That is my lame attempt at a joke. To be fair right about now my brain is on auto-pilot and I am glad I was clever enough to come up with that and not just title this post "Fucking D&D Yo!"...actually thinking about it, that would be a badass title. Perhaps in the future.
So on to the meat of this potato post-the games I have developing right meow. The Pathfinder game I had with my rogue died-not my rogue died, just the game was so derailed that we decided to quit and start a different game. Apparently you can't just kill "innocent" guards (they did try to arrest us) and not fuck up everything and turn the part evil...societal norms am I right?! Anyway, so we decided we would do a Marvel Heroic game and just be superheroes, because we are 12 and boys and because it's awesome SO GET OFF MY BACK! Anyway after just finishing up Bioshock Infinite (I know I took FOREVER to finish it and pretty much pulled a stereo-typical gamer guy weekend and didn't move/shower/get dressed/leave the couch for 10 hrs to finish up-don't judge me) I decided that my character would be based on Elizabeth and use portals and such. My only problem is that I feel vastly underpowered when compared to the other people in the group. We have yet to play an actual game though, so we shall how well she plays out.
The next game I have coming up is a Star Wars game and like the Marvel game, I have yet to play anything like it all and it makes me nervous. I am playing a Twi'lek Jedi/Jedi Knight, which is awesome and I think I will really enjoy playing her, I just hope that it is as much fun as I am thinking it will be to play. Pretty much for her I just focused that her background is of her working with the scum of the universe basically being a bad ass Sith Hunter. Her Jedi Master was killed and ever since then she has been seeking vengeance for his death-always teetering on the line. Again, we shall see how this game goes as well.
The thing that I realized when coming up with these characters is how comfortable I have become with Pathfinder/D&D. I found myself getting so discouraged and frustrated making these characters because I am learning two new systems at the first time. I mean I have only been gaming for a little over a year and are just now becoming familiar with Pathfinder rules and everything. It went from making a character and everything in about 30 minutes to having to spend HOURS to get everything set and even now I still don't have all my gear or anything.
The last character that I have is a typical Pathfinder character and I LOVE her. I mean I know get attached to my characters all the time, but she is really fun to play. She is a Changeling Lich Alchemist-all of which are new things I have never played before, making each game very exciting. So far we have fought giants, trolls, dodged flaming boulders, killed zombies and skeletons, and flown on an air elemental-powered airship. The world is Eberron and it's steampunky and badass and awesome and I love it.
So that is what my gaming life has been up to recently. Nothing too exciting, but once we get these games going, then I should have some good shit to write about.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Friday, August 16, 2013
Bros and D&D
I promise these two things are more related then you would think, so just follow me out with this one. Tonight our gaming group have decided to embark on quite possibly what is going to be the greatest shit show and most disruptive game of D&D ever...a drunk quest. We have a module we are being run through, 5th level characters, and pretty much straight Pathfinder. For this venture I have decided on playing an Elf Bladebound Magus that is a total "bro" with a diminutive fey. The visual of that picture can be harkened from the back recesses of your brain...I am an elf, fighting with a sword and I wear green; my fey friend is super tiny, rides on my shoulder and shouts at me the whole time. If you don't get that reference, then I hope no pity is shown on your soul...but for the sake of not losing my whole 10 readers, it's Link from Zelda. So here are the nitty gritty details of my character: STR: 14, DEX: 20, CON: 12, INT: 20, WIS:10 (it's ALWAYS my dump stat), CHA: 12; for feats I have Weapon Finesse, Power Attack, Furious Focus, and Combat Casting. Oh the best part though for my character? Bladebound gives a weapon (longsword) that is pretty much a +2 enhancement for FREE....I will repeat that just in case you didn't understand, I am getting an 8,000 gold piece item for free. Win me? DEFINITELY. Oh yeah and one of the most arguably best parts of the archetype?-the fact that I get to use one point from my arcane pool to increase that enchantment from a +2 (technically a +1 and then I added the agile property) to a +4....BOOM! And I mean no big deal, but I get to sling spells through my sword also, so I will be Shocking Grasp-ing bitches all day for an additional 5d6 with my 1d8+13 weapon damage. All I have to do is hit...which seems to be the hardest part.
