Sunday, November 30, 2014
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Breaking Down the Character Alignment System: Chaotic Evil
*Originally published on 4/11/12
The last of the alignments, Chaotic Evil stands as polar opposite to Lawful Good. Where that Lawful Good is seen as the epitome of noble and good, this is seen as the epitome of heartless and evil. That's not to say that Chaotic Evil characters necessarily have to be raving lunatics, it just means that they have nothing restricting their behavior. They adhere to no laws and will hurt others just because they enjoy it.
This alignment can be played in a lot of ways depending on which half you choose to focus on. You could just be another "free spirit" who values the ability to choose to do evil acts or you could be the type who does what they do simply because it is evil. Of course, you can mix these two elements to create a horrifying hybrid. Others are more feral in nature, placing more value in strength than anything else.
When talking about this alignment, the poster boy is clearly Batman's nemesis, The Joker. Whether it's his comic book incarnation or either of the cinematic interpretations of the Clown Prince of Crime, he fits the mold rather perfectly. He has no respect for laws whatsoever and loves doing bad things because he finds them funny. While not every Chaotic Evil needs to be played in this vein, it does give you an archetype to start from.
Speaking of arch-nemeses, The Doctor's foe, The Master from BBC's Doctor Who might also qualify. The most recent iteration seems to have no loyalty to anyone and has no qualms about literally decimating the human race or even consuming their flesh.
The Reavers from Joss Whedon's cult classic Firefly also fit this bill, as they are sadistic monsters that have no respect for anything but their own violent desires.
On a grander scale, you have a villain like the Crimson King from Stephen King's popular Dark Tower saga. He seeks to destroy all of reality itself simply so that he can revel in the chaos that would ensue after the tower falls.
While this seems like an easy role to play, it apparently is not. Much like with the other "evil" classes, it's hard to justify their presence in a band of heroic adventurers. More than that, it's hard to sensibly portray such a character, as they are generally insane. This becomes problematic as role players might go too far to make the character do evil for evil's sake or make them sadistic monsters when that doesn't necessarily need to be the case.
So there you have it. While the alignment arguments will no doubt continue, hopefully this series gives potential new players a frame of reference should they decide to try their hand at sitting down at a table for a gaming session.
The last of the alignments, Chaotic Evil stands as polar opposite to Lawful Good. Where that Lawful Good is seen as the epitome of noble and good, this is seen as the epitome of heartless and evil. That's not to say that Chaotic Evil characters necessarily have to be raving lunatics, it just means that they have nothing restricting their behavior. They adhere to no laws and will hurt others just because they enjoy it.
This alignment can be played in a lot of ways depending on which half you choose to focus on. You could just be another "free spirit" who values the ability to choose to do evil acts or you could be the type who does what they do simply because it is evil. Of course, you can mix these two elements to create a horrifying hybrid. Others are more feral in nature, placing more value in strength than anything else.
When talking about this alignment, the poster boy is clearly Batman's nemesis, The Joker. Whether it's his comic book incarnation or either of the cinematic interpretations of the Clown Prince of Crime, he fits the mold rather perfectly. He has no respect for laws whatsoever and loves doing bad things because he finds them funny. While not every Chaotic Evil needs to be played in this vein, it does give you an archetype to start from.
Speaking of arch-nemeses, The Doctor's foe, The Master from BBC's Doctor Who might also qualify. The most recent iteration seems to have no loyalty to anyone and has no qualms about literally decimating the human race or even consuming their flesh.
The Reavers from Joss Whedon's cult classic Firefly also fit this bill, as they are sadistic monsters that have no respect for anything but their own violent desires.
On a grander scale, you have a villain like the Crimson King from Stephen King's popular Dark Tower saga. He seeks to destroy all of reality itself simply so that he can revel in the chaos that would ensue after the tower falls.
While this seems like an easy role to play, it apparently is not. Much like with the other "evil" classes, it's hard to justify their presence in a band of heroic adventurers. More than that, it's hard to sensibly portray such a character, as they are generally insane. This becomes problematic as role players might go too far to make the character do evil for evil's sake or make them sadistic monsters when that doesn't necessarily need to be the case.
So there you have it. While the alignment arguments will no doubt continue, hopefully this series gives potential new players a frame of reference should they decide to try their hand at sitting down at a table for a gaming session.
Top 5 Reasons I'll Never Become a Vegan
1. Meat is delicious
Ham, sausage, burgers, bacon; they're all delicious. If bacon is wrong, man, I don't want to be right. The same goes for ham; I love ham.
Do I feel bad for the animals? Of course, but I honor their sacrifice by making sure it doesn't go in vain. Besides, that's how the world works. It's called the food chain; and as my old roommate was quick to point out, if God didn't want us eating cows, he wouldn't have made them out of steak.
2. It doesn't seem healthy
I know, a lot of vegans swear that a vegan diet is a huge step up in terms of health, but honestly, I don't see how.
Going without meat is one thing, you can cover that gap through other means, but you're talking about depriving yourself of two of the five major food groups. That is not a balanced diet, and this brings me to my next point.
3. No options
What're you supposed to eat? Most foods contain meat or dairy in some form or another. You can say goodbye to a vast majority of sandwiches. Heck, you can't even have a bowl of cereal in the morning. Some go even further, choosing not to eat things like eggs, seafood, or poultry. That menu seems extraordinarily slim.
4. I just don't get it
Vegetarianism, I understand, but this is pushing it. If you choose not to eat seafood and poultry for the same reasons you don't eat meat, I can even understand that. It's the dairy part that confuses me. Cows need to be milked, in fact, not milking them causes them a great deal of discomfort so, as far as I'm concerned, this is a win win scenario.
It's not like the cows are being hurt. Heck, it's not even equatable to animals being kept in captivity. Cows are usually given wide open fields to roam around, and even with that they generally just tend to stand there. I don't think we're keeping them from any sort of important cow related duties or trying to change their nature in any way, shape, or form.
5. Vegan food is gross
Have you ever had vegan food? It is not pleasing to the palate. Back in college, I was in the dining hall and they were out of pasta, so I decided to try some vegan pasta, thinking that pasta was the sort of thing that you couldn't really screw up. Turns out, you can.
There was another instance where I got a sample of vegan food, when of my old roommate's lady friends brought us some vegan chocolate chip cookies as a nice gesture. The thought was nice, the cookie...not so much.
I couldn't imagine living on that food and that food alone. I mean, if you want to, that's your choice, but when it comes to things like pasta or chocolate chip cookies, I'll stick to the real thing, thank you very much.
Ham, sausage, burgers, bacon; they're all delicious. If bacon is wrong, man, I don't want to be right. The same goes for ham; I love ham.
Do I feel bad for the animals? Of course, but I honor their sacrifice by making sure it doesn't go in vain. Besides, that's how the world works. It's called the food chain; and as my old roommate was quick to point out, if God didn't want us eating cows, he wouldn't have made them out of steak.
2. It doesn't seem healthy
I know, a lot of vegans swear that a vegan diet is a huge step up in terms of health, but honestly, I don't see how.
Going without meat is one thing, you can cover that gap through other means, but you're talking about depriving yourself of two of the five major food groups. That is not a balanced diet, and this brings me to my next point.
3. No options
What're you supposed to eat? Most foods contain meat or dairy in some form or another. You can say goodbye to a vast majority of sandwiches. Heck, you can't even have a bowl of cereal in the morning. Some go even further, choosing not to eat things like eggs, seafood, or poultry. That menu seems extraordinarily slim.
4. I just don't get it
Vegetarianism, I understand, but this is pushing it. If you choose not to eat seafood and poultry for the same reasons you don't eat meat, I can even understand that. It's the dairy part that confuses me. Cows need to be milked, in fact, not milking them causes them a great deal of discomfort so, as far as I'm concerned, this is a win win scenario.
It's not like the cows are being hurt. Heck, it's not even equatable to animals being kept in captivity. Cows are usually given wide open fields to roam around, and even with that they generally just tend to stand there. I don't think we're keeping them from any sort of important cow related duties or trying to change their nature in any way, shape, or form.
5. Vegan food is gross
Have you ever had vegan food? It is not pleasing to the palate. Back in college, I was in the dining hall and they were out of pasta, so I decided to try some vegan pasta, thinking that pasta was the sort of thing that you couldn't really screw up. Turns out, you can.
There was another instance where I got a sample of vegan food, when of my old roommate's lady friends brought us some vegan chocolate chip cookies as a nice gesture. The thought was nice, the cookie...not so much.
I couldn't imagine living on that food and that food alone. I mean, if you want to, that's your choice, but when it comes to things like pasta or chocolate chip cookies, I'll stick to the real thing, thank you very much.
Top 5 Things I've Learned About Dungeons and Dragons Despite Never Playing a Game
I've never actually played a game of Dungeons and Dragons before. However, watching some people play online has got me interested in the game and gotten me interested in getting a group together. While I have a vague understanding of the game mechanics, there are some tidbits of info I have picked up from watching games and doing some cursory reading through gamebooks and forums.
1. Never make your character out to be the baddest dude in the realm
A lot of players might be tempted to make their character into some bad mofo who has become a legend in his or her own time. Tempting as it may be, do not do this. As your attacks depend on dice rolls, the instant you paint your character as some unbeatable legend, you will botch your first few efforts and look like a doofus. Sometimes the dice may allow your character to live up to the legend, but more often than not, he or she will miss. As such, it's better not to draw attention to yourself.
2. Doors are just as challenging as high level dragons
Having a hard time coming up with a good encounter for your party? Don't worry, just throw a locked door in front of them and the party will find itself helpless.
Locked doors need a surprisingly high roll in order to get through. Often times, your thief or rogue (if you have one) will be able to pick the lock, but other times he or she won't. If that happens, you need to find a new way to break through the door because the thief won't be able to simply try again unless you somehow change the circumstances.
3. DMing is freaking hard
As something of a D&D newb, I don't know how well I'd act as DM (Dungeon Master) at this point. I would like to try it at some later point, but it's a pretty daunting task.
You not only have to come up with an ongoing narrative, you have to find quests that can bolster that plot and encounters that keep the players involved.
The most daunting task of all is trying to let your story flow while also allowing for the actions of the players themselves. Depending on what they do, your planned plot outline can completely derail and you will have to find a way to improvise either a new story arc entirely or a way to get the players back on track without it seeming like your forcing them to go where you want them.
4. Five to six players is the ideal party size
When finding people to join your D&D group, you will want about 5-6 people (not including the DM). Anything larger than that and the combat becomes unwieldy and tedious. More importantly, the more people who play, the more schedules you have to work around, making it far less likely that you will get to play on a regular basis.
5. There are some who take the game way too seriously
With every edition comes a faction of players who find the new material to be a betrayal of everything D&D stands for. This is most common with AD&D players as they were none too fond of third edition nor fourth edition, not to mention the latest Essentials line. As I haven't played the game in any iteration, I find it hard to believe that the later editions are that bad (on the contrary, from what I've seen of 4E/Essentials, it's quite good) but it's the internet and some geeks take their fandom too seriously. While I would suggest checking the game out, it is something to be aware of before going in.
1. Never make your character out to be the baddest dude in the realm
A lot of players might be tempted to make their character into some bad mofo who has become a legend in his or her own time. Tempting as it may be, do not do this. As your attacks depend on dice rolls, the instant you paint your character as some unbeatable legend, you will botch your first few efforts and look like a doofus. Sometimes the dice may allow your character to live up to the legend, but more often than not, he or she will miss. As such, it's better not to draw attention to yourself.
2. Doors are just as challenging as high level dragons
Having a hard time coming up with a good encounter for your party? Don't worry, just throw a locked door in front of them and the party will find itself helpless.
Locked doors need a surprisingly high roll in order to get through. Often times, your thief or rogue (if you have one) will be able to pick the lock, but other times he or she won't. If that happens, you need to find a new way to break through the door because the thief won't be able to simply try again unless you somehow change the circumstances.
3. DMing is freaking hard
As something of a D&D newb, I don't know how well I'd act as DM (Dungeon Master) at this point. I would like to try it at some later point, but it's a pretty daunting task.
You not only have to come up with an ongoing narrative, you have to find quests that can bolster that plot and encounters that keep the players involved.
The most daunting task of all is trying to let your story flow while also allowing for the actions of the players themselves. Depending on what they do, your planned plot outline can completely derail and you will have to find a way to improvise either a new story arc entirely or a way to get the players back on track without it seeming like your forcing them to go where you want them.
4. Five to six players is the ideal party size
When finding people to join your D&D group, you will want about 5-6 people (not including the DM). Anything larger than that and the combat becomes unwieldy and tedious. More importantly, the more people who play, the more schedules you have to work around, making it far less likely that you will get to play on a regular basis.
5. There are some who take the game way too seriously
With every edition comes a faction of players who find the new material to be a betrayal of everything D&D stands for. This is most common with AD&D players as they were none too fond of third edition nor fourth edition, not to mention the latest Essentials line. As I haven't played the game in any iteration, I find it hard to believe that the later editions are that bad (on the contrary, from what I've seen of 4E/Essentials, it's quite good) but it's the internet and some geeks take their fandom too seriously. While I would suggest checking the game out, it is something to be aware of before going in.
The Best in Fictional Weaponry: The Sun Crusher
*Originally published on 3/11/12
One would think that the Death Star's capability to destroy an entire planet outright would be the end all be all of weaponry, right? Well, that isn't the case. In typical sequel escalation fashion, the Galactic Empire of the Star Wars universe managed to do even one better.
Yes, they created a weapon that is even more fearsome than the Death Star. Said weapon was called a Sun Crusher. It wasn't featured in the movies themselves, obviously, but it was featured in one of the expanded universe trilogies that was published several years ago.
Unlike the Death Star, which was built to be the size of a moon in order to help intimidate those the Empire wished to oppress, the Sun Crusher was the size of a regular fighter.
What it lacked in size, it made up for in sheer power. As the name implies, the Sun Crusher was equipped with a weapon that would launch a torpedo into the heart of a star. This would trigger a chain reaction that would result in the star going supernova.
So, rather than destroy a single planet, the Sun Crusher had the capability to wipe out an entire solar system in one foul swoop. If there is a deadlier, more fearsome weapon of mass destruction out there, I honestly can't think of it.
As if that weren't bad enough, the vessel has no apparent weaknesses. There is no convenient ventilation shaft (although with a much smaller ship, such a vent would be a more difficult target even if it did exist) and while most fighters explode easily enough, the Sun Crusher is made of a quantum-crystalline armor that is pretty much indestructible.
Heck, the heroes were only able to dispose of the one that they encountered by flying it into a black hole. That tells you how resilient this thing was.
Considering how the Death Star was touted as the ultimate weapon, it's funny how much this puts said space station to shame. The galaxy could very well have been royally screwed had this thing been unleashed when the Empire was still alive and strong.
It really does rank as one of the most dangerous weapons out there. The potential kill count a person could rack up with this thing is mind-boggling. It's fitting that I cap off this series with this particular weapon as it hits a level where going back to basic guns and swords no longer seems worth it. It pretty much is the end all be all when it comes to talking about fictional weaponry.
One would think that the Death Star's capability to destroy an entire planet outright would be the end all be all of weaponry, right? Well, that isn't the case. In typical sequel escalation fashion, the Galactic Empire of the Star Wars universe managed to do even one better.
Yes, they created a weapon that is even more fearsome than the Death Star. Said weapon was called a Sun Crusher. It wasn't featured in the movies themselves, obviously, but it was featured in one of the expanded universe trilogies that was published several years ago.
Unlike the Death Star, which was built to be the size of a moon in order to help intimidate those the Empire wished to oppress, the Sun Crusher was the size of a regular fighter.
What it lacked in size, it made up for in sheer power. As the name implies, the Sun Crusher was equipped with a weapon that would launch a torpedo into the heart of a star. This would trigger a chain reaction that would result in the star going supernova.
