Tom Cruise Film Festival, Part Two

I had so much fun with my first retrospective of Cruise’s work (link here) that I made a pointed effort to watch (or re-watch) more of his films. Following are my impressions of this second batch. Dim the lights! Jack Reacher Tension up to eleven! Amazingly well done! Jack’s an ex-military policeman, and for some … Continue reading Tom Cruise Film Festival, Part Two →

Part Fifty: 2014. Popular! You’re Gonna be Popular… A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches

Popular And we’re back, embarking on a journey into the fifth decade of modern gaming history. But before we go any further, let’s check in on my own gaming activities for the year 2014. The birthplace of Aerokidz Aerokidz and Roll20 Our DM for the “Dads & Kids” gaming group bowed out, so I picked … Continue reading Part Fifty: 2014. Popular! You’re Gonna be Popular… A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches →

Artist Retrospectives V – Maxfield Parrish

Dream Castle in the Sky Parrish was born in Philadelphia in 1870 and raised a Quaker. He passed away in 1966. Romance The son of artist Stephen Parrish, he was incredibly successful and widely known. The Canyon He studied art for many years and traveled widely. The Lantern Bearers, cover of Collier's Magazine, 1910 He … Continue reading Artist Retrospectives V – Maxfield Parrish →

The Planet of the Apes (Old School)

I’ve been on an ape rampage recently. But what good’s a rampage without witnesses? So here’s another blog post. I hope you relish it as much as I. Rampage First of all, now I’ve reminded myself of an old arcade game circa 1986 called Rampage, featuring, you guessed it, a giant ape. (There were two … Continue reading The Planet of the Apes (Old School) →

Part Forty-Nine: 2004-2013, Summarizing the Fourth Decade of Modern RPGs. A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches

Four decades of role-playing games. Forty years, that’s huge. That’s not an unusual adult lifetime (IE, twenty years growing up, then forty as an adult). Forty years certainly covers multiple generations, and that includes not only players but writers. Many folks working on games at this point may not have even been born back in … Continue reading Part Forty-Nine: 2004-2013, Summarizing the Fourth Decade of Modern RPGs. A Historical Overview of Role-playing from the Trenches →

Artist Retrospectives IV – Arthur Rackham

Undine Arthur Rackham was an English illustrator whose life spanned the years between 1867 and 1939. He is considered to fit into the Art Noveau style, something organic and sensuous. The Goblin Market He illustrated a number of works both great and fanciful. His style could range from brooding to elated, from dramatic to joyous. … Continue reading Artist Retrospectives IV – Arthur Rackham →