Saturday Night Special, feat. Heartless: The Story of the Tin Man

The artwork is by John Howe, the Tolkien-illustrator. I decided to post this particular pic because it is one of my all time favourite fantasy artworks. It also serves as an excuse for today's rant.


Howe places great weight on one of my ideals for portraying fantasy. Realism. The knight's armour is correct down to the smallest detail - Howe takes his research seriously. That kind of attention to detail strengthens the illusion. The only thing deviating from probability is the wyrmling in the knight''s hand, and as everything else looks so probable, that small deviation becomes less improbable.

I don't know where to begin...

I've never liked chainmail bikinis much. It may look good, but the rampant impracticality of it ruins the suspension of disbelief for me. The same goes for the ridiculously large sword that's become more an more common these days. So where am I going with this? Well, storytelling (note the lower-case 'S') is a tricky business. We all have our preferences, and we all have things we don't like. As Loquacious said when I commented on her Changeling-post: You're ok with sacrificing cats, Nazis from space, Elves and places that can't be found on maps; but Changeling is too weird?


I think my point is that most of the stories we tell when we play are totally unlikely, and would have been utterly unbelievable, had we not maintained some alibi of probability. In WoD that alibi is that the supernaturals stay hidden from the mundane world; in the classical fantasy-settings, that alibi is a veneer of medieval myths, mixed with some facts. These alibis are often fragile constructions, and even a little scepticism will cause them to collapse under their own weight.


For my part, I like to mix the realistic with the blatantly fantastical. Hence I have Space Nazis and locations not on any map in my world. I also have religious extremism and sectarianism. The plague currently threatening to sweep across Eria turns people into zombies, but I try to have it follow patterns based on historical plagues. Even the Space Nazis have a basis in realism, far fetched though it may be. Is it working? Well, none of my players have yet called bullshit on it, so I think I'm good so far.


For me, Changeling: the Lost is too weird, but that is because the concept doesn't tickle me, hence I'm not motivated to suspend my disbelief. The same applies to the classical dungeon-crawl stories. For me there is nothing there that makes me believe - there's no story, just a game.


So my point is that without maintaining the suspension of disbelief, the story will collapse, and with it, the game. Whatever it is that makes you believe, take good care of that, because without it the illusion will splinter.


Now that my rant has been dealt with, here's the...

Round-up for week 45
In no particular order:

• The Value of Failure on Destination Unknown. Why? Because Christian raises one of the important questions about running a successful game, and some good points were raised in the comments as well. It made me reflect over this topic, and I even think I came away with some insight.
• I need to talk about Howard on Daddy Grognard. Why? This is an interesting discussion about the horrors in Lovecraft's work, and whether these can be effectively brought across the time-gap. I would have wanted to add a comment to that post, but there just wasn't enough time this week.
• The Radhost Complector on Propnomicon. Why? Because holy crap-waffles! That's why. Of all the useless gadgets I've seen in my life (and I've seen a few) that thing is by far the most awesome. Good thing I don't have children, because I just might have been willing to part with a first-born to get my hands on that thing.

Main Feature
Tonight's film is takes place in Oz, a while before that kid and her puppy comes along. In Heartless: The Story of the Tin Man, we're told the story of... I'm sure you can work that out by yourselves.


Enjoy. 



Heartless: The Story of the Tin Man from Brandon McCormick on Vimeo.




Ha en fortsatt fin lørdag.




[Picture source: 1  John Howe; 2 Pixel Joint Forum]

Saturday Night Special, feat. The Anachronism

Another week has successfully been dealt with, and we've reached Saturday. This week's Special will be a little shorter than the last, but the film is even more awesome, so  I really hope you'll take the time to watch it. Now let's get this show on the road.


Earlier today I reached 100 blogs on my blog-roll. 100 hand-picked blogs from really clever people. One thing I've realised after I started looking into the blogosphere, is that there is a thing called the OSR. As with most acronyms, it was a complete mystery to me at first - I think that's why the nerd community loves acronyms so much; if you don't know what it means, you're not part of it. Now I know, and I'm still not part of it.


Disclaimer: The following is not an attack on the OSR community, merely my musings on the topic.


First off, for those who don't know, OSR stands for Old-School Renaissance. In effect, a revival of the first rpgs. There are retro-clones coming out of the wood-works out there, some apparently very true to the First Game, others merely try to capture Its spirit. Or so I've understood.


