Apparently, Hulu's Marvel Animated Shows Are Leaving Later This Month

When I first returned to Hulu after a several years' hiatus, I added a slew of (vintage) Marvel animated shows to my watch list. The nineties Fox Kids shows Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, and X-men. X-Men Evolution and Iron Man: Armored Avenger too. X-Men Evolution has been available on Hulu for about as long as the streaming service existed.


My intent was to watch those shows much like a stroll down nostalgia lane at my leisure. Other shows took priority. Mostly because many were expiring. There's certain irony here...


A couple days ago I checked the expiring section of my watch list which is my custom. Lo and behold, all the aforementioned Marvel Animated shows are set to expire! I scroll over and discover that as of this moment, all those shows are supposed to leave Hulu on the 10th. Of October.


Okay, okay, I have observed Hulu will push the expiration of show past the initial date by weeks or a couple months. In theory, I could binge watch a show or two.


The problem is other than Spider-Man Unlimited those other shows ran twenty-plus episodes. I ain't got time to binge-watch all of 'em! There's other shows that I don't want to eventually play the same game as the expiring-priority game is a zero-sum game indeed. Furthermore, the new television season has begun. Hulu is like a back up DVR and provided I view an episode in a timely manner an indirect way of influencing ratings. So unfortunately, I won't be making an effort to watch any of the classic (boy I feel old writing this!) Marvel Animated shows on Hulu.


Hopefully, the notice that Spider-Man, Spider-Man Unlimited, X-Men, X-Men Evolution, and Iron Man: Armored Avenger is expiring on the 10th of October (or later during the month) is meant to boost viewings on the shows can remain on Hulu for a little bit longer. Or return.


Don't believe Disney's proposed streaming service is starting anytime soon...


Next Time

AL: Started Season 7 Unexpectedly in an Unexpected Fashion

Earlier this month, I expressed my concern over how AL was handling the Death Curse especially for characters whom haven't participated in Tomb of Annihilation (the module Season 7 is ties with) or Season 7 modules. At the time of my writing, my FLGCS wouldn't start running  Season 7 modules until October. Oh and I had volunteered to run a low Tier 1 (levels 1 - 4) table.


Yep, I may DM my very first Adventurers League Module with DDAL07-01! Although that's looking like a maybe...


When I started participating in Adventurers League, I was asked if I would be willing to help run modules, and thus broaden the GM pool, at the FLGCS. Due to my lack of familiarity with D&D 5E and my schedule during that time period, I declined. However, due to a character being unavailable because a lack of down time prevents him from leaving Barovia, I decided I would DM replays of Season 5 (tie-in with Storm Kings Thunder). Downloaded the DM packet and DM rewards too! Never did DM.  Once again, my sporadic gaming schedule kicked in such that I never played much Season 5 so there went my condition to run it.


My schedule has changed such that I can participate regularly on Adventurers League nights.


With a schedule that allows full participation and Death Curse-wariness, I pondered DMing AL mods once again. While purchasing a couple bundles (part of the subject of a future blog entry), I decided to buy DDAL07-01 on a whim. As such why not try my hand at running a module! Therefore, I was expecting my first foray into season 7 would be as a DM and not a player.


Best laid plans of mice and men and all that, the scheduled module was bumped due to an unforeseen absence. Rather then several players anticipating playing a Tier 2 (5 - 10 ) calling it a night, the store decided to run the Tier 2 "intro" (DDAL07-02) for Season 7 early. Well, one or two missions anyway. Since my planned PC hasn't died yet, I played my first season 7 module.


We only finished the first mission (out of five). Absolutely loved the jungle pulp action vibe. The DMs ability to story-tell under time crunch will make or break the experience! Our table wasn't too challenged despite playing strong (or very strong) probably because we had PCs whom excelled facing foes we fought. The final battle of the first mission is very evocative of Howard (of Conan fame).


So yeah, I wasn't expecting to play Season 7 modules as a player so soon. By the time I have to worry about how the Death Curse applies to non-Season 7 modules, an answer to my question should be available.


Next Time,


Happy Gaming!

AL: Death Curse Without Season 7 Mods?!

So season 7 modules, based on Tomb of Annihilation, started. So has the Death Curse.

What's the Death Curse? The Death Curse prevents any magic from bringing dead characters back to live and slowly kills those whom have been. It's the major stick for the arc.

There is some confusion whether or not all characters are under it. Including those who haven't played any Season 7 mods or Tomb of Annihilation.

So three of my PCs are relatively unplayable. My local FLGCS doesn't start Season 7 until October.

Now, I understand a table with PCs subject to the Death Curse and others not would cause chaos. However, Adenturers League has always waved at continuity and watched as it goes by. I can start with a year 5 mod then play a year 1 mod and follow it with a year 3 mod. Only one's starting year impacted one's PC before.

Now AL has suggested new PCs but hasn't provided any answers for older characters. Very frustrating.

Next time. Happy Gaming!

SR5 Not Dead Yet Not Same As SR3 Hand of God

Last night while playing a Shadowrun Missions module for Shadowrun 5th edition our table had the rather exciting situation of two PCs caught within the blast radius of all the grenades on grenade belt exploding. One of the PCs is not the subject of today's entry as will become clear once I finally write the session write-up (from a player perspective). Yeah, a plethora awaits.


