Post X-Mas 2016

Well another year of food, family, baby Jesus and the what not associated with this time of year.


A big shut out first to my sister for this gift of awesome!

Made by Curse Camp Studios

Click here to see the stuff they have.....

Me, my fun new mask and my special lady on X-mas

A Friday 13th part IV: The Final Chapter replica Jason hockey mask. Yeah it is complete with the machete cut and everything. It comes from a dude they know who makes sweet movie style replicas.

Need lees to say I have been wearing this about to pester the family and scare the "straights" (my neighbors).

Then an assorted look at the gifts given from the kids, my lady and the family

(both regular and in-laws).


My Pop Vinyl fetish is still being fed with Davros, a Niffler and a patina Cthulhu.
A pair of sweet goggles for outdoor work where yard detritus is flying at my face. Plus I can channel
my inner Furyan while wearing them.
Batman Doom, a sweet JLA vs. Legion o' Doom cartoon.
A Mandolorian beanie to keep my brainpan warm.
SOCKS, because I guess I need them?
A new Camelback for power hikes and the 1/2 marathon we are doing again this summer.
A pile of salted and cured meat.
The Last Witchhunter, I know isn't great, but for me it was a guilty pleasure.
Blood Bourne which I have forgotten to buy soooo many times, so I let someone else buy it for me.


Then  a second and huge shout out to my dad for creating this!

No words, just weepy.

The Trilogy, The Blue Brothers, The Burbs will never be viewed the same.

MERRY X-MAS!

Looks like Mrs. Claus and the Elves made the naughty list!

The good naughty list!

Happy a great X-mas Day and holiday weekend everyone!

KING OF TOKYO! (insert giant monster noises and explosions)

Last Friday the local library had their monthly game night. We usually keep abreast of the games being run to see if it something we have wanted to try before the buy.

This time around they were running King of Tokyo.  Now this is a game title that peaked my interest a while back as it involves giant monsters beating up each other for fun and sport.

Last Gen Con we saw it being run…..and passed on it.

Why?

Well the look of the game turned us off. Cardboard cutouts of monsters and a like 6’x6’ place holder board did not appeal to us that weekend. We walked without a second look.

Well now it popped up again and I took it as sign. We had been given a second chance! Three of us went to try it out.

King of Tokyo.

A game for 2-6 players where the goal is to be the last man…er….monster standing.

Players choose a monster to play. These are solely cosmetic. The monsters have a number of hit points/life points/ health or whatever one wants to call it.

There is a board that used to represent Tokyo, where one player will set up in and the others will stand on the outside. See when your monster is outside the city he can be attacked by the monsters in the city. The monster in the city can be attacked by the monsters outside the city. There is no safe place to hide.

From there it becomes a version of king o’ the hill be amassing 20 victory points (by standing in the city, beating down other monsters or a combo of these two activities) or being the last monster with any health.

The monster choices

Rouge One!

Well the first out trilogy non-Skywalker focused Star Wars film is out for mass consumption. The second film in the Disney Star Wars series and it does not disappoint. The first almost, but not entirely standalone Star Wars film.

I have seen it twice. Once as an eager fan devoted to the series and a second time without the raging fan boy activated.

After two viewings, I have to say it was damn bit of a good time.

Alright for those few outside the know, Rouge One is the story of how the Rebel Alliance attains the schematics for the Death Star. This is accomplished by one Jyn Erso, the daughter of a scientist who helped create the super cool planet destroying laser. Jyn along with a few other fellas get swept up in the plans of the Rebellion, try to avoid the Empire and eventually lead a mission to steal the Death Star plans. This is equal part heist film and Dirty ½ Dozen in the Star Wars universe pre- Episode IV.

It could also be called three items Ian loves all in one movie!

Canada photo dump Norvan Falls

 We checked out Norvan Falls. It looked pretty tame, and then became an 11 mile hike.

Trail detritus and the remains of an old vehicle.

 

Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards II, a review!

The best part about winter cold? Playing a lot more games inside!

Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards II: Rumble at Castle Tentakill

A  …..ago I bought the card game Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards: Duel at Mount Skullzfyre. You can read the review of it here Epic Spell Wars 1 review

Now here comes Epic Spell Wars of the Battle Wizards II: Rumble at Castle Tentakill. It is both a standalone and an expansion to the original game.

Mysterium boardgame review

Well a few weeks back we got to try a game called Mysterium. Our local library does these monthly open game nights and they were running a demo of it. We had seen the box and were intrigued by the art, name and concept. We have become more likely to try before we buy, so we passed on this game for a while.

After one game we were hooked and bought it the next day.

Alright here is the official description of the game…..

Welcome to the haunted manor of Mysterium!