So, rather than destroy a single planet, the Sun Crusher had the capability to wipe out an entire solar system in one foul swoop. If there is a deadlier, more fearsome weapon of mass destruction out there, I honestly can't think of it.
As if that weren't bad enough, the vessel has no apparent weaknesses. There is no convenient ventilation shaft (although with a much smaller ship, such a vent would be a more difficult target even if it did exist) and while most fighters explode easily enough, the Sun Crusher is made of a quantum-crystalline armor that is pretty much indestructible.
Heck, the heroes were only able to dispose of the one that they encountered by flying it into a black hole. That tells you how resilient this thing was.
Considering how the Death Star was touted as the ultimate weapon, it's funny how much this puts said space station to shame. The galaxy could very well have been royally screwed had this thing been unleashed when the Empire was still alive and strong.
It really does rank as one of the most dangerous weapons out there. The potential kill count a person could rack up with this thing is mind-boggling. It's fitting that I cap off this series with this particular weapon as it hits a level where going back to basic guns and swords no longer seems worth it. It pretty much is the end all be all when it comes to talking about fictional weaponry.
The Top 5 Voices for Darkseid
Over the years, Darkseid, lord of Apokolips and general embodiment of evil has gone through many incarnations in animation, thus giving him several distinct voices throughout the years. Being a fan, I thought I would give my thoughts on which voices worked best and why.
1. David Sobolov
This to me is how Darkseid should sound. For those unaware, David Sobolov voiced Darkseid in the "Justice League Heroes" video game. It was deep, powerful, and seething with hatred as Darkseid should be. When I first saw the cut scene where he emerged, I fangasmed and squeed at the same time. Even after repeated play throughs, that was the one scene I always made a point to watch because it was so effective.
2. Tony Todd
I haven't played DCUO yet, but was pretty excited when details were announced. I was quite pleased with the pick of Tony Todd as Darkseid. Of course, this feeling only increased after my roommate showed me "Candyman". Seriously, when I heard the serial killer speak in those movies, the first thing I thought was "holy crap, that's Darkseid'. Now, again, I haven't played the MMO, so maybe he doesn't use his Candyman voice for the actual role of Darkseid in the video game. I have to admit that I would find that rather hard to believe. If not, I'll still give it to him just because he did voice the character and because his Candyman voice rang so perfectly to me as the arch-villain of the DCU.
3. Michael Ironside
This is probably the most iconic incarnation of the character. Ironside's performance as Darkseid in both Superman: The Animated Series as well as both incarnations of the subsequent Justice League series is well regarded and viewed as the definitive voice. Don't get me wrong, he did a great job, but as his spot on the list will tell you, there were others who I thought captured the character better. Is it yet another instance of nerd blasphemy on my part? It could very well be, but it is simply my opinion on the matter and you are free to disagree.
4. Frank Welker
Welker is a well renowned voice actor, and looking at his career, it's easy to see why. Surprising as it may be, Darkseid actually did appear back in the "Superfriends" era of Saturday morning cartoons. This iteration was mostly focused on marrying Wonder Woman, but did stand out as one of the more menacing presences in the series. Welker lent his voice to the role, and it was OK. Granted, it was just his "Dr. Claw" voice, which is a bit hard to take seriously if you ever watched "Inspector Gadget", but it worked well enough for the time.
5. Andre Braugher
While I enjoyed the recent "Superman/Batman: Apocalypse" direct to video release, Andre Braugher's voice for Darkseid was a major strike against it. His voice was deep enough, but it lacked umph. It was honestly the most laissez-faire I've ever heard the lord of Apokolips. I know voice actors tend to have their scripts in front of them, but it seemed like he was literally just reading his lines and phoning it in for a paycheck. It was rather disappointing.
1. David Sobolov
This to me is how Darkseid should sound. For those unaware, David Sobolov voiced Darkseid in the "Justice League Heroes" video game. It was deep, powerful, and seething with hatred as Darkseid should be. When I first saw the cut scene where he emerged, I fangasmed and squeed at the same time. Even after repeated play throughs, that was the one scene I always made a point to watch because it was so effective.
2. Tony Todd
I haven't played DCUO yet, but was pretty excited when details were announced. I was quite pleased with the pick of Tony Todd as Darkseid. Of course, this feeling only increased after my roommate showed me "Candyman". Seriously, when I heard the serial killer speak in those movies, the first thing I thought was "holy crap, that's Darkseid'. Now, again, I haven't played the MMO, so maybe he doesn't use his Candyman voice for the actual role of Darkseid in the video game. I have to admit that I would find that rather hard to believe. If not, I'll still give it to him just because he did voice the character and because his Candyman voice rang so perfectly to me as the arch-villain of the DCU.
3. Michael Ironside
This is probably the most iconic incarnation of the character. Ironside's performance as Darkseid in both Superman: The Animated Series as well as both incarnations of the subsequent Justice League series is well regarded and viewed as the definitive voice. Don't get me wrong, he did a great job, but as his spot on the list will tell you, there were others who I thought captured the character better. Is it yet another instance of nerd blasphemy on my part? It could very well be, but it is simply my opinion on the matter and you are free to disagree.
4. Frank Welker
Welker is a well renowned voice actor, and looking at his career, it's easy to see why. Surprising as it may be, Darkseid actually did appear back in the "Superfriends" era of Saturday morning cartoons. This iteration was mostly focused on marrying Wonder Woman, but did stand out as one of the more menacing presences in the series. Welker lent his voice to the role, and it was OK. Granted, it was just his "Dr. Claw" voice, which is a bit hard to take seriously if you ever watched "Inspector Gadget", but it worked well enough for the time.
5. Andre Braugher
While I enjoyed the recent "Superman/Batman: Apocalypse" direct to video release, Andre Braugher's voice for Darkseid was a major strike against it. His voice was deep enough, but it lacked umph. It was honestly the most laissez-faire I've ever heard the lord of Apokolips. I know voice actors tend to have their scripts in front of them, but it seemed like he was literally just reading his lines and phoning it in for a paycheck. It was rather disappointing.
The Best in Fictional Weaponry: The Death Star
*Originally published on 3/9/12
Throughout this entire series, we've talked about weapons that provide a wide array of offensive options as well as ones that have some defensive properties. We've talked about magical swords, big freaking guns, and even rings that can literally do what the wearer wills them to do. These are all impressive in their own right, but power rings notwithstanding, they all pale in comparison to this next weapon. This is a weapon so powerful that it could send entire fleets of starships quaking in their metaphorical boots.
This weapon is the Death Star, the iconic space station from George Lucas' Star Wars saga. The Death Star is a gigantic space station (so gigantic that it was originally mistaken for a moon) that has a primary laser weapon that can generate enough power to cause a targeted planet to explode.
As if this didn't make the weapon fearsome enough, its shell is covered with turreted laser cannons in order to keep ships from attempting to attack it.
More than that, it is large enough that it can dock not only entire swarms of tie fighters, but several star destroyers as well. Should the Death Star need to go on the defensive, said fleet of ships can be dispatched to take care of any attacking forces.
The station was often touted as indestructible as its sheer mass made it almost impossible to destroy head on. Fortunately for the rebellion, there was one weak point. If a proton torpedo was fired down a specific ventilation shaft, it would trigger a chain reaction that would cause the station's power core to explode, resulting in its destruction. It was a one in a million shot, but with the help of the force, as well as some back up from Han Solo, Luke Skywalker managed to bring an end to the fearsome weapon.
Sadly, the Empire (and by extension, the Emperor) was so fond of the Death Star as a bringer of doom that even after Luke Skywalker blew it up at the end of A New Hope, construction on a new Death Star was ordered to take its place. Unlike the first one, there would be no vulnerable ventilation shaft to target.
If completed, this Death Star would mark the end of the rebellion. Luckily, space stations take a lot of time to construct. This allowed the rebellion to strike when the station was presumably vulnerable. This did not turn out to be the case.
Interestingly enough, while Death Star mk II was also equipped with defensive laser cannons as well as a much larger fleet at its disposal, the primary laser that was generally used for planetary destruction was used on starships during the climactic battle. One has to think it was more of a psychological maneuver as using that in a cosmic dog fight doesn't seem feasible.
When it comes to fictional weapons, the Death Star ranks as one of the deadliest and most fearsome, be it in science fiction or fiction in general. It may not be as versatile in an individual battle, but in an intergalactic war, it is a force to be reckoned with.
Throughout this entire series, we've talked about weapons that provide a wide array of offensive options as well as ones that have some defensive properties. We've talked about magical swords, big freaking guns, and even rings that can literally do what the wearer wills them to do. These are all impressive in their own right, but power rings notwithstanding, they all pale in comparison to this next weapon. This is a weapon so powerful that it could send entire fleets of starships quaking in their metaphorical boots.
This weapon is the Death Star, the iconic space station from George Lucas' Star Wars saga. The Death Star is a gigantic space station (so gigantic that it was originally mistaken for a moon) that has a primary laser weapon that can generate enough power to cause a targeted planet to explode.
As if this didn't make the weapon fearsome enough, its shell is covered with turreted laser cannons in order to keep ships from attempting to attack it.
More than that, it is large enough that it can dock not only entire swarms of tie fighters, but several star destroyers as well. Should the Death Star need to go on the defensive, said fleet of ships can be dispatched to take care of any attacking forces.
The station was often touted as indestructible as its sheer mass made it almost impossible to destroy head on. Fortunately for the rebellion, there was one weak point. If a proton torpedo was fired down a specific ventilation shaft, it would trigger a chain reaction that would cause the station's power core to explode, resulting in its destruction. It was a one in a million shot, but with the help of the force, as well as some back up from Han Solo, Luke Skywalker managed to bring an end to the fearsome weapon.
Sadly, the Empire (and by extension, the Emperor) was so fond of the Death Star as a bringer of doom that even after Luke Skywalker blew it up at the end of A New Hope, construction on a new Death Star was ordered to take its place. Unlike the first one, there would be no vulnerable ventilation shaft to target.
If completed, this Death Star would mark the end of the rebellion. Luckily, space stations take a lot of time to construct. This allowed the rebellion to strike when the station was presumably vulnerable. This did not turn out to be the case.
Interestingly enough, while Death Star mk II was also equipped with defensive laser cannons as well as a much larger fleet at its disposal, the primary laser that was generally used for planetary destruction was used on starships during the climactic battle. One has to think it was more of a psychological maneuver as using that in a cosmic dog fight doesn't seem feasible.
When it comes to fictional weapons, the Death Star ranks as one of the deadliest and most fearsome, be it in science fiction or fiction in general. It may not be as versatile in an individual battle, but in an intergalactic war, it is a force to be reckoned with.
My Top 5 Characters I Want to see Cast in Marvel's 'Avengers' Movie
*Originally published on 2/16/11
**While 'Avengers' has come and gone, the list is still fairly relevant. Granted, Black Panther's already been cast, but I still say that the other picks would work out well. It still works as food for thought.
1. Yvonne Strahovsky as Mrs./Captain Marvel
I read one article on C2F a while back that discussed the idea of her being cast. I, for one, think it's perfect. Granted, I'm a DC guy and, as such, am not very familiar with the character, but Strahovsky has the looks and the acting chops. Her role on "Chuck" also shows that she's more than capable of playing an action heroine so really, she's a match on all three levels. My roommate, who is a reader of Marvel comics, agrees that she would be a perfect pick for the role.
2. Eva Longoria as The Wasp
This was an idea that was pitched months ago. The rumor has died down as it seems like Marvel wants to save Wasp's debut for the upcoming "Ant-Man" movie(why they're going through the trouble of making a movie based on Ant-Man is beyond me). Hopefully something comes of it as I thought that she was a good pick for the role.
3. Djimon Hounsou as The Black Panther
This is a fan favorite pick, I'll admit. Even director Tim Story said that were he to cast Black Panther, he would pick Hounsou for the role. He's a good actor and has the gravitas needed to bring T'Challa to life. He voiced the character in BET's animated series, but that wasn't very good, not to mention that Panther was barely in it. It would be nice to actually see the actor play the role as opposed to being shoved to the side.
4. Isaiah Mustafa as Luke Cage
Yes, the Old Spice Guy. The more I think about it, the more perfect he is for the part. He's certainly got the physique of a superhero and you can never get tired of hearing that deep voice he uses for the commercials. The man has expressed interest in playing the part, so getting him to agree shouldn't be a problem. He was so dedicated to the role that he agreed to do a one minute video for YouTube where his head is superimposed on an action figure. On a side note, I highly recommend checking that video out as it really is quite glorious. Seriously, he says "Sweet Christmas" and everything.
5. Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/The Leader
While Marvel studios wasn't impressed with the box office returns, I rather liked the 2008 reboot of "The Incredible Hulk". Due to the aforementioned box office disappointment, it seems like Hulk won't be getting a sequel anytime soon. It's disappointing, but that's the way the business is sometimes. I do, at least, hope that the writers pick up on the sequel hook involving the transformation of Samuel Sterns into The Leader. Dangling plot threads vex me, and I would like to see the villain come to the big screen. Casting the actor who originally played the bit part is only natural.
Final thoughts
The Avengers has the potential to be one of the biggest superhero movies ever made. While adding too many characters to the cast could pose a potential problem, I still think it would be nice to bring some of these characters into the fold. It would give lesser known characters some mainstream exposure (not to mention paving the way for spin-off films) and add some diversity to the Avengers cast. As of now, as far as heroes are concerned, it's a bunch of white guys. Yeah, Nick Fury and Black Widow are there, but it still wouldn't hurt to mix it up a bit more.
**While 'Avengers' has come and gone, the list is still fairly relevant. Granted, Black Panther's already been cast, but I still say that the other picks would work out well. It still works as food for thought.
1. Yvonne Strahovsky as Mrs./Captain Marvel
I read one article on C2F a while back that discussed the idea of her being cast. I, for one, think it's perfect. Granted, I'm a DC guy and, as such, am not very familiar with the character, but Strahovsky has the looks and the acting chops. Her role on "Chuck" also shows that she's more than capable of playing an action heroine so really, she's a match on all three levels. My roommate, who is a reader of Marvel comics, agrees that she would be a perfect pick for the role.
2. Eva Longoria as The Wasp
This was an idea that was pitched months ago. The rumor has died down as it seems like Marvel wants to save Wasp's debut for the upcoming "Ant-Man" movie(why they're going through the trouble of making a movie based on Ant-Man is beyond me). Hopefully something comes of it as I thought that she was a good pick for the role.
3. Djimon Hounsou as The Black Panther
This is a fan favorite pick, I'll admit. Even director Tim Story said that were he to cast Black Panther, he would pick Hounsou for the role. He's a good actor and has the gravitas needed to bring T'Challa to life. He voiced the character in BET's animated series, but that wasn't very good, not to mention that Panther was barely in it. It would be nice to actually see the actor play the role as opposed to being shoved to the side.
4. Isaiah Mustafa as Luke Cage
Yes, the Old Spice Guy. The more I think about it, the more perfect he is for the part. He's certainly got the physique of a superhero and you can never get tired of hearing that deep voice he uses for the commercials. The man has expressed interest in playing the part, so getting him to agree shouldn't be a problem. He was so dedicated to the role that he agreed to do a one minute video for YouTube where his head is superimposed on an action figure. On a side note, I highly recommend checking that video out as it really is quite glorious. Seriously, he says "Sweet Christmas" and everything.
5. Tim Blake Nelson as Samuel Sterns/The Leader
While Marvel studios wasn't impressed with the box office returns, I rather liked the 2008 reboot of "The Incredible Hulk". Due to the aforementioned box office disappointment, it seems like Hulk won't be getting a sequel anytime soon. It's disappointing, but that's the way the business is sometimes. I do, at least, hope that the writers pick up on the sequel hook involving the transformation of Samuel Sterns into The Leader. Dangling plot threads vex me, and I would like to see the villain come to the big screen. Casting the actor who originally played the bit part is only natural.
