld series to address his problems with the world. Over the years I've managed to read a dozen of his novels and they've always been enjoyable reads. I never had the good fortune to meet him but from everything I've ever read he was an incredible person in real life and not just on the written page.

He will be missed.

Star Citizen, the World's Largest and Most Boring Game.

Let me begin this with a confession: I love space games. I love the feel of weightlessness that comes along with a really good space simulator and the way that combat can be taken to a whole different level. The trailer promises a game that will deliver an experience that will make the whole industry take notice.

Just looking at that trailer you can tell that this game is going to be beefy and require a lot of your computer just to run. Rumors have been swirling for a while that it could be fifty gigabytes or more when all is said and done. Which is huge, in and of itself, but it was reported yesterday by PC Gamer that the game will actually be closer to 100 gigabytes with updates running nearly 20 gigabytes! So if you're like me and living on a limited bandwidth (because there are no other options than bullshit, satellite internet) then this game is one you won't be playing based on those two factors alone. However there are bigger for this game than just its size and system requirements.

The above video features a little over fifteen minutes of the game's actual play footage and if you made it past the first two minutes than I applaud you. If you watched it to the end as I did then I pity you because this game play is the most boring thing I've watched in years. It's worse than the early Mech games that often consisted of plodding along for thirty minutes trying to find that last enemy unit that was on the other side of the zone while you hoped that your tape wouldn't reach the end of its side. The combat appears sluggish; there is no music; and even the person playing the game appears too bored to do more than suffer through the game. In short, it's terrible.

I realize that the game isn't fully realized yet and that to judge it so early in its life is a bit unfair - but in this case I feel its warranted. According to everything that's been released around this game the core of it is supposed to be the space combat, and that looked boring as hell. From the trailer I had high hopes for it and was actually considering upgrading my graphics card so that I could handle it at its max settings, but the game play killed any such thoughts. 

Unless something dramatically changes before the game's full launch I will not be buying it. What about you?

Putting Her Down and Other Misadventures from the Weekend

On Friday the boy and I went up the mountain to see my Mom and Dad. It was the first time that we had gone up the old highway since the ice storms hit our area in February and was it ever a surprise. The woods that lined either side of the road looked like a tornado had blow through rather than just an ice storm! And every so often we'd round a corner and find a tree leaning precariously across a power line, causing it to sag dangerously low. Still the roads were clear so we made it to Mom and Dad's without any delays.

When I went up earlier it was only for a night to help my wife's Grandmother so we didn't really get a good look at all the damage at my parents' home. Well, this weekend we did.

The driveway, which I had cleared a large portion of earlier, now had even more limbs in it as the Oak, Maple, and Pines had shaken loose more limbs. I was able to move all of the ones in the drive but the ones in the island (Mom and Dad have a circle drive) were too big to even attempt. The back yard is going to take weeks to clean up.

All the same this weekend marked the beginning of that process. So I got the yard cleared, wrote two articles that should be going up in the weeks over on EN World, worked on one that I'm doing in conjunction with +Sean Bircher, +Jens D., and +Stelios V. Perdios that will be going up this week. Oh, and I started working on Project X which is going to be awesome when it completes. And then my car decided that it hated me and everyone who looks like me.

Oh, oh, oh! I know I mentioned this the other day but I got Civilization V Complete and holy shit is that game a time suck! Seriously a good game but it's got some drawbacks that came expressly because they decided that they wanted to change things for the sake of change and not because they wanted to make the experience better. I'll talk more about that later because it's too much for right now. 

So, how was your weekend?

Excellent Sale on Civilization and L.A. Noire Happening Right Now

One of my longest love affairs when it comes to video games is with the Civilization series. The game lets you control a real world, historical figure who leads their civilization from the dawn of time to the game's end - which can be a long time in coming. The goal of the game is for the player to build up their civilization through cunning, guile, and military might to eventually conquer the world. The other leaders in the game are each trying to do the same thing (with Gandhi hating your face practically from the moment the game starts) and the A.I. is just smart enough to make the game really challenging if you let the other civilizations get built up.

