tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67191947139010642432024-03-13T20:14:36.111-05:00Spell Card!House-ruled, homebrewed, adventures of the imagination!Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.comBlogger156125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-48485613541175966602014-12-08T14:02:00.000-06:002014-12-08T16:19:23.275-06:00Spiderman and his amazing pals vs. evil wizard and demon horde!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="323" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/g3-7e0Gn-j8?rel=0" width="430"></iframe>
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This episode of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man_and_His_Amazing_Friends" target="_blank">Spider-man and His Amazing Friends</a> (1981) was among my favorites of any show of that era. It had everything:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbIMHa8mdnUbD8s1gMqoer1Mfh0P1Vye-vTNM5_80NyXCW3KUos8oy0roneAMQ9GIpYLr_iSqMfuyQEBLxre2vUTwqmhcQCwfUc7-nU-23Qs8LXUHrDmwhDppvSRtY2cSp81bxp1T97JQ/s1600/00002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSbIMHa8mdnUbD8s1gMqoer1Mfh0P1Vye-vTNM5_80NyXCW3KUos8oy0roneAMQ9GIpYLr_iSqMfuyQEBLxre2vUTwqmhcQCwfUc7-nU-23Qs8LXUHrDmwhDppvSRtY2cSp81bxp1T97JQ/s1600/00002.jpg" height="154" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No reason is given for why BK's regular non-bucket helm is replaced with this.</td></tr>
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<ul>
<li>Spider-man and superhero buddies!</li>
<li>Probably the first animated LARP session!</li>
<li>The courageous (if not, somewhat socially awkward) Black Knight crusading against evil!</li>
<li>The diabolical, demon-conjuring wizard Mordred!</li>
<li>Firestar!</li>
<li>BK holds a mystical amulet that shoots mystical stuff!</li>
<li>A scary-ass skull planet! Seriously, how big does that skull have to be? HUGE! </li>
<li>An aerial showdown at Mordred's castle with BK on a pegasus and Mordred on a demon-dragon thing!</li>
<li>Folks standing around at Stonehenge!</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mordred's castle somehow doesn't melt into pyroclastic goo. The HSA fees must be killer.</td></tr>
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It hit all the geekboy buttons back then. In fact, this would make for one heck of a superheroes in D&D-land adventure. Hmmmm....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What episode of anything can't be improved by a giant floating head. The answer is NONE.</td></tr>
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More about <a href="http://marvel.wikia.com/Spider-Man_and_His_Amazing_Friends_Season_1_11" target="_blank">"Knights and Demons"</a> episode<br />
<br />Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-77201597013580977962014-12-05T11:00:00.000-06:002014-12-05T11:52:06.368-06:00What fantasy series do you want to see onscreen?With the third and final Hobbit movie closing the book on the Peter Jackson-era of Tolkien movies this month, io9 recently postulated (rightly) that this <a href="http://toybox.io9.com/can-somebody-just-make-me-an-animated-fantasy-movie-tha-1666813651" target="_blank">opens up opportunity for studios to begin anew</a> with big fantasy films. <br />
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True, there have been films in the genre, but nothing comes close to the Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter films that kept viewers coming back. Those two franchises brought fantasy films out of the "it's just a genre film" and fully into the mainstream spectrum. Soon we had Narnia, and a host of gritty fairytale films. <br />
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So what's your favorite fantasy book or comic that you'd like to see onscreen? I can think of a few I've been hoping to see:<br />
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<h3>
Chronicles of Prydain</h3>
I've long wanted to see a solid effort at bringing Lloyd Alexander's series to film. For me, it hits the sweet spot of youth-oriented tales that build up to a more epic ending (call it the Harry Potter path for lack of a better term). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the Dell series (I had the boxed set in the 80s)</td></tr>
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The earlier Disney effort of <em>The Black Cauldron</em> was visually well executed, but seemed to be ahead of it's time. Many critics said it was "too dark" for children when it was released. I doubt that argument would hold as much weight today. A more grown-up live action version would be ideal.<br />
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<h3>
Animated N.C. Wyeth</h3>
This would be a monumental project, but I'd love to see a way for a more painterly-style of animated films to bring classic stories to life. I've long loved N.C. Wyeth's dreamy illustrations of fantasy, pirate, and even western myths. I'm not an art expert, but I do enjoy the high-degree of technical skill he employed to bring his fantastical subjects to life. Here's what I posted to the io9 article:<br />
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His work on <em>The Boy's King Arthur</em>, <em>Treasure Island</em> and various other tales are among my very favorite illustrations. I could see those each becoming a film or using them as inspiration for a totally unique and original story.<br />
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<h3>
Amethyst: Princess of Gemworld</h3>
I've <a href="http://exonauts.blogspot.com/2013/09/getting-ready-to-raise-geek-girl.html" target="_blank">spoken about my fondness for this series before</a>---and that hasn't waned. Amethyst is sort of a mixture of Wonder-Woman-meets-Shazam. She's a warrior princes with some magic abilities, with a well-conceived world built on gemstone houses (like Game of Thrones). <br />
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The 80s comic series was really great, and the revival a year or two past now under the <em>Sword of Sorcery</em> title was likewise well executed. I really enjoyed the art by Aaron Lopresti.<br />
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I'd love to see this become a reality by the time my daughter is old enough to appreciate it. I'm guessing this isn't on DC or Warner Bros. "hot property" lists to develop. Look how long it took them to get Wonder Woman into a live action film! They did do a plucky little series of shorts in an anime style that were quite charming:<br />
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But I'm still hoping for something more substantial. Amethyst seems to strike a chord with parents in general. I met a guy at comic convention a few years ago that named his own daughter in honor of the eponymous princess!<br />
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Both the original <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Showcase-Presents-Amethyst-Princess-Gemworld/dp/1401236774" target="_blank">Princess of Gemworld</a> and the later <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sword-Sorcery-Vol-Amethyst-The/dp/140124100X" target="_blank">Sword of Sorcery runs</a> are available in collected editions.<br />
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<h3>
So what would you like to see? </h3>
