#Astral Vagabond Action

[astralbondpro]

Hot Fuzz (2007) // Dir. Edgar Wright

[gertlushgaming]

Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader Review (Steam)

In this Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader Review, we play a story-rich classical RPG from Owlcat Games, developers of the critically acclaimed game, Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous. We begin your adventure aboard our personal, giant voidship, traveling between the multitude of systems within the Koronus Expanse, a barely charted and incredibly perilous region of space. Despite being considered a backwater of the Imperium, this region encompasses an enormous stretch of the void, filled with dangerous creatures and prodigious opportunities for profit and exploration.

Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader Review Pros:

- Decent graphics. - 35.52GB download size. - Steam achievements. - Licensed Warhammer 40k game. - Steam Trading cards. - Full controller support. - Gore can be turned on and off. - Graphics settings – display, display mode, resolution, lock mouse inside the window, camera shake effect, graphics preset, v-sync, frame rate, fsr mode, volumetric lighting and shadow quality, SSR, bloom, depth of field, footprints, anti-aliasing, hbao, film grain, and crowd quality. - Accessibility options – Colourblind sliders, and font size slider. - Safe zone setting. - Display settings – gamma correction, brightness, and contrast sliders. - Mouse and keyboard settings – can rebind controls, enable the camera to follow characters, screen edge scrolling, enable scrolling beyond the game window, the speed of rotation of the camera with the mouse/keyboard, and keyboard scrolling speed. - Gameplay settings – Auto-save and set how many quick and auto-save slots to use, tooltip delay, tutorials, autopause and what it can do, auto end turn, and increase enemy and player animation speeds slider. - CRPG gameplay. - Optional tutorial pop-ups as you play. - Six difficulties – custom, story, normal, daring, hard, and unfair. All affect enemy difficulty, skill tests and so much more. (you see it before choosing) - Three pre-generated characters to choose from (Bahardor - warrior/Darrius - operative/Hecata - soldier) or you can create a character. Pre-generated characters allow you to change their appearance with clothes, helmets, backpacks, and color scheme choices. - Extensive character creator – appearance (portrait/appearance/hair/tattoo/implants/voice), homeworld which affects stats (Death world/Void born/Hive world/Forge World sub skin implants/Forge world analytics implants/forge world locomotion implants/imperial world feudal/imperial world military traditions), Origin (Astral Militarum commander/commissar/Vagabond/ministorum priest/navy officer/noble/sanctioned psyker biomancer/sanctioned psyker diviner), triumph, Darkest hour, doctrines (fighter/leader/adept/marksman/assassin/vanguard/hunter), stats, and ship name. - You can still edit the pre-generated characters with all the options that a custom character gets. - Beautiful art and portraits. - You can name your ship if you want. - Powerful soundtrack, - Hover over text that helps explain menu options. - Choice-driven interactions affect relationships and the story, you can also learn about the world with handy expandable text explanations. - A 3D world with full camera control. - Interactive elements from doors to switches to loot chests. - You are moving around the world by clicking the left mouse button with the mouse or movement is free form with the controller like in a 3D action game. - Fantastic world to explore. - In-game cutscenes with character interactions. - Turn-based combat. - In combat you have mp and ap, mp is movement points and ap is action points as to what you can and cannot use. - The journal houses all the quests, rumors, and orders. - Passive skill check system so in the background your character skill/knowledge/abilities can affect what you can do in situations. - Play how you want from the combat to conversation choices. - Frequency of character voice response choices - constantly, never, and occasionally. - Excellent animations and dismemberment. - The cover is a must in the game. You can get partial and full cover from the environment or use a shield. - Damage numbers pop on the screen. - The menu/inventory system can be done by double-clicking an item or the traditional drag and drop. - When moving you see a silhouette of yourself before committing to the action. - With a controller, you have full 360-degree camera control with the right stick. - Get temporary buffs from party members like positive effects which can raise your abilities for a short time. - Actual skill checks are shown in dialogue. - Party members can be moved around independently. - A really good story that grabs you straight away. - Zero rounds – this is where you cannot shoot but you can move so you can get in a good position. - Gained exp shows up on the screen. - Gamers of the genre will find the controls and basic flow very familiar. - Hit chance and damage done show above a character before you act. - Companions (party members) earn exp and levels at the same rate as you even if they are not in the active party. - Level-ups can be done manually or automatically. - Initiate Co-op from the menu at any time. - Inspect killed enemies to loot them. - Handy comparison tables pop when hovering over items and gear. - When there is a load of enemy bodies close together you loot them all at once. - Voidmap unlocks new locations as you progress but you can go back and forth as you like. - When you level up you pick a skill from the current doctrines skill tree and a state to upgrade. - Psykers can analyze enemies so you can learn about weaknesses etc. - Handy grid system for movement and ability casting. - Everyone will have a different experience. - A real handy button that will show all items, environments, and people that can be interacted with. - The controller is well implemented. - The story is good and does a good job of keeping you engaged. - Memorable characters. Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader Review Cons: - Cannot remap controls on the controller. - The performance is all over the place no matter what graphic settings get tweaked. - So much to take in. - Your character uses his voice way too much with repetitive one-liners. - A lack of a mini-map makes traveling around not as fun as it could be. - The loading times are up and down but it loves hanging on 100 percent. - The general moving around is not as smooth as it could be and a lot of it is to do with how the camera follows you. - Parts of the walls don’t break down or go see-through when you are panning around or moving. - A few times I found myself stumped on very basic tasks because everything is laid out in a way that says you already know what to do… When you do not. - Parts of the skill trees were locked out. - Lower graphic settings make a lot of things fuzzy. Related Post: Battle Stations Blockade Review (PlayStation 5) Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader: Official website. Developer: Owlcat Games Publisher: Owlcat Games Store Links - Steam Read the full article