I've been playing these games for the better part of the last fifteen years starting with the incredible Civilization III (which I'm still rocking). I picked up Civilization IV when it was first released but never got a chance to pick up the expansions or Civilization V because the price on them wasn't quite right for my tastes. Right now, though, on Amazon there's a deal that I can hardly pass up. Between now and Tuesday, March 10, 2015 you can pick up Civilization III, IV, and V - complete - for $16.99. I've never gotten any of the expansion content for any of these games, and at that price I don't mind paying for the bit of the games that I already own. If you've never tried out these games you need to pick this set up because it's a real steal!

The other big sale is L.A. Noire complete for $6.00. I've never played Noire before but after watching Many a True Nerd working his way through the game on YouTube I've decided to give it a chance - especially since it's on such a good sale. In the game you play a detective who has to solve cases across Los Angeles. The game is really beautiful and the story has had me really invested in the game throughout Many a True Nerd's play through. 

If you're interested in either of these games now is the time pick them up as they're on some tremendous sales. (Also, if you're on Steam check out the SteamOS sales going on right now as there are a lot of great games popping up right now that are real steals. Oh, and pick up Saints Row IV. It's a ridiculously good game and at $4.99 on Steam you can't ask for a better price).

Artisan Toolkits: Carpenter

Weight: [Set 1] 13 pounds (5.90 kilograms) [Set 2] 32 pounds (14.52 kilograms)
Cost: [Set 1] 30 gold [Set 2] 64 gold

Contents

Set1

Z Saw

Hammer

Pry Bar

Stanley - 5044 Bit Brace 250 Mm 10In

Steel Carpenter's Square
Set of 12 Bits of Varying Sizes

Various Screws and Nails

Set 2

Wood Rasp

Block Plane

Hand Saw

Set of 3 Z saws

Rubber Mallet

Pry Bar

Drill Bit Brace
Steal Carpenter's Square

Set of 12 Bits of Varying Sizes

Set of 6 Screwdrivers of Varying Sizes

Set of 6 Chisels of Varying Sizes

Hammer

Various Screws and Nails

It's hard to imagine too many groups that will eschew the carpenter's toolkit if they've got the option for a proficiency with it as any real interest in exploring underground dungeons, or abandoned castles, will find the carpenter incredibly valuable to the effort. The carpenter's eye for woodworking and the applications of its practices makes them an ideal candidate for weakening supports, removing doors, creating and disarming traps, and in general just being incredibly useful to have along. Yet there is a problem associated with their equipment that comes from the natural limitations for an individual to carry as carpentry tools can become very large and heavy if you don't keep an eye on what's being brought along.

Since the contents of the Carpenter's Toolkit are still common today I'll not worry with describing each item and instead will note that I have divided this toolkit into two sets. The reason for this division is based around the idea that not every player will want to fully role play the Carpenter but might want to instead play a former apprentice with enough knowledge to do basic work but not enough commitment to master the skill. My expectation is that most people will go for the lighter, and cheaper set. 

On a related note I linked to mostly Stanley tools above because they still have a lifetime warranty on some of their tools (with most of them changing over to a limited lifetime warranty) - BUT if you're thinking about picking up some of these tools for yourself then you should really go with Craftsman. The vast majority of Craftsman tools still come with a lifetime warranty and though you'll pay more for them at first, knowing that you can bring in any tool when it breaks and they'll replace it, no questions asked, more than makes up the difference. 

Artisan Toolkit Series

Introduction

Alchemist

Brewer

Calligrapher

Carpenter

Cartographer

Cobbler

Cook

Glassblower

Jeweler

Leatherworker

Mason

Painter

Potter

Smith
Surveyor

Tinker

Weaver

Woodcarver

Final

[Edit - 3/6/2015 5:09 PM Eastern]

I received a message from +Kirwyn this evening that may have some bearing on those of you contemplating picking up Craftsman tools. I've not had kirwyn's store experience and I would have been in the Store Manager's ass if I had, but the fact that anyone thought it was a reasonable way to replace a tool is bullshit of the highest order.

Kirwyn wrote: "+Charles Akins oh man! I used to agree with your assessment of Craftsman tools. No longer.
 
"A) They're no longer all made in the USA. A few might but I've seen made in Taiwan and made in China on them now.
 
"B) Still primo price but nowhere near primo quality. The finishes have gone to crap, they no longer have that "feels just right" quality in the hand that they once did.
 