In the 1920’s, Mr. MacDowell, a gifted astrologist, entered in his new house when he immediately detected a supernatural being. Gathering  eminent mediums of his time for an extraordinary seance, they will have  7 hours to contact the ghost and investigate to unlock an old mystery…

Unable to talk, the amnesic ghost will communicate with the mediums through visions (illustrated cards). They will have to decipher the images to help the ghost remember how he was murdered (who? where? which weapon?). The more they cooperate and guess well, the easier it will be  to the catch the right culprit.

So enter in this strange manor and let yourself be led by your intuition!

The suspect cards

Late November/early December book report

Blood of Kings



A Warmachine novel that is supposed to encompass events before the tabletop version of MKIII.

This focuses on Vinter Raelthorn the usurped king of Cygnar coming back to nab the throne. It also focuses on Vinter’s bastard son who is trying to get on the throne with help from Magnus “the traitor.” Then there is a third bit with the current king Leto who is currently on said throne. Oh yeah and throw in the Cygnar warcaster Caine who is hunting for the bastard son of Vinter to kill him for the Cygnar version of the C.I.A.

Warmachine Game o’ Thrones?

That is sort of what this novel felt like.

A long winded bit of better than typical fan fiction. There is a lot of talking and exposition. Intermixed is some action with steam robots and various game characters.

It wasn’t terrible. I found it similar to the mid-ground 40K novels. A descent read for those who like to play Cygnar or Mercenaries.

If there was a take away from this novel, it was the possibility for changes to the tabletop and certain characters/ potential theme lists.

Far Cry Primal, a review 40% of the way through the game.

Far Cry Primal….or Mesolithic Fallout 4

 

 

I never went anywhere near the Far Cry games. I have no idea what they are about, but there are guns involved.

Then I saw someone playing Far Cry Primal.

Ummm…open world set in 10,000 B.C.? Hmmm……crafting system? Errrr…. You can level your guy and there is a sort of skill tree? Ahhhh….you can tame animals to kill for you? So an unkillable pet that you choose?

Yeah. This looks like Fallout 4 but with cavemen, wooly mammoths and such. How did I not pay attention to this before now?

Nice furry elephant. I just want to ride you.
Oh crap!

Alright the story and game play. Well let me see as I said above this takes place in 10,000 B.C. in the Oros Valley (not a real place) in Central Europe. You play as Takkar a dude who is part of the Wenja tribe. You are tasked with surviving, gathering, hunting, saving your scattered tribespeople, building  a little hut city, fighting animals and two other tribes that are out to get you  and yours.

 

Canada photo dump Capilano Park

Alright more pics from my Vancouver vacation.

This is from our morning at Capilano Park. 

It is know for a giant suspension bridge and treetop walks.

We start off with totem poles. I'm a big fan and would love a couple in the back yard.

Then you get to the bridge. It is only a few hundred feet to the ground below. No big right?

I hate suspension bridges. They move and sway and I'm not having it.

Fantastic Beasts and there they are! A review.

The first not Harry Potter/ Harry Potter spin-off film based on a book has been seen by me and mine.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Set in 1926 New York, we are introduced to the American wizarding world through the character Newt Scamander. It seems he is travelling the world studying beasts (fantasy monsters) and writing a book about them. He is also on mission, that they want you to think has a shady vibe about it, to return a beasty to its home. This all seems pretty benign. Well now throw in an invisible monster destroying bits of New York and the investigation by the Magical Congress of the United States American (a.k.a. the Ministry of Magic), a group of anti-witch propaganda pushers, a newspaper magnate and his son running for office, a wizard version of Hatari, not Voldemort on the loose, a paltry romance story, American Muggle interaction (or Mo-Maj’s a word I hate the sound of) and you have the basic plot of Fantastic Beasts.

As I sit here typing this, I am still at odds with this movie. I didn’t hate it, but I hated parts of it. I didn’t love it, but I loved parts of it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Who thought this pic was 

1. ever a good idea

2. sexy

I guess it was made to show an appreciation for a blunderbuss, to make one hungry and to titillate at the same time?

Whatever the reason it is Thanksgiving. Be thankful for whatever and do the family feasting or whatever it is you and yours chooses to do.

D&D post game 11-19-16

It is hard to believe that a simple week long celebration culminated in a night of vicious attacks and terror.

The final night of the Harvest Festival in Stonekeep was anything but family friendly.

The night began with the Remembrance of the Fallen ceremonies at the local graveyard. It was here that some unknown party struck first. A simple ceremony and candlelight vigil turned into a battle against the risen dead. The city guard held the cemetery gates and our intrepid party ventured in to battle the various skeleton and zombies that were walking about attacking the civilian bystanders.

D&D pre-game 11-19

This week has been a time of celebration throughout the realm. All the cities are decked out in vibrant reds, oranges and yellows. There are parades and celebrations on various days during the week. Various acting and performing troupes have settled in to dance, sing, act and entertain the masses. Food is plentiful. Drink is plentiful. A giant travelling circus has arrived. You can’t walk ten feet without seeing corn, apples or some type of gourd.