How about an Erol Otus animated feature? Or maybe you'd like Discworld to finally get a shot at the big screen?Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-39037870223588842732013-12-31T20:18:00.000-06:002013-12-31T20:18:16.680-06:00Incredible walk-through maps of DnD modules!Wizards of the Coast has been posting these for a few months, but if you haven't seen them, they're astounding. Artist <a href="http://www.kingofrpgs.com/" target="_blank">Jason Thompson</a> has rendered in fantastic detail, each encounter as it might play out along multiple adventure paths (so...spoilers!). Below are the maps posted to date.<br />
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Links will take you to more resources for each location. Click the images embiggen and enjoy!<br />
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<a href="http://wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/toon/Ravenloft" target="_blank"><b>Castle Ravenloft</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/toon/IsleDread" target="_blank"><b>Isle of Dread</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/toon/a1" target="_blank"><b>Slave Pits of the Undercity</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0Z6uMo4q2CtfI8dk_i8UUUKt70QYNfcVC2uCoJANxNhEQ8xnX45FihhmkdRXL1lJX6ayNliFWl7IdKK4eDBQXxaksbJDUZJutPFExP4I-ZWFasU3SpJxmjboYAa2q941eurNvOy-l-e-/s1600/Slave+Pits+of+the+Undercity+Walk+Thru+Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0Z6uMo4q2CtfI8dk_i8UUUKt70QYNfcVC2uCoJANxNhEQ8xnX45FihhmkdRXL1lJX6ayNliFWl7IdKK4eDBQXxaksbJDUZJutPFExP4I-ZWFasU3SpJxmjboYAa2q941eurNvOy-l-e-/s400/Slave+Pits+of+the+Undercity+Walk+Thru+Map.jpg" width="328" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/toon/LostCaverns" target="_blank"><b>Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKDQt_Xa5v6Z9gSqb1ZPTLMRhPShq0LeuDd_7jwT7l3OqugqZjUzs3CzAkd3mkcqhBiNZ9qgQ8BeASTxQ7o26ZuRnuLDxXUxA09Rvzva6QhIsdsEowMUOh7OV2Ruzl1X3LfsZgXY1GnKn/s1600/Lost+Caverns+of+Tsojcanth+walk+through+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKDQt_Xa5v6Z9gSqb1ZPTLMRhPShq0LeuDd_7jwT7l3OqugqZjUzs3CzAkd3mkcqhBiNZ9qgQ8BeASTxQ7o26ZuRnuLDxXUxA09Rvzva6QhIsdsEowMUOh7OV2Ruzl1X3LfsZgXY1GnKn/s400/Lost+Caverns+of+Tsojcanth+walk+through+map.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/toon/WPMountain" target="_blank"><b>White Plume Mountain</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNahkuTPaFQiKuOfTUGZUhy7ehF0CibLVI8BSSKN9OTmfAgMd9nx-mSANh17ebQqP6eMB4wl5t1xEBtjuXbAsv5fs0eiGrdDYKOpLyrq0P48PZC9am0vSEHpll3_WhxNlnvacYZhxKAt1a/s1600/White+Plume+Mountain+walk+thru+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNahkuTPaFQiKuOfTUGZUhy7ehF0CibLVI8BSSKN9OTmfAgMd9nx-mSANh17ebQqP6eMB4wl5t1xEBtjuXbAsv5fs0eiGrdDYKOpLyrq0P48PZC9am0vSEHpll3_WhxNlnvacYZhxKAt1a/s400/White+Plume+Mountain+walk+thru+map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/toon/TombHorrors" target="_blank"><b>Tomb of Horrors</b></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNYvSlCjQ-teAHu4sMxPGrHv7VfWyHp-9JSiESiVjs0nVHDm3DAGcSUXgodRaI2yNQZ8ScZDdZ42yyn1YaBuYVvZQzc7j_KGHe5eUKIqlrOm3hsph_Y5_ZERrSiOtx8-5t3Muf9tN_ZJZ/s1600/Tomb+of+Horrors+walk+thru+map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhNYvSlCjQ-teAHu4sMxPGrHv7VfWyHp-9JSiESiVjs0nVHDm3DAGcSUXgodRaI2yNQZ8ScZDdZ42yyn1YaBuYVvZQzc7j_KGHe5eUKIqlrOm3hsph_Y5_ZERrSiOtx8-5t3Muf9tN_ZJZ/s400/Tomb+of+Horrors+walk+thru+map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-89307418347290617422013-12-31T16:15:00.004-06:002013-12-31T16:15:52.473-06:00Rocket Raccoon in the flesh!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn-2u7Wj97PmhJlNjAms_-_z6Gm9kd4zSTDf2tlU746G56yDzusl2kkRwQtr0GZHpiEQzaW2QiqZp4NifcuCP7xxDtX8eko9ZTcdXz9yjwgMqMaNi_R45RNXH2I5kGxLUfu007jPRLfc/s1600/guardiansofthegalaxy+movie+cast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnn-2u7Wj97PmhJlNjAms_-_z6Gm9kd4zSTDf2tlU746G56yDzusl2kkRwQtr0GZHpiEQzaW2QiqZp4NifcuCP7xxDtX8eko9ZTcdXz9yjwgMqMaNi_R45RNXH2I5kGxLUfu007jPRLfc/s400/guardiansofthegalaxy+movie+cast.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Feast your eyes on the Guardians of the Galaxy cast as their characters (click image to embiggen). And we finally get a look at Rocket Raccoon as he'll be realized on screen!<br />
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Via <a href="http://www.newsarama.com/19923-disney-releases-new-2014-marvel-movie-images-log-lines.html" target="_blank">Newsarama</a><br />
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Originally posted on <a href="http://exonauts.blogspot.com/2013/12/new-guardians-of-galaxy-image-with.html" target="_blank">Exonauts.</a><br />
.Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-49326473889355379682013-11-05T15:30:00.000-06:002013-11-05T15:30:02.917-06:00VIDEO: Forging Thor's hammer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="242" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/A3rT-J0XW6M" width="430"></iframe><br />
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The fellas at Man At Arms are at it again! First they made <a href="http://spellcard.blogspot.com/2013/03/video-forging-he-mans-power-sword.html" target="_blank">He-Man's power sword</a>, now they're crafting Mjolnir, the magic warhammer of our favorite avenging thunder god as it's depicted in the movies!Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-83166955015737646322013-10-25T10:00:00.000-05:002013-10-25T10:00:07.181-05:00Captain America: Winter Soldier trailer!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76wY6WDsEF0BsXMmx6phyphenhyphenhUUqcfaO8iTVliLJ7BjFXI211rz9VU9dA1BW6QgLsjpB6-rhzazm92xWK7uHeCl1nRx1VxWxcp-ubVBjXGWEcqRXzTF2g3VbKZHZEOdCq-Sus7c_uiLxTQIo/s1600/Marvel+Captain+America+2+Winter+Soldier+movie+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76wY6WDsEF0BsXMmx6phyphenhyphenhUUqcfaO8iTVliLJ7BjFXI211rz9VU9dA1BW6QgLsjpB6-rhzazm92xWK7uHeCl1nRx1VxWxcp-ubVBjXGWEcqRXzTF2g3VbKZHZEOdCq-Sus7c_uiLxTQIo/s400/Marvel+Captain+America+2+Winter+Soldier+movie+poster.jpg" /></a></div>
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I loved the Thor and Captain America flicks that Marvel put out in the last two years--so much so that I opted not to read spoilers on any site when it came to their respective follow-ups. I wanted to try and go into the sequels with only what I would see in trailers. If Cap's sequel is even half as cool as it looks in the newly released trailer, I'll be pleased. <br />
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Here's the UK version showing before Thor (the Norse god's own sequel opens next week--November 1--- here in the States). Enjoy! <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="323" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/NLWsK1ZFunA" width="430"></iframe><br />
<br />Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-79735019311152973662013-10-17T10:00:00.000-05:002013-10-17T10:13:04.286-05:00Superman Celebrates 75 YearsWish Supes a happy anniversary with this awesome montage of him through the ages, plus some fan-made fare!<br />
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<strong>Wonder Woman Short Fan Film (2013)</strong><br />
THIS. IS. HOW. YOU. MAKE. A. WONDER. WOMAN. MOVIE.
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="323" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/XATiV3gmy-Q" width="430"></iframe>
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Modern and mythic qualities perfectly blended. Seriously Warner Bros. get it together!
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<strong>Batman: Dead End Short Fan Film (2003)</strong><br />
Sandy Corolla's take on Bats is 10 years old already and it's still a breath of fresh air in the Batman mythos. Some might say that it takes the genre-crossover a bit too far or the dialog isn't fully baked, but its fun take on the Joker is infectious. Plus, you couldn't do better than this for a "year one" type look for the Dark Knight himself.