Now why would someone bother with a something that's been left behind by evolution? I think the answer is simple. It's the same reason all of us play. We're looking for the perfect high. That feeling of complete immersion in the game, where everyone involved shares the same experience. The logical way to relive those magical moments we remember from before we grew too blasé, is to look where we left it. And so many return to the beginning.


For my part, I don't give a rodent's behind about original D&D any more than I listen to metal from the 70s. Sure, I see the relevance, but I like the newer stuff. It runs smoother, and it fits my personality better. Besides, its more easy-going. But for those who find the magic there, more power to them.


Now for the reason why I follow so many OSR-blogs. The OSR people are good bloggers, no two ways about it. In between all the tables and occult acronyms, there can be found one gem after another. Now, I'm not saying that non-OSR people can't blog, it just appears to be more old-timers out there.


I have 100 blogs on the roll now, but I'm not done yet. I'd love to find good blogs about oWoD, or about any other system, as long as the blogger knows how to blog. I appreciate any tips you can give. That said, I have a few really good non-OSR blogs on there allready, as well as some non-RPG blogs as well. I hope you'll take the time to visit some of them.


Round-up for week 44
In no particular order:

• Sleestak (Vote for Chaka's Fate) on Gothridge Mannor. Why? Because of the rampant randomness of it all. I had no clue what a Sleestak was before I googled it, and even then it only made marginally more sense. I still don't know what happened to Chaka though.
• Condottiere: More Thoughts on Mercenaries on Appendix N. Why? Because I'm a sucker for history and roleplaying games, and even more so for the two combined. JoeGKushner has some interesting thoughts on implementing the mercenary-system of Renaissance Europe in a fantasy-setting, based upon one of the many awesome Osprey-books.
• [WOD] The Hedge Tales, Week 2- The Turning on World of Wonder. Why? Because Loquacious is something as rare as a player blogging on rpgs. Most other blogs I know are written by GMs. That, and I find Loq's way of bringing her characters to life very fascinating and inspiring. But damn, Changeling is some weird shit.

That's it for this week. Now for the...


Main feature
The Anachronism is a steampunk science-fiction fantasy, set in the late 19th century. It has won a pant-load of awards, and in this blogger's opinion, that's well earned. The official blurb says:

"On a sun dappled summer day a science expedition propels two children toward an enigmatic encounter at the edge of their known world. Arriving on an isolated beach, they stumble upon the shipwreck of a robotic squid submarine. The secret it holds within changes their lives forever."

Enjoy.


The Anachronism (Full Film) from Anachronism Pictures on Vimeo.




Nyt resten av helga.




[Artist: Larry Elmore]

Saturday Night Special, feat. Alma

Happy Halloween!

Still playing with the concept here. This header fits better, I think. But, I'm worrying that I'm cramming too many topics under one header, although I'm kinda looking at it as my take on a weekly zine of sorts. Again, please let me know if you have thoughts on the matter.


The last week has brought me up to 28 followers, and precariously close to 10,000 hits on my piece of the intertubes. If this keeps up, I will have reached 30 and 10k by next Saturday. The fact that so many people are reading the products of my maniacal brain is both humbling and elating.  Thank you so much to all of you who have honoured me with your attention.


I've also broken my own record of 22 posts in a month. I seem to go in fits and starts, but it is also very dependent on the frequency of play - once a week means my imagination keeps hammering away on the specifics of the setting. Here I owe thanks to my players. I keep reading about other GMs having all sorts of issues with their groups. I could not wish for better partners to tell a tall tale than my guys.


In other news, according to the latest episode of the The Hobbit production-soap, it looks like they're back to shooting in New Zealand again... I'm leaning towards a "whatever" on this one by now. I'm sure it'll be grand when, and if, it hits the silver screen, but holy ringwraith, Batman! Enough with the drama allready. Shit, or get out of the citchen. Now I'm just waiting to hear that it'll be done in 3D.

On gaming, apart from Thursday's news about Airship Pirates, the new project of Cakebread & Walton: Purveyors of Fine Imaginings - probably the coolest company-name in the entire industry - I read this post on the Cyclopeatron blog. It discusses the sales numbers of the leading games in the RPG-industry. Two things jumped out at me, first the fact that Pathfinder is tied with D&D 4E as market-leaders. Secondly, that the fifth largest game, by sales-numbers, sold less than 3000 copies. Food for thought, that.


