DC's New Subscription Service Looks Promising

When the news broke over DC starting its own streaming service, I was favorably inclined but leery about paying for another streaming service. The DC fanboy in me was excited at the prospect. However, I don't keep up with Hulu, Netflix, WWE Network, and regular TV. Heck, Britbox and GFW/TNA/Impact/whatever they're calling themselves now are on my radar too. DC's new streaming service's offerings would need to be deep.


New programming I can't get elsewhere.


Old programming I'd really need to scrounge for.


Today, I details and teaser trailer for the new subscription service have been unveiled. Bleeding Cool News reported some details here.


Heck, DC released a teaser trailer for the new DC Universe subscription service as well here.


Titans, Doom Patrol, the next season of Young Justice definitely checks the box for new programming.


Is Swamp Thing a new iteration or the old show?


Snippets from the animated movies, old movies like Supergirl, and the short-lived TV show Constantine certainly satisfy the old material criteria. Okay, okay, Constantine is available on CW Seed. I'm excited for the potential such older shows such as the 90's Flash and Superboy could become available as well. Rights pending of course....


All that? A Hulu-like price is reasonable.


A community forum is a nice touch. How many use message boards nowadays with social media though?


Being able to read older DC Comics. What do we have here now... Depending on the depth and size of the selection this could very well be a DC Digital Comics Unlimited tacked onto streaming service. Although I suppose even if it's limited to more recent offerings along with evergreen stories it wouldn't be so bad.


If DC Universe is *cough* universal in scope and demonstrates signs of expansion with the new content over time ala the WWE Network, I would be willing to pay WWE Network prices.


Verdict: The DC Universe Subscription is mighty tempting. Think I will sign up for the Beta in August.


Next time.

Official D&D 5E Rulings By Tweet: The Inaugural Three

Years ago, one of my fondest message board threads was one in which D&D co-creator Gary Gygax would explains the origin and meaning of various rules of D&D. Flash-forward to today and social media such as Twitter enables the creators of D&D to answer gamers questions like never before. When it comes to general rules questions for the current iteration of the game (5th), Jeremy Crawford is the go to for official rulings. I don't follow his twitter but I do follow a page on Facebook called Sage Advice that collects Tweets involving D&D creators.


Which brings us to the topic of today's entry and the hopeful start of a semi-regular 'column' on this blog "Official D&D 5E Rulings By Tweet". In which I will provide a link to a given official ruling while providing my own two cents. This inaugural edition will only three such.


Can a centaur become a werewolf? - Short answer for those whom don't want to read the 'tweet thread' for is yes for PCs, no for NPCs. DMs will probably enjoy describing the new werewolf?
Players are like "What do you mean the vertically standing wolf-like creature has four legs?!" Can easily predict players confusing their fellow PC as a demon if meta-gaming is curtailed.


It's all in the language... - Don't believe I've ever sat at a table with another PC with the Shield Mastery feat. As such, I've never had cause to consider when during action order a shield bash occurs. On the other hand, two-weapon fighting is quite common! Reading this ruling, it's good to know proper order matters regarding shield bash but not two-weapon fighting.


Read the chart... - While some rulings are needed as the rules are nuanced, others can be surmised as 'read the book' as the answer to this particular question as whether hand axes and spears can be used in a rogue's sneak attack. Suppose Crawford could have provided a yes or no answer but still sometimes you just have to read the book! Hmm, so can they used? *Cough* *cough* Should take Crawford's advice... Answer: No and no as neither counts as either ranged or finesse.


There you have it. My first installment of Official D&D 5E Rulings by Tweet!


Happy Gaming!


Next time.

Five Take-Aways: Shadowrun Missions (5E) 6/26/18

Last Tuesday night organized play gaming event at my FLGCS I attended was back in March. Shadowrun Mission events were cancelled the last couple months. After a two month delay, there finally was another Shadowrun Missions event at my FLGCS. Tonight, not only was able to play Shadowrun, but participate in playing on Tuesday night at my favorite local game and comics store!


Know what that means?


Another installment of my five take-aways!


Experience level gap isn't detrimental - Many among my group of players have been participating in the Chicago for all 4 seasons now. A couple PC's karma totals qualify them for Prime Runner status. Neither of us  (yes, my combat mage is among the two) considers our characters Prime Runners cause of choices made although I could see our characters potentially become unbalancing if they were involved in the Neo-Tokyo arc. There a PC who've been used in multiple modules. Tonight, a new player with a brand new PC not only started this module but thrived. None of the less experienced characters burdened the more experienced ones. Really can't claim that with D&D.


Smoke sucks for human spell-slingers - My human combat mage's attack spells were countered because one combat occurred in a smoke-filled area. Rolling half my dice, or close to, hurt my PC's effectiveness substantially. Unlike previous combat encounters, may character didn't have the time nor was it advantageous to bypass the situation visually by using astral perception.


