Google+ The Geeks Menagerie: 2011

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Chistmas!

I hope everyone has had a great Christmas! Thing have been a lot of fun around the house, toy train central! In other news things have been busy planning the RPG CON coming up in January. The Cal'thel page is slowly coming together, go check it out and let me know what you think. In other rpg news I picked up the Palladium book of Weapons and Assassins from my local game store. This book has everything you need to run an assassin game from around the world, not just in Japan. I am also playing SWTOR and it is beyond great! I just don't have enough time to play! LOL

A quick shout out to my friends over at the D20 radio network (Holocron 2.0, the Order of 66, Role for initiative and Thacos Hammer Pod Casts) and all of my fellow Guildies on the Order of Sixty Six!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Cal'thel site Launch!

Things on the kingdom of Cal'thel have finally burst from my brain and onto the web! It is early in the process but check it out anyway.

Cal'thel - The ris of the Silverblade Family

Sunday, December 11, 2011

RPG CON 2012

Well things are moving forward nicely as our GM's get ready to plan their games for the event. As of now here are the RPG's planned for the day.

Star Wars (D6)
Harn (Zombie apocalypse)
Gas Light- Victorian fantasy
A song of fire and ice - Game of Thrones 

We might be adding ICONS to the list but we will see if we can fit it in. More to come.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The return of Valiant Comics!

Just announce today, Valiant comics will be releasing its first new comic with the free comic book day edition featuring X-O Manowar! The new logo and art looks great. I cant wait to read it! For more info on this check out the article on IGN.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Cal'thel back story!

So I finally decided to take all of my notes and put together the Time line and back story for my world. Its far over due, now I just need to figure out where to start! When the time line gets closer to being finished I'll post it here and on the osr gaming forums

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

RPG scores, gaming continues and comics!

Alright, here we go again, on black Friday my wife decided we needed to go shopping. For once shopping paid off for me. Headed out to Half price books and scored some sweet books. First off I found 3 copies of the AD&D Dungeon Masters guides, of which I grabbed the best looking copy.(stock photo from rpg.net)
My original book was falling apart at the spine so I was happy to replace it. Next up is an RPG that I have played a couple times but never own a copy of the book. Earth Dawn 2nd edition: Brand new HC, this game is alot of fun, I highly recommend trying it out.




Moving on from those sweet acquisitions we move over to the world of comics. I was shocked to find a brand new never opened copy of  Marv Wolfman / George Perez's New Teen Titans: Games Hard Cover.



This is a beautiful book with one of the coolest Titan stories ever told, plus I picked it up for $10. If you have a local half price books or used book store, you should check them out. You never know what you can find. Along with the above I also found a few comics:

X-factor # 7 (vol. 1)
The Green Lantern Corps # 223

The Mighty Thor # 396
G.I. Joe A Real American Hero! # 5, 7, 17, 18, 19, 22 (marvel 1982)
Classic X-men # 4-6, 10-13, 23

In other news on the gaming front, plans for the January Game event are slowly moving forward. I've got a few people lined up to GM/DM a few games, now im just looking for more people to attend as players. hehe a work in progress =) Also, I will be continuing my current 4th edition D&D game based in my Home Brew world of Cal'Thel. Quinn (a knight of Kalamar) and Bayard (a war cleric) are brothers on an adventure to safe guard their families lands. A friend of mine is DM and has been running our little adventure every couple months for a year or so now. It is very cool to be playing characters in the world i've been building on for over 20 years now..

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Star Wars the Old Republic - Beta weekend!

Since the NDA was lifted a while ago, I decided to talk about the game a bit while I wait for a server to let me in game. =) I was apart of the 3rd beta weekend a couple weeks ago and have been in this weekends beta since Friday morning. Server crowding is to be expected, especially on a Saturday afternoon, but all in all the wait times havent been to bad. Plus I have made 5 characters each on a different server.
Jedi Counselor
Jedi Knight - Sentinel
Bounty Hunter
Sith Warrior
Republic Trooper

I think I'm going to try some crafting tonight if I get on a server! lol It has been alot of fun so far, the guild im in "The Order of 66" had a great showing on the Cosmic Turbine server. I believe we had at least 23 guild members on last night

Thursday, November 17, 2011

New books, upcoming plans and a D&D update!

So its been a little while since I posted last, but I've been a bit busy of late. I have picked up a few RPG books, including a D6 Star wars Source book in great condition. You have to love Half Price Book stores there awesome! Also Palladium books had a sale going a couple weeks back so I got for of the After the bomb titles (T.M.N.T)(pics below)

On the D&D front I have a couple snap shots of my 1st ed. AD&D and 4th ed. D&D players hand books that I made for my world Of Cal'Thel. More on Cal'Thel yet to come, hopefully I'll get some more time to work on it over the next couple months now that winter is moving in.