Round-up for week 43
These are the three post I've enjoyed the most over the last week, in no particular order.

• Pictures that lure me to a game: Iron Kingdoms on ..LAPSUS CALUMNI.. Why? Frankly because of the pictures ;) And I enjoy reading about games other than the market-leading brands and the OSR. Also, I'm a sucker for clockwork-goodness.
• Nerd Sunday On A Gray Day on Destination Unknown. Why? Because I always like Christian's easy-going posts, and Spelljammer + zombies = pure, weapons-grade win.
• A Message on Dungeonmum. Why? Because Dungeonmum's short, well written play-based vignettes are always good reads, and this one was pretty spooky.

Find of the Week

Captain Future

Before we get to tonight's main feature, I would like to point you towards a site that brightened one of the cold and rainy days of last week. Tales of Future Past is devoted to 20th century visions for the future, and covers everything from future wars to future fashion. Looking at how we imagined tomorrow can certainly tell us something about yesterday. 


But wait...
I'm not quite done yet. Before the film, I would like to share a band I've recently discovered. Alestorm plays Scottish pirate-metal. Now tell me you're not intrigued. The song in question is Keelhauled, and the video is, for lack of a better word, flippin' awesome!







Main Feature
And now: tonight's film is Alma, a multi-award-winning, cute and disturbing short from the Spanish director Rodrigo Blaas. Enjoy.

Fortsatt god helg.

[Picture source: 1 unknown; 2 Tales of Future Past]

Saturday Movie Night: The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello

Well, I didn't make the deadline for the SMN this week - second week in, and already I'm slipping. Oh, well, overtime will do that sometimes. But at least it's still Saturday somewhere.

I thought I'd try to expand on the concept a bit by including a little round-up from the last week. More to the point, I'll give you the three best post I've read over the previous week. Before I get started, I need to include a little disclaimer. I am not setting myself up as an authority on good blogging, or even on penmanship. Further, while I try to read most posts on my blog-roll, there will be stuff I miss. So, if you feel left out, that's my bad, not yours. Now that that's out of the way, here's the stuff I think you should read if you haven't allready.

Round-up for week 42

• End of spell series and Trollsey update on Roles, Rules, and Rolls. Why? Because I really enjoyed reading this post. Not to mention that Roger the GS raised the bar for how a session-report should be written.
• Green Hell on From the Sorcerer's Skull. Why? Because once again Trey expands his weird pulp-setting with a location you both want to visit and avoid. I think this is my favourite setting outside Argos (but I confess I am a little biased).
• The secret history of Darkling Earth on HUGE RUINED PILE. Why? Because Scott's world is even more Byzantine than mine, and he manages to tie up all sorts of weird elements into a scary and fantastic history for his world, and this post was what drew me into it.

There you go. My top three, in no particular order. I'm not sure if I'll make this a regular feature. We'll see next week.

Now onto tonight's main topic. This time I have two videos for you. The first I picked up on Thursday when Leketøys, one of the BoW-players, VJ'ed at a local bar. There was all sorts of really neat stuff on his play-lists, but this one made me take notice. Here you go, brilliant, disturbing, and confusing UNKLE.

And now the main feature of the evening, The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello. I've posted this on this blog before, but I know there are still may out there who haven't seen this awesome film yet. And it is a big inspiration for the Outsiders of the BoW. I hope you'll take the time to watch this Lovecraftian steampunk marvel of an animation.

Ha en fin kveld, godtfolk.

Saturday Movie Night: The Hunt for Gollum

I've been thinking about opening a new blog dedicated to movies, but in stead I've decided to go for a new column on the BoW. The plan is to give you a new video every week. The goal is to pick the best fan-film or animation from the previous week's scouring of teh intertubes, and to open the ball I have picked a brilliant LotR fan-production.

Independent Online Cinema's The Hunt for Gollum is a prequel to the Fellowship of the Ring, and tells the story of Aragorn's hunt for Gollum prior to the wretched creatures capture by the agents of Mordor. It has managed to win a pantload of of awards, and has been watched more than seven million times already. It may very well be the best fan-made movie I've seen to date, and I hope you'll enjoy it.

Bon cinema.


The Hunt For Gollum (HD version)
Uploaded by HuntForGollum. - Watch feature films and entire TV shows.