Wednesday, December 26, 2018

A Christmas Miracle


Do you believe in unlikelihoods? 

After explaining the GaryCon situation to my loving wife, she found a way for me to attend GaryCon this March.  I won't be there for the entire weekend, but I'll be there... with tentacles!

And of course, I'll be running games (just got my events approved) and carrying around a few Kort'thalis Publishing titles for anyone who wants to acquire them at "friend prices."

Well, I just got what I really wanted for Christmas this year.  Hope you guys can say the same!

Oh and one last thing... lets do our part (the OSR and every other type of gamer out there) to make GaryCon XI the best, friendliest, accepting, tolerant, respectful, and awesome RPG convention ever! 

Fun is the priority and the most fun will be had when we realize we're all in this together.  However, forging a community has to be done the right way.  Bullying, boycotting, harassing, threatening, terrorizing, and making people feel guilty isn't the way forward.

Love and green slime from your za'akier brother behind the screen,

VS

Monday, December 24, 2018

Live Together or Die Alone


Wasn't that Jack Shepard's mantra on the first season of Lost?

As much as I'd love to blindly follow a string of public shaming and identity politics by someone who's previously disavowed my RPG clique of choice, (Stacy Dellorfano's boycott of GaryCon posts one and two), I just can't bring myself to continually ruin someone's life because of their relatively mild past mistakes.

After all, it's not like Bill Webb threatened to kill someone while repeatedly sucker-punching them at a bar outside the convention center.  Yeah, that's right.  Some of us still remember the GenCon assault on Jeremy Hambly ( of The Quartering and Unsleaved Meda fame), and what little GenCon did to remedy that awful situation - GenCon fucking banned Jeremy Hambly!?!

Regardless, the people surrounding that PaizoCon incident want to put it behind them.  I haven't heard of additional bad behavior from Bill Webb.  However, Stacy Dellorfano joined in the harassment of myself on social media just a couple months ago after I rejoined Facebook.  Also, they and their SJW cohorts have repeatedly called the OSR toxic, full of awful white males who have nothing better to do than harass, sexually or otherwise, everyone who's the least bit different.

Of course that's bullshit.  Take it from me, as a recently identified person of color (green is beautiful, green is za'akier), it's not the fault of white people... or humans, for that matter.  Nothing will every be perfect.  A group will never be ideologically pure.  Not everybody can be saved from the slightest hint of social injustice.  And trying to over-correct nature's chaotic balance will surely throw shit out of wack (case in point, the domestic terrorist group Antifa).

I wished I could go to GaryCon this Spring - before this mess started.  Now, I wish I could be there even more.  Alas, the twins will be two and a half, and I love my wife too much to let her deal with them and our three older children all weekend by herself (even with parents helping, it's a lot of work).  But by 2020, there's a distinct possibility!

So, boycott away, Ctrl-Left assholes!  The OSR will be just fine without you.  BTW, we'll be talking about this topic and a whole lot more during the next installment of our RPG talk-show Inappropriate Characters.

Enjoy,

VS

p.s. My latest Alpha Blue release THOT Audit is currently PAY WHAT YOU WANT on DriveThruRPG!

Friday, December 21, 2018

Banned (again) From RPG.NET


So, here's a funny thing... I was logging onto rpg.net in order to promote my latest Alpha Blue scenario THOT Audit, and discovered that I was banned.

The first time I was banned (back in 2005, I recall) was for cursing someone within the forum - I performed a magic ritual to destroy those who continually mouthed off.  I don't want to get into too much detail.

But now, this time?  To my knowledge, I haven't said or done anything recently on rpg.net to warrant any kind of moderation, let alone a permanent ban.  But of course, I've done plenty outside that forum, haven't I?

Yes, I've spoken out regarding rpg.net's anti-Trump enforcement.  My identification as trans-human (za'akier) which some took as a joke or insult to the LBGTQZ+ community.  Pushing back against the far-left for trying to control and police games, gamers, and gaming communities into the ground.

For these crimes perpetrated outside the purple walls of rpg.net, I've been banned.  Where else will I not be allowed to exist online?  What other internet group shall attempt to take my voice away?  Is there a movement, now or in the future, that can subvert my inhuman will?

Come find me...

VS

THOT Audit


For many, the phrase "THOT audit" is clear.  Up until a month ago, I didn't know what the Hell that meant.

THOT stands for That Ho Over There (not very flattering, I know, but that's the internet for you).  And it seems that many women exploiting themselves for money online weren't claiming that money on their taxes.  Such is the way of things.

However, some men have reported various women to the IRS... and a few have been audited.  I assume many more in the gray area of sex-work believe they might be next.  Hence THOT audit.

Being the cheeky bastard and headline-ripper that I am, I... commissioned Zoltar Khan Delgado to author a spanking-new Alpha Blue scenario called THOT Audit.  Get your Pay What You Want PDF right over here!!!

It's a one-shot "space dungeon" aboard a cargo freighter filled with aliens, droids, sex, drugs, strangeness, and random tables.

Enjoy,

VS

p.s. David Guyll (check out the man's blog) joins the Kort'thalis Publishing team!  He did the wondrous layout and cartography for THOT Audit.  Expect many more fabulous adventures from him and I quite soon...

Monday, December 17, 2018

One-Page Adventure!


We're all familiar with the one-page dungeon concept, right?

It's a dungeon with notes on the side.  Everything is self-contained on that single page.  It's all right there.  Only the minimum of detail will suffice - the rest is up to the GM.

But what about a one-page adventure that focuses on stuff like rumors, NPCs to interact with, factions, story elements, and places to visit, along with a wandering encounter table you might find in both iterations of the one-pager?

What kinds of things would you want to see on this one-page adventure?  What would be most useful to you?

Is that something you guys would be interested in using?  Could this be an under-developed sub-niche for those of us with big ideas and small amounts of time to write, playtest, and self-publish? 

Side benefit - it should be less expensive to produce!

I want to hear your thoughts, so please give me feedback in a comment below!

VS

p.s. First image is from this blog here.  Second image is from a Patreon account right over there.

Monday, December 10, 2018

Another Look At Dead God Excavation


Another review of Dead God Excavation over here inspired this blog post...

Sometimes, I provide tools, raw materials from which GMs can forge their own adventures.  Stuff like The S'rulyan Vault or Totally Random Tables.  I liken this to cookie dough.  Inverting the formula, I've provided roughly 15% and the GM has to provide the additional 85% of the work.

Sometimes, I do pretty much all the heavy lifting, the adventure is more or less turnkey for the GM, allowing him to add the final details, that last 15%.  These are fresh baked cookies.

Every once in awhile, and perhaps Dead God Excavation is the epitome of this style, I write something that's mostly cooked but still kind of gooey in the center.  Perhaps a medium-rare steak is a better analogy.  Rather than providing 85% of what's needed to run the session (taking into account GM improvisation), it's more like 75%.

