Looking at the Kaosball kickstarter.

Kaosball is one i have been on the fence about.  I am not a big fan of stuff like blood bowl.  But some of the things going on in the kickstarter I really like.  They are basically doing one price point for the basic product with add on teams costing extra.  That means you just get the stretch goals as there is one price level, that seems pretty nice.  Also there is no confusion over buying a tshirt or sticker for the game at the lower levels.  Check it out here.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/coolminiornot/kaosball?ref=live

The game itself looks cool as there are cards that come into play and make it seem pretty cool.  Not just figure movement which would be weak on such a small board.   I am not sure if dice are used or not.

The teams seem cool with the expansion teams seeming a bit cooler.  They have pirates and cowboys and all sorts of neat stuff.   It looks like you are getting four teams in the base set along with goblins, undead and perhaps heavy metal barbarians.  There are a fair amount of extra star players that have been added already, even the guys from penny-arcade.  If you add more teams it looks like you can add extra ringers as well.  There seems to a version of megaman, hulk hogan and some weird pokemon looking guys you can get in that fashion.

If they hit their 1500 backers and I can get those metal guys I think I will jump in.  Still its a heck of a deal already.  If you have a few folks going in on it you could probably have an army each and the base game for a low investment.  I

 

thorns for thursday

It's hard getting up these days, facing the morning.  I have grown dark on the future and cooled to my friends.  I think its gone away and i am sickened then its back and I am broken.  I feel like there is no surface to breath at just drowning or I'm rescued and leave you in the waves.  Come back to me my lost so I can cough back this pain and live.  I feel undone and raveling out by the inch trying to hold back everything to not lose it.  Even the anger reels away and I gap open hollow.

Movie Review: Electric Purgatory

Hey everyone I checked out a movie called Electric Purgatory:  The fate of the black rocker.  I wanted to share some thoughts.   The movie is good on what it covers but it seems to leave a bit out.  You get a bunch of folks interviewed form Fishbone, to Vernon Reid and on to Doug Pinnick.  Which is all well and good but the biggest and most well respected name in black metal is completely omitted.  Also Some of the newer black artists in the metal genre are not represented either. 

I am of course talking about Phil Lynott when I talk about black folks in metal.  Even Hendrix does not hold the importance of Phil in metal.  I was listening to Jail Break and Don't Break the Oath last night.  Its amazing how much of the guitar work and song structure is carried through into Mercyful Fate.  The list of metal acts who have covered Lizzy is endless and they had a fair amount of success during their own time.  It seems odd to not even mention them. 

Some folks I think should have also been on the video are Howard Jones, Katon De Pena and William DuVall.   Katon has been around but the others are new folks having some success in metal and hard rock.  I think they represent perhaps a change.  I guess it could be said that those artist are the only person of color in a white band, which is also true of Doug Pinnick and Rocky George.

Pathfinder battle - Builder Series: We be Goblins

This is a great little product line from pathfinder especially if you have been working on a series of goblin focused adventures, like me.  They are giving you goblins at three bucks a pop and dramatically expanding the line at once.  This seems pretty close to the big pack of goblins or skeletons I was asking for when the pathfinder miniatures first came out. 

You can check out and order them from the pathfinder web site at  http://paizo.com/products/btpy8ww8

The minis are in the style of goblin paizo is now known for.  I think they are good, thought I am not sure why the archer in the picture above is in a wedding dress and veil.  I got this one and a wizard type goblin along with a couple of goblin dogs.  I wish the goblin warchanter had an instrument but that is a quibble.

If you are doing anything with my goblins of parra plot seeds these seem like a slam dunk for you.  A bit of a san jose warning, I bought up the last they had at the airport game kastle.

Movie review: SciFi boys

I checked out a movie called Scifi boys last night.  It is well worth your time if you are a fan of the genre.  It tackles much of the early sources of sci fi fandom.  Taking focus on folks like harryhausen, Forrest J Ackerman and Castle.

It does a good job at getting the idea across that these were they guys that inspired the modern masters to get their start. It also give a little bit of what the modern guys did in their youth after exposure to these masters.