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<embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/3j7d3lIAkes?hl=en_US&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="430" height="242" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object><br />
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P.S. Word is that Superman Vs. Batman <a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2013/10/16/want-to-be-in-the-new-batman-movie/" target="_blank">starts filming this weekend</a>. Seems so soon, especially when you consider the glacial pace at which WB has been weaving together their Justice League Plans!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Also posted over at <a href="http://exonauts.blogspot.com/2013/10/video-superheroes-of-dc-universe.html" target="_blank">Exonauts</a></span>Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-46325276660694264532013-10-11T11:30:00.000-05:002013-10-11T13:56:11.691-05:00Kickstart this: Infinite Crypt dungeon terrain system<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOe2gIVRVHOLGhjtmFJrKcG_sHUkOzEBzQ00QCXjwweO9WXyIipJNlG_5yb_Zzu1R9EfIkrd9YSjwC37GGuEWFEJ4F7uwvFrmkN9N0y37YlYGCKk7oSu57lQfqcuKZsle8fkMSNHcsmZu/s1600/infinite+Crypt+laser+cut+dungeon+terrain+system+with+miniatures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOe2gIVRVHOLGhjtmFJrKcG_sHUkOzEBzQ00QCXjwweO9WXyIipJNlG_5yb_Zzu1R9EfIkrd9YSjwC37GGuEWFEJ4F7uwvFrmkN9N0y37YlYGCKk7oSu57lQfqcuKZsle8fkMSNHcsmZu/s400/infinite+Crypt+laser+cut+dungeon+terrain+system+with+miniatures.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
On thing that I've always pined for is a cost-effective terrain system. RPG terrain, in general, can be really pricey. I've substituted with cheaper alternatives like aquarium terrain, toy playsets, cardboard and paper sets, etc., but it's often hard to find specific pieces (can I just get a freakin' secret door?).<br />
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I know there are molds out there, but frankly, that's a lot more work than I've currently got time to pursue. Luckily, there's now this awesome laser-cut dungeon terrain system on Kickstarter, called Infinite Crypts! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOyHIF2MhUVEeRG9mY_dltMn7ArfjAT4RL9ZYHJ4PERh81BTrpV2xIrPF0hNXqte8EKUn1XbSlhRZLDvyy8uZd8I2gEpGgMyRUP7B3_R-APfpHgsbeY6MlfdYSviMKBalHO1AwhUmgvtz/s1600/infinite+Crypt+laser+cut+dungeon+terrain+system+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWOyHIF2MhUVEeRG9mY_dltMn7ArfjAT4RL9ZYHJ4PERh81BTrpV2xIrPF0hNXqte8EKUn1XbSlhRZLDvyy8uZd8I2gEpGgMyRUP7B3_R-APfpHgsbeY6MlfdYSviMKBalHO1AwhUmgvtz/s400/infinite+Crypt+laser+cut+dungeon+terrain+system+02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The sets come flat-packed, like Ikea furniture. They're precut and you just pop 'em out and build. The system is modular so you can arrange as desired. But don't take my word for it...<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="323" scrolling="no" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/736875383/infinite-crypt-modular-terrain-for-underworld-arch/widget/video.html" width="430"> </iframe><br />
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It's in the UK and the dollars-to-pounds conversion stings, but you do get quite a bit for the money, regardless. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GKBtc7lVMi5cB7M4f9Y08BXusGqvGhymNZYidUrJ9bTIKyvdQHe68FXPZDURABD8d4hkRZySRCPGxiJLatCpQnEgVBelgke1znLCYp37azecrIojO7IaCJVrniJ-4WH_pl906684CDAT/s1600/Infinite+Crypt+laser+cut+dungeon+terrain+system+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GKBtc7lVMi5cB7M4f9Y08BXusGqvGhymNZYidUrJ9bTIKyvdQHe68FXPZDURABD8d4hkRZySRCPGxiJLatCpQnEgVBelgke1znLCYp37azecrIojO7IaCJVrniJ-4WH_pl906684CDAT/s400/Infinite+Crypt+laser+cut+dungeon+terrain+system+01.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Dungeon terrain systems are a bit of an investment. I've looked at Dungeon Forge sets and the like, but I've always come back to just having a few key pieces on the table: furniture, rocky outcroppings, pillars, and stalagmites (you get the picture). Enough to help with tactics but not over crowd the table too much. <strong>But damn, this looks enticing.</strong><br />
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I can see more than a few pieces I'd like to have. What about you?<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.infinitecrypt.com/" target="_blank">Infinite Crypt website</a></li>
<li>Images: Infinite Crypts</li>
</ul>
Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-65247670632104077772013-10-06T08:00:00.000-05:002013-10-06T08:00:07.724-05:00Ant-Man film finally in the works!<i>Potential spoilers to follow...</i><br />
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They're really are making Ant-Man!</h3>
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Looks like the Ant Man movie is still in the works! Director Edgar Wright recently tweeted this image:<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Now I'm back in LA, it's high time to finish a little something I've been working on... <a href="http://t.co/ko3u1q45C4">pic.twitter.com/ko3u1q45C4</a><br />
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) <a href="https://twitter.com/edgarwright/statuses/385458310184316928">October 2, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
That suit may look familiar, it's from the leaked test footage that appeared and was quickly scrubbed from the interwebs. You can still find videos of people watching it online (snooze!).<br />
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So who's wearing the suit? Likely a stunt double, but a commentor on io9, suggested Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul would make a great Hank Pym, and I 100% endorse that suggestion! Especially since it seems like Ant-Man is going to be more of it's own thing, and not deeply integrated into the Disney Marvelverse (see links below). I personally think that's a mistake, but at least they picked a good director.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EmGQ7jctgjCI5RLWPkuBvjwil5YchmtMZtzVO2352f1joXGJDLzEpJxd-gVzaUVWMLR_9S2q3-yb0aTojsy_2Si9CweXrQiXbp1cA6qGqHVd5louTgTl1nkBJFUH_ZPbOtpQx_eV5m4G/s1600/Aaron+Paul+would+make+a+fantastic+Hank+Pym+Ant+Man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EmGQ7jctgjCI5RLWPkuBvjwil5YchmtMZtzVO2352f1joXGJDLzEpJxd-gVzaUVWMLR_9S2q3-yb0aTojsy_2Si9CweXrQiXbp1cA6qGqHVd5louTgTl1nkBJFUH_ZPbOtpQx_eV5m4G/s320/Aaron+Paul+would+make+a+fantastic+Hank+Pym+Ant+Man.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"YEAH BITCH!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3>
Meanwhile, in Avengers sequel news</h3>
<a href="http://collider.com/avengers-2-age-of-ultron-news-elizabeth-olsen-samuel-l-jackson/" target="_blank">Geek news outlets are reporting</a> that Elizabeth Olsen (yes, related to the Olsen twins) is signed to play Scarlet Witch in Avengers: Age of Ultron. Aaron Taylor-Johnson (the guy who played Kick-Ass) is on-board for Quicksilver. Both seem like capable actors, so I'm excited to see what develops (hopefully NOT that awful Ultimates storyline, yeesh!). My dream would be to see my favorite superhero <i><b>finally </b></i>make it to the silver screen: the Vision!<br />
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<b>Previously:</b><br />
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://io9.com/edgar-wright-confirms-well-meet-hank-pym-in-ant-man-884404416" target="_blank">Edgar Wright confirms we'll meet Hank Pym in Ant-Man</a>, via io9</li>
<li>We've likely already seen <a href="http://io9.com/we-might-have-already-met-the-ultron-in-the-avengers-se-1213147999" target="_blank">what Ultron looks like</a> in Iron Man 3, <a href="http://io9.com/joss-whedon-no-you-dont-need-hank-pym-to-have-ultron-860162779" target="_blank">Joss Whedon has teased as much</a>, via io9</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-JtSSSthJ8" target="_blank">Fan made trailer on YouTube </a>puts Adrien Brody in the ant helmet, but looks far too serious for Wright's directing style</li>
<li><a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1667877/ant-man-movie-edgar-wright.jhtml" target="_blank">'Ant-Man' Movie Wouldn't Just Be For 'Avengers' Experts, Director Says</a>, via MTV</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-37131545471542444732013-10-06T01:52:00.000-05:002013-10-06T01:52:52.951-05:00VIDEO: Dragon Strike board game VHSI was visiting my FLGS, <a href="http://www.sourcecomicsandgames.com/" target="_blank">the Source</a> earlier today and saw an old copy of <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1149/dragon-strike" target="_blank">Dragon Strike </a>on the shelf. A quick perusal of the box reminded me that this was one of (sadly) many games in the 90s that came with VHS tapes.<br />
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I've never played the game, but I've acquired several pieces, from second hand shops including <a href="http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/1246458/dragon-strike" target="_blank">these little dudes.</a> In any case, the game's video cassette looks absolutely hilarious by today's standards--in all it's dripping-with-90s-angst-sarcastic glory. And what's with the "floating head" narrator in the turtle neck? Looks like this would make for a fun Saturday night game!<br />
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Here now for your enjoyment, is the video:</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="323" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/k018khYq8Do" width="430"></iframe>Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-77262828772336375892013-10-05T00:05:00.000-05:002016-11-08T00:07:02.644-06:00Superheroes don't get their due<b>It should come as a shock to no one that I'm a huge fan of superheroes.</b> In fact, I've often thought about retooling this blog to be more of a "spells and superheroes" blog (having already covered the cape-clad set in several posts). <br />
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I'm also a toy/action figure nut. And since I've frequented many a toy aisle over the years, I've come to the realization that there hasn't really been a decent representation of the main supers in quite some time...at least not until recently. <br />
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When it came to toys, I had a charmed childhood. I could get a Batman, Superman, or Spider-man easily if I'd cracked open my piggy bank. In the last few years though, it's been tough to find the basic/regular 'ol costume for these guys--not to mention a lot of other high-profile heroes. I had ample opportunity to lay mitts on everything from the larger MEGO figures to the later, Star-Wars-sized Super Power (DC) and Marvel figures. <br />