See, even though role-playing games allow PCs to withstand powerful attacks like a grenade, several grenades exploding at once is still hazardous for one's health.


Fortunately, the other PC had an Edge rating.


Shadowrun 5th edition allows PCs to burn a point of Edge such that they are not dead yet.


For veteran Shadowrun players such as myself who've played third edition, we automatically think of that edition's hand of god.


Except they aren't quite the same.


Sure, both allow a PC to avoid dying from effect that would otherwise spell instant doom. They work differently.


SR3's Hand of God required a PC to spend a point of Karma available within the Karma Pool and then expend all Karma in order to avoid certain death once. Once and only once would the grim reaper of all shadowrunners hand be stayed. Yours truly, utilized Hand of God when my orc street samurai sustained a deadly wound and was tossed near some alligators. Afterwards, he started from scratch karma-wise thereafter. Good times. Good times.


Meanwhile, SR5's Not Dead Yet meanwhile only allowed the PC caught within the exploding grenade chorus to burn a permanent Edge. The RAW (rules as written) don't specifically state said PC must've had a point of Edge remaining within the Edge pool. Apparently, some of the participants learned that was intended as well (RAI).


Plus unlike my poor Orc Street Samurai, said PC can use Not Dead Yet for the remainder of shadowrunning career as long as the PC never burns all Edge and/or buys a new rating of Edge.


Must confess the last caused some cognitive dissonance on my end. Read the passage over and over again. Had a hard time shaking my confusing it with the old rule. Which is why I have taken it upon myself to blog about confusing old rules with new rules. Years ago, when I had started playing third edition Shadowrun, I corrected some old time players that the rules were different now. Flash forward to now, there's been a couple times I slipped back into third edition. Rules arguments are never fun especially when at the heart of the argument is rules differences between editions.


Another thing that came up in reference to Not Dead Yet and burning Edge was one's total Karma earned would be reduced. Don't know if that's rules confusion ala Hand of God or how Shadowrun Missions wants to record it. Shadowrun already has things such as initiation ordeals that permanently reduce both attributes and attribute limits that don't negatively impact a PC's total karma earned. Furthermore, a PC could very well never have raised Edge. If so, karma was never spent on an attribute point which no longer exists. Perhaps it's for record-keeping and determination of prime runner status purposes. Maybe the RAI meant for character's Street Rep to suffer whenever Edge is burnt?


All matters for further research and discussion.


Thus ends the latest installment of rules differences between editions.


Till Next Time,


Happy Gaming!

Greedo Missing Was Just A Bad Attack Role

Today I came to the realization, which I am sure the webcomic Darths & Droids already has, that Greedo missing Han could have come straight out a table-top RPG session.


What's that? Han shot first? Yes, yes, I know that. I remember watching on a television screen long, long ago and being caught by surprise when Han shot Greedo. I also recall later on but still long, long ago being surprised in local cinema seeing Greedo shooting first. And missing.


Sure, folks were riled caused Han originally shot first. Yes, Greedo shooting first in a fashion nullifies Han's character development from a sketchy rogue to a good guy. Eh, maybe. Let's be honest, everyone was like 'how did Greedo miss?! Han was right there! What was Lucas thinking?'


Okay, while I doubt Lucas has played, but any table-top role-player has been there before. Missing the target one would think impossible to miss.


Had such an experience myself this past Monday playing an Adventurers League event via D&D 5E. Both my PC and another PC probably spent one or two rounds attacking a door. And missing.


Now D&D 5E uses pre-3E notions that a to-hit role isn't just to-hit. It's to-hit and do damage. Our attacks may very well have been hitting. They just weren't effective enough to deal damage.


Third Edition/Pathfinder may have set the DC to hit at 10. There's a good chance your missing; and third had contact rules.


As does Shadowrun and old WOD. Don't score a success and you miss. Speaking of old WoD, or at least old MET Laws of (splat), I lost track of the number of times there were simple tasks failing because the storyteller went 'nah throw me chops.' Since a PC is firing a weapon, many GMs would feel justified even as something as simple as door. Same applies toward a sitting individual.


Heck, it's 2017. Thirty years of the West End Games Star Wars RPG. The WEG Star Wars game codified much of present day Star Wars lore. Using those rules as an example, there's two ways Greedo missed both involving the wild die. If you rolled a one, two things could happen. One, you subtract the wild die and the die with highest result from your total. If Greedo's player rolled low enough without those two die results included within the total such that the target number wasn't reached, failure.


The other possibility of a one on the wild die is you fail spectacular fashion. Missing someone sitting across from you would count as failing spectacularly. If WEG hadn't predated the Special Editions by a decade, I would say Greedo missing inspired the wild die...


Also, practically every table-top RPG has rules for critically missing where an attack automatically fails.


So there you have it. Greedo missing Han from across the table was just a bad roll. Rather surprised it took me so long to think of this...


Next Time.

Stranger Things, Adventurers League, and New Players

Recently, I discovered the joy of the Netflix series, Stranger Things. In addition to being an eighties movie pastiche, Stranger Things is celebration of 80's pop culture, fads, and trends. Among them is a game of particular fondness of this blog, Dungeons & Dragons. While I am not quite old enough to have played the Red Box bought from a toy store, I am old enough to have seen the advertisements. As I lamented previously, I don't recall ever seeing any of those D&D games in stores although I kind of looked...