"C) Their famous return policy is crap. I took back a 1/4" drive ratchet (the pawls gave out) and the guy at customer service asked "well, are you sure you want to bring it back? It has seen some use." I said yes, he goes and pulls out a hand full of other ratchets from the back and says "ok, choose one." The ratchets he brought out we're all returns that had been cobbled together. They were scratched, banged up, dented and one has a piece of the handle ground off, all while being condescending and abrupt.
 
"I told him that I expected better, I had spent $38 bucks on a good ratchet to be offered this was ridiculous. He shrugged and I still haven't forgotten what he said "get with the times or get out. Your choice." I needed a ratchet that worked so I grabbed one, against my better judgement.
 
"D) Then I heard about this: http://abcnews.go.com/US/MadeInAmerica/wrench-inventor-claims-sears-stole-idea-china/story?id=17720122

"I will not darken sears doorways again nor will I buy another craftsman tool.
 
"Fuck sears. They don't even get a capital S from me. I'll save the effort of using the shift key for something worthwhile." 

So I guess that linking to Stanley may be your best bet as the tools I've bought from them continue to be of a good quality and have a solid feel (though not as good as the old Craftsman tools once felt).  They have mostly moved away from their lifetime warranties which were as good as Craftsman's once was and have shifted to limited warranties. I have recently exchanged a tool with them (a wrench that wouldn't stay in position) and had no troubles as they handled my return in an excellent way.

It Begins with a Murder.

December 16, 2568

John,

I promised you that when I got here I would keep my nose clean and I tried; really I did. But you know how these things happen. One minute you're arguing with a prostitute about the price of a handjob and the next she's screaming her head off because there's a dead body on your doorstep. It was a grisly affair; not as bad as that time in Oakland when we had to deal with that cartel hit, but close. Real close.

Of course I had to call it in. Then there were the same damned questions they always ask. Did you know the victim? Why were you coming home so late? How long have you know the lady you're with? Do you really think it's appropriate to be picking up hookers, Father Jones?

Christ, it gets boring going through this over and over again.

There's more here than just some crazed psychopath trying to send me a message. I keep feeling that there's eyes on me and I swear there's someone following me. I need an extra pair of eyes and a steady gun I can count on. I need you John.

-- Fr. Micheal Jones

Nashville 

February 7, 2569

Voicemail

John, it's Mike. 

Another body's been found. Father Hughes found her on the steps . . . God, she had so many needles sticking out of her that she looked like a porcupine. The look on her face . . . John I know you said that you didn't need another murder but this bastard's got a hard on for the church. You've got get her before he strikes again.

Call me.

March 3, 2569

John - 

It's him. I saw him on Commerce near that coffee shop you like. He was just standing across the street looking at me. Christ Almighty! He's alive and the bastard is here! Get here now!

- Mike

March 4, 2569

Phone call

MALE VOICE: (groggy) Hello?

DETECTIVE MICOL: Mr. Williams, this is Detective Micol. I've got some bad news.

MALE VOICE: I don't know who you are or how you got this number but -

DETECTIVE MICOL: Father Micheal was found dead this morning.

MALE VOICE: . . . Go on.

DETECTIVE MICOL: First I need to make sure that this is John Williams. Can you confirm your identity?

MALE VOICE: Interesting . . .

DETECTIVE MICOL: I'm sorry? 

What's interesting?

Are you there?

- - - - CALL ENDED - - - -

March 10, 2569

Channel 9, CBC News Broadcast (local)

According to police the attack began at four this morning when a series of twelve explosions rocked Ninth Avenue. When first responders reported to the scene they came under gunfire. Seven emergency personnel were killed and five more were seriously wounded. SWAT was called and when they arrived initially four of their officers were shot with what police are describing as high caliber sniper rounds. As the remaining SWAT members retreated three more where killed. 

Police have surrounded the area and are attempting to locate the assailant but so far have been unable to do so. Michelle Williams reporting live from the scene.

April 3, 2569

CBC National News Broadcast

This morning President Li surrounded the city of Nashville, Tennessee with troops in the hopes that they might be able to contain the violence there. 

As you'll recall last week the Governor of Tennessee sent the National Guard in to restore order. Casualties have been high and combat has been happening so rapidly that it's nearly impossible to keep up with them. At last count more than 5,000 guardsmen have lost their lives and nearly triple that many have been wounded.

Things are continuing to deteriorate at an alarming rate . . .

April 3, 2569

Diary Entry of John Williams

Mike,

Fuck you for all of this.

- John.

