Will Shinsuke Nakamura Become WWE's 1st Recognized Japanese WWE Champion?

Remember when I stated I was iffy about acquiring a WWE Network membership? As of this moment, I have not purchased a WWE Network subscription. Thus, I didn't watch this year's Royal Rumble to see live, or recorded as the WWE Network allows, Shinsuke Nakamura win the Men's Royal Rumble.


Excellent call WWE! Shinsuke Nakamura is a good choice. He's never been a top guy before. So he's fresh. Plus, he can wrestle a decent work rate ensuring high quality matches.


Choosing A.J. Styles as his opponent? Another awesome call. The sole Nakamura match I watched online in anticipation of his WWE debut was a match against Styles. Think many wrestling fans were eager to see those two wrestle in the WWE. Both Styles and Nakamura are the type of wrestlers to steal the show. We're talking Match of the Year contender here. What better showcase than WrestleMania? If they're allotted enough time, Styles/Nakamura should be the Match of the Night.


There is another milestone Shinsuke Nakamura could achieve.


WWE's very first Japanese WWE Champion.


Sure, Antonio Inoki pinned then WWE Champion Bob Backlund in Japan. However, his title victory was never recognized by the company. Back in those days, it wasn't rare for a wrestler to become champion for a day only for it to go officially unrecognized. For those asking, Yokozuna was actually Japanese as he was really American Samoan whose gimmick was a Japanese Sumo wrestler.


For Shinuske Nakamura, there's an opportunity for him to not only become WWE Champion but become the first recognized Japanese champion.


Even better?


Becoming the very first recognized Japanese WWE Champion on the grandest stage of them all: WrestleMania!


Personally, I think there's a significant chance that'll happen. WWE loves big moments at WrestleMania. First Japanese WWE Champion certainly qualifies.


Next time.

Five Take Aways From 1st Shadowrun Misssions of 2018

Tonight marks four milestones. First, this is the first installment of my Five Take Aways for 2018. Leads to the second milestone, which is first table-top role-playing session during 2018. Today's third milestone is playing fifth edition Shadowrun via Shadowrun Missions (SRM) organized play for the first time during the year 2018.


All leading to final fourth milestone and most important in terms of this blog. What you may ask? Why tonight is the very first Tuesday Night Game session that I have both played and blogged about in years. Since 2010 in fact. Every time I've gamed, it either wasn't on a Tuesday nor was it a part of regular gaming session held on Tuesday. As such, there was no Tuesday Game blogging at all. Tonight that all ends. For the forseeable  future, all organized play events, whether AL or SRM, at my FLGCS will occur on Tuesdays. For me, the Tuesday Game is back. Just in a radically different format.


Moving past all the milestone talk, here are my five take aways from the first Shadowrun Missions session I participated in during 2018.


We are never going to give a SRM module justice within a four hour window
As organized play occurs at a FLCGS during evening hours, we're limited by how long the store will allow us to play. In addition to moving the day to Tuesdays, the store decided it will firmer on how long organized events can run. SRM modules are billed as four events which include extra material for home games. Shadowrun 5th editions is a once a month game. As such, our group and GMs don't possess the mastery of the game to accurately gauge what can be cut, what can included, and what can be sped up. Basic rules mastery just isn't there. Tonight's GM stated he cut several things yet that wasn't enough. Several events toward the end required simplification. Otherwise, we never would have completed the module.


My understanding of the magic and spirit rules weakens magicians 
Frequently, I jest how little my magicians can do under the current rules. I'm starting to suspect much of that is due to both a limited knowledge of the total magic system and regimented interpretation of those rules. My strict interpretation may be too restrictive. Plus, I still need to reference basic rules. Unfortunately, I am the expert within my group. Really think the rules would benefit from more examples.


Need to bring my other rulebooks on either tablet or smartphone
In addition to the core book, I own both Rigger 5 and Street Grimoire as PDFs. However, neither Street Grimoire nor Rigger 5 are accessible on either tablet or smartphone. Only on computer. Which is at home. Not at game. So when I glance at a spell I am not familiar with I pretty much have to guess what it can do. Such as tonight.