Just the contents pages for now, but at least you get an idea of the books layout. On another note I am in the early stages of putting together a one day RPG with multiple games and rotating GM's (or DM's depending) so keep an eye out for more updates on that bad boy.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Comics and more comics..why is my wallet empty?

So I finally cleared out my folder at the comic shop today, heres a list of what was there:
Usagi Yojimbo #141
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3
Aquaman #2
Doctor Solar- Man of the Atom #7 + 8
GI Joe - A Real American Hero #171
Green Lantern New Guardians #2
Red Lanterns #3
New Mutants #32 + 33
Justice League International #3
Green Arrow #3 (new series)
Green Arrow #14 + 15 (last series)
Star wars Invasion -Revelations #4
Green Lantern Corps #2
Nightwing #2
Green Lantern #2
Demon Knights #2
Batman #2
Batman #712 + 713 (last series)

Now I just have to find time to read everything! On a side note, I have thinking about digital comics and what devices to read them on. The obvious choice would be an Ipad, but I dont want to spend $600 to read comics a book or two and surf the web. I have been debating the Kindle fire mainly for the kindle books android app use and pdf reader. Still debating, what do you use to read digital comics?

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Usagi Yojimbo #141

New and out today is Usagi #141, the 200 actual issue of the book. Go buy it! Check out Mr. Sakia's live journal post here

Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!

Well its the last day of October and my son cashed in on candy while rockin a kick ass Green Lantern costume! It was a fun night. Its been a busy week since my last post and I havent had much time to get caught up on my comics, but never fear i should have more coming soon. Plus I'll have some updates on my RPG projects.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Comic stuff! Not just DC!

So I am reading some comics other than from DC, but not much. From Marvel I'm reading :

Secret Avengers - This was a fun book..... until Fear itself happened. Stupid Tie-in issues that make absolutely no sense if you havent been reading the mini series. Not sure if I'm going to keep getting this book. Marvel just need to bring back Nick Fury and S.H.I.E.L.D.!! I miss you secret warriors!!

New Mutants - Issues 29-31 Tie-in to Fear itself, but unlike secret avengers it makes sense! It feels like a  classic Chris Claremont New mutants story. Dani Moonstar (Dark Valkyrie for Hela (Asgardian god of the dead)) travels to HEL (Norse version of Hell) to enlist help from Hela, only to discover Helas body impaled! Mean while the rest of the new mutants decide to head over to Hel to lend Dani a hand. Doug (aka Cypher) miss reads a spell transporting them to Mephistos Hell! Its a fun read.

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero - This series continues where the original one left off. I have to admit I never read the end of the old series but after I read the free comic book day offering I had to pick this up. Solid stories and great looking art.

StarWars - The Old Republic: The Lost Suns - This is the second Old republic mini series from Dark Horse comics. Nothing spectacular but it was still a fun story. It follows Republic spy Theron Shan as he tries to destroy the Sith's star-killing Sun Razer mega-weapon.

StarWars - Dark Times: Out of the Wilderness - This continues the previous Dark Times series where it left off. Following the adventures of the fugitive Jedi Dass Jennir, the coolest part of issue #2 there is a Verpine Jedi!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Usagi Yojimbo reaches 200!

I have been reading Usagi Yojimbo for many years, it feels like forever (in a good way). The story of a Ronin samurai (usagi) and his adventures in the Tokugawa era japan. Lets face it, any description I can give you wont do this book justice. So If you haven't read an usagi comic, you really should go out and find one of the many trade paper backs that are out on store shelves. Local comic shops, Barnes and Noble stores even half price books stores. Check out the official Dark Horse Comics Usagi page for a detailed history of the character from his creator Stan Sakai. If you can find a copy go out and pick up Usagi Yojimbo #141 - Sept, 2011


Also do me a favor and head over to the official Usagi Yojimbo Dojo on Facebook  
and the Usagi Yojimbo Dojo Forums, there are alot of great guys and gals over their that can help answer all of your questions about Usagi. Plus Stan is on the board all the time answering question! How can you not like that?

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Thundercats HOOOO!!