So besides the stat aspects of my character, why am I so excited to play it? Oh dear readers, my fey friend I wrote of earlier, is going to be my bro...and I don't mean my brother-I mean my bro. We are going to fist bump, spend our money on liquor and cheap women, and do all that other awesome "bro" stuff. This is the first time I have ever played a dude and I am pretty stoked. Hopefully the drinking with the game will help get in character...I mean it can't hurt to be drunk at least! Since my character is a bro, I have gifted him with a bro-tastic name: Brodale, Son of Broseph of House Brorage, First of His Name, Mayor of Tittetowne. So yeah....I am very much excite and I will have to post more on how he fairs in battle!
So besides the stat aspects of my character, why am I so excited to play it? Oh dear readers, my fey friend I wrote of earlier, is going to be my bro...and I don't mean my brother-I mean my bro. We are going to fist bump, spend our money on liquor and cheap women, and do all that other awesome "bro" stuff. This is the first time I have ever played a dude and I am pretty stoked. Hopefully the drinking with the game will help get in character...I mean it can't hurt to be drunk at least! Since my character is a bro, I have gifted him with a bro-tastic name: Brodale, Son of Broseph of House Brorage, First of His Name, Mayor of Tittetowne. So yeah....I am very much excite and I will have to post more on how he fairs in battle!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Nerdgasm
If my past weekend had to be described in one word, that would be it. Utterly and definitely one of the best weekends I have had in terms of indulging my nerd-self. It all started with Thursday traveling up to Chicago to join my dearest friends for Comic Con. This was to be my first Comic Con experience and like with every first, I was nervous, excited, and scared for what would happen. How would it feel? Would it be a gentle nerd lover? Would I be done in 30 seconds? These were the questions that I found myself worrying about on the train ride up (well in between my sleeping and reading of A Dance with Dragons-since the "Wifi", using that term loosely because the shit they pandered onto us cannot be considered functioning wifi). I also was concerned for my cosplay outfit...what if it wasn't good enough, or what if I looked terrible in it and everyone laughed at me!? So once our safe arrival was assured and we found ourselves in our friend's lovely apartment, the plan began...
Friday morning came upon us like an eager lover, quick and entirely too forceful. Still tired from my day of travels, I managed to put on a fairly nerdy outfit (Star Wars dress by Black Milk) and stuff down my tiredness with sheer excitement for the day. After we broke our fast on some local fare, we took the longest L ride ever (like over an hour you guys...I went through Harlem for Christ's sake), and found ourselves at the doors of Comic Con. As we all waited in line, I scoured the aisles looking at the cosplays; there were Batmen and Doctors a plenty, there were Stormtroopers galore, you want Deadpools?-I found 20, but I wanted more (I know not in the vein of the song, but I had to end somewhere). It was so excited to see what was in store, then we were ushered into the convention hall and I literally think the nerd in me grew three sizes. Artists everywhere, original artworks of my favourite superheros and cartoon characters, there were t-shirts, memorabilia, comics (duh), pretty much everything that encompasses the nerd lifestyle. Truly amazing....so we spent the majority of the day there just hanging out and walking around and seeing everything. I didn't really think that it could be as tiring as it was just looking at everything, but I think that it was mostly exhausting from all the excitement. I am so happy we decided to spend most of our in Artists' Alley-which features some VERY talented people showing off their art. I did find a fantastic artist, whose work I just fell in love with, and ended up buying an original of his. I was not planning on spending that much, but I found the piece in the morning and could not stop thinking about it, seriously I think I started a love affair with this picture. Anyway, we left comic con that day and pretty much just crashed as soon as we got back from being so tired.
Saturday was the day I had been really waiting for in Comic Con. It was the day I was dressing up as Silk Spectre. I was finally able to cosplay for the first time and I was very nervous about it. But I put on my outfit, walked the five blocks to the L station (at least Sheila had dressed up with me as Harley, so I wasn't looking like a fool by myself) and we sat on the train again to continue our venture to the land of nerds. Once we walked in, it was amazing! People started asking Sheila and I for pictures...like no shit, I probably had over 50 people ask to take my picture on Saturday. It is kinda an amazing boost to your confidence and also really great to know that people enjoy what you put hard work into. So pretty much Saturday was just spent walking around, taking pictures, and making sure that we got everything in that we wanted to-which was basically just walking around taking pictures and shopping at booths. On the way back from the con, I made some Asian fans-which thoroughly entertained me, and they were absolutely great. It really made me excited for more cosplaying opportunities and I can't wait till next year when I can cosplay for the whole time and not just one day.