This is really going to be a great introduction to you folks to the early side of the genre and if you pair it with American Scary you have an excellent double feature.  I think both are on Netflix streaming so you have your friday night all set.  This film seems to focus on the 50's and 60's era with American Scary taking you into the 70's. 

My one regret here is it doesn't focus enough on the fans themselves.  If you read through old Famous Monsters, Eeire or Creepy you start to realize how underground the genre once was.  I think pointing the camera at the fans would be a great companion piece to this one.

I hate

I hate coming home and you not being at the door.  The first thing I should see is your black snoot poking through and that one white whisker on your right side.  You should wag your butt without reason and I should bend down and give you a hug.

I hate picking up crackers on the floor.  I should give a whistle and you should come eat them up and clean up every kernel.  Then be up on the bed and demand rubs and pats.

I hate only clean up a few of Evi's shits outside.  The back yard should be full of your turds that reek and make me gag.  It should be a chore and I would do it every day gladly if you were back with me.

I hate being without you Jasper! I hate the quiet of no barks with the door bell.  I hate the missing note you sang when Evi howls.  I hate eating all my foot without having to hand over your little tax.  I hate how much I hate..

For my friend

This is too hard without you
I am just too weak
Everything seems meaningless
life just to bleak

I was broken before you
You're a missing piece
I'm aimless without you
come back please

Scare the mailmain
terrorize the cat
Be there when I come home
waiting on the door mat

Wag your mighty tail
crashing on the wall
Give me an hour or day
before you fall

But the hour is gone
and you run greener paths
peeing all over heaven
and not more need for baths
 

Let this stand

This shit is beyond my capacity!  I have lost my dog!  That is perhaps meaningless to some of you but not to me.  He was my comfort when anything was wrong, lapping me in the face when I was faltering.  He was my friend and silent agreement on long rides on dark nights. but he was more! 

I am broken in serious crippling ways, yet he fixed me.  He made me less obtuse he was a surrogate that allowed me to be a regular person.  The jagged ugly thoughts I have in me were rounded off and I was almost a caring person.

Now he is gone.  The folks at the vet that did this have financially crippled my family and taken my dog.  This is the part I can't let stand why should I pay for negligence that took my best friend.  The cost of this was so devastating I am going to need my money back if I am going to try to adopt another dog in the next year. 

What kid of man am I if I let this stand

Jasper Rickel

Byron's words were right.  My dog my baby boy has left me and words are at a loss for what to say.  They are all for the outward and other.  They can't say anything but loss, which isn't what I need to say.  There is a missing abscess in me that feels like the unpleasant cavity in an over big strawberry.  Which seems meaningless but is just what I feel.

Before my friend I was broken and he fixed me a little so I was nearer to right.  And now I am left with being less again.  No uncaring golden joy abounds making things right.  No slow wagging tail thudding on the couch in the morning.  No love given without holding back for fearing pain.  I have lost the one thing keeping the broken together.   Now I am all oxidized muselet and muzzle breaks.

Movie Review: John Die at the End

I watched John dies at the end and wow that was weird.  I enjoyed it it was goofy and fun the way Bubbu Hotep was. I think you are going to enjoy this one if you liked the tv shows Reaper or GvsE.  It has that same horror comedy thing going.  I hope this becomes a cult classic as it could use a sequel, if just to explain what went on.  It has some very strange elements that I am not sure if they were supposed to be related or not.  I have no idea if the spiders were the source of the "Soy Sauce" and they kept it around to Milk.for the drug or what.  So there are a bunch of questions that pop up here, I think because the story has been changed in party from the book version.  I think if you are a fan of goofy horror then you will be happy to check it out, its free on netflix anyway.  There is a twist ending so watch out.

Campaign seed: The goblins of parra part 13

Another set of story points for you.  I hope someone takes a few of them and adds them to a campaign or even runs this as its own campaign



Title: Glum Dark Ogres seek an alliance
Minimum Threat: 175
Story: The Glum Dark Ogres have come seeking an alliance with the tribe.  They are recent immigrants to the Parra mountains having recently won their freedom from an alliance of trolls and evil humans.  They are looking to shore up their position by creating an alliance. 

