Month: April 2019

My Top 5 – The Avengers

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I was reading Avengers before it was cool to read Avengers.

When everyone else was buying X-Men and hoping to get multiple copies of what was sure to be the next comic worth $100 plus, I was a devoted fanboy of not only Avengers but also West Coast Avengers (ok, I have some copies of X-Men #1 from that time as well). While everyone else was busy watching the X-Men cartoon, I was sticking it out with the lesser heroes; you know the guys and gals I’m talking about: Captain America and Iron Man and Black Widow and Hawkeye and…

I was holding the flag for a group of characters that the company itself didn’t know what to do with. It got so bad that when the opportunity arose to have some of the Image Comic guys come back and work on the characters, they wouldn’t dare give them Spiderman or the X-Men, so instead they got the characters not as many people cared about (apparently) – so the Avengers and Fantastic Four were shunted off into another universe where their stories could be told.

Given that the biggest movie in the world (or at least for the year) is opening at the end of the month, it is hard to rationalize those early and not so early days of reading the Avengers. Once Iron Man became a hit and the ball got rolling into the first Avengers movie, Marvel seized on the idea and suddenly where there might have been TWO Avengers titles, there were like 50 titles (and I’m only exaggerating a little bit on that number). For someone who has a copy of issue 9 and a complete run from around issue 140, it became a bit much to try to keep up with.

But two of the first comics I ever bought with my own money were Avengers and West Coast Avengers. Along with Spiderman, these were my windows into the world of comic books. They were the ones whose stories I looked forward to the most every month.

Firestar

Yes, because of the Spiderman and his Amazing Friends cartoon.

But also because when I saw another book on the stands: New Warriors, she was one of the original members. I’d never read her before, but I was struck by how she was someone trying to find her place in the world. Then later, during Busiek’s run on Avengers she got called up to the big leagues. Something about that idea really caught me. Another mutant that the Avengers somehow got a hold of, she (and Justice) sorta acted as the reader’s eyes while they fought alongside the Big Three (Captain America, Thor, and Iron Man).

Scarlet Witch

I think it is partially because when I started reading they (Scarlet Witch and Vision) weren’t a part of any Avengers team, so it felt like a big deal when they did join back up. Wanda has always been a cool character because she has feet in both the X-Men world (what with her father being Magneto) and in the Avengers world. Back in the 90s when it seemed like if the X-Men sunk their claws into you, then your character might never show up in any other book, the fact that she always remained on the Avengers side meant something to this reader.

Even before Bendis had her destroy the Avengers team in Disassembled, even before she wiped out the mutants at the end of House of M, she was this woman who was trying to balance having a family and saving the world and having powers that were probably too much for anyone to handle. She seemed to offer opportunities for storytelling in a way that so many other characters cannot.

Wonder Man

The oldest comic I own is Avengers 9 which features Wonder Man’s origin. He joins the team in that issue, but it turns out that he’s an infiltrator for Baron Zemo to take down the Avengers from the inside. Of course, at the last minute, he has second thoughts and turns on the villains only to perish…

And that might have been the end of it. But in comics, death is not something that lasts. And sure enough, nearly 140 issues later, he “wakes up”.

He’s one of those characters who is tied to so many cool plots and storylines. His brother is the Grim Reaper, an Avengers baddie. His brain patterns were used to bring the Vision to life, making them defacto brothers… which gives him a tie to Ultron. He was “created” by Baron Zemo.

Moon Knight

Yes, Marvel’s “Batman”. He’s one of those guys who is flat out insane.

No, really, he’s legit crazy pants. He has voices in his head talking to him. He develops alternate personalities under the guise of trying to infiltrate the criminal underground and ends up with a fractured psyche. He talks to an ancient Egyptian god: Khonshu, for whom he acts as his hand of vengeance.

I had hopes that he might be the next Marvel character used by Netflix for a new show, but with them pulling their properties back in house (I’m guessing), I’m wondering if that is now more or less likely to actually happen.

Hawkeye

Yes, the Bow and Arrow guy from the movies. When I started reading, Hawkeye was the leader of the West Coast Avengers, and in stark comparison to someone like Captain America or Mr. Fantastic, he led in a very off the cuff sort of way. He was definitely the type of person who leaps, doesn’t worry about where he might land, and somehow makes the best of the fall. And unlike the East Coast squad, he both understood that they might be the “B Team” but he wasn’t going to treat them as such.