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Justice League (Unlimited) has been off the air for several years now, and the ever-popular 50s-ish, Bruce Timm designs that graced shelves are only to be found on secondary sites. Before the Avengers film last year--and the Marvel movies leading up to it--it was near impossible to get Captain America or Thor, if you were a kid. <br />
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These days I've got a nephew (officially) and several other nieces/nephews (unofficially) interested in superheroes. Not to mention, we just had our own little one this summer. It's been surprisingly challenging this year to find some of the more mainline heroes in their basic costumes--something strange for such a super-saturated superhero culture.<br />
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Thankfully, as of this writing, Hasbro (Marvel) and Mattel (DC) are probably doing the best they've done in years to help kids learn about the heroes. Sure, there's been plenty for adult collectors. But not much for kids, in particular. <br />
<br />
On the DC side, you've got Batman...and everyone else. Even Superman is second banana to Bruce. Who's rogues gallery is more prominent? Bats. Who has the most costume variations? Bats. And that's exactly where the problem starts--it's actually really tough to find Batman in his default costume. <br />
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Any kid in the multiverse ought to be able to go into a major retailer and--for a reasonable price*-- pick up these characters off a peg:<br />
<ul>
<li>Superman </li>
<li>Batman </li>
<li>Wonder Woman</li>
<li>Spider-man </li>
<li>Captain America </li>
<li>Hulk</li>
</ul>
Other heroes that could be considered secondary:<br />
<ul>
<li>Iron Man</li>
<li>Thor</li>
<li>Aquaman</li>
<li>Flash</li>
<li>Green Lantern</li>
</ul>
I'm really glad actually that Mattel/DC are bringing Cyborg into the JLA fold properly. The more recognizable heroes really reflect a bygone era. It'd be nice to see a more realistic line-up, but that's another story.<br />
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Hasbro has actually done a decent job with their Marvel lines, thanks to the Cap, Thor, Iron Man and Avengers films--not to mention their regular Marvel Universe figures. Though it wasn't until Avengers that all the main heroes were <strong><em>easy</em></strong> to get. Plus they were not kid-priced.<br />
<br />
But in tracking down some of the DC characters I began to realize it was near impossible to find marquee superheroes in their original/regular duds. Until recently, if you wanted to snap up a Batman figure in his regular outfit, it was likely $15-$20 PER FIGURE. Even <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Batman-Universe-Unlimited-Action-Figure/dp/B008LGSAX4/ref=sr_1_2?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1369930722&sr=1-2&keywords=batman+unlimited" target="_blank">Amazon</a> isn't giving you much of a price break.<br />
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<strong>Behold! My prayers are answered!</strong><br />
Mattel, who holds the license for DC characters, recently put out a line of JLA action figures in the square-jawed style of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman:_The_Brave_and_the_Bold" target="_blank">Batman: Brave and the Bold TV series</a> line that ended a while back. <br />
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FWIW, I really like the new figs (and not everyone does) mainly because it puts well-known heroes in kids hands for a really reasonable price--one they can even afford without mom and dad.<br />
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What the figures lack in articulation, is made up for in having them in their familiar duds (no Polar Power Missle Batman, thanks). Some fanboys may whine about the "New 52" look of some (Supes sans red outer-undies) but these do nicely. They're solid-looking interpretations. I'm sold. <br />
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Likewise, Hasbro has a similar strategy for getting superheroes into pint-sized mitts by offering up their most-popular character, Spiderman, for about $5. That's the magic price point right there. <br />
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But they've also made a 10" version (again with limited articulation) for $10, along with Iron Man and soon-to-hit shelves-Wolverine. Hasbro, in my mind, is the winner here, offering both the standard action figure size, and the more hand-swooshable mega-sized figures at a sensibly-scaled cost. Hopefully they'll offer more A-list heroes this way. <br />
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<strong>Poor, Maligned Wonder Woman</strong><br />
Sorry girls, if you're into superheroes, there's not much. Batgirl and Supergirl are always folded into their male counterparts' lines. So no separate series, despite a <a href="http://super%20best%20friends%20forever/" target="_blank">popular and reocurring TV short</a>.<br />
<br />
If you buy this $50 JLA pack that also comes with Aquaman and Cyborg (both exclusive to the set). Yeah, WW isn't getting nearly enough attention when it comes to putting her plastic visage in kid hands--boys or girls. <br />
<br />
This actually bothered me enough that I contacted Mattel via email and phone (knowing that they won't do anything, but it still helps to make the opinion known). I asked if there were plans to bring the likes of Supergirl or Batgirl into the fold. You already know the answer to that one.<br />
<br />
Target recently released a JLA-themed summer line (yard and pool games, crafts, beach towels, etc.) While Batman and Superman got to keep their colors for their products. Wondy had to endure the pastel-if-ication of her identity (pink and lavender). Worse though, she's either identified as just "Justice League of America" or no name at all!<br />
<br />
<strong>No Marvel Superheroines</strong><br />
Marvel actually has a bigger problem in that there are no A-list women. Yes, She Hulk, Invisible Woman, Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Storm of X-men--all great suggestions. Zero of them even begin to approach Wonder Woman status. (Something that Marvel is currently desperate to remedy these days with two new comics, but that's another story.) The dearth is noticeable. <br />
<br />
<strong>So what's the ultimate goal here?</strong><br />
Well, for one thing consistency. Both DC and Marvel have fairly spotty records when it comes to introducing kids to their characters. DC in particular starts a series and then cancels once it picks up steam. And that's just on some characters--others are totally ignored (again, Wonder Woman, et al.). Hasbro is doing better with their TV presence thanks to a first, and now encore Avengers series. But there are no figures based on either. But Spider-man's TV drives a lot of his current toyline. Huh?<br />
<br />
So here's a proposal, a minimal 3-tiered approach for characters. <br />
1. <strong>Comic/childrens book presence</strong> - It all starts here. Kid-friendly, well-rendered, in their "regular 'ol" duds. <br />
2. <strong>TV presence</strong> - Same strategy as comics, support the main characters, with plenty of opportunity for bad guys and B-squad heroes. <br />
3. <strong>Toys</strong> - Action figures to be precise, in their basic uniforms (preferably matching the comic and TV incarnations)<br />
<br />
Currently, there's a lot of disparity between these three tines. Throw movies into the mix and you've got yourself into a huge mess. Marvel sells figures for PG-13 movies (sorry 7-year-old nephew, your parent say "no"!). DC sells Dark Knight figures which are super cool, but those films are largely not appropriate for younger kids (if not the subject matter than the approach to the characters in general). <br />
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*$10 per figure might be "reasonable" for an adult, but if you're a kid, putting together the main members of the Justice League should't cost you a year's worth of allowance. So let's say "reasonable" is less than that. How much less? Depends.</span>Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-91700051819360716352013-09-25T02:37:00.000-05:002013-09-25T08:44:18.394-05:00Final chapter of Clandestinauts web comic comes to a close...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.timsievert.com/category/comics/clandestinauts/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhy8Lh5lPeMRhPHLPu9a9qBvzboWIdzk0FTuRZFU_UtAgU0POLRkj0gANbzXPb64txPatttz9LqKuIt2g1txnQYPTiW6p5i4cPyZPY0pkkaRKsthFuyTACRelkbn2Ynl4pGBk5URDu9s/s400/Clandestinauts+comic+first+panel.gif" width="293" /></a></div>
Minneapolis-based comic artist and dungeoneering raconteur Tim Sievert announced earlier this week that his beloved <a href="http://www.timsievert.com/category/comics/clandestinauts/" target="_blank"><b>Clandestinauts web comic</b></a> would be wrapping up this week. If you've not read it, or it's predecessor The Intrepideers mini comic (<strike>which I believe was only in print)</strike> you're in for a treat. <span style="color: red;">Update</span>: I was able to track down <a href="http://www.timsievert.com/category/comics/intrepideers/" target="_blank">Intrepideers online</a>, thanks mwschmeer!<br />
<br />
Clandestinauts is about as wild, wooly, weird, and bawdy as it gets when it comes to killing monsters and taking their stuff. It began as a tale of made-up adventures using the PCs from his circle of friends' D&D group. <a href="http://www.timsievert.com/category/comics/clandestinauts/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCXYjhpug2_LkMSKpb2_oQsOtmL9xFPrl_pFboCto-SMV0hvNEEURaolHStZvfE4Lv_AHzPsLTSMPtS1JEXJVTA6G0mc0WYD-RfDycROrFs-uGk6eQnY8xFafrZyPIGOTHOV1kSe0OxM/s320/Clandestinauts+comic.gif" width="236" /></a><br />
<br />
I've crossed paths with Tim over the last several years and picked up the print copies when available. Tim's truly a great guy and one of the most original young illustrators working in indie comics today. I'm excited for him to be finishing an epic adventure that's run since 2010. <br />
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I'm also looking forward to his upcoming project (which I can't recall if he's made widely public yet, but you likely could figure it out if you visit his website). It's been another labor of love, years in the making and all I can say is bring it on Tim!<br />
<br />