This can be unsettling for those who're used to 85% - 100% of the work provided for them by the adventure writer.  I can understand that, and sympathize with those who feel cheated by the empty holes waiting to be filled.

While I enjoyed Prince of Nothing's review (I can respect his over-the-top presentation), I'd like to touch on a few key concepts that many gamers, even the OSR, occasionally miss.

Stereotypes, cliches, and all-too-familiar tropes are usually a bad thing in fiction, tv shows, movies, etc.  However, I believe they are sorely needed in RPGs, the ability to embody the themes, characters, motivations, and weird tales of the Lovecraft circle (and other Mythos contributors) makes for a greater roleplaying experience.  It delivers the goods.

Why should this be?  Well, roleplaying is specifically geared towards immersion - simulating a familiar world and breathing life into it so that we can pretend that we are Detective Legrasse, Old Castro, or Randolph Carter... feeling our way through the dark, slimy caves of impenetrable nightmare - awaiting the tentacle's cold embrace.

I wish I could live (for a short while) inside a Cthulhu Mythos story.  That's why I roleplay, so I can immerse myself in that world. And why I identify as za'akier.

Admittedly, some aspects might be too vague and/or subtle.  I could have been more specific about NPC motivations and that first encounter could have tied into the dead god's tomb even more.  However, I did that by design rather than sheer sloth.

My stuff being OSR, I assume most GMs will mix and match a wide variety of gaming books together.  I do that, and I've read thousands of blog posts that corroborate my preference.  Dead God Excavation on its own may seem a little too minimalistic, a degree too hollow... but what if you planned on combining it with The Islands of Purple-Haunted Putrescence, Carcosa, Anomalous Subsurface Environment, D30 Sandbox Companion, and Expedition To The Barrier Peaks?

If that's the case, the GM needs a little room to operate.  Detail things too much and it becomes harder to incorporate other books.  The lack of specificity actually helps GMs marry concepts, bounce ideas off a variety of designers, and answer questions they'd never thought of. What are the business interests of that NPC?  Crystal smuggling from the purple islands?  Did he (or one of his ancestors) pilot that old wreck of a starship half-buried in the mountains a half-mile away?  Is this tomb his chance to navigate the stars again?

I also disagree with the reviewer's opinion that the NPC temporarily leaving the Al Azif book in the PCs' hands is a bad or stupid thing.  The PCs are helping him (one assumes).  Can you imagine a benevolent character in a Doctor Who episode trusting the Doctor to take care of a rare and powerful device in his absence?  Yeah, probably.

Sorry, I don't do gold piece value for 90% of the treasure provided.  It varies wildly from system to system and campaign to campaign.  However, if that kind of thing is something GMs are interested in knowing, I could create a random table.  Seriously, let me know in a comment if that would be useful to you.

Generally speaking, non-combatant NPCs don't have stats in my books.  If the PCs want to kill something that can't really defend itself and can't effectively harm any of the PCs, then it can be dispatched with a sword thrust.  Simply roleplay it without rolling dice.

This is the way I GM and I'm sure a lot of GMs do things differently.  But that's why most characters/creatures without combat ability are stat-less.

I again see the reviewer's point that the sorcerer NPC isn't detailed enough for many GMs.  But then I don't know what the GM has planned for the rest of his campaign.  Perhaps the sorcerer plans to lead the PCs to the Fungoid Gardens of the Bone Sorcerer... perhaps he is the bone sorcerer?

In conclusion, Dead God Excavation is your chance to collaborate with the author, Venger As'Nas Satanis.  It's like we're working on your campaign together.  I provide the premise, NPCs, location, complications, and ideas for continuing... you make the thing your own, inspired by my initial designs.

I can't blame those not wanting to pay for such an opportunity, but that's why Dead God Excavation is one of my least expensive titles.  Currently priced on DTRPG at $2.50

In my mind, session zero means things should not be set in stone.  On the contrary, they must be malleable so that possibilities may flow.

Also, I created an entirely new weapon / magic item from scratch!  With pictures!!!  You don't see that every day.

Personally, I prefer to see Gods crawling, makes them strange and fascinating, primordial rather than fashionable... and that's what old school gaming needs more of.  Ah, well. To each their own.

VS

p.s. But if you do prefer lots of detail and specificity, Cha'alt will have your back. It's going to be a huge campaign, and I plan on spending nearly a year writing the damned thing.  Kickstarter launching just before Christmas.  Here's my KS profile (I think you can follow me from there).


Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Star Trek Discovery: Season One Review


So, there was a lot of polarizing chatter about Star Trek Discovery.  I heard some good things, and a lot of bad things.  Not sure what to believe and wanting to make up my own mind, I ordered season one on DVD.

Speaking of which, it seems like it's fashionable to hate on neat stuff.  There's this, The Predator movie which so many people say is a bad movie when it's actually fantastic, Solo: a Star Wars Story bombed in the theater - and that was a cool flick, and so on. Not sure if it's a sign of the times or something else...

TL;DR: I enjoyed it quite a bit.  Some was great, the rest was pretty good.  Would recommend this to casual scifi fans.

Diving deeper and attempting to make this spoiler-free - but still stream of consciousness random - I liked the strange way the series started.  It was unusual, but easy to understand. 

The pacing was excellent.  I never felt bored, like I was wading through a "filler episode" in order to get to the next good part of the story.

The acting was top-notch.  They really had some great people.  That girl from the walking dead, the older dude from Event Horizon, the awkward redhead, and the really tall alien.  Great job!

The special effects unobtrusive, realistic, and visually fantastic!  The klingons were really cool looking, in my opinion.  I know they don't look like the old school klingons (but wasn't that kind of racist by today's standards?), but now they're like... space orcs, a la Tolkien.  Really big and alien and mean!

And the klingon ship interiors were amazing!  The set design work blew me away...

The story - compelling with a variety of twists.  Some were expected, others surprising!  Discovery turned some predictable Star Trek staples into fascinating story opportunities.

I also enjoyed the lighter bits, unexpected humor. It didn't always work.  Stamets, you're just not funny.  Sorry, dude.  But overall, the brief glimmer of comedy was welcome.  Actually, The Orville isn't that much more of a comedy show than Discovery.  The Orville probably only had 3 or 4 more jokes per episode than this series.

In fact, my biggest gripe is that they didn't show off-ship / non-space environments until the last episode (except that planet with all the trees and swirling fairy dust).  Guess what?  Qo'noS totally reminded me of Alpha Blue - it was low-down, sleazy, and a darkly lived-in locale... which is my favorite type of scifi.

The finale was probably my favorite episode and after seeing how well that went, I regret not having that awesomeness sprinkled throughout season one.  That's a pretty small criticism. 

Before I go, I'd be remiss not to mention politics.  Honestly, I saw the cultural and political reflection in the show's writing, but it didn't bother me.  Those might have been initial inspirations for characters, cultures, and regimes, but at the end of the day, there's only a vague resemblance to what we're going through now.