[thecreaturecodex]

Astral Stalker

Image by Wayne Reynolds, © Wizards of the Coast. Accessed at the Monster Manual III Art Gallery here

[Commissioned by @justicegundam82​. The astral stalker is not a monster I ever used when I ran D&D 3.5, but I did use the miniature I have for it a lot as solo bruisers and various monstrous humanoids. D&D 4e made them “abominations” that predated the war between the gods and primoridals, and I kept some of that flavor in order to justify keeping them Outsiders. I gave them a few more tricks that would make them capable hunters of other planar creatures.]

Astral Stalker CR 12 LE Outsider This muscular humanoid has black scaled skin, oversized claws on their hands, and a head like a human skull. It wears skulls, hides and scalps along its belt, as if showing off a collection.

As reality was forming, various races of outsiders came into existence and fought each other for control of the planes. Even in this war before wars, there were mercenaries, creatures who would fight for any side as long as the price was right. Valued by all and trusted by none, they made their impact on existence and lost a stake in it, being cast into the Astral Plane as vagabonds. These were the first astral stalkers.

Astral stalkers are consummate hunters, devoted to tracking and killing the strong to prove themselves stronger. They still gleefully work as mercenaries, and encourage their calling with planar binding and planar ally spells for thrill of the hunt. Each astral stalker considers its conduct fair and sportsmanlike, and usually makes sure that the hunted knows that they are being pursued before closing in for the kill. They are especially adept at tracking fellow outsiders such as angels and devils, demons and archons, as they can follow a trail of even a teleporting creature, and their claws overcome almost all planar defenses.

In their native realm of the Astral Plane, no time passes, and so astral stalkers live lives in fits and starts. They are patient and calculating creatures, and often practice their talents of stealth and observation. All astral stalkers keep trophies of their kills, but what these trophies are varies between individuals. These trophies may be as understated as a finger bone or lock of hair or as showy as full paintings or taxidermy galleries. Most astral stalkers have some sort of craft that they practice to commemorate especially exciting or difficult hunts.