BEST READS OF THE WEEK! February 22 - 28, 2015

Welcome back to the Best Reads of the Week! Every week I read through more than 450 blogs looking for the best rpg related articles to bring them directly to you. This week we've got advice for breaking into game design; strange inches; a blog closing; anniversaries; and so much more! If you see a post that you like be sure and tell the author how much you enjoyed it!

If you've got any questions about this month's lists be sure and check out the FAQ. And as always, thank you for your comments, shares, plus 1s, and for taking the time to read this list. See you on the next set!

BEST READS OF THE WEEK

FEBRUARY 22- 28, 2015!

Breaking into Game Design as a Woman by +Jessica Price, from the blog Bedside Notepad: If you're a woman and considering getting into game design then this article by Paizo's Jessica Price is a great place to start thinking about how to get where you want to be. But don't think this advice is only applicable for women as it's great advice regardless of your gender.

Advice for women looking to get into game design, Part III by Wundergeek, from the blog Go Make Me a Sandwich: While the title and the article are directed at women in particular the advice often applies to anyone trying to get into game design.

When an Inch is not an Inch in AD&D by Delta, from the blog Delta's D&D Hotspot: There's a complexity to AD&D that often mystifies players who came later to the game, and this discussion of what 1 inch represents in the edition demonstrates one of the many reason why that happens.

Great Clomping Feet by Smiorgan, from the blog Department V: Like talking about your character, world building is a boring exercise that often only fascinates the person working their way through the process but bores everyone else who comes along afterwards.  Hard to argue against that statement.

Sorry We're Closed by +Eric Treasure, from the blog The Dragon's Flagon: Come say goodbye to a great blog that has never gotten as much attention as it deserved.

When it's Time for a Character to Leave the Party by +Tim Shorts, from the blog Gothridge Manor: Occasionally there comes a time when it's right for a character to walk away from the story. This post by Tim highlights when the time is right by talking about when his own character stepped off the stage.

Fortieth Anniversary of Games Workshop by +Jon Peterson, from the blog Playing at the World: It seems that a year after the fortieth anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons that we've forgotten that other companies were started shortly on the heels of TSR. Thank goodness that Jon Peterson is there to remind us about some of the other great companies that have dominated their industries!

We're Not Playing D&D with the Escapist Ever Again and "Cool, Cool" and Other Words of Wisdom from the Escapist by +Zak Smith, from the blog Playing D&D with Porn Stars: There are times when you have to take a stand on the people you're doing business with and the people that they hire. Do you work for someone who is a homophobe? That hate's transsexuals? Or do you walk away from them and their bullshit. Zak Smith has made his decision. What would you do in his place?

Monster Manual's Appendix N by Mike Monaco, from the blog Swords and Dorkery: The original Appendix N was designed to inspire you to come up with great adventures and to help inspire the tone of your campaigns for years to come. So what if the Monster Manual had come up with books to inspire your monsters? Mike Monaco is trying to do just that and you should totally come along for the ride and help him out!

The Past Few Years Have Been Wasted by Talysman, from the blog The Nine and Thirty Kingdoms: So if something isn't expressly written in the rules than you can't do it? As Talysman put it, "Since when was that an Old School idea?"

BEST READS OF THE WEEK! February 15 - 21, 2015

Welcome back to the Best Reads of the Week! Every week I read through more than 450 blogs looking for the best rpg related articles to bring them directly to you. This week we've got open letters to game publishers (and a reply); fantastic cities; ancient artifacts; terrible investments; and so much more! If you see a post that you like be sure and tell the author how much you enjoyed it!

If you've got any questions about this month's lists be sure and check out the FAQ. And as always, thank you for your comments, shares, plus 1s, and for taking the time to read this list. See you on the next set!

BEST READS OF THE WEEK

FEBRUARY 15 - 21, 2015!

[Mystara] Lawrence Schick Answers Q's on the Original Known World by +James Mishler, from the blog Adventures in Gaming v2: James has been following up on Lawrence Schick's Black Gate article, The “Known World” D&D Setting: A Secret History, from the first week of February. In this post he's gotten some answers that help put the world into better perspective.

Megadungeons Need Vast Spaces by JDJarvis, from the blog Aeons & Augauries: JD is continuing to refine his thoughts on the nature of megadungeons and how they should exist within his campaign worlds. As is so often the case his ideas are the sort of things that could launch a mini campaign in and of themselves.