Trip down memory lane over. Back on topic. Anyway the kid group plays D&D, which winds up playing a major role in Stranger Things. I may quibble about accuracy; but how consistently were the rules played from group to group back in those days. Especially among kids. I mean look at Monopoly. How many people actually read those rules? May not have had the disdain I held against board games for as long as I did if we had... In any case, the Dungeons & Dragons play in Stranger Things does reflect play accurately among kids of that age group. Whatever that age group is as I am not sure how old they actually are...


As an aside, the Upside-Down is a smashingly great idea that WotC should capitalize on. Sure, there's echoes of it here and there but it was never a cornerstone of any D&D game I ever participated in. When the 'Demogorgon' hops from plane to plane is very reminiscent of monsters travelling to and from the Ethereal Plane. Sure, there's the Plane of Shadow but that didn't really become into its own until 4th Edition. The Upside-Down could serve as fodder for really nasty Umbral realm or a post-apocalypse Penumbra in World of Darkness games.


So watching Stranger Things does really inspire me to play D&D. Particularly simpler D&D. Since there isn't any nearby OD&D, B/X, BECMI, or retro clone games occurring in the area, fifth edition is probably as close as I'll get. Wouldn't you know my local FLGCS runs Adventurers League games.


Recently I sat at an Adventurers League table hosted by my FLGCS and other than the adults, such as myself, playing and DMing I'd swear it was like watching the cast of Stranger Things (okay maybe younger...) game! There was same intense passion, excitement, and energy. Tactical combat? We don't need no stinking tactical combat was the mantra. Combat happened. They went full bore. In short, the one encounter adventuring day.


Adventurers League doesn't do the one encounter day. AL doesn't do 'OMG it's Demogorgon!' day. It does three encounters although the final encounter does include a boss like 'Demogorgon', ie Big Bad. Adventurers League is designed for the convention audience in mind. The serious player who wants to be challenged each encounter until final battle when they just have their weapons and cantrips against the Big Bad.


Except unlike the days of the RPGA, AL mods can be run at home or at game stores. Unlike the days of Red Box or pre-4th edition D&D (although 4th wasn't that expensive), I can't imagine young players as young or younger than the Stranger Things group plunking down $150 for the core set to play D&D. So they aren't going to play at home. They will probably play at a store. So instead of gaming among each other they'll be gaming with teens and adults. Participating in D&D play that doesn't necessarily fit their natural 'all spells at once' style.


Don't get me wrong that can be fun for a 2 hour 1 - 4 level mod that doesn't follow the typical mode of tough, tough, very tough with maybe a short rest allowed in between. Otherwise, it falls on the adults to shoulder the way through the mod while ensuring the new, young players have fun. Which is all fun and games until an adult's PC dies. Character death is one thing but no one wants to cycle through characters when they otherwise wouldn't.


Yet there's gold in them hills. Stranger Things does and has inspired a new crop of young players to try a game beloved to many gamers, Dungeons & Dragons. Adventurers League at FLCGS serve as the vehicle to try the hobby that it table-top role-playing. It would be folly not to compose modules suited to those young players play style. If not one 'Demogorgon!' encounter, but a trio of meh, meh, 'Oh, no the 'Demogorgon'! Furthermore, such a style reflects D&D's natural play style. It was only when I started playing organized play game did I encounter the tough, tough, and tough style of module. Gaming sessions wavered from the trivial to the epic. Not only would younger, newer players enjoy that style, more experienced, older players would as well.


I know I would.


So here's a call for some simpler two hour and four hour modules that new, young and older, experienced  players who just want to emulate the D&D we see in Stranger Things courtesy of Adventurers League.


Next Time,


Happy Gaming

Shadowrun (5E) Missions: Which Detection Spell(s) to Select?

Last couple sessions that I played Shadowrun Missions, the lack of my combat mage's versatility has been brought up. No hard feelings on my end. The combat mage template basically does combat... and that's about it. Not bad; however, as I have mentioned via earlier posts, combat magic in 5th edition Shadowrun doesn't have the oomph it did in previous editions. So yeah, I've been feeling it alright...


So it's high time my combat mage learns some new spells. Must confess I still haven't fully worked my head around the availability rules Missions uses. So only those spells with relatively easy Availablity will be picked from. Leaves me with the Detection and Heath categories. Health - I am not a fan. Maybe if I used reagents more, and thus boosting limits, I would. But, I don't. Unlike D&D, Health spells, within a Force a caster would normally cast, is weak sauce in Shadowrun.


Detection spells it is.


First, I am holding off on the analyze spells. They're neat; but they require a great deal more thought than I am willing to invest at the moment.


Mind Probe is awesome. However, Mind Probe is very situational. In Missions, I've come to feel every karma counts. As player of a magician exercises the working for the people option to garner more karma, nuyen is much more finite than it otherwise would be. With lifestyle expenses, I have to be very careful how much time is spent training. So I'll save Mind Probe for another wave. Besides, my Combat Mage has been fortunate to run with some very charismatic characters. That'll continue, right...?