Astral Stalker        CR 12 XP 19,200 LE Medium outsider (evil, extraplanar, lawful) Init +9; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +24, scent, see invisibility Defense AC 26, touch 18, flat-footed 21 (+5 Dex, +3 deflection, +8 natural) hp 150 (12d10+84) Fort +14, Ref +18, Will +16 DR 10/adamantine; SR 23 Defensive Abilities elusive, evasion, uncanny grace Offense Speed 50 ft., climb 30 ft.Melee 2 claws +20 (1d8+7/19-20) Ranged throat dart +17 (1d4+7 plus paralysis) Special Attacks paralysis (1d4+1 rounds, Fort DC 23), planar strikes, sneak attack +3d6 Spell-like Abilities CL 12th, concentration +15 Constant—see invisibility At will—greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs only) 1/day—plane shift (self only) Statistics Str 25, Dex 21, Con 25, Int 14, Wis 20, Cha 16 Base Atk +12; CMB +19; CMD 37 Feats Alertness, Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (claw) Skills Acrobatics +20 (+28 when jumping), Climb +24, Craft (any one) +11, Knowledge (planes) +17, Knowledge (religion) +17, Perception +24, Sense Motive +24, Stealth +28, Survival +28; Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth, +8 Survival Languages Celestial, Draconic, Infernal, telepathy 100 ft. SQ camouflage, swift tracker, trace teleport Ecology Environment any land or underground (Astral Plane) Organization solitary or party (2-5) Treasure standard Special Abilities Camouflage (Ex) An astral stalker can make Stealth checks even without cover or concealment. It gains a +8 racial bonus on Stealth checks .Elusive (Su) An astral stalker leaves no trail, as if under the effects of a pass without trace spell. Its spell resistance is 5 points higher against all divination effects. Planar Strikes (Su) An astral stalker’s natural weapons, as well as any weapons they wield, overcome damage reduction as if they were chaotic, evil, good and lawful weapons. Swift Tracker (Ex) An astral stalker can move at normal speed while following tracks without penalty. If it moves at double its land speed, it only suffers a -10 penalty on Survival checks to follow tracks. Throat Dart (Ex) An astral stalker can spit a dart from its mouth as a standard action. Treat this as a thrown ranged weapon with a range increment of 50 feet. Trace Teleport (Su) An astral stalker telepathically and reflexively learns the mental coordinates of the destination, of all creatures that teleport within 100 feet of it, gaining an awareness of the location equivalent to "seen casually." This knowledge fades and is lost after 1 minute. This power does not grant any environmental information about the conditions of the destination. Uncanny Grace (Su) An astral stalker gains a deflection bonus to its Armor Class and CMD, as well as a resistance bonus to its saving throws, equal to its Charisma modifier.

[thecrimsonmonster]

AU: Comes With A Price

( “Once Upon A Time” AU )

Born to a kindly peasant and his wife, who died in childbirth, Kimblestiltskin (usually simply going by “Kimbley”) knew nothing but a hard life of labor growing up. Between working with farm animals, tending to menial chores, and engaging in carpentry, he spun wool with a group of old spinsters in his spare time, finding the mindless task and their mindless chatter somehow soothing.

Kimbley was only thirteen when his father’s life was taken in an incident [[to be decided]], and so became an orphan and vagabond. He took to life on the streets rather quickly, knowing well how to sell his talents—and how to swindle unsuspecting people from their money. Slight of hand was his specialty, and with each passing year, he became more and more skilled with his trickery. He became an underground legend, known for his selfishness and cruelty.

And soon enough, he was approached by a stranger that told him of a wonderful gift: a power beyond Kimbley’s wildest dreams. However, the gift could only be obtained at a price. Yet the stranger did not say what it was they wanted—only that they would collect in due time. As a foolish young man at the time, Kimbley accepted the terms, a magical handshake binding the two of them.

The stranger told him that he must put to use his treacherous skill in order to steal a dagger from a hidden vault owned by a powerful king—a magical dagger said to be tied to the Dark One. If Kimbley could obtain that dagger, he would be able to take control of the magical being and use their wicked enchantments to his wishes.