Yeah, mine might be a minority report, but I'm happy to say that I loved Star Trek Discovery... and in the end, that's the only opinion that matters.  Hmm... perhaps I'm from the mirror universe?

VS

p.s. This little Alpha Blue article over at Draconic Magazine contains at least one little spoiler, but your going to want to use this in your next one-shot or campaign.

Monday, December 3, 2018

She Bled Out


So, I just heard about this story on Geek Native.

Books of She Bleeds for Lamentations of the Flame Princess destroyed at the warehouse because it disgusted and offended one or more people who didn't even bother to read it!

To paraphrase the teacher from that Twisted Sister video, why would anyone destroy a defenseless sourcebook?  If you don't like it, don't buy it.  It's just that simple.

THIS is what the free-speech advocates, the Jordan Peterson fans, the anti-SJWs, the normal folks, and OSR Shit-lord RPG Pundit have been warning us about for years now.  Cultural and political upheaval is manifesting war, and it's high time the average gamer got his hands dirty!

These people are mentally ill, trying to stifle creative freedom in order to preserve their conformity... or perhaps their own miserable and fragile sense of self?

I hope the individuals responsible get fired, author Elizabeth Chaipraditkul (that name just begs for an apostrophe or two) gets an apology, and LotFP gets reimbursed for the damages.  You can get the PDF here.

I can easily imagine this shit happening to Alpha Blue, so we all need to keep our guard up and call bullshit out when we see it!

VS

p.s. Does this post make me a feminist?  Yeah, it probably does.  So be it!


Saturday, December 1, 2018

The Last Alpha Blue Supplement (softcover walk-through)



I'm in full-Dad mode, but the twins are sleeping and my other dozen and a half children are having their swimming lessons and whatnot.  So, here's a peek at what's inside The Last Alpha Blue Supplement...



You can only get this little baby on Amazon.com!

Enjoy,

VS

p.s. Here's some bonus content just in case you're one of those spacers who likes free stuff.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

The Search Begins!


I just posted a few discrete "want ads" around the internet, but then thought I might as well open this up as far and wide as possible.

I'm looking for a new graphic designer, layout, and cartography person. 

An individual who is...

  • Passionate about old school D&D (and similar vintage RPGs).
  • Innovative, who wants their creativity to continually evolve.
  • Comfortable working for a controversial publisher who gets under people's skin.
  • Interested in a long-term partnership; years of working together, where a half-dozen products might come out every few months or so.
  • Professional and easy to work with.
Please send your "demo reel" (by that I mean highlights of your work over the last couple years) along with your rates to: Venger.Satanis@yahoo.com

Thanks,

VS

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Kort'thalis Publishing Reviews


Yeah, some really neat ones have cropped up here and there in 2018.

Let's start with my favorite - Prince of Nothing reviews The Islands of Purple-Haunted Putrescence.  I quoted a paragraph in our last episode of Inappropriate Characters, but really the whole thing is a fascinating, pleasurable read.

Almost as awesome is his review of Liberation of the Demon Slayer.  He's not wrong - it's a hot mess (in places).  Hey, it was my first attempt and some wires got crossed.  Still, my philosophy hasn't changed - published adventures are meant to do 85% of the work.  The remaining 15% is left for the GM to handle on his own.

This is the latest review of Alien Ass, Hydrogen Gas, or Cosmic Grass... No One Warps For Free by Endzeitgeist.  He also reviewed Dead God Excavation...

Speaking of which, the prolific and potty-mouthed Bryce Lynch also reviewed that very same scenario!  He didn't love it.  Not only did he brutalize Dead God Excavation, the man added insult to injury.

As per usual, I give as good as I get (better in some cases).  So, you can read my pithy little riposte in the comments below his review.  It's followed by occasional "witticisms" from the peanut gallery.

Last but not least, we have a brief review of Adventure Writing Like A Fucking Boss II.  I think that speaks for itself. 

I encourage more reviews, even sucky ones... like the turd that Bryce Lynch excreted from his analysis-hole.  The more, the merrier!

VS

p.s. As someone in that cavalcade of crappy comments noticed, I'm no longer fucking around.  This outspoken iconoclast has become the boss behind the boss of internet shitlords.  It's take no prisoners time, ladies, gentlemen, and za'akier!

Monday, November 26, 2018

Honorable, Senile, and Incontinent


So, there's a new g+ community calling itself The Honorable OSR.

Let's take a look, shall we?

This is their list of demands... uh, I mean community guidelines.  Such winners as...

  • "Opposing the presence of aggressors anywhere in the hobby and urging audiences away from venues that accomodate them."
  • "No glorious individuality unto assholery."  (Wow, get out your pulitzer prize nominations, everyone!)
  • "Every profile applying for membership in this community first gets skimmed for any red flags indicating they aren't compatible with the above expectations.

And in another post on there, the rest of the OSR (or at least the more problematic elements) are labeled "regressive bigots."  Really?  Just because we want to be free to do as we damn well please (assuming we're not doing anything illegal, of course)? 

It's the OSR for SJWs then, is it?  Yeah, that's what the world needs now.  Let's punish the individual, drive people out of the hobby, de-platform, de-monetize, harass, spread lies, and just generally gatekeep the shit out of old school D&D.

Yeah, it looks like the fractional OSR is even more divided than it was last month.  For what it's worth, I'm happy to have been the straw that broke the camel's back.

While it would be nice to have unity, I'm ok just letting whatever cancerous parts of the OSR - or any RPG niche - or any group no matter what they're into - just die off already. 

The post about what to do or not do about Stuart's old OSR logo and future OSR logos is telling.  There are no leaders among the honorable OSR.  Everyone is asking questions, looking around for someone to tell them what's what.  Here's some advice - do what you think is best without worrying how it's going to look to some other person out in cyberspace.  Be an individual!  Think for yourself!

"Yes, we must be individuals; we must think for ourselves," all the gray-faced NPCs say in unison!

You guys leaving or telling us "dishonorable OSR" or perhaps "inglorious OSR" sounds better... to leave won't affect me or my work.  If anything, it'll just fan the flames of hatred towards the true fascists, totalitarians, authoritarians, SJWs, and poop-heads who are certain they know better than the rest of us.

;)

Venger As'Nas Satanis
High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing

p.s. Just in case the subtext is lost on some readers - the non "honorable" OSR (you know, the rest of us normal folks), are the ones fighting actual fascism... just like the Inglorious Bastards!


Sunday, November 25, 2018

44


It's my birthday today. 

There's a lot I'm grateful for, a lot of things I'm exited about, a lot of things I've accomplished, and there's still a lot more to do. 

If you want to help me celebrate turning 44, please consider writing/posting a review of one or more of my RPG titles.  For a complete list of PDFs, here's Kort'thalis Publishing on DriveThruRPG.  And if you want to review anything on Amazon, just search for Venger As'Nas Satanis.