Plus, I loved that he had been a villain to start out (one of Iron Man’s villains in fact) that realized he wasn’t doing what he was supposed to be doing, then launched an attack on the Avengers in their mansion, all to prove to them that he deserved a chance on the team.

***

While I obviously dig the Captain Americas and Thors and Iron Mans of the Avengers, the above are the types of characters that, as a reader, you can “claim” as your character. There is something special about that.

***

John McGuire is the creator/author of the steampunk comic The Gilded Age. The Trade paperback collecting the first 4 issues is finally back from the printers! If you would like to purchase a copy, go here!

Want to read the first issue for free? Click here! Already read it and eager for more?

Click here to join John’s mailing list.

His other prose appears in The Dark That Follows, Hollow Empire, Beyond the Gate, and Machina Obscurum – A Collection of Small Shadows.

He can also be found at www.johnrmcguire.com

What Kickstarters Excite Creators? Forbidden Library, Ultimate Spheres of Power, Way of the Wicked Sin, CharCon, and Fauna

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The creators behind a 5e library, a Pathfinder magic system, an RPG zine, a convention, and a comic (from an RPG publisher) share what projects on Kickstarter they’re excited about. Check out the projects the creators of these Kickstarters are following:

 

Ultimate Spheres of Power: The Complete System! (Pathfinder) by Drop Dead Studios

Ends: Sun, April 14 2019 12:01 PM EDT.

“The ultimate edition of Spheres of Power, the 5-star magic system, compiled into a single volume! (For Pathfinder)”

Adam Meyers (Drop Dead Studios) recommends:

“Tabletop gamers are known for collecting way more dice, miniatures, and other materials then they’ll ever be able to use, and we show no signs of stopping. With that in mind, I’m excited for DoubleSix Dice: Generation Two; it’s a new way of rolling the classic six-sided dice, and the fact that it’s on its second generation with no signs of stopping says a lot about how popular their idea is.

Another project I’m looking forward to seeing more of is Party Backstory Generator for 5e and Other Systems. As a GM sometimes you just need a bit of inspiration. As players, sometimes you need something to keep people on track. Either way, a book entirely dedicated to answering ‘how did you meet’ is both useful and fun, and I’m excited to see it getting off to such a great start.”

 

The Way of Wicked Sin #ZineQuest by Advanced Fantasy Roleplaying

Ends: Thu, April 11 2019 10:04 AM EDT.

“Tired of Paladins? Peek behind the black veil! This will be 3 Zines about evil campaigns: Drow, Orcs, and Humans.”

Peter Sotos (Advanced Fantasy Roleplaying) recommends:

“Wyrmkeep Dungeons TZ2: Curse of the Desert Outpost. I really like this campaign. The guy has 4 other modules out via Kickstarter so he is a safe bet for delivery. The art looks professional and has a color cover. The whole campaign is extremely evocative of old school RPGs, but the adventure is created for D&D 5th edition. I went ahead and backed it, and in the package I selected, I am going to get all of his other modules as well.

The Forbidden Library 5E. This looks like one incredible campaign. The art looks absolutely amazing and the concept of a secret library in a school for adventurers is very cool. I love the fact that the libraries books will be detailed out by various authors and grow as the Kickstarter campaign grows. Also, so many big names in the gaming industry involved in it. I had to go ahead and back it myself.”

 

The Forbidden Library 5E by Alligator Alley Entertainment

Ends: Fri, April 19 2019 11:00 PM EDT.

“Adventure & sourcebook for D&D 5th Edition by Gregory A. Wilson, with contributions from many speculative fiction and RPG writers”

Christopher Robin Negelein (Alligator Alley Entertainment) recommends:

“I’m excited about Arcana of the Ancients where Monte Cook Games brings science fantasy and even the Numenera setting to 5e. The Kickstarter gets the band back together with D&D veterans Monte Cook, Bruce Cordell and Sean K Reynolds which covers a lot of gaming history that goes back to even the TSR days.

Their house system, Cypher, has a few neat tricks and I’m curious how some of them will translate into 5e. And of course every GM needs a hefty library of strange items and critters to confound players at the drop of a hat. D&D has had sci-fi in it since the early days and this will let a new generation of 12-year old game masters introduce their group to laser-sword wielding paladins. (You know you did it too and it was awesome to your 12-year old brain! Admit it!)

So my love for sci-fantasy become just as evident with The Ultraviolet Grasslands and the Black City which puts Oregon Trail games, the Dying Earth genre, heavy metal and psychedelic art into a blender to explore a vast land for the next bit of weirdness.