Detect Object - is even more situational than Mind Probe is. So probably not.


I absolutely love the potential radar effect for the extended versions of some of the detect spells. However, Shadowrun Missions is currently located in Chicago, which is host to areas with different kinds of background counts. Probably overthinking it though. Later.


Detect Enemies is neat; but my observations lead me to be skeptical of its use in Missions. Everything is either to far away, one can already notice it, or you've wandered into a different background count. Chicago is a bit of a peach that way...


Detect Lifeform is another gem. But I really don't want to specialize.


Really digging Detect Life though. Meanwhile, Clairvoyance is an old favorite of mine. Clairaudience could have came in handy for some of the mods.


If I pick up one spell, it will be Clairvoyance. Like I said, it's one of my go-to spells. Plus, it doesn't have a success table that requires some interpretation on the GM's part like Detect Life. If two spells, Clairaudience will be the second.


And that's just the core book!


We will just have to wait and see how this latest batch of thinking out loud plays out. Which reminds me, there's some session reports that await...


Till next time,


Happy Gaming!

Gosh Adventurer's League Modules Run Far Longer than Advertised!

Picture Sean Bean's Boromir stating: 'One simply does not finish in Adventurer's League module in the time allotted!'


Sums up my feelings whenever I see the words "a two-hour module" or "a four-hour module".


Sure, some modules finish within the allotted time. Most often that's not the case. I've played two hour mods that ran three hours. Four hour mods that ran five or six hours. Heck, the two hour module I played last Monday ran for four hours!


Yes, you read that correctly. A two hour module ran for four hours.


To be fair, we had seven players. You know the more players, the more turns there are. Seven players also means a stronger table. Ok, sounds about right. Which means the module increases the number and/or strength of opponents. A seventh player increases the difficulty exponentially. So the Balrog - Gandalf bridge encounter? Too many PCs. Boromir's death? Sorry, Boromir but those four low level hobbits (halflings) means there has to be twice as many opponents. Couldn't resist the LOTR references but I swear the Adventurer's League authors take their cue from that. They also have a fondness for Fireball...


Except unlike LOTR PCs can't cover vast distances to escape. Often they're forced to fight those numbers.


Fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons is simpler than Third but it's not that much faster.


Also doesn't help that the modules don't scale well. The module played on Monday was intended for 2nd level characters. We were... well above that.


So here's my thoughts on how to truly speed up modules:


1) Run them at their intended character level. Strong parties will simply crush through them. Kind of like in real life. Just scale XP or don't. Either that or gradually scale the encounters to where the PC's are at. Players don't mind a tough end battle.


2) Don't increase the number of foes. The players will have superior numbers and the fight will end soon. Only in Organized Play is a six or seven member party a disadvantage. You could also scale up with each encounter.


I know some purists will scoff; but frankly the modules simply aren't well-timed for all levels and party sizes.


Till Next Time,


Happy Gaming.

Why Marvel's Diversity Initiative Failed

By now, we've all seen the hype for Marvel's next new initiative, Legacy. A key cornerstone of Legacy is what appears to be bringing back the old characters to dialing back the diversity initiative.


What's the diversity initiative? If you're asking that, you haven't paid much attention to the world of comics. One thing Marvel Comics has tried over the last several years is enhancing the ethnic and gender diversity of the starring characters of the titles it publishes.


First, Marvel tried minor approaches such as titles starring Sif and the like using minor characters. However, unless such a title has A-list talent or receives tremendous accolades, ie critical acclaim such that sales increase massively, the comics market is far too competitive for such a title to survive. Marvel's constant new initiatives, major events, and unforgiving sales floor didn't help much either.


So what's a publisher to do if one really wants to show they're series about bringing more diversity to their line-up? In the case of Marvel, replace some of their long-standing heroes, whom also have spotty sales history, with a non-white or female replacement! It even culminated in the short-lived All-New, All-Diverse (er I meant Different) Avengers. Alas, the thirty-something plus fanbase that buys the comic books that amortizes the trades basically saw it as the publishing gimmick that it was. They didn't embrace it whole-heartedly. Neither, did the new fans Marvel hoped to attract flock to comic stores to purchase those comics to foster the sales numbers Marvel desired.


The latter is really my theory why Marvel's Diversity Initiative failed. Not sexist fanboys. Not racist fanboys. One must realize there's only so many comic readers out there. Many of them are thirty-plus. They've seen the characters they've followed for years be replaced, changed, butchered, etc. When I learnt of Sam Wilson Cap or Jane Foster Thor, I didn't scream out oh no they've changed races and genders! I went 'Oh no, not again!' like toward the end of the movie Spaceballs. This won't last was my first thought. The heavy hype only made it worse to my mind. I am betting other comic buyers thought same thing.


You can only ask long time readers to support short-term gimmicks for so long before they either fail to support the title or become very critical. Unfortunately, all those new readers whom sought such diversity (ie a female Thor, a black Captain America) were probably waiting to hear if the books were any good before buying trade. Irate comics readers aren't going to provide the solid reviews to foster that.


I give Marvel credit. They tried to expand their market. Alas, they did so expecting their current, much abused market to do what they always do. The market said no as did the potential market. So that's my theory why the diversity initiative failed.