Final thoughts
The Avengers has the potential to be one of the biggest superhero movies ever made. While adding too many characters to the cast could pose a potential problem, I still think it would be nice to bring some of these characters into the fold. It would give lesser known characters some mainstream exposure (not to mention paving the way for spin-off films) and add some diversity to the Avengers cast. As of now, as far as heroes are concerned, it's a bunch of white guys. Yeah, Nick Fury and Black Widow are there, but it still wouldn't hurt to mix it up a bit more.
The Best in Fictional Weaponry: Mjolnir
*Originally published on 3/8/12
We've talked about weapons forged by gods before, but now we come to a weapon that was not only forged by gods, but is wielded by one as well. The weapon in question is Mjolnir (commonly pronounced as "Myull-Neer" in case you were curious), the hammer wielded by Thor, the Norse god of Thunder.
Whether talking about the original, as seen in Norse lore, or the iteration we see wielded by Marvel Comics' version of Thor, Mjolnir is a fearsome weapon to behold. In both instances, it is a weapon that is said to be capable of leveling mountains. If Thor were to throw the weapon, it would always hit its target. More than that, it would come back to him, much like fellow Marvel Comics superhero, Captain America's shield. While Mjolnir is often depicted as being large in order to indicate its power, the hammer was capable of changing size to make it more portable.
Not surprisingly, the writers at Marvel Comics kicked things up a notch and gave the mythical hammer an array of abilities that befit a warrior god. The ability to level mountains, as well as all of the other abilities listed, is still present and it is said that Adamantium (the indestructible metal that laces X-Man, Wolverine's bones and claws) is the only thing capable of withstanding a blow from said weapon.
In addition to massive amounts of concussive power, the Marvel comics iteration of Mjolnir is capable of creating force fields, shooting bolts of mystical energy (some of which are capable of harming planet sized entities), and can even manipulate molecules.
Mjolnir is especially potent against the undead. As Mjolnir is a religious item, vampires and other such abominations quickly burst into flame when struck by the hammer. Granted, this didn't help Thor much in the Marvel Zombies series, but it is still a benefit to possessing the legendary weapon.
Mjolnir has shown to be capable of doing a wide variety of other things. It can create anti-matter, project images, and can absorb massive amounts of energy. By massive, I'm talking on a galactic scale. As such, the hammer itself is quite resilient. Mjolnir has been broken or damaged before, but that was usually when it was on the receiving ends of either incredibly intense attacks or attacks by other mystical weapons.
As Thor is often touted as the "god of thunder" it should come as no surprise that Mjolnir also grants him the ability to call forth thunder, as well as rain and lightning. It can manipulate the weather on a global scale, as opposed to simply operating on a local level like the X-Man, Storm's ability to manipulate the elements.
It is also said that Mjolnir can open portals and vortexes into other dimensions. I'll grant you, some of these abilities seem to be pushing it. I get the feeling that Mjolnir wanted to try to compete with the sonic screwdriver in terms of developing new abilities on the fly. Regardless of the fact, Mjolnir has proven to be one of the more powerful weapons out there and, as such, is more than worthy of being considered one of the best.
We've talked about weapons forged by gods before, but now we come to a weapon that was not only forged by gods, but is wielded by one as well. The weapon in question is Mjolnir (commonly pronounced as "Myull-Neer" in case you were curious), the hammer wielded by Thor, the Norse god of Thunder.
Whether talking about the original, as seen in Norse lore, or the iteration we see wielded by Marvel Comics' version of Thor, Mjolnir is a fearsome weapon to behold. In both instances, it is a weapon that is said to be capable of leveling mountains. If Thor were to throw the weapon, it would always hit its target. More than that, it would come back to him, much like fellow Marvel Comics superhero, Captain America's shield. While Mjolnir is often depicted as being large in order to indicate its power, the hammer was capable of changing size to make it more portable.
Not surprisingly, the writers at Marvel Comics kicked things up a notch and gave the mythical hammer an array of abilities that befit a warrior god. The ability to level mountains, as well as all of the other abilities listed, is still present and it is said that Adamantium (the indestructible metal that laces X-Man, Wolverine's bones and claws) is the only thing capable of withstanding a blow from said weapon.
In addition to massive amounts of concussive power, the Marvel comics iteration of Mjolnir is capable of creating force fields, shooting bolts of mystical energy (some of which are capable of harming planet sized entities), and can even manipulate molecules.
Mjolnir is especially potent against the undead. As Mjolnir is a religious item, vampires and other such abominations quickly burst into flame when struck by the hammer. Granted, this didn't help Thor much in the Marvel Zombies series, but it is still a benefit to possessing the legendary weapon.
Mjolnir has shown to be capable of doing a wide variety of other things. It can create anti-matter, project images, and can absorb massive amounts of energy. By massive, I'm talking on a galactic scale. As such, the hammer itself is quite resilient. Mjolnir has been broken or damaged before, but that was usually when it was on the receiving ends of either incredibly intense attacks or attacks by other mystical weapons.
As Thor is often touted as the "god of thunder" it should come as no surprise that Mjolnir also grants him the ability to call forth thunder, as well as rain and lightning. It can manipulate the weather on a global scale, as opposed to simply operating on a local level like the X-Man, Storm's ability to manipulate the elements.
It is also said that Mjolnir can open portals and vortexes into other dimensions. I'll grant you, some of these abilities seem to be pushing it. I get the feeling that Mjolnir wanted to try to compete with the sonic screwdriver in terms of developing new abilities on the fly. Regardless of the fact, Mjolnir has proven to be one of the more powerful weapons out there and, as such, is more than worthy of being considered one of the best.
My Top 5 Breeds of Dog
When shopping for dogs, there are a lot of breeds to choose from. I'll admit that a lot of this is personal taste, and based on my own past experiences with dogs; but nevertheless, I decided to make a list of some of the breeds of dogs that really stand out in my opinion.
1. Labrador/Golden Retriever
I was originally going to put these as two separate picks, but then taking into account my number two selection, I thought that they were hogging the list, so I combined the two into one general "retriever" selection. I grew up with a black lab, and they are great dogs. They get along with people and children especially well and they, more often than not, get along with other dogs as well. It's kind of an obvious pick, but they rank as the fan favorite breed for a reason.
2. Labradoodle
Honestly, I've never had a Labradoodle. I have pet-sit for a couple of them and they are delightful dogs. It's a rare mix, but I love the breed, if for no other reason than its name. It's so fun to say. I'm not joking try it, Labradoodle. Good stuff.
3. Huskie
This is another great choice if you're looking for a good sized dog. They are also playful and very friendly. The resemblance to wolves adds to the awesome factor. Also notable is their eyes. Rather than the traditional brown, Huskies tend to have bright blue eyes which looks, for lack of a better word, really pretty.
4. Doberman
I know they have a reputation for being more violent, but when trained properly, they make great pets. As they tend to get quite big and strong, they can become a handful, but they are very personable.
One of my neighbors from a while back had a Doberman and when we were waiting for the bus, we would call the dog, she would come outside through her dog door and we would all pet her.
My old dog also became playmates with that dog, so in the afternoon, when I took her on walks, she and the Doberman would run around and play. It was convenient for everyone as both dogs burned up energy, the Doberman got some company during the day, and we didn't have to walk a mile and a half in order to wear our dog out.
5. Corgi
I prefer the larger breeds of dogs. The smaller ones tend to be rather..."yippy". I'm sorry, I would never own a Chihuahua. Pomeranians are OK, but even they fall into that same trap. From what I've seen, Corgis avert that trope. If I were to get a smaller breed of dog, it would definitely be a Corgi.
1. Labrador/Golden Retriever
I was originally going to put these as two separate picks, but then taking into account my number two selection, I thought that they were hogging the list, so I combined the two into one general "retriever" selection. I grew up with a black lab, and they are great dogs. They get along with people and children especially well and they, more often than not, get along with other dogs as well. It's kind of an obvious pick, but they rank as the fan favorite breed for a reason.
2. Labradoodle
Honestly, I've never had a Labradoodle. I have pet-sit for a couple of them and they are delightful dogs. It's a rare mix, but I love the breed, if for no other reason than its name. It's so fun to say. I'm not joking try it, Labradoodle. Good stuff.
3. Huskie
This is another great choice if you're looking for a good sized dog. They are also playful and very friendly. The resemblance to wolves adds to the awesome factor. Also notable is their eyes. Rather than the traditional brown, Huskies tend to have bright blue eyes which looks, for lack of a better word, really pretty.
4. Doberman
I know they have a reputation for being more violent, but when trained properly, they make great pets. As they tend to get quite big and strong, they can become a handful, but they are very personable.
One of my neighbors from a while back had a Doberman and when we were waiting for the bus, we would call the dog, she would come outside through her dog door and we would all pet her.
My old dog also became playmates with that dog, so in the afternoon, when I took her on walks, she and the Doberman would run around and play. It was convenient for everyone as both dogs burned up energy, the Doberman got some company during the day, and we didn't have to walk a mile and a half in order to wear our dog out.
5. Corgi
I prefer the larger breeds of dogs. The smaller ones tend to be rather..."yippy". I'm sorry, I would never own a Chihuahua. Pomeranians are OK, but even they fall into that same trap. From what I've seen, Corgis avert that trope. If I were to get a smaller breed of dog, it would definitely be a Corgi.
Friday, November 28, 2014
My Top 5 Food Challenges
I've recently become intrigued by the show, "Man v. Food". It showcases a man who goes from city to city taking on local food challenges. Most of these involve eating a lot of food, or a really spicy food in a certain amount of time.
While I've never partaken in an official challenges, there are certain meals that have proven particularly challenging, and have thus, become my own unofficial food challenges.
1. 20 Mozzarella Sticks from Arby's
This is the big cahuna for me when it comes to food challenges. It was one of the most grueling trials I've ever endured.
A couple of years back, Arby's had a promotion where you could order 5 things for about $5. I joked that I would just order a bunch of mozzarella sticks, because I love mozzarella sticks.
Well, during a road trip, my roommate and I went to Arby's and I got to put my theory to the test. For the sake of simplicity, I ordered 4 orders of cheese sticks and a drink, but with 5 sticks per order, it still came out to an even 20.
The first ten were easy, the next five were a bit tougher, but still doable. The last five, however, were a gauntlet. I honestly didn't think I could take another bite and it was only after much encouragement from my roommate that I was able to finish. It got to a point where even a single bite felt like a daunting task in and of itself.
After that was done, I had no desire to even think about cheese. No joke, that lasted for a few weeks. The ordeal took that much of a toll on me.
Cheese sticks aren't particularly filling, but when you hit that number, it becomes impossible to take another bite. This is one food challenge that not only pushed me to the sheer limit, but also left me with a desire never to attempt to do it again.
2. Grilled Cheeseburger Melt from Friendly's
I have never actually had this sandwich, because Friendly's aren't easy to come by, at least in the areas where I frequent, but man, I want to try it.
A lot of people freaked out about the health issues, but I don't care. It's not a sandwich that you're supposed to eat on a regular basis and it looks freaking delicious.
A restaurant sized burger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches? You probably could make two meals out of it, but I would love to try to take it down in one sitting.
3. 1 pound plate of Fettuccine Alfredo from Moe's
Some time ago, we went to this seafood restaurant called "Moe's". I don't remember where it was, but I'm pretty sure it's in Maryland.
Anyway, I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo. They pretty much served me a full box as the serving size was huge. Sadly, I was unable to finish it.
We never went back to that place, though I did bring up the idea of going back frequently as I wanted a rematch, but it was a massive serving of pasta that, combined with the heavy cream sauce, made for a daunting meal.
4. The Double Stacked Burger from Bill Bateman's Bistro
I love Bacon Cheeseburgers. Almost every restaurant I go to serves it, so it has become my go to dish. One chain in Severna Park, Md decided to up the ante by doubling down.
Now, fast food burger places serve sandwiches with multiple patties, but those are generally smaller, where the double stacked burger features two patties the size of a burger you would normally get at a place like Applebee's or T.G.I.Friday's.
I've bested this burger every time I've eaten it, but it is quite filling, and all the more challenging because the burger is so big that I can't bite into it in its entirety. Instead, I have to attempt to bite into either the top or bottom half and try to keep it even as I eat it. It's a hassle, but the burger is so delicious that it's worth the effort.
5. Oreo/Chocolate Tall Cake from Ruby Tuesday's
This is the food challenge that started it all for me. Back in the day, I used to treat eating pieces of cake like it was a sport. As far as I was concerned, the bigger the piece, the better.
While there were several other chains that served giant pieces of chocolate cake, this was the big daddy as far as I was concerned. It was a huge block of brownie, with ice cream and drenched in caramel and chocolate sauce. It was delicious and finishing it was never easy, but always satisfying.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. It may not compare to the sort of meals that Adam Richman eats on the show, but for those of us who have a more run of the mill appetite, these should prove to be plenty challenging.
While I've never partaken in an official challenges, there are certain meals that have proven particularly challenging, and have thus, become my own unofficial food challenges.
1. 20 Mozzarella Sticks from Arby's
This is the big cahuna for me when it comes to food challenges. It was one of the most grueling trials I've ever endured.
A couple of years back, Arby's had a promotion where you could order 5 things for about $5. I joked that I would just order a bunch of mozzarella sticks, because I love mozzarella sticks.
Well, during a road trip, my roommate and I went to Arby's and I got to put my theory to the test. For the sake of simplicity, I ordered 4 orders of cheese sticks and a drink, but with 5 sticks per order, it still came out to an even 20.
The first ten were easy, the next five were a bit tougher, but still doable. The last five, however, were a gauntlet. I honestly didn't think I could take another bite and it was only after much encouragement from my roommate that I was able to finish. It got to a point where even a single bite felt like a daunting task in and of itself.
After that was done, I had no desire to even think about cheese. No joke, that lasted for a few weeks. The ordeal took that much of a toll on me.
Cheese sticks aren't particularly filling, but when you hit that number, it becomes impossible to take another bite. This is one food challenge that not only pushed me to the sheer limit, but also left me with a desire never to attempt to do it again.
2. Grilled Cheeseburger Melt from Friendly's
I have never actually had this sandwich, because Friendly's aren't easy to come by, at least in the areas where I frequent, but man, I want to try it.
A lot of people freaked out about the health issues, but I don't care. It's not a sandwich that you're supposed to eat on a regular basis and it looks freaking delicious.
A restaurant sized burger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches? You probably could make two meals out of it, but I would love to try to take it down in one sitting.
3. 1 pound plate of Fettuccine Alfredo from Moe's
Some time ago, we went to this seafood restaurant called "Moe's". I don't remember where it was, but I'm pretty sure it's in Maryland.
Anyway, I ordered the Fettuccine Alfredo. They pretty much served me a full box as the serving size was huge. Sadly, I was unable to finish it.
We never went back to that place, though I did bring up the idea of going back frequently as I wanted a rematch, but it was a massive serving of pasta that, combined with the heavy cream sauce, made for a daunting meal.
4. The Double Stacked Burger from Bill Bateman's Bistro
I love Bacon Cheeseburgers. Almost every restaurant I go to serves it, so it has become my go to dish. One chain in Severna Park, Md decided to up the ante by doubling down.
Now, fast food burger places serve sandwiches with multiple patties, but those are generally smaller, where the double stacked burger features two patties the size of a burger you would normally get at a place like Applebee's or T.G.I.Friday's.
I've bested this burger every time I've eaten it, but it is quite filling, and all the more challenging because the burger is so big that I can't bite into it in its entirety. Instead, I have to attempt to bite into either the top or bottom half and try to keep it even as I eat it. It's a hassle, but the burger is so delicious that it's worth the effort.
5. Oreo/Chocolate Tall Cake from Ruby Tuesday's
This is the food challenge that started it all for me. Back in the day, I used to treat eating pieces of cake like it was a sport. As far as I was concerned, the bigger the piece, the better.