With this information, Kimbley set to work devising a plan to steal the dagger, and when he managed to pilfer it, he called upon the Dark One so that he might use their evil magic—only to find that it was in fact the Dark One that had told him about the dagger in the first place.

The Dark One then demanded that Kimbley carry out his end of the bargain: to put an end to their life. To the Dark One’s surprise, Kimbley had no qualms in carrying out his end of the deal, and upon the demise of the evil being, Kimbley absorbed the darkness that had dwelt within them for so long.

With their dying breath, they declared their relief that at last they were free—but that Kimbley would suffer from this day on for his actions.

And so it was that Kimbley became the Dark One—and to this day, his callous heartlessness and foul wickedness plague the lands far and wide.

(”Storybrooke” counterpart—Zolf Kimbley—to be created if the need arises. Some information subject to change/revision if needed.)

Unique identifiers:

Gleaming golden eyes, almost reptilian in nature, that tell of the insidious magical power within him.

Skin that seems to have a golden shimmer.

Black nails—almost claw-like.

Abilities:

As the Dark One, Kimbley is gifted (or cursed, depending on differing perspectives) with various types of magic, which include (but are not limited to):

Blood magic - The creation of magical seals that can only be broken by those of the same bloodline—or someone that has shared blood with the caster

Immortality - Eternal life, in which he does not age and cannot be killed with normal weapons

Potioncraft - The ability to create concoctions from specific elements or items, used for various purposes

Witchcraft - This includes telekinesis, teleportation, self-transformation, mind magic (conjuring, astral projection, memory spells, illusions), pyrokinesis (+ other elements), mirror magic, enchanting various objects, healing and protective spells, and physically extracting and controlling hearts

Weaknesses:

The enchanted dagger: It is the only weapon that can kill the Dark One. Having it in one’s possession can also lend power over the Dark One to its holder.

Anti-magical barriers: Other powerful spellcasters can enchant certain objects or areas that cannot be touched or accessed by other magic users.

True Love’s Kiss, the ultimate form of magic, does not work for the Dark One. And as it is the most powerful of all spells, it can break any of the curses he might cast.

[astralbondpro]

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) // Dir. James Cameron

[astralbondpro]

Ninja III: The Domination (1984) // Dir. Sam Firstenberg

[astralbondpro]

Order of the Black Eagle (1987) // Dir. Worth Keeter

[astralbondpro]

The Exterminator (1980) // Dir. James Glickenhaus

[astralbondpro]

Terror in Beverly Hills (1989) // Dir. John Myhers

[gertlushgaming]

Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader Preview (Steam Beta)

 For this Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader Preview, we play a game that is Set in the Koronus Expanse, a little-charted and perilous region of space, this backwater sector is rife with opportunities for explorers and adventurers alike. As a Rogue Trader, you will traverse incredible distances in your giant voidship as you chart this cluster of planets.

Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader Preview Pros:

- Decent graphics. - 33.41GB download size. - Graphics settings - display, display mode, resolution, lock mouse inside the window, camera shake effect, graphics preset, v-sync, frame rate, fsr mode, volumetric lighting and shadow quality, SSR, bloom, depth of field, footprints, anti-aliasing, hbao, film grain, and crowd quality. - Accessibility options - Colourblind sliders, and font size slider. - Safe zone setting. - Display settings - gamma correction, brightness, and contrast sliders. - Input settings - can rebind controls, enable the camera to follow characters, screen edge scrolling, enable scrolling beyond the game window, the speed of rotation of the camera with the mouse/keyboard, keyboard scrolling speed. - Gameplay settings - Auto-save and set how many quick and auto-save slots to use, tooltip delay, tutorials, autopause and what it can do, auto end turn, and increase enemy and player animation speeds slider. - CRPG gameplay. - Two difficulties - normal and core. - Three pre-generated characters to choose from or you can create a character. - Extensive character creator - appearance (portrait/appearance/hair/tattoo/implants/voice), homeworld which affects stats (Death world/Void born/Hive world/Forge World sub skin implants/Forge world analytics implants/forge world locomotion implants/imperial world feudal/imperial world military traditions), Origin (Astral Militarum commander/commissar/Vagabond/ministorum priest/navy officer/noble/sanctioned psyker biomancer/sanctioned psyker diviner), triumph, Darkest hour, doctrines (fighter/leader/adept/marksman/assassin/vanguard/hunter), stats, and ship name. - Beautiful art and portraits. - Powerful soundtrack, - Hover over text that helps explain menu options. - Choice-driven interactions affect relationships and the story. - A 3D world with full camera control. - Interactive elements from doors to switches to loot chests. - You are moving around the world by clicking the left mouse button. - Fantastic world to explore. - Animated tutorial pop-ups. - Turn-based combat. - In combat you have mp and ap, mp is movement points and ap is action points as to what you can and cannot use. - The journal houses all the quests, rumors, and orders. - Passive skill check system so in the background your characters skill/knowledge/abilities can affect what you can do in situations. - Play how you want from the combat to conversation choices. - Excellent animations and dismemberment. - The cover is a must in the game. You can get partial and full cover from the environment or use a shield. - Damage numbers pop on the screen. - The menu/inventory system can be done by double-clicking an item or the traditional drag and drop. - When moving you see a silhouette of yourself before committing to the action. - Get temporary buffs from party members like positive effects which can raise your abilities for a short time. - Actual skill checks show in dialogue. - Party members can be moved around independently. - A really good story that grabs you straight away. - Zero rounds - this is where you cannot shoot but you can move so you can get in a good position. - Gained exp shows up on the screen. - Gamers of the genre will find the controls and basic flow very familiar. - Hit chance and damage done show above a character before you perform the action. - Companions (party members) earn exp and levels at the same rate as you even if they are not in the active party. - Level-ups can be done manually or automatically. - Inspect killed enemies to loot them. - Handy comparison tables pop when hovering over items and gear. - When there is a load of enemy bodies close together you loot them all at once. - Voidmap unlocks new locations as you progress but you can go back and forth as you like. - When you level up you pick a skill from the current doctrines skill tree and a state to upgrade. - Psykers can analyze enemies so you can learn about weaknesses etc. - Handy grid system for movement and ability casting. - Everyone will have a different experience. Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader Preview Cons: - It's a beta but has no Steam achievements. - Doesn't support controllers. - Not all the character creator fields are available like Triumph and Darkest Hour and ships. - The performance is all over the place no matter what graphic settings get tweaked. - Voice work is good but not used a whole lot. - Your character uses his voice way too much with repetitive one-liners. - A lack of a mini-map makes traveling around not as fun as it could be. - The loading times are up and down but it loves hanging on 100 percent. - The general moving around is not as smooth as it could be and a lot of it is to do with how the camera follows you. - Parts of the walls don't break down or go see-through when you are panning around or moving. - A few times I found myself stumped on very basic tasks because everything is laid out in a way that says you already know what to do... When you actually do not. - Parts of the skill trees were locked out. - Lower graphic settings make a lot of things fuzzy. Related Post: We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie Review (PlayStation 5) Warhammer 40000: Rogue Trader: Official website. Developer: Owlcat Games Publisher: Owlcat Games Store Links - Steam Read the full article

[astralbondpro]

New York Ninja (1984 / 2021) Dir. John Liu (1984) / Kurtis M. Spieler (2021)

[astralbondpro]

Low Blow (1986) // Dir. Frank Harris

[astralbondpro]

Stone Cold (1991) // Dir. Craig R. Baxley

[astralbondpro]

Order of the Black Eagle (1987) // Dir. Leonard Worth Keeter III

[astralbondpro]

The Sweeper (1996) // Dir. by: Joseph Merhi

[astralbondpro]

Demolition Man (1993) // Dir. Marco Brambilla