The actual winning of their freedom was with the help of a group of human adventures and a small naval force.  They remain loyal to the humans who have provided resources for their clan.  To this end they have been directed by their allies to assassinate Guirrzek who is a rising star.  The human direction should not become known until the next story point

This mission will need to happen when the party is in good favor with Guirrzek and are allowed to sit around the fire during the peace talks.  The Ogres will try to kill Guirrzek there, the party will need to fight them off and save Guirrzek
Battle Success: Magical heavy maul and great axe are added to the treasury, goblin bane items.  These are held for now but will be given out to the party should they need to go against another goblin horde.
Failure: Guirrzek's death complicates things.  The party will have some influence by the game master should decide what course of action is taken.  If one of the party takes on the role of Chief this will change the nature of the game and may be best to more the character to an NPC and have the player make a new character.  Should Ruusjali serve as regent for her children this may be a better option.  You will need to have some change in the tactics of the clans actions to make this feel correct.  Where Guirrzek waited and judged situations, Ruusjali may be more vengeful and bloodthirsty.



Title: Glum Dark Wars
Minimum Threat: 175
Story: The Glum Dark Ogres made and attempt on Guirrzek's life.  If this is coming from Guirrzek or Ruusjali the party are directed to hunt down the Glum Dark clan and give the clan some sign where they can be found, Goblins usually use fire as a sign.

Party must track down the clan to their mountainous home and give some sign where they can be found.  Or just kill them all.  This may be too much even for a well prepared party so they will be met by more warriors
Tracking Success: The party are joined by the two other goblin raid parties and twenty warriors.
Battle Success: Glum Darks are destroyed adding 10,000 gp to the horde treasury.  Party gains 4000gp in goods from treasury. Party are able to determine humans were involved in ordering this assassination attempt.  Threat increased by 25
Failure: Party are recalled by another groups smoke signal.  The party are able to determine the humans involvement and the treasury will gain the 6,000 but there is no pay out to the party.


Title: Their Human Allies
Minimum Threat: 175
Story: The Glum Darks slain the party better find some information on these humans whom have directed the attack.  They begin back tracking toward the civilized lands and are able to find a camp some days away from the ogre.  This party has representatives from the human kingdom Verin present.  
Stealth Success: Should the party get the information using stealth, increase the clans stealth.  Party are directed to Retribution story point.
Battle Success: Party kill off the humans and gain 5,000 worth of high quality goods and single use magic items.  this is added to the treasury but the party is resupplied. Move on to Retribution story point. Threat increased by 5.
Failure:Party are held in contempt by goblin leadership.  Next treasure award decreased by 1,000 gp.



Title: Their Human Allies
Minimum Threat: 180
Story: The party are directed to raid a human city that hangs on the boarder of the Verin's lands.  This is meant to be a lesson but will start larger conflicts.  This is meant to let the party do their worst to the city as sort of reveling in goblin evil.
Battle Success: 2,000 worth of goods are added to the treasury.  Threat increased by 35.  Clan Battle rating increased
Failure:Should the raiding party be pushed back fire arrows will rain down on the town and burn it to bits.

Campaign Seed : The goblins of Parra part 12

These are meant to be a non consecutive story arc that is interspersed in the campaign.  The idea is to have a mysterious foe threat that avoids direct conflict or fights and runs.   This should not be a constant pressing worry for the party at this point.  More a side plot to surface later.





Title: The Grand Swine (pirates arc)
Minimum Threat: 55
Story: Guirrzek has decided the party are to hunt a giant boar that makes his home near buy.  The horde are to hold a feast for their recent founding and finding a home.  This is going to be the center point of the celebration.

The Party are to hunt down the creature which will require some skill.  Then attack and kill the beast bringing the remains to the feast.  The party will track the boar down at night for the conflict, but the boar will be found with some arrows in it.  During the battle the boar will be killed via arrows from the sky.  The party are then confronted by descending roped and air pirates coming from an unseen air ship.  This begins a conflict with the pirate who claim the kill as their own.  
Diplomacy Success: Pirates leave in disgust.
Failure: Guirrzek's next treasure award to party reduced by 500gp.  Another group is sent out to steal babies and party are made to eat from small table.