So after posting last I decided to roll up the Thundercats (1980's version) using the Palladium system. Here is PANTHRO, its not complete but its very close. Take a look:

Saturday, October 15, 2011

gaming projects

Gaming! I love RPGS! I cant get enough and I'm at it again. As some of you know I have played D&D (ad&d) since the mid 80's and the adventures I had spawned a world, a world that I have been adding to for 20 years. As I was going through my back log of papers, characters and world notes, I discovered my 1st edition AD&D players hand book I created was messed up. So I decided to remake a players book for my world for 1st, 2nd and 4th edition D&D.
The central theme has always been an order of knights, founded by my Cavalier. I would like to note that My friend who ran most of our games, hates Cavaliers more than ogres! As much as he tried I lived through a lot of campaigns and as the games changed so did the character(s). My Cavalier spawned 3 generations of decedents, currently two brothers adventure together in 4th edition.  But I degrees...

So after looking at my Knight Class I discovered that I had combined ad&d 2nd and 3rd ed. together, it didnt make much sense. So with the help of the guys over at OSR Gaming I'm starting over. I've decided to go with creating an order of knights for multiple kingdoms and making each unique to its location on my world map. Using existing Player Classes (Fighters, Paladins, Cavaliers and Clerics), as the playable classes for each Order. I'll have more on this as I get closer to completion.

Other Projects:

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs - I love this comic(Xenozoic tales) and I love this game! We have played one session so far and I had to make a new GM screen to help decipher the rule book. Hopefully I can run this game again soon.

ICONS - Super powered Heroes - About 4 months ago I started a World War II super hero game and it was awesome! Scheduling nightmares have kept this game on hold, but I'm hopeful that we will get it running again this winter.

TMNT and Other Strangeness (Palladium Books) - I ordered a couple After the Bomb supplements from the palladium website and after reading them I really want to play again! So I think im going to run a Robotech game on an alternate earth where Humans don't exist! Bring on the Mutant Animals! wait... are they still considered mutants? perhaps not.. lol

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Mutants & Masterminds Gamemaster's Guide Pre-Order & PDF

The Mutants & Masterminds Gamemaster's Guide is now available for Pre-Order through the Green Ronin Online Store!Pre-order the book and buy the PDF for $5.00! Game Master Guide $32.95

Thursday, October 6, 2011

what i'm getting caught up on

Ok im getting caught up on the new 52 and I read a few books at work today, so lets jump in!

Batman #1 - I really like this book, nice art work, decent story, love that batman is doing detective work again!

Detective comics #1 + #2 - This is one wicked book! =)

Hawk and Dove #2 - ......I think i'm done, the story went from interesting to lame with the intro of Condor and pigeon? seagull? How many freakin entities or in the DCU now? CANCELED

Black Hawks #1 - Very nice art, cool story, this might turn out to be a good book. Fast paced dynamic characters and a cool ending that makes me want to pick up issue 2

Savage Hawkman #1 - I want sure about this book, the art was quite different than what I was expecting but it grew on me by the end of the book. Story isnt very strong but it does leave you asking questions about his Nth Metal (new costume). I'll read #2

More to come

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Miniature Mayhem!

So I was working in the garage this afternoon and spotted the castle I built. I thought to my self, self you need to set this baby up and unleash the miniatures! I designed this as a modular set up, so I could build multiple types of castles for D&D sieges or encounters. So here's a few pics:













Thursday, September 22, 2011

Cadillacs and Dinosaurs aka: Xenozoic!

So not to long ago I found a copy of the Cadillacs and Dinosaurs RPG (based on the comic/cartoon created by Mark Schultz) and discovered the comics original name - Xenozoic. Back in 91' a few of us watched the cartoon which wasn't all that great but it was the first time we saw a futuristic Cadi get attacked by a Dinosaur! Who doesn't love that idea! But I digress, as I usually do I went on a quest to find the original comics or trades. As you might guess its not real cost effective to purchase the single issues and I didnt have much luck finding all of the trades.


So I did a bit more digging and found a collected edition that was published last fall by flesk publications       352 pages, 8.5 x 11 in.black and white $39.95. 

"Forced into hiding by a global ecological cataclysm, humans emerge from their underground warrens half a millennium later to discover that the Earth has been totally transformed. All of the familiar flora and fauna are gone, replaced by a radically altered natural order populated by rampaging dinosaurs and strange, new creatures. It takes guts, grim determination, ingenuity and a whole lot of old-fashioned luck just to survive, much less thrive, in this alien wilderness—all qualities that ace mechanic Jack Tenrec, lovely scientist Hannah Dundee and their friends possess in abundance.
But even the worthiest of these hardy souls are hard-pressed to surmount the obstacles presented by their new homeland. And when those trials are further compounded by the underhanded and selfish actions of the cutthroat human scavengers they encounter, even the best equipped and bravest among them might not endure."

I will be doing a review of this book as soon as it arrives so look for it soon.



