D&D nerdity
In case you forgot about the huge nerd thing, I got a copy of the 2024 Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook. I also obtained and read the play test material they have been putting out for a year or so before the release. There are some good points to it. The changes to the classes are mostly actual improvements. The Monk class got some much needed love, which is cool.
Don’t toss out your 2014 versions just yet though. Part of the upgrade was to make the races (yes, they call them species now and I’m not offended by that…)less important in character generation. You are no longer denying your sorcerer the highest level of min/maxing if you don’t start with a teifling. The character origins/backgrounds picked up the slack. Which is cool by me.
What does bother me is they really cut down on the level of detail on the various races. Dwarves are just dwarves now. Most of the “species” just have a single page dedicated to them. Of course the bloody Elves get two pages. In the 2014 book, there were multiple pages for each race, including detailed descriptions, examples of names (including regional variations, especially for the humans, since they spread all over the place), and other bits of detail that the role (as opposed to roll) players fornicating love.
Now they did add several new species covered in the 2024 book, which is good, including Orcs. There are two glaring omissions from the 2014 book however. Specifically Half-Orcs and Half-Elves. Apparently racial purity is now a priority at Wizards of the Coast.
They had a some rules (just a couple of paragraphs) in play test rules for mixed race humanoids, those rules are conspicuously missing from the 2024 book. I know it’s a honking big book, and there were editorial decisions to be made, but we are really talking about two paragraphs.
One of the main NPCs in the incredibly popular video game Baldur’s Gate 3 is a half-elf. Now you will have much wailing from the nerds about how they can’t play Shadowheart when the 2024 book gets a wider distribution.
Enough on that rant. The webcomic Does Not Play Well with Others (http://www.doesnotplaywellwithothers.com/) has some excellent D&D based gags. Those focuses on the ongoing D&D sessions some of the main characters have with the aliens who live down the street. I printed out this comic (https://www.doesnotplaywellwithothers.com/comic/pwc-0596) and inserted it at page 298 of the 2024 Player’s Handbook.
When talking to democrats about the economy…
Filed under: Barking Moonbats, economy, Obama Economy, Politics
…keep in mind that most of them don’t know the difference between a Kenyan and a Keynesian.
Note that the only one leftist in the clip who actually knows what a Keynesian is. He is also clearly stoned off his gourd, so he is probably enjoying the protest more than most.
Quote of the Day
“I’m not crazy about reality, but it’s still the only place to get a decent meal.” — Groucho Marx
Friday B-Movie Pick: Atomic Blonde
Atomic Blonde
A fast paced action film set at the tail end of the Cold War. The Berlin Wall starts to come down during the movie. Charlize Theron plays a British agent sent into Berlin to collect the McGuffin (in this case, a list of spies, including who is actually working for whom). Add in James McAvoy as the MI6 agent in charge of Berlin, who has not just gone native, he’s gone “bloody feral.” Spectacular fight scenes, and of course, nobody is exactly what they seem. Double agents, double crosses, and of course someone seduces the beautiful French agent.
Friday B-Movie Pick: The Hitman’s Bodyguard
The Hitman’s Bodyguard
An action comedy buddy story with the inspired pairing of Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson. This is a funny and deliciously violent film. Reynolds is a high priced bodyguard at the top of his game, until he loses a high profile client (a well known arms dealer). Now down on his luck, he gets a call from his ex-girlfriend (an Interpol agent) who asks him to transport his arch nemesis (Jackson’t hitman character) so he can testify against a war criminal. From there, the fun really starts. Not a family film, unless your kids are old enough for an impressive amount of profanity and violence.
Quote of the Day
“The Democrats’ central concern isn’t that taxes will be raised on the middle class, but that Republicans are taking away money that Democrats believe belongs to the federal government. This is the root of all the “heist” rhetoric — Democrats no longer believe in the basic principle of private property.
Friday B-Movie Pick: Valerian and the City of A Thousand Planets
Valerian and the City of A Thousand Planets
Luc Besson had a lot of fun bringing one of his favorite childhood comics to the big screen, and it show. This is a fun film. Awesome special effects, visually stunning, and gloriously true to the pulp origins of the original comic. The weak of part of the film is the two lead characters, who gave it a good try, but just didn’t nail the chemistry needed. Still worth the popcorn and rental, especially if you have a nice big screen with a good sound system.
Friday B-Movie Pick: Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit
A B-Movie classic. The writer and director, Hal Needham, freely, and proudly, admits that this was a low budget film that was intended for regional (i.e. Southern) appeal. It picked up some box office appeal, when Needham’s friend Burt Reynolds read the script and said that he wanted to play the Bandit. It picked up some more star power with Jackie Gleason and Sally Field. Not leaving Jerry Reed out, but he was better known for his musical career than his acting. The film was made for just over $4 million and was the second highest grossing film of 1977. This film is an American Classic. If you haven’t seen it, don’t wait. Fire up the popcorn and enjoy a film that Billy Bob Thorton claims is considered more of a documentary in the South.
Monday Book Pick: A Night in the Lonesome October
A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny
Going back to a 2014 pick. A classic by the late Grandmaster Roger Zelazny. It is set in the month of October, which each day being a chapter. The story is told by Snuff, a watchdog, who like his companion Jack, is the owner of several Curses. One of Jack’s involves a large knife. Whenever there is a full moon on October 31, a group of people and their animal companions gather together and work toward a ritual on the night of the 31st. They are trying to either open or keep closed, a gateway for the Elder Gods (think Lovecraft). So far, the Closers have always won. Up until the end, it’s hard to tell who is an Opener and who is a closer, or even who is in the game. Others who are in the area with Snuff and Jack include: a vampire called “The Count” and his bat; a mad Russian monk and his snake, a broom flying witch named Crazy Jill and her black cat, the Great Detective and his sidekick; and Larry Talbot and his furry alter ego. Zelazny had a lot of fun with this book. If you can pick up a copy with the Gahan Wilson illustrations, you are in for a bonus treat.
Friday B-Movie Pick: The Patriot
The Patriot
Going with something different for the 4th of July pick this year. Mel Gibson’s revolutionary war movie tells the tale of the war in the Southern states, and the hit and run tactics used by the American forces. Excellent movie with outstanding performances by Heath Ledger and Jason Isaacs. Star Trek fans will be happy to see Rene Auberjonois. Also featured is veteran actor Adam Baldwin, who should have played a tough guy in a Libertarian Space Western for five seasons.