Title: Investigating the raid (pirates arc)
Minimum Threat: 105
Story: The pirates have returned and are preying on goblins and humans alike. Guirrzek wants them found and stopped.  This is not going to happen as they have already fled the area.  Investigation into the pirates is the only thing that can be done.

There should be a required 3 of 5 clues that will need to be found the more the party find the better the results.

1.  A hermit that lives on one of the tall peaks saw their captain at the helm as they entered. It was a being of air and light wrapped in pirates clothes.
2. A village was able to kill one of the pirates and have the corpse in a grave.  It is a dwarf pirate with little specific information thought his boots are full of sand.
3. Many villages report of the raids being lead by a strange minotaur with heavy fur and small horns.  This is Bull the minotaur first mate who is born of a bison-minotaur tribe.
4. An orc ranger who hunts in the mountains will trade information for quality food and drink.  He saw the ship and made not of its markings this will be passed on, along with a dinner invite.  If they party are pleasant he will offer them further work making runs to the human lands to a butcher he knows.
5. The ship left to the south almost all can agree on.

Investigation Success: Guirrzek is accepting of the information if displeased the party did not deal with them.  The party are called bunglers and are ignored for a session

Failure: The party are called bunglers and are ignored for a session, give party enough free time to know they are being ignored. Deduct 500gp from the next treasure award the party receive.

Title: The Grand Swine (pirates arc)
Minimum Threat: 55
Story: Guirrzek has decided the party are to hunt a giant boar that makes his home near buy.  The horde are to hold a feast for their recent founding and finding a home.  This is going to be the center point of the celebration.

The Party are to hunt down the creature which will require some skill.  Then attack and kill the beast bringing the remains to the feast.  The party will track the boar down at night for the conflict, but the boar will be found with some arrows in it.  During the battle the boar will be killed via arrows from the sky.  The party are then confronted by descending roped and air pirates coming from an unseen air ship.  This begins a conflict with the pirate who claim the kill as their own.  
Diplomacy Success: Pirates leave in disgust.
Failure: Guirrzek's next treasure award to party reduced by 500gp.  Another group is sent out to steal babies and party are made to eat from small table.

Title: The necromancers tower (pirates arc)
Minimum Threat: 155
Story: Pirates return and are known to be sacking the old necromancers tower.  Party are sent to deal with them as Guirrzek sees them as an affront to his power.  Upon arriving the party are confronted by Bull.  The pirate leader makes his escape with a scroll or map.  Party see this but are detained by Bull and company
Battle Success: Treasury increased by 7500gp.  Party are given a reward of 2000gp in magic weapons and items.  The surviving goblins in the area will report they were made to look for a map digging up the tower.
Failure: Guirrzek's next treasure award to party reduced by 2000gp. 

Title: Sausages (orc ranger story point)
Minimum Threat: 155
Story: The orc ranger Siledge offers the party some some equipment for a raid on the human village.  The party must rob the butcher of his famous Fire Sausage.  The orc has a code of honor and requires payment so he directs the party to leave a large boar kill he made that morning as payment.  He instructs them not in kill anyone especially Dittmer the butcher.
Stealth Success: Party are given a couple of high quality bows Siledge has crafted.
Battle Success: Killing the guards will annoy Siledge so that only one of the above bows is awarded. Killing the butcher will earn the orcs wrath, but he will not attack directly.  he will create a situation where he has an advantage.
Failure: Siledge makes the party hunt down another boar for him.

Looking at the Call of Cthulhu 7th edtion Kickstarter

Well Chaosium is getting into the Kickstarter market with their 7th ed of the venerable Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying game.  Normally I am a little skeptical when I  see big companies going the Kick Starter route, but they seem to be doing it right.  There is a certain fantasy RPG going through kick starter that seems to be have stretch goals that reward the developers rather than the fans, not the case here.