While there were several other chains that served giant pieces of chocolate cake, this was the big daddy as far as I was concerned. It was a huge block of brownie, with ice cream and drenched in caramel and chocolate sauce. It was delicious and finishing it was never easy, but always satisfying.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it. It may not compare to the sort of meals that Adam Richman eats on the show, but for those of us who have a more run of the mill appetite, these should prove to be plenty challenging.
Breaking Down the Character Alignment: Neutral Evil
*Originally published on 4/11/12
Neutral evil characters are the sort who will do whatever serves their own best interests. As far as they are concerned, that is all that matters. It doesn't matter what they need to do in order to do it, that's what will be done.
Interestingly enough, it's this alignment that gets dubbed as "true evil". Whereas you would think that "chaotic evil" would take that spot. I suppose it's similar to how "neutral good" could arguably be seen as "true good" as opposed to "lawful good".
The flavors of neutral evil characters vary. Some are just egomaniacs who see themselves as above any sense of morals or laws (though they will often use said laws when it suits them to do so). Others are just amoral. They aren't malicious, they just don't care one way or the other. You can also come across more actively evil characters who still work to serve their own interests, but know full well that what they are doing is wrong and choose to do it anyway.
Both Marvel and DC Comics have major villains that fall under this category in Wilson Fisk (aka The Kingpin) and Lex Luthor. Both are corrupt businessmen who do what they need to in order to get more power. They will break the law without remorse, but they will also manipulate that same law in order to get out of trouble.
Spider-Man's nemesis, the Green Goblin, also fits this bill as the Goblin persona often makes a point to do things that will improve Norman's status. Of course, Norman isn't the most moral of people on a good day, but that element of his fractured psyche takes it to a whole new level.
Another excellent example of a neutral evil is Alex Krycek from The X-Files. He worked with and betrayed just about everyone in the show over the course of the series depending on what his goals were at that time.
South Park's Eric Cartman is also a pretty solid example of a neutral evil character. He uses chaotic elements as well as more lawful elements on a whim in order to manipulate people into helping him accomplish his goals.
In a more general sense, a lot of hit-men and con men fall under this category as they generally do what they do for profit and make a point to say that it's only business.
Neutral evil is a tough alignment to maintain in a tabletop group as other members are often heroic people doing heroic things. As such, it becomes tough to figure out a way to maintain the alliance with the group without becoming too heroic.
They can make for compelling characters, though. Even if it is tough to pull off in role playing, they are fun to watch or read about.
Neutral evil characters are the sort who will do whatever serves their own best interests. As far as they are concerned, that is all that matters. It doesn't matter what they need to do in order to do it, that's what will be done.
Interestingly enough, it's this alignment that gets dubbed as "true evil". Whereas you would think that "chaotic evil" would take that spot. I suppose it's similar to how "neutral good" could arguably be seen as "true good" as opposed to "lawful good".
The flavors of neutral evil characters vary. Some are just egomaniacs who see themselves as above any sense of morals or laws (though they will often use said laws when it suits them to do so). Others are just amoral. They aren't malicious, they just don't care one way or the other. You can also come across more actively evil characters who still work to serve their own interests, but know full well that what they are doing is wrong and choose to do it anyway.
Both Marvel and DC Comics have major villains that fall under this category in Wilson Fisk (aka The Kingpin) and Lex Luthor. Both are corrupt businessmen who do what they need to in order to get more power. They will break the law without remorse, but they will also manipulate that same law in order to get out of trouble.
Spider-Man's nemesis, the Green Goblin, also fits this bill as the Goblin persona often makes a point to do things that will improve Norman's status. Of course, Norman isn't the most moral of people on a good day, but that element of his fractured psyche takes it to a whole new level.
Another excellent example of a neutral evil is Alex Krycek from The X-Files. He worked with and betrayed just about everyone in the show over the course of the series depending on what his goals were at that time.
South Park's Eric Cartman is also a pretty solid example of a neutral evil character. He uses chaotic elements as well as more lawful elements on a whim in order to manipulate people into helping him accomplish his goals.
In a more general sense, a lot of hit-men and con men fall under this category as they generally do what they do for profit and make a point to say that it's only business.
Neutral evil is a tough alignment to maintain in a tabletop group as other members are often heroic people doing heroic things. As such, it becomes tough to figure out a way to maintain the alliance with the group without becoming too heroic.
They can make for compelling characters, though. Even if it is tough to pull off in role playing, they are fun to watch or read about.
The Best in Fictional Weaponry: The BFG 9000
*Originally published on 3/5/12
OK, quick admission here, I've never played Doom. Much like The Legend of Zelda, this is one of those iconic franchises that I have next to no familiarity with. As I've said, I'm not that big a gamer so a lot of this stuff just sort of went past my radar when I was a kid.
Nevertheless, it is a pop culture icon and it brought us the weapon that will be discussed now. With so many weapons available to you in the games, it might seem like a hard choice to make, but really, when it comes to the best weaponry, what else could it be? It has to be the one, the only, BFG 9000.
While the movie tried to tout the weapon as being called a "Bio Force Gun", fans (as well as the game manual) will tell you that it stands for "big f$#%ing gun".
Really, that's what it is. There's nothing more to it. It's right there in the title. It's a big f…reaking gun. It's quite elegant in its simplicity. It may not have the bells and whistles of other weapons, but it doesn't need them.
Sometimes, all you need is a really big gun to shoot stuff with, and as far as that is concerned, you can't ask for any better than this.
Even to this day, it stands as the most powerful weapon in the Doom franchise. The BFG is capable of firing giant balls of green plasma energy that kill any enemy in the vicinity with a single hit.
As if that wasn't testament enough to the greatness of the weapon, it has been quasi-incorporated into another game series outside of the Doom franchise. That's right, a similar gun, called the "BFG10K" has been featured in two entries in the Quake series.
If my word isn't enough to convince you of the gun's status as one of the best, there are several lists at sites like UGO and IGN that rank it in the top ten best video game weapons of all time. G4's X-Play even ranked it as the number 1 badass video game weapon.
I may not be a gamer, but I know an awesome weapon when I see it. The BFG is an awesome weapon.
OK, quick admission here, I've never played Doom. Much like The Legend of Zelda, this is one of those iconic franchises that I have next to no familiarity with. As I've said, I'm not that big a gamer so a lot of this stuff just sort of went past my radar when I was a kid.
Nevertheless, it is a pop culture icon and it brought us the weapon that will be discussed now. With so many weapons available to you in the games, it might seem like a hard choice to make, but really, when it comes to the best weaponry, what else could it be? It has to be the one, the only, BFG 9000.
While the movie tried to tout the weapon as being called a "Bio Force Gun", fans (as well as the game manual) will tell you that it stands for "big f$#%ing gun".
Really, that's what it is. There's nothing more to it. It's right there in the title. It's a big f…reaking gun. It's quite elegant in its simplicity. It may not have the bells and whistles of other weapons, but it doesn't need them.
Sometimes, all you need is a really big gun to shoot stuff with, and as far as that is concerned, you can't ask for any better than this.
Even to this day, it stands as the most powerful weapon in the Doom franchise. The BFG is capable of firing giant balls of green plasma energy that kill any enemy in the vicinity with a single hit.
As if that wasn't testament enough to the greatness of the weapon, it has been quasi-incorporated into another game series outside of the Doom franchise. That's right, a similar gun, called the "BFG10K" has been featured in two entries in the Quake series.
If my word isn't enough to convince you of the gun's status as one of the best, there are several lists at sites like UGO and IGN that rank it in the top ten best video game weapons of all time. G4's X-Play even ranked it as the number 1 badass video game weapon.
I may not be a gamer, but I know an awesome weapon when I see it. The BFG is an awesome weapon.
The Best of Tom Waits
*Originally published on 3/21/11
Back in college, my roommate asked me what my favorite songs on each of Tom Waits' albums were. I was still something of a Waits newbie at that point, so I wasn't familiar enough with the albums or song titles to give a definitive answer. It's been some time, and until now, I never really gave it a lot of thought. I decided to go back and determine which were my favorite songs on each respective album. I already did a top 10, but this will go deeper and, I think, give a better representation as there are a lot more than 10 great songs that Waits has created over the years. So without further ado, let's begin.
Album: Alice
Alice
There was a time when I listened to music to help me go to sleep. As mentioned before, Tom Waits' music makes great sleep music. I would set my iTunes up to play through his library as I tried to go to sleep and this was always the first track that came up. It works rather well. It's somber and soft, which makes the transition that much easier.
Even on its own merits, it's a good song as it has some emotional pull to it. Another thing worth mentioning is that the song is over 4 minutes, which means that you get to enjoy it for some time as opposed to finding that it wraps up just as you are getting into it.
Flower's Grave
This song is rather beautiful. It's one of the sadder songs in his repertoire, and considering how heartwrenching some of his work can be, I think that's saying something. It also has a sort of lullaby feel that makes it another great song to help ease you into dreamland.
No One Knows I'm Gone
This is another somber ditty that tugs on the heartstrings. The only downside to this track is that it's only a freaking minute and a half. I guess it's a good thing that the song leaves you wanting more, but at the same time, it is too bad that there isn't some more to this song as I think it would've worked.
Poor Edward
I'm starting to realize that the somber tunes are the ones that stand out to me on this album. This one is also fairly heart-wrenching. I read that this song was actually based on a true story. A lot of people took it to be a metaphor, but in actuality the situation was quite literal, which is rather fascinating.
Watch Her Disappear
This song is spoken word as opposed to sung in the more traditional sense. As such, it's more like a poem with musical accompaniment. This track stands out in my memory because my sister found it creepy. It's an odd song to be sure, but that's what makes it one that leaves an impression in your mind.
Reeperbahn
Honorable Mentions: Everything You Can Think Of, Komminezuspadt, Lost in the Harbor
Going through this album, I realized that a vast majority of the tracks here are very good. I had to pare down the list because I realized that every track has its merits. It's also one of the reasons I added the "honorable mentions" section because I didn't want the whole album to qualify. That would defeat the purpose of the whole thing.
From here on out, I'm going to try and limit my picks to just one or two songs. Otherwise, we'll be here all day.
Album: Beautiful Maladies
The Black Rider
Seeing as this is a greatest hits album, it goes without saying that the album itself is a pretty good reprentation of Waits' best work. Of the track list on this album, my personal favorite has to be The Black Rider. It wasn't released on any of his mainstream albums and it has a very unique feel to it while still fitting in perfectly with Tom's musical style.
Album: Big Time
Telephone Call From Istanbul
This live album also has a decent collection of Tom's hits. The one standout track for me is Telephone Call from Istanbul. It's a very fun, upbeat tune. It becomes surprising hearing it compared to the original which has a slower tempo. The more fun, jazzy feel works better in my opinion and it makes it a fun listen that can be heard repeatedly without getting tired of it. I have to admit I do rather enjoy the scat singing ending, sadly, this isn't in the original, but it gives the song, appropriately enough, more pop.
Album: Blood Money
Misery is the River of the World
You'll notice a trend with me that, often times, the first track on an album is my favorite. I don't know why that is. It's nice that Waits wants to put his best foot forward, but often times, it can make the rest of the album pale in comparison, even when the rest of the album is darn good. This is one of the more definitive latter era Waits songs that put his "growly' voice and his eccentric style to good use. All in all, it's a great listen.
Honorable mentions go to Everything Goes to Hell, God's Away on Business, and All the World is Green
Album: Blue Valentine
Wrong Side of the Road
My roommate from college cited this album as his least favorite Waits album, ironically, it contains one of my favorite songs. It's more traditional than some of his other stuff, but I still dig it. It has a mellow, jazz feel to it and I find that I can listen to this song repeatedly and still enjoy it as much as I did the first time through.
Whistlin' Past the Graveyard comes in a close second. It's more upbeat and off the wall, but for me, Wrong Side of the Road wins by a hair.
Album: Bone Machine
Dirt in the Ground
This ranks as one of my all time favorite Tom Waits songs. It's sort of a hybrid of his two musical styles and it works extraordinarily well. It's somber, but not to the point where you find yourself depressed by it.
Album: Closing Time
Ice Cream Man
For a long time, Ol' 55 was my favorite track on this album (continuing the aforementioned pattern), but as time went on, I found myself liking Ice Cream Man more. It's upbeat and rather rockin', which is a contrast to the rest of the album. My only complaint is that the song is too short. Though that does make it all the easier to just hit the repeat button so that I can hear it again.
Honorable mentions go to Ol' 55, and Grapefruit Moon (which is a rather gorgeous song).
Album: Frank's Wild Years
I'll Be Gone
This song is so strange that it can't help but stand out in your mind. The tempo is more upbeat, but at the same time, Waits' vocal style here makes it sound like he's venting angst.
While I prefer the live version of it better, the original take on Telephone Call From Istanbul is also enjoyable, though that acts as a runner up for me in terms of favorite songs.
Album: Heart Attack and Vine
Heart Attack and Vine
Again, the first track reigns supreme. This too, is one of my favorite Waits songs. It is a prime example of the first track spoiling the rest of the album for me. It's good, but this one kind of steals the show for me. I often find myself listening to this one track more than the rest of the album put together, the song is that good.
Album: Mule Variations
While the album itself is solid, there isn't any one track that really stands out to me above the others. I don't know, I'm kind of drawing a blank with this one. I guess this one will have to be filed under N/A.
Album: Nighthawks at the Diner
Better Off Without a Wife is probably my favorite song, though the album is better than the sum of its parts. The album stands out as it includes a lot of humorous banter from Waits, as if he's performing a live concert. It makes it feel like you're a part of the audience at some small concert venue. His anecdotes are quite funny and it really adds to the experience of listening to the CD from beginning to end.
Album: Rain Dogs
This is a tough one as the album as a whole is superb and there are so many good ones to choose from. Clap Hands and Singapore are the more well known tracks, to wit, those were pretty much what introduced me (and subsequently got me hooked on) Tom Waits' music. Still, I have to say Tango Til They're Sore takes it for me as the best song on the album. Cemetary Polka is a fun little ditty, and I'd probably give that one the runner up spot, but Tango takes the win in my opinion.
Album: Real Gone
I wasn't crazy about this album to be honest. In terms of Waits' work, I'd cite it as one of his weaker entries. I think it was trying too hard to be eccentric and weird to the point where it was too much. The only real track I liked was Top of the Hill (again track 1).
Album: Small Change
This is a close call between Invitation to the Blues and Tom Traubert's Blues. Both are sad to the point where it's heart wrenching and beautiful. I'd say Invitation takes the win, once again, the margin is extremely slight, but Invitation hits me more than Tom's does.
Album: Swordfishtrombone
Underground
I told you the first tracks tend to steal the show for me. This is probably the definitive "weird" Tom Waits song and it's all the more glorious because of it.
Album: The Heart of Saturday Night
New Coat of Paint takes the win, although honorable mention goes to Fumblin' With The Blues. Unlike the other "blues" songs, Fumblin' is a bit more upbeat and jazzy, where the others are more heartfelt ballads.
So, there you have it. Hopefully that helps you get a feel for Tom Waits' music. If you're looking for tracks to add to your iTunes library, I suspect that this article will do you a lot more good than my Top Ten list. At the very least, I hope it will get you interested in checking out some of his other songs that you may not be as familiar with.
Back in college, my roommate asked me what my favorite songs on each of Tom Waits' albums were. I was still something of a Waits newbie at that point, so I wasn't familiar enough with the albums or song titles to give a definitive answer. It's been some time, and until now, I never really gave it a lot of thought. I decided to go back and determine which were my favorite songs on each respective album. I already did a top 10, but this will go deeper and, I think, give a better representation as there are a lot more than 10 great songs that Waits has created over the years. So without further ado, let's begin.
Album: Alice
Alice
There was a time when I listened to music to help me go to sleep. As mentioned before, Tom Waits' music makes great sleep music. I would set my iTunes up to play through his library as I tried to go to sleep and this was always the first track that came up. It works rather well. It's somber and soft, which makes the transition that much easier.