Game play didn't suffer until we started rolling dice regularly
Reflecting on tonight's session, the game went much, much more smoothly when we weren't rolling dice as much. More role-playing. Less rules reference. More immersion. Then we started rolling dice and referencing the rules. Game slowed down. Arguments cropped up. We started what I would call the final combat encounter with an hour and half of game time remaining. Most of us got were cracking jokes about how important our characters were once the module was finished. Looking back, I feel the both the rules and dice roll results were a deciding factor in the 'my character didn't do much' perception.


Why not prep the modules as a four hour done-in-one-session home campaign fashion?
Once Lone Star reinforcements arrived (yeah the drek hit the fan chummers), I was like we're done for. Since we were short for time and the GM really didn't like the dancing on razor blades nature of the module, the scene wasn't ran as harsh as it could have been and much was glossed over. While driving home, I couldn't shake the sensation our group would have too much difficulty playing these modules at a convention. You know what's different between our group and a convention? One we play once a month and Shadowrun is an experimental game for us. We're not hardcore fifth edition Shadowrun players. This is once a month for us. Second, our group is fairly consistent and includes roughly the same PC mix. The GM knows the players, their play-styles, and the PCs. GM can adjust in advance for how we'll play and roughly what our PCs can do. As we're a close knit group, the GM isn't going to have the attitude of 'Oops because you didn't succeed at this one roll, you've failed the mission.' If something seems ridiculous to the GM about NPC opposition, then modify or don't use it. Double if the GM isn't sure how something works. On the other hand, failure and PC death/removal from game is a part of Shadowrun...


Those are my 5 take aways from tonight's session of Shadowrun Missions.

Marvel Digital Unlimited Upgrade Saga: Didn't Read All the Directions

If you recall, I spent a couple blogging entries discussing updating my Marvel Digital Unlimited subscription via a gift subscription I received for Christmas. The first installment was the unboxing of the box of goodies. Second installment was my rant of frustration. I ended by mentioning that I may pursue cancelling the subscription and then proceed with the gift subscription. Here is my story of that short adventure.


After logging into my account, I go to account status. In my mind, the upgrade section has information on cancelling an account. In hindsight, a rather bizarre notion but bear with me. Once the upgrade screen loads, I read the phrase "if you want to upgrade immediate, please call..."


Then I noticed the line about the upgrade occurring once my current annual membership ends. Huh. Didn't notice that before. Weird.


If I am reading everything correctly, my account will upgrade once my current time span ends and the auto-renewal would occur.


Which I didn't notice before.


Because I didn't read all the instructions. Like they teach in school. Sigh.


In my stubbornness to admit my rant was partially inspired by a snap judgment from not reading everything, I reload the screen a couple times. Yep. I read that wrong.


However, I really want to implement the gift subscription without calling. There's funky symbols in the code. Mathematical symbols. Heck, they're symbols old comic book writers would use in place of cuss words. The customer service rep might think I am swearing at them. Okay, maybe on the inside...


So I click on cancel my membership. Once prompted with a screen asking for a reason along with an 'are you sure' prompt, written in bold is "subscription will end on (insert date) when annual subscription ends". Okay, I am paraphrasing but my current subscription won't expire with a cancellation until it would normally end.


Meaning I can't just cancel my current subscription and switch right away to the gift subscription. Plus, I have a feeling the upgrade programmed in will occur automatically before I have a chance to do the switch. Otherwise, delaying until my current subscription terminates is too long of a wait for a Christmas gift subscription.


Calling Customer Service it is then. Which I was putting off because I didn't read all the directions. Sigh...


Till my next installment.

Appendix N: Life Imitates Art Becoming Lost Tomes

Believe I've made mention of a quasi-participation in a virtual Appendix N Book Club. More like endeavor to read the selections and fall behind as I don't read as much nor as a fast as I used to. First month was some H.P. Lovecraft stories. The next month is LotR: The Fellowship of the Ring. This is would be more of a re-read as I read the book before the movie came out. A decade and a half ago. Time flies. Anyhoo, the following book is Andre Norton's Witch World.