You can check out the project here: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/448333182/call-of-cthulhu-7th-edition?ref=live

The stretch goals are a little hard to understand on this one but they seem to be all aimed ad adding to the end products.  They are adding things like art and hand outs for the players with bonuses.  The one thing that is weird is the bonuses seem to be applied to products which the kick starter is set up to create.  If you are just getting the investigators book it does not seem like you get all the stuff that is added with the Keeper book or screen.  They really need a chart to keep this straight for us.   I guess the best advice is to get as many of the books you are going to need to run the game at once.  So get in with the Malevolent Mi-go level at $70 seems to be the sweet spot.  Or go digital and save cash.

Campaign Seed: The Goblins of Parra part 11

Another story arc of the goblin campaign



Title: The goblin Queen (Test of Hunting)
Minimum Threat: 85
Story: The horde growing established Guirrzek is courting a queen for his new clan.  This is political in nature forming an alliance with the Sand Snake tribe who control land on the other side of the mountains, past the Parra valley.  The clan chief of the desert tribe has offered up his niece Ruusjali to would be suitors.

The party with Guirrzek and he personal guard will arrive to find there are three other potential suitors.  This number has required the establishment of challenges to separate the suitors.  The first challenge is a hunting challenge looking for "Meine" a giant scorpion that has plagued the desert for many years, often killing unsuspecting sand snakes.  The other suitors are given other challenges

This should involve some tracking and one battle.  Tracking can be done without skill rolls and should be able to be completed without actual skill, just players brains.  The party are given a general direction the animal is encountered and then can follow its trail of carnage to its den.  The party is accompanied by two watchers who make sure the battle is lead by Guirrzek.
Battle Success: The battle should function with Guirrzek fighting with a spear and his hobgoblin guard functioning as his shield man. The party can cast spells to help the pair as they feel fit.  The party must give Guirrzek first and last blows to win this.  Party should defend Guirrzek above all else.  Clan battle rating is increased.  Threat increased by 20. Two other parties have returned the last was devoured by hyenas.
Failure: If Guirrzek dies without an error there is going to be a power struggle in the clan and much of it will break.  If Guirrzek is hurt and fails to kill Meine the chances with the Sand Snakes is lost.  They will eventually be used by another clan against the Horde.




Title: The goblin Queen (Test of Hunting)
Minimum Threat: 85
Story: The horde growing established Guirrzek is courting a queen for his new clan.  This is political in nature forming an alliance with the Sand Snake tribe who control land on the other side of the mountains, past the Parra valley.  The clan chief of the desert tribe has offered up his niece Ruusjali to would be suitors.

The party with Guirrzek and he personal guard will arrive to find there are three other potential suitors.  This number has required the establishment of challenges to separate the suitors.  The first challenge is a hunting challenge looking for "Meine" a giant scorpion that has plagued the desert for many years, often killing unsuspecting sand snakes.  The other suitors are given other challenges

This should involve some tracking and one battle.  Tracking can be done without skill rolls and should be able to be completed without actual skill, just players brains.  The party are given a general direction the animal is encountered and then can follow its trail of carnage to its den.  The party is accompanied by two watchers who make sure the battle is lead by Guirrzek.
Battle Success: The battle should function with Guirrzek fighting with a spear and his hobgoblin guard functioning as his shield man. The party can cast spells to help the pair as they feel fit.  The party must give Guirrzek first and last blows to win this.  Party should defend Guirrzek above all else.  Clan battle rating is increased.  Threat increased by 20. Two other parties have returned the last was devoured by hyenas.
Failure: If Guirrzek dies without an heir there is going to be a power struggle in the clan and much of it will break.  If Guirrzek is hurt and fails to kill Meine the chance with the Sand Snakes is lost.  They will eventually be used by another clan against the Horde.



Title: The goblin Queen (Test of Finding)
Minimum Threat: 85
Story: The Party have survived the first test and are now on to the second.  They are lead blindfolded ito the desert and must find their way back to the Sand Snake clan.  The remaining two other clans are also let away with similar tests.