Even on its own merits, it's a good song as it has some emotional pull to it. Another thing worth mentioning is that the song is over 4 minutes, which means that you get to enjoy it for some time as opposed to finding that it wraps up just as you are getting into it.
Flower's Grave
This song is rather beautiful. It's one of the sadder songs in his repertoire, and considering how heartwrenching some of his work can be, I think that's saying something. It also has a sort of lullaby feel that makes it another great song to help ease you into dreamland.
No One Knows I'm Gone
This is another somber ditty that tugs on the heartstrings. The only downside to this track is that it's only a freaking minute and a half. I guess it's a good thing that the song leaves you wanting more, but at the same time, it is too bad that there isn't some more to this song as I think it would've worked.
Poor Edward
I'm starting to realize that the somber tunes are the ones that stand out to me on this album. This one is also fairly heart-wrenching. I read that this song was actually based on a true story. A lot of people took it to be a metaphor, but in actuality the situation was quite literal, which is rather fascinating.
Watch Her Disappear
This song is spoken word as opposed to sung in the more traditional sense. As such, it's more like a poem with musical accompaniment. This track stands out in my memory because my sister found it creepy. It's an odd song to be sure, but that's what makes it one that leaves an impression in your mind.
Reeperbahn
Honorable Mentions: Everything You Can Think Of, Komminezuspadt, Lost in the Harbor
Going through this album, I realized that a vast majority of the tracks here are very good. I had to pare down the list because I realized that every track has its merits. It's also one of the reasons I added the "honorable mentions" section because I didn't want the whole album to qualify. That would defeat the purpose of the whole thing.
From here on out, I'm going to try and limit my picks to just one or two songs. Otherwise, we'll be here all day.
Album: Beautiful Maladies
The Black Rider
Seeing as this is a greatest hits album, it goes without saying that the album itself is a pretty good reprentation of Waits' best work. Of the track list on this album, my personal favorite has to be The Black Rider. It wasn't released on any of his mainstream albums and it has a very unique feel to it while still fitting in perfectly with Tom's musical style.
Album: Big Time
Telephone Call From Istanbul
This live album also has a decent collection of Tom's hits. The one standout track for me is Telephone Call from Istanbul. It's a very fun, upbeat tune. It becomes surprising hearing it compared to the original which has a slower tempo. The more fun, jazzy feel works better in my opinion and it makes it a fun listen that can be heard repeatedly without getting tired of it. I have to admit I do rather enjoy the scat singing ending, sadly, this isn't in the original, but it gives the song, appropriately enough, more pop.
Album: Blood Money
Misery is the River of the World
You'll notice a trend with me that, often times, the first track on an album is my favorite. I don't know why that is. It's nice that Waits wants to put his best foot forward, but often times, it can make the rest of the album pale in comparison, even when the rest of the album is darn good. This is one of the more definitive latter era Waits songs that put his "growly' voice and his eccentric style to good use. All in all, it's a great listen.
Honorable mentions go to Everything Goes to Hell, God's Away on Business, and All the World is Green
Album: Blue Valentine
Wrong Side of the Road
My roommate from college cited this album as his least favorite Waits album, ironically, it contains one of my favorite songs. It's more traditional than some of his other stuff, but I still dig it. It has a mellow, jazz feel to it and I find that I can listen to this song repeatedly and still enjoy it as much as I did the first time through.
Whistlin' Past the Graveyard comes in a close second. It's more upbeat and off the wall, but for me, Wrong Side of the Road wins by a hair.
Album: Bone Machine
Dirt in the Ground
This ranks as one of my all time favorite Tom Waits songs. It's sort of a hybrid of his two musical styles and it works extraordinarily well. It's somber, but not to the point where you find yourself depressed by it.
Album: Closing Time
Ice Cream Man
For a long time, Ol' 55 was my favorite track on this album (continuing the aforementioned pattern), but as time went on, I found myself liking Ice Cream Man more. It's upbeat and rather rockin', which is a contrast to the rest of the album. My only complaint is that the song is too short. Though that does make it all the easier to just hit the repeat button so that I can hear it again.
Honorable mentions go to Ol' 55, and Grapefruit Moon (which is a rather gorgeous song).
Album: Frank's Wild Years
I'll Be Gone
This song is so strange that it can't help but stand out in your mind. The tempo is more upbeat, but at the same time, Waits' vocal style here makes it sound like he's venting angst.
While I prefer the live version of it better, the original take on Telephone Call From Istanbul is also enjoyable, though that acts as a runner up for me in terms of favorite songs.
Album: Heart Attack and Vine
Heart Attack and Vine
Again, the first track reigns supreme. This too, is one of my favorite Waits songs. It is a prime example of the first track spoiling the rest of the album for me. It's good, but this one kind of steals the show for me. I often find myself listening to this one track more than the rest of the album put together, the song is that good.
Album: Mule Variations
While the album itself is solid, there isn't any one track that really stands out to me above the others. I don't know, I'm kind of drawing a blank with this one. I guess this one will have to be filed under N/A.
Album: Nighthawks at the Diner
Better Off Without a Wife is probably my favorite song, though the album is better than the sum of its parts. The album stands out as it includes a lot of humorous banter from Waits, as if he's performing a live concert. It makes it feel like you're a part of the audience at some small concert venue. His anecdotes are quite funny and it really adds to the experience of listening to the CD from beginning to end.
Album: Rain Dogs
This is a tough one as the album as a whole is superb and there are so many good ones to choose from. Clap Hands and Singapore are the more well known tracks, to wit, those were pretty much what introduced me (and subsequently got me hooked on) Tom Waits' music. Still, I have to say Tango Til They're Sore takes it for me as the best song on the album. Cemetary Polka is a fun little ditty, and I'd probably give that one the runner up spot, but Tango takes the win in my opinion.
Album: Real Gone
I wasn't crazy about this album to be honest. In terms of Waits' work, I'd cite it as one of his weaker entries. I think it was trying too hard to be eccentric and weird to the point where it was too much. The only real track I liked was Top of the Hill (again track 1).
Album: Small Change
This is a close call between Invitation to the Blues and Tom Traubert's Blues. Both are sad to the point where it's heart wrenching and beautiful. I'd say Invitation takes the win, once again, the margin is extremely slight, but Invitation hits me more than Tom's does.
Album: Swordfishtrombone
Underground
I told you the first tracks tend to steal the show for me. This is probably the definitive "weird" Tom Waits song and it's all the more glorious because of it.
Album: The Heart of Saturday Night
New Coat of Paint takes the win, although honorable mention goes to Fumblin' With The Blues. Unlike the other "blues" songs, Fumblin' is a bit more upbeat and jazzy, where the others are more heartfelt ballads.
So, there you have it. Hopefully that helps you get a feel for Tom Waits' music. If you're looking for tracks to add to your iTunes library, I suspect that this article will do you a lot more good than my Top Ten list. At the very least, I hope it will get you interested in checking out some of his other songs that you may not be as familiar with.
Top 5 Things I Would Like to see in D&D 5E
*Originally published on 3/1/12
Wizards of the Coast recently announced that they were beginning work on a new edition of the popular tabletop role playing game "Dungeons and Dragons".
They announced that play testing was going to start soon and that they were looking for fans to both partake in said testing, and to put forth ideas of what they would want to see. By getting fan suggestions, they're hoping to make a sort of "ultimate d&d".
While I'm not a hardcore gamer, I thought I would take the liberty of putting out some ideas of my own.
1. Get rid of healing surges
The healing surge system in 4E is weird. You have a limited amount each day, but you can only use one in combat. During combat, you need to have your white mage heal you by using one of their healing surges even though the amount of HP you gain is based on one of your healing surges. Otherwise, you need to take a rest in order to "pop" however many you may feel you need. While healing potions are available, and don't restore nearly as many HP, drinking one still takes a surge.
It doesn't need to be this convoluted. Just say that the only means of healing are spells, potions, and rests. Just say that short rests restore half of your hit points and that extended rests bring you up to full. It's straight forward and to the point.
2. Monster manual omnibus
The previous edition published three monster manuals as well as another one for the Essentials monster vault.
While individual stats may need to be tweaked, WotC should use all of that material to get a head start on content. A huge volume collecting all the monsters from the various releases will give DM's plenty of encounter options, making for a much more enjoyable game.
Information on how to scale monsters up or down should also be featured (for some reason this info was put in the DM guide in 4E).
You could even make it into a box set to feature tokens of all the monsters as well as maps like the Essentials release did.
3. Offer an array of pre-published adventures
One of the cool things about the Essentials box sets is that some of them came with pre-published adventures that DM's could use.
I think that they should take that idea and run with it. You could release tons of self contained adventures that run the scale from level 1 to level 30. Just sell the individual pamphlets for like one or two dollars a pop.
This will give new DM's some place to start and allow them to get a feel for how it works and it will give more experienced DM's some story ideas for their own campaign should they hit a wall at any point.
4. Make leveling up worth something
Reaching a new level in 4E was a mixed bag. Some levels had cool stuff, but other times it didn't seem like you got that much benefit from hitting a new level.
If you want to throw in a new daily or new feat every 2-5 levels, that's fine, but I'd think that, at the very least, a player should be able to increase his amount of available hit points and get a few points to up his stats each time he or she gains enough XP to reach a new level. Otherwise, it just loses its importance and you care less about reaching that goal.
5. Don't get bogged down in mechanics
One of the main complaints about 4E was that it was too heavily based on combat. Sure, a part of that is up to the DM, but while material should feature stat materials for character creation and monsters etc, there should be other stuff too.
Even AD&D had this problem where the mechanics were overly convoluted and really, they don't need to be. When you make a game that becomes more calculating than playing, than it stops being fun.
Given the nature of the game, some focus on it is necessary, but when you just throw mechanics and technical material at a potential new player, he or she's going to lose interest.
Include tips on how to better develop your character and how to get into the spirit of role-playing, talk about the ideas for possible histories regarding the world you'll be working in. Stuff like that is far less imposing to a newbie than a book with nothing but stat blocks and information on game mechanics.
Final thoughts
Some of the more experienced D&D players may have more in depth or complicated lists. As I said, I'm something of a newbie to the game, but these are things that I would like to see incorporated into the new game design.
Wizards of the Coast recently announced that they were beginning work on a new edition of the popular tabletop role playing game "Dungeons and Dragons".
They announced that play testing was going to start soon and that they were looking for fans to both partake in said testing, and to put forth ideas of what they would want to see. By getting fan suggestions, they're hoping to make a sort of "ultimate d&d".
While I'm not a hardcore gamer, I thought I would take the liberty of putting out some ideas of my own.
1. Get rid of healing surges
The healing surge system in 4E is weird. You have a limited amount each day, but you can only use one in combat. During combat, you need to have your white mage heal you by using one of their healing surges even though the amount of HP you gain is based on one of your healing surges. Otherwise, you need to take a rest in order to "pop" however many you may feel you need. While healing potions are available, and don't restore nearly as many HP, drinking one still takes a surge.
It doesn't need to be this convoluted. Just say that the only means of healing are spells, potions, and rests. Just say that short rests restore half of your hit points and that extended rests bring you up to full. It's straight forward and to the point.
2. Monster manual omnibus
The previous edition published three monster manuals as well as another one for the Essentials monster vault.
While individual stats may need to be tweaked, WotC should use all of that material to get a head start on content. A huge volume collecting all the monsters from the various releases will give DM's plenty of encounter options, making for a much more enjoyable game.
Information on how to scale monsters up or down should also be featured (for some reason this info was put in the DM guide in 4E).
You could even make it into a box set to feature tokens of all the monsters as well as maps like the Essentials release did.
3. Offer an array of pre-published adventures
One of the cool things about the Essentials box sets is that some of them came with pre-published adventures that DM's could use.
I think that they should take that idea and run with it. You could release tons of self contained adventures that run the scale from level 1 to level 30. Just sell the individual pamphlets for like one or two dollars a pop.
This will give new DM's some place to start and allow them to get a feel for how it works and it will give more experienced DM's some story ideas for their own campaign should they hit a wall at any point.
4. Make leveling up worth something
Reaching a new level in 4E was a mixed bag. Some levels had cool stuff, but other times it didn't seem like you got that much benefit from hitting a new level.
If you want to throw in a new daily or new feat every 2-5 levels, that's fine, but I'd think that, at the very least, a player should be able to increase his amount of available hit points and get a few points to up his stats each time he or she gains enough XP to reach a new level. Otherwise, it just loses its importance and you care less about reaching that goal.
5. Don't get bogged down in mechanics
One of the main complaints about 4E was that it was too heavily based on combat. Sure, a part of that is up to the DM, but while material should feature stat materials for character creation and monsters etc, there should be other stuff too.
Even AD&D had this problem where the mechanics were overly convoluted and really, they don't need to be. When you make a game that becomes more calculating than playing, than it stops being fun.
Given the nature of the game, some focus on it is necessary, but when you just throw mechanics and technical material at a potential new player, he or she's going to lose interest.
Include tips on how to better develop your character and how to get into the spirit of role-playing, talk about the ideas for possible histories regarding the world you'll be working in. Stuff like that is far less imposing to a newbie than a book with nothing but stat blocks and information on game mechanics.
Final thoughts
Some of the more experienced D&D players may have more in depth or complicated lists. As I said, I'm something of a newbie to the game, but these are things that I would like to see incorporated into the new game design.
Holiday Gift Ideas for the Pop Culture Junkie in Your Family
*Originally published on 12/8/10
Despite having an Amazon wishlist that's been hovering around 250 items for a while, I've been told that I'm hard to shop for. I figured that someone who has a lot of hobbies would be easy to shop for, but apparently, the opposite is true. As such, I thought it would be a good idea to give the general populace a list of possible gift ideas to get for the pop culture junkie in your family.
Do keep in mind that this is just a starting point. You may want to check with the giftee to make sure that they don't already own the listed products or have no interest in them. Still, these things are (in my opinion) great ideas for people who are interested in the various aspects of popular culture and entertainment.
DVD's
Avatar: The Last Airbender Seasons 1,2,3
This show is really freaking good. One of my friends summed it up as a "joyful epic" and that sums it up pretty well. The writing is top notch, the characters are fully realized and the action sequences are extraordinarily well done. This truly is an animated series, and it appeals to people of all ages. Adults can enjoy it just as much as the kids it is aimed towards.
Graphic Novels
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
It's Calvin and Hobbes! Arguably the greatest comic strip ever. Before you were limited to buying the various anthologies, but now you can buy the whole thing in one mega collection. It's a bit pricey, but considering the quality of the content, it's well worth every penny and then some.
Superman: Red Son
Imagine a world where Superman, the American Icon, was born in Soviet Russia (insert your own Yakov Smirnov joke here). That's the premise of this elseworlds story. This is one I haven't read myself, but the premise is intriguing and I have heard good things about it.
The Walking Dead vol.1: Days Gone By
With AMC's adaptation of the series becoming a huge hit, it's a perfect chance to get someone into the books that started it all. There is a gargantuan anthology out, but the first six issue trade is far easier on your wallet and less intimidating to the reader.
Video Games
Epic Mickey
This is a game that has received a fair amount of hype. Everyone seems to be genuinely excited and from what I've seen, it's an interesting idea.
Rock Band 3
This has proven to be a great party game. With new add ons and a whole new library, this entry in the popular series promises to deliver what you would expect from a Rock Band game while changing gameplay enough to make it stand on its own.
Blu-rays
Inception (release date Dec. 7 2010)
Christopher Nolan has proven himself to be a talented filmmaker and this latest entry continues to bring mind bending, psychological thrillers to the mainstream. This film delves into the literal psyche as Nolan explores the world of dreams.
Paranormal Activity
This is a love it or hate it film, but I enjoyed it a lot.
24 Season Eight (Dec. 7 2010)
The final season of the hit Fox show has Jack Bauer once again coming in to save the day from those who would do this country harm. After eight years, the show managed to remain intense and Bauer himself managed to up the ante,even though the show had gotten pretty extreme several years before.