Your constructive criticism and appreciation is not only helpful feedback, it keeps me going.  It's one of the reasons I'm able to endure.

Thanks for all the love and support, my dudes!

Enjoy,

VS

p.s. Sorry for being incommunicado the last few days, these long holiday weekends are all about family. 

Monday, November 19, 2018

Like Looking Into Creation Itself


Today, I want to talk about that little detail which elevates a description.  The kind of detail which can only come from the guy writing the damn thing.

Not just his pen, but his life.  His worldview.  His soul.

The following tidbit from season 9, episode 7 of The Walking Dead. No spoilers, in case you're worried about that.  This doesn't have anything to do with the plot, just a throwaway line for a secondary character, an NPC, if you will...

Luke:  He used to wear this absolutely horrid shirt.

Yumiko:  It was like looking into creation itself.

Luke:  In paisley.  God, it was horrendous. 

I mean, the paisley shirt by itself is a nice touch.  Makes the character they're talking about memorable.  Specifically, though, I'm keying into "It was like looking into creation itself."

That's not tone, mood, theme, atmosphere, or the like.  It doesn't move the story along.  It's not even character development, really.  Sure, it comes out of a character's mouth, but by itself we don't have any better understanding of that character than before she said it. 

It's only when that line is spoken between the other two lines that we see an underlying meaning, hidden in plain sight - that creation itself is somehow "absolutely horrid" and "horrendous." 

It's a little bit of the author's voice shining through.  Some people might not like that.  They disapprovingly say that a room (NPC, monster, etc.) description should be just the facts, nothing extraneous.  2d4 Giant Rats, 1,000 copper pieces, and a horridly colorful paisley shirt.

Well, I'm here to say that a personal touch is what's sorely lacking in adventures, both past and present.  It's what differentiates one author's work from another - his voice.  Use it not only to set yourself apart from conventional, clinical writers, but to deepen the prose... juicing it with gravitas or je ne sais quoi!

The next time you write something for your own game or publication, remember to intersperse descriptions with something surprisingly personal and maybe even poignant, if you can manage it.  The end result should be superior to the more pedestrian version.

VS

Friday, November 16, 2018

Trans-Human-Phobia


So, I've seen my fair share of abuse, harassment, mistreatment, and outright lies spread about me since yesterday's blog post.  Wow, that was fast!

I've even had my posts/comments flagged so they were taken down by Google.  I'm disputing those, but that will surely take some time.

I chalk this up to transphobia.  Well, that and people assuming they know me better than they actually do.

For those still unsure, this is not a joke or jab at trans-people or some kind of publicity stunt.

I simply identify as a green-skinned, tentacled, alien humanoid - za'akier.  That's who I feel that I am, what I believe myself to be and identify with.

As for other trans-people, I feel for you!  Yeah, this past 24 hours has revealed quite a bit.  Of course, nothing compared to what people have to go through in real life.  My struggles are merely on the internet.  I don't really mention the whole za'akier thing with friends, family, co-workers, etc.

But we all knew the ugly side behind the civil veneer, right?  It's hard to come out and face the mob - on both sides!  So, my tentacles go out to everyone.

I'm very much a free-speech advocate and admire Jordan B. Peterson's efforts to fight against radical-left tyranny, as well as, the far-right extremists in the world.  Both are abhorrent to me!  I don't believe the government should compel its citizens to use certain words, such as preferred pronouns (even if those words are kind or appropriate under the circumstances).

Furthermore, I don't believe in hate-speech.  Who decides what is hateful?  By their own standards, many SJWs who've interacted with me yesterday and today would be guilty of such a thing.  Yet, I wouldn't want any of them to be fined or imprisoned for speaking their mind.

A couple people mentioned something about doing a charity thing for some of my products.  I think that's awesome, but don't want to strong-arm anyone into donating or having to decide which charities are the most worthy or anyone wondering if I'll pocket the money because I'm some kind of scumbag (I'm not, actually).

So, instead, I'm simply making certain titles FREE from now until after my birthday on November 25th.  If you're so inclined, donate the money saved to whatever trans-person or otherkin charity of your choosing.

Here is the core rulebook Alpha Blue.

Here is the best-selling Adventure Writing Like A Fucking Boss.

Here is everybody's favorite OSR campaign setting / adventure by Kort'thalis Publishing The Islands of Purple-Haunted Putrescence.

Enjoy,

VS

Thursday, November 15, 2018

VS Is No Longer Human


Whew, deep breath...

For a considerable amount of time, I've felt like someone else.  Not necessarily uncomfortable in my own skin... just different internally than who I was on the outside and how society viewed me.

I know the internet feeds on disagreement, but I'm hoping that many of you will accept the fact that I don't consider myself human anymore... and haven't for a long time.

Strangely enough, it was briefly mentioned in the Alpha Blue series of adventures, Kobayashi Maroon.  Looking back, I've used creative (RPG) writing as a way of becoming the real me.

But over the last couple weeks, I've decided to come out regarding my transition into a za'akier.  What's a za'akir?  I'm glad you asked... a green-skinned, tentacled, alien humanoid.  In many ways, quite human-like, but of course it's not the same thing.

Biologically, I'll probably have to remain the way I was born.  However, I identify as za'akier.  When referring to me, please use my preferred pronouns are za'a (he), zul (him), and zal (his).  Yes, I'm still very much "male."

While I don't expect the vast majority to respect my choice or preferences, all the same, I wanted to come out to you all because it's who I am now.

Thanks to everyone making my transition easier!

VS

p.s. November 12th - 19th is Trans Awareness Week, so it seemed fitting.  ;)

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Sexual Predators PDF


I'm pleased to announce Sexual Predators is live on DriveThruRPG!!!

I put everything I had into this one (uh, I mean... Zoltar Khan Delgado put everything he had into it).

It's what you've come to expect from an Alpha Blue publication... advice, options, artwork, random tables, and a plethora of scenarios (including a real space dungeon)!

In a couple weeks, Sexual Predators will combine with Kobayashi Maroon to form The Last Alpha Blue Supplement softcover over on Amazon.com.

And then it's onto the next chapter in my RPG life... Cha'alt.  However, there will always be a special place in my heart for sleazy scifi.

If you get a chance, please write and post a review!

VS

p.s. Speaking of sleazy scifi, remember this?

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Free Speech = Hate Speech


Yes, state an opinion, cite a source, mention a statistic, or even reveal a deeply-held belief...

Now, you're in danger of using hate speech, committing a hate crime.  Basically, you're a Nazi, or at the very least, a white nationalist. 

Jesus H. Christ on a pogo-stick!  James Raggi IV is somehow in trouble for having a picture of himself taken with Jordan B. Peterson while holding his Lamentations of the Flame Princess rulebook. 

There's a lot to unpack here, but I'll be as brief as I can.