Stop by his site and <a href="http://www.timsievert.com/clandestinauts/archive/" target="_blank"><b>get caught up</b> </a>for the big finale which is coming this Thursday!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Post also posted to <a href="http://exonauts.blogspot.com/2013/09/clandestinauts-comic-is-coming-to-close.html" target="_blank">Exonauts</a>.</span>Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-87573921343225141072013-03-21T16:30:00.000-05:002013-03-21T16:30:00.922-05:00VIDEO: Forging He-man's Power Sword<iframe width="430" height="242" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/G23dU1q7hmc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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...and then using it to break car windows!Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-74041315745047429212013-02-19T20:45:00.002-06:002013-02-19T20:50:55.785-06:00D&D White Box to be reprinted!!!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXMwSJPIGHP193pwAhXnnLGHdOo-U3C5KkczmweWhdb_mHDmIiEgMbklQVPHpShchtNJLliwCIhTb5wWseqkuFRyD3WDI6nCSMw_6D5CnuiJxyTDFsh02zYvNXmnFd0Pnk7-UMrTdM3zF/s1600/Original+DnD+White+Box+reprinted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhXMwSJPIGHP193pwAhXnnLGHdOo-U3C5KkczmweWhdb_mHDmIiEgMbklQVPHpShchtNJLliwCIhTb5wWseqkuFRyD3WDI6nCSMw_6D5CnuiJxyTDFsh02zYvNXmnFd0Pnk7-UMrTdM3zF/s400/Original+DnD+White+Box+reprinted.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The OSR is new again! Coming in November, a wood box and all three original Dungeons & Dragons booklets and four supplements. From <a href="http://www.wizards.com/dnd/Product.aspx?x=dnd/products/dndacc/45390000" target="_blank">Wizards official announcement</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
This deluxe, premium reprint of the original "White Box" features new packaging and includes the following seven booklets (plus, reference sheets):<br />
<ul>
<li>Volume 1: Men & Magic </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Volume 2: Monsters & Treasure </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Volume 3: Underworld & Wilderness Adventures </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Supplement I: Greyhawk </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Supplement II: Blackmoor </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Supplement IV: Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes </li>
</ul>
Each booklet features new cover art but is otherwise a faithful reproduction of the original, including original interior art. </blockquote>
If you look carefully there are EIGHT (not seven) booklets. What could the "new" one be? Price is set at $150 US / $172 Canadian - start saving your pennies kids!<br />
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<a href="http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2013/02/white-box-dd/" target="_blank">Hat tip to Geekdad</a>Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-24771624828716193452013-01-22T11:00:00.005-06:002013-01-22T11:17:43.266-06:00Wizards: TONS of classic D&D adventures & books now online<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRnDr9SAA6TTBKplDPtw4JJZiTzI3_lllRTvifSSz6w4hXvY_YNgzSqVTmNwdFDY1BpcDetZalZSxQGjFYyfOQTX-O4zSwOLFx0Vu_20XvanYwjiwXK7u1HKnLLQKZZAIkc3uRH1y3zog/s1600/DnD+Basic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpRnDr9SAA6TTBKplDPtw4JJZiTzI3_lllRTvifSSz6w4hXvY_YNgzSqVTmNwdFDY1BpcDetZalZSxQGjFYyfOQTX-O4zSwOLFx0Vu_20XvanYwjiwXK7u1HKnLLQKZZAIkc3uRH1y3zog/s400/DnD+Basic.jpg" width="304" /></a></div>
<strong></strong><br />
<strong>IT FINALLY HAPPENED!</strong> Wizards of the Coast has re-released PDF versions of classic Dungeons & Dragons adventures at their new site <a href="http://www.dndclassics.com/">www.dndclassics.com</a>. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfFvFh3H-f_0A3ZbWUb-qTRP7d8BCD0-__sWRZ-iitCcHJOjQhi5sQRUvlZHJWC5TqnhtDewQR5Kzr5s2zJ_J835RgZkjkbl_IO7b4Zsp08qBjWK_mLtgK5qxeotO7gyt90VOHtjo2RJg/s1600/DnD+Deities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfFvFh3H-f_0A3ZbWUb-qTRP7d8BCD0-__sWRZ-iitCcHJOjQhi5sQRUvlZHJWC5TqnhtDewQR5Kzr5s2zJ_J835RgZkjkbl_IO7b4Zsp08qBjWK_mLtgK5qxeotO7gyt90VOHtjo2RJg/s200/DnD+Deities.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
The even <strong>BETTER</strong> news is that the purchase system is run by DriveThruRPG. Which means for those of us who already have an account, we don't need to go makin' a new one. Starting today, more than 80 files are for sale, inlcuding the '81 Basic Game (the one that came in the red box). Prices are supposedly start at $5, which is quite nice, considering this is all out-of-print material.<br />
<br />
Word is, these are <strong><em>fresh scans</em></strong> folks--and <strong><em>searchable</em></strong> too!<br />
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Big 'ol hat tip to <a href="http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2013/01/dndclassics/" target="_blank">Geekdad</a> over at Wired.com<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Images: Wizards via Wired</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: red;">UPDATE:</span></strong> The site seems to be overloaded, I'm sure due to the announcement this morning. This is surprising since DriveThru is usually pretty reliable. So looks like patience is in order. If anything, it's a great sign that so many people want to play OSR-style D&D!<br />
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They've posted an announcement to watch their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/DriveThruRPG" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/DriveThruRPG" target="_blank">Twitter</a> channels for updates.Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-14745325193529209632012-12-20T01:26:00.000-06:002012-12-20T01:26:15.065-06:00Inexpensive, stainless steel dice ring!<iframe frameborder="0" height="323" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/critsuccess/dice-rings/widget/video.html" width="430"> </iframe>
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We've all seen those nifty <a href="http://spellcard.blogspot.com/2012/05/rotating-planets-ring-for-that-special.html">spinning rings</a> before, yes? And I think dice rings have actually been around a while. But these dudes have a cool stainless steel model for $15 through Kickstarter.<br />
<br />
You can pay more and get more of course, but for that cheap--plus a few chuckles from their charmingly low-budget elevator pitch video--it's well worth it.<br />
<br />
Better move--there's <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/critsuccess/dice-rings">less than 72 hours left</a> in the Kickstarter!Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-55304284241629142572012-12-12T23:32:00.001-06:002012-12-12T23:32:13.502-06:00"Man of Steel" Trailer has given me hope!<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="242" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KVu3gS7iJu4" width="430"></iframe>
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<br />
When the Superman franchise was rebooted in 2006, I wanted desperately to have that feeling I had when I was a kid watching Chris Reeve zoom around in the sky and beat up super villains from the Phantom Zone. And while the guy who played Superman was fine, the movie was really an homage to those films. There was no journey to take with the character, he had already been there and was now coming back, hence the title, "Superman Returns".<br />
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And hence, it didn't work.<br />
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I'm not going to bore you to tears with fanboy theories as to what didn't work or how it could have been better. The only thing that really matters from that experience is this: it focused too much on trying to relive the past instead of bringing something new to the mythos of the last son of Krypton.
"Man of Steel" by director Zack Snyder, has a real chance of being the movie that "Returns" could have been.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPACdMyNf1aPI-Wd_MsXTsPfTXzPQeu5PSQnfFqxlo4CgMAhyphenhyphen7gMUKw-FkpjtmCwaOAkUovUonzv9QT1kpFjlbSvHDEWfr0btyi-wJZXZd3woUIkFEPZg6ETwWjy_de5fGGxzYAbGOIoOR/s1600/Man+of+Steel+Superman+2013+movie+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPACdMyNf1aPI-Wd_MsXTsPfTXzPQeu5PSQnfFqxlo4CgMAhyphenhyphen7gMUKw-FkpjtmCwaOAkUovUonzv9QT1kpFjlbSvHDEWfr0btyi-wJZXZd3woUIkFEPZg6ETwWjy_de5fGGxzYAbGOIoOR/s400/Man+of+Steel+Superman+2013+movie+poster.jpg" width="270" /></a>The preview seems to have all the hallmarks of a solid attempt to tell a different Superman story. One where his senses as a child need to be tamed. My first thought was that this is a real boy--almost as if he were a child affected by autism. He's flooded with his surroundings.<br />
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This is a movie willing to take risks with the notion of Ma and Pa Kent. They're not thinking "he's going to be Superman." They're hoping he can live without being dissected. Those kids on the bus are collateral damage!<br />
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And while it's obviously ironic that Superman allows himself to be handcuffed by Earthlings, I think the bigger question is--is it that he feels responsible for us regular people? Or does Superman feel <i>guilty </i>for having this much power. Is this the real reason he's helping Earth instead of ruling it with Zod? Maybe the cuffs symbolize his need to make up for his "defect".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCMK4UxdQT4_jUrvBG56GJlfrhXDJ1CAIyJlz3B74PYu5NIT5sxYzBjk4VsJptk_a3HYR_B9OoPYweTO3WDwpgaheFEEqjErOReLdD-qAxPg6cLZ3cFLQTPnLLeBAwvvd9b30SSDbnpa2/s1600/Superman+Birthright+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCMK4UxdQT4_jUrvBG56GJlfrhXDJ1CAIyJlz3B74PYu5NIT5sxYzBjk4VsJptk_a3HYR_B9OoPYweTO3WDwpgaheFEEqjErOReLdD-qAxPg6cLZ3cFLQTPnLLeBAwvvd9b30SSDbnpa2/s320/Superman+Birthright+Cover.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
One of my favorite stories about the Man of Steel is "Superman: Birthright." In that story Clark Kent/Kal-El is someone looking to fulfill his potential and ventures not just to Metropolis--but to Africa where his do-good aspirations are tested.The result is a Superman who's believable as a guardian of more than just the his fair adopted city, but one understands and cares for the people on the other side of the planet as well. I can't recall a previous rendition that delved into how someone becomes "super" with such pathos. And yet, it wasn't overly-sentimental.<br />
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I'm beginning to think that this new version will have some of that seriousness--without the nostalgic eye-winking the Singer film.<br />
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Now, I'm not a Snyder fan. I really didn't like "300." Visually stunning, but the story was shit. And Watchmen was okay. But a "just okay" "Watchmen" film is like a waterslide on a cold, windy day. It's too much work to have so little fun.