Avatar (out now)
As one of the highest grossing movies of all time, you can bet that this is a surefire holiday sales hit.
Books
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
World War Z by Max Brooks
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin
Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Gadgets
iPad
Kindle
Netbook
Kinect
Board/Tabletop games
Dungeons and Dragons Essentials
I've never played the game myself, but I've become intrigued by the idea. The newly launched "Essentials" line allows newbies like me to jump on and try out the long running game series.
Stratego
Othello
Outbreak Undead
This tabletop RPG puts the players in a zombie apocalypse. It allows you to put your zombie plan to the test and see how well you would fare.
So, there you have it. I do hope its helpful. If your entertainment addicted friend or family member is anything like me, he or she will be delighted to see these things appear under the tree on Christmas morning.
Despite having an Amazon wishlist that's been hovering around 250 items for a while, I've been told that I'm hard to shop for. I figured that someone who has a lot of hobbies would be easy to shop for, but apparently, the opposite is true. As such, I thought it would be a good idea to give the general populace a list of possible gift ideas to get for the pop culture junkie in your family.
Do keep in mind that this is just a starting point. You may want to check with the giftee to make sure that they don't already own the listed products or have no interest in them. Still, these things are (in my opinion) great ideas for people who are interested in the various aspects of popular culture and entertainment.
DVD's
Avatar: The Last Airbender Seasons 1,2,3
This show is really freaking good. One of my friends summed it up as a "joyful epic" and that sums it up pretty well. The writing is top notch, the characters are fully realized and the action sequences are extraordinarily well done. This truly is an animated series, and it appeals to people of all ages. Adults can enjoy it just as much as the kids it is aimed towards.
Graphic Novels
The Complete Calvin and Hobbes
It's Calvin and Hobbes! Arguably the greatest comic strip ever. Before you were limited to buying the various anthologies, but now you can buy the whole thing in one mega collection. It's a bit pricey, but considering the quality of the content, it's well worth every penny and then some.
Superman: Red Son
Imagine a world where Superman, the American Icon, was born in Soviet Russia (insert your own Yakov Smirnov joke here). That's the premise of this elseworlds story. This is one I haven't read myself, but the premise is intriguing and I have heard good things about it.
The Walking Dead vol.1: Days Gone By
With AMC's adaptation of the series becoming a huge hit, it's a perfect chance to get someone into the books that started it all. There is a gargantuan anthology out, but the first six issue trade is far easier on your wallet and less intimidating to the reader.
Video Games
Epic Mickey
This is a game that has received a fair amount of hype. Everyone seems to be genuinely excited and from what I've seen, it's an interesting idea.
Rock Band 3
This has proven to be a great party game. With new add ons and a whole new library, this entry in the popular series promises to deliver what you would expect from a Rock Band game while changing gameplay enough to make it stand on its own.
Blu-rays
Inception (release date Dec. 7 2010)
Christopher Nolan has proven himself to be a talented filmmaker and this latest entry continues to bring mind bending, psychological thrillers to the mainstream. This film delves into the literal psyche as Nolan explores the world of dreams.
Paranormal Activity
This is a love it or hate it film, but I enjoyed it a lot.
24 Season Eight (Dec. 7 2010)
The final season of the hit Fox show has Jack Bauer once again coming in to save the day from those who would do this country harm. After eight years, the show managed to remain intense and Bauer himself managed to up the ante,even though the show had gotten pretty extreme several years before.
Avatar (out now)
As one of the highest grossing movies of all time, you can bet that this is a surefire holiday sales hit.
Books
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
World War Z by Max Brooks
Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke
Song of Ice and Fire novels by George R.R. Martin
Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill
Gadgets
iPad
Kindle
Netbook
Kinect
Board/Tabletop games
Dungeons and Dragons Essentials
I've never played the game myself, but I've become intrigued by the idea. The newly launched "Essentials" line allows newbies like me to jump on and try out the long running game series.
Stratego
Othello
Outbreak Undead
This tabletop RPG puts the players in a zombie apocalypse. It allows you to put your zombie plan to the test and see how well you would fare.
So, there you have it. I do hope its helpful. If your entertainment addicted friend or family member is anything like me, he or she will be delighted to see these things appear under the tree on Christmas morning.
Underrated Animated Gems
*Originally published on 6/28/09
Film
The Iron Giant
This film was made by the same guy who did The Incredibles. It's starting to get a bit more exposure, but it's still not as well known as it should be. This movie was charming, heartwarming, funny, and incredibly well written. The whole homage to Superman thing definitely raises it a few notches in my book. DVD copies of it are hard to find, I myself had to pick up the copy I have at a grocery store as opposed to a Best Buy or Wal-Mart. It's a bare-bones release, but that just means you're getting an amazing film for an incredibly low price.
Wall-E
One could argue that this isn't exactly underrated, what with it winning Best Animated Feature, but it is still worth mentioning just because the movie really is that good. Pixar has made some fine films but I think that this is the best thing they've made (Up is quite good and definitely ranks up in the top tier, but Wall-E beats it in my opinion). If you haven't seen this movie you really need to see it. Words cannot describe how good this movie is.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Back when Batman: The Animated Series was on the air, producers decided to try and make a feature film based on it. This movie was going to be a direct to video release, but executives pulled an audible and decided to release it on the big screen at the last minute. Even though it was as well written as the show and was met with positive reviews it bombed pretty hard. It has gained a cult following on DVD and many still cite this as the best Batman film to date.
Television
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
I will openly admit that I've been spoiled by Batman: The Animated Series. Not only was this the show I grew up on, but it was so good that the bar was raised incredibly high. The Batman, the attempted non-DCAU follow up, didn't meet a lot of people's expectations (though the Batman vs. Dracula DTV was very good and I hear it got better in later seasons). After that ended, they tried again. This time in a show based on the Brave and the Bold comics. Each episode would feature Batman teaming up with a different hero to battle a villain. It was clearly aimed at younger audiences, making a slight throwback to the 60's era Batman. I'll admit, at first glance, I wasn't a fan. I have no problem with them marketing to a younger audience, but it didn't appeal to my more grown up tastes.
When I heard that Guy Gardner and G'nort (the one true Green Lantern!) were going to be featured in an episode I decided to give it another shot. As I watched I found the show growing on me. This may not be B: TAS but darn it all this show is fun. One episode has Ace the Bathound fight a tiger as well as featuring Paul Reubens as Bat-Mite. The voice work is solid and the show is surprisingly well written. There are geek references galore for the older fans, so many that you can't help but feel giddy with what you're seeing on the screen.
Gargoyles
Admittedly, I've only seen a couple of episodes of this show. It is, however, very good. Keith David voices Goliath, if nothing else, that alone is reason enough to watch the show as he has an awesome voice. The show's gotten a loyal fanbase and while the first season and a half has been released on DVD, fans are still clamoring for the rest of the series (Goliath Chronicles notwithstanding, the general impression I've gotten is that they can leave that in the scrap heap).
Sonic the Hedgehog
You may remember back in the 90's there were not one, but two animated shows based on the popular video game Sonic the Hedgehog. One was a wacky, Ren and Stimpy-esque show and the other was a more serious take, taking place in a world where Robotnik had already conquered the world and Sonic plus band of merry men created a small resistance to free the enslaved animals. The show is notable for ending on a cliffhanger that enraged fans. Having heard the positive acclaim, I picked up the complete set on DVD. The first season is rather mediocre. Normally, I could forgive this as most shows need a season to get everything established. This show, however ran for only 2 seasons so season 1 is half of the show. Season 2 however, got much much better. It had story arcs, character development and was much improved in pretty much every regard. The theme song comes off as cheesy at first, but like Weeds' theme song Little Boxes it gets stuck in your head and before you know it, the song grows on you and you enjoy it.
The Venture Bros.
Not only is this, in my opinion, one of the best shows on television, but it's one of the few good shows Adult Swim has left in it's rotation, oh Adult Swim how far you've fallen. The show is so intricate that you can't really sit down and try to watch a second or third season episode with no knowledge of what's come before. Like Lost, you really need to start from the beginning and work your way through. Trust me, you won't regret it as the show is smart, funny, and exhilarating all at the same time.
Film
The Iron Giant
This film was made by the same guy who did The Incredibles. It's starting to get a bit more exposure, but it's still not as well known as it should be. This movie was charming, heartwarming, funny, and incredibly well written. The whole homage to Superman thing definitely raises it a few notches in my book. DVD copies of it are hard to find, I myself had to pick up the copy I have at a grocery store as opposed to a Best Buy or Wal-Mart. It's a bare-bones release, but that just means you're getting an amazing film for an incredibly low price.
Wall-E
One could argue that this isn't exactly underrated, what with it winning Best Animated Feature, but it is still worth mentioning just because the movie really is that good. Pixar has made some fine films but I think that this is the best thing they've made (Up is quite good and definitely ranks up in the top tier, but Wall-E beats it in my opinion). If you haven't seen this movie you really need to see it. Words cannot describe how good this movie is.
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Back when Batman: The Animated Series was on the air, producers decided to try and make a feature film based on it. This movie was going to be a direct to video release, but executives pulled an audible and decided to release it on the big screen at the last minute. Even though it was as well written as the show and was met with positive reviews it bombed pretty hard. It has gained a cult following on DVD and many still cite this as the best Batman film to date.
Television
Batman: The Brave and the Bold
I will openly admit that I've been spoiled by Batman: The Animated Series. Not only was this the show I grew up on, but it was so good that the bar was raised incredibly high. The Batman, the attempted non-DCAU follow up, didn't meet a lot of people's expectations (though the Batman vs. Dracula DTV was very good and I hear it got better in later seasons). After that ended, they tried again. This time in a show based on the Brave and the Bold comics. Each episode would feature Batman teaming up with a different hero to battle a villain. It was clearly aimed at younger audiences, making a slight throwback to the 60's era Batman. I'll admit, at first glance, I wasn't a fan. I have no problem with them marketing to a younger audience, but it didn't appeal to my more grown up tastes.
When I heard that Guy Gardner and G'nort (the one true Green Lantern!) were going to be featured in an episode I decided to give it another shot. As I watched I found the show growing on me. This may not be B: TAS but darn it all this show is fun. One episode has Ace the Bathound fight a tiger as well as featuring Paul Reubens as Bat-Mite. The voice work is solid and the show is surprisingly well written. There are geek references galore for the older fans, so many that you can't help but feel giddy with what you're seeing on the screen.
Gargoyles
Admittedly, I've only seen a couple of episodes of this show. It is, however, very good. Keith David voices Goliath, if nothing else, that alone is reason enough to watch the show as he has an awesome voice. The show's gotten a loyal fanbase and while the first season and a half has been released on DVD, fans are still clamoring for the rest of the series (Goliath Chronicles notwithstanding, the general impression I've gotten is that they can leave that in the scrap heap).
Sonic the Hedgehog
You may remember back in the 90's there were not one, but two animated shows based on the popular video game Sonic the Hedgehog. One was a wacky, Ren and Stimpy-esque show and the other was a more serious take, taking place in a world where Robotnik had already conquered the world and Sonic plus band of merry men created a small resistance to free the enslaved animals. The show is notable for ending on a cliffhanger that enraged fans. Having heard the positive acclaim, I picked up the complete set on DVD. The first season is rather mediocre. Normally, I could forgive this as most shows need a season to get everything established. This show, however ran for only 2 seasons so season 1 is half of the show. Season 2 however, got much much better. It had story arcs, character development and was much improved in pretty much every regard. The theme song comes off as cheesy at first, but like Weeds' theme song Little Boxes it gets stuck in your head and before you know it, the song grows on you and you enjoy it.
The Venture Bros.
Not only is this, in my opinion, one of the best shows on television, but it's one of the few good shows Adult Swim has left in it's rotation, oh Adult Swim how far you've fallen. The show is so intricate that you can't really sit down and try to watch a second or third season episode with no knowledge of what's come before. Like Lost, you really need to start from the beginning and work your way through. Trust me, you won't regret it as the show is smart, funny, and exhilarating all at the same time.
10 Greatest Songs by Metallica
*Originally published on 5/4/09
10. Of Wolf and Man
This song has an awesome guitar riff. The drum beat is solid and the lyrics are awesome. It's not the most epic or complicated of Metallica's song but it sure does rock. I love the chorus to this song. It's a Metallica classic. Like so many other songs by the band, it should be released as a download for either Rock Band or Guitar Hero.
9. The God that Failed
This is one of the more mellow rock songs. Still, you can bang your head to it pretty easily.
8. No Leaf Clover
This song is awesome in pretty much every way. It's Metallica performing with an Orchestra. It's big, it's epic and it gets you pumped. It starts off quiet, and takes the occasional interlude but overall, I never get tired of listening to this song.
7. Blackened
An insane song if ever there was one. It's fast and intense, just like metal should be. We've come across this song on Guitar Hero and it pushes our abilities to the limit each and every time.
6. Unforgiven/Unforgiven II
I wasn't really sure which one should get the higher spot so I just gave them a tie. I originally liked the original better, however as time progressed and I listened to the song's "sequel" it grew on me and now I find myself enjoying that one more. I haven't heard the third yet, but these two are favorites of mine. Due to my roommate placing them in order on a mix cd he made, I find that if I listen to Unforgiven, I need to listen to Unforgiven II. There was a movie called "The Unforgiven". I keep hoping they'd make a sequel to it just so that its title would sync up with the song.
5. Wherever I May Roam
The opening tune has become pretty iconic. It's one of the slower tempo metal songs but it still rules. It kicks things up a notch for the chorus. I defy you to listen to this and not start bobbing your head. It can not be done.
4. One
This song is epic. It starts off as a pretty mellow song. By the end it's one of the heavier songs in Metallica's musical menu. Korn did a pretty awesome cover of it during MTV's tribute.
3. Seek and Destroy
This is a Metallica concert staple. They always open their live shows with a cover of Ennio Morricone's The Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and they usually close their shows with this song. It ranges anywhere from 6 to 20 minutes depending on which recording you listen to. Hetfield likes to get the crowd involved and screams "Searching!" while the crowd, or an individual member, will scream "Seek and Destroy!" it makes for awesome concerts and it always gets the crowd pumped up.
2. King Nothing
Talking about the fleeting nature of obsessing about material goods, this song boasts a great drum beat, a memorable drum riff, awesome lyrics and a great metal beat that allows you to head bang with no trouble whatsoever. Again, I love the chorus to the song. It really is an amazing song.
And the number one greatest Metallica song...
For Whom the Bell Tolls
I love love love this song. It flat out rocks. Anyone who doesn't like Metallica (yes, apparently such people exist I find it as hard to believe as you do) should listen to this and while I won't promise it will change your mind. You'll be hard pressed to argue against the awesomeness of the band. At the very least, you'll see why us Metallica fans enjoy their music as much as we do. The drum beat is awesome and I have a feeling belting this one at a karaoke bar would own big time.
10. Of Wolf and Man
This song has an awesome guitar riff. The drum beat is solid and the lyrics are awesome. It's not the most epic or complicated of Metallica's song but it sure does rock. I love the chorus to this song. It's a Metallica classic. Like so many other songs by the band, it should be released as a download for either Rock Band or Guitar Hero.
9. The God that Failed
This is one of the more mellow rock songs. Still, you can bang your head to it pretty easily.
8. No Leaf Clover
This song is awesome in pretty much every way. It's Metallica performing with an Orchestra. It's big, it's epic and it gets you pumped. It starts off quiet, and takes the occasional interlude but overall, I never get tired of listening to this song.
7. Blackened
An insane song if ever there was one. It's fast and intense, just like metal should be. We've come across this song on Guitar Hero and it pushes our abilities to the limit each and every time.