And if like sandbox style games, you have to love a book that waxes on about how the humans in civilized areas are the masters of their fate within the borders of their little urbane worlds and then simply states, “This story is not their story” before diving into how vast and bonkers the unexplored places are.”

 

Fauna #1 by Shades of Vengeance Comics

Ends: Sun, April 21 2019 4:00 PM EDT.

“When everyone starts mindlessly searching for Quinn’s Empowered alter-ego, it is clear someone will do whatever it takes to find him…”

Ed Jowett (Shades of Vengeance Comics) recommends:

“I deliberately scrolled down to find some campaigns that were interesting that weren’t at the top!

I have always felt that introducing younger players to roleplaying is the best way to build the community for the future. Castles and Cats aims to do this in a way that I wish I had been introduced to it when I was a child.
When I first saw this, I was excited, then I found out that the creator also plans to continue her campaign’s story, so I was completely sold on it as a campaign I wanted to back!

Why AcadeCon? Simple: It’s a games convention that mentions Tabletop RPGs as a priority. Conventions are the lifeblood of the community – it’s the only time you get to have the community together beyond a few people at a time. This is a great one, looking at the video and, although it’s not in a place I’ve ever been it’s established and needs help to continue what it’s doing!”

  • AcadeCon was recommended by Craig Campbell of NerdBurger Games in a prior column.

 

CharCon 2019 – THE West Virginia Gaming Convention by CharCon Game Convention

Ends: Tue, April 9 2019 8:59 PM EDT.

“Charleston WV – July 12-14, 2019. Our theme is Post-Apocalypse! Non-stop Role Playing Games all weekend long! Learn to play events for Board Games, RPGs & Miniatures.”

Travis Reynolds (Executive Director of CharCon) recommends:

“Neither of these are RPGs, I am more of a board game guy.

I am intrigued by the Hammer of the Scots campaign. I was always a fan of the Columbia block games and looking forward to seeing what a deluxe version made with today’s productions standards ends up being.

Also, I am excited to see the Tantrum House Kickstarter do well. I like their content a lot and rely on their regular run down of tabletop KS projects to keep me informed. Plus I love their family vibe both from a CharCon perspective and as a Queen Games rep.”

PRESS RELEASE – A Dreaming Demon Queen Awaits You – Forbidden Lands: The Spire of Quetzel has Released

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Free League Publishing Free League Publishing logotype

A Dreaming Demon Queen Awaits You – Forbidden Lands: The Spire of Quetzel has Released

Free League Publishing – Apr 04, 2019 13:12 BST

Wind dies. Pale grass grows in spirals. Lichen forms blurred iridescent sigils on cracked stone. Black trees curl their trunks and crook their branches as if bowing. The Spire is driven through the skin of the world like a pin through curling paper. With every step toward the tower, it writhes and warps like a hallucination. 

Brave adventurer, Free League Publishing announced that Forbidden Lands: The Spire of Quetzel has released worldwide today. Do you dare to enter the land beyond the mountains in search of the spire?

Rumor has it that you shall encounter a dreaming Demon-Queen, a prison of strange beasts who call themselves a family, a coven of witches who don’t get along, and the strange graveyard of the last thunder lizard to walk this land.

If it will be dangerous? Of course, the Forbidden Lands are more dangerous than ever. But what does it matter, friend? Together we laugh in the face of danger and make our mark on that cursed world. Together, we will survive.

The volume The Spire of Quetzel collects four adventure sites for the critically acclaimed retro-fantasy RPG Forbidden Lands, written by some of the best writers in the field today.

The collection contains:

  • The Spire of Quetzel by Patrick Stuart (Veins of the Earth)
  • The Bright Vault by Chris McDowall (Into the Odd)
  • Hexenwald by Ben Milton (Maze Rats)
  • Graveyard of Thunder by Karl Stjernberg (Rad-Hack)

Read more about Forbidden Lands: The Spire of Quetzel here.

Watch the Forbidden Lands Trailer

Forbidden Lands RPG

Raiders & Rogues in a Cursed World

In the sandbox survival roleplaying game Forbidden Lands, you and your friends take on the roles as raiders and rogues bent on making your own mark on a cursed world. Discover lost tombs, fight horrifying monsters, wander the wilderness and build your own stronghold to defend.The tabletop RPGForbidden Lands was named one of the best RPGs of 2018 by Geek & Sundry. The crowdfunding campaign raised over a quarter of a million dollars and was the third most successful RPG Kickstarter in the world 2017.