So that was my great weekend...seriously you guys, Comic Con is so amazing and is such a great experience that I am very glad I was able to enjoy. I have to say that the one thing no one tells you about Comic Con, is that it does really smell like a sweaty BO producing boy...I don't know why it smelled like that (I mean besides the fact there were thousands of nerds packed into one building-honestly that was probably it), but for anyone who reads this that is thinking of going to a con, please please shower beforehand. Everyone will thank you for it and you will thank yourself knowing that smell isn't coming from you...
And here are some pictures for your enjoyment!
Friday morning came upon us like an eager lover, quick and entirely too forceful. Still tired from my day of travels, I managed to put on a fairly nerdy outfit (Star Wars dress by Black Milk) and stuff down my tiredness with sheer excitement for the day. After we broke our fast on some local fare, we took the longest L ride ever (like over an hour you guys...I went through Harlem for Christ's sake), and found ourselves at the doors of Comic Con. As we all waited in line, I scoured the aisles looking at the cosplays; there were Batmen and Doctors a plenty, there were Stormtroopers galore, you want Deadpools?-I found 20, but I wanted more (I know not in the vein of the song, but I had to end somewhere). It was so excited to see what was in store, then we were ushered into the convention hall and I literally think the nerd in me grew three sizes. Artists everywhere, original artworks of my favourite superheros and cartoon characters, there were t-shirts, memorabilia, comics (duh), pretty much everything that encompasses the nerd lifestyle. Truly amazing....so we spent the majority of the day there just hanging out and walking around and seeing everything. I didn't really think that it could be as tiring as it was just looking at everything, but I think that it was mostly exhausting from all the excitement. I am so happy we decided to spend most of our in Artists' Alley-which features some VERY talented people showing off their art. I did find a fantastic artist, whose work I just fell in love with, and ended up buying an original of his. I was not planning on spending that much, but I found the piece in the morning and could not stop thinking about it, seriously I think I started a love affair with this picture. Anyway, we left comic con that day and pretty much just crashed as soon as we got back from being so tired.
Saturday was the day I had been really waiting for in Comic Con. It was the day I was dressing up as Silk Spectre. I was finally able to cosplay for the first time and I was very nervous about it. But I put on my outfit, walked the five blocks to the L station (at least Sheila had dressed up with me as Harley, so I wasn't looking like a fool by myself) and we sat on the train again to continue our venture to the land of nerds. Once we walked in, it was amazing! People started asking Sheila and I for pictures...like no shit, I probably had over 50 people ask to take my picture on Saturday. It is kinda an amazing boost to your confidence and also really great to know that people enjoy what you put hard work into. So pretty much Saturday was just spent walking around, taking pictures, and making sure that we got everything in that we wanted to-which was basically just walking around taking pictures and shopping at booths. On the way back from the con, I made some Asian fans-which thoroughly entertained me, and they were absolutely great. It really made me excited for more cosplaying opportunities and I can't wait till next year when I can cosplay for the whole time and not just one day.
So that was my great weekend...seriously you guys, Comic Con is so amazing and is such a great experience that I am very glad I was able to enjoy. I have to say that the one thing no one tells you about Comic Con, is that it does really smell like a sweaty BO producing boy...I don't know why it smelled like that (I mean besides the fact there were thousands of nerds packed into one building-honestly that was probably it), but for anyone who reads this that is thinking of going to a con, please please shower beforehand. Everyone will thank you for it and you will thank yourself knowing that smell isn't coming from you...
And here are some pictures for your enjoyment!
Thursday, August 8, 2013
The Nerd Coma
My life for the past two weeks has been pretty quiet on the D&D front (except for one game that I will probably write about later), so I wanted to keep things rolling with just other nerdy things that I have been which have sucked up my time.