6. Unforgiven/Unforgiven II
I wasn't really sure which one should get the higher spot so I just gave them a tie. I originally liked the original better, however as time progressed and I listened to the song's "sequel" it grew on me and now I find myself enjoying that one more. I haven't heard the third yet, but these two are favorites of mine. Due to my roommate placing them in order on a mix cd he made, I find that if I listen to Unforgiven, I need to listen to Unforgiven II. There was a movie called "The Unforgiven". I keep hoping they'd make a sequel to it just so that its title would sync up with the song.
5. Wherever I May Roam
The opening tune has become pretty iconic. It's one of the slower tempo metal songs but it still rules. It kicks things up a notch for the chorus. I defy you to listen to this and not start bobbing your head. It can not be done.
4. One
This song is epic. It starts off as a pretty mellow song. By the end it's one of the heavier songs in Metallica's musical menu. Korn did a pretty awesome cover of it during MTV's tribute.
3. Seek and Destroy
This is a Metallica concert staple. They always open their live shows with a cover of Ennio Morricone's The Ecstasy of Gold from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and they usually close their shows with this song. It ranges anywhere from 6 to 20 minutes depending on which recording you listen to. Hetfield likes to get the crowd involved and screams "Searching!" while the crowd, or an individual member, will scream "Seek and Destroy!" it makes for awesome concerts and it always gets the crowd pumped up.
2. King Nothing
Talking about the fleeting nature of obsessing about material goods, this song boasts a great drum beat, a memorable drum riff, awesome lyrics and a great metal beat that allows you to head bang with no trouble whatsoever. Again, I love the chorus to the song. It really is an amazing song.
And the number one greatest Metallica song...
For Whom the Bell Tolls
I love love love this song. It flat out rocks. Anyone who doesn't like Metallica (yes, apparently such people exist I find it as hard to believe as you do) should listen to this and while I won't promise it will change your mind. You'll be hard pressed to argue against the awesomeness of the band. At the very least, you'll see why us Metallica fans enjoy their music as much as we do. The drum beat is awesome and I have a feeling belting this one at a karaoke bar would own big time.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
The Cthulu Resistance Squad
When it comes to villains, it is no surprise to see Cthulhu ranked as high as he is on the list. He is an ancient creature from beyond space and time that cares nothing for us and his awakening will signal the end for us all. This is a creature so alien that, to even look upon him would drive you mad. In a direct fight, we would lose and lose badly. Heck, even fictional characters find that they have trouble contending with such an entity. It's generally accepted that you can't defeat or kill such a creature.
One can't help but wonder though, what would it take? What sort of army would you need to assemble in order to take this thing down? My brain started to pull a Beyonder and imagined cherry picking characters from across the fictional multiverse who might stand a chance fighting against Cthulhu. With the setup out of the way, let's get on to the list.
Green Lantern Squad
While the Corps sports over 7,000 members, for the sake of simplicity, I'm going to limit this pick to just the four from Earth: Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, John Stewart, and Guy Gardner. If you want to throw Alan Scott in there for good measure, sure go ahead.
Then again, given the scale of the threat involved, maybe the entire Corps would be required. That would be a sight to see, wouldn't it? Hmmm, I don't know. What think you, readers? Would five ring wielders be enough or would an all out assault from the Corps be necessary in order to fend off this thing?
On the one hand, I feel like throwing 7,000+ Lanterns in one corner is cheating, but again, it might be necessary given the scale of the threat.
Z-Fighters
Much like the Green Lanterns, this team of heroes sports a large roster. I'm tempted to just boil it down to Goku and Vegeta, as they were the only two of any use by the end of Dragonball Z, at the same time, this is Cthulhu and you're going to need all the firepower you can muster. In which case, you might need other fighters like Trunks, Goten (who could help even the odds by fusing into Gotenks), and Gohan. Heck, even the other Z-fighters like Piccolo, Krillin etc might even be able to offer some assistance. Yes, even Yamcha.
Ghostbusters
This team of paranormal exterminators is ideally suited to combat this threat. They've dealt with extra-dimensional entities before and have emerged victorious with nothing more than advanced technology. One episode of The Real Ghostbusters, even has the team battling the aforementioned Eldritch Abomination and emerging victorious. Granted, it was by the skin of their teeth, but a win's a win and they would have plenty of back up in this confrontation.
To further improve their chances, we can go ahead and equip them with the more advanced proton packs that were used in the recent video game. Said packs came with a variety of firing modes that made it far more versatile than the basic pack.
Doctor Strange and Dr. Fate
Back in college, I stumbled across a site called "Electric Ferret". One of the features of the site was a series called "Comic Book Universe Battles". They basically took two or more characters, generally from comic books, and pit them against each other. Fans would vote and based on the results, the site producers would come up with a possible scenario where the two parties would face off and describe how a possible confrontation would go.
One of the fights featured pit Dr. Strange and Dr. Fate against Cthulhu himself in a 2 on 1 confrontation for the fate of the universe. In fact, it's probably that article that planted the seed of an idea for this article.
These are two of the most powerful mystics in superhero-dom and they do deal with forces like this on a regular basis, so adding them makes perfect sense. While the fans ultimately selected old Squid-face in that vote, these two would prove vital in a counter-attack against such an entity.
Justice League
While Dr. Fate and the Green Lanterns are a nice addition, you can't go wrong with having the Justice League in your corner. For the sake of simplicity, I'm going to go with the "big 7" seen in the animated series (well, 6 since GL is already in the roster). Much like the Ghostbusters, the Justice League has contended with a powerful Cthulhu like entity. In fact, in that universe, Hawkgirl's mace was designed specifically designed to combat such creatures, giving them another ace in the hole that could tip the scales in their favor.
While I don't know if Aquaman would be powerful enough to control Cthulu using his abilities, this is one instance where he would come in handy. You could also add Zatanna to the roster as she is a potent mystic herself and could prove a valuable asset.
The Doctor
This centuries old time traveling alien manages to contend with cosmic forces using nothing but his wits and his sonic screwdriver. While he may not have the raw firepower of the others, he's more than capable and you certainly want him fighting on your side when things get this dire as he can turn the tables rather quickly.
Jaegers
These giant robots sure came in handy when the Kaiju (giant monsters from another dimension) invaded Earth. Now, it should be noted that the monsters seen in "Pacific Rim" were much more vulnerable than Cthulu as they could be killed with enough firepower; still, having these in our corner would only help our chances.
While he's not technically a 'Jaeger', I would suggest adding the "M.E.G.A.S" robot seen in "Megas XLR" to the roster. It has a nigh limitless array of weapons and Coop is able to come up with unorthodox strategies that could turn the tide in the fight against the great monstrosity.
Now, some of you may say that even this isn't enough; that concocting such a list misses the point entirely in that you can't beat Cthulhu. Maybe, but this is just for fun and it is interesting to see how much it would take. What do you guys think? Is more required or did I stack the odds too much in humanity's favor here? If you do think more is required, who would you add to the roster? Feel free to list your suggestions below.
The Pros and Cons of the Magic Missile
*Originally published on 3/5/13
While Dungeons and Dragons is something of a niche game, one aspect that has spread to mass pop culture is the magic missile, one of the basic attacks used by the wizard. This can largely be attributed to the "I fire my magic missile at the darkness" meme that has gained some notoriety.
One of the first things that you learn about the magic missile is that it isn't very powerful. It's something of a joke attack. I have to wonder if that's really the case as, honestly, the magic missile is one of the best parts about playing a wizard in Dungeons and Dragons.
While it wasn't the case in earlier editions, as far as 4th edition and the Essentials line are concerned, magic missiles hit automatically; you don't need to make a roll. This seems like a pretty huge boon to me. Let's say that your dice rolls have been in the dumper, this attack bypasses that. Or maybe you're in a fight with a big baddie who has really high defenses and your odds of hitting him are slim, this attack renders it a moot point. Let's say you get hit with some effect that has a negative impact on your attack rolls, again, this attack bypasses that. It's pretty useful to the point where the fact that more players don't abuse it is rather surprising.
Some may argue that the convenience is undone by the fact that it doesn't do a lot of damage. Actually, if you build the character right, this may not be the case. Let's say that you go with the Essentials specialist build and start with an 18 intelligence score. There's a +4 bonus that you can apply and if you play as an elf, than you'll get another +2 bonus. That boosts your intelligence score to 24, which gives you a +7 modifier. As the magic missile does 2+ said modifier, that means you'll be dishing out 9 damage a turn.
Against a boss who has hundreds of hit points, it may not seem like much, but for an at-will attack, that's pretty good. Again, it can't miss, which means you'll be doing at least a little bit of damage each and every round. It can also be very helpful in clearing out minions as there is no risk of wasting several turns trying to take one down when the dice don't go your way
Better yet, the attack has a range of 20. Even ranged attackers take penalties when shooting from that far away, but you can just stay way in the back and take potshots at enemies with no problem.
It may not be the most devastating attack, but the magic missile is far more useful than it's reputation lets on.
While Dungeons and Dragons is something of a niche game, one aspect that has spread to mass pop culture is the magic missile, one of the basic attacks used by the wizard. This can largely be attributed to the "I fire my magic missile at the darkness" meme that has gained some notoriety.
One of the first things that you learn about the magic missile is that it isn't very powerful. It's something of a joke attack. I have to wonder if that's really the case as, honestly, the magic missile is one of the best parts about playing a wizard in Dungeons and Dragons.
While it wasn't the case in earlier editions, as far as 4th edition and the Essentials line are concerned, magic missiles hit automatically; you don't need to make a roll. This seems like a pretty huge boon to me. Let's say that your dice rolls have been in the dumper, this attack bypasses that. Or maybe you're in a fight with a big baddie who has really high defenses and your odds of hitting him are slim, this attack renders it a moot point. Let's say you get hit with some effect that has a negative impact on your attack rolls, again, this attack bypasses that. It's pretty useful to the point where the fact that more players don't abuse it is rather surprising.
Some may argue that the convenience is undone by the fact that it doesn't do a lot of damage. Actually, if you build the character right, this may not be the case. Let's say that you go with the Essentials specialist build and start with an 18 intelligence score. There's a +4 bonus that you can apply and if you play as an elf, than you'll get another +2 bonus. That boosts your intelligence score to 24, which gives you a +7 modifier. As the magic missile does 2+ said modifier, that means you'll be dishing out 9 damage a turn.
Against a boss who has hundreds of hit points, it may not seem like much, but for an at-will attack, that's pretty good. Again, it can't miss, which means you'll be doing at least a little bit of damage each and every round. It can also be very helpful in clearing out minions as there is no risk of wasting several turns trying to take one down when the dice don't go your way
Better yet, the attack has a range of 20. Even ranged attackers take penalties when shooting from that far away, but you can just stay way in the back and take potshots at enemies with no problem.
It may not be the most devastating attack, but the magic missile is far more useful than it's reputation lets on.
The Worst Diet Plan Ever
*Originally published on 1/16/13
A lot of people are concerned about their weight. For many people, the new year brings a resolution to shed a certain amount of pounds. People all around us have suggestions for what you should do: drop carbs, drop soda, go vegan etc. etc. However, while having ideas of what to do are all well and good, it’s important to know what you shouldn’t do. Because of this, we should take a look at one of the worst diet plans out there, if not the worst.
Now, you may be thinking that this will be something obvious like an “all Oreo cookies” diet or “all meat lovers pizza” diet, but that isn’t the case. This plan will, in fact, cause you to lose a significant amount of weight in a short amount of time. Does it sound too good to be true? Well, it may be.
The plan is really quite simple. All you have to do is consume nothing but water for four days straight. You won’t starve, heck, if you drink enough water, you won’t even feel all that hungry. Your stomach will remain full, but you take in next to no calories over the duration of even an entire day.
This plan is actually worse than the facetious plans alluded to earlier as you will actually lose weight. However, it should be noted, that it won’t result in a thinner, sexier, healthier looking you. On the contrary, you’ll end up looking gaunt and sickly, essentially you start to look like L (that’s a “Death Note" reference, you should watch “Death Note”, “Death Note” is cool).
The effects are so drastic, that even if you go back to eating three square meals a day after the four days are up, it will still take about a week before you start to develop some meat on your bones. This latter part was especially surprising.
While wanting to lose weight sounds all well and good, you need to keep everything in perspective. Eat healthier, by all means, but don’t go to extremes. Yes, this diet will cause you to lose weight with next to no effort, but your friends and family will panic and it will take several days to get back to looking healthy. In short, cutting calories and saying no to food that is less than healthy is OK, but eating is still very important, even if the food does go right to your stomach or thighs.
Breaking Down the Character Alignment System: Neutral Good
*Originally published on 3/26/12
At first glance, one might get the impression that the qualities that define "neutral good" would turn out to be the same as "lawful neutral". Just looking at the two terms, it seems like there would be some overlap, if not outright redundancy, but as it turns out, neutral good is a class of its own.
This series started off by comparing lawful good types to the more upstanding characters out there. The general consensus seems to be that "lawful good" is the moral epitome in this whole spectrum, but neutral good gives the rival alignment a run for its money, and perhaps even surpasses it as the most moral of the alignment classes.
"Neutral good" characters do what's right simply because it's the right thing to do. There is no code instilled in them, nor are they particularly devoted to the law. They simply do the right thing and that's all there is to it.
As was the case with "lawful good", a lot of comic book superheroes fall under this alignment as they fight to protect the innocent simply because of an inherent sense of morality. Superman was mentioned as being "lawful good", but he could also arguably fall under this alignment as well. Marvel Comics' Spider-Man is also seen by many to be an example of this alignment in action. They won't necessarily do what they do to uphold the law, but because they feel they have an obligation to protect and help others.
While "lawful good" characters will work within the system to fix any sort of injustices, neutral good characters will violate certain laws if they believe it is for the greater good. Though it should be noted that they will try to maintain respect for it if possible, but they will skirt certain issues if that's what it takes.
"Neutral good" characters also differ from lawful good in their interactions with characters that would fall under one of the "evil" categories. A "lawful good" character would despise said evil character while a "neutral good" character would be more willing to be friendly to someone, even if they are "chaotic evil".
Neutral characters are generally pacifists, but will fight to protect others if they are sure that some wrongdoing has been committed. Even this isn't a hard and fast rule as far as characterization, but it is one of the more common aspects. They have a certain amount of respect for life and will go for non-lethal attacks in combat situations as opposed to going straight for the kill.
All in all, "neutral good" is a pretty straightforward alignment. You take the moral resolve of the "lawful good", but make it more independent of any sort of decree or philosophy. Despite the name giving off the impression that it is a rehash of "lawful neutral", the two really are quite different and would be played in vastly different ways when gathering a group around a table for a gaming session.
At first glance, one might get the impression that the qualities that define "neutral good" would turn out to be the same as "lawful neutral". Just looking at the two terms, it seems like there would be some overlap, if not outright redundancy, but as it turns out, neutral good is a class of its own.
This series started off by comparing lawful good types to the more upstanding characters out there. The general consensus seems to be that "lawful good" is the moral epitome in this whole spectrum, but neutral good gives the rival alignment a run for its money, and perhaps even surpasses it as the most moral of the alignment classes.
"Neutral good" characters do what's right simply because it's the right thing to do. There is no code instilled in them, nor are they particularly devoted to the law. They simply do the right thing and that's all there is to it.
As was the case with "lawful good", a lot of comic book superheroes fall under this alignment as they fight to protect the innocent simply because of an inherent sense of morality. Superman was mentioned as being "lawful good", but he could also arguably fall under this alignment as well. Marvel Comics' Spider-Man is also seen by many to be an example of this alignment in action. They won't necessarily do what they do to uphold the law, but because they feel they have an obligation to protect and help others.
While "lawful good" characters will work within the system to fix any sort of injustices, neutral good characters will violate certain laws if they believe it is for the greater good. Though it should be noted that they will try to maintain respect for it if possible, but they will skirt certain issues if that's what it takes.
"Neutral good" characters also differ from lawful good in their interactions with characters that would fall under one of the "evil" categories. A "lawful good" character would despise said evil character while a "neutral good" character would be more willing to be friendly to someone, even if they are "chaotic evil".