Next Time.

So Maybe the 2017- 2018 Television Season Will Be the Charm?

Last fall, I decided I would do something different. I had realized that I couldn't recall enough of a given television episode to blog about afterwards. The 2015 -2016 season had started out relatively strong with quick snippets of a show's episode that week. Then I befall behind, which led me to the conclusion notes were needed. Took notes I did.


Taking notes worked... I covered the Flash's Christmas episode. The Ghost Rider arc for Marvel's Agents of SHIELD received steady coverage from me. I actually did take notes for shows that I didn't blog about. Got to the point when enough episodes for various shows aired that I decided to wait to lump them together.


Yeah, it is mid-July now.


Most if, not all, those shows are available on Netflix now. Not exactly current or tied to the 2016 - 2017 season anymore.


Plus, I would delay watching entire shows.


Once I started watching shows on Hulu I decided that I preferred not taking notes as it removed me from the experience too much.


On the other hand, I do like providing my two cents on specific episodes.


So the notes I took for 2016 - 2017 will vanish into the aether. Once I re-watch a show or catch up I may blog about it. In fact, I may follow my approach with movies and not blog until I've seen it a second time.


I'm sure I'll think of something. Or who knows? Maybe I'll actually follow the format this 2017 - 2018 television series and provide weekly updates.


Next Time.

Mustering on Social Media Simplifies Organized Play

A decade and half ago, sheesh has it been so long, when I first participated in organized role-playing games via the RPGA's Living Greyhawk, we used an email group to sign up for modules. We knew the module, who was playing, who was running, and the PCs. A very nice set up if you ask me.


When LFR roared upon the scene, things were less formal. However, it was circle of friends and acquaintances. Word of mouth sufficed in gathering all the information above.


Flash forward to Adventurer's League and Shadowrun Missions. The Shadowrun Missions table has been fairly consistent. Generally one table progressing through the storyline and occasionally a second table of replays aimed at newer players. We've had the same players and while a character may be switched out it feels like an ongoing campaign within an organized play framework.


Adventurer's League is the Wild West in comparison. While the module is posted on social media, there have been times a DM was not known until the day of. Players and prospective DMs would arrive unaware of the module and tier. Last year, the store that runs the events attempted mustering via social media. Initially, I felt it worked well. I signed up. Stated character and level and then showed up. Still some players simply didn't use the social media page to sign up in advance. Gradually, the situation advanced to the Wild West situation describe. The store would have to muster table come start time. Delaying the game considerably.


Finally, the store decided a minimum sized table was required or else there would be no organized D&D or Shadowrun that week. First week was a learning lesson. Game was cancelled. Second week, we had a table. The store treated those signees, of which I was one, as one mustered table and anyone who just showed up as another. This upcoming session, it appears we have our minimum table so we shall see.


It's too early to tell if more players and DMs will adopt the new social media mustering approach. Would be very nice if it wasn't just 'oh so-and-so plus myself have signed up so we'll be one table'. A larger pool allows more interactivity such that the players and their character choices can influence the table mustering. Plus, one can prep for the 'familiarity' with each other the modules often presume. Too often I have sat at a table and not known the name, race, or class of a fellow PC! Given time constraints that does dampen play quite a bit. Heck, playing continuing modules with same characters create such familiarity! That's one of the hallmarks of the Shadowrun Missions events. Would be nice if the D&D 5E Adventurer's League could achieve similar results.


Till Next time,


Happy Gaming!

Geek Culture Sure Relies on the Net Quite a Bit

A blog entry or two I mentioned that I was finally able to watch wrestling again. Why? I didn't have cable; and the internet was subject to data caps. Sure, I could watch a wrestling match now and then. However, my available data would be significantly less. Rationing internet use isn't fun at all. Curiously, the amount of data consumed for what would be considered the simplest things, not talking watching wrestling matches here, would become more and more over the years...


Ah, what does this have to do with geek culture as I ascribe within the title, you may ask? Wrestling fans are geeks of sort as one does not just simply watch one or two hours of wrestling a week. Following geek culture requires quite a bit of data. Just think of how much one streams a week! From trailers to television shows to movies, not to mention video games, the internet is the realm of the geek. Thus to follow geek culture one must use the internet quite a bit. Besides, I frequently said I would explain my absence from wrestling one day. Here it is.


Instead of following wrestling bit by bit on social media, I can watch shows on Hulu, Netflix, or the WWE Network (or insert wrestling promotion). Also don't need to stock up on wrestling DVDs although there are some I'll still pick up.


Speaking of DVDs, remember when one can walk into a brick and mortar store and see aisles brimming with quite a variety? Yeah, not so much now. Nowadays, one is lucky if one can find a show past a certain season! Has Marvel's Agents of SHIELD had more than one season available on DVD? If it has I must have missed it.


You know where I can find seasons of Marvel's Agents of SHIELD? Netflix. While I waited what seems like years, cause it has, for Daredevil Season One to come out on DVD, I can watch both seasons plus all the other Netflix Marvel shows as well. Without hoping for a long, long time that it will soon arrive on DVD. Can also watch the new Voltron, Inspector Gadget, and Danger Mouse as well. So without the internet, reliable, non-rationed high speed internet, one simply does not have access to segments of geek culture.