Here strikes tonight's blogging inspiration.


See, awhile back when I first started buying ebooks rather than reading free public domain texts provided by Project Gutenberg, I purchased several Andre Norton Witch World books. While I didn't buy all the titles available, I made sure to get all the books with Witch World in the title.


So seeing Witch World was on the docket struck as no problem. After all, I own pretty much all of them, right?


Wrong.


The original Witch World was not among the titles. After browsing on several retailers sites, it doesn't seem available in either print or digital formats new.


Only way to read the story that began the Witch World series is to track it down in libraries and second-hand shops.


Then, I got to thinking. Many of the stories that comprise Appendix N (inspirations for Dungeons & Dragons) are old. They weren't the freshest stuff on the scene when Dungeons & Dragons debuted. Certainly, not when they were credited within the contents of the first edition AD&D Dungeon Master's Guide. Conan and the like were decades old. Readers could only read them by reading the stories collected in reprint books.


Some of the material has been reprinted recently such as the REH collections of Conan.  Merritt's Moon Pool ( both stories) was collected in mass market paperback novel form. Dark Horse published the complete Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser series. Alas, all these collections were published years ago. More than likely out of print now.


Sure, much is availably digitally. Others like Witch World are not.


Much like a protagonist in an Appendix N story, one can only find them by searching through forgotten corners of libraries or bookstores that specialize in carrying forgotten wares. Used book sales are akin to browsing through the bazaar.


Perhaps it's fitting that life now imitates art. Much like Gandalf reading ancient scrolls to glean ancient secrets in old libraries, the aspiring reader who seeks to better understand the origins of Dungeons & Dragons will in turn venture out into markets off the beaten path in search of old lost tomes containing forgotten lore.


Speaking of the book that started this train of thought, Witch World, I have indeed seen the book in such a shop!


Happy Reading!


Next time.

Appendix N: Read Lovecraft's "The Statement of Randolph Carter"

Last year and to an extent this year, I resolved to read more. What better way than a book club? I've never participated in book clubs before as I haven't read a book in less than a month in decades. Furthermore, most book selections I feel iffy towards. However, I discovered social media page devoted AD&D 1E Appendix N (the inspirations for Dungeons & Dragons - for Gygax) decided to do a virtual book club. The first month is selection of stories by H.P. Lovecraft.


I own both an annotated book containing a selection of his fiction as well as a leather-bound containing all his of Lovecraft's fiction. Opening those pages excites me.


My first reading is "The Statement of Randolph Carter". At five pages, it is the shortest of the selections. Baby steps, baby steps.


Suppose you're wondering why I am blogging this. You may be wondering 'You're reading, Matt. Great. Bravo.'


Instead of posting my responses on book club's page, why not blog my thoughts! Also helps me to remember too... ahem...


 What didn't you like about the reading? At five pages, "The Statement of Randolph Carter" is more like a vignette.


What did you like about the reading? Loved the ambience. Learned about technology one simply doesn't know existed until stumbles upon it such as the portable telephone, which is essentially two telephones connected by wire. Thank you annotated book! Envisioned the portable telephone in my mind. The annotated book displayed the patent. Was half right.


As a horror story, the story successfully built up the suspense until the end and - gotcha!


Finally, as I recently became reacquainted with regularly listening to audio dramas, The Statement of Randolph Carter reads very much as a radio drama. If two people could read the story out loud and include sound effects, it's practically the script for a teleplay!


In what ways do you think "The Statement of Randolph Carter" inspired the creation of Dungeons and Dragons? - Randolph Carter is clearly a low level adventurer journeying with a higher level one to a far off, hidden locale.