Neutral characters are generally pacifists, but will fight to protect others if they are sure that some wrongdoing has been committed. Even this isn't a hard and fast rule as far as characterization, but it is one of the more common aspects. They have a certain amount of respect for life and will go for non-lethal attacks in combat situations as opposed to going straight for the kill.
All in all, "neutral good" is a pretty straightforward alignment. You take the moral resolve of the "lawful good", but make it more independent of any sort of decree or philosophy. Despite the name giving off the impression that it is a rehash of "lawful neutral", the two really are quite different and would be played in vastly different ways when gathering a group around a table for a gaming session.
The Best in Fictional Weaponry: Saba
*Originally published on 3/5/12
After Tommy Oliver loses his green ranger powers, Zordon and Alpha make a new ranger suit and coin for him so that he can continue to join in the fight against the forces of evil. While the white ranger powers were more potent, being created from the Light of Goodness meaning that the forces of evil couldn't take it away as they had done previously with the green ranger power, one of the more notable additions was a new weapon, the saber known as Saba.
Much like its predecessor, the dragon dagger, Saba is what allows the white ranger to call forth his zord, the white tigerzord. It is also used to help pilot the zord once the giant robot is summoned.
The sword itself is light, allowing for rapid movement. It isn't quite as big as some of the other bladed weapons seen on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, but it is bigger than the dragon dagger. From the look of it, it appears too small to qualify it as a short sword, but if one were to place a label on it, that seems like it would be the best fit.
As with many fictional sword weapons, this one comes equipped with a ranged attack that complements its use in close combat. The attack, in this instance, is a pair of white energy beams that fire from the eyes of the tiger's head that is placed on the bottom of the hilt.
Despite the beams being rather thin, they are apparently quite powerful as they are able to send all six power rangers flying when Goldar manages to get his hands on the weapon.
The coolest thing about Saba though, is that he can talk. Oh yeah, a talking sword. Unlike the sword from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, this sword is useful in a fight. It is also unlike the Green Lantern ring, which was more like interacting with a computer voice interface, in that the sword itself is sentient. It has a personality and even an accent.
Sadly, this aspect of the weapon is soon downplayed and Saba never really spoke up all that much during the series after his early appearances.
It's a shame that this weapon was never used to its full potential during the series. There are so many things that could have been learned or fleshed out about the weapon, but alas, it went unfulfilled.
Sure, it's cheesy looking and the prop used in the show is clearly a toy, but it is still a cool weapon in its own right.
After Tommy Oliver loses his green ranger powers, Zordon and Alpha make a new ranger suit and coin for him so that he can continue to join in the fight against the forces of evil. While the white ranger powers were more potent, being created from the Light of Goodness meaning that the forces of evil couldn't take it away as they had done previously with the green ranger power, one of the more notable additions was a new weapon, the saber known as Saba.
Much like its predecessor, the dragon dagger, Saba is what allows the white ranger to call forth his zord, the white tigerzord. It is also used to help pilot the zord once the giant robot is summoned.
The sword itself is light, allowing for rapid movement. It isn't quite as big as some of the other bladed weapons seen on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, but it is bigger than the dragon dagger. From the look of it, it appears too small to qualify it as a short sword, but if one were to place a label on it, that seems like it would be the best fit.
As with many fictional sword weapons, this one comes equipped with a ranged attack that complements its use in close combat. The attack, in this instance, is a pair of white energy beams that fire from the eyes of the tiger's head that is placed on the bottom of the hilt.
Despite the beams being rather thin, they are apparently quite powerful as they are able to send all six power rangers flying when Goldar manages to get his hands on the weapon.
The coolest thing about Saba though, is that he can talk. Oh yeah, a talking sword. Unlike the sword from Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, this sword is useful in a fight. It is also unlike the Green Lantern ring, which was more like interacting with a computer voice interface, in that the sword itself is sentient. It has a personality and even an accent.
Sadly, this aspect of the weapon is soon downplayed and Saba never really spoke up all that much during the series after his early appearances.
It's a shame that this weapon was never used to its full potential during the series. There are so many things that could have been learned or fleshed out about the weapon, but alas, it went unfulfilled.
Sure, it's cheesy looking and the prop used in the show is clearly a toy, but it is still a cool weapon in its own right.
10 Best Songs by Alkaline Trio
*Originally published on 4/6/09
10. The Poison Album: Crimson
This is standard Alkaline Trio. It's catchy as heck and has a good beat. If you want to introduce a friend to this group, this is a good song to give them an idea of what the band is all about.
9. We've Had Enough Album: Good Mourning
This song's a bit faster pace-wise then The Poison. The guitar riff is pretty simple but it works for the song. I think the lyrics are more effective here as well. Like most Alkaline Trio songs, this has a great beat. You can drum on the steering wheel while driving or just bob your head.
8. You're Dead Album: From Here to Infirmary
This song has a bunch of simple, and yet timeless lyrics. It alternates between being almost mellow and more rock oriented. I really like the refrain to this song, partially because of the drum beat and partially because it seems like something you could really go nuts on, either at a karaoke bar or on Rock Band.
7. Another Innocent Girl Album: From Here to Infirmary
This would be a great song to put on Rock Band. The guitar riffs, the drum beat, the lyrics; all of it is great stuff. It's not a fast paced song but it's enjoyable and catchy, true to the Trio's form.
6. Stupid Kid Album: From Here to Infirmary
Get ready to bob your head to this one as the rhythm lends itself perfectly to this. The guitar riffs are simple but the drum beat is solid making it fun to listen to in the car as you can drum on the wheel as you drive.
5. Private Eye Album: From Here to Infirmary
Catchy song all around, this has a faster pace then some of the other ones, making it a great song to add to any rock mix.
4. This Could be Love Album: Good Mourning
Hey, we finally broke away from the From Here to Infirmary album. No worries, it's a great album. Still, this is a catchy little song. It's kind of macabre which is odd, but still it's a good song so it earns a spot on the list.
3. This is Getting Over You Album: Self Titled
This is a classic Trio right song right here. This is what bands like Simple Plan tried to do; only they do it well. Not only that, but it makes a complete change about ¾ into the song and it works perfectly.
2. Goodbye Forever Album: Self Titled
This song just rocks, there's really not much more to it. It probably set the template for the style of music Alkaline Trio makes. This is another great song to add to the Rock Band library. I imagine it would also be fun at karaoke bars as it allows the singer to just go nuts and start belting out the refrain.
1. Radio Album: Maybe I'll Catch Fire
This is it, the greatest song made by Alkaline Trio. How can you not love that guitar tune? The opening line is classic. It's one of the more mellow songs made by the band but it works extraordinarily well.
10. The Poison Album: Crimson
This is standard Alkaline Trio. It's catchy as heck and has a good beat. If you want to introduce a friend to this group, this is a good song to give them an idea of what the band is all about.
9. We've Had Enough Album: Good Mourning
This song's a bit faster pace-wise then The Poison. The guitar riff is pretty simple but it works for the song. I think the lyrics are more effective here as well. Like most Alkaline Trio songs, this has a great beat. You can drum on the steering wheel while driving or just bob your head.
8. You're Dead Album: From Here to Infirmary
This song has a bunch of simple, and yet timeless lyrics. It alternates between being almost mellow and more rock oriented. I really like the refrain to this song, partially because of the drum beat and partially because it seems like something you could really go nuts on, either at a karaoke bar or on Rock Band.
7. Another Innocent Girl Album: From Here to Infirmary
This would be a great song to put on Rock Band. The guitar riffs, the drum beat, the lyrics; all of it is great stuff. It's not a fast paced song but it's enjoyable and catchy, true to the Trio's form.
6. Stupid Kid Album: From Here to Infirmary
Get ready to bob your head to this one as the rhythm lends itself perfectly to this. The guitar riffs are simple but the drum beat is solid making it fun to listen to in the car as you can drum on the wheel as you drive.
5. Private Eye Album: From Here to Infirmary
Catchy song all around, this has a faster pace then some of the other ones, making it a great song to add to any rock mix.
4. This Could be Love Album: Good Mourning
Hey, we finally broke away from the From Here to Infirmary album. No worries, it's a great album. Still, this is a catchy little song. It's kind of macabre which is odd, but still it's a good song so it earns a spot on the list.
3. This is Getting Over You Album: Self Titled
This is a classic Trio right song right here. This is what bands like Simple Plan tried to do; only they do it well. Not only that, but it makes a complete change about ¾ into the song and it works perfectly.
2. Goodbye Forever Album: Self Titled
This song just rocks, there's really not much more to it. It probably set the template for the style of music Alkaline Trio makes. This is another great song to add to the Rock Band library. I imagine it would also be fun at karaoke bars as it allows the singer to just go nuts and start belting out the refrain.
1. Radio Album: Maybe I'll Catch Fire
This is it, the greatest song made by Alkaline Trio. How can you not love that guitar tune? The opening line is classic. It's one of the more mellow songs made by the band but it works extraordinarily well.
How to Stop Abortion
*Originally published on 7/11/13
Abortion is, and probably always will be, a hot button issue. Some see it as a moral issue. They argue that it is murder and try to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. Others see it as a health issue or an issue of women's rights. They argue that it's wrong to force your viewpoint on others and that it is no one else's business.
It gets so heated that pro-choice advocates are labelled as baby killers while pro-lifers are often dismissed as misogynists who are only trying to oppress women. At face value, this doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. You'd think that the pro-lifers would be nothing more than noble crusaders who are fighting to protect lives. You generally don't get that impression nowadays.
It isn't so much that they are morally opposed to abortion, but how they decide to go about it. Abortion isn't one of those things that you can overpower with a frontal assault. Morality aside, an outright ban on abortion would cause more problems than it would solve, would it not?
So, the question becomes, how are you supposed to fight for the cause if the traditional strategy doesn't work? Well, you have to ask yourself a simple question. What would L do? You have to be smart about this and, rather than treat the symptom, you should start to go after the cause. Rather than attacking abortion directly, do what you can to minimize the circumstances that lead to people having abortions in the first place.
First and foremost, you should promote abstinence. That's right, this is your first and best line of defense to stopping unwanted teen pregnancies. That being said, you need a fallback position, so you couple this with teaching safe sex. Hammer in the positives of abstinence, but have that information about safe sex readily available for those who decide not to partake.
You'll also want to go after rapists. Rape is a vile crime that ranks up there with murder in most people's eyes. Yet, the sentence is relatively light. 5-10 years isn't exactly a "short" amount of time but, given the severity of the crime, a longer sentence does seem appropriate. Putting rape in the 20 years to life category seems like a better fit. The effects of this are twofold. Hopefully, it will act as a deterrent to those who are considering committing such an act, but it also helps keep those who are found guilty of it off the streets longer so that people can feel safer when they're walking to their cars at night.
Encouraging adoption is also something that should be considered. There's this weird stigma when it comes to adoption. People who give up a child are seen as weak and cowardly and it doesn't make sense. If you're not ready to have a child, it seems like a perfectly reasonable alternative. You're always hearing about how long the waiting list for adoption is, why not give one of those couples a chance at achieving their dream? Will the pregnancy be tough? Sure, but the payoff is worth it. As far as good deeds go, you'd think that this would rank up there with donating organs.
This becomes iffy when rape enters the equation. It is a much tougher sell, but with enough tact, it could still be taken into consideration. Obviously, she can't be expected to raise the child. Not only would that be a constant reminder of a trauma, but because the kid would be a constant reminder, she'll likely resent the kid immensely. That's not exactly a firm foundation to build a family. If harsher penalties for rape are implemented than you'll have a slightly easier time trying to push the "don't punish the baby for what that putz did to you".
That being said, do not. Do. Not. Try to paint adoption in cases of rape as an "upside" or a silver lining. Rape is one of those rare clouds that doesn't have one. So shh.
Finally, I think toning down the rhetoric will do wonders. Pro-lifers are generally portrayed at shouting things like "baby killer!" at women, waving around signs with pictures of dead baby fetuses and so on. Honey vs vinegar, people. A calm and rational attempt at discussion will do a lot more to potentially change a pregnant woman's mind than shouting at her and questioning her moral fiber.
This, in turn, should, hopefully, result in a toning down of pro-choice rhetoric. This would make for a much more civil environment where we can have actual discussions as opposed to shouting each other down.
Will these measures eliminate abortion entirely? I doubt it, but it would go a long way to achieving the goals that pro-lifers want to accomplish without stomping on women's rights or violating their personal space.
Abortion is, and probably always will be, a hot button issue. Some see it as a moral issue. They argue that it is murder and try to stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. Others see it as a health issue or an issue of women's rights. They argue that it's wrong to force your viewpoint on others and that it is no one else's business.
It gets so heated that pro-choice advocates are labelled as baby killers while pro-lifers are often dismissed as misogynists who are only trying to oppress women. At face value, this doesn't seem to make a whole lot of sense. You'd think that the pro-lifers would be nothing more than noble crusaders who are fighting to protect lives. You generally don't get that impression nowadays.
It isn't so much that they are morally opposed to abortion, but how they decide to go about it. Abortion isn't one of those things that you can overpower with a frontal assault. Morality aside, an outright ban on abortion would cause more problems than it would solve, would it not?
So, the question becomes, how are you supposed to fight for the cause if the traditional strategy doesn't work? Well, you have to ask yourself a simple question. What would L do? You have to be smart about this and, rather than treat the symptom, you should start to go after the cause. Rather than attacking abortion directly, do what you can to minimize the circumstances that lead to people having abortions in the first place.
First and foremost, you should promote abstinence. That's right, this is your first and best line of defense to stopping unwanted teen pregnancies. That being said, you need a fallback position, so you couple this with teaching safe sex. Hammer in the positives of abstinence, but have that information about safe sex readily available for those who decide not to partake.
You'll also want to go after rapists. Rape is a vile crime that ranks up there with murder in most people's eyes. Yet, the sentence is relatively light. 5-10 years isn't exactly a "short" amount of time but, given the severity of the crime, a longer sentence does seem appropriate. Putting rape in the 20 years to life category seems like a better fit. The effects of this are twofold. Hopefully, it will act as a deterrent to those who are considering committing such an act, but it also helps keep those who are found guilty of it off the streets longer so that people can feel safer when they're walking to their cars at night.
Encouraging adoption is also something that should be considered. There's this weird stigma when it comes to adoption. People who give up a child are seen as weak and cowardly and it doesn't make sense. If you're not ready to have a child, it seems like a perfectly reasonable alternative. You're always hearing about how long the waiting list for adoption is, why not give one of those couples a chance at achieving their dream? Will the pregnancy be tough? Sure, but the payoff is worth it. As far as good deeds go, you'd think that this would rank up there with donating organs.
This becomes iffy when rape enters the equation. It is a much tougher sell, but with enough tact, it could still be taken into consideration. Obviously, she can't be expected to raise the child. Not only would that be a constant reminder of a trauma, but because the kid would be a constant reminder, she'll likely resent the kid immensely. That's not exactly a firm foundation to build a family. If harsher penalties for rape are implemented than you'll have a slightly easier time trying to push the "don't punish the baby for what that putz did to you".
That being said, do not. Do. Not. Try to paint adoption in cases of rape as an "upside" or a silver lining. Rape is one of those rare clouds that doesn't have one. So shh.
Finally, I think toning down the rhetoric will do wonders. Pro-lifers are generally portrayed at shouting things like "baby killer!" at women, waving around signs with pictures of dead baby fetuses and so on. Honey vs vinegar, people. A calm and rational attempt at discussion will do a lot more to potentially change a pregnant woman's mind than shouting at her and questioning her moral fiber.
This, in turn, should, hopefully, result in a toning down of pro-choice rhetoric. This would make for a much more civil environment where we can have actual discussions as opposed to shouting each other down.
Will these measures eliminate abortion entirely? I doubt it, but it would go a long way to achieving the goals that pro-lifers want to accomplish without stomping on women's rights or violating their personal space.
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