Two high-profile LotFP collaborators, Zak S. and Kiel Chenier, believe what James Raggi did was a big mistake, that James has something to answer for.  Namely, his crimes against the LGBTQ+ for associating (or not utterly disavowing) the clinical psychologist, philosopher, best selling author, and free speech advocate Jordan B. Peterson. 

Kiel Chenier won't work with James / LotFP anymore and here's Zak S. telling people on reddit that James did something wrong, has to apologize, etc.

Here's a video where Peterson speaks for himself.  If you haven't read his book or listened to him debate the issues of the day, be careful of those putting words in his mouth because it serves their loathsome political agenda...




This shouldn't even need to be said, but Jordan Peterson is not Alt-Right.  He doesn't speak for them or espouse their political beliefs.  Well, that's if your definition of Alt-Right includes fascists, white nationalists, neo-Nazis, and white supremacists. 

If, on the other hand, you define Alt-Right as populists, nationalists (like President Trump), free speech advocates, and alternative right-wing individualists, then sure, he's Alt-Right - and so is half of America!

But the radical-left doesn't mind offending 50% of U.S. citizens.  They're too preoccupied assuming that they're correct and everyone else is wrong.

So, shame on Kiel Chenier and Zak S. for shooting down their former creative comrade.  Hey, what's wrong with a little friendly fire?  James is just collateral damage in the greater fight, I guess... the fight against freedom.

What's worse, James took the photo down?!?  Why?  I mean, I know there's an impulse to be agreeable, to cave in the face of the SJW mob, their Ctrl-Left vitriol and outrage, but we all have to reach beyond that kind of weakness.  Peterson talks about courage, and that's what it takes to stand up to the far-left cyber bullies... well, that and balls.

Over the years, James has thrived being apolitical and kind of sitting in the middle of the culture war, unscathed.  His RPG stuff is occasionally offensive and in bad taste, but LotFP shielded itself by paling around with the totalitarian left.

Of course, as we all know, that side of the fence has no qualms about eating its own.  Purity tests are all the rage, and James Raggi IV has been found to be less than ideologically pure.  So, he must be disavowed, purged, blacklisted, and made an example of.  Because what else can these SJWs do to him, besides un-buy his products (and not purchase any more)? 

As the RPGpundit has taught me over the years, these people cannot be left alone.  We must struggle against them like weeds in our garden.  We ignore their backwards, regressive values at our peril.  The radical-leftist ideologues Peterson fights on YouTube are cut from the same cloth as the SJW censorship-fascists we face in the RPG trenches.

So, free speech is hate speech.  If thinking for yourself and speaking your mind makes you a Nazi, then I guess we're headed for even more interesting times.

Venger As'Nas Satanis
High Priest of Kort'thalis Publishing


Describe Your 2018 Roleplaying in a Word


My wife saw something about describing your year in a single word in one of her FB groups.  Interesting exercise, I thought.

Since this is an RPG blog, I'd like you to describe your 2018 gaming experiences in one word...

That's it.

For me, I'm choosing "sleazy."  Sure, I ran several sessions of D&D over the summer (and those weren't sleazy at all), but I never felt like I hit the right groove with that mini-campaign. 

All my sessions of Alpha Blue were not only easier to prepare and run, but a lot more entertaining.  Plus, the vast majority of my output this year was for the Alpha Blue line. 

So, how about you?

VS

p.s. Almost forgot, zazzle has a 50% off sale on canvas prints (ends tonight)!

Thursday, November 8, 2018

D&D 5e Survey


I have some burning questions for 5th edition gamers.  Hopefully, you guys can answer them.  It'll help me prepare for the Cha'alt kickstarter that will launch just before Thanksgiving...

1) Back in the day, when playing AD&D many gamers defaulted to the basic version of the game, similar to original D&D, rather than using all the extra mechanical bells and whistles contained within the AD&D rulebooks.

What I want to know is how many 5e gamers play their D&D in a simplified or old school / OSR way?

Specificly, would you consider full 5e stat-blocks to be essential in a 5e compatible product, or would providing the most important stuff be an option / acceptable?

2) Since official D&D 5e settings are few and far between, how much campaign setting material would you like to see in a published adventure?

3) How much guidance (or hand-holding, if you prefer) would be ideal, in your view?  A sentence here and there about the designer's intention or what's going on in general?  Paragraphs on setting things up before each chapter?  Or pages about how to run scenarios with boxed text and sidebars containing GM advice throughout the book?

____

Thanks for taking the time to answer this questionnaire!  Keep an eye on this blog for mentions of the upcoming Cha'alt news.

VS


Monday, November 5, 2018

Last Piece of the Puzzle

I don't know what other creators do, but these days I like the last thing I write for a big project to be the introduction. 

That might sound counter-intuitive, yet there's method to my madness!  Saving the intro for last allows me to encapsulate the whole in a snapshot.  If I wrote the introduction at the beginning, it would not be a true reflection because all my writing is organic, evolving as it goes.  Whatever I planned on day 1 is not what happens by day 35.

Without further ado, here's a sneak peek at the introduction for the Sexual Predators PDF (available next week) that will soon be included in The Last Alpha Blue Supplement softcover (available just after Thanksgiving)...


So, you purchased this book.  What now?  Well, ideally, you'll use what's in here to create your own simulated reality of starships, lasers, and alien droids with spectacular boobs - far, far away from the mundane world we all know and hope to escape.  

Immersion is key, after all.  However, don't be fooled into thinking that an immersive experience has to be serious or boring and tedious.  We should take immersion seriously, yes.  But experiencing a different reality can be done while ad-riffing off the seat of our pants, quick and dirty hot-takes on what it's like to walk into a nightclub with space disco blaring and reptilian bounty hunters trying to fill out TPS reports before their Zith Lord master comes back from the restroom.

What's new in this PDF (or softcover book combined with Kobayashi Maroon)?  As always, the solar winds of change keep me on my toes.  Just when I think I have the geo-political and social construct models of the entire universe figured out, a Ta'arakian monkey-lizard alters the time-lines, crosses the space-lane streams, and poops in the Purple Prizm punch-bowl.  

The Federation is cracking down on all manner of sexual activity in hopes of creating an egalitarian socialist utopia as inclusive, diverse, and harmless as possible.  The Federation is recruiting hundreds of new planets, and they've learned you'll catch more flies with honey than vinegar.  Rather than threatening to destroy their world if they refuse to join, it's just so much easier to simply promise them free education, health care, and emotional support animals.  I mean, who wouldn't want a college degree, trips to the doctor, and cuddly kittens with zero personal responsibility?  

The economic plan behind all of this?  Tax the rich, tax the dwindling middle class, and redistribute all the wealth to these newly-established worlds.  Of course, after several years of prosperity, those new planets become old planets which have to pay for newer planets joining the Federation.  And so it goes...