But <i>this </i>movie has hope. Snyder's flair for visuals has a script writer: David Goyer of the "Dark Knight" movies. Chris Nolan however you feel about him or his trilogy, has brought about the era of the "smart superhero film." I think Superman is in good hands--at least it would seem so by the look of the trailer.<br />
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In any case, these are themes I hope are expressed in the film. Superman has tackled these issues in the comics for years. It's nice to see a film that might finally do him justice.
Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-88441067547570035472012-11-27T15:05:00.000-06:002012-11-27T15:05:18.699-06:00FREE: Encyclopedia of Fantasy now online!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8jh9szq9X5-KbitW8yofIJxXeOnHmBr7JK_K9pJqLwN2bsPs_KHkw4IzueubBTlkjxKRz_uKoQ3LsK0R3kYM1vFKhNQl59pedSaGZG-_zUCHCcA9Y1ifjGZjist_54cSoLaiDvJCcbGs/s1600/Encyclopedia+of+Fantasy+John+Clute+Grant+cover+free+searchable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ8jh9szq9X5-KbitW8yofIJxXeOnHmBr7JK_K9pJqLwN2bsPs_KHkw4IzueubBTlkjxKRz_uKoQ3LsK0R3kYM1vFKhNQl59pedSaGZG-_zUCHCcA9Y1ifjGZjist_54cSoLaiDvJCcbGs/s400/Encyclopedia+of+Fantasy+John+Clute+Grant+cover+free+searchable.jpg" tea="true" width="307" /></a></div>
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Yes, that's right, there's an Encyclopedia of Fantasy that's both free and searchable. Your worldbuilding and reference citing and just got a lot easier! So did wasting massive amounts of time on the interwebs!<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://sf-encyclopedia.co.uk/fe.php?id=0&nm=introduction_to_the_online_text" target="_blank">Get started!</a> </span></strong></div>
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<a href="http://io9.com/5963412/at-last-the-encyclopedia-of-fantasy-is-free-and-searchable-online" target="_blank">Via io9</a></div>
Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-34238867756109505272012-11-14T09:43:00.005-06:002012-11-14T12:54:29.469-06:00Marvel's ALMOST H.P. Lovecraft comics, circa '72Did you know that emeritus Marvel Comics writer and multiverse virtuoso <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Thomas" target="_blank">Roy Thomas</a> (Conan, Avengers, X-men, etc.) once proposed a horror series based off H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulu mythos back in the 1970s (a.k.a, the coolest era of Marvel comics)?<br />
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It's true! Sean Howe, author of the astoundingly awesome and thrillingly, thouroughly researched <a href="http://amzn.com/0061992100" target="_blank">Marvel Comics: The Untold Story</a> posted this <a href="http://seanhowe.tumblr.com/post/35706364132/marvel-comics-in-a-cthulhu-mood-heres-another" target="_blank">treatment by Thomas</a> to his Tumblr:<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge:</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUYPsXMI4_dvRVOakXiUF_sB2pbCu3dfQ8SV0rJPMkUEvdtJpt3vCugVaadjfnk4iLsj0HnA2VKPfcE6csRBPqFe720rqkrbG071vOReMMz7copaRNGMi4deGbrl_vRysRNG3srjiL78k/s1600/Sean+Howe+Roy+Thomas+Cthulu+concept+Marvel+Comics+70s+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUYPsXMI4_dvRVOakXiUF_sB2pbCu3dfQ8SV0rJPMkUEvdtJpt3vCugVaadjfnk4iLsj0HnA2VKPfcE6csRBPqFe720rqkrbG071vOReMMz7copaRNGMi4deGbrl_vRysRNG3srjiL78k/s400/Sean+Howe+Roy+Thomas+Cthulu+concept+Marvel+Comics+70s+01.jpg" width="290" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRkLH3gZnjNvaPAyebbF8qMG6l9_EpnhhVblESHrz8_bf8_b9WdLs2_3t6dBMxe0-TibgKoPHalhA7IPJZp3Hpf7jmQIP2wQBwvhkgnvEr0fW71tjWnIiKOlJKSe2J3Zg6kFdgIIeOU9r/s1600/Roy+Thomas+Cthulu+series+concept+Marvel+Comics+02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXRkLH3gZnjNvaPAyebbF8qMG6l9_EpnhhVblESHrz8_bf8_b9WdLs2_3t6dBMxe0-TibgKoPHalhA7IPJZp3Hpf7jmQIP2wQBwvhkgnvEr0fW71tjWnIiKOlJKSe2J3Zg6kFdgIIeOU9r/s400/Roy+Thomas+Cthulu+series+concept+Marvel+Comics+02.png" width="250" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrT_yvTRJwE-jgoa8ojN2gfpEjIPAm-jQRhE_hoYkfTJ0co4tZb2QOnnsn0N10AeHCXW1-u0hd2Cu-hlSzSHTsMALiumQ3VKbD2XEVlyyhdLwmdIlioZOX0LHxo0_5J7SV75BpfwccXxmC/s1600/Roy+Thomas+Cthulu+series+concept+Marvel+Comics.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrT_yvTRJwE-jgoa8ojN2gfpEjIPAm-jQRhE_hoYkfTJ0co4tZb2QOnnsn0N10AeHCXW1-u0hd2Cu-hlSzSHTsMALiumQ3VKbD2XEVlyyhdLwmdIlioZOX0LHxo0_5J7SV75BpfwccXxmC/s400/Roy+Thomas+Cthulu+series+concept+Marvel+Comics.png" width="197" /></a></div>
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Howe says:</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Here’s another glimpse at what might have been: A 1972 Roy Thomas memo proposes, among a handful of launches and title changes, a series “hosted” (a la EC’s Crypt Keeper) by the Doctor Strange villain Nightmare.<br />
<strong>And what’s this?</strong> An anthology comic called THE MACABRE WORLD OF H.P. LOVECRAFT?!? A few months later, an issue of <em>Journey into Mystery</em> would feature an adaptation of Lovecraft’s “The Haunter of the Dark,” but no series ever materialized.</blockquote>
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<strong>Oh, what <em>might </em>have been!</strong></div>
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Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-28165415397388144662012-11-04T09:40:00.000-06:002012-12-13T00:18:02.944-06:00Dr. Strange to join the Marvel movie universe!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoR6-OSxLsibKD1mkQc-oym1VBe1e1NSW4aMCZMpL-8W7-JjiGMZNLBZcyY0mbLQvHHxnDSISCkSY6xMnjRSWbjDe_XCAkcUvv4x97yPQLnmoxQdrdvC7G9qxiCcEkmFwOxsSL5T6ACFJb/s1600/Dr.+Strange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoR6-OSxLsibKD1mkQc-oym1VBe1e1NSW4aMCZMpL-8W7-JjiGMZNLBZcyY0mbLQvHHxnDSISCkSY6xMnjRSWbjDe_XCAkcUvv4x97yPQLnmoxQdrdvC7G9qxiCcEkmFwOxsSL5T6ACFJb/s400/Dr.+Strange.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
It's been rumored for a while now, but it looks like Marvel is actually planning a Dr. Strange movie! <a href="http://screenrant.com/marvel-doctor-strange-movie-sandy-126430/" target="_blank">From Screenrant:</a><br />
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Screenwriting duo Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer (the upcoming Conan the Barbarian rebooot) were reportedly hired last year to draft a script for the Dr. Strange movie. The project will be live-action and not a computer-animated film by Pixar, as was previously rumored.<br />
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According to Twitch, Donnelly and Oppenheimer have turned in their Dr. Strange script and Marvel is forwarding their draft to an undisclosed shortlist of directors “to try and sign someone up to ‘oversee continued development’” of the project.<br />
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Iron Man 3 and Thor 2 have already been scheduled for release in Summer 2013, so it seems unlikely that Dr. Strange will make the jump to the big screen before 2014 – perhaps, even around the same time that Edgar Wright’s Ant-Man movie finally arrives.</blockquote>