Both Carter and his mentor carry quite a bit of adventuring gear including some that are not run-of-the-mill objects. Any player of D&D can tell of adventuring gear such ten-foot poles and sun rods. Let's not forget more mundane items such as rope and lanterns. Not a lot of shovels but crowbars are carried by many a PC.


Honestly, D&D  was shares quite a bit with a story spanning a mere five pages!


There's powerful terror lurking below the surface. A terror too powerful one individual no matter how experienced can't defeat. The PCs only hope for survival is running away. Yeah, later editions kind of do away with such difficult challenges. Oh and the terror can communicate with the PCs...


PCs being fluent in more than one language. Tomes containing archaic languages or unrecognizable symbols; and those tomes are either the objects of or initiators of quests.


The authorities aren't friendly to the PCs. They are neutral, indifferent, or hostile toward them.


Splitting the party can be both bad and good depending on where the danger is.


In what ways can you use The Statement of Randolph Carter to inspire your own games? Use more tomes written in a foreign language (as opposed to the common language of the area) using a secret code or mixed with archaic language. Don't often place entrances to secret underground areas under slabs in cemetery or any other ruin.


Unusual mundane items are just as much a part of a table-top role-playing game as magical items. Communication devices are a great way to build tension. Splitting the party is headache as it can foster either meta-gaming or loss of interest.


Using language to develop ambience particularly when the encounter includes sublime or exotic. Reading a story rich in ambience reminds how much a gripping adventure requires it. Until combat occurs anyway...


On to the next Lovecraft story! Haven't decided which though but I have read none of the remaining three before. No use mentioning them until I read them.


Happy Reading!


Next time!

Marvel Digital Unlimited Saga: The Background for my Discontent

A week ago, I blogged my unboxing of my Marvel Digital Unlimited Plus package of goodies that I received as part of a Christmas gift. During which, I hinted at some feelings of discontentment. Today, I explain the background of such. So if you desire to know why I am perturbed with Marvel about gift subscription and how it pertains to my current subscription, read on. Otherwise, next time.


A brief aside, I decided to become a Marvel Insider (more as a lark than anything else). Saw one method of gaining points is to subscribe to Marvel Digital Unlimited. Uh, hello. I am subscribed. Reason my Marvel account exist. My point tally doesn't include it. Click on the tab. Greeted with the 'subscribe to Marvel Digital Unlimited!' page. Hmm. Repeat three more times. Quickly reminded of the saying 'repeating something over and over again expecting different results is the definition of insanity'. Suffice it to say, Marvel Insider doesn't count my current subscription to Marvel Digital Unlimited. So I would need to subscribe again?


I am feeling perplexed. Then I decide to check on uprgrading my existing subscription. Check how much time is left. Forgot I renewed it several months after it expired. Hmm, wonder how Marvel will reconcile this?


Then, I check the upgrade page.


Read the section on upgrading. Read it again.


'Please call our Customer Care Office...'


What?! Are you kidding!


You could say I am a little discontented.


Really want to use my X-mas gift subscription sooner than later. Calling Marvel is not high among my desires, however. The gift code is a long series of symbols one may not be able to tweet under Twitter's old 140 character restriction. How in the blazes am I going to say that on the phone without anyone messing it up?


So should cancel my current subscription? The one with time remaining, Heck, how long can the gift subscription remain dormant? Can I turn my subscription off and back on albeit as a shinier model?


Now, I am feeling more than a little discontented.


I admit I have yet to either call Marvel or research cancelling subscriptions.


I am steeling myself. Yeah, that it.


So think of this as an example of the joys that await with upgrading one's Marvel Digital Unlimited Subscription with a gift subscription.


My next installment should be much, much more happier.


Next time.

Putting Crom Back Into Marvel

Did you hear the major announcement regarding 2019?


No, not Cosmos returning for a second season although I am quite excited for more cosmic goodness explained for those of us without degrees in astrophysics.


Why Conan is returning to Marvel Comics in 2019!


At first I was like 'what Disney bought Conan!' then I realized that Marvel had acquired the license to Conan comics.