Where was I?  Oh yeah, it's a lack of sex bringing everyone down.  Federation scholars believe that decades of sexual freedom has led to unhealthy levels of filthy klorians, which, in turn, give rise to independent thought, anti-authoritarianism, individualism, free-speech, and slack (self-serving, rather than merely lazy).  Clamp down on the free love and what do you get?  Social scientists have run extensive studies and the data reveals that sex-starved citizens are more docile, trusting, obedient, prone to outrage, and self-censor themselves so as not to offend anyone else in the Federation (comprising sextillions of lifeforms).

That means there's a random hooking-up tax, casually dating tax, booty call tax, glory hole tax, random strangers meeting in a bar tax, ordering a pizza for the sole purpose of getting it on tax, the boss wants his secretary to come into his office for a private chat tax, and so on and so forth.  Ten standard months of sex-based taxation have caused sexual relations among non-committed lifeforms to plummet.  And what little government-approved sex is doled out goes to either long-term relationships or is divided between marginalized groups like the 17th Gender Coalition and citizens who are only interested in sex with Zepe the cyber-prawn.  

It's harder to get a piece of ass in Galaxy 5 than templars worshiping the blue god Viagra!  

And yet, there are points of light in the darkness... Open rebellion against the Federation has caught fire with the outer rim territories.  The Ta'andor galaxy formed its own Deplorable Republic.  The space station of lust Alpha Blue just told the Federation to go fuck itself.  

Unfortunately, the rest of the known universe is still very much under the Federation's thumb.  Everyone is being monitored constantly, and not only monitored but graded on loyalty to the Federation's ever-changing standards and practices.  Those wanting to do their own thing are considered dangerous pseudo-intellectuals, infidels (depending on how much the Federation is cozying up to the Interstellar Caliphate this week), and even space Nazis by those without any sense of history or decency.

If you can stomach the betrayal of everything our forefathers fought and died for, as well as, yet another cold shower (also taxed), then keep shuffling along with your head down and gray bowl of NPC conformity porridge outstretched so the Federation can reward your unwavering devotion with three brand-new fruit-tastic flavors... bubblegum peach, watermelon cherry, and grape prism plus!

Yeah, totally worth it.
______

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Trump Support Banned on RPG.NET


Just found out yesterday that rpg.net has done something I never realized was coming... but probably should have. 

Posts supporting Trump or his policies are officially banned!  That's it.  No more debate, discussion, or even pretending to see things from another's point of view.

In rpg.net's defense, many of them are suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome and think the current administration is actively trying to murder anyone who isn't a straight white male.  On the other hand... this is fucking crazy! 

The far-left has driven itself so far from the middle that it may just go over a cliff.  Hey, these are drastic times, and if they want to use drastic measures to insulate themselves from the orange leader, then the big purple can remain gray NPCs... I guess. 

Personally, I think things are going to get worse.  But perhaps that's the price we pay for attempting to make America great again?  I don't know.

RPG.net's latest action is one of the warning signs, one of many red flags we've seen over the last 3 years.  The troubling thing is that scrolling through twitter, one in every ten posts is another nail in the coffin of civility, centrism, and common sense.  If it's not a video game getting boycotted, it's some anti-fascist fascist harassing black people in coffee shops, or yet another mass shooting!

But WTF can any of us do, except ride the wave without our heads exploding from extremist propaganda?  Oh yeah, and if you think Trump is extreme, buckle up, buttercup.  Announcing he's a Nationalist means we're only "in the middle of this insane circus." 

At this point, I don't believe any kind of investigation, Mueller's or otherwise, is going to end his Presidency or these divisive times.

Good luck out there!

VS

p.s. About 24 hours left to back The Last Alpha Blue Supplement.


Wednesday, October 17, 2018

The Last Alpha Blue Supplement


I'm Kickstarting yet another Alpha Blue project so I can afford to put in tons of original full-color artwork and have dynamite layout and cartography by none other than Gold ENnie winner Glynn Seal of MonkeyBlood Design.

The first PDF is already out - that's Kobayashi Maroon (the one that includes the Blue Balls Tracker).  The second PDF I'm working on now, that's going to be called Sexual Predators.  Combined they will eventually be published as a single softcover called The Last Alpha Blue Supplement.

There's a discount for ordering the softcover if you back the PDFs.

What's it going to have?  All the usual suspects - prose, advice, optional rules, campaign setting, scenarios, random tables, and fantastic artwork (maps too, if we hit the stretch goal).

This is the final supplement I'm releasing, so I'm pulling out all the stops.  Check out the Kickstarter and be sure to tell your friends about it.

VS

p.s. That's a work-in-progress of the cover for Sexual Predators.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Are You An NPC?


I guess you could call it a meme... something's going around the internet and it's all at once appropriate, offensive, funny, and if you dig deeper, kind of interesting.

Here's a source just in case you think I'm making this up.  This is another.

Yeah, I'm talking about NPCs or non-player characters (in video game terminology NPC refers to non-playable character).  But not NPCs in our beloved games.  No, NPCs who digitally walk among us in real life. 

You're basically an NPC if you don't have any agency of your own.  If there's no independent thought, you're an NPC.  If you follow whatever has been scripted for you, you're an NPC.  If you obey your programming without question, you're an NPC.  If you want to limit the freedom, individuality, and agency of others, you're an NPC.

Some have equated the NPC moniker to SJWs, but I don't think it fits to a 1 : 1 ratio.  Being an NPC is something even more foundational. 

I believe the vast majority of people are asleep, and that it takes a special kind of person going through special circumstances that creates the possibility for awakening.

Yes, exactly like initiation - the trials that forge heroes... while also leaving many, many corpses.  Not everyone makes it.  In fact, most don't.  Most can't cut it, or get unlucky.  The adventurer is superior.  That's why PCs are worth playing. 

That's what the Cult of Cthulhu was about - it used Fourth Way teaching mixed with Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos, and various occult lore.  In the Church of the Sub-Genius, pink boys were basically NPCs.  Obviously, in The Matrix everyone was part of some giant systemic virtual reality nearly impossible to escape

These days, my focus is on roleplaying games.  The cultural landscape that occasionally intersects the world of gaming seems like a minefield to some and a playground to others.  Either way, don't be an NPC.  Or... well, go ahead and be an NPC, but just know that you're choosing to be an empty vessel for someone else's agenda.

What are your thoughts?

VS

p.s. If no actual thoughts come to mind, try rolling on the random table below...

Friday, October 12, 2018

Where did the OSR come from?


There's been an OSR resurgence, it seems. 

Zak S. is talking about it on his blog.  Everyone is jumping ship from g+ to MeWe (that's a link to my own account... so friend me, please!)  Erik Tenkar is doing his thing, expanding in all ways, always.  And so many people are continually making so many great RPG things.  It's awesome.

The OSR has been defined many times by many gamers.  Even by me! 

But what made the OSR happen in the first place... where did the impetus for an old school renaissance come from? 