5e Friday - Forgotten Realms by Callin, from the blog Big Ball of No Fun: If you're like Callin and wondering why the Forgotten Realms continues to be the only setting being produced it might have you wondering other questions too. A good place to get your mind working on the subject.

Advice for Women Looking to Get Into Game Design, Part I and Advice for Women Looking to Get Into Game Design, Part II by Wundergeek, from the blog Go Make Me a Sandwich: While the title and the article are directed at women in particular the advice often applies to anyone trying to get into game design.

An Exorcism of ... Political Correctness? "Who are the Nibelungs?" Part 2 by +Jens D., from the blog The Disoriented Ranger: There are certain questions about our games that can tend to become thorny points in our sides. For some the answer is to avoid talking about them entirely, not so for Jens in this great post.

An open letter to game publishers: Please stop trying to make me feel like a Sleaze by Matthew J. Neagley, from the blog Gnome Stew: Arguably this is the most controversial post from Gnome Stew in years. Equally debatable are the merits of Neagley's criticisms. I'll leave their validity, or lack there of, up to you. 

Lapidir, the City of Secret Fire; Districts of Lapidir Part I; and Districts of Lapidir Part II by +Arnold K., from the blog Goblin Punch: This series of three posts describing the City of Lapidir could make up a campaign all in themselves. There is so much here that I haven't stopped reading them, and rereading them since they were first published. Excellent work!

Ancient Artifacts. One Man's Trash is another Man's Treasure by +Alasdair Cunningham, from the blog Iron Rations: If you're trying to build an ancient artifact that will help color your campaign then do yourself a favor and read this excellent post by Alasdair to see how it's done right!

Dear Gnome Stew by +James Raggi, from the blog Lamentations of the Flame Princess: James has a response to Neagley's open letter from the perspective of a game publisher that sets things straight. Do you agree with him or with Neagley?

The Murder Hobo Investment Bubble by +Emily Dresner-Thornber, from the blog /project/multiplexer: In this clever post Emily explores what might cause someone to hire a group of 'Murder Hobos.' Great bit of speculative reasoning that could help campaigns grounded firmly in a 'realistic' world bound by the laws of economics and reason.

Hero Forge Miniatures Review: Not Ready for Prime Time by +Marty Walser, from the blog Raging Owlbear:  Marty tried out the Hero Forge Miniatures and his experiences should be read by anyone thinking of doing the same.

Trust Your Instincts, Most of the Time by the Rambling Roleplayer, from the blog The Rambling Roleplayer: Questioning yourself and doubting your own ideas is as common among Dungeon Masters as acne among teenagers. Yet our instincts are better than we think, just ask the Rambling Roleplayer! 

The Book Shelf: Prince of Fire by Daniel Silva

Daniel Silva's Prince of Fire begins quickly, with an explosion and machine gun fire, and only gets better from there as Israeli operative Gabriel Allon searches for a terrorist before he strikes again. This is the fifth book in the Gabriel Allon series from Daniel Silva and it's the first one I've read. The book does draw on events that have taken place previously in the series but Silva's easy writing style makes reading the earlier books unnecessary as there's just enough time spent establishing why things are important without belaboring the point or being so brief that they become a mystery.

The writing style is very quick and allows for a reader to just devour large chunks of the book in a single sitting. Its pacing is generally pretty good with moments of intensity followed by lulls that will almost allow you to catch your breath before then next attack. However there are some areas where the book falls flat (about 30 pages in total). These are generally scenes where Silva attempts a different narrative writing style (such as the chapter told from Leah's perspective) than the rest of the book, yet these are so dispersed throughout the book that it never feels like a slog to get through them. This is because Silva's ability to create characters who feel like living people is exceptional as not only Gabriel Allon but nearly every character you encounter has a depth to them that makes them feel real. Whether you're dealing with longtime, counter-terrorism agents or the fanatic Palestinian suicide bombers there's a sense that these people could actually exist - and I can't think of a better compliment to give to a writer.

My only real complaint with the novel came towards the end when things just seemed to end so abruptly. For longtime pulp novel fans such an ending isn't unusual, but in a novel that was so strong and perfectly paced it felt like Silva's editors were suddenly very concerned about his word count and he decided to cut it all out at the end. Still, the novel was a fantastic read and I will absolutely be picking up more from the series.