Couple abilities led to some feel-good impact - Back when I selected the metamagic technique of spell shaping, the table consisted of several close combat fighters. One module afterward and the table shifted to 'bring a gun to a knife fight' crowd. Other circumstances there were too many friendlies. Tonight, spell shaping meant a PC who really couldn't afford any friendly fire didn't catch any. Later on, my hermetic magician used the last service of  his bound water spirit's illusion power of concealment to aid the group sneak by in a tricky situation. The GM adjudicated the power as aiding a test. Otherwise, the situation was written mechanically that the  power's influence was superfluous. Still, the  concealment power boosted our confidence anyway.


Composure was taken for granted - Up until this module, Composure tests were infrequent and the result didn't feel like they made or broke a module for PC or table. After tonight, no more! I suspect Composure rolls will continue to be of importance as the Chicago arc finishes for us. May have to increase the corresponding attributes...


Mages and spirits are truly anime-watch-me-build-up characters - The decker really was ineffective for one pass until he could hop into hot-sim and deal with the more Matrix vulnerable characters. Okay, the opposing decker's failure to mark the decker PC aided substantially so perceptions could be colored. The ranged characters whom are built like snipers lived up to one shot, one kill mantra. Our troll tank could just tank and pull out a LMG to drastically tilt things. Okay, the face adept didn't decisively impact any of the battles but everything meritorious didn't require much time. My magician and summoned/bound spirits required time to buff up so to speak. Visual penalties? Do I have time to spend a pass astrally perceiving? Is it worth the risk? Many spells work best with prep time. Spirits? Did I have the spirit called to me? Is the spirit on the appropriate plane (physical or astral) to engage an opponent in combat? Would the snipers kill the opposing NPCs before I could go through the command protocol or the spirits have time to act? Spell-slinging/spirit commanding magicians are literally like the anime character standing there powering up.


Anyway, those are my Five Take-Aways from tonight's Tuesday Night Game.


Happy Gaming,


Next time.

Really Don't Buy Comics From Flea Markets I Realize

First back issue comics books I collected were acquired from a flea market.


They were two issues of Amazing Spider-Man. One involving the Molten Man's death (don't worry he got better) and another was a chapter in the original Roger Stern written Hobgoblin saga.


Never knew how much they cost. My dad bought them for me. I was younger than 12. Maybe younger than nine years old. More on this later...


From that day forward, I became a life-long fan of flea markets AND a life-long fan of scrounging for comic books. Checking the tables for comics and rifling through them is a must. I rate flea markets on whether comic books were there. No comics. Poor flea market.


Yet I don't recall the last time I bought a comic book from a flea market. Closest I can recall was a trade paperback containing stories from Marvel's Golden Age as Timely. Almost two decades ago.


Still, as recently as today, I attended a flea market. Missed only one booth with comics. Every other table, I scanned through the comic books upon the table. Nada. Zilch. Didn't buy a single one. Despite several catching my eye.


Maybe it's the condition of the comic? My golden age as a collector was during the Speculator Bubble. Condition is important to me - although it shouldn't. Many comics at flea markets are... overpriced for condition.


Not enough cash? Flea markets are a cash economy. My FLGCS doesn't receive cash from me when I buy my comics. Plus, there's opportunity cost inherent. If I buy a comic here, then I can't buy a comic I would've liked more later.


I already buy enough? - Suppose the sheer volume of new material and reprints I purchase deters my zeal.


Easy access to back issues at stores, in trades, digitally? - Digital and trades have replaced my zest for back issues. Very much got to have a specific issue.


Price? - Think this plays a huge role. As I never bought those flea market back issues, the price never was an issue. Nowadays, it very much is. Tables at flea markets cost money. Meaning prices I may be unwilling to subsidize because of cheaper alternatives.


Don't get me wrong. I still love flea markets. Love browsing comics there. In many ways, it replaces browsing for comics inside comic shops for me. The thrill of the hunt!


Perhaps one day I will find the flea market comic book I absolutely must have.


Next time.

First Step Toward a Truly WORLD WWE?

If you follow WWE's (World Wrestling Entertainment) press releases then you'll know they've announced a new brand. NXT UK.


NXT UK will be shot on location. The UK. With wrestlers from the UK.


Huge news indeed.


WWE is known for taking its stars abroad. Sure, locals may be used - as enhancement talent. Unless a wrestler on the roster hails from a given country, they're all foreigners.


Furthermore, WWE is mostly an American production. The predominance of shows occur in the United States. Most of the "stars" are American too.


So yes, the WWE producing a local UK product starring UK wrestlers is a significant development indeed. I'm guessing the show will be on air via local UK stations. Suppose WWE is hoping that too... In any case, I would assume NXT would be available on the WWE Network accessible to subscribers everywhere.


The latter is more important. WWE fans worldwide would be exposed to UK wrestlers in a UK environment. Thus, establishing the wrestling in the eyes of the fans and fostering a sense the wrestler is indeed from another country. Cause every wrestler who claims they from a country is from the country claimed... cough... cough...


Should NXT UK succeed, then the WWE will in all likelihood establish NXT's in other countries. Thereby, creating localized content with said country's wrestlers and flair.


Finally, the WWE would truly become a 'world' wrestling company in fact and not just in name.


Next time.