For me, it's one simple thing - realizing that my gaming present just wasn't as awesome as my gaming past. 

Now, some might point to nostalgia or role-colored glasses.  Perhaps I'm only seeing the good things in the past and putting them on a pedestal.  Sure, there may be some of that, but I can assure you, I wasn't thinking about quitting roleplaying altogether in the 80's and early 90's.  Yet, that's almost what I did back in 2011.

Having got that out of the way, the vast majority of OSR gamers probably wondered, is it me?  Did I change or was there something about the rules, system, approach to running games that changed? 

In 2012, after hearing about the OSR and invigorated by some new old school-ish RPG called Dungeon Crawl Classics, I hoped that it wasn't just me, that I was pretty much the same guy, but mainstream gaming had gone in a different direction and we were no longer sympatico. 

Sure enough, that was it.  I realized that the old ways were better (from my point of view), and stopped playing RPGs like D&D 4th edition in favor of a melting pot of B/X, DCC, S&W, and AD&D.  Then going back to other games from that time period like Call of Cthulhu, Paranoia, Vampire: the Masquerade, and others.

From there, I began developing my own old school D&D content and then my own RPGs with a decidedly old school feel.

When it came down to it, that's why the OSR became a thing.  Enough of us reached a point where decades old gaming was noticeably more awesome than gaming now.

VS

p.s.  Artwork by Glad27 over here.

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Updated Softcovers for Kort'thalis Publishing


All three of these have had a face-lift over the last couple weeks...

Trilogy of Awesome +1 includes Slippery When Wet (Alpha Blue), A Green Jewel They Must Possess (The Outer Presence), and Slaves of Tsathoggua (Crimson Dragon Slayer)... plus the bonus Death Race: Fury Road.

Trilogy of Awesome Returns +1 includes High-Stakes Q'uay-Q'uar (Alpha Blue), His Flesh Becomes My Key (The Outer Presence), and Stairway of V'dreen (Crimson Dragon Slayer)... plus the bonus scenario Guarding Galaxy XXX (Alpha Blue).

Dead God Excavation includes the scenario Dead God Excavation (Crimson Dragon Slayer), La Bas Chartreuse (The Outer Presence), and the brand new Totally Random Tables.  Usually, I release the PDF and weeks or months later the content appears in softcover - not so this time!

What's new?  A few things have been cleaned up and corrected, and Dead God Excavation should be much easier to read now... 

But most of all, they're on fancy, heavier paper and full-color.  Many of the illustrations are still in black and white, but these books are now higher quality - befitting the fine-ass, weird, gonzo sleaze you've come to expect from Kort'thalis Publishing.

Enjoy,

VS

Monday, October 8, 2018

Totally Random Tables


How many d6 tables does it take to get to the center of a gonzo campaign?  Thirty.  The answer is most definitely 30.  And I can prove it...

Yes, I've got a new PDF for GMs looking for something a little different.  As the title hopefully indicates, these tables are filled with results that are unique and purely stream-of-consciousness.  There's no overall theme, genre, or any other guiding principle - except that it all came from my diseased mind.

Check out Totally Random Tables right here!  2018 Gold ENnie award winning layout and graphic designer Glynn Seal of MonkeyBlood Design did the interior.  It's retro-futuristic funky and I love it!

And if you use it in one of your games, please let me know.  I want to read about all the gory details.  ;)

VS

Friday, September 28, 2018

Blue Balls Tracker


Admittedly, these are not the best pictures. I took them quickly before running out of the house on my way to work.

But, as you can see - they allow Alpha Blue players to track their characters' blue balls - females, too!  How horny are they?  How desperate?  What kind of bonus (carrot) or penalty (stick) is in store for them?

Like keeping track of a vampire's blood supply, this creates a sense of urgency - it's an incentive to bone!  Sure, there was bonus Health before... but this is better.  At least, I think so.  I've playtested it a few times, and it seems to be a hit with players.

If you're not sure, try it in a demo game and see what happens.  I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.  Timid players especially will appreciate something in-hand that they can point to and say, "This right here!  This is why my character is chatting up the three-breasted green-skinned babe at the bar.  It's not because I'm a colossal pervert, OK?"

So, if you purchase the Kobayashi Maroon PDF, the Blue Balls Tracker comes with it. 

Both a colored version you can print off and use, as well as, a black and white version that you can color in yourself.  I literally have hundreds of random markers, colored pencils, and crayons all over my house.

Let me know your thoughts.  And happy tracking!

VS

Roll20 Woke All Over Themselves


So, now Roll20 is dicking over gamers (their own customers, actually) because that's the woke thing to do. 

I mean, it just makes good business sense to shit on the people who support you, who make up your audience so that you can instead cater to a tiny but extremely vocal group of political extremists who want things done the SJW way.  Duh!




Personally, I think the CEO / co-founder / managing partner of Roll20, Nolan T. Jones, should step down from his position.  I don't think changing the reddit moderating staff is going to cut it.

Not just for banning that guy, but for being a racist piece of shit.  Apparently, white guys needn't apply regarding helping to promote or grow roleplaying games online.  I mean, it's similar to the Papa Johns thing, right? 

Thanks to Jeremy Hambly for the video and altering me to this unfortunate news. 

VS

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Trinity Going Bye-Bye


In a couple days, I'm taking down both Trinity of Awesome +1 and Trinity of Awesome Returns +1 from Amazon.

In a few weeks, they'll be replaced with a new title (in the case for ToA+1) and new title and altered cover (in the case of ToAR+1).  Plus, the interior will be color.  While the illustrations are all black and white, the blood-spattered parchment color of the internal layout will be present.  I'm sure there will be other little colorful touches in there, as well.

Why the change?  Well, one of my daughters is named Trinity, and my wife believes that anything Alpha Blue is too inappropriate to have her name on it.  At the time, I didn't consciously make the connection, but can see her point.  Changing the titles and that cover art of the 2nd book were concessions I had to make in order to keep my gigantic Alpha Blue canvas print.

Those changes would've had to been made sooner or later, so might as well do it now.  I'll be consulting with Glynn Seal of MonkeyBlood Design on the details.

So, if you want to get one or more books on Amazon before they're gone, do so today or tomorrow.  By Saturday, they'll be gone forever... only to be reborn like a phoenix.  Gaaa!  That's another one of my kids' names.  Damn it.

VS

p.s.  Are you loving Kobayashi Maroon?  If so, please write a review!

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Kobayashi Maroon & Alpha Blue Open License


The latest supplement for Alpha Blue is out now!  Grab it here!!!

I hope you show Zoltar Khan Delgado the same love and support you've shown me over the years.  Also, keep the appreciation going for Gold ENnie Winner Glynn Seal of MonkeyBlood Design.  He laid the shit out of this PDF.

Here's the very first review!

But that's not all... I'm officially opening up the license for your very own Alpha Blue scenario, supplement, setting, or sourcebook (the 4 s's)...