The first of which are my podcasts. Now I have to admit that before, oh about two months ago, I probably hadn't listened to more than 10 minutes of a podcast. I always figured they were boring and if I wanted to hear people talk, I would turn into an old person and listen to NPR. So I was very much surprised when a friend told me about some pretty awesome podcasts that they thought I would enjoy. The standout one has been my personal favourite and has now perhaps fallen into an obsessive love-"Drunks and Dragons". This is a FANTASTIC D&D podcast (you can visit their website here) which focuses on a small group of friends who play 4th Ed and occasionally drink. I cannot stress enough to everyone who reads this how funny these people are....(so funny in fact I end my sentences with prepositions). The DM is amazing with the story and creating something that is so very familiar (The Dreadwing Episode), yet full of adventure and fun for the players. I think the thing that I like most about it, besides being funny, is that the group has amazing chemistry together and really RP well-like good groups should *cough-my earlier post about having a shitty person in my gaming group-cough*. He really focuses on the story and doesn't let the mechanics of the game stop the PCs from doing (within limit) what they envision. And the humour is great...lots of dick jokes, cursing, and drinking-so obviously something I can very much get behind.
Another podcast that I listen to is the "Random Encounters"-which is the same group (believe me you will see a trend with my favourite podcasts) and focuses on them playing a few other RP games like "Gamma World" and "Drunk Quest". Again, really hilarious and lots of cursing.
My last podcast I listen to religiously is "Cast of Thrones" (website here-seriously go pledge something to keep them going!!) and also features almost the same group with the addition of a few others. In the extremely small off chance that someone from any of these groups reads this, I promise I am not crazy nor a stalker...you guys just make some funny shit. So "Cast of Thrones" is mostly just all about Game of Thrones, with a few small side conversations every once in a while, that recaps each episode. It is really great to get different perspectives from the episodes and just helps me to fill the void since the show is in the off season. I think the the greatest thing of the podcast though is the episodes that are "Wine, Women, and Westeros". In these episodes the focus is mostly on women's issues and how they are portrayed/their relationships/etc. on the show. For the raging feminist in me, I kinda love these episodes the most for that dialogue of women in the shows. I think it is something that so many shows don't really focus on building relationships for women aside from how they can further male plot (which really isn't that much better in GOT, but the women are at least more developed characters than in other shows).
So those are the first aspects of my nerd-induced coma lifestyle right now. The second part and the one I am so very much excited for, is my cosplay!! I have wanted to cosplay for a long time and have always been kind of a cosplay elitist when it comes to it. Sure I will throw a shitty Halloween costume together (last year's was NOT an example of that though), but when it comes to going to a Con and dressing up in front of thousands of people-I do not want to look like utter dogshit in something I am trying to pass off as Catwoman or whatever. So I have been devising a plan, looking over hundreds-nay thousands of cosplay pictures and figuring out what I want to do. I finally settled on a character-Silk Spectre/Sally Jupiter from Watchmen, and bought all the fabric I needed in April. I choose this figure because I knew that when I cosplayed, I didn't want to buy a costume. Don't get me wrong there is nothing bad with buying a costume, but it just wasn't something that I wanted to do. The costume is pretty basic in terms of sewing and so I figured it would be a great starter piece. So I collected all the pieces....and they sat in my closet, unfinished. I finally took them home two weeks ago to have my mom help me with making the pattern and everything. Apparently I have a secret inner talent of throwing an idea for a pattern out there and just sketching it and it doesn't turn out to look like something a crackhead crafted. Anyway, the dress was finished and then all I had to do was modify the gloves (sewing buttons along the outer portion), make some earrings (did that from buttons and it looks AMAZING!), and get my stockings. I am so happy with the way it has turned out, but the real test will be this Saturday at the Wizard Con in Chicago when I put on that outfit that shows part of my hiney (I am wearing shorts though), walk out through the streets of Chicago, and into the Con where thousands of people will be. Needless to say, I am terrified. But my best friend is dressing up with me (she's going to be Harley Quinn...if you see us say hi!-although that's highly unlikely), so that helps some with the anxiety.
Okay well that is a pretty long post...I know I promised some discussion of my new game, but hey I have to leave somethings for my next post so all you fine people keep reading this right!? Oh...I do want to say-go right now and listen to those podcasts, they are seriously great and if you think the tripe that I write is somewhat entertaining-they will make you lose your shit. You can also follow them (and me! @Nika_Howard) on twitter at: @DnDPodcast and @CastofThrones.