Sometimes I wait quite a long time before watching a show. Too long. Plus, it's nice if my viewing of show attracts attention similar to a Nielsen family. That's what Hulu is for. Legion is great adaptation inspired by the X-men character Legion. The show does a terrific job reflection the unstable nature of the main character's mental state as each episode shifts in tone from one episode to the next. Although I think there's one character that's more Morrison than Claremont. Furthermore, Legion is very dark compared to all the other comic book based shows on the air in a very sophisticated fashion. Don't have cable so I couldn't have watched it. Plus thanks to Hulu the powers-that-be have another measurement of support. Same goes true for the NBC show Timeless. While I DVR'd Timeless, I fell behind that I eventually gave up and deleted my recordings. However, I was able to watch the show about a time travel show that illustrates how much one act can have profound effect on the timeline. All under the backdrop where the black hats aren't necessarily black hats. Really enjoy. While I may not like how Hulu goes about expiring shows, it does motivate me to watch it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have marathoned Timeless and discovered how much I greatly enjoyed it.


Video games - in the age of DRM do people actually truly own their video game? And it's a complete game? Nope. Heck, PC games are rarer in stores than DVDs! After years, Steam finally stopped working for me. Steam works again now.


The role-playing game industry is almost as bad. As much as I championed 4th edition D&D, WOTC's ill-advised 4th ed version of the OGL, the GSL (?), practically killed any variety of the RPG market in stores. As such, many RPG product are generally available primarily in ebook form. Plus there's software support and gaming via online.


Went from being avid anime watcher to barely watching any anime. Anime is too expensive for me to buy it completely unseen. So once I could watch anime on Hulu once more, I watched the anime Phantasy Star Online 2 The Animation. Yeah, that was another reason I had hankering to play some Phantasy Star when I downloaded Phantasy Star 2 for my phone... Great series. Not my Phantasy Star but it had enough Phantasy Star elements. Kind of wish the game would become available to play here in the States after watching it... Heck, I've even started watching a couple 'new' series that are airing on Hulu, Chronos Ruler and In Another World with My Smartphone. Been a very long time since I last watched an anime series on a weekly basis and not had the option to binge it. Heck, it's nice to watch anime regularly again!


So there you go. My rather long-winded account on how I can now fully experience geek culture (while arguing why the internet is necessary) as my internet experience is no longer constrained.


Next time

Happy 15 Years TNA, er I mean Global Force Wrestling

When TNA (Total Non-stop Action, so don't go there) debuted on the wrestling scene, it was a weekly PPV show. Back in 2002, I didn't watch WWE PPVs. Paying to see the equivalent of weekly wrestling product was a non-starter. I became more interested in TNA around 2004-2005 as my interest in the independents grew but particularly because of its connection to the NWA. So I read up on the flagship of the NWA. They did put on series of PPVs, which were PPVs but I didn't see them until they were on DVD. Considerably after. So once NWA-TNA's Impact show was available on the 'Net and then TV, I made sure to watch.


The NWA connection didn't last long. I continued watching though. Total Non-stop Action wasn't just a fancy name. While the selling and story-telling could have used improvement, the action was top-notch. For a television show, Impact put on matches of a caliber that WWE reserves for PPV. I bought a bunch of DVDs. Some I still haven't watched.


Anyways, the company went through several phases but drifted away from the fast action pace into WWE lite. I'd like to say I stopped watching because of that. Really, it was for the same reason as WWE. Unlike WWE, TNA was, and far as I know currently is, a difficult product to follow. WWE has its network and Hulu streams some of WWE's shows. TNA has had... difficulties. Aces & Eights was the primary storyline when I last watched the promotion.


During the years since, TNA has had problem after problem. Occasionally, I would see a snippet on Social Media on go Hmmm. Jeff Jarret formed a new promotion called Global Force Wrestling (GFW). Both promotions would have cross-overs?


In any case, TNA was hyping up toward its big PPV of the year, what they call their anniversary PPV Slammiversary. As I still had yet to get back fully into wrestling, you could guess I wasn't planning on ordering it. You'd be correct. Still it was nice to see the underdog promotion was still ticking.


Then I discovered today, TNA was no more. Instead, it is becoming Global Force Wrestling. Turns out all troubles led to a new owner and that new owner liked how Jeff Jarret thinks. They also didn't want folks minds going into the gutter every time 'TNA' popped up. Ergo both of Jarret's promotions are merged into one, ala GFW. There's talks about expanded markets and entering the world of streaming television. The latter being a good thing as it would be nice to actually, you know, watch a full program of Global Force Wrestling.


So in two days time, at Slammiversary, TNA will officially become Global Force Wrestling. As an old fan, I wish it the best. Happy 15 years GFW.


Next Time.

First Impressions on Sega Frontier ala Phantasy Star II

The 8-bit and 16-bit video game consoles where a huge part of my childhood and adolescence. While I played quite a bit of NES and SNES, it was the Sega Genesis that I could play on a regular basis. I have many fond memories of playing Sonic the Hedgehog along with JRPGs such as the Shining Force and Phantasy Star series. While I do have a retro Genesis player, I don't use it as often as I would like; and I don't have immediate access to the aforementioned JRPGs. The urge to play them has become strong with this one.