More of the new 52

Alright next up I have a couple books I picked up on Wednesday from DC comics -

Red Hood #1 - First off the art is amazing, Kenneth Rocafort lays down some beautiful pencils in this book. The story is kind of lame, plus they make star fire a ditzy alien whore who sleeps with everyone in the book.... way to wreck a once cool character DC. This is a major disappointment for me.

Wonder Woman #1 - I enjoyed this book, fast paced with what can be a great story. The art is nice but I think I need to see it in a few more issues before i can say I really like it. On a big bright note, wonder woman has no pants! I say pick it up, this book is cool.

Legion of Super Heroes #1 - I really like this book and that kind of bugs me. Thats because it continues from the end of the previous series. I know, I know DC did say some of the books wouldn't be changing with the relaunch, but I figured it would be a bit different. I dont know, lol who cares! Paul Levitz Knows the Legion and writes a Damn good book. Buy it!


Sunday, September 18, 2011

TMNT #1

If you havent picked up a copy of IDW TMNT #1 do it! Its a great book! Also coming in November:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Microseries #1: Raphael Coming in November! 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Micro-series #1: Raphael
Brian Lynch (w) • Franco Urru (a) • David Peterson, Urru (c)

Following in the tradition of the original TMNT microseries comes the first of four stand-alone tales centering on each Turtle. Raphael's place in the world is uncertain and he can't shake the feeling that he'll always be an outsider. That changes when he finds another mutant, the arctic fox Alopex, who may have a new clue pertaining to the Turtles origin. Unfortunately she's too busy being hunted alive to share the info! Will Raphael and his new friend survive the night? The Angel: After the Fall team of Brian Lynch and Franco Urru reveal all! Well, some, anyway!
*2 regular covers will be shipped in a 4-to-1 ratio (4 David Peterson, 1 Franco Urru)
*Retailers: See your order form for incentive information.
FC • 32 pages • $3.99

*Variant covers:
David Peterson black & white variant cover!
 “Retro” variant edition, featuring a re-mastered original Kevin Eastman Raphael Micro-Series cover!

Bullet points:   

Blockbuster Angel: After the Fall team of Lynch and Urru reunited!

Cover by David “Mouse Guard” Peterson!

 

DC's New 52

Well I know we are coming up on week three of DC's new 52 and I have a couple weeks of books to get you filled in on.
The good:
      Bat Woman - Great book and beautiful!
      Justice League - Jim Lee still draws an awesome book, we will see how the story plays out.
      Green Lantern - Cool as always
      Hawk and Dove - Other than Hawk whining to much this is a surprise book for me.
      Death Stroke - WOW! much better than I thought it was going to be. I'll be continuing this one for sure.

The not so good:

      Action Comics - I wasnt thrilled with this book...
      Suicide Squad - Lame characters changes and weak story
      OMAC - This book inst bad per say, just not my cup o' tea.
      Legion Lost - As a relatively new legion reader I was disappointed with this book. I didnt know half the characters and the story had alot of holes in it. its a pass

I havent picked up all my books yet, I split them between 2 different comic shops. I'll have more to come!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Wolverine 2

Hugh Jackman announced today that Filming of Wolverine 2 will start in October. The story will follow Logans adventures in Japan.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

DC Reboot! September 2011

OK, so I'm late on the posting but why not, everyone else is,  right? After deciding I wasn't going to buy anything from the DC reboot I have to admit I am intrigued, I like the looks of JLI, JLA, Black hawks, Demon Knights, Nightwing and Aquaman. Dammit. Heres a list of all the new titles from the guys over at Ifanboy.

http://www.ifanboy.com/content/articles/The_Definitive_Guide_To_The_DC_Comics_Reboot

Monday, March 21, 2011

New JLU Toys!

So I have added a few more figures to my JLU collection

Also picked this one up at C2E2 -

New Wonder woman photos!

Straight from the source - dccomics.com

C2E2 2011

It was a great weekend! Picked up a few things, went to a few panels - overall a very fun Con
 Sean and Jim from the ragingbullets podcast!
 New Green Lantern Toys!
The last image is of an upcoming Quigon Jin ongoing series from Dark Horse. I received the poster after asking a question at the DH star wars panel.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

New acquisitions !


So its been a rather exciting February, I found the Kirby: King of Comics (Hard Cover) dirt cheap! It's a beautiful book. I also recieved my copies of the GREEN LANTERN Omnibus Vol. 1 and the USAGI YOJIMBO: Special Edition (Slip case) from Amazon.com. These three books are fantastic and so much fun to read, if only I had enough time to read all of them!