So in addition to Ant-Man (a film I'm REALLY looking forward to from a director I love) the Sorcerer Supreme could actually be casting his spell in theaters!<br />
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So, who should direct? Who should play Strange?</div>
Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-35357524987139519022012-11-02T00:29:00.000-05:002012-11-02T10:56:17.343-05:00Crowdfunder: Science Fiction Land--the REAL story behind ARGO<iframe frameborder="0" height="323" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scifilandmovie/science-fiction-land-a-stranger-than-fiction-doc/widget/video.html" width="430"> </iframe><br />
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HEY KIRBY FANS! Have you seen Ben Affleck's film <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argo_(2012_film)">ARGO </a>about how the CIA staged a filmmaking ruse for a nonexistent sci-fi film in order to rescue hostages from Iran? Well there's plenty about that story left to tell--but less than 2 days to raise the money to do it justice.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TNFqW40T7HDexI3bFM0N5uA-TQlS4oVXxXH3aObSWZ4ccsHK_QDy3qcRBUqElGOPDX7KDJqQ8e3Evmp9u6V5U-USt5HwHFJTJW4gNkHxKMYCgWDcUDkSjzB4_qN0EooGmt-UJ_EXJ0w/s1600/Lord+of+Light+Science+Fiction+Land+Argo+poster+by+comic+artist+Jack+Kirby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TNFqW40T7HDexI3bFM0N5uA-TQlS4oVXxXH3aObSWZ4ccsHK_QDy3qcRBUqElGOPDX7KDJqQ8e3Evmp9u6V5U-USt5HwHFJTJW4gNkHxKMYCgWDcUDkSjzB4_qN0EooGmt-UJ_EXJ0w/s400/Lord+of+Light+Science+Fiction+Land+Argo+poster+by+comic+artist+Jack+Kirby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Filmmaker Judd Ehrlich is working on a documentary entitled "<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scifilandmovie/science-fiction-land-a-stranger-than-fiction-doc" target="_blank">SCIENCE FICTION LAND</a>" based on the real concept that inspired the CIA cover...a sci-fi theme park! The parks creators hired the King of Comics himself, Jack Kirby to design the look of the buildings. From the Kickstarter page:<br />
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In the mid-1970s, before STAR WARS, an enigmatic young inventor named Barry Ira Geller options the rights to Roger Zelazny’s award-winning novel Lord of Light, writes a screenplay and sets out to produce a sci-fi blockbuster and the world’s first science fiction theme park – Science Fiction Land. Geller dreams of inspiring the next generation of scientists and bringing the technology of the future to everyone.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggEyxbLgbcK6NzHELX9RlQJWm84n_HUMGCIZXD18_xjHurZFmUWSgFhfZV8JwTEn0mfLRMKQG6mesWhpUFCKy8eBmFa7HnHGYKg_cG3z4Sqne6g7YoUrq7Db_-0YD2XHTAim4Meeu0UU/s1600/Science+Fiction+Land+poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggEyxbLgbcK6NzHELX9RlQJWm84n_HUMGCIZXD18_xjHurZFmUWSgFhfZV8JwTEn0mfLRMKQG6mesWhpUFCKy8eBmFa7HnHGYKg_cG3z4Sqne6g7YoUrq7Db_-0YD2XHTAim4Meeu0UU/s320/Science+Fiction+Land+poster.jpg" width="212" /></a>A complete unknown, through his passion and determination Geller enlists an all-star team: "King of Comics" Jack Kirby; Hollywood makeup and special effects geniuses John Chambers & Maurice Stein; world-renowned architect Paolo Soleri, visionary author Ray Bradbury; and legendary futurist Buckminster Fuller. <br />
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On the verge of success, the project collapses amidst scandal, fraud, and mystery. Years later, Geller learns that his script and Kirby designs were used by CIA agent Tony Mendez as a cover during the Iran hostage crisis – his film's title changed from LORD OF LIGHT to ARGO. </blockquote>
As of this writing, they're in the close-but-not-quite-there range of the $50k they need to finish the film. I pitch a little scratch their way because I'm dying to see what Kirby's designs would have looked like on a massive three-dimensional scale--and to hear one incredible real-life spy story.<br />
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There's all kinds of great swag of course, but if you're a MEGA Kirby fan, you'll can fund the film AND get yourself a <a href="http://kirbymuseum.org/membership" target="_blank">Kirby Museum membership</a>, which includes MORE Kirby swag. (I asked and they confirmed.) I seriously considered ponying up on that one.<br />
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Alas, for a mere $5 you can help out, for $25 you get a download of the film (that's what I kicked in). Not a bad entry fee for the ultimate never-never-was-land!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJi72uyBQkRpucvyXdvLFHUFtL-SVgeE94plfONHcccNk6PzOzP8s80urYne2zTY4XV7r6OdIj8GE2lPYEdY7KgOKffxgyRBXVWp1SqZTSkpUKdziu2yj3Xj6JSY_-vf8CCF6_hgB6b-0/s1600/Science+Fiction+Land+Jack+Kirby+blueprint+drawing+architecture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJi72uyBQkRpucvyXdvLFHUFtL-SVgeE94plfONHcccNk6PzOzP8s80urYne2zTY4XV7r6OdIj8GE2lPYEdY7KgOKffxgyRBXVWp1SqZTSkpUKdziu2yj3Xj6JSY_-vf8CCF6_hgB6b-0/s400/Science+Fiction+Land+Jack+Kirby+blueprint+drawing+architecture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfkSZEfECW3M9-khOoZNfZXQrOK04Tf_Q4M6clg7fRNkadgk8DvMyDMqyt51Steq6CB7B8lZzOwBTjwF1GOWyt9_zVIY7Pyj8aeokQVZOc6LEcnXvrmvjGbGVqNAaBkmhpuqLxAqRmPo/s1600/Science+Fiction+Land+Jack+Kirby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfkSZEfECW3M9-khOoZNfZXQrOK04Tf_Q4M6clg7fRNkadgk8DvMyDMqyt51Steq6CB7B8lZzOwBTjwF1GOWyt9_zVIY7Pyj8aeokQVZOc6LEcnXvrmvjGbGVqNAaBkmhpuqLxAqRmPo/s400/Science+Fiction+Land+Jack+Kirby.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/scifilandmovie/science-fiction-land-a-stranger-than-fiction-doc" target="_blank"><b>Check out the Kickstarter page for yourself!</b></a></div>
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Visit the <a href="http://scifilandmovie.com/" target="_blank">official movie website!</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Images: Judd Ehrlich/Flatbush Pictures </span><br />
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I posted this at <a href="http://exonauts.blogspot.com/2012/11/take-trip-to-science-fiction-land.html" target="_blank">Exonauts </a>as well. :)Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-36643654377183206752012-09-21T16:44:00.003-05:002012-09-21T16:48:51.305-05:00Kickstart a collection of teen, homebrewed D&D modules from the 80s!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsRVjyzWQRK6bsJLWgNV_Jhoaf7Y3DZQTWnxawWNIPGQpZKDOD_GAPfYxtJB7MY-iK4ky6JzaraDcTMFm-eaf9-M7M_0h8DTIWsM6Vs5nPmTkB9AZCw1HR1MujJR_MWLb8AoSLIOq_Kq4/s1600/The+Habitition+of+the+Stone+Giant+Lord+%2526+Other+Adventures+kickstarter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNsRVjyzWQRK6bsJLWgNV_Jhoaf7Y3DZQTWnxawWNIPGQpZKDOD_GAPfYxtJB7MY-iK4ky6JzaraDcTMFm-eaf9-M7M_0h8DTIWsM6Vs5nPmTkB9AZCw1HR1MujJR_MWLb8AoSLIOq_Kq4/s400/The+Habitition+of+the+Stone+Giant+Lord+%2526+Other+Adventures+kickstarter.jpg" /></a></div>
Now here's a crowdfunder for the ages! The <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/timh/the-habitition-of-the-stone-giant-lord-and-other-a">Habitition of the Stone Giant Lord & Other Adventures</a> is a new kickstarter compling homebrew D&D modules from ye "goode olde days".