 Why?

It is the yearly celebration of the coming Autumnal Equinox, the Harvest Festival, the Days of the Departed, the Celebration of Gratuitous Bounty or whatever the local communities decide to call this time of year.

The celebration of the bounty of the summer planting. A week of enjoying times with family and friends. A time to steel against the coming winter months. A time to reflect on the year. A time for some to honor the fallen and lost. A time to cut loose and party, because there is nothing better to do. Whatever the reason, it is a time of celebration.

Come out to see a show!

Enjoy the time with friends!

Take part in the local events!

Revel in the last days before the lean winter months!

Remember and honor the lost!

Head to Ferrous Spur to see the Ancestoral Parade of the dwarves and the pyrotechnic display afterwards!

Marvel at the raising of the swamp spirits and learn why they call the town Wychlight!

Travel to the garrison at Bastion and listen to the playful music of the elves. However, don’t get over zealous and travel into the woods for a closer look.

If you are in Stonekeep go and see the travelling circus!

 

Go enjoy the party. Everyone else is!





New Privateer pretties!

Leading off with the newest version of my favorite Warlock. A new Kaya on the horizon.
A cool look and a nod to Princess Mononoke.

Reign of Cthulhu!

Reign of Cthulhu ……

…..also known as our newest addiction!

Reign of Cthulhu is made by Z-Man Games, the people who make the pretty awesome Pandemic game. We played a game of this at Gen Con 2016. It was fun, but we needed more than one game.

Well we eventually played many many games of Pandemic on vactation and realized that it is stupid fun and that the Cthulhu version is worth a buy, just as fun and right in our wheelhouse.

Alright.

Reign of Cthulhu is based on the H.P. Lovecraft universe. Here the ancient and long thought dormant Elder Gods have their cultists trying to bring them for into the material realm. You play one of four characters and are trying to thwart the cultists and close dimensional portals that those pesky Elder Gods, most notably the big guy Cthulhu himself, are trying to move through. Simple right?

Nope.

Alright first this is a Co-Op for 1-4 players. You play an archetype character (Doctor, Hunter, Occultist, Driver etc.) with an ability to help you/ the team stop the cultists and their Shaggoth masters from summoning the big nasties. Your team has to travel a board that contains four towns Innsmouth, Arkham, Kingsport and Dunwich. Yes all towns based on/part of Lovecraft literature.  Now each town has a color and a portal. Players collect town  cards and once they have five of the same color, they can close that town/color portal. Do this four times and you win the game.

Now along the way cultists show up every turn and you have to “clear” them from the towns. Why? More than 3 cultists on a town location and they summon an Elder God. This will have some negative game effect and make it harder for the players to win. If you summon all the gods…( there are seven Old Ones to summon and the seventh is always Cthulhu)… then you can guess what happens.

There are also Shoggoths that move around the board. They are trying to get through portals as well. If they do, then an Elder God awakens, like having 3+ cultists. Yup you will move one step closer to Cthulhu and the game will get more difficult. So “clearing” (or killing cultist/Shoggoths) bad guys is as essential as closing gates during the game.

Close four gates and win. That is it. The only way to win the game

Now losing the game is a lot easier.

“By the Hoary hosts of Hoggoth” Its Dr Strange!

The next Marvel movie is out there for mass consumption.

Dr. Strange.

I was really curious to see what/how they would deal with the Sorcerer Supreme.

It did not disappoint.

Dr. Strange, for the masses is the wizarding world aspect for the Marvel universe, well he was when I was deep in comics.

Yes this is a very paint by numbers origin story and has a feel like the first Iron Man.

I was ok with that. Dr. Strange needed an origin story since he is not a Bat, Super or Spider man.

1.       Meet Dr. Steven Strange awesome cocky super surgeon
2.      Life changing incident/accident that ruins his awesome super surgeon hands
3.      Love interest issue- blerg!
4.      Learn abilities through crazy Kung-Fu-ish wizardry
5.   Small montage-
6.    Insert one –off villain
7.   Rekindle love interest- double blerg!
8.   Sprinkle in some action set pieces and amazing visuals
9.   Sprinkle in a dose of humor- that was needed to keep this from being too heavy handed
10.   Final conflict
11.   Set-up sequel

The plot is really simple and the pacing is great. It was super easy for the Marvel muggles to follow. I was really wondering how they would pull magic into this movie universe. I mean there is enough science and technology in the Marvel movies, but magic has been over looked to boot. Oh sure they dabbled a little with it in Thor, but not nearly as much as they would have to for Dr. Strange. I was really impressed with how they introduced the magical component and am super curious to see where they go with it next.