The first of which are my podcasts. Now I have to admit that before, oh about two months ago, I probably hadn't listened to more than 10 minutes of a podcast. I always figured they were boring and if I wanted to hear people talk, I would turn into an old person and listen to NPR. So I was very much surprised when a friend told me about some pretty awesome podcasts that they thought I would enjoy. The standout one has been my personal favourite and has now perhaps fallen into an obsessive love-"Drunks and Dragons". This is a FANTASTIC D&D podcast (you can visit their website here) which focuses on a small group of friends who play 4th Ed and occasionally drink. I cannot stress enough to everyone who reads this how funny these people are....(so funny in fact I end my sentences with prepositions). The DM is amazing with the story and creating something that is so very familiar (The Dreadwing Episode), yet full of adventure and fun for the players. I think the thing that I like most about it, besides being funny, is that the group has amazing chemistry together and really RP well-like good groups should *cough-my earlier post about having a shitty person in my gaming group-cough*. He really focuses on the story and doesn't let the mechanics of the game stop the PCs from doing (within limit) what they envision. And the humour is great...lots of dick jokes, cursing, and drinking-so obviously something I can very much get behind.
Another podcast that I listen to is the "Random Encounters"-which is the same group (believe me you will see a trend with my favourite podcasts) and focuses on them playing a few other RP games like "Gamma World" and "Drunk Quest". Again, really hilarious and lots of cursing.
My last podcast I listen to religiously is "Cast of Thrones" (website here-seriously go pledge something to keep them going!!) and also features almost the same group with the addition of a few others. In the extremely small off chance that someone from any of these groups reads this, I promise I am not crazy nor a stalker...you guys just make some funny shit. So "Cast of Thrones" is mostly just all about Game of Thrones, with a few small side conversations every once in a while, that recaps each episode. It is really great to get different perspectives from the episodes and just helps me to fill the void since the show is in the off season. I think the the greatest thing of the podcast though is the episodes that are "Wine, Women, and Westeros". In these episodes the focus is mostly on women's issues and how they are portrayed/their relationships/etc. on the show. For the raging feminist in me, I kinda love these episodes the most for that dialogue of women in the shows. I think it is something that so many shows don't really focus on building relationships for women aside from how they can further male plot (which really isn't that much better in GOT, but the women are at least more developed characters than in other shows).
So those are the first aspects of my nerd-induced coma lifestyle right now. The second part and the one I am so very much excited for, is my cosplay!! I have wanted to cosplay for a long time and have always been kind of a cosplay elitist when it comes to it. Sure I will throw a shitty Halloween costume together (last year's was NOT an example of that though), but when it comes to going to a Con and dressing up in front of thousands of people-I do not want to look like utter dogshit in something I am trying to pass off as Catwoman or whatever. So I have been devising a plan, looking over hundreds-nay thousands of cosplay pictures and figuring out what I want to do. I finally settled on a character-Silk Spectre/Sally Jupiter from Watchmen, and bought all the fabric I needed in April. I choose this figure because I knew that when I cosplayed, I didn't want to buy a costume. Don't get me wrong there is nothing bad with buying a costume, but it just wasn't something that I wanted to do. The costume is pretty basic in terms of sewing and so I figured it would be a great starter piece. So I collected all the pieces....and they sat in my closet, unfinished. I finally took them home two weeks ago to have my mom help me with making the pattern and everything. Apparently I have a secret inner talent of throwing an idea for a pattern out there and just sketching it and it doesn't turn out to look like something a crackhead crafted. Anyway, the dress was finished and then all I had to do was modify the gloves (sewing buttons along the outer portion), make some earrings (did that from buttons and it looks AMAZING!), and get my stockings. I am so happy with the way it has turned out, but the real test will be this Saturday at the Wizard Con in Chicago when I put on that outfit that shows part of my hiney (I am wearing shorts though), walk out through the streets of Chicago, and into the Con where thousands of people will be. Needless to say, I am terrified. But my best friend is dressing up with me (she's going to be Harley Quinn...if you see us say hi!-although that's highly unlikely), so that helps some with the anxiety.
Okay well that is a pretty long post...I know I promised some discussion of my new game, but hey I have to leave somethings for my next post so all you fine people keep reading this right!? Oh...I do want to say-go right now and listen to those podcasts, they are seriously great and if you think the tripe that I write is somewhat entertaining-they will make you lose your shit. You can also follow them (and me! @Nika_Howard) on twitter at: @DnDPodcast and @CastofThrones.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Place Marker
As the title suggests...this is really just a place marker post. I wanted to remind myself to write about podcasts, Comic Con, and cosplay. So get excited because there will be a new and enthralling post soon....
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