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52pkjdTnOZ8KhrxdIMlY6q9UFVcJhbzVMNzVmdq_Y7kS7pH3OuHxA-WYpTfS1rFsasXvaY-yDobDs3oZdTNFXJ5KNiuK2TyrsvAqvhJRq3YP7XUPxSy6CjnasNHOG93Ry5kehf63rweR0/s1600/The+Habitition+of+the+Stone+Giant+Lord+%2526+Other+Adventures+kickstarter+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="296" width="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52pkjdTnOZ8KhrxdIMlY6q9UFVcJhbzVMNzVmdq_Y7kS7pH3OuHxA-WYpTfS1rFsasXvaY-yDobDs3oZdTNFXJ5KNiuK2TyrsvAqvhJRq3YP7XUPxSy6CjnasNHOG93Ry5kehf63rweR0/s400/The+Habitition+of+the+Stone+Giant+Lord+%2526+Other+Adventures+kickstarter+02.jpg" /></a></div>
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The project aims to publish those long-lost adventures of kids from the 80s using their original, hand-drawn illustrations and maps and painstakingly typed text. Here's the gist of it, from the project's creator:
<blockquote>In 1981, 13-year-old Gaius Stern wrote and illustrated The Habitition of the Stone Giant Lord in imitation of TSR’s Dungeons and Dragons adventure modules. The Habitition is a true labor of love, typed and drawn as a DIY addition to the “Against the Giants” series of modules, part time capsule and part outsider art.
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As art, its text and image show how a creative teen made his own contribution to the genre of roleplaying adventures, but where most such books were the work of a writer, a crew of play-testers, editors, and a stable of artists, Stern went it alone. As a time capsule, it provides a window on a particular way Dungeons & Dragons was played at a particular time.
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PlaGMaDA and The Hutchingsonian Presents are putting together a collection of adventures written by young people in the 1980s. The focus is on game modules written by players, including their carefully made maps and painstaking illustrations, framing the sort of adventures we played back when we were kids. Help us print this full color book, it'll be great!
</blockquote>$10 gets you a PDF of the book, print copies are $30. This ain't no retro clone folks, this is the stuff of nerdly dreams brought back to life with a 21st century resurrection spell!
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And YES, they're still looking for material for the book--so go get your Trapper Keeper from 1981 and start scanning those loose-leaf notes!
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Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-69805563221922112622012-09-19T10:00:00.000-05:002012-12-13T00:20:11.429-06:00New trailer for The Hobbit!<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="242" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b1SJ7yaa7cI" width="430"></iframe><br />
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This looks really exciting!<br />
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Trailer #2Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-65776603214026002072012-09-13T11:08:00.001-05:002012-09-13T11:17:25.506-05:00Inspiration: Caves of Nottingham<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LDSL9OoPmDNje0C_nYqOpS0TCwAJq5JOuOMFaH7ZUs2Yf5Re-xuwfDOVsL_tLnMT1qJfaU_6hdkrAdkfEJaiiGpbTMK1ubU9C_Jx8qQB5PcFN0flHEVaft0JGAhGZ5c-6EmCcAk7hGM0/s1600/Notingham+Caves+interior.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_LDSL9OoPmDNje0C_nYqOpS0TCwAJq5JOuOMFaH7ZUs2Yf5Re-xuwfDOVsL_tLnMT1qJfaU_6hdkrAdkfEJaiiGpbTMK1ubU9C_Jx8qQB5PcFN0flHEVaft0JGAhGZ5c-6EmCcAk7hGM0/s400/Notingham+Caves+interior.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://boingboing.net/2012/09/12/nottinghams-wondrous-caves.html">Boing Boing</a> mentions a post over at <a href="http://bldgblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/caves-of-nottingham_11.html">BLDGBLOG on the caves of Nottingham</a>, which are being mapped as part of the <a href="http://nottinghamcavessurvey.org.uk/">Nottingham Caves Survey</a>. They are, in many respects, similar to those at <a href="http://dornob.com/underground-cities-3500-years-of-cappadocian-cave-homes/">Cappadocia </a>(manmade, cut into sandstone bedrock and cliffsides). <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqctBoUu7HoQP7SrYQ9CPlB2MzGr5sLrdrC-Y6cKRkezF6W5rr1wjUUJ3UaHNbRTyCmTiXA489U9EdsFEsBAPoprpks3b0Z3UZXF-Y21E8h82O2bhrT_Yq60_QUFUgSwW4F9FKdpSpCAbz/s1600/Nottingham+Caves+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqctBoUu7HoQP7SrYQ9CPlB2MzGr5sLrdrC-Y6cKRkezF6W5rr1wjUUJ3UaHNbRTyCmTiXA489U9EdsFEsBAPoprpks3b0Z3UZXF-Y21E8h82O2bhrT_Yq60_QUFUgSwW4F9FKdpSpCAbz/s400/Nottingham+Caves+01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The storied history of the caves which inlcudes ties to Robin of Locksley--has long been the spark of tall tales. From the article:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">Incredibly, there are more than 450 artificial caves excavated from the sandstone beneath the streets and buildings of Nottingham, England—including, legendarily, the old dungeon that once held Robin Hood—and not all of them are known even today, let alone mapped or studied. The city sits atop a labyrinth of human-carved spaces—some of them huge—and it will quite simply never be certain if archaeologists and historians have found them all. <br />
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"Even back in Saxon times, Nottingham was known for its caves," local historian Tony Waltham writes in his helpful guide Sandstone Caves of Nottingham, "though the great majority of those which survive today were cut much more recently." From malt kilns to pub cellars, "gentlemen's lounges" to jails, and wells to cisterns, these caves form an almost entirely privately-owned lacework of voids beneath the city. </blockquote>Here's a look at the map they've created:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKV-8ndOmeRMCR4if8Lb3495meb-9N-vAFF9s4_KIHdkKcIB88J0488-poHN9BFVMsRoniV6BBFGFldYOiCiglN895vb8-rrown1RcyE8xjUzWxxPZeL0znDlnuL_ebI1-ELUbbS6Cqa4/s1600/Nottingham+Caves+Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKV-8ndOmeRMCR4if8Lb3495meb-9N-vAFF9s4_KIHdkKcIB88J0488-poHN9BFVMsRoniV6BBFGFldYOiCiglN895vb8-rrown1RcyE8xjUzWxxPZeL0znDlnuL_ebI1-ELUbbS6Cqa4/s400/Nottingham+Caves+Map.png" width="399" /></a></div><br />
Nice inspiration for the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Keep_on_the_Borderlands">Caves of Chaos</a>, yes?<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Images: Nottingham Cave Survey and BLDG BLOG</em></div>Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6719194713901064243.post-70995272885614003082012-08-16T20:54:00.001-05:002012-08-16T20:56:49.231-05:00Cool 3D-printable dungeon crawler<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Zizq8LEjVquDSX59nKNTGThzirLD7XXlr1gaJtH_kY5aXZysuqvnKZjCEngI89sHL-9nc6XHjU-m6HioS6SLzbzYt76s60LQLrr4jaPTJEgnZJ9TkuDdfbd-1g10JT4nTSQ8wev9qjw/s1600/3D+printable+dungeon+tile+game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Zizq8LEjVquDSX59nKNTGThzirLD7XXlr1gaJtH_kY5aXZysuqvnKZjCEngI89sHL-9nc6XHjU-m6HioS6SLzbzYt76s60LQLrr4jaPTJEgnZJ9TkuDdfbd-1g10JT4nTSQ8wev9qjw/s400/3D+printable+dungeon+tile+game.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So here's a cool thing that couldn't exist until the 21st century--a dungeon crawl tile game you can print out of resin. Here's what you get to make a complete game:<br />
<blockquote>-6 delvers (Warrior, Wizard, Elf, Dwarf, Thief, and Priestess.)<br />
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-10 dwellers (2 Skittering Fiends, 2 Restless Spirits, 2 Hogboglins, 2 Shambling Corpses, 1 Cave Gronk, and 1 Ancient Guardian)<br />
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-40 dungeon tiles (print the tile set twice)<br />
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-6 door markers<br />
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-13 counters (6 Treasure counters, 6 Hazard counters, and 1 Stairs counter)<br />
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-12 six-sided dice (6 red Offense dice and 6 blue Defense dice) (These weren't printed, though I suppose you could)</blockquote>All you need is a 3D printer. So if you've got one--or you're handy with that hacker/maker stuff-- then you've got yourself an endlessly printable dungeon!<br />
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<a href="http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:28221">Check out the full set-up.</a> Props to <a href="http://boingboing.net/2012/08/16/pocket-dungeons-a-3d-printabl.html">Boing Boing</a> for finding this little treasure. Jay Exonautshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11336829684749993354noreply@blogger.com0