Needless to say, Sega unveiling its Sega Frontier has me quite excited!


A quick primer is Sega will be releasing its library of games as apps for both iOS and Android under the umbrella of Sega Frontier over, hopefully, the next couple years. They are free although I guess they're will be in-game app purchases and one can pay in order to due a local save instead of saving via the cloud. More on that in a bit.


Remember how I stated the Phantasy Star series I had hankering to play? Well, Phantasy Star II was among the initial releases. To cut the suspense, I downloaded the game, like, yesterday.


Without further ado, here are my first impressions:


While I played Phantasy Stars 3, 4, and 1, I never really played 2. So there's that. I can now cross Phantasy Star 2 off my to-play list. There is/was a bit of a learning/remembering curve as I try remember some elements of the series as well become familiar with an older set up. Haven't gotten to far into the game, although I did add the third member to my party. But I suppose that's a subject for a later blog post.


Anyway, the console emulator is adequate enough. I can play the game just fine on my smartphone. More than occasionally I will accidentally press a button on my phone, which causes the screen to minimize and the game pauses. Probably because my hands are too big for the console emulator on my smartphone. A tablet may have sufficient size that such errors don't occur. One day I may investigate the possibility of a Bluetooth controller further down the road as pressing buttons does get distracting and the "control pad" isn't quite a precise. Yes, it works enough for PS2. However, controlling the characters is jerky enough that one can trigger more fight encounters than otherwise. Granted, that could just be me.


Phantasy Star 2 is also the first game I've played on my smartphone so it requires some getting used to. I find I don't have a desire to play for long periods of time. That can make grinding (ie seeking random combats for more xp and currency) difficult. Fortunately, Sega Forever allows Cloud Saves that unlike the original game can occur at any time.


The catch with the cloud saves is that one needs to watch ads and there's a bit of lag. So you're going to want to a good Wi-Fi connection. As I wasn't using data, I have no idea how data saving on the cloud consumes.


Overall, as a nostalgic gamer who isn't going to game for hours at a time, my first impressions on playing Phantasy Star II via Sega Frontier app umbrella on my phone has been quite positive. There's quite a bit of Phantasy Star II in my future; and I look forward to future Sega Frontier releases.


Happy Gaming!

Hmm, Guess Watching Wrestling is More of a Habit...

Once upon a time, I was an avid watcher of pro-wrestling.


Okay, sports entertainment. Happy WWE?


I would watch Monday Night Raw, Smackdown, TNA Impact, and ECW/NXT/Tough Enough and would record shows to ensure I wouldn't miss an episode. In retrospect, I watched a lot of wrestling. A lot. Needless to say that took quite a bit of time...


Well, then I went from being able to watch all that wrestling programming to just one show a week, WWE's Main Event. The advent of WWE Network meant no Main Event for me.


So for years, I wasn't watching any regular wrestling shows. Otherwise, there'd be much more wrestling coverage on this blog. Much more.  Cause there's more to gripe about...


Then I regained the ability to watch regular wrestling programming (to be covered in a future post). A week's worth of WWE programming.


Loved the focus on the IC belt on RAW. Cause Brock Lesnar works as often as a politician...


WWE NXT reminded of wrestling shows of old; and I liked the focus on new talent. Meanwhile, 205 Live was the cruiserweight show, which cruiserweights long needed. Greatly liked the toast Austin Aries received. Main Event isn't quite as good if you've seen Raw. Really didn't need to see Samoa Joe beat up on Seth Rollins after winning the match due to an exposed turnbuckle again.


Never thought Jinder Mahal would become #1 contender...


What? All that is month's old stuff, you say? Well, yeah, those events occurred on WWE shows that aired the week of May 8th 2017. Procrastinated about blogging my thoughts on those shows and since it is almost July it feels pointless now what with WWE's weekly new content. Maybe if I took notes about more memorable day stuff for an On this Day feel...


I also haven't watched any wrestling since then. Not because I didn't enjoy those programs. It's been so long a one star match would be at least two or three star match in my eyes. Which is kind of why I procrastinated blogging my thoughts for so long...


Upon reflection, my avid, weekly wrestling habit was broken. I didn't feel an overriding need to watch 5 hours of wrestling. Oops sports entertainment. I watched other things instead. Plus it doesn't help that for every 5 hours of WWE programming, there's really only one or two hours that are truly must see. So the lack of 5 hours, more like 6 or 7, that are must see really isn't conducive to habitual watching. Kind of like comic book reading and collecting. Sure, you may read an issue or two here and buy four issues there but then go months without reading and/or collecting. Feeling that with pro wrestling. It was because I would avidly watch pro wrestling week to week that I avidly watched sports entertainment week to week.


So yeah, I finally understand first-hand why other lapsed hardcore pro wrestling fans have a hard time being hardcore sports entertainment fans they once were.


Not saying I am gonna watch some good ole wrasslin' avidly again but it's probably going take time. Then expect more male soap opera stuff on this blog.


Next time.

Forgot about Darths & Droids!