Must admit I am somewhat ambivalent about this news. Marvel's previous run of Conan comics ended on a what we'll call lackluster at best. On the other hand, I long stopped buying Dark Horse's Conan comics quite some time ago. More out of practicality as I couldn't keep up. The frequent restarts didn't help. Probably explains why Dark Horse has been aggressively releasing omnibuses of their work but no new Conan comics.


As for Marvel, I am curious if any of the old Marvel stuff will appear on their digital unlimited service. Definitely, hope they release them via a nice shiny omnibus format. I may actually break open the wallet if they do as usually don't buy omnibuses unless they are heavily discounted. Yep, couple omnibuses of both Conan the Barbarian and Savage Sword would be mighty keen.


As for new comics, I kind of hope they apply legacy numbering to the "new" Conan the Barbarian title. Sure, Star Wars started from a brand new #1 but restarts were the thing. The lure of Marvel Conan is the old Roy Thomas Conan. If you can't have Roy Thomas, at least continue the old numbering. Regardless, if it's been a couple decades since the previous issue...


Other than, I await further announcements from the House of Ideas. One can say, Crom will be put back into Marvel.


Happy Reading!


Next time.

Marvel Digital Unlimited Upgrade Saga: The Unboxing!



My original intent regarding my Not Quite 12 Days of Blogging was to end it on a note regarding upgrading my Marvel Digital Unlimited subscription due to a Christmas gift. Twas not meant to be. A subject and rant for another time. Day after Epiphany/Three Kings I received the box that contained all the goodies that comes with the upgrade.

Instead this blog entry will consist of two firsts for this blog. One, my very first unboxing. However, I can't really take videos with my trusty smartphone and still unbox yet. Which leads... Two, inserting images into my blog entries for the very first time. So maybe it's not a traditional unboxing as I merely snapped pictures but it's probably the closest I'll come to performing an actual unboxing. Much like inserting videos, inserting images is like taking my step into a much larger blogiverse. Also used a photo editor to crop the images too for the first time as well. So whenever I next write comic book reviews expect to see cover images!

Here goes:

 

The outside of the box. Marvel did a heckuva job with this! Looks fantastic!

Yeah, the image is blurry but it was the best photo I could take. Marvel Digital Unlimited variant covers for Spider-Men II #1, Guardians of the Galaxy Telltales Series #1, and Edge of Venomverse #1. Didn't own any of these comics before so that's a plus.

Here's the snazzy letter of which I have yet to read complete with a Thanos patch and Spider-Man and Captain America pins. The Tony Stark resembling Robert Downey Jr is pretty cool! All will probably remain within the box.

Inner flap of the box which uses the art from Marvel Legacy #1. Looks fancy.



So there you have it.

Next time.

Oops Meant Comics Kingdom not DailyInk!

Hope everyone's New Year, ie 2018, started well. Yesterday was my obligatory old year, new year entry. Listed a bunch of goals.


Among them was to subscribe to King Features Syndicate's DailyInk.


Well, I was wrong. They've changed of the service to Comics Kingdom. Kind of fitting considering the syndicate's name starts with King...


Pretty sure this isn't the first time I made such a mistake. See I've been meaning to subscribe to Comics Kingdom ever since Kings Feature made their comics available online, particularly their vintage strips, via DailyInk. That was a very long time ago.


So I refer to the old name out of habit.


However, this isn't just correction entry or an obligatory first post on New Year's Day for 2018.


After at least five years, I finally subscribed to Comics Kingdom.


So now comic strips which my local newspaper doesn't carry, ie Amazing Spider-Man, The Phantom, etc. will finally be available to me beyond the seven day window any casual visitor can see. Plus, I can read their old vintage strips.


Bonus: When I add all the strips I desire to read, they will be emailed to me.


So in addition to GoComics appearing in my inbox, so will Comics Kingdom.


More comic strips await my future; and I've crossed off subscribing to Comics Kingdom off my to-do list. Again, something I have been considering doing for YEARS.


Well, Happy New Year. Happy Reading.


Next time.