This is a race to see if they return.  They should have some skill checks but if good roleplaying takes care of it, great.  I would have a few opportunity predators attack the group when they are down, just to keep it interesting.
Skill Success: The party will return at the same time as the Gore Tusk clan leader and his party.  Move onto There can be only one!
Failure:The chance with the Sand Snakes is lost.  They will eventually be used by another clan against the Horde. 



Title: The goblin Queen (There can be only one)
Minimum Threat: 85
Story: Just as the two parties return the Sand Snake Leader says there can be only one and the party is attacked by the Gore Tusks.  This should be a party on party battle.
Skill Success: The Guirrzek wins the had of fair Ruusjali.  Before the pair are escorted home ,scouts return telling of the Gore Tusk clan advancing and seeming to be prepared for war.  Move onto The Gore Tusk Revenge.
Failure:If Guirrzek dies without an heir there is going to be a power struggle in the clan and much of it will break.  If Guirrzek is hurt and fails to kill the Gore tusks the Sand Snakes view him as a coward.  They will eventually be used by another clan against the Horde.



Title: The goblin Queen (The Gore Tusk Revenge)
Minimum Threat: 85
Story: Just as the binding ceremony has completed the scouts warn of the approaching Gore Tusks.  The Clan leader says if the two clans are joined then fight with them.

This should be conducted as a war versus the gore tusks and the sand snakes with help from the party.  They should be used on several stabbing attacks with specific targets.
Battle Success: Gore Tusks are broken and Sand Snakes take their land.  5000 gp is added to the clan treasury.  Two increases to battle rating for the clan.  The party are awarded unique magical treasure awards specific to each of their characters.
Failure:If Guirrzek dies without an heir there is going to be a power struggle in the clan and much of it will break.  If the battle goes poorly the Sand Snakes will be broken, but return back with the Horde.  Increase 20 warriors and 50 non combat goblins.  There will be issues of resentment and conflict in the clan with these goblins.  Some insurrection event will follow in 3 seasons.  If Guirrzek is convinced to not help the Sand Snakes they will be broken but enough will live to plot an assassination on Guirrzek.

Sarah Murnaghan Deserves better than Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

I know about waiting on a transplant, it's bullshit!  But you wait on a list and then the law screws you over when you 10 and dying.  Sarah Murnaghan is waiting at the top of the list to get a lung transplant, and because of an arbitrary law, she is prevented from taking an adult lung.  That's a fucked up story that needs to be changed!  Worse Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has said her hands are tied on the issue.  WTF!  How is this how our country operates?  This is everything I speak of when I say laws are the opposite of justice.

First off, why the hell is there a law separating adult and children's recipient lists?  If its a matching organ that fits into the body without rejection risk i doesn't matter.  This is something the doctors should worry about not fucking legality.  Those of us needing transplants don't really make laws, we don't have a lobby.  This issue should never have been weighed on by non transplant people.  You have so little knowledge on the subject its offensive to even hear you speak.  You remember the southpark about the N word and how you don't get it?  Well you don't fucking get it!  I am an O negative blood type the worst list to wait on, why the hell would you divide that list to make it worse?  Why would you make it worse specifically for Kids, it's not like adults can really even take an organ from a kid.

Kathleen Sebelius you are a coward!  if you don't have power you cancel everything for the day, week or month and go talk to people.  Figure out how to resolve this issue, who to talk to, whatever.  You help this little girl.  If blows my mind you would suggest someone of your title does not have power to effect change.  It blows my mind even more that you will not start making phone calls until you get someone who does?

Here is the deal, screw politics, help the girl.  You are failing at what makes us Americans great, helping each other.  One person doing what they can for other is beyond politics, and a girl with failing organs needs help?  Moral and just people help!  I am a callous malicious bastard but I want to look myself in the mirror and not be disgusted, how are you going to?  I would go into work late if I saw a someone hurt on the road and I was the only person there to help.  That is all i am asking, call Obama this will fix his image with the IRS crap.  Just get her help.

Right now it seems the only solution seems to get all the adult lung transplant list to pass on the next compatible organ.  That is pretty hard for a lung, us kidney folks had dialysis they have death.  If even one of those people waiting takes a pass they would be risking their own life,  Kathleen Sebelius what have you risked?