First of June so figured it was high time to blog once more. Hadn't blogged more during May simply because I couldn't pick subject matter to focus on first! Good thing I don't write or blog for a living hehe


Must admit it would be June (insert date); and I would still be deciding which idea I've been procrastinating over to blog about. Decided what the heck I'll scroll through the blog as if I am visitor. Don't really do that all that much anymore when I glanced at the left hand header Webcomics and saw the Webcomic Darths &Droids.


'Ah, Darths & Droids, that is a webcomic I have not read in very, very long time.' Pardon the Obi-Wan reference pun.


Okay, to be fair, I had been thinking about Darths and Droids since I learned via social media that they completed the story from Episode I to Episode VI! Yeah, I know and they know Disney has released a couple more but back when the strip debuted back in the 2000s we were led to believe the prequels were the last of the Star Wars movies.


What is Darths and Droids you ask?


Darths and Droids is a webcomic inspired by the webcomic DM of the Rings, which uses photo scans from the movies to create a comic page. The story told with each comic page captures what would have happened during each scene if it was the result of a role-playing game. Both the in-character and out-of-character chatter is included. As any gamer would tell you the dialogue would be very different...


I stopped reading Darths and Droids simply because it fell out of habit. In fact, regular webcomic reading dropped to non-existence. Didn't help that I began collecting significantly more comics and my gaming became non-existent. Last time I followed the strip they were still on the Phantom Menace. Yep, that long.


So if you want to mix role-playing games, comics, and the Star Wars movies, there's Darths and Droids. Speaking of which, I should probably catch up!


Happy Reading!

SR5: Object Resistance Doesn't Apply to Direct Combat Spells?!

Gosh, It's been quite a long time since my last installment! Wasn't intending for such a long hiatus but that is story for another time. Right now, I want to get back into the swing of blogging with a quick, easy blog post.


Been playing Shadowrun 5th edition more regularly now. As I remarked in a prior post, the more I game, the more I read. As such as a the resident mana slinger player, I decided to try and make sense of the object resistance table and how it may apply toward combat spells. After all, the table is toward the back the sorcery section. Quite the separation from the combat spells!


Why the inquisitive search you may ask?


Well, back during heyday of Third Edition, an object's object resistance made the object more resistant toward spells. Direct Combat spells included. The more technologically-advanced an object was, the less one could effect it with, say, a powerbolt. If magician desperately needed to damage a vehicle or drone, an indirect elemental manipulation spell was the best chance even if you had to deal with armor and such.


So perused the spellcasting section. General rules. Combat spells. The Object Resistance Table. Near as far as I can tell, an object's object resistance simply doesn't apply to combat spells.


Major change.


Know what that means? No using Fireball and hoping for the best. Well, you can, chummer, but armor can easily render your spell not doing drek. Nah. Direct Combat spells which effect objects, ie physical spells, such as Powerbolt and Powerball just received an upgrade in the eyes of this former Third Edition player. Got to love edition-based cognitive dissonance, eh?


Think my combat mage is gonna have to learn both power bolt and power ball now...


Happy Gaming!

SR5: Smuggler Template complete?

Time for another installment where I analyze the templates in Shadowrun, Fifth Edition Core Rule book to determine how ready for play they actually are.


If you frequent theaters or pay much attention to movie trailers, you're probably aware the next installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise is coming. Must admit, I really have not seen any of the movies of that franchise to completion. Watching the trailers has me itching to play a crackshot driver such as depicted in those films. In Shadowrun terms, the classic vehicle rigger.


The Fifth Edition book doesn't include a vehicle rigger template...


But wait... aha! The Smuggler template is practically the classic vehicle rigger in all but name.


So how ready-to-play is it?


Brief sidenote: I miss how the templates would break down the priority codes, which if I recall correctly, they did in third. Could be wrong though...


Priority codes:


A - Resources, it is a rigger...
B - Race - Troll.
C - Skills, more later
D - Attributes
E  - Magic


Skills - Based on the skills listed, the Smuggler is missing a skill group. The template also has one extra skill point. So Karma must've been spent. It's also missing two points of free Knowledge/Language skills.


Attributes - Karma must've been spent to raise an attribute.


Karma spent - After taking Positive and Negative qualities into account, the Smuggler has 19 unspent karma. Since there's two extra points of Contacts, two karma were probably spent there. Another 14 were probably spent to raise Logic by one and to pick up navigation. So that leaves 5 unspent Karma.


Resources - I had tallied 423,000-ish nuyen of goods before I realized I may have goofed on ammo. Still, even if one accounts for an extra 1,000 nuyen, the Smuggler has roughly 26,000 unspent nuyen. Considering a PC can only save 5,000 nuyen  past character creation that's 21,000 lost nuyen! Yeah, it's this sort of nuyen balancing is why I prefer Awakened characters with low resource priority...


 Verdict - The Smuggler is virtually ready to play. One just has to pick a skill group as well as another language or knowledge skill or two. The five unspent karma could be used to pick up some more skills or banked for character advancement. My focus would be on raising Edge... Resources is probably the biggest pain as one will have audit the template's ammo. The Smuggler is missing a Fake Sin or two as well as Fake Licenses. So that would probably require some accounting work. I'd consider the Smuggler pretty much ready for quick one-shot but in organized play such as Shadowrun Missions you will be exercising the free first module tinkering rule else that's quite a bit of nuyen left on the table chummer.


Happy gaming chummers!