From now until the end of 2019, anyone can publish their own work that uses Alpha Blue's name, rules, intellectual property (yes, feel free to borrow Grabba the Butt, Zervalan, filthy klorians, etc.), and logo.

And if you'd like to hit me up for a review or critique at any point in the creation/publishing process, please do so.  I'd love to be a part of your vision!

VS

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Jeremy Hambly Banned from GenCon


Apparently, GenCon isn't done shitting on Jeremy Hambly.  It shouldn't matter, but I'll remind everyone that Jeremy of The Quartering and Unsleeved Media fame (infamy?) is a politically moderate guy who calls corporations and individuals on their shit, but has never called for violence.

Here is my first post about it.  This is the second.  And the third.

So, I'm currently watching Jeremy's latest video...



So, basically Jeremy Hambly has been indefinitely banned from GenCon.  He got beat-up just outside the convention walls last August, and now GenCon is punishing him for no reason other than he's not a far-left SJW who punches Nazis.

This bullshit is so fucked up, I'm actually still in shock and still processing.  One hundred and eleven percent NOT attending GenCon if this is how they're going to treat attendees!!!

There are so many awesome smaller gaming cons that aren't motivated by disgusting politics.  Let's consider those next year.  Get Woke Go Broke!

VS

Even Better Than A Survey


Mike Mearls sent off some tweets, and the rest is history... or argument.  Yeah, probably just a bunch of geeks arguing about D&D.  Good times!

This ENworld thread has just exploded with cutting barbs, jabs, thrusts, edition warring cloaked in design preferences, ignorance, nerd rage, ruining the hobby, and the OSR.  All the hits!

Basically, 5e is the modern equivalent of old school D&D.  Well, as much as they could get away with and still appease the masses (O5R).  Regardless of modern concessions, a few people still don't like it.  And of course, many grognards believe 5e didn't go far enough (into the past).

Reading that behemoth of a thread should give WotC all the understanding it needs to go forward and continue the legacy of Dungeons & Dragons.

It almost seems as if we're headed for a paradigm shift - gamers realizing that endless character optimization choices and rules for everything under the sun isn't real roleplaying, and those preferring endless crunch, micro-balance, and systems protecting players from GM decisions (right or wrong) is objectively less fun... and also not D&D.

So, how do you feel about this great 5e debate and what does it mean for D&D specifically and RPGs in general?

VS

p.s.  If readers want me to pull up specific posts/arguments and talk about them, say so in the comments!

Monday, September 24, 2018

The Predator Kicks Ass


Don't have a lot of time for this review, but here goes nothing...

I think I've only seen 2 movies so far this year.  Solo and The Predator.  Comparatively, I enjoyed The Predator more than both Solo and The Last Jedi.  This new Predator movie also beat out Predator 2 and Predators... as well as, all the Alien vs. Predator movies.

In fact, 2018's Predator is almost better than the original.  Yeah, that feels sacrilegious to say (or type, rather) but is nonetheless true.

Why is it so good?  Why are critics hating on it?  Where are the big box office numbers? All excellent questions... that I'm not going to answer.

Well, I'll briefly tell you why I thought it was good - straight-up 80's action, humor (I literally laughed more than most comedies), character development, and special effects. 

Sure, I would have loved to see more practical effects than CGI.  And, yes, I'm always disappointed when a movie this awesome has everything except female nudity.  But regardless of those two things, The Predator had what I was looking for.

See it!  Because if Predator fans don't see this movie, they might not make a sequel, and that would be a real shame.

VS

p.s. And if you think this has my juices flowing for some Alpha Blue treatment... you'd be right!

Saturday, September 22, 2018

She Said Yes!!!


Last week, I noticed a message from zazzle about a 50% off sale on their canvas prints. Canvas prints such as the Alpha Blue design I uploaded a couple months ago. 

The sale was ending at midnight, so I quickly ordered one - a big one (it's 36" x 48"), knowing that my wife definitely wouldn't approve and I might have to get rid of it.

No way!  That's basically what she said at first.  So, I resigned myself to giving it to a longtime friend and Alpha Blue player.  But just this morning, she said yes - that I could keep it as long as I put a blanket over it and turned the thing towards the wall when not in the game room.

So, the next time I run Alpha Blue at home, I'll be staring at that.  Nice!

VS

p.s.  Next time there's a really good sale on zazzle, I'll send out a message on g+.  To make sure you see it, join the Kort'thalis Publishing g+ community... it's a real good time!

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Alpha Blue Boycott


Thanks to a tip from the RPGpundit, I have screen-shots of David Black (of The Black Hack fame) trying to whip up some kind of anti-friend mob against me.

I wouldn't classify it as harassment, cyber bullying, or actual hate, but he's only getting started.  We've interacted before, and now it looks like David Black is trying to escalate things.

Those who know me, know that I'm not homophobic.  Alpha Blue isn't homophobic, either.  It may be from a straight male's point of view, but Alpha Blue can be used for any kind of sexual gratification between consenting adults.

While I was upset with Kiel Chenier for not wanting to review Alpha Blue because it wasn't gay enough, did I go on a boycott or unpersoning rampage, accusing him of heterophobia?  Nope.  He's free to do what he wants, review what he wants.

Zak S. just wrote a new blog post about sexual expression in RPGs, hoping for some kind of consensus via exhaustive argument.  And he assumed anyone coming down on sexual content would be from the right-wing.  Have you met the far-left, Zak?  Policing what everybody says, thinks, believes, votes, friends, likes, dislikes, and how they live their lives is job numero uno for the Ctrl-Left.

Me?  All I wanted to do was join some Facebook Roll20 groups so I could find players who wanted to try something other than D&D.

I'm just a middle of the road guy with a singular agenda - fun!  That's all I want, to have as much fun roleplaying with friends and strangers as possible.  I don't care if they're straight, gay, bisexual, male, woman, non-binary, black, yellow, green, blue, or white.  I don't care if they're communists, Muslims, Christians, Satanists, Jews, Libertarians, white nationalists, far-left, Alt-Right, farmers, programmers, doctors, or pornographers.

As long as they're not a disruptive asshole at the table, I'll put politics and everything else aside so we can game and see what happens.

But my allowing others to have differing points of view is part of the problem, part of my problem, and why I should be shunned by a certain segment of the hobby.  By not being an intolerant asshole, I'm considered "toxic" or whatever by a select few.

It's tragic that conformity is idealized, whereas individuality and freedom are looked down upon.

There's rumor of an Alpha Blue boycott happening, so let me say one thing regarding that - trying to influence the masses away from dangerous or forbidden content goes both ways... just like many of the characters in Alpha Blue.

VS

p.s. I somehow forgot to mention that David Black is either lying or totally misunderstood / took out of context any comment I made about an all-female development team.  Also, I have no idea what "tried to Kickstart DnDgate" means.