Review Quotes:

“It’s like somone took hazy childhood memories of a classic D&D game and mixed them with a dash of bleak Scandinavian darkness.”

–Tabletop Magazine

“Superbly packaged, Forbidden Lands is a pleasing combination of Old School nostalgia and fast, simple mechanics with unobtrusive narrative elements designed to bring aspects of the character into play. Its setting offers scope for the player characters to develop not just personally, but also in terms of their place in the world.”

–Reviews from R’lyeh

“This may be the most perfect role-playing game product I’ve ever seen.”

–Plot Points RPG Podcast

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What’s My Brand?

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This past summer I spent a weekend glued to my computer during an online writing course. It wasn’t so much about the act of stringing words together, but more about the mindset of writing. It was about an idea that perhaps you could Clock Out at your day job if you made enough money from your writings. And it was about some (many steps) which could lead you into that direction.

As a part of this process, I had the opportunity to speak with one of the guys who ran the class. Basically, a way to pick his brain.

You see, so many times you end up in this little world within your own brain where you can get to the point that you’re no longer sure what the best course of action may or may not be. I’m lucky enough that I have a few friends and family to bounce ideas off of, but to get a little perspective from an outside person seemed like a great idea.

So I told him everything I could in the short amount of time we had (20-minute video call). I talked about what things I have done: the comic book work, the Kickstarter for the Gilded Age, the pair of novels, short stories, and the weekly blog. I talked about the idea that I was an extreme “Genre Hopper”.

You see, most smart authors pick a genre (sci-fi or romance or post-apocalyptic or…). You try an write all your books within that box because that way you know someone who liked one of your books is more likely to pick up your next one if it is the same type of idea. People like what they like and unless you are some kind of generational talent (Stephen King), you may only confuse the issue if you keep changing what types of books you write.

Such as writing steampunk comics, an urban fantasy novel, and a dark medieval fantasy… just a great idea all around. Now only if you’d follow that up with a sort of steampunk and a science fiction pair of novels… then you’d be living the dream.

 

I told him all about this, and the current idea I’m working on (that would be a series of same genre works – he says, finally realizing his mistakes). But how do I make sure not to push aside the stuff that is already out there. How do I leverage the pair of unpublished novels on my hard drive?  How do I put myself in the best situation where my work just pays for itself. Maybe even get to only work 4 days a week at the day job?

His answer was to figure out what was my BRAND.

What is it that connects me with all the things I write? Is there one connective force that seems to flow through them? Is there something I’m trying to answer with all my works?

If I can answer that question, it will help me find those readers for all of my products.

So I’ve been wrapping my brain around the question, but I’m not entirely sure. I write things I’d like to read. I write about characters who are trying to rise to the occasion. Those characters who may be flawed, but have some kind of hero within them that may need to be coaxed out. I write about ideas that interest me. What if you could do it all over again? What if you had the opportunity to take the easy way out, would you do it? Why are we here?

Yet, I’m not sure what the right answer is just yet. Maybe there isn’t a grand unifying theory for my brain. But I believe it is time to look and see.

I’ll let you know when I figure it all out.

***

John McGuire is the creator/author of the steampunk comic The Gilded Age. The Trade paperback collecting the first 4 issues is finally back from the printers! If you would like to purchase a copy, go here!

Want to read the first issue for free? Click here! Already read it and eager for more?

Click here to join John’s mailing list.

His other prose appears in The Dark That Follows, Hollow Empire, Beyond the Gate, and Machina Obscurum – A Collection of Small Shadows.

He can also be found at www.johnrmcguire.com

PRESS RELEASE – World Autism Awareness Day with Critical Core

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It’s happening, thanks to you.
When we started on this journey, we wanted be part of changing the narrative around social skills development and autism. Critical Core is designed to be inclusive, respectful, and a celebration of diversity in whichever form it may take. When we celebrate the differences in everyone, no-one is excluded.

We are completely overwhelmed and humbled by your support in sharing this vision and making this project a reality.

April 2nd – World Autism Awareness Day

Because today is world autism awareness day, it is the perfect opportunity to share some of our key thoughts in the hopes that they will resonate with you, and that you might help to spread the positive message of inclusivity and neuro-diversity.

At Critical Core, we prefer to show rather than tell, but today is a day to state our beliefs in no uncertain terms.

Presume Competence

Individuals on the spectrum have incredible capacities, and just because some individuals deal with social situations differently than many neuro-typical people does not make them in any way deficient. We strive to celebrate and understand differences, and presume competence.

Go Beyond Stereotypes

The autism constellation varies so much from person to person that researchers talk about ‘the autisms’ rather than one autism. Just because an individual has a diagnosis of autism does not mean we should make assumptions based on other autistic individuals we may have already known or on representations of autism in media. Everyone is unique and should be treated as individuals.

No One Should be Forced to be “Normal”

Forcing what the neuro-majority considers ‘normal’ on persons with brains that work differently can often be disrespectful and even harmful. We believe that therapeutic support should, at its heart, build sense-of-self, self-esteem, and self-efficacy, allowing the participant to find their own authentic way of engaging and participating in community because they want to and how they want to. This way we can help individuals realize how they want to connect with others—or not—and let them do so on their own terms.

Focus on Relationships

Studies(1) show that love-based, play-based, relationship-based interactions are an effective conduit for growing strengths, skills, and happiness. In our focus on helping autistic individuals build social skills and social capacity, we focus on the complete person, not just on discrete, isolated behaviors.

Let’s Change Perceptions

Recent research(2) demonstrates that the inflexibility of social norms contributes to the ‘disabling’ aspects of the autistic experience. By increasing our acceptance of individual differences, we can improve the long-term outcomes of many autistic individuals. We share this information with those around us so that together we can create a more welcoming and accepting world in which everyone is included.
Critical Core – https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/gametogrow/critical-core
Wishing you the very best,
Virginia, Adam, and Adam, The Critical Core Team
(1) http://www.icdl.com/research
(2) Sasson, N. J., & Morrison, K. E. (2017). First impressions of adults with autism improve with diagnostic disclosure and increased autism knowledge of peers. Autism, 1362361317729526.

NOTE: The crass advertising/ads are mine. The substance of message is Game to Grow’s. I added the links to their game as a thank for all they’re doing to raise awareness about autism, a reality that is never fair from my mind and heart.

PRESS RELEASE – Lunar Games’ Tome of Spirits Kickstarter Coming Soon!

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VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA—Lunar Games has announced the release of the Tome of Spirits, its first major supplement to the Endless Realms tabletop roleplaying game.  In Endless Realms, players take on the role of a character with fantastic abilities and tangible personality traits to play through adventures created and piloted by a Game Master.  The Tome of Spirits adds an array of additional content focused on spirits and the Spirit Realm, including new magic and cursed items, class paths, religions and cults, rules for corruption, stats and lore for spirits themselves, and rules for becoming the champion of a spirit. 

The religions and cults of the Tome of Spirits largely surround the spirits that are also found within the tome’s pages.  These snippets of lore and information provide grounding for these religious organizations, giving Game Masters and players alike plenty of fuel for the motives and stories of characters they introduce in their campaigns. 

Characters become Spirit Champions by earning the trust and respect of a spirit, through worship or service, thereby gaining new abilities in exchange for continued service.  Getting involved with a spirit is no light matter, however; spirits often quarrel over territory, playing an ethereal game of chess with their corporeal pawns to force each other into exile or corruption. 

Corruption is first introduced in the Endless Realms Core Rulebook, and is greatly expanded upon and given actionable mechanics in the Tome of Spirits.  This sickness yields great power, but has dangerous and often fatal effects even for the otherwise immortal inhabitants of the Spirit Realm.  Corruption is a major theme in the game’s overall storyline. 

When asked what she was most excited for players to see in the Tome of Spirits, Kirsty Garbe, CEO of Lunar Games, said “I’m simply excited to show our fans more of our world and give them a better understanding of how to incorporate spirits in their adventures.  They’re part of what makes Endless Realms unique, and there’s a lot of opportunity in the pages of the Tome of Spirits.” 

Lunar Games successfully funded a Kickstarter campaign for the Endless Realms Core Rulebook and Creature Compendium in April 2018, raising just over $40,000 CAD in 35 days.  The funding goal for the Tome of Spirits is to raise $8,400 CAD.  Its campaign will go live on April 23d and will run for 30 days. 

Check out Endless Realms on: 

Kickstarter Preview: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lunargames/35150466?ref=543165&token=dc043e36 

DriveThruRPG: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/12778/Lunar-Games-Inc&affiliate_id=814082 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EndlessRealmsRPG